National & International Events - Current Affairs for February, 2016

India has taken the decision to establish a LIGO or Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory where the gravitational waves can be studied. This will be the third lab of its kind following Hanford in Washington and Livingston in Louisiana. Gravitational Waves have been discovered by the world’s scientific community and Indian scientists were also part of this discovery. LIGO or Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory is a national facility for gravitational wave research providing chances for the broader scientific community to take part in detector development, data analysis and observation.

FM Shri Arun Jaitley has inaugurated the exhibition of “Coin and Currency of India” in the Great Hall of North Block on 22nd February. The Exhibition was organised by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. This marks the first time that such an exhibition has been organised in this historic Hall and it depicts how money has changed in appearance and substance and evolved from barter to coins to the present day bank notes and e-money. The exhibition depicts the many names of money, some of which have gone into oblivion and some are in use even today besides presenting brief history of the Great Hall as well.

Apart from the MoUs, the prime ministers of the two countries inaugurated the power transmission from Muzaffarpur (India) to Dhalkebar (Nepal). Other list of agreements include the following:

• MoU on utilization of US$ 250 million Grant component of GOI’s Assistance package for Post-earthquake reconstruction assistance
  
• MoU on strengthening of road infrastructure in the Terai area of Nepal
• MoU between Nepal Academy of Music and Drama and Sangeet Natak Academy
• Letters of Exchange on Transit Routes
• Letters of Exchange on Rail Transport
• Inauguration of Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar transmission line
• Establishment of Eminent Persons Group (EPG)

State Bank of India has launched a new initiative called Japan Desk which is the first of its kind initiative for facilitating Japanese corporates to invest in India with banking and advisory services. SBI’s Japan desk will server as a one point reliable information support source for Indian bound investments of Japanese companies. Japan Desk will be based in New Delhi. Another one will be set up in Chennai soon. The next country on the anvil for SBI to set up a dedicated helpdesk is South Korea.

The 9th Indo Nepal Combined Battalion level Military Training Exercise SURYA KIRAN was held in Pithoragarh from February 8 to 21 under the Panchshul Brigade of Central Command. During the exercise, an Infantry battalion each from Indian Army and the Nepalese Army would be training together and sharing their experiences of Counter Terrorism operations and Jungle Warfare in mountain terrain. This series of exercise is a twice in a year event conducted in Nepal and India in turns. Apart from warfare and counter terrorism operations, training was also imparted in fields such as humanitarian aid and disaster relief.