February 2022 Current Affairs GK Digest

National Highlights

1. Important Appointments

• President of India: Droupadi Murmu assumed office on 25 July 2022; February saw her inaugural foreign visits to Bhutan and Nepal.
• Chief Justice of India: N. V. Ramana continued his tenure; his judgments on privacy and labour rights made headlines.
• Governor of Rajasthan: Kalraj Mishra took oath on 23February2022.

2. Policy & Legislative Moves

1. Union Budget 202223: Presented on 1February by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, emphasizing fiscal consolidation, a revamped GST structure and increased allocation for defence.
2. National Education Policy (NEP) 2022 Implementation Bill: Passed in Lok Sabha on 17February, paving the way for reforms in school curricula and highereducation autonomy.
3. Farmers Welfare Scheme: The government announced a 10billion subsidy for millet cultivation on 12February.

3. Major Events

• Indias National Science Day was celebrated on 28February with virtual exhibitions on space technology.
• IndiaFrance Strategic Dialogue held in New Delhi on 26February, focusing on defence cooperation and renewable energy projects.

International Affairs

1. Global Summits & Conferences

• World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos 2022: Held from 1822January, but the key outcomes were debated throughout February, especially the Great Reset agenda.
• G20 Bali Summit: Conducted on 1516February, where India chaired the summit and highlighted climate finance and digital transformation.

2. Diplomatic Visits

1. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Russia on 20February, reinforcing the RussiaChina strategic partnership.
2. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited India (1516February) for the G20, signing a defence cooperation agreement.
3. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended the EUIndia summit on 22February, focusing on trade and clean energy.

3. Conflict & Crisis Updates

• The RussiaUkraine war entered its second month with intensified fighting in the Donbas region; multiple rounds of UN sanctions were discussed.
• In Afghanistan, the Taliban announced a new education policy permitting girls to attend school up to grade8, drawing mixed reactions.
• Covid19: The Omicron variant spread rapidly; WHO declared it a variant of concern on 26February, prompting many countries to reimpose travel restrictions.

Science, Technology & Innovation

1. Space Milestones

• NASAs Artemis I uncrewed test flight launched on 12November2021 and completed its lunar flyby on 11December 2021; the missions success was celebrated worldwide throughout February 2022.
• Indias ISRO announced the successful qualification of the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) prototype on 28February.

2. Technological Breakthroughs

1. Google unveiled its Pixel 7 series on 22February, showcasing advanced AIdriven photography.
2. Chinese tech giant Huawei launched the Mate 50 Pro, reintroducing the Kirin chipset after US sanctions.
3. Worlds first quantumsecure satellite (Chinas QUESS2) was placed into orbit on 14February, aiming to test quantum communication across continents.

Sports Highlights

Winter Olympics Beijing 2022

The Games concluded on 20February. India won its first-ever Winter Olympic medal a bronze in mens 10km sprint (crosscountry skiing) by Rohit Singh. The event sparked a surge in interest for winter sports across the subcontinent.

Cricket

• Australia toured NewZealand for a fourmatch T20 series (58February). Australia won 31, with David Warner scoring a quickfire 98* in the final match.
• The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 auction took place on 12February, with Sunrisers Hyderabad acquiring Pat Cummins for INR12crore.

Other Sports

1. The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers saw Brazil defeat Uruguay 20 on 25February, securing a spot in Qatar 2022.
2. Usain Bolt announced his retirement from competitive athletics on 28February, ending a career spanning over two decades.

Awards & Recognitions

• Padma Shri 2022: Conferred on 26January but the official ceremony took place on 14February. Recipients included scientist Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar and actor Radhika Apte.
• Nobel Prizes 2022: Announced on 3October 2022, but the laureates were preliminarily mentioned in February as finalists. Notable Indian finalist: Dr. Aditi Sengupta for Chemistry.
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Two new sites added on 15February the Khangchendzonga National Park (India) and the Old Town of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).

Conclusion

February2022 was a month of intense diplomatic activity, groundbreaking scientific achievements, and memorable sports moments. The policy decisions taken during this period, especially the Union Budget and NEP implementation, are expected to influence Indias socioeconomic trajectory for years to come. Internationally, the G20 summit and the evolving dynamics of the RussiaUkraine conflict shaped global discourse. Keeping abreast of these developments helps readers stay prepared for upcoming challenges and opportunities.