In India February 28 is celebrated as the National Science Day i.e. Rashtriya Vigyan Diwas every year. Significance of Day: It aims to impart scientific temper in the minds of people of all age groups. The theme for year 2016 is “Scientific Issues for Development of the Nation” that aims at raising public appreciation. This day is celebrated as science festival in the entire nation by organising science exhibitions, seminars, workshops, symposiums and many other activities.

This day marks the epoch-making discovery of Raman Effect by Indian physicist Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman (CV Raman) on February 28, 1928.The first National Science Day was celebrated on February 28, 2000.

Stanislas Wawrinka on 28 February 2016 won his ninth straight final to clinch the Dubai ATP Tennis title. In the final played in Dubai, Wawrinka defeated Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets with a 6-4, 7-6(13).This was the third time that Wawrinka has played in Dubai. In his previous two visits, the Swiss star never won a match.

Former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai has been appointed as the first Chairman of Banks Board Bureau (BBB). His appointment comes after Prime Minister has approved the proposal of the Department of Financial Services for the constitution of the BBB.

BBB will be a super authority of eminent professionals and officials for public sector banks (PSBs). It will replace the Appointments Board of Government.

Mumbai on 26 February 2016 won the Ranji Trophy with an innings and 21 run victory over Saurashtra. It won the trophy for the first time in three seasons.With this, they have 41 titles in 45 finals with 10 of them being an innings victory. Karnataka stands second in the overall Ranji standings with eight titles.

Legendary pre-independence cricketer and skipper Bindiganavile Krishnaswamy Garudachar passed away in Bengaluru, Karnataka. He was 99. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living Indian first-class cricketer who had represented Mysore, United province and Bombay first class cricket matches.He was a right-arm leg-spin bowler who batted right-handed and had mostly played for several teams in Indian domestic cricket. He also had taken 100 wickets at an average of 26.20. He had captained Mysore team in Ranji Trophy. In the last match of his career he appeared for the Cricket Club of India against a touring Commonwealth XI in October 1950.

Delhi and Uttar Pradesh Government on 26 February 2016 announced that actress Sonam Kapoor-starrer Neerja will be tax free in the state.The movie is based on the life of young flight attendant Neerja Bhanot, who died trying to save the lives of 350-odd passengers on a hijacked Pan Am aircraft in 1986.

Written by Saiwyn Quadras and directed by Ram Madhvani, the biographical film also stars Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravijani, Jim Sarbh and Yogendra Tiku in prominent roles.

Actor Ranveer Singh was on 26 February 2016 selected for Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar award. The award will be bestowed upon Ranveer by Lata Mangeshkar at a function to be held in Pune.The award is annually conferred on artists on 24 April to commemorate Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar’s death anniversary.

Pandit Dinanath Mangeshkar award was instituted in 1999 in the memory of Dinanath Mangeshkar, father of Lata Mangeshkar. Since then it is awarded annually to persons for their outstanding contributions to music and movies.

President Pranab Mukherjee has formally declared Kerala as the country’s first digital state. It was announced by President after launching a digital empowerment campaign of state at a function to be held in Kozhikkode. The campaign aims at bridging the digital divide by 2020. This declaration was made considering the rapid digital strides of the state which has achieved 100 percent mobile connectivity, 75 percent e-literacy, maximum digital banking, broadband connectivity upto the Panchayat level, linking bank accounts with Aadhar cards and e-district plan in all districts.

President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated India’s first Gender Park at Kozhikode district of Kerala. It is also the first of its kind gender equality convergence centre in Asia. The park is an initiative of the Social Justice Department of the Kerala Government to promote research and other initiatives to enable total gender equality.

Gianni Infantino was elected as the President of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) after winning a second-round vote at Extraordinary FIFA Congress held in Zurich on 26 February 2016.He was elected as the ninth FIFA President after the second ballot in which he secured 115 of 207 total votes. He will serve FIFA for the remainder of current term of office (until 2019).

President Pranab Mukherjee on 27 February 2016 inaugurated Kerala Tourism’s Muziris Heritage Project (MHP) at Trissur in Kerala.The project is India’s largest heritage conservation project and Kerala Government’s first green Project.Muziris is the hub of the spice route and the bustling port of the first century BC that drew legions of Arab, Roman, Greek, Chinese and Jewish traders from across the seas. Its launch will unveil the history and heritage of Muziris described by Roman Naturalist Pliny the Elder as India’s first emporium

The Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on 25 February 2016 presented the Railway Budget 2016-17 in the Lok Sabha. The theme of the Rail Budget was “Overcoming challenges – Reorganize, Restructure Rejuvenate Indian Railways: Chalo, Milkar Kuch Naya Karen”.In this regard, Railway Budget 2016 – 17 unveiled certain initiatives and schemes ranging from cleanliness drive to development of infrastructure to improving the overall quality of life in train journeys with a plan size of 121000 crore rupees.

The Union Government on 25 February 2016 appointed Rajendra Singh as the Director General (DG) of Indian Coast Guard, the country’s coastal protection force. This is the first time an officer who is not from the Indian Navy has been elevated to the position.The director general's post has so far only been held by officers who were commissioned in the Indian Navy.

The Appointments Committee of Cabinet had cleared the name of Singh as the next DG, with the Department of Personnel and Training issuing an order.Singh will replace Vice Admiral HCS Bisht who has been promoted as the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command.

Kasaragod district of Kerala has been declared as thesecond zero landless district, after Kannur.It was announced during the “title deed mela” by the Kerala’s home minister Ramesh Chennithala. The event was presided by state’s revenue minister Adoor Prakash.

Renowned researcher in Chemical Sciences Goverdhan Mehta on 23 February 2016 was conferred with Federal Republic of Germany’s prestigious Cross of the Order of Merit.Achim Fabig, the German Consul General in Chennai, presented the award to Hyderabad-based professor Mehta.

YES Bank, India's fifth largest private sector bank, on 23 February 2016 received the prestigious Green Bond Pioneer Award for being the Pioneers in Emerging Markets-India in an award ceremony at London Stock Exchange (LSE), London.YES Bank was recognised for its pioneering efforts in the Green Bonds market, including the highly successful issuance of India's first ever Green Infrastructure Bonds.YES Bank is the only Indian bank to be recognized in these first ever Green Bond Awards. Winners in other categories include World Bank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Peoples Bank of China (PBoC) and Ile De France amongst others.

In Italy, Senate on 25 February 2016 approved a bill recognising civil unions for same-sex and heterosexual couples. The motion was approved by a 173-71 vote.The text maintains provisions including the right to a residence permit for foreign partners and to take a same-sex partner's name.However, it removed the provision that would have allowed gay adoptions and other clauses.

Maharashtra Government on 24 February 2016 finalised a Project Management Consultant (PMC) for the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Memorial in the Arabian Sea. The project scheduled to be completed by 2018 will be executed at an expense of 84 crore rupees.The consultant was finalised at a meeting headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. As per the decision a consortium of Egis India Consulting Engineers Pvt Ltd and Design Associates were appointed as the PMC.

Bangladeshi cricketer Mashrafe Bin Mortaza was on 25 February 2016 appointed as National Goodwill Ambassador For Youth by the United National Development Programme (UNDP).In this regard, UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Robert Watkins presented Mortaza with a certificate of his official appointment in Dhaka.With this appointment, Mortaza also became the first personality to be appointed as a goodwill ambassador for youth development in Bangladesh.

Renowned researcher in Chemical Sciences Goverdhan Mehta on 23 February 2016 was conferred with Federal Republic of Germany’s prestigious Cross of the Order of Merit.Achim Fabig, the German Consul General in Chennai, presented the award to Hyderabad-based professor Mehta.

At present, Mehta is the National Research Professor and Lilly-Jubilant Chair Professor at the University of Hyderabad, which is among the top 10 Universities in the country.He is a recipient of the Indian Government's Padma Shri Award.The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was instituted in 1951 by Federal President Theodor Heuss.

National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 was officially launched in Mizoram on 24 February 2016. The Act was launched by state Food civil Supplies and Consumer affairs Minister John Rotluangliana at Aizwal.The Act will become effective in the state from 1 March 2016.The state has decided to allocate 3 kilogram of rice in addition to the 5 kilogram covered by Food Security Act.

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) came into effect on 5 July 2013. It aims at providing legal entitlement to 5 kg of subsidised foodgrains per person per month at 1 rupee to 3 rupees per kilogram to two-thirds (67 percent) of the country’s population.

Bolivia's Electoral Commission on 24 February 2016 announced that people of the country rejected an amendment to the Constitution in a referendum with 51.3 percent vote.With this vote, the incumbent President Evo Morales stands disqualified for contesting the Presidential election for fourth term in 2019.

Kanavu Variyam, a Tamil movie directed by a Chennai-based techie Arun Chidambaram, in the third week of February 2016 was selected for the prestigious Remi Award.The award will be handed over to Chidambaram during the 49th WorldFest Houston International Film Festival, which will be held from 8 April 8 to 17 April 2016.The story of Kanavu Variyam revolves around power cuts, which is the most familiar problem faced by people in Tamil Nadu.The previous recipients of the Remi Award, which is given to independent films and filmmakers, include George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, the Coen Brothers and Ang Lee.

Australia on 24 February 2016 won Trans-Tasman Trophy of Cricket against New Zealand and became World Number 1 in ICC Test ranking.It replaced India in the test rating by defeating New Zealand by 2-0 in two-Match Series.

The Parliament of Pakistan on 23 February 2016 became the world’s first to run fully on solar power.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the solar power system, which provides 62 MW to the parliament and a surplus 18 MW to the national grid.

The Parliament of Pakistan on 23 February 2016 became the world’s first to run fully on solar power.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the solar power system, which provides 62 MW to the parliament and a surplus 18 MW to the national grid.The Parliament of Pakistan is officially known as the Majlis-e-Shoora, which is the federal and supreme legislative body of Pakistan.