DAILY GK : 15, 16 JAN 2021

 DAILY GK : 15, 16 JAN 2021

1. 83 LCA TEJAS FROM HAL FOR IAF

•      As a part of Atmanirbhar programme, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi approved the procurement of 83 Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) at the cost of Rs. 45,696 Crore for Indian Air Force (IAF).

•      These include 73 LCA Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircrafts and 10 LCA Tejas Mk-1 Trainer aircrafts.

•      LCAs are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

 

2. WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL PASSPORTS 2021

•      A “Henley Passport Index:Q1 2021 Global Ranking” released where India was ranked 85th with visa-free score 58.

•      The visa-free score states that Indian passport holders get to visit 58 countries without a prior visa.

•      India shared its rank with Tajikistan.

•      In 2020, India held 84th position.

•      The index was topped by Japan with visa-free score of 191.

•      It has been holding the position for three consecutive years.

 

3. RBI FORMS WG TO EXAMINE LENDING TRANSACTIONS

•      Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has formulated a 6-member Working Group (WG) to study all aspects of digital lending activities in the regulated financial sector as well as by unregulated players so that an appropriate regulatory approach can be put in place.

•      The group will be chaired by Jayant Kumar Dash, Executive Director, RBI and will submit its report within three months.

 

4. COMMITTEE TO IMPROVE HEALTH INSURANCE IN INDIA

•      India’s insurance regulator IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) formulated a 10-member advisory committee to improve the product quality and coverage of the health insurance in the country.

•      The committee will be chaired by IRDAI chairman and will have tenure of 1 year.

 

5. INDIA’S 1ST INDIGENOUS MACHINE PISTOL ASMI

•      The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Armament Research & Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune (Maharashtra) in collaboration with the Indian Army has developed India’s first indigenous machine pistol ASMI.

•      It will replace the 9mm pistols used by defence forces.

•      Notably it has been developed by a young officer ‘Lt Col Prasad Bansod’ from Infantry School, Mhow in a record time of four months.

 

6. INDIAN ARMED FORCES CELEBRATES VETERAN DAY

•      Indian Armed Forces annually celebrates the Veteran Day on 14th January to recognise the contributions of the veterans of the Indian Armed Forces.

•      The 14th January 2021 marks the celebration of the 5th Veteran Day by the Indian Armed Forces.

•      The day honours and recognises the service of Field Marshal KM Cariappa, OBE, the first Commander in Chief of Indian Armed Forces, who retired from the services on 14th January 1953.

•      Admiral Karambir Singh released the “Swarnim Vijay Varsh” song dedicated to the valor and courage of the Indian soldiers during the 1971 war.