DAILY GK: 16 DEC 2021

 DAILY GK: 16 DEC 2021

1.       ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ROJGAR YOJANA (ABRY) REPORT

·         Central Government released the list of states with maximum number of beneficiaries to be assisted under Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY)

·         The list has been topped by Maharashtra with 6,49,560 new employees in 17,524 Beneficiary Establishments (Estts.).

·         Maharashtra is followed by Tamil Nadu (5,35,615 New Employees) at 2nd position, and Gujarat (4,44,741 New Employees) at 3rd.

·         Amid COVID-19, the Central Government launched ABRY to incentivise employment generation in EPFO registered establishments for a period from October 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022.

·         Under the ABRY, the government is paying both employees’ and employers’ contributions of 24% of wages (12% of wages for each) in respect of establishments having 1,000 employees and employees’ contribution of 12% of wages to establishments employing more than 1,000 employees.

 

2.       7TH INDIA INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL 2021 AT PANAJI, GOA

·         IISF is a joint program of the Ministry of Science & Technology(MoST), Ministry of Earth Sciences(MoES) and Vijnana Bharati (VIBHA), a swadeshi science movement of Bharat.

·         The theme of IISF 2021 is ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ – celebrating Creativity, Science, Technology and Innovation for a prosperous India.

 

3.       INDIA’S 1ST GREEN HYDROGEN MICRO GRID PROJECTS TO BE SET UP BY NTPC AT SIMHADRI, AP

·         National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) has awarded a project of “Standalone Fuel-Cell based Micro-grid with hydrogen production using electrolyser in Simhadri, near Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh (AP).

·         It is India’s 1st Green Hydrogen based Energy Storage Project and one of the largest in the world.

·         India targets to become carbon neutral by 2070

·         According to the Ministry of Power, it would be a precursor to large scale hydrogen energy storage projects.

·         It will be useful for studying and deploying multiple microgrids in various off grid and strategic locations of the country.

·         The hydrogen will be produced by using the advanced 240 kW Solid Oxide Electrolyser by taking input power from the nearby Floating Solar project.

 

4.       PM MODI INAUGURATED 1ST PHASE OF KASHI-VISHWANATH CORRIDOR PROJECT, VARANASI

·         Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the 1st phase of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project (Kashi Vishwanath Dham project) which connects the Kashi Vishwanath temple and Ganga ghats in Varanasi.

·         23 building spread over around 5 lakh square feet area was inaugurated as a part of the 1st phase of the Rs 339 crore Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project.

·         The foundation stone of the project was laid on 8th March 2019.

·         The project involved the purchase and acquisition of more than 300 properties around the temple.

 

5.       RBI INTRODUCES PCA FRAMEWORK FOR NBFCS

·         The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) Framework for Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) to further strengthen the supervisory tools applicable to NBFCs.

·         The provisions of the PCA framework will be effective from October 2022 based on the financial position of NBFCs on or after March 31, 2022.

·         The PCA framework will be applicable to  All Deposit-Taking NBFCs (NBFCs-D) and All Non-Deposit Taking NBFCs (NBFCs-ND) in the Middle, Upper and Top Layers.

·         PCA is a framework under which banks with weak financial metrics are put under watch by the RBI. Under the Framework, the supervised Entity will be required to initiate and implement remedial measures in a timely manner to restore its financial health.

The RBI introduced the PCA framework in December 2002 as a structured early-intervention mechanism to supervise and regulate the banks that become undercapitalised due to poor asset quality, or vulnerable due to loss of profitability.

 

6.       ADB EXTENDS $112 MILLION LOAN TO ESTABLISH A SKILL UNIVERSITY IN ASSAM

·         The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $112 million loan to strengthen skills education and training through the establishment of the Assam Skill University (ASU).

·         The Loan will create a path for skill development to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of Assam’s economy and industries.

·         The project will improve skills and provide greater paying, decent job opportunities for youth and adults (especially women and disadvantaged groups).

·         The project will develop the ASU’s management & operating systems, Research & Development (R&D) program, business models, faculty & staff.

·         It also supports the design and delivery of industry-aligned programs like cutting-edge digital skills & career development programs.

 

7.       META & CBSE EXPAND PARTNERSHIP TO ENABLE 1 CRORE STUDENTS TO EMBRACE IMMERSIVE TECH

·         Meta (formerly Facebook) is set to expand its partnership with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to provide a curriculum on digital safety and online well-being and Augmented Reality (AR) for around 1 crore college students and 10 lakh educators across India over the next 3 years.

·         In line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, meta and CBSE will collaborate on content curation and development of curriculum integrating immersive technologies, AR and Virtual Reality (VR).

 

8.       SJFI HONOURED FORMER INDIAN CRICKETER SUNIL GAVASKAR WITH SJFI MEDAL 2021

·         The Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) has decided to honour former Indian Cricketer and cricket commentator Sunil Manohar Gavaskar with its prestigious ‘SJFI Medal 2021’ at SJFI Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Guwahati, Assam.

·         SJFI Medal is the highest honour of SJFI.

·         SJFI Sportsman of the year 2021-Neeraj Chopra(Javelin)

·         SJFI Sportswoman of the year 2021-Mirabai Chanu(Weightlifting)

 

9.       OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF MULTINATIONAL NAVAL EXERCISE MILAN 22 LAUNCHED 

·         Rear Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Chief Staff Officer(Technical), Eastern Naval Command (ENC) launched the official website of the forthcoming Multinational Naval Exercise – MILAN 2022, a biennial multilateral naval exercise hosted by the Indian Navy.

·         The theme of MILAN 22 is ‘Camaraderie, Cohesion, Collaboration’.

·         MILAN 22 is scheduled to be held at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh

·         Around 46 countries have been invited to participate in the exercise.

 

10.    VICE PRESIDENT RELEASES THE BOOK ‘RAJ KAPOOR: THE MASTER AT WORK’

·         Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu released the book titled ‘Raj Kapoor: The Master At Work’ authored by Rahul Rawail

·         The vice president described the book as a “labour of love and dedication”.

·         The book is also dedicated to Raj Kapoor’s second son and father of Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor,

·         Raj Kapoor was an Indian actor, film producer and film director who worked in Hindi cinema since the 1950’s.

·         He received multiple awards including three National Film Awards and 11 Filmfare Awards in India also the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

·         Raj Kapoor was also awarded with Padma Bhushan (1971) & Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1987)

 

11.    HAL SIGNS BIGGEST ORDER OF RS 2,400CR WITH BEL FOR LCA FIGHTERS

·         Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a Rs 2,400 crore contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for development and supply of 20 types of systems for LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) 83 Tejas Mk1A fighter aircraft programme .

·         The duration of the contract is 5 years i.e. from 2023 to 2028.

·         Under this pact, there is supply of critical avionics, Line Replaceable Units (LRUs), flight control computers and night flying LRUs.

·         It is related to Digital Flight Control Computers, Air Data Computers, Weapon Computers, LRUs related to Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) and Head Up Display.

·         Deliveries under 83 Tejas Mk1A order to the Indian Air Force (IAF) will commence from 2023-24.

 

12.    INDIA & VIETNAM SIGNED LOI TO ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIP IN DIGITAL MEDIA

·         Anurag Thakur, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Information and Communication, Government of Vietnam, to enable collaboration in the field of digital media and strengthen the partnership between India and Vietnam.

·         Shashi Shekhar Vempati, CEO, Prasar Bharati; Jaideep Bhatnagar, Principal DG, PIB; and Vikram Sahay, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) along with other officials from India and Vietnam were present during the event.

·         The LoI anticipates sharing of information and experience in establishing policies and regulatory frameworks on digital media and social networks.

·         The LoI also expects to conduct capacity building and training programs for media professionals and officials in both India and Vietnam.

 

13.    IMF ANNOUNCES GLOBAL DEBT RECORD AS $226 TRILLION IN 2020

·         The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that the Global debt raised a record $226 trillion in 2020 as the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and a deep recession.

·         Global debt rose by 28 percentage points to 256 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020

·         IMF’s latest Global Debt Database figures the 2020’s debt as the largest 1-year debt surge since World War II.

·         According to IMF, the public debt rose from 70 percent of GDP in 2007 to 124 percent of GDP in 2020 and the private debt rose at a moderate pace from 164 percent to 178 percent of GDP in 2020.

 

14.    ARMY CHIEF GEN NARAVANE TAKES CHARGE AS CHAIRMAN OF COSC

·         The Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Mukund (MM) Naravane, was appointed as the  chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC).

·         The CoSC comprises the chiefs of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force.

·         He succeeded General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) passed away in an accident in Tamil Nadu. 

MM Naravane is the Senior most of the Chiefs of all Three Armed forces – Army, Navy & Air Force.

·         MM Naravane took over as the 27th Chief of the Army Staff in 2019, previously served as Vice Chief of the Army and prior to that headed the Eastern Command of the Army which takes care of India’s border with China.

·         Previously, the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee is selected from the senior-most Chief of Staff of Indian Armed forces.

·         After the creation of the post of CDS, the Chairmanship of CoSC is taken over by CDS.

·         The CDS also heads the newly created Department of Military Affairs apart from acting as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.

·         The CDS has powers on tri-service administrative issues. The CDS will not exercise any military command, including over the three service chiefs.   

 

15.    50TH VIJAY DIWAS – 16TH DECEMBER 2021 

·         Vijay Diwas is annually observed across India and Bangladesh on December 16th to commemorate the victory of Indian armed forces against Pakistan in the 1971 Indo Pak War, also known as the 1971 Liberation War.

·         16th December 2021 marks the celebration of the 50th Vijay Diwas(Swarnim Vijay Diwas), the Golden Jubilee of the 1971 Liberation War.

·         The year 2021 was celebrated as the Swarnim Vijay Varsh to mark the 50th anniversary of India’s victory over Pakistan.