DAILY GK: 17, 18 DEC 2021

 DAILY GK: 17, 18 DEC 2021

1.             UNION CABINET GIVES NOD TO RAISE WOMEN’S MARRIAGE AGE TO 21 FROM 18 YEARS

·               The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi has given its nod for proposal to bring uniformity in the marriageable age of men and women, thereby, increasing the legal age of marriage of women from 18 to 21 years.

·               In this regard, a Bill will be introduced to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, Special Marriage Act, 1954 and personal laws such as the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 in the ongoing winter session of Parliament (November 29- December 23, 2021).

·               The legal age to get married for men is 21.

 

2.             HAL OBTAINS ADE-DRDO SUPPLY ORDER FOR ‘ABHYAS’ TARGET PLATFORM

·               Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has obtained an order for manufacturing, assembly, integration, testing and supply of High-Speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) System, named ‘ABHYAS‘ from the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

·               HAL will be the Development-cum-Production Partner (DcPP) for supply of this target system along with private firms (50 percent of the volume).

·               The vehicle is a fully programmed autonomous flight

 

3.             CENTRAL GOVERNMENT GRANT ‘IN-PRINCIPLE’ APPROVAL FOR 6 NUCLEAR REACTORS AT JAITAPUR, MAHARASHTRA

·               Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra granted ‘In-Principle’ approval for setting up 6 Nuclear Reactors at Jaitapur in Maharashtra.

·               The approval is for setting up 6 nuclear power reactors of 1650 MW each, making Jaitapur as India’s largest nuclear power generating site with a total capacity of 9900 MW.

·               Technical cooperation is provided by the French Firm – Electricite de France (EDF).

·               The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is involved in the development, pre-clinical evaluation and obtaining the radiopharmaceuticals committee’s approval for human use.

·               Technologies for large-scale production of these radiopharmaceuticals are transferred to the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT).

·               BRIT is involved in producing and supplying radiopharmaceutical products across India and also supports a large number of irradiators by supplying Cobalt-60 pencils.

 

4.             ICICI PRUDENTIAL LIFE INSURANCE SIGNS THE UN’S PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE INVESTING

·               ICICI Prudential Life Insurance (IPRULIFE), became  the first Indian insurance company to sign United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), to demonstrate commitment towards the environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues

·               In order to promote sustainability, IPRULIFE is integrating ESG factors into its investment management framework.

IPRULIFE has also recently launched the ‘Sustainable Equity Fund’, an ESG-focused fund to maintain sustainability.

·               The UNPRI is an investor initiative in partnership with the two bodies of the United Nations – the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative and the UN Global Compact.

·               Goals – To understand and integrate the investment implications of environmental, social and governance issues towards ownership decisions.

 

5.             RBI ALLOWS PAYMENTS BANKS, SFBS AS AGENCY BANK TO CONDUCT GOVT BUSINESS 

·               In consultation with the Department of Financial Services (DFS), the Ministry of Finance, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to make the Scheduled payments banks and scheduled small finance banks (SFBs) eligible to conduct Government (govt) agency business.

·               On May 10, 2021, RBI, revised the existing guidelines on ‘Appointment of Scheduled Private Sector Banks as Agency Banks of RBI’ for authorising Scheduled Private Sector Banks as agency banks of RBI for conducting govt business (Central and/or State).

·               All the instructions/conditions prescribed on May 10, 2021, will henceforth be applicable to the scheduled payments banks and scheduled SFBs.

·               Thus any payment bank or small finance bank which intends to undertake govt agency business could be appointed as an agent of RBI only upon execution of an agreement with RBI and also in compliance with the regulatory framework prescribed for those banks.

·               If the Scheduled private sector banks (which is not having agency agreement with RBI) wish to undertake govt business, it will be approved by RBI only if it is not under the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework or moratorium of the RBI.

 

6.             2021 PARALYMPIC SPORT AWARDS

·               Indian shooter Avani Lekhara, who has created history by winning India’s first Gold medal in Shooting at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, won the “Best Female Debut” honour at the 2021 Paralympic Sport Awards. The Awards were announced by the International Paralympic Committee.

·               She became the 1st Indian woman to win 2 Paralympic medals in a single edition of the Paralympic Games.

·               President of Paralympic Committee of India – Deepa Malik

 

7.             PM MODI RECEIVES ‘NGADAG PEL GI KHORLO’, BHUTAN’S HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD

·               On the occasion of Bhutan’s 114th National Day (17th December 2021), The Kingdom of Bhutan has honoured Narendra Modi, Prime Minister(PM) of India with Bhutan’s highest civilian award Ngadag Pel gi Khorlo also known as Order of the Dragon King (Druk Gyalpo).

·               PM Modi becomes the first foreigner to receive the coveted award.

·               The announcement was made by Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister of Bhutan.

 

8.             ‘GLOBAL ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR’ AWARD TO KM BIRLA

·               The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) conferred the 2021’s ‘Global Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award in  Business Transformation on Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman Aditya Birla Group. He was awarded with other entrepreneurs during the event that was held in Dubai, UAE.

·               Elon Musk (Global Entrepreneur of the Year-Immigrant Entrepreneur)

·               Jeff Bezos (Global Entrepreneur of the Year-First Generation)

·               Satya Nadella (Global Entrepreneur of the Year-Entrepreneurial CEO)

·               MIT (Global University Promoting Student Entrepreneurship) 

 

9.             LEWIS HAMILTON RECEIVED KNIGHT BACHELOR FOR SERVICES TO MOTORSPORT 

·               British racing driver Lewis Hamilton, who has won the Formula one(F1) Championship 7 times has been honoured with Britain’s Knight Bachelor or Knighthood, for Services to Motorsport.

·               Lewis Hamilton was made a Knight Bachelor by Charles, The Prince of Wales, in a ceremony at Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England.

·               Hamilton is the 4th F1 driver to receive the knighthood, the honorary title Sir in Britain after Jack Brabham(Australian), Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart.

·               Sir Lewis Hamilton, holds the record for Most wins in Formula 1 with 103 wins since his debut in 2007.

 

10.          INTERNATIONAL DAY TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST SEX WORKERS 2021 – DECEMBER 17

·               International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers is annually observed across the globe on 17th December to focus attention on the hate crimes committed against sex workers across the globe.

·               ‘Red Umbrella’ is the symbol for sex workers’ rights across the globe.