Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 19 August 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 19 August 2021

::NATIONAL::

The Supreme Court has allowed eligible women to appear in the National Defense Academy (NDA) entrance exam to be held on September 5

The court’s ruling comes days before the service chiefs of the army, navy and the air force are set to visit the NDA in Pune to review facilities and arrangements for women cadets. The visit was planned earlier this month, a senior army officer said on the condition of anonymity.
Breaking the glass ceiling that endured for 65 years, the Supreme Court ordered that women can also sit for the upcoming National Defence Academy (NDA) examination and held that the policy that restricts their entry into the elite institution is based on “gender discrimination”. It also came down hard on what it termed the army’s mindset in providing equal opportunities to women.
The court’s ruling comes days before the service chiefs of the army, navy and the air force are set to visit the NDA in Pune to review facilities and arrangements for women cadets. The visit was planned earlier this month, a senior army officer said on the condition of anonymity.
Rejecting an argument by the Union government that the restriction against women from training at the Pune-based NDA was a policy decision, the court recorded in its order: “This is a policy decision based on gender discrimination. We expect the army and the government to take a more constructive view of the matter...”

::INTERNATIONAL::

Indian Navy conducts bilateral maritime exercise with Vietnam

India and Vietnam carried out a naval exercise in the resource-rich South China Sea, a region that has been witnessing growing Chinese bullying and militarisation.
The Indian Navy deployed its guided-missile destroyer Ranvijay and guided-missile corvette Kora for the exercise with the Vietnamese Navy, signalling growing convergence of interests in the maritime security domain, officials said. Both India and Vietnam have common concerns over China's military expansionism in the South China Sea.
"In continuation with ongoing deployment of Indian Navy ships in the South China Sea, INS Ranvijay and INS Kora undertook bilateral maritime exercise with Vietnam People's Navy frigate Ly Thai To on Wednesday," Indian Navy spokesperson Commander VivekMadhwal said.
He said the exercise was aimed at consolidating the strong bond of cooperation between the two navies.
Vietnam, an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region. India has oil exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea.
The Navy spokesperson said the two ships arrived at Cam Ranh, Vietnam on August 15 for the harbour phase of the exercise that included professional interactions with the Vietnamese Navy. "The sea phase included surface warfare exercises, weapon firing drills and helicopter operations. Regular interactions between the two navies over the years have enhanced their interoperability and adaptability," Commander Madhwal said. "This has ensured a quantum jump in the complexity and scale of professional exchanges.

::ECONOMY::

Piyush Goyal chairs the 5th meeting of BRICS Industry Ministers

Commerce and Industry Minister PiyushGoyal chaired the fifth meeting of the BRICS Minister of Industry and called for broadening the horizons of the New Development Bank (NDB).
Goyal said the adaptability of BRICS countries to new technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, 3D manufacturing and other processes and systems will determine the success of efforts to adopt Industry 4.0. The BRICS economy in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
However, it is imperative to manage the transition to new technologies in line with national policies and laws. This understanding was central to the BRICS cooperation agenda, and Goyal was reportedly stated in a government announcement. He said the adoption of new technologies by MSME will play an important role in achieving the goal of inclusiveness.
Goyal called for broadening the horizons of NDB and using its resources to strengthen social infrastructure, especially to promote the infrastructure and industry sectors, as well as to fund service provision in the education and health sectors.

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

2 new species of dinosaurs, as big as the blue whale, found in China

Scientists have discovered two new species of dinosaurs in northwest China, a region where dinosaur fossils had never been found before, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
The study said the fossils from three different dinosaurs about 130 to 120 million years ago were found in China's Turpan-Hami Basin about 2 to 5km apart. The researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Museum of Brazil published their findings in Scientific Reports, part of the Nature family of journals.
Scientists named the species Silutitansinensis or "silu” and Hamititanxinjiangensis named for where the fossil specimen was found in Xinjiang. They have said that “silu” means the “Silk Road” in Chinese Mandarin pinyin, “in memory the great trade routes which connected the East and West”. “Hami” refers to the Hami city where the specimen was found.
According to the study, Silutitansinensis is a new species of sauropod—a plant-eating dinosaur with a very long neck, long tail, large body and small head. It said that the dinosaur was found to have some characteristics in its neck vertebrae that indicate it belonged to a family of sauropods called Euhelopodidae, which have so far only been found in East Asia.

::SPORTS::

'No better feeling in the world when your hard work is recognised': Savita

"There's no better feeling in the world when your hard work is recognised and appreciated," said India women's hockey team goalkeeper Savita.
Goalkeeper Savita was one of the pillars of the Indian women's hockey team which narrowly missed out on a medal at the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics.
Born in Jodhkan, Sirsa district, Haryana, Savita is known as one of the best women's hockey goalkeepers in the world. "The Wall" of the Indian team, Savita has been part of multiple victories of the national team which includes a Bronze Medal at the 2014 Asian Games and a Silver Medal at the 2018 Asian Games. Savita played a crucial role in India booking a place in the Rio Olympics 2016.