Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 01 February 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 01 February 2022

::NATIONAL::

‘Not a prestige issue’: SC rebukes Tripura for land dispute with Assam Rifles

The Supreme Court on Monday rebuked the Tripura government for not handing over the title of 121 acres in Agartala city to Assam Rifles, which has been in its possession since 1951.
A bench of justices MR Shah and BV Nagarathna said, “This matter is to be resolved by the state government of Tripura and Assam Rifles with the intervention of Union government without making it a prestige issue and an issue of ego. The decision is to be taken in the larger interest of the country.”
The bench adjourned the matter for two weeks after solicitor general Tushar Mehta on behalf of the Centre told the court that talks were underway to resolve the matter. “A discussion at the highest level between the MHA and the home secretary, state of Tripura will solve the problem. I am hopeful that something will come out if one more chance is given,” Mehta told the court.
The bench said, “We hope and trust that in larger public interest and in the interest of security, wiser counsel will prevail and the matter will be amicably resolved between the parties. To give one more opportunity to settle the dispute amicably with intervention of the Union government, we adjourn the matter to February 28.”
The court was hearing a suit filed by Union of India against Tripura government over a piece of land in possession of Assam Rifles, measuring 121.358 acres at Mauja Bhati, Abhoy Nagar. This land was transferred to Assam Rifles by a Presidential Order in November 1951. It has since remained with them.
However, a full-blown legal battle broke out after the Tripura government in 2005 claimed in its revenue records that the land belongs to Tripura administration. The Assam Rifles challenged this order under the Tripura Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act 1960, which was reiterated in 2013. This led to the suit filed by Union government on behalf of Assam Rifles in the Supreme Court in 2015.

::INTERNATIONAL::

US Prez Joe Biden issues an infrastructure 'roadmap' to help spend $1 trillion

President Joe Biden urged US governors on Monday to ramp up their construction plans as his administration rolled out a guidebook for accessing the nearly $1 trillion made available by the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
Biden welcomed governors to the White House on Monday as part of the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, and he cajoled them on the importance of infrastructure.
Mitch Landrieu, a senior White House adviser who is supervising the infrastructure spending, said the goal of the 461-page book is to ensure that all communities have the details on how to qualify for funding, no matter their size or politics.
“It's an absolute road map," said Landrieu, a former mayor of New Orleans.
The book is meant to level the playing field by making it easier for smaller cities, tribal leaders, nonprofits and faith-based groups to compete for money that usually only lobbyists know how to access. The infrastructure deal is unique in its scope as it goes beyond roads and bridges to include such initiatives as broadband internet, replacement of lead water pipes and resilience against climate change.
The infrastructure package includes 375 distinct programs, of which 125 are new. And while the guidebook is more than twice the size of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel “The Great Gatsby,” it's considerably shorter and easier to navigate than the infrastructure law, which stretched for more than 1,000 pages.
About 60% of the funds are available through formula and 40% through competitive applications. Not all the infrastructure money is able to go out as the federal government is operating on a continuing resolution that runs through Feb. 18, instead of an annual budget. Still, not all of the money will go out immediately as the programs are generally operating on a five- to seven-year timeline.

::ECONOMY::

The widening scope and relevance of Google’s Digitization Fund for India

Google’s announcement of a $1 billion investment in Airtel is the latest expansion for the tech giant’s Google for India Digitization Fund. There will be two parts to this investment, with the larger focus on the upcoming 5G rollout that’ll impact us all, as well as for cloud ecosystem for businesses. With this investment, Google becomes an outlier having also invested in Reliance Jio – no other company has made investments in the two telecom giants, and arch-rivals, In India.
The focus for this partnership and investment is two pronged – consumers, that’s you and us, as well as push 5G and cloud ecosystems which will be important for small and medium businesses. The talk of devices stands out. By that, we assume affordable Android smartphones. Perhaps on the lines of the JioPhone Next, the ultra-affordable Android phone that Google and Reliance Jio developed together.
“As a part of our first commercial agreement under this deal, we will work to scale Airtel’s extensive offerings that cover a range of devices to consumers via innovative affordability programs,” says Sanjay Gupta, Country Head & Vice President of Google India in an official statement. Google has been working on what it calls an India-focused Android experience, the idea being to get new users connected to the internet and in their local languages.
Airtel is already using Google’s Evolved Packet Core & Software Defined Network framework – this is to provide converged voice and data services on mobile networks. In fact, this is 5G ready, with the commercial 5G rollout expected sometime later this year. Airtel has often said their existing networks are ready for 5G, they just need to flip a switch once the spectrum is allotted, and approvals are in place. Now, Airtel will have access to Google’s advanced network solutions as well.

::SPORTS::

Rafael Nadal beats Daniil Medvedev to win record 21st Grand Slam title

Rafa Nadal edged Daniil Medvedev in a classic Australian Open final on Sunday, roaring back from two sets down to claim a record 21st Grand Slam title only months after fearing his glorious career might be over due to injury.
With Novak Djokovic forced out by deportation and Roger Federer recovering from knee surgery, the Spanish great is now one major title clear of his ‘Big Three’ rivals after surviving the 2-6 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4 7-5 thriller at Rod Laver Arena.
Riding a wave of raucous support from the crowd, a vintage Nadal pulled off one of his finest performances to deny Medvedev again, less than three years after leaving the Russian heartbroken in five sets at the 2019 U.S. Open final. In a match steeped in drama, Nadal was two points from the title but was broken as he served for the match at 5-4.He held firm to break Medvedev again and served out the match to love, rushing in to deliver a backhand volley as a stunning coup de grace.