Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 01 September 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 01 September 2022

::NATIONAL::

Shah to launch portal for allotment of houses to CAPF, Assam Rifles personnel

Union home minister Amit Shah will launch a portal for online registration and allotment of residential accommodation to Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles personnel as per a revised policy.
In a statement, the Union home ministry said the eAwas portal was being launched to increase the “Housing Satisfaction Ratio (HSR)” among the paramilitary personnel and to bring transparency and ensure the implementation of the revised policy for allotting the accommodation.
It added the portal has been developed in line with the system of the General Pool Residential Accommodation (eSampada). “It has the provision to notify the applicants through SMS and e-mail and facilitate planning for the construction of new quarters based on the demand-gap analysis.”
The statement said a provision of inter-force allotment will result in optimum utilisation of available houses and thereby increase the HSR. “The portal has a provision that if a house of any particular Force is not allotted for any reason for a period of four months, then any CAPF personnel can apply for the same vacant house online.”

::INTERNATIONAL::

IMF provisionally agrees on $2.9 billion loan for crisis-hit Sri Lanka

Crisis-hit Sri Lanka has reached a preliminary agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a loan of about $2.9 billion, the international lender said in a statement.
"The objectives of Sri Lanka's new Fund-supported programme are to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability," the statement said, outlining the 48-month long arrangement under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility.
The agreement is subject to approval by IMF management and its executive board and is contingent on Sri Lankan authorities following through with previously agreed measures.
The IMF also requires receiving financing assurances from Sri Lanka's official creditors, besides ensuring efforts are made to reach a collaborative agreement with private creditors.
"Debt relief from Sri Lanka's creditors and additional financing from multilateral partners will be required to help ensure debt sustainability and close financing gaps," the statement added.
The IMF programme will aim to raise government revenue to support fiscal consolidation, introduce new pricing for fuel and electricity, hike social spending, bolster central bank autonomy and rebuild the country's depleted foreign reserves.
"Starting from one of the lowest revenue levels in the world, the programme will implement major tax reforms. These reforms include making personal income tax more progressive and broadening the tax base for corporate income tax and VAT," the statement said.
Sri Lanka needs to restructure nearly $30 billion of debt, and Japan has offered to lead talks with the other main creditors, including India and China.
It will also need to strike a deal with international banks and asset managers that hold the majority of its $19 billion worth of sovereign bonds, which are now classified as in default.
The debt-laden country has been seeking up to $3 billion from the IMF in a bid to escape its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948.

::ECONOMY::

Ministry of Finance reviews performance of PSBs, pushes for credit growth

The Ministry of Finance, in a review meeting, directed public sector banks to push credit growth. Chaired by Financial Services Secretary Sanjay Malhotra, the meeting also discussed the non-performing assets (NPA) situation at PSBs, a report by The Economic Times (ET) stated.
The government reportedly said that it was keen on National Asset Reconstruction Company of India Ltd (NARCL) starting its operation. The PSBs, according to ET, provided the ministry with data on the accounts being transferred to NARCL.
The review of the performance of PSBs was done under the Enhanced Access and Service Excellence or Ease Next reforms.
Under this, the lenders need to focus more on digital lending, and inclusive banking. The special focus for such lending has to be on small businesses and agriculture.
The banks also discussed the steps they have taken to enhance the collaboration among themselves. They also outlined a three-year roadmap of their business strategy, the report added.
The government, on the other hand, asked the larger banks to share their experience with the small banks and also provide them with guidance, wherever required.

::Science and tech::

US approves updated Covid booster vaccine targeting newest omicron variants

The U.S. on Wednesday authorized its first update to COVID-19 vaccines, booster doses that target today’s most common omicron strain. Shots could begin within days.
The move by the Food and Drug Administration tweaks the recipe of shots made by Pfizer and rival Moderna that already have saved millions of lives. The hope is that the modified boosters will blunt yet another winter surge — and help tamp down the BA.5 omicron relative that continues to spread widely.
“These updated boosters present us with an opportunity to get ahead" of the next COVID-19 wave, said FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf.
Until now, COVID-19 vaccines have targeted the original coronavirus strain, even as wildly different mutants emerged. The new U.S. boosters are combination, or “bivalent,” shots. They contain half that original vaccine recipe and half protection against the newest omicron versions, BA.4 and BA.5, that are considered the most contagious yet.
The combination aims to increase cross-protection against multiple variants.
“It really provides the broadest opportunity for protection,” Pfizer vaccine chief Annaliesa Anderson told The Associated Press.
The updated boosters are only for people who have already had their primary vaccinations, using the original vaccines. Doses made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech are for anyone 12 and older while Moderna's updated shots are for adults — if it has been at least two months since their last primary vaccination or their latest booster. They're not to be used for initial vaccinations.
There’s one more step before a fall booster campaign begins: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must recommend who should get the additional shot. An influential CDC advisory panel will debate the evidence — including whether people at high risk from COVID-19 should go first.

::Sports::

Neelam makes it to World Championships after winning retrial

It was almost a turnaround in fortunes for young wrestler Neelam after a 48-hour disappointment on Wednesday. Despite having a good lead in the 50kg bout, she was declared the loser by Ankush on Monday, and her hopes of competing for India at the World Championships next month were dashed.
Though Neelam's protest during the bout was not taken seriously by the mat officials, the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) decided on a rematch on Wednesday at the SAI's regional center in Lucknow, despite announcing the 10-member tea on Monday evening.
On Wednesday, the six-minute bout ended with Neelam picking up two vital points in the second period after trailing 1-3. She was adjudged the winner on criteria.
"I was nowhere after being declared a loser on Monday despite leading by 5-3, but I was right about my protest," said Neelam, who was quite disappointed after seeing the scoreboard flash an 8-5 verdict in Ankush's favor.