Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 04 March 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

::NATIONAL::

Indigenous Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin has demonstrated interim clinical efficacy of 81 per cent in its phase three trial. The trial involved 25 thousand 800 participants across 21 sites.
The first interim analysis is based on 43 cases of which 36 cases of Covid-19 were observed in the placebo group versus 7 cases observed in the Covaxin group resulting in vaccine efficacy of 81 per cent.
The vaccine is developed by Bharat Biotech in partnership with the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Director-General of Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr. Balram Bhargava said that the journey of completely indigenous COVID-19 vaccine in less than eight months’ time showcases the immense strength of Atmanirbhar Bharat. He said, it is also a testament to India’s emergence as a global vaccine superpower.
Dr. Krishna Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech said that Covaxin demonstrated high clinical efficacy against Covid-19 and significant immunogenicity against the rapidly emerging variants.

Chinese lawmakers will advance a proposal to overhaul Hong Kong’s electoral system, pushing ahead with a controversial plan to limit the opposition’s ability to win public office in the Asian financial hub.
Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fourth annual session of the 13th NPC, made the remarks in this regard on Thursday at a press conference, one day before the top legislature's annual session begins. The National People's Congress (NPC) will deliberate a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the HKSAR during the upcoming session, according to an agenda published Thursday by the Chinese state News Agency.
The largely rubber-stamp parliament is slated to begin a week-long series of annual meetings Friday in Beijing, meaning the measure could pass as soon as next week. China's top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), started its meetings on Thursday.
The action is the latest step by Chinese government to have more control in the former British colony following historically large and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests in 2019. The National People’s Congress imposed a sweeping national security law on the city last year and used it to arrest some 100 opposition figures, former lawmakers and activists, drawing criticism from business groups and sanctions from the U.S. government.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was apprised of the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and France in the field of renewable energy cooperation.
The MoU which was signed in January 2021, has the objective to establish the basis for the promotion of bilateral cooperation in the field of new and renewable energy on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity. It covers technologies relating to solar, wind, hydrogen and biomass energy.
This MoU will help in the development of technological know-how in the field of Renewable Energy and thereby aid the process of attaining the ambitious target of 450 GW of installed Renewable Energy capacity by 2030.
Considering the mutual gains for both nations, the Cabinet approved the MoU.
In January, we had reported that India and France had formed an alliance to strengthen their cooperation in sustainable development and work towards increasing renewable energy (RE) adoption and more key areas that boost global environment protection.

Fundamental and translational science is important but it has to be solution-based and people-centric, Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said.
Speaking on the occasion of National Science Day, Vardhan said it is the problems of the people that should be guiding the intellectual acumen while pursuing research.
"We have to make sure that the science that we do…of course, the fundamental science is important, translational science is important (but) it has to be solution-based science. It has to be people-centric," Vardhan said in a virtual address.
The National Science Day is celebrated on this day to mark the anniversary of Raman Effect, the discovery made by Indian physicist Sir C V Raman.
Vardhan also lauded the scientific community for its contribution during the coronavirus pandemic and also developing vaccines to fight the infection.

The Indian women's hockey team ended its tour of Germany with yet another defeat, going down 1-2 in the fourth and final match.
Naomi Heyn (29th) Charlotte Stapenhorst (37th) scored for the world number three side before Lalremsiami (51st) pulled one back for the visitors late in the game.
It was India's fourth defeat in as many matches as the team stayed winless in the tour.
After rain delayed the start of proceedings, Germany found a lively tempo to their attack and earned a penalty corner with just ten minutes on the clock.