Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 05 March 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 05 March 2022

::NATIONAL::

Centre to bear Polavaram project costs: Shekhawat

Union JalSakthi Minister Gajendra Singh Shekawat on Friday assured that the Centre would take up the responsibility of completing the Polavaram major irrigation project being built on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district at the earliest.
Shekawat, who visited the project site along with chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and other officials, reviewed the progress of the works with the officials of the state irrigation department and Polavaram Project Authority under the Union ministry.
Speaking on this occasion, the Union minister said Prime Minister NarendraModi had already assured to work with the state government in the completion of the Polavaram project, which was declared a national project.
“The entire construction cost would be borne by the Centre. Along with the state government, the Centre is also working in good faith to complete the first phase of the project within a year,” he said and added that justice will be done to the displaced families by accommodating them in resettlement colonies.
He said there was a need to provide employment opportunities and livelihood training in these rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) colonies. The authorities have to be considerate in providing facilities to the displaced families until they get settled in the new place, he said.
The Union minister and the chief minister interacted with the relocated families and directed that the R&R officials pay more attention to rehabilitation works.

::INTERNATIONAL::

North Korea fires 'unidentified projectile': South's military

North Korea fired at least one "unidentified projectile" on Saturday, South Korea's military said, the nuclear-armed country's ninth suspected weapons test this year.
"North Korea fired an unidentified projectile eastward," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, without giving further details.
Pyongyang carried out an unprecedented seven weapons tests in January, including of its most powerful missile since 2017, when leader Kim Jong Un baited then-US president Donald Trump with a spate of provocative launches.
Diplomacy has languished ever since, and despite biting international sanctions, Pyongyang has doubled down on military development.
In January the North threatened to abandon a self-imposed moratorium on testing long-range and nuclear weapons.
Pyongyang said Monday it had carried out a test of "great significance" towards developing a reconnaissance satellite, a day after Seoul said it had detected a ballistic missile launch.
Analysts had widely predicted Pyongyang would seek to capitalise on the United States' distraction over Russia's invasion of Ukraine with more tests.
North Korea last month accused the United States of being the "root cause of the Ukraine crisis" saying in a statement on its foreign ministry's website that Washington "meddled" in the internal affairs of other countries when it suited them but condemned legitimate "self-defensive measures".

::ECONOMY::

India aims 50% non-fossil fuel energy by 2030: Modi

Prime Minister NarendraModi on Friday stressed India’s aim to achieve 50% of its installed energy capacity through non-fossil fuels by 2030 in a bid to promote sustainability and reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil.
His remarks came at a time when international crude oil prices soared to a10-year high because of the Russia-Ukraine war and the reluctance of producers to raise output.
Speaking at a webinar on ‘Energy for Sustainable Growth’, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment made at Glasgow to reach ‘net zero’ by 2070 and mentioned his vision of ‘LIFE’ pertaining to lifestyle for environment.
“Whatever targets India has set for itself, I do not see them as a challenge, but as an opportunity. India has been working on this vision for the last few years and the same has been taken forward at a policy level in this year’s budget,” he said. The budget on February 1 announced ₹19,500 croreoutlay for high-efficiency solar module manufacturing, which will help in making India a global hub for manufacturing of green energy components.
Finance minister NirmalaSitharaman on February 1 announced “energy transition and climate action” as one of the major goals of the central government, which is part of its 25-year vision when India will achieve 100 years of Independence.
The Prime Minister spoke about the future upsurge in energy demand in India and underlined the criticality of transition towards renewable energy. He listed a series of steps in this direction, such as clean cooking in about 250 million households, solar panels on canals, solar trees in household gardens or balconies to achieve 15% energy for the household from such solar trees. “The world is witnessing depletion of all types of natural resources. In such a scenario, circular economy is the demand of the hour and we have to make it a mandatory part of our lives,” he said.

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

Biodegradable nanoparticle developed by IIT Kanpur

The nanoparticle can remain active at low concentration and can be as effective as pesticides without having any negative impact on soil and health of consumers.
Researchers from theIndian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have developed a biodegradable nanoparticle that can be used as an alternative to chemical-based pesticides and help farmers protect their crops from bacterial and fungal infections.
Coined Biodegradable Carbonoid Metabolite (BioDCM), the nanoparticle can remain active at low concentration and can be as effective as pesticides without having any negative impact on soil and health of consumers. IIT Kanpur claims it acts fast as it is applied in bioactive form and can withstand high temperature.
According to IIT Kanpur, the nanoparticle has been developed in collaboration with C. Kannan and Divya Mishra from ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, and R Balamurugan and MouMandal from the School of Chemistry, University of Hyderabad.
AbhayKarandikar, director, IIT Kanpur points out, "as the problems faced by the farmers are multifold, our efforts also have been relentless to enrich the whole ecosystem of farming. Nanoparticles would lessen the worries of crop infection and give a boost to crop yield."
A June 2021 report by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said that every year farmers across the world lose up to 40% of crops to insects and diseases, resulting in an estimated loss of $290 billion to the global economy.

::SPORTS::

Warne drifts away: Cricket legend, 52, dies in Thailand

Spin wizard, Shane Warne, 52, died of a suspected heart attack in a villa in KohSamui, Thailand, his management company, MPC Entertainment, said in a brief statement on Friday night to Fox News, for which he was contracted as a commentator.
“It is with great sadness we advise that Shane Keith Warne passed away of a suspected heart attack in KohSamui, Thailand today, Friday 4 March,” the statement read. “Shane was found unresponsive in his villa and despite the best efforts of medical staff, he could not be revived. The family requests privacy at this time and will provide further details in due course.”
The news came hours after Warne’s Twitter handle posted a condolence message for Rodney Marsh, another icon of Australian cricket, who died at the age of 74 earlier in the day.
“Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has passed. He was a legend of our great game & an inspiration to so many young boys & girls. Rod cared deeply about cricket & gave so much -- especially to Australia & England players. Sending lots & lots of love to Ros& the family. RIP mate,” Warne tweeted in what would be his last public engagement.