Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 08 December 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 08 December 2021

::NATIONAL::

Sunil Arora invited to join the apex international democracy body IDEA

Former chief election commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora has been invited to join the board of advisers at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, also known as International IDEA, the Election Commission of India said.
Established in 1995, International IDEA is an intergovernmental organisation based in Stockholm, Sweden and has a mission to support sustainable democracy worldwide.
“The institute is assisted by a 15-member board of advisers who are eminent personalities or experts from a wide variety of backgrounds,” read the ECI’s statement.
International IDEA currently has 34 member countries from all continents.
Arora was the 23rd CEC from December 2018 to April 2021, when the commission conducted the general elections to the 17th LokSabha in 2019 apart from several assembly and bye-elections.
A 1980 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, Arora earlier headed various key departments in the Central government and the Rajasthan government.
The ECI said under the leadership of Arora, the commission provided a big push to its digital programme by creating a unified database of more than 930 million electors and a nationwide helpline among other innovations.

::INTERNATIONAL::

India-Maldives joint military exercise EKUVERIN in Maldives

Tenth edition of the Joint Military Exercise Ekuverin between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force will be organised from 07 to 20 October 2019 at Aundh Military Station in Pune, Maharashtra.
The Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces have been conducting Exercise Ekuverin meaning ‘Friends’ in the Dhivehi language since 2009. The 14 days Joint Exercise held alternatively in India and Maldives focuses on enhancing interoperability between the two forces for carrying out counter insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in a semi-urban environment under the United Nations mandate.
The focus of the exercise will be on sharing of best practices and acquainting each other with the operating procedures being followed while undertaking counter insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.
The last exercise was held in 2018 at Northern Area Headquarters, Lh. Maafilaafushi of Maldives. India shares very close ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial ties with the Maldives and Exercise Ekuverin will assist in further strengthening of these ties between the two nations.

::ECONOMY::

PNB launches "PNB PRIDE-CRMD Module" app for disabled employees

New Delhi [India], December 6 (ANI/NewsVoir): Punjab National Bank (PNB) observed "International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD)" in a unique way by launching PNB Pride - CRMD Module Tool.
This tech tool is an android-based application custom-made for differently-abled PNB employees to monitor and effectively follow up with the Special Mention Account (SMA) borrowers. This tool shall be compatible with iOS also very soon.
SMA accounts are stressed loans recognized early, enabling banks to initiate timely remedial actions and preventing such borrowers from slipping to NPAs.
PNB Pride Module has built-in talkback software that allows the visually impaired to access the system independently and enables them to get in touch with the customers simply by tapping on their phones. The initiative is a game-changer that empowers employees to identify stressed assets early and initiate corrective measures.
The app aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. The platform opens new vistas of opportunities for 'PNB Warriors' with visual or any other physical impairment, helping them to make a valuable and tangible contribution.
SuhasLalinakereYathiraj - IAS District Magistrate, Gautam Buddha Nagar (UP) and Silver Medalist (Badminton) in SL-4 Category in the Tokyo, Japan Paralympics 2021 attended the programme as Chief Guest. The Function at H.O.
While addressing PNB Pariwar at the Bank's Head Office in Delhi, the Chief Guest of the event, Suhas LY shared his saga of courage that saw him triumph not only in his professional career but also in the world of sports and games. He said, "We need to have the humility to understand that success doesn't always come to the person who works hard but also who is blessed with the opportunity they get in life and their destiny plays an important role as well. My performance in that one hour at Tokyo really matters, not what I did in rest of my life."

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

DRDO test-fires short-range surface-to-air missile

India successfully test-fired the Vertically Launched Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha, the ministry of defence.
According to Defence Research and Development Organisation officials (DRDO), the air defence system can engage targets at around 15km. The VL-SRSAM, indigenously designed and developed by DRDO for the Indian Navy, is meant for neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges, including sea-skimming targets, the DRDO has said.
“The launch was conducted from a vertical launcher against an electronic target at a very low altitude. The flight path of the vehicle along with health parameters were monitored using a number of tracking instruments deployed by ITR, Chandipur. All sub-systems performed as per expectation,” the defence ministry said in a release.
The launch of the system was conducted to validate the integrated operation of all weapon system components, “including the vertical launcher unit with controller, canisterised flight vehicle, weapon control system etc. required for future launches of the missile from Indian Naval Ships”.
The test launch was monitored by senior officials of the DRDO and Indian Navy. The first trial was conducted on February 22 this year and this was a confirmatory trial to prove the consistent performance of the configuration and integrated operation.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, the Indian Navy and industry for the successful flight test and said the system will further enhance defence capability of Indian naval ships against aerial threats.
The release added the department of defence research and development’s secretary and DRDO chairperson, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, also complemented the teams involved in the successful flight test.

::SPORTS::

Russia defeated Croatia to win Davis Cup Tennis Tournament 2021

Russia’s 15-year wait for a Davis Cup title ended Sunday after another clutch performance by Daniil Medvedev. Medvedev beat Marin Cilic 7-6 (7), 6-2 in the second singles match to give Russia an insurmountable 2-0 lead over Croatia in the final. It is Russia’s third Davis Cup title, and first since 2006.
AndreyRublev earlier had beaten BornaGojo in straight sets to put the Russians ahead at the Madrid Arena. Russia’s other Davis Cup title was in 2002. Croatia also was seeking its third title after triumphs in 2005 and 2018. Russia completed a sweep of team events after the women’s team won the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Prague last month. The last nation to do the double had been the Czech Republic in 2012.
The triumph also capped a special week for Russia captain ShamilTarpischev, the longest-serving Davis Cup captain. He first captained in 1974, and appeared in his 100th match as captain in the semifinals against Germany. The Russian team is officially being called RTF (Russian Tennis Federation) in the competition amid its ongoing doping suspension in international sport.