Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 09 April 2019

::NATIONAL::

Indian airforce confirms shooting down Pak F-16

• The Indian Air Force, IAF on Monday reiterated that it has irrefutable evidence not only of the fact that the F-16 was used by Pakistan Air Force on 27th February but also that IAF MIG 21 Bison shot down the F-16.

• Briefing media in New Delhi, Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor said, there is no doubt that two aircraft went down in the aerial engagement, one of which was the MIG 21 Bison while the other was F-16 of Pakistan Air Force conclusively identified by its electronic signature and radio trans.

• Air Vice Marshal Kapoor said, IAF has more credible evidence that is clearly indicative of the fact that Pakistan has lost one F-16. However, he said, due to security and confidentiality concerns, the Indian Air Force is restricting the information being shared in the public domain.

NGT to inquire into Yamuna floodplain erosion

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday formed a committee to look into the alleged erosion of Yamuna floodplain due to movement of heavy vehicles in Haryana's Sonipat district.

• A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel constituted a committee comprising the principal secretary of the Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Department, member secretary of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board and the director of the Mines and Geology Department.

• The tribunal said the committee would submit a joint report within one month by e-mail so that matter can be taken up before the monsoon. The next hearing in the matter is due on May 24.

::ECONOMY::

President honours institutions of innovation

• The President of India, Shri Ram NathKovind, released the India Rankings – 2019 and presented the India Rankings awards to the top eight institutions in different categories at a function held in New Delhi.

He also released the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) and presented the ARIIA awards to the top two institutions.

• Speaking on the occasion, the President said that recent expansion of higher education in India has widened access and improved equity. Even so, quality remains a concern. While there are islands of excellence, both in the public and private sectors, overall standards are uneven. As our higher education infrastructure continues to grow, and as enrolment rises, it is important to lift the bar. A nuanced approach is essential to ensure that higher education not only fulfils individual aspirations, but also achieves national goals and priorities.

• The President noted that besides overall rankings, category-specific rankings have been undertaken for colleges and universities, as well as subject-specific rankings for engineering, management, pharmacy, architecture, law and medicine.

• He said that a ranking system of such a nature fosters a spirit of healthy competition between institutions. This is vital because all institutions are today competing for talent – teaching talent, research talent, the most talented students, and even the most enlightened administrators.

• If an institution wants to attract the best, it too has to be among the best. It has to provide an encouraging atmosphere and suitable campus culture for students and members of the academic community.

Despite global prices falling,LNG imports declined

• Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports fell 9.1% during February 2019, despite global prices falling, which bucks the established trend in India where LNG imports rise when prices fall, according to a report by India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra).

• This change in import behaviour could be explained by the dual trends of increased production and decreased consumption within India, the report added.

• While ONGC registered an 8.5% increase in natural gas production, Oil India saw a 2.7% fall; private and joint venture fields saw a more drastic fall in production of 14%.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

Maldivian President set to expand cooperation with India post electoral victory

• Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid has said that the friendship between India and Maldives has reached new heights since Prime Minister NarendraModi attended the swearing in of President Solih.

• In an interview to AIR correspondent, he said that development cooperation agenda is being implemented at quick pace. Mr.Shahid said that his government’s promise for people-oriented projects like water and sewage facilities, are being implemented with generous assistance from the Government of India.

• The Indian government had announced a 1.4 billion US dollars assistance to Maldives and details of projects are being formulated. Maldives requested for assistance in construction of a cricket stadium during the recent visit to Male of External affairs minister and the details are being worked out.

• Mr.Shahid also said that there is a very fruitful defence cooperation between the two countries.

U.S and Iran accuse each other over supporting terrorism

• The United States has designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the move is part of an effort to put maximum pressure on Iran to end its support for terrorist plots and militant activity that destabilizes the Middle East.

• The designation will potentially open hundreds of foreign companies and business executives to US travel bans and possible prosecution.

• Meanwhile, Iran has threatened to retaliate for the decision, and shortly after it was announced foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif called on President Hassan Rouhani to include Mideast-based US forces on Iran's own terrorist list.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Army receives Dhanush artillery gun from ODF

• The Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) on Monday handed over the first batch of six Dhanush artillery guns to the Army. Dhanush is the indigenously upgraded version of the Swedish Bofors gun procured in the 1980s.

• Dhanush is a 155 mm, 45-calibre towed artillery gun with a range of 36 km and has demonstrated a range of 38 km with specialised ammunition. It is an upgrade of the existing 155m, 39 calibre Bofors FH 77 gun. It is compatible with all North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) 155 mm ammunition system.

• The gun is fitted with inertial navigation system with global positioning system- (GPS) based gun recording and auto-laying, an enhanced tactical computer for onboard ballistic computations, an onboard muzzle velocity recording, an automated gun sighting system equipped with camera, thermal imaging and laser range finder

• All 114 guns are expected to be delivered within four years. The OFB has already undertaken capacity augmentation to manufacture over 400 barrels and 250 ordnances for large calibre weapon systems.

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