Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 09 April 2021
Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 09 April 2021
::NATIONAL::
'Reviving stories of sacrifice for youth to fill in new resolutions': PM
- Prime Minister NarendraModi on Friday released the Hindi translation of the book ‘OdishaItihaas’. The book is written by 'UtkalKeshari' DrHarekrushnaMahtab. He said, "Today we are reviving the stories of sacrifice and sacrifice of freedom fighters so that our youth do not only know it, but experience it, fill in with new confidence and move forward with new resolutions to do something."
- Union minister DharmendraPradhan and BijuJanata Dal (BJD) MP and son of HarekrushnaMahtab, BhartruhariMahtabwere also present at the event.
- The Prime Minister said it is very necessary that the comprehensive and diverse history of Odisha reached the people of the country. "About a year and a half ago, we celebrated the 120th birth anniversary of 'UtkalKesari' HarekrushnaMahtabji.
- PM Modi further said that Mahtab took big decisions as the chief minister of Odisha. "Even after reaching power, he considered himself to be a freedom fighter and he was a freedom fighter all his life," he asserted.
- He added that Mahtab dedicated his life to the freedom struggle, and even served sentence in jail. "But the important thing is that along with the freedom fight.
::INTERNATIONAL::
Indonesia warns of risk of landslides, floods from new cyclone 'Odette'
- Indonesia's weather agency warned on Friday that a second tropical cyclone in the space of a week could trigger floods and landslides in more central areas after cyclone Seroja killed 163 people in eastern parts of the country.
- Rescuers have been searching for missing people and rushing in aid to islands in East Nusa Tenggara province after Seroja lashed the area with rain, floods and landslides on Sunday.
- The head of Indonesia's weather agency (BMKG) said a new cyclone, named Odette, was gaining traction and could hit Lampung province on the island of Sumatra, as well as the provinces of East Java and Central Java and the island of Bali.
- "People are advised to remain cautious of heavy winds and rains that could happen in some areas and be mindful of threats of floods, landslides and flash floods," DwikoritaKarnawati told a news conference.
- President JokoWidodo, who flew to East Nusa Tenggara on Friday to survey recovery efforts, said that while the needs of displaced people were being met in the area he visited, access was being blocked by large boulders.
::ECONOMY::
Provisional Direct Tax collections for the Financial Year 2020-21 show growth of almost 5%
- The provisional figures of Direct Tax collections for the Financial Year 2020-21 show that net collections are at Rs. 9.45 lakh crore.
- The net Direct Tax collections include Corporation Tax (CIT) at Rs. 4.57 lakh crore and Personal Income Tax(PIT) including Security Transaction Tax(STT) at Rs. 4.88 lakh crore. The net Direct Tax collections represent 104.46% of the Revised Estimates of Rs. 9.05 lakh crore of Direct Taxes for the F.Y. 2020-21.
- The Gross collection of Direct Taxes(before adjusting for refunds) for the F.Y. 2020-21 stands at Rs. 12.06 lakh crore. This includes Corporation Tax(CIT) at Rs. 6.31 lakh crore and Personal Income Tax (PIT) including Security Transaction Tax(STT) at Rs. 5.75 lakh crore; Advance Tax of Rs. 4.95 lakh crore; Tax Deducted at Source (including Central TDS) of Rs. 5.45 lakh crore; Self-Assessment Tax of Rs. 1.07 lakh crore; Regular Assessment Tax of Rs. 42,372 crore; Dividend Distribution Tax of Rs. 13,237 crore and Tax under other minor heads of Rs. 2,612 crore.
- Despite an extremely challenging year, the Advance Tax collections for F.Y. 2020-21 stand at Rs. 4.95 lakh crore which shows a growth of approximately 6.7% over the Advance Tax collections of the immediately preceding Financial Year of Rs. 4.64 lakh crore.
::SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY::
Dozen rare quadruply imaged quasars discovered can help determine expansion rate of the universe
- A group of astronomers have discovered a dozen quasars that have been warped by a naturally occurring cosmic "lens" and split into four similar images.
- This rare discovery increases the number of known quasars or quads by about 25 percent and can help determine the expansion rate of the universe and help address other mysteries. Quasars are extremely luminous cores of distant galaxies that are powered by supermassive black holes. Quadruply imaged quasars are rare, and the first quadruple image was discovered in 1985. Over the past four decades, astronomers had found about fifty of these “quadruply imaged quasars” or quads for short, which occur when the gravity of a massive galaxy that happens to sit in front of a quasar splits its single image into four.
- The study by Gaia Gravitational Lenses Working Group (GraL) of astronomers, which included scientists from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, spanning only a year and a half, demonstrates the power of machine-learning to assist astronomers in their search for these cosmic jewels. It has been accepted for publication in ‘The Astrophysical Journal’.
::SPORTS::
Armyman Bharat Pannu cycles his way into Guinness book with two world records
- Armyman Bharat Pannu has made two Guinness World Records for fastest solo cycling in October 2020. It was this month that he received his two record certificates.
- Lieutenant Colonel Pannu made the first record by cycling from Leh to Manali, a distance of 472 km on October 10,2020, in 35 hours, 32 minutes, and 22 seconds. His second record saw him begin cycling the 5,942-km-long ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ route, which connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, on October 16, 2020. He started from India Gate, New Delhi, and, completing the route in 14 days, 23 hours and 52 minutes, finished at the same spot on October 30, said army officials.