Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 13 March 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 13 March 2021

::NATIONAL::

PM inaugurates 'AmritMahotsav of Independence' from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad

The Prime Minister, ShriNarendraModi flagged off the ‘Padyatra’ (Freedom March) from Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad and inaugurated the curtain raiser activities of the ‘AzadiKaAmritMahotsav’ (India@75). Governor of Gujarat ShriAcharyaDevvrat, Union MoS (I/C) ShriPrahalad Singh Patel and Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Vijay Rupani and Gandhi Ashram trustees were among those present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering at Sabarmati Ashram, the Prime Minister stated that the launch of the ‘AzadikaAmritMahotsav’ 75 weeks before 15 August 2022 will continue till 15 August, 2023. He paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and great personalities who laid down their lives in the freedom struggle.
The Prime Minister reiterated five pillars i.e. Freedom Struggle, Ideas at 75, Achievements at 75, Actions at 75 and Resolves at 75 as guiding force for moving forward keeping dreams and duties as inspiration.
The Prime Minister asserted that AzadiAmritMahotsav means elixir of energy of independence. It means elixir of inspirations of the warriors of freedom struggle; elixir of new ideas and pledges and nectar of Aatmnirbharta.
Speaking on this occasion, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture ShriPrahlad Singh Patel said that after 91 years, we are all now on the same soil from where Gandhiji started the Dandi March. But it is a completely transformed India now. Recalling the words of the Prime Minister, the Union Culture Minister said that the journey of India will now be defined by self-reliance and self-respect. Our image on the world canvas will be that of a contributor. The new and self-reliant India has delivered medicines and vaccines to the world. We want to focus on labor and toil so that our future generations are carved out in strength. The Prime Minister envisions that when the country celebrates the centenary (100th year) of Independence, then our achievements and cultural glory should be an outshining example before the world. ShriPrahlad Singh also stated that AzadikaAmritMahotsav shall be a Jan Mahotsav and the programs will be organized as per the interest of the general public. In fact, these programs will be organized by the citizen themselves.

::INTERNATIONAL::

G7 expresses 'grave concerns' over electoral changes in Hong Kong

Foreign ministers in the G7 group of nations including the United States have expressed grave concerns at what they said was China’s decision to fundamentally erode democratic elements of the electoral system in Hong Kong.
The G7 released a statement that was tweeted by British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, saying the recent decision to change Hong Kong’s electoral system indicated that authorities in China were determined to eliminate dissenting voices and opinions in Hong Kong.
“We also call on China and the Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in Hong Kong’s political institutions and end the unwarranted oppression of those who promote democratic values and the defence of rights and freedoms,” it said.
China’s parliament approved on Thursday a draft decision to change Hong Kong’s electoral system, further reducing democratic representation in the city’s institutions and introducing a mechanism to vet politicians’ loyalty to Beijing.
The measures are part of Beijing’s efforts to consolidate its increasingly authoritarian grip over the Asian financial hub following the imposition of a national security law in June 2020, which critics see as a tool to crush dissent.
The European Commission and the High Representative noted in an annual report on Friday that there has been an “alarming political deterioration in Hong Kong”, citing the imposition of the national security law, the arrest of dozens of pro-democracy activists in January, and Beijing’s move this week to overhaul the city’s politics.
“China is consciously dismantling the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle in violation of its international commitments and the Hong Kong Basic Law,” EU High Representative/Vice-President JosepBorrell said.

::ECONOMY::

In a huge achievement, Indian Railway surpasses last year cumulative freight loading way before the year end

In spite of Covid challenges, on 11th March 2021, Indian Railways surpassed last year's total Cumulative freight loading.
On 11th March 2021, Indian Railways’ cumulative freight loading touched 1145.68 million tonnes which is higher than total cumulative loading of last year (1145.61 million tonnes).
Freight figures continue to maintain the high momentum in terms of loading and speed in the month of March 2021 as well for Indian Railways.
On a month to month basis, upto March 11, 2021, Indian Railways loading was 43.43 million tonnes, which is 10 % higher compared to last year’ loading for the same period (39.33 million tonnes).
On day to day basis, on 11th March, 2021, the freight loading of Indian Railways was 4.07 million tonnes, which is 34% higher compare to last year’s loading for the same date (3.03 million tonnes).
The average speed of Freight Trains in the month of March 2021 till 11th March was 45.49 kmph which is almost double compare to last year for the same period (23.29 kmph).
It is worth mentioning that a number of concessions/discounts are also being given in Indian Railways to make Railways Freight movement very attractive. Strong emergence of Business Development Units in Zones & Divisions, constant dialogue with the industry & logistics service providers, faster speed etc are adding to the robust growth of freight business for the Railways.

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

Scientists develop molecular sensor that will aid identifying new drugs of therapeutic value

Researchers have recently developed a molecular sensor, which can identify cancer drugs by detecting how such chemicals modify microtubules inside living cells
Microtubules are part of the cytoskeleton, a structural network within the cell's cytoplasm, and they alter in response to several chemicals.Understanding tubulin modifications has remained a challenge till date because of unavailability of tools that can mark them in living cells. Researchers from inStem, Bangalore, India, in collaboration with Curie Institute, Orsay, France, funded by Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (IFCPAR/CEFIPRA), a bilateral organization supported by Department of Science & Technology (DST),
Government of India and Government of France decided to overcome this shortcoming and developed the first tubulin nanobody - or sensor to study the dynamics of microtubule modifications in living cells and use this for identification of new cancer therapeutic drugs. This work has been recently published recently in the Journal of Cell Biology. The researchers from Bangalore and Orsay devised a method to design synthetic proteins, known as nanobodies, which can bind specifically to modified microtubules.
These nanobodies are similar to antibodies made in our body as a defense mechanism against pathogens. However, unlike antibodies, the nanobodies are smaller in size and easily amenable for protein engineering. The nanobody was then coupled with a fluorescent molecule to serve as a detection tool, called sensor.