Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 22 December 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 22 December 2021

::NATIONAL::

Andhra launches new scheme to waive housing loans of poor

Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday launched a new scheme for poor people aimed at waiving off all loans and their interest on the government-sanctioned houses and providing them full rights over their properties with the payment of a nominal amount.
Launching the scheme, called JaganannaSampoornaGruhaHakkuPathakam (Jagan’s total housing rights scheme), at a function at Tanuku in West Godavari district, the chief minister said the scheme would benefit over 5.2 million families who would get registered title deeds on payment of a nominal amount under a one-time-settlement (OTS) plan.
Addressing the gathering, Jagan said with the beneficiaries being given full rights with registration documents, they could pass on the assets to the next generations, avail of bank loans and also sell their property at a market rate without any hassles.
“The government is waiving off the ₹10,000 crore outstanding housing loans of the beneficiaries who availed of loans from the AP Housing Board Corporation since 2011 and beneficiaries will be given house documents with clear titles with free registration benefitting 52 lakh people,” he said.
“Why would I take money from the poor in the name of OTS, when over ₹1.16 lakh crore has been provided through various schemes?” he asked.
As part of the scheme, the chief minister distributed registered documents to 826,000 people who have enrolled for the OTS. “Similarly, people who have constructed houses in the government-allotted lands with their own money and don’t have full rights can avail of registration by paying just ₹10 and secure their property. For free registrations alone the government has been spending ₹6,000 crore,” he said.
“In case the loan amount is less than the stipulated amounts, the beneficiaries can then pay the outstanding loan amount and get complete rights on their property,” he said, adding that the scheme is extended up to Ugadi festival falling on April 2.
He said after the registration, the property would be removed from the prohibited lands under Section 22 (A) and the beneficiary can carry out any legal transaction without any hassles.
“Also to ease the registration process, beneficiaries can register their property at the village and ward secretariats without any additional cost. With this document registration, the beneficiary doesn’t require any link documents to carry out any transactions related to the property,” Jagan said.

::INTERNATIONAL::

Britain, Norway, seal first post-Brexit fishing deal

Britain and Norway have signed their first post-Brexit fishing deal, allowing each country access to the other's waters and reciprocal quotas, the government in Oslo announced.
Under the agreement, which covers 2022, both countries can fish up to 30,000 tonnes of demersal, or deep-water stocks, and 17,000 tonnes of herring in the waters of the other.
Britain will also be allowed to fish up to 6,550 tonnes of cod around Svalbard, in the Barents Sea, the scene of past fishing disputes between the two countries.
Fisheries Minister BjornarSkjaran expressed satisfaction with the agreement, describing it as the first such accord between the two countries, having failed to reach one covering 2021.
Britain also welcomed the agreement, a statement from fisheries minister Victoria Prentis saying it "ensures a strong balance that will benefit both our fishing industry and the protection of our marine environment".
Fishing matters have been a major point of friction between Britain and the European Union, but neither Britain nor Norway are members of the bloc.

::ECONOMY::

CCI approves acquisition of shareholding in Air India by Tata Sons

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday approved acquisition of a shareholding in Air India by Talace Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons.
The regulator also approved stake acquisition by Talace in Air India Express and Air India SATS Airport Services along with the acquisition of shares in Air India.
"The proposed combination envisages acquisition of 100% equity share capital of Air India Limited (Air India) and Air India Express Limited (AIXL), and 50% equity share capital of Air India SATS Airport Services Private Limited (AISATS) by Talace Private Limited (Talace),” CCI said in a statement.
The government announced on October 8 Talace had won the bid to acquire the debt-laden airline. Tata outbid a consortium led by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh by offering ₹18,000 crore.
On October 25, the government signed the share purchase agreement with Tata Sons for the divestment of Air India, which is wholly owned by the government. Earlier this month, civil aviation minister JyotiradityaScindia said the transfer of Air India to Tata Sons will be completed in the next 1 to 1.5 months.
Talace is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, an investment holding company that is registered as a core investment company with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and classified as a “Systemically Important Non-Deposit Taking Core Investment Company”.
The share purchase agreement shows ₹46,262 crore debt of the state-owned airline will be transferred to Air India Assets Holding Limited (AIAHL) and 15 per cent of the total debt of ₹61,562 crore will be retained by the Tata Group.
The government will get around ₹2,700 crore cash from Tatas and they will take over ₹15,300 crore debt.

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) designs kit for omicron detection

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has designed a diagnostic kit for detection of Omicron variant of the coronavirus and has invited Expression of Interest from in vitro diagnostics (IVD) kit manufacturers for undertaking transfer of technology for its development and commercialisation.
The ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre, NE, Dibrugarh, one of the institutes of the ICMR, New Delhi, has developed a novel technology -- real-time RT-PCR assay for detection of Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV2 and a kit for the same. "ICMR is the owner of the said technology, including any underlying intellectual property(ies) and commercialisation rights.
ICMR is lawfully entitled to enter into any form of non-exclusive license agreements with selected manufacturer/manufacturers, including transfer of technology through suitable agreement to any other interested manufacturers," the invitation of Expression of Interest document said. "ICMR, New Delhi, invites Expression of Interest (EOI) through email from experienced IVD kit manufacturers for undertaking transfer of technology for development and commercialisation of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) Real time RT-PCR assay (RT-PCR) through a novel diagnostic kit, developed by ICMR," the invitation of EoI said.

::SPORTS::

Eddie Nketiah hat-trick fires Arsenal into League Cup semis

Eddie Nketiah struck a hat-trick as Arsenal beat League One club Sunderland 5-1 at the Emirates on Tuesday to book a place in the semi-finals of the League Cup.
MikelArteta rotated his side but still fielded a strong enough line-up to ensure his team comfortably progressed to the last four.
The 22-year-old Nketiah, who has not started in the Premier League this season, put the Gunners ahead, against the third-tier club, pouncing from close range after Rob Holding's header from a corner was parried out by Sunderland keeper Lee Burge.
Nicolas Pepe doubled the lead with a deflected shot after good work from Cedric Soares but Sunderland pulled a goal back with a nice finish from Nathan Broadhead, who lifted the ball over the advancing Bernd Leno.