Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 23 February 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 23 February 2022

::NATIONAL::

J&K Delimitation Panel headed by Justice RanjanaPrakash Desai (Retd) given an extension of 2 months

The Delimitation Commission was was given two months extension till May 6 to complete the exercise of redrawing assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. Its present term was to end on March 6. Its tenure was extended through a notification issued by the Union law and justice ministry.
The panel was constituted March 2020 and was given a one-year extension last year. Headed by retired Supreme Court judge RanjanaPrakash Desai, it has Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and the state election commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir, KK Sharma, as its ex-officio members.
In a television interview, Home Minister Amit Shah said that delimitation exercise is being completed in J&K and elections will be held in next six to eight months.
On February 6, the commission distributed its second draft proposal among its five associate members, who are the Parliament members representing J&K in LokSabha, three from Kashmir who are from National Conference and two from Jammu who are associated with BJP. It had proposed seven new assembly constituencies—six in Jammu region and one in Kashmir region.
National Conference, which has three associate members in the panel, has outrightly rejected it. The People’s Democratic Party, CPI (M), Congress and Panthers Party have also vociferously opposed the proposals. On Saturday, the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) leaders are meeting in Srinagar to discuss the draft proposal, which majority of leaders term “anti-people”.

::INTERNATIONAL::

Invasion/No Invasion: Russia tactics test US response

Are they invading or not? Russian President Vladimir Putin's wily, inch-by-inch approach to Ukraine has made it hard for the United States and allies to craft their response to Europe's biggest crisis since the Cold War.
Since Moscow began massing tens of thousands of heavily armed troops on Ukraine's borders weeks ago, US President Joe Biden has repeatedly warned of sanctions with "enormous consequences" if those troops invaded.
But rather than a blitzkrieg-type offensive, Russia has edged its now 150,000-strong war force ever closer to the Ukraine frontier, announced it would recognize as independent two southeastern Ukraine regions, and deploy "peacekeepers" to the breakaway zone.
Even US officials remained unwilling to categorically declare that Russian troops have actually crossed the border into Ukraine's Donbas region.
"We certainly believe that additional Russian military forces are moving into that region, not beyond that region that we have seen," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.
"But we can't confirm with any great specificity the numbers and what the formations are, what the capabilities are."
Instead, they zoned in on the potential for Putin launching a catastrophic conflict at a moment's notice.
"We assess today that he is near 100 percent of all the forces that we anticipated that he would move in," a defense official said on condition of anonymity.

::ECONOMY::

Jet Airways 2.0 appoints ex-SriLankan Airlines CEO as chief financial officer

JalanKalrock Consortium, the successful resolution applicant and newly proposed promoters of Jet Airways, on Tuesday announced the appointment of VipulaGunatilleka as the chief financial officer (CFO). Gunatilleka, previously the CEO of SriLankan Airlines until January 2022, will be taking charge from March 1.
Before SriLankan Airlines, Gunatilleka was the CFO and board member of TAAG Angola Airlines from November 2015 to July 2018 under Emirates’ management. He played a pivotal role to turn around the loss-making national carrier of Angola.
Speaking on his plans, VipulaGunatilleka said, “I am very excited to join the company and I look forward to contributing my knowledge of the last 30 years to Jet Airways’ resurgence in its new avatar. We will capitalise on the strong brand value which Jet Airways has in the market and use it to rebuild the lost ground.”
He further said, “I first joined SriLankan Airlines as its CFO in 2001 when it was part of the Emirates Group and was establishing its feet in the Indo-Pacific Sub-Continent. Having spent sufficient time in leadership roles in the aviation industry including as CEO of SriLankan Airlines until January 2022, I am aware of the responsibility that lingers on the shoulders of the leadership team, especially the CFO, and I am confident Jet Airways will soon regain its lost glory.”
In a statement, the Consortium said that Gunatilleka was appointed in 2018 to restructure SriLankan Airlines and in less than two years after assuming the duties as the CEO, the airline recorded positive EBITDA/cash flow for the fiscal year 2019-20, notwithstanding the devastating effects of the terror attacks in April 2019 in Sri Lanka, followed by the global coronavirus pandemic in early 2020.

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

PM Modi inaugurates 'Kisan Drone Yatra' and flagged off 100 'Kisan Drones'

Prime Minister NarendraModi launched a special drive. He flagged off 100 Kisan drones to spray pesticides across various states of India. Talking about the application of drones, PM Modi said; "Earlier drones were considered only as a weapon of army or defence forces but today in Manesar, we are inaugurating 'Kisan Drone Yatra.'
This is a new chapter in the technological development of farmers." PM Modi claimed that the 'Kisan Drone Yatra' will open various opportunities in the technological field. He said, "This is a new chapter in the direction of modern agricultural facilities of the 21st century.
I am confident that this beginning will not only prove to be a milestone in the development of the drone sector but also will also open the sky to unlimited possibilities."
PM Modi also elaborated on future plans for the usage of drones in India. He shared that Garuda Aerospace is in the process of making 100 thousand made in India drones. He said, "Garud drones have an aim of making 1 lakh in coming two years made in India drones, which will provide new employment to the youth".
Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs NirmalaSitharaman talked vividly about drones and their in-corporation in the agricultural sector in the recently concluded first half of the Budget session. She said, " By bringing in drones, we are able to bring in efficiencies in the use of fertilisers, pesticides and also make a good technology-driven assessment of the crop density and also possibly predicting the size of the output. Bringing in drones as an instrument or as a very effective tool for improving and modernising India's agriculture. When you bring in a drone, it has got several adaptations"

::SPORTS::

Alexander Zverev kicked-out from Acapulco after angry outburst on umpire

Alexander Zverev was thrown out of the ongoing ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, Mexico for his uncalled behaviour with chair umpire. The incident took place after Zverev's double match, in which he partnered Brazilian tennis player Marcelo Melo against the British-Finn pair of Lloyd Glasspool and HarriHeliovaara.
"Due to unsportsmanlike conduct at the conclusion of his doubles match on Tuesday night, Alexander Zverev has been withdrawn from the tournament in Acapulco," the ATP said in a statement.
Zverev was upset with the official over a line call, which took place earlier in the match. He also hurled expletives at Germani.