Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 24 DECEMBER 2019
::NATIONAL::
Government clears rumours on CAA and NRC
- Government has reiterated that no Indian citizens of any religion or any
region will be adversely impacted by the Citizenship Amendment Act. It has
asked people to not to get mislead by misinformation on the act.
- Citizenship Amendment Act is about giving citizenship to persecuted
minorities settled in India till 2014. It does not take away citizenship
from anyone. It is a myth that documents to prove citizenship need to be
collected right now else people will be deported.
- The Citizenship Amendment Act applies only to the minorities from three
countries - Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
- Centre has made it clear that no nationwide NRC has been announced.
Whenever it is announced, rules and guidelines will be framed in such a way
that no Indian citizens face any harassment whatsoever.
- Union Minister for Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad has alleged that
people are being misled over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National
Register of Citizens (NRC).
- Talking to media persons in Patna today, the Senior BJP leader said,
synchronizing CAA with NRC is uncalled for as the shape of NRC is yet to
evolve.
Around 35 lakh passengers flown under UDAN scheme
- The scheme was launched in October 2016, to provide connectivity to
un-served and under-served regions through the revival of existing airstrips
and airports.
- Civil Aviation Ministry said, the travelling time has reduced
drastically and the public at large is benefited for the purpose of tourism,
medical emergencies and religious shrines.It said, 134 routes commenced in
the last one year.
::ECONOMY::
GST taxpayers cross onecrore
- A range of measures to go after tax defaulters and simplifying the GST
filing process was discussed by the Group of Ministers headed by Bihar
Deputy Chief Minister SushilModi in Bengaluru yesterday.
- Briefing media persons in Bengaluru, SushilModi informed that the number
of active GST taxpayers has gone up to one crore twenty-one lakh of which
66.79 lakh are new registrations, since the launch of GST.
- However, only 15 per cent of the new taxpayers have paid taxes. Hence
Mr.Modi said that states have started physical verification of the new
taxpayers by visiting their premises.
Finance ministry holds pre-budget consultation with stakeholders
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held her 2nd pre-budget
consultations with stakeholders' groups from the Financial Sector and
Capital Markets in New Delhi .
- The meeting took place in connection with the forthcoming Union Budget
2020-21. The Finance Minister is likely to present her second budget in
Parliament on the 1st of February next year.
- The Finance Ministry said the main areas of discussion included
increasing credit off-take from banks, governance changes in Public Sector
Banks, creation of well-functioning bond markets, Alternative Investment
Funds in Real Estate Sector and measures for alleviating stress among
Non-Banking Financial Companies.
- With a view to give a boost to the markets, the representatives of the
Financial Sector and Capital Markets submitted several suggestions
concerning enhancing credit off-take from banks, risk capital issues, mutual
funds and promoting leasing by reducing GST.
::INTERNATIONAL::
ICC wants investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestine
- Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman held her 2nd pre-budget consultations
with stakeholders' groups from the Financial Sector and Capital Markets in
New Delhi today.
- The meeting took place in connection with the forthcoming Union Budget
2020-21. The Finance Minister is likely to present her second budget in
Parliament on the 1st of February next year.
- The Finance Ministry said the main areas of discussion included
increasing credit off-take from banks, governance changes in Public Sector
Banks, creation of well-functioning bond markets, Alternative Investment
Funds in Real Estate Sector and measures for alleviating stress among
Non-Banking Financial Companies.
- With a view to give a boost to the markets, the representatives of the
Financial Sector and Capital Markets submitted several suggestions
concerning enhancing credit off-take from banks, risk capital issues, mutual
funds and promoting leasing by reducing GST. Suggestions were also received
for enhancing support from private banks to stand up India Scheme.
::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::
QRSAM system developed by DRDO test fired
- Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile, QRSAM system developed by Defence
Research and Development Organisation, DRDO was successfully flight-tested
from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the Odisha coast today.
- The missile was flight-tested with the full configuration in deployment
mode intercepting the target mid-air, meeting the mission objectives.
- The entire event was monitored by Ground Telemetry Systems, Range Radar
Systems, Electro-Optical Tracking System etc.
- The QRSAM weapon system, which operates on the move, comprises of fully
automated Command and Control System, Active Array Battery Surveillance
Radar, Active Array Battery Multifunction Radar and Launcher.
- Both radars are four-walled having 360-degree coverage with a search on
move and track on move capability.
- The system is compact with a minimum number of vehicles for a firing
unit. The single-stage solid propelled missile has a midcourse inertial
navigation system with two-way data link and terminal active seeker
developed indigenously by DRDO.
- The missile successfully engaged the aerial target establishing its
capability. Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems) MSR Prasad was
present during the trial.
::SPORTS::
Rakhi halder creates two national records
- Indian weightlifter Rakhi Halder with creating two new national records
clinched a bronze medal in the women's 64kg weight category at the Qatar
International Cup in Doha.
- The Commonwealth Championship gold medallist, superseded the senior
national record in both snatch and total lift with her personal best effort
of 218kg 95kg in the snatch with 123 kg in clean and jerk last night.
- At the Commonwealth Championship in June, Halder had clinched the gold
with a combined effort of 214kg including 94kg and 120kg in clean and jerk.
- India ended the Olympic qualifying silver level event with three medals.
Former world champion MirabaiChanu had won the gold on the opening day while
teenager Jeremy Lalrinnunga had claimed silver in a power-packed
performance.