Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 26 March 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

::NATIONAL::

The Annual Meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) comprising of Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan was held on March 23-24, 2021 in New Delhi. Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, the two Commissioners are required to meet at least once every year, alternately in India and Pakistan. The meeting could not be held last year due to restrictions induced by the prevailing Covid 19 pandemic situation.
Discussions continued on designs of two Indian projects, namely, PakalDul (1000 MW) and Lower Kalnai (48 MW). Indian side held that these projects are fully compliant with the provisions of the Treaty and provided technical data in support of its position.
Pakistan side requested India for sharing of information on design of other Indian hydropower projects being planned to be developed. Indian side assured that the information will be supplied as and when required to be supplied under the provisions of the Treaty.

North Korea on Friday confirmed it had tested a new guided missile, as President Joe Biden warned of consequences if Pyongyang escalates tensions amid stalled nuclear negotiations.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said the two “new-type tactical guided projectiles” accurately hit the target off the eastern coast on Thursday. Photos on the website of the North’s main RodongSinmun newspaper showed a missile lifting off from a transport erector launcher amid bright flames.
KCNA quoted top official RiPyongChol, who supervised the test, as saying that the new weapon’s development “is of great significance in bolstering up the military power of the country and deterring all sorts of military threats existing on the Korean Peninsula.”
Japanese officials said both weapons tested Thursday were ballistic missiles, which are prohibited by UN Security Council resolutions. According to South Korean officials, North Korea fired two other missiles on Sunday but they were likely cruise missiles, which are not banned.

Parliament on Thursday passed a bill to set up the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) to fund infrastructure projects in India.
The RajyaSabha passed the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) Bill 2021 by voice vote on Thursday. The bill was passed in the LokSabha on March 23, 2021.
The bill seeks to establish the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development to support the development of long-term non-recourse infrastructure financing in India including development of the bonds and derivatives markets necessary for infrastructure financing and to carry on the business of financing infrastructure and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
The DFI (Development Finance Institution), called the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), will be answerable to Parliament.
Replying on the bill in the House, Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman explained that the five years’ tax break to the DFI or NaBFID is given so that more funds flow to it.

The ISRO is embarking on a mission of a different kind by taking the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) to a much higher, futuristic research orbit.
The Bengaluru-headquarteted space agency is striking a partnership with the IIST -- something similar to the JPL- Caltech model in the United States.
JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) is federally funded by US space agency NASA and managed by Caltech (California Institute of Technology).
To coordinate joint research activities between ISRO centres and IIST, akin to the Caltech-JPL model, a dedicated framework has now been put into place, with CBPO (Capacity Building Programme Office) located at ISRO headquarters here as a focal point.
An Advanced Space Research Group has been created to identify application-oriented research projects of importance to ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) centres and matching with the interests of IIST faculty.

India won gold in the women's 25m Pistol Team event on Thursday at the ISSF World Cup. India beat Poland in the final to win the country's 10th gold medal at the World Cup. India continued its good showing in the ongoing ISSF World Cup being held in Delhi as the hosts lead the chart with 10 gold, six silver and five bronze medals.
The Indian women's team of RahiSarnobat, ChinkiYadav and Manu Bhaker beat Poland's Joanna IwonaWawrzonowska, JulitaBorek and AgnieszkaKorejwo 17:7 in the gold medal match.
All the three Indian shooters in the women's 25m pistol team event had swept the individual event in the same category as ChinkiYadav won gold, RahiSarnobat bagged silver and Manu Bhaker finished with silver.