Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 30 December 2020

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 30 December 2020

::NATIONAL::

ITBP names its new-born K-9 warriors as a salute to troops guarding Indian borders

Junking the traditional western names for K9s, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has for the first time in any Central Armed Forces history has given local names for cute little warrior pups of its famous K9 wing
The pups have been named as a respect of all the troops guarding the excruciatingly tough borders of the country.
A formal ‘Naamkaran Ceremony’ was held at National Training Centre for Dogs, ITBP BTC, Bhanu, Panchkula Haryana where the Force had named the 17 malinois pups who born couple of months ago from ITBP dogs- Gala the Father and Olga and Oleshya the mothers. The names of the pups are- Ane-la, Galwan, Sasoma, Chip-chap, Saser, Srijap, Charding, Rezang, Daulat, Sultan-chusku, Imis, Rango, Yula, Mukhpri, Chung-Thung, Khardungi, and Shyok.
By naming these little K9 soldiers with 100% desi names, that too from the areas guarded by the Force, it is for the first time since independence, that the K9 wing of the country will acknowledge its own legacy and ethos. With this initiative, instead of calling out to Cesar, Olga and Elizabeth (Betty, Liza), the ITBP dog handlers will now be proudly calling out to names that flows in their blood, the very names of Himalayan points they guard in bone numbing high altitude terrain.
The Force plans that the next batch of pups will be named after other prominent names of the icy frontiers where ITBP is deployed covering the entire 3488 km long border from Karakoram to Jechap La guarded by this elite mountain crack outfit.
The ITBP has received requests from other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for these pups to be used for their security duties.

::ECONOMY::

India's first social impact bond will be issued

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) recently signed an MoU with UNDP India to co-create India’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB).
“As part of this unique investment tool, the PCMC administration will only have to bear the costs of a public welfare project associated with the bond if the pre-defined project targets are fulfilled,” an official release said.
This type of bond lays down outcome-based targets to be achieved at the start of the contract. “This feature allows for tracking the progress of the outcomes, thus ensuring transparency for investors. This mechanism also ensures that funds are used effectively and efficiently towards the project. This SIB will support the PCMC in improving healthcare services for its citizens, especially with respect to the pandemic while incurring minimum investment risks,” the release said.
This is the first time that a government body will act as the ‘Outcome Funder’ in a bond, whereas traditionally most government-funded public projects require large and early investments by the government with a substantial gestation period of outcomes and involve various kinds of risks.
The introduction of the SIB will attract more investors from public and private sectors to fund public welfare projects and thus help to meet the investment deficit. The Palladium Group has been appointed for design and structuring expertise for the impact bond.
This is in line with our vision of making Pimpri-Chinchwad the most liveable city in India by 2030.”

::INTERNATIONAL::

Indo-French SKYROS practice

The 17th edition of Varuna, an Indo-French naval exercise, currently on off Goa coast, is the largest joint exercise undertaken by the two Navies and represents the strengthened maritime co-operation between India and France, said statements released by both Navies in Goa on Monday.
The statements, released at a press conference on board INS Mumbai, said that the harbour and sea phases of the exercise from May 1 to May 6 and from May 7 to May 10, respectively, are aimed at honing skills for naval operations across the broad spectrum, with an increased focus on tactical scenarios.
The second sea phase is scheduled to be held at the end of May in Djibouti, located on the Horn of Africa.
“It will be the largest ever conducted Varuna exercise with 11 of India and Frances’s most modern units, including two aircraft and two submarines,” statement of the French Navy said.
The submarine, built at MDL with the main collaborator being M/s Naval group, France, is set to commence sea trials soon.
Secretary (Defence Production) Ajay Kumar was the chief guest for the ceremony and Veena Ajay Kumar was the lady dignitary who performed the ceremony. “The submarine has been named Vela after an earlier submarine, which was the lead submarine, of the erstwhile Vela class, the second batch of the Foxtrot class submarines acquired from USSR.

Science and Tech

Complexity in science can be navigated using common sense: DST Secretary at ICMI

Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Prof Ashutosh Sharma, stressed that complexity in science can be navigated by using common sense and that it is important to relate research to larger questions of life, at the International Conference on Multifunctional Nano Materials (ICMN 2020).
“The new age has heightened the capabilities of the mind that machines do not have, like lateral thinking, connecting the dots, creativity, problem solving, interdisciplinary thinking, portability and developing concepts across silos, Professor Sharma said at the online conference which is taking place from December 28 to 30, 2020.
He also highlighted the importance of translation, innovation, startups, of closing the circle of knowledge and of relating a narrow domain of research to the larger concerns of science and society in the new age where future is throwing questions at faster pace, at the conference organised by Manipal University Jaipur.
Prof Sharma also spoke about future directions and drivers of science and technology. “Convergence and co-arising of technologies, rise of intelligent machines, sustainability and development, managing data, information technology, equity and inclusion are the challenges and opportunities that the new age brings,” he pointed out.

Sports

World Test Championship updated table after Melbourne Test: India retain second spot

The race for the top two spots in the World Test Championship points table is hotting up with India and New Zealand registering victories respectively to rival top placed Australia’s domination. India’s eight-wicket win over Australia in the second Test match at Melbourne helped them retain the second spot in the table. The top two teams on the table will contest the final next year.
While India continue to have the most points, they stay behind Australia on percentage points, which will eventually decide the positions on the table. India bagged 30 points for their eight-wicket win and now have 390 points and a 72.2 percentage of points (PCT).
Australia have 322 points with a 76.6 PCT, which was a result of a penalty they faced due to maintaining slow over rate in the Boxing Day Test.
New Zealand consolidated their third spot with a 101-run win over Pakistan in the first Test on Wednesday. The Black Caps earned 60 points for the win and now have a PCT of 66.7.