Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 16 December 2020

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 16 December 2020

::NATIONAL::

PM Modi lights up ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal' to begin 50th anniversary celebrations of Indo-Pak War

In December 1971, the Indian Armed Forces secured a decisive and historic Victory over Pakistan Army, which led to creation of a Nation - Bangladesh and also resulted in the largest Military Surrender after the World War – II.
From 16 December, the Nation will be celebrating 50 Years of Indo-Pak War, also called ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’. Various commemorative events are planned across the Nation.
Inaugural event was held at the National War Memorial (NWM) in New Delhi on Wednesday which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On his arrival, the Prime Minister was received by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh at the venue.
Prime Minister, Chief of Defence Staff & Tri-Service Chiefs lay wreath and pay homage to the fallen soldiers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lights up the ‘Swarnim Vijay Mashaal’ from the eternal flame of NWM on the occasion. Four Victory Mashaals (flames) lit from the Eternal Flame of NWM. These Mashaals will be carried to various parts of the country including to villages of Param Vir Chakra and MahaVir Chakra Awardees of 1971 War. Soil from the villages of these Awardees and from areas where major battles were fought in 1971 are being brought to the NWM.

Central govt plans three power gear production zones

The government plans to set up three large manufacturing zones for power and clean energy equipment by offering companies incentives such as land and electricity at attractive prices.Building these zones is part of India’s campaign to encourage self-reliance and reduce dependence on Chinese power equipment.
A list of equipment has been drawn up that the government wants to be manufactured in these zones—one each to be set up in a coastal state, a hill state and a land-locked state.
The Centre has been urging companies and states to procure materials, equipment and technologies from within India, particularly in the strategic power sector, and for which India has sufficient domestic capacity.
These zones will have a minimum land area of 300 acres each and will be set up through a competitive challenge among states.
The states will be selected on the basis of parameters such as manufacturing incentives and the price of land and electricity offered by them.
The Centre will set up common facilities requiring an investment of ₹500 crore each for these zones that are in addition to the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme.

::ECONOMY::

EPFO settles 52 lakh COVID-19 claims, disburses Rs 13,300 cr: Gangwar

Retirement fund body EPFO has settled 52 lakh COVID-19 non-refundable advance claims, and disbursed Rs 13,300 crore so far, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said on Wednesday.
In March, the government had allowed over 6 crore subscribes of EPFO to withdraw an amount not exceeding their three months basic pay and dearness allowance from their EPF account in view of the lockdown to fight the pandemic.
Speaking at Assocham Foundation Week programme, Gangwar said EPFO has settled 52 lakh COVID-19 withdrawal claims and disbursed Rs 13,300 crore to subscribers during the pandemic.
He noted that the country has faced the pandemic with brave face.
The Centre had launched the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) on March 26 to help the economically weaker sections cope with the pandemic.
A provision for withdrawal from the EPF Scheme was announced by the government and an urgent notification issued, providing for non-refundable withdrawal to the extent of basic wages and DA for three months or up to 75 per cent of the amount standing to member's credit in the EPF account, whichever is less.
The labour code on wage was passed by Parliament in 2019. The rules on that have already firmed up.
The government intends to implement all the four codes in one go from April 1, 2021.

Govt. will invite bids for green ammonia projects

Government plans to invite bids for setting up green ammonia projects to reduce import dependence.
Green ammonia refers to ammonia, which has been produced through a process that is 100% renewable and carbon-free.
It uses renewable energy instead of natural gas or coal for producing hydrogen; hence, is an effective way to reduce greenhouse emission.
Ammonia is a pungent gas that is widely used to make agricultural fertilisers. It is easier and cheaper to store, and transport.

::INTERNATIONAL::

U.S.: Biden,Harris to be sworn into office in largely virtual event on 20 January

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be sworn into office on 20th January,2021 on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, but the inaugural festivities will be largely virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden spent much of the 2020 presidential election following COVID-19 safety protocols, holding relatively few-in person events and campaigning virtually from his home base in Delaware.
“Our goal is to create an inauguration that keeps people safe, honors the grand traditions of the presidency, and showcases the Biden-Harris administration’s renewed American vision for an inclusive, equitable, and unified citizenry,” Tony Allen, the CEO of the inaugural committee, said in the statement.
The pandemic, which experts expect to worsen over the winter months in the United States despite the approval of a vaccine, has killed more than 300,000 Americans. Biden made President Donald Trump’s handling of the health crisis a centerpiece of his campaign.

Science and Tech

Disturbance from North Atlantic that derails Indian monsoons needs to be factored to improve predictability

A planetary wave from the North Atlantic is capable of derailing the Indian monsoon on which the Indian economy is heavily dependent, suggests a study published in the journal Science.
The findings suggest that modelling efforts ought to focus on including the influence of midlatitudes, in addition to the Pacific and Indian oceans, for getting a better handle on predictability of the monsoon, its variability as well as droughts.
A team from the Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (CAOS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), who carried out the research, supported in part by DST under their climate change programme, showed that, in the past century, Indian monsoon droughts that occurred in non-El Niño years were sub-seasonal, as against El Niño droughts, where the deficit persists throughout the season.
The research team analysed daily rainfall during the two categories of droughts from 1900 to 2015 and noticed dramatic differences in the evolution of rainfall deficit. Rainfall deficit in El Niño droughts sets in early around mid-June and becomes progressively worse. By mid-August, the deficit is very high and spread across the country, with no sign of recovery.
During non-El Niño droughts there is a moderate decrease in June rainfall, followed by signs of recovery during mid-July to mid-August ‒ the peak of the season. However, in late August, there is an abrupt and steep fall in rainfall, resulting in drought conditions.
“We tried to trace this late August break to a forcing agent or system that influences the behaviour over India. We looked at the winds that were prevalent in these non-El Niño drought years,” said Jai Sukhatme, Associate Professor at CAOS, and one of the senior authors, in an IISc. Statement.
The atmospheric tele-connection studied in this paper whose first author was a PhD student Pritam Borah with DST inspire fellowship, offers an avenue for improved predictability of droughts, especially in the absence of tell-tale signatures in the Pacific.

Sports

India will look to close the gap with table-toppers Australia in the ICC World Test Championship points table

India is in third place in ICC Men's Test Team Rankings with 114 rating points, whilst Australia top the rankings with 116.46 rating points.
New Zealand follow closely in second with 116.37 rating points. New Zealand are very close to reaching the ICC World Test Championship final in 2021 after securing back-to-back innings victories against the West Indies.
India will feel the pressure as the race to the World Test Championship final heats up.
Australia and India will fight it out in a four-Test series as the hosts look to build on their narrow lead at the top of the table. If New Zealand overcome Pakistan 2-0 in the two-Test series which starts on 26 December, they will finish on 420 points from five series.