Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 01 September 2021

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 01 September 2021

::NATIONAL::

IIT Madras announces online platform 'e-source'

IIT Madras is developing an online platform to tackle electronic wastes (e-waste) by linking stakeholders in the formal and informal economy.
The product, named e-source, will be an exchange platform that will serve as an online marketplace for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and facilitate a formal supply chain between various stakeholders, who are buyers and sellers, said an IIT Madras press release.
The initiative is being spearheaded by Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS). The IGCS team believes that the problem of e-waste could be resolved by connecting different buyers and sellers of Used and Waste electronic equipment and components without compromising their interests.
Highlighting the need for ‘e-Source’ initiative, Prof SudhirChellaRajan, faculty member, Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS), IIT Madras, said: “A novel open-source solution is needed that is data enriched, leveraging the potential of transparency in formalised e-waste handling and management.
E-wastes are typically either completely stripped down for precious metals and other high-value materials or dumped in landfills, without exploring potential re-use and repurposing options. Unscientific recycling methods are harmful for waste handlers and the environment.”

::INTERNATIONAL::

Indian and Algerian navies conduct first naval exercise off Algerian coast

As part of the ongoing goodwill visit to Europe and Africa, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tabar participated in a Maritime Partnership Exercise with the Algerian Navy ship 'Ezzadjer' on 29 August. Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tabar, commenced its prolonged deployment on June 13 to visit various ports in Africa and Europe till the end of September.
The landmark exercise conducted at the Algerian coast saw the participation of 'Ezzadjer', a frontline Algerian warship.
Many activities were conducted as part of the exercise including coordinated manoeuvring, communication procedures, and steam past was undertaken between the Indian and Algerian warships.
According to the Spokesperson of the Navy, the exercise enabled the two navies to understand the concept of operations followed by each other, enhanced interoperability and opened the possibility of increasing interaction and collaboration between them in the future.
Four Indian warships including INS Mysore, INS Tabar, INS Ganga, and INS Aditya have been deployed on a goodwill visit to several maritime nations of Africa and the Indian Ocean. A defence spokesperson had informed that the warships will hold naval exercises with the navies and coast guards of Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Seychelles, and Mauritius besides making port calls at Reunion Island and Mozambique.

::ECONOMY::

PayU to acquire 100% in BillDesk for $4.7 billion

Prosus NV, the Dutch unit of Naspers Ltd, has acquired Indian payment services provider BillDesk for $4.7 billion in cash in its largest acquisition.
The Amsterdam-based company’s PayU unit agreed to buy BillDesk to create a company that will handle a total transaction volume (TPV) of $147 billion in India. The acquisition will also give PayU access to BillDesk’s large customer base of small merchants in India.
On completing the transaction, Prosus’s cumulative investment in India will nearly double to more than $10 billion.
The deal is the second-largest inbound acquisition in the tech space after Walmart Inc.’s acquisition of Flipkart for $16 billion in 2018. It’s also the largest acquisition in India’s fintech sector.
Prosus has been strengthening its position in India’s payments industry through PayU India. BillDesk marks PayU’s fourth acquisition in the last five years after it snapped up payments technology company CitrusPay in 2016 for $160 million.
It then acquired digital credit platform Paysense in 2020 for $185 million, which now powers its consumer lending aspirations in India.
“The acquisition cements our position as the leading payments provider in India and is the strong example of the ecosystem we are building to serve various communities,” Bob van Dijk, group chief executive officer of Prosus, said in a conference call with reporters.
Prosus’s latest investment is expected to give exits to founders who own 30.84% in BillDesk along with key investors, including General Atlantic, TA Associates, Temasek and Clearstone.

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

Nasa's Perseverance rover locks new target on Mars after failed sample attempt

The Nasa scientists will look inside 'Rochette' to determine whether they would move ahead to capture the sample with the Perseverance rover’s coring bit.
After failing to collect a rock sample that proved too crumbly, Nasa’s Perseverance rover has set its eyes on another rock nicknamed ‘Rochette’. The US space agency on Thursday said a tool mounted on the robotic arm of Perseverance will abrade the surface of the rock. The scientists will look inside Rochette to determine whether they would move ahead to capture the sample with the rover’s coring bit.
The Perseverance rover has been exploring a four square kilometre patch of the Jezero crater floor since its landing in search of a scientifically interesting target to collect Martian rocks. The rover is carrying over three dozen titanium tubes to collect the sample.
If the team decides to acquire a core from this rock, the sampling process would be initiated next week, according to Nasa. This time, the rover will pause the sampling sequence to let the team review the image captured by the Mastcam-Z camera system to ensure the rock core is present.

::SPORTS::

Tokyo Paralympics: MariyappanThangavelu and Sharad Kumar win silver and bronze respectively in men's high jump T42 event

Indian paralympic high jumpers MariyappanThangavelu and Sharad Kumar won a silver and bronze respectively in the men's high jump T63 event, taking India's medal tally at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 to an unprecedented 10 , August 31. Mariyappan, a Tamil Nadu native, won silver by clearing 1.86 metres, while Sharad Kumar, who hails from Patna, clinched the bronze with an effort of 1.83 metres. Both para-athletes recorded their season-best jumps. Sam Grewe, the gold winner from the United States of America, succeeded in soaring above 1.88m in his third attempt.
“Just as at Rio 2016, India has two athletes in the podium places in Men's High Jump T63 Final! MariyappanThangavelu and Sharad Kumar have won #silver and #bronze medals respectively, taking Flag of India's medal tally into double figures,” #Tokyo2020 for India tweeted on Tuesday. MariyappanThangavelu, the 26-year-old Tamil Nadu native, was conferred with the KhelRatna, the country’s highest sporting award, in 2020. The 26-year-old was touted to be a sure shot medalist for India after rising to fame after his gold medal victory in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.