Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 23 March 2022

SSC CGL Current Affairs

Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 23 March 2022

::NATIONAL::

Government aims to build 220 new airports by 2025

Underlining the importance of the Civil Aviation sector in the Indian economy and calling it a "key element" of India's growth, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Wednesday said that his government has set a target of creating 220 airports by 2025 in the country.
While speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Scindia informed the House that the market share of Indian companies in international freight was limited to only 2% during the COVID environment and has now reached 19%. He also spoke about the cargo revenue and said, "The revenue of cargo, which was only Rs 1,500 crore, has gone up to Rs 2,300 crore today."
In response to the Civil Aviation Ministry's demand for grants for 2022–23, Scindia stated that India has made progress in both domestic and international travel during the COVID-19 period. "Cargo flights for perishable food items will be boosted by 30% in the next few years with 133 new flights," he stated.
The Union Minister unveiled some of the important steps his ministry will be taking to help boost the civil aviation sector. "Simplification of the pilot licence will be done in the coming days with the latest technology," Scindia said in the Lower House of Parliament. He added, "We are planning to create 33 new domestic cargo terminals and set up 15 new flight training schools for pilots, create more employment, and boost emphasis on the drone sector."
Greenfield airports are the ones that are built on a new site (undeveloped) from scratch. However, brownfield airports are the ones where there is already a structure or another airport that is being remodelled for a new airport. Brownfield redevelopment can be more inexpensive because necessary infrastructure like drainage, electricity, roads, transport networks etc. already exist.

::INTERNATIONAL::

9 million children in Africa to be vaccinated against polio

A drive to vaccinate more than 9 million children against polio has been launched this week in four countries in southern and eastern Africa after an outbreak was confirmed in Malawi.
The urgent vaccination campaign has started in Malawi where drops of the inoculation are being placed in the mouths of children across the country, including in the capital, Lilongwe, and the country's largest city, Blantyre.
The vaccination campaign will be expanded on Thursday to include the neighboring countries of Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, according to UNICEF which is working with the governments and other partners.
Three more rounds of vaccinations will follow in the coming months with a goal of reaching more than 20 million children.
“This is the first case of wild polio detected in Africa for more than five years and UNICEF is working closely with governments and partners to do everything possible to stop the virus in its tracks,” says Mohamed M. Fall, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.
“Polio spreads fast and can kill or cause permanent paralysis,” he said.
UNICEF, the World Health Organization and other partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are supporting governments with the vaccination drive after it was confirmed in February that a three-year-old girl was paralyzed by wild poliovirus in Malawi's capital, Lilongwe.
People most commonly contract polio when they drink water contaminated by the feces of someone who carries the virus. Children under the age of five and those living in areas with poor sanitation are most at risk.
“A regional response is vital as polio is extremely contagious and can spread easily as people move across borders,” says Mohamed M. Fall.

::ECONOMY::

Mahila Money, Visa and Transcorp launch prepaid cards for women entrepreneurs

To help women entrepreneurs easily collect payments, loans and get incentives for transactions, Mahila Money, Visa and Transcorp have teamed up to launch Mahila Money Prepaid Card.
In a statement, Mahila Money said the prepaid card will help women entrepreneurs use digital payments more effectively.
Even as 80.7% of women in rural areas and 81% in urban areas have bank accounts, 55% of women still don’t actively use their bank accounts, according to the latest survey by the All-India Debt and Investment Survey (AIDIS). A survey by YouGov has revealed that nearly two-thirds of urban Indian women use digital modes of payments, but less than one-third leveraged internet banking.
The Mahila Money Prepaid Card would bridge the gap for community members who want the convenience of a bank account with added flexibility, safety and convenience, the statement said.
The prepaid card will make it easy for women entrepreneurs to collect payments digitally for their businesses and helps boost their working capital, as loans can be transferred directly into the card. Additionally, women will be offered incentives, rewards, and cashback from the Mahila Money ecosystem of partners.
Commenting on the launch of the prepaid card, Mahila Money founder Sairee Chahal said, “India is witnessing unprecedented adoption of digital financial products and mainstreaming of entrepreneurship.”
“As an organization committed to helping women succeed and build their financial and social capital, the Mahila Money Prepaid Card is a small but big step in the right direction. We believe that this partnership with Visa offers us the opportunity to create highly customized products for women entrepreneurs, a highly engaged and fast-growing segment of digital and financial services users” she added.
Sujai Raina, Vice President and Head of Business Development at Visa India, said, “At Visa, we believe it is our mission to work with our partners to uplift everyone–especially in India. We have a long history of supporting women entrepreneurs, a fast-growing yet underserved segment, whether through the iFundWomen and Visa grants program or coaching women micro-entrepreneurs across India on digital payments.”

::Sports::

World number 1 tennis player Ashleigh Barty announces retirement

Australia's world number one Ashleigh Barty on Tuesday announced her shock retirement from tennis aged just 25.
Barty has been the No.1-ranked WTA player for 114 consecutive weeks and counting. The outgoing Aussie is one month shy of her 26th birthday.
"It's the first time I've actually said it out loud and, yeah, it's hard to say," an emotional Barty told former doubles partner Casey Dellacqua in a video posted on her Instagram. "But I'm so happy, and I'm so ready."
"I don't have the physical drive, the emotional want and everything it takes to challenge yourself at the very top of the level any more. I am spent," she added.