DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 16 December 2021
Group Captain Varun Singh Succumbs to Injuries
- Group Captain Varun Singh, who was the lone survivor from the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter crash that claimed the lives of India’s first CDS General Bipin Rawat, his wife and others, passed away at the IAF Command Hospital here early on Wednesday.
- The Mi-17V5 helicopter crash had claimed 13 of the 14 people on the same day, while Group Captain Singh was moved from Wellington’s Military Hospital to Command Hospital on December 9, after getting initial treatment in Wellington.
- Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Group Captain Singh’s death saying, “Group Captain Varun Singh served the nation with pride, valour and utmost professionalism. I am extremely anguished by his passing away. His rich service to the nation will never be forgotten. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti.”
Sardar Patel Remembered on his Punya Tithi
- Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel (31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950), endeared as Sardar, was an Indian statesman. He served as the first deputy Prime Minister of India from 1947 to 1950.
- He was a barrister and a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, who played a leading role in the country’s struggle for independence, guiding its integration into a united, independent nation.
- He was one of the conservative members of the Indian National Congress. In India and elsewhere, he was often called Sardar, meaning “chief” in Hindi, Urdu, and Persian.
- He acted as Home Minister during the political integration of India and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
Incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions
- The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today has approved an incentive scheme to promote RuPayDebit cards and low-value [uptoRs. 2,000) BHIM-UPI transactions (Person-to-Merchant (P2M)] in the country.
- Under the scheme, the acquiring banks will be incentivised by the Government, by way of paying percentage of value of transactions (P2M) done through RuPay Debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI modes of payments, at an estimated financial outlay of Rs.1,300 crore for a period of one year w.e.f. April 01, 2021.
- This scheme will facilitate acquiring Banks in building robust digital payment ecosystem and promoting RuPay Debit card and BHIM-UPI digital transactions, across all sectors and segments of the population and further deepening of digital payments in the country.
- It will also help in making accessible digital modes of payments to unbanked and marginalized populations, who are outside of the formal banking and financial system.
- India today is one of the most efficient payments markets in the world. These developments have been the outcome of the initiatives of the initiatives of the Government of India and innovation by various players in the digital payment ecosystem. The scheme will further spur research and development and innovation in fintech space and will help the Government in further deepening of digital payments in various part of countries.
Cabinet approves implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana for 2021-26
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana is a national mission to improve farm productivity and ensure better utilization of the resources in the country.
- The budget of ₹53 billion (US$700 million) in a time span of one year 2015-2016 has been allocated to this scheme.
- The decision was taken on 1 July 2015 at the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Economic Approved with an outlay of 50000 crore for period of 5 years(2015-16 to 2019-20).
- Outlay of Rs. 93,068 crore, including Rs.37,454 crore central assistance to States.
- Benefit to about 22 lakh farmers, including 2.5 lakh SC and 2 lakh ST farmers.
- 90% grant to two National Projects- Renukaji (Himachal Pradesh) and
- Lakhwar (Uttarakhand) -critical for water supply to Delhi and also to other participating States (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, UP, Haryana and Rajasthan) and for rejuvenation of river Yamuna
- Additional irrigation potential of 13.88 lakh hectare under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)
- New projects included under AIBP Focused completion of 60 ongoing projects
- 30.23 lakh hectare of command area development works
- Under ‘Har Khet Ko Pani’, 4.5 lakh hectare irrigation through surface minor irrigation and rejuvenation of water bodies, and 1.52 lakh hectare ground water irrigation in suitable blocks
- Completion of watershed projects covering 49.5 lakh hectare rainfed/
- degraded lands to bring additional 2.5 lakh hectare.
40 Unicorns Start-ups Established in last 50 Weeks
- In business, a unicorn is a privately held startup company valued at over $1 billion.
- The term was first popularised in 2013 by venture capitalist Aileen Lee, choosing the mythical animal to represent the statistical rarity of such successful ventures.
- “India has added nearly 40 unicorns in the last 50 weeks in the Startup world ,” said, Shri Ajay Prakash Sawhney (currently Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Electronics, and Information Technology) in an event yesterday.
- Speaking at the unveiling of book titled ‘Rewinding of First 25 years of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’, he said that today if we see Indians as CEOs of the world’s topmost IT and Software corporates, the foundations were laid in these last 30 years by people like Mr Oberoi.
- He said that India has added nearly 40 unicorns in the last 50 weeks in the Startup world and this too is an outcome of those foundational years.
India’s First Largest Green Hydrogen Microgrid Projects
- In a first in India, NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, has awarded the country’s first green hydrogen microgrid project to the Simhadri plant in Andhra Pradesh. The project has been launched at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for becoming a carbon neutral region by 2070.
- The energy storage project is expected to help with large-scale hydrogen storage and to deploy multiple microgrids in various off-grid and strategic locations across India.
- The hydrogen would be produced using the advanced 240 kW Solid Oxide Electrolyser by taking input power from the nearby Floating Solar project. The hydrogen produced during sunshine hours would be stored at high pressure and would be electrified using a 50 kW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. The system would work in standalone mode from 5 PM in the evening to 7 AM in the morning.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- PM Narendra Modi has released which scheme on 17th January 2016?
- Start Up India
- Make in India
- Digital India
- None of the above
ANSWER: A
- Startup India is an initiative that works under
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- Ministry of Corporate Affairs
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Electronics & IT
ANSWER: A
- Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency Bank (or MUDRA Bank) was launched in
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
ANSWER: B
- The 2018 Startup State Rankings was Awarded to _____ in Best performer Category
- Karnataka
- Gujarat
- Kerala
- Odisha
ANSWER: B
- The 2020 Startup State Rankings was Awarded to _____ in Best performer Category
- Gujarat
- Andaman & Nicobar Island
- Karnataka
- Both A & B
ANSWER: D
- MUDRA has created three products, which among the following is Mismatched
- Shishu: Covering loans up to Rs. 50,000.
- Kishore: Covering loans above Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh.
- Tarun: Covering loans above Rs. 5 lakh and up to Rs. 10 lakh.
- None.
ANSWER: D
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yoiana was launched in
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
ANSWER: B
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) is implemented by
- Jal shakti Mantralaya
- Ministry of Rural development
- Ministry of Agriculture
- All the Above
ANSWER: D
- This method uses an electrical current to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water.
- Electrolysis
- Photosynthesis
- Electroplating
- Galvanization
ANSWER: A
- What is Green Hydrogen Used For?
- Manufacturing Ammonia and Fertilizers.
- Used in Petrochemical Industry.
- Used as Sustainable mobility alternative.
- All the Above.
ANSWER: D
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