DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 19 – 20 December 2021
‘Agni P’ Successfully test-fired by DRDO
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the new generation nuclear capable ballistic missile ‘Agni P’ from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha at 1106 hrs on December 18, 2021. Various telemetry, radar, electro-optical stations, and down range ships positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile trajectory and parameters. The missile followed textbook trajectory meeting all mission objectives with high level of accuracy.
- The Agni P is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system. This second flight-test has proven the reliable performance of all the advanced technologies integrated into the system.
- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO for the successful flight test and expressed his happiness for the excellent performance of the system. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy appreciated the efforts of the team to have done the second development flight trial with many additional features and congratulated for the consecutive success within the same calendar year.
Goa Liberation Day Celebrated
- Goa Liberation Day is celebrated on December 19 every year to mark the success of ‘Operation Vijay’ undertaken by the Indian Armed Forces that liberated Goa from Portuguese rule.
- An important port for trade and military operations, Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for more than 450 years. While historically, revolts against Portuguese rulers and their policies were recorded in the 18th and 19th century too, on June 18, 1946, the movement of Goa’s liberation gathered momentum after socialist leader Dr Ram Manohar Lohia plunged himself into the freedom movement with many young Goans. The day is now observed as Goa Revolution Day.
- Perhaps the first tri-service operation of the Indian armed forces, Operation Vijay was about the liberation of the Portuguese territories of Goa, Daman, and Diu. While the Indian government was prepared to take military action since the beginning of December 1, it culminated into the 36-hour military operation that started on 18th December 1961 and concluded on December 19, 1961.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday felicitated the freedom fighters and veterans of ‘Operation Vijay’ as part of Goa Liberation Day celebrations.
- The ceremony was held at Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Panaji.
- Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes at Martyr’s Memorial, Azad Maidan in Panaji.
- The Prime Minister also inaugurated multiple development projects in the state.
‘Prashasan Gaon ki Aur’ Campaign Launched
- The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Department of Personnel and Training, Department of Pensions and Pensioners’ Welfare and Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development is celebrating good governance week from December 20-25 as part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebration.
- The theme of the good governance week is “prashasan gaon ki aur” under which, a campaign for redressal of public grievances and improving service delivery will be held in all districts, states, and Union Territories.
- Extending his best wishes for the success of “sushasan saptah” (good governance week), Mr. Modi in his message said, “In the amrit period of independence, we are marching ahead rapidly to create a transparent system, efficient process and smooth governance to make development all-round and all-inclusive”.
- “In this context, the theme of the week – ‘prashasan gaon ki aur’ assumes even greater relevance. Our government is committed to strengthening good governance that is pro-people and proactive governance, guided by the ‘citizen-first approach,” Mr. Modi said.
Cooperative University will be Established Soon
- Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah today announced that a National level co-operative university will soon be established in the country to further expand the co-operative sector. He was speaking at the graduation ceremony of Vaikuntha Mehta National Cooperative Management Institute in Pune, Maharashtra. Emphasizing the need for expansion of Co-operative sector in the villages, Mr Shah said, this sector has made significant contributions to the development of the country since the pre-independence period. He said, a co-operative policy is being formulated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote the co-operative movement which will be implemented across the country soon.
- Dr. Nitin Karmalkar; Vice-Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University, Secretary to the Ministry of Co-operation Devendra Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary Vijay Kumar, Director of Vamnicom Dr. Hema Yadav and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
- The book titled ‘Sahakar Sandarbha’ was released by Mr Shah at this event. On this occasion, he said, the country’s Primary Agriculture Society will be computerised and linked with District Bank, Co-operative Banks, and NABARD.
94th Annual Convention of FICCI
- Addressing the General body meeting of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry, FICCI, New Delhi today, Mr. Singh, said, India is an emerging economy, and it is moving towards growth. He said, the country has young trained scientific, technological, and managerial talent and producing CEOs of the world’s topmost organizations.
- Mr. Singh said, the government is focusing on private and public investments in the education and healthcare sectors to make India, the world’s healthiest and most capable workforce. He also said, the Government has set a target to build One medical college in each district and at least One AIIMS in each state.
WHO Approves Emergency Use of Covovax
- World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued an emergency use listing for Serum Institute of India’s manufactured Covovax. The move will help expand the basket of WHO-validated vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In a statement, WHO said, the decision will give a much-needed boost to ongoing efforts to vaccinate more people in lower-income countries.
- The Serum Institute of India (SII) is producing Covovax under licence from Novavax and is part of the COVAX facility portfolio. Taking to Twitter, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla said, this is yet another milestone in our fight against Covid-19. He said, Covovax is now WHO approved for emergency use, showing excellent safety and efficacy.
REVIEW QUESTIONS
- Which of the following is the first surface to surface ballistic missile of India?
- Agni
- Trishul
- Prithvi
- Akash
ANSWER: C
- It is a short-range surface to Air missile system to protect vulnerable areas and vulnerable points from air attacks.
- Agni
- Trishul
- Prithvi
- Akash
ANSWER: D
- ________ is known as father of Indian space programme.
- Rama K. Sarabhai
- Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai
- Krishnaswamy Ranga
- G. Madhavan Nair
ANSWER: B
- _____ founded the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad on November 11, 1947.
- Rama K. Sarabhai
- Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai
- Krishnaswamy Ranga
- G. Madhavan Nair
ANSWER: B
- The first Indian satellite,_____, was put in orbit in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome.
- Aryabhata
- Apollo
- Chandrayaan
- Mangalyaan
ANSWER: A
- Which one of the following is a missile system developed by India that can hit a target at a distance of more than 5000 kilometres?
- Arjun
- Akash
- Agni – V
- Nag
ANSWER: C
- It is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile. It works on the principle of fire-and-forget.
- Arjun
- Akash
- Agni – V
- Nag
ANSWER: D
- What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news?
- An Israeli radar system
- India’s indigenous anti-missile programme
- An American anti-missile system
- A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea
ANSWER: C
- Which one of the following is an ‘Air-to-Air’ missile ?
- Astra
- Akash
- Becquerel
- Prithvi
ANSWER: A
- What is the Operational Range of Surface-to-surface Missile Agni – V
- 100 KMs
- 350 KMs
- 1150 KMs
- 5000 Kms
ANSWER: D
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