DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS 21 December 2021
3rd India-Central Asia Dialogue
- The 3rd meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue was held in New Delhi.
- It is a ministerial-level dialogue between India and the Central Asian countries namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
- India virtually hosted the second meeting of the India-Central Asia Dialogue in 2020.
- Emphasis on optimum usage of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as well as Ashgabat Agreement on International Transport and Transit Corridor to enhance connectivity between India and the Central Asian countries.
- The connectivity initiatives (China’s Belt and Road Initiative) should be based on the principles of transparency, broad participation, local priorities, financial sustainability and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries.
- Discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and its impact on the region, following the Taliban’s occupancy.
- All the countries stressed the importance of extensive vaccination and called for cooperation through sharing of vaccine doses, transfer of technology, development of local production capacities, promotion of supply chains for medical products, and ensuring price transparency etc were discussed.
Srikanth Settles for Silver in BWF Championship
- Kidambi Srikanth clinched a historic silver medal in the World Badminton Championships after suffering a straight-game defeat to Loh Kean Yew of Singapore in the summit clash to notch up the best ever performance by an Indian in the men’s singles here on Sunday. A former world no. 1, Srikanth lost 15-21 20-22 to Malaysia-born opponent in 43 minutes.
- The 28-year-old Srikanth thus bettered the feats of legendary Prakash Padukone (bronze in 1983), B Sai Praneeth (bronze in 2019) and Lakshya Sen (bronze in this edition), whom he had beaten in the semifinals on Saturday. The maiden silver also placed Srikanth alongside P V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal, who had finished runner-up in the past.
- Sindhu had won the coveted gold in 2019, two silver and two bronze, while Saina claimed the silver at the 2015 Jakarta and a bronze at 2017 Glasgow. It is also the first time that India won two medals in men’s singles at the World Championships.
Prime Minister @ Prayagraj
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will visit Prayagraj on 21st December 2021 and participate in a one of its kind programme that will be attended by over 2 lakh women, at around 1 PM.
- The programme is being held as per the vision of the Prime Minister to empower women, especially at the grassroot level, by providing them with necessary skills, incentives and resources. In this endeavour to support women, the Prime Minister will transfer an amount of Rs. 1000 crore in the bank account of Self Help Groups (SHGs), benefitting around 16 lakh women members of the SHGs. This transfer is being done under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM), with 80,000 SHGs receiving Community Investment Fund (CIF) of Rs. 1.10 lakh per SHG and 60,000 SHGs receiving Revolving Fund of Rs. 15000 per SHG.
- The programme will also witness the Prime Minister encouraging Business Correspondent-Sakhis (B.C.-Sakhis), by transferring Rs. 4000 as first month’s stipend in account of 20,000 B.C.-Sakhis. When B.C.-Sakhis commence their work as providers of doorstep financial services at grassroot level, they are paid a stipend of Rs. 4000 for six months, so that they get stabilized in their work and then start earning through the commission on transactions.
- During the programme, the Prime Minister will also be transferring a total amount of over 20 crore to more than 1 lakh beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Kanya Sumangala Scheme. The Scheme provides conditional cash transfer to a girl child at different stages of her life. The total transfer is Rs. 15000 per beneficiary. The stages are at birth (Rs. 2000), on completing one year complete vaccination (Rs. 1000), on admission in class–I (Rs. 2000), On admission in class–VI (Rs. 2000), on admission in class-IX (Rs. 3000), on admission in any degree/ diploma course after passing class X or XII (Rs. 5000).
- Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone of 202 Supplementary Nutrition Manufacturing Units. These units are being funded by the Self Help Groups and will be constructed at the cost of approx Rs. 1 crore for one unit. These units will supply the Supplementary Nutrition under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) in 600 blocks of the state.
19,535 Villages declared as Sampoorna Sukanya Gram
- Government has declared 19,535 villages as Sampoorna Sukanya Gram under Sukanya Samriddh Yojana campaign till March this year.
- Sukanya Samriddhi Account (Girl Child Prosperity Account) is a Government of India backed saving scheme targeted at the parents of girl children. The scheme encourages parents to build a fund for the future education and marriage expenses for their female child.
- The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 22 January 2015 as a part of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign. The scheme currently provides an interest rate of 7.6% (for Apr-July 2021 quarter) and tax benefits. The account can be opened at any India Post office or branch of authorised commercial banks.
- The Sukanya Samriddhi Account Rules, 2016 was rescinded on 12 December 2019 and the new Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme, 2019 was introduced.
More than 80 per cent of work of govt is being done online: MoS Dr Jitendra Singh
- Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that more than 80 per cent of the work of government is being done online.
- Inaugurating the Good Governance Week in New Delhi today as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, Dr Singh said, thanks to digital India initiative, the works went on smoothly even during the Covid period.
- He said, the public grievances have increased from two lakh in 2014 to more than 25 lakhs at present with more than 95 percent disposal of cases.
- The theme of Good Governance Week is Prashasan Gaon Ki Aur – a Nation-wide campaign for Redressal of Public Grievances and Improving Service Delivery will be held in all Districts, States, and Union Territories.
- During the week-long event, more than 700 District Collectors will visit Tehsil and Panchayat Samiti Headquarters to provide timely grievance redressal and improve service delivery.
Indian Coast Guard launches website for online recruitment of officers
- Director General of Indian Coast Guard ICG, Krishnaswamy Natarajan today launched website for online recruitment of the officers. ICG said, the digital recruitment process will cover around hundred cities spread throughout the country and would be conducted twice a year ensuring far wider reach, talent and also provide an unprecedented opportunity to the individuals aspiring to serve the Nation.
- ICG added, the paradigm shift from the existing process to computer-based examination for selection of officers will enhance transparency, minimise human intervention, facilitate automation and offer equal opportunity, level-playing field to aspiring candidates, resulting in the selection of aspiring candidates from a larger pool.
Leftist Gabriel Boric to become Chile’s youngest president
- In Chile, Gabriel Boric, 35 years old former student leader and Leftist will become country’s youngest President after he won a presidential runoff election on Sunday. According to the Electoral Service of Chile, out of 99.95% of ballots counted, Boric won with 55.87% of the vote, securing victory over his right-wing opponent, Jose Antonio Kast.
- A native of Punta Arenas, in Chile’s far south, Boric as a student led the Federation of Students at the University of Chile in Santiago. He rose to prominence leading protests in 2011 demanding improved and cheaper education. By 2014, still in his 20s, he had joined the National Congress as a lower-house legislator, representing Chile’s vast and sparsely populated southernmost region of Magallanes.
- Boric will be sworn in as President on March 11.
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ANSWER: B
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ANSWER: B
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ANSWER: B
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