Daily Current Affairs and GK | 11 and 12 March 2021

Topic: National News

1. Cabinet approves formation of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi as a single non-lapsable reserve fund.

• Cabinet has approved the creation of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN) as a single non-lapsable reserve fund from the share of health from the Health and Education Cess.
• At present, the government charges a 4% health and education cess on the direct income tax of an individual. The Health and Education Cess is levied under Section 136-b of Finance Act, 2007.
• Features of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi:
  • It will be a ‘single non-lapsable fund’ for the availability of universal and affordable health care. The fund will not lapse at the end of the financial year.
  • The share of health in the Health and Education Cess will go to PMSSN.
  • The amount in the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi will be used for the different schemes of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
  • The fund will be used for Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres, National Health Mission and Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.
  • PMSSN will be administered by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Topic: Polity

2. Tirath Singh Rawat becomes new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.

• Tirath Singh Rawat becomes the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand after the resignation of Trivendra Singh Rawat.
• Tirath Singh Rawat is the first Education Minister of Uttarakhand.
• Tirath Singh Rawat has taken the oath as the Chief Minister in the presence of Governor Baby Rani Maurya.
• Tirath Singh Rawat becomes the 9^th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. He was elected as an MP from the Pauri Lok Sabha seat in 2019.
• According to Article 164, the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the Governor.

Topic: Appointments

3. GP Samanta appointed as Chief Statistician of India.

• GP Samanta has been appointed as Chief Statistician of India and he will replace Kshatrapati Shivaji.
• GP Samanta will also serve as Secretary in the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI). He will remain on this post for two years.
• After the superannuation of Pravin Srivastava, Kshatrapati Shivaji was given an additional charge in MoSPI in September. Pravin Srivastava superannuated in August 2020.
• Dr. Pronab Sen was the first Chief Statistician of India. Chief Statistician of India is the Secretary of the National Statistical Commission (NSC).

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

4. Power Finance Corporation and its subsidiary REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) signs MoU with Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Ltd.

• Power Finance Corporation and its subsidiary REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) have signed MoU with Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Ltd.
• The MoU aims to provide a term loan of ₹4,058 crores for a 600 MW hydroelectric project in Trashi Yangtse, Bhutan.
• The proposed project will be funded in a debt-to-equity ratio of 70:30. The project will be commissioned in the financial year that will end in March 2026. It will generate about 2,569 million units of energy.
• Hydroelectric power plant will be built by a joint venture between India’s SJVN and Bhutan’s Druk Green Power Corporation, Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Ltd.
• SJVN is a hydroelectric power generation PSU. It is a joint venture between Government of India and Government of Himachal Pradesh.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

5. ICAR bags King Bhumibol World Soil Day 2020 Award.

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research won the ‘King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award’ for raising awareness about the importance of soil health.
• On 10^th March, Indian Ambassador Suchitra Durai received this award on behalf of ICAR.
• The Food and Agriculture Organization announced it on the occasion of World Soil Day 2020.
• ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, has organised different programmes for spreading awareness about soil health. It had also organised “SOIL - Our Mother Earth” campaign on the occasion of World Soil Day.
• World Soil Day-2020 was celebrated on 5 December with the theme of “Keep soil alive, protect soil biodiversity”.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
  • It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture.
  • It works under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
  • It is the largest network of agricultural research and education institutes in the world.
  • Its headquarters is in New Delhi.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Defence

6. INS Karanj commissioned into the Indian Navy.

• INS Karanj has been officially commissioned into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard Mumbai. It is India’s third stealth Scorpene-class submarine.
• Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) Mumbai, in partnership with Naval Group, France, will build Six Scorpene Class submarines. INS Karanj has been built as part of this project.
• Former Navy chief Admiral V S Shekhawat was the chief guest of this ceremony. INS Karanj will be part of the Western Naval Command’s Submarine fleet.
• Old INS Karanj was part of the Indian Navy from 1969 to 2003.
• Under Project 75 India, six scorpene submarines are to be developed through the Strategic Partnership model at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).
• INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi were commissioned under project 75 into the Navy in 2017 and 2019, respectively.
• The Scorpene Submarines are one of the most advanced conventional submarines in the world. These are equipped with modern weapons and sensors to neutralize any threat.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Art and Culture

7. PM greets people on Kashmiri Pandits’ festival ‘Herath’.

• ‘Herath’ is one of the most auspicious festivals of Kashmiri Pandits. PM greeted people on the occasion of ‘Herath’.
• Herath (Shivaratri) is celebrated by Hindus in Kashmir. It is celebrated every year in Feb- March. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Navreh, Zyeath-Atham (Jyeshtha Ashtami), Huri-Atham are the other most prominent festivals of Kashmiri Pandits.
• Kashmir Shaivism was originated after 850 CE. It is a group of several monistic and tantric religious traditions of Kashmir.

Topic: National News

8. Nitin Gadkari inaugurated technology centres and Extension Centres to boost MSME sector.

• MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari has inaugurated two technology centres, three extension centres and seven mobile Udyam Express.
• The technology centres will be established in Visakhapatnam and Bhopal. It will provide training to students in different fields.
• Under the Mobile Udyam Express programme, vans will go to villages to generate awareness about entrepreneurship. It will also help in providing training to people of villages.
• Government aims to establish Technology Centres and Extension Centres across the country. It will help in creating a pool of skilled workforce in the country.
• The New Technology Centres and Extension Centres will provide Skill training to four lakh people. These centres will also assist 1 lakh MSMEs by providing technology, incubation, skilling and advisory support.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

9. Iran, Bahamas and Benin received Made-in-India Covid-19 vaccines under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative.

• Iran, Bahamas and Benin have received the Made in India COVID-19 Vaccines under the ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative.
• Under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, India has also provided coronavirus vaccines to its neighbour under its “Neighbourhood First” policy.
• Covishield, the AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India, has been provided by India to many countries under the “Vaccine diplomacy”.
• Till March 1, India has provided 36.37 million vaccine doses to 35 countries.

Topic: Important Days

10. Mauritius Independence Day: 12 March

• Mauritius celebrated its 53^rd Independence Day on 12 March 2021.
• It was first discovered by the Arabs in the 16^th century. It was colonized by the Netherlands, France and Great Britain.
• Mauritius got independence from Britain on 12 March 1968. It became a republic in 1992.
• Seewoosagur Ramgoolam is the first Prime Minister of Mauritius.
• Mauritius:
  • Mauritius is a small island in the Indian Ocean.
  • Its capital is Port Louis and its currency is Mauritian Rupee.
  • Pravind Kumar Jugnauth is the current Prime Minister of Mauritius.
  • Mauritius is the fourth largest contributor to India’s FDI in 2020-21.