Daily Current Affairs and GK | 16 December 2021

Topic: Infrastructure and Energy

1. India to set up world largest Green Hydrogen Microgrid Project.

• India will soon set up the world’s largest Green Hydrogen Microgrid project. It will be set up at Simhadri, Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• It would be India’s first Green Hydrogen-based Energy Storage Project. It will be established by National Thermal Power Corporation Limited.
• This project is in line with India’s vision to become carbon neutral by 2070 and make Ladakh a carbon-neutral territory.
• Earlier, NTPC had commissioned India’s biggest floating solar plant in Telangana’s Ramagundam.
• The hydrogen produced during the day will be stored at high pressure and would be electrified using a 50 kW Solid Oxide Fuel Cell.
• The project will be useful for further deploying multiple microgrids in various off-grid and strategic locations.
• Recently, NTPC REL signed an MoU with the Union Territory of Ladakh to set up India’s first green Hydrogen Mobility project.

Topic: India and its neighbours

2. President Ramnath Kovind reached Dhaka to take part in 50th victory day of Bangladesh.

• President Ram Nath Kovind arrived Dhaka to take part in the victory day celebration of Bangladesh.
• He received the guard of honour on his arrival in Dhaka. He is on a three-day visit to Bangladesh.
• He will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi to pay respect to the Bangladesh Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
• Both countries are celebrating the 50th year of the India-Pakistan 1971 victory and the golden jubilee of the establishment of their diplomatic ties.
• On 16 December 1971, more than 90 thousand Pakistani forces commanded by Gen. Niazi surrendered to the Indian army under the Command of Gen. Aurora on this day.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Space and IT

3. China launched Shijian-06 group of satellites into space.

• China has successfully sent the Shijian-06 group of satellites into space from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
• Shijian-6 05 satellites were launched through a Long March-4B rocket. They will be used for space exploration and new technology tests.
• The Long March 4B, which made its first flight in 1999, has flown forty-five missions. The Long March 4 series is also known as Chang Zheng 4.
• The Chang Zheng 4B is a 44.1-meter tall and 3.35-meter wide rocket. It is powered by four YF-21C engines.
• Chang Zheng 4 uses highly toxic nitrogen tetroxide and UDMH (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine) hypergolic propellants.

Topic: State News/ Delhi

4. Delhi Police launched e-learning platform for school dropouts.

• Delhi Police launched an e-learning initiative, ‘Unnati’, was launched at the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Auditorium.
• This initiative has been launched under the Delhi Police’s flagship scheme ‘YUVA’. It will help youth and school dropouts in getting the education and acquiring skills.
• The youngsters will be inspired to enroll and choose the programme of their choice through this e-learning platform.
• Students can learn skills through the ‘Unnati’ portal through laptop, desktop, tablet, or simply a mobile phone.
• ‘Unnati’ platform provides training, counselling, and placement to trainees. The ‘Unnati’ placement cell has also been also set up.
• A certificate will be provided to the students on the completion of the course.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

5. Cabinet approves programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in the country.

• Cabinet has approved programme for Development of Semiconductors and Display Manufacturing Ecosystem in the country.
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said that 76 thousand crore rupees will be spent on this project in the next six years.
• The programme is aimed at making India a global hub of electronic system design and manufacturing.
• Under the scheme, fiscal support of up to 50% of the project cost for setting up semiconductor and display fabrication units would be provided.
• Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that electronics manufacturing in the country had increased to $75 billion in the last seven years.
• Electronics and IT Minister further said that electronics manufacturing in the country is expected to reach $300 billion in the next six years.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Art and Culture

6. Durga Puja added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

• Durga Puja in Kolkata has been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention on Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has inscribed ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on List during its 16th session being held at Paris, France.
• Durga Puja is one of the most important festivals of West Bengal. It is widely celebrated across India.
• Over the years, Kolkata has emerged as geographical and cultural heart of celebrations of festival.
• Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (ICH) presently has 492 elements.
• Convention on Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted in 2003. It came into force in the year 2006.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. Eighth Indian Ocean Dialogue held on 15 December.

• The eighth Indian Ocean Dialogue has held on 15 December. It was jointly hosted by the External Affairs Ministry and the Indian Council of World Affairs.
• The theme of this year’s Indian Ocean Dialogue was Leveraging Digital Technologies for Health, Education, Development, and Trade in Indian Ocean Rim Association Member States.
• During the address, Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh mentioned about the need for greater collaboration among IORA Member States.
• He said that India is committed to support in the field of new and emerging technologies.
• Secretary East in the External Affairs Ministry, Riva Ganguly Das emphasized that the Indian Ocean Rim Association has the potential to collaborate in health, education, trade, and development.
• Indian Ocean Dialogue is an initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the first Indian Ocean Dialogue was held in Kerala in 2014.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

8. Government approved Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between India and Poland.

• The Union Cabinet has approved the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters between India and Poland.
• It will enhance the capability and effectiveness of both countries in the investigation and prosecution of crimes.
• It aims to strengthen cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters including crimes related to terrorism.
• The Treaty will provide a broad legal framework for bilateral cooperation with Poland for the investigation of crimes as well as tracing, restraining, and confiscation of proceeds and instruments of crime.
•  After signing and ratification of the Treaty, suitable Gazette Notifications will be issued under the relevant provisions of Cr.P.C. 1973 to give effect to the provisions of the Treaty in India. 

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. Government approved incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions.

• The Union Cabinet has approved an incentive scheme for the promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions.
• Under this scheme, the banks will be incentivized for low-value BHIM-UPI transactions. Banks will receive a percentage of the value of transactions (P2M) done through RuPay Debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI modes of payments.
• This initiative will help Banks in building a robust digital payment ecosystem. The incentive is only for person-to-merchant transactions and not P2P transactions.
• The scheme will promote digital payments in the country and it will promote digital payments to unbanked and marginalized populations.
• The scheme will cost the government ₹1,300 crores. The scheme will promote research and development and innovation in fintech.
• A record number of digital transactions has been done in India valued at ₹ 7.56 lakh crore in November 2021.
• Rupay is India’s domestic payment card that was launched by NPCI. RuPay card has been issued by many banks and has a market share of 33% of all card transactions.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. SJFI to honour cricketer Sunil Gavaskar with SJFI Medal.

• Sports Journalists’ Federation of India (SJFI) has decided to honour cricketer Sunil Gavaskar with SJFI Medal.
• Neeraj Chopra was adjudged the SJFI Sportsman of the Year. Mirabai Chanu was adjudged as the Sportswoman of the Year.
• Indian men’s team that won the hockey bronze in Tokyo was declared the Team of the Year.
• Sumit Antil and Pramod Bhagat will share the Para-athlete of the Year in men’s category. Avani Lekhra will get the Para-athlete of the Year woman award.
• A Vinod (Kerala) has been selected as new SJFI President and Prashant Keni (Mumbai) as the new SJFI Secretary.

Topic: National News

11. Ministry of Railways granted first recognition under the Scheme for Recognition of Standard Development Organisations.

• Ministry of Railways has been granted first recognition under the Scheme for Recognition of Standard Development Organisations (SDOs).
• Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO), Ministry of Railways, has been granted the first recognition under the Scheme for Recognition of SDOs in the country.
• As per BIS Act, 2016, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) may recognize or accredit any institution in India or outside which is engaged in standardization.
• With the objective of ensuring one national standard for one subject in the country, BIS has launched a scheme for recognition of SDO's as the umbrella organization for steering India’s standardization efforts.

Topic: Sports

12. David Warner and Hayley Matthews get ICC's Player of the Month award for November.

• David Warner and Hayley Matthews have got ICC's Player of the Month award for November.
• Warner was nominated for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award alongside Pakistan’s Abid Ali and New Zealand’s Tim Southee.
• Warner won the award for his crucial role in Australia’s victory in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. Warner was the Player of the Tournament.
• He scored 289 runs at an average of 48.16 and a strike-rate of 146.70 in seven matches.
• For the women’s award, Matthews won over Pakistan’s Anam Amin and Bangladesh’s Nahida Akter.
• This is the second time Matthews has been nominated for the Player of the Month award.
• David Warner is an Australian opener and Hayley Matthews is West Indies all-rounder.

Topic: Space & IT

13. For The First Time Ever, A NASA Spacecraft 'Touches The Sun'.

• The NASA-launched Parker Solar Probe has become the first spacecraft to pass through the Sun's outer atmosphere.
• According to the American Space Agency, the spacecraft flew through the Sun's upper atmosphere 'Corona' and sampled magnetic fields and particles there.
• Scientists have stated that Parker Solar Probe achieved this feat on April 28, but they confirmed it only after analysing the data.
• The probe is now circling the Sun and is making new discoveries along the way. The Parker probe spacecraft was launched in 2018 with the goal of making repeated and closer passes of the Sun.
• The spacecraft travels at a speed of more than 500,000 km per hour to quickly enter and exit quickly to avoid heat loss.

Topic: Sports

14. BCCI has formed a committee for differently-abled cricketers.

• The BCCI has established a committee for the country's differently-abled cricketers, clearing the path for them to play under the BCCI's auspices.
• The BCCI Apex Council agreed in April of this year to recognise the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI) as the sole body responsible for promoting cricket among physically challenged, deaf, blind, and wheelchair players.
• The BCCI has constituted the committee at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently in Kolkata.
• BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has also launched the second edition of the HAP Cup, which is the biggest tournament for the physically challenged in India.
• The HAP Cup will be organized from 28 to 31 December at the Tau Devilal Cricket Stadium in Panchkula, Haryana.
• The Physically Challenged Cricket Association of India (PCCAI) organises the HAP Cup every year to spread the message of positivity and happiness among the physically challenged players in the country.