Daily Current Affairs and GK | 6 February 2021

Topic: Defence

1. Indian Navy gets three advanced light helicopters from HAL for coastal security.

• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has delivered three MK III advanced light helicopters to Indian Navy. These helicopters will be used for coastal security.
• Indian Navy had ordered 16 MK III advanced light helicopters to replace their existing fleet.
• It is equipped with advanced sensors, full glass cockpit, latest-generation avionics, low-frequency dunking sonars system, etc.
• It has a powerful engine, “Shakti,” and synthetic aperture radar for target detection.
• It is fitted with a surveillance radar system with coverage of 270 degrees. It can detect and track multiple marine targets.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL):
  • It was formed on 1 October 1964.
  • It is a government-owned corporation involved in the design, fabrication and assembly of aircraft, jet engines, and helicopters.
  • Its headquarters is located in Bengaluru.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

2. India-Bahrain first Joint Working Group meeting in the field of Renewable Energy concluded.

• The first Joint Working Group meeting between India and Bahrain in the field of renewable energy concluded on 4 February 2021.
• India and Bahrain had signed an MoU in July 2018 for cooperation in the field of renewable energy.
• In this meeting, both sides agreed on sharing the experience, expertise and best practices related to Renewable Energy.
• Both countries agreed for engagement in capacity building and deeper cooperation of private sectors of both countries.
• Bahrain:
  • It is a country in the Persian Gulf.
  • It is Asia’s third smallest nation.
  • Its Capital is Manama and its Currency is Bahraini Dinar.
  • Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa is the Prime Minister of Bahrain.

Topic: State News/ Assam

3. Assam Government will give financial assistance to 7.5 lakh people under Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar scheme.

• Under Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar scheme, Assam Government will give financial assistance of 3000 rupees each to 7.5 lakh people.
• It will be given to people working in tea garden areas.
• Union Finance Minister and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will participate in the third phase of the Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar mela.
• Earlier, the government has given financial assistance of 5000 rupees to tea garden workers in two installments.
• Assam Chah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar Scheme:
  • It was launched by the Assam government in 2017-18.
  • The main objective of this scheme is to support tea garden workers financially.
  • The beneficiaries receive financial assistance directly in their bank account.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Miscellaneous

4. Government will rename 1063 residential schools funded under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme.

• The Ministry of Education has announced that residential schools and hostels funded under the Samagra Shiksha scheme would be renamed as “Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Residential Schools/Hostels”.
• It will inspire children, teachers and staff to achieve a high standard of excellence. This step will also help to raise awareness about these residential schools.
• Under the Samagra Shiksha scheme, the government gives financial assistance for opening and running of Residential Schools and Hostels in hilly terrain, small and sparsely populated areas.
• The main aim of these schools is to provide quality education in remote areas of the country. It mainly focuses on aspiration districts, Left Wing Extremism affected districts and Educationally Backward Blocks.
• At present, 1063 residential schools are available in India.
• Samagra Shiksha scheme:
  • It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for School Education.
  • It subsumes three Schemes- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).
  • Its goal is to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Number 4- Quality Education by 2030.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

5. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways issued finalized guidelines for floating structures.

• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has issued guidelines for the upcoming projects related to floating structures. It is issued for the development of world-class floating infrastructure in India.
• The guidelines laid down various technical aspects for implementing Floating Jetties / Platforms for Marinas, Minor Harbors, Fishing Harbours / Fish landing centers, Waterdromes and such other similar facilities in coastal areas, estuaries, waterways, rivers and reservoirs.
• Government has set the standard specifications of floating infrastructure par with international standards.
• The floating structures are more beneficial than conventional fixed concrete structures. The benefits of the floating structure are Cost-effectiveness, faster implementation, easily expandable, and re-locatable.
• Government has implemented few floating infrastructure projects at water-aerodromes at Sabarmati River and Sardar Sarovar Dam.
• Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways:
  • It was formed on 17 November 2000.
  • Recently, the Ministry of Shipping has been renamed as Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
  • Mansukh Mandaviya is the current Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Miscellaneous

6. 3^rd Bangladesh Film Festival started in Kolkata.

• The five-day-long 3^rd Bangladesh Film Festival-2021 started in Kolkata on 5 February.
• Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Information Minister of Bangladesh, has inaugurated this film festival.
• Dr. Hasan Mahmud has also inaugurated an art exhibition based on the life of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
• The event is being organised to celebrate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50^th anniversary of Bangladesh Independence.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

7. Himachal Pradesh becomes the first State to implement end to end e-cabinet.

• Himachal Pradesh has become the first State in the country to implement end to end e-cabinet process. It has been inaugurated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.
• It will make the whole process of cabinet decision making paperless. The entire process from initiation of cabinet memo to approval by the Chief Minister has been made online.
• The e-cabinet system has various features, including notification of the cabinet meeting, record of the cabinet proceedings and decisions, showing the status of cabinet decision, etc. It also generates SMS for every step involved in the cabinet decision-making process.
• The IT application for e-cabinet has been developed by the Department of Information Technology. It is the first of its kind application in the entire country. 
• It will reduce the time for conducting a cabinet meeting and increases the efficiency of the decision-making process.
• Arunachal Pradesh is the first State in the northeast to implement the e-Cabinet solution. It had launched the e-Cabinet system in 2017.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. “Nai Roshni”- Scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women.

• ‘Nai Roshni’ scheme was launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2012-13. It is a Leadership Development Programme for Minority Women.
• The main objective of this scheme is to empower minority women by providing them knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, banks and other institutions.
• It is implemented with the help of NGOs, Civil societies and Government Institutions across the country.
• Under this scheme, women are trained through pre-designed training modules covering issues related to women such as Health and Hygiene, Legal rights of women, Financial Literacy, etc.
• The Seekho Aur Kamao Scheme and Nai Manzil scheme are also helping in the economic empowerment of Minority women.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. Government approved Startup India Seed Fund Scheme for the next four years.

• The Government has approved the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme for the next four years. It will be implemented from 1 April 2021.
• It was announced by the Prime Minister at the Startup India’s international summit Prarambh.
• The Government has allocated Rs 945 Crore corpus under Startup India Seed Fund Scheme for the period of 2021-25.
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme will support 3600 entrepreneurs through 300 incubators. It will mainly support startups from the education, agriculture, food processing, biotechnology, healthcare and energy sectors.
• Startup India Seed Fund Scheme:
  • The main objective of this scheme is to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry and commercialization.
  • Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is the implementing body of this scheme.
  • Under this scheme, selected startups will get a grant of Rs 20 lakhs for proof of concept and Rs 50 lakhs through debt to commercialize the product.

Topic: Banking System

10. Monetary Policy Committee decides to keep repo rate unchanged at 4.0%.

• Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided to keep the repo rate and reverse repo rate unchanged at 4.0% and 3.35%, respectively.
• It has also kept Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and Bank Rate unchanged at 4.25%. Besides keeping the policy rates unchanged, MPC decided to maintain accommodative stance as long as needed.
• Additionally, RBI revised projection for CPI inflation to 5.2 % in Q4:2020-21 and projected the real GDP growth at 10.5% in 2021-22.
• Monetary Policy Committee’s next meeting will be from April 5 to 7, 2021.