Daily Current Affairs and GK | 8 December 2021

Topic: International News

1. President Adama Barrow wins second term election in Gambia.

• Adama Barrow won the second term presidential election in Gambia.
• Adama Barrow was elected as president five years ago by ending more than 20 years of dictatorship.
• He received more than 53 percent vote in the presidential election. His main opponent Ousainou Darboe receive 27.7 percent vote.
•  Adama Barrow received standing ovation when he addressed his supporters.
• The presidential election of Gambia has been closely watched as a test of the democratic transition in the Gambia.

Topic: Defense News

2. GRSE launched first indigenous large survey vessel 'Sandhayak'.

• GRSE has launched India's first indigenous Survey Vessel 'Sandhayak' for Indian Navy.
• It has been launched as part of the series of four ships under the Survey Vessel (Large) project for the Indian Navy.
• The launching ceremony was conducted in true maritime traditions. The survey ship is capable of performing deep-water hydrographic surveys of Ports & Harbor.
• These ships are also capable of undertaking surveys of maritime limits and collection of oceanographic and geographical data for the defence applications.
• These ships are propelled by two Marine Diesel Engines along with Fixed Pitch Propellers.
• The ships have been fully designed by the design team of GRSE. The vessel has 80 percent indigenous content.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

3. Odisha government signed agreement with SFI to develop swimming ecosystem.

• The sports and youth services department of Odisha has signed an agreement with Swimming Federation of India (SFI) to develop the swimming ecosystem.
• The agreement will help in developing, promoting, and expanding the swimming ecosystem in the state.
• Odisha government will support and sponsor the Swimming Federation of India (SFI). The Odisha State Swimming Association (OSSA) will provide their technical expertise.
• The agreement will help in the holistic development of the sport from the grassroot level including national and international competition.
• The federation will help in developing all forms of aquatic sports in the state.

Topic: Important Days

4. Armed Forces Flag Day: 7 December

• National armed forces Flag day is also known as the National flag day of India. It is celebrated every year on 7 December.
• It is observed to honour the martyrs who have heroically fought for the country.
• Armed Forces Flag Day is dedicated to the soldiers who protect the country’s borders.
• Indian Armed Forces Flag Day is being celebrated since 1949. A committee was appointed for the observance of the annual Flag Day on 7 December.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

5. 150 million dollar loan agreement signed between India and ADB.

• 150 million dollar loan agreement has been signed between India and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• The agreement has been signed to provide affordable housing for urban poor in Tamil Nadu.
• Rapid urbanization in Tamil Nadu has created a housing shortfall particularly for low-income households. Nearly half of Tamil Nadu’s 72 million population lives in urban areas.
• Through the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board, Housing for Urban Poor Sector Project in Tamil Nadu will construct housing units in nine different locations.
• It will relocate about 6,000 households vulnerable to natural hazards to safer locations.
• State government will invest a portion of ADB’s assistance as equity into to catalyze private sector financing and support investments.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

6. India successfully test fires Vertically Launched Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from integrated test range, Chandipur.

• India has successfully test fired Vertically Launched Short Range Surface to Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from integrated test range, Chandpur, Odisha on 07 December 2021.
• As per DRDO, the launch was conducted from a vertical launcher against an electronic target at a very low altitude.
• The first trial was conducted on 22 February 2021 and this is confirmatory trial to prove the consistent performance of the configuration and integrated operation.
• The launch was conducted to validate integrated operation of all weapon system components required for future launches of the missile from Indian Naval Ships.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Space and IT

7. Indian-origin physician Anil Menon selected for future missions.

• Indian-origin physician Anil Menon has been selected along with nine other astronauts for future missions.
• He is a lieutenant colonel at the US Air Force. He helped SpaceX in launching the first human space flight.
• He is an actively practicing emergency medicine physician. He was trained in wilderness and aerospace medicine.
• Nasa has selected 10 new astronaut candidates from more than 12000 applicants. Anil Menon served in Nasa as the crew flight surgeon for various expeditions.
• Earlier, Sirisha Bandla becomes the third Indian woman to fly into space after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams.
• Rakesh Sharma is the first Indian citizen to travel in space.  He was part of the Soviet Interkosmos programme.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

8. Ministry of Rural Development and Flipkart signed agreement to empower SHGs producers.

• Under the Flipkart Samarth programme, the Ministry of Rural Development and Flipkart signed an agreement to empower SHGs producers.
• Self Help Groups (SHGs) producers including the artisans, weavers, and craftsmen will access the national market through the Flipkart Samarth programme.
• 36 SHGs have been registered on Flipkart and 11 products are listed for sale. SHG members and Clusters will provide training support for onboarding products.
• Catalogue support will be also provided for a maximum 100 products per seller and other benefits like support for warehousing and account management etc. will be also provided.
• Under this agreement, commission charges will be also waived for selling products on the Flipkart platform for six months.

Topic: Indian Polity

9. Lok Sabha discussed High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill 2021.

• The Lok Sabha has discussed the High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill 2021.
• Opposition leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suggested the Government explore the possibility of a permanent pay matrix system for the judiciary.
• Many issues like infrastructure development in lower courts, use of technology, filling up of vacancies were also undertaken during the discussion.
• RSP MP NK Prema Chandran suggested Government to bring National Judicial Appointment Commission Bill.
• Members also stressed upon the uniform retirement age of High Court and Supreme Court judges. At present, the retirement age of Supreme Court Judges is 65 years while the retirement age of the High court is 62 years.
• Government is also likely to bring the Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in the Lower House.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: National News

10. NCW launches pan-India capacity building programme for women in politics.

• National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched a pan-India capacity building programme for women in politics. 
• The programme, ‘She is a Changemaker’ is for women representatives at all levels, gram panchayats to parliament members and political workers including office bearers of National/State political parties.
• The programme will be undertaken in association with region-wise training institutes to undertake capacity building of women political leaders and improve their decision-making and communication skills.
• The training programmes under She is a Changemaker series were officially launched on 07 December 2021 in collaboration with Rhambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Thane, Maharashtra.
• The Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), Rekha Sharma launched the programmes. 

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

11. Indian Army to organize a multi-nation disaster management exercise.

• Indian Army will organize a multi-nation disaster management exercise with focus on relief in the backdrop of Covid-19 pandemic.
• The exercise has been named PANEX 21. It will involve Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and India—BIMSTEC countries.
• PANEX 21 will be conducted at Pune from 20-21 December 2021. Its aim is to build regional cooperation for responding to natural disasters.
• A Curtain Raiser Event for PANEX 21 was held at Kothari Auditorium DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi on 07 Dec 2021. 
• Raksha Rajya Mantri, Shri Ajay Bhatt said that success of the last two BIMSTEC Disaster Management Exercises (DMEx-2017 at Delhi and DMEx-2020 at Puri) shows the close coordination mechanism that the BIMSTEC nations share.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Miscellaneous

12. UAE becomes first country to adopt 4 and half day work week.

• UAE has become the first country to adopt 4 and half day work week.
• As per UAE government, UAE is the first nation in the world to introduce a national working week shorter than the global five-day week.
• As per new schedule, Monday to Thursday work timings would be from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.
• The work timings on Friday would be 7:30 am to 12:00 pm. The new work timings would start from January 1, 2022.
• Saturdays and Sundays are full-day holidays under the new rule. Government said longer weekends would boost productivity.
• Employees would be offered flexible working hours and work-from-home options on Friday.

Topic: Personality in News

13. India’s first woman psychiatrist, Sarada Menon, died at the age of 98.

• Sarada Menon, India's first female psychiatrist, died at her home in Chennai at the age of 98.
• She has received numerous awards, including the Padma Bhusan in 1992 for her contributions to mental health.
• Menon, who was born in Mangaluru, graduated from Madras Medical College and trained in psychiatry in Bengaluru’s NIMHANS.
• When she started working in 1959 at what is now the Institute of Mental Health (formerly the government Kilpauk mental hospital) in Chennai, she became the country's first female psychiatrist.
• In 1984, Menon established the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF).
• Since 1996, SCARF has been a collaborating institution for mental health research and teaching with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Topic: Appointments

14. Former CEC Arora appointed to the advisory board of international democratic organisation.

• Former Indian Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora has been appointed as the Board of Advisers for International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
• The Institute is supported by a 15-member Board of Advisers, which includes eminent individuals and specialists from several fields.
• From December 2, 2018, to April 12, 2021, Sunil Arora has served as India's 23^rd Chief Election Commissioner.
• Sunil Arora has previously served as the head of several major ministries in the Government of India and the State Government of Rajasthan.

Topic: Reports and Indices

15. Three Indian companies are among top 100 global arms sales in 2020.

• According to a new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which tracks global arms trade, three Indian companies are among the top 100 for total arms sales in 2020.
• The three companies are:
  • Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
  • Indian Ordnance Factories
  • Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
• All three were ranked in the top 100 in arms sales in 2019 as well.
• Their total arms sales of USD 6.5 billion were 1.7 percent higher in 2020 compared to 2019 and 1.2 percent in the top 100 overall.
• In the latest ranking, HAL is ranked 42^nd with USD 2.97 billion, which is 1.5% higher than 2019 sales.
• Indian Ordnance Factories has ranked 60^th, with sales of $1.9 billion, a 0.2% increase over the previous year.
• BEL is ranked 66^th with US$ 1.63 billion in arms sales, which is 4 percent higher than in 2019.
• The top five weapons manufacturers in the world are Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics.