03 MAY 2021 CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS AFCAT NDA COMPETITITVE EXAMS

CONVERTING NITROGEN PLANTS TO OXYGEN PLANTS

Considering the requirement of medical oxygen amidst the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Government of India explored the feasibility of conversion of existing nitrogen plants to produce oxygen.

About:

Various such potential industries, wherein existing nitrogen plants may be spared for production of oxygen were identified.
The process of converting the existing Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) nitrogen plants for production of oxygen was discussed.
In the nitrogen plants Carbon Molecular Sieve (CMS) is used whereas Zeolite Molecular Sieve (ZMS) is required for producing oxygen.
Therefore, by replacing CMS with ZMS and carrying out few other changes such as oxygen analyzer, control panel system, flow valves etc. existing nitrogen plants can be modified to produce oxygen.
A nitrogen plant modified for the production of oxygen can be either shifted to a nearby hospital or, in case it is not feasible to shift the plant, it can be used for on-site production of oxygen, which can be be transported to hospital through specialized vessels/cylinders.

Source : Times of India

SATYAJIT RAY FILM AND TELEVISION INSTITUTE (SRFTI)

Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute organized the virtual convocation ceremony on Sunday, May 2, 2021. The day also marks the beginning of the yearlong birth centenary celebration of the film maestro Sh. Satyajit Ray.

About:

Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) is a film and television institute located in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Named after Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray, the institute provides higher and professional education and technical expertise in the art and technique of film-making and television production.
Established in 1995, the institute is an autonomous society funded by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India.
SRFTI is one of the most prestigious film schools in India, and ranks among the best film schools in the world, along with the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the National School of Drama, New Delhi

Source : All India Radio

GOODS AND SERVICES TAX (GST)

In view of the corona pandemic, the government has announced various relief measures for taxpayers under GST law including reduction in interest rate and waiving of late fee. The Finance Ministry has issued notification in this regard.

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A lower rate of interest of 9 per cent for the first 15 days from the due date of payment of tax and 18 per cent thereafter, for the tax payable for tax period of March and April 2021 has been notified for registered persons having aggregate turnover of over 5 crore rupees.
In case of aggregate turnover upto 5 crore rupees, nil rate of interest for the first 15 days from the due date of payment of tax, 9 per cent for the next 15 days, and 18 per cent thereafter, for both normal taxpayers and those under Quarterly Return, Monthly Payment of Taxes (QRMP) Scheme for March and April, 2021 has been notified.
For registered persons having aggregate turnover above 5 crore rupees, the late fee has been waived for 15 days with regard to returns in FORM GSTR-3B furnished beyond the due date for tax periods of these two months.
In case of turnover upto 5 crore rupees, the late fee has been waived for 30 days for GSTR-3B returns furnished beyond the due date.
Besides, the Finance Ministry has extended the due date of filing FORM GSTR-1 and Invoice Furnishing Facility- IFF for the month of April due in May has been extended by 15 days.

Source : All India Radio

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a four-day visit to London to participate in a meeting of foreign ministers of G7 countries. India has been invited to the meeting as a guest country.

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The G-7 or ‘Group of Seven’ are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The G-7 nations meet at annual summits that are presided over by leaders of member countries on a rotational basis. The summit is an informal gathering that lasts two days, in which leaders of member countries discuss a wide range of global issues.
The G-7 does not have a formal constitution or a fixed headquarters.
The decisions taken by leaders during annual summits are non-binding.

Timeline:

It is an intergovernmental organisation that was formed in 1975 by the top economies of the time as an informal forum to discuss pressing world issues.
Canada joined the group in 1976, and the European Union began attending in 1977.
The G-7 was known as the ‘G-8’ for several years after the original seven were joined by Russia in 1997. The Group returned to being called G-7 after Russia was expelled as a member in 2014 following the latter’s annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine.

Source : All India Radio

TAIWAN

India on Sunday received assistance from Taiwan, including oxygen concentrators and cylinders, with more batches of medical equipment set to follow from Taipei.

About:

Taiwan is officially known as the Republic of China (ROC).
It is a state in East Asia with Neighbouring states include the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the west, Japan to the north-east, and the Philippines to the south.
The East China Sea lies to its north, the Philippine Sea to its east, the Luzon Strait directly to its south and the South China Sea to its southwest.
The Taiwan Strait separates the island of Taiwan from mainland China. The strait is currently part of the South China Sea and connects to the East China Sea to the north.
Taipei is the capital.
Taiwan is no longer a member of the UN, having been replaced by the PRC in 1971. Taiwan is claimed by the PRC, which refuses diplomatic relations with countries that recognise the ROC.
Taiwan maintains official ties with 14 out of 193 UN member states and the Holy See.
The bilateral relations between India and Taiwan have improved since the 1990s despite both nations not maintaining official diplomatic relations.

Source : The Hindu

CT SCANS

Several Covid positive patients with mild to moderate Covid symptoms, and some with negative RT-PCR reports but Covid symptoms are coming for CT scans.

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A CT scan is also known as computed tomography scan (formerly known as computed axial tomography or CAT scan).
It is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to get detailed images of the body noninvasively for diagnostic purposes.
The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers or radiology technologists.
CT scanners use a rotating x-ray tube and a row of detectors placed in the gantry to measure X-ray attenuations by different tissues inside the body.
The multiple X-ray measurements taken from different angles are then processed on a computer using reconstruction algorithms to produce tomographic (cross-sectional) images (virtual "slices") of a body.
The use of ionizing radiations sometimes restricts its use owing to its adverse effects.

Source : Indian Express

IOC’s RULE 50

Olympic-bound athletes won’t be allowed to protest on the field, on podiums, and during ceremonies.

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The decision, taken on the back of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) Rule 50, has triggered a fresh round of debate over athletes’ right to expression.
The IOC’s Rule 50 forbids any kind of “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” at venues and any other Olympic area.
However, following the death of George Floyd in the USA last May, which triggered anti-racism protests and gave a boost to the Black Lives Matter movement, the Olympic body came under pressure to relax the rule so that athletes could express themselves freely during the Games.
Subsequently, the IOC’s Athletes Commission started a consultation process in June last year, took views from 3,547 athletes before last week, it was recommended that the rule should be maintained.

Source : Indian Express

SpaceX

A SpaceX capsule with four astronauts returning from the International Space Station splashed down safely in the Gulf of Mexico on May 2, 2021.

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American Space agency NASA has said that Their return marked the end of 168 days in space for the four astronauts, and the end of SpaceX’s first operational round-trip mission.
This return to earth was the first nighttime splashdown for NASA astronauts since Apollo 8, which was the first mission to orbit the moon, in 1968.
The mission was part of NASA’s fledgling public-private partnership with SpaceX, the rocket company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, who is also CEO of electric car maker Tesla Inc.

Source : All India Radio

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

World Press Freedom Day is being observed on May 3, 2021.

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History: World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference.
Date of observance: Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day.
Objective of the Day: To celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom throughout the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Theme: This year’s theme “Information as a Public Good” serves as a call to affirm the importance of cherishing information as a public good.

Source : All India Radio

SUTRA MODEL

Scientists working on the SUTRA model have rejected media reports claiming that they had cautioned the Government regarding the second wave of the corona pandemic in March this year.

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SUTRA model is used for charting the trajectory of COVID-19 in the country.
In a media statement, group of scientists working on the model stated that a mathematical model can only predict future with some certainty so long as virus dynamics and its transmissibility don’t change substantially over time.
They added that in the case of COVID-19, the nature of the virus has been changing very rapidly.
In such a context, they said any prediction for COVID-19 must be continually readjusted.
The Scientists working on the SUTRA model said that they continue their efforts to better estimate the future trajectory of the pandemic.

Source : All India Radio

03 MAY 2021 CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS AFCAT NDA COMPETITITVE EXAMS

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