14 DECEMBER 2021 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF AFCAT NDA SSB

1. HARNAAZ SANDHU

India's Harnaaz Sandhu made history as she was crowned Miss Universe 2021, 21 years after India last brought home the title when Lara Dutta was crowned Miss Universe 2000.

About:

Harnaaz Kaur Sandhu (born 3 March 2000) is an Indian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe 2021.
She is the third entrant from India to win Miss Universe. Before Harnaaz Sandhu, the Miss Universe title was won by two Indians - Sushmita Sen in 1994 and Lara Dutta in 2000.

Source: PIB

2. SUPERSONIC MISSILE-ASSISTED TORPEDO SYSTEM

A supersonic missile-assisted torpedo system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully launched from Wheeler Island in Odisha.

About:

The system is a next-generation missile-based stand-off torpedo delivery system. During the mission, full-range capability of the missile was successfully demonstrated.
The system has been designed to enhance anti-submarine warfare capability far beyond the conventional range of the torpedo.
The missile carried a torpedo, parachute delivery system and release mechanisms.
This canister-based missile system consists of advanced technologies — two-stage solid propulsion, electro-mechanical actuators and precision inertial navigation.
The missile is launched from a ground mobile launcher and it can cover a range of distances.
While a number of DRDO laboratories developed various technologies for this system, industry participated in the development and production of various sub-systems.

Source: The Hindu

3. UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA (UNCLOS)

India remained committed to promoting a free, open and rules-based order rooted in international law and undaunted by coercion, the Centre informed Parliament while reiterating support for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

About:

As a State party to the UNCLOS, India also supported freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded commerce based on the principles of international law, reflected notably in the UNCLOS 1982.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea Treaty, is an international agreement that establishes a legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.
The Convention resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place between 1973 and 1982.
UNCLOS replaced the four treaties of the 1958 Convention on the High Seas.
UNCLOS came into force in 1994, a year after Guyana became the 60th nation to ratify the treaty.

Source: The Hindu

4. BANK-NBFC CO-LENDING

A November 2020 decision by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to permit banks to “co-lend with all registered NBFCs (including HFCs) based on a prior agreement”, has led to unusual tie-ups like the one announced earlier this month between the State Bank of India (SBI) and Adani Capital.

The ‘Co-Lending Model’

In September 2018, the RBI had announced “co-origination of loans” by banks and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) for lending to the priority sector.
The arrangement entailed joint contribution of credit at the facility level by both the lenders as also sharing of risks and rewards.
Subsequently, the central bank allowed the lenders greater operational flexibility, while requiring them to conform to regulatory guidelines.
The primary focus of the revised scheme, rechristened as ‘Co-Lending Model’ (CLM), was to
- improve the flow of credit to the unserved and underserved sector of the economy and
- make available funds to the ultimate beneficiary at an affordable cost, considering the lower cost of funds from banks and greater reach of the NBFCs.
Bank-NBFC tie-ups
Several banks have entered into co-lending ‘master agreements’ with NBFCs, and more are in the pipeline.
On December 2, SBI, the country’s largest lender, signed a deal with Adani Capital, a small NBFC of a big corporate house, for co-lending to farmers to help them buy tractors and farm implements.
On November 24, the Union Bank of India entered into a co-lending agreement with Capri Global Capital Ltd (CGCL).

Source: Indian Express

5. Q-COMMERCE

Online grocer Grofers has rebranded itself “Blinkit”, in line with its new focus on “quick commerce”, which essentially involves delivering customer orders much faster than it does currently.

About:

After losing significant market share to BigBasket over the years, Softbank-backed Grofers decided to change its business model from the conventional grocer model to the quick-commerce model, in which goods are delivered in a much shorter time.
The supply chain disruptions triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic led to the emergence of a new sub-vertical in the online grocery segment — quick commerce, or q-commerce — the unique selling proposition of which was the promise of delivery within 10-30 minutes of ordering.
The focus of most of these ventures is
- on setting up micro-warehouses located closer to the point of delivery, and
- of restricting stocks at these “dark stores” to a focussed set of under 2,000 high-demand items, as against the traditional formula of well-stocked, large-format warehouses that are located on the outskirts of towns and cities.

Source: Indian Express

6. ABU ROBOCON 2022

In what is being seen as recognition of India’s marvels in the field of Technology, Doordarshan will be hosting the international finals of Robocon 2022 in August next year.

About:

The Robot competition, which is organised by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and hosted by different member countries every year, will be held in New Delhi in 2022.
The theme of DD Robocon 2022 will be Lagori.
ABU Robocon 2021 was hosted by China wherein the international Robocon contest was held on December 12, 2021.
Started by Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) in 2002, ABU Robocon pits Robots against each other in the completion of a task in a given period of time.
The contest aims to create friendship among young people with similar interests who will lead their countries in the 21st century, as well as help advance engineering and broadcasting technologies in the region.

Source: PIB

7. LokpalOnline

Chairperson, Lokpal of India, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose inaugurated’ a digital Platform for Management of Complaints called ‘LokpalOnline’ here that can be accessed by all citizens of the country and complaints can be filed from anywhere, anytime at http://lokpalonline.gov.in.

About:

LokpalOnline is an end-to-end digital solution for the management of complaints against public servants filed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
It may be recalled that Lokpal of India, has been established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 to inquire and investigate into allegations of corruption against public functionaries falling within the scope and ambit of this Act. At present complaints sent by post, e-mail or delivered by hand are entertained by the Lokpal of India.
The Portal, hosted on NIC Cloud, has been developed on an Open Source Technology. Its security audit has been done by an agency empanelled by the CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

Important features of this digital platform are following:

Convenience to complainants for filing complaint online from anywhere anytime
Information to the complainant about action on complaint at every stage through e-mails and SMS
Facility to complainant to ascertain status of complaint at anytime
Identity of the complaint is kept confidential
The CVC, CBI and other inquiry agencies can upload their reports directly on ‘LokpalOnline’ platform.
Reminders to inquiry agencies through e-mails and SMS
Generation of analytical reports as per requirement

Source: PIB

8. NEW GAS STOVE FOR DOMESTIC PNG

The Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas informed Rajya Sabha that a novel fuel efficient domestic cooking stove for Piped Natural Gas (PNG) has been developed by Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) in collaboration with CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) Dehradun.

About:

This is the first product of its kind in the Country. Entire combustion system including burner, mixing tube, venture etc. has been customized in this new stove to handle PNG.
The stove has been optimized to have the highest thermal efficiency. The newly developed PNG stove has a thermal efficiency of around 55% in comparison to the maximum efficiency of 40% for the modified LPG stoves presently being used on PNG by the domestic households.
PCRA has been promoting this newly developed PNG stove which has a cost almost similar to normal LPG stove.
PCRA has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) under Ministry of Power for developing and implementing a model for marketing this new PNG stove by EESL for PNG customers on pan India basis.

Source: PIB

9. 2nd EDITION OF WATER INNOVATION CHALLENGES

Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and the Royal Embassy of Denmark to India announced the second edition of water innovation challenges here to address the global water woes through innovations as part of the Indo-Danish Bilateral Green Strategic partnership.

About:

The AIM-ICDK water challenge is being rolled out under the year-old ambitious partnership of AIM, NITI Aayog and Innovation Center Denmark (ICDK) under the aegis of Denmark Embassy in India, and the Denmark Technical University (DTU).
The initiative aims to identify innovative & next-gen solutions to solve proposed challenges in collaboration with corporate and public partners.
The initiative will engage young talents from leading universities and innovation hubs across the nation to build their skills and apply their technical disciplines and innovation capacity.
The winners of the challenges will also represent India at the International Water Congress 2022. The Denmark Embassy in India, and the DTU will be preparing the Indian participants for the Global Next Generation Water Action (NGWA) program to be hosted by DTU.

Source: PIB

10. GREENFIELD AIRPORTS

Ministry Of Civil Aviation (MoCA) informed Rajya Sabha that MoCA has accorded 'in-principle' approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country so far.

About:

Government of India has formulated a Greenfield Airport Policy, 2008which provides Guidelines for establishment of new Greenfield Airports in the country.
As per Policy, an Airport Developer, including the State Governments, willing to establish an Airport is required to send a proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation(MoCA).
There is a 2-stage process for approval of the proposal i.e. ‘Site-Clearance’ stage and 'In-Principle' approval stage.
In accordance with this policy, MoCA receives proposals from the State Governments or Airport developers from time to time for establishment of airports.
MoCA has so far accorded 'in-principle' approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country.

Source : PIB

14 DECEMBER 2021 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS CAPF AFCAT NDA SSB

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