Daily Current Affairs : 16-12-2020

1.Members of Parliament Local Area Development(MPLAD)fund

• Members of Parliament have urged the government to release funds for projects sanctioned In 2018 and 2019, which were suspended due to the COVID-19pandemic.
• MPLAD Scheme is a central government scheme which provides each MP with the choice to suggest to the District Collector for works to the tune of Rs.5 Crores per annum.
• MPsalsohaveto recommends every year, works costing at least 15% of the MPLADS entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by SC population and 7.5% for areas Inhabited by S.T.population.

Source: The Hindu

2.Project 17A

• Under Project 17A program, a total of seven ships (guided-missile frigates) are being built with enhanced stealth features, advanced indigenous weapon and sensor fit along with several other improvements.
• Recently, Indian Navys 2nd Project 17A Frigate 'Himgiri' was launched by India's shipbuilder Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited.

Source: The Hindu

3.Hump-backed mahseer

• It is a large freshwater fish and is endemic to the Cauvery river basin. It is also known as the 'Tiger of the water'.
• Cauvery originates in Brahmagiri Hill of Western Ghats in Karnataka and passes through Tamil Nadu to the Bay of Bengal.
• Threats: Destructive fishing methods, building of dams that reduced the flow rates in the river, over-abstraction of water, and pollution.
• JUCN status: critically endangered.
• Other Critically endangered aquatic Species in India: is Ganges Shark, Pond cherry Shark, Largetooth sawfish etc.

Source: The Hindu

4.Green ammonia

• Government plans to invite bids for setting up green ammonia projects to reduce import dependence.
• Green ammonia refers to stoammonia, which has been produced through a process that is 100%renewable and carbon-free.
• It uses renewable energy instead of natural gas or coal for producing hydrogen; hence, is an effective way to reduce greenhouse emissions.
• Ammonia is a pungent gas that is widely used to make agricultural fertilizers. It is easier and cheaper to store, and transport.

Source: The Hindu

5.First Trilateral working Group(TWG) Meeting between India, Iran and Uzbekistan

• TWG meeting was on the joint use of Chabahar Port.
• Chabahar port in Iran was developed by India as part of a tripartite agreement signed by India, Afghanistan, and Iran.
• India also constructed a road connecting Zaranj to Delaram for facilitating the movement of goods and services to Afghanistan from the Iranian border.
• It provides connectivity with  Europe when linked to the International North-South Transport  Corridor  (INSTC).
• It helps India to bypass Pakistan to access Central Asia, Afghanistan.

Source: The Hindu

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