Indian scientific expedition to Antarctica launched

Shankar School of Banking January 5 , 2021 436

NATIONAL NEWS

PM Addressed the National Metrology Conclave 2021

  • The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi delivered inaugural address at the National Metrology Conclave 2021.
  • The theme of the conclave is ‘Metrology for the Inclusive Growth of the Nation’.
  • The Conclave was organised by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, on its 75th year of inception.
  • PM dedicated the National Atomic Time Scale and Bhartiya Nirdeshak Dravya to the nation and also laid foundation for National Environmental Standards Labs.
  • The National Atomic Timescale will create the Indian Standard Time with 2.8 nanoseconds of accuracy using five cesium atomic clocks. The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is called the Timekeeper of India.
  • Bhartiya Nirdeshak Dravya is a laboratory to support, test and calibrate Quality Assurance.
  • National Environmental Standards Labs will focus on self-Reliance in certification of ambient air and industrial emission monitoring equipment.

 

PM Inaugurates Kochi - Mangaluru Natural Gas Pipeline

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Kochi - Mangaluru Natual Gas Pipeline on 5th January 2021 through video conference.
  • The event marks an important milestone towards the creation of ‘One Nation One Gas Grid'.
  • The project was constructed at a total cost of about ₹3000 crore with a stretch of 450 km long.

 

Indian scientific expedition to Antarctica launched

  • India has lauched the 40th scientific expedition to Antarctica on 4th January 2021.
  • The 40th expedition journey will be flagged off from Goa on January 5, 2021, with 43 members onboard.
  • The chartered ice-class vessel MV Vasiliy Golovnin will make this journey and will reach Antarctica in 30 days.
  • The focus is to support the ongoing scientific projects on climate change, geology, ocean observations, electric and magnetic flux measurements, environmental monitoring and to supply life essentials to the team.

 

Project Sagarmala Seaplane Services initiated

  • Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways initiated the Seaplane services through the Sagarmala Development Company Ltd (SDCL).
  • By providing air connectivity to numerous remote, religious/tourist places and unexplored locations near the water bodies will make the journey easier.
  • One such Seaplane Service is already in operation between Kevadia and Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad launched by PM on 31st October 2020.

Facts:

  • Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways: Mansukh Mandaviya

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

India sings $100 million loan agreement with ADB

  • Government of India and the Asian Development Bank signed a $100 million loan agreement to modernise and upgrade the power distribution system in Bengaluru.
  • Also, ADB will provide a $90 million without sovereign guarantee loan for the project to Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM)
  • The loan will strengthen the capacity of BESCOM in operation and maintenance of underground cabling, environment and social safeguards, financial management and commercial financing.

Facts on ADB:

  • Headquarters: Manila, Philippines
  • Founded: 19 December 1966
  • President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa

 

MISCELLANEOUS

First Khelo India Sports School from North-East

  • Union Minister of Youth & Sports launched Assam Rifles Public School, Shillong as the first Khelo India Sports School from North-East.
  • The objective of a Khelo India Sports School is to integrate sports with education and in the process, develop sports in the country and improve the overall profile and outlook of athletes.

Facts:

  • Union Minister of Youth & Sports: Kiren Rijiju

 

National Police K-9 Journal inaugurated

  • The Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah released the inaugural issue of the “National Police K-9 Journal” in New Delhi on 2nd January 2021.
  • It is the first such publication in the country on the subject of Police Service K9s (PSKs) i.e. Police Dogs.
  • The publication of the Police K9 Journal is a step in creating an ecosystem in the country to train and learn on augmenting this vital resource.
  • The journal comprises of different section in Hindi and English.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Braille Day

  • Observed annually on 4 January, World Braille Day was established by the UN General Assembly in December 2018.
  • The day marks the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, who at the age of 15, invented the tactile system for reading and writing – Braille system, for use by people who are blind or visually impaired.

Datewise Archives - Current Affairs