Daily Current Affairs November 24

Dear Champions, as you all know that a lot of competitive exams have been notified consequently. Candidates have to prepare themselves according to the level of competition and expectation of  the Recruitment board. Regarding that one of the most important topic is Daily Current Affairs November 24. Current Affairs in the form of contemporary events of national & international play a crucial role in almost every competitive exams like Banking, Insurance, SSC, UPSC, TNPSC, Railway etc.

Current affairs are the most dynamic yet scoring among all sections and need to be prepared from the right source. Here, we cafunsta team, providing  Daily GK Updates, Current Affairs Questions, and Monthly  current affairs pdf.

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November 24 | Daily Current Affairs 2021

Sports – Daily Current Affairs November 24

1. The FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup has commenced in which state?
A) Odisha
B) Chhattisgarh
C) Mizoram
D) Assam
E) Puducherry
Answer: A) Odisha

• The FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup has commenced in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar.
• The inaugural match was played in the iconic Kalinga Stadium between Belgium and South Africa with the former clinching the match by 5-1.

34th All India Postal Wrestling championship to begin in New Delhi:

• 34th All India Postal Wrestling championship will begin in New Delhi.
• Tokyo Olympic Bronze medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia and Indian Olympic Coach Anil Mann will grace the opening ceremony as Chief Guest.
• Eleven postal circles across the nation, including Delhi, will take part in the event.
  Total 98 wrestlers, including state and national level wrestlers, will feature in the inter-departmental meet.
• For the first time in the history of Postal Wrestling Championship, women wrestling has been inducted in the tournament.

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2. Which state/UT team lifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy defeating Karnataka?
A) Odisha
B) Chhattisgarh
C) Mizoram
D) Tamil Nadu
E) Puducherry
Answer: D) Tamil Nadu

• In cricket, Tamil Nadu lifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy defeating Karnataka.
• Batsman M. Shahrukh Khan smashed a dramatic last-ball six to help Tamil Nadu defend the T-20 title with a thrilling four-wicket win in the summit clash in Arun Jaitley Stadium Delhi.
• Needing 16 runs off the last over bowled by Prateek Jain, power-hitter Khan kept his cool under pressure to clobber the final delivery to take Tamil Nadu to 153 for six and seal the win.
• Shahrukh Khan was adjudged as the Man of the Match.
• Earlier, put in to bat first, Karnataka scored 151 runs for seven wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.

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Ranking – Daily Current Affairs November 24

3. Which city is topped in Niti Aayog’s first Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Urban India Index?
A) Thanjavur
B) Coimbatore
C) Trichy
D) Madurai
E) Shimla
Answer: E) Shimla

Rank	City	State/UT
1	Shimla	Himachal Pradesh
2	Coimbatore	Tamil Nadu
3	Chandigarh	Chandigarh

 

• Shimla, Coimbatore and Chandigarh have topped the Niti Aayog’s first Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Urban India Index, while Dhanbad, Meerut and Itanagar are the worst performers, according to a report released by the government think tank.
• According to an official statement, the Niti Aayog has developed the SDG Urban index and dashboard in collaboration with GIZ and BMZ under the umbrella of Indo-German Development Cooperation.
• Launching the index and dashboard, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said, ”Cities are fast becoming engines of growth.
• The SDG Urban Index and dashboard, a product of innovative partnership between Niti Aayog and GIZ, will go a long way in instituting a robust SDG monitoring system in our cities, and is a milestone step in our SDG localisation journey.
• Top 10 Urban areas in SDG Urban Index and Dashboard 2021-22 are Shimla, Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Panaji, Pune, Tiruchirapalli, Ahmedabad and Nagpur.
• While, bottom 10 Urban Areas in SDG Urban Index and Dashboard 2021-22 are Dhanbad, Meerut, Itanagar, Guwahati, Patna, Jodhpur, Kohima, Agra, Kolakata and Faridabad.
• Out of 56 urban areas ranked in the index, 44 are with population of above one million, 12 are state capitals with a population of less than a million.
• While for some indicators, ‘urban area’ implies urban local bodies (ULBs), in other cases, it refers to all urban areas within a district collectively.
• The data on these indicators have been sourced from official data sources such as NFHS, NCRB, U-DISE, data portals of various ministries, and other government data sources.
• According to the government think tank, for each SDG, the urban areas are ranked on a scale of 0-100.
• A score of 100 implies that the urban area has achieved the targets set for 2030; a score of 0 implies that it is the farthest from achieving the targets among the selected urban areas.
• The areas with ranking between 0 and 49 have been ranked as aspirants, those with 50-64 are termed as performers, 65-99 are called front-runners and the ones with perfect score are called achievers.
• However, not a single area has a perfect score.
• Launching the index and dashboard, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar said that cities are fast becoming engines of growth.

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Banking and Finance – Daily Current Affairs November 24

4. India and ADB sign how much amount loan to improve access to primary health care?
A) $200 million
B) $300 million
C) $500 million
D) $400 million
E) $700 million
Answer: B) $300 million

• The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $300 million loan to strengthen and improve access to comprehensive primary health care in urban areas of 13 states that will benefit over 256 million urban dwellers including 51 million from slum areas.
• Mr. Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Finance, signed for the Government of India the agreement for Strengthening Comprehensive Primary Health Care and pandemic preparedness in Urban Areas Program while Mr. Takeo Konishi, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, signed for ADB.
• After signing the loan agreement, Mr Mishra said that the programme supports the Government of India’s key health initiatives – Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWC) and Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PM-ASBY) – which has been renamed as Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) – by expanding availability and access to quality primary health care services particularly for vulnerable populations in urban areas.
• Ayushman Bharat programme, launched in 2018, aims to improve access to comprehensive primary health care as a key strategy to achieve universal health coverage in India.
• With the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that put additional pressure on the country’s health system, the government launched PM-ASBY later renamed as PM-ABHIM in October 2021 to adopt a long-term approach to system strengthening to prepare for future pandemics and other emergencies.
• The programme will be implemented in urban areas across 13 states: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal.
• Beside the pandemic response, interventions through the program promote increased utilization of urban HWCs with provision of comprehensive primary health care packages including noncommunicable diseases and community outreach services such as awareness raising activities on health care options, particularly for women.
• Delivery and health information systems for primary health care will be upgraded through digital tools, quality assurance mechanisms, and engagement and partnership with the private sector.
• The programme is supported by a $2 million technical assistance grant from ADB’s Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction to provide support for programme implementation and coordination, capacity building, innovation, knowledge sharing and application of scalable best practices across the healthcare system.

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Appointments – Daily Current Affairs November 24

5. Sheikh Sabah al-Khalid reappointed as Prime Minister of ___?
A) New Zealand
B) Singapore
C) Malaysia
D) Sweden
E) Kuwait
Answer: E) Kuwait

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6. Justice Sanjib Banerjee was sworn in as the Chief Justice of which state High Court?
A) Meghalaya
B) Odisha
C) Tamil Nadu
D) Punjab
E) Assam
Answer: A) Meghalaya

• Justice Sanjib Banerjee was sworn in as the Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court here, officials said.
• Governor Satya Pal Malik administered the oath of office to him at the Raj Bhavan, while strictly observing all social distancing norms.
• Justice Banerjee replaced Chief Justice Ranjit Vasantrao More who superannuated on November 3.
• Meghalaya Law Minister James Sangma, Assembly Speaker Metbah Lyngdoh, Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew, Justice Wanlura Diengdoh were also present at the swearing-in ceremony.
• Born on November 2, 1961, Justice Banerjee studied in St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, Calcutta and St. Paul’s School, Darjeeling.

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Science and Technology – Daily Current Affairs November 24

7. NASA, which organization launch new test mission ‘DART’ to defend Earth?
A) Roscosmos
B) Orbital Sciences Corp
C) Sierra Nevada Corporation
D) SpaceX
E) Boeing
Answer: D) SpaceX

• Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), a new mission was launched by NASA to test technology for defending Earth against potential asteroid or comet hazards.
• The DART mission was lifted off at 1.21 am ET aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
• Just one part of NASA’s larger planetary defence strategy, DART – built and managed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland – will impact a known asteroid that is not a threat to Earth.
• Its goal is to slightly change the asteroid’s motion in a way that can be accurately measured using ground-based telescopes.
• DART will show that a spacecraft can autonomously navigate to a target asteroid and intentionally collide with it – a method of deflection called kinetic impact.
• The test will provide important data to help better prepare for an asteroid that might pose an impact hazard to Earth, should one ever be discovered.
• LICIACube, a CubeSat riding with DART and provided by the Italian Space Agency (ASI), will be released prior to DART’s impact to capture images of the impact and the resulting cloud of ejected matter.
• Roughly four years after DART’s impact, ESA’s (European Space Agency) Hera project will conduct detailed surveys of both asteroids, with particular focus on the crater left by DART’s collision and a precise determination of Dimorphos’ mass.

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International Affairs – Daily Current Affairs November 24

8. The 37th edition of CORPAT between India and which country began on November 23?
A) Nepal
B) Indonesia
C) Pakistan
D) Bangladesh
E) Sweden
Answer: B) Indonesia

• Indian Naval Ship Khanjar, an indigenously built Missile Corvette along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft, is undertaking coordinated patrol (CORPAT) with Indonesian Naval Ship KRI Sultan Thaha Syaifuddin, (376), a Kapitan Patimura-Class Corvette, a ministry release said.
• The 37th edition of CORPAT between India and Indonesia began on November 23 and will end on November 24.
• India and Indonesia have been carrying out Coordinated Patrols (CORPAT) along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) twice in a year since 2002, with an aim of keeping this vital part of the Indian Ocean Region safe and secure for commercial shipping, international trade and conduct of legitimate maritime activities.
• CORPATs help build understanding and interoperability between navies, and facilitate institution of measures to prevent and suppress Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.

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National Affairs – Daily Current Affairs November 24

9. Who inaugurated 1st International Conference on Hydrogen Energy – Policies, Infrastructure Development, and Challenges is being organized by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP)?
A) Narendra Modi
B) Narendra Singh Tomar
C) Bhagwanth Khuba
D) Piyush Goyal
E) Ashwini Vaishnaw
Answer: C) Bhagwanth Khuba

The 1st International Conference on Hydrogen Energy – Policies, Infrastructure Development, and Challenges is being organized by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP) with the support of the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Central Electricity Authority, and NTPC on 24th -25th November 2021, here.

• Shri Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Chemicals and Fertilizers inaugurated the event.
• In his inaugural address he said that Hon’ble Prime Minister has emphasized his conviction for decarbonization of India in COP26.
• By 2030, India has target of 500 GW of RE and India has aimed for net zero emissions by 2070 for which we are continuously moving forward.
• He inspired technologists from IITs and other organizations for maximum research for Hydrogen Energy to culminate the challenge of reducing cost of production for eletrolysers.
• He informed that MNRE is coming out with scheme for the same.

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10. Govt extends 5-kg free food grains scheme till _____?
A) March 2022
B) March 2023
C) March 2024
D) March 2025
E) March 2026
Answer: A) March 2022

• The Union Cabinet decided to extend till March the free foodgrains supply under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) to provide relief to ration cardholders.
• The 5 kg foodgrain per person per month is being provided free of cost to more than 80 crore beneficiaries under the PMGKAY.
• The scheme was initially launched for three months from April 2020 to provide relief to poor people amid the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the nationwide lockdown.
• It has been extended several times since then.
• The 5 kg foodgrain is being provided over and above the normal quota under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
• The PMGKAY has been extended by four months till March 2022, informed I&B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur after the Cabinet meeting.
• This will cost an additional Rs 53,344 crore to the exchequer, he said, adding that the total cost of PMGKAY would reach about Rs 2.6 lakh crore, including this extension.
• The PMGKAY was provided for three months (April-June 2020) to ameliorate distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• However, with the crisis continuing, the programme was extended for another five months (July-November 2020).
• After the onset of the second wave of the pandemic, the PMGKAY was once again rolled out for two months (May-June 2021) and was further extended for five months (July-November 2021).

Cabinet approves Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021: Govt

• The Union Cabinet approved a bill to repeal the three farm laws, which triggered protests at Delhi borders by thousands of farmers.
• This was announced by I&B Minister Anurag Thakur after the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• Thakur said the Cabinet completed the formality of approving the repeal of three laws, as announced by the Prime Minister on November 19.
• The new bill will now be introduced in Parliament for passage in the upcoming Winter session beginning November 29.
• The repeal of these three legislations has been one of the key demands of around 40 farmer unions protesting against these reforms for nearly a year now.

Centre approves construction of 3.6L houses under PMAY(U):

• The Centre has approved construction of 3.61 lakh more houses in 17 states/UTs under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), a statement said.
• “With this, the total number of sanctioned houses under the mission is now 1.14 crore, of which more than 89 lakh have been grounded for construction and 52.5 lakh completed and delivered to the beneficiaries,” the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) said in a release.
• The total investment under the mission is Rs 7.52 lakh crore, with a central assistance of Rs 1.85 lakh crore. So far, Rs 1.13 lakh crore of funds have already been released, it added.
• The decision was taken at the 56th meeting of Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) of PMAY(U), chaired by Durga Shanker Mishra, Secretary MoHUA.
• These 3.61 lakh houses will come up under that is part of the Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP), Beneficiary-Led Construction (BLC), In-Situ Slum Redevelopment (ISSR) verticals of the PMAY (U).
• The CSMC also accorded approval for revision of projects from 14 states/UTs translating into 3.74 lakh houses, the statement said.
• In the meeting, Mishra took up the issues pertaining to the states/UTs regarding construction of houses under PMAY(U) and asked officials to resolve all issues without delay so construction can be expedited.
• The MoHUA secretary stressed on the need for completion of the mission across the country within stipulated time under so that the goal of ‘Housing for All’ by 2022 could be achieved.
• An ‘e-Finance’ module was also launched by Mishra with the objectives to provide unique platform to all stakeholders for disbursement of funds through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode and to validate beneficiaries.
• The Secretary also approved proposals under Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) – Model 2 – in Telangana and Tamil Nadu, the Ministry said.
• A total of 19,535 units, have been approved for urban migrants/poor, involving Technology Innovation Grant of Rs 39.11 crore, it said.

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11. Welspun One signs a MoU with which state Government to invest INR 2500 Cr in the state?
A) Karnataka
B) Chhattisgarh
C) Mizoram
D) Assam
E) Tamil Nadu
Answer: E) Tamil Nadu

• Welspun One Logistics Parks (WOLP), a pan-India integrated fund, development, and asset management platform, part of the USD 3.5 billion Welspun Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Guidance – the Government of Tamil Nadu’s nodal agency, for investment promotion and single window facilitation.
• This is towards setting up warehousing facilities across the state.
• The projects will be executed by Welspun One Logistics Parks and will bring direct investments of approximately INR 2500 Cr to Tamil Nadu.
• Under this MoU, a total of six projects have been proposed in prime warehousing micro-markets like Hosur, Sriperumbudur and Thiruvallur; totalling to a development potential of approximately 8 Mn sq. ft. to be built across a span of 5 years.
• The MoU signifies a deep relationship between the Government of Tamil Nadu (GoTN) and Welspun One Logistics Parks with the collective aim of enriching the logistics infrastructure within the state.
• Considering the tangible social and economic benefits that the investments engender, the GoTN has assured support in streamlining the approval processes and single-window clearances for WOLP initiated projects to facilitate the overall ease of doing business.
• WOLP in turn, is determined to provide high-impact sustainable warehousing solutions by incorporating green infrastructure and an industry-led technology approach.

TVS Motor Company signs MoU with Tamil Nadu Government for investment of Rs 1,200 crore in Future Technologies and Electric Vehicles:

• TVS Motor Company, one of the largest manufacturers of two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the world, today announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu for investment in Future Technologies and Electric Vehicle.
• The MOU was signed in the presence of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru. M.K. Stalin and Padma Bhushan Venu Srinivasan, Chairman TVS Motor Company at the Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave 2021 in Coimbatore.
• Under the MOU, TVS Motor Company will invest Rs. 1200 crore in Future Technologies and Electric Vehicles (EV) in the next four years.
• The investment will be mainly for the design, development and manufacturing of new products and capacity expansion in the EV space.
• This investment reflects TVS Motor Company’s continued commitment towards the State’s overall economic growth as a responsible corporate citizen.
• TVS Motor is transforming itself into a digital age company with a connected, sustainable and electric brand.
• The Company is committed to leading the technology development in EV and green fuel and leading the way to the electrification of the two-wheeler segment in the country.

L&T signs pact with Tamil Nadu govt to build data centre at Kanchipuram:

• Larsen & Toubro (L&T) said it has entered into a pact with the Tamil Nadu government to establish a data centre in the state.
• L&T will establish 90 MW capacity data centres and associated units in a phased manner in Kanchipuram over the next five years.
• The company envisages to employ around 1,100 people — 600 direct and 500 indirect — in the project.
• The Government of Tamil Nadu will provide uninterrupted power supply and other infrastructure support on a best-effort basis that will bring tangible economic and social benefits to the people of state.
• L&T will establish hyperscale data centres at Kanchipuram to provide comprehensive solutions and end to end data centre services, with multi-cloud managed and cyber security services, digital transformation integration services and application integration services.
• L&T said that it is using technology and innovation for sustainable growth.

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12. The Indian School of Business and which ministry have signed an MoU to undertake research to analyse the effect of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) on commercial air travel in the country?
A) Tribal Affairs Ministry
B) AYUSH Ministry
C) Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry
D) Civil Aviation Ministry
E) Education Ministry
Answer: D) Civil Aviation Ministry

• The Indian School of Business (ISB), a global business school offering world class management education to professionals, and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, have signed an MoU to undertake research to analyse the effect of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) on commercial air travel in the country.
• The MoU was held on the occasion of UDAN Utsav celebrated Jharsuguda, Odisha and the papers were exchanged by Ministry of Civil Aviation Joint Secretary Ms Usha Padhee and ISB Deputy Dean Professor Milind Sohoni in the presence of Minister for Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya M.Scindia, ISB said in a release.
• A copy of the report prepared by ISB on the socio-economic impact of the RCS-UDAN scheme was presented to the Minister on the occasion.
• This MoU marks the extension of the Socio-economic impact study of the UDAN scheme conducted by ISB pro-bono basis in 2020.
• Encouraged by the response to the first phase, ISB and UDAN agreed to enhance the scope of the MoU.
• As part of the MoU inked, ISB will conduct an in-depth analysis of RCS and prepare a case study that can be used in academic institutions and administrative training institutions for students of public policy.
• The objective is to reflect on the background and structure of the RCS, analyse the effect of the scheme on commercial air travel infrastructure in the country, and see, from a data-driven perspective, whether the scheme is hitherto fulfilling its stated objectives.
• In his speech, Scindia congratulated the Indian School of Business for bringing out this insightful report on UDAN and invited ISB to prepare a case study on this important initiative of the Ministry.

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13. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for the continuation of the umbrella scheme O-SMART of Ministry of Earth Sciences for implementation during the period from 2021-26 at an overall cost of ___?
A) 3 thousand 177 crore rupees
B) 4 thousand 177 crore rupees
C) 5 thousand 177 crore rupees
D) 6 thousand 177 crore rupees
E) 2 thousand 177 crore rupees
Answer: E) 2 thousand 177 crore rupees

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its approval for the continuation of the umbrella scheme, Ocean Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology, O-SMART of Ministry of Earth Sciences for implementation during the period from 2021-26 at an overall cost of 2 thousand 177 crore rupees.
• The scheme encompasses seven sub-schemes namely Ocean Technology, Ocean Modelling and Advisory Services (OMAS), Ocean Observation Network (OON), Ocean Non-Living Resources, Marine Living Resources and Ecology (MLRE), Coastal Research and Operation and Maintenance of Research Vessels.
• These sub-schemes are being implemented by autonomous and attached institutes of the Ministry like National Institute of Ocean Technology NIOT Chennai, Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services INCOIS Hyderabad, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research NCPOR Goa, Center for Marine Living Resources and Ecology CMLRE Kochi and National Centre for Coastal Research NCCR Chennai as well as involving other national institutes. A fleet of oceanographic and coastal research vessels of the Ministry provide required research support for scheme.
• The research and technology development pertaining to oceans in India was initiated by Department of Ocean Development, which was set up in 1981 which later merged to Ministry of Earth Sciences and continuing since then.
• The O-SMART scheme encompassing oceanographic research activities is being implemented with the objectives for providing forecast and services based on the continuous observation of the oceans, development of technologies and exploratory surveys for sustainable harnessing of the both living and non-living oceanic resources and promotion of front-ranking research in ocean sciences.
• OSMART being a multidisciplinary continuing scheme, the ongoing extensive research and technology development activities would augment capacity building of the nation in the oceanographic field at the international level.
• The present decade has been declared as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development by the United Nations and continuation of the scheme would strengthen India’s stand in the global oceanographic research and technology development.
• This continuation of the scheme would contribute significantly towards national policy on blue economy for effective and efficient use of the vast ocean resources in a Sustainable way. In the next five years (2021-26) this scheme would provide further comprehensive coverage through strengthening the ongoing activities towards delivering cutting edge technology applicable for marine domain, forecast and warning services to various coastal stake holders, understanding biodiversity towards conservation strategy for marine living organisms and understanding coastal processes.

Cabinet approves Continuation of umbrella scheme ACROSS to next Finance Commission Cycle (2021-2026):

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today gave its approval for continuation of the umbrella scheme Atmosphere and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services ACROSS along with its eight sub-schemes to the next finance cycle of five years 2021-2026 at an estimated cost of 2 thousand 135 crore rupees.
• The scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through its units namely India Meteorological Department, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services.
• ACROSS scheme pertains to the atmospheric science programs of Ministry of Earth Sciences and addresses different aspects of weather and climate services.
• Each of these aspects is incorporated as eight sub-schemes under the umbrella scheme ACROSS and is implemented in an integrated manner through the four institutes.
• The eight sub-schemes under the ACROSS scheme are multi-disciplinary in nature and will be implemented in an integrated manner through India Meteorological Department, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services to cover all the aspects of the weather and climate.

Cabinet approves continuation of National Apprenticeship Training Scheme for next five years:

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today has accorded its approval for stipendiary support of Rs. 3,054 crore to apprentices who undergo apprenticeship training under National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) of Ministry of Education for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26 (upto 31-03-2026).
• Approximately 9 lakhs apprentices will be trained by industry and commercial organisations.
• NATS is a well-established scheme of Government of India which has demonstrated to enhance the employability of students who have successfully completed the apprenticeship training.
• The apprentices who have completed graduate and diploma programme in Engineering, Humanities, Science and Commerce will be given stipend of Rs.9,000/- and Rs.8,000/- per month respectively.
• The Government has approved an expenditure of more than Rs. 3,000 crore during the next five years which is about 4.5 times the expenditure made during the previous 5 years.
• This increased expenditure on apprenticeship is in line with the thrust which National Education Policy 2020 has given to apprenticeship.
• In keeping with the Government emphasis on “SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas, –SabkaVishwas, SabkaPrayaas”, the scope of NATS has further been expanded to include students from Humanities, Science and Commerce besides students from engineering stream.
• This scheme aims to raise the standards of skill level by strengthening the skill ecosystem and as a result, will provideemployment to approximately 7 lakhs youths in the next five years.
• The NATS will provide apprenticeship in the emerging areas under ‘Production Linked Incentive’ (PLI) such as Mobile manufacturing, Medical devices manufacturing, Pharma sector, Electronics/Technology products, Automobile sector etc.
• The scheme will also be preparing skilled man power for connectivity/logistics industry sectors, identified under GatiShakti.

Cabinet approves privatisation of electricity distribution in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu:

• The Union Cabinet approved the formation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to privatise electricity distribution business in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also approved the sale of equity shares of the newly formed company to the highest bidder and formation of trust(s) for serving employees’ liabilities.
• The Cabinet has approved the formation of a SPV to privatise the electricity distribution business in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (DNH&DD), sale of equity shares of the newly formed company to highest bidder and formation of trust(s) for serving employees’ liabilities, an official statement said.
• This will further lead to an increase in competition and strengthen the electricity industry and will also lead to recovery of unrealised dues.
• In May 2020, the government of India had announced the ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’, to make India self-reliant through structural reforms.
• One of the key measures planned was to reform the power distribution and retail supply in UTs through privatisation of the power distribution utilities, for leveraging private sector efficiency in electricity distribution.
• A single distribution company, DNH-DD Power Distribution Corporation Limited, would be incorporated as a wholly-owned government company and trust(s) shall be formed to manage the terminal benefits of the personnel transferred to the newly formed company.

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