Current Affairs For (9 August, 2021)

Answers With Explanation : (A) On 6th August, 2021, a bill seeking to establish a central university in the Union Territory of Ladakh was passed in the Lok Sabha. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in his brief statement about the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021, said that every year, around 7,000 students go out of Ladakh for education and with the establishment of the central university around 2,500 students will get the opportunity to study there. The Sindhu central university will be established at a cost of Rs 760 crore.

Answers With Explanation : (C) A parliamentary group recommended renegotiating the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan to address the impact of climate change on water supply in the basin and other challenges not covered by the agreement. On 5th August, 2021, the Standing Committee on Water Resources tabled the report before the Lok Sabha. According to the Indus Waters Treaty which was signed by India and Pakistan in 1960, all waters of the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers are allocated to India for unrestricted use. Most of the waters of the western Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers are allocated to Pakistan

Answers With Explanation : (B) India and China have disengaged their troops in the Gogra region located in the Eastern Ladakh. The move comes following the twelfth round of talks held between the Corps Commanders of India and China and was held at Chushul Moldo Meeting Point in Eastern Ladakh on July 31. Since May 2020, the troops in this area have been in a face-off situation. The two sides had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on resolution of the remaining areas related to disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of the India-China border areas.

Answers With Explanation : (D) On 7th August, 2021 the Textile Ministry has celebrated the 7th National Handloom Day. On this day the handloom weaving community will be honoured for their contribution in the socio-economic development of India. Three Handloom Craft Villages at Mohpara Village, District Golaghat in Assam, Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and Kanihama, Budgam in Srinagar are being set up by the Ministry in collaboration with the respective State governments.

Answers With Explanation : (C) On 7th August, 2021, Dr. Virendra Kumar, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment has launched ‘PM-DAKSH’ Portal and ‘PM-DAKSH’ Mobile App. This portal and app has been developed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in collaboration with NeGD, to make skill development schemes accessible to the target groups of Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes and Safai Karamcharis. From the year 2020-21 the Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana is being implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Answers With Explanation : (C) The Indian state of Kerala has declared a state of alert in all districts after identifying 14 cases of the Zika virus. A six-member central team of experts has been dispatched to Kerala to get a grip on the situation in the state, stated the Union Health Ministry on July 9, 2021.

Answers With Explanation : (A) Pfizer and BioNTech announced on July 8, 2021 that they would seek regulatory authorization for a third booster dose of their Covid-19 vaccine. The announcement comes after the initial data from an ongoing trial showed that a third shot increases the antibody level by 5-10 times against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the Beta variant first detected in South Africa, in comparison to the first two doses alone.

Answers With Explanation : (A) The newly formed Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 8, 2021 approved ‘India COVID-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II’ worth Rs 23,123 crore to boost emergency health infrastructure in states to tackle COVID-19 in the Fiscal Year 2021-22.

Answers With Explanation : (A) ICC CEO Manu Sawhney will leave the organisation with immediate effect, informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) on July 8, 2021. Geoff Allardice will remain the Acting CEO of the organisation and will be supported by the leadership team working closely with the ICC Board.

Answers With Explanation : (A) India and Nepal on July 9, 2021 signed a Letter of Exchange (LoE) to revise the 2004 India-Nepal Rail Services Agreement (RSA) and which will facilitate the import and export of goods through the Indian railway freight services.