Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 04 January 2021

::NATIONAL::

Drug firm Zydus Cadila on Sunday said it has received DCGI approval to initiate Phase III clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine ZyCoV-D.
The company will now be initiating Phase III clinical trial in around 30,000 volunteers, Zydus Cadila said in a statement.
ZyCoV-D was found to be safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic in phase I and II clinical trials, it added.
The phase II study of ZyCoV-D had been conducted in over 1,000 healthy adult volunteers as part of the adaptive Phase I/II dose-escalation, multi-centric, randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled study, the drug firm said.
The trial has reviewed by an independent data safety monitoring board (DSMB) and reports were submitted to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) regularly for the update on safety outcome.
The launch of the Phase 3 trial will determine the efficacy of the company's vaccine in preventing COVID-19, which continues to pose a major threat world over, he added.
The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) on Sunday granted emergency approval to Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech for their respective vaccines.

Digital channels of Prasar Bharati have registered more than 100 per cent growth in 2020, with Pakistan being the second highest digital audience for Doordarshan (DD) and All India Radio (AIR).
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the channels across Doordarshan and Akashvani clocked over a billion digital views and over six billion digital watch minutes in the year.
“Interestingly during 2020, Pakistan accounted for the second highest digital audience for DD and AIR content after domestic audience from within India, with the United States close behind,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Besides DD National and DD News, the other channels in the top 20 digital channels of Prasar Bharati are Marathi News from DD Sahyadri, Kannada programming on DD Chandana, Bangla News from DD Bangla and Telugu programming on DD Saptagiri.
“While DD Sports and Akashvani Sports have created a steady digital following with live commentary, Prasar Bharati Archives and DD Kisan have been steady digital performers featuring in top 10,” the statement said.
A dedicated Prasar Bharati YouTube channel for all Sanskrit language content was launched in 2020, wherein all Radio and TV content being produced in Sanskrit language across DD-AIR nationwide network are uploaded for easy access to viewers.
The ministry said almost 1,500 Radio plays in different Indian languages are available across DD-AIR Network, which are being digitised and uploaded on its YouTube channels.

India delivered relief supplies, including dignity kits containing hygiene and sanitary items and sleeping mats to Fiji for the cyclone-affected families.
The relief materials were handed over to Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Defence and Disaster Management.
"Relief supplies from India were handed over by the AHC Suva to Minister for Defence and Disaster Management, Hon. @ISeruiratu for supporting the @FijianGovt's recovery efforts after #TCYasa. India providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in Indo-Pacific #IPOI," India in Fiji tweeted.
After receiving the aid, the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development, Fiji expressed gratitude to India for providing humanitarian assistance for the cyclone-affected families.
"Dhanyavaad to the people of India! Today, @MRMDFiji Minister Hon. @ISeruiratu received a donation of humanitarian supplies from the @HCI_Suva.
The supplies included Dignity Kits for both men and women and sleeping mats to be distributed to affected communities in V/Levu," the Ministry said.

A farmers’ association has applied for the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the ‘Cumbum Panneer Thratchai’, a grape variant.
The application for this particular product was filed by the Kaamayam Thratchai Vivasayigal Sangam, Theni, registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act and was facilitated by Nabard’s Madurai Agribusiness Incubation Forum.
Chinnaraja G. Naidu, Deputy Registrar of Geographical Indications, confirmed that an application seeking GI tag for ‘Cumbum Panneer Thratchai’ has been filed.
“A unique factor is that in this Cumbum valley the ‘panneer’ grapes are available and harvested all through the year as against only during January and April in the rest of India. The grapes grown are suitable for making wine, spirit, jams, canned grape juice and raisins,” said P. Sanjai Gandhi, IPR attorney and nodal officer, Geographical Indication Registration of Products, government of Tamil Nadu. Since these grapes are produced in two seasons in a year, their yield and returns are exceptionally high, he said.
According to details provided in the application, the ‘panneer’ variety grapes are cultivated in around 2,000 acres at 10 villages in the valley.

"Under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat, India is growing in its capabilities of manufacturing wide variety of Defence platforms and missiles. The Cabinet chaired by PM @narendramodi ji today approved the export of Akash Missile System and a Committee for faster approvals has been created
He further said, "Akash is the country’s important missile with over 96 percent indigenisation. Akash is a Surface to Air Missile with a range of 25 Kms. The export version of Akash will be different from System currently deployed with Indian Armed Forces".
The missile was inducted in 2014 in IAF and in 2015 in Indian Army.
After its induction in the services, interest has been shown in Akash missile by many 'friendly countries' during International Exhibitions/Def Expo/Aero India, said a government statement.
The ministry said the approval by the cabinet will facilitate Indian manufacturers to participate in the tendering process (Request for Information and Request For Proposal) by various countries.
"So far, Indian defence exports included parts/components etc. The export of big platforms was minimal. This initiative of the Cabinet would help the country to improve its defence products and make them globally competitive.

The commission which imposed a three-match ban on Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani over a social media post expressed "surprise" that he had received no media training from the English giants.
Cavani, who joined United in October, posted a message on Instagram shortly after scoring twice in a 3-2 win over Southampton where he thanked a friend Pablo Fernandez for his congratulations using the commonly used Spanish term "negrito" (small black person).