Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 09 July 2021

::NATIONAL::

As part of its multimodal integration of transport services initiative, the DMRC launched India's first FASTag/UPI based cashless parking facility at the Kashmere Gate metro station in north Delhi, officials said.
The entry/exit, as well as payment of 4-wheelers, can be done using FASTag. The parking fee will be deducted through FASTag, thereby reducing the time required to enter and pay. Vehicles with FASTags will only be permitted to park in this facility. The 2-wheelers’ entry can be done by only swiping the Delhi Metro smart card.
The smart card will only be used for registering the entry/exit time and fare calculation. Money will not be deducted from the smart card. People can pay the parking fee by UPI apps by scanning the QR Code. In future, the payment can be made through DMRC/NCMC cards as well.
In the second phase of the MMI, which is under construction, there will be a food court and also a bus terminal (three lanes with a capacity of five buses each). The Kashmere Gate area will become a transportation hub, integrating metro connectivity on Line-1, Line-2 and Line-6 with parking facilities, the ISBT Kashmere Gate, the City Bus Service and taxi, autorickshaw and e-rickshaw services.

A new study has highlighted the importance of both shots of two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca (AZ) Covid-19 vaccines against the Delta variant. Researchers have found single shots of these vaccines “barely” offered any protection.
In India, AZ shots are being given under the Covishield brand, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.
“Sera from individuals having received one dose of Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine barely inhibited variant Delta,” a group of French researchers said in an article published in journal Nature on Thursday. “Administration of two doses generated a neutralising response in 95% of individuals.”
The finding is “good news”, Olivier Schwartz, lead author of the study and head of the Virus and Immunity Unit at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, told The Washington Post.
This new study offers more clarity on the efficacy of vaccines against the Delta variant, which has been found to be more contagious than its previous versions and has caused maximum damage in India triggering the devastating second wave.
The findings are along similar lines as those of a study released by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) earlier this week, which said two doses of Covid-19 vaccines offer 95% protection against infection to 82% for those with only one shot.

As the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) readies itself for public listing, the government has abolished the position of chairman at the insurer, which will have a chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD).
The changes have been notified by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) through rules in the LIC Act, 1956. Various rules have been amended in the LIC Act to replace the post of chairman and create the position of CEO.
The insurer will continue with the post of MD. Both CEO and MD will be appointed by the central government.
Presently, MR Kumar is the LIC chairman, whose tenure was extended by another two years last week. Currently, LIC has four MDs — VipinAnand, Mukesh Kumar Gupta, Raj Kumar and Siddhartha Mohanty.
Besides, the government has also amended the Life Insurance Corporation of India (Special Allowance for In-House Development of Actuarial Capability) Rules, 2002 to appoint a full-time actuary for LIC.

The Union Cabinet, which had its first meeting after it was revamped yesterday with the induction of 43 ministers, approved a new scheme titled "India COVID-19 Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package: Phase-II" worth ₹ 23,123 crore for 2021-22, a move which has come amid the growing possibilities of a third wave hitting the country by August.
It is aimed at accelerating health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness towards early prevention, detection and management of the pandemic.
This is the first major decision taken by the newly reshuffled Union Cabinet, which also includes a new Union Health Minister MansukhMandaviya.
Mr Mandaviya, who replaced MrHarshvardhan, said that under the new package, the Centre would provide ₹ 15,000 crore and states ₹ 8,000 crore and the plan would be implemented jointly by them across all the 736 districts of the country to improve medical infrastructure at primary and district health centres.

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has launched M.Tech. Program in Defence Technology on July 8. Institute of Defence Scientists & Technologists (IDST) will provide support to AICTE affiliated Institutes/Universities, IITs, NITs and private engineering institutes to conduct this program in online and offline format.
Congratulating both the institutes for this new program, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "the program will help in achieving ‘AatmaNirbharBharat’envisioned by Prime Minister NarendraModi."
The program will have six specialized streams - Combat Technology, Aero Technology, Naval Technology, Communication Systems & Sensors, Directed Energy Technology and High Energy Materials Technology.
The students will also be provided opportunities to conduct their main thesis work in DRDO laboratories, Defence PSUs and Industries.
In his address, Dr G Satheesh Reddy, Chairman DRDO congratulated DRDO, AICTE and industries for evolving the PG program. He expressed hope that such a specialised program will enable the creation of a large pool of talented workforce for defence sector. He called upon the industry leaders to extend their support for this program and offer opportunities to the students.

Young Indian Grandmaster NihalSarin on Thursday emerged champion in the Masters’ section of the Serbia Open Chess Championship in Belgrade.
This is the second consecutive tournament victory for sixteen-year old Sarin after he claimed the title in Silver Lake Open.
Sarin, who became a Grandmaster in 2018 at the age of 14, won six games and drew three, to remain unbeaten. Sarin, who started the Serbia Open with wins in the first two rounds, ended the tournament with three successive wins and a draw in the final round, finishing a clear half point ahead of the field.