Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 09 March 2021

::NATIONAL::

India-Uzbekistan will conduct 'dusty' exercise in Uttarakhand from 9 to 21 March

The India–Uzbekistan joint military exercise “DUSTLIK II” is underway in Foreign Training Node Chaubatia, Ranikhet (Uttarakhand). This is the Second Edition of the annual bilateral joint exercise of both armies. It will continue till March 19, 2021. The first edition of the exercise was held at Uzbekistan in Nov 2019.
As many as 45 soldiers each from Uzbekistan and the Indian Army are participating in the exercise. Both contingents will be sharing their expertise and skills in the field of counter-terrorism operations in mountainous/rural/urban scenarios under UN mandate.
The exercise will culminate into a 36-hour joint validation exercise scheduled from March 17 to March 18, 2021.

1% concession in stamp duty on property transfer in the name of a woman : Maharashtra

In a move that could give impetus to women’s ownership of property, the state government announced a concession in stamp duty for registering a property solely in a woman’s name.
AjitPawar, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, announced the concession under the RajmataJijauGriha-SwaminiYojana.
“I propose concession in stamp duty of 1 per cent over the prevailing rate exclusively to women provided the transfer of house property or registration of sale deed is in the name of woman or women only,” said Pawar, adding that the concession will be given from April 1, 2021.
He clarified that in a joint ownership, the concession in stamp duty would not be given if there is a man as a joint owner with the woman. “Both should be women,” he added.
The government used the symbolism of International Women’s Day to announce a slew of other schemes aimed at women in the budget.
The minister announced the SantJanabai Social Security and Welfare Scheme for women domestic workers, stating that their condition has deteriorated during the lockdown. “I am announcing a seed capital of Rs 250 crore for this purpose. Various welfare schemes will be implemented for women domestic workers from this fund,” he added.

All helpline numbers of railways were merged into single number 139

Indian Railway has integrated all railway helplines into single number 139 which is Rail Madad Helpline for quick grievance redressal and enquiry during the journey. As the new helpline number 139 will take over all the existing helpline numbers, it will be easy for the passengers to remember this number and connect with Railways for all their needs during the travel.
The Ministry of Railways in a statement said that various Railway grievances helplines were discontinued last year and now, Helpline number 182 would also be discontinued from 1st of April, 2021 and will be merged into 139.
The Helpline 139 will be available in twelve languages and passengers can opt for Interactive Voice Response System- IVRS or directly connect to call-centre executives by pressing the asterisk button.
There is no need for a smart phone to call on 139.

Printed Study Materials for IBPS, SBI Bank Exam

::International::

People voted in favor of banning face covering in public places:Switzerland

In Switzerland, people have voted in favour of banning full face coverings in public places. Dubbed as ‘burqa ban’ by media and campaigners, the proposal was put into referendum after years of debate in the country following similar bans in some European countries.
According to official reports, 51.2 per cent of voters have supported the proposal. The result means nobody in the country can cover their face completely in public whether in shops or in the open across the country except in places of worship or for health and safety reasons.
The Islamic Central Council of Switzerland has said the ban is a great disappointment for Muslims. European countries including France, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria and Denmark have already banned full face coverings.

Singapore ranked first in Economic Freedom Index by The Heritage Foundation

Singapore’s economic freedom score is 89.7, making its economy the freest in the 2021 Index. Its overall score has increased by 0.3 point, primarily because of an improvement in the score for government spending. Singapore is ranked 1st among 40 countries in the Asia–Pacific region, and its overall score is well above the regional and world averages.
Singapore’s economy has been ranked the freest in the world again this year for the second year in a row. Singapore remains the only country in the world that is considered economically free in every Index category, although its indicator scores for fiscal health and financial freedom just barely make it over the threshold into the highest category.
IMPACT OF COVID-19: As of December 1, 2020, 29 deaths had been attributed to the pandemic in Singapore, and the economy was forecast to contract by 6.0 percent for the year.

::Economy::

Till 22 February, the government raised Rs 53,346 crore from the trust scheme.

Cochin Port Trust (CoPT), one of the major port trusts in India will sign nine MoUs of ₹2,825 crore at the second Maritime India Summit 2021 scheduled to take place from March 2 to 4.
These MoUs will be majorly signed between Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT); Kottayam Port &ICD Services; IOCL; IGTPL; etc.
The MoUs will be signed in the areas like dredging for maintenance of channels and basins, coastal connectivity, cargo handling, tourism related projects, aviation fuel terminal, deepening and widening of port channels, etc., according to a press release.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways is also in process of finalizing more than 217 MoUs to be signed in conjunction with the summit. These MoUs will be signed with different coastal states and stakeholders of the sector. The MoPSW is looking forward to closing over 400 MoUs during the Maritime India Summit 2021, the ministry said.
These MoUs are focused on attracting investment, skilling, and generating employment in the sector. The signing of the MoUs will help streamline the process of ship maneuvering resulting in more business to the ports and economic stability to the sector and its stakeholders.

Google will help one million women entrepreneurs in India

In a series of announcements on Monday, 8 March, Google launched its global Google.org Impact Challenge for Women and Girls, which will provide $25 million in overall funding and Impact Challenge grantees will receive support and mentoring from Google.
The grant will enable organisations in India and around the world to enhance women and girls' economic empowerment and create pathways to prosperity.
Google also announced a grant of $500K to NASSCOM Foundation, which will provide help to 100,000 women farm workers by providing digital and financial literacy training in the six states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttarakhand.
"Women are almost twice as likely to lose their jobs during the pandemic and an estimated 20 million girls are at risk of not returning to school," Google’s CEO SundarPichai said at the event.
The Economic Times reported that a new feature on Google Search and Maps will be added that will enable users to search ‘women-led’ businesses and outlets. Union minister SmritiIrani, Ratan Tata, Google Vice-President and President of Google.org, Jacqueline Fuller also spoke at the virtual event.

::SCIENCE AND TECH::

Russia, China sign MoU to build lunar space station

Russia and China signed a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday to set up an international lunar research station, Russia's Roscosmos space agency said.
Moscow and Beijing will draw up a roadmap to establish the station and cooperate closely on planning, designing and implementing the project as well as presenting it to the world space community, it said.
"An international lunar science station is a complex of experimental and research facilities created on the surface and/or in orbit of the moon, designed to conduct multidisciplinary and multipurpose research work," it said.
Russia and China will promote international cooperation on the project and offer equal access to any nation that wants to take part, the agency said in a statement on its website.
The memorandum was signed by Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin and Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration, during a meeting by video conference, it said.