Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 12 October 2021

::National::

Government of India launched 'My Port App'

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the 'MyGov-MeriSarkar' portal here on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that through this portal, the government will receive feedback from the people and also inform them about the various schemes of the government. The portal will be known for its efficient service, he said.
According to a government spokesperson, the portal aims to further enhance the engagement of common citizens with the state government.
It will be a major platform to disseminate the schemes of governance and to know the opinion of common citizens on them.
The spokesperson further said that the 'MeriSarkar' portal would help the people of the state to communicate their views, suggestions and feedback.
This portal would become an innovative platform for public participation and good governance.

Printed Study Materials for IBPS, SBI Bank Exam

::International::

UNDP releases 2021 Multidimensional Poverty Index report

The 2021 Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report will be released digitally on 7 October 2021 at 11:30am New York time.
The global MPI is jointly produced by UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).
The index complements monetary-based measures of poverty, expressing deprivations that are manifested in people’s daily lives in ways that go beyond the ability to purchase goods and services.
With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to disrupt lives around the world, UNDP and OPHI have updated their global estimates on multidimensional poverty and conducted new research on how multidimensional poverty is experienced differently between ethnic groups and across genders. The analyses:
Provide estimates on multidimensional poverty for 109 developing countries (with data from surveys ranging 2009-2019/2020);
Include trends over time for 80 countries, for a range of periods between 2000-2019/2020;
Present multidimensional poverty estimates disaggregated by ethnicity and caste for 41 countries to identify who is - and how people are - being left behind;
Explore intrahousehold analysis with a gender lens;
Reveal how multidimensional poverty could amplify the impacts of COVID-19 shocks, hurting education, employment and livelihood.

::Economy::

Long distance freight trains 'Trishul' and 'Garuda' introduced on SCR

The railways has successfully operated two long haul freight trains "Trishul" and "Garuda" for the first time in the South Central Railway (SCR). The trains, which are twice or multiple times longer than the normal composition of freight trains, provide a very effective solution to problem of capacity constraints in critical sections.
Trishul is SCR's first long haul train comprising three freight trains, i.e., 177 wagons. This train was started on October 7 from Kondapalli station of Vijayawada division to Khurda division of East Coast Railway. SCR followed it up with running of another similar one named Garuda on October 8 from Raichur of Guntakal division to Manuguru of Secunderabad division.
In both cases the trains comprised empty open wagons for loading of coal meant for predominantly thermal power stations. SCR is a one of the five major freight loading railways.
Bulk of SCR freight traffic moves in certain arterial routes such as Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Gudur, Renigunta, Ballarshah, Kazipet, Secunderabad, Guntur, Guntakal sections. As bulk of its freight traffic has to pass through these major routes, it is essential for SCR to maximise throughput these critical sections. Saving of path across congested routes, quicker transit time, maximising throughout critical sections, saving in crew are the major operational benefits of running long haul trains, which help the railways serve its freight customers better.
The South Central Railway has decided to run more special trains during the Dussehra festival in view of passenger congestion. The special trains will run between Kachiguda - Tata Nagar Junction (Jamshedpur in Jharkhand). It is said that six weekend special trains will run between the 15th and 30th of this month.

The government issued a letter of intent (LoI) confirming the sale of 100% stake in loss-making Air India to the Tata group for Rs 18,000 crore

The authorities on Monday issued a letter of intent (LoI) confirming the sale of its 100 per cent stake in loss-making Air India to Tata Group for Rs 18,000 crore, a senior official mentioned. Last week, the federal government had accepted a suggestion by TalacePvt Ltd, a unit of the holding firm of salt-to-software conglomerate, to pay Rs 2,700 crore in money and takeover Rs 15,300 crore of the airline’s debt.
Subsequent to that, anLoI has now been issued to Tata confirming the federal government’s willingness to promote its 100 per cent stake within the airline.
“Letter of Intent has been issued today,” DIPAM Secretary TuhinKantaPadney informed PTI right here.
Tatas now have to simply accept the LoI, publish which the Share Purchase Agreement shall be signed. Conditions precedent to the transactions would should be glad by Tatas earlier than they really take over the operations.
“Normally within 14 days of acceptance of LOI, the SPA is signed. We expect the SPA to be signed fairly fast,” he mentioned.
Pandey mentioned the deal is focused to be closed by December finish. After SPA is signed, the regulatory approvals must are available in following which the handover course of begins.
“When they give the Letter of Acceptance, they will give payment security of 1.5 per cent of EV value which is Rs 270 crore. Rs 270 crore will be payment security in bank guarantee which will be received by us along with acceptance letter to the LoI,” Pandey added.
The money element of the deal, he mentioned, will are available in on the day of handover which shall be by December finish.
The deal additionally contains the sale of Air India Express and floor dealing with arm AISATS.
Tatas beat the Rs 15,100-crore supply by a consortium led by
promoter Ajay Singh and the reserve worth of Rs 12,906 crore set by the federal government for the sale of its 100 per cent stake within the loss-making service.

::Science and tech::

In a rocky Israeli crater, scientists simulate life on Mars

From the door of the expedition base, a few small steps to the left an autonomous rover passes by. A few giant leaps to the right is an array of solar panels. The landscape is rocky, hilly, tinged with red. Purposefully it resembles Mars.
Here, in the Ramon Crater in the desert of southern Israel, a team of six - five men and one woman - have begun simulating what it will be like to live for about a month on the red planet.
Their AMADEE-20 habitat is tucked beneath a rocky outcrop. Inside they sleep, eat and conduct experiments. Outside they wear mock space suits fitted with cameras, microphones and self-contained breathing systems.
"We have the motto of fail fast, fail cheap, and have a steep learning curve. Because for every mistake we make here on earth, we hope we don't repeat it on Mars," said GernotGromer, director of the Austrian Space Forum.
The Austrian association is running the project together with the Israel Space Agency and local group D-MARS.
A number of recent Mars probes have captivated astronomy fans across the world with robotic rovers like NASA's Perseverance and, for the first time, the helicopter Ingenuity, offering a glance of the planet's surface. But a manned mission is likely more than a decade off.
With AMADEE-20, which was supposed to happen in 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19, the team hopes to bring new insight that will help prepare for that mission, when it comes.
"The habitat, right now, is the most complex, the most modern analog research station on this planet," said Gromer, standing beside the 120 sq meter (1,300 sq feet) structure shaped like two large, connected yurts.
The six team members are constantly on camera, their vital signs monitored, their movements inside are tracked to analyze favorite spots for congregating. All this to better understand the human factor, Gromer said.

::Sport::

Germany qualify for Qatar World Cup 2022; Russia, Croatia clinch playoffs

As Germany became the first country to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, its former under-21 team coach was crying tears of joy after his first win in charge of Turkey. Stefan Kuntz was unable to keep his emotions in check after BurakYilmaz's penalty in the ninth minute of injury time earned Turkey a dramatic 2-1 win in Latvia to keep its qualification hopes alive.
Germany booked its place on Monday with an error-strewn 4-0 win in North Macedonia. The goals all came in the second half as the home team tired, and the win went some way to atoning for Germany's surprise 2-1 loss to North Macedonia in Duisburg in March. That was the only blip in an otherwise perfect qualifying campaign with seven wins from eight games in Europe Group J.
In Rotterdam, Memphis Depay scored twice, had two assists and missed a penalty as the Netherlands overpowered Gibraltar 6-0 to remain on course for qualification, two points ahead of Norway and four points ahead of Turkey in Group G. Croatia and Russia are assured of at least a playoff place after their respective results in Group H.