Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 14 August 2021

::NATIONAL::

Government notifies Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules 2021

The environment ministry on Friday notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, prohibiting the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution and sale besides the use of certain single-use plastics.
The move comes after Prime Minister NarendraModi urged people to stop the use of single-use plastic bags in his Independence Day speech in 2019.
According to a government statement, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale, and use of some single-use products including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene will be prohibited from 1 July, 2022.
According to the statement, these will include earbuds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (commonly known as thermocol) for decoration, plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films used for sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron and stirrers.

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::International::

Taliban captures Afghanistan's second and third largest cities – Kandahar and Herat

Taliban insurgents have seized Afghanistan's second- and third-biggest cities, local officials said , as resistance from government forces crumbled and fears grew that an assault on the capital Kabul could be just days away.
A government official confirmed that Kandahar, the economic hub of the south, was under Taliban control as U.S.-led international forces complete their withdrawal after 20 years of war.
Herat in the west also fell to the hardline Islamist group.
"The city looks like a frontline, a ghost town," provincial council member GhulamHabibHashimi said by telephone from the city of about 600,000 people near the border with Iran.
"Families have either left or are hiding in their homes."
A U.S. defence official said there was concern that the Taliban - ousted from power in 2001 after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States - could make a move on Kabul within days.
The White House said Biden was receiving regular briefings from his national security team on efforts to remove U.S. civilians.
The U.S. embassy in the Afghan capital informed staff that burn bins and an incinerator were available to destroy material including papers and electronic devices to "reduce the amount of sensitive material on the property,".

::Economy::

Prime Minister launched the Vehicle Scrappage Policy named Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernization Program

Prime Minister NarendraModi today launched the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy, the voluntary vehicle-fleet modernisationprogramme, aimed at modernising India’s “vehicular population” and removing unfit vehicles from roads in an environment-friendly and scientific manner.
Elaborating on its economic and environmental benefits, the PM said the policy would play a big role in the modernisation and phasing out the old, polluting vehicles in an environment-friendly manner.
“Modernity in mobility not only reduces the burden of travel and transportation, but also proves to be helpful for economic development. The goal for 21st century India to be clean, congestion-free and convenient mobility is the need of the hour,” the PM said addressing the investors’ summit in Gujarat.
The PM said while following the principle “Reuse, Recycle and Recovery”, the policy will also promote India’s self-reliance in the auto sector and in the metal sector. He said the aim was to create a viable circular economy and bring value for all stakeholders while being environmentally responsible.

Civil Aviation Ministry hikes lower and upper limit of fares by 9.83 percent to 12.82 percent

Domestic air travel has become costlier as the Ministry of Civil Aviation has Friday raised the lower as well as upper caps on fares by 9.83 to 12.82 per cent, modifying its previous order. It has also allowed Airlines to operate a maximum of 72.5 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic flights instead of the 65 per cent allowed till date. The actual price, however, will be more than this as the caps mentioned by the government in its order does not include the passenger security fee, user development fee for the airports and the GST.
This is the 4th time that the flight ticket prices have been revised. Ticket prices were revised in February, May and June. The hike in the air traffic fuel price is the reason for the consecutive hikes.
As a result, Delhi-Mumbai one-way minimum fare will rise from Rs 4,700 to Rs 5287.5 and the maximum fare will rise from Rs 13,000 to Rs 14,625 (taxes extra). The revision comes at a time when domestic travel has picked momentum and with other countries relaxing lockdown restrictions on Indian flights, international passenger flights to several destinations are resuming.
In an order issued late Thursday night, the ministry increased the lower limit for flights under 40 minutes of duration from Rs 2,600 to Rs 2,900 — an increase of 11.53 percent. The upper cap for flights under 40 minutes of duration was increased by 12.82percent to Rs 8,800. Similarly, flights with duration between 40-60 minutes have a lower limit of Rs 3,700 instead of Rs 3,300 now, the order said.

::Science and tech::

ISRO chief K Sivan inaugurates Health Quest study

Dr K Sivan, Secretary, DOS/Chairman, ISRO on August 04, 2021 formally inaugurated the Health QUEST study (Health Quality Upgradation Enabled by Space Technology of ISRO) which will be undertaken by 20 private hospitals across India. Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Health was the guest of honour and spoke on the occasion.
The objective of the study is to strive towards reducing human errors and achieve zero defect and quality service in the Emergency and Intensive Care units of hospitals. The study aims to upgrade the healthcare systems standards of the country in line with the ISRO quality standards and best practices.
The procedures and practices of Quality Assurance mechanism in vogue in ISRO will be shared with the study team for setting the parameters to establish health care quality standards.
During his inaugural address Dr. Sivan assured the support from ISRO for completing the study and achieving the quality goal. The event was co-organised by Association of Health Care Providers India (AHPI) and Society for Emergency Medicine in India (SEMI). The CEOs and Coordinators of the 20 hospitals have participated in the virtual event.

::Sports::

ICC will push for inclusion of cricket in 2028 Olympics

The England and Wales Cricket Board will play a leading role in paving the way for cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, said ECB CEO Tom Harrison. ICC has officially assembled a bid for cricket, targeting the LA Games.
“I think we will have a leading role. My chairman Ian Watmore is heading the working committee that is working out on cricket’s inclusion in IOC,” said the ECB CEO Tom Harrison while replying to a Hindustan Times query during a virtual interaction.
The only time cricket was a part of the Olympics was way back in 1900 in Paris when Great Britain took on France in a two-day one-off match, which was won by the former. The match was recognised officially only in 1912 and Britain and France got gold and silver medals respectively.
When asked to explain ECB’s role further in speeding up the process, Harrison said it is a big opportunity for cricket’s growth.