Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 21 April 2021

::NATIONAL::

Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership (AIIPOIP) grant program launched to broaden Indo-Pacific partnership with India

The Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership (AIIPOIP) will help shape maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to support an open, inclusive, resilient, prosperous and rules-based maritime order.
The AIIPOIP is a practical initiative under the Australia-India Joint Declaration on a Shared Vision for Maritime Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, as part of the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced during the Leaders’ Virtual Summit on 4 June 2020. India and Australia are committed to work together bilaterally, regionally and multilaterally, and in minilateral arrangements, to support regional architecture in line with their shared values and interests.
The AIIPOIP will help develop, with all interested partners, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) announced by India’s Prime Minister NarendraModi at the 14th East Asia Summit on 4 November 2019 at Bangkok.
This is the first phase of the four-year (2020-2024) grant program under this Partnership.
About the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative
On 4 November 2019 Prime Minister NarendraModi launched the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) at the East Asia Summit. IPOI seeks to ensure security and stability of the regional maritime domain. IPOI is an open, non-treaty based initiative for countries to work together for cooperative and collaborative solutions to common challenges in the region.
IPOI draws on existing regional architecture and mechanisms to focus on seven pillars:
Maritime Security
Maritime Ecology
Maritime Resources
Capacity Building and Resource Sharing
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation
Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport
Australia is the lead partner on the maritime ecology pillar and is looking to drive scientific collaboration and share best practice across the Indo-Pacific on reducing marine pollution, with a focus on plastic waste.

Printed Study Materials for IBPS, SBI Bank Exam

::International::

India-Kyrgyzstan Hold Bilateral Military Exercise Khanjar

Despite the devastating rise in COVID-19 cases in India, on April 16 Kyrgyzstan welcomed a contingent of Indian troops for the 8th India-Kyrgyz Joint Special Forces Exercise “Khanjar.”
The two-week exercise was first initiated in December 2011, in Nahan, India. Broadly, it focuses on high-altitude and mountain operations, in the context of a counterterrorism mission. It remains a modest exercise, little reported or remarked upon. A 2018 report published by the Jamestown Foundation noted that the first iteration included just 20 Kyrgyz service members.
Nearly four years later, in 2015, the second iteration took place in Tokmok in Kyrgyzstan (Jamestown pegs the dates to March, citing an Indian Embassy link that’s now dead. An Indian Embassy press release from 2017 states the exercise as having happened in July 2015). The Jamestown Foundation said it included an estimated 100 personnel between the two sides.
Khanjar-III took place in 2016, in India, and Khanjar-IV in Kyrgyzstan.
Khanjar-V returned to India in 2018, this time at the Counter Insurgency Jungle Warfare School in Vairengte. Presumably.
Khanjar-VI took place in Kyrgyzstan in 2019, though there’s no readily accessible reporting on it. In early February 2020, Indian government officials referred to Khanjar-VII as to take place “soon” in India. It’s unclear when it did, if it did proceed as planned.

::Economy::

Cabinet approves amendment to the Finance Bill, 2021

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister NarendraModi gives ex-post facto approval for the Government amendments to the Finance Bill, 2021 (enacted on 28th March, 2021 as the Finance Act, 2021). The amendments were essential to clarify and rationalise the proposals further and address stakeholders concerns arising out of amendments proposed in the Finance Bill.
The Government amendments to the Finance Bill, 2021 shall provide equity and inclusiveness to all the taxpayers by addressing stakeholders concerns arising out of amendments proposed in the Bill.
The Government amendments to the Finance Bill, 2021 are tax proposals which shall generate timely revenue for the Government and streamline existing provisions by addressing grievances of the taxpayers.
Cabinet approves MoU between DG of Trade Remedies, India and Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi has given its ex post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Director General of Trade Remedies, Republic of India and the Bangladesh Trade & Tariff Commission, People's Republic of Bangladesh on the establishment of a framework of cooperation in the area of trade remedial measures signed on 27th March, 2021 at Dhaka.

Objectives

The primary objective of the MOU is to promote cooperation between the two countries in the area of Trade Remedies, covering the broad activities related to exchange of information, undertaking capacity building activities and activities in accordance with various provisions of World Trade Organization in the area of anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures in bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh.
The MOU seeks to foster better cooperation between the relevant authorities of both the countries so as to discourage unfair trade practices and promote rule based bilateral trading between the two countries.

::Science and tech::

Indian vaccine COVAXIN capable of neutralizing double mutant strain of coronavirus: ICMR

Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin, which is made by Bharat Biotech, has been found to effectively neutralise the double mutant strain, B.1.617, of SARS-CoV-2 and other variants, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said.
DrSamiran Panda, chief of epidemiology and communicable diseases division of ICMR, said it is good news and hoped that there will be less anxiety among people in the second wave with this new information about the vaccine. Covaxin has been found to effectively neutralise the double mutant strain also apart from other variants of concern, Dr Panda said.
At ICMR-National Institute of Virology, scientists said they have isolated and cultured the double mutant strain which has E484Q and L452R mutations. They have also isolated and cultured all variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 virus: B.1.1.7 (UK variant); B.1.1.28.2 (Brazil variant) and B.1.351 (South African variant), the scientists said.

::Sports::

Red Bull's Max Verstappen wins Formula One Emilia Romana title

Rain at the start led to one of the most topsy-turvy races in memory as the treacherous conditions caught out the vast majority of drivers at one time or another.
There was an early safety car and later a red flag, after a massive crash involving Mercedes' ValtteriBottas and Williams's George Russell, rivals for a seat at the world champions in 2022.
Even Verstappen almost lost his win, when he half-spun at the restart following the red flag, but he managed to collect the car and streak off into the distance as Hamilton fought to regain lost ground.