Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 22 September 2021

::National::

Air Marshal VR Chowdhary (VR Chaudhari) will be the next chief of the Indian Air Force

Air Marshal V R Chaudhari will take the reins as the chief of the Indian Air Force after the incumbent, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, retires on September 30, the defence ministry.
Air Marshal Chaudhari is presently serving as Vice Chief of the Air Staff.
"The government has decided to appoint Air Marshal V R Chaudhari, presently Vice Chief of Air Staff, as the next Chief of the Air Staff after the retirement of Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on September 30," the ministry said in a brief statement.
Air Marshal Chaudhari was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 29, 1982.
He has held command, staff and instructional appointments at various levels, including the present one as Vice Chief of Air Staff.

Printed Study Materials for IBPS, SBI Bank Exam

::International::

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina honored with SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Progress Award

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh has been announced as one of the winners of the United Nations Champions of the Earth award in recognition of her country’s initiatives to address climate change.
“Serving as Prime Minister of Bangladesh – one of the world’s least-developed countries – Sheikh Hasina has proven that investing in climate change is conducive to achieving social and economic development,” said the announcement issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which confers the awards.
UNEP noted that Bangladesh is one of the world’s most populated countries, with over 159 million people. It is also one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Cyclones, floods and droughts have long been part of the country’s history, but they have intensified in recent years.
“Through a number of forward-looking policy initiatives and investments, Bangladesh has placed confronting the challenge of climate change at the core of its development,” said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.
“These initiatives, from climate change adaptation measures to ecosystem preservation legislation, mean that current and future generations of Bangladeshis are better prepared to address climate change risks and reverse the impacts of environmental degradation.”
He added that Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated “leadership and vision” in both making climate change an issue of national priority and advocating for an ambitious global response.
He noted that by 2050 it is estimated that one in every seven people in Bangladesh is likely to be displaced by climate change, and they are also likely to move to urban centres already burdened with meeting the needs of a dense population.
“I congratulate the Government of Bangladesh for being proactive in tackling climate change as a priority of the country. It is also a clarion call for the global community to take action today, and to realise that climate change is not a problem of the future, it is already happening in our lifetime.”

::Economy::

India to become third largest importer by 2050

The world’s centre of economic gravity has been shifting eastward for decades due to the rapid growth in Indo Pacific, causing trade patterns to shift as it moves.
With a growing middle class and its rising discretionary spending, India will become the world’s third largest importer by 2050 with a share of 5.9% of global imports, right behind China and the US, a new report said, mimicking its projected ranking among world economies. At present, India is ranked eighth among largest importing nations with a 2.8% import share and is set to become the fourth largest importer by 2030.
“The US’s and the EU’s share of most import sectors is expected to decline out to 2030 as the growing purchasing power of Asia’s middle-class accounts for a rising share of global import demand. This change is particularly marked in the food, travel and digital services sectors where larger and increasingly wealthy populations in the Indo Pacific are expected to consume more discretionary goods and services,” the latest Global Trade Outlook issued by the UK’s Department of International Trade said.
The world’s centre of economic gravity has been shifting eastward for decades due to the rapid growth in Indo Pacific, causing trade patterns to shift as it moves. “Between 2019 and 2050, 56% of global growth is expected to come from the Indo Pacific, compared with a quarter from the EU and North America combined. Growth within the Indo Pacific is also expected to rebalance over time, with South Asia’s contribution (driven by India) rising,” it added.

Kharif food grain production estimated to be record 150.50 million tonnes this year: Government

India's foodgrain production is likely to touch record 150.50 million tonne in the ongoing kharif season on better rice output amid good monsoon, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday.
In the kharif season of 2020-21 crop year (July-June), the foodgrain output comprising rice, pulses and coarse cereals stood at a record 149.56 million tonne.
Record production is pegged in rice, sugarcane and cotton. However, production of coarse cereals and oilseeds is estimated to be lower marginally during the kharif season of this year.
Sowing of kharif (summer) crops like paddy begins with the onset of the Southwest monsoon from June, while harvesting in most of the parts commences from October.
Releasing the first advance foodgrain production estimate for the ongoing kharif season, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: "A record foodgrain production is estimated at 150.50 million tonne in kharif season."
Bumper crop is being achieved on account of tireless hard work of farmers and scientists besides farmer-friendly government policies, he said.

::Science and tech::

Researchers make whitest paint in world. It can omit the need for an AC

The researchers explained that this paint can be used to cover an entire roof area of nearly 1,000 square feet that would equal to the cooling power of 10 kilowatts, which is more powerful than the air conditioners used in houses.
New research done at a laboratory at Purdue University in the United States has led to the production of the whitest paint in the world. This paint due to its extreme white shade has the capability to gradually reduce or even omit the need for air conditioning, scientists said.
According to a report by South China Morning Post, the paint has now made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the whitest ever formed.
According to the South China Morning Post report, the paint reflects 98.1 per cent of solar radiation while also emitting infrared heat. As per the mechanism is concerned, the researchers explained that the paint takes in less heat from sunlight that it emits, thus allowing a surface coated with the paint underneath the surrounding temperature to cool off without consuming any power.
The researchers explained that this paint can be used to cover an entire roof area of nearly 1,000 square feet that would equal to the cooling power of 10 kilowatts. “That’s more powerful than the air conditioner used in most houses,” Ruan was quoted as saying by the Post report.

::Sports::

Sharat Kamal’s sage advice for warring ManikaBatra, table tennis federation

Sharath Kamal, India’s most experienced and accomplished table tennis player, says no player should have problems in setting aside certain number of days every year to attend national camps, but the federation also cannot crack the whip unless they develop a proper system for it.
The issue of Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) not fielding No. 1 woman player ManikaBatra in the upcoming Asian championships after she did not attend the national camp has resulted in the player petitioning the Delhi High Court. Batra has sought a stay on the federation directive in August that made it mandatory to attend national camps for selection.