Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 11 January 2021

::NATIONAL::

BJP has given due recognition to Assam's culture

The BJP, which had stormed to power in Assam for the first time in 2016, is confident of keeping the throne after putting up an impressive show in recent local polls.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jagat Prakash Nadda, who is is Assam, said on Monday that the party has always given due recognition to the state's culture, language and identity.
"It is the responsibility of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to safeguard the culture and language of Assam and the party has always given importance to these things," Nadda said while addressing a rally in Silchar in Barak Valley.
The BJP, which had stormed to power in the state for the first time in 2016, is confident of keeping the throne after putting up an impressive show in recent local polls.
The Barak Valley, which comprises three districts, has been a traditional stronghold of the BJP for over three decades. In 2016, the BJP had won eight of the 15 seats here while All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had won five and Congress two. The BJP is hoping to better its tally this time. Last month, Lakhipur Congress MLA Rajdeep Goala resigned from the Assembly and joined the saffron party.
The main opposition party Congress received a setback after the death of its heavyweight and three-term chief minister Tarun Gogoi. Opposition parties, however, hope to put the BJP on the defensive over a host of issues, including the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The Congress' in-charge for Assam, Jitendra Singh, is in Guwahati since January 8 as part of a five-day visit.

World Hindi Day – January 10

World Hindi Day (विश्व हिन्दी दिवस) is celebrated on January 10 all over the world, its main purpose is to create awareness for the promotion of Hindi in the world and to introduce Hindi as an International Language.
This day is completely different from National Hindi Diwas which is celebrated on September 14 every year. On 14 September 1949, the Constituent Assembly gave Hindi the status of an official language, since then Hindi Diwas is celebrated in India. While World Hindi Day is to promote the Hindi language on the global stage.
The first World Hindi Conference was organized on 10 January 1975 in Nagpur by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi to promote Hindi in the entire world. Therefore, this day is celebrated as World Hindi Day.
The official celebration of World Hindi Day began on January 10, 2006, by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Every year since 2006, World Hindi Day is celebrated worldwide on 10 January.

Printed Study Materials for IBPS, SBI Bank Exam

::International::

Saudi Arabia, the Largest Producer of Oil, Will Now Create a City Without Cars or Roads

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has come out with his latest vision for the nation which is the largest producer of oil - an ambitious non-carbon emissions city without cars or roads.
The project named “The Line” will be home to a million people and have no cars and no streets, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said, Arab News reported. "The city will be a 170 kilometer belt of “hyper-connected future communities,” and will be built around the natural environment.
“Why should we sacrifice nature for the sake of development? Why should seven million people die every year because of pollution? Why should we lose one million people every year due to traffic accidents? And why should we accept wasting years of our lives commuting?” he said, according to the report.
The project is part of the prince's plans to build a zero-carbon city at NEOM, the first major construction project for the $500 billion flagship business zone aimed at diversifying the nation's economy.
The prince later told reporters in the northwestern city of Al Ula that the project was the conclusion of three years of preparation, adding that its infrastructure would cost $100 billion to $200 billion.

::Economy::

Bureau of Indian Standards celebrates the 74th foundation day

The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Commerce & Industry and Railways Shri Piyush Goyal attended the 74th foundation day celebration of Bureau of Indian Standards on 6th January 2021.
On this occasion he inaugurated the Toy Testing facilities, which BIS has created across three of its laboratories and announced the launch of Certificate Courses on Assaying & Hallmarking as well as Quality Control.
While lauding BIS for its state-of-the-art facilities, Shri Goyal stated that the facilities have been created at the most appropriate time as the Government has recently brought “Toys” under mandatory BIS certification.
The test facilities will act as an enabler for about over 5000 industrial units, including micro & small ones for implementing the standards.
He said that this industry would be able to compete with foreign manufacturers and prevent the influx of imported toys, which are of substandard quality.

WTO members laud India's efforts to improve trade and economic environment in last 5 years

World Trade Organization (WTO) members have raised concerns over the Centre’s programmes, such as Atmanirbhar Bharat, to promote domestic manufacturing and import substitution, cautioning India about trade restrictions such programmes could attract.
“Members took note of the programmes put in place to promote foreign direct investment and local manufacturing, and to further integrate Make in India, Digital India, Start-up India, Skill India and Self-Reliant India into global supply chains.
They welcomed these initiatives, while raising concerns about the possible trade restrictions they could introduce, urging India to be mindful of any trade implications," ambassador Harald Aspelund, chair of the WTO’s trade policy review body, said in his concluding remarks during India’s 7th trade policy review.

::SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY::

DRDO Lab Hands Over Landing Gear Systems, 18 Types of Filters for P-75 Submarines to Indian Navy in Chennai

The CVRDE, a laboratory of the DRDO, on Sunday handed over retractable landing gears for Tapas and Swift unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as well as 18 types of filters for P-75 submarines to its users, an official statement said. While the retractable landing gears were handed over to the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), another laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the filters were handed over to the Indian Navy, the defence ministry's statement noted.
The handing over ceremony took place in Chennai in the presence of Lok Sabha MP Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, member of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, and G Satheesh Reddy, Chairman, DRDO, said the statement. The aforementioned products have been designed and developed by Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), the statement noted.
The CVRDE has developed three-ton and one retractable landing gear for Tapas and Swift, respectively, it mentioned. "Eighteen types of indigenously developed hydraulic, lubrication, sea water and fuel filters for P-75 Submarine were designed and developed by CVRDE. These filters are now being manufactured with the help of Indian Industries based at Hyderabad and Chennai," it stated.

::SPORTS::

Australia, India retain top-two spots in WTC standings after draw in Sydney Test

The Indian batting unit displayed tremendous grit as it hung on for a memorable draw against Australia in the third Test to leave the series levelled at 1-1 with one game to go at Brisbane.
New Zealand had earlier achieved the number one position in the ICC Test Team Rankings for the first time in history following their clean-sweep of Pakistan and West Indies.
Both Australia and India bagged 10 points each after the draw, which helped the visitors become the first team to touch the 400-point mark in the WTC table.
India, however, remained at the second spot behind Australia as positions are now being determined by the percentage of points won.