Current Affairs for BANK, IBPS Exams - 25 February 2021

::NATIONAL::

Vijay Sampla served as the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment from 2014-19.
Former Union Minister Vijay Sampla on Wednesday assumed the charge of Chairman National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
Talking to the media after assuming office, Sampla said he will work incessantly to safeguard the interests and the rights of the SC community.
"The Commission will work not only to ensure justice to the SCs but will also remain proactive to prevent any form of injustice to the community," he said. He further stated that the Commission will participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes and to prevent atrocities against them.
He assumed the office in presence of Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Krishan Pal Gurjar, Union Minister SomPrakash, former Chairman of NCSC and BJP MP Hans Raj Hans and other members of Commission.

Amid protests by the Opposition, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed by voice vote a bill aimed at curbing religious conversions by fraudulent or any other undue means, including through marriage.
The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2021 seeks to replace the ordinance promulgated in November last year that provides for imprisonment up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 for violators.
The bill was passed in the House even as Aradhana Misra, the Congress Legislative Party leader and Lalji Verma, the leader of BSP in the Assembly, protested.
The bill mainly envisages that no person shall convert, either directly or indirectly from one religion to another by use or practice of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage nor shall any person abet, convince or conspire such conversion.
The onus to prove that the conversion has not been done forcibly will lie on the person accused of the act and the convert, it said.

Ghana has become the first country to receive vaccines from COVAX, a global scheme to procure and distribute COVID-19 inoculations for free for poorer countries.
Launched last April, COVAX said it planned to ship two billion doses by year's end.
"The next phase in the fight against this disease can begin – the ramping up of the largest immunisation campaign in history," UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore declared in a statement.
· "At last!" World Health Organization (WHO), TedrosAdhanomGhebreyesus, whose organisation also backs the COVAX initiative, said in a tweet.
· The 600,000 doses delivered to Ghana on Wednesday are the Oxford/AstraZeneca formula, made under license by the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India.

The Scheme will benefit domestic manufacturers, help in creating employment and is expected to contribute to the availability of wider range of affordable medicines for consumers.
The scheme is expected to promote the production of high value products in the country and increase the value addition in exports. Total incremental sales of Rs.2,94,000crore and total incremental exports of Rs.1,96,000 crore are estimated during six years from 2022-23 to 2027-28.
The scheme is expected to generate employment for both skilled and un-skilled personnel, estimated at 20,000 direct and 80,000 indirect jobs as a result of growth in the sector.
· The scheme will be part of the umbrella scheme for the Development of Pharmaceutical Industry. The objective of the scheme is to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities by increasing investment and production in the sector and contributing to product diversification to high value goods in the pharmaceutical sector.
· One of the further objectives of the scheme is to create global champions out of India who have the potential to grow in size and scale using cutting edge technology and thereby penetrate the global value chains.

At an exclusive interactive session organized by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) this Sunday, Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman said that India's growing and aspiring needs, as well as demands, cannot be only served by Central and state governments.
She also emphasized the need for involvement and participation from the private sectors in order to meet these demands.
"While the government should play the role of the facilitator, the private sector ought to be the growth driver of the economy," she said at the session.
Sitharaman also spoke about the successful dissemination of Covid vaccines to around 100 countries and highlighted the role played by the private sector in helping project India's image as a 'global friend'.
The Finance Minister also explained how the recently presented Union budget intends to be the provider of directional change for the economy in this post-pandemic world.

The panorama shows the rim of the Jezero Crater where the rover touched down last week and the cliff face of an ancient river delta in the distance.
It was taken by rotating the rover's mast 360 degrees. The mast is equipped with dual, zoomable cameras which can take high-definition video and images.
The panorama is composed of 142 individual images stitched together on Earth, NASA said.
"We're nestled right in a sweet spot, where you can see different features similar in many ways to features found by Spirit, Opportunity, and Curiosity at their landing sites," said Jim Bell of Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration.
Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity were previous missions to Mars.
NASA said the rover's cameras will help scientists assess the geologic history and atmospheric conditions of Jezero Crater and identify rocks and sediment worthy of a closer examination and collection for eventual return to Earth.

Amid a controversy over a cricket stadium in Gujarat being renamed after Prime Minister NarendraModi, the government on Wednesday said the name change involves only the Motera stadium and the entire sports complex continues to be named after Sardar Patel.
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was present alongside Javadekar at the media briefing after a cabinet meeting, also took a swipe at the Congress leaders, asking whether party chief Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi have so far praised the world’s tallest statue of Sardar Patel erected at Kevadiya in Gujarat.