Daily Current Affairs Quiz : December 20,2021

ANSWER: C

• Recently, a new generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile, Agni-P (Prime), was successfully flight tested from the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha.

About Agni-P missile

• Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles. It is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system that can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period. It can be transported across the length and breadth of the country, as per requirements.
• Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time required to launch the missile while improving its storage and mobility.
• The new ballistic missile, which has a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometres, weighs half of Agni III and has new kinds of propulsion and new guidance.
• It also comes with the technologies found in the 4000-kilometre range Agni-IV and 5000-kilometre range Agni-V. The new Agni P can be used to target enemy warships in the Indo-Pacific.
• Agni class of missiles are the mainstay of India’s nuclear launch capability which also includes the Prithvi short range ballistic missiles, submarine launched ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft. The longest of the Agni series, Agni-V, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km, has already been tested several times and validated for induction.

ANSWER: A

• Recently, a programme to support India-US S&T-based entrepreneurial initiatives that address the development and implementation of next-generation clean and renewable energy, energy storage, and carbon sequestration was announced to tackle climate and clean energy challenges.

About the India and the US programme

• The programme titled ‘Technology-based Energy Solutions: Innovations for Net Zero’ constitutes a call for Ignition Grants by the United States-India Science & Technology Endowment Fund (USISTEF), in partnership with Social Alpha, a non-profit organisation promoting S&T entrepreneurship.
• It will identify and support technology showstoppers or promising joint India-US S&T-based entrepreneurial initiatives in this area.
• Climate Change is one of the biggest challenges facing our world today, spurring the call for global collaborations to tackle this crisis. The launch of the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership in April 2021 reiterated the commitment of both nations to work together to achieve their ambitious climate and clean energy targets and to strengthen bilateral collaborations. The new program aligns with the goals of the U.S.-India strategic Clean Energy Partnership and will be administered by the bi-national Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF). The IUSSTF is a bilateral organization under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, and U.S. Department of State.

ANSWER: C

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has launched the Unified Logistics Interface Platform’s (ULIP) hackathon – ‘LogiXtics’ to crowdsource more ideas which will benefit the logistics industry.

About Unified Logistics Interface Platform’s (ULIP) hackathon – ‘LogiXtics’

• ULIP is designed to enhance efficiency and reduce logistics cost in India by creating a transparent platform that can provide real time information to all stakeholders and remove all asymmetry information.
• The ULIP Hackathon – LogiXtics was organised by NITI Aayog and Atal Innovation Mission and supported by National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC) and NICDC Logistics Data Bank Services Limited (NLDSL).

Significance

• The cost of logistics in the India is about 14% which is higher than other countries in the world.
• ULIP’s objective has been to work with top Indian technology organizations from the private sector and identify solutions to reduce logistics cost.

ANSWER: D

• ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has recently signed United Nations supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) demonstrating its commitment towards Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) issues. It is the first Indian insurance company to do so.

About ICICI Prudential Life Insurance signing United Nations supported Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI)

• In its journey towards promoting sustainability, the Company is integrating ESG factors into its investment management framework. As a responsible corporate it has also adopted sustainability principles across its business activities.
• The company in a recent release said, the sustainability framework is built on three pillars of ESG which include leaving the planet a better place for the next generation, giving back to society and transparency in functioning.
• With Assets under Management of over ₹2.37 trillion, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance is a key institutional investor and believes integrating the ESG framework in its investment management practices will ensure sustainable value creation for all stakeholders.
• The Company also engages with investee companies on ESG issues to ensure the business operates in a responsible and sustainable manner, benefitting the environment, society and investors.

ANSWER: C

• Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, one of the leading private general insurers of India, recently announced the launch of its unique ‘Health Prime’ rider.

About ‘Health Prime’ rider

• This rider can be availed along with the company’s health insurance and personal accident policies.
• The idea behind this rider is to provide holistic healthcare solutions. In order to provide seamless services under this rider, the Company has tied up with Bajaj Finserv Health Ltd., a health-tech company that will leverage its extensive network of more than 2,500 lab chains and 90,000 doctors with various specialities to serve the customers of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.
• This will be a remarkable step towards redefining the health and wellness landscape in the country, thriving on the power of digitization.
• Health Prime rider covers 4 key areas for the customers, namely – Tele-consultation Cover wherein the customer suffering from any illness/injury can opt for unlimited consultations with a doctor on the service provider’s digital platform, Doctor Consultation Cover where the customer can consult a doctor in person in case of any illness/injury from the prescribed network centres of the service provider or outside its network, Investigations Cover for pathology or radiology expenses from prescribed network centres or outside prescribed network and lastly, Annual Preventive Health Check-up Cover wherein the customer can avail free Preventive health check-up once in every policy year as per the list of tests mentioned in the rider document.
• All these benefits are completely cashless and can easily be utilized seamlessly at your fingertips through the ‘Caringly yours’ app of Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.
• Health Prime rider has 6 plans on an individual basis with premium ranging from Rs. 63 to Rs. 1,084 excluding GST and 3 plans on floater basis with premium ranging from Rs. 1,146 to Rs. 2,348 excluding GST.

ANSWER: B

• In a move to curb Left Wing Extremism, the Jharkhand government recently launched the Sports Action toward Harnessing Aspiration of Youth (SAHAY) scheme aimed at nurturing young sporting talents in Maoist-hit districts.

About SAHAY Scheme

• The scheme, which was launched in Saraikela-Kharsawan, West Singhbhum, Khunti, Gumla and Simdega districts, will be replicated in other districts as well.
• According to the scheme, boys and girls in the 14-19 age group from villages to ward level will be registered under the scheme, and given opportunities to display their skills in basketball, volleyball, hockey and athletics.
• They will be encouraged with incentives such as cash prize as well as money for kits.
• The chief minister said a Sports Nursery will be set up in the affected areas to nurture talented youngsters.

ANSWER: B

• Every year on December 18, the International Migrant Day is observed to tackle the problem and challenges of global migration.

About International Migrant Day 2021

International Migrants Day 2021: History

• The United Nations General Assembly in the year 1999 created the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families.
• But on December 04, 2000, keeping an account of the large and increasing migrants across the globe, December 18 was decided as International Migrants’ Day.
• Later, based on the previous concerns on December 14 and 15, 2006, 132 member states shared a high-level dialogue on the migration issues proposed by the General Assembly.
• Therefore, International Migrants Day was created to commemorate the importance of strengthening international cooperation and migration bilaterally, regionally, and globally.

International Migrants Day 2021: Theme

• The theme for the year 2021 is ‘Harnessing the potential of human mobility’.

International Migrants Day 2021: Significance

• The day plays a significant role in determining the movement of people due to voluntary or forced movements for environmental issues like disaster and poverty.
• The various factors that result in the characteristics and scale of migration in the present and the future have created the issue of migration.