CURRENT AFFAIRS SEPTEMBER 14TH

St. Vincent and Grenadines become 79th country to join India-led International Solar Alliance

Saint Vincent and Grenadines became the 79th country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

• The International Solar Alliance is a group of 121 solar resource-rich countries with headquarters in Gurugram, India.
• The organisation aims to deploy over 1,000 gigawatts of solar energy and mobilise more than USD 1,000 billion into solar power by 2030.

Points to remember

• St. Vincent and Grenadines Capital: Kingstown
• Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar

The UK announces two-year post-study work visa for all foreign students

The UK government announced a two-year post-study work visa for all international students who will be coming into the country from the academic year 2020-21.

• This new graduate immigration route will be open for all international students, including those from India, who have completed a degree at an undergraduate level or above at an institution approved by UK Higher Education Provider.
• This will allow international students to stay in the UK after they complete their studies for a period of up to 2 years to work, to look for work.

Scientists identify the largest flying animal in history

Scientists unveiled a new species of pterosaur, which is among the largest ever flying animals, according to a study from the Queen Mary University of London.

• The pterosaur's name ‘Cryodrakon boreas’ roughly translates to 'frozen dragon of the north wind' in tribute to the landscape of the Albertan winter.
• Cryodrakon boreas was a flying reptile with a wingspan of up to 10 metres which lived during the Cretaceous period around 77 million years ago.

India joins the global antimicrobial resistance research hub

India has joined the Global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Research and Development (R&D) hub as a new member.

• This would expand the global partnership working to address challenges and improve coordination and collaboration in global AMR research.
• AMR is the ability of a microbe to resist the effects of medication that once could successfully treat the microbe.
• Global AMR research and development hub was launched in May 2018 on the margins of the 71st session of the World Health Assembly, following a call from G20 leaders in 2017.

NCST recommends ‘tribal area’ status for Ladakh under Sixth Schedule

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah and Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, recommending that Ladakh be declared a tribal area under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

• The Sixth Schedule provides for the administration of tribal areas after setting up the autonomous district and regional councils.
• The Home Ministry is the central authority for declaring an area as a “tribal area”.
• The Scheduled Tribes that inhabit the region include Balti, Beda, Boto, Brokpa/Drokpa, Changpa, Garra, Mon and Purigpa.

DRDO hands over second 'Netra' early warning system to IAF

The Defence Research Development Organization (DRDO) handed over the second airborne warning plane, Netra, to the Indian Air Force.

• The Netra, an Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEWC) aircraft, had played a stellar role during the Balakot airstrikes that had been carried out by the IAF in February this year.
• It provided surveillance and radar coverage to the five Mirage jets that bombed terror launch pads in Balakot in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
• Designed and developed by scientists of the DRDO, with assistance from the Bengaluru-based Centre for Airborne Systems, the Netra is fitted with indigenously developed electronics and hardware.

Tata Group private partner in Indian Institute of Skills, Mumbai

Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), on laid the foundation stone for Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) at Mumbai.

• The objective of the institute is to provide skill training in highly-specialised areas to students who want to pursue technical education after completing Class X and XII.
• Tata Education Development Trust (TEDT) was selected as the private partner for setting up IIS at NSTI campus in Mumbai through a competitive bidding process.
• The Tata Group is investing about ₹300 crore in the 4.5-acre campus.
• The Union Cabinet had given its nod to set up Indian Institute of Skills (IISs) in three cities, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kanpur to give wings to the Skill India Mission.

ONGC to invest over Rs 13,000 crore in Assam to drill over 220 wells

State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will invest over Rs 13,000 crore in Assam over the next five years.

• The oil and gas company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Assam government for boosting its exploration and production activities in the state.
• The company will make the investment for drilling more than 220 oil and gas wells across the state.

IDBI to launch a co-branded credit card with LIC

IDBI Bank is planning to launch a co-branded credit card, which will be marketed to customers, agents, and employees of the corporation and its subsidiaries.

• The co-branded credit card will be launched in association with LIC’s wholly-owned subsidiary, LIC Credit Cards Services (LIC CSL)
• Currently, IDBI Bank offers five credit card variants.
• LIC CSL, which has a tie-up with Axis Bank and Corporation Bank for issuance of credit cards under co-branded/white label agreements.

UN appoints veteran Indian Officer, Abhijit Guha to lead its mission in Yemen

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed a veteran Indian Army official as the head of the world body's observer mission in Yemen's port city of Hodeidah.

• Lieutenant General (retired) Abhijit Guha has been appointed as the Chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) and head of the UNMHA.
• He will succeed Lieutenant General Michael Lollesgaard, who served as RCC Chair and head of UNMHA from January 31 to July 31.