Title Daily Current Affairs Capsule 31st January 2021

Daily CurrentTitle
              Affairs Capsule
             Title 2021
      31st January

UK applying to join Asia-Pacific free trade pact CPTPP

The UK is applying to join a free trade area made up of 11 Asia and Pacific nations, under its post-Brexit plans.’’

      The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement
       formed in 2018 which includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand,
       Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. ‘‘
      In total, it covers a market of around 500 million people, generating more than 13% of the world's income.

Nepal decides to award hydropower project to India's Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam

Nepal has decided to award the contract for construction of 679 megawatt Lower Arun Hydropower Project to
India's Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN). ‘‘

      The project was awarded to the SJVN under the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) delivery
       method. ‘‘
      Similar to the Arun III hydel project, which will provide 21 per cent free power to Nepal during the
       concession period, the developer of the Lower Arun hydel project should also prioritise providing certain
       percent of power free of cost. ‘‘
      The developer will hand over the ownership of the project to the government of Nepal after 20 years of
       commercial operation.

Lucknow Metro becomes first metro to use UV rays to sanitise train coaches

The Lucknow Metro has become the first metro in the country to use ultraviolet (UV) rays to sanitise train
coaches. ‘‘

      The step was taken in the wake of Covid pandemic to provide its passengers a safe and secure journey. ‘‘
      UP Metro Rail Corporation, UPMRC got the idea from the New York Metro's experiment to sanitise trains
       with UV lamp rays. ‘‘
      The step is similar to the process which is used to sanitize the hospital's operation theatre. ‘‘
      UPMRC contacted a firm which makes sanitizing equipment and developed a UV lamp which can sanitize
       a metro coach in just 30 minutes. ‘‘
      DRDO approved the equipment in October last year and Lucknow Metro has become the first metro to
       use this to sanitize the coaches.

India ranks 10th in EIU’s Asia-Pacific Personalised Health Index

India has been ranked 10th among 11 Asia Pacific countries in a newly-launched ‘Asia-Pacific Personalised
Health Index’ by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). ‘‘

      The index aims to measure the progress of each of the 11 countries towards adopting personalised
       healthcare, enabling the right care to be made available to the right person at the right time. ‘‘
      Overall, Singapore has topped the index. It is followed by Taiwan (2nd), Japan (3rd) and Australia (4th).
       ‘‘
      Indonesia was the last ranked country at 11th in the index.

Centre Approves ‘Startup India Seed Fund Scheme

The Central Government has approved ‘Start-up India Seed Fund Scheme’ (SISFS),

      The program aims to provide financial assistance to start-ups for product trials, market-entry, proof of
       concept, prototype development and commercialization. ‘‘

      The total budget allocated under this is Rs 945 crore. ‘‘
      The scheme will become operational from April 1, 2021. ‘‘
      The scheme will be implemented by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DIIT).
       ‘‘
      The funds under the scheme will be disbursed through the selected incubators across the country.

India’s First ‘Gender Park’ to be inaugurated in Kozhikode, Kerala

The state government of Kerala will launch the first of its kind three-storeyed ‘Gender Park’ in Kozhikode, to
promote gender equality and empowerment in the state. ‘‘

      The overall cost of establishing the park is around Rs 300 crore and it spreads over 24 acre land. ‘‘
      This new Gender Park will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the second edition
       of the International Conference on Gender Equality (ICGE-II), which will be held from February 11 to
       13, 2021. ‘‘
      Along with the Gender Park, a Gender Museum, Gender Library, Convention Centre and an Amphitheatre
       will also be launched at the event.

R S Sharma appointed as new CEO of Ayushman Bharat Scheme

The National Health Authority (NHA) has appointed RS Sharma as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of
country’s flagship public health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat, also called Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya
Yojana. ‘‘

      He would replace Indu Bhushan, who is serving as the Chief Executive of the Ayushman Scheme since
       its inception in 2018. ‘‘
      RS Sharma, a former chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), who would take
       charge of the NHA from February 1. ‘‘
      R S Sharma appointed as new CEO of Ayushman Bharat Scheme.

Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival, 2021 concludes

In Kargil Ladakh, the first ever Zanskar Winter Sports and Youth Festival, 2021 concluded at Munskit Chumik
Zanskar. ‘‘

      13 days Zanskar Winter and Youth Festival 2021 featured various cultural and sports activities like ice
       hockey, snow skiing, horse riding, yak riding, ice climbing, snow sculpture, archery matches, local food
       festival, yoga and meditation sessions and other related activities. ‘‘
      Around 700 people from various different parts of Zanskar participated in the event. ‘‘
      The Zanskar River is the major tributary of the Indus River, and it flows entirely with Ladakh, India.

1995 Nobel Chemistry Prize Winner Paul Crutzen passes away at 87

The Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul J. Crutzen, has passed away. He was 87.

      Dr. Crutzen won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995, jointly with Mario J. Molina and F. Sherwood
       Rowland, for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and
       decomposition of ozone. ‘‘
      He was known for his work on the ozone layer and climate change and for popularizing the term
       ‘Anthropocene’ to describe a proposed new era when human actions have a drastic effect on the Earth.

Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine dies at the age of 77

The Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine, who created one of the most famous riffs in pop music in the 1960s, died
at the age of 77. ‘‘

      The British band's version of blues standard The House of The Rising Sun topped the UK and US charts
       in 1964. ‘‘
      The Animals' record label ABKCO Music described Valentine as a ‘pioneering guitar player influencing
       the sound of rock and roll for decades to come’. ‘‘
      Valentine co-founded the Animals in Newcastle in 1963 alongside singer Eric Burdon, bassist Chas
       Chandler, organist Alan Price and drummer John Steel.