Daily Current Affairs – 24th April 2021

Topics/Highlights

1. SWAMITVA scheme
2. Ways and Means credit
3. Crew-2 mission
4. Leaders’ Summit on Climate 2021
5. World Malaria Day

Focus

1. SWAMITVA scheme

In News

The scheme has been covering all the states, which was earlier launched only for 9 states.

Key Points

1. It was launched on Panchayati Raj Diwas (24th April 2020).
2. The scheme is to map residential map ownership in the rural sector with use of modern technology and drones etc.
3. The scheme is to improvise property record maintenance in India.
4. The scheme is regulated by Panchayati Raj Ministry.
5. Property card will be prepared by the states through drone mapping.
   1. It will given to property owners and maintained by the land revenue records department.
6. The need for this scheme is that several villagers in the rural areas don’t have papers proving ownership of their land.

Source – PIB

2. Ways and Means credit

In News

RBI decided to continue interim Ways and Means Advances scheme.

The scheme limit is ₹51,560 crore for all States/ UTs shall for six months.

Key Points

1. The limit increased when Government expenditure are expented to rise as it battles the fallout of a spreading Coronavirus.
2. These funds will help to undertake short term expenditure over and above its long term market borrowings.

Ways and Means Advances

1. Temporary loan facilities provided by RBI to the government.
2. The loan is to cover temporary mismatches between revenue and expenditure.
3. Government also makes an interest payment to the central bank.
4. The interest rate is the same as repo rate, while the tenure is three months.
5. The limit is decided by the RBI and the Government of India.
6. The scheme was introduced on April 1, 1997 and ended the four-decade old system of adhoc (temporary) Treasury Bills to finance the Central Government deficit.

Source – The Hindu

3. Crew-2 mission

In News

It is the collaboration between NASA and SpaceX under the Commercial Crew Program and Four astronauts were launched to the International Space Station (ISS) from Florida under this mission.

Key Point

1. It is the second crew rotation of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and the first with any international partners, called Crew-2.
2. Members will conduct microgravity studies, investigate food physiology to study the effects of dietary improvements on immune function and the gut microbiome and how the improvements can help crews adapt to spaceflight.
3. The main focus is to continue series of Tissue Chips in Space studies.
   1. They are small models of human organs which contain multiple cell types and it will behave similarly to the human body.
   2. These chips can speed up the identifying process for safe and effective drugs and vaccines.

Commercial Crew Program

1. The main aim of the program is to make access to space easier in terms of cost, so that cargo and crew can be easily transported to and from the ISS, which will help in scientific research.
2. NASA is planning to lower its costs by sharing them with commercial partners such as Boeing and SpaceX.
3. It will give companies incentive to build the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS).

Source – Indian Express

4. Leaders’ Summit on Climate 2021

In News

Virtual meeting of world leaders titled ‘Leaders’ Summit on Climate’ is hosted by US President on the occasion of Earth Day (22nd April).

Key Points

1. The summit is expected to “galvanise efforts by the major economies to tackle the climate crisis” and “underscore the urgency – and the economic benefits – of stronger climate action.”
2. The objective of the scheme is to reduce emission in this decade by the world’s major economies and also getting the public and private sector involvement.
3. Adapt to the climate change and reduce emission through technology and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

5. World Malaria Day

In News

“Reaching Zero” forum on malaria elimination to celebrate World Malaria Day is chaired by Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare.

Key Points

1. 25th April is observed as ‘World Malaria Day’. 
2. Theme for the day is “Reaching the Zero Malaria target.’’
3. PM Modi has been among the 18 global leaders for endorsing the Malaria Elimination roadmap of Asia Pacific Leaders Malaria Alliance at the East Asia Summit which was held in Malaysia in 2015. 
4. That time the alliance leadership set the goal of ensuring that the Region becomes free of malaria by 2030.
5. In 2020, around 116 districts in India reported zero malaria cases.

Source – PIB