Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 23 January 2021

::NATIONAL::

Question Hour and Zero hour which had been suspended by government during monsoon session, will resumewhen Parliament meets for budget session (January 29).
Question Hour is first hour of a sitting. It is during this MPs ask questions to ministers and hold themaccountable for functioning of their ministries.
Different types of questions are: Starred Questions; Unstarred Questions; Short Notice Questions;Questions to Private Members.
Zero hour is the time immediately following the Question Hour where MPs can raise matters without prior notice.
It does not find mention in the rules of procedure.

The Union Minister of Tribal Affairs launched “ShramShakti”, a National Migration Support Portal at a programme held at Panjim, Goa.

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It would effectively help in the smooth formulation of state and national level programs for migrant workers.
The tribal migration repository, ShramShakti would be able to successful able to address the data gap and empower migrant workers who generally migrate in search of employment and income generation.
The various data that will be recorded via Shram Shakti include demographic profile, livelihood options, skill mapping and migration pattern.

The President of the United States Joe Biden signed a series of executive orders to begin his administration, including a decision to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and a mask mandate for all federal buildings.
The orders included keeping the United States in the World Health Organization, ending the ban on inscriptions from Muslim majority countries, Strengthening environmental protection and strengthening the fight against Covid-19.
This also among the directives was the construction of the wall at the border between the United States and Mexico, and efforts to expand diversity and equality for minority groups in the federal government.
The orders aimed to reverse the decisions of its predecessor, Donald Trump, and establish a clear policy path for Biden's new administration, just hours after he was sworn in as president.

US has decided to revisit the designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels as terrorists and end support to thedevastating Saudi offensive against them.
Houthi (shia) rebels emerged from Yemen's northern province Saada, bordering Saudi Arabia, and have beenlocked in a complex war with the government.
Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states had earlier began an air campaign for defeating the Houthis, andending Iranian influence in Yemen.

The government has given approval to drug firms includingAurobindo Pharma and Karnataka Antibiotics & Pharmaceuticals under the PLI scheme for promotion of domestic manufacturing of critical bulk drugs.

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The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme aims at promotion of manufacturing of critical key starting materials (KSMs)/drug intermediates and APIs in the country.
The setting up of plants under the scheme will lead to total committed investment of Rs. 3,761 crore by the companies and employment generation for around 3,825 people.
The applications of Aurobindo Pharma (through Lyfius Pharma) have been approved for setting up plants for the production ofPenicillin G, and 7-ACA, with committed production capacity of15,000 MT and2,000 MT, respectively. The committed investment for Penicillin G is Rs. 1,392 crore, and for 7-ACA isRs. 813 crore.
The approval has also been given to Aurobindo Pharma (through Qule Pharma) for setting up plant for production ofErythromycin Thiocyanate (TIOC), with committed production capacity of1,600 MT at a committed investment of Rs. 834 crore.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in India will establish a laboratory for quantum computing applications in the country, in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), to accelerate research and development of quantum computing and enable new discoveries.

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an Amazon subsidiary providing cloud computing platforms on demand and APIs to individuals, companies and governments, in a payment basis. as you-go measured
The laboratory will provide quantum computing as a service to state ministries and departments, researchers, scientists, university and developers, to allow progress in areas such as manufacturing, medical care, agriculture, and aerospace engineer.
AWS will provide technical and programmatic support for Lab.
The laboratory is the world's first quantum computing application laboratory on AWS to support the national government's mission to drive innovation.