April 4th Week 2021 Current Affairs Online Test English

Explanation

• The Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) was enacted in 1968, to maintain certain essential services and the normal life of the community. The Act includes a list of essential services in its charter. After the rapid increase in Covid–19 cases, the Chhattisgarh Government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
• The refusal to work in essential services has been prohibited. It includes health workers, sanitation workers, workers in water and power supply services etc.

Explanation

• The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), announced some new initiatives to raise awareness of the IPv6 protocol in India. The Department of Telecom (DoT) had, in February last year, mandated all government organizations to transition to IPv6 by March 2020.
• NIXI launched an expert panel called IP Guru to support transition to IPv6 systems. NIXI is also creating an education platform for IPv6, called NIXI Academy and a NISI IP–Index.

Explanation

• The Benin Bronzes are a group of over a thousand metal plaques and sculptures located in the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin. The Benin city is situated in modern–day southern Nigeria. It was famous for its skilled artisans that produced works of huge historic and cultural importance.
• In 1897, the British soldiers plundered Benin City, stealing a set of metal sculptures. Recently, UK accepted that the objects will be supplied by their current European custodians, initially on loan for three years.

Explanation

• The Indian Navy deployed its specialised diving support, INS Nireekshak for the search and rescue of the missing fishermen, off the Mangalore coast. Recently, nine fishermen of a Kerala–registered mechanised fishing boat went missing.
• On account of this issue, the Indian Navy is carrying out deep–sea diving operations using specialised equipment and naval divers.

Explanation

• As per a recent study, MK–4482, an experimental antiviral drug, is said to have decreased levels of virus in the lungs of hamsters treated for SARS–CoV–2 infection.
• The scientists from the US National Institutes of Health published the study in the journal Nature Communications. MK–4482 is now in human clinical trials, and is delivered orally. These data suggest that MK–4482 treatment could mitigate high–risk exposures to the corona virus.

Explanation

• Scientists have recently found that the Indian jumping ant can shrink its brain by nearly 20 percent to prepare its body for reproduction. As per the study, the ant can again increase its brain size over the following weeks. The Indian jumping ant is the first insect known to be capable of both increasing and decreasing its brain size.
• There are other insects including the honey bee which can increase their brain size.

Explanation

• The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has hosted the 40th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (40–ISEA). The expedition has successfully returned to Cape Town on April 10, 2021.
• The team returned after completing a journey of about 12 thousand nautical miles in just 94 days. The 40–ISEA was onboard the chartered ice–class vessel ‘MV Vasiliy Golovnin’. This achievement concludes four successful decades of India’s scientific endeavour in Antarctica.

Explanation

• Russia has unveiled a new series of space Lunar missions. The first of those missions, named as “Luna 25”, is scheduled to launch this October. The country had a 45–year drought of moon landings.
• The lander has been designed to study the ice permanently frozen below the moon’s surface. The scientists will also evaluate the dangers posed by sharp fragments of lunar dust.

Explanation

• Every year April 18 is celebrated as World Heritage Day or the International Day for Monuments and Sites. This year, the theme of the World Heritage Day is “Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures”.
• In India, Tourism and Culture Minister has inaugurated the first–ever online exhibition on Ramayana. The online exhibition showcases 49 miniature paintings collections of National Museum, New Delhi.

Explanation

• Israel and Greece have signed their biggest ever defence procurement deal.
• It includes a USD 1.65 bn contract for establishment and operation of a training centre for the Hellenic Air Force by Israeli defence contractor. This deal is expected to strengthen political and economic ties between the countries. The Air Forces of the two countries also launched a joint exercise.

Explanation

• Hypoxia is a condition in which the human body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply at the tissue level. This condition gets repeated in a COVID–19 patient due to the virus infection.
• Amid a massive shortage of oxygen cylinders in the country due to raise in coronavirus cases, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental oxygen delivery system. It saves a person from sinking into a state of Hypoxia.

Explanation

• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India and GIZ GmbH India on behalf of the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety signed an agreement on Technical Cooperation titled ‘Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment’.
• The project’s outcomes are completely in line with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission–Urban focusing on sustainable solid waste management and the target to phase out single use plastic by 2022.

Explanation

• The Gujarat Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) has ruled that Flavoured milk is ‘beverage containing milk’ and will attract 12 per cent GST. Gujarat Co–operative Milk Marketing Federation, which markets dairy product under Amul brand, had approached the AAR on the taxability under the GST of flavoured milk.

Explanation

• Indian Navy’s first unit of the indigenously–built Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mk III, Indian Naval Air Squadron 323 (INAS 323), was commissioned at INS Hansa, Goa.
• The Mk III version of the ALH will be used for Search and Rescue, Special Operations and Coastal Surveillance. The squadron will operate three ALH Mk III helicopters, a multi–role chopper with the Shakti engine manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

Explanation

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) announced that Sivasubramanian Ramann has taken charge as Chairman and Managing Director of the bank. The appointment is for a period of three years. Prior to this appointment, Ramann was serving as MD and CEO of National E–Governance Services Ltd (NeSL).
• He has also held the position of Executive Director in Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Explanation

• World liver day is observed on every 19 April every year across the world, to spread awareness about liver related diseases.
• The liver is the second largest organ of the human body and an important part of the digestive system. It is second only to the skin, the largest organ. In 2018, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched National Viral Hepatitis Control Program, which aims to prevent and control viral hepatitis in India.

Explanation

• World Press Freedom Index 2021 is published by the international journalism not–for profit body, Reporters Without Borders (RSF). India is ranked 142, same as last year among the 180 countries and the index is topped by Norway followed by Finland and Denmark.
• India is regarded among the countries classified “bad” for journalism and is termed as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their jobs properly.

Explanation

• The Government of India has recently extended the insurance scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers for a period of one year. This insurance scheme convers loss of life due to COVID 19 and accidental death due to COVID related duty. A sum of Rs. 50 lakhs would be paid to the claimant of insured person.

Explanation

• The Startup India Seed Fund has been officially unveiled by the Union Minister for commerce Piyush Goyal. A sum of Rs.945 crore is allocated for the fund and is expected to benefit more than 3600 startups in the country. Also, it is expected to boost the start–up ecosystem in tier–2 and 3 cities.

Explanation

• The state government of Andhra Pradesh is implementing a scheme named Jagananna Vidya Deevena scheme, under which financial assistance is given to students for pursuing higher education. Recently, the Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy released the 1st instalment of education fee reimbursement under the scheme to the bank accounts of 10.88 lakh mothers.

Explanation

• The International Energy Agency, which is headquartered in Paris (France) has recently released a report, which states that energy related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions across the globe have risen by about 1.5 billion tonnes in the year 2021. This is considered to be the largest increase in carbon emission since the year 2010.

Explanation

• The United Nation’s ‘State of the Global Climate report has been released for the year 2020.
• The report has stated that Cyclone Amphan that made landfall in the India–Bangladesh border last year, was the costliest tropical cyclone on record for the North Indian Ocean. It has led to economic losses amounting $14 billion to the affected nations.

Explanation

• The World Economic Forum has recently released the global ‘Energy Transition Index’. The index ranks 115 economies on the current performance of their energy systems and their readiness for transition to secure and sustainable energy systems.
• India has moved up two positions to rank 74th from previous year, and has improved on all key parameters. Sweden has topped the Energy Transition Index (ETI) for the third consecutive year. Switzerland and Finland were ranked in the next two positions.

Explanation

• April 22 is observed as the Earth Day throughout the world. It is an international event celebrated around the world to support for environmental protection. This year marks the 51st anniversary of the annual celebrations. The theme for Earth Day 2021 is ‘Restore Our Earth’. 
• The United Nations designated April 22 as ‘International Mother Earth Day’.

Explanation

• The S&P Global Ratings in its report on Asia–Pacific Financial Institutions, highlighted that the Indian economy is projected to grow at 11% in the current fiscal year. The agency also revealed that some more targeted lockdowns will likely be needed and the impact of broader lockdowns on the economy could be substantial. As per official estimates, the Indian economy contracted 8% in 2020–21 fiscal.

Explanation

• The Indian Institute of Technology – Kharagpur has commercialized its healthcare product COVIRAP. This is a diagnostic technology to zero on Covid infections. Using this technology, the COVID test results can be obtained within 45 minutes of sampling and the results can be seen using a smartphone application.

Explanation

• Every year April 10th is observed as World Homeopathy Day. The theme of this year’s World Homeopathy Day is selected as “Homeopathy– Roadmap for Integrative Medicine”. This day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the father of the Homeopathy system of medicines.

Explanation

• The National Panchayat Raj Day is celebrated every year in India on April 24 by the Ministry of Panchayat Raj. On this day, in 1993, the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 came into force that has institutionalized Panchayat Raj through the village, Intermediate and District level Panchayats.

Explanation

• The World Book and Copyright Day is observed every year on April 23 to raise public awareness of books and reading and pay tribute to authors in the book industry, professionals or volunteers. The day is being organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing and copyright. It is a symbolic date for world literature.
• In 1616, on this date, Miguel de Cervantes, William Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega died. The day is also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Days. Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, has been designated as the UNESCO World Book Capital – 2021.

Explanation

• The World Malaria Day for the year 2021 was observed on 25th April this year. The theme for this year’s World Malaria Day was “Reaching the zero–malaria target”.
• As per a WHO Report 2019, India represents 3% of the global malaria burden and it has registered a reduction in malaria cases by 49% and reduction in deaths by 50.5% compared with 2017 levels.

Explanation

• World Intellectual Property Day is observed annually on 26 April.The event was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2000 to “raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life” and “to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe”. The theme for this year’s World Intellectual Property Day is “IP and SMEs: Taking your ideas to market”.

Explanation

• NASA’s Perseverance mission has extracted oxygen on the Mars planet, using its MOXIE (i.e) Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment. MOXIE has produced 5 grams of oxygen from carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere, which is enough for an astronaut to breathe for 10 minutes.
• On Mars, carbon dioxide makes up 96% of the gas in its atmosphere while Oxygen is only 0.13%. MOXIE intakes CO2 and produces O2 from it.

Explanation

• The International Energy Agency (IEA) in its recent report has stated that the carbon di oxide (CO2) emissions in India for the year 2021 would be 1.4% more that that in the year 2020 (i.e) 30 million tonnes more than the year 2020. Also, the report has stated that the expected rise in coal-based electricity generation would be 3 times more than the generation from other sources.

Explanation

• The Government of Delhi has formed a 24-member oxygen audit committee, in wake of the acute shortage of medical oxygen in hospitals across Delhi. The committee would be monitoring the oxygen stocks and their consumption continuously. It would also ensure that the utilization of oxygen is rational and optimal.

Explanation

• The American Space Agency – NASA has recently launched a mission named – SHIELDS (Spatial Heterodyne Interferometric Emission Line Dynamics Spectrometer). This mission aims to study light from interstellar particles which have drifted into the solar system.
• The mission was launched using a NASA black Brant IX sounding rocket from Mexico.

Explanation

• The Indian Navy has recently joined the rescue operation for an Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala-402 and its 53-member crew that went missing.
• After its 44-year-old submarine went missing while conducting a torpedo drill north of the island of Bali, Indonesia had sought assistance from India. Indian Navy’s Deep-Submergence Rescue Vessel left from Visakhapatnam as a part of the rescue operation.

Explanation

• During the virtual summit on climate change convened by US President Joe Biden, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and the US are launching an “Agenda 2030” partnership on green collaborations. “India–US Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership”, aims to implement actions at high speed and on a large scale globally, to combat climate change.
• The summit was attended by various country leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin etc.

Explanation

• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) GC Murmu has been selected as the external auditor of Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). He would serve the position for a term of three years. His term as an external auditor commences from the year 2021.
• OPCW is an intergovernmental organisation and the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, which is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands.

Explanation

• The Indian Government has decided to resume providing free food grains to the poor in May and June. The 5–kg additional food grains to PDS beneficiaries are to be provided under the PMGKAY for two months – May and June. But this time, pulses are not being provided to the poor. PMGKAY was announced to help poor people tackle the pandemic.

Explanation

• Every year, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) celebrates the fourth Thursday of April as the International Girls in ICT Day. This year, 22nd April marked the 10th Anniversary of the day and was observed with the theme Connected Girls; Creating Brighter Futures.” 
• The International Telecommunication Union is an UN specialized agency and is headquartered in Geneva.

Explanation

• Japan is set to hold its first joint military drill with the US and French troops, amidst the increased actions of China in the regional waters. The exercise would be held from May 11 to 17 and will be the first large–scale exercise in Japan involving ground troops from all three countries. The exercise also would deepen the Defence cooperation between the three countries.

Explanation

• The United States President Joe Biden unveiled the “US International Climate Finance Plan”. He announced that the country would double public climate finance to help poor countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The new climate finance plan has been released in lines with a new goal to cut emissions by 50%–52% from 2005 levels.

Explanation

• Non–bank finance companies both local and global, are allowed to start operations in Gujarat’s GIFT City, by the International Financial Services Centre. They will be allowed to offer the complete range of financial services including loans, investment banking & 3rd party product sales.

Explanation

• The United States of America (USA) has joined Leadership Group for Industry Transition “LeadIT” – which is a climate initiative by India and Sweden. With USA joining the LeadIT, it is expected that the partnership would help meet Paris Agreement goals, strengthen competitiveness and create new sustainable jobs in all the three countries.

Explanation

• As per a statement by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority), the export of processed food by India has increased by 26.51 per cent during April–February 2020–21. By value, the increase stood at Rs.43,798 crore. This increase has been achieved despite COVID 19 pandemic prevailing throughout the world.

Explanation

• Microsoft and Met Office (UK) have joined hands to build the world’s most powerful supercomputer to forecast weather and climate–change. The supercomputer, which is likely to be operational in 2022, will provide accurate warnings on severe weather and help protect from impact of extreme storms, floods and snow in the country.

Explanation

• In the 12th Barcelona Open tournament, Spanish professional tennis player Rafael Nadal clinched the title. This victory marks his 87th title. He defeated his opponent Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, who is also one among the top ten international players.
• The final match played between Nadal and Tsitsipas is considered to be longest ATP match in the year 2021.

Explanation

• VARUNA is a multilateral Naval Exercise between India and France. The 19th edition of the bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA–2021’ concluded on 27th April 2021. Conducted in the Arabian Sea, the exercise included advanced air defence and anti–submarine programmes, intense flying operations, surface and anti–air weapon firings and other maritime security operations.

Explanation

• As per the Sero survey conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the recurrence of coronavirus outbreak in March could be due to lack of meaningful antibodies in seropositive people after a peak in September 2020. The CSIR conducted a sero–survey on 10,427 people from 17 states and two union territories. The average sero positivity was 10.14 per cent, among the sample people.

Explanation

• The “World Immunization Week” is observed every year in the last week of April. It aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. This year, the theme of the week is ‘Vaccines bring us closer’. Google also created a Doodle to thank the health workers on the onset of the World Immunization Week 2021.