September 2nd Week 2021 Current Affairs Online Test English

Explanation

• The Government set up a 12–member committee to review the existing guidelines of the Journalist Welfare Scheme (JWS). The committee is headed by Prasar Bharti Board member Ashok Tandon. The committee will examine the need for revision of the amount of ex–gratia payment in death as well as other cases under the JWS.

Explanation

• India’s Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of External Affairs is organising BRICS Film Technologies Symposium on 1–2 September. The symposium has been conducted in collaboration with FICCI in virtual format.
• India is organising the first ever BRICS Film Technology Symposium as a part of the special event planned before BRICS summit to be held in India. The focus of the BRICS Film Tech symposium is to acknowledge the service sector and technicians working for the film industry.

Explanation

• The C.1.2 variant of the Coronavirus disease was first reported from South Africa. The variant has now spread to at least six countries, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
• As per the Indian Government, India has no cases of the new C.1.2 coronavirus disease (COVID–19) variant detected so far. The public health body of the United Nations announced that it was monitoring the new C.1.2 virus strain.

Explanation

• The United States used a special missile in its drone strikes in Afghanistan that does not explode but releases knife–like blades. The US drone strikes were carried out using the Hellfire missile. There are various variants of the Hellfire missile.
• The R9–X is also called the ‘Ninja’ bomb. It weighs about 45 kg and the missile can also be launched from helicopters, aircraft and Humvees. The range of these missiles varies from 500 metres to 11 km.

Explanation

• King of Malaysia has appointed Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the prime minister of the country on August 20, 2021. Ismail Sabri Yaakob replaced Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister.
• Yassin stepped down as he lost the majority in parliament as he failed to effectively manage public health system. Ismail Sabri was earlier Muhyiddin’s deputy. Ismail Sabri secured majority support of 114 out of 222 members in Parliament.

Explanation

• State Bank of India (SBI) has opened an ATM on a Houseboat at Dal Lake, Srinagar for the convenience of locals and tourists. The floating ATM was inaugurated by the SBI Chairman Dinesh Khare. SBI had launched the first floating ATM in Kerala in 2004. This floating ATM of SBI was installed in Jhankar yacht owned by Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC).

Explanation

• Exercise Bright Star is a multinational military exercise, held once in two years at Egypt. This year’s exercise would witness participation from 21 countries including the USA. The first such exercises were held in the year 1980 after signing of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. The last Bright Star exercise was conducted in 2018, with 16 participating nations.

Explanation

• The State Government of Chhattisgarh has implemented the scheme named ‘Patrakar Kalyan Kosh’. Under this scheme, the families of journalists who lost their lives in COVID, would be provided with financial assistance. Further, under this scheme, a sum of Rs 2 lakh would be given to journalists for treatment of COVID disease.
• The state has also decided to increase the monthly pension to senior journalist from Rs.5000 to Rs.10,000, under the Senior Journalist Samman Nidhi scheme.

Explanation

• The Legislative Assembly of Odisha has passed the University of Health Sciences Bill 2021, recently. This bill seeks to bring all the medical and paramedical institutions of the state under a single University of Health Sciences.
• Presently, various medical and paramedical institutions of the state are affiliated to different universities. This bill has been passed amidst strict opposition from various fronts. 

Explanation

• Philanippon 2021 is the World Stamp Exhibition, held recently in Tokyo, Japan. This event is held every 10 years in Japan since 1971, to mark the founding of Postal service in Japan. This year marked the 150th year anniversary of Japan’s postal service.

Explanation

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released the Atlas of Mortality and Economic Losses from Weather, Climate and Water Extremes (1970–2019).
• As per the report, every third death (35%) from extreme weather, climate or water stress in half a century was in Africa. The African continent accounts for only 17% of global population. Four droughts (1973 and 1983 in Ethiopia, 1981 in Mozambique and 1983 in Sudan) were responsible for 89 per cent of the total deaths in Africa from weather, climate and water extremes in the last 50 years. Almost 99% of all reported deaths occurred in low–to–lower–middle–income countries in Africa.

Explanation

• The Department of School Education & Literacy has decided to celebrate Shikshak Parv–2021 from 5th September till 17th September 2021. President Ram Nath Kovind will confer the awards to 44 Awardees, on 5th September, 2021 through virtual mode. The National Awards to Teachers were first instituted in 1958 to recognize excellence and commitment of teachers working in elementary and secondary schools.

Explanation

• Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) is an annual meet held in Vladivostok, Russia. It aims to encourage foreign investments in Russia’s resource–rich but underdeveloped Far East regions. In 2019, PM Modi had announced a $1–billion line of credit for the Far East.
• The proposed Chennai–Vladivostok maritime corridor will promote tbe bilateral relationships together. Mazagon Docks Limited will partner with the Russian ship–building facility at Zvezda to build important commercial ships. India and Russia are partners in space exploration through the Gaganyaan programme.

Explanation

• World–Wide Fund for Nature–India (WWF India) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have joined hands to develop a platform to promote a circular system for plastics. The new platform is called, the ‘India Plastic Pact,’. India generates 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, of which 40 percent is not collected.
• About half of all plastics produced in the country are used in packaging, most of it is single use in nature. The pact has time–bound targets for reducing, innovating and re–imagining plastic packaging.

Explanation

• The Union Territory of Ladakh has officially adopted snow leopard and black–necked crane as its state animals. These two species are endangered. The Black–necked cranes are endemic to the UT while the snow leopards are largely found in this region.
• As per IUCN, Black–necked crane is “Nearly Endangered” while snow leopard is placed in “vulnerable” category. The black–necked crane was the state bird of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir till August 2019.

Explanation

• At the 11th India–UK Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD), the Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak met virtually. They signed a USD 1.2–billion package of public and private investment in green projects and renewable energy.

Explanation

• India’s first satellite and ballistic missile tracking ship named ‘Dhruv’ is set to be commissioned from Visakhapatnam. The ship is built by Hindustan Shipyard in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO). INS Dhruv can also map ocean beds for research and detection of enemy submarines.

Explanation

• Indian Navy’s Offshore Patrol Vessel INS Savitri arrived Chattogram harbour, Bangladesh, carrying two 960 LPM (Litres Per Minute) Medical Oxygen Plants (MOP) to support the ongoing efforts of the Bangladesh in tackling Covid–19. The MOPs were developed and manufactured by DRDO in India. The ship is also scheduled to participate in a Maritime Partnership Exercise with BN ship on departure from the Chattogram port.

Explanation

• Suhas L Yathiraj, Noida District Magistrate, created history as the first–ever IAS officer to win a medal at the Paralympics. He defeated Fredy Setiawan of Indonesia in his men’s singles SL4–Group A.
• In 2016, he participated in the Asian Championship in Beijing and became the first non–ranked player to win the gold medal. He has earlier won many medals at BWF Turkish championship in 2017 and 2019. He also won a gold medal in Brazil in 2020.

Explanation

• A team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have jointly developed a modular device to cultivate microorganisms in space. The device uses LED and photodiode sensor combination to track micro–organism and bacteria growth. This device would be used by astronauts to carry out biological experiments in outer space during mission ‘Gaganyaan’ which is India’s first crewed spacecraft.

Explanation

• The Government of India would sign a tripartite “Karbi Peace Accord” between the Union Government, Government of Assam and representatives of Karbi outfits. The Karbis are one of the major ethnic communities in the north eastern India, especially in Assam.
• Assam has a long history of violent activities by Karbis since the 1980s. Recently, 1,040 terrorists of five insurgent groups of this group have laid down arms at an event in Guwahati and have surrendered.

Explanation

• The Government of Gujarat has launched a scheme named ‘Vatan Prem Yojana’, under which NRI Gujaratis who are willing to donate for development of their native village, would get financial support from the state government. Under this scheme, the government encourages donations for development of social infrastructure like schools, drainage, sports complex etc in rural areas.

Explanation

• Slovenia currently holds the presidency of the Council of the European Union. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Slovenian President Borut Pahor and discussed the challenges facing India and the European Union.
• The Minister is set to visit Slovenia, Croatia and Denmark to boost bilateral ties and strengthen India’s cooperation with the EU. Slovenia has invited Jaishankar to attend the informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the EU states. Jaishankar will also attend the Bled Strategic Forum (BSF) being held in Slovenia.

Explanation

• Nigeria Central Bank announced plans to launch its own digital currency named the “eNaira”. The Central Bank will work with Bitt Inc as a technical partner to launch its own cryptocurrency.
• eNaira would operate as a wallet against which customers can hold existing funds in their bank account.

Explanation

• KAZIND–21 is the India – Kazakhstan joint military exercise, which is held in Kazakhstan. This year’s KAZIND is the 5th annual bilateral joint exercise between the two armies. India is represented by a contingent of 90 soldiers and Kazakhstan is represented by 120 troops. This exercise comprises 48 hours joint validation exercise.

Explanation

• The Tamil Nadu government has decided to celebrate every year the birth anniversary of reformist leader E. V. Ramasamy Periyar on September 17 as Social Justice Day.
• Periyar (September 17, 1879–December 24, 1973) was instrumental in the enactment of the first Constitutional Amendment Act (that safeguarded reservation for backward classes).

Explanation

• Karnataka has decided to ban online gambling or betting, and to amend the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. The ban does not include lottery or betting on horse races as mentioned by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy. This decision was undertaken after the Karnataka High Court repeatedly asked the State Government to take a stand on online betting.

Explanation

• According to the Ladakh Resident Certificate Order 2021 passed on September 4, 2021, the Ladakh administration has decided to issue “Resident Certificate” only to Permanent Resident Certificate holders of the region unlike J&K, where new domicile laws allowed outsiders too to apply for jobs, land and other facilities.

Explanation

• Writer Namita Gokhale has been awarded the 7th Yamin Hazarika Woman of Substance Award. She was conferred upon the honour recently in a virtual ceremony.
• Organised by a collective of women professionals from the year 2015, the annual award honours Yamin Hazarika, the first woman from Northeast India to be selected for DANIPS, a federal police service that administered Delhi and the Union Territories in 1977.  

Explanation

• Indian biologist Shailendra Singh has been awarded the Behler Turtle Conservation Award for bringing three critically endangered turtle conservation species back from the brink of extinction.
• The award has been bestowed by several global bodies involved in turtle conservation such as Turtle Survival Alliance, IUCN/SSC Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group, Turtle Conservancy, and the Turtle Conservation Fund.

Explanation

• In a survey conducted by ‘the Morning Consult’, the Indian Prime Minister has obtained an approval rating of 70 percent.
• The survey calculates the approval and disapproval rating of global leaders, based on a 7–day moving average of adults in each country, which is analysed by online interviews. Indian PM’s approval rating is highest among 13 global leaders polled in the survey and is ahead of the heads of Mexico, Italy, Germany, UK etc.

Explanation

• The National Resistance Front (NRF) has been demonstrating stiff resistance against the Taliban forces at Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan. The NRF have called for a ceasefire and have proposed that Taliban stop its military operations in Panjshir. Although the major parts of Afghanistan including the capital city have been taken in Taliban’s control, the Panjshir Valley is yet to be taken control by Talibans.

Explanation

• At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, the Indian contingent finished with a total of 19 medals which includes 5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze medals. Out of the total 162 countries, India was ranked at 24th position and 20th in terms of number of medals.
• This year, India had sent the largest contingent of 54 para–athletes, who participated in 9 sporting disciplines.

Explanation

• Every year, 5th September is observed as the International Day of Charity. This day was so chosen, in memory of the death anniversary of Mother Teresa. This day aims to bridge the gap between the rich and poor and to meet the SDGs by 2030.
• The resolution in this regard was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in the year 2012, which was co–sponsored by 44 UN member nations.

Explanation

• India and Nepal have signed a MoU (memorandum of understanding), under which India would help Nepal in reconstruction of 14 cultural heritage and 103 health sector projects which were damaged during the 2015 earthquake. The total cost of these reconstruction is 420 crore Nepalese Rupees.
• This is a part of India’s post–earthquake reconstruction package, under which India has committed a total grant of USD 250 million to Nepal.

Explanation

• The 28th edition of Singapore–India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) was held at South China Sea. Due to the COVID pandemic, this year’s SIMBEX was conducted as an ‘at–sea only’ exercise without any physical intervention. SIMBEX is the Indian Navy’s oldest bilateral maritime exercise with a foreign country.

Explanation

• The National Level Exhibition and Project Competition for INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) has commended, under the aegis of Dept. of Science and Technology – Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
• The INSPIRE Awards – MANAK scheme has been launched to motivate students in the age group of 10–15 years of class 6 to 10th standards, to become future innovators. 

Explanation

• India’s Ministry of Defence has signed a project agreement with the US Department of Defence for cooperation in the development of air–launched unmanned aerial vehicle (ALUAV).
• This Project Agreement for ALUAV is under the overall framework of the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). It also includes the collaboration between Air Force Research Laboratory, Indian Air Force, and DRDO in the process of co–developing an ALUAV Prototype.

Explanation

• Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav has virtually inaugurated the first functional smog tower in India at Anand Vihar, Delhi.
• A smog tower is a structure designed as large/medium scale air purifiers to reduce air pollution, usually by forcing the air through filters. The tower has been built by Tata Projects Limited with NBCC (India) Ltd. as the project management consultant. 

Explanation

• Union environment minister, Bhupendra Yadav has launched a portal called PRANA on September 7, 2021. PRANA Portal will be used to track the progress of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in order to comply with India’s commitment to ensure clean air and blue skies to everybody. This portal was launched on the occasion of ‘International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies’ in non–attainment cities (NAC).
• Non–attainment cities are those cities that failed to meet the National air quality standards in a five–year period.

Explanation

• The Andhra Pradesh government has appointed Rajnish Kumar as its economic advisor. A former SBI chairman, Rajnish Kumar’s tenure in the cabinet rank position is for two years.

Explanation

• Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, launched the ‘Business Blasters’ programme on September 7, 2021. This programme aims at developing young entrepreneurs at the school–level by providing students seed money to start a business.
• The programme will be implemented in all Delhi government schools under the “Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum (EMC)”. Under the programme, class 11 and 12 students will be provided seed money of Rs 2,000 to start their business.

Explanation

• Union Minister of Culture Kishan Reddy Gangapuram has launched the program ‘Bujurgon ki Baat–Desh Ke Saath’ with Union MoS for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal, at IGNCA, New Delhi.
• The programme aims at enhancing the interaction between the youth and the elder persons who are 95 years and above and thus have spent around 18 years in India before independence.

Explanation

• 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is being held in Vienna on Sept 7th and 8th. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reached Vienna to attend the 5th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament by the Austrian Parliament, Inter–Parliamentary Union and the United Nations.
• The World Conference of Speakers of Parliament is held regularly every five years with the goal to reinforce the Parliamentary dimension of global governance.

Explanation

• Max Verstappen won the F1 Dutch Grand Prix for Red Bull on September 5, 2021 at Zandvoort, Netherlands followed by Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in second and third places respectively.

Explanation

• The Comptroller and Auditor General of India GC Murmu has been elected as the Chairman of the Assembly of Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) from 2024–2027 with India set to host the 16th Assembly of ASOSAI in 2024.

Explanation

• The state government of Arunachal Pradesh has launched 2 schemes named Atma Nirbhar Krishi Yojna and Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojna. AtmaNirbhar Krishi Yojna is an agri sector scheme while Atma Nirbhar Bagwani Yojna is a horticulture scheme. The government has allocated a total sum of Rs. 120 crores for these two schemes, Rs.60 crores for each of the schemes.

Explanation

• Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, has been appointed as India’s Sherpa for G20. G20 is an influential grouping which brings together the major economies of world. Next G20 Summit is scheduled to take place from October 30 to 31, 2021 under Italian Presidency. India will hold the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022 and will also convene G20 Leaders’ Summit in 2023 for the first time.

Explanation

• Union Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh and Union Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the Emergency Landing Facility on a National Highway in Rajasthan. This emergency landing facility has been constructed on the Satta–Gandhav stretch of National Highway (NH) 925A in Barmer, Rajasthan. This is the first time a National Highway will be used for emergency landing of IAF aircraft.

Explanation

• Government of India and Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $112 million loan in order to develop water supply infrastructure in the state of Jharkhand.
• The loan will also strengthen capacities of urban local bodies (ULBs) in order to improve service delivery in four towns of Jharkhand. It will ensure continuous, treated piped water supply in Ranchi and other three towns namely Jhumri Telaiya, Hussainabad, and Medininagar. These towns are located in economically and socially backward areas.