April 1st Week 2021 Current Affairs Online Test English

Explanation:

• ‘Hola Mohalla’ is a festival celebrated annually in Punjab’s Anandpur Sahib by the people from the Sikh community. The festival is usually celebrated on the second day of lunar month of Chet, which will follow the day of Holi festival.
• This year, the ‘Hola Mohalla’ festival fell on March 10. It is celebrated to symbolise martial bravery and fighting prowess with music.

Explanation

• World Development Report 2021 has been released with the theme of ‘Data for Better Lives’. This is the first World Development Report which focused solely on the role of data for development.
• As the COVID pandemic made the global data inequalities even greater, the report speaks on how do we tap the full value of data, to ensure equitable access for poor people.

Explanation

• For the year 2021, the chairmanship of BRICS is vested with India. India has commenced its chairship with the inauguration of 3–day–long Sherpas’ meeting. The meeting was chaired by Secretary (CPV & OIA) of Ministry of External Affairs. During the meet, India introduced to the member countries its themes and priorities for the year 2021.

Explanation

• The Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju announced in Rajya Sabha that the ‘Khelo India Scheme’ has been extended from 2021–22 to 2025–26. An amount of Rs 8750 crore has been estimated for implemetation of the new Khelo India Scheme. This data has also been provided to the Ministry of Finance by the Sports Ministry. Rs 657.71 crore has been allocated in the Budget for 2021–22 under the Khelo India Scheme.

Explanation

• Report from State Bank of India’s research team underlined that duration of the second covid–19 wave in India might last up to 100 days. The report was authored by Chief Economic Adviser of Bank, Soumya Kanti Ghosh.
• The report also said that, localised lockdowns or restrictions have not resulted in controlling spread of infection. It is visible in case of states like Maharashtra and Punjab. So, it suggests that, Lockdown is ineffective and vaccination is the only cure.

Explanation

• A recent study with researchers from India and Brazil published a research article entitled “Large–scale connection to Deadly Indian Heatwaves.” As per the study, the heat waves during the summer season of April and May could be due to the significant warming up of the Arctic region. They state that the Indian heat waves occur due to a mechanism called “Quasi–Resonant Amplification (QRA).

Explanation

• The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced a competency–based assessment framework for classes 6–10 based on the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• The assessment aims to improve the overall learning outcomes of students mainly covering three subjects namely English (reading), Science, and Maths. British Council along with AlphaPlus as the UK knowledge partner, designed and developed this framework.

Explanation

Russia’s lower house of parliament the State Duma has recently approved a bill, to enable its incumbent President Vladimir Putin to run for two more terms starting from 2024. The draft law on elections was approved following the constitutional amendments adopted in a nationwide referendum in July 2020. The bill grants Putin the possibility of holding the office for two more terms until 2036.

Explanation

• The parliament of the New Zealand has recently passed legislation giving mothers and their partners the right to paid leave following a miscarriage or still birth. It has become only the second country in the world to pass the law, after India. One in four New Zealand women experienced a miscarriage. This law will give employees three days leave when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth.

Explanation

• India has announced 200,000 doses of COVID–19 vaccines as a gift to the UN peacekeepers. It will be sent on March 27 and will be distributed to the peacekeeping missions. With this, it will be possible to administer the double doses of COVID–19 vaccines to all 85,782 UN peacekeepers serving in 12 peacekeeping operations across the world.

Explanation

• “World Economic Outlook” is the annual flagship report released by the International Monetary Fund. This year, the report is to be released on April 6. The International Monetary Fund has announced that India’s economy is on the path of gradual recovery.

Explanation

• K VijayRaghavan has been given a one–year extension as the principal scientific advisor to the Government of India. As per the order issued by the Personnel Ministry, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension as the PSA for a period of one year. He provides objective advice to the Prime minister and Cabinet on matters related to science, technology and innovation.

Explanation

• A skyscraper–sized cargo ship MV Ever Given recently stuck in the Suez Canal near Suez, Egypt. As it stuck across the canal, over 150 other vessels which were to pass the waterway were waiting for the obstruction to clear. Ever Given vehicle was carrying cargo between Asia and Europe. The Suez Canal is a narrow, man–made canal that divides continental Africa from the Sinai Peninsula.

Explanation

• The Maharashtra government announced that legendary singer Asha Bhosle has been selected for the Maharashtra Bhushan award for the year 2020, the State government’s highest honour. A committee chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made the decision. The award was instituted in 1996 by the State government to recognise outstanding achievements of eminent persons from the state.

Explanation

• Chairman of the fast–moving consumer goods firm Marico, Mr Harsh Mariwala has been selected as the EY Entrepreneur for 2020. Prathap Chandra Reddy, founder and executive chairman of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. was given the lifetime achievement award. Byju Raveendran was awarded for business transformation, while Peyush Bansal of Lenskart was awarded in the start–up category.

Explanation

• Union Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched 100+ comic books created by teachers and students of CBSE schools. The comics, which are aligned with topics of NCERT textbooks, can be accessed online on DIKSHA web portal or via the DIKSHA app on any android Smartphone. They can also be accessed through a new WhatsApp powered Chatbot. DIKSHA is a online learning portal.

Explanation

• National Science Day is being observed in India every year on 28th of February to commemorate the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’. On the same day, CV Raman announced the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930.
• The theme for National Science Day 2021 is ‘Future of Science and Technology and Innovation: Impact on Education Skills and Work.

Explanation

• GISAT–1 is India’s first agile earth observation satellite that will be placed in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. The Indian Space Research Organisation has revised the launch schedule of the geo imaging satellite GISAT–1 on board GSLV–F10 launch vehicle. The 2,268 kg satellite is expected to be launched on April 18, this year.

Explanation

• The Union Commerce Ministry laid down a four–point strategy to handle the situation of total blockage at the Suez Canal. It organised a meeting with the Ministry of ports, shipping and waterways and other stake holders. As per the government’s assessment, total backlog at the waterway will likely be cleared in a week’s time.

Explanation

• Pakistan has successfully test–fired a nuclear–capable surface–to–surface ballistic missile named Shaheen–1A. The missile has a range of 900 kilometres with sophisticated and advanced guidance system. In February, Pakistan successfully tests–fired a nuclear–capable surface–to–surface ballistic missile which can strike targets up to 290 km.

Explanation

• The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed retaliatory trade actions against India and some other countries for imposing Equalisation levy on e–commerce companies.
• In June 2020, the US initiated an investigation under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, 1974 against the taxation on the digital services or the Equalisation levy by India, Italy, Turkey, UK, Spain and Austria.

Explanation

• The International Theatre Institute (ITI) is the world’s largest performing arts organization. It was founded in 1948 by theatre and dance experts and the UNESCO. World Theatre Day is celebrated annually on March 27th by the centres of ITI and the theatre community across the world.
• On the same date in 1962, the “Theatre of Nations” season was inaugurated in Paris.

Explanation

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its new assessment recently. It highlighted the pressures faced by the two species of elephants in Africa due to poaching for ivory and human encroachment.
• It announced that the Savanna elephant was “endangered” and the much smaller, lighter forest elephant was “critically endangered”.

Explanation

• The United Kingdom is set to launch HEAL–COVID (Helping to Alleviate the Longer–term consequences of COVID–19), a national drug trial. The trials would test the selection of safe, existing drugs already available in the market on patients across the country, in order to find effective treatments. The trial aims to find drugs to reduce deaths and hospital readmissions among patients.

Explanation

• Reserve Bank of India’s former Deputy Governor Kamalesh Chandra Chakrabarty passed away recently after suffering a heart attack. He was 68 years old.
• He also served as the Chairman and Managing Director of Punjab National Bank (2007–2009) and Indian Bank (2005–2007).

Explanation

• The Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has decided to utilise the services of retired combat canines / dogs as ‘therapy dogs’. They would help early recovery of personnel undergoing medical treatment. Also, they are to be used in treatment of the soldier’s specially abled children. This is the first time in India, that retired canine elements are being used to serve the soldiers.

Explanation

• The Indo–South Korean friendship park has been constructed in New Delhi – Cantonment. It has been built to commemorate the contribution of Indian peacekeeping force during the Korean war of 1950–53. The park was jointly inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of National Defence of South Korea Suh Wook.

Explanation

• The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi is on a 2–day official visit to Bangladesh as a part of National Day celebrations in Bangladesh. He has announced the ‘Swarna Jayanti’ scholarships for the youth of Bangladesh to mark half a century ling ties between the two countries. PM has invited 50 entrepreneurs of Bangladesh to visit India and to join India’s start–up and innovation ecosystem.

Explanation

• As per the recent World Development Report by the World Bank, most countries have not implemented the open–data policy, particularly the developing economies. Only 11% low–income countries consistently made their data available with an open license.
• The percentage in lower–middle–income countries was 19%; for upper–middle–income countries is 22% and high–income countries at 44 %.

Explanation

• Norway has recently got the approval to construct what’s being claimed as the world’s first ship tunnel, to help vessels navigate the Stadhavet Sea. It is to be constructed as a mile–long 118–feet–wide tunnel, that will burrow through the Stadhavet peninsula in north–west Norway.
• This project will cost around 2.8 billion Norwegian kroner (USD 330 million) and will take between three to four years.

Explanation

• In a recent research performed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), under a contract with NASA and University of Southern California, four strains of bacteria have been discovered at the ISS. The team of Scientists also included a team from India’s University of Hyderabad. One of the strains – Methylobacterium ajmalii, is named after Ajmal Khan, a renowned Indian scientist specialised in biodiversity.

Explanation

• India has bagged the hosting rights of the Asian Football Confederation 2022 Women’s Asian Cup for the first time since 1979. All India Football Federation President Praful Patel announced that the tournament will feature 12 teams, as compared to the previous slot of eight teams.
• India will qualify to participate in the tournament directly as hosts. This event will also serve as the qualification tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Explanation

• Jal Jeevan Mission was announced on 15th August, 2019, with the aim to provide tap water supply to every rural home by 2024. The scheme has recently reached a new milestone of providing over 4 Crore rural households with tap water supply. Goa has become the first State in the country to provide 100 per cent tap water supply.

Explanation

• Earth Hour, is being held annually on the last Saturday of March across the world. This year, the Earth Hour Day was observed on March 27. The Earth hour began as a symbolic lights–out event in Sydney by WWF and partners in 2007.
• The event calls for actions to raise awareness about the importance of nature and the role people can play in global efforts for nature.

Explanation

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina has recently inaugurated the new passenger train named ‘Mithali Express’. It connects Dhaka Cantonment and New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal via Chilahati, a border railway station in Bangladesh. This is the third passenger train after Maitree Express (Dhaka–Kolkata) and Bandhan Express (Khulna–Kolkata).

Explanation

• As per the data released by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Karnataka has the highest number of vehicles which are older than 15 years are plying on roads. The number of such vehicles pan India is more than four crore vehicles and Karnataka has topped the list with 70 lakh vehicles.

Explanation

• According to the Central Information Commission’s annual report, the Centre has only rejected 4.3% of all Right to Information (RTI) requests in 2019–20. Almost 40% of these rejections did not include any valid reason and did not come under the permissible exemption clauses in the RTI Act.
• 90% of rejections were done by the Prime Minister’s Office. Home Ministry had the highest rate of rejections, at 20% of all RTIs received.

Explanation

• India is set to participate in a joint Military Exercise with Bangladesh. The exercise is named “Shantir Ogroshena –2021” and would commence in Bangladesh from 4th April 2021.
• This is a nine–day exercise between the two armies, and the start date of the exercise marks to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh Father of the Nation – Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Explanation

• Special forces of India carried out a joint military exercise with the US Special forces at Bakloh in Himachal Pradesh.
• The 11th edition of the joint special forces exercise ‘Vajra Prahar 2021’ was held with an aim to share the best practices and experiences in joint mission planning and operational tactics. In February 2021, the Armies of both the countries carried out ‘Exercise Yudh Abhyas’.

Explanation

• Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal recently inaugurated “Anandam: The Center for Happiness” at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Jammu virtually. The Center aims to help people overcome mental stress and help spread positivity.
• The prime objectives will be divided into five broad categories: Counselling, Holistic wellness, Elective courses on Happiness Development, Research and Leadership & Faculty Development.

Explanation

• The Oxford group has selected ‘Aatmanirbharta’ as the Oxford Hindi word of 2020. In Hindi language, it means self–reliance. Previous Hindi words of the year selected by Oxford are ‘Aadhar’ (2017), ‘Nari Shakti’ (2018) and ‘Samvidhaan’ (2019).
• Following the prime minister’s address, there was a significant increase in the usage of ‘aatmanirbharta’ following the Prime minister’s address.

Explanation

• The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) released a report titled Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021. As per the report, India is estimated to record an economic growth of 7% in 2021–22.

Explanation

• The Supreme Court appointed a four–member committee to study the three new controversial agricultural laws in January 2021.
• It had temporarily suspended the implementation of the three farm laws until further notice. The members include P. K. Mishra, Anil Ghanwat, Ashok Gulati and Bhupinder Singh Mann. The panel has submitted its report to the Supreme Court recently.

Explanation

• The Economic Affairs Secretary announced that the inflation target for the period April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2026 under the Reserve Bank of India Act 1934 has been kept at 4 percent with a margin of 2 percent on either side. This is the same target mandated to the RBI by the Government in the previous five years (2016–21).
• RBI was to maintain annual inflation at 4% until March 31, 2021 with an upper tolerance of 6% and a lower tolerance of 2%.

Explanation

• World Bank has recently released a report titled “South Asia Vaccinates”. It highlighted that private consumption and public investment will make the Indian economy grow by 10.1% in 2021–22 (FY22). It also estimated that on account of uncertainty caused by the COVID–19 pandemic, it said India’s economic growth in FY22 will be in the range from 7.5% to 12.5%. It also forecasts that the Indian economy to contract by 8.5% in FY21.

Explanation

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog has launched AIM–PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations, Market–Readiness & Entrepreneurship). It aims to promote and support science–based start–ups & ventures across India. AIM has partnered with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to launch this program.
• It will be implemented by Venture Center – a non–profit technology business incubator.

Explanation

• The Lakhta Centre, which is located in St. Petersburg of Russia, has been awarded with the Emporis Skyscraper award 2019. This is the most prestigious award given to high rise architecture. This building is 462 m tall. Russia has for the first time bagged this award since inception of this award 20 years ago.

Explanation

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has recently released the Global Gender Gap Report 2021. India has been ranked at 140th place among 156 countries. In last year’s report, India ranked 112 and, in this year, India has fallen back 28 spots. The report has stated that India had so far closed 62.5% of its gender gap. It noted that most of the decline was seen on the Political Empowerment sub–index.

Explanation

• The Government of India had signed the India–Mauritius Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) on 22nd Feb, 2021. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs has notified that all the legal formalities pertaining to the CCEA has been completed and the agreement has come into force on 1st April 2021.

Explanation

• The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has written the new version of Exam Warriors. It contains many new mantras for students and for parents to cope with the anxiety & stress caused during examinations. This is available in leading retail stores as well as in online stores. The Exam Warriors module is also made available on the NaMo App.