April English 2021

1 CURRENT AFFAIRS APRIL 2021
1. 22 NEW ROUTES LAUNCHED AS PART OF UDAN SCHEME

Context:
Recently the Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched 22 new routes as part of the regional
connectivity scheme.
Details:
The Ministry of Civil Aviation oversees the implementation of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam
Naagrik) Scheme.
• UDAN is a "Regional Connectivity Scheme" and a regional airport development initiative of the
Union Government.
• The objective of the scheme is to make air travel affordable for the common man.
• The scheme will also help in bolstering job growth and improving the development of air
transport infrastructure across all states and regions of India.
• As part of the scheme the central government, state government and operators of airports
offer financial incentives to airlines to promote operations from underserved and unserved
airports.
• The government has made 57 underserved and unserved airports which comprise two water
aerodromes and five heliports, and in all 347 routes operational throughout India.
• Some of the new routes inaugurated as part of the RCS are Kurnool-Bangalore, Gorakhpur-
Lucknow, Prayagraj-Bhubaneswar, Prayagraj-Bhopal, Kurnool-Chennai, Kurnool-
Visakhapatnam, Agra-Bhopal and Agra-Bangalore route.
• The scheme is a primary component of the National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) released by
the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016 and was launched in 2017.
2. INDIA CARRIES OUT JOINT EXERCISE VAJRA PRAHAR WITH THE USA
Context:
VAJRA PRAHAR is a Joint Special Forces Exercise between India and the United States of America.
Details:
• The 11th edition of the India-US Joint Special Forces Exercise for 2021 was carried out in
Himachal Pradesh at the Special Forces Training School located at Bakloh.
• The primary aim of the exercise is to share the experiences and best practices of different
fields, ranging from joint mission planning and operational tactics to enhanced interoperability
between the US and Indian Special Forces.
• The Armies of India and the United States of America also carried out ‘Exercise Yudh Abhyas’
in February in Rajasthan at the Mahajan Field Firing Range.
• The primary focus of the exercise was on counter-terrorism operations under the guidance of
the United Nations.
• The two armies carried out war games in the Thar desert with T90 Bhishma tanks deployed in
Ladakh as part of the exercise and the US Navy brigade.
• The bilateral military exercises and exchanges will help in deepening bilateral defence
cooperation between participating nations.
3. Anandam: The Center for Happiness Inaugurated in IIM Jammu

Context:
“Anandam” - The Center for Happiness was inaugurated at the Indian Institute of Management
(IIM) Jammu by the Minister of Education, Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
Details:
• The name of the centre is derived from the Indian tradition of being in pure consciousness and
bliss known as “anandam”.
• The tagline of the centre is “Sarvabhūtahiteratāḥ” which signifies engagement at all times in
the well-being of everyone. The tagline enforces the ideology of the centre.
• The Union government aims to incorporate happiness in the academic curriculum of students
and work for the well-being of all.
• The happiness centre will include and work towards imparting knowledge of the truth in the
Philosophical sense and appreciating the beauty surrounding oneself.
• The activities that will be part of the centre will be divided into five parts:
1. Elective courses on Happiness Development,
2. Counselling, Holistic wellness,
3. Research and Leadership,
4. Faculty Development, and

5. Elective courses on Happiness Development.
• The advisory board of the centre will comprise experts from the domains of academics,
research and industry.
• The happiness centre and other steps will take the education system to newer heights.
4. New Cruise service connecting Hazira port and Diu Island launched
Context:
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (Independent charge) Mansukh
Mandaviya launched a new cruise service connecting Diu Island and Hazira port on 31st March
2021.
Details:
• The service was flagged off virtually via video conference.
• The Hazira port is situated in Surat, Gujarat.
• The cruise service ship will start from Hazira every Monday and Wednesday and reach Diu the
next morning, taking a one-way travel time of 13 to 14 hours.
• The return journey of the ship will take place on the same day.
• The capacity of the passenger cruise ship will be 300 and will comprise 16 cabins.
• The cruise service will make two round trips during a week and will take the passengers to the
high-seas on Sunday, Friday and Saturday.
• The cruise ship has been updated with the latest facilities and consists of a VIP lounge, gaming
lounge and entertainment on deck.
• The government had also launched a ropax ferry service between Ghogha in Bhavnagar district
and Hazira in Surat in November 2020.
• The efforts have been taken to improve the movement of passengers from the two locations
and shorten the time taken.
5. IoT based devices to be used for monitoring Jal Jeevan Mission Implementation
Context:
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has decided to employ sensor-based devices along with the Internet
of Things to monitor the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission effectively.
Details:
• The ministry has implemented the Jal Jeevan Mission in over six lakh villages.
• The remote monitoring method based on IoT will offer near real-time information with the
use of sensors and will not require any human intervention.
• The innovative method will allow efficient management and monitoring of the scheme on-
ground.
• The method will facilitate real-time visibility of water supply in any state.
• Recently, the government has reached a new milestone under the Jal Jeevan Mission by
providing tap water to more than 4 Crore rural households.
• Under the mission, Goa has become the first state to offer a 100 % supply of tap water,
followed by the state of Telangana and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
About the Jal Jeevan Mission:
• The initiative falls under the aegis of the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission was announced on 15th August 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
6. UTKAL DIWAS
Context:
Odisha celebrates its foundation day as the Utkal Divas. This year Odisha has celebrated its 85th
foundation day of the state on April 1. This day denotes the date when the state became
independent in the year 1936.
About:
• It is also known as Utkala Dibasa or Odisha Day.
• On April 1, 1936, Odisha became India’s 1st independent state on a language basis.
• Odisha was separated from the combined Bengal-Bihar-Orissa province.
• Odisha is the 8th largest state of India by area and 11th largest by population.
Odisha:
• Odisha is formerly known as Orissa.

• It is situated in the eastern part of India on the Bay of Bengal.
• It is famous for its tribal cultures and its many ancient Hindu temples.
• Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha and is home to hundreds of temples, notably the
intricately-carved Mukteshvara.
• The 11th-century Lingaraj Temple complex is set around sacred Bindusagar Lake.
• As of 2019, Odisha has 30 districts.
• It shares its boundary with West Bengal and Jharkhand to the north, Chhattisgarh to the west,
and Andhra Pradesh to the south.
• Its coastline is 485 kilometres along the Bay of Bengal.
7. MILITARY FARMS SERVICE IS SHUT

Context:
On March 31, 2021, the Indian Army closed its Military farms after 132 years of service.
History:
• On 1 February 1889, The 1st Military Farm was established in Allahabad.
• After that, several Military Farms were set up. These farms were formed to supply hygienic
cow milk to troops in garrisons across British India.
• In the 1990s, farms were also established in Kargil and Leh.
Key Highlights:
• The farms had over 25,000 cattle and covered 20,000 acres of defence land.
• There are around 39 military farms spread across India in cities such as Srinagar, Ambala,
Kolkata, Meerut, Agra, Pathankot, Lucknow, Allahabad etc.
• These Farms are pioneers in the introduction of Artificial Insemination (AI) in cattle India.
Project Freiswal:
• “Project Freiswal” was formed under these farms in association with the Ministry of
Agriculture.
• This project is considered to be the largest cattle cross-breeding programme in the world.
Various Recommendations:
• The Quartermaster General branch had recommended their closure in 2012.
• In 2016, Lt. Gen. DB Shekatkar committee also recommended the shutdown of farms.
8. ARTICLE 244 (A)

Context:
Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader promised to implement Article 244 (A) of the Constitution in
Assam.
History:
• It was in the 1950s that a demand for a separate state rose in some parts of the tribal undivided
Assam.
• Meghalaya gained statehood in 1972 and the leaders of the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar
Hills were given the option to stay in Assam or join Meghalaya.
• But they opted for Assam as the centre promised them more powers, including Article 244 (A).
• In the 1980s, the demand for autonomy took the form of a movement.
About Article 244 (A):

• The 22nd Amendment of the Indian Constitution, officially known as The Constitution (Twenty-
second Amendment) Act, 1969, inserted a new Article 244A.
• The article empowers Parliament to enact a law for the creation of an ‘autonomous state’
within Assam in certain tribal areas.
• It also has a provision for a Council of Ministers and a Legislature.
• This provision includes the hill districts of Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, and West Karbi and the
Bodo Territorial Region of Assam.
9. WORLD’S BIGGEST UNDERWATER NEUTRINO TELESCOPE IN LAKE BAIKAL

Context:
In Lake Baikal, the scientists of Russia have launched one of the world’s biggest underwater
neutrino telescopes called the Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector).
About:
• The construction of this telescope started in 2016.
• It is inspired by the aim to study the fundamental particles called neutrinos and to find out
their sources.
• This telescope is one of the 3 largest neutrino detectors in the world along with the ANTARES
in the Mediterranean Sea and Ice Cube at the South Pole.
Lake Baikal:
• It is a rift lake situated in southern Siberia, Russia.
• It is the largest freshwater lake by volume in the world, containing 22 to 23% of the world's
fresh surface water.
• It is the world's deepest lake, with a maximum depth of 1,642 m.
• By surface area, it is the world's 7th-largest lake.
• In 1996 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
10. WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY 2021

Context:
Every year on 2nd April the World Autism Awareness Day is observed across the world. It is
observed internationally o to raise awareness about people with Autism Spectrum Disorder
(ASD) throughout the world.
Theme 2021: “Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and opportunities in a Post-Pandemic
World”.
Background:
• On 18 December 2007, it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
• This Day is one of only 7 official health-specific UN Days.
Autism:
• It is a serious developmental disorder that weakens the ability to communicate and interact.
• Autism spectrum disorder affects the nervous system and impacts the overall emotional,
social, cognitive and physical health of the affected individual.
Common symptoms:
• Includes difficulty with communication, obsessive interests, difficulty with social interactions
and repetitive behaviours.
Prevention:
• Early recognition of autism, behavioural, educational and family therapies, can reduce
symptoms.
11. KARGIL ZANSKAR ROAD

Context:
The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways has approved a 780 Crore rupees project for
up-gradation of Kargil Zanskar road.
About Kargil Zanskar Road:
• It is a 2 lane Kargil Zanskar NH 301 road sanctioned under Engineering, Procurement and
Construction (EPC) mode.
• In 2017, Zanskar- Kargil road was declared a National Highway by the Centre.
• This road from Zanskar valley connects Sankoo valley, Suru valley of Kargil Ladakh with the
Highway.
• It will help in the economic development of the remote region of Ladakh.
Zanskar:
• It is a tehsil of the Kargil district, which lies in the union territory of Ladakh.
• On NH301, it lies 250 km south of Kargil town.
• The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in Ladakh that separates Zanskar from Ladakh.
Kargil:
• It is a town in the Kargil district and Ladakh.
• It is the 2nd largest town in Ladakh after Leh.
12. SHANTIR OGROSHENA 2021

Context:
From April 04 to 12, 2021, a multinational Military Exercise named ‘SHANTIR OGROSHENA’ 2021
(Front Runner of the Peace) will be held in Bangladesh.
Theme:
The theme of the exercise is “Robust Peace Keeping Operations”.
Key Highlights:
• The exercise will be conducted to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangladesh ‘Father of
the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mark the glorious 50 years of liberation
of the country.
• Indian Army contingent consisting of 30 personnel including Officers, JCOs and Jawans of a
Battalion from the DOGRA Regiment will participate.
• The Sri Lankan Army, a contingent of the Royal Bhutan Army, and the Bangladesh Army will
also be present.
• Military observers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UK, USA, Turkey, Kuwait and Singapore
will also be present throughout the exercise.
13. GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT 2021

Context:
The World Economic Forum, an international NGO based in Cologny, Geneva Canton,
Switzerland, has released the Global Gender Gap Report 2021.
India’s Rank:
• India has decreased in its ranking on the index by 28 places.
• It has been ranked 140th among 156 countries on the index.
• With this ranking, India became the 3rd-worst performer in South Asia.
• In 2020, India got 112th position among 153 countries.
Ranks of Other Countries:
• Bangladesh has been ranked at 65th position, Nepal at 106th, Sri Lanka at 116th, Afghanistan
at 156th, Bhutan at 130th and Pakistan at 153th.
• Among regions, South Asia is the 2nd-lowest performer on the index.
• South Asia has an overall gender gap closed at 62.3%.
World Economic Forum:
• It is an International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.
• It was founded on 24 January 1971.
• It hosts an annual meeting at the end of January in Davos that brings together some 3,000
international business leaders, political leaders and more across 500 sessions.
14. MAHENDRAGIRI - ODISHA’S BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Context:
The Odisha government has proposed a second biosphere reserve at Mahendragiri.
Key Highlights:
• Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve proposed area is approximately 470,955 hectares.
• The hill ecosystem is acting as a transitional zone between the flora and fauna of southern
India and the Himalayas that makes the region an ecological estuary of genetic diversity -
according to the feasibility report.
• The feasibility report has been submitted to the government which will be taken up by the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• This mountain has diverse vegetation where flora represents 40% of the reported flora of
Odisha, with around 1,358 species of plants.
Mahendragiri:
• Mahendragiri is a mountain in the Rayagada subdivision of Gajapati district, Odisha.
• Mahendragiri mountain is at an altitude of 1,501 metres and also the second-highest peak in
the state.
• It is the 2nd highest mountain peak of Odisha after Deomali.
15. INDIA’S BIGGEST FLOATING SOLAR POWER PLANT

Context:
India's biggest floating solar power plant will be established at Ramagundam in Telangana.
Key Highlights:
• It is being established at Ramagundam thermal power plant reservoir.
• It will have a capacity of 100 MW.
• The project might open in May.
• It is commissioned by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
• The project is estimated to cost around 423 crore rupees and will have 4.5 lakh photovoltaic
panels.
• The solar panels will engulf 450-acre areas of the reservoir.
• NTPC aims to reduce its carbon footprints and accelerate its green energy production to 30%
of its capacity.
Ramagundam:
• It is a city in the Peddapalli district of Telangana located on the banks of the River Godavari.
Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant Reservoir:
• It is a 2,600 megawatt Power station situated at Ramagundam in Telangana.
• It is the largest power station in South India currently.
Additional Points:
• The world's largest solar power plant is being set up on Omkareshwar Dam on Narmada river
in Madhya Pradesh with 600 MW capacity.
16. MUKTIJODDHA SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

Context:
The GOI has announced scholarships to 2000 descendants of the Liberation Warfighters of
Bangladesh under the Muktijoddha Scholarship scheme.
Muktijoddha Scholarship scheme - Bangladesh:

• The new scheme aims to benefit 10,000 students from Bangladesh for 5 years.
• Under this scheme, 1000 students each from the Higher Secondary and Undergraduate
categories have started getting the scholarship amount for this year directly in their account.
• The scholarship holds an amount of 20,000 Taka for students of Higher Secondary and 50,000
Taka to Undergraduate category students, who are direct descendants of Muktijoddhas or
Liberation Warfighters of Bangladesh.
• As of now, 17,082 students have benefited from this scheme.
Background:
• This scheme was started in 2006 for the descendants of Muktijoddhas.
• Originally, Scholarships were given to Higher Secondary and Undergraduate level students.
• Undergraduate students were given Tk 24,000/year for 4 years and Higher secondary students
were awarded Tk 10,000/year for 2 years.
17. 3RD JOINT LOGISTICS NODE (JLN) - MUMBAI

Context:
General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence Staff operationalised the 3rd Joint Logistics Node (JLN) in
Mumbai.
Key Points:
• The Joint Operations Division under the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff allowed the
establishment of the JLNs.
• JLNs give integrated logistics cover to the armed forces for their small arms ammunition, civil
hired transport, rations, fuel, general stores, aviation clothing, spares and also engineering
support.
• It helps in economize utilization of resources, saving manpower along with financial savings.
• It is a significant first step in the direction of logistics integration.
• The government has operationalised the JLNs in Mumbai, Guwahati and Port Blair.
Other JLNs:
• From January 01, 2021, the JLNs in Guwahati and Port Blair were operationalised.
18. EMERGENCY CREDIT LINE GUARANTEE SCHEME (ECLGS)

Context:
The Government has increased the scope of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme
(ECLGS) through the introduction of ECLGS 3.0 to the Hospitality, Travel & Tourism, Leisure &
Sporting sectors.
About:
• As of 29/02/2020, it can include the increase of credit of up to 40% of total credit outstanding
across all lending institutions.
• The tenor of loans granted under ECLGS 3.0 should be 6 years incorporating a moratorium
period of 2 years.
• The validity of ECLGS (ECLGS 1.0, ECLGS 2.0 & ECLGS 3.0) have been increased up to
30/06/2021 or till guarantees for an amount of Rs. 3 lakh crore are issued.
• The last date of disbursement has been extended to 30/09/2021.
Background:
• The scheme was launched under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package announced in
May 2020 to fight the grief caused by coronavirus-induced lockdown.
• It was launched to provide credit to different sectors, especially Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs).
19. M87 GALAXY

Context:
International scientists working on the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) have, for the first time,
created an image showing the magnetic field around a black hole which is located in the M87
galaxy.
Black Hole Magnetic Field Image:

• It was in 2019 when the astronomers working on the EHT captured the 1st image of the
shadow of the same black hole.
• The shadow of the black hole is a dark region that is present around the black hole and is the
point beyond which even light cannot escape.
• It is thrice the diameter of the black hole.
M87:
• M87 or Messier 87 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy that has more than 15,000 globular clusters.
• It is larger as compared to the Milky Way that has only 150 globular clusters whereas it has
more than 15,000 globular clusters.
• It is one of the brightest radio sources discovered by Charles Messier in 1781.
• It is around 53 million light-years away from the earth.
Event Horizon Telescope:
• It is a telescope array that consists of a global network of radio telescopes.
20. WORLD IN 2030: PUBLIC SURVEY REPORT - UNESCO

Context:
Recently, UNESCO published the World in 2030: Public Survey Report.
• The report was published based on the survey held between May 2020 and September 2020.
Highlights:
• The report was published based on the survey conducted by UNESCO between May 2020 and
September 2020.
• The survey collected responses from more than 15,000 people across the world.
• The 5 biggest challenges to peaceful societies of 2030 are:
• Climate Change
• Violence and Conflict
• Loss of Biodiversity
• Discrimination and inequality,

• Lack of food, water and housing.
Top Challenges To Be Faced In 2030:
• Disinformation and Freedom of Expression
• Health and Disease
• Lack of Decent work and opportunities
• Traditions and Culture at risk
• Artificial Intelligence and New Technologies
• Political Participation and Democratic Principles
And many more!
UNESCO:
• It stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
• It was established in 1945 and its headquarters is located in Paris, France.
21. HSN CODE: UPDATED RULES

Context:
• Recently, the Ministry of Finance announced new rules under HSN Code.
New Rules:
• The Ministry of Finance announced that businesses with an annual turnover of more than Rs
5 crores will have to furnish a 6-digit HSN code on their tax invoices.
• Businesses with an annual turnover of less than 5 crores of rupees have to furnish a 4-digit
HSN code.
HSN Code:
HSN stands for Harmonised System of Nomenclature.
• India adopted the HSN coding system in 1986.
• In 1988, it was adopted by the World Customs Organization.
• The HSN codes apply to both GST and Customs and are used all over the world.
• It makes the process of filing GST easy as they remove the need to upload Details: about the
goods.
HSN Code and India:
• In India, the code has been used by importers, exporters and manufacturers for a long time.
• Indian dealers with an annual turnover of less than Rs 1.5 crores need not adopt HSN codes.
22. MARS InSight Lander

Context:
NASA’S Mars InSight Lander has recently recorded 2 recent quakes of magnitude 3.3 and 3.1
originated in a region called Cerberus Fossae.
Key Highlight:
• The 2 recent quakes support the idea that the planet is seismically active.
InSight Lander:
The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight)
mission is a robotic lander that belongs to NASA.
• It is part of NASA’s Discovery Program.
• It is designed to study the deep interior of the planet Mars.
• It has recorded over 500 quakes to date on Mars.
• It will be the 1st mission to peer deep beneath the Martian surface.
• It will utilize the seismic waves generated by marsquakes to develop a map of the planet’s
deep interior.
Significance:
• Its’ findings will help understand how other rocky planets, including Earth, were and are
created.
23. THE JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION

Context:
Iran and U.S. will start negotiations through intermediaries to try to get both countries back into
an accord limiting Iran’s nuclear programme. It is happening nearly 3 years after President
Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action:
• It is also known as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal.
• It is an agreement on the Iranian nuclear program reached in Vienna on 14 July 2015.
• It is signed between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom,
the United States, and the European Union, or the EU)
How the Deal is Important for India:
• Removing sanctions can revive India’s interest in the Chabahar port, Bandar Abbas port, and
other plans for regional connectivity.
• It can help India to neutralize the Chinese presence in Gwadar port, Pakistan.
• Ties between the US and Iran will help India to take cheap Iranian oil and aid in energy security.
24. MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LAUNCHES SANKALP SE SIDDH - DIGITAL CONNECT DRIVE
Context:
The “Sankalp Se Siddhi” - Village and Digital Connect Drive has been launched by the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs.
Details:
• The initiative is being implemented by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Federation of India.
• The initiative will be a 100-day drive beginning from 1st April 2021 and will consist of 150
teams visiting ten villages each.
• Almost 1500 villages in the country and 100 villages in each region will be covered as part of
the drive.
• The primary objective of the drive is to activate the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in these villages.
• The initiative of Sankalp Se Siddhi will help in the complete transformation of the tribal
ecosystem throughout India.
• The TRIFED’s initiatives have been put forward in the society to aid the disadvantaged tribal
sections of the society.
• The Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Through Minimum Support
Price (MSP) & Development of Value Chain for MFP’ has found widespread acceptance across
the country.
• MFP Through MSP will help in establishing a framework that will help in ensuring fair prices
for the tribal gatherers, storage, transportation, etc.
25. NASA LANDS INGENUITY HELICOPTER ON MARS

Context:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has recently landed its Ingenuity Helicopter
on Mars, the Red Planet.
Details:
• The Ingenuity Helicopter is scheduled for its historic first flight scheduled on 11th April 2021.
• The flight is significant as it will be the first powered atmospheric flight on a planet other than
Earth.
• The Ingenuity Helicopter is part of the Mars 2020 mission and was part of the Perseverance
rover.
• Ingenuity Helicopter is a small coaxial drone rotorcraft.
• By employing Ingenuity in its mission, NASA aims to demonstrate the use of technology for
the potential use of flying probes on other planets.
• The drones will aid in scouting locations of interest and provide assistance in planning driving
routes for future Mars rover missions.
• The Helicopter will attempt to fly in an atmosphere that has a density equivalent to one
percent of Earth's atmosphere and where the gravity is one-third of Earth's.
• Ingenuity weighs 1.8-kilogram and has been built at a cost of $85 million.
26. DRAFT VISION DOCUMENT FOR PHASE III OF THE E-COURTS PROJECT
Context:
Recently, the draft vision document for Phase III of the eCourts Project has been prepared by
the eCommittee of the Supreme Court.
Details:
• The E-Courts Project is a mission mode project undertaken by the Department of Justice
functioning under the aegis of the Department of Justice.
• The eCommittee of the Supreme Court is Chaired by Dr Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, a
Supreme Court Judge.
• The primary focus of Phase III of the eCourts Project will be on two major objectives, namely
inclusion and access.
• The implementation of the eCourts Project is being done under the eCommittee of the
Supreme Court.
• The "National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary-2005" had conceptualized the eCourts Project.
• The third phase of the eCourts Project aims to make the judicial system of India more
accessible disregarding geographical distances.
• Under the third phase, the judicial system will be made more efficient and equitable for all
persons seeking justice and contribute to the efficient utilisation of Human and other resources.
• As part of the ongoing phase, the system will promote the use of the latest technology to
provide speedy justice and effect a positive environmental impact.
27. FIFTH BIOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITE DECLARED IN MAHARASHTRA

Context:
An area near Amboli in Sawantwadi tehsil of Sindhudurg district has become the Fifth Biological
Heritage Site in Maharashtra following the discovery of a freshwater species of fish found rarely.
Details:
• The new species of fish is known as ‘Schistura Hiranyakeshi’ and was discovered near the
Mahadev Temple in a pond.
• The discovery was made by Tejas Thackeray, a wildlife researcher, and son of Maharashtra
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray along with his team.
• The location has been declared as the Biological Heritage Site under the Biological Diversity
Act, 2002 and is 2.11 hectares in area.
• Schistura Hiranyakeshi is a rare sub-species of Schistura which is a freshwater loach and has
been named after the Hiranyakeshi river near the village.
• Schistura Hiranyakeshi is a colourful small fish that thrives in an abundance of oxygen.
• The state government has earlier declared the Ganesh Khind in Pune, Glory of Allapalli in
Gadchiroli district, myristica swamp vegetation in Sindhudurg district and Landor Khori Park in
Jalgaon as biodiversity heritage sites.
28. URANUS REFLECTING X-RAYS

Context:
The third-largest planet and the seventh planet concerning the position from the sun Uranus is
reflecting X-rays according to a study by scientists.
Details:
• The third-largest planet and the seventh planet concerning the position from the sun Uranus
is reflecting X-rays.
• Uranus is also known as the 'sideways planet' which owes its name to the fact that it rotates
on its side.
• The discovery is based on observations made using the Chandra Space Telescope dating back
to 2002 and 2017.
• The Chandra Space Telescope program is managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center of
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
• Among the Outer planets, Jupiter and Saturn have also been established to scatter X-ray light
produced by the sun as part of the process of Nuclear fusion.
About Uranus:
• Uranus has the fourth-largest planetary mass in the Solar System and is similar in composition
to Neptune.
• Uranus has a ring system and a magnetosphere.
• Neptune and Uranus are often classified as "ice giants" as against the “gas giants” which is
used to refer to Jupiter and Saturn.
• The spacecraft Voyager 2 is the only one to visit the planet.
29. TOUCH SENSITIVE WATCH DEVELOPED BY IIT KANPUR

Context:
A touch-sensitive, haptic, tactile watch has been developed by two researchers of the Indian
Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) that will assist visually impaired individuals to
determine the time it is by touching the face.
Details:
• The current version of the watch designed by Siddhartha Panda and Vishwaraj Srivastava
makes up for the lack of privacy in watches and the large sizes of touch-sensitive watches.
• The watch lets the user know the time in the form of vibrations when the right spoke of the
watch is touched on the face.
• The watch gives a long duration vibration when the spoke that determines the hour is touched
and a shorter vibration when the minute of the time has to be determined.
• Currently, the resolution of the watch is five minutes and the researchers aim to improve the
resolution to one minute.
• The researchers also plan to couple the camera to the touch-sensitive glove, which will help
the visually challenged users in navigating a virtual screen presented before them.
30. ACADEMIC RANKING OF WORLD UNIVERSITIES

Context:
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) Ranking is published by the Shanghai Jiao
Tong University and is also known as Shanghai Ranking.
Details:
• 15 Indian Universities have featured in the ARWU, 2020. The rankings were first published in
2009.
• The rankings are prepared by the Shanghai Ranking consultancy which is an independent
organisation researching intelligence, consultation, and higher education.
• The list was topped by Harvard University followed by Stanford University and Cambridge
University ranked in third place.
• The top Indian Universities in the Ranking is the Institute of Science, Bangalore, It is important
to note that all the Indian institutes were placed in the category of 501-600.
• The Shanghai Ranking consultancy firm uses six indicators to rank global universities, viz. 1.
Number of winners of Nobel Prize,
2. Number of Field Medal winners,
3. Number of Journals of science and nature published,
4. Performance of universities on a Per Capita basis,
5. Number of articles indexed in Social Sciences Citation Index
6. Number of articles indexed in Science Citation Index.
31. WEST BENGAL: HIGHEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SMALL SAVINGS SCHEME

Context:
The state of West Bengal has emerged as the highest contributor to the Small Savings Scheme
in India according to the announcement made by the National Savings Institute.
Details:
• The National Savings Institute keeps track of the Small Savings Scheme in India and operates
under the Ministry of Finance.
• 15% of the total amount is contributed by West Bengal and has collected around Rs 90,000
crores under the Small Savings Scheme.
• The state coming in second place was Uttar Pradesh with a collection of Rs 69,660 crores,
followed by Maharashtra at the third position with a contribution of 10.57% and a collection of
Rs 63,026 crores.
• Gujarat and Tamil Nadu were placed fourth and fifth, with a contribution of 8.16%, which
amounts to Rs 48,645 crores and 4.8%, which is Rs 28,598 respectively.
• There are 12 major instruments that are part of the Small Savings Scheme.
• The key Small Savings Schemes are the:
1. Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme,
2. National Savings Certificate,
3. Kisan Vikas Patra and

4. Public Provident Fund.
32. DIGITAL CURRENCY ELECTRONIC PAYMENT (DCEP)

Context:
The pilot trials of the “Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP)” of its official currency was
recently launched by China.
Details:
• China plans to complete a major roll-out by the end of 2021 and before the beginning of the
Winter Olympics in Beijing in February 2022.
• The digital RMB (or Renminbi) will be the digital version of China’s currency.
• The currency could be downloaded and exchanged via authorised applications approved by
China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC).
• The other countries that have started the use of Digital Currency are South Korea, Sweden and
Thailand.
• The use of the Digital RMB does not involve a third party and will not involve a third-party
transaction and transaction fee.
• The digital payment method functions through Near-field Communication (NFC) technology
and does not need internet connectivity.
• The payment method for digital currency involves only a personal identification number.
• The primary objective of China's sovereign digital currency is to maintain financial stability in
an event leading to the crisis of companies like Alipay and WeChat Pay that hold the lion's share
in the digital payment mode.
33. MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS LAUNCHES SANKALP SE SIDDH - DIGITAL CONNECT DRIVE
Context:
The “Sankalp Se Siddhi” - Village and Digital Connect Drive has been launched by the Ministry of
Tribal Affairs.
Details:
• The initiative is being implemented by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Federation of India.
• The initiative will be a 100-day drive beginning from 1st April 2021 and will consist of 150
teams visiting ten villages each.
• Almost 1500 villages in the country and 100 villages in each region will be covered as part of
the drive.
• The primary objective of the drive is to activate the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in these villages.
• The initiative of Sankalp Se Siddhi will help in the complete transformation of the tribal
ecosystem throughout India.
• The TRIFED’s initiatives have been put forward in the society to aid the disadvantaged tribal
sections of the society.
• The Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) Through Minimum Support
Price (MSP) & Development of Value Chain for MFP’ has found widespread acceptance across
the country.
• MFP Through MSP will help in establishing a framework that will help in ensuring fair prices
for the tribal gatherers, storage, transportation, etc.
34. NASA LANDS INGENUITY HELICOPTER ON MARS

Context:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration has recently landed its Ingenuity Helicopter
on Mars, the Red Planet.
Details:
• The Ingenuity Helicopter is scheduled for its historic first flight scheduled on 11th April 2021.
• The flight is significant as it will be the first powered atmospheric flight on a planet other than
Earth.
• The Ingenuity Helicopter is part of the Mars 2020 mission and was part of the Perseverance
rover.
• Ingenuity Helicopter is a small coaxial drone rotorcraft.

• By employing Ingenuity in its mission, NASA aims to demonstrate the use of technology for
the potential use of flying probes on other planets.
• The drones will aid in scouting locations of interest and provide assistance in planning driving
routes for future Mars rover missions.
• The Helicopter will attempt to fly in an atmosphere that has a density equivalent to one
percent of Earth's atmosphere and where the gravity is one-third of Earth's.
• Ingenuity weighs 1.8-kilogram and has been built at a cost of $85 million.
35. DRAFT VISION DOCUMENT FOR PHASE III OF THE E-COURTS PROJECT
Context:
Recently, the draft vision document for Phase III of the eCourts Project has been prepared by
the eCommittee of the Supreme Court.
Details:
• The E-Courts Project is a mission mode project undertaken by the Department of Justice
functioning under the aegis of the Department of Justice.
• The eCommittee of the Supreme Court is Chaired by Dr Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, a
Supreme Court Judge.
• The primary focus of Phase III of the eCourts Project will be on two major objectives, namely
inclusion and access.
• The implementation of the eCourts Project is being done under the eCommittee of the
Supreme Court.
• The "National Policy and Action Plan for Implementation of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary-2005" had conceptualized the eCourts Project.
• The third phase of the eCourts Project aims to make the judicial system of India more
accessible disregarding geographical distances.
• Under the third phase, the judicial system will be made more efficient and equitable for all
persons seeking justice and contribute to the efficient utilisation of Human and other resources.
• As part of the ongoing phase, the system will promote the use of the latest technology to
provide speedy justice and effect a positive environmental impact.
36. FIFTH BIOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITE DECLARED IN MAHARASHTRA

Context:
An area near Amboli in Sawantwadi tehsil of Sindhudurg district has become the Fifth Biological
Heritage Site in Maharashtra following the discovery of a freshwater species of fish found rarely.
Details:
• The new species of fish is known as ‘Schistura Hiranyakeshi’ and was discovered near the
Mahadev Temple in a pond.
• The discovery was made by Tejas Thackeray, a wildlife researcher, and son of Maharashtra
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray along with his team.
• The location has been declared as the Biological Heritage Site under the Biological Diversity
Act, 2002 and is 2.11 hectares in area.
• Schistura Hiranyakeshi is a rare sub-species of Schistura which is a freshwater loach and has
been named after the Hiranyakeshi river near the village.
• Schistura Hiranyakeshi is a colourful small fish that thrives in an abundance of oxygen.
• The state government has earlier declared the Ganesh Khind in Pune, Glory of Allapalli in
Gadchiroli district, myristica swamp vegetation in Sindhudurg district and Landor Khori Park in
Jalgaon as biodiversity heritage sites.
37. URANUS REFLECTING X-RAYS

Context:
The third-largest planet and the seventh planet concerning the position from the sun Uranus is
reflecting X-rays according to a study by scientists.
Details:
• The third-largest planet and the seventh planet concerning the position from the sun Uranus
is reflecting X-rays.
• Uranus is also known as the 'sideways planet' which owes its name to the fact that it rotates
on its side.
• The discovery is based on observations made using the Chandra Space Telescope dating back
to 2002 and 2017.
• The Chandra Space Telescope program is managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center of
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
• Among the Outer planets, Jupiter and Saturn have also been established to scatter X-ray light
produced by the sun as part of the process of Nuclear fusion.
About Uranus:
• Uranus has the fourth-largest planetary mass in the Solar System and is similar in composition
to Neptune.
• Uranus has a ring system and a magnetosphere.
• Neptune and Uranus are often classified as "ice giants" as against the “gas giants” which is
used to refer to Jupiter and Saturn.
• The spacecraft Voyager 2 is the only one to visit the planet.
38. TOUCH SENSITIVE WATCH DEVELOPED BY IIT KANPUR

Context:
A touch-sensitive, haptic, tactile watch has been developed by two researchers of the Indian
Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) that will assist visually impaired individuals to
determine the time it is by touching the face.
Details:
• The current version of the watch designed by Siddhartha Panda and Vishwaraj Srivastava
makes up for the lack of privacy in watches and the large sizes of touch-sensitive watches.
• The watch lets the user know the time in the form of vibrations when the right spoke of the
watch is touched on the face.
• The watch gives a long duration vibration when the spoke that determines the hour is touched
and a shorter vibration when the minute of the time has to be determined.
• Currently, the resolution of the watch is five minutes and the researchers aim to improve the
resolution to one minute.
• The researchers also plan to couple the camera to the touch-sensitive glove, which will help
the visually challenged users in navigating a virtual screen presented before them.
39. ACADEMIC RANKING OF WORLD UNIVERSITIES

Context:
The Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) Ranking is published by the Shanghai Jiao
Tong University and is also known as Shanghai Ranking.
Details:
• 15 Indian Universities have featured in the ARWU, 2020. The rankings were first published in
2009.
• The rankings are prepared by the Shanghai Ranking consultancy which is an independent
organisation researching intelligence, consultation, and higher education.
• The list was topped by Harvard University followed by Stanford University and Cambridge
University ranked in third place.
• The top Indian Universities in the Ranking is the Institute of Science, Bangalore, It is important
to note that all the Indian institutes were placed in the category of 501-600.
• The Shanghai Ranking consultancy firm uses six indicators to rank global universities, viz. 1.
Number of winners of Nobel Prize,
2. Number of Field Medal winners,
3. Number of Journals of science and nature published,
4. Performance of universities on a Per Capita basis,
5. Number of articles indexed in Social Sciences Citation Index
6. Number of articles indexed in Science Citation Index.
40. WEST BENGAL: HIGHEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SMALL SAVINGS SCHEME

Context:
The state of West Bengal has emerged as the highest contributor to the Small Savings Scheme
in India according to the announcement made by the National Savings Institute.
Details:
• The National Savings Institute keeps track of the Small Savings Scheme in India and operates
under the Ministry of Finance.
• 15% of the total amount is contributed by West Bengal and has collected around Rs 90,000
crores under the Small Savings Scheme.
• The state coming in second place was Uttar Pradesh with a collection of Rs 69,660 crores,
followed by Maharashtra at the third position with a contribution of 10.57% and a collection of
Rs 63,026 crores.
• Gujarat and Tamil Nadu were placed fourth and fifth, with a contribution of 8.16%, which
amounts to Rs 48,645 crores and 4.8%, which is Rs 28,598 respectively.
• There are 12 major instruments that are part of the Small Savings Scheme.
• The key Small Savings Schemes are the:
1. Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme,
2. National Savings Certificate,
3. Kisan Vikas Patra and
4. Public Provident Fund.
41. DIGITAL CURRENCY ELECTRONIC PAYMENT (DCEP)

Context:
The pilot trials of the “Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP)” of its official currency was
recently launched by China.
Details:
• China plans to complete a major roll-out by the end of 2021 and before the beginning of the
Winter Olympics in Beijing in February 2022.
• The digital RMB (or Renminbi) will be the digital version of China’s currency.
• The currency could be downloaded and exchanged via authorised applications approved by
China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC).
• The other countries that have started the use of Digital Currency are South Korea, Sweden and
Thailand.
• The use of the Digital RMB does not involve a third party and will not involve a third-party
transaction and transaction fee.
• The digital payment method functions through Near-field Communication (NFC) technology
and does not need internet connectivity.
• The payment method for digital currency involves only a personal identification number.
• The primary objective of China's sovereign digital currency is to maintain financial stability in
an event leading to the crisis of companies like Alipay and WeChat Pay that hold the lion's share
in the digital payment mode.
42. INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 2021

Context:
Recently, the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind promulgated the Insolvency and
Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021.
About the Ordinance
• It will allow pre-packaged insolvency resolution processes for MSMEs and the Pre-packaged
Insolvency Resolution Process is called PIRP.
• It introduces a pre-packaged insolvency resolution process for corporate persons classified as
MSMEs under the MSME Development Act, 2006.
• Chapter III-A has been added to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 under the
amendment. It explains the start of resolution, duties of resolution professional and eligibility
to take the benefits of pre-packaged insolvency resolution processes, etc.
• It allows the corporate debtor to submit a “base resolution plan” to the resolution
professional. However, the debtor should have the plan ready before asking the creditors to
initiate PIRP. If the committee of creditors did not approve the plan, then the resolution
professional shall invite applicants to submit different plans.
Objective of the ordinance:
• It aims to provide an efficient alternative insolvency resolution process for the corporate
persons classified as MSMEs.
Eligibility:
• This framework applies to MSMEs with a maximum default value of Rs 1 crore.
• A PIRP cannot run in parallel to a CIRP (Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process).
• The PIRP should have a 3-year cooling off period from the closure of the other PIRP or CIRP.
43. DRDO’s CHAFF TECHNOLOGY

Context:
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) developed an Advanced
Chaff Technology to protect naval ships against missile attacks.
DRDO laboratory located in Jodhpur developed 3 variants of the Advanced Chaff Technology.
They are Long Range Chaff Rocket, Short Range Chaff Rocket, and Medium Range Chaff Rocket.
Chaff technology:
• It is used in Naval ships across the globe to safeguard against enemy radar and radio frequency
missile seekers.
• It uses very little chaff material to deflect enemy missiles.
• The technology is now available for mass production.
Chaff:
• It comprises aluminium coated glass fibres with lengths of 0.75 centimetres to 0.8 centimetres.
It is a radio frequency countermeasure.
• It is used by most of the modern armed forces to distract the missiles from their targets.
• The warships utilize chaff for self-defence.
44. NATIONAL POLICY FOR RARE DISEASES, 2021

Context:
Recently, the “National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021” has been approved by the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare.
About:
• It focuses on early screening and prevention of rare diseases which will be achieved through
Health and Wellness Centres.
• The screening must be supported by the Nidhan Kendras set up by the Department of
Biotechnology.
• Around 8 health facilities will be designated as Centres of Excellence of rare diseases.
• These centres will be given a one-time financial support of Rs 5 crores.
• The GOI has declared a financial support of Rs 20 lakhs under the Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi for
treatment of rare diseases and it will be extended to 40% of the population.
Rare Diseases:
• Any disease that affects a small percentage of the population is known as a rare disease.
• Most rare diseases are genetic therefore present throughout the person's entire life.
• Many rare diseases appear early in life, and about 30% of children with rare diseases would
die before reaching their 5th birthday.
Rare Diseases in India:
• The rare diseases in India are immunodeficiency disorder, Pompe disease, Gaucher’s disease,
Cystic Fibrosis, Fabry disease, maple syrup urine disease, etc.
45. NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE FORCE (NDRF)

Context:
Over the last 6 months, Uttarakhand has faced over 1,000 incidents of forest fire, including 45
in the last 24 hours alone.
Now Uttarakhand has reached out to the GOI for helicopters and personnel from the National
Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
About:
• Since the start of 2021, there have been forest fires in the Nagaland-Manipur border, Odisha,
Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat, including in wildlife sanctuaries.
• April-May is the season when forest fires take place in various parts of the country.
NDRF:
• The Ministry of Home Affairs is the parent department of the National Disaster Response Force
(NDRF).
• It is an Indian specialized force made for "for special response to a threatening disaster
situation or disaster" under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• It is under the National Disaster Management Authority.
• The head of the NDRF is designated as Director-General who is an IPS officer on deputation
from Indian police organisations. The Director-General is a three-star officer.
46. DWARF MANGO VARIETY: SADABAHAR

Context:
A farmer from Kota, Rajasthan, Shrikishan Suman (55 years), has developed an innovative
mango variety called Sadabahar which is a regular and round-the-year dwarf variety of mango
called Sadabahar.
About the Mango:
• It is resistant to major diseases and common mango disorders.
• It is sweeter, comparable to langra.
• It is suitable for kitchen gardening, high-density plantation, and can be grown in pots for some
years too.
• The innovative attributes of the variety have been verified by the NIF), India.
National Innovation Foundation (NIF):
• It is an autonomous institution of the Department of Science & Technology, Government of
India (GOI).
• It was established in February 2000 at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• It also facilitated an on-site evaluation of the variety through ICAR - Indian Institute of
Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bangalore.
47. NATIONAL MARITIME DAY

Context:
On April 5th every year, National Maritime Day is observed across India. This year, India has
marked its 58th edition of National Maritime Day.
About:
• The 1st celebration took place in 1964 to make people aware of intercontinental commerce
and the economy.
• On National Maritime Day, an award called the Varuna Award that consists of a statue of Lord
Varuna and a scroll is awarded to people for their long and exceptional contribution.
Background:
• It was on April 5th, 1919 when Indian shipping started on its maiden voyage as the SS Loyalty
(India’s first merchant vessel), journeyed from Mumbai to London.
• In 1959, India also became a member of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) which
is responsible for maritime protection and preventing pollution from ships.
Maritime transport:
• More than 90% of the goods of a country’s trade are moved through maritime transport.
• In the Indian Shipping Register, the number of vessels has increased from a paltry 59 in the
year 1947 to an impressive 1,392 ships in 2019.
48. RAISINA DIALOGUE 2021

Context:
• Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the External affairs ministry announced that this year’s
edition will be a fully digital event due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Raisina Dialogue:
• Raisina Dialogue 2021 will be organized by the Ministry of External Affairs. The Observer
Research Foundation and the External Affairs ministry, jointly organise the Raisina Dialogue.
• It is a multilateral conference that addresses the most challenging issues facing the global
community.
• Every year, global leaders in business, media, civil society and policy are hosted in New Delhi
to discuss cooperation on international policy matters.
• It commenced in 2016 and has become India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-
economics.
• The name "Raisina Dialogue" comes from Raisina Hill, the seat of the GOI, as well as the
Presidential Palace of India, Rashtrapati Bhavan.
49. WORLD’S HIGHEST RAILWAY BRIDGE

Context:
The arch of Chenab bridge, the world's highest railway bridge has been completed recently.
About:
• It has an arch span of 467m, arch length is 480 metres. It is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-
Baramulla rail link project.
• It is 359 metres above the bed of the Chenab river in J&K.
• It is a 1.3 km long bridge aimed to enhance connectivity to the Kashmir Valley.
• A software called the “Tekla” was used for structural detailing of the arch.
• It is being built at a cost of ₹ 1,486 crore.
• The bridge construction includes the fabrication of 28,660 metric tonnes of steel, 10 lakh cubic
metres of earthwork and 66,000 cubic metres of concrete.
50. NEW MISSION DIRECTOR FOR ATAL INNOVATION MISSION

Context:
Dr Chintan Vaishnav has been appointed as the new Mission Director for Atal Innovation Mission
(AIM), a flagship initiative of the GOI under NITI Aayog.
About:
• He will replace Ramanathan Ramanan, seconded by Tata Consultancy Services to NITI Aayog.
• Ramanathan Ramanan had been leading AIM as its 1st Mission Director since June 2017.
Dr Chintan Vaishnav:
• He is an engineer trained to understand and build large-scale systems, with both human as
well as technological complexities.
• He has a PhD in technology, management, and policy from MIT.
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM):
• It aims to create and promote a vibrant ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across
the country.
51. INS VIRAAT

Context:
INS Viraat, the Navy’s decommissioned aircraft carrier, has gotten the “private property” of a
ship-breaker. The Supreme Court told a privately owned business that wants to turn the vessel
into a maritime museum-cum-adventure centre.
About:
• On 10 February 2021, the Supreme Court had ordered a stay on the process of dismantling the
ship.
• It was bought by the Gujarat-based Shree Ram Group, a ship-breaking firm, in a bid.
INS Viraat:
• It belonged to the Centaur-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy.
• It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 12 May 1987 and served for almost 30 years as
it was decommissioned on 6 March 2017.
• It holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest serving warship of the world (for
around 67 years).
Background:
• The Aircraft carrier served in the British Navy as HMS Hermes for 25 years from 1959 to 1984.
• In 1989, it was huge in Operation Jupiter during the Sri Lankan Peacekeeping activity.
52. ATAL INNOVATION MISSION JOINS HAND WITH CIPS

Context:
Recently, NITI Aayog, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) and Centre for Innovations in Public
Systems (CIPS) announced collaboration to enhance the entrepreneurship and innovation
ecosystem in India.
Key Points:
• The CIPS and AIM signed a Statement of to promote innovation in the area of public system.
• Both will organise round tables involving local level administration officials to create
awareness about the innovative products and solutions.
• They will host e-exhibitions supported by relevant startups.
• Innovative Learning Management System will be created to ensure capacity building to
teachers and mentors at grass root levels.
• It will give innovative learning among the students.
CIPS:
• It is a self-ruling Center for Administrative Staff College of India set up by the Government of
India in 2010.
• It was set up dependent on the suggestion made by the thirteenth Finance Commission for
the years 2010-15.
53. AN MOU BETWEEN SPICES BOARD INDIA AND UNDP INDIA

Context:
Spices Board India and UNDP India have signed an MoU, to build a blockchain-based traceability
interface. It will be used for Indian spices to enhance transparency in the supply chain and trade.
About:
• The project will draw in more than 3,000 farmers in chilli and turmeric cultivation in select
districts of Andhra Pradesh.
• One of the key beneficiaries of this initiative will be small farmers with potential doubling of
income.
Spices Board India:
• It is the Indian government regulatory and export promotion agency for Indian spices.
• It is headquartered in Kochi, Kerala.
• It was established in 1987 under the Spices Board Act 1986.
• It is one of the 5 Commodity Boards working under the Ministry of Commerce &Industry.
UNDP:
• It attempts to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet.
• It assits countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can
sustain their progress.
• Since 1951, UNDP has worked in India in almost all areas of human development.
54. E9 COUNTRIES MEET

Context:
Minister of State for Education Sanjay Dhotre will attend the Education Ministers meet of E9
countries.
About the Meet:
• Theme: E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to accelerate progress towards Sustainable
Development Goal 4.
• During the meet, the leaders will create an initiative on digital learning and skills.
• The initiative will target marginalised children and youth.
• The initiative will mainly accelerate 3 of the 2020 Global Education Meeting objectives. They
are as follows:
• Support to teachers
• Investment in skills
• Narrowing of the digital divide
E9 Countries:
• It is a forum of 9 countries, which was formed to achieve the goals of UNESCO's Education For
All (EFA) initiative.
• The “E” means education and the “9” means the following 9 countries.
• India is a member country and other member countries are Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt,
India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan.
• In 1993, it was launched at the EFA Summit in New Delhi, India.
• The E9 members that are also G20 members are Indonesia, India, China, Brazil, and Mexico.
55. VLADIMIR PUTIN TO STAY IN POWER TILL 2036

Context:
Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation that will allow him to stay in power
till 2036. He had already been in power for more than 2 decades.
Background:
• As per Article 81 of the Russian Constitution, the same person cannot hold the office of
President for more than 2 terms in a row.
• He has already completed his 2 terms by getting elected as president in 2012 and 2018 but
according to the new amendment he can stay in power till 2036.
• Putin was supposed to step down after his 2nd consecutive term that is to end in 2024.
• But in 2020, the Russians voted for constitutional amendments that will allow Putin to
recontest after 2024.
What is the Constitutional Change?
• The new constitution has not changed the 2-term limit but it has removed the words “in a
row” therefore Putin will be able to run for President elections for another 2 terms under the
new constitution.
Vladimir Putin:
• He was a former intelligence officer.

• He was also prime minister from 1999-2000 and from 2008-2012.
56. SUPERNOVA EXPLOSION- WOLF-RAYET STARS

Context:
Recently, Indian astronomers have come across a rare supernova explosion and traced it to one
of the hottest kinds of stars called Wolf-Rayet stars.
About:
• A team of astronomers from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES),
Nainital have conducted the optical monitoring of one such stripped-envelope supernova called
SN 2015dj hosted in the galaxy NGC 7371 which was spotted in 2015.
• They measured the mass of the star that collapsed to form the supernovae as well as the
geometry of its ejection. It has been recently published in ‘The Astrophysical Journal.
• Long-term monitoring of these opens the door to understand the nature of the exploding star
as well as the explosion properties.
WR stars:
• Wolf-Rayet stars are very luminous objects a thousand times that of the Sun.
• They are massive stars and strip their outer hydrogen envelope which is associated with the
fusion of Helium and other elements in the core.
• The surface temperatures of WR stars vary from 30,000 K to around 210,000 K.
57. WORLD HEALTH DAY

Context:
Every year on 7 April, World Health Day is observed globally. This day plans to spread worldwide
wellbeing mindfulness under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Theme:
The theme of World Health Day 2021: Building a fairer, healthier world for everyone.
Background:
• World Health Day has been held annually on April 7, Since 1950.
• April 7 denotes the commemoration of the establishment of WHO in 1948.
Official Global Health Campaign:
• World Health Day is one of 11 official worldwide wellbeing efforts set apart by WHO, alongside
World Malaria Day, World No Tobacco Day, World AIDS Day, World Blood Donor Day, World
Chagas Disease Day, World Patient Safety Day, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, World
Hepatitis Day, World Tuberculosis Day, and World Immunization Week.
58. NEW CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA

Context:
From April 24, 2021, Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana, who was recently appointed as the
Chief Justice of India will assume his charge.
About:
• He will take charge a day after the retirement of CJI Sharad Arvind Bobde.
• Justice Ramana will become the 48th Chief Justice of India.
Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana:
• He was enrolled as an advocate in 1983 and became the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court in
2013.
• He was appointed as the judge of the Supreme Court, in 2014.
Chief Justice of India:
• He is the chief judge of the Supreme Court of India as well as the highest-ranking officer of the
Indian federal judiciary.
• Article 124(1) of Indian Constitution, expresses that there will be a Supreme Court of India
established with a Chief Justice of India (CJI) and, until Parliament by law recommends a bigger
number, of not in excess of 7 different Judges.
• The CJI is appointed by the President after consultation with judges of the Supreme Court and
high courts if necessary.
59. WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: RELEASED BY IMF

Context:
As of late, the International Monetary Fund has delivered the World Economic Outlook named
"Managing Divergent Recoveries".
Highlights:
• For the current fiscal year 2022, the report has predicted GDP growth of India to be 12.5%
which is 1% higher than the previous projection of 11.5% in January 2021.
• Growth India for the year 2023 has been predicted to increase from 6.8% to 6.9%.
• In 2021, the global economy will grow at 6% and is expected to moderate to 4.4% in 2022.
• The global economy contracted by 3.3%, in 2020.
• Good recovery is expected in India, North America, and China.
• Due to COVID-19, the Hotel and Restaurant sector has suffered huge production and
employment losses.
International Monetary Fund:
• It is an international financial institution, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
• It was set up after the Second World War in 1945.
• It is governed by and accountable to 189 countries and India joined the IMF in 1945.
60. TRANSFER TENURE OF CENTRAL VIGILANCE COMMISSION OFFICERS

Context:
According to new guidelines, in how many years Central Vigilance Commission officers will be
transferred every 3 years from now onwards.
About:
• The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has made changes in the guidelines related to the
transfer and posting of officials in the vigilance units of government organisations, restricting
their tenure to 3 years in one place.
• The tenure can be extended to 3 more years, albeit at a different place of posting.
• As per the CVC, unjustifiable long stay of an authority in a carefulness division had the
capability of creating personal stakes, aside from leading to superfluous protests or claims.
• This step has been taken In request to accentuate on the significance of the issue and to
guarantee straightforwardness, objectivity and consistency in approach, the Commission has
chosen to alter its previous rules..
• The first phase of transfer/posting has to be finished by May 31. The activity of moving all the
work force being referred to ought to be finished by June 30.
• The order said after moving from the watchfulness unit, there would be an obligatory chilling
time of three years before anybody could be rethought for posting in the unit.
Central Vigilance Commission:
• It is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption.
61. DELHI GOVERNMENT’S ‘LAB ON WHEELS’ PROGRAMME

Context:
Manish Sisodia, Delhi Education Minister has inaugurated Delhi Technological University's 'Lab
on Wheels' programme.
About:
• This program will empower students of the university to traverse Delhi to encourage
government school students and oppressed kids.
• 'Lab on Wheels': will comprise 16 PCs, 2 TVs, one 3D printer, one PC, cameras and one printer.
It will be Wi-Fi empowered, with 100% force back up and completely cooled.
• The thought is to give instruction in the fields of Mathematics and Science to those students
who come from underestimated and poor financial foundations, to arouse their inclinations in
these subjects while seeking after advanced education.
• The DTU students will help 44 lakh government school understudies to track down their own
way, to think,and realise their dreams.
62. INS SARVEKSHAK

Context:
INS Sarvekshak is on a deployment to Mauritius for undertaking joint hydrographic surveys

along with their Mauritian counterparts.
About:
• The ship visited Port Louis, Mauritius and began the hydrographic review of the 'Remote ocean
region off Port Louis'.
• Over the last few years, it has undertaken various foreign cooperation surveys in Mauritius,
Tanzania, Kenya, and Seychelles.
• It is fitted with best in class overview hardware like Deep Sea Multibeam Echo Sounder, Side
Scan Sonars and a completely robotized advanced reviewing and handling framework.
• The ship carries an indispensable Chetak helicopter, which would be broadly sent during the
review.
• It had before been sent to Mauritius for overviews in 2006, 2011, 2015. It has led the Survey
of Rodrigues for outline of mainland rack, review of passes off Mauritian coast, study of Port
Harbor.
INS Sarvekshak:
• It is a hydrographic survey ship in the Indian Navy. It is under the Southern Naval Command.
• It was commissioned in January 2002 and was granted the second place prize in the 2015
Innovation Trophy grants given out on Navy Day.
63. INDIA H2 ALLIANCE

Context:
The Global energy and industrial majors have joined together to form the India H2 Alliance.
Key Points:
• The plan to frame the collusion was started by the Reliance businesses and Chart Industries.
• The India H2 Alliance, IH2A essentially centers around commercializing hydrogen
advancements.
• It will run after boosting the hydrogen economy and supply chain in India.
About India H2 Alliance:
• It will predominantly focus on industrial clusters like refineries, ports and logistics, steel,
cement, fertiliser, and heavy-duty transport use cases.
Objectives of IH2A:
• To fabricate a hydrogen economy and supply chain in India.
• To help create blue and green hydrogen production and storage.
• To fabricate hydrogen-use industrial clusters.
• To expand hydrogen-powered fuel cells-based transport.
India H2 Alliance and Government of India:
The India H2 Alliance will work with the GOI accompanying five areas:
• To create National Hydrogen Policy and roadmap 2021-30.
• To make the National H2 Task Force and Mission in a PPP model.
• To recognize National Large H2 Demonstration Stage Projects.
• To make a National India H2 Fund.
• To make a good hydrogen linked capacity including production, distribution, storage, industrial
use-cases, standards and transport use-cases.
64. RBI ON PREPAID PAYMENT INSTRUMENTS

Context:
The Reserve Bank of India recently made 3 main changes to the Prepaid Payment Instruments.
Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI):
• PPI implies through which the acquisition of products and ventures will be made against the
worth put away in such instruments.
• The Prepaid instruments will be utilized as attractive stripe cards, brilliant cards, web accounts,
versatile records, online wallets, paper vouchers or some other instrument used to get to a
prepaid sum.
New Changes:
• The constraint of exceptional equilibrium in PPIs is to be expanded from the current degree of
Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakhs.
• The facility of cash withdrawal is to be allowed for full KYC PPIs of non-bank PPI issuers.
• The membership to RBI-operated Centralised Payment Systems (NEFT and RTGS) are to be
opened to non-banks, for example, the Central bank managed installment framework
administrators.
65. PRADHAN MANTRI AWAS YOJANA-GRAMIN (PMAY-G)

Context:
The Ministry of Rural Development recently announced that under the PMAY-G, 92% target has
been achieved in the first phase of the scheme.
Achievement:
• As per the Ministry of Rural Development, every one of the houses in the Permanent Wait List
are to be finished before the finish of Amrit Mahotsav.
• An objective of 1 crore houses was set for completion in Phase I of the scheme. Of this, 92%
of the objective has been finished. This was primarily conceivable due to the convenient arrival
of assets needed for the scheme.
• In 2020-21, Rs 19,269 crores was made accessible as budgetary help. Later an extra budgetary
help of Rs 20,000 centers was given. This is the most noteworthy spending designation to the
scheme at whatever year since its launch.
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana:
• It is a flagship scheme of the GOI.
• It goes under the domain of the Ministry of Rural Development.
66. NEW CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SIDBI

Context:
Recently, S Ramann has been designated as the new Chairman and Managing Director of Small
Industries and Development Bank of India (SIDBI) by the Government of India.
About:
• The appointment is for 3 years.

• His name was suggested by the Banks Board Bureau.
Banks Board Bureau:
• It is an autonomous and an advisory body of GOI.
• It aims at improving the governance of Public sector banks.
• It recommends the top level appointments of financial institutions to the GoI.
• It was set up in 2016.
S Ramann:
• He is as of now the CEO of National E-Governance Services Limited.
SIDBI:
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is the apex regulatory agency for
Microfinance Institutions in India.
• It comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
• It is headquartered at Lucknow.
• It is one of the 4 All India Financial Institutions regulated and supervised by the Reserve Bank
of India (RBI).
67. RBI’S CONSUMER CONFIDENCE INDEX

Context:
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India released the report of the Consumer Confidence Survey.
The survey was led in significant urban areas of the country with in excess of 5,000 respondents.
Key Points:
• The Consumer Confidence Index reduced from 55.5 points in January 2021 to 53.1 points in
March 2021.
• The Future Expectations plunged from 117.1 in January 2021 to 108.8 in March 2021.
• At the point when the list measure is over 100,, it signals optimism and while it is below 100,
it represents pessimism.
• Most of the consumers reported higher overall expenditure. As per the overview, this scenario
is to proceed in the coming year regardless of the control in optional spending.
• The consumer's assumption on the overall monetary circumstance and business circumstance
for the year ahead was additionally negative.
Consumer Confidence Survey:
• The Survey estimates consumer perception on 5 economic variables such as price level,
employment, economic situation, spending and income.
• It has 2 main indices namely current situation index and future expectations index.
• It is conducted every 2 months by the RBI.
68. CLIMATE CHANGE PLATFORM BY WORLD BANK AND IMF

Context:
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have launched a platform to prompt the
poor nations on financing for preservation and environment exercises.
Key Points:
• Both the financial organizations will utilize the platform to factor climate change to factor
environmental change into arrangements about paying off past commitments and weights of
poor nations.
• The advisors in the platform will incorporate authorities from the United Nations, private
investors and ratings agencies.
• The platform is upheld by the G20 economies too.
• Three nations, for example, Chad, Ethiopia and Zambia have started the exchanges with the
lenders under the new platform.
World Bank:
• It is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of
low- and middle-income countries for the motivation behind seeking after capital activities.
• It was made at the 1944 Bretton Woods Conference, alongside the International Monetary
Fund (IMF).
International Monetary Fund (IMF):
• It is a global monetary establishment, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
69. PRODUCTION LINKED INCENTIVE SCHEME FOR MANUFACTURERS OF SOLAR PV MODULES

Context:
The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy's proposal for implementation of the Production
Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme 'National Programme on High-Efficiency Solar PV (Photo Voltic)
Modules' has been passed by the cabinet.
About:
• It aims at manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt (GW) scale in high-efficiency solar PV modules.
• Extra 10,000 MW capacity of integrated solar PV manufacturing plants will be incorporated.
• Direct employment of about 30,000 and Indirect employment of about 1,20,000 persons will
be generated.
• Around Rs.17,500 crore Import substitution every year.
• Impetus to Research & Development will gain more efficiency in solar PV modules.
Process:
• Solar PV manufacturers will be chosen through a straightforward competitive bidding process.
• PLI will be dispensed for 5 years post dispatching of solar PV manufacturing plants, on sales of
high proficiency solar PV modules.
70. COPYRIGHT (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2021

Context:
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently notified Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021.
At present, the Copyright regime of India is governed by Copyright Act, 1957 and the Copyright
rules 2013.
New Amendments:
• The Copyright societies should make an Annual Transparency Report for each financial year.
• The amendments have fit the Copyright rules with the provisions of the Finance Act, 2017.
This has been accomplished by combining the Copyright Board with the Appellate Board.
• The compliance requirements of enrollment works have to a great extent decreased. The
candidate presently has the freedom to record the initial ten and last ten pages of source code
with no blocked out or redacted portions.
• The time limit of the Central Government to react to an application has been expanded. At the
point when a candidate applies to get enlisted as a copyright society, the central government
shall now respond in 180 days. This has been done to give sufficient time so the application can
be extensively inspected.
71. FILM CERTIFICATE APPELLATE TRIBUNAL (FCAT) HAS BEEN ABOLISHED

Context:
The GOI by an ordinance abolished the Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT).
About:
• The Tribunals Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Ordinance, 2021, which
came into effect on April 4, amends the Cinematograph Act, 1952 by deleting some sections and
replacing the word “Tribunal” with “High Court” in other sections.
• The abrogation of FCAT implies filmmakers will presently need to move toward the High Court
at whatever point they need to challenge a CBFC certificate or absence of it.
Film Certificate Appellate Tribunal (FCAT):
• It was a statutory body constituted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in 1983 to
hear appeals filed by applicants for certification to their films.
• Its main role was to hear appeals filed under Section 5C of the Cinematograph Act, by
applicants for accreditation oppressed by the choice of the Central Board of Film Certification
(CBFC).
• It was headed by a chairperson and had 4 other members, including a Secretary appointed by
the Government of India to handle.
• It was headquartered in New Delhi.
72. NEW BIRD SPECIES IN INDIA: THREE-BANDED ROSEFINCH

Context:
A team of scientists from the Bombay Natural History Society recorded a new species of bird
called the three-banded Rosefinch.
Discovery:
• It was identified while exploring the high-altitude coniferous forests of Arunachal Pradesh.
• As indicated by the scientists the three-banded rosefinch might be utilizing the high height
calm coniferous woodlands of Arunachal Pradesh as a passage while they were moving from
China to Bhutan.
Three-banded Rosefinch:
• Three-banded Rosefinch is a type of bird, a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.
• It is a resident of southern China and a vagrant (a person with no home) in Bhutan.
• These have global distribution except for Australia and polar regions.
73. WHAT IS ANAMAYA?

Context:
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently launched a Tribal Health Collaborative
called “Anamaya”.
Key Points:
• It is a multi-stakeholder initiative launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in
association with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• It will start its operations with 50 tribal, Aspirational Districts (with more than 20% Scheduled
Tribe population) across 6 high tribal population states.
• In 10-years, the work of the THC will be expanded to 177 tribal Districts as recognised by the
Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• It will also be supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Piramal Foundation.
• It aims at enhancing the health and nutrition ecosystem of tribal communities in India.
• It will set up the National Council on Tribal Health and a Tribal Health Cell to monitor the needs
of the medical service in tribal areas.
• Likewise, Anamaya will execute the Tribal Health Action Plan.
• It will combine efforts of government agencies and organizations to upgrade the health and
nourishment status of tribal communities in India.
74. INDIA’S DEBT TO GDP INCREASED TO 90%: IMF

Context:
The International Monetary Fund as of late reported that the debt to GDP ratio of India
expanded from 74% to 90% because of the COVID-19 crisis. This will increase to 99% in 2021.
IMF has additionally expressed that this is to decrease to 80% after financial recuperation.
Debt to GDP ratio:
• It is the ratio between the debt of the Government measured in the units of its currency to
the GDP measured in the same unit. At the point when the Debt to GDP proportion is low, it
implies that the country produces and sells goods and services that are sufficient to pay back
debts without incurring additional debts.
• Since 1991, the Debt to GDP ratio of India has remained 70% but the current increase is mainly
due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Debt to GDP Ratio of Other Nations:
• At the end of the third quarter of 2020, the Debt to GDP ratio of the
• USA was 127.3%
• Japan was 246.1%
• China was 46.7%
75. MUON G–2

Context:
Recently published consequences of an international experiment called Muon g–2 (g minus two)
indicate the chance of new physical science governing the laws of nature.
About the Experiment:
• It was conducted at the US Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

(Fermilab).
• The consequences of the experiment, which contemplated a subatomic particle called the
muon, don't coordinate with the forecasts of the Standard Model, on which all particle physics
is based, and rather reconfirm a disparity that had been identified in an examination 20 years
beforehand.
Standard Model:
• The Standard Model is a thorough hypothesis that predicts the behaviour of the building
blocks.
• It lays out the rules for 6 types of quarks, six leptons, the Higgs boson, three fundamental
forces, and how the subatomic particles act affected by electromagnetic forces.
• The muon is one of the leptons. It is like the electron, however 200 times larger, and
substantially more unstable, surviving for a small part of a second.
76. QUASARS
Context:
Recently, a group of astronomers have discovered a dozen quasars that were distorted by
naturally occurring cosmic lenses. With this discovery, the quantity of realized quasars have
expanded by 25%. This can assist to determine the expansion rate of the universe and will also
help address other mysteries.
What are Quasars?
• These are luminous cores of distant galaxies that are powered by black holes.
• Their mass is millions to billions of times the mass of the sun.
• The most powerful quasars have luminosities thousand times more than the Milky Way galaxy.
• The closest Quasar to the earth is Markarian 231 which is 600 million years away from the
earth.
• Quasars are generally found in the centres of active galaxies.
77. MONETARY POLICY RELEASED BY RBI

Context:
Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released the Monetary Policy Report for April 2021.
Following are the Unchanged Policy Rates in the Policy:
• Bank Rate- 4.25%.
• Repo Rate - 4%.
• Reverse Repo Rate - 3.35%.
• Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) - 4.25%.
What is the GDP Projection?
For 2021-22, Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth has been maintained at 10.5%.
Inflation:
RBI has revised the projection for Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation to:
• 5.0% in Quarter 4 of 2020-21.
• 5.2% in Quarter 1 of 2021-22.
• 5.2% in Quarter 2 of 2021-22.
• 4.4% in Quarter 3 of 2021-22.
• 5.1% in Quarter 4 of 2021-22.
Accommodative Stance:
It means a central bank will cut rates to inject money into the financial system whenever
needed.
• The RBI chose to proceed with the accommodative position as long as important to support
development on a tough premise and keep on alleviating the effect of Covid-19 on the economy
while guaranteeing that inflation stays within the target going ahead.
78. WHAT IS A DARBAR MOVE?

Context:
• Ahead of the bi-annual darbar move, the Jammu and Kashmir government advised its
employees working in the move offices, remembering common secretariat and those
succumbing to the age gathering of 45 or more, to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19.
Darbar Move:
• It is a century-old practice in which the government functioned for 6 months each in the 2
capitals of the past State, Srinagar and Jammu.
• The custom was begun during Dogra rule in 1872 by Maharaja Ranbir Singh, the Maharaja of
Jammu and Kashmir.
• It was begun to take the administration to the doorstep of the people of Kashmir which is
nearer to Ladakh.
Issue:
• The issue of suspending the move has sporadically been raised, yet the monetary advantages
the move brings to Jammu has prompted protection from any designs to change it.
• The ‘Darbar Move’ brings about wastage of colossal measure of time, endeavours and energy
on wasteful and pointless action.
79. KASHI VISHWANATH TEMPLE-GYANVAPI MOSQUE DISPUTE

Context:
Recently, a Varanasi court permitted the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to survey the Kashi
Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi mosque complex.
Court Orders:
• The court has ordered the development of a 5-member committee to identify any traces of a
pre-existing temple at the mosque site.
• Two of the individuals on the committee should be from the minority community.
• The Committee is to analyze the age, size, monumental and architectural design or style of the
religious structure standing at the disputed site and what materials were utilized to fabricate
something similar.
• During the review and other examination, Muslims should in any case be permitted to offer
namaz at the site.
Gyanvapi Mosque:
• It is located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• The masjid shares a boundary wall with the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir.
Kashi Vishwanath Mandir:
• It is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• It is located in Vishwanath Gali of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• It is situated on the western bank of the holy river Ganga and is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, or
Jyotirlingams, the holiest of the Shiva Temples.
80. SOYUZ MS-18

Context:
Soyuz MS-18 has transported 3 members of the Expedition 64 crew to the International Space
Station (ISS).
About the launch:
• Soyuz MS-18 was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) from a spaceport in
Kazakhstan.
• The crew members were a Russian commander, a Russian flight engineer, and an American
flight engineer of NASA.
• The spacecraft is booked to get back to Earth on 13 October 2021 after 180 days in space.
Soyuz MS-18:
• Roscosmos is the operator of Soyuz MS-18. Soyuz MS-18 is a Soyuz spaceflight that was
launched on 9 April 2021.
• It is the 146th crewed flight of a Soyuz spacecraft.
81. SARTHAQ PROGRAMME

Context:
Recently, the education minister released an indicative and suggestive implementation plan for
school education called SARTHAQ.
Key Points:
• ‘Students’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement through Quality Education or SARTHAQ has
been launched in pursuance of the goals of NEP2020 and to assist States/UTs in this task.
• It targets giving an inside and out improvement to the students at the primary and secondary
level.
• will likewise build up a protected, secure, comprehensive and helpful learning environment
for students as well as teachers.
• The major focus is to characterize exercises in such a way which depict objectives, results and
time span i.e., it joins proposals of NEP with 297 Tasks alongside with responsible agencies,
timelines and 304 outputs of these tasks.”
• The programme will focus on the improvement of the enrollment ratio of children at all levels
and a decrease in dropouts and out of school children.
• It will also enhance the quality of Teacher Education Programmes.
82. AFRICAN SWINE FEVER (ASF)

Context:
Recently, an outbreak of suspected African swine fever (ASF) has killed 276 domestic pigs in
Lunglei, Mizoram.
Action taken:
• As a piece of the preventive measures, the local authorities have limited the acquisition and
supply of pigs from and to the influenced region and the area past.
• The samples of dead pigs were earlier tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and every one of them tested negative for Porcine
Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and Classical Swine Flu (CSF), the 2 pig diseases
common to Mizoram.
African swine fever (ASF):
• It is an exceptionally infectious and lethal animal disease that infects domestic and wild pigs,
normally bringing about an intense type of hemorrhagic fever.
• ASF isn't a danger to human beings since it only spreads from animals to other animals.
• It was first found out in Africa in the 1920s.
• The mortality is near to 100%, and since the fever has no cure, the only way to stop it from
spreading is by slaughtering the animals.
83. WORLD HOMEOPATHY DAY

Context:
World Homeopathy Day is celebrated every year on April 10 to spread awareness about
homoeopathy and its contribution to the world of medicine.
Key Points:
• The day marks the birth anniversary of German physician Dr Christian Friedrich Samuel
Hahnemann, who is considered as the founder of a system of alternative medicine called
Homeopathy.
• The year 2021 marks the 266th birthday celebration of Hahnemann.
International Convention on World Homoeopathy Day:
• The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), Ministry of AYUSH, organised a 2-
day scientific conference on the occasion of World Homoeopathy Day from April 10 & 11, 2021
in New Delhi.
• The theme of the conference is “Homoeopathy - Roadmap for Integrative Medicine”
• Objective: exchange of experience by policymakers and experts to recognize strategic actions
towards compelling and effective incorporation of Homeopathy in integrative care.
84. PS ZOROASTER
Context:
India officially gave over the Rs 100 crore watch vessel "PS Zoroaster" to Seychelles during the
virtual summit between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Wavel
Ramkalawan.
Key Points:
• The PS Zoroaster is the fourth made-in-India patrol boat produced for Seychelles since 2005.
• The other vessels gifted by India are PS Topaz (2005), PS Constant (2014), Patrol Boat Hermes
(2016).
• It is a 48.9-metre patrol boat.

• It has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineering at an estimated cost of Rs 100
crore.
• It will be utilized for multi-reason operations, for example, patrolling, anti-smuggling and anti-
poaching operations, and search and rescue.
85. POST MATRIC SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME FOR SCHEDULED CASTES REVIEWED

Context:
As of late, the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment investigated the advancement of
the Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes in the last financial year.
Key Points:
• Post Matric Scholarship Scheme for Scheduled Castes comes under the purview of the Ministry
of Social Justice & Empowerment.
• The Center has delivered assets to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore for the Post-Matric Scholarship
Scheme for Scheduled Castes.
• The government had patched up the Post Matric Scholarship conspire for Scheduled Castes to
provide universal access to the SC youth for higher education.
• The funding pattern under the Scheme was changed from the committed liability formula to
a fixed sharing pattern of 60:40 between the Centre and the States (90:10 for the North
EasternStates), in this manner expanding the responsibility of the Government in the plan by
just about multiple times.
86. KHELO INDIA STATE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE FOR ROWING DISCIPLINE AT JAMMU &
KASHMIR
Context:
On 10th April 2021, Union Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the
Khelo India State Centre of Excellence for Rowing discipline at the Jammu & Kashmir Sports
Council Water Sports Academy in Srinagar.
Key Highlights:
• This is one of the 2 KISCEs from Jammu & Kashmir, with the Maulana Azad Stadium for Fencing
discipline in Jammu being the other.
• They will be given a first-time grant of Rs 145.16 lakhs and a yearly repeating award of Rs 96.17
lakhs.
• A combined amount of Rs. 5.08 crores have been affirmed for the 2 centres in Jammu &
Kashmir.
• There are right now 24 KISCEs across 23 States and Union Territories and every one of them
centres around Olympics sports discipline
87. ADVANCED ANNUITIES MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (AAMS)

Context:
The Directorate of Archives and Archaeology (DAA) of the Goa government inaugurated the
Advanced Antiquities Management System (AAMS).
Key Points:
• The AAMS is placed at Goa’s DAA in Panaji.
• It is claimed to be the 1st such system in India for the storage of antiquities.
• It is software-driven automated storage used for the storage of various objects. So far it has
been used for the storage of industrial equipment but the decision of Goa’s DAA to use it for
storing valuable antiquities is the first such in the country.
• The system that catalogues 83 antiquities at present is aimed at providing quick information
about antiquity linked to the software, saving storage space and ensuring improved
preservation of the objects of historical significance.
88. SINGAPORE FIRST COUNTRY TO SANCTION RCEP

Context:
Singapore becomes the first country to sanction the Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP) agreement.
Details:
RCEP is the world’s largest free trade agreement, driven by China. In doing so, Singapore turned
into the first among 15 participating countries to sanction RCEP.
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement:
• RCEP is a multi-nation trade pact, containing 10 ASEAN economies as well as Japan, New
Zealand, Australia, China, and South Korea.
• In November 2020, the RCEP was signed by 15 participating countries.
• India had quit it in 2019.
89. 3,000-YEAR-OLD ‘LOST GOLDEN CITY’ OF ANCIENT EGYPT DISCOVERED

Context:
Egypt declared the revelation of what is being promoted as the most important find since the
uncovering of King Tutankhamun’s tomb almost 100 years ago.
About:
• A three-centuries old “lost golden city” from the era of eighteenth-dynasty king Amenhotep
III, who ruled ancient Egypt from 1391 to 1353 B.C., was found in the southern area of Luxor,
near some of the country’s best-known monuments.
• The newly discovered city is situated on the west bank of the Nile river, near the Colossi of
Memnon, Medinet Habu and the Ramesseum, or the mortuary temple of King Ramses II, which
are all famous tourist destinations.
• Items of jewellery such as rings have been unearthed, along with coloured pottery vessels,
scarab beetle amulets and mud bricks bearing the seals of Amenhotep III.
• Amenhotep III inherited an empire that stretched from the Euphrates to Sudan.
90. SANSKRIT LEARNING APP ‘LITTLE GURU’ LAUNCHED IN BANGLADESH

Context:
A Sanskrit learning app ‘Little Guru’ has been launched in Bangladesh by the Indira Gandhi
Cultural Centre (IGCC) of the High Commission of India.
About:
• The app is part of the campaign being run by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to
promote the Sanskrit language among students, religious scholars, Indologists and historians
across the world.
ICCR:
• It is an autonomous organisation of the GOI, involved in India's external cultural relations,
through cultural exchange with other countries and their peoples, established in 1950.
91. AICTE LILAVATI AWARDS 2020 PRESENTED

Context:
Recently, Union Minister of Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' presented the AICTE
Lilavati Awards 2020 on women empowerment to the winners.
About:
• The objective of the award is to create awareness about issues like sanitation, hygiene, health,
nutrition, credit, marketing, literacy, employment, technology, innovation, skill development,
natural resources and rights among women.
• The Lilavati Award has been established by the All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE).
• The award covers multidisciplinary areas such as women's health, literacy, entrepreneurship,
self-defence, sanitation, and legal awareness.
92. WORLD PARKINSON’S DAY OBSERVED

Context:
Every year, April 11 is observed as World Parkinson’s Day to bring issues to light of Parkinson's
illness, which is a progressive nervous system disorder.
Details:
• The day denotes the birthday of Dr James Parkinson from London, who was the 1st person to
systematically describe the 6 individuals with the symptoms of Parkinson Disease.
• Aside from this, the month of April is observed as Parkinson’s Awareness Month.
Parkinson’s disease:
• It is a brain disorder that prompts shaking, firmness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and
coordination.
• As the sickness advances, individuals may experience difficulty walking and talking.
93. SHAPARI: CERTIFICATION SCHEME FOR AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS

Context:
Recently, the Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) has developed a
certification scheme for aquaculture products called ‘Shaphari’.
Details:
• Shaphari is based on the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s technical
guidelines on aquaculture certification.
Shaphari is a Sanskrit word that means the superior quality of fishery products suitable for
human consumption.
• It is a market-based tool for hatcheries to adopt good aquaculture practices and help produce
quality antibiotic-free shrimp products to assure global consumers.
Marine Products Exports Development Authority:
• It is a nodal coordinating, state-owned agency engaged in fishery production and allied
activities.
• It was established in 1972 under the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act
(MPEDA), 1972.
• It functions under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It is headquartered in Kochi, Kerala.
94. TWO-DAY SCIENTIFIC CONVENTION ON WORLD HOMEOPATHY DAY INAUGURATED

Context:
A two-day scientific convention was inaugurated in New Delhi on April 10, 2018, on the occasion
of the World Homeopathy Day.
Details:
• The Convention was organized by the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH),
an autonomous apex research organization under the Ministry of AYUSH to celebrate the
occasion of World Homoeopathy Day.
• The theme of the convention is "Innovate: Evolve; Progress: Exploring Science since 40 years".
• World Homeopathy Day is celebrated every year on April 10 to spread awareness about
homoeopathy and its contribution to the world of medicine.
• The day marks the birth anniversary of German physician Dr Christian Friedrich Samuel
Hahnemann, who is considered the founder of the system of alternative medicine called
Homeopathy.
• The year 2021 marks the 266th birthday of Hahnemann.
95. UAE NAMED FIRST WOMEN ASTRONAUT

Context:
The UAE named the following two astronauts for its space programme, including the country’s
first woman astronaut, Noura al-Matroushi.
Details:
• She has been distinguished as the UAE’s first woman astronaut, with her male counterpart as
Mohammed al-Mulla for future space exploration missions.
• The two will go through training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
• On the off chance that al-Matroushi winds up going on a mission, she could turn into the first
Arab woman in space.
• In 2019, Maj. Hazzaa al-Mansoori became the UAE's first astronaut in space, spending an eight-
day mission aboard the International Space Station.
• The Emirates has had other recent successes in its space program.
• Recently UAE put its Amal, or Hope, satellite in orbit around Mars, a first for the Arab world.
• In 2024, the country hopes to put an unmanned spacecraft on the moon.
96. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT CELEBRATED ON APRIL 12

Context:
On April 12, the International Day of Human Space Flight is celebrated annually to mark the
anniversary of the 1st human space flight by Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961.
Details:
• The day was declared at the 65th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on April 7,
2011, a couple of days before the 50th commemoration of the flight.
• In the Soviet Union, the day is seen as the International Day of Aviation and Cosmonautics.
Important Missions:
• On October 4, 1957, the first human-made Earth satellite Sputnik I was launched into outer
space, thus opening the way for space exploration. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the
first human to orbit the Earth, opening a new chapter of human endeavour in outer space
• On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to orbit the Earth
• On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot upon the surface of the
moon
• Apollo and Soyuz were the first joint US-Russian space flight. This event became the first
international human mission in space on July 17, 1975.
97. AAHAAR KRANTI’ WAS LAUNCHED

Context:
Recently, a new mission called `Aahaar Kranti’ was launched by the Union Health Minister, Dr
Harsh Vardhan.
Details:
• The `Aahaar Kranti’ movement is intended to address the issue of hunger and diseases in
abundance’.
• The mission is meant to spread the message of the need for a nutritionally balanced diet and
to comprehend the significance of all local fruits and vegetables.
• Vijnana Bharati (Vibha) and Global Indian Scientists’ and Technocrats’ Forum (GIST) have come
together to launch the mission with the motto of ‘Good Diet-Good Cognition’.
• It will renew the focus on nutritionally balanced diets (Uttam Evam Santulit Aahaar) replete in
locally sourced fruits and vegetables.
• The programme will focus on training teachers, who, in turn, will pass on the message to the
multitudes of students, and through them to their families and finally the society at large.
98. INDIAN FILM PRODUCER CONFERRED WITH THE 2ND HIGHEST FRENCH CIVILIAN HONOUR
Context:
Pro Indian film producer Guneet Monga has been conferred with the 2nd highest French civilian
honour called “Honour of the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier dans I’Ordre des
Arts et des Lettres)”.
Details:
• She was felicitated in New Delhi on April 13, 2021, by the Ambassador of France in India, by
the French authorities.
• As a producer, Guneet has many widely praised films to her credit, such as Masaan, Lunchbox,
Peddlers; Oscar-winning short film documentary “Period, End of Sentence”, among others.
• It is the second-highest civilian French honour and has earlier been awarded to big Hollywood
names like Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Bruce Willis.
99. PRESIDENT APPOINTS CHIEF ELECTION COMMISSIONER (CEC)

Context:
Recently, the President appointed Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra as the Chief Election
Commissioner (CEC).
Details:
The incumbent Election Commissioner (EC) Sushil Chandra has been named to turn into the
following Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India.
• He assumed the charge with effect from April 13, 2021.
• He will replace incumbent CEC Sunil Arora, who retired on April 12, 2021.
• The Election Commission of India comprises 3 members, in particular Chief Election
Commissioner and 2 Election Commissioners.
• The 2 ECs are Rajiv Kumar and Sushil Chandra.
About Election Commission:
It is a constitutional Autonomous Body that conducts the elections to the offices of the President
and Vice-President of India, Parliament, State Legislative Assemblies and Legislative councils.
Constitutional Provisions:
• Part XV (Article 324-329) of the Indian Constitution: It deals with elections, and establishes a
commission for these matters.
• Article 324: Superintendence, direction and control of elections to be vested in an Election
Commission.
• Article 325: No person to be ineligible for inclusion in, or to claim to be included in a special,
electoral roll on grounds of religion, race, caste or sex.
• Article 326: Elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assemblies of States to
be on the basis of adult suffrage.
• Article 327: Power of Parliament to make provision with respect to elections to Legislatures.
• Article 328: Power of Legislature of a State to make provision with respect to elections to such
Legislature.
• Article 329: Bar to interference by courts in electoral matters.
100. CENTRE INAUGURATES E-SANTA

Context:
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Shri Piyush Goyal virtually inaugurated e-SANTA, an
electronic marketplace providing a platform to connect aqua farmers and buyers.
Details:
It will enable the farmers to get a better price and the exporters to directly purchase quality
products from the farmers enhancing traceability, a key factor in international trade.
The term e-SANTA was coined for the web portal, meaning Electronic Solution for Augmenting
NaCSA farmers' Trade-in Aquaculture. National Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture (NaCSA) is
an extension arm of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Govt. of India,
Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
e-SANTA will RAISE the lives & income of farmers by:
• Reducing Risk
• Awareness of Products & Markets
• Increase in Income
• Shielding Against Wrong Practice
• Ease of Processes
101. EXERCISE SHANTIR OGROSHENA CONCLUDED
Context:
Multinational military exercise Shantir Ogroshena, which went for 10 days in Bangladesh,
concluded on 12th April 2021.
Details:
• The exercise was organised to commemorate the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s Father of the Nation and celebrate the golden jubilee of the
liberation of Bangladesh.
• It was held at Bangabandhu Senanibas (BBS), Bangladesh.
• ‘Shantir Ogroshena’ 2021 means “Front Runner of the Peace”.
• The theme of this exercise was to strengthen defence ties and enhance interoperability
amongst neighbourhood countries to ensure effective peacekeeping operations.
• It was a UN (United Nations)- mandated counterterrorism exercise.
102. YEARS OF JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE

Context:
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, also known as the Amritsar massacre, took place on 13 April
1919.
Details:
• The Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place in pre-Independence India on 13 April 1919, when
the acting Brigadier-General Reginald Dyer ordered British troops to open fire on unarmed
Indian civilians.
• This led to widespread bloodshed and resulted in the death of 379 innocent Indians and over
1,000 injuries.
Events before Jallianwala Bagh:
• During World War I (1914–18) the British government of India enacted a series of repressive
emergency powers that were intended to combat subversive activities.
• By the war’s end, expectations were high among the Indian populace that those measures
would be eased and that India would be given more political autonomy.
• The Montagu-Chelmsford Report, presented to the British Parliament in 1918, did in fact
recommend limited local self-government.
103. NEW YEAR FESTIVALS

Context:
‘Chaitra Sukladi, Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, Cheti Chand, Vaisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu, and Bohag Bihu’ is
celebrated.
Details:
• Chaitra Sukladi marks the beginning of the new year of the Vikram Samvat also known as the
Vedic [Hindu] calendar, which is based on the day when the emperor Vikramaditya defeated
Sakas, invaded Ujjain and called for a new era.
• Gudi Padwa and Ugadi are celebrated by the people in the Deccan region including Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Sindhis celebrate the new year as Cheti Chand. Chaitra month is called 'Chet' in Sindhi. The
day commemorates the birth anniversary of Uderolal/Jhulelal, the patron saint of Sindhis.
• Navreh is the lunar new year that is celebrated in Kashmir.
• Vaishakhi is also pronounced as Baisakhi, observed by Hindus and Sikhs. It marks the beginning
of Hindu Solar New year. It commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under
Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.
• Vishu is a Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, Tulu Nadu region in Karnataka,
Mahé district of Union Territory of Pondicherry, neighbouring areas of Tamil Nadu and their
diaspora communities.
• Puthandu is also known as Puthuvarudam or Tamil New Year, is the first day of the year on the
Tamil calendar and traditionally celebrated as a festival.
• Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu also called Xaat Bihu (seven Bihus) is a traditional aboriginal ethnic
festival celebrated in the state of Assam and other parts of northeastern India by the indigenous
ethnic groups of Assam.
104. AMBEDKAR JAYANTI 2021

Context:
Ambedkar Jayanti is an annual festival observed on 14 April.
Details:
• It marks the birthday of Dr Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, Father of the Constitution of India and
civil rights activist, who was born on April 14, 1891.
• Baba Saheb' Ambedkar was born in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh on April 14, 1891, to army officer
Ramji Maloji Sakpal and Bhimabai Sakpal.
• Ambedkar went on to become the Minister for Labour in Viceroy's Executive Council during
the British Raj. After Independence, he was named the first Minister for Law and Justice.
• He was then appointed as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee.
• Since 2015, the Day has been observed as an official public holiday throughout India.
• In 2021, we are denoting the 130th birth commemoration of Babasaheb.
• He is known as the Father or chief architect of the Indian Constitution.
105. DGFT ‘TRADE FACILITATION’ MOBILE APP

Context:
Union Commerce & Industry Minister launched DGFT ‘Trade Facilitation’ Mobile App for
promoting ease of doing business and giving speedy access to information to
importers/exporters.
Details:
• As per the directions of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), It has been
developed by the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
• It provides real-time trade policy updates, tracking help requests, notifications and application
status alerts.
• Trade facilitation App is READY for Industry 4.0, as it provides
• Real-time trade policy updates, notifications, application status alert, tracking help requests
• Explore item-wise Export-Import policy & statistics, Track IEC Portfolio
• AI-based 24*7 assistance for trade queries
• DGFT services made accessible to all
Your Trade Dashboard accessible anytime &anywhere
106. INDIA ENERGY DASHBOARDS VERSION 2.0 LAUNCHED

Context:
Recently, the government think tank NITI Aayog has launched India Energy Dashboards (IED)
Version 2.0.
Details:
• India Energy Dashboards (IED) is an endeavour to provide single-window access to the energy
data for the country.
• It is an initial step towards building a comprehensive, open, and freely accessible energy data
portal for India.
• Energy data published/provided by Central Electricity Authority, Coal Controller’s
Organisation, and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is compiled in the Dashboards.
• The IED Provides time-series data from FY 2005-06 until FY 2019-20.
• IED provides data at sub-yearly frequencies as well. This includes monthly data and API
(Application Programming Interface) linked data from some portals maintained by the
government agencies.
107. PM MODI INAUGURATES 6TH RAISINA DIALOGUE

Context:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 2021 “Raisina Dialogue”.
Details:
• The conference is being hosted by the think tank Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in
partnership with the MEA.
• The theme for the 2021 conference is “#ViralWorld: Outbreaks, Outliers and Out of Control”.
During these four days, talks will be held on five subjects- WHOse multilateralism?
Reconstructing the UN and beyond; Securing and diversifying supply chains; Global ‘Public Bads’:
Holding actors and nations to account; Infodemic: Infodemic: Navigating a ‘No-Truth’ world in
the age of Big Brother and The Green stimulus: Investing in gender, growth, and development.
About Raisina Dialogue
• The Raisina Dialogue is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs. It has been a leading
think-tank Observer Research Foundation since 2016.
• It is a multilateral conference that is committed to addressing the most challenging issues
faced by the global community.
• This is conducted annually where all the global leaders in policy, business, media and civil
society are hosted in New Delhi to discuss cooperation on a wide range of pertinent
international policy matters.
108. NHAI DECIDES TO DEPLOY NSV TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

Context:
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has decided to deploy Network Survey Vehicle.
Details:
• It will be deployed to enhance the quality of the National Highways in the country. Carrying
out a road condition survey using NSV on the National Highways has been made mandatory at
the time of certifying completion of the project and every six months thereafter.
• The provision has also been included as a part of the standard bidding document of
consultancy services.
• The deployment will help in enhancing the overall quality of the highways as NSV uses the
latest survey techniques including a high-resolution digital camera and Laser Road Profilometer
for measurement of distresses in the road surface.
• NSV will also help collate data to analyse the road condition including measurement of the
road surface, surface cracking, potholes and patches.
• It will also provide data insights relating to side drains and road furniture etc.
• The data collected through the NSV survey will be uploaded on NHAI’s based portal Data Lake,
where it will be analysed by Road Asset Management Cell to assess the condition and roughness
of the road to prioritise for the maintenance.
About National Highways Authority of India:
It is an autonomous agency of the Government of India, set up in 1988 and is responsible for
the management of a network of over 50,000 km of National Highways out of 1,15,000 km in
India. It is a nodal agency of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
109. WORLD CHAGAS DISEASE DAY : 14 APRIL

Context:
World Chagas Disease Day is celebrated on April 14 to raise awareness around chagas disease.
Details:
• It was first celebrated on April 14, 2020, and was named after Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas,
the Brazilian doctor who diagnosed the first case on 14 April 1909.
• The proposal for a World Chagas Disease Day was instituted by the International Federation
of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease and was supported by several health
institutions, universities, research centres, organizations and foundations.
• World Chagas Disease Day is one of 11 official global public health campaigns marked by the
World Health Organization (WHO), along with World Tuberculosis Day, World Health Day, World
Malaria Day, World Immunization Week, World No Tobacco Day, World Blood Donor Day, World
Hepatitis Day, World Patient Safety Day, World Antimicrobial Awareness Week and World AIDS
Day
110. NITI AAYOG LAUNCHES ‘POSHAN GYAN’, A DIGITAL REPOSITORY ON HEALTH, NUTRITION
Context:
Recently, NITI Aayog, in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Centre for
Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University launched Poshan Gyan, a national digital
repository on health and nutrition.
Details:
About Poshan Gyan
• The Poshan Gyan repository was conceptualized as a resource, empowering the inquiry of
correspondence materials on 14 thematic areas of health and nourishment across assorted
dialects, media types, target crowds and sources.
• The repository introduces a unique crowdsourcing feature that allows anyone to submit
communication material for inclusion on the website, followed by a review by a designated
committee.
• The portal highlights the “Theme of the Month” (in line with MoHFW and MoWCD guidelines
to promote key topics) and the “Most Downloaded Media” (as a way to learn about the
materials that are most preferred by audiences).
• It also provides links to other important sites and resources, such as the webpages of MoHFW,
MoWCD, NITI Aayog, AnemiaMukt Bharat, EatRightIndia and others.
About NITI Aayog
• NITI Aayog is a Government agency for formulating policies and was established in 2015 to
replace the Planning Commission.
• Chairperson: Prime Minister
• Vice Chairperson: Rajiv Kumar
• CEO: Amitabh Kant
111. EATSMART CITIES CHALLENGE AND TRANSPORT 4 ALL CHALLENGE LAUNCHED

Context:
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the EatSmart Cities Challenge and Transport 4
All Challenge.
Details:
• The EatSmart Cities Challenge aims to motivate Smart Cities to develop a plan that supports a
healthy, safe and sustainable food environment supported by institutional, physical, social, and
economic infrastructure along with the application of ‘smart’ solutions to combat food-related
issues.
• The Transport4All Digital Innovation Challenge aims to develop digital solutions that will make
public transport safe, affordable, comfortable, and reliable for all.
EatSmart Cities Challenge
The ‘Eat Right India’ movement initiated by FSSAI under the aegis of Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare, has gone a long way in creating awareness amongst the people about eating safe,
healthy and sustainably. The launch event of EatSmart Cities Challenge today was organized in
association with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the aegis of Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare.
Transport 4 All (T4All) Challenge
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the Transport 4 All challenge in
collaboration with ITDP. The Challenge aims to bring together cities, citizen groups, and start-
ups to develop solutions that improve public transport to better serve the needs of all citizens.
Three Stages of the Challenge
The Transport All through Digital Innovation Challenge comprises three stages:
● Stage I PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION: Cities, with the support of NGOs, identify key recurring
problems that citizens and public transport operators face
● Stage II SOLUTION GENERATION: Start-ups develop prototypes of solutions to improve public
transport with inputs from cities and NGOs
● Stage III PILOT TESTING: Cities engage start-ups for large-scale pilots and refine the solutions
based on citizen feedback.
112. INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR STREET CHILDREN OBSERVED

Context:
International Day for Street Children was observed on April 12th.
Details:
• The day gives a stage to the large numbers of kids in the city all throughout the world – and
their champions – to stand up with the goal that their privileges can't be disregarded.
• Observing the International Day for Street Children, children from shelters and pavement
dwelling networks met up to take part in discussions, bunch conversations, street theatre and
dance performances facilitated by Karunalaya, an NGO working with street children.
In 2018, CSC launched our 5-year ‘4 Steps to Equality’ campaign – a call to governments around
the world to take four steps that will achieve equality for street children.
The 4 Steps to Equality is based on the UN General Comment on Children in Street Situations,
breaking it into four actionable steps:
• Commit to Equality
• Protect Every Child
• Provide Access to Services
• Create Specialised Solutions
113. GLOBAL FOOD POLICY REPORT PUBLISHED

Context:
The International Food Policy Research Institute publishes the Global Food Policy Report.
Details:
This year the establishment has delivered the report dependent on the subject "Changing Food
Systems After COVID-19".
Key Findings of the Report:
• A few families moved from costly nutritious food varieties, for example, products of the soil
towards less expensive staple food sources because of the pandemic.
• The midday meal programme of India that covers 80% of elementary young kids in the nation
was influenced because of the COVID-19 lockdown.
• Half of the families in India detailed that ladies spent more time fetching firewood and water
in comparison with the previous year.
114. POONAM GUPTA APPOINTED NEW DIRECTOR-GENERAL “NATIONAL COUNCIL OF

APPLIED ECONOMIC RESEARCH (NCAER)”
Context:
World Bank economist Poonam Gupta has been appointed as the new Director-General of the
policy think tank “National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)”.
Details:
• She is the 1st woman director general of NCAER.
• She would succeed Shekhar Shah who was appointed in 2011 and will complete his second 5-
year term in early May 2021.
• She is presently working as a lead economist at the Washington DC-based World Bank.
National Council for Applied and Economic Research (NCAER)
• Established in 1956, NCAER is India’s oldest and largest independent, non-profit, economic
policy research institute.
• It is one of a handful of think tanks globally that combine rigorous analysis and policy outreach
with deep data collection capabilities, especially for household surveys.
115. MANAS MOBILE APP LAUNCHED

Context:
Recently, the government of India launched a mobile app, MANAS (Mental Health and Normalcy
Augmentation System) to promote mental wellbeing across age groups.
Details:
• It is a comprehensive, scalable, and national digital wellbeing platform and an app developed
to augment the mental well-being of Indian citizens.
• It integrates the health and wellness efforts of various government ministries, scientifically
validated indigenous tools with gamified interfaces developed/researched by various national
bodies and research institutions.
• It is based on life skills and core psychological processes, with universal accessibility, delivering
age-appropriate methods and promoting positive attitude focusing on wellness.
• It is developed by National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)
Bengaluru, Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) Pune and Centre for Development of
Advanced Computing(C-DAC) Bengaluru.
• Its motto is Uttam Mann, Saksham Jan.
116. ONLINE GRIEVANCE MANAGEMENT PORTAL: NCSC LAUNCHED

Context:
The Government launched the “Online Grievance Management Portal of National Commission
for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)” on the occasion of the 130th birth anniversary of Dr. B R
Ambedkar.
Details:
• It has been designed in collaboration with the Bhaskaracharya Institute for Space Applications
and Geoinformatics (BISAG-N), a Centre of Excellence under the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology.
• It will facilitate an end-to-end e-filing of complaints and grievances and their tracking.
• It is for submission of complaints about atrocities against citizens who belong to the Scheduled
Castes.
• It is “intended to make the hearing processor" similar to India’s e-Courts project and allow
grievance redressal for the country’s scheduled caste population in a “time-bound manner".
• It will supplement the physical submission of complaints and grievances.
117. PM GREETS ON POYLA BOISHAKH

Context:
Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has greeted Bengalis in India and across the world on Poyla
Boishakh.
Details:
• Poila Boishakh, also known as Bangla Noboborsho, is the first day of the Bengali calendar and
celebrated as new year’s day.
• It usually falls on April 14 or 15 every year, set according to the lunisolar Bengali calendar as
the first day of the first month Boishakh.
• It is believed that King Shoshangko of ancient Bengal is credited with starting the Bengali era,
which is estimated to be in 594 in the Gregorian calendar.
• This festival is celebrated on 14 April in Bangladesh and 15 April in the Indian states of West
Bengal, Tripura, and Assam (Barak Valley) by Bengalis regardless of religious faith.
• In 2016, UNESCO declared this festivity organized by the Faculty of Fine Arts, the University of
Dhaka as a cultural heritage of humanity.
118. INFANT-TODDLER AND CAREGIVER-FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURHOODS (ITCN) TRAINING AND

CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAMME’ LAUNCHED
Context:
Recently, the ‘Infant-Toddler and Caregiver-friendly Neighbourhoods (ITCN) Training and
Capacity Building Programme’ has been launched by the National Institute of Urban Affairs
(NIUA) in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF).
Details:
• It will help build capacities of city officials and young professionals for developing young
children and family-friendly neighbourhoods within cities in India.
• Under the program, city authorities and youthful experts are proposed to be skilled through
certified training and capacity building modules.
About NIUA
• Established in 1976, the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA, is a premier Institute of
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India for research and capacity building
for the urban sector in India.
• The Institution has been actively working on bringing forth key areas of concern for urban
India to build the urban discourse at various urban scales and committed towards aligning its
efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through all its initiatives and
programs.
119. SPECIAL REFINANCE FACILITY LAUNCHED

Context:
Recently, the National Housing Bank launched the “Special Refinance Facility” 2021 and Rs
10,000 crores has been designated to this facility.
About Special Refinance Facility, 2021
• The principal objective of this facility is to give short term refinance support to the housing
finance companies and other qualified Primary Lending Institutions.
• The facility will help in meeting the short-term liquidity requirement in the Public Lending
Institutions.
About National Housing Bank
• It is an All India Financial Institution (AIFl), set up in 1988, under the National Housing Bank
Act, 1987.
• It is an apex agency established to operate as a principal agency to promote housing finance
institutions both at local and regional levels and to provide financial and other support incidental
to such institutions and for matters connected therewith.
120. INITIATIVES OF NATIONAL INTERNET EXCHANGE OF INDIA

Context:
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has inaugurated three new
initiatives/services of the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI).
Details:
• NIXI is a not-for-profit organization (section 8 of the Companies Act 2013) working since 2003
for spreading the internet infrastructure to the citizens of India.
• IP Guru, NIXI Academy, NIXI-IP-INDEX have been launched to facilitate the adoption of IPv6
and create an environment to ensure a smooth transition from IPv4 to IPv6.
• IPv6 Expert Panel (IP Guru) is a group to extend support to all the Indian entities who are
finding it technically challenging to migrate and adopt IPv6. It will be offering its services free of
cost.
• NIXI Academy is created to educate technical/non-technical people in India to learn and
relearn technologies like IPv6 which are normally not taught in Educational Institutes.
• NIXI-IP-INDEX portal will showcase the IPv6 adoption rate in India and across the world. It can
be used to compare the IPv6 Indian adoption rate with other economies in the world.
121. FIRST MEETING OF NATIONAL STARTUP ADVISORY COUNCIL CONDUCTED

Context:
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal chaired the first meeting of the National Startup
Advisory Council.
Details:
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade had constituted this Council to
advise the Government on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing
innovation and startups in the country.
About National Startup Advisory Council
• National Startup Advisory Council: It was constituted by the Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in January 2020.
• Objective: This is to advise the Government on measures needed to build a strong startup
ecosystem. The ecosystem will nurture innovation and startups in the country. It will drive
sustainable economic growth and generate large scale employment opportunities.
• Composition:
o Chairman: Minister for Commerce & Industry.
o Convener of the Council: Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade.
o Ex-officio Members: Nominees of the concerned Ministries/Departments/Organizations not
below the rank of Joint Secretary.
o Non-official members to be nominated by the Government from various categories like
• Founders of successful startups
• Veterans who have grown and scaled companies in India

• Persons capable of representing the interests of investors into startups, etc.
122. GOVT SIMPLIFIES PROCESS TO RE-ISSUE OCI CARDS

Context:
The Union Government has decided to simplify the process to re-issue Overseas Citizen of India
(OCI) cards.
Details:
• The (OCI) cardholders will be required to get their document re-issued only once at the age of
20 instead of multiple times needed currently needed to be done currently.
• A person who has got registration as OCI cardholder prior to attaining the age of 20 years will
have to get the OCI card re-issued only once when a new passport is issued after completing 20
years of age.
• If a person has obtained registration as OCI cardholder after attaining the age of 20 years,
there will be no requirement of re-issue of OCI card.
What are OCI cards?
The Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards, which is highly popular among overseas Indians,
provides long term visa-free travel and stay in India and gives the cardholders a host of privileges
normally not given to a foreign national.
123. NATIONAL LEVEL CLIMATE VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT REPORT TO BE RELEASED
TOMORROW
Context:
A national-level climate vulnerability assessment report will be released.
Details:
• The report is titled ‘Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in India Using a
Common Framework’.
• It identifies the most vulnerable states and districts in India with respect to current climate
risk and key drivers of vulnerability.
• This will help Policymakers in initiating appropriate climate actions.
• It will also benefit climate-vulnerable communities across India through development of
better-designed climate change adaptation projects.
• A total of 94 representatives from 24 states and 2 Union Territories participated in the nation-
wide exercise.
• It was jointly supported by the Department of Science & Technology and the Swiss Agency for
Development & Cooperation.
124. INDIA, FRANCE: SPACE AGREEMENT FOR GAGANYAAN MISSION

Context:
Space agencies of India and France signed an agreement for cooperation for India’s 1st human
space mission, Gaganyaan.
Details:
• CNES, the French space agency under the agreement will give hardware created by it, and as
yet working on operating aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will be made available to
Indian crews.
• The CNES will likewise be providing fireproof carry bags made in France to shield equipment
from shocks and radiation.
About the Gaganyaan Mission
• The Gaganyaan is India’s first Human Space Flight Mission.
• Gaganyaan is a mission by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) that will send three
astronauts, two men and a woman, to space by 2022.
• The astronauts will stay up there for five to seven days.
125. INCLUSIVE INTERNET INDEX 2021 RELEASED

Context:
The Economist Intelligence Unit(EIU), in collaboration with Facebook, has released the Inclusive
Internet Index 2021.
Details:
India and Thailand share 49th place this year on the scores of internet availability (77th position
globally), affordability (20th spot), relevance (49th position) and readiness (29th) categories.
The top 5 Countries are:
• Sweden
• United States
• Spain
• Australia
• Hong Kong
About the Index
• The ‘Inclusive Internet Index’ surveyed 120 countries, representing 98 per cent of global GDP
and 96 per cent of the global population.
• The overall Index score is based on four parameters, which are: Availability, Affordability,
Relevance and Readiness categories. The Inclusive Internet Index is commissioned by Facebook
and developed by The Economist Intelligence Unit
126. RBI SETS UP RRA TO STREAMLINE REGULATIONS

Context:
From May 1, 2021, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will set up a new Regulations Review
Authority (RRA 2.0).
Details:
• The RBI had set up a Regulations Review Authority (RRA) initially for a period of one year from
April 1, 1999, for reviewing regulations, circulars, reporting systems, based on the feedback
from public, banks and financial institutions.
• Accordingly, the RRA 2.0 will function for a period of one year from the date of its
establishment to review the regulatory prescriptions internally as well as by seeking suggestions
from regulated entities and other stakeholders on their simplification and ease of
implementation.
• The RRA 2.0 will focus on streamlining regulatory instructions and reducing the compliance
burden of regulated entities by simplifying procedures and reducing reporting requirements,
wherever possible.
• It shall intend to make regulatory and supervisory instructions more effective by removing
redundancies and duplication if any. It will look to reduce the compliance burden on regulated
entities by streamlining the reporting mechanism, revoking obsolete instructions if necessary
and obviating paper-based submission of returns wherever possible.
• Deputy Governor of RBI, M Rajeshwar Rao, will be the head of the Regulations Review
Authority.
127. WORLD POPULATION REPORT 2021: UNFPA

Context:
The United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) flagship ‘State of World Population Report 2021’
titled ‘My Body is My Own’ was launched.
Details:
• The report is about ladies' ability to settle on choices on their bodies.
• It additionally announced laws in various nations that help ladies rights in this matter.
About United Nations Population Fund
• It is a subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly and works as a sexual and reproductive
health agency.
• It was established as a trust fund in 1967 and began operations in 1969.
• In 1987, it was officially renamed the United Nations Population Fund but the original
abbreviation, ‘UNFPA’ for the United Nations Fund for Population Activities was retained.
128. 8TH INDO-KYRGYZ SPECIAL FORCES EXERCISE ‘KHANJAR’

Context:
The eighth Indo-Kyrgyz joint Special Forces exercise 'Khanjar' flagged off.
Details:
• The eight Indo-Kyrgyz Joint Special Forces Exercise “Khanjar” was inaugurated at the Special
Forces Brigade of National Guards of Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek, the capital of the host nation.
• It was initiated first in 2011, the two-week-long special operations exercise focuses on high-
altitude warfare, mountain warfare and counter-extremism exercises.
• Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, also known as Kirghizia, is a landlocked country in
Central Asia.
• It is bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. Its capital and largest city is
Bishkek.
129. WORLD HEMOPHILIA DAY: 17 APRIL

Context:
April 17 is observed as World Hemophilia Day.
Details:
• It is an international awareness day for hemophilia (also spelled as haemophilia) and other
bleeding disorders and also marks the birth anniversary of Frank Schnabel, the founder of the
World Federation of Hemophilia
• The theme of World Haemophilia Day 2021 is “Adapting to change: sustaining care in a new
world".
• Haemophilia is an inherited blood disorder disease in which blood does not clot properly.
• It is caused due to defects in the blood vessels, the coagulation mechanism, or the blood
platelets and by a deficiency in a gene that resolves on how the human body will make factors
VII, IX, or XI.
• The World Federation of Haemophilia (WFH) started celebrating the day in 1989 and chose
April 17 to celebrate it in honour of the founder of WFH Frank Schnabel.
• Haemophilia was discovered in the 10th century and was found mainly in males. The disease
was then known as Abulcasis.
130. WORLD ART DAY OBSERVED

Context:
Every year on 15 April, World Art Day is observed to celebrate fine arts and promote awareness
of creative activity around the world.
Details:
• The day was proclaimed by the International Association of Art (IAA), an NGO working in
official partnership with UNESCO.
• The 1st celebration of World Art Day was held on April 15, 2012.
• World Art Day is celebrated every year on April 15, to promote the development, diffusion,
and enjoyment of art. The day was adopted by the International Association of Art, a partner of
UNESCO, to create awareness of creative activity worldwide.
About UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialised agency of
the United Nations aimed at promoting world peace and security through international
cooperation in education, the sciences, and culture.
131. GLOBAL DIABETES COMPACT: WHO

Context:
World Health Organization (WHO) launched a Global Diabetes Compact to better fight the
disease while marking the centenary of the discovery of insulin.
Details:
Global Diabetes Compact:
• The Global Diabetes Compact has the vision of reducing the risk of diabetes, and ensuring that
all people who are diagnosed with diabetes have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable
and quality treatment and care.
• It will also support the prevention of type 2 diabetes from obesity, unhealthy diet and physical
inactivity.
• It will set standards for tackling the diseases in the form of ‘global coverage targets’ for
ensuring a wider reach of diabetes care.
• Diabetes is a Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) that occurs either when the pancreas does
not produce enough insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar, or glucose), or when the
body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
132. MONKEYDACTYL: PTEROSAUR SPECIES DISCOVERED

Context:
The new pterosaur fossil was discovered in the Tiaojishan Formation of Liaoning, China, and is
thought to be 160 million years old.
Details:
• The pterosaur species were reptiles, close cousins of dinosaurs and the first animals after
insects to evolve powered flight.
• They evolved into various species, while some were as large as an F-16 fighter jet, others were
as small as paper airplanes.
• Azhdarchidae is a family of pterosaurs known primarily from the Late Cretaceous Period. These
giant reptiles flew in the skies nearly 65 million years ago and belonged to the Phylum Chordata.
• “Antipollicatus” in ancient Greek means “opposite thumbs”, and it was attached to the name
because the researchers’ findings could be the first discovery of a pterosaur with an opposed
thumb.
133. IAF COMMANDERS’ CONFERENCE 2021

Context:
Shri Rajnath Singh, the Union Minister of Defence addressed the biannual IAF Commanders’
Conference 2021 (AFCC-21) on 15 April 2021 at Air Headquarters in New Delhi.
Details:
• The theme of the IAF Commanders’ Conference 2021 was ‘Reorienting for the Future’
• The conference saw detailed deliberations on ways and means to upgrade the operational
capabilities of the IAF.
• The conference finished on 16 April 2021.
About the Conference
• It is aimed at addressing the issues of IAF’s operational capabilities in the times to come.
• A series of discussions were conducted over a period of three days to address strategies and
policies related to capabilities that would give IAF a significant edge over its adversaries.
• Various welfare and Human Resource measures to improve HR and administrative efficiency
were also discussed.
• It provides a forum to the senior leadership of the IAF to discuss critical issues pertaining to
Operations, Maintenance and Administration.
134. RURAL HEALTH STATISTICS REPORT RELEASED

Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the Rural Health Statistics Report.
Details:
• As indicated by the report, there is an overall shortage of 76.1% specialist doctors at the
Community Health Centres.
• There is a lack of 79% of surgeons, 70% of obstetricians and gynecologists, and 78% of
physicians and pediatricians.
• Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are short of almost 1,000 specialists each; West Bengal requires
380 specialists.
• Until 31 March 2020, there were 38,595 functional health and wellness centres in rural India.
• There are a total of 1,43,538 and 2,87,025 beds available at the level of sub-divisional hospitals
and district hospitals, respectively.
• The number of doctors required in Primary Health Centres in a rural area is 24,918. And around
8,638 positions are vacant.
• The shortfall of doctors in PHCs is the highest in Odisha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttar
Pradesh, and Karnataka.
135. MINISTRY OF FINANCE EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE EMERGENCY CREDIT LINE
GUARANTEE SCHEME
Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Finance expanded the scope of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee
Scheme to Rs 3 lakh crores which will now cover borrowers from the healthcare segment.
Details:
• It aims to give relief to stressed companies in India.

• This basically incorporates business enterprises in the tourism, hospitality, travel and sporting
sector.
• The National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company is the assurance supplier of the ECLGS
Scheme.
About Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme:
• To provide fully guaranteed and collateral free additional credit to MSMEs, business
enterprises, MUDRA borrowers and individual loans for business purposes to the extent of 20%
of their credit outstanding as on 29th February, 2020.
• 100% guarantee coverage is being provided by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee
Company, whereas Banks and Non Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) provide loans.
136. GOLD FOR VINESH PHOGAT WON AT THE ASIAN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Context:
The Indian Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has won her maiden Gold at the Asian Wrestling
Championship against Taipei’s Meng Hsuan Hsieh.
Details:
• Vinesh had earlier won 4 bronze and 3 silver medals. This is her 3rd gold medal, but 1st at the
Asian Wrestling Championship.
• Asian Wrestling Championships is the Wrestling Asian Championship organized by the Asian
Associated Wrestling Committee (AAWC).
• The men's tournament began in 1979 and The women's tournament was first staged in 1996,
and it has been held every year.
About Vinesh Phogat:
• She is an Indian wrestler.
• She was the 1st Indian woman to win gold at Asian Games and CommonWealth.
137. GENDER SAMVAAD EVENT LAUNCHED

Context:
The Ministry of Rural Development recently launched the Gender Samvaad Event.
Details:
• It is a joint venture between Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission
(DAY-NRLM) and Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy
(IWWAGE).
• The Gender Samvaad event aimed to spread awareness on gender-related interventions under
the DAY-NRLM.
About DAY-NRLM
• The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission is a poverty relief
programme.
• It is partially supported by the World Bank.
• It was begun with an agenda to cover seven crore rural poor households through Self Help
Groups and support them for livelihoods.
138. WORLD’S BIGGEST UNDERWATER NEUTRINO TELESCOPES LAUNCHED

Context:
Russian scientists have launched one of the world’s biggest underwater neutrino telescopes
called the Baikal-GVD (Gigaton Volume Detector) in the waters of Lake Baikal, the world’s
deepest lake situated in Siberia.
Details:
About Baikal-GVD Telescope
• It is one of the three largest neutrino detectors in the world along with the IceCube at the
South Pole and ANTARES in the Mediterranean Sea.
• It is designed to detect high-energy neutrinos that may have come from the Earth’s core, or
could have been produced during nuclear reactions in the Sun.
• It will aid scientists’ understanding of the origins of the universe since some neutrinos were
formed during the Big Bang, others continue to be formed as a result of supernova explosions
or because of nuclear reactions in the Sun.
139. WISDEN AWARD 2021 ANNOUNCED

Context:
Wisden Award 2021 announced.
Details:
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first One-Day International recently, five ODI
cricketers of the decade are listed in the 2021 edition of Wisden Almanack’s. A cricketer was
selected from each decade between 1971 and 2021,
About Winners
• Virat Kohli is the 2010 ODI cricketer of Wisden Almanac.
• Sachin Tendulkar is a 1990s ODI cricketer.
• Kapil Dev was named as a one-day cricketer for the 1980s.
• England all-rounder Ben Stokes is the 'Leading Cricketer of the Year'.
• Beth Mooney of Australia is 'Leading Women Cricketer in the World'.
• West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard was chosen as the 'Leading T20 Cricketer in the World'.
• Meanwhile, Jason Holder, Mohammed Rizwan, Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley, and Darren
Stevens have been awarded Wisden Cricketers of the Year 2021.
140. FIRST-EVER ONLINE EXHIBITION ON RAMAYANA

Context:
Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has inaugurated the first-ever online
exhibition on Ramayana.
Details:
• The online exhibition showcases forty nine miniature paintings collections of National
Museum, New Delhi from different art schools of India.
• It will be dating from the 17th through the 19th century.
• The Union Minister also addressed a webinar ‘India’s Heritage: Powering Tourism’ on the
occasion of World Heritage Day 2021 on April 18.
141. S-400 TRIUMF SA-21 DELIVERY CONSENTED

Context:
The Russian Government has consented to deliver the 1st regimental set of S-400 Triumf SA-21
Growler Air Defence System to India.
Details:
Russia and India have signed a 5.43 billion USD contract on the defence system. The NATO
reporting name of the defence system is SA-21 Growler.
About S-400 Triumf SA-21 Growler:
• It is a mobile, surface-to-air missile system (SAM) designed by Russia.
• It is the most dangerous operationally deployed modern long-range SAM (MLR SAM) in the
world.
• It represents the fourth generation of long-range Russian SAMs, and the successor to the S-
200 and S-300.
• It can engage all types of aerial targets within the range of 400km, at an altitude of up to
30km.
• These include aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and ballistic and cruise missiles.
• The system can track 100 airborne targets and engage six of them simultaneously.
• The S-400 Triumf air defence system integrates a multifunction radar, autonomous detection
and targeting systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, launchers, and command and control
centre.
• It is capable of firing three types of missiles to create a layered defence.
• It can be integrated into the existing and future air defence units of the Air Force, Army, and
Navy.
• It is considered much ahead of the US-developed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system
(THAAD).
142. ITALY LAUNCHED FIRST MEGA FOOD PARK IN GUJARAT

Context:
Italy has launched its 1st-ever mega food park project in the Gujarat state of India. The pilot
project named “The Mega Food Park” was launched at Fanidhar Mega Food Park, in Gujarat.
Details:
• The food park consists of food processing facilities, in an attempt to further enhance ties
between the two nations.
• The venture will build up a collaboration between agriculture and industry of both countries,
other than focusing on the research and development of newer, proficient technologies in the
sector.
• The Scheme of Mega Food Park aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production
to the market by bringing together farmers, processors and retailers so as to ensure maximizing
value addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers income and creating employment
opportunities, particularly in the rural sector.
143. STARTUP INDIA SEED FUND SCHEME LAUNCHED

Context:
Recently, Startup India Seed Fund Scheme has been launched under the Ministry of Commerce
& Industry.
Details:
• Piyush Goyal, Union Minister launched the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).
• The Fund plans to give monetary help to startups for proof of concept, product trials,
prototype development, market entry, and commercialization.
• The government has passed Rs. 945 Crore corpus for the fund, which will be partitioned
throughout the following 4 years starting April 01, 2021, for providing seed funding to qualified
startups through qualified incubators across India.
Salient features of Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
• It has been set up to provide initial capital to the startups. After that start-ups will be provided
with the Govt. Guarantees, to help them raise debt capital.
• It would offer financial assistance to startups for proofs of concept, prototype development,
product trials, market-entry, and commercialization of products or ideas.
• It will offer startups up to Rs. 20 Lakhs as a grant for Proof of Concept. Upto Rs. 50 Lakhs can
also be availed through convertible debentures or debt or debt-linked instruments for
commercialization.
144. INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR MONUMENTS AND SITES DAY OBSERVED

Context:
Each year, on 18 April, the International Day for Monuments and Sites (World Heritage Day) is
observed to advance mindfulness about the diversity of cultural heritage of humanity, their
vulnerability and the efforts required for their protection and preservation.
Details:
• On 18 April 1982, the International Day for Monuments and Sites was proposed by the
International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and approved by the General
Assembly of UNESCO in 1983.
• Theme 2021- Complex Pasts: Diverse Futures.
World Heritage Sites in India
• Currently, there are 38 World Heritage Sites located in India.
• Of these, 30 are ‘cultural’, such as the Ajanta Caves, Fatehpur Sikri, Hampi monuments and
the Mountain Railways of India, and 7 are ‘Natural’, including Kaziranga, Manas and Nanda Devi
National Parks.
• In 2019, ‘Jaipur City’ became the 38th addition to the India list under ‘Culture’
About UNESCO
• It is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and
security through international cooperation in education, the sciences, and culture.
• It has 193 member states and 11 associate members, as well as partners in the
nongovernmental, intergovernmental, and private sector.
• It is headquartered in Paris, France, UNESCO has 53 regional field offices and 199 national
commissions that facilitate its global mandate.
• UNESCO was founded in 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations' International
Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
• Its constitution establishes the agency's goals, governing structure, and operating
framework.UNESCO's founding mission, which was shaped by the Second World War, is to
advance peace, sustainable development and human rights by facilitating collaboration and
dialogue among nations.
• It pursues this objective through five major program areas: education, natural sciences,
social/human sciences, culture and communication/information.
145. GOVERNMENT OF NAGALAND TO ESTABLISH ABHIJIT SINHA COMMITTEE

Context:
The government of Nagaland has decided to establish a joint consultative committee (JCC) called
Abhijit Sinha Committee. This committee involves all traditional tribal bodies and civil society
organisations.
Details:
• The JCC will be headed by Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha where he is made responsible for
preparing the Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland (RIIN)
• It will include members from the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, Central Nagaland
Tribes’ Council, and the Tenyemie People’s Organisation.
• In July 2019, the Nagaland government launched the RIIN, seen as a variant of Assam’s
National Register of Citizens that excluded 19.06 lakh people out of about 3.3 crore applicants.
• December 1, 1963 — the day Nagaland attained Statehood — was the cut-off date for
determining the “permanent residents” of the State.
• Apart from non-Nagas, the “outsiders” implied Nagas living in areas beyond the boundaries of
Nagaland could be left out of the RIIN.
146. SUPPORT CENTRE FOR ADITYA-L1

Context:
ARIES facility (Aryabhata Research Institute for Observational Sciences) will host the support
centre for Aditya-L1 mission, which is due to be launched next year (2022).
Details:
About Aditya-L1 Mission
• It is India’s first scientific expedition to study the Sun. It will be ISRO’s(Indian Space Research
Organisation) second space-based astronomy mission after AstroSat, which was launched in
2015.
• ISRO categorises Aditya L1 as a 400 kg-class satellite that will be launched using the Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in XL configuration.
• It will be inserted in a halo orbit around the L1 ( Lagrangian point 1), which is 1.5 million km
from the Earth.
• The space-based observatory will have seven payloads (instruments) on board to study the
Sun’s corona, solar emissions, solar winds and flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and
will carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.
• ARIES is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology and is
located in Nainital (Uttarakhand).
147. DHRUV MK III: ADVANCED LIGHT HELICOPTER COMMISSIONED

Context:
Recently, the first unit of the indigenously built ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) Dhruv Mk III
aircraft, was commissioned into the Indian Navy.
Details:
• It is a twin engine, multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter in the 5.5 ton weight
class.
• It is a multi-role chopper with the Shakti engine manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited (HAL).
• It has a 0.7 mm gun, which will give a huge capability from a LIMO (low intensity maritime
operations) standpoint.
• Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is an Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company,
headquartered in Bangalore, India.
• It is governed under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence.
148. SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM VOLCANO REACHED INDIA

Context:
The Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) emissions from a volcanic eruption in the Caribbean (La Soufriere
Volcano) have reached India.
Details:
About La Soufriere Volcano

• It is an active stratovolcano on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent in Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines.
• A stratovolcano is a tall, conical volcano composed of one layer of hardened lava, tephra, and
volcanic ash.
• Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) emissions from a volcanic eruption could result in Acid Rain.
• Acid rain results when sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the
atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents.
149. STATE OF THE GLOBAL CLIMATE 2020 REPORT RELEASED

Context:
Recently, the World Meteorological Organisation released the “State of the Global Climate
2020” report.
Details:
• 2011-2020 was the hottest decade on record.
• Cyclone Amphan is the costliest tropical cyclone on record in the North Indian Ocean. In May
2020, the Cyclone made landfall close to the India-Bangladesh border. The economic losses in
India because of the cyclone is approximately 14 billion USD.
• 2020 is one of the three hottest years on record.
About World Meteorological Organisation
• It is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 193 Member States and
Territories.
• It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), the roots of which
were planted at the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
150. WORLD CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION DAY OBSERVED

Context:
Every year, on April 21, the World Creativity and Innovation Day (#WCID) is celebrated.
Details:
• The 1st UN World Creativity and Innovation Day were celebrated on April 21, 2018.
• The World Creativity and Innovation Week is seen from April 15-21.
• The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution to celebrate the day on 27 April
2017. World Creativity and Innovation Day were founded on 25 May 2001 in Toronto, Canada.
• The founder of the day was the Canadian Marci Segal, who was studying creativity in 1977 at
the International Center for Studies in Creativity.
• It is celebrated to bring issues to light about the significance of creativity and innovation in
problem-solving and support creative multidisciplinary thinking at the individual and group
levels.
151. STEFANOS TSITSIPAS WON 2021 MONTE CARLO MASTERS

Context:
Stefanos Tsitsipas has won the 2021 Monte Carlo Masters to capture the maiden Masters 1000
title.
Details:
• In Tennis, Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) beat Andrey Rublev (Russia) in a straight-set 6-3 6-3 to
claim the 2021 Rolex Monte Carlo Masters singles title.
• Tsitsipas has won the 1st ATP Masters 1000 trophy of his career.
Monte Carlo Masters
It is a tennis tournament for male professional players and part of the Masters 1000 event on
the ATP Tour.
152. CIVIL SERVICES DAY OBSERVED

Context:
In India, the ‘Civil Services Day’ is observed on April 21 every year.
Details:
• It is observed as thanks offering day to every one of the Civil Servants for their support of the
general public and for Civil Servants to ‘rededicate themselves to the cause of citizens and renew
their commitments to public service’
• The day April 21 was chosen to commemorate the day when the 1st Home Minister of
Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative
Services Officers in 1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi.
• The first function on civil services day was held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi in 2006.
• On this day, the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration are presented
to Districts/Implementing Units for implementation of Priority programme and innovation
categories.
About Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
• He was born on 31st October, 1875 in Nadiad, Gujarat.
• He was the first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of independent India.
• Women of Bardoli bestowed the title ‘Sardar’ on Vallabhbhai Patel, which means ‘a Chief or a
Leader’.
153. WORLD PRESS FREEDOM INDEX 2021

Context:
India has ranked 142nd yet again out of 180 nations in the recently unveiled World Press
Freedom Index.
Details:
• The index is published each year by the international journalism not-for-profit body,
“Reporters Without Borders (RSF)”, to assess the press opportunity circumstance in 180 nations
and regions.
• Norway has held its top position for the fifth year running, trailing Finland and Denmark at
second and third spot individually.
• It is based in Paris, RSF is an independent NGO with consultative status with the United
Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the International Organization of the Francophonie
(OIF).
• The Index ranks countries and regions according to the level of freedom available to
journalists. However, it is not an indicator of the quality of journalism.
• The parameters include pluralism, media independence, media environment and self-
censorship, legislative framework, transparency, and the quality of the infrastructure that
supports the production of news and information.
154. INDIA-GERMANY TO PREVENT PLASTIC WASTE ENTERING OCEANS

Context:
The Government of India (GOI) and Germany have signed an agreement for Technical
Cooperation in improving practices to prevent plastic from entering the marine environment.
Details:
• The project titled ‘Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment’ will be executed
for 3 and a half years.
• The result of the project is totally under the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban
focusing on sustainable solid waste management and PM Modi’s vision to eliminate single-use
plastic by 2022.
• It will be undertaken at the national level (at MoHUA), select states (Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and
Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and in the cities of Kanpur, Kochi and Port Blair.
155. NASA'S INGENUITY MARS HELICOPTER SUCCESSFULLY TOOK OFF

Context:
Recently, NASA's miniature robot helicopter Ingenuity performed a successful takeoff and
landing on Mars.
Details:
• It is the first helicopter to fly on Mars.
• It was carried by NASA’s rover called Perseverance that was launched in July 2020.
• Ingenuity is able to fly using counter-rotating blades that spin at about 2,400 rpm (Rotations
Per Minute).
• It has a wireless communication system and is equipped with computers, navigation sensors,
and two cameras.
• It is solar-powered, able to charge on its own.

• It will help collect samples from the surface from locations where the rover cannot reach.
156. 1ST INDIAN WOMAN TO SCALE MT ANNAPURNA

Context:
Priyanka Mohite has become the 1st Indian woman to scale Mt Annapurna, the 10th highest
mountain in the world.
Details:
• Mt Annapurna is a massif in the Himalayas in north-central Nepal situated 8,091 metres above
sea level.
• On April 16, 2021, the 26-year-old mountaineer achieved the feat.
• She also holds the record for being the 1st woman in India to scale Mt Makalu, the 5th highest
mountain in the world at 8,485 metres in May 2019.
157. STATE OF THE GLOBAL CLIMATE 2020: WMO

Context:
Recently, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its annual State of the Global
Climate for 2020.
Details:
• 2020 was one of the three warmest years on record, despite a cooling La Niña event.
• Emission of major greenhouse gases increased in 2019 and 2020.
• In 2019, the oceans had the highest heat content on record. In 2020, it has broken this record
further.
• Over 80% of the ocean area experienced at least one marine heatwave in 2020.
World Meteorological Organization
• It is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 192 Member States and
Territories. India is a member.
• It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was established
after the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress.
158. GLOBAL YOUTH MOBILIZATION INITIATIVE

Context:
Recently, an initiative called the ‘Global Youth Mobilization’ has been launched for youths in
communities impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Details:
• A Global Youth Summit (GYS), to be held virtually on 23rd-25th April 2021, marks the starting
point for young people to get involved in the mobilization.
• It is a movement of young people taking action to improve their lives now and in a post-Covid-
19 world.
• Aim: To address the negative impact of the pandemic on young people and support them to
build back better.
• Organisations Involved: It is supported by the world’s six largest youth organisations, World
Health Organization (WHO), and United Nations (UN) Foundation.
159. BOAO FORUM FOR ASIA (BFA) ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2021

Context:
The opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2021 was recently
held in Boao, south China's Hainan Province.
Details:
About BFA Annual Conference 2021
• The forum witnessed more than 2500 participants coming from more than 60 countries.
• This year's theme is ‘A World in Change: Join Hands to Strengthen Global Governance and
Advance Belt and Road Cooperation’.
About Boao Forum
• The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is an international not for profit organization which was jointly
initiated by 26 member states in 2001, the members have now increased to 29.
• India is also a member of the BFA.
• Its annual conference is held in Boao, Hainan province of China on a regular basis.
• The establishment of BFA is modelled on the lines of the World Economic Forum which bases
its annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. Thus earning the name of ‘Davos of the East’.
160. INDIA ELECTED TO THE 3 BODIES OF THE UNITED NATION

Context:
India was recently elected to the 3 bodies of the United Nations.
Details:
• They were the Executive Board of the World Food Programme, Commission on Crime
Prevention and Criminal Justice and Executive Board of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and
Empowerment of Women.
• All these 3 bodies work under the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
• India was chosen for every one of these three bodies by acclamation which means honouring
someone.
• India’s term to these bodies starts on January 1, 2022.
About United Nations Economic and Social Council
• It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging consensus on
ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals.
• It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
• The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the United
Nations.
161. RESPOND PROGRAM ANNOUNCED BY ISRO

Context:
Recently, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that it will support eight
joint research projects mooted by the Space Technology Cell (STC), IIT-Delhi.
Details:
• ISRO started the RESPOND (Research Sponsored) programme in the 1970s, with the objective
of encouraging academia to participate and contribute in various Space related research
activities.
• Under the Programme, ISRO provides financial support for conducting research and
development activities related to Space Science, Space Technology and Space Applications in
Academic Institutions in India.
• It looks to enhance the Academic base, generate human resources and infrastructure at the
Academic Institutions to support the Space Programmes.
• RESPOND is also participating in the National Missions like IMPRINT (IMPacting Research
INnovation and Technology) programme and Uchhatar Avishkar Yojana (UAY).
162. WORLD EARTH DAY OBSERVED

Context:
Every year, April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day to raise public awareness about the environment
and inspire people to save and protect it.
Details:
• In 1970, the 1st World Earth Day was celebrated.
• It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and
celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.
• The idea of commemorating such a day was propounded by Gaylord Nelson, an American
environmentalist and politician.
• The theme of Earth Day 2021 is to 'Restore Our Earth'. It focuses on adopting natural processes
and emerging eco-friendly technologies that can restore ecosystems.
163. PERSEVERANCE ROVER CONVERTED CARBON DIOXIDE INTO OXYGEN

Context:
Recently, the Perseverance rover of Mars 2020 Mission of NASA converted carbon dioxide into
oxygen.
Details:
• This is the 1st time this has been accomplished on another planet.
• This was accomplished by MOXIE, an instrument set on the front side of the rover.
What is MOXIE?
• MOXIE = Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilisation Experiment. It is a golden box set on the
front side of the rover.
• MOXIE utilizes electricity and chemistry to split carbon molecules into carbon and oxygen and
produces carbon monoxide as a by-product.
164. GLOBAL ENERGY REVIEW REPORT RELEASED

Recently, the International Energy Agency released the Global Energy Review report. As per the
report, the Carbon Dioxide emissions in India is to be 1.4% higher than the levels recorded in
2019.
Key Findings of the Report: India

• The coal-fired power generation is to increment by 3 times higher than the expansion in
generation from renewables.
• The coal demand is relied upon to increase by 9%.
165. MADHU KRANTI PORTAL & HONEY CORNERS LAUNCHED

Context:
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare has launched “Madhu Kranti Portal &
Honey Corners.
Details:
Madhu Kranti Portal
• It is an initiative of National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
under National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM).
• This portal is being developed for online registration to achieve a traceability source of Honey
and other beehive products on a digital platform.
• The platform will help in checking the quality and source of adulteration of honey.
Honey Corners
• Honey Corners are special spaces for the marketing and sale of honey.
• It is operated by National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED).
166. AIM-PRIME LAUNCHED

Context:
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog launched AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on
Innovations, Market-Readiness & Entrepreneurship).
Details:
• It aims to promote science based, deep technology ideas to market through training and
guidance over a period of 12 months.
• Candidates selected for the programme will get access to in-depth learning via a
comprehensive lecture series, live team projects, exercises, and project-specific mentoring.
• They will also have access to a deep tech start-up playbook, curated video library, and plenty
of peer-to-peer learning opportunities.
• AIM is Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship in the country.
167. FIFTH SESSION OF CODEX COMMITTEE ON SPICES AND CULINARY HERBS INAUGURATED
Context:
Recently, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) inaugurated the fifth session
of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) established under Codex
Alimentarius Commission (CAC).
Details:
• The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) was formed in 2013.
• India is the host country and Spices Board India is the Secretariat for organizing the sessions
of the committee.
• Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry) is the flagship organization for the
development and worldwide promotion of Indian spices.
About the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

• It is an intergovernmental body established jointly by the UN’s Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1963, within the framework of
the Joint Food Standards Programme.
• The Secretariat of the CAC is hosted at FAO headquarters in Rome.
• It was established to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food
trade.
• It meets in regular sessions once a year alternating between Geneva and Rome.
• Currently, it has 189 Codex Members made up of 188 Member Countries and 1 Member
Organization (The European Union).
• India is a member.
About Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
• It is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government
of India.
• It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is a
consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
168. WORLD BOOK AND COPYRIGHT DAY: 23 APRIL

Context:
The World Book and Copyright Day (also known as ‘International Day of the Book’ and ‘World
Book Day’), is an annual event organized on April 23.
Details:
• It is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) to promote reading, publishing, and copyright.
• April 23 is a symbolic date for world literature because on this date in 1616 that Cervantes,
Shakespeare, and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died.
World Book Day 2021: History
In 1995, UNESCO decided to celebrate April 23 as World Book Day or World Book and Copyright
Day, and since then, the date has prominence in the history of literature.
April 23 marks the death and birth anniversary of many other prominent authors, such as
Maurice Druon, Haldor K.Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Josep Pla, and Manuel Mejía Vallejo.
169. UN ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAY OBSERVED

Context:
UN English Language Day is observed annually on 23 April.
Details:
The aim is to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity by exploring the language. English
Language Day marks the birthday and date of death of famed writer William Shakespeare.
This day makes up one of six UN language days. In the year 2010, an initiative by the Department
of Public Information established language days for each of the Organization's six official
languages from across the world.
UN language days:
• Arabic (18 December)
• Chinese (20 April)
• English (23 April)
• French (20 March)
• Russian (6 June)
• Spanish (23 April)
170. WORLD VETERINARY DAY OBSERVED

Context:
Every year, World Veterinary Day is observed on the 4th Saturday of April.In 2021, the day falls
on April 24, 2021.
Details:
• The theme of the 2021 World Veterinary Day is ‘Veterinarian response to the COVID-19 crisis.’
• In 1863, in Hamburg (Germany), Veterinary College Professor John Gamgee from Edinburgh
led the first International Veterinary Congress meeting.
• The agenda of the meeting involved epizootic diseases, their preventive measures and lay out
standard rules for cattle trade in Europe. This congress came to be addressed as the World
Veterinary Congress.
• Eventually, in the 8th World Veterinary Congress, a ‘Permanent Committee’ was created to
function as an organizational link between congresses.
• The day was created by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) in 2000 to commend the
commitments of veterinarians to the health of animals and society.
171. NATIONAL PANCHAYATI RAJ DAY OBSERVED

Context:
In India, on 24 April, the National Panchayati Raj Day (National Local Self-Government day) is
observed annually by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to celebrate the Panchayati Raj System in
the country.
Details:
• The 1st National Panchayati Raj Day was declared by the then Prime Minister of India Shri
Manmohan Singh, on 24 April 2010.
• With the Panchayati Raj Act (73rd Amendment) coming into force on April 24, 1993, states
were allowed to take steps to organize village panchayats and give them necessary powers to
function as units of self-government.
172. JUSTICE NUTHALAPATI VENKATA RAMANA TAKES OATH AS 48TH CJI

Context:
Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana today took oath as the 48th Chief Justice of India.
Details:
• Justice Ramana will have a tenure of nearly 16 months as the Chief Justice and is due to retire
on 26th August next year.
• He was born on 27th August 1957 in Ponnavaram village of Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district.
• Justice Ramana was enrolled as an advocate in February 1983.
• He was appointed as a permanent Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in June 2000 and
functioned as acting Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court from March to May 2013.
• Justice Ramana was elevated as the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court in September, 2013 and
was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court in February 2014.
How is the Chief Justice appointed?
The Chief Justice of India is traditionally appointed by the outgoing Chief Justice of India on the
day of his (or her) retirement. By convention, the outgoing Chief Justice of India selects the most
senior then-sitting Supreme Court judge.
Seniority at the apex court is determined not by age, but by:
• The date a judge was appointed to the Supreme Court.
• If two judges are elevated to the Supreme Court on the same day:
• The one who was sworn in first as a judge would trump another.
• If both were sworn in as judges on the same day, the one with more years of high court service
would ‘win’ in the seniority stakes.
• An appointment from the bench would ‘trump’ in seniority an appointee from the bar.
173. RUMANA SINHA SEHGAL WON THE NELSON MANDELA WORLD HUMANITARIAN AWARD
2021
Context:
Rumana Sinha Sehgal won the Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021 by the
Diplomatic Mission Global Peace.
Details:
About Nelson Mandela Prize
• The Nelson Mandela Prize, which is awarded every five years and recognizes those who
dedicate their lives to the service of humanity, by promoting the purposes and principles of the
United Nations, while honouring Nelson Mandela’s life, and legacy of reconciliation, political
transition, and social transformation.
• The Mandela Prize was established by a UN General Assembly resolution in June 2014.
174. GENDER BIAS AND INCLUSION IN ADVERTISING IN INDIA RELEASED

Context:
Recently, a report titled “Gender Bias and Inclusion In Advertising In India” has been released
by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in
Media (GDI).
Details:
The research has shown that while advertisements in India are better than worldwide
benchmarks to the extent that young women have equality of portrayal as far as screen and
talking time, their depiction is problematic as they further gender stereotypes.
About UNICEF
• It is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid
to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social
welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories.
• UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.
• UNICEF became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953.
• UNICEF's activities include providing immunizations and disease prevention, administering
treatment for children and mothers with HIV, enhancing childhood and maternal nutrition,
improving sanitation, promoting education, and providing emergency relief in response to
disasters.
• UNICEF is the successor of the International Children's Emergency Fund (ICEF), created in 1946
by the U.N. Relief Rehabilitation Administration to provide immediate relief to children and
mothers affected by World War II.
175. WORLD MALARIA DAY 2021 OBSERVED

Context:
Every year World Malaria Day (WMD) is observed on April 25.
Details:
• The 2021 theme is “Reaching the Zero Malaria target".
• The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report, titled ‘Zeroing in on malaria
elimination’.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) identified 25 countries under its ‘E-2025 Initiative’ with
the potential to eradicate malaria by 2025.
About Malaria:
• A mosquito borne blood disease caused by plasmodium parasites.
• Found in the tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America as well as Asia.
• Symptoms include fever and flu-like illness, shaking chills, headache, muscle aches, and
tiredness.
• Four kinds of malaria parasites infect humans : Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and
P. malariae.
About World Health Organization
• Founded in 1948.
• Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland.
• Members : 194 Member States & six regional offices.
• An intergovernmental organization, works in collaboration with its member states usually
through the Ministries of Health.
• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
• Objective : It provides leadership on global health matters, shapes the health research
agenda, sets norms and standards, articulates evidence-based policy options, provides technical
support to countries and monitors and assess health trends.
• India became a party on 12 January 1948.
• Director-General : Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
176. FOSS4GOV INNOVATION CHALLENGE LAUNCHED

Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) has announced the
#FOSS4GOV Innovation Challenge.
Details:
• A virtual roundtable discussion ‘Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in Government’ was
organized by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) in collaboration
with Omidyar Network India.
• It aims to accelerate adoption of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) In Government.
• It calls for FOSS innovators, technology entrepreneurs and Indian Startups to submit
implementable open source product innovations in CRM and ERP with applications for Govtech
in Health, Education, Agriculture, Urban Governance etc.
• Free and open-source software is software that can be classified as both free software and
open-source software.
About Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY)
• It is an executive agency of the Union Government of the Republic of India.
• In 2016, It was carved out of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology as
a only ministerial agency responsible for IT policy, strategy and development of the electronics
industry.
177. CREW-2 MISSION LAUNCHED

Context:
Four astronauts were launched to the International Space Station (ISS) under Crew-2 Mission.
Details:
• It is the second crew rotation of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and the first with international
partners.
• Astronauts to join the members of the 65th long duration expedition to the International
Space Station.
• NASA's Commercial Crew Program is a partnership between NASA and private industry to carry
astronauts to and from the International Space Station.
• Space X Crew Dragon Is a part of the Dragon 2, a class of reusable spacecraft developed and
manufactured by American aerospace manufacturer SpaceX.
About International Space Station
• A habitable artificial satellite.
• It is the single largest man-made structure in low earth orbit.

• It circles the Earth in roughly 92 minutes and completes 15.5 orbits per day.
• Joint Project of NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA
(Canada).
• It is expected to operate until 2030.
178. MAHAVIR JAYANTI CELEBRATED

Context:
The President and Prime Minister of India have greeted the people on occasion of ‘Mahavir
Jayanti’.
Details:
• The birth anniversary of 24th and last Jain Tirthankar Bhagwan Mahavir is being celebrated.
• As per Jaina Texts, Lord Mahavira was born on the 13th day in the month of Chaitra.Chaitra is
the first month of the Hindu calendar.
• According to Jains, a Tirthankara is an individual who has conquered the cycle of death and
rebirth, on their own.
About Lord Mahavira
• He was born in the year 540 BC in the Vajji kingdom(Vaishali, Bihar).
• He was born to King Siddhartha of Kundagrama and Queen Trishala, who was a Lichchhavi
princess.
• He belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty.
• He was named Vardhamana, meaning “one who grows”.
• He taught ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity)
and aparigraha (non-attachment).
• His teachings were called Jain Agamas.
• He attained moksha at the age of 72 in 468 BC at a place called Pavapuri in Bihar.
179. EXERCISE VARUNA – 2021

Context:
The 19th edition of bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ is scheduled to be conducted in the
Arabian Sea from 25th to 27th April 2021.
Details:
• It is a bilateral exercise between India and France.
• The Indian side will be led by Rear Admiral Ajay Kochhar, Nau Sena Medal, Flag Officer
Commanding Western Fleet, while the French side will be led by Rear Admiral Marc Aussedat,
Commander Task Force 473.
• On its completion, Indian Navy’s guided missile frigate INS Tarkash will continue to exercise
with the French Navy’s Carrier Strike Group (CSG) from 28th April to 1st May 2021.
• Indian Navy represented by : INS Kolkata, guided missile frigates INS Tarkash and INS Talwar,
Fleet Support Ship INS Deepak,Chetak integral helicopters and Kalvari class submarine.
• French Navy represented by : Aircraft Carrier Charles-de-Gaulle with Rafale-M fighter, E2C
Hawkeye aircrafts and helicopters Caïman M and Dauphin embarked, Horizon-class Air defense
destroyer Chevalier Paul, Aquitaine-class multi-missions frigate FNS Provence.
180. WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY: 26 APRIL

Context:
Every year, World Intellectual Property Day is observed globally on April 26.
Details:
• In 2000, It was established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
• Its objective is 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 world”.
Why was April 26th chosen?
It coincides with the date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property
Organization entered into force in 1970.
About World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
• In 1967, it was created "to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of
intellectual property throughout the world".
• Headquarter : Geneva, Switzerland.
• India joined WIPO in 1975.
• Member s : 191 member states.
• It is one of the oldest specialised agencies of the United Nations.
181. INTERNATIONAL CHERNOBYL DISASTER REMEMBRANCE DAY

Context:
Every year, the International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is observed on April 26.
Details:
• It was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 8, 2016, in memory
of the Chernobyl disaster.
• It aims to raise awareness of the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster and the risks of
nuclear energy in general.
• In 1977, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was built.
• It was built to help make electricity for the infrastructure of the Soviet Union to develop
economic growth.
About United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
• It is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
• It is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN.
• The President of the General Assembly is elected each year by assembly to serve a one-year
term of office.
• It is the only UN body with universal representation.
• President: Volkan Bozkır
• Headquarters: New York, United States
182. INDIAN ARMY INITIATES LADAKH IGNITED MINDS PROJECT

Context:
Indian Army has initiated the project Ladakh Ignited Minds. A Centre of Excellence and Wellness.
Details:
• The Leh based Corps of Indian Army, signed an MoU with corporate partner Hindustan
Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and executing agency National Integrity and Educational
Development Organisation, (NIEDO) at Leh.
• The project Ladakh Ignited Minds : A Centre of Excellence and Wellness has been
conceptualised to secure a better future for the youth of UT of Ladakh.
• It is a full-time residential program to mentor and guide them for a period of twelve months
for entrance examinations of various Medical and Engineering Colleges spread across in India.
• The program under the aegis of Indian Army will be executed by Kanpur based NGO, National
Integrity & Educational Development Organisation (NIEDO).
About Ladakh
• It is a region administered by India as a union territory, constituting a part of the larger Kashmir
region.
• It is bordered by the Tibet Autonomous Region to the east, the Indian state of Himachal
Pradesh to the south, both the Indian-administered union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and
the Pakistan-administered Gilgit-Baltistan to the west and the southwest corner of Xinjiang
across the Karakoram Pass in the far north.
• It extends from the Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram range to the north to the main Great
Himalayas to the south.
• The eastern end, consisting of the uninhabited Aksai Chin plains, is claimed by the Indian
Government as part of Ladakh and has been under Chinese control since 1962.
• Until 2019, Ladakh was a region of the Indian-administered state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• In August 2019, the Parliament of India passed an act by which Ladakh became a union
territory on 31 October 2019.
183.INDIAN WOMEN'S TEAM BAGS GOLD AT WORLD ARCHERY CUP

Context:
India won four medals at the Archery World Cup.
Details:
• Indian women's recurve team : Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and Komalika Bari.
• This was India's fifth recurve women's team gold in World Cup having won it previously in
Shanghai-2011, Medellin-2013, Wroclaw-2013 and 2014.
• The Indian women's team defeated Mexico 5-4 (27-26) in the final to bag the gold medal for
the country.
About Archery World Cup
• It was started in 2006.
• It is organized by the World Archery Federation, where the archers compete in four stages in
four countries and the best eight archers of each category ( advance to an additional stage to
contest the Archery World Cup Final.
About World Archery Federation
• It is the governing body of the sport of archery.
• It is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
• It is composed of 156 national federations and other archery associations, and is recognised
by the International Olympic Committee.
About International Olympic Committee
• It is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
• It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss Civil Code.
• In 1894, it was founded by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas in 1894.
• it is the authority responsible for organising the modern Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
184. HAMID SHINWARI APPOINTED NEW CEO OF AFGHANISTAN CRICKET BOARD

Context:
Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Monday named Hamid Shinwari as the new Chief Executive
Officer (CEO).
Details:
• Hamid Shinwari, previously served with ACB as its CEO between 2010 and 2012.
• He has a Ph.D. in health policy and management from Nanjing Medical University in China as
well as a Masters degree in Public Health from the University of Queensland in Australia.
• He replaced Rahmatullah Qureishi.
About Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB)
• It is the official governing body of cricket in Afghanistan.
• It is Afghanistan's representative at the International Cricket Council (ICC).
• From June 2013, It was an associate member of ICC until It became a full member in June
2017.
• It is also a member of the Asian Cricket Council.
• The women's team was formed in 2010.
• Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is the patron-in-chief of the board.
185. UNICEF GOODWILL AMBASSADOR DAVID BECKHAM LEADS GLOBAL VACCINATION DRIVE
DURING WORLD IMMUNIZATION WEEK
Context:
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador David Beckham leading a global initiative to encourage
vaccination.
Details:
• He encourages parents to vaccinate themselves so that they can be safe.
• He also urges families to ensure that their children are receiving routine vaccinations to
protect them against diseases such as diphtheria, measles, and polio, during World
Immunization Week.
• World Immunization Week celebrated every year in the last week of April, which aims to
promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages
About UNICEF(United Nations Children’s Fund)
• It was created in 1946 as the International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) by the UN relief
Rehabilitation Administration to help children affected by World War II.
• became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953.
• Headquarters: New York City.

• It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.
• Awards : Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 for “promotion of brotherhood among the nations”.
186. INTERNATIONAL DELEGATE’S DAY: 25 APRIL
Context:
Every year, 25 April is observed as International Delegate's Day.
Details:
• It aims to raise awareness of the role of the representatives and delegates of the Member
States to the United Nations.
• It marks the anniversary of the first day of the San Francisco Conference, also known as the
United Nations Conference on International Organization.
• On 25 April 1945, delegates from fifty countries came together for the first time in San
Francisco, after WWII.
• The United Nations (UN) organized the first official International Delegate’s Day on April 25,
2020.
About United Nations
• It is an international organization founded in 1945.
• Member States : 193
• The name "United Nations", coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
• The UN Charter of 1945 is the foundational treaty of the United Nations.
• Its aim is to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among
nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of
nations.
• Main organs of the UN are
• General Assembly,
• Security Council
• Economic and Social Council
• Trusteeship Council
• International Court of Justice
• UN Secretariat
187. 93RD ACADEMY AWARDS (OSCARS AWARDS 2021) ANNOUNCED

Context:
Recently, the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony or Oscars Award took place in Los Angeles.
Details:
• Annual award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
• Originally sculpted by George Stanley from a design sketch by Cedric Gibbons.
• It was first broadcast by radio in 1930 and was televised for the first time in 1953.
• Since 1929, 3,140 Oscar statuettes have been awarded.
• The first Academy Awards presentation was held on May 16, 1929, at a private dinner function
at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.
Winners of Oscars
• Best Picture: Nomadland
• Best Director: Chloe Zhao, Nomadland
• Best Actress: Frances McDormand, Nomadland
• Best Actor: Anthony Hopkins, The Father
• Best Supporting Actress: Youn Yuh-jung, Minari
• Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas And The Black Messiah
• Best Original Screenplay: Promising Young Woman
• Best Adapted Screenplay: The Father
• Best Animated Feature Film: Soul
• Best International Feature Film: Another Round
188. NET ZERO PRODUCERS FORUM TO BE FORMED

Context:
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Canada, the USA, and Norway to create net zero-emission strategies.
About Net Zero Producers Forum
• It is a platform for oil and gas–producing countries to discuss how the sector can support the
implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the goal to achieve net-zero
emissions by 2050.
• It will consider methodologies and advances which incorporate "methane reduction,
development and deployment of clean energy and carbon capture and storage technologies,
advancing the circular carbon economy approach, diversification from reliance on hydrocarbon
revenues, and different measures following every country' national circumstances.
About Paris Agreement
• It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
• It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris, on 12 December 2015 and it entered into
force on 4 November 2016.
• The goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared
to pre-industrial levels.
189. GOVERNMENT EXTENDS ‘VIVAD SE VISHWAS’ SCHEME DEADLINE

Context:
Government Extends ‘Vivad se Vishwas’ scheme Deadline till 30 June 2021.
Details:
• It was extended for the first time from March 31, 2020, to June 30, 2020, which was followed
by December 31, 2020, and then again till March 31, 2021.
• The Ministry of Finance extended the deadline by the fourth time.
About Vivad se Vishwas’ scheme
• Announced in the Union Budget 2020.
• It provides a mechanism for resolution of pending tax disputes related to direct taxes in a
simple and speedy manner.
• As per the scheme, a taxpayer would be required to pay only the amount of the disputed taxes.
• It will get a complete waiver of interest, penalty and prosecution provided he/she pays by
March 31, 2021.
• Designated authority cannot levy interest or penalty in relation to that dispute as it is resolved
190. SMALLEST BLACK HOLES DISCOVERED

Context:
Recently, Astronomers have found the smallest black holes which have been named Unicorn.
Details: about Unicorn
• It is 1,500 light-years from the earth.
• It is the nearest of all the black holes found so far.
• Mass : 3 times the mass of the sun.
• Its size is small for a black hole.
• Scientists were able to find the Unicorn by documenting the changes in the red giant star.
About Black Holes
• It is an object in space that is so dense and has such strong gravity that no matter or light can
escape its pull.
• It was theorized by Albert Einstein in 1915.
• The term ‘black hole’ was coined in the mid-1960s by American physicist John Archibald
Wheeler.
191. WHO UNVEILS GLOBAL IMMUNIZATION STRATEGY

Context:
A UN-led global immunization strategy was unveiled.
Details:
• It is a strategy to reach more than 50 million children who have missed lifesaving jabs against
measles and other diseases because of COVID-19 disruption.
• As per WHO, to avoid multiple outbreaks of life-threatening diseases like measles, yellow fever
and diphtheria, we should ensure that routine vaccination services are protected in every
country in the world.
About World Health Organization
• Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland.
• Members : 194 Member States & six regional offices.
• An intergovernmental organization, works in collaboration with its member states usually
through the Ministries of Health.
• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
• Objective : It provides leadership on global health matters, shapes the health research
agenda, sets norms and standards, articulates evidence-based policy options, provides technical
support to countries and monitors and assess health trends.
• India became a party on 12 January 1948.
• Director-General : Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
192. ANZAC DAY CELEBRATED

Context:
Every year Anzac Day is celebrated on April 25 in Australia and New Zealand.
Details:
• It is celebrated as a national day of remembrance that recognizes all the New Zealanders and
Australians who died in wars, clashes and peacekeeping operations.
• ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
• It was originally celebrated to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army
Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign, their first engagement in the First World
War (1914–1918).
About First World War
• It also known as the Great War, lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
• Fought Between : Allied Powers and the Central Powers.

• Allied Powers : France, Russia, and Britain. US after 1917.
• Central Powers : Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
193. POWERGRID INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT TRUST LAUNCHED

Context:
Recently, Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) launched its Infrastructure Investment Trust
(InvIT) - PowerGrid Infrastructure Investment Trust (PGInvIT).
Details: About Infrastructure Investment Trust
• It enables direct investment of money from individual and institutional investors in
infrastructure projects to earn a small portion of the income as return.
• Regulation : By SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.
• It is the modified version of REITs (real estate investment trusts) designed to suit the specific
circumstances of the infrastructure sector.
About Power Grid Corporation of India
• It is an Indian government electricity board and a Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking owned
by the Ministry of Power, Government of India.
• It is headquartered in Gurugram, India.
• It engaged mainly in Transmission of Power.
About REITs (real estate investment trusts)
• A company which owns and operates, income-producing real estate.
• They own many types of commercial real estate, ranging from office and apartment buildings
to warehouses, hospitals, shopping centers, hotels and commercial forests.
194. SINGLE CRYSTAL BLADE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED

Context:
Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), developed the Single
Crystal Blade Technology.
Details:
• DRDO delivered 60 blades to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• It is part of a programme taken up by Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) to
develop five sets of single crystal high-pressure turbine (HPT) blades using a nickel-based
superalloy.
• Countries with this technology : UK, Russia, USA, France.
• The Single Crystal blades are made of nickel-based superalloys which are capable of
withstanding high temperatures.
About Defence Research and Development Organisation
It is an agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in the Ministry of
Defence of the Government of India, charged with the military's research and development,
headquartered in Delhi, India.
About Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
• A state-owned aerospace and defence company.
• Headquartered in Bangalore India.
• Governed under the management of the Ministry of Defence.
• Established : as Hindustan Aircraft Limited in Bangalore on 23 December 1940 by Walchand
Hirachand in association with the then Kingdom of Mysore.
195. ‘SIPRI MILITARY EXPENDITURE DATABASE’ PUBLISHED

Context:
Recently ‘SIPRI Military Expenditure Database’ was published.
Details:
• Published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
• As per the data, India has retained its position as the third biggest military spender in the world
in 2020.
• As per the new report, the top 5 biggest spenders in 2020 were the United States ($778 billion),
China ($252 billion), India ($72.9 billion), Russia ($61.7 billion) and the United Kingdom ($59.2
billion) respectively.
About Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

• It is an international institute based in Stockholm.
• Aim : To provide data, analysis and recommendation for armed conflict, military expenditure
and arms trade as well as disarmament and arms control.
• It was ranked among the top three non-US world-wide think tanks in 2014 by the University
of Pennsylvania Lauder Institute's Global Go To Think Tanks Report.
196. CHANDLER GOOD GOVERNMENT INDEX RELEASED

Context:
Recently, the Chandler Good Governance Index was released.
Details:
• India ranked 49th in the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI).
• Other South Asian Countries : Sri Lanka 74th, Pakistan 90th and Nepal 92nd.
• Top 5 countries : Finland, Switzerland, Singapore, Netherlands, Denmark.
About Chandler Good Governance Index
• Released by the Chandler Institute of Governance which is a private nonprofit organization.
• Headquarter : Singapore.
• Classification 104 countries based on government capabilities and outcomes.
• Its objective is
• To support government leaders and public officers worldwide in nation building.
• To strengthen public institutional capacity through training, research and advisory work.
• To share tools and frameworks for effective policy making, and empower nations to provide
better public services for citizens.
• Focuses on seven pillars:
o Leadership and foresight.
o Robust laws and policies.
o Strong institutions.
o Financial stewardship.
o Attractive marketplace.
o Global influence and reputation.
o Helping people rise.
197. PROJECT DANTAK COMMEMORATED ITS DIAMOND JUBILEE

Context:
One of the oldest Projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) celebrated its Diamond
Jubilee in Bhutan.
Details:
About Project DANTAK
• It was established on 24th April1961.
• It was tasked by the third King of Bhutan and then Prime Minister of India Jawahar Lal Nehru.
• Aim : To construct the pioneering motorable roads.
• Projects executed : Paro Airport, Yonphula Airfield, Thimphu – Trashigang Highway,
Telecommunication & Hydro Power Infrastructure, Sherubtse College, Kanglung and India
House Estate.
About Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
• It develops and maintains road networks in India's border areas and friendly neighboring
countries.
• Formation : 7 May 1960.
• Aim : To secure India's borders and develop infrastructure in remote areas of the north and
north-east states of the country.
• Working : under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
• Projects Executed : Atal Tunnel, Nechiphu Tunnel and Barsi Bridge (longest bridge on Manali–
Leh highway).
198. SAUDI GREEN INITIATIVE AND THE MIDDLE EAST GREEN INITIATIVE LAUNCHED IN SAUDI
ARABIA
Context:
Recently, Saudi Arabia launched Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative.
Details:
Saudi Arabia launched initiatives to combat the threat of climate change.
Saudi Green Initiative:
• Aim : To raise the vegetation cover, reduce carbon emissions, combat pollution and land
degradation, and preserve marine life.
• Objectives : 10 billion trees will be planted in the Kingdom and to reduce carbon emissions by
more than 4% of global contributions.
Middle East Green Initiative :
Aim:
• To preserve marine and coastal environments, increase the proportion of natural reserves and
protected land.
• To improve the regulation of oil production, accelerate the transition to clean energy and
boost the amount of energy generated by renewables.
199. WORKERS’ MEMORIAL DAY: 28 APRIL

Context:
Every year Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April.
Details:
• It is also known as International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers.
• It has been organized worldwide by the International Trade Union Confederation since 1996.
• Theme 2021: ‘Health and Safety is a fundamental workers‘ right.’
• Aim :
• To highlight the preventable nature of most workplace accidents and ill health.
• To promote campaigns and union organization in the fight for improvements in workplace
safety.
• April 28 is recognised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International
Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) as International Workers' Memorial Day.
About International Labour Organization (ILO)
• Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles.
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Founding Mission: social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace.
• Promotes internationally recognized human and labour rights.
• Only tripartite U.N. agency.
• First affiliated specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946.
200. 12TH BARCELONA OPEN TITLE FOR RAFAEL NADAL

Context:
Rafael Nadal clinched his 12th Barcelona Open title.
Details:
• Rafael Nadal beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-7, 7-5.
• It was 87th career title, and his 61st title on clay.
• Rafael Nadal is a Spanish professional tennis player.
• He is ranked world No. 2 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
• He has won 20 Grand Slam men's singles titles.
About Barcelona Open
• It's played on clay courts at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.
• also known as Torneo Godó, Trofeo Conde de Godó, and Open Banc Sabadell.
• From 1953, an event has been held in Barcelona, Spain every year.
• It is Spain's second most important tournament on the ATP Tour after the Madrid Open.
• It is a part of the ATP Tour 500 series on the ATP Tour.
201. SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

Context:
Recently, India, Australia and Japan have formally launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative
(SCRI).
Details:
• It aims to create a virtuous cycle of enhancing supply chain resilience.
• Its objectives is to
• To attract foreign direct investment and to turn the Indo-Pacific into an “economic
powerhouse”.
• To build a mutually complementary relationship among partner countries.
• To work out a plan to build on the existential supply chain network.
• It was first proposed by Japan, to reduce dependence on China.
• It is an approach which helps a country to ensure that it has diversified its supply risk across a
clutch of supplying nations.
About Indo-Pacific
• It is a biogeographic region of Earth's seas.
• It comprises the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean.
• “Indo-Pacific” region include : Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Fiji, India,
Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea,
Philippines Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste, United States, Vietnam.
202. DRDO DEVELOPS ADVANCED CHAFF TECHNOLOGY

Context:
Recently Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Advanced
Chaff Technology.
Details:
• Aim : to safeguard the naval ships against enemy missile attack.

• It is an electronic countermeasure technology to protect naval ships from radar and radio
frequency (RF)of the enemy missile.
• Other three critical technologies are Short Range Chaff Rocket (SRCR), Medium Range Chaff
Rocket (MRCR) and Long Range Chaff Rocket (LRCR).
• Chaff is composed of many small aluminium or zinc coated fibres stored on-board the aircraft
in tubes
About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
• It is an agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in the Ministry
of Defence of the Government of India.
• Established in 1958 after combining Technical Development Establishment (TDEs) of the Indian
Army and the Directorate of Technical Development & Production (DTDP) with the Defence
Science Organisation (DSO).
• It is charged with the military's research and development.
• It is headquartered in Delhi, India.
203. INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY OBSERVED

Context:
Every year, International Dance Day is observed globally on 29 April.
Details:
• It is created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute (ITI).
• It is celebrated on the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), the
creator of modern ballet.
• The theme of International Dance Day 2021: ‘Purpose of dance’.
• It aims to celebrate the value and importance of the dance and encourage participation and
education in this art form through events and festivals.
About International Theatre Institute (ITI)
• It is the world’s largest performing arts organization.
• It was founded in 1948 by theatre and dance experts and UNESCO.

• It organizes the International Dance Day and World Theatre Day every year at UNESCO, Paris.
• It encourages activities and creation in the field of the live performing arts (drama, dance,
music theatre) and aims to expand existing collaborations between performing arts disciplines
and organizations, both national and international.
204. E-PANCHAYAT AWARD FOR UTTAR PRADESH

Context:
Recently, Uttar Pradesh government won the “E-Panchayat Puraskar 2021”, ranking first in
Category I.
Details:
• It was followed by Assam and Chhattisgarh at the second position, while Odisha and Tamil
Nadu stood third.
• e-Panchayat Puraskar is given to States/UTs or promoting e-enablement of PRIs for bringing
in efficiency, transparency and accountability in their functioning.
About Panchayati Raj System
• It has three levels: Gram Panchayat (village level), Mandal Parishad or Block Samiti of
Panchayat Samiti (block level), and Zila Parishad (district level).
• It was formalized in 1992 by the 73rd amendment to the Indian Constitution.
• The Amendment added two new parts to the Constitution, namely, Part IX titled “The
Panchayats” (added by 73rd Amendment) and Part IXA titled “The Municipalities” (added by
74th Amendment).
• Currently, the Panchayati Raj system exists in all states except Nagaland, Meghalaya, and
Mizoram, and in all Union Territories except Delhi.
205. ARUN RASTE NAMED NEW MD & CEO OF NCDEX

Context:
Recently, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) appointed Arun Raste as MD and CEO of
National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX).
Details:
• He is appointed for a 5 year term.
• He is presently an executive director of the National Dairy Development Board.
About National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange
• It is an online commodities exchange dealing primarily in agricultural commodities in India.
• It is a public limited company.
• It was established on 23 April 2003 under the Companies Act, 1956.
• It is located in Mumbai.
About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
• It is a statutory body.
• It was established on April 12, 1992 as per Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.
• Aim : To protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote and regulate the
securities market.
• Headquarters : Mumbai.
206. CHINA LAUNCHED ROBOT PROTOTYPE NAMED ‘NEO-01’

Context:
Recently China launched a robot prototype named ‘NEO-01’, in the Earth’s low orbit.
Details:
• It is a 30kg robot prototype.
• It has been developed by Shenzhen-based space mining start-up ‘Origin Space’.
• Its purpose is to observe small celestial bodies in deep space and to experiment with space
debris removal techniques.
• It will use a large net to capture debris left behind by other spacecraft and then burn it using
its electric propulsion system.
About Low Earth Orbit
• An orbit that is relatively close to Earth’s surface.
• It is relatively low in altitude ranging between 200 and 1200 km above the Earth's surface
• It is the orbit most commonly used for satellite imaging.
• LEO orbits are used by some communications satellites.
• It is also the orbit used for the International Space Station (ISS).
207. SINGLE CT VALUE FOR COVID TEST

Context:
Recently Indian Council of Medical Research decided a single Ct value cut-off for Covid-19 test.
Details:
• All patients with a Ct value less than 35 may be considered as positive while those with a Ct
value above 35 may be considered as negative.
• Ct value refers to the number of cycles after which the virus can be detected.
• In RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, RNA (Ribonucleic acid) is
extracted from the swab collected from the patient.
• It is then converted into DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid), which is then amplified.
• As per the ICMR advisory, the Ct value of an RT-PCR reaction is the number of cycles at which
fluorescence of the PCR product is noticeable over and above the background signal.
208. INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY: 30 APRIL

Context:
Every year, International Jazz Day is celebrated on 30 April.
Details:
• It was declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2011.
• Objective : To highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.
• Idea put forward by jazz pianist and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Herbie Hancock.
• UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador is an official postnominal honorific title, title of authority, legal
status and job description assigned to those goodwill ambassadors and advocates who are
designated by the United Nations.
What is Jazz?
• Music Genre(a style or category of art, music, or literature).
• Origin : In African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, in the late
19th and early 20th centuries.
About United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• It is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).
• Aim : To promote world peace and security through international cooperation in education,
the sciences, and culture.
• Member : It has 193 member states and 11 associate members.
• Headquarter : Paris, France.
• Foundation : In 1945 as the successor to the League of Nations' International Committee on
Intellectual Cooperation.
209. AYUSHMAN BHARAT DIWAS: APRIL 30

Context:
Ayushman Bharat Diwas is observed on April 30 every year.
Details:
• In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Ayushman Bharat Scheme to provide
healthcare benefits to crores of Indians who can't afford proper medical facilities.
• The day aims to promote affordable medical facilities in remote areas of the country based on
the Socio-Economic Caste Census database.
About Ayushman Bharat Scheme
• It is a key component of Ayushman Bharat Yojna.
• It is the largest health scheme in the world
• Aim : To provide a health cover of ₹ 5 lakh per family per year to over 10.74 crore poor and
vulnerable families.
• It was recommended by the National Health Policy in 2017 to achieve the vision of Universal
Health Coverage (UHC).
• All individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering
financial hardship.
• It provides cashless hospitalization.
• It is funded by the central government and implementation cost is shared between centre and
states.
210. INDIA’S FIRST 3D PRINTED HOUSE AT IIT-M

Context:
First 3D printed house in India at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) inaugurated.
Details:
• It was constructed by Tvasta Manufacturing Solutions, a startup founded by IIT Madras alumni.
• It is part of the new incubator of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
established at IIT Madras.
• It is a single-storey home has a built-in area of 600 sq. ft. with a functional space comprising
a single bedroom, hall, and kitchen.
• The concrete 3D printing technology is a 'Ready-to-Implement Methodology' with no time on
manufacturing, which reduces the construction time.
• This technology enables building a 3D printed house in 5 days.
• It fulfils the Prime Minister's goal of 'Housing for All by 2022.
• 3D printing is the construction of a three-dimensional object from a CAD model or a digital 3D
model.
211. IMMUNISATION AGENDA 2030 LAUNCHED

Context:
The United Nations and agencies like WHO, UNICEF have launched the Immunisation Agenda
2030 (IA2030) during the World Immunisation Week.
Details:
• It is based on learnings from the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP). It aims to address the
unmet targets of the GVAP
• It provides a strong foundation for the global immunisation strategy in the decade 2021-2030.
• It focuses on the strategy for vaccines and immunisation for the decade 2021–2030.
Principles of Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030)
It has four core principles: it puts people in the centre, is led by countries, implemented through
broad partnerships, and driven by data.
World Immunisation Week
• Celebrated every year in the last week of April.
• Aim : To promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.
• The theme for 2021 is “Vaccines bring us closer”
About UNICEF(United Nations Children’s Fund)
• It was created in 1946 as the International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) by the UN relief
Rehabilitation Administration to help children affected by World War II.
• became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953.
• Headquarters: New York City.
• It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.
• Awards : Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 for “promotion of brotherhood among the nations”.
212. FIRST INDIGENOUS VACCINE FOR FISH DEVELOPED

Context:
Recently, the Central Institute of Brackish Aquaculture, Chennai developed an indigenous
vaccine for Viral Nervous Necrosis.
Details:
• Viral Nervous Necrosis, a viral disease which affects many marines, brackish water and
freshwater fishes, results in 100% mortality in larval and early juvenile stages.
• The disease is caused by nervous necrosis virus (NNV).
• Red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) is the only genotype prevalent in India
and most other tropical countries.
• To control the disease and prevent vertical transmission is to vaccinate fingerlings and adult
fish.
• Fingerling (fish), the development stage of young fish at which the fins can be extended and
scales started to develop.
• The new vaccine, Nodavac-R, developed by Central Institute of Brackish Aquaculture can be
injected to fingerlings.
• It was the first vaccine to be released for aquaculture in India, and it would prevent VNN in
fish hatcheries.
• Viral Nervous Necrosis.is a genus of non enveloped positive-strand RNA viruses in the family
Nodaviridae.
About Central Institute of Brackish Aquaculture
• A nodal agency for catering to the needs of the brackish water aquaculture research in India.
• Headquarter : Chennai.
• It works under the Ministry of Agriculture, India.
213. CHINA’S PERMANENT SPACE STATION

Context:
On April 29, 2021 China launched the core module of its Space Station.
Details:
• Module named : Tianhe", or "Harmony of the Heavens".
• It was launched on the Long March 5B.
• China’s multi-module Tiangong station is set to be operational for at least 10 years.
• The core module is the section of the station where astronauts will live for up to six months at
a time.
• Tianhe is the core component of it.
• It is 16.6m long and 4.2m wide.
• It will provide power and propulsion and contains the life support technologies and living
quarters required by visiting astronauts.
• The only space station currently in orbit is the International Space Station.
About International Space Station
• A habitable artificial satellite.
• It is the single largest man-made structure in low earth orbit.
• It circles the Earth in roughly 92 minutes and completes 15.5 orbits per day.
• Joint Project of NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA
(Canada).
• It is expected to operate until 2030.
214. GOVERNMENT OF NCT OF DELHI (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2021

Context:
Recently, Government of National Capital Territory (GNCT) of Delhi (Amendment) Act, 2021
came into force.
Details:
• It amended the Sections 21, 24, 33 and 44 of the 1991 Act.
• Now “government” in the National Capital Territory of Delhi means the Lieutenant-Governor
of Delhi.
• It gives discretionary powers to the L-G.
• It bars the Assembly or its committees from making rules
• The Act requires the LG to reserve certain Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly for the
consideration of the President.
About 69th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1991
• It provided a special status to the Union Territory of Delhi.
• It created a legislative assembly and a council of ministers for Delhi and elected members of
the legislative assembly can participate in the election of President.
• The chief minister is appointed by the President, not by the lt. Governor.
• Parliament can establish a high court for a union territory or put it under the jurisdiction of
the high court of the adjacent state. Delhi is the only union territory that has a high court of its
own since 1966.
Monthly One Liners
IMPORTANT DAYS
1. World Autism Awareness Day - 2 April.
2. Theme for ‘International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2021’ (4 April) - "Perseverance,
Partnership, and Progress”.
3. In India, National Maritime Day - 5 April.
4. International Day of Conscience - 5 April.
5. International Day of Sport for Development and Peace - 6 April.
6. Theme for ‘World Health Day 2021’ (7 April) - “Building a fairer, healthier world”.
7. International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda - 7 April.
8. World Homeopathy Day - 10 April.
9. National Safe Motherhood Day - 11 April.
10. World Parkinson's Day - 11 April.
11. International Day of Human Space Flight - 12 April.
12. Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre Day - 13 April.
13. World Chagas Disease day - 14 April.
14. Save the Elephant Day - 16 April.
15. World Haemophilia Day - 17 April.
16. Theme for World Heritage Day 2021 (18 April) - 'Complex Pasts: Diverse Future'.
17. World liver day - 19 April.
18. Chinese Language Day - 20 April.
19. In India, National Civil Services Day - 21 April.
20. In India, Secretary's day or Administrative Professionals Day - 21 April.
21. World Creativity and Innovation Day - 21 April.
22. World Creativity and Innovation week - 15 to 21 April.
23. Theme for International Mother Earth Day 2021 (22 April) - Restore our Earth.
24. Theme for International Girls in Information and communications technology (ICT) Day (fourth Thursday of April) on 22
April 2021 - “Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures!”.
25. World Book and Copyright Day - 23 April.
26. English Language Day - 23 April.
27. Spanish Language Day - 23 April.
28. National Panchayati Raj Day - 24 April.
29. International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace - 24 April.
30. Theme for World Immunization Week 2021 (24th-30th April) - ‘Vaccines bring us closer’.
31. Theme for World Veterinary Day (fourth Saturday of April) on 24 April 2021 - ‘Veterinarian response to the COVID-
19 crisis’.
32. Theme for World Malaria Day 2021 (25 April) - "Zero Malaria - Draw the Line Against Malaria" & “Reaching the
Zero Malaria target”.
33. International Delegate's Day - 25 April.
34. Theme for World Intellectual Property Day 2021 (26 April) - “IP & SMEs: Taking your ideas to market”.
35. International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day - 26 April.
36. Theme for ‘World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021’ (28 April) - “Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises
and invest now in resilient OHS systems”.
37. International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers - 28 April.
38. International Dance Day - 29 April.
39. Ayushman Bharat Diwas - 30 April.
40. International Jazz Day - 30 April.
DEFENCE
1. New Chief of Staff, Headquarters Western Command - Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh.
2. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat operationalised and dedicated to the Services 3rd Joint Logistics Node
(JLN) in - Mumbai.
3. Participating countries in Multinational Military Exercise ‘Shantir Ogroshena 2021’ (Front Runner of the Peace) which
will be held in Bangladesh from 04 April to 12 April 2021 under the theme “Robust Peace Keeping Operations” -
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and India.
4. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has enabled private sector firms to both develop and
manufacture missile systems such as the ____ program in order to support the domestic defence industry - Vertically-
launched Short-range Surface to Air Missile system (VL-SRSAM).
5. The eighth India-Kyrgyzstan joint Special Forces exercise 'Khanjar' was held in - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
6. First unit of the indigenously built ALH Mk III aircraft, which was commissioned into the Indian Navy at INS Hansa, Goa
on 19 April 2021 - Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 323.
7. Indian Navy dispatched its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) to assist Indonesian Navy in search and rescue
efforts for the Indonesian Submarine _____ which was reported missing on 21 April 2021 - KRINanggala.
8. The 19th edition of bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ between the Navies of India and _____ is scheduled to be
conducted in the Arabian Sea from 25th April to 27th April 2021 - France.
9. India's indigenous LCA Tejas added the 5th generation ____ Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its air-to-air weapons capability
on 27 April 2021 - Python-5.
10. India was the world’s third-biggest military spender in 2020, exceeded only by _____, reports the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) - the US and China.
ECONOMY
1. For the 1st quarter of 2021-22, Savings deposit rate has been revised from 4 percent to - 3.5 percent annually.
2. For the 1st quarter of 2021-22, Public Provident Fund rate has been cut down to ____ from 7.1 percent annually - 6.4
percent.
3. According to the World Bank, Indian economy will grow in 2021-22 by - 10.1%.
4. _____ inaugurated its new National Banking Group (NBG) in Bhopal - Bank of India.
5. _____ has received a final approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for setting up of wholly-owned non-financial
subsidiary - South Indian Bank.
6. Repo rate - 4 percent.
7. Reverse repo rate - 3.35 percent.
8. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its projection for India's economic growth in the current financial year
2021-22 to - 12.5 percent.
9. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will allow ______ a membership in Centralised Payment System, CPS in a phased
manner, meaning they will be able to process NEFT and RTGS transactions - Non-banking entities.
10. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced an increase in the maximum end of day balance for payment banks from
Rs. 1 lakh to - Rs. 2 lakh.
11. To facilitate smooth functioning of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided
to set up of _____ to tackle stressed assets - ARC and Asset Management Company.
12. To measure the extent of financial inclusion in the country, the Reserve Bank of India will construct and periodically
publish a - "Financial Inclusion Index" (FI Index).
13. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a secondary market government security acquisition programme in which
the RBI will purchase government bonds worth ____ from the secondary market in the first quarter of this fiscal - Rs 1
trillion.
14. New savings account of Airtel Payments Bank, which will offer rewards on transactions and benefits on annual earnings
- Rewards 123 saving account.
15. ______ has brought out a Special Deposit Product “Immune India Deposit Scheme” for 1111 days at an attractive extra
Interest rate of 25 basis points above the applicable card rate for the Citizens who got Vaccinated - Central Bank of
India.
16. Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched a digital initiative ____ under which every transaction undertaken by a bank
branch will be initiated and authorised by customers themselves - PNB@Ease.
17. _______, India's first cross-border neo bank, announced its collaboration with SBM Bank India to launch 'HOPRemit',
which is an instant, cost-effective and contactless international remittance service - moneyHOP.
18. NSE India (National Stock Exchange of India Ltd) has launched a cloud-based research facility called the _____ with
an endeavour to encourage research based on Indian Capital Markets, towards facilitating researchers to access and
analyze historical orders and trades data - NSE Data Room (NDR).
19. _____ and Mastercard announced their partnership to launch a mobile-based consumer-friendly payment solution “Pay
by Bank App” - RBL Bank.
20. India's investment app, ____ has launched the country's first Aadhaar-based Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)
payments feature - ETMONEY.
21. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a new Regulations Review Authority (RRA 2.0) under the chairmanship of
- Deputy Governor M. Rajeshwar Rao.
22. The Reserve Bank of India has formed a six-member panel headed by ____ to carry out comprehensive review of the
working of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) in the financial sector ecosystem - Sudarshan Sen.
23. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has appointed _____, digital payments company, to facilitate its digital payments -
Paytm.
24. _____ on 19 April 2021 announced the launch of cross-border electricity trading on its platform - Indian Energy
Exchange Ltd (IEX).
25. _____ launched ‘ConQR’, which is world's first QR on card programme to simplify digital payments - BOB Financial
Solutions Limited (BFSL).
26. India’s largest beneficiary bank on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform, with 469.84 million transactions in
March 2021 - Paytm Payments Bank.
27. ________ has introduced a video KYC-based account opening feature on its mobile banking app YONO to enable
customers to open a new savings account without having to visit a branch - State Bank of India (SBI).
28. _____ is partnering with Fi, Bengaluru-based neobank for salaried millennials - Federal Bank.
29. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed commercial banks to pay dividends of up to ___ of what they could do in
pre-Covid years - 50 percent.
30. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) capped the tenure of managing directors (MDs) and chief executive officers (CEOs)
of private banks at - 15 years.
31. India's economy is expected to grow _____ in fiscal year (FY) 2021-22, according to Asian Development Bank’s report
‘Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021’ - 11 percent.
32. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines for appointment of _____ of commercial banks (excluding regional
rural banks), urban co-operative banks (UCBs) and NBFCs (including Housing Finance Companies) with a view to
improve the quality of financial reporting of supervised entities - Statutory central auditors (SCAs) and Statutory
auditors (SAs).
33. ______ announced the launch of its ‘Merchant Stack’ to provide digital banking services for retail merchants - ICICI
Bank.
ENVIRONMENT & INTERNATIONAL

1. Tropical cyclone ‘Seroja’, the category three storm with wind speed of up to 170km/h, has ripped across a 1,000km
stretch of - Western Australia.
2. A new species of marine flatworm (oval-shaped and features a translucent body) has knobbed pseudotentacles, which
are found in flatworms from the genus Bulaceros, has been discovered from the coral atolls of the - Lakshadweep.
3. The disk-footed bat (Eudiscopus denticulus), as India’s first bamboo-dwelling bat with sticky disks, was recorded near
the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in - Meghalaya.
4. Two newly identified species of beetles belong to the Bolboceratide family of dung beetles in Pune's Bopdev ghat and
Nashik - Bolboceras bopdevense and Bolboceras trimbakense.
5. The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius, which
is the first trade agreement signed by India with a country in Africa, entered into force on - 01 April 2021.
6. India has contributed USD 300,000 to _____ for gender equality and women empowerment - UN Women.
7. _______'s newly-elected President Mohamed Bazoum has appointed Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou as Prime Minister -
Niger.
8. ____ has invited 40 countries for the virtual summit on climate change that will take place from April 22 to April 23 - the
USA.
9. New President of Kosovo - Vjosa Osmani (female law professor).
10. New President of Vietnam - Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
11. Host of the 10th D-7 Summit which will be held 5 April & 6 April virtually - Bangladesh.
12. To help protect life below water, the ______ is to become the first country to pioneer a major network of underwater
camera rigs, funding the world’s largest ocean wildlife monitoring system under its Blue Belt programme which covers
more than 4 million square kilometres of ocean - United Kingdom.
13. _____ hosted a Meeting of BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors virtually on 6 April 2021 - India.
14. India has the third -highest number of billionaires in the world after the _____, according to Forbes' 35th annual list of
the world's billionaires - US and China.
15. On 07 April 2021, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman participated virtually in the
Second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the - Italian Presidency.
16. The consultation meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries on ‘E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to
accelerate progress towards _____’ held on 6 April 2021 - SDG4 (Quality Education).
17. _____, an Indian hydrographic survey ship, is on a deployment to Mauritius for undertaking joint hydrographic surveys
of ‘Deep sea area off Port Louis’ - INS Sarvekshak.
18. ____ will be the host for World Health Summit set for May 2021 - Italy.
19. India has contributed an additional USD 500,000 to the ______, taking the country's donation to the UN office set up
to combat terrorism to over USD 1 million - United Nations Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism.
20. Held on 08 April 2021, the virtual Plenary Meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the Board
of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were based on “Bolstering the Recovery, Countering
Divergence”.
21. On 8 April 2021, the 10th summit of eight developing countries (D-8) began virtually in - Iran.
22. On 10 April, India and ______ have announced the launch of strategic partnership in water sector and setting up of
fast track mechanism to facilitate bilateral trade - the Netherlands.
23. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has unveiled ‘Little Guru’ app, world’s first Gamified Sanskrit learning
App which was jointly launched in - Beijing, China.
24. The ____ launched the Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Initiative which helps countries develop ambitious evidence-based,
country-led, and country-owned programmes to eradicate poverty (SDG 1) and end hunger and all forms of malnutrition
(SDG 2) - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
25. The ____ has developed the WHA71.8 Progress Indicators for access to assistive technology to collect high-level
information from all Member States to track and measure progress in achieving the resolution - World Health
Organization (WHO).
26. The 7th International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Planetary Defense Conference will be hosted by the United
Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in cooperation with The European Space Agency (ESA) in _____
from 26 April to 30 April 2021 - Vienna, Austria.
27. Sixth country in the SAARC region which finalized an air bubble agreement with India - Sri Lanka.
28. An Egyptian archaeological mission announced the discovery of a 3000-year-old "Lost Gold City" (LGC), known as
"The Rise of Aten", in the monument-rich city of - Luxor.
29. The United Nations has declared ____ as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables - 2021.
30. Next President of Ecuador - Guillermo Lasso.
31. India and France have decided to expand their Indo-Pacific partnership with France joining the - Indo-Pacific Ocean
Initiative.
32. World's first country, which bring in a law forcing its financial firms to report on the effects of climate change - New
Zealand.
33. The International Energy Agency (IEA) upgraded the forecast for oil demand growth by 230,000 barrels a day to - 5.7
million barrels a day (mbd).
34. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations (UN) are
launching a new genocide education project and mass atrocity prevention in - Africa.
35. India’s ISRO and _____’s CNES signed an agreement for cooperation for India's first human space mission
‘Gaganyaan’, under which CNES will train India's flight physicians and CAPCOM mission control teams - France.
36. Winner in the first edition of the "National Innovative and Sustainable Supply Chain Awards", given by UN Global
Compact Network India - Birla Cellulose (Aditya Birla Group).
37. India’s position in the Inclusive Internet Index 2021, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) - 49th.
38. First position in the Inclusive Internet Index 2021 - Sweden.

39. The 40th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (40-ISEA) hosted by the _____, Government of India successfully returned
to Cape Town on 10 April 2021 - Ministry of Earth Sciences.
40. India's permanent research base stations in Antarctica - Bharati and Maitri.
41. The 12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will take place from 30 November to 3
December 2021 in - Geneva, Switzerland.
42. The World Health Organization and the ____ signed a memorandum of understanding to scale up collaboration and
boost access to health services in 88 Francophone countries (French-speaking countries) - International
Organisation of the Francophonie (IOF).
43. The _____ and Vulog have announced their partnership to develop a “Smart and Inclusive Cities Tool,” a project that
will focus on the impact that mobility and technology have on fostering inclusivity for vulnerable populations in cities
across the world - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
44. India’s rank in World Press Freedom Index 2021, released by Reporter Without Borders - 142 (one of the most
dangerous nations for journalists).
45. Top position in World Press Freedom Index 2021 - Finland at 2nd (followed by Sweden, Denmark).
46. The United Nations marks 2021 as the - International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.
47. India has been elected by acclamation to ______ three bodies of the UN Economic and Social Council for a three-year
term beginning on January 1, 2022 - Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; Executive Board of
the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women); Executive Board of the World
Food Programme.
48. The Beijing-headquartered _____ launched a new framework to help the investor community better - Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
49. The _____ has won the Best Wider World Tourism Project award at the British Guild of Travel Writers International
Tourism (BGTW) Awards 2020, held in the UK - Partition Museum in Amritsar.
50. UNESCO’s World Book Capital for the year 2021 - Tbilisi, Georgia.
51. The Leaders’ Summit on Climate organised virtually by ____ on 22 April and 23 April 2021 - President of U.S.A.
Joseph R. Biden.
52. India’s rank in the Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2021, released by World Economic Forum (WEF) - 87th.
53. First position in the Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2021 - Sweden (followed by Norway and Denmark).
54. On 19th April 2021, _____ and ASEAN Centre for Energy executed MoU for Cooperation for Decarbonization Initiatives
in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States in the areas of Smart Grids, Electric Mobility and
Renewable Energy Developments on Fast-track - India Smart Grid Forum.
55. On 21 April 2021, World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a new initiative, aims to halt transmission of the malaria
disease in 25 more countries by - 2025.
56. India and the USA are launching ‘______’ that will help to mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies and
enable green collaborations - ‘India-US Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership’.
57. As per the ‘Global Energy Review 2021’ of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Carbon Dioxide emissions in
India in 2020 is to be ____ higher than the levels recorded in 2019 - 1.4%.
58. India was selected as a member of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
(OPCW) representing Asia Group for another - two-year term.
59. _____ has joined the India-Sweden climate initiative, the Leadership Group for Industry Transition, LeadIT - The USA.
60. ______ chaired the “Reaching Zero” forum on malaria elimination on 23 April 2021 - Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union
Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
61. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Meeting, which was convened on 24 April 2021 at the
ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta (Indonesia) under the theme of - “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”.
62. The ASEAN initiative on ___ was agreed at the ASEAN Summit on 24 April 2021 - Myanmar.
63. On 25 April 2021, Number of countries that have established bilateral e-commerce cooperation mechanisms with China
under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) - 22.
64. Best picture award at the 93rd Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) award or Oscar - “Nomadland”
(Director: Chloé Zhao - second woman in Oscar history to win the Academy award).
65. Best International Feature Film award at the 93rd Oscar award - Denmark's Another Round.
66. A global immunization strategy was unveiled by _____ to reach more than 50 million children who have missed
lifesaving jabs against measles and other diseases because of COVID-19 disruption - World Health Organisation
(WHO).
67. The Trade Ministers of India, _____ formally launched the Supply Chain Resilience initiative in a Trilateral Ministerial
Meeting held virtually on 27 April 2021 - Japan and Australia.
68. Established on 24 April 1961, Project DANTAK is commemorating its Diamond Jubilee in - Bhutan.
69. Project DANTAK was tasked to construct the pioneering motorable roads in the Kingdom of Bhutan with the help of -
India.
70. India’s rank in the Chandler Good Government Index 2021 - 49th.
71. First rank in the Chandler Good Government Index 2021 - Finland (followed by Switzerland, Singapore, Netherlands,
Denmark).
72. The 2021 World Press Freedom Day Global Conference will take place from 29 April to 3 May 2021 under the theme -
“Information as a Public Good”.
73. On 28 April 2021, India and ____ agreed to establish a "2+2 ministerial dialogue" between foreign and defence ministers
- Russia.
74. Presently, India has established "2+2 ministerial dialogue" between foreign and defence ministers with - the US, Japan
and Australia.
75. On 20 April 2021, ______ became the 43rd country that accede to the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) of the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) - Turkmenistan.
NATIONAL
1. An initiative launched by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog on 31 March 2021, to promote and support science-
based deep-tech startups & ventures across India - AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations, Market-
Readiness & Entrepreneurship).
2. The Central government has declared _____, the birthday of Dr. B R Ambedkar, as a public holiday for all its offices -
14th April.
3. National Collateral Management Limited (NCML) has signed MoU with _____, under Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), to provide skill training in the agriculture sector - Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI).
4. India has announced the establishment of Bangabandhu Chair at the - University of Delhi.
5. The Central Government has constituted Expert Committee under chairmanship of ____ to review the existing rules
and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards for Factories and Dock Works - Dr. R. K.
Elangovan.
and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards for the Building & Other Construction Works - P.L.N.
Murthy.
and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards for the Fire Safety - D. K. Shami.
8. The Labour Bureau has been tasked with five major All India Surveys by the Government of India; those are - All-India
Survey of Migrant Workers, All-India Survey on Domestic Workers, All-India Survey on Employment generated
in Transport Sector, All-India Survey of Employment Generated by Professionals and All-India Quarterly
Establishment based Employment Survey (AQEES).
9. On 01 April 2021, Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the “____” Platform of National
Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Web Portal - “MyNEP2020”.
10. The world's largest solar power plant with 600 MW capacity is being set up on Omkareshwar Dam on Narmada river in
- Madhya Pradesh.
11. First position in Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU 2020) as best higher education institute in India -
Indian Institute of Science (IISc Bangalore).
12. First position in Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU 2020) as best varsity in the country - Calcutta
University.
13. ______ has launched two competitions, “Be the Brand Ambassador of Tribes India” and “Be a ‘Friend’ of TRIBES INDIA
Contest” in association with MyGov.in - Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED),
14. New initiative of the Central government in which a 14 digits unique ID will be allotted for each land parcel - Unique
Land Parcel Identification Number System.
15. India's biggest floating solar power plant with a capacity of 100 MW will be set up at - Ramagundam, Telangana.
16. Members of a commission which approved by the Central government under National Programme for Civil Services
Capacity Building (NPCSCB), also known as ‘Mission Karmayogi’, to train civil servants at all levels - Adil Zainulbhai
(Chairperson), Ramaswami Balasubramaniam (Member-HR) and Praveen Pardeshi (Member-administration).
17. The ____ has launched an online portal named ‘E-Pareeksha’ to help the Class 10 and Class 12 students who will be
appearing for their board exams in May - Central Board of Secondary Education.
18. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health & Family Welfare Minister approved the “National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021”
that aims to lower the high cost of treatment for rare diseases with increased focus on indigenous research with the
help of a National Consortium to be set up with ____ as convenor - Department of Health Research, Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare.
19. Starting from 1 April 2021, ____ has launched 100 days “Sankalp se Siddhi” - Village & Digital Connect Drive, to activate
the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in selected 1500 villages - Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of
India (TRIFED).
20. On 4 April 2021, Central government has sanctioned more than 25 thousand 586 crore rupees to over 1 lakh 14
thousand 322 accounts under Stand-Up India Scheme in - Five years (up to 2025).
21. The 40th anniversary of AGE-CARE India and the Elders Day celebrations was held on 4 April 2021 in - New Delhi.
22. _____ under Ministry of Commerce and Industry and UNDP India’s Accelerator Lab signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU), with the aim to build a blockchain based traceability interface for Indian spices to enhance
transparency in supply chain and trade - Spices Board India.
23. On 05 April 2021, _____ hosted International Virtual Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) 2021 for Election Management
Bodies (EMBs) /Organisations from 26 countries - Election Commission of India.
24. The Central Board of Secondary Education signed a memorandum of understanding with the _____ to train and
enhance the skills of teachers and students of the CBSE affiliated schools - All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE).
25. ____ hosted the first-of-its-kind online AI summit themed ‘Driving Next Generation of Innovation’ on 07 April & 08 April
2021 - India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).
26. The Tribal Health initiative of Ministry of Tribal Affairs to enhance Tribal Health and to end all preventable deaths among
the tribal communities of India - ‘Anamaya’.
27. An initiative of National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under National Beekeeping &
Honey Mission (NBHM) which is being developed for online registration to achieve traceability source of Honey and
other beehive products on a digital platform - “मधुक्रान्तिपोर्ट ल”.
28. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ______ and Department of Animal Husbandry and
Dairying for research on new formulations in quality drugs for veterinary science through medicinal herbs - National
Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH.
29. ______ under Ministry of AYUSH is organizing a conference on ‘Homoeopathy - Roadmap for Integrative Medicine’ on
10th -11th April 2021 - Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH).
30. Union Ministry of Education released an implementation plan for school education called ____, which is developed by
the Department of School Education and Literacy - 'Students' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement through Quality
Education (SARTHAQ)'.
31. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal dedicated to the nation the Hansdiha-Godda new rail line in the state of - Jharkhand.
32. ______ launched the first-of-its kind Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) handbook, which is the resolution of disputes
outside courts - NITI Aayog.
33. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog’s flagship 295 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) were officially adopted by - Council
of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
34. To fight against the surging COVID-19 cases, Teeka Utsav is being organized across the country from - 11 April to 14
April 2021.
35. India’s first Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), named “FSRU Höegh Giant”, was berthed at H-Energy’s
Jaigarh Terminal in - Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra.
36. Mobile App introduced by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for promoting ease of doing business and
providing quick access to information to importers/exporters - DGFT ‘Trade Facilitation’ App.
37. The India Energy Dashboards Version 2.0, an endeavour to provide single-window access to the energy data for the
country, was created by - NITI Aayog.
38. To spread the message of the need for a nutritionally balanced diet and to understand the importance of accessible to
all local fruits and vegetables, Vijnana Bharati (Vibha) and Global Indian Scientists’ and Technocrats’ Forum (GIST)
have come together to launch the mission ‘______’ with the motto of उत्तम आहार-उत्तम विचार (Uttam Aahaar Uttam
Vichaar) or `Good Diet-Good Cognition’ - ‘Aahaar Kranti’ movement.
39. On 12 April 2021, International Symposium titled ‘One Health in India: Research informing biosafety, preparedness and
response’ was organised virtually by - Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
40. Upcoming ‘National Institute of One Health’ is planned to be set-up in - Nagpur, Maharashtra.
41. _____ has announced India's First University Administrative Service (UAS) programme for its graduates - O.P. Jindal
Global Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University (Sonipat, Haryana).
42. A national digital repository on health and nutrition launched by NITI Aayog and Centre for Social and Behaviour
Change at Ashoka University - ‘Poshan Gyan’.
43. An electronic marketplace providing a platform launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to connect aqua
farmers and the buyers - ‘e-SANTA’ (Electronic Solution for Augmenting NaCSA farmers' Trade in Aquaculture).
44. Theme for the Raisina Dialogue 2021, India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held virtually
during 13-16 April 2021, which is jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research
Foundation - "#ViralWorld: Outbreaks, Outliers and Out of Control".
45. Chief Guests of the Raisina Dialogue 2021 - President of Rwanda Paul Kagame and Prime Minister of Denmark
Mette Frederiksen.
46. In a first, the _____ has secured Euro 68.87 million (Rs 600 cr) loan from Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest bank, for
onward lending to cooperatives in India - National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
47. Top position at national level for successfully implementing Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) during 2020-
21 - Udhampur district of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
48. Winner of the “E-Panchayat Puraskar 2021”, ranking first in Category I - Uttar Pradesh government.
49. On 13 April, ______ in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF) virtually launched the ‘Infant Toddler and
Caregiver-friendly Neighbourhoods (ITCN) Training and Capacity Building Programme’ - National Institute of Urban
Affairs (NIUA).
50. ______ has decided to deploy Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) to enhance the quality of the National Highways in the
country - National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
51. The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. K Vijay Raghavan virtually launched the “_____” App
to promote wellbeing across age groups - MANAS (Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System).
52. Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and _____ announced their strategic collaboration to empower Atal Tinkering Lab
school students for world class future ready innovation skills across the country - All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE).
53. _____ and the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Gas, Government of India, organised a Hydrogen Roundtable titled “Hydrogen Economy- the Indian Dialogue-2021” in
a virtual mode on 15 April 2021 - The Energy Forum (TEF).
54. Union Ministry of Agriculture and ______ inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a pilot project on the use
of modern technologies in farming sector in 100 villages of 6 states - Microsoft India.
55. The _____ launched the ‘EatSmart Cities Challenge’, which was organized in association with Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Ministry of Housing
and Urban Affairs.
56. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the ‘Transport 4 All challenge’ in collaboration with the - Institute
for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
57. Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde released ____ translation of book Courts of India titled ‘Bhartache Nyayalaye - Ek
Simwhavlokan’ that depicts the judiciary’s history - Marathi.
58. The first National Level Dialogue on Agri-Food Systems-Advancing Equitable Livelihoods has been conducted on 12
April 2021, which was facilitated by the Inter departmental Group constituted by ____ and the representatives from UN
Agencies in Delhi - Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare.
59. Three path breaking initiatives for National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) for the IPv6 awareness and adoption in
the country along with Department of Telecommunications & Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology - ‘IPv6
Expert Panel (IP Guru)’; ‘NIXI Academy’; and ‘NIXI-IP-INDEX’.
60. On 16 April 2021, Gender Samvaad event, a joint attempt between DAY-NRLM and IWWAGE to create a common
platform to share experiences emerging from this effort, was organised by the - Ministry of Rural Development, Govt.
of India.
61. A Memorandum of Understanding, MoU was signed between CSIR Institute of Metal and Materials Technology (CSIR-
IMMT Bhubaneswar), CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML Jamshedpur), _______ for extraction of
Rare Earth Elements (REE), from Red Mud (Aluminum waste) - National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO).
62. The ______ portal has organised an ‘Innovative Tributes to Bravehearts’ competition from 15th April to 15th May 2021
- Gallantry Awards.
63. The report titled ‘Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in India Using a Common Framework’,
released by Department of Science and Technology, has identified _____ as states highly vulnerable to climate change
- Jharkhand, Mizoram, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal.
64. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and GIZ GmbH India (German organisation), Nature Conservation
and Nuclear Safety signed an agreement on Technical Cooperation project titled ‘Cities Combating Plastic Entering the
Marine Environment’, which will be undertaken in select states (______) and in the cities of Kanpur, Kochi and Port
Blair for a period of three and a half years - Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
65. Ministry of Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cleartrip and ______ to strengthen the
Hospitality & Tourism Industry especially in the times of the pandemic - Ease My Trip.
66. The Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on April 18, 2021, inaugurated the first-ever online exhibition on
Ramayana, the epic by - Maharishi Valmiki.
67. The Supreme Court appointed an oversight committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice BN Srikrishna
to manage the affairs of the Mahabaleshwar temple at - Gokarna, Karnataka.
68. On 20 April 2021, the Union Cabinet has given its ex post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between India and ____ on the establishment of a framework of cooperation in the area of trade remedial measures -
Bangladesh.
69. Rs 945 crore corpus Scheme, which is being launched by DPIIT (Department for promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade), under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to handhold and financially support early-stage startups over the
next four years - Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).
70. On 20 April 2021, the Next Gen Health Summit ‘Re-Imagine Healthcare’ was organized virtually by the - IMC Chamber
of Commerce and Industry.
71. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for
the formulation of exclusive subsidy policy for Urea produced through coal gasification route by - Talcher Fertilizers
Limited (TFL).
72. Central government has extended the insurance scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health
workers for a period of - one year.
73. The Supreme Court of India has set up a high-level committee, comprises Dr Rahul Rawat, Dr Sutirtha Dutta, and Dr.
Devesh Gadhavi, to examine the feasibility of under-grounding of over-head transmission power lines in Rajasthan and
Gujarat in order to protect _____ from extinction - Great Indian Bustard.
74. The _____ announced a #FOSS4GOV Innovation Challenge to accelerate adoption of Free and Open Source Software
(FOSS) In Government - Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
75. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog launched ____ to promote science based, deep technology ideas to market
through training and guidance over a period of 12 months - AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations,
Market-Readiness & Entrepreneurship).
76. The Automotive Industry Standards Committee has amended its ____ Standard to include the safety requirements of
Road-Trains (motor vehicle with a serial combination of trailers) - AIS-113 Standard.
77. National Panchayat Awards 2021 are conferred under various categories namely, - Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat
Sashaktikaran Puraskar (to 224 Panchayats), Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (to 30
Gram Panchayats), Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award (to 29 Gram Panchayats), Child-friendly Gram
Panchayat Award (to 30 Gram Panchayats) and e-Panchayat Puraskar (to 12 States).
78. Prime Minister dedicated a Central Sector Scheme, ______, with aims to provide the ‘record of rights’ to village
household owners in rural abadi areas and issuance of Property cards, to the entire nation on 24th April 2021 - “Survey
of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas” (SVAMITVA).
79. As per the estimate from SRS (Sample Registration System) based Abridged Life tables (2014-18) of Register General
and Census Commissioner (Government of India), India’s life expectancy for a child born on 7 April 2021 is - 69.4 yrs.
80. As per the estimate from SRS, India’s life expectancy is less than the world’s average lifespan of - 72.81 years.
81. As per the estimate from SRS, In India, an average life expectancy of female is 70.7 years and for male it is - 68.2
years.
82. The marine stewardship council (MSC) has announced a grant of Rs 46 lakh to support the fishery improvement project
for deep-sea shrimp fishery in - Kerala.
PERSON IN NEWS
1. New Director General of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) - Mukhmeet S. Bhatia.
2. Recipient of the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 - Rajinikanth (actor).
3. Global Brand Ambassador of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI) for 2021-22 - Srishti Jupudi.
4. New Chairman Emeritus of the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) - T.T. Srinivasaraghavan.
5. New President of the Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) for the term 2021-23 - Dr Sanish Davis.
6. Person who assumed additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC) on 31 March - Subhash Kumar.
7. Recipient of the ‘Kalinga Ratna’ award for the year 2021, given by Sarala Sahitya Sansad - Biswa Bhusan
Harichandan (Andhra Pradesh Governor).
8. A senior-most deputy governor who retired from the Reserve Bank of India on 2 April 2021 - B.P. Kanungo.
9. Kerala teacher who was the inspiration behind the annual Global Teacher Prize, has died on 2 April 2021 - Mariamma
Varkey.
10. Japanese Nobel laureate who won the physics prize for pioneering energy-efficient LED lighting, has died on 2 April
2021 - Isamu Akasaki.
11. First Environment Minister of India (1982 to 1984) who passed away on 04 April 2021 - Wankaner Digvijaysinh Zala.
12. The book ‘My Mother - My Hero’ is written by - Dr. Achyuta Samanta.
13. New revenue secretary under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India - Tarun Bajaj.
14. The President of India, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India,
appointed _____ to be the Chief Justice of India; He will take over as 48th CJI on 24th April 2021 - Shri Justice
Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana.
15. New Director-General and First woman Director General of National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER),
replaces Shekhar Shah - Poonam Gupta.
16. New Mission Director for Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), a flagship initiative of the GOI under NITI Aayog - Dr Chintan
Vaishnav.
17. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released the Hindi translation of the book ‘Odisha Itihaas’ written by - ‘Utkal
Keshari’ Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab.
18. Asia's richest person - Mukesh Ambani.

19. New Chairman and Managing Director of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) - S Ramann.
20. New Chairman of India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) for the year 2021-22 - Rajeev Khushu.
21. The Duke of Edinburgh and the husband to Queen Elizabeth II and patriarch of Britain's royal family who died on 09
April 2021 at Buckingham Palace - Prince Philip.
22. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi has honoured Indian-origin businessman _____ with Abu Dhabi's top civilian award for
their noble and charitable contributions to the community - Yusuffali MA.
23. The Indian Society for Hydraulics (ISH) has conferred the prestigious 'ISH Lifetime Achievement Award for the year
2020' to - Dr Nayan Sharma.
24. Eminent Historian and an expert on Awadh especially Lucknow who died in Lucknow on 12 April 2021 - Yogesh
Praveen.
25. New Chief Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India (ECI) with effect from the 13 ApriI 2021 - Sushil
Chandra.
26. Winner (Indian) of 'International Ranger Award 2021', jointly given by International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN Switzerland); World Commission on Protected Areas, International Ranger Federation, and Global Wildlife
Conservation and Conservation Allies - S. Sathish, Mahendira Giri.
27. New Global Vice President of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), which marks the first
time the ICLEI has chosen a Vice President from India, as well as from South Asia - Ms. Atishi (Chairperson of
Environment Committee of Delhi Assembly).
28. New and first woman Chairperson of the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) for 2021-23 - Soma
Mondal (Chairperson of SAIL).
29. New Secretary Economic Affairs, replaces Tarun Bajaj - Ajay Seth.
30. The government has nominated _____, the executive director of the RBI, on board of State Bank of India - Anil Kumar
Sharma.
31. Indo Nepal Dalit Maitri Sangh and Babu Jagjivanram Kala Sanskriti and Sahitya Akademi, Nepal confer the B. R.
Ambedkar International Award to - Dr Sunil Baliram Gaikwad.
32. Re-appointed the Managing Director & CEO of DCB Bank Limited - Murali M. Natrajan.
33. Winner of a National Award - the Champions of Change for Social welfare and women empowerment, given by
Government of India - Sushmita Sen.
34. Recipient of the S.V. Parameshwara Bhatta Award for contribution to Kannada literature - Neeladevi.
35. Writer of Kannada Novel ‘Bedi Bandavalu’ - Neeladevi.

36. Recipient of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Award 2021 for his contribution in the field of Hindi film music - Anu Malik
(music composer-singer).
37. National award winner Marathi filmmaker who died on 19 April 2021 - Sumitra Bhave.
39. Indian woman who has scaled Mt Annapurna (8091 metres), the 10th highest mountain peak in the world, becoming
the first Indian woman climber to achieve the feat - Priyanka Mohite.
40. Former governor of RBI in 1977, who was the first and so far the only governor to be appointed from the Reserve Bank
cadre and considered as the father of banking reforms, died on 20 April 2021 - M. Narasimham.
41. The Hague-based Conference of State Parties of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
selected ____ as its external auditor for a three-year term starting 2021 - India's Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG) G.C. Murmu.
42. The Reserve Bank of India has approved appointment of ____ as the Part-time Chairman of HDFC Bank for a period
of 3 years w.e.f. 5 May 2021 - Atanu Chakraborty.
43. First Indian-American lawyer who has been confirmed by the US Senate as associate attorney general (third-highest
position at the Department of Justice) - Vanita Gupta.
44. New Chairperson of IT industry’s apex body National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) for
2021-22 - Rekha M. Menon (chairperson at Accenture in India).
45. Winner of the Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021, given by the Diplomatic Mission Global Peace -
Rumana Sinha Sehgal.
46. Supreme Court judge, who died on 25 April 2021 - Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar.
47. Best actress award at the 93rd Oscar award - Frances McDormand (for ‘Nomadland’).
48. An Indian nuclear scientist, known for his role in successful 1998 nuclear tests, who died on 26 April 2021 -
Krishnamurthy Santhanam.
49. New Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited - Subhash Kumar.
50. New acting Chief Justice of High Court of Calcutta with effect from 29 April 2021 - Justice Rajesh Bindal.
51. First Indian and Asian woman who won 'WILD Innovator Award 2021', given by the 'WILD ELEMENTS Foundation' -
Dr Krithi K Karanth (Chief Conservation Scientist at Bengaluru-based Centre for Wildlife Studies).
52. The Central government has appointed _____ on board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), replaces Tarun Bajaj -
Ajay Seth (economic affairs secretary).
53. New Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) with effective from 17 May 2021 - Liz
Ortiguera.
54. Winner of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2021 - Maria Ressa (Investigative journalist from
the Philippines).
55. Indian archaeologist who is among the 250-odd global artistes, researchers and scientists to be elected as an honorary
member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AMACAD) in the United States of America - Sharada
Srinivasan.
56. New Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX) -
Arun Raste.
57. New Finance Secretary of Government of India - T. V. Somanathan.
58. First woman officer who appointed as officer commanding in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) - Vaishali S
Hiwase.
SPORTS
1. Person who has been elected as a full member representative of the International Cricket Council women's committee
- Mel Jones (Australia).
2. First Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Esports Federation (GEF) - Paul J. Foster.
3. Winner of the men’s singles gold in the SL4 category at the Dubai Para Badminton tournament 2021 - Pramod Bhagat.
4. Winner of the Sportstar of the Decade award at the 2021 Sportstar Aces - Giants of the Decade edition - M.C. Mary
Kom.
5. New head of Anti-Corruption Unit of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), replaces Ajit Singh - Shabir
Hussein Shekhadam Khandawala.
6. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) for Rowing at the Jammu
and Kashmir Sports Council Water Sports Academy in - Srinagar.
7. ICC Player of the Month Award for March 2021 - Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Indian pacer) and Lizelle Lee (South African
opener).
8. First team from India, which will compete in the group stage of the AFC Champions League - FC Goa.
9. In Wrestling, _____ won gold medal in the women's 59 kg group at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Almaty,
Kazakhstan - Sarita Mor.
10. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has appointed _____ to the newly created role of Chief Paralympic
Games Delivery Officer - Colleen Wrenn.
11. Indian wrestler who won her maiden gold at Asian Wrestling Championships 2021 - Vinesh Phogat.
12. Ace Indian swimmer ____ created a national record (clocked 25.11 seconds) in 50m backstroke while winning gold
medal of the Uzbekistan Open Championship 2021 - Srihari Nataraj.
13. Winner of Wisden Cricketers of the Year 2021 - Jason Holder, Mohammed Rizwan, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, and
Darren Stevens.
14. The _____ launched the next phase of the 100% Cricket campaign, with the launch of the 100% Cricket Future Leaders
Programme - a mentorship programme for all female future leaders in Cricket - International Cricket Council (ICC).
15. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has partnered with five international sports federations and video game
publishers to produce the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS), the first Olympic-licensed event for virtual sports, and e-sports
includes - baseball, cycling, rowing, sailing, and motorsport.
16. In the World Youth Boxing championships, Indian women boxers (Gitika, Naorem Babyrojisana Chanu, Poonam,
Vinka, Arundhati Choudhary, T Sanamacha Chanu and Alfiya Pathan) created history with seven gold medals in -
Kielce, Poland.
17. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has endorsed the Indian Championship fight between Chandni Mehra and Suman
Kumari (India’s first ever Professional USA boxing event) on May 1 in - Jalandhar.
18. Indian boxer ____ (56kg) won eighth gold for India at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships 2021 in Kielce,
Poland - Sachin.
19. Indian boxer Amit Panghal (52kg) won a bronze medal at the Governor’s Cup in - St Petersburg, Russia.
20. First-ever female boxer from Rajasthan, who won a gold medal in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships 2021
- Arundhati Choudhary (69kg).
21. In the 2021 Archery World Cup Stage 1, Indian women's recurve team including Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and
Komalika Bari won a gold medal in - Guatemala.
22. First Indian woman sailor who qualified for Olympics in sailing - Nethra Kumanan.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. The new Cruise service started between Hazira Port of Surat and ____ on 31 March - Diu.
2. This state government on 1 April launched free travel facility for women in government buses running within the state -
Punjab.
3. On 2 April 2021, the 40th Annual Celebrations of Sarala Sahitya Sansad held in - Cuttack.
4. The ______ government has approved a sum of Rs 231 crore for disbursal to tribal families in the state under its 'Khavti'
grant scheme - Maharashtra.
5. The ______ government dedicated cowsheds, beneficiary-oriented animal shelters, pasture development works and
power sub-stations under the ‘Mission Earth’ programme on 3 April 2021 - Madhya Pradesh.
6. The second largest Sex-sorted Semen Production Laboratory in India inaugurated in - Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
7. The ______ government has plans to construct 210 km Ram Van Gaman Marg, connects Ayodhya to Chitrakoot, in -
Uttar Pradesh.
8. The ______ government will announce "KCR Apathbandhu" scheme on 27 April for comprehensive development of
the backward communities by providing skill development for self-employment - Telangana.
9. The _____ approved a USD 32 million "Mizoram Health Systems Strengthening Project" - World Bank.
10. New Home Minister of Maharashtra state, after resignation of Anil Deshmukh from his post - Dilip Walse Patil.
11. The Government of ____ has become the first state in the country to launch its monthly micro-scholarship programme
for school students - Sikkim.
12. The Government of ____ has decided to set up an international level 'Ramayan Museum and Cultural Centre' at the
Ram Snehi Ghat that lies between Ayodhya and Lucknow - Uttar Pradesh.
13. The Government of ____ has decided to set up special revenue courts of financial commissioners (FCs) at the district-
level to facilitate people living in far-flung areas of the state - Punjab.
14. Union Territory Administration, Leh Hill Council and Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI Ltd) have signed
a MoU to set up a 50 MW solar power project at ____ in Leh district - Taru.
15. The ____ government has announced the first edition of ‘Veerni Awardees’ - Chhattisgarh.
16. The ____ government’s education department will launch a three-week pilot project in 26 of its schools from 12 April
2021, where parents of children in Class 7 are being roped in to teach their kids in their free time under the Mission
Buniyaad program with aims to improve foundational learning - Delhi.
17. The ______ government has taken a new decision to set up YSR Integrated Agriculture Laboratory (YSRIAL) - Andhra
Pradesh.
18. Person who was given additional charge as the Maharashtra director general of police (DGP) - Sanjay Pandey.
19. The ______ government launched ‘Project E Lakshyvahini’ through which about 10,000 students will be provided
training through Common Service Centres Training for more than 100 competitive exams - Haryana.
20. The ‘Kombirei Festival -2021’ inaugurated at - Lamphelpat (Dist. Imphal, Manipur).
21. The ____ government launched ‘Veerangana on wheel’ service that will let women get prompt help and lodge
complaints at their doorstep - Himachal Pradesh.
22. Health and medical education Minister Dr K Sudhakar declared that a programme has been designed for sportspersons
in ____ to keep them healthy - Karnataka.
23. New head of the state finance commission under the Government of Rajasthan - Pradhyuman Singh.
24. The ____ government's Department of Art, Culture and Languages (ACL) organised the Babasaheb Ambedkar Digital
Kala Festival - Delhi.
25. Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) and _____ inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to
preserve Manipur’s film heritage - Film Heritage Foundation (FHF).
26. Indian Railways approved transportation of liquid medical oxygen, after receiving a request from - Government of
Maharashtra.
27. The Government of ___ has announced to follow a "Health Safety Week" beginning from 22 to 29 April, to break the
chain of growing COVID-19 infection rate in the State - Jharkhand.
28. The Government of ____ launched a digital mechanism, ‘e-Abiana’ system, for water cess collection to facilitate farmers
- Punjab.
29. The Government of ____ announced “Covid Emergency Loan Scheme” for new and old entrepreneurs supplying
medicines, oxygen and other medical facilities to Covid-19 patients - Haryana.
30. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on 24April 2021 inaugurated Mangkang Festival 2021, an annual Spring festival of Maram
womenfolk in - Manipur.
31. The _____, signed a MoU with corporate partner Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and executing
agency National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation, (NIEDO) for project ‘Ladakh Ignited Minds : A
Centre of Excellence and Wellness’ to mentor and guide the youth of UT of Ladakh for entrance examinations - Indian
Army.
32. To provide quality maternal care in _____ which has the highest Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), the Federation of
Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) has launched an initiative 'Manyata' to train health care staff
by leveraging digital platforms - Assam.
33. The Tourism Finance Corporation of India Limited has started an initiative called ‘School on Wheels’ to provide COVID
education, food, medical assistance and necessary support to street children in - Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
34. New Managing Director of Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation - Anurag Agrawal.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1. _____ has developed light weight Bullet Proof Jacket (BPJ) weighing 9.0 kilogrammes for Indian Army - DRDO’s
Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur.
2. Researchers at _____ developed artificial enzymes to block reactivation and replication of Human Immuno-deficiency
Virus (HIV) in the immune cells - Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
3. _____ has developed an Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard the naval ships against enemy missile attack -
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
4. Shrikishan Suman (55 years), a farmer from Kota, Rajasthan, has developed an innovative mango variety which is a
regular and round-the-year dwarf variety of mango called ‘_____’, which is resistant to most major diseases and
common mango disorders - Sadabahar.
5. Researchers from _____ have developed a dual carbon battery which could challenge the extant lithium-ion batteries
(LIB) - Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad.
6. ‘NanoSniffer’, the world’s first Microsensor based Explosive Trace Detector (ETD) is developed by - NanoSniff
Technologies (IIT Bombay incubated startup).
7. On 9 April 2021, _____ successfully sent an experiment satellite, the third of the Shiyan-6 series, into planned orbit -
China.
8. A research group at _____has developed a novel betel leaf oil extraction technology, which is capable of saving 44
percent of the time as compared to the current process - Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur.
9. Allabout Innovations Pvt Ltd, an incubator under Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has developed a pioneering electronic
device '_____' that could contain airborne novel coronavirus - 'Wolf Airmask’.
10. ‘HGCO19’, India's 'first of its kind' mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine is developed by _____ under the 'Mission COVID
Suraksha’ - Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
11. Scientists at the _____ developed edible seaweed film using red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and green seaweed
(Ulva lactuca) that can replace plastic in food packaging - Visakhapatnam Research Centre of the Central Institute
of Fisheries Technology (CIFT).
12. Scientists from the _____ has developed ‘H2S Gas sensor’, an electronic nose, that can detect hydrogen sulphide
(H2S), a poisonous, corrosive, and flammable gas produced from swamps and sewers - Centre for Nano and Soft
Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bangalore.
13. ISRO centre Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) launched ‘_____’ web portal for the visualisation of satellite
imagery & geospatial information around Haridwar for Kumbh-Mela Yaatris - GeoKumbh.
14. Union Minister of Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually launched “World 1st affordable and long-lasting
hygiene product DuroKea Series” to combat COVID-19 virus spreading, which is developed by researcher from - Indian
Institute of Technology Hyderabad.
15. High-yielding new variety, developed by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) by involving the strongly scented
traditional varieties ‘Basmati 386’ and ‘Pusa Basmati 1121’ - 'Punjab Basmati 7'.
16. Russian scientists have launched one of the world’s biggest underwater neutrino telescopes called the ‘Baikal-GVD
(Gigaton Volume Detector)’ in the waters of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake situated in - Siberia.
17. _____ has developed SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental Oxygen Delivery System for soldiers posted at
extreme high-altitude areas - DRDO’s DEBEL Laboratory, Bengaluru.
18. USA’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully flown a small helicopter, called “____”,
on Mars, which marks the first powered controlled flight by an aircraft on another planet - Ingenuity.
19. NASA developed ‘____’, which is a device developed to generate oxygen from the atmosphere of mars - ‘MOXIE’.
20. Researchers at ____ have developed a microfiltration process to remove microplastics from seawater - Indian Institute
of Technology Guwahati.
21. To cope the problem and minimise the supply chain of transportation and storage risks related to oxygen cylinders,
_____ has developed ‘Oxygen Enrichment’ technology - Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-
CMERI, Durgapur).
22. First ever malaria vaccine that achieved the World Health Organisation (WHO) specified 75 percent efficacy goal, is
developed by a team of researchers from the - University of Oxford, the UK.
23. Researchers at the ____ have developed an affordable oxygen concentrator device, called 'Oxycon' - Indian Institute
of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Bhopal.
24. China’s first Mars rover - Zhurong.
25. _____ has indigenously developed single crystal high pressure turbine (HPT) blades technology using a nickel-based
super alloy for helicopter engine application - Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) of DRDO.
26. India's first 3D printed house was built at ____ in just five days - Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
27. First country which announced it will regulate the use of self-driving vehicles at slow speeds on motorways for public -
The UK.
28. A community service centre, which has been set up to bring all data on board India’s first dedicated solar space mission
‘Aditya-L1’ to a single web-based interface - Aditya-L1 Support Cell.
29. On 29 April 2021, _____ launched the first module, named ‘The Tianhe’, or “Heavenly Harmony," module of 11 missions
of its first permanent space station - China.
30. The Chennai-based Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) has developed the India's first vaccine (brand
named as 'CIBA-Nodavac-R') for deadly viral nervous necrosis (VNN) disease, which is currently affecting several
species of - fish.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
1. National Security Guard (NSG) - Founded: 15 October 1984; Headquarters: New Delhi.
2. Special Protection Group (SPG) - Founded: 30 March 1985; Headquarters: New Delhi.
3. Competition Commission of India (CCI) - Founded: 14 October 2003; Headquarters: New Delhi.
4. National Company Law Tribunal - Constituted: 1 June 2016; Headquarters: New Delhi.
5. National Green Tribunal (NGT) - Established: 18 October 2010; Principal Bench: New Delhi.
6. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) - Founded: 20 February 1997; Headquarters: New Delhi.
7. World Bank - Founded: 1944; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA.
8. Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) - Founded: 1975; Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
9. Asian Development Bank (ADB) - Founded: 19 December 1966; Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines.
10. African Development Bank Group (AfDB) - Founded: 10 September 1964; Headquarters: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
11. New Development Bank (NDB) (formerly BRICS Development Bank) - Founded: 2015; Headquarters: Shanghai,
China.
12. Sarala Mahabharat written by _____ in the 15th century, the first complete Mahabharat in a regional language - Sarala
Das.
13. Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) - Founded: 1985; Headquarters: Tehran, Iran.
14. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - Founded: 15 December 1977; Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
15. International Investment Bank - Founded: 10 July 1970; Headquarters: Budapest, Hungary.
16. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) - Founded: 1944; Headquarters: Washington, D.C.,
United States.
17. International Finance Corporation (IFC) - Founded: 20 July 1956; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
18. International Development Association (IDA) - Founded: 1960; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
19. International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) - Founded: 1966; Headquarters: Washington, D.C.,
United States.
20. United Nations Secretariat - Founded: 1945; Headquarters: New York City, USA.
21. International Court of Justice (ICJ) - Established: 1945; Location: The Hague, Netherlands.
22. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - Founded: 4 April 1947; Headquarters: Montreal, Canada.
23. European Investment Bank (EIB) - Founded: 1958; Location: Kirchberg, Luxembourg.
24. To promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Stand-Up India Scheme was
launched on - 5th April 2016.
25. The D-7 member states are - Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
26. International Maritime Organization (IMO) - Founded: 17 March 1948; Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.
27. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - Founded: 17 May 1865; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
28. United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) - Founded: 15 March 2006; Headquarters: Geneva,
Switzerland.
29. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) - Founded: 17 November 1966; Headquarters: Vienna,
Austria.
30. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) - Founded: 22 December 1999; Headquarters: Geneva,
Switzerland.
31. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) - Founded: 1997; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
32. Universal Postal Union (UPU) - Founded: 9 October 1874; Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland.
33. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - Founded: 14 July 1967; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
34. World Food Programme (WFP) - Founded: 19 December 1961; Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
35. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) - Founded: 23 March 1950; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
36. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - Founded: 1 November 1974; Headquarters: Madrid, Spain.
37. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Founded: 5 October 1948; Location: Gland, Switzerland.
38. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP or UN Environment) - Founded: 5 June 1972; Headquarters: Nairobi,
Kenya.
39. International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) - Founded: 21 June 1921; Location: Monaco.
40. International Seabed Authority (ISA) - Founded: 16 November 1994; Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica.
41. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) - Established: 22 July 1902; Headquarters: Copenhagen,
Denmark.
42. E9 Countries - Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
43. The ______ aims to accelerate recovery and advance the Sustainable Development Goal 4 agenda by driving rapid
change in education systems - E9 initiative.
44. Conference on Disarmament (CD) - Formation: 1984; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; Membership: 65.
45. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - Formation: 29 April 1997; Headquarters: The Hague,
Netherlands; Membership: 193.
46. The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies -
Established: 12 July 1996; Secretariat: Vienna, Austria.
47. Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was founded in response to the Indian nuclear test in - May 1974.
48. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT) -
Signed: 1 July 1968; Effective: 5 March 1970; Parties: 190.
49. Australia Group - Established: 1985; Parties: 43.
50. Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) - Established: 1987; Parties: 35.
51. Eight developing countries (D-8) - Established: 1997; Headquarters: Istanbul, Turkey.
52. D8 Member States - Iran, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, and Nigeria.
53. Founder of Homoeopathy - Dr Samuel Hahnemann.
54. International Energy Agency (IEA) - Established: 1974; Secretariat: Paris, France; Members: 30.
Austria.
56. International Energy Forum (IEF) - Established: 1991; Secretariat: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Members: 72.
57. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) - Founded: 26 January 2009; Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates; Members: 160.
58. Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) - Launched: 2011; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
59. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) - Founded: 2002; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
60. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Founded: 29 July 1957; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
61. Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) - Establishment: 1 February 1958; Secretariat: Paris, France; Members: 33.
62. World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) - Founded: 15 May 1989; Headquarters: London, the United
Kingdom.
63. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) - Founded: 16 January 2016; Headquarters: Beijing, China.
64. Financial Action Task Force (on Money Laundering) (FATF) - Founded: 1989; Headquarters: Paris, France.
65. International Bureau of Weights and Measures - Founded: 20 May 1875; Location: Saint-Cloud, France.
66. International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Founded: 27 December 1945; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA.
67. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - Founded: 16 April 1948; Headquarters: Paris,
France; Members: 37.
68. OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) - Established: 1976; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
69. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) - Founded: 14 September 1960; Headquarters: Vienna,
Austria; Members: 13.
70. World Customs Organization (WCO) - Founded: 26 January 1952; Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
71. World Trade Organization (WTO) - Founded: 1 January 1995; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; Members: 164.
72. Chagas disease is also known as - "silent or silenced disease".
73. Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) - Founded: 1988; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
74. International Criminal Court (ICC or ICCt) - Established: 1 July 2002; Location: The Hague, Netherlands.
75. International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-INTERPOL) - Founded: 1923; Headquarters: Lyon, France.
76. Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) - Established: 1899; Location: The Hague, Netherlands.
77. Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD or OSShD) - Established: 28 June 1956; Location: Warsaw, Poland.
78. Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations (or Commonwealth of Unrecognized States) - Founded: 14 June
2006; Location: Eastern Europe.
79. Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) - Founded: 18 June 2002; Members: 34.
80. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) - Founded: 1989; Headquarters: Queenstown, Singapore; Members: 21.
81. East Asia Summit (EAS) - Founded: 2005; Members: 18.
82. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Founded: 8 August 1967; Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia;
Members: 12.
83. Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) - Founded: 6 June 1997;
Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh; Members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
84. Mekong-Ganga Cooperation - Founded: 10 November 2000; Members: India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos
and Vietnam.
85. Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) - Founded: 1994; Headquarters:
Quezon City, Philippines.
86. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) - Founded: 8 December 1985; Secretariat: Kathmandu,
Nepal; Members: 17.
87. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) or Shanghai Pact - Founded: 15 June 2001; Headquarters: Beijing, China.
88. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - Founded: 4 April 1949; Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
89. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) or Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional
Cooperation (IOR-ARC) - Founded: 6 March 1997; Headquarters: Ebene, Mauritius.
90. Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) was founded in - 1982.
91. Commonwealth of Learning (COL) - Founded: 1988; Headquarters: British Columbia, Canada.
92. United Nations University - Founded: 1972; Location: Tokyo, Japan.
93. Digital Nations or DN (previously the Digital 5, Digital 7 and Digital 9) - Founded: 2014; Members: Canada, Denmark,
Estonia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Uruguay.
94. The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted and signed by 28 countries on - 22 March
1985.
95. Commonwealth of Nations - Founded: 11 December 1931; Headquarters: London, United Kingdom; Members: 54.
96. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) - Founded: 1 September 1961; Headquarters: Central Jakarta, Indonesia; Members:
120.
97. Group of 15 (G-15) - Founded: 1989; Location: Geneva, Switzerland.
98. Group of 77 (G77) - Founded: 15 June 1964; Headquarters: New York City, USA.
99. Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development, or The Group of 24 (G-
24) - Founded: 1971; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
100. The Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) is formed in - 2010.
101. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) - Founded: 1995; Headquarters:
Stockholm, Sweden.
102. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) - Founded: 25 January 1924; Headquarters: Paris, France.
103. Constitution of India - Adopted: 26 November 1949; Effective: 26 January 1950.
104. Under Articles 52 and 53 of the Constitution of India, Head of the executive branch of Indian government - President
of India.
105. The Djibouti Code of Conduct / Jeddah Amendment (DCOC/JA) that aims at repression of piracy and armed robbery
against ships in the Western Indian Ocean Region, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, was established in - January
2009.
106. All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the - AIIMS
Act, 1956.
107. Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the - IIT Act, 1961.
108. Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the - IIM Act, 2017.
109. Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations - Signed: 13 February 1946; Effective: 17
September 1946.
110. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations - Signed: 18 April 1961; Effective: 24 April 1964.
111. Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) was formed on - 26 September 1946.
112. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) - Founded: 1954; Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
113. Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) was formed on - 1 March 2002.
114. Botanical Survey of India (BSI) - Founded: 13 February 1890; Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.
115. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) - Founded: 1 July 1916; Headquarters: Kolkata.
116. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established in - December 2005.
117. National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) - Founded: 1 October 2003; Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
118. Forest Survey of India (FSI) - Founded: 1 June 1981; Headquarters: Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
119. International Hockey Federation (FIH) - Founded: 07 January 1924; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
120. International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) - Founded: 1926; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
121. International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) - Founded: 1907; Headquarters: Munich, Germany.
122. World Archery - Founded: 04 September 1931; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
123. International Olympic Committee (IOC) - Founded: 23 June 1894; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
124. International Boxing Association (AIBA) - Founded: 1946; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
125. National Horticulture Board (NHB) was set up in - April 1984.
126. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was established on - 16 July 1929.
127. Food Corporation of India (FCI) was founded on - 14 January 1965.
128. Sahitya Akademi - Founded: 12 March 1954; Location: New Delhi.
129. Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) - Founded: 1712; Headquarters: Kolkata.
130. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) was founded on - 2 October 1958.
131. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Founded: 29 April 1961; Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
132. Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) - Founded: 1945; Headquarters: Kolkata.
133. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) - Founded: 1861; Headquarters: New Delhi.
134. National Defence Academy (NDA) - Established: 7 December 1954; Location: Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra.
135. India’s two power exchanges - Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India (PXIL).
136. National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) - Founded: 13 March 1963; Headquarters: New Delhi.
137. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) - Founded: 26 January 1944; Headquarters: New Delhi.
138. HDFC Bank - Founded: 30 August 1994; Headquarters: Mumbai.

139. The United States detonated two nuclear weapons over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on - August
6 and 9, 1945.
140. International Advertising Association (IAA) - Founded: 08 April 1938; Headquarters: New York, United States.
141. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) - Founded: 19 January 1954; Headquarters: New Delhi.
142. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) - Founded: 1970; Headquarters: Mumbai.
143. Jute Corporation of India (JCI) - Founded: 1971; Headquarters: Kolkata.
144. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was founded in - 2007.
145. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) was set up in - year 1987-88.
146. The Swadeshi Movement which was launched on - 7 August 1905.
147. National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC) was set up in - February, 1983.
148. National Housing Bank (NHB) - Founded: 09 July 1988; Headquarters: New Delhi.
149. National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) - Founded: 1975; Headquarters: Mumbai.
150. Indian Railways - Founded: 08 May 1845; Headquarters: New Delhi.
151. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is an authority, established by - Article 148 of the Constitution of
India.
152. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) was established in - 1960.
153. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) - Founded: 4 November 1945;
Headquarters: Paris, France.
154. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was formed on - 01 October 1926.
155. Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) - Founded: 03 November 1958; Headquarters: New
Delhi.
156. Sports Authority of India (SAI) - Founded: 1982; Headquarters: New Delhi.
157. The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement, was a movement launched at the Bombay session
of the All-India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on - 8 August 1942.
158. Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) - Founded: 1999; Headquarters: Mumbai.
159. International Cricket Council (ICC) - Founded: 15 June 1909; Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
160. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) - Founded: 28 January 2009; Headquarters: New Delhi.
IMPORTANT DAYS
1. World Autism Awareness Day - 2 April.
2. Theme for ‘International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2021’ (4 April) - "Perseverance,
Partnership, and Progress”.
3. In India, National Maritime Day - 5 April.
4. International Day of Conscience - 5 April.
5. International Day of Sport for Development and Peace - 6 April.
6. Theme for ‘World Health Day 2021’ (7 April) - “Building a fairer, healthier world”.
7. International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda - 7 April.
8. World Homeopathy Day - 10 April.
9. National Safe Motherhood Day - 11 April.
10. World Parkinson's Day - 11 April.
11. International Day of Human Space Flight - 12 April.
12. Jallianwallah Bagh Massacre Day - 13 April.
13. World Chagas Disease day - 14 April.
14. Save the Elephant Day - 16 April.
15. World Haemophilia Day - 17 April.
16. Theme for World Heritage Day 2021 (18 April) - 'Complex Pasts: Diverse Future'.
17. World liver day - 19 April.
18. Chinese Language Day - 20 April.
19. In India, National Civil Services Day - 21 April.

20. In India, Secretary's day or Administrative Professionals Day - 21 April.
21. World Creativity and Innovation Day - 21 April.
22. World Creativity and Innovation week - 15 to 21 April.
23. Theme for International Mother Earth Day 2021 (22 April) - Restore our Earth.
24. Theme for International Girls in Information and communications technology (ICT) Day (fourth Thursday of April) on 22
April 2021 - “Connected Girls, Creating Brighter Futures!”.
25. World Book and Copyright Day - 23 April.
26. English Language Day - 23 April.
27. Spanish Language Day - 23 April.
28. National Panchayati Raj Day - 24 April.
29. International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace - 24 April.
30. Theme for World Immunization Week 2021 (24th-30th April) - ‘Vaccines bring us closer’.
31. Theme for World Veterinary Day (fourth Saturday of April) on 24 April 2021 - ‘Veterinarian response to the COVID-
19 crisis’.
32. Theme for World Malaria Day 2021 (25 April) - "Zero Malaria - Draw the Line Against Malaria" & “Reaching the
Zero Malaria target”.
33. International Delegate's Day - 25 April.
34. Theme for World Intellectual Property Day 2021 (26 April) - “IP & SMEs: Taking your ideas to market”.
35. International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day - 26 April.
36. Theme for ‘World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021’ (28 April) - “Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises
and invest now in resilient OHS systems”.
37. International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers - 28 April.
38. International Dance Day - 29 April.
39. Ayushman Bharat Diwas - 30 April.
40. International Jazz Day - 30 April.
DEFENCE
1. New Chief of Staff, Headquarters Western Command - Lieutenant General Manjinder Singh.
2. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat operationalised and dedicated to the Services 3rd Joint Logistics Node
(JLN) in - Mumbai.
3. Participating countries in Multinational Military Exercise ‘Shantir Ogroshena 2021’ (Front Runner of the Peace) which
will be held in Bangladesh from 04 April to 12 April 2021 under the theme “Robust Peace Keeping Operations” -
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and India.
4. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has enabled private sector firms to both develop and
manufacture missile systems such as the ____ program in order to support the domestic defence industry - Vertically-
launched Short-range Surface to Air Missile system (VL-SRSAM).
5. The eighth India-Kyrgyzstan joint Special Forces exercise 'Khanjar' was held in - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
6. First unit of the indigenously built ALH Mk III aircraft, which was commissioned into the Indian Navy at INS Hansa, Goa
on 19 April 2021 - Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 323.
7. Indian Navy dispatched its Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) to assist Indonesian Navy in search and rescue
efforts for the Indonesian Submarine _____ which was reported missing on 21 April 2021 - KRINanggala.
8. The 19th edition of bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ between the Navies of India and _____ is scheduled to be
conducted in the Arabian Sea from 25th April to 27th April 2021 - France.
9. India's indigenous LCA Tejas added the 5th generation ____ Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its air-to-air weapons capability
on 27 April 2021 - Python-5.
10. India was the world’s third-biggest military spender in 2020, exceeded only by _____, reports the Stockholm
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) - the US and China.
ECONOMY
1. For the 1st quarter of 2021-22, Savings deposit rate has been revised from 4 percent to - 3.5 percent annually.
2. For the 1st quarter of 2021-22, Public Provident Fund rate has been cut down to ____ from 7.1 percent annually - 6.4
percent.
3. According to the World Bank, Indian economy will grow in 2021-22 by - 10.1%.
4. _____ inaugurated its new National Banking Group (NBG) in Bhopal - Bank of India.
5. _____ has received a final approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for setting up of wholly-owned non-financial
subsidiary - South Indian Bank.
6. Repo rate - 4 percent.
7. Reverse repo rate - 3.35 percent.
8. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised its projection for India's economic growth in the current financial year
2021-22 to - 12.5 percent.
9. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will allow ______ a membership in Centralised Payment System, CPS in a phased
manner, meaning they will be able to process NEFT and RTGS transactions - Non-banking entities.
10. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced an increase in the maximum end of day balance for payment banks from
Rs. 1 lakh to - Rs. 2 lakh.
11. To facilitate smooth functioning of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) decided
to set up of _____ to tackle stressed assets - ARC and Asset Management Company.
12. To measure the extent of financial inclusion in the country, the Reserve Bank of India will construct and periodically
publish a - "Financial Inclusion Index" (FI Index).
13. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced a secondary market government security acquisition programme in which
the RBI will purchase government bonds worth ____ from the secondary market in the first quarter of this fiscal - Rs 1
trillion.
14. New savings account of Airtel Payments Bank, which will offer rewards on transactions and benefits on annual earnings
- Rewards 123 saving account.
15. ______ has brought out a Special Deposit Product “Immune India Deposit Scheme” for 1111 days at an attractive extra
Interest rate of 25 basis points above the applicable card rate for the Citizens who got Vaccinated - Central Bank of
India.
16. Punjab National Bank (PNB) has launched a digital initiative ____ under which every transaction undertaken by a bank
branch will be initiated and authorised by customers themselves - PNB@Ease.
17. _______, India's first cross-border neo bank, announced its collaboration with SBM Bank India to launch 'HOPRemit',
which is an instant, cost-effective and contactless international remittance service - moneyHOP.
18. NSE India (National Stock Exchange of India Ltd) has launched a cloud-based research facility called the _____ with
an endeavour to encourage research based on Indian Capital Markets, towards facilitating researchers to access and
analyze historical orders and trades data - NSE Data Room (NDR).
19. _____ and Mastercard announced their partnership to launch a mobile-based consumer-friendly payment solution “Pay
by Bank App” - RBL Bank.
20. India's investment app, ____ has launched the country's first Aadhaar-based Systematic Investment Plan (SIP)
payments feature - ETMONEY.
21. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a new Regulations Review Authority (RRA 2.0) under the chairmanship of
- Deputy Governor M. Rajeshwar Rao.
22. The Reserve Bank of India has formed a six-member panel headed by ____ to carry out comprehensive review of the
working of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARCs) in the financial sector ecosystem - Sudarshan Sen.
23. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has appointed _____, digital payments company, to facilitate its digital payments -
Paytm.
24. _____ on 19 April 2021 announced the launch of cross-border electricity trading on its platform - Indian Energy
Exchange Ltd (IEX).
25. _____ launched ‘ConQR’, which is world's first QR on card programme to simplify digital payments - BOB Financial
Solutions Limited (BFSL).
26. India’s largest beneficiary bank on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) platform, with 469.84 million transactions in
March 2021 - Paytm Payments Bank.
27. ________ has introduced a video KYC-based account opening feature on its mobile banking app YONO to enable
customers to open a new savings account without having to visit a branch - State Bank of India (SBI).
28. _____ is partnering with Fi, Bengaluru-based neobank for salaried millennials - Federal Bank.
29. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has allowed commercial banks to pay dividends of up to ___ of what they could do in
pre-Covid years - 50 percent.
30. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) capped the tenure of managing directors (MDs) and chief executive officers (CEOs)
of private banks at - 15 years.
31. India's economy is expected to grow _____ in fiscal year (FY) 2021-22, according to Asian Development Bank’s report
‘Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021’ - 11 percent.
32. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued guidelines for appointment of _____ of commercial banks (excluding regional
rural banks), urban co-operative banks (UCBs) and NBFCs (including Housing Finance Companies) with a view to
improve the quality of financial reporting of supervised entities - Statutory central auditors (SCAs) and Statutory
auditors (SAs).
33. ______ announced the launch of its ‘Merchant Stack’ to provide digital banking services for retail merchants - ICICI
Bank.
ENVIRONMENT & INTERNATIONAL

1. Tropical cyclone ‘Seroja’, the category three storm with wind speed of up to 170km/h, has ripped across a 1,000km
stretch of - Western Australia.
2. A new species of marine flatworm (oval-shaped and features a translucent body) has knobbed pseudotentacles, which
are found in flatworms from the genus Bulaceros, has been discovered from the coral atolls of the - Lakshadweep.
3. The disk-footed bat (Eudiscopus denticulus), as India’s first bamboo-dwelling bat with sticky disks, was recorded near
the Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary in - Meghalaya.
4. Two newly identified species of beetles belong to the Bolboceratide family of dung beetles in Pune's Bopdev ghat and
Nashik - Bolboceras bopdevense and Bolboceras trimbakense.
5. The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) between India and Mauritius, which
is the first trade agreement signed by India with a country in Africa, entered into force on - 01 April 2021.
6. India has contributed USD 300,000 to _____ for gender equality and women empowerment - UN Women.
7. _______'s newly-elected President Mohamed Bazoum has appointed Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou as Prime Minister -
Niger.
8. ____ has invited 40 countries for the virtual summit on climate change that will take place from April 22 to April 23 - the
USA.
9. New President of Kosovo - Vjosa Osmani (female law professor).
10. New President of Vietnam - Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

11. Host of the 10th D-7 Summit which will be held 5 April & 6 April virtually - Bangladesh.
12. To help protect life below water, the ______ is to become the first country to pioneer a major network of underwater
camera rigs, funding the world’s largest ocean wildlife monitoring system under its Blue Belt programme which covers
more than 4 million square kilometres of ocean - United Kingdom.
13. _____ hosted a Meeting of BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors virtually on 6 April 2021 - India.
14. India has the third -highest number of billionaires in the world after the _____, according to Forbes' 35th annual list of
the world's billionaires - US and China.
15. On 07 April 2021, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman participated virtually in the
Second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the - Italian Presidency.
16. The consultation meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries on ‘E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to
accelerate progress towards _____’ held on 6 April 2021 - SDG4 (Quality Education).
17. _____, an Indian hydrographic survey ship, is on a deployment to Mauritius for undertaking joint hydrographic surveys
of ‘Deep sea area off Port Louis’ - INS Sarvekshak.
18. ____ will be the host for World Health Summit set for May 2021 - Italy.
19. India has contributed an additional USD 500,000 to the ______, taking the country's donation to the UN office set up
to combat terrorism to over USD 1 million - United Nations Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism.
20. Held on 08 April 2021, the virtual Plenary Meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the Board
of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were based on “Bolstering the Recovery, Countering
Divergence”.
21. On 8 April 2021, the 10th summit of eight developing countries (D-8) began virtually in - Iran.
22. On 10 April, India and ______ have announced the launch of strategic partnership in water sector and setting up of
fast track mechanism to facilitate bilateral trade - the Netherlands.
23. The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has unveiled ‘Little Guru’ app, world’s first Gamified Sanskrit learning
App which was jointly launched in - Beijing, China.
24. The ____ launched the Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Initiative which helps countries develop ambitious evidence-based,
country-led, and country-owned programmes to eradicate poverty (SDG 1) and end hunger and all forms of malnutrition
(SDG 2) - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
25. The ____ has developed the WHA71.8 Progress Indicators for access to assistive technology to collect high-level
information from all Member States to track and measure progress in achieving the resolution - World Health
Organization (WHO).
26. The 7th International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Planetary Defense Conference will be hosted by the United
Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in cooperation with The European Space Agency (ESA) in _____
from 26 April to 30 April 2021 - Vienna, Austria.
27. Sixth country in the SAARC region which finalized an air bubble agreement with India - Sri Lanka.
28. An Egyptian archaeological mission announced the discovery of a 3000-year-old "Lost Gold City" (LGC), known as
"The Rise of Aten", in the monument-rich city of - Luxor.
29. The United Nations has declared ____ as the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables - 2021.
30. Next President of Ecuador - Guillermo Lasso.
31. India and France have decided to expand their Indo-Pacific partnership with France joining the - Indo-Pacific Ocean
Initiative.
32. World's first country, which bring in a law forcing its financial firms to report on the effects of climate change - New
Zealand.
33. The International Energy Agency (IEA) upgraded the forecast for oil demand growth by 230,000 barrels a day to - 5.7
million barrels a day (mbd).
34. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations (UN) are
launching a new genocide education project and mass atrocity prevention in - Africa.
35. India’s ISRO and _____’s CNES signed an agreement for cooperation for India's first human space mission
‘Gaganyaan’, under which CNES will train India's flight physicians and CAPCOM mission control teams - France.
36. Winner in the first edition of the "National Innovative and Sustainable Supply Chain Awards", given by UN Global
Compact Network India - Birla Cellulose (Aditya Birla Group).
37. India’s position in the Inclusive Internet Index 2021, released by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) - 49th.
38. First position in the Inclusive Internet Index 2021 - Sweden.
39. The 40th Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (40-ISEA) hosted by the _____, Government of India successfully returned
to Cape Town on 10 April 2021 - Ministry of Earth Sciences.
40. India's permanent research base stations in Antarctica - Bharati and Maitri.
41. The 12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will take place from 30 November to 3
December 2021 in - Geneva, Switzerland.
42. The World Health Organization and the ____ signed a memorandum of understanding to scale up collaboration and
boost access to health services in 88 Francophone countries (French-speaking countries) - International
Organisation of the Francophonie (IOF).
43. The _____ and Vulog have announced their partnership to develop a “Smart and Inclusive Cities Tool,” a project that
will focus on the impact that mobility and technology have on fostering inclusivity for vulnerable populations in cities
across the world - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
44. India’s rank in World Press Freedom Index 2021, released by Reporter Without Borders - 142 (one of the most
dangerous nations for journalists).
45. Top position in World Press Freedom Index 2021 - Finland at 2nd (followed by Sweden, Denmark).
46. The United Nations marks 2021 as the - International Year of the Creative Economy for Sustainable Development.
47. India has been elected by acclamation to ______ three bodies of the UN Economic and Social Council for a three-year
term beginning on January 1, 2022 - Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice; Executive Board of
the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women); Executive Board of the World
Food Programme.
48. The Beijing-headquartered _____ launched a new framework to help the investor community better - Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
49. The _____ has won the Best Wider World Tourism Project award at the British Guild of Travel Writers International
Tourism (BGTW) Awards 2020, held in the UK - Partition Museum in Amritsar.
50. UNESCO’s World Book Capital for the year 2021 - Tbilisi, Georgia.
51. The Leaders’ Summit on Climate organised virtually by ____ on 22 April and 23 April 2021 - President of U.S.A.
Joseph R. Biden.
52. India’s rank in the Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2021, released by World Economic Forum (WEF) - 87th.
53. First position in the Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2021 - Sweden (followed by Norway and Denmark).
54. On 19th April 2021, _____ and ASEAN Centre for Energy executed MoU for Cooperation for Decarbonization Initiatives
in Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States in the areas of Smart Grids, Electric Mobility and
Renewable Energy Developments on Fast-track - India Smart Grid Forum.
55. On 21 April 2021, World Health Organisation (WHO) launched a new initiative, aims to halt transmission of the malaria
disease in 25 more countries by - 2025.
56. India and the USA are launching ‘______’ that will help to mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies and
enable green collaborations - ‘India-US Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership’.
57. As per the ‘Global Energy Review 2021’ of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Carbon Dioxide emissions in
India in 2020 is to be ____ higher than the levels recorded in 2019 - 1.4%.
58. India was selected as a member of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
(OPCW) representing Asia Group for another - two-year term.
59. _____ has joined the India-Sweden climate initiative, the Leadership Group for Industry Transition, LeadIT - The USA.
60. ______ chaired the “Reaching Zero” forum on malaria elimination on 23 April 2021 - Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union
Minister of Health and Family Welfare.
61. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Meeting, which was convened on 24 April 2021 at the
ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta (Indonesia) under the theme of - “We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper”.
62. The ASEAN initiative on ___ was agreed at the ASEAN Summit on 24 April 2021 - Myanmar.
63. On 25 April 2021, Number of countries that have established bilateral e-commerce cooperation mechanisms with China
under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) - 22.
64. Best picture award at the 93rd Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) award or Oscar - “Nomadland”
(Director: Chloé Zhao - second woman in Oscar history to win the Academy award).
65. Best International Feature Film award at the 93rd Oscar award - Denmark's Another Round.
66. A global immunization strategy was unveiled by _____ to reach more than 50 million children who have missed
lifesaving jabs against measles and other diseases because of COVID-19 disruption - World Health Organisation
(WHO).
67. The Trade Ministers of India, _____ formally launched the Supply Chain Resilience initiative in a Trilateral Ministerial
Meeting held virtually on 27 April 2021 - Japan and Australia.
68. Established on 24 April 1961, Project DANTAK is commemorating its Diamond Jubilee in - Bhutan.
69. Project DANTAK was tasked to construct the pioneering motorable roads in the Kingdom of Bhutan with the help of -
India.
70. India’s rank in the Chandler Good Government Index 2021 - 49th.
71. First rank in the Chandler Good Government Index 2021 - Finland (followed by Switzerland, Singapore, Netherlands,
Denmark).
72. The 2021 World Press Freedom Day Global Conference will take place from 29 April to 3 May 2021 under the theme -
“Information as a Public Good”.
73. On 28 April 2021, India and ____ agreed to establish a "2+2 ministerial dialogue" between foreign and defence ministers
- Russia.
74. Presently, India has established "2+2 ministerial dialogue" between foreign and defence ministers with - the US, Japan
and Australia.
75. On 20 April 2021, ______ became the 43rd country that accede to the Patent Law Treaty (PLT) of the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) - Turkmenistan.
NATIONAL
1. An initiative launched by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog on 31 March 2021, to promote and support science-
based deep-tech startups & ventures across India - AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations, Market-
Readiness & Entrepreneurship).
2. The Central government has declared _____, the birthday of Dr. B R Ambedkar, as a public holiday for all its offices -
14th April.
3. National Collateral Management Limited (NCML) has signed MoU with _____, under Ministry of Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship (MSDE), to provide skill training in the agriculture sector - Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI).
4. India has announced the establishment of Bangabandhu Chair at the - University of Delhi.
and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards for Factories and Dock Works - Dr. R. K.
Elangovan.
and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards for the Building & Other Construction Works - P.L.N.
Murthy.
and regulations on safety, health and working conditions standards for the Fire Safety - D. K. Shami.
8. The Labour Bureau has been tasked with five major All India Surveys by the Government of India; those are - All-India
Survey of Migrant Workers, All-India Survey on Domestic Workers, All-India Survey on Employment generated
in Transport Sector, All-India Survey of Employment Generated by Professionals and All-India Quarterly
Establishment based Employment Survey (AQEES).
9. On 01 April 2021, Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the “____” Platform of National
Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) Web Portal - “MyNEP2020”.
10. The world's largest solar power plant with 600 MW capacity is being set up on Omkareshwar Dam on Narmada river in
- Madhya Pradesh.
11. First position in Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU 2020) as best higher education institute in India -
Indian Institute of Science (IISc Bangalore).
12. First position in Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU 2020) as best varsity in the country - Calcutta
University.
13. ______ has launched two competitions, “Be the Brand Ambassador of Tribes India” and “Be a ‘Friend’ of TRIBES INDIA
Contest” in association with MyGov.in - Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation Ltd (TRIFED),
14. New initiative of the Central government in which a 14 digits unique ID will be allotted for each land parcel - Unique
Land Parcel Identification Number System.
15. India's biggest floating solar power plant with a capacity of 100 MW will be set up at - Ramagundam, Telangana.
16. Members of a commission which approved by the Central government under National Programme for Civil Services
Capacity Building (NPCSCB), also known as ‘Mission Karmayogi’, to train civil servants at all levels - Adil Zainulbhai
(Chairperson), Ramaswami Balasubramaniam (Member-HR) and Praveen Pardeshi (Member-administration).
17. The ____ has launched an online portal named ‘E-Pareeksha’ to help the Class 10 and Class 12 students who will be
appearing for their board exams in May - Central Board of Secondary Education.
18. Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health & Family Welfare Minister approved the “National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021”
that aims to lower the high cost of treatment for rare diseases with increased focus on indigenous research with the
help of a National Consortium to be set up with ____ as convenor - Department of Health Research, Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare.
19. Starting from 1 April 2021, ____ has launched 100 days “Sankalp se Siddhi” - Village & Digital Connect Drive, to activate
the Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in selected 1500 villages - Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of
India (TRIFED).
20. On 4 April 2021, Central government has sanctioned more than 25 thousand 586 crore rupees to over 1 lakh 14
thousand 322 accounts under Stand-Up India Scheme in - Five years (up to 2025).
21. The 40th anniversary of AGE-CARE India and the Elders Day celebrations was held on 4 April 2021 in - New Delhi.
22. _____ under Ministry of Commerce and Industry and UNDP India’s Accelerator Lab signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU), with the aim to build a blockchain based traceability interface for Indian spices to enhance
transparency in supply chain and trade - Spices Board India.
23. On 05 April 2021, _____ hosted International Virtual Election Visitors Programme (IEVP) 2021 for Election Management
Bodies (EMBs) /Organisations from 26 countries - Election Commission of India.
24. The Central Board of Secondary Education signed a memorandum of understanding with the _____ to train and
enhance the skills of teachers and students of the CBSE affiliated schools - All India Council for Technical Education
(AICTE).
25. ____ hosted the first-of-its-kind online AI summit themed ‘Driving Next Generation of Innovation’ on 07 April & 08 April
2021 - India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA).
26. The Tribal Health initiative of Ministry of Tribal Affairs to enhance Tribal Health and to end all preventable deaths among
the tribal communities of India - ‘Anamaya’.
27. An initiative of National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare under National Beekeeping &
Honey Mission (NBHM) which is being developed for online registration to achieve traceability source of Honey and
other beehive products on a digital platform - “मधुक्रान्तिपोर्ट ल”.
28. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the ______ and Department of Animal Husbandry and
Dairying for research on new formulations in quality drugs for veterinary science through medicinal herbs - National
Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), Ministry of AYUSH.
29. ______ under Ministry of AYUSH is organizing a conference on ‘Homoeopathy - Roadmap for Integrative Medicine’ on
10th -11th April 2021 - Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH).
30. Union Ministry of Education released an implementation plan for school education called ____, which is developed by
the Department of School Education and Literacy - 'Students' and Teachers' Holistic Advancement through Quality
Education (SARTHAQ)'.
31. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal dedicated to the nation the Hansdiha-Godda new rail line in the state of - Jharkhand.
32. ______ launched the first-of-its kind Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) handbook, which is the resolution of disputes
outside courts - NITI Aayog.
33. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog’s flagship 295 Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) were officially adopted by - Council
of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
34. To fight against the surging COVID-19 cases, Teeka Utsav is being organized across the country from - 11 April to 14
April 2021.
35. India’s first Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), named “FSRU Höegh Giant”, was berthed at H-Energy’s
Jaigarh Terminal in - Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra.
36. Mobile App introduced by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for promoting ease of doing business and
providing quick access to information to importers/exporters - DGFT ‘Trade Facilitation’ App.
37. The India Energy Dashboards Version 2.0, an endeavour to provide single-window access to the energy data for the
country, was created by - NITI Aayog.
38. To spread the message of the need for a nutritionally balanced diet and to understand the importance of accessible to
all local fruits and vegetables, Vijnana Bharati (Vibha) and Global Indian Scientists’ and Technocrats’ Forum (GIST)
have come together to launch the mission ‘______’ with the motto of उत्तम आहार-उत्तम विचार (Uttam Aahaar Uttam
Vichaar) or `Good Diet-Good Cognition’ - ‘Aahaar Kranti’ movement.
39. On 12 April 2021, International Symposium titled ‘One Health in India: Research informing biosafety, preparedness and
response’ was organised virtually by - Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
40. Upcoming ‘National Institute of One Health’ is planned to be set-up in - Nagpur, Maharashtra.
41. _____ has announced India's First University Administrative Service (UAS) programme for its graduates - O.P. Jindal
Global Institution of Eminence Deemed to be University (Sonipat, Haryana).
42. A national digital repository on health and nutrition launched by NITI Aayog and Centre for Social and Behaviour
Change at Ashoka University - ‘Poshan Gyan’.
43. An electronic marketplace providing a platform launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to connect aqua
farmers and the buyers - ‘e-SANTA’ (Electronic Solution for Augmenting NaCSA farmers' Trade in Aquaculture).
44. Theme for the Raisina Dialogue 2021, India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, held virtually
during 13-16 April 2021, which is jointly organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research
Foundation - "#ViralWorld: Outbreaks, Outliers and Out of Control".
45. Chief Guests of the Raisina Dialogue 2021 - President of Rwanda Paul Kagame and Prime Minister of Denmark
Mette Frederiksen.
46. In a first, the _____ has secured Euro 68.87 million (Rs 600 cr) loan from Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest bank, for
onward lending to cooperatives in India - National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
47. Top position at national level for successfully implementing Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) during 2020-
21 - Udhampur district of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
48. Winner of the “E-Panchayat Puraskar 2021”, ranking first in Category I - Uttar Pradesh government.
49. On 13 April, ______ in partnership with Bernard van Leer Foundation (BvLF) virtually launched the ‘Infant Toddler and
Caregiver-friendly Neighbourhoods (ITCN) Training and Capacity Building Programme’ - National Institute of Urban
Affairs (NIUA).
50. ______ has decided to deploy Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) to enhance the quality of the National Highways in the
country - National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
51. The Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India Prof. K Vijay Raghavan virtually launched the “_____” App
to promote wellbeing across age groups - MANAS (Mental Health and Normalcy Augmentation System).
52. Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog and _____ announced their strategic collaboration to empower Atal Tinkering Lab
school students for world class future ready innovation skills across the country - All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE).
53. _____ and the Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI), under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Gas, Government of India, organised a Hydrogen Roundtable titled “Hydrogen Economy- the Indian Dialogue-2021” in
a virtual mode on 15 April 2021 - The Energy Forum (TEF).
54. Union Ministry of Agriculture and ______ inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a pilot project on the use
of modern technologies in farming sector in 100 villages of 6 states - Microsoft India.
55. The _____ launched the ‘EatSmart Cities Challenge’, which was organized in association with Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare - Ministry of Housing
and Urban Affairs.
56. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched the ‘Transport 4 All challenge’ in collaboration with the - Institute
for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
57. Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde released ____ translation of book Courts of India titled ‘Bhartache Nyayalaye - Ek
Simwhavlokan’ that depicts the judiciary’s history - Marathi.
58. The first National Level Dialogue on Agri-Food Systems-Advancing Equitable Livelihoods has been conducted on 12
April 2021, which was facilitated by the Inter departmental Group constituted by ____ and the representatives from UN
Agencies in Delhi - Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare.
59. Three path breaking initiatives for National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) for the IPv6 awareness and adoption in
the country along with Department of Telecommunications & Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology - ‘IPv6
Expert Panel (IP Guru)’; ‘NIXI Academy’; and ‘NIXI-IP-INDEX’.
60. On 16 April 2021, Gender Samvaad event, a joint attempt between DAY-NRLM and IWWAGE to create a common
platform to share experiences emerging from this effort, was organised by the - Ministry of Rural Development, Govt.
of India.
61. A Memorandum of Understanding, MoU was signed between CSIR Institute of Metal and Materials Technology (CSIR-
IMMT Bhubaneswar), CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (CSIR-NML Jamshedpur), _______ for extraction of
Rare Earth Elements (REE), from Red Mud (Aluminum waste) - National Aluminium Company Ltd. (NALCO).
62. The ______ portal has organised an ‘Innovative Tributes to Bravehearts’ competition from 15th April to 15th May 2021
- Gallantry Awards.
63. The report titled ‘Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in India Using a Common Framework’,
released by Department of Science and Technology, has identified _____ as states highly vulnerable to climate change
- Jharkhand, Mizoram, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal.
64. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and GIZ GmbH India (German organisation), Nature Conservation
and Nuclear Safety signed an agreement on Technical Cooperation project titled ‘Cities Combating Plastic Entering the
Marine Environment’, which will be undertaken in select states (______) and in the cities of Kanpur, Kochi and Port
Blair for a period of three and a half years - Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
65. Ministry of Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cleartrip and ______ to strengthen the
Hospitality & Tourism Industry especially in the times of the pandemic - Ease My Trip.
66. The Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on April 18, 2021, inaugurated the first-ever online exhibition on
Ramayana, the epic by - Maharishi Valmiki.
67. The Supreme Court appointed an oversight committee headed by retired Supreme Court judge Justice BN Srikrishna
to manage the affairs of the Mahabaleshwar temple at - Gokarna, Karnataka.
68. On 20 April 2021, the Union Cabinet has given its ex post facto approval to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between India and ____ on the establishment of a framework of cooperation in the area of trade remedial measures -
Bangladesh.
69. Rs 945 crore corpus Scheme, which is being launched by DPIIT (Department for promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade), under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to handhold and financially support early-stage startups over the
next four years - Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).
70. On 20 April 2021, the Next Gen Health Summit ‘Re-Imagine Healthcare’ was organized virtually by the - IMC Chamber
of Commerce and Industry.
71. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for
the formulation of exclusive subsidy policy for Urea produced through coal gasification route by - Talcher Fertilizers
Limited (TFL).
72. Central government has extended the insurance scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health
workers for a period of - one year.
73. The Supreme Court of India has set up a high-level committee, comprises Dr Rahul Rawat, Dr Sutirtha Dutta, and Dr.
Devesh Gadhavi, to examine the feasibility of under-grounding of over-head transmission power lines in Rajasthan and
Gujarat in order to protect _____ from extinction - Great Indian Bustard.
74. The _____ announced a #FOSS4GOV Innovation Challenge to accelerate adoption of Free and Open Source Software
(FOSS) In Government - Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology.
75. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog launched ____ to promote science based, deep technology ideas to market
through training and guidance over a period of 12 months - AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations,
Market-Readiness & Entrepreneurship).
76. The Automotive Industry Standards Committee has amended its ____ Standard to include the safety requirements of
Road-Trains (motor vehicle with a serial combination of trailers) - AIS-113 Standard.
77. National Panchayat Awards 2021 are conferred under various categories namely, - Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat
Sashaktikaran Puraskar (to 224 Panchayats), Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (to 30
Gram Panchayats), Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award (to 29 Gram Panchayats), Child-friendly Gram
Panchayat Award (to 30 Gram Panchayats) and e-Panchayat Puraskar (to 12 States).
78. Prime Minister dedicated a Central Sector Scheme, ______, with aims to provide the ‘record of rights’ to village
household owners in rural abadi areas and issuance of Property cards, to the entire nation on 24th April 2021 - “Survey
of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas” (SVAMITVA).
79. As per the estimate from SRS (Sample Registration System) based Abridged Life tables (2014-18) of Register General
and Census Commissioner (Government of India), India’s life expectancy for a child born on 7 April 2021 is - 69.4 yrs.
80. As per the estimate from SRS, India’s life expectancy is less than the world’s average lifespan of - 72.81 years.
81. As per the estimate from SRS, In India, an average life expectancy of female is 70.7 years and for male it is - 68.2
years.
82. The marine stewardship council (MSC) has announced a grant of Rs 46 lakh to support the fishery improvement project
for deep-sea shrimp fishery in - Kerala.
PERSON IN NEWS
1. New Director General of Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) - Mukhmeet S. Bhatia.
2. Recipient of the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke award for 2019 - Rajinikanth (actor).
3. Global Brand Ambassador of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCI) for 2021-22 - Srishti Jupudi.
4. New Chairman Emeritus of the Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) - T.T. Srinivasaraghavan.
5. New President of the Indian Society for Clinical Research (ISCR) for the term 2021-23 - Dr Sanish Davis.
6. Person who assumed additional charge as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC) on 31 March - Subhash Kumar.
7. Recipient of the ‘Kalinga Ratna’ award for the year 2021, given by Sarala Sahitya Sansad - Biswa Bhusan
Harichandan (Andhra Pradesh Governor).
8. A senior-most deputy governor who retired from the Reserve Bank of India on 2 April 2021 - B.P. Kanungo.
9. Kerala teacher who was the inspiration behind the annual Global Teacher Prize, has died on 2 April 2021 - Mariamma
Varkey.
10. Japanese Nobel laureate who won the physics prize for pioneering energy-efficient LED lighting, has died on 2 April
2021 - Isamu Akasaki.
11. First Environment Minister of India (1982 to 1984) who passed away on 04 April 2021 - Wankaner Digvijaysinh Zala.
12. The book ‘My Mother - My Hero’ is written by - Dr. Achyuta Samanta.
13. New revenue secretary under the Ministry of Finance, Government of India - Tarun Bajaj.
14. The President of India, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India,
appointed _____ to be the Chief Justice of India; He will take over as 48th CJI on 24th April 2021 - Shri Justice
Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana.
15. New Director-General and First woman Director General of National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER),
replaces Shekhar Shah - Poonam Gupta.
16. New Mission Director for Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), a flagship initiative of the GOI under NITI Aayog - Dr Chintan
Vaishnav.
17. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released the Hindi translation of the book ‘Odisha Itihaas’ written by - ‘Utkal
Keshari’ Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab.
18. Asia's richest person - Mukesh Ambani.
19. New Chairman and Managing Director of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) - S Ramann.
21. The Duke of Edinburgh and the husband to Queen Elizabeth II and patriarch of Britain's royal family who died on 09
April 2021 at Buckingham Palace - Prince Philip.
22. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi has honoured Indian-origin businessman _____ with Abu Dhabi's top civilian award for
their noble and charitable contributions to the community - Yusuffali MA.
23. The Indian Society for Hydraulics (ISH) has conferred the prestigious 'ISH Lifetime Achievement Award for the year
2020' to - Dr Nayan Sharma.
24. Eminent Historian and an expert on Awadh especially Lucknow who died in Lucknow on 12 April 2021 - Yogesh
Praveen.
25. New Chief Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India (ECI) with effect from the 13 ApriI 2021 - Sushil
Chandra.
26. Winner (Indian) of 'International Ranger Award 2021', jointly given by International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN Switzerland); World Commission on Protected Areas, International Ranger Federation, and Global Wildlife
Conservation and Conservation Allies - S. Sathish, Mahendira Giri.
27. New Global Vice President of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), which marks the first
time the ICLEI has chosen a Vice President from India, as well as from South Asia - Ms. Atishi (Chairperson of
Environment Committee of Delhi Assembly).
28. New and first woman Chairperson of the Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) for 2021-23 - Soma
Mondal (Chairperson of SAIL).
29. New Secretary Economic Affairs, replaces Tarun Bajaj - Ajay Seth.
30. The government has nominated _____, the executive director of the RBI, on board of State Bank of India - Anil Kumar
Sharma.
31. Indo Nepal Dalit Maitri Sangh and Babu Jagjivanram Kala Sanskriti and Sahitya Akademi, Nepal confer the B. R.
Ambedkar International Award to - Dr Sunil Baliram Gaikwad.
32. Re-appointed the Managing Director & CEO of DCB Bank Limited - Murali M. Natrajan.
33. Winner of a National Award - the Champions of Change for Social welfare and women empowerment, given by
Government of India - Sushmita Sen.
34. Recipient of the S.V. Parameshwara Bhatta Award for contribution to Kannada literature - Neeladevi.
35. Writer of Kannada Novel ‘Bedi Bandavalu’ - Neeladevi.
36. Recipient of the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Award 2021 for his contribution in the field of Hindi film music - Anu Malik
(music composer-singer).
37. National award winner Marathi filmmaker who died on 19 April 2021 - Sumitra Bhave.
39. Indian woman who has scaled Mt Annapurna (8091 metres), the 10th highest mountain peak in the world, becoming
the first Indian woman climber to achieve the feat - Priyanka Mohite.
40. Former governor of RBI in 1977, who was the first and so far the only governor to be appointed from the Reserve Bank
cadre and considered as the father of banking reforms, died on 20 April 2021 - M. Narasimham.
41. The Hague-based Conference of State Parties of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
selected ____ as its external auditor for a three-year term starting 2021 - India's Comptroller and Auditor General
(CAG) G.C. Murmu.
42. The Reserve Bank of India has approved appointment of ____ as the Part-time Chairman of HDFC Bank for a period
of 3 years w.e.f. 5 May 2021 - Atanu Chakraborty.
43. First Indian-American lawyer who has been confirmed by the US Senate as associate attorney general (third-highest
position at the Department of Justice) - Vanita Gupta.
44. New Chairperson of IT industry’s apex body National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) for
2021-22 - Rekha M. Menon (chairperson at Accenture in India).
45. Winner of the Nelson Mandela World Humanitarian Award 2021, given by the Diplomatic Mission Global Peace -
Rumana Sinha Sehgal.
46. Supreme Court judge, who died on 25 April 2021 - Justice Mohan M Shantanagoudar.
47. Best actress award at the 93rd Oscar award - Frances McDormand (for ‘Nomadland’).
48. An Indian nuclear scientist, known for his role in successful 1998 nuclear tests, who died on 26 April 2021 -
Krishnamurthy Santhanam.
49. New Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Limited - Subhash Kumar.
50. New acting Chief Justice of High Court of Calcutta with effect from 29 April 2021 - Justice Rajesh Bindal.
51. First Indian and Asian woman who won 'WILD Innovator Award 2021', given by the 'WILD ELEMENTS Foundation' -
Dr Krithi K Karanth (Chief Conservation Scientist at Bengaluru-based Centre for Wildlife Studies).
52. The Central government has appointed _____ on board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), replaces Tarun Bajaj -
Ajay Seth (economic affairs secretary).
53. New Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) with effective from 17 May 2021 - Liz
Ortiguera.
54. Winner of the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize 2021 - Maria Ressa (Investigative journalist from
the Philippines).
55. Indian archaeologist who is among the 250-odd global artistes, researchers and scientists to be elected as an honorary
member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AMACAD) in the United States of America - Sharada
Srinivasan.
56. New Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Ltd (NCDEX) -
Arun Raste.
57. New Finance Secretary of Government of India - T. V. Somanathan.
58. First woman officer who appointed as officer commanding in the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) - Vaishali S
Hiwase.
SPORTS
1. Person who has been elected as a full member representative of the International Cricket Council women's committee
- Mel Jones (Australia).
2. First Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Global Esports Federation (GEF) - Paul J. Foster.
3. Winner of the men’s singles gold in the SL4 category at the Dubai Para Badminton tournament 2021 - Pramod Bhagat.
4. Winner of the Sportstar of the Decade award at the 2021 Sportstar Aces - Giants of the Decade edition - M.C. Mary
Kom.
5. New head of Anti-Corruption Unit of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), replaces Ajit Singh - Shabir
Hussein Shekhadam Khandawala.
6. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the Khelo India State Centre of Excellence (KISCE) for Rowing at the Jammu
and Kashmir Sports Council Water Sports Academy in - Srinagar.
7. ICC Player of the Month Award for March 2021 - Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Indian pacer) and Lizelle Lee (South African
opener).
8. First team from India, which will compete in the group stage of the AFC Champions League - FC Goa.
9. In Wrestling, _____ won gold medal in the women's 59 kg group at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Almaty,
Kazakhstan - Sarita Mor.
10. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has appointed _____ to the newly created role of Chief Paralympic
Games Delivery Officer - Colleen Wrenn.
11. Indian wrestler who won her maiden gold at Asian Wrestling Championships 2021 - Vinesh Phogat.
12. Ace Indian swimmer ____ created a national record (clocked 25.11 seconds) in 50m backstroke while winning gold
medal of the Uzbekistan Open Championship 2021 - Srihari Nataraj.
13. Winner of Wisden Cricketers of the Year 2021 - Jason Holder, Mohammed Rizwan, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley, and
Darren Stevens.
14. The _____ launched the next phase of the 100% Cricket campaign, with the launch of the 100% Cricket Future Leaders
Programme - a mentorship programme for all female future leaders in Cricket - International Cricket Council (ICC).
15. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has partnered with five international sports federations and video game
publishers to produce the Olympic Virtual Series (OVS), the first Olympic-licensed event for virtual sports, and e-sports
includes - baseball, cycling, rowing, sailing, and motorsport.
16. In the World Youth Boxing championships, Indian women boxers (Gitika, Naorem Babyrojisana Chanu, Poonam,
Vinka, Arundhati Choudhary, T Sanamacha Chanu and Alfiya Pathan) created history with seven gold medals in -
Kielce, Poland.
17. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has endorsed the Indian Championship fight between Chandni Mehra and Suman
Kumari (India’s first ever Professional USA boxing event) on May 1 in - Jalandhar.
18. Indian boxer ____ (56kg) won eighth gold for India at the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships 2021 in Kielce,
Poland - Sachin.
19. Indian boxer Amit Panghal (52kg) won a bronze medal at the Governor’s Cup in - St Petersburg, Russia.
20. First-ever female boxer from Rajasthan, who won a gold medal in the AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships 2021
- Arundhati Choudhary (69kg).
21. In the 2021 Archery World Cup Stage 1, Indian women's recurve team including Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and
Komalika Bari won a gold medal in - Guatemala.
22. First Indian woman sailor who qualified for Olympics in sailing - Nethra Kumanan.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. The new Cruise service started between Hazira Port of Surat and ____ on 31 March - Diu.
2. This state government on 1 April launched free travel facility for women in government buses running within the state -
Punjab.
3. On 2 April 2021, the 40th Annual Celebrations of Sarala Sahitya Sansad held in - Cuttack.
4. The ______ government has approved a sum of Rs 231 crore for disbursal to tribal families in the state under its 'Khavti'
grant scheme - Maharashtra.
5. The ______ government dedicated cowsheds, beneficiary-oriented animal shelters, pasture development works and
power sub-stations under the ‘Mission Earth’ programme on 3 April 2021 - Madhya Pradesh.
6. The second largest Sex-sorted Semen Production Laboratory in India inaugurated in - Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
7. The ______ government has plans to construct 210 km Ram Van Gaman Marg, connects Ayodhya to Chitrakoot, in -
Uttar Pradesh.
8. The ______ government will announce "KCR Apathbandhu" scheme on 27 April for comprehensive development of
the backward communities by providing skill development for self-employment - Telangana.
9. The _____ approved a USD 32 million "Mizoram Health Systems Strengthening Project" - World Bank.
10. New Home Minister of Maharashtra state, after resignation of Anil Deshmukh from his post - Dilip Walse Patil.
11. The Government of ____ has become the first state in the country to launch its monthly micro-scholarship programme
for school students - Sikkim.
12. The Government of ____ has decided to set up an international level 'Ramayan Museum and Cultural Centre' at the
Ram Snehi Ghat that lies between Ayodhya and Lucknow - Uttar Pradesh.
13. The Government of ____ has decided to set up special revenue courts of financial commissioners (FCs) at the district-
level to facilitate people living in far-flung areas of the state - Punjab.
14. Union Territory Administration, Leh Hill Council and Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI Ltd) have signed
a MoU to set up a 50 MW solar power project at ____ in Leh district - Taru.
15. The ____ government has announced the first edition of ‘Veerni Awardees’ - Chhattisgarh.
16. The ____ government’s education department will launch a three-week pilot project in 26 of its schools from 12 April
2021, where parents of children in Class 7 are being roped in to teach their kids in their free time under the Mission
Buniyaad program with aims to improve foundational learning - Delhi.
17. The ______ government has taken a new decision to set up YSR Integrated Agriculture Laboratory (YSRIAL) - Andhra
Pradesh.
18. Person who was given additional charge as the Maharashtra director general of police (DGP) - Sanjay Pandey.
19. The ______ government launched ‘Project E Lakshyvahini’ through which about 10,000 students will be provided
training through Common Service Centres Training for more than 100 competitive exams - Haryana.
20. The ‘Kombirei Festival -2021’ inaugurated at - Lamphelpat (Dist. Imphal, Manipur).
21. The ____ government launched ‘Veerangana on wheel’ service that will let women get prompt help and lodge
complaints at their doorstep - Himachal Pradesh.
22. Health and medical education Minister Dr K Sudhakar declared that a programme has been designed for sportspersons
in ____ to keep them healthy - Karnataka.
23. New head of the state finance commission under the Government of Rajasthan - Pradhyuman Singh.
24. The ____ government's Department of Art, Culture and Languages (ACL) organised the Babasaheb Ambedkar Digital
Kala Festival - Delhi.
25. Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) and _____ inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to
preserve Manipur’s film heritage - Film Heritage Foundation (FHF).
26. Indian Railways approved transportation of liquid medical oxygen, after receiving a request from - Government of
Maharashtra.
27. The Government of ___ has announced to follow a "Health Safety Week" beginning from 22 to 29 April, to break the
chain of growing COVID-19 infection rate in the State - Jharkhand.
28. The Government of ____ launched a digital mechanism, ‘e-Abiana’ system, for water cess collection to facilitate farmers
- Punjab.
29. The Government of ____ announced “Covid Emergency Loan Scheme” for new and old entrepreneurs supplying
medicines, oxygen and other medical facilities to Covid-19 patients - Haryana.
30. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on 24April 2021 inaugurated Mangkang Festival 2021, an annual Spring festival of Maram
womenfolk in - Manipur.
31. The _____, signed a MoU with corporate partner Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and executing
agency National Integrity and Educational Development Organisation, (NIEDO) for project ‘Ladakh Ignited Minds : A
Centre of Excellence and Wellness’ to mentor and guide the youth of UT of Ladakh for entrance examinations - Indian
Army.
32. To provide quality maternal care in _____ which has the highest Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR), the Federation of
Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI) has launched an initiative 'Manyata' to train health care staff
by leveraging digital platforms - Assam.
33. The Tourism Finance Corporation of India Limited has started an initiative called ‘School on Wheels’ to provide COVID
education, food, medical assistance and necessary support to street children in - Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
34. New Managing Director of Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation - Anurag Agrawal.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

1. _____ has developed light weight Bullet Proof Jacket (BPJ) weighing 9.0 kilogrammes for Indian Army - DRDO’s
Defence Materials and Stores Research and Development Establishment (DMSRDE), Kanpur.
2. Researchers at _____ developed artificial enzymes to block reactivation and replication of Human Immuno-deficiency
Virus (HIV) in the immune cells - Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
3. _____ has developed an Advanced Chaff Technology to safeguard the naval ships against enemy missile attack -
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
4. Shrikishan Suman (55 years), a farmer from Kota, Rajasthan, has developed an innovative mango variety which is a
regular and round-the-year dwarf variety of mango called ‘_____’, which is resistant to most major diseases and
common mango disorders - Sadabahar.
5. Researchers from _____ have developed a dual carbon battery which could challenge the extant lithium-ion batteries
(LIB) - Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad.
6. ‘NanoSniffer’, the world’s first Microsensor based Explosive Trace Detector (ETD) is developed by - NanoSniff
Technologies (IIT Bombay incubated startup).
7. On 9 April 2021, _____ successfully sent an experiment satellite, the third of the Shiyan-6 series, into planned orbit -
China.
8. A research group at _____has developed a novel betel leaf oil extraction technology, which is capable of saving 44
percent of the time as compared to the current process - Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur.
9. Allabout Innovations Pvt Ltd, an incubator under Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) has developed a pioneering electronic
device '_____' that could contain airborne novel coronavirus - 'Wolf Airmask’.
10. ‘HGCO19’, India's 'first of its kind' mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine is developed by _____ under the 'Mission COVID
Suraksha’ - Pune-based Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd.
11. Scientists at the _____ developed edible seaweed film using red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and green seaweed
(Ulva lactuca) that can replace plastic in food packaging - Visakhapatnam Research Centre of the Central Institute
of Fisheries Technology (CIFT).
12. Scientists from the _____ has developed ‘H2S Gas sensor’, an electronic nose, that can detect hydrogen sulphide
(H2S), a poisonous, corrosive, and flammable gas produced from swamps and sewers - Centre for Nano and Soft
Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bangalore.
13. ISRO centre Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) launched ‘_____’ web portal for the visualisation of satellite
imagery & geospatial information around Haridwar for Kumbh-Mela Yaatris - GeoKumbh.
14. Union Minister of Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually launched “World 1st affordable and long-lasting
hygiene product DuroKea Series” to combat COVID-19 virus spreading, which is developed by researcher from - Indian
Institute of Technology Hyderabad.
15. High-yielding new variety, developed by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) by involving the strongly scented
traditional varieties ‘Basmati 386’ and ‘Pusa Basmati 1121’ - 'Punjab Basmati 7'.
16. Russian scientists have launched one of the world’s biggest underwater neutrino telescopes called the ‘Baikal-GVD
(Gigaton Volume Detector)’ in the waters of Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake situated in - Siberia.
17. _____ has developed SpO2 (Blood Oxygen Saturation) supplemental Oxygen Delivery System for soldiers posted at
extreme high-altitude areas - DRDO’s DEBEL Laboratory, Bengaluru.
18. USA’s National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has successfully flown a small helicopter, called “____”,
on Mars, which marks the first powered controlled flight by an aircraft on another planet - Ingenuity.
19. NASA developed ‘____’, which is a device developed to generate oxygen from the atmosphere of mars - ‘MOXIE’.
20. Researchers at ____ have developed a microfiltration process to remove microplastics from seawater - Indian Institute
of Technology Guwahati.
21. To cope the problem and minimise the supply chain of transportation and storage risks related to oxygen cylinders,
_____ has developed ‘Oxygen Enrichment’ technology - Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-
CMERI, Durgapur).
22. First ever malaria vaccine that achieved the World Health Organisation (WHO) specified 75 percent efficacy goal, is
developed by a team of researchers from the - University of Oxford, the UK.
23. Researchers at the ____ have developed an affordable oxygen concentrator device, called 'Oxycon' - Indian Institute
of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Bhopal.
24. China’s first Mars rover - Zhurong.
25. _____ has indigenously developed single crystal high pressure turbine (HPT) blades technology using a nickel-based
super alloy for helicopter engine application - Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) of DRDO.
26. India's first 3D printed house was built at ____ in just five days - Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
27. First country which announced it will regulate the use of self-driving vehicles at slow speeds on motorways for public -
The UK.
28. A community service centre, which has been set up to bring all data on board India’s first dedicated solar space mission
‘Aditya-L1’ to a single web-based interface - Aditya-L1 Support Cell.
29. On 29 April 2021, _____ launched the first module, named ‘The Tianhe’, or “Heavenly Harmony," module of 11 missions
of its first permanent space station - China.
30. The Chennai-based Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) has developed the India's first vaccine (brand
named as 'CIBA-Nodavac-R') for deadly viral nervous necrosis (VNN) disease, which is currently affecting several
species of - fish.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
1. National Security Guard (NSG) - Founded: 15 October 1984; Headquarters: New Delhi.
2. Special Protection Group (SPG) - Founded: 30 March 1985; Headquarters: New Delhi.
3. Competition Commission of India (CCI) - Founded: 14 October 2003; Headquarters: New Delhi.
4. National Company Law Tribunal - Constituted: 1 June 2016; Headquarters: New Delhi.
5. National Green Tribunal (NGT) - Established: 18 October 2010; Principal Bench: New Delhi.
6. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) - Founded: 20 February 1997; Headquarters: New Delhi.
7. World Bank - Founded: 1944; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA.
8. Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) - Founded: 1975; Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
9. Asian Development Bank (ADB) - Founded: 19 December 1966; Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines.
10. African Development Bank Group (AfDB) - Founded: 10 September 1964; Headquarters: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
11. New Development Bank (NDB) (formerly BRICS Development Bank) - Founded: 2015; Headquarters: Shanghai,
China.
12. Sarala Mahabharat written by _____ in the 15th century, the first complete Mahabharat in a regional language - Sarala
Das.
13. Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) - Founded: 1985; Headquarters: Tehran, Iran.
14. International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) - Founded: 15 December 1977; Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
15. International Investment Bank - Founded: 10 July 1970; Headquarters: Budapest, Hungary.
16. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) - Founded: 1944; Headquarters: Washington, D.C.,
United States.
17. International Finance Corporation (IFC) - Founded: 20 July 1956; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
18. International Development Association (IDA) - Founded: 1960; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
19. International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) - Founded: 1966; Headquarters: Washington, D.C.,
United States.
20. United Nations Secretariat - Founded: 1945; Headquarters: New York City, USA.
21. International Court of Justice (ICJ) - Established: 1945; Location: The Hague, Netherlands.
22. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - Founded: 4 April 1947; Headquarters: Montreal, Canada.
23. European Investment Bank (EIB) - Founded: 1958; Location: Kirchberg, Luxembourg.
24. To promote entrepreneurship amongst women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Stand-Up India Scheme was
launched on - 5th April 2016.
25. The D-7 member states are - Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
26. International Maritime Organization (IMO) - Founded: 17 March 1948; Headquarters: London, United Kingdom.
27. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - Founded: 17 May 1865; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
28. United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) - Founded: 15 March 2006; Headquarters: Geneva,
Switzerland.
Austria.
30. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) - Founded: 22 December 1999; Headquarters: Geneva,
Switzerland.
31. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) - Founded: 1997; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
32. Universal Postal Union (UPU) - Founded: 9 October 1874; Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland.
33. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - Founded: 14 July 1967; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
34. World Food Programme (WFP) - Founded: 19 December 1961; Headquarters: Rome, Italy.
35. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) - Founded: 23 March 1950; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
36. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - Founded: 1 November 1974; Headquarters: Madrid, Spain.
37. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - Founded: 5 October 1948; Location: Gland, Switzerland.
38. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP or UN Environment) - Founded: 5 June 1972; Headquarters: Nairobi,
Kenya.
39. International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) - Founded: 21 June 1921; Location: Monaco.
40. International Seabed Authority (ISA) - Founded: 16 November 1994; Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica.
41. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) - Established: 22 July 1902; Headquarters: Copenhagen,
Denmark.
42. E9 Countries - Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Pakistan.
43. The ______ aims to accelerate recovery and advance the Sustainable Development Goal 4 agenda by driving rapid
change in education systems - E9 initiative.
44. Conference on Disarmament (CD) - Formation: 1984; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; Membership: 65.
45. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) - Formation: 29 April 1997; Headquarters: The Hague,
Netherlands; Membership: 193.
46. The Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies -
Established: 12 July 1996; Secretariat: Vienna, Austria.
47. Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was founded in response to the Indian nuclear test in - May 1974.
48. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT) -
Signed: 1 July 1968; Effective: 5 March 1970; Parties: 190.
49. Australia Group - Established: 1985; Parties: 43.
50. Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) - Established: 1987; Parties: 35.
51. Eight developing countries (D-8) - Established: 1997; Headquarters: Istanbul, Turkey.
52. D8 Member States - Iran, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, and Nigeria.
53. Founder of Homoeopathy - Dr Samuel Hahnemann.
54. International Energy Agency (IEA) - Established: 1974; Secretariat: Paris, France; Members: 30.
Austria.
56. International Energy Forum (IEF) - Established: 1991; Secretariat: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Members: 72.
57. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) - Founded: 26 January 2009; Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates; Members: 160.
58. Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) - Launched: 2011; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
59. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) - Founded: 2002; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
60. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Founded: 29 July 1957; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
61. Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) - Establishment: 1 February 1958; Secretariat: Paris, France; Members: 33.
62. World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) - Founded: 15 May 1989; Headquarters: London, the United
Kingdom.
63. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) - Founded: 16 January 2016; Headquarters: Beijing, China.
64. Financial Action Task Force (on Money Laundering) (FATF) - Founded: 1989; Headquarters: Paris, France.
65. International Bureau of Weights and Measures - Founded: 20 May 1875; Location: Saint-Cloud, France.
66. International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Founded: 27 December 1945; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., USA.
67. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - Founded: 16 April 1948; Headquarters: Paris,
France; Members: 37.
68. OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) - Established: 1976; Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
69. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) - Founded: 14 September 1960; Headquarters: Vienna,
Austria; Members: 13.
70. World Customs Organization (WCO) - Founded: 26 January 1952; Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
71. World Trade Organization (WTO) - Founded: 1 January 1995; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; Members: 164.
72. Chagas disease is also known as - "silent or silenced disease".
73. Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) - Founded: 1988; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
74. International Criminal Court (ICC or ICCt) - Established: 1 July 2002; Location: The Hague, Netherlands.
75. International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-INTERPOL) - Founded: 1923; Headquarters: Lyon, France.
76. Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) - Established: 1899; Location: The Hague, Netherlands.
77. Organization for Cooperation of Railways (OSJD or OSShD) - Established: 28 June 1956; Location: Warsaw, Poland.
78. Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations (or Commonwealth of Unrecognized States) - Founded: 14 June
2006; Location: Eastern Europe.
79. Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) - Founded: 18 June 2002; Members: 34.
80. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) - Founded: 1989; Headquarters: Queenstown, Singapore; Members: 21.
81. East Asia Summit (EAS) - Founded: 2005; Members: 18.
82. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Founded: 8 August 1967; Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia;
Members: 12.
83. Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) - Founded: 6 June 1997;
Secretariat: Dhaka, Bangladesh; Members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
84. Mekong-Ganga Cooperation - Founded: 10 November 2000; Members: India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos
and Vietnam.
85. Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) - Founded: 1994; Headquarters:
Quezon City, Philippines.
86. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) - Founded: 8 December 1985; Secretariat: Kathmandu,
Nepal; Members: 17.
87. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) or Shanghai Pact - Founded: 15 June 2001; Headquarters: Beijing, China.
88. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - Founded: 4 April 1949; Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
89. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) or Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional
Cooperation (IOR-ARC) - Founded: 6 March 1997; Headquarters: Ebene, Mauritius.
90. Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) was founded in - 1982.
91. Commonwealth of Learning (COL) - Founded: 1988; Headquarters: British Columbia, Canada.
92. United Nations University - Founded: 1972; Location: Tokyo, Japan.
93. Digital Nations or DN (previously the Digital 5, Digital 7 and Digital 9) - Founded: 2014; Members: Canada, Denmark,
Estonia, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Uruguay.
94. The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was adopted and signed by 28 countries on - 22 March
1985.
95. Commonwealth of Nations - Founded: 11 December 1931; Headquarters: London, United Kingdom; Members: 54.
96. Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) - Founded: 1 September 1961; Headquarters: Central Jakarta, Indonesia; Members:
120.
97. Group of 15 (G-15) - Founded: 1989; Location: Geneva, Switzerland.
98. Group of 77 (G77) - Founded: 15 June 1964; Headquarters: New York City, USA.
99. Intergovernmental Group of Twenty-Four on International Monetary Affairs and Development, or The Group of 24 (G-
24) - Founded: 1971; Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States.
100. The Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) is formed in - 2010.
101. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) - Founded: 1995; Headquarters:
Stockholm, Sweden.
102. World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) - Founded: 25 January 1924; Headquarters: Paris, France.
103. Constitution of India - Adopted: 26 November 1949; Effective: 26 January 1950.
104. Under Articles 52 and 53 of the Constitution of India, Head of the executive branch of Indian government - President
of India.
105. The Djibouti Code of Conduct / Jeddah Amendment (DCOC/JA) that aims at repression of piracy and armed robbery
against ships in the Western Indian Ocean Region, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, was established in - January
2009.
106. All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the - AIIMS
Act, 1956.
107. Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the - IIT Act, 1961.
108. Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) are declared as Institutes of National Importance through the - IIM Act, 2017.
109. Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations - Signed: 13 February 1946; Effective: 17
September 1946.
110. Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations - Signed: 18 April 1961; Effective: 24 April 1964.
111. Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) was formed on - 26 September 1946.
112. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) - Founded: 1954; Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
113. Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) was formed on - 1 March 2002.
114. Botanical Survey of India (BSI) - Founded: 13 February 1890; Headquarters: Kolkata, West Bengal.
115. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) - Founded: 1 July 1916; Headquarters: Kolkata.
116. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established in - December 2005.
117. National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) - Founded: 1 October 2003; Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
118. Forest Survey of India (FSI) - Founded: 1 June 1981; Headquarters: Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
119. International Hockey Federation (FIH) - Founded: 07 January 1924; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
120. International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) - Founded: 1926; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
121. International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) - Founded: 1907; Headquarters: Munich, Germany.
122. World Archery - Founded: 04 September 1931; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
123. International Olympic Committee (IOC) - Founded: 23 June 1894; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
124. International Boxing Association (AIBA) - Founded: 1946; Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland.
125. National Horticulture Board (NHB) was set up in - April 1984.
126. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was established on - 16 July 1929.
127. Food Corporation of India (FCI) was founded on - 14 January 1965.
128. Sahitya Akademi - Founded: 12 March 1954; Location: New Delhi.
129. Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) - Founded: 1712; Headquarters: Kolkata.
130. National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) was founded on - 2 October 1958.
131. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Founded: 29 April 1961; Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
132. Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) - Founded: 1945; Headquarters: Kolkata.
133. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) - Founded: 1861; Headquarters: New Delhi.
134. National Defence Academy (NDA) - Established: 7 December 1954; Location: Khadakwasla, Pune, Maharashtra.
135. India’s two power exchanges - Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India (PXIL).
136. National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) - Founded: 13 March 1963; Headquarters: New Delhi.
137. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) - Founded: 26 January 1944; Headquarters: New Delhi.
138. HDFC Bank - Founded: 30 August 1994; Headquarters: Mumbai.
139. The United States detonated two nuclear weapons over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on - August
6 and 9, 1945.
140. International Advertising Association (IAA) - Founded: 08 April 1938; Headquarters: New York, United States.
141. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) - Founded: 19 January 1954; Headquarters: New Delhi.
142. Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) - Founded: 1970; Headquarters: Mumbai.
143. Jute Corporation of India (JCI) - Founded: 1971; Headquarters: Kolkata.

144. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was founded in - 2007.
145. Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) was set up in - year 1987-88.
146. The Swadeshi Movement which was launched on - 7 August 1905.
147. National Handloom Development Corporation (NHDC) was set up in - February, 1983.
148. National Housing Bank (NHB) - Founded: 09 July 1988; Headquarters: New Delhi.
149. National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) - Founded: 1975; Headquarters: Mumbai.
150. Indian Railways - Founded: 08 May 1845; Headquarters: New Delhi.
151. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India is an authority, established by - Article 148 of the Constitution of
India.
152. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) was established in - 1960.
153. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) - Founded: 4 November 1945;
Headquarters: Paris, France.
154. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was formed on - 01 October 1926.
155. Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) - Founded: 03 November 1958; Headquarters: New
Delhi.
156. Sports Authority of India (SAI) - Founded: 1982; Headquarters: New Delhi.
157. The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Movement, was a movement launched at the Bombay session
of the All-India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on - 8 August 1942.
158. Central Depository Services (India) Limited (CDSL) - Founded: 1999; Headquarters: Mumbai.
159. International Cricket Council (ICC) - Founded: 15 June 1909; Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
160. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) - Founded: 28 January 2009; Headquarters: New Delhi.

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1 CURRENT AFFAIRS APRIL 2021

1. 22 NEW ROUTES LAUNCHED AS PART OF UDAN SCHEME

3. Anandam: The Center for Happiness Inaugurated in IIM Jammu

4. Faculty Development, and

• Odisha is formerly known as Orissa.

7. MILITARY FARMS SERVICE IS SHUT

8. ARTICLE 244 (A)

About Article 244 (A):

9. WORLD’S BIGGEST UNDERWATER NEUTRINO TELESCOPE IN LAKE BAIKAL

10. WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY 2021

11. KARGIL ZANSKAR ROAD

12. SHANTIR OGROSHENA 2021

13. GLOBAL GENDER GAP REPORT 2021

14. MAHENDRAGIRI - ODISHA’S BIOSPHERE RESERVE

15. INDIA’S BIGGEST FLOATING SOLAR POWER PLANT

16. MUKTIJODDHA SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

Muktijoddha Scholarship scheme - Bangladesh:

17. 3RD JOINT LOGISTICS NODE (JLN) - MUMBAI

18. EMERGENCY CREDIT LINE GUARANTEE SCHEME (ECLGS)

19. M87 GALAXY

Black Hole Magnetic Field Image:

20. WORLD IN 2030: PUBLIC SURVEY REPORT - UNESCO

• Discrimination and inequality,

21. HSN CODE: UPDATED RULES

22. MARS InSight Lander

23. THE JOINT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF ACTION

25. NASA LANDS INGENUITY HELICOPTER ON MARS

27. FIFTH BIOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITE DECLARED IN MAHARASHTRA

28. URANUS REFLECTING X-RAYS

• The spacecraft Voyager 2 is the only one to visit the planet.

29. TOUCH SENSITIVE WATCH DEVELOPED BY IIT KANPUR

30. ACADEMIC RANKING OF WORLD UNIVERSITIES

31. WEST BENGAL: HIGHEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SMALL SAVINGS SCHEME

3. Kisan Vikas Patra and

32. DIGITAL CURRENCY ELECTRONIC PAYMENT (DCEP)

34. NASA LANDS INGENUITY HELICOPTER ON MARS

• Ingenuity Helicopter is a small coaxial drone rotorcraft.

36. FIFTH BIOLOGICAL HERITAGE SITE DECLARED IN MAHARASHTRA

37. URANUS REFLECTING X-RAYS

38. TOUCH SENSITIVE WATCH DEVELOPED BY IIT KANPUR

39. ACADEMIC RANKING OF WORLD UNIVERSITIES

40. WEST BENGAL: HIGHEST CONTRIBUTOR TO THE SMALL SAVINGS SCHEME

41. DIGITAL CURRENCY ELECTRONIC PAYMENT (DCEP)

42. INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 2021

43. DRDO’s CHAFF TECHNOLOGY

44. NATIONAL POLICY FOR RARE DISEASES, 2021

45. NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE FORCE (NDRF)

46. DWARF MANGO VARIETY: SADABAHAR

47. NATIONAL MARITIME DAY

48. RAISINA DIALOGUE 2021

49. WORLD’S HIGHEST RAILWAY BRIDGE

50. NEW MISSION DIRECTOR FOR ATAL INNOVATION MISSION

51. INS VIRAAT

52. ATAL INNOVATION MISSION JOINS HAND WITH CIPS

53. AN MOU BETWEEN SPICES BOARD INDIA AND UNDP INDIA

54. E9 COUNTRIES MEET

55. VLADIMIR PUTIN TO STAY IN POWER TILL 2036

• He was a former intelligence officer.

56. SUPERNOVA EXPLOSION- WOLF-RAYET STARS