Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2021

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

Notes:
Mount Merapi is an active volcano located in the Central Java province of Indonesia. Being the most active volcano in Indonesia, it has erupted constantly since 1548.
Recently, the volcano was observed releasing ash high into the air and sending streams of lava and debris along its slopes. As per media reports, clouds of hot ash were blown 200 meters or 656 feet above the surface.

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

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has mandated all companies to disclose their investments in cryptocurrencies and expenditures made in corporate social responsibility.
In this regard, the ministry has brought about suitable amendments in the Companies Act 2013. These amendments would come in force from the financial year 2021-22 starting April 1st 2021.

Notes:
The Government e-Market (GeM) portal was launched on August 9, 2016, for online purchases of goods and services by all the central government ministries and departments.
Recently, the public procurement of goods and services has crossed Rs 1 lakh crore from the GeM since the platform was launched. The main reason is the sharp increase in buying activities by various ministries.

Notes:
The Government of China has entered into a 25-year “strategic cooperation pact” with the Government of Iran. The pact which was under work for more than 5 years has been materialised recently
China has always backed Iran even during fractious moments with USA. China is one of the largest trade partners of Iran.

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

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

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

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