Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2021

Notes:
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has revised its global merchandise trade volume growth in 2021 and 2022 to 8 per cent and 4 percent respectively.
Earlier in October 2020, WTO has predicted 7.2 per cent growth. The slow down of 4 per cent in 2022 is due to the continued effects of pandemic. The report also highlighted that much of global import demand will be met by Asia.

Notes:
Following the retirement of Deputy Governor B P Kanungo from the Reserve Bank of India, RBI has reallocated the portfolios among its present Dy Governors.
The key department of RBI – Monetary Policy Department continues to be headed by Dr MD.Patra. Besides this, he has been allocated with 10 other departments like external investment and operations, statistics and information management, financial stability unit etc.

Notes:
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has recently released Draft guidelines on Trade credit insurance.
It has proposed a regulatory framework to facilitate general insurance companies to offer trade credit insurance covers. Trade credit insurance protects businesses against the risk of non-payment for goods and services by buyers.

Notes:
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying signed an MoU with the Ministry of AYUSH.
It aims to introduce the concept of Ayurveda and its allied disciplines into veterinary science. It also aims to promote research and development on new formulations in veterinary drugs.

Notes:
Four sailors created history from India by qualifying for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. Nethra Kumanan became the first Indian woman sailor to qualify for the Olympics, during the Mussanah Open Championship.
Other three men sailors are Vishnu Saravanan and the pair of Ganapathy Chengappa and Varun Thakkar. They were announced qualified during the ongoing Asian Qualifiers in Oman.

Notes:
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has proposed the imposition of “solidarity tax” on high earners and companies that prospered in the coronavirus crisis to show solidarity with those who were hit hardest by the pandemic.
IMF has stated that this temporary tax would help to reduce social inequalities and help countries recover from COVID 19 disruptions.

Notes:
As per a recent release by the US-based Pew Research Centre, the COVID 19 pandemic has pushed about 32 million Indians out of the middle class.
The report states that the number of middle-class Indians earning 10 – 20 a day has reduced by 32 million.

Notes:
India’s leading private sector bank – HDFC Bank instituted the SmartUp grants in 2017 and over the last 4 years, it has supported 87 start-ups across the country.
The Bank has announced the SmartUp Grants 2021 recently. 21 start-ups have been selected for the grant from more than 300 applications received.

Notes:
As per the Fiscal Affairs Department of the Internatioanl Monetary Fund, India’s debt to GDP ratio increased from 74 per cent to 90 per cent during the COVID-19 pandemic.
IMF also expects that the ratiop would drop down to 80 per cent as a result of the country’s economic recovery.

Notes:
“Nomadland” won four prizes including the one for Best picture at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
Chloe Zhao, became only the second woman, and the first woman of color, to win the BAFTA for best director for the movie ‘Nomadland’. Best actor award went to 83-year-old Anthony Hopkins while Best actress award was given to Frances McDormand.