Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2021

Notes:
Indian Government’s think tank – NITI Aayog has planned to launch a hand book for Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). This book would serve as an invitation to business leaders to adopt ODR in India.
The book would be published in association with organizations like Agami and Omidyar Network India, ICICI Bank, Ashoka Innovators for the Public etc.

Notes:
Thwaites Glacier – also called the “Doomsday Glacier” is present in Antarctica and has been melting fast over the years.
Due to its large size of 1.9 lakh square km, it contains enough water to raise the world sea level by more than half a metre. Recently, Researchers at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg have found that the glacier is melting at a higher rate than it was originally thought.

Notes:
Commerce and industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently launched the “Trade facilitation mobile app” of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade.
The app has a state-of-the-art system and provides real-time trade policy updates, applications and real-time data. It will also provide artificial intelligence-based 24×7 assistance and all services of the DGFT.

Notes:
India has recently become the second-most affected Covid-19 country in the world overtaking Brazil. The top position is held by the United States of America.
Recently, India has been reporting more than 1.5 lakh COVID cases every day and the overall infection has crossed 13.53 million.

Notes:
The United Arab Emirates has named the next two astronauts for its space programme. The ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has named Noura al-Matroushi as the UAE’s first female astronaut.
The two astronauts have been identified among more than 4000 applications received. The two astronauts will undergo special space training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Notes:
NITI Aayog, in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Centre for Social and Behaviour Change, Ashoka University launched Poshan Gyan.
It is a national digital repository on health and nutrition. It is a collection of communication materials created by government agencies and other development organizations for awareness creation and behaviour change in the nutrition sector.

Notes:
As per the data released by the Union Finance Ministry, net indirect tax collection in 2020-21 grew 12.3% over the previous financial year.
The total collection stood at Rs.10.71 lakh, thereby exceeding the indirect tax collection target of Rs.9.89 lakh set for the FY 2020-21.

Notes:
The Government of India has appointed Sushil Chandra as the next Chief Election Commissioner of India.
He succeeds Sunil Arora who retired on April 13th, 2021. Sushil Chandra is the former CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes) Chairman and was appointed as an election commissioner on February 14, 2019.

Notes:
Pakistani cricketer Babar Azam has topped the ICC men’s ODI batting rankings.
He has clinched the top spot after a huge gap by any one from the country since 2003. He has replaced Indian Skipper and Batsman Virat Kohli after he gained 13 points in the Pakistan South Africa series.

Notes:
The Government of Japan has decided to release more than 1 million tonnes of contaminated water from the decommissioned and destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant, into the sea.
The decision comes about three months ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games since some of the events are to be held as close as 60 km from the wrecked plant.