Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2021

Notes:
Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the Khelo India Centre of Excellence in Rowing in Srinagar.
The training centre is situated in Dal Lake, and comes under the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council. The centre was upgraded with modern facilities and equipment including 16 new boats and coxless four boats.

Notes:
‘Central Asia’ is the name of an international center for trade and economic cooperation, being constructed by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan at the borders of the two countries.
The center would have a capacity of accommodating 35,000 people and 5,000 trucks per day in both directions. It would serve as a large industrial, trade and logistics platform for both countries.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers has recently approved 16 applicants under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacture of Key Starting Materials and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients in the country.
This is expected to create an investment of over Rs.348 crore and generate employment to generation of about 3042 by the companies.

Notes:
Former Bank and member of the conservative – Guillermo Lasso has been elected as the new President of Ecuador. He is 65 years old and is a three time Presidential candidate.
He defeated his left-wing opponent economist Andrés Arauz by securing 52.4% of the vote compared to Mr Arauz’s 47.6%.

Notes:
Pension Funds Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has proposed to increase the maximum age of entry to NPS (National Pension System) to 70 years. Presently the maximum entry age is 65 years.
PFRDA has also planned to allow subscribers who join after 60 years of age to continue their NPS accounts till 75. The maturity age will remain 70 for others.

Notes:
The Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) was enacted in 1968, to maintain certain essential services and the normal life of the community. The Act includes a list of essential services in its charter.
After the rapid increase in Covid-19 cases, the Chhattisgarh Government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA). The refusal to work in essential services has been prohibited. It includes health workers, sanitation workers, workers in water and power supply services etc.

Notes:
‘Reorienting for the Future’ is the theme of the Indian Air Force Commanders’ Conference 2021 that has concluded recently in the national capital New Delhi.
It was a three-day conference that had in depth discussions to enhance the operational capabilities of the Air Force. Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of the seven commands and top officials attended the meeting.

Notes:
The Lyrids are comets, which appear to move fairly fast, streaking through our atmosphere at an average velocity of 48 kilometers per second.
This modestly bright comet was discovered in April 1861 by an amateur astronomer, A.E. Thatcher. The Earth’s orbit coincides with the comet around April 22 each year. This year also, the annual Lyrid meteor shower is t take place on April 22.

Notes:
Indian Naval Ship (INS) Suvarna seized over 300 kg of narcotic substances recently. The ship encountered a fishing vessel with suspicious movements while it was on surveillance patrol in the Arabian Sea.
The boat, along with its crew, was escorted to the Kochi port, Kerala for further investigation. The approximate cost of the seizure in the international market is estimated to be Rs 3000 Crore.

Notes:
World Press Freedom Index 2021 is published by the international journalism not-for profit body, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
India is ranked 142, same as last year among the 180 countries and the index is topped by Norway followed by Finland and Denmark. India is regarded among the countries classified “bad” for journalism and is termed as one of the most dangerous countries for journalists trying to do their jobs properly.