Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2021

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 World Health Organization (WHO) launched Global Diabetes Compact to fight the disease more effectively. This was launched during the centenary of the discovery of insulin.
The programme will focus on increasing access to diagnostic tools and medicines in low- and middle-income countries. The launch was hosted by WHO and the government of Canada along with many countries including Kenya, Fiji, Norway and Singapore and UN agencies.

Notes:
The National Assembly of France has recently approved the creation of an “ecocide” offence, which seeks to punish acts of environmental damage.
The bill will be applied to the most serious cases of environmental damage at national level, such as the pollution of a river. An offence of endangering the environment is punishable on the lines of endangering life.

Notes:
Scientists have recently found that the Indian jumping ant can shrink its brain by nearly 20 per cent to prepare its body for reproduction.
As per the study, the ant can again increase its brain size over the following weeks. The Indian jumping ant is the first insect known to be capable of both increasing and decreasing its brain size. There are other insects including the honey bee which can increase their brain size.

Notes:
‘OSH&WC’ Code stands for Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code. The Labour Ministry has notified draft rules for setting up of a technical committee under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (OSH&WC Code), 2020.
The committee would help the Government or the National board to be set up under the Code to discharge safety and other related measures across industrial establishments.

Notes:
Google celebrated the 151st birthday of Dr. Vera Gedroits, a Russian surgeon, professor, poet, and author.
She is also regarded as the country’s first female military surgeon and one of the world’s first female professors of surgery. Dr. Gedroits volunteered as a surgeon during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904.

Notes:
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has confirmed that Iran started enriching uranium up to 60 per cent. This figure is its highest-ever level of enrichment.
The decision to boost uranium enrichment and to install modernized centrifuges at the Natanz nuclear facility was made due to the recent incident damaging the electricity distribution network in Natanz.

Notes:
Fighters of the Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) rebel group was formed in 2016. The group said to have crossed into Chad recently with the aim of overthrowing President Idriss Deby.
A day after provisional results of Deby being re-elected, the military announced that President, had died due to wounds suffered during a battle against the rebels.

Notes:
Sankha Ghosh, who is a noted Bengali Poet, died recently in Kolkata at the age of 90 years. He was tested COVID positive.
He is a recipient of Padma Bhushan, Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi awards, and Rabindra Puraskar awards for his literature works. Ghosh was known for raising voice for various social and political issues.

Notes:
The House of Representatives of the United States of America (USA) has recently passed the “No Ban Act”.
This bill aims to limit the ability of any United States president to impose a travel ban on the basis of religion. This move has been welcomed by many activists across the globe. Earlier, the US administration headed by President Donald Trump imposed “Muslim Ban” that barred travel to the US from several Muslim-majority countries.