Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2021

Notes:
The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is set to deploy Network Survey Vehicle (NSV), to provide better roads to commuters.
NHAI has made road condition survey using NSV mandatory at the time of certifying completion of the project and every six months thereafter. This has also been included as a part of the standard bidding document of consultancy services.

Notes:
National Housing Bank has launched a Rs.10,000 crore ‘Special Refinance Facility-2021’ aimed to provide liquidity to housing finance companies and other financial institutions / banks in India.
This would infuse funds into the housing finance system and enable institutions to maintain steady growth in housing finance.

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.

Notes:
The United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA) flagship State of World Population Report 2021 waws released recently.
As per the report titled ‘My Body is My Own’, only 55% of women are fully empowered to make choices. Around half the women from 57 developing countries do not have the right to make decisions regarding their bodies, using contraception, seeking healthcare or on their sexuality.

Notes:
India hosted the BRICS seminar on “Misuse of Internet for Terrorist Purposes and Role of Digital Forensics in Terrorist Investigations”, which was organised by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
It is a two-day event organized in a virtual format which emphasized on international cooperation and seamless sharing of good practices in tackling cyber terrorism.

Notes:
Ajay Seth, a 1987-batch Karnataka cadre officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), took charge as new Economic Affairs Secretary.
Ajay Seth was previously serving as the Managing director of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. The new economic affairs Secretary will coordinate the policy efforts of various stakeholders of the government, the Reserve Bank of India and states to maintain the economic growth.

Notes:
As per a recent study, only 3% of the world’s land remains ecologically intact, without spoiled by human beings.
The undamaged lands are mainly in parts of the Amazon and Congo tropical forests, east Siberian and northern Canadian forests and tundra, and the Sahara. The researchers suggest reintroducing a small number of important species to some damaged areas, such as elephants or wolves.

Notes:
The Ministry of Energy, Israel has announced a National plan which includes the main target of reducing 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The plan aims to shut down all coal-fired power plants by 2025, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector by 75 to 85 per cent by 2050, increase electricity generation from renewable energy among others.

Notes:
Israel and Greece have signed their biggest ever defence procurement deal. It includes a USD 1.65bn contract for establishment and operation of a training centre for the Hellenic Air Force (Greece) by Israeli defence contractor.
This deal is expected to strengthen political and economic ties between the countries. The Air Forces of the two countries also launched a joint exercise.

Notes:
The Health Ministry announced that 162 Pressure Swing Adsorption, PSA oxygen plants have been sanctioned by the Government of India for installation in public health facilities in all States.
This step would enhance the local oxygen capacity by over 154 Metric Tonnes. Out of 162 PSA Oxygen plants, 33 have been installed. States have also requested the Centre to provide additional 100 oxygen plants.