Current Affairs Quiz - July, 2021

Notes:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a high-strength beta titanium alloy. This has been developed indigenously for manufacture of intricate aerospace components like slat/flap tracks, landing gear.
Key features of the alloy are good forgeability and high strength-to-weight ratio, which would provide excellent weight reduction.

Notes:
The Gujarat High Court has become the first high court to begin live-streaming of court proceedings. Chief Justice of India NV Ramana launched the first live broadcast of the court functioning.
The Chief Justice also announced that the Supreme Court will start the live broadcast soon. This is seen as a step towards ensuring transparency and openness in the Indian judiciary. He also released the Gujarat High Court (Live Streaming of Court Proceedings) Rules, 2021.

Notes:
Rasmi Ranjan Das, a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, has been appointed as member of the UN tax committee for the 2021 to 2025 term
A group of 25 tax experts from around the world are appointed as members of the UN tax committee, formally known as the UN Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters. It aims to guide the efforts of countries to adopt stronger tax policies.

Notes:
A Parliamentary Standing Committee has approved the The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2021, without any changes.
The Bill amends the term ‘major airport’ to include group of airports. It also increased the threshold of annual passenger traffic in a major airport to 35 lakh. Previously, an airport with annual traffic more than 15 lakh were called as major airports. AERA will regulate tariff and other charges for aeronautical services for major airports and also a group of airports.

Notes:
WHO launched its first Regional Status Report on Drowning Prevention in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions.
As per the report, nearly two-thirds of global drowning deaths occur in the Asia Pacific. Drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, at 7 per cent of all injury-related deaths. Low and middle-income countries account for more than 90 per cent of unintentional drowning deaths.

Notes:
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K) launched the first technology innovation hub to find cyber security solutions for anti-drone technologies.
It also provides solutions for intrusion detection system, block-chain and cyber physical system. 13 start-ups and 25 research and development investigators were selected. These start-ups, supported by C3iHub at IIT Kanpur, will innovate in design and development of services and products.

Notes:
John Abraham, a veterinary-doctor-turned-inventor, has received the patents for inventing biodiesel from slaughtered chicken waste.
The biodiesel offers mileage of over 38 km per litre at around 40 per cent of the current price of diesel. It is also expected to lower the air pollution by half. The Indian Patent Office granted the patent for inventing ‘biodiesel produced from rendered chicken oil’.

Notes:
The UN General Assembly approved its first-ever resolution on vision. The “Vision for Everyone” resolution was sponsored by Bangladesh, Antigua, and Ireland, and co-sponsored by over 100 countries.
UNGA called on its 193 member nations to ensure access to eye care for everyone in their countries to help at least 1.1 billion people with vision impairment who currently lack eye services, by 2030. According to the resolution, at least 2 billion people are living with vision impairment or blindness.

Notes:
The Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM) is the national web portal for sharing Research & Development facilities.
It was formally launched in January 2020, as an initiative of Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Govt. of India (PSA, GOI) under the aegis of Prime Minister Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) mission. The I-STEM project has been recently given extension for five years, until 2026. It has also added new features in its second phase.

Notes:
Indian Naval Ship Tabar arrived at St Petersburg to participate in the 325th Navy Day celebrations of the Russian Navy.
INS Tabar is a Talwar-class stealth frigate and is a part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet, based at Mumbai under the Western Naval Command. During the stay at St Petersburg, the crew of Tabar will participate in various bilateral interactions with the Russian Navy.