Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2021

Notes:
A dragonfly survey jointly conducted by the Forest Department and Ferns Nature Conservation Society (FNCS), concluded recently in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary is located in Kerala in the Western Ghats. The survey lasted for nearly 4 months and 84 species of odonates were spotted during the survey. Odonates are the order of insects comprising dragonflies and damselflies.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Agriculture has recently released the 2nd advanced estimates for Production of Food grains for 2020-21.
As per the said figures, the production of food grains stood at a record high of 109.24 million tonnes during the current crop year. This value is 1.28% more than the production value for the previous cropping season.

Notes:
The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 has been framed recently, which was released by the Electronics and IT Ministry.
Under the rules, platforms such as WhatsApp will have to provide information on identity verification to the authorised agencies within 72 hours. The originator of unlawful messages would be zeroed on and the platforms will have to set up grievance redressal mechanism.

Notes:
The militaries of India and Pakistan announced that they have agreed to stop firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and other areas.
This is to be followed with effect from the midnight of February 24-25. The authorities of both the countries held discussions over the mechanism of hotline contact. They also reviewed the situation along the Line of Control and all other sectors in a cordial atmosphere.

Notes:
E-Daakhil portal was launched on 7th September, 2020 by the National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission. The portal has been designed for Consumer grievance redressal and is presently operating in 15 States and Union Territories.
It has been now decided to integrate the Common Service Centres with the e-daakhil portal.

Notes:
Michael Somare, who was the first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, recently passed away at the age of 84. He was also called the ‘Grand Chief and Father of the Nation’.
He was also the island nation’s longest-serving leader after it gained independence from Australia in 1975. Before independence, he served as the Chief minister of the Australian-administered territory of Papua New Guinea.

Notes:
The National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was originally launched as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 2006-07, under the Agriculture Ministry. It was then restructured with the Cabinet approval in 2018.
Recently, the National Bamboo Mission along with the NITI Aayog and Invest India to organise a conference, National Consultation on Opportunities and Challenges for Bamboo in India’. Union Minster Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the conference, along with various Ministers and officials.

Notes:
The state of Assam celebrates the Bir Chilarai Divas every year, to commemorate the birth anniversary of the brave General of Assam, Chilarai.
Chilarai was a great general of the Koch Royal Dynasty of Assam. He played a significant role in expanding the great empire of his elder brother Maharaja Nara Narayan. The government of Assam confers Bir Chilarai Award, the highest honor for bravery to individuals.

Notes:
American Aerospace company Boeing has developed a pilotless, fighter-like jet prototype in Australia called the ‘Loyal Wingman”. The aircraft made its first flight recently.
This model is to be used as the basis for its U.S. Air Force Skyborg prototype. It is also the first military aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years.

Notes:
The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Non-immigrants (NO BAN) Act was reintroduced at the US House of Representatives by the Democratic lawmakers.
The aim of this proposed legislation is to prevent future Muslim ban and prohibit religion-based discrimination. This law is a counter to the Muslim travel ban introduced by the former US President Donald Trump.