Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2021

Notes:
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by defence minister Rajnath Singh approved the Indian Army’s proposal to buy 118 Arjun Mark 1-A ‘Hunter Killers’.
With this approval, Indian Army will soon have 118 indigenous Arjun Mk-1A Main Battle Tanks, manufactured by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Notes:
Vijay Sampla, former Union Minster recently took charge as the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), after being appointed by the President of India.
He served as the Union Minister of state for Social Justice and Empowerment from 2014 to 2019. Ram Shankar Katheria was earlier the head of NCSC.

Notes:
India’s foreign minister S. Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi recently had a phone conversation.
During the conversation, both the countries have agreed to set up a hotline, amidst various stand-offs. The foreign Ministers also acknowledged the disengagement of troops from the north and south banks of Pangong Tso lake.

Notes:
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has recently released a report titled ‘Technology and Innovation Report 2021’.
The UNCTAD Technology and Innovation Report 2021 examines whether modern technologies widen the existing inequalities and create more inequalities. The report shows that with a present USD 350 billion market, the technologies could grow to USD 3.2 trillion by 2025.

Notes:
In order to bring rural women SHGs under a single platform, the Union Ministry of Rural Development has organised Saras Aajeevika Mela at Noida Haat.
In this mela, more than 300 rural self-help groups and craftsmen from 27 states have participated and exhibited their products.

Notes:
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has extended the re-appointment of Pramod Chandra Mody as Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
PC Mody, a 1982-batch Indian Revenue Service officer, was appointed as the CBDT Chairman in February 2019. His tenure was extended in August last year for six months.

Notes:
The NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) synthesis report has been prepared and released by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It has been prepared in response to the requests from COP 21.
This report comes ahead of the COP 26 scheduled to be held in the year 2021.

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 Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) has partnered with Microsoft India to launch an ‘AI Gamechangers’ programme.
Under the programme, NASSCOM will identify feasible and impactful AI-driven innovations that are taking place in India. Microsoft has been designated as the ‘Innovation Partner’ for the programme.

Notes:
The Indian Navy got its third Scorpene submarine, which will be commissioned in Mumbai as INS Karanj. This is a part of the six submarines, which are being constructed under Project 75
Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited has delivered three Scorpene submarines to the Indian Navy named Khanderi, Kalvari and Karanj.