Current Affairs Quiz - March, 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:
National Agriculture Disaster Management Plan (NADMP) seeks to guide the Union Agriculture Ministry in ensuring timely response to natural disasters like drought, floods and sudden crisis like COVID-19 pandemic.
It identifies 34 hazards posing threats to the agriculture sector. These include heat waves, earthquakes, animal attacks, desertification, agricultural fires, cyclones and overdependence on chemicals.

Notes:
India’s leading private sector bank Axis Bank has recently launched WhatsApp Banking facility, to resolve the queries of consumers 24×7.
This new facility will allow customers to seek information regarding their account balance, recent transactions, credit card payments, fixed and recurring deposit details. It also enables them to get their queries answered in real-time.

Notes:
The New South Wales State government and the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia announced that they are building the world’s first Platypus Sanctuary.
This first-of-its kind refugee centre aims to promote breeding and rehabilitation of the duck-billed mammal, which has been facing extinction due to climate change. The facility is to be created in a zoo which is over 390 km from Sydney.

Notes:
The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
The unanimously adopted resolution was sponsored by India and supported by over 70 nations. The co-sponsors of the declaration include Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia and Senegal, and all Member States of the UN.

Notes:
The scientists have discovered a “space hurricane” for the first time. The hurricane swirled for eight hours over the North Pole in the upper atmosphere of Earth.
The team of scientists from USA, Norway, China and United Kingdom observed and produced the image of space hurricane using the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites and a 3D magnetosphere modelling.

Notes:
“Little Foot” is the nickname given to a nearly complete Australopithecus fossil skeleton found in 1994–1998 in the cave system of Sterkfontein, South Africa.
The nickname “little foot” was given to the fossil in 1995. This discovery is said to provide more insights on the origin of human beings.

Notes:
HDFC ERGO General Insurance has recently introduced Business Kisht Suraksha cover. It is a unique cover which aims to protect the balance sheet of MFIs, financial institutions and banks in the event of a natural disaster.
It covers the institutions from the non-payment of EMIs by borrowers, resulting out of listed calamities.

Notes:
Bengaluru emerged as the best city according to the “Ease of Living Index-2020”, released by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
The rankings were announced for cities for which the assessment exercise was conducted in the year 2020. Around 111 cities participated in the assessment exercise. Shimla topped the category of cities with population of less than million.

Notes:
Start-up placement firm Vahan launched a WhatsApp API (application programming interface) enabled chatbot called ‘Mitra’.
Using the chatbot, the company has reached 1 lakh milestone in providing employment opportunities to over 1 lakh blue collared professionals and a large number of grey collared professionals.