Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2021

Notes:
As per a report by Stockholm-based defence think-tank SIPRI, India’s import of arms has declined by 33 per cent between 2011-15 and 2016-20.
The report stated that due to this decline in defence procurement, Russia was the most affected defence supplier. This is an indirect result of India’s policy to reduce dependence on imports and become self-reliant by Make in India Policy.

Notes:
During the year 2020-21, India as a whole has generated 366 crore person days of work under MGNREGS. This is the highest ever employment generation under the scheme.
Among the states, Rajasthan has generated the highest employment of 43 crore person days, which is followed by West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Notes:
Rajya Sabha passed the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to raise the upper limit for permitting abortions from the present 20 weeks to 24 weeks.
This limit is applicable for special categories of women including rape survivors, victims of incest, minors and the differently-abled. The bill was passed by Lok Sabha about a year ago.

Notes:
Senior IPS officer M.A Ganapathy was appointed as the Director General of National Security Guard (NSG).
The 1986 batch officer is currently serving as the Director General, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Another IPS officer Kuldiep Singh was appointed as the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force.

Notes:
The United Nations Department Of Economic And Social Affairs (DESA) publishes the latest edition of the State of the World’s Indigenous People report.
As per the report, the world’s indigenous peoples live in areas around 80 per cent of the planet’s biodiversity. But many of them still struggle to maintain their legal rights to lands and resources.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹2 crore on State Bank of India (SBI) for contravention of certain provisions of Section 10 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949.
As per the referred section of the BR Act, no banking company shall employ any person whose remuneration takes the form of commission.

Notes:
The United States Agency for international development (USAID) and US international development finance corporation (DFC) have announced a USD 41 million loan guarantee programme. This is intended to sponsor loans to Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access reliable power including roof top solar projects.

Notes:
It has been reported that the world’s first baby with antibodies against the novel coronavirus is born in the USA.
The mother was vaccinated against COVID-19 during 36th week of her pregnancy which resulted in development of antibodies in both mother and the baby.

Notes:
The National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation releases the All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers.
In the recently released index for the months of February 2021, the All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers stood at 1037, while the same for Rural Labourers stood at 1044.

Notes:
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched ‘Dial 112’ Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) worth Rs 157-cr.
People can call the toll-free number for all emergency services including police, fire and health in the state. The State Emergency Response Centre (SERC) and the emergency response vehicles fitted with mobile data terminals were also inaugurated.