Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2021

Notes:
The Centre has reconstituted an advisory committee to create a plan for studying the mythical Sarasvati river for the next two years.
The term of the previous panel, which was set up by the Archaeological Survey of India in 2017, ended in 2019. The 27-member panel would include officials from various ministries, archaeologists and other experts.

Notes:
The Shetrunjay Hills reserve forest area is located in the state of Gujarat and is home to a large number of Asiatic Lions.
Recently a massive fire broke out in the Shetrunjay Hills reserve forest area and the fire is said to have spread to more than 200 hectares. The fire was put under control by the territorial forest division.

Notes:
The Chenab Bridge is a steel and concrete arch bridge being constructed by the Indian railways. It is constructed between Bakkal and Kauri of Jammu and Kashmir. When completed, it would be the world’s highest bridge.
Recently, the Railways has achieved an engineering fete by completing the construction of the arch bottom of the bridge.

Notes:
The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act, 1998 was enacted to declare the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research at Mohali, Punjab to be an institute of national importance.
Six new institutes in Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Hajipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Raebareli were set up during 2007-08. Recently a bill was introduced in Lok Sabha to provide the national importance tag to six institutes.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a 12-member committee for prevention of unscientific and unregulated mining being practiced in the state of Meghalaya.
Rat Hole Mining is an unscientific mining practice in Meghalaya in which a pit of 3 to 4 feet is dug and children enter to extract coal.

Notes:
Dr. Ajay Mathur has assumed charge as the Director General (DG) of International Solar Alliance (ISA). He would be serving a term of four years, which could be extended. He has replaced Upendra Tripathy as the DG, who has just completed his term.
Dr. Ajay Mathur is a member of the Prime Minister’s council on Climate Change.

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:
UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released the ‘Out of the frying pan into the fire?’ report, as an update to the Trade and Development Report 2020.
As per the report, the global economy is set to grow by 4.7 per cent this year, faster than the 4.3 per cent predicted earlier. India’s economy is projected to grow stronger in 2021 by 5 per cent showing a stronger recovery. It is estimated to contract by 6.9 per cent in 2021.

Notes:
The Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) launched the US India Artificial Intelligence (USIAI) initiative, in the presence of the Department of Science & Technology Secretary.
IUSSTF is a bilateral organisation established by the two countries in 2000, to promote Science, Technology and innovation through mutual interactions. Under the USIAI initiative, new R&D areas and opportunities will be identified.

Notes:
Girl Gang, a track by New Zealand singer Gin Wigmore, has been recently announced as the official song of the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup.
The tournament is set to be hosted in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3, this year. Though the tournament was scheduled to be held in February 2021, it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.