Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2021

Notes:
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has appointed Vaishali S Hiwase as the first woman officer to command a Road Construction Company (RCC).
The officer would command the company, to provide connectivity in a high-altitude area along the India-China border. She is a M Tech graduate and has already carried out a demanding tenure in Kargil.

Notes:
Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B), has set up a demonstration unit to convert nitrogen generators, into oxygen generators by modifying the existing nitrogen plant set up.
The oxygen generated by this plant at IIT-B lab was tested and found to be 93-96% pure and at 3.5 atmospheric pressure. Nitrogen plants work on Pressure swing adsorption (PSA) technology, where air from the atmosphere is sucked in, filtered and nitrogen is extracted. Oxygen, a by-product, is released back into the atmosphere.

Notes:
The National Commission for Women was set up as statutory body in January 1992, to review the Constitutional and Legal safeguards for women; recommend remedial legislative measures; facilitate redressal of grievances and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.
The National Commission for Women has recently launched a WhatsApp helpline number for providing emergency medical assistance to pregnant women.

Notes:
The Chota Char Dham is an important Hindu pilgrimage circuit located in the Indian Himalayas, in the Garhwal region of the state of Uttarakhand.
The circuit consists of four sites: Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath. The Uttarakhand government has suspended the Char Dham Yatra, which was scheduled to begin in May. Only priests will perform the rituals inside the shrines.

Notes:
The UN Population Fund announced that the United Kingdom Government has decided to cut 85% of aid funding pledged to the United Nations global family planning programme.
While the UK had pledged £154m for its projects, it is set to contribute only £23m this year. The UNFPA said the UK’s decision would be devastating for women and girls and their families across the world.

Notes:
The Global Forest Goals Report 2021 was prepared by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations.
The report provides an overview of progress towards achieving the six Global Forest Goals and their 26 associated targets as mentioned in the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2030. The first Global Forest Goal provides for increasing forest area by three per cent by 2030.

Notes:
The world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge has been built in Arouca Geopark, an UNESCO recognized site in northern Portugal.
The bridge spans to a length of 516 metres and is constructed at a height of 175 metres above the River Paiva. Previously the record was held by Charles Kuonen Bridge in Swiss Alps.

Notes:
The Rushikulya river mouth, located in the state of Odisha is considered as the second-biggest rookery of Olive Ridley Turtles in India after Gahirmatha.
This year, the annual mass nesting of millions of Olive Ridley sea turtles near the Rushikulya river mouth is likely to be missed, as the time for nesting process is set to be over. In March 2020, over 3 lakh turtles nested in the same place.

Notes:
Special 301 Report, released by the U.S, focusses on the effectiveness of the protection of US trading partners and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR).
The US Trade Representative in its recent report placed India and eight other countries including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia on the Priority Watch List for IP protection and enforcement.

Notes:
Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak has been qualified to participate in the Tokyo Olympics after qualifying through the continental quota.
The 26-year-old from West Bengal had earlier claimed a bronze in vault at the Asian Artistic Gymnastic Championships in 2019.