January 2nd Week 2021 Current Affairs Online Test English

Explanation

❖ Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju has recently launched the Assam Rifles Public School in Shillong. This school has become the first Khelo India Sports school of the North–East India. At present, nine Sports Schools have been approved across the country.
❖ The schools aim to integrate sports with education with the Government bearing the expenses of the athletes of the school

Explanation

❖ People of Tamil Nadu celebrate the ‘Thai Poosam’ festival, which is dedicated for the worship of the Tamil God Lord Muruga. After the devotees requested to declare the day as a public holiday, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami issued an order for the same.
❖ It is also celebrated in some parts of Kerala and in other countries like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and Indonesia

Explanation

❖ World Braille Day is observed annually on 4 January, after it was established by the UN General Assembly in December 2018.
❖ The date also marks the birth anniversary of Louis Braille, who invented the system for reading and writing, used by people who are visually impaired. This year, the UN highlights the importance of the universal touch–based communication system.

Explanation

❖ The National Metrology Conclave 2021 has been organized by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–National Physical Laboratory (CSIR–NPL), New Delhi.
❖ This research organization has entered its 75th year of inception. The theme of the function was ‘Metrology for the Inclusive Growth of the Nation’. The inaugural function was attended by the Prime Minster of India via video conferencing.

Explanation

❖ Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘National Atomic Timescale’, during the inauguration of the National Metrology Conclave. With this move, the Indian Standard Time is aligned with the International Standard Time, only by less than 3 nano seconds.
❖ The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of the ‘National Environmental Standards Laboratory’.

Explanation

The 450 km long Natural Gas Pipeline between Kochi in Kerala and Mangaluru in Karnataja is constructed by GAIL (India) Ltd. The 3000–crore project has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, for commercial operations. The pipeline has the transportation capacity of 12 million metric standard cubic metres per day.

Explanation

❖ The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund Trust has allocated Rs 201.58 crore rupees for installation of 162 dedicated Medical Oxygen Generation Plants.
❖ The Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) plants are to be procured by the Central Medical Supply Store, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The PSA plants are source of medical–grade oxygen.

Explanation

❖ An all–female team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was recently deployed for contingency duties in Uttar Pradesh’s Garh Mukteshwar town, on the banks of the Ganga river.
❖ The team who are professionally trained handled the rescue boats and related equipment. The first batch of over a hundred women disaster combatants and rescuers was also inducted in the NDRF.

Explanation

❖ Scientists at the CSIR – National Aerospace Laboratories recently developed a non–invasive ventilator named Swasthya Vayu.
❖ The scientists have collaborated with the medical professionals from CSIR–IGIB, to develop the ventilator. It has been certified by the Health Ministry’s Expert Committee to be used for Covid–19 patients who require oxygen supplementation up to 35%.

❖ The Government of India has launched a new initiative called the ‘Toycathon’, to promote indigenous toy industry and reduce imports.
❖ Six Ministries, including Education, Women & child development, Textile, Commerce and industries, MSME, I&B and AICTE are collaborating for this initiative. Students, Teachers, Design experts and start–ups will work together to develop indigenous toys and games.

Explanation

❖ Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan released the India report on Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI) Wave–1.
❖ LASI is a nation–wide survey of scientific investigation of the health, economic, and social factors and consequences of the ageing population in India. The report will be used as a basic framework for developing programmes in national and state–level.

Explanation

❖ The Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (SC–NBWL) has recently approved the advisory for management of Human–Wildlife Conflict (HWC) in the country.
❖ The Committee also approved the inclusion of Caracal, a wild cat found in some parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, in the list of critically endangered species. At present, there are 22 wildlife species under recovery programme for critically endangered species.

Explanation

❖ The Union Cabinet approved to use funds from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), for the Angamaly–Azhutha Sabari rail project. The Railways will undertake the construction and maintenance of the project, while development of station will be through public–private partnership and a special purpose vehicle.
❖ The income will be shared between the State Government of Kerala and the Railways after deducting the expenses.

Explanation

❖ The Aurangabad bench of the Bombay High Court has declared that advertisement of any article using the name of any God and claiming that it has supernatural qualities, is illegal.
❖ This practice falls under the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act. A petition was filed to prevent advertisements that promote the sale of articles like Hanuman Chalisa Yantra, Lakshmi Yantra, Meru Ring etc.

Explanation

Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) is set to conduct a national level Cow Science Exam, to educate students on the importance of cows. Called as the ‘Kamdhenu Gau Vigyan Prachar Prasar Examination’, it will be held annually across the country. RKA is a government body set up for cow welfare under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Explanation

❖ State–owned research agency, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is to install its eco–friendly bio–digester units across the network operated by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MAHA–METRO).
❖ DRDO will provide technical support to implement advanced bio–digester Mk–II technology for treating the human waste in the metro rail network.

Explanation

❖ The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi launched the Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) and Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) in 2015.
❖ The two programmes are being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs under the Ministry of Power. Under the schemes, EESL distributed LED bulbs and LED street lights across the country, to save energy.

Explanation

❖ Uttar Pradesh–based Shivalik Mercantile Co–operative Bank (SMCB) has received a license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Small Finance Bank (SFB).
❖ With this, SMCB became the first Urban Cooperative Bank (UCB) in the country to make a transition to a Small Finance Bank, under the voluntary transition scheme. The Shivalik Small Finance Bank is set to commence business by April 2021.

Explanation

❖ Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh have become the first states to complete three out of four citizen–centric reforms directed by the Ministry of Finance.
❖ The two states completed the One Nation, One Ration Card reforms, Ease of Doing Business reforms, and Urban Local Bodies reforms. Hence, the Ministry is to provide an additional financial assistance of Rs 1,004 crore for Capital Expenditure.

Explanation

❖ The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath launched Kisan Kalyan Mission, to promote the income of farmers. The scheme aims to double the income of the farmers in Uttar Pradesh by 2022.
❖ The Chief Minister also ensured that the development schemes for farmers will be launched in 825 localities across the state.

Explanation

The Central Government has set up a control room in the national capital, amidst the spread of the bird flu or avian flu viruses across the country in four states. The control room aims to monitor the situation and record the preventive and control measures undertaken by the state authorities, on a daily basis.

Explanation

❖ The Indian Government has approved the memorandum of cooperation on a framework for partnership related to “Specified Skilled Worker” between India and Japan.
❖ As per the agreement, the skilled Indian workers, who have qualified the skill test and Japanese language test, will be granted a new status of residence of ‘Specified Skilled Worker’ by the Government of Japan. They will work in fourteen specified sectors in Japan.

Explanation

❖ As per the first advanced estimates of the national income released by the National Statistical Office (NSO), India’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in FY 2020–21 is estimated to contract by 7.7%.
❖ This is against the growth rate of 4.2% in the fiscal year 2019–20. There is an estimated contraction in all sectors except the agriculture in the current fiscal. While manufacturing sector is likely contract by 9.4%, Agri sector is estimated to grow by 3.4% compared to the last year.

Explanation

❖ The Health and Family Welfare Ministry has set up a technical expert group to study the adverse findings from the National Family Health Survey–5. The committee, chaired by Joint Secretary Preeti Pant, will also recommend policy interventions to improve the factors associated with malnutrition, stunting, anaemia, and C–section.
❖ The panel includes experts from medicine and nutrition and State programme officers.

Explanation

❖ Indian–American Dr Raj has been named as the first Chief Information Officer of the US Army. The position is equivalent in rank to a three–star General, and it was created in July 2020.
❖ He will supervise an annual budget of USD 16 billion for the IT operations of the US Army. He will also direct the execution of policies and programmes to modernise the US Army. He serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary of the Army.

Explanation

❖ Pakistan has successfully conducted the test–flight of an indigenously developed Guided Multi Launch Rocket System.
❖ Named as ‘Fatah–1’, the system is capable of hitting targets up to a range of 140 km. The Guided Multi Launch Rocket System can deliver conventional warheads with utmost precision, as per the Army sources of the country.

Explanation

❖ The Government of India has decided to form a committee to protect the language, culture and land of Ladakh. The Committee will be headed by the Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy.
❖ It will also include elected representatives from Ladakh, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, central government, and the Ladakh administration.

Explanation

The United Nations food agency, the Food and Agriculture Organization releases the World Food Price Index. As per the latest edition, the World food prices increased for a seventh consecutive month in December at 107.5 points against 105.2 in November. All major categories of the food index recorded rise, except sugar.

Explanation

❖ India recently launched the world’s first double stack long–haul container train. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the train on the 306 km–long Rewari–Madar section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC).
❖ One such train carries freight equivalent to 270 high–capacity trailer trucks. The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India is constructing the Western and Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.

Explanation

❖ The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up an academic advisory council to advise the full–time director of the RBI’s College of Supervisors (CoS). Former RBI Deputy Governor N S Vishwanathan has been named the chairperson of the council.
❖ This move aims to strengthen supervision over regulated entities and supervisory skills among its regulatory and supervisory staff.

Explanation

❖ Basavanna also called as ‘Basaveshwara’ was a 12th century statesman, Lingayat saint during the reign of the Kalyani Chalukya dynasty. He is considered a famous icon of the Lingayat community in Karnataka.
❖ Recently, the Karnataka CM B.S. Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for the Rs 500–crore project ‘New Anubhava Mantapa’ in Basavakalyan. It is considered as the place where the philosopher lived.

Explanation

❖ The Delhi Government has introduced a new “School bag policy”, to reduce the weight of school bags of the students, in line with the National Education Policy. The Government also directed the schools in the National Capital Region to implement the policy soon.
❖ As per the policy, the weight of school bags for students between classes 1–10 should not be more than 10 per cent of their body weight.

Explanation

❖ Karshaka Vidyapeedam, a farmers’ university headquartered in Kasaragod, has launched a meliponiculture project in Champeri. A four–month training course on meliponiculture, which means stingless honeybee farming, was also launched.
❖ ‘Indigenous beehives’ designed by the research forum of the University will also be provided in the course along with follow–up assistance.

Explanation

❖ The Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla recently chaired the event organised by the Uttarakhand Panchayati raj department.
❖ During the occasion, he announced that the Central Government would soon undertake a campaign named “Know your Constitution” in schools, colleges and universities across the country. It aims to create awareness about various aspects of the Constitution.

Explanation

❖ Trade Policy Review (TPR) is a mechanism under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), in which trade and related policies of members are examined, to improve compliance to its rules. Recently, India’s seventh Trade Policy Review (TPR) at the WTO concluded in Geneva.
❖ India’s previous TPR was conducted in the year 2015. India backed a set of measures to increase manufacturing capacity and timely availability of new diagnostics and vaccines for Covid–19.

Explanation

❖ Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) is a Mini Ratna company under the administrative control of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
❖ Recently, IREDA has signed an agreement with the Power Ministry’s PSU, NHPC Limited, to collaborate in renewable energy (RE) projects. IREDA will also provide knowledge and technology transfer, and consultancy services.

Explanation

❖ A one–member commission was created under the Labour Ministry’s Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB), to prepare an action plan for the welfare and development of guest and contract workers during the COVID–19 pandemic.
❖ Veteran IAS officer C V Ananda Bose, who was in–charge of the commission, has recommended payment of a basic living wage in the event of employment loss. He also sought to establish Labour Authority of India as a nodal body.

Explanation

❖ The Pioneers Program was started by US space agency NASA in 2020, which aims to research on astrophysics science using smaller hardware. Recently, NASA has approved four small–scale astrophysics missions as a part of the Pioneers Program.
❖ The concepts include small satellites named Aspera, Pandora and StarBurst and a balloon mission named PUEO. These missions will help study about cosmic phenomena.

Explanation

The country’s first Solar Electric RORO service will be introduced during the year 2021–2022, the Kerala Governor announced in the Assembly. He also announced that the state’s first amphibious water bus will also be launched. The state has planned to launch barge service for cargo movement and high–speed tourist services.

Explanation

The Thane Municipal Corporation has taken a step and introduced a ‘period room’ in a toilet block located in the corporation. One out of the ten stalls of the toilet block has been converted into a ‘period room’ with all required amenities. This step is taken to improve menstrual hygiene.

Explanation

❖ The first National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) was organised in February 2019 at District, State and National levels. The second edition of the festival was launched in the month of December 2020.
❖ After District and State–level events, the final event was held recently Central Hall of Parliament. Youth between 18 to 25 years will speak before the National jury and out of them, three will be declared winners.

Explanation

❖ World Hindi Day is celebrated every year on January 10. Also known as the Vishwa Hindi Divas, it commemorates the anniversary of the first World Hindi Conference held in Nagpur on the same day in 1975.
❖ World Hindi Day was first celebrated in the year 2006. Hindi is not most–spoken language of the country, and also the third most–spoken language in the world.

Explanation

❖ The head coach of Indian cricket team and former India all–rounder Ravi Shastri launched a book titled ‘India’s 71–Year Test: The Journey to Triumph in Australia’. The book is authored by the cricket journalist R Kaushik and it is an initiative of Bradman Museum.
❖ It describes the first 12 tours of India to Australia. It also includes over 200 rare pictures from the Bradman Museum. A portrait of former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar was unveiled at the Sydney Ground.

Explanation

❖ Prime Minister Narendra Modi is inaugurating the 16th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 9, virtually.
❖ It aims to encourage the Indian diaspora to be part of socio–economic development in India. The theme of this year’s convention is “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”. President of the Republic of Suriname is to deliver the key note address.

Explanation

❖ Geological Survey of India (GSI) has been exploring the state of Arunachal Pradesh and said that it could be India’s prime producer of vanadium.
❖ Vanadium is a high–value metal used for strengthening steel and titanium. The Geologists assured that a deposit will be soon identified. It is recovered as a by–product from the slag collected during the processing of vanadiferous magnetite ores.

Explanation

❖ ‘The Heritage Conversation Committee’ (HCC) is headed by the Additional Secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Committee has recently cleared the proposal of the Central Government for the new Parliament building.
❖ The Supreme Court approved the Central Vista project and mandated the clearance from HCC for developing the project. The Committee also includes officials from other departments.

Explanation

The Indian Navy is undertaking a two–day military exercise, also claimed to be India’s largest coastal defence drill. The exercise is to cover India’s coastline spanning over 7500 kilometers, involving 13 coastal States and Union Territories. The second edition of the exercise aims to enhance maritime security and surveillance.

Explanation

Bangladesh is to be the focus country at the 51st International Film Festival of India (IFFI), scheduled from January 16 to 24, this year. Four films from Bangladesh have been included in the focus section, to recognise the cinematic contribution of the country. It is noteworthy that the 51st Indian International Film Festival has included Tamil films Asuran and Then in the list of Indian films selected for 2020.

Explanation

❖ The nation’s premier think tank NITI Aayog has partnered with e commerce major Flipkart, to launch the revamped Women Entrepreneurship Platform. This is seen as an effort to enhance the community experience for women entrepreneurs in India.
❖ This portal brings together women from different parts of India to realize their entrepreneurial aspirations.

Explanation

Army Day is celebrated every year on January 15, across the country to honour the contributions made by the soldiers to the country. The 73rd Army day was recently observed on January 15, 2021. On January 15, 1949, General KM Carriappa became the first Commander–in–Chief of Indian Army after Independence. This day is being commemorated every year as Army Day