Today Current Affairs for Competitive Exams - Current Affairs 2021 Online

1st batch of Covid-19 vaccines for animals  The government will take the responsibility of family members of health workers who have  Russia has produced the world's first batch - passed away while on Corona duty. 17,000 doses - of COVID-19 vaccines for  Their families will be given an honorarium of animals. Rs 50 lakhs by the government.  Russia registered Carnivac-Cov in March  Corona vaccination campaign cannot be 2021 after tests showed it generated started from 1 May'21 due to non-receipt of antibodies against COVID-19 in dogs, cats, vaccines from the companies. foxes, and mink.  The World Health Organization has voiced Journalist Rohit Sardana passes away concern over the risk of transmission of the virus between humans and animals.  Senior Indian TV journalist Rohit Sardana passed away in April 2021, days after testing Insurers to settle cashless insurance claims positive for COVID-19.  He had hosted 'Taal Thok Ke', a popular  The Insurance Regulatory and Development debate programme that discusses Authority of India (IRDAI) has directed contemporary issues in India on . insurers to approve Covid-related cashless  Sardana left Zee News to join in 2017 claims within 60 minutes of receiving and, since then, he was hosting the debate appropriate documents from the claimant. show 'Dangal.'  IRDAI announced the new rules after High Court directed it to inform insurers to Navy deputes naval medical team at Ahmedabad hasten the process of cashless claims so that hospital beds can be freed quickly for new  A 57 member naval medical team consisting patients. of four doctors, seven nurses, 26 paramedics and 20 supporting staff has been deputed to Punjab crosses a mark in wheat procurement Ahmedabad.  The team will be deployed at the PM Cares  Punjab has successfully crossed the 100 COVID Hospital, a special hospital set up to Lakh MT mark in wheat procurement despite manage the COVID crisis. several challenges especially the ongoing second wave amid the COVID pandemic.  It has been deployed for a period of two months starting 29 April 2021 and the  Nearly 77 per cent of total procurement duration would be extended if required. operations had already been accomplished within 19 days after the commencement of Upto Rs 15,000 cr to be provided to states wheat procurement from April 10, 2021.  17 Lakh MT had been procured during the  The Finance Ministry has decided to provide ongoing Rabi marketing season. an additional amount of up to Rs15,000 cr to states as an interest-free 50-year loan for MP govt launches Corona Warriors Scheme spending on capital projects.  This will be done under the Scheme of  In Madhya Pradesh, the state government Financial Assistance to States for Capital has launched the Corona Warriors Scheme. Expenditure for the financial year 2021-22.

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 Under the scheme, financial assistance is Petroleum and Explosives Safety provided to the state govts in the form of Organisation (PESO). interest-free loans.  O2 module will be included in the Covid Jagratha portal. Kerala reduces RT-PCR test rate in pvt labs Ex-Attorney General Soli Sorabjee passes away  The Kerala government has slashed the price of RT-PCR tests to ₹500 from ₹1,700 at all  Veteran lawyer and former Attorney General private laboratories in the state. Soli Sorabjee passed away in April 2021 after  The new RT-PCR test rates are inclusive of contracting the coronavirus disease (Covid- swab charges, PPE kits, and test kits. 19).  Earlier, the Kerala government had slashed  Sorabjee, a Padma Vibhushan recipient, the price of the RT-PCR test from ₹2,000 to began his legal practice in 1953 in Bombay ₹1,500 on January 1, 2021. High Court and he was designated senior  However, it later revised to ₹1,700. counsel of the Supreme Court in 1971.  He became the Attorney General of India first IBM acquires software provider Turbonomic from 1989-90 and then from 1998-2004.  IBM has agreed to acquire Turbonomic, a SoFi offers crypto for credit card rewards provider of software that helps companies monitor the performance of their business  SoFi introduced a credit card feature on 28 applications. April 2021 that allows customers to redeem  The deal would be IBM's largest since it their rewards points in bitcoin or ether through acquired Red Hat for $34 billion in 2019. the digital banking app’s investing platform.  It values Turbonomic at between $1.5 bn and  The SoFi credit card comes with a 2% $2 billion. unlimited cash-back incentive that customers  Turbonomic provides companies with can now redeem for cryptocurrency credited software to boost the real-time performance directly to their SoFi Crypto account. and compliance of their applications. Poland to phase out coal production by 2049 Samsung overtakes Apple in smartphone shipment  Poland govt and unions signed an MoU with  Samsung Electronics Co Ltd reclaimed its the coal mining industry on 28 Apr'21, to crown as the world's biggest smartphone phase out coal production by 2049. maker from Apple in the first quarter,  This marks the 1st time that the powerful coal cornering a fifth of overall global shipments. mining sector has agreed to reduce its  China's Xiaomi Corp rounded out the top presence. three positions with its best quarterly  With this pledge, Poland can meet EU climate performance ever as shipments surged 62% goals by 2050. to 49 million phones and its market share rose  The country depends on coal for around 70% to 14%, according to market research firm of its energy needs, although it is planning to Canalys. reduce this to 11% by 2040. Kerala to set up dedicated 'oxygen war rooms' Allahabad HC Judge passes away  The Kerala government has decided to set up  Justice Virendra Kumar Srivastava of the dedicate oxygen war rooms at the district and Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court state levels to meet the increasing demands. passed away on 28 April 2021 due to Covid  The war rooms will function with related complications. representatives of the police, health,  Justice Srivastava was sitting at the Lucknow transportation, disaster management, and Bench of the Allahabad High Court.

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 The Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow  TDI is a chemical used primarily for flexible bench had remained closed on 29 April 2021 foam applications. to mourn the death of Justice Srivastava. ICMR approves dry swab RT-PCR method Pratap Bose quits Tata Motors  The simple and fast method of dry swab-  Tata Motors appointed Martin Uhlarik as the direct RT-PCR has been approved by the new Global Design Head of the Indian car Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). manufacturer on 29 April 2021.  The dry swab-direct RT-PCR test is  The announcement came after its outgoing developed by CSIR's constituent lab Centre Global Design Chief Pratap Bose decided to for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), step down. Hyderabad, for scaling up the coronavirus  Martin Uhlarik had joined Tata Motors back in detection. 2016 as the Head of Design in the United  The method is lesser in cost and quick turn- Kingdom. around time. Chairman of UP IAS Association passes away RBI to conduct special OMOs of ₹10,000 crore  Senior IAS officer and Chairman of the Uttar  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has Pradesh IAS Association, Deepak Trivedi announced special Open Market Operations passed away on 29 April 2021, due to Covid (OMO). related complication.  Under this, the central bank will conduct  Trivedi was posted as the Chairman of the simultaneous purchase and sale of the Board of Revenue and had been elected as securities (G-sec). President of the UP IAS Association in March  It will be conducted for an aggregate amount 2020. of ₹10,000 crores each on 6 May 2021.  Trivedi was to retire on April 30, 2021.  The result of the auctions will be announced on the same day. JSW steel to supply 1,000 tons of LMO EU clinches Covid vaccine deal with Pfizer  JSW Steel will commence supplies of 1,000 tonnes per day of Liquid Medical Oxygen  The European Union has concluded (LMO) from 30 April 2021. negotiations with Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE  The total supplies of LMO by JSW Steel to deliver a massive supply of Covid vaccines during April 2021 is expected to be more than to the bloc. 20,000 tons from all its plants.  It is expected to cover 1.8 billion additional  JSW Steel is supplying LMO from its three Covid doses through 2023. manufacturing facilities in Karnataka,  The EU expects to receive almost 29 million Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to various vaccines in the week ending May 3, 2021, states across India. which will represent a total of 188 million doses delivered to the bloc. Anti-dumping duty on chemical from 4 regions 150 AgVa ICU ventilators for Manipur  India has imposed anti-dumping duty on imports of a chemical used in foam making  The Union Ministry of Health and Family from 4 regions. Welfare has provided 150 AgVa ICU  The duty was imposed on dumping of ventilators to Manipur for use in tackling the Toluene Di-Isocyanate from the EU, Saudi COVID-19 pandemic. Arabia, Chinese Taipei and the UAE.  The medical equipment arrived in Imphal on  The duty was imposed on recommendation 29 April 2021. of Commerce Ministry’s investigation arm  The ventilators were provided under Prime Directorate General of Trade Remedies. Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in

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Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES through the use of technology under the Fund) Digital India programme.  Earlier, 90 such ventilators were also provided  He strongly emphasized the need for building to Manipur. a resilient global supply chain. IPL team Royals donates ₹7.5 crore IIT Bombay comes up with a solution  IPL cricket team Rajasthan Royals has  IIT Bombay has come up with a creative and announced a contribution of ₹7.5 crores (over ingenious solution to address the shortage of $1mn) towards covid relief efforts in India. medical oxygen for the treatment of COVID-  Its goal is to help with immediate support to 19 patients in the country. people who have been severely impacted by  The pilot project which has been tested the second wave of covid-19 in the country. successfully relies on a simple technological  The amount has been collectively raised by its hack: conversion of PSA (Pressure Swing players, team owners, and management. Adsorption) Nitrogen Unit to PSA Oxygen Unit. Maruti Suzuki to shut down manufacturing units  Oxygen production could be achieved at 3.5  Maruti Suzuki, the country's largest carmaker, atm pressure. will shut down its manufacturing units in Niraj Bajaj named Bajaj Auto Chairman to make oxygen gas available for medical needs.  Bajaj Auto has announced the appointment of  It has also decided to shut down its Neeraj Bajaj as its new Chairman of the manufacturing unit in Gujarat. Board with effect from May 1, 2021.  The company advanced its annual  The automaker has also announced Rahul maintenance shutdown to May 1, 2021, and Bajaj as its Chairman Emeritus. informed that it is committed to supporting the  Rahul Bajaj has tendered his resignation as government in diverting oxygen for saving Non-executive Director and Chairman of the lives. company with effect from 30 April 2021. NCW launches WhatsApp helpline number International Dance Day: 29 April  The National Commission for Women has  International Dance Day is celebrated on Apr launched a WhatsApp helpline number 29 every year. '9354954224' for providing emergency  It was first celebrated in 1982 marking the medical assistance to pregnant women. birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator  The move came after NCW noticed that of modern ballet. pregnant women were facing difficulty in  It was created by the Dance Committee of the accessing medical aid. International Theatre Institute.  A dedicated team is looking after the speedy  It was started to spread the message of the redressal of grievances. benefits of dance, celebrate dance and bring  The commission can also be reached on the people together. email [email protected].  The theme for 2021 is Purpose of dance. G-7 Digital and Technology Ministerial Meeting China launches key module of space station  Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for  China launched an unmanned module on Electronics and Information Technology 29'April 2021 containing what will become represented India during this virtual meeting. living quarters for three crew on a permanent  He spoke about India's efforts to bring digital space station inclusion and empower ordinary citizens  It plans to complete the station by the end of 2022.

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 The module, named "Tianhe", or "Harmony of  Canada has offered USD 10 million to Indian the Heavens", was launched on the Long Red Cross to support and procure essential March 5B, China's largest carrier rocket, from supplies. the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the  Canadian Minister Karina Gould of southern island of Hainan. International Development offered medical supplies and other essentials to India. Yono by SBI partners with Shivrai Technologies  The country's contribution will support the  Shivrai Technologies, an Indian AgTech procurement of essential supplies and company, has announced the launch of their medicines, including oxygen cylinders for B2C Farm accounting mobile application, clinics and ambulances. FarmizoKhata. Odisha to achieve 60% crop diversification  It has joined hands with Yono by SBI for the same.  The Odisha government has started an  It aims to help farmers across the country to initiative of crop diversification in mega lift manage their accounts efficiently, thus cutting point ( MILP) ayacut areas of the state. down on losses.  This is a step towards enhancing the cash  Shivrai also owns their own B2B brand, return to the farmers and creation of FarmERP. subsidiary employment opportunities in the agricultural sector. SBC Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai  The target was set to achieve non-paddy  The Boxing Federation of India (BFI), in cultivation in 60% of the MILP ayacut areas consultation with Asian Boxing Confederation during the coming cropping seasons. (ASBC), has decided to conduct the Vaishali: 1st woman officer commanding in BRO upcoming 2021 edition of the ASBC Asian Elite Men and Women Boxing Championships  Vaishali S Hiwase has become the first in Dubai. woman officer to be appointed as officer  It will now be organized by BFI in association commanding in the Border Roads with UAE Boxing Federation. Organisation (BRO).  It was earlier scheduled to take place  She will be responsible for providing between 21-31 May'21 at Indira Gandhi connectivity through an Indo-China border Sports Complex in New Delhi. road.  Vaishali, from Wardha, Maharastra, is an M Krithi: 1st to be chosen as a 'Wild Innovator' Tech and has successfully completed a  Dr. Krithi K Karanth, Chief Conservation demanding tenure in Kargil. Scientist at Bengaluru-based Centre for China launches a robot prototype Wildlife Studies (CWS), has been chosen as the first Indian and Asian woman for the 2021  A Chinese space mining start-up launched 'WILD Innovator Award'. into low Earth orbit a robot prototype on 27  This award is given by the 'WILD ELEMENTS April 2021. Foundation'.  It can scoop up debris left behind by other  The other winners are Richelle Thomas spacecraft with a big net. (USA), Abigail Williams and Jayne Goss  The NEO-01 will also peer into deep space to (United Kingdom), Erika Allen and Laurell observe small celestial bodies. Sims (USA), etc.  The 30kg robot developed by Shenzhen- based Origin Space will pave the way for Canada pledges $10 million donation to India future technologies capable of mining on asteroids. IIT Guwahati collaborates with NEF Railways 5 | P a g e

 IIT Guwahati, (IITG) and the North East  International Jazz Day is observed every year Frontier Railway (NFR) have signed an MoU. on 30 April.  They will collaborate on research projects  The 10th edition in 2021 will focus on peace aimed at improving the maintenance and building and will be structured around several operations of trains running in the region and activities: round table and concerts other fields. highlighting cultural heritage and traditions.  The institute will also support the NFR to  In November 2011, the UNESCO General make its stations plastic-free by providing Conference proclaimed 30 April as alternate biodegradable polymer-based “International Jazz Day”. technologies. International Jazz Day: 30 April

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