Today Current Affairs for Competitive Exams - Current Affairs 2021 Online

Uli Stuhec joins Mahindra & Mahindra Radhakrishnan, Chief Justice, .  Mahindra & Mahindra has roped in Dr. Uli  Bindal is the senior-most Judge of Calcutta Stuhec, as the Vice-President and Head, High Court. Global Born Electric Platform.  He will be part of the Electric Vehicle Tech Warburg acquires stake in Parksons Packaging Centre, at Mahindra North American  American private equity (PE) firm Warburg Technical Centre, Detroit. Pincus' affiliate Green Fin Investments BV  He will lead the BEV (Born Electric has acquired a majority stake in Parksons Vehicle) vehicle program – BEV architecture Packaging Ltd. and development of BEV platform strategy in  Warburg has acquired around 80% stake in collaboration with MRV Chennai. the company at an enterprise value of Roland Bouchara: CEO and MD of Stellantis around ₹2,200 crore.  As part of the transaction, existing PE  Stellantis has announced the appointment of investors Kedaara Capital AIF 1 and Olza Roland Bouchara as the new Chief Executive Holdings Ltd and IIFL have fully exited their and Managing Director of Stellantis India. investment in Parksons.  Bouchara was leading the entry of PSA’s Citroën brand in India as the senior Vice India to receive Sputnik V on May 1 President of sales and marketing prior to this.  India will receive the first batch of Russia's  He will oversee Jeep and Citroën national Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19 on May sales companies in India as well as the 1, 2021. group’s manufacturing operations.  Russia's RDIF sovereign wealth fund, which India's 4G user base may grow to 820 million is marketing Sputnik V globally, has already signed agreements with five leading Indian  India’s 4G user base is slated to grow to manufacturers for over 850 million doses of around 820 million in FY22 despite a Covid the vaccine a year. spike, according to Crisil Research.  The RDIF expects the production of the  Crisil expects the Big 3 operators to focus this vaccine in India to reach 50 million doses a fiscal on gaining and upgrading the 250-300 month. million feature phone users to go 4G.  India’s 4G subscriber additions in FY22 will be Gilead to help India more than in the last fiscal.  Gilead Sciences Inc will give India at least Justice Rajesh Bindal: CJ of Calcutta HC 450,000 vials of its COVID-19 drug remdesivir and donate active pharmaceutical ingredients  The has appointed Justice (APIs) to boost production. Rajesh Bindal to perform the duties of the  All seven Indian companies licensed to office of the Chief Justice of Calcutta High produce it are scaling up their batch sizes and Court with effect from 29th April 2021. adding new manufacturing facilities.  The decision comes following the retirement of Justice Thottathil Bhaskaran Nair

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 The companies had an installed capacity of reducing its carbon footprint by almost half as about 3.9 million units per month as of 11 part of its ESG objectives. April 2021. Doctors launch telemedicine helpline Google tops YouGov’s 2021 technology rankings  An Indian-American group led by several  Google is at the top spot in research firm doctors has launched a free telemedicine YouGov's 2021 Technology Rankings. helpline for COVID-19 patients.  It had the most positive impression among  It is led by Dr Avinash Gupta, who is president urban Indian consumers. of Bihar and Jharkhand Association of North  The survey ranks brands across America (BJANA). hardware/software manufacturers as well as  The group is using the internet and apps to social media platform categories based on an provide free healthcare consultancy to those 'Impression score', which is a measure of who have tested positive for COVID-19. whether a consumer has a positive or HCL Technologies and IBM collaborate negative impression of a brand.  IBM Security has collaborated with HCL Adani Group secures 7 cryogenic tanks Technologies Ltd to help unify and streamline  Amid a shortage of medical oxygen in the threat management for clients via a country due to surging coronavirus cases, the modernized security operation center (SOC) Adani Group has successfully secured seven platform. more cryogenic tanks to transport liquid  As part of the collaboration, HCL’s oxygen from Thailand. Cybersecurity Fusion Centers will be  It has also successfully secured 12 cryogenic designed to take advantage of IBM’s Cloud tanks to transport liquid oxygen from Dubai. Pak for Security, to help create a unified  Cryogenic tanks are useful since a lot more security platform to connect security teams, life-saving oxygen can be transported in liquid tools, etc. than in gas form. Ingenuity makes yet another successful flight MS Dhoni: Most recalled celebrity in IPL ads  The Ingenuity Mars helicopter of NASA has  Actor Ranveer Singh and cricketer MS Dhoni are made yet another successful flight on Mars. the most recalled brand ambassadors in the Indian  It flew faster and farther on April 25, 2021 Institute of Human Brands (IIHB) study on than in any tests it went through on Earth. advertising recall in IPL 2021.  The third flight of the helicopter was recorded  The annual IPL ad recall research was by the US Space Agency’s Perseverance conducted by the Indian Institute of Human rover on Mars. Brands (IIHB) ten days after the start of the  The helicopter’s black-and-white navigation league in 2021. camera, meanwhile, tracks surface features.  MS Dhoni had a CELEBAR score of 87, up Singapore, Hong Kong to open travel bubble from 82 at the last IPL.  Singapore and Hong Kong have agreed to JSPL to divest stake in Jindal Power open a travel bubble from 26 May 2021  Jindal Power and Steel (JSPL)'s board has between the two cities. approved divesting its entire equity interest in  The long-delayed travel bubble was first Jindal Power to Worldone, for Rs 3,015 crore. slated to begin in November 2020 but was  The divestment is in line with JSPL’s strategic suspended after a sudden spike of Covid aim of continuously reducing its debt, infections in Hong Kong. focussing on its India steel business, and  If it goes ahead, this travel bubble will be the second major air route in the region after

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Australia and New Zealand resumed flights in  A UN-led global immunization strategy was Apr'21. unveiled on 26 Apr 2021 to reach more than 50 mn children who have missed life saving Rs 8,180 crore transferred to Punjab farmers jabs against measles and other diseases  About Rs 8,180 crore have already been because of Covid-19 disruption. transferred directly into Punjab farmers’  The new global strategy has the potential to accounts against the sale of their wheat crop. save 50 mn lives by 2030.  For the first time, farmers of Punjab have  A WHO survey showed more than one third of started receiving payments directly into their countries were still seeing disruptions to their bank accounts. routine immunization services.  About 21.17 lakh wheat farmers have already Air India brings oxygen concentrators from US benefited from the ongoing rabi marketing season procurement operations with an MSP  Air India on 26 April 2021 brought 328 oxygen value of about Rs 43,912 crore. concentrators to India from the United States.  The oxygen concentrators were flown from 3,130 MTs of oxygen supplied by steel plants New York to New Delhi by Air India.  Ministry of Steel has informed that over 3,130  An oxygen concentrator is a device that takes Metric Tonnes of liquid medical oxygen was in atmospheric air and filters out the nitrogen supplied by steel plants to various states on from it to concentrate the oxygen molecules in 26 April 2021. the treated mixture.  Steel plants are enhancing the supply of liquid CBIC sets up Covid imports related helpdesk medical oxygen by taking various initiatives.  This includes a reduction in the production of  Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Nitrogen and Argon and the production of only (CBIC) has set up dedicated helpdesk to liquid medical oxygen in most plants. handle queries related to Covid related Imports. UK provides critical medical supplies to India  The help desk will handhold the trade,  Amid the growing demands of medical industry and individuals for expeditious supplies in the country, the United Kingdom customs clearance. has provided critical medical supplies to India  Queries pertaining to duty exemption, to deal with coronavirus cases. clearance procedures, registration  A shipment of vital medical supplies from the requirements from various ministries will be UK including 100 ventilators and 95 oxygen addressed by the help desk. concentrators arrived on 27 April 2021. Tata Steel raises oxygen supply to 600 tonnes  This was informed by the External Affairs Ministry.  Tata Steel has increased its daily oxygen supply limit to 600 tonne a day to health Fresh Covid guideline for Unani practitioners centres for the treatment of COVID-19  The Ministry of Ayush on 27 April 2021 patients. released the revised guidelines for Ayurveda  Previously, Tata Steel was supplying 300 and Unani practitioners for COVID-19 patients tonne of Liquid Medical Oxygen daily to in home isolation and Ayurveda and Unani various states. preventive measures for self-care.  On the directions of the Steel Ministry, steel  Previously on 29 January 2021, the Ministry plants in the country are supplying liquid of Ayush issued an advisory on how to protect medical oxygen (LMO) to various states amid oneself from COVID-19 and how to stay rising demand for the gas. healthy. Former Maruti MD Jagdish Khattar passes away WHO unveils global immunization strategy 3 | P a g e

 Former Managing Director of Maruti Suzuki  It is part of a program taken up by Defence and founder of Carnation Auto India, Jagdish Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL), a Khattar, passed away on 26 April 2021 due to premium laboratory of DRDO, to develop five a cardiac arrest. sets (300 in number) of single-crystal high-  He was the Managing Director of Maruti pressure turbine (HPT) blades. Udyog Limited from 1993 until his retirement  The supply of remaining four sets will be in 2007. completed in due course.  Prior to his stint with Maruti Suzuki, Khattar Project DANTAK completes 60 years in Bhutan was an IAS officer with around 37 years of experience.  Project DANTAK commemorated its Diamond Jubilee in Bhutan. Poland sends vaccines for its diplomats  Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Ruchira  Poland will send Covid-19 vaccines to its Kamboj laid a floral wreath at the DANTAK embassy in India. Memorial in Simtokha on April 24, 2021.  The move is a response to the spread of the  The project was established on 24 Apr 1961, coronavirus among the embassy's personnel. as a result of the visionary leadership of the  India currently holds the world record in Covid third King of Bhutan and then PM Jawahar Lal infections, with 352,991 new cases reported Nehru. over the last 24 hours, as of 26 April 2021.  It was tasked to construct the pioneering motorable roads in Bhutan. Army initiates Ignited Minds project International Chernobyl Remembrance Day  To provide better educational opportunities for Ladakhi students, the Indian Army has  Every year on April 26th, International initiated the project 'Ladakh Ignited Minds: A Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day marks Centre of Excellence and Wellness'. the anniversary of a historic nuclear accident.  On behalf of Indian Army, Fire and Fury  The day also focuses on the prevention of Corps has signed a couple of MoUs with future nuclear disasters. HPCL and executing agency, a Kanpur based  On April 26th, 1986, the worst nuclear NGO, National Integrity and Educational accident in history took place in Chernobyl, Development Organization (NIEDO), in Leh Ukraine. on 26 April 2021.  This disaster occurred during a safety test on one of the nuclear reactors at the power plant. CSIR-CMERI organises a webinar World Intellectual Property Day: 26 April  CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, in association with MSME-DI, Raipur, Chhattisgarh jointly  Every April 26 marks World Intellectual organized a webinar on ‘Oxygen Enrichment' Property Day. Technology on 25 April 2021.  The day aims at learning more about the role  CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering that intellectual property (IP) rights play in Research Institute (CMERI), Durgapur is a encouraging innovation and creativity. premier Mechanical Engineering Research  The event was established by the World Institute of the country under the Ministry of Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Science and Technology, Government of 2000 to “raise awareness of how patents, India. copyright, trademarks, and designs impact on DRDO develops single crystal blades daily life”.  DRDO has developed single-crystal blades RBI issues guidelines for tenure of bank CEOs technology and supplied 60 of these blades to  The Reserve Bank of India has issued certain Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. instructions on the governance for banks,

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including private banks, Small Finance Banks  These centres would be established either at (SFBs), Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of welfare camps or at the newly built quarters in Foreign Banks. police lines.  As per the instructions, the post of Managing  Tele-medicine facilities would also be Director (MD) and Chief Economic Officer provided. (CEO) MD or Whole Time Director (WTD) cannot be held by the same incumbent for Railways to run 7 more 'Summer Special' trains more than 15 years.  The Indian Railways' Northern wing will be Scientists revise prediction of covid cases running seven "Summer Special" trains from Delhi junction and New Delhi junction.  Active cases in the ongoing second COVID-  These trains will be single side trips only. 19 wave in India may peak at 38-48 lakh  Only passengers having confirmed tickets will between 14-18 May 2021 and daily new be permitted to board this special train. infections could hit a high of 4.4 lakh from  Earlier, Indian Railways had announced three May 4-8, 2021. more special trains from Delhi to Bihar from  The predictions have been made by a April 21, 2021. mathematical model by IIT scientists.  The scientists from the IIT Kanpur and Government extends cap on airfare Hyderabad applied the Susceptible,  The govt has extended the cap on domestic Undetected, Tested (positive), and Removed airfare, which was earlier slated till 30 Apr, to Approach' (SUTRA) model. 31 May'21. Vaccitech targets $613 mln valuation  The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has also capped the maximum capacity utilized by  Startup Vaccitech is aiming for a valuation of airlines to 80% of that of the summer up to $613 mn in its U.S. initial public offering. schedule of 2020, till May-end.  Vaccitech co-invented the COVID-19 vaccine  The Directorate General of Civil Aviation developed by AstraZeneca Plc and Oxford (DGCA) had in March 2021 allocated 18,843 University. departures per week for domestic airlines.  The company, which has development programs for conditions including hepatitis Haj Houses to be utilised as COVID-19 centres B, has raised $216 mn to date from Gilead  The Minority Affairs Ministry has decided to Sciences, Sequoia Capital China, and Oxford give Haj Houses to the respective state Sciences Innovation among others. government for utilization as temporary care Police to set up Covid-19 care centres centres for COVID-19 patients.  The Haj Committee Houses to be given to  Haryana Police has decided to set up COVID- states include those in Gujarat, Karnataka, 19 care centers across the state for its Kerala, Delhi, Telangana, West Bengal, personnel. Madhya Pradesh, UP, Maharashtra, Jammu  The decision was taken at a meeting presided and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Bihar, by Director General of Police (DGP) Manoj Jharkhand, and Tripura. Yadava at the state police headquarters in Panchkula.

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