Current Affairs 24th April 2021| Current Affairs News

 

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Veterinary Day – Observed on Last Saturday of April

• The World Veterinary Association (WVA) started celebrating the day in the year 2000.
• WVA is the world’s largest family of veterinarians and aims at providing a “common voice” for all the veterinary doctors across the globe.
• The World Veterinary Day is celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April.
• The World Veterinary Association declared the themefor 2021 as ‘The Veterinarian Response to the Covid-19 Crisis’; keeping in mind the ongoing pandemic situation that took a toll on animal welfare as well.

National Panchayati Raj Day – Observed on Apr 24

• National Panchayati Raj Day is the national day of Panchayati Raj System in India celebrated by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on 24 April annually.
• Then Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh declared the first National Panchayati Raj Day on 24 April 2010.
• The reason for celebrating Panchayati Raj day is the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act, 1992.
• The passing of the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act, 1992 came into force with effect from 24 April 1993.
• So the National Panchayati Raj Diwas (Day) is celebrated every year in India on 24th April.

About Panchayati Raj system:

• The system later came to be known as Panchayati Raj, which was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehruon 2 October 1959 at Nagour in Rajasthan.
• The first elections under the Rajasthan Panchayat Samitis and Zilla Parishads Act, 1959 were held in September-October 1959.
• On 24 April 1993, the Constitutional (73rd amendment) Act of 1992 came into force in India to provide constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj institutions.

International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace – Observed on Apr 24

• The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peaceis marked on 24 April since 2019.
• The day was declared by the UN General Assembly in December 2018 and was observed for the first time on 24 April 2019.
• Multilateralismrequires states to follow international norms and pay more respect to international institutions; this is contrasted with unilateralism, where a single state can influence how international relations can be conducted.
• The day aims to spread knowledge about the advantages of multilateralism and diplomacy for peace, including through educational and public awareness-raising activities.

World Day for Laboratory Animals – Observed on Apr 24

• World Day for Animals in Laboratories is observed every year on 24 April.
• The surrounding week has come to be known as “World Week for Animals In Laboratories”.
• The National Anti-Vivisection Society describes the day as an “international day of commemoration” for animals in laboratories.
• The World Day of Laboratory Animalshas been observed annually on April 24th with the associated “Lab Animal Week” (20th-26th April) since 1979 as a movement to end the sufferings of the animals that are used for testing in the laboratories around the world and replace them with the advanced scientific non-animal .

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

PM Modi greets US President Joe Biden for joining LeadIT

• The US has joined the India-Sweden climate initiative, the Leadership Group for Industry Transition, LeadIT.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed US President Joe Biden for joining LeadIT.
• The Prime Minister said it will help us meet Paris Agreement goals, strengthen competitiveness and create new sustainable jobs.

About LeadIT:

• The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) gathers countries and companies that are committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions from industry by 2050.
• SEI serves as LeadIT’s Secretariat.

PM Modi initiate the distribution of e-property cards under SVAMITVA scheme 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the distribution of e-property cards under the SVAMITVA scheme.
• In a virtual event over four lakh property owners will be given their e-property cards which will also mark the rolling out of the SVAMITVA scheme for implementation across the country.
• Prime Minister will also confer the National Panchayat Awards 2021 on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj day.
• The award money ranging from 5 to 50 lakh will be directly transferred to the bank account of the Panchayats concerned on a real time basis.
• Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar will also attend the event.
• SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme was launched by the Prime Minister on 24th April last year as a Central Sector Scheme to promote a socio-economically empowered and self-reliant rural India.

About SVAMITVA scheme:

• The Svamitva Yojana was launched on 24 April 2020 with an aim to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India.
• This scheme attempts to end property disputes in villages by demarcating the property of the villagers and providing them with the certificate of ownership of their property.
• The SVAMITVA schemewas launched by the Prime Minister on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, April 24, earlier this year and the distribution of property cards began on October 11.
• The SVAMITVA scheme aims to provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

EU plans to set global standards for AI

• The EuropeanCommission announced tough draft rules on the use of artificial intelligence, including a ban on most surveillance, in an attempt to set global standards for a key technology dominated by China and the United States.
• The rules, which envisage hefty fines for violations and set strict safeguards for high-risk applications, could help the EU take the lead in regulating AI, which critics say has harmful social effects and can be exploited by repressive governments.
• The move comes as China moves ahead in the AI race, while the Covid-19 pandemic has underlined the importance of algorithms and internet-connected gadgets in daily life.
• “On artificial intelligence, trust is a must, not a nice to have.
• With these landmark rules, the EU is spearheading the development of new global norms to make sure AI can be trusted,” European tech chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.

UK now ready to consider digital currency ‘Britcoin’

• British authorities are exploring the possibility of creating a new digital currency that Treasury chief Rishi Sunak indicated could be known as Britcoin“.
• The Bank of England and the Treasury said that they will work together to assess the benefits of a central bank digital currency, at a time when cash payments are generally on the decline, partly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
• The bank said the new currency, if it comes to pass, would be a new form of digital money for use by households and businesses and would exist alongside cash and bank deposits, rather than replacing them.
• Digital currencies, which are only available in digital or electronic form, are already being explored or even implemented in several other countries, with many proponents drawing inspiration from the success of Bitcoin and other so-called cryptocurrencies.

About Britcoin:

• Dubbed “Britcoin” by the press, the BoE said any UK digital currency would be a new form of digital money that could be used by both households and businesses.
• It would exist alongside cash and bank deposits, rather than replacing them.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

Ind Ra predicts India’s FY22 GDP growth forecast to 10.1 per cent

• India Ratings and Research revised down India’s FY22 real GDP growth forecast to 10.1 per cent, from earlier projection of 10.4 per cent, citing the second wave of COVID-19 infections and slower pace of vaccination.
• At a time when large parts of the country are experiencing tremendous pressure on medical infrastructure, the agency said it expects the second wave to start subsiding by mid-May.
• Earlier this month, the Reserve Bank maintained its 10.5 per cent GDP growth estimate, but Governor Shaktikanta Das has flagged the rising cases as the biggest impediment to recovery.
• Other brokerages and analysts have also been revising down their forecasts in the light of the second wave.
• The economy is estimated to have contracted by 7.6 per cent in FY21.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING NEWS

RBI restricts American Express Banking Corp, Diners Club International Ltd to adding new customers

• Reserve Bank of India has imposed restrictions on American Express Banking Corp and Diners Club International Limited from adding new customers to their card networks from 1st of next month.
• RBI said, these entities have been found non-compliant with the directions on Storage of Payment System Data.
• The apex bank clarified that the order will not impact existing customers.
• The RBI indicated that both these service providers had failed to comply with directions regarding mandatory storage of customer data within systems in India.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION NEWS

Justice NV Ramana Sworn As New 48th Chief Justice of India

• Justice NV Ramana took oath as the 48th Chief Justice of India.
• President Ram Nath Kovind administered him the oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi in a small ceremony due to Covid restrictions.
• In the farewell to Justice SA Bobde, who retired as the Chief Justice, Justice Ramana said, “We are going through testing times as we battle the Covid wave.
• Lawyers, judges and court staff are all affected due to the virus. Some hard measures may be necessary to break the chain of transmission. We can defeat the pandemic together with dedication.
• “Another challenge Justice NV Ramana faces is filling up six vacancies in the top court.
• During Justice SA Bobde’s tenure, not a single judge has been appointed to the top court.
• Born in an agricultural family in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district on August 27, 1957, Justice Ramana, 63, will be the country’s top judge for a year and four months till August 26, 2022.
• He is the second Chief Justice of India from Andhra Pradesh; Justice K Subba Rao was the ninth Chief Justice of India from 1966-67.

GC Murmu elected as External Auditor by OPCW for 3 years

• India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) GC Murmuhas been chosen as the external auditor of the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
• GC Murmu has been appointed as the external auditor of OPCW for a period of three-year starting 2021.
• OPCW is a prestigious intergovernmental organization based in “The Hague, Netherlands”, working for the elimination of chemical weapons.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

AP panchayat raj department conferred 17 awards

• The State Panchayat Raj department has bagged 17 awards announced by the Union Panchayat Raj Ministry. 
• The awards are under different categories, including Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran, Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Purashkar, Gram Panchayat Development Plans, Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award and e-Panchayat Puraskar.
• While Guntur and Krishna districts got awards in the district level,
• Sadum (Chittoor district),
• Kakinada Rural (East Godavari),
• Penugonda (Anantapur) and
• Vijayawada Rural (Krishna district) got awards in the mandal level.
• Renimakulapalle (Chittoor),
• Tallapalme (Nellore),
• Kondepalli (Prakasam),
• Tada Kandriga (Nellore),
• Peddalabudu (Visakhapatnam),
• Gullapalli (Guntur)
• Varkuru (Kurnool),
• Pennabarthi (Nellore),
• G Ragampeta (East Godavari),
• Vellanti (Nellore) got awards under different categories in the gram panchayat level.
• Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy said it bagged 15 awards last year. 

‘Nomadland’ bags top honours at Independent Spirit Awards, Riz Ahmed best actor

• Chloe Zhao’s meditative drama “Nomadland” continued its winning streak this award season by bagging best picture, best director and other awards at the 36th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards.
• The story, about a woman who embarks on a nomadic journey through American west after she loses her job, has emerged as the Oscars frontrunner after winning accolades at Producer’s Guild of America (PGA) Awards, British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) and Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards.
• Nomadland also won Zhao the best editing trophy while the best cinematography honour went to its cinematographer Joshua James Richards.
• Hosted by ‘Saturday Night Live’ cast member Melissa Villasenor, the awards were broadcasted live on IFC channel on April 22, three days before the Oscars.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Russia’s Space Agency Roscosmos, to launch its own space station in 2025

• On April 20, 2021, Russian space agency Roscosmos announced that it will launch its own space station in 2025. 
• Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov informed in recent days that Moscow was considering whether to leave the ISS programme from 2025.

About ISS :

• International Space Station (ISS) which is currently in orbit is one of the most ambitious international collaborations in human history.
• The ISS was launched in 1998 with cooperation between Russia, the US, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency.

About Roscosmos :

• Chief : Dmitry Rogozin
• Founded: 25 February 1992
• Headquarters: Moscow, Russia

About Russia :

• President: Vladimir Putin 
• Capital: Moscow
• Currency: Russian ruble

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BOOKS & AUTHORS

Climate Change Activist-Author Aakash Ranison Launches His E-Book Titled Climate Change Explained – For One And All

• On the occasion of Earth Day on April 22, 2021, Aakash Ranison, a well-knownClimate Change Activist and Sustainability Influencer launches an eBook “Climate Change Explained – for one and all.

About the book :

• The book focuses on the serious topic of climate change and how it can affect every individual’s life.
• The book is exclusively available on aakashranison.com for free from 22nd April 2021.
• It will also be available on Amazon, iBook, & Google Books as well at a nominal cost of INR 20 from 10th May 2021.
• The author explains the impact of climate change and aims to motivate readers to reduce its outcome with the help of simple sustainable solutions.
• The book is a mix of facts, data, and information about climate change, having topics like “Greenhouse effect, global warming, Carbon footprint” and their effects on earth in the near future.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships : India Clinches Historic Win with 11 Medals

• From April 13 to 23, 2021, The 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships was held in Kielce, Poland.
• It is a 10-day biennial event 
• It witnessed 414 boxers from 52 countries.
• From India, eight boxers competed in the finals
• Eight Boxers including 7 female players and one male.
• In that, India ended the tournament with 11 medals (8 gold & 3 bronze) to finish top in the medal table.
• The previous best outing for India had come in the 2018 edition where they won 10 medals.

List of Winners :

Gold Medal Winners

1. Gitika – 48kg
2. Naorem Babyrojisana Chanu – 51kg
3. Poonam Pinia – 57kg
4. Vinka – 60kg
5. Arundhati Choudhary – 69kg
6. Thokchom Sanamacha Chanu – 75kg
7. Alfiya Pathan – +81kg
8. Sachin – 56kg

Bronze Medal Winners

1. Bishwamitra Chongtham – 49kg
2. Ankit Narwal – 64kg
3. Vishal Gupta – 91kg

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Veteran Hindi Film Actor Amit Mistry Passes Away 

• Popular Gujarati and Hindi film actor Amit Mistry, Passes away.
• He was 47.
• The actor was a prominent face in the Gujarati theatre circuit.
• His work in Hindi films like “Kya Kehna”, “Ek Chalis Ki Last Local” and especially his collaborations with filmmaker Raj-DK including “99”, “Shor In The City” and “A Gentleman” got him wider attention.
• He is known for starring in films like “Shor In The City”, “Bey Yaar” and Amazon Prime Video series “Bandish Bandits”.
• Mistry earned acclaim in the 2020 hit web series “Bandish Bandits” in which he played musician Devendra Rathod.

Music Composer Shravan Rathod of “Nadeem-Shravan” Fame Passes Away 

• Shravan Rathod of the iconic composer duo Nadeem-Shravan Passed away.
• He was 66.
• Nadeem Saifi and Shravan Rathod, who were popularly known as Nadeem-Shravan, were among the most sought-after composers of the 90s. 
• Together, They composed some of the iconic hits as part of the soundtracks for movies such as Aashiqui (1990), Saajan (1991), Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke (1993), Pardes (1997) and Raja Hindustani (1996), among others.
• Nadeem-Shravan parted ways in the 2000s and reunited to compose for David Dhawan-directed Do Knot Disturb in 2009.

Daily CA On April 23 :

• World Book Day is celebrated every year on April 23. UNESCO undertakes the responsibility of the event. The first ever World Book Day was celebrated on April 23, 1995.
• The UN English Language Day and UN Spanish Language Dayis observed annually on 23 April.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a US-India partnership on clean energy and climate change. 
• The Center has directed States and Union Territories to ensure that there should be no restriction imposed on the movement of Medical Oxygen between the States and transport authorities shall be instructed to allow free inter-state movement of oxygen-carrying vehicles.
• The first Oxygen Express with Liquid Medical Oxygen tankers will start its journey for Mumbai from Visakhapatnam tonight. 
• The Head of the Military government of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing will embark on his first foreign visit after the coup to Indonesia to participate in the ASEAN leaders meeting.
• Uttar Pradesh government has said that it will invoke National Security Act and Gangster Act on those persons who are involved in black marketing and holding of necessary medicines, oxygen and injections required for covid treatment.
• In Jharkhand, the “Health Safety Week” begins from April 22 to break the chain of COVID-19 infection.
• Ola Electric said it will bring its electric scooter to the Indian market in July this year, and is working on setting up a ‘Hypercharger Network’ to include one lakh charging points across 400 cities.
• The government of Bangladesh signed an agreement for USD 250 million financing from the World Bank to help create more and better jobs, recover faster from the COVID-19 pandemic and build resilience to future crises.
• Private sector lender HDFC Bank said the Reserve Bank has approved appointment of former Economic Affairs Secretary Atanu Chakraborty as the part-time chairman of the bank.
• Accenture India’s head, Rekha  M Menon is the first woman Chairperson of the IT industry body, Nasscom.
• Former Nasscom chairman BVR Mohan Reddy said it was very “sad” to see a “good CEO” like Vishal Sikka stepping down as the CEO of Infosys, and added that promoters have no say after leaving a company.
• Credit Information Company Experian Indiaappointed Neeraj Dhawan as its new managing director.
• IOB said the consultant has been appointed as part of its growth strategy and to transform its banking services into a digitized form.
• Amid shortage of medical oxygen in several hospitals across the city, the DDMA appointed two senior bureaucrats as nodal officers to ensure smooth movement of tankers and facilitate oxygen supply to city hospitals.
• Public sector lender Indian Bank has entered into a pact with Chennai-based angel investment group ‘The Chennai Angels For financing start-ups under the bank’s loan product Ind SpringBoard.
• On April 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Leaders’ Summit on Climate hosted by US President Joe Biden.
• On April 21, 2021, India was placed at the 87th (Score 53) position among 115 countries in the 2021 Energy Transition Index (ETI),
• Global sportswear brand Puma has roped in Indian cricketers Washington Sundar and Devdutt Padikkal as the brand ambassador.
• Tamil Nadu teenager Arjun Kalyan became India’s 68th Chess Grandmaster.
• On April 21, 2021, Renowned qawwali singer Farid Sabri of the Sabri Brothers duo passed away in Jaipur.

Daily CA On April 24 :

• The World Veterinary Association (WVA) started celebrating the day in the year 2000.
• National Panchayati Raj Day is the national day of Panchayati Raj System in India celebrated by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj on 24 April annually.
• The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peaceis marked on 24 April since 2019.
• World Day for Animals in Laboratories is observed every year on 24 April.
• The US has joined the India-Sweden climate initiative, the Leadership Group for Industry Transition, LeadIT.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the distribution of e-property cards under the SVAMITVA scheme.
• The EuropeanCommission announced tough draft rules on the use of artificial intelligence, including a ban on most surveillance, in an attempt to set global standards for a key technology dominated by China and the United States.
• British authorities are exploring the possibility of creating a new digital currency that Treasury chief Rishi Sunak indicated could be known as Britcoin“.
• India Ratings and Research revised down India’s FY22 real GDP growth forecast to 10.1 per cent, from earlier projection of 10.4 per cent, citing the second wave of COVID-19 infections and slower pace of vaccination.
• Reserve Bank of India has imposed restrictions on American Express Banking Corp and Diners Club International Limited from adding new customers to their card networks from 1st of next month.
• Justice NV Ramana took oath as the 48th Chief Justice of India. President Ram Nath Kovind administered him the oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi in a small ceremony due to Covid restrictions.
• India’s Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) GC Murmuhas been chosen as the external auditor of the Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
• The State Panchayat Raj department has bagged 17 awards announced by the Union Panchayat Raj Ministry. 
• Chloe Zhao’s meditative drama “Nomadland” continued its winning streak this award season by bagging best picture, best director and other awards at the 36th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards.
• On April 20, 2021, Russian space agency Roscosmos announced that it will launch its own space station in 2025. 
• On the occasion of Earth Day on April 22, 2021, Aakash Ranison, a well-knownClimate Change Activist and Sustainability Influencer launches an eBook “Climate Change Explained – for one and all.
• From April 13 to 23, 2021, The 2021 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships was held in Kielce, Poland. It is a 10-day biennial event 
• Popular Gujarati and Hindi film actor Amit Mistry, Passes away.
• Shravan Rathod of the iconic composer duo Nadeem-Shravan Passed away.