CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS
International Dance Day – Observed on Apr 29
- International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance, created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO.
- Several dance events and festivals held on this date all over the globe.
- The International Dance Day 2021 themeis: ‘Purpose of dance’.
- The event takes place every year on 29 April, which is the anniversary of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre, the creator of modern ballet.
- International Dance Day was started to spread the message of the benefits of dance, celebrate dance and bring people together.
- International Dance Day on April 29this an annual celebration of how dancing positively impacts our lives.
- The human body’s ability to move, groove, pop, and lock has captivated the way we interact with music and express ourselves artistically.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS
Serum Institute of India drop the price of Covishield from Rs 400 to Rs 300 for states
- Serum Institute of India has dropped the price of COVISHIELD vaccine by Rs 100for the state government.
- Serum’s CEO Adar Poonawala said that, as a philanthropic gesture, serum institute will provide COVISHIELD to states in Rs 300 with immediate effect.
- This will save thousands of crores of state funds going forward.
- He said, this will enable more vaccinations and save countless lives.
- Serum had priced Covishield at Rs 400 for state government hospitals and Rs 600 for private hospitals.
PM Modi approved one lakh Portable Oxygen Concentrators under PM Cares Fund
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned the procurement of one lakh Portable Oxygen Concentrators from the PM Cares Fund.
- The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Mr. Modi to discuss the measures needed to improve Liquid Medical Oxygen Supply for COVID management.
- The Prime Minister instructed that these Oxygen Concentrators should be procured at the earliest and provided in States with high case burden.
- In addition to the earlier sanctioned 713 Pressure Swing Adsorption, PSA oxygen plants under PM Cares Fund, 500 new PSA oxygen plants have been sanctioned under PM CARES Fund.
- The PSA plants will augment the supply of Liquid Medical Oxygen at hospitals in district headquarters and Tier 2 cities.
- These 500 PSA plants will be established with transfer of the indigenous technology developed by DRDO and CSIR to the domestic manufacturers.
Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga conducts online Yoga training programmes
- The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under Ayush Ministry is offering online Yoga training programmes.
- These online Yoga training programmes are health-promoter and anxiety-relieving.
- They offer a positive pathway to overcome the activity crisis faced by many people who are constrained to stay at home due to the pandemic.
- The elementary training course is called the “Yoga Volunteer Training Course”.
- Apart from imparting Yoga learning, it also gives the learner an opportunity to be endorsed as a “Yoga Volunteer”.
- Information about such activities is available on the Yoga Portal, ayush.gov.inand the popular Social Media handles of the Ayush Ministry and the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga.
- The Ayush Ministry has said that digital mode for yoga training has enabled the Institute to reach out to thousands of people.
- The Ministry has called upon all stake-holders to take up the role of ambassadors of Yoga and motivate people to take support of Yoga to tide over physical and emotional constraints imposed by the pandemic.
Justice Vimla Singh Kapoor appointed as judge of Chhattisgarh High Court
- The President has appointed Justice Vimla Singh Kapoor, Additional Judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court, to be a Judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court.
- It will be with effect from the date she assumes charge of her office.
- A notification in this regard was issued by the Ministry of Law & Justice.
DRDO to build 500 Medical Oxygen Plants within 3 months
- Defence Research & Development Organisation, DRDO will set up 500 Medical Oxygen Plants within 3 months under the PM CARES Fund.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed that the Medical Oxygen Plant technology developed by DRDO for On‐Board Oxygen Generation for Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas will now help in fighting the current crisis of Oxygen for the COVID-19 patients.
- Singh appreciated the DRDO for using its technology to generate much needed oxygen for COVID-19 patients which he said will help in overcoming the present crisis.
Cabinet approves customs co-operation agreement with the UK
- The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the signing and ratification of an Agreement between India and the United Kingdom on Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters.
- The agreement would provide a legal framework for sharing information and intelligence between the Customs authorities of the two countries.
- It would help in proper application of Customs laws, prevention and investigation of Customs offences and the facilitation of legitimate trade.
- The agreement takes care of Indian Customs’ concerns and requirements, particularly in the area of exchange of information on the correctness of the Customs value, tariff classification and origin of the goods traded between the two countries.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS
ADB projected growth rate of Bangladesh for FY 2020-21 to 5.5-6.0 per cent
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cut down the projected GDP growth rate of Bangladesh by at least 1 per cent from its earlier figure of 6.8 per cent for the FY 2020-21.
- The reduction in the projected figure is attributed to the recent surge in pandemic and lockdowns to control the spread of the Coronavirus.
- However, the growth rate is projected to pick up at 6.8 per cent in 2021-22 and 7.2 per cent in 2022-23, said the ADB in its latest Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021 released.
- Country Director of ADB Manmohan Parkash said that the government of Bangladesh managed the first wave of COVID 19 in 2020 well with stimulus packages and other economic policies.
- Future economic growth will depend on recovery in domestic economic activities boosted by the implementation of the stimulus packages, rising inflow of remittances and rebound in the global trade.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar speaks in video conferencing with Foreign Minister of Portugal Augusto Santos Silva
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar had a conversation with Foreign Minister of Portugal Augusto Santos Silva through video conferencing.
- The Ministers reviewed the preparation for India-European Union Summit.
- Dr Jaishankar expressed confidence that both will produce strong outcomes.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS
Govt frond GPF, other non-government PF interest rate unchanged at 7.1%
- Government has left the GPF and other non-government PF interest rates unchanged at 7.1 percent.
- The Department of Economic Affairs said that GPF and other Special Deposit Scheme interest rates of 7.1 percent will be applicable for April to June quarter of the current financial year.
- The government has decided to maintain the status quo on General Provident Fund (GPF) and other non-government PF, gratuity funds interest rate at 7.1 percent.
- The deposits made under the Special Deposit Scheme for Non-Government Provident, Superannuation and Gratuity Funds will also bear interest at 7.1 percent with effect from April 1, 2021.
- The decision is in-line with its earlier decision to keep interest rate on small savings schemes such as Public Provident Fund (PPF), NSC, etc unchanged for the current quarter.
LinkedIn list of best workplaces for 2021: top spot bags by TCS, Cognizant, Accenture
- IT services companies including Tata Consultancy Services, Accenture, Cognizant, Infosys, Wipro are some of the top workplaces in India in 2021, as per a survey by professional networking platform, LinkedIn.
- With the rapid acceleration of digitization undertaken by many sectors, the IT firms have provided a positive revenue guidance outlook for FY22 and expect a double-digit growth and expansion in operating margins.
- The IT service majors have also stated that the hiring momentum will remain strong during this fiscal with skill-based talent in demand especially as the companies grow their digital businesses.
- As per the LinkedIn survey, the emergence of the remote workplace model has especially made the tech services firm a favourite among the employees since these companies have said that they are looking at a permanent hybrid model in the future.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENT AND RESIGNATION NEWS
Tata Motors appointed Martin Uhlarik as global design head
- Tata Motors has appointed Martin Uhlarik as the new Global Design Head of the Indian car manufacturer.
- The announcement came soon after its outgoing global design Chief Pratap Bose decided to step down.
- Uhlarik has been previously working as the Head of Design for Tata Motors European Technical Centre (TMETC).
- He comes with an experience of 27 years working for different carmakers over the time.
- He had joined Tata Motors back in 2016 as the Head of Design in the United Kingdom.
- He is also credited with the development of the Impact 3 generation of vehicles.
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw designated the board of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Biocon Ltd announced that its executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), a world leader in cancer treatment and research, based in New York, the US.
- She is among the 52 members on the board and will serve for a term of three years with effect from April 14, 2021, the Bengaluru-headquartered company said in a statement.
- Mazumdar-Shaw is the first woman of Indian nationality to be appointed for this role, it said.
- MSK is ranked as one of the top two hospitals for cancer care in the US for more than 30 years and among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals for cancer care, according to US News & World Report, the statement said.
Secretary, DoE in Finance Ministry T V Somanathan take charge as new Finance Secretary
- IAS Officer T V Somanathan who is serving as Secretary, Department of Expenditure in the Finance Ministry has been designated as the Finance Secretary.
- He is a 1987 batch IAS Officer of Tamil Nadu Cadre.
- The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved.
Border Roads Organisation appointed First Women Executive Engineer to command Road Construction Company
- Taking a step in the direction of women empowerment, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) appointed its first women officer to command a Road Construction Company (RCC).
- Announcing the appointment, the Army in a statement said, “Feels proud to announce the First woman Officer Executive Engineer (Civil) Vaishali S Hiwase for taking over as Officer Commanding of a Road Construction Company that is responsible to provide connectivity of an Indo China Border Road.”
- Vaishali who is from Wardha, Maharashtra is an M. Tech and was posted in a demanding tenure at Kargil, Ladakh prior to her taking over the command to undertake this challenge of cutting through the rocks.
Guidance Bureau Executive Director appointed for monitor Covid hospitals
- In a bid to monitor preventive measures taken against the spread of Covid-19, the State government has appointed Dr Darez Ahamed, Executive Director of Guidance Bureau, to monitor private healthcare institutions, Covid hospitals, medical college hospitals and listed hospitals which have the coverage of Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme in and around Chennai, along with MA Siddique, Secretary of Commercial Taxes, who has been nominated as special coordinator for Greater Chennai Corporation.
CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS
Biocon Biologics’ new monoclonal antibodies facility won ISPE’s 2021 award
- Biocon Biologics‘ New Monoclonal AntibodiesManufacturing Facility Wins ISPE’s 2021 Facility of the Year Honorable Mention Award.
- Bengaluru, India; April 28, 2021: Biocon Biologics, a fully integrated ‘pure play’ biosimilars company and a subsidiary of BioconLtd.
- Biocon Biologics, subsidiary of Biocon, announced that it has been awarded with the 2021 Facility of the Year Award (FOYA) from the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE).
- The company received an Honorable Mention award for its monoclonal antibodies drugs substances manufacturing facility located at Biocon Park, Bengaluru, a 100-acre integrated complex with all infrastructure and utilities.
Production manager Swati Thiyagarajan on Oscar Award-winning documentary ‘My Octopus Teacher’
- Environmental filmmaker Craig Foster and his team scarcely imagined that their documentary, My Octopus Teacher, would travel around the world, let alone win the highest honours at BAFTA and the Oscars.
- Craig, who was supposedly going through a rough patch in his life, found hope in the form of an octopus in the Great African Sea Forest.
- His wife, and production manager of My Octopus Teacher, Swati Thiyagarajan, shares that his daily encounters with the creature got him back on track, made him feel closer to his family once again, and now, have helped win an Academy Award.
- Swati believes that acquisition of the film by Netflix convinced them that they were onto something.
CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS
DRDO Conducts Maiden Trial of Python-5 Air to Air Missile
- On April 27, 2021, the DRDO successfully fired the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) from Tejas aircraft, at Goa.
- Trials were also aimed to validate the enhanced capability of the already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM on Tejas.
- It is a series of missile trials to validate its performance under extremely challenging scenarios.
- The missiles were fired from Tejas aircraft of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) flown by Indian Air Force (IAF) Test pilots belonging to National Flight Test Centre (NFTC).
- Python-5 air-to-air missile (AAM) has been manufactured by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems of Israel
- It is one of the most sophisticated guided missiles in the world.
About DRDO :
- Founded: 1958
- Headquarters: DRDO Bhavan, New Delhi
- Chairman : Dr G Satheesh Reddy
CURRENT AFFAIRS : SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
OneWeb launches Batch of 36 LEO satellites from Russian cosmodrome
- OneWeb, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications operator, launched another batch of 36 satellites by Arianespace from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia.
- It is co-owned by Bharti Global and the UK government.
- The latest launch takes OneWeb’s total in-orbit constellation to 182 satellites.
- These would form part of OneWeb’s 648 LEO satellite fleet that will deliver high-speed, low-latency global connectivity.
- It will enable OneWeb to offer services across the UK, Alaska, Northern Europe, Greenland, Iceland, the Arctic seas and Canada.
About OneWeb :
- CEO: Adrián Steckel
- Founder: Greg Wyler
- Founded: 2012
- Headquarters location: London, United Kingdom
CURRENT AFFAIRS : RANKING & INDEX
India ranked 49th in CGGI 2021
- Among 104 nations India has been placed at 49th position in the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) 2021.
- Finland has topped the CGGI 2021 list.
- Venezuela is the last ranked country in the CGGI 2021.
| Rank | Score | Country |
| 1 | 0.848 | Finland |
| 2 | 0.839 | Switzerland |
| 3 | 0.834 | Singapore |
- India had scored 0.516 and ranked 49th position in CGGI 2021 Index.
About CGGI INDEX :
- In that Index each country is measured across over 50 open data points.
- The CGGI is an annual index developed by the Chandler Institute of Governance based in Singapore
- That measures the effectiveness of governments in 104 countries across the world in terms of government capabilities and outcomes.
- The Chandler Good Government Index shows the importance of measuring and investing in governance capabilities that matter.
- The index focuses on seven pillars:
- Leadership and foresight
- Robust laws and policies
- Strong institutions
- Financial stewardship
- Attractive marketplace
- Global influence and reputation
- Helping people rise.
CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES
Noted Odia and English writer Manoj Das passes away
- On April 27, 2021, Manoj Das, an eminent Indian author who wrote in Odia and English, passed away.
- He was 87.
- His first book of poetry, Satavdira Artanada, in Odia, was published when he was in high school.
- He published a novel Jeebanara Swada, a collection of short stories Vishakanyar Kahani, and a collection of poems Padadhawani.
Achievements :
- Das was awarded Padma Shri in 2001 and Padma Bhushan in 2020 for his contributions in the field of literature and education.
- He received the first Sri Aurobindo Puraskar for his research on the lesser-known facts of India’s freedom struggle led by Aurobindo.
- He was also honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award fellowship.
Senior IIS Officer Sanjay Kumar Passes away
- Senior Indian Information Service officer Sanjay Kumar passed away.
- He was 56.
About Sanjay Kumar :
- Sanjay Kumar, Deputy Director (Media and Communication) in PIB was looking after the publicity requirements of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- He was also associated with publicity work of the Ministry of Tourism in additional capacity.
- He also served in the personal staff of a central Minister.
- Sanjay Kumar also served as PRO in NCERT.
Daily CA On April 28 :
- The annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April promotes the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. The theme for 2021 is “Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises – Invest Now in Resilient Occupational Safety and Health Systems”.
- Workers’ Memorial Day, also known as International Workers’ Memorial Day or International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured takes place annually around the world on April 28.
- Railways has made nearly four thousand Covid Care coaches with almost 64 thousand beds ready for use by States.
- Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated blood donation camps at 13 different locations in Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
- National Fertilizers Limited has ordered the setting up of four Oxygen plants. These plants will be set up in government hospitals in Noida, Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Bhopal.
- Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that large oxygen plants are to be set up in all divisional headquarters of the state.
- Meghalaya has planned to achieve the target of Har Ghar Jal by December next year under Jal Jeevan Mission.
- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund has crossed the eight thousand crore mark. The investment will give a boost to several agricultural projects which will unlock value for farmers across the country.
- TheAsian Development Bank (ADB) has projected India’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth to rebound strongly to 11 per cent in current fiscal on the back of continued economic recovery boosted by increased public investment, vaccine rollout and surge in domestic demand.
- Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) has reported an impressive performance on many parameters in FY21that include strong growth in net profit, good asset quality and higher business.
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it has provided $ 1.5 billion to India to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Indian Bank signed an MoU with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited to provide seamless telecom services to the bank at a competitive rate.
- Roland Boucharahas been elevated to the role of CEO & MD of automaker Stellantis India operations with full responsibility for the Jeep and Citroen national sales companies (NSCs), along with the group’s manufacturing activities.
- Auto parts maker Suprajit Engineeringhas appointed James Gerard Ryan as President – Controls & Cables Global Operations (except India). The company, in a regulatory filing to exchanges, said Jim Ryan is a US national and a seasoned professional with rich experience in the controls and cables
- Haryana Government has appointed the Managing Director of Haryana State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation Anurag Agrawal and Director, MSME, Dr. Vikas Gupta for mapping of liquid oxygen manufacturing plants and monitoring their production and diversion to medical use.
- Switch MobilityLtd, an electric vehicle arm of Ashok Leyland Ltd, and TVS Supply Chain Solutions (TVS SCS) has entered into an agreement for establishing a sustainable logistics network.
- The Assam Government has signed two MOUs in Guwahati with Bhutan and Nagaland for procurement of oxygen.
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed single crystal blades that are used in helicopter engines. It has supplied 60 of them to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the company”s indigenous helicopter development program.
- On April 25, 2021, CSIR-CMERI, Durgapur, in association with MSME-DI, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Government of India jointly organised a Webinar on ‘Oxygen Enrichment’ Technology.
- On April 26, 2021, India was retained as the third biggest military spender in the world in 2020 according to new data titled ‘SIPRI Military Expenditure Database. It is published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
- Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri is coming up with a new book Titled Whereabouts. It will be published under the Hamish Hamilton imprint of Penguin Random House.
- Renowned Amitav Ghosh authored A new book titled “The Living Mountain” is set to hit stands in January 2022. The book will be published by HarperCollins Publishers India.
- The famous and noted Gujarati poet and folk singer Dadudan Pratapdan Gadhvi Passed Away.
Daily CA On April 29 :
- International Dance Day is a global celebration of dance, created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, the main partner for the performing arts of UNESCO.
- Serum Institute of India has dropped the price of COVISHIELD vaccine by Rs 100for the state government.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sanctioned the procurement of one lakh Portable Oxygen Concentrators from the PM Cares Fund.
- The Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under Ayush Ministry is offering online Yoga training programmes. These online Yoga training programmes are health-promoter and anxiety-relieving.
- The President has appointed Justice Vimla Singh Kapoor, Additional Judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court, to be a Judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court.
- Defence Research & Development Organisation, DRDO will set up 500 Medical Oxygen Plants within 3 months under the PM CARES Fund.
- The Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the signing and ratification of an Agreement between India and the United Kingdom on Customs Cooperation and Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs Matters.
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cut down the projected GDP growth rate of Bangladesh by at least 1 per cent from its earlier figure of 6.8 per cent for the FY 2020-21.
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar had a conversation with Foreign Minister of Portugal Augusto Santos Silva through video conferencing.
- Government has left the GPF and other non-government PF interest rates unchanged at 7.1 percent.
- IT services companies including Tata Consultancy Services, Accenture, Cognizant, Infosys, Wipro are some of the top workplaces in India in 2021, as per a survey by professional networking platform, LinkedIn.
- Tata Motors has appointed Martin Uhlarik as the new Global Design Head of the Indian car manufacturer.
- Biocon Ltd announced that its executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), a world leader in cancer treatment and research, based in New York, the US.
- IAS Officer T V Somanathan who is serving as Secretary, Department of Expenditure in the Finance Ministry has been designated as the Finance Secretary.
- The direction of women empowerment, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) appointed its first women officer to command a Road Construction Company (RCC).
- To monitor preventive measures taken against the spread of Covid-19, the State government has appointed Dr Darez Ahamed, Executive Director of Guidance Bureau.
- Biocon Biologics‘ New Monoclonal AntibodiesManufacturing Facility Wins ISPE’s 2021 Facility of the Year Honorable Mention Award.
- Environmental filmmaker Craig Foster and his team scarcely imagined that their documentary, My Octopus Teacher, would travel around the world, let alone win the highest honours at BAFTA and the Oscars.
- On April 27, 2021, the DRDO successfully fired the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) from Tejas aircraft, at Goa.
- OneWeb, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications operator, launched another batch of 36 satellites by Arianespace from the Vostochny cosmodrome in Russia. It is co-owned by Bharti Global and the UK government.
- Among 104 nations India has been placed at 49th position in the Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) 2021. Finland has topped the CGGI 2021 list.
- On April 27, 2021, Manoj Das, an eminent Indian author who wrote in Odia and English, passed away.
- Senior Indian Information Service officer Sanjay Kumar passed away.
