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April 24 | Daily Current Affairs 2021

IMPORTANT DAYS

1. National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on which date?
A) April 24
B) April 25
C) April 26
D) April 27
E) April 28
Answer: A) April 24

• National Panchayati Raj Day 2021: April 24 has been recognised as National Panchayati Raj Day.
• The annual celebration is done to commemorate the day on which the 73rd Constitutional Amendment was passed in 1992.
• The act came into effect on April 24, 1993. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had declared the first National Panchayati Raj Day on 24 April in the year 2010.
• National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated to mark the inception of decentralised power.
• A committee was formed in 1957 to focus on the evolution of Panchayati Raj in the country.
• The chairman of the committee was Balwantrai Mehta.
• The committee in its report recommended a decentralised three-layered Panchayati Raj system – Gram Panchayat at the Village level, Panchayat Samiti at the Block level and Zila Parishad at the District level.
• The mission of the Panchayati Raj system is to empower, enable and establish accountable Panchayati Raj institutions to ensure inclusive development and efficient delivery of services along with social justice.
• Ministry of Panchayati Raj commemorates the 24th April as the National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) every year.
• This occasion provides an opportunity for direct dialogue with Panchayat representatives from all over the country as well as recognizing their achievements to empower and motivate them further.
• The Constitution of India recognizes Panchayats as ‘Institutions of self-government’.
• There are more than 2.6 lakh Panchayats at all three tiers in India.
• These Panchayats work towards the socio-economic developments of grass-root administrative units at the Village, Block and District level.
• National Panchayati Raj Day 2021 is also a unique occasion to recognise the Panchayats for their exemplary work towards building an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.

International Day for Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace:

• The United Nations began in 1945, following the Second World War (WWII) with the central mission to maintain international peace and security.
• First observed in 2019, International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is to reaffirm the three pillars of the United Nations – peace and security, development and human rights.
• This Day is also to rise to the challenges of protectionism and isolationism by resolving disputes through peaceful means.
• Climate change, geopolitical tensions, humanitarian and migratory crises and significant technology and communication advances necessitate collective attention and action.
• This Day acknowledges the use of multilateral decision-making and diplomacy in achieving peaceful resolutions to conflicts among nations.

World Day for Laboratory Animals:

• World Day For Animals In Laboratories (WDAIL; also known as World Lab Animal Day) 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 (NAVS) describe the day as an “international day of commemoration” for animals in laboratories.

History:

• In 1979, NAVS established World Day for Laboratory Animals (also referred to as Lab Animal Day) on April 24 – Lord Hugh Dowding’s birthday.
• This international day of commemoration is recognised by the United Nations, and is now marked annually by anti-vivisectionists on every continent.
• In 1980, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals(PETA), led by PETA Founder, Ingrid Newkirk, organized the first World Day for Laboratory Animals protest in the U.S
  World Day and World Week For Animals In Laboratories have also attracted attention from scientific groups defending the use of animals in research.
• On 22 April 2009 members of UCLA Pro-Test held a rally in support of biomedical research on animals,]and to condemn the violence and harassment directed at faculty member Prof. David Jentsch by animal activists.

OBITUARY

2. Ashwin Yadav passed away. He was related to which field?
A) Singer
B) Writer
C) Columnist
D) Politician
E) Sports
Answer: E) Sports

• Former Hyderabad fast bowler Ashwin Yadav died after suffering a cardiac arrest
  Yadav had played 14 first-class matches and captured 34 wickets.
• He made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2007 against Punjab in Mohali and had the best figures of 6 for 52 against Delhi at Uppal Stadium in the 2008-09 season.
• Yadav who played his last Ranji match against Mumbai in 2009 continued to play for State Bank of Hyderabad and now SBI in the local leagues.

Mohun Bagan 1969 Shield final hero Pronab Ganguly no more:

• Former India and Mohun Bagan winger Pronab Ganguly, who is best remembered for his double strike against East Bengal in the club’s 1969 IFA Shield win, died after suffering a cardiac arrest.
• Ganguly, 75, was having breathing problems for the past few days and suffered a cardiac arrest at his Park Circus residence, according to sources in his former club.
  Ganguly was a member of the Indian team in the Merdeka Cup in 1969.
• After he switched over to Mohun Bagan from Howrah Union in 1967, Ganguly wowed the Kolkata Maidan with his deft dribbling skills and amazing ball control With him in the team, Mohun Bagan won every major trophy — Calcutta League, IFA Shield, Durand Cup, Rovers Cup.
• His career highlights also include a brilliant hat-trick in the Rovers Cup.
• He was also successful for Bengal in Santosh Trophy, participating from 1967 to 1969 and 1971, winning the title in 1969 and 1971.
• In 1969, Ganguly was brilliant in the Santosh semi-final against a strong Andhra Pradesh team, scoring four times over two legs.
• After retirement he was involved as a coach with Calcutta Cricket and Football Club and also several academies.
• He was bestowed with Mohun Bagan’s Lifetime Achievement award in 2020.

Ashwin Yadav – Former Hyderabad pacer.

3. Arun Nigavekar passed away. He was served as chairman of which organisation?
A) CCI
B) NMDC
C) NTPC
D) NHAI
E) UGC
Answer: E) UGC

• Arun Nigavekar, former chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and former vice-chancellor of the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), passed away in Pune.
• He was 79-year-old and passed away due to a prolonged illness.
• Nigavekar was an eminent physicist. From 1998 to 2000 he worked as vice-chancellor at SPPU, then Pune University.
• After that he went to become vice-chairman, and then chairman, of UGC between 2000 and 2005.

MP Cong MLA Kalawati Bhuria dies during COVID-19 treatment:

• Kalawati Bhuria, a Congress MLA in Madhya Pradesh, died at a private hospital while undergoing treatment for coronavirus.
• Kalawati, who represented Jobat assembly constituency in Alirajpur district
  She had become a legislator after winning the Jobat seat in 2018.

‘Mukti Bhawan’ and ‘Titli’ actor Lalit Behl passes away due to Covid-19 at 71:

• Veteran actor-film-maker Lalit Behl, known for featuring in acclaimed films like ‘Titli’ and ‘Mukti Bhawan’, passed away due to COVID-19 related complications.
• The 71-year-old actor was diagnosed with COVID-19 last week and was getting treated at the Apollo hospital, where he breathed his last.
• A known stage actor, Lalit began his career directing and producing Doordarshan telefilms like ‘Tapish’, ‘Aatish’, ‘Sunehri Jild’ and worked on the TV show ‘Afsane’ as an actor.
• Some of his recent works include the 2014 drama ‘Titli’, directed by his son, ‘Mukti Bhawan’, Amazon Prime Video series ‘Made in Heaven’ and ‘Judgementall Hai Kya’ in 2019.

Arun Nigavekar – Former UGC chairman.

BANKING AND FINANCE

4. RBI extends temporary advances limit of how much amount for states, UTs till Sep 2021?
A) Rs 55,560 cr
B) Rs 54,560 cr
C) Rs 53,560 cr
D) Rs 51,560 cr
E) Rs 52,560 cr
Answer: D) Rs 51,560 cr

• The RBI said the existing interim Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit of Rs 51,560 crore for all states and Union Territories will continue up to September 30, 2021, as the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic is still prevalent.
• WMAs are temporary advances given by the RBI to the government to tide over any mismatch in receipts and payments.

Reserve Bank of India:
Act: Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Governor– Shaktikanta Das
Deputy Governors– 4 (one post vacant, Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra, M. Rajeshwar Rao)

RBI – Extend temporary advances limit of Rs 51,560 cr for states, UTs till Sep.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

5. According to which report, In urban India, 50 million people in 15 cities have no access to safe, affordable drinking water?
A) UNESCO
B) CCI India
C) UNEP India
D) UNICEF India
E) UNDP India
Answer: D) UNICEF India

• Healthy drinking water is very important for good health. Safe water supply ensures the health of a country, yet it is woefully under-prioritised, globally.
• And in India, it’s at the lowest echelon.
• In urban India, 50 million people in 15 cities have no access to safe, affordable drinking water, reveals a UNICEF India report.
• Healthy drinking water is arguably one of the essential commodities, which plays a pivotal role in ensuring good health as it helps channelize the metabolic processes of the body.
• More so, in the current Covid scenario, water helps in staying healthy because proper hydration works as an important factor, helping your body fight the Covid virus.
• In India, access to treated piped water continues to be inadequate for the majority of the population.
• Water from major sources like tube wells and hand pumps is also found to be unsafe as they are known to be carriers of waterborne diseases.
• While people blame unhygienic food for most of the ailments, waterborne diseases such as cholera, acute diarrhoeal diseases, typhoid, and viral hepatitis have caused 10,738 deaths, over the last five years since 2017.
• Of this, acute diarrhoeal diseases have caused maximum deaths followed by viral hepatitis, typhoid, and cholera.

UNICEF report – In urban India, 50 million people in 15 cities have no access to safe, affordable drinking water.

BOOKS AND AUTHORS

6. “Win” is authored by whom?
A) John Coben
B) Horn Coben
C) Harlan Coben
D) Joe Coben
E) Shree Coben
Answer: C) Harlan Coben

• Win is authored by Harlan Coben published by Penguin Random House.

Win – Authored by Harlan Coben – Published by Penguin Random House.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

7. SICCI and Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) of which IIT have come together to provide a gateway of opportunities to tech-based startups to usher a circular economy and an entrepreneurial ecosystem?
A) IIT Kozhikode
B) IIT Mandi
C) IIT Kharagpur
D) IIT Madras
E) IIT Kanpur
Answer: E) IIT Kanpur

• The Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) and Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) of IIT-Kanpur have come together to provide a gateway of opportunities to tech-based startups to usher a circular economy and an entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• The SICCI-SIIC conducted the first in a series of cross-border collaborations under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on March 10, 2021.
• The purpose of the launchpad is to encourage startups to take advantage of the Singapore-India trade and technology corridor.
• The two institutions are collaborating to identify young, indigenous talent to provide them with an array of incubation services.

SICCI + SIIC of IIT-Kanpur – Provide a gateway of opportunities to tech-based startups to usher a circular economy and an entrepreneurial ecosystem.

8. Which IIT Signs MoU with Ministry of housing & Urban Affairs to set up an Accelerator Centre?
A) IIT Kozhikode
B) IIT Mandi
C) IIT Kharagpur
D) IIT Madras
E) IIT Kanpur
Answer: C) IIT Kharagpur

• IIT Kharagpur and the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) have signed a MoU to set up an Accelerator Centre for Research & Development at the Institute.
• This MoU will provide the opportunity of innovation & incubation assistance to carry out activities like technology and product development.
• The Affordable Sustainable Housing Accelerators-India (ASHA-India) initiative under the Global Housing Technology Challenge-India (GHTC-India) is one of its kind innovations.
• Through the ASHA-India initiative, the Centre is going to receive support towards developing design guidelines, construction manuals and other necessary documents relevant for an effective transfer, use and implementation of new technology from the lab to land. On similar lines, IIT Kharagpur through its centres of excellence in education and research will be contributing to various facets of public welfare research & outreach.

Housing and Urban Affairs, Civil Aviation:
Minister: Hardeep Singh Puri
Constituency: Rajaya sabha MP, Uttar Pradesh

IIT Kharagpur + Ministry of housing & Urban Affairs – Set up an Accelerator Centre.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

9. Which country first Mars rover will be named Zhurong after a traditional fire god?
A) Myanmar
B) Iraq
C) Iran
D) UAE
E) China
Answer: E) China

• China’s first Mars rover will be named Zhurong after a traditional fire god, the government announced.
• The rover is aboard the Tianwen-1 probe that arrived in Mars orbit on February 24 and is due to land in May to look for evidence of life.
• It is part of Chinese space plans that include launching a crewed orbital station and landing a human on the moon.
• China in 2019 became the first country to land a space probe on the little-explored far side of the moon and in December returned lunar rocks to Earth for the first time since the 1970s.
• The rover’s title fits with the Chinese name for Mars — “Huo Xing,” or fire star
• The name “signifies igniting the flame of China’s planetary exploration,” a deputy CNSA administrator, Wu Yanhua.
• China would become the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to put a robot rover on Mars.

China:
Capital: Beijing
Currency: Renminbi

China – Name Mars rover after traditional fire god Zhurong.

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

10. The government extended the deadline for making payment under the direct tax dispute resolution scheme Vivad Se Vishwas by _____ months?
A) 6
B) 5
C) 4
D) 3
E) 2
Answer: E) 2

• The government extended the deadline for making payment under the direct tax dispute resolution scheme Vivad Se Vishwas by two months till June 30 to ease hardships faced by taxpayers amid the pandemic.
• Also, it has extended the due date for issuance of notice for reopening of assessment by tax officers where income has escaped assessment and sending intimation of processing of Equalisation Levy till June 30.
• The Vivad Se Vishwas scheme provides for settlement of disputed tax, interest, penalty or fees in relation to an assessment or reassessment order on payment of 100 per cent of the disputed tax and 25 per cent of the disputed penalty or interest or fee.
• The taxpayer is granted immunity from levy of interest, penalty and institution of any proceeding for prosecution for any offence under the Income-tax Act in respect of matters covered in the declaration.
• The scheme had netted about Rs 54,000 crore to the exchequer till early April and more is expected to come in based on the declarations already filed.
• The last date for making the payment has now been extended till June 30.

Vivad Se Vishwas scheme – Govt extends time till June 30 for making payments.

11. Who inaugurates PSA oxygen plant at Covid-19 hospital in Gujarat?
A) Amit Shah
B) Nirmala Sitharaman
C) Ramnath Kovind
D) Narendra Modi
E) Narendra Singh Tomar
Answer: A) Amit Shah

• Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated a 280-litre per minute capacity PSA oxygen plant at a COVID-19-designated hospital at Kolavada in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.
• Shah also provided an assistance of Rs 10 crore to provide necessary healthcare facilities for people of his Gandhinagar constituency.

Home Affairs:
Minister: Amit Shah
Constituency: Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Gujarat:
Capital: Gandhinagar
CM: Vijay Rupani
Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat

Amit Shah – PSA oxygen plant at Covid-19 hospital in Gujarat

12. Which state sets up 24×7 call centre to resolve hospitals’ oxygen supply issues?
A) Madhya Pradesh
B) Maharashtra
C) Andhra Pradesh
D) Uttar Pradesh
E) Tamil Nadu
Answer: E) Tamil Nadu

• A 24 x 7 call centre has been set up to resolve ‘any issues’ faced by hospitals related to supply of medical oxygen and health facilities may call 104 for assistance.

Yogi launches 24×7 digital oxygen supply monitoring system:

• Chief minister Yogi Adityanath launched a digital platform for 24×7 live monitoring of the oxygen supply system across Uttar Pradesh to deal with the current shortage of the medical gas in government and private hospitals.

Jal Jeevan Mission: Rajasthan plans to provide 30 lakh Tap water connections by March 2022:

• Rajasthan has planned to provide 30 lakh Tap water connections by March next year under Jal Jeevan Mission.
• The state has more than one crore rural households, out of which over 19 per cent are getting tap water supply.
• In 2020-21, about six lakh 77 thousand new tap connections were provided in the rural areas.
• Jal Jeevan Mission is a flagship programme of the central government, which aims to provide piped tap water in every rural household by 2024.

Tamil Nadu:
Capital: Chennai
CM: Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Governor: Banwarilal Purohit

TN govt – Set up 24×7 call centre to resolve hospitals’ oxygen supply issues.

13. Who launched the distribution of e-property cards under the ‘SWAMITVA scheme’?
A) Amit Shah
B) Nirmala Sitharaman
C) Ramnath Kovind
D) Narendra Modi
E) Narendra Singh Tomar
Answer: D) Narendra Modi

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the distribution of e-property cards under the ‘SWAMITVA scheme.
• As many as 4.09 lakh property owners will be given their e-property cards on National Panchayati Raj Day (April 24), which will also mark the rolling out of the SVAMITVA scheme for implementation across the country.
• The prime minister will also confer the National Panchayat Awards 2021 on the occasion.
• The National Panchayat Awards 2021 are being conferred under the following categories — Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar to 224 panchayats, Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar to 30 gram panchayats, Gram Panchayat Development Plan Award to 29 gram panchayats, Child-friendly Gram Panchayat Award to 30 Gram Panchayats and e-Panchayat Puraskar to 12 states.
• The prime minister will transfer the award money (as grants-in-aid) through the click of a button, ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
• The SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) scheme was launched by the prime minister on April 24, 2020 as a central sector scheme to promote a socio-economically empowered and self-reliant rural India.
• The pilot phase of the scheme was implemented during 2020-2021 in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and select villages of Punjab and Rajasthan.

Prime Minister, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space and All-important policy issues and All other portfolios not allocated to any Minister:
Minister: Narendra Modi
Constituency: Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

PM Modi – Launch distribution of e-property cards under SWAMITVA scheme.

14. Which organisation has set up a Control room to monitor the issues of internal trade, manufacturing, delivery and logistics of essential commodities during Covid pandemic?
A) CCI
B) NMDC
C) NTPC
D) NHAI
E) DPIIT
Answer: E) DPIIT

• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, DPIIT has set up a Control room to monitor the issues of internal trade, manufacturing, delivery and logistics of essential commodities during Covid pandemic.
• In the event of any manufacturing, transportation, distribution, wholesale or e-commerce companies facing difficulties in transportation and distribution of goods, information can be given at the telephone numbers- 011 – 23062383 and 23062975.
• It can also be shared at email- dpiit-controlroom@gov.in.

CII IGBC launches ‘Mission on Net Zero’:

• Coinciding with Earth Day, the CII Indian Green Building Council has launched ‘IGBC Mission on Net Zero’ to facilitate ‘India achieve net zero carbon emission status by 2050’.
• More than 250 leading organisations in building sector have committed to achieve Net Zero status for their new and existing buildings.

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade:
Founded: 1995
Parent organization: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

DPIIT – Set up Control room to monitor issues of internal trade, manufacturing, delivery and logistics of essential commodities.

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