Top Current Affairs 21 April 2021
Top Current Affairs 21 April 2021: This post contains the latest current affairs for 21 April 2021 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.
National
DRDO develops Supplemental Oxygen Delivery System for Indian Army & Mild Covid-Patients
- The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a unique system, called “SpO2 – Based Oxygen Saturation supplemental Oxygen Delivery System”.
- The automatic system has been launched for the Indian Army soldiers fighting in the Extreme High Altitudes Areas as well as moderate COVID-19 patients.
- The SpO2 has been developed by the Defence Bio-Engineering and Electro Medical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru of DRDO.
- The system will deliver supplemental oxygen based on the SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation) levels and prevents the person from sinking into a state of Hypoxia.
- Hypoxia is a condition in which the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues is inadequate to fulfil all the energy requirements of the body.
Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurates first-ever online exhibition on Ramayana
- The Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture ( I/C), Shri Prahlad Singh Patel virtually inaugurated the first-ever Online Exhibition on Ramayana, the Epic by Maharishi Valmiki, on the occasion of World Heritage Day 2021 on April 18, 2021.
- The online exhibition has been titled as “Rama Katha: The Story of Rama Through Indian Miniatures”.
- It showcases 49 miniature paintings collections from different art schools of India, from the 17th through the 19th century.
- The collection of the painting have been taken from National Museum, New Delhi.
- The online exhibition can be accessed through the following link: https://nmvirtual.in/Virtual_Tour/Ramayan/
International
New Zealand introduces world’s first climate change law for financial firms
- New Zealand
- Under the law, the financial firms of the country will have to disclose how they would manage climate-related risks and opportunities.
- Once the law is passed, disclosures will be required for financial years beginning 2022, which means that the first reports will be made by companies in 2023, and those unable to disclose would have to explain their reasons.
- The financial firms liable for disclosure under the law will include all banks with total assets of more than 1 billion New Zealand dollars ($703m), insurers with more than 1 billion New Zealand dollars ($703m) in total assets under management, and all equity and debt issuers listed on the country’s stock exchange.
- This initiative is in line with the effort to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Agreement
India and Germany sign agreement on ‘Cities combating plastic entering the marine environment’
- The Government of India and Germany have signed an agreement for Technical Cooperation in enhancing practices to prevent plastic entering the marine environment on April 19, 2021, at a virtual ceremony in New Delhi.
- The project titled ‘Cities Combating Plastic Entering the Marine Environment’ will be implemented for a period of three and a half years.
- The outcome of the project is completely in line with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban focusing on sustainable solid waste management and Prime Minister Modi’s vision to phase out single use plastic by 2022.
- The agreement was signed between the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH India on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
- It will be undertaken at the national level (at MoHUA), select states (Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and in the cities of Kanpur, Kochi and Port Blair.
Ranking
India Ranks 142 in World Press Freedom Index 2021; Norway Tops
- India has been placed at 142nd position among 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index 2021, released on April 20, 2021. India was at 142nd position in 2020 as well.
- The index is published every year by the international journalism not-for profit body, “Reporters Without Borders (RSF)”, to evaluate the press freedom situation in 180 countries and territories.
- Norway has retained its top spot for the fifth year running, followed by Finland and Denmark at second and third place respectively.
- Eritrea is at the bottom of the index at 180th place.
Appointment
Miguel Diaz-Canel Succeeds Raul Castro to lead top position in Cuba
- Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel has been officially sworn in as the ‘First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’ on April 19, 2021, following the resignation of Raul Castro.
- The Secretary of the Communist Party is the most powerful position in one party ruling Cuba.
- DÃaz-Canel is the first non-Castro to hold this position since the Cuban revolution of 1959.
- The 60-year-old Cuban politician is also serving as the President of Cuba since 2019.
- DÃaz-Canel now hold Cuba’s two most important positions, head of the party and president of the state.
Books & Author
Children’s Book Titled “The Christmas Pig” by J.K. Rowling to be out in October 2021
- Harry Potter author JK Rowling is all set to release a new children’s book titled “The Christmas Pig” on October 12, 2021.
- The latest book of the 55-year-old Scottish author will be released simultaneously in 20 different countries and multiple languages.
- The new book will tell the story of a young boy named Jack, and his love for his beloved stuffed toy (Dur Pig) which goes missing and how Jack goes to extreme lengths to find his stuffed toy pig.
- The book is aimed at children of eight years and above.
Sports
Stefanos Tsitsipas Wins 2021 Monte Carlo Masters to capture maiden Masters 1000 title
- In Tennis, Stefanos Tsitsipas (Greece) beat Andrey Rublev (Russia) in a straight-sets 6-3 6-3 to claim the 2021 Rolex Monte Carlo Masters singles title.
- With this win, Tsitsipas has claimed the first ATP Masters 1000 trophy of his career.
- Winner of Men’s Double Event: Nikola Mektić /Mate Pavic (Croatia) Beat Dan Evans / Neal Skupski, (United Kingdom) 6–3, 4–6, [10–7]
- Monte Carlo Masters is a tennis tournament for male professional players and part of Masters 1000 event on the ATP Tour.
Obituary
Former RBI Governor Maidavolu Narasimham passes away at 94
- The former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Maidavolu Narasimham, has passed away. He was 94.
- He was famously known as the “Father of Indian Banking Reforms”.
- Narasimham was the 13th Governor of RBI and served from May 2, 1977 to November 30, 1977.
Former US Vice President Walter Mondale Passes Away at 93
- Former American politician, diplomat, and lawyer Walter Mondale, who served as the 42nd Vice President of the United States, has passed away. He was 93.
- Mondale served as Vice President from 1977 to 1981 under President Jimmy Carter.
Days
World Creativity and Innovation Day: 21 April
- The World Creativity and Innovation Day (#WCID) is celebrated on April 21 every year to raise awareness about the importance of creativity and innovation in problem solving and encourage creative multidisciplinary thinking at the individual and group levels.
- The United Nations recognised the day in April 2017.
- The first UN World Creativity and Innovation Day was celebrated on April 21, 2018.
- The World Creativity and Innovation Week is observed from April 15-21.
National Civil Services Day: 21 April
- In India, the ‘Civil Services Day’ is celebrated on April 21 every year as a thanks giving day to all the Civil Servants for their service to the society and also for Civil Servants to ‘rededicate themselves to the cause of citizen and renew their commitments to public service’.
- The day April 21 has been chosen to commemorate the day when the first Home Minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in 1947 at Metcalf House, Delhi.
- In his address, he called Civil Servants, the ‘Steel Frame of India’.
