GK & Current Affairs Quiz: April 11, 2019

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-Madras) has been ranked as the top institute in the overall category in the latest edition of National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2019 and is followed by Indian Institute of Science (IISc), IIT Delhi, IIT-Bombay, IIT-Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, JNU, IIT-Roorkee, IIT-Guwahati and BHU. The NIRF is a Ministry of HRD initiative and released annually. On the other hand, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore secured the top spot in the management college ranking followed by IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta. The National Law School of Indian in Bengaluru grabbed the top spot under the law category while Indian Institute of Technology was ranked first in the Architecture category. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, followed by Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh and Christian Medical College, Vellore were ranked as the top three medical colleges.

Notes:
The United States has recently designated Iran’s elite military force, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 (INA). The move, which takes effect on April 15, is part of an effort to put maximum pressure on Iran to end its support for terrorist plots and militant activity that destabilizes the Middle East. Meanwhile, Iran has also designated U.S. military bases and their military forces as terrorist bases and terrorist forces in the region. The IRGC is in charge of Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs. It was formed after the 1979 Islamic revolution with a mission to defend the clerical regime.

Notes:
On 7th April 2019, Garbine Muguruza of Spain has successfully defended her Monterrey Open title when Victoria Azarenka retired injured from her first WTA singles final in three years. Muguruza was leading the match between the two former world number ones 6-1 3-1 when Azarenka decided she was unable to continue because of an injury to her right leg. The Monterrey Open is a professional women’s tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. The event is affiliated with the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and is part of the International tournaments on the WTA Tour.

Notes:
A bench headed by National Green Tribunal (NGT) Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel has constituted a committee to look into the alleged erosion of Yamuna floodplain due to movement of heavy vehicles in Haryana’s Sonipat district. The directions came when the green panel was hearing a plea which said that the policy of permitting heavy vehicles in the embankments of the river is “destructing the ecology”. The committee will comprise Principal Secretary of the Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Member Secretary of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board and Director of the Mines and Geology Department. The tribunal said the committee would submit a joint report within one month by e-mail so that matter can be taken up before the monsoon.

Notes:
London has become the world’s first city to implement a special Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) that would charge an entry fee for older vehicles if they do not meet the emission standards. The move aims to reduce toxic air pollution and protect public health. , The ULEZ will be operational for 24 hours and 7 days a week. It will help address London’s toxic air health crisis that currently leads to thousands of premature deaths annually, and increases the risk of asthma, cancer and dementia. As part of the efforts to combat air pollution, London’s famous red bus fleet is also being upgraded. By October 2020, all of 9,200 vehicles will meet or exceed ULEZ standards, as per the statement from Khan’s mayoral office.