Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2021

Notes:
The President of Russia Vladimir Putin has recently approved a legislation that allows him to hold office for an additional two “six-year term”. The President, who is in power for the last 2 decades, can remain in power till 2036 (up to his age of 80 years).
This change is a part of constitutional reforms brought by Putin last year.

Notes:
The Union Minister of state for Education – Sanjay Dhotre represented India in the consultation meeting of Education Ministers of E9 countries.
The theme of the meeting was E9 initiative: Scaling up digital learning to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4. E9 countries consist of Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

Notes:
India recently hosted the Meeting of BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors 2021. It was co-chaired by Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and RBI governor Shaktikanta Das.
Finance Minister addressed the meeting virtually from New Delhi. Issues regarding New development bank, social infrastructure, IMF reforms, fintech for SME and financial inclusion, customs cooperation were discussed during the meeting.

Notes:
Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), 92% target of completion has been achieved in the 1st phase of the scheme.
A target of 1 crore houses was set for completion in the 1st phase of the scheme- from 2016-17 to 2018-19. It aims constructing 2.95 crore PMAY-G houses with all basic amenities by the year 2021-22.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has recently approved the “National Programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules”, which is a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme.
The total outlay of this scheme is Rs.4500 crore. It will support manufacturing of Solar PV Modules and reduce import dependence. This scheme aims to add an additional 10-thousand-MegaWatt manufacturing capacity.

Notes:
The Ministry of External Affairs has launched the first online Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) Programme for migrant workers.
It has associated with Protector of Emigrants (POE) Mumbai and other POEs for the online session, to supplement physical training being held in PDOT Centres. The programme aims to train maximum number of prospective migrants before their departure.

Notes:
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of $484 million to improve transport connectivity and road maintenance in the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC).
CKIC extends from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and it connects India to the production networks of Southeast and East Asia. This project will upgrade about 590 km of State highways in the CKIC influence area.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India undertakes the consumer confidence survey and publishes an index in this regard.
As per the latest rounds of Consumer confidence and future expectations survey for March 2021, consumer confidence index fell to 53.1 in March 2021 from 55.5 in January 2021, indicating deteriorating sentiments on general economic situation, income and prices.

Notes:
Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal chaired a high-level meeting on implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
A suggestive implementation plan for school education named ‘Students’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement through Quality Education (SARTHAQ) was also released.

Notes:
India’s net direct tax collection (excluding refunds) for FY 2020-21 stood at Rs.9.45 trillion. This is for the first time in 4 years, the direct tax collection has fallen below Rs 10 trillion mark.
But this year’s actual tax collection is more than the revised estimates by around 4.5 per cent.