Current Affairs Quiz - May, 2021

Notes:
Yuan Longping, the Chinese agricultural scientist, regarded as the “father of hybrid rice”, has recently passed away at the age of 91. He was known for developing the first hybrid rice varieties in the 1970s.
In 2004, he was honoured with the World Food Prize for his achievement in developing the genetic materials and technologies essential for breeding high-yielding hybrid rice varieties.

Notes:
The Rosalind Franklin rover, which is being built by the European Space Agency (ESA) to be launched to Mars has demonstrated successful operations during its trails.
The rover is a part of ESA’s ExoMars mission which is scheduled to be launched in 2023. Earlier, the mission was planned to be launched in 2020, but has been delayed due to the ongoing COVID pandemic.

Notes:
The G7 is an intergovernmental group of 7 countries namely the U.S., Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan.
Recently at the G7 Environment ministers virtual meeting, the member countries have agreed and pledged to accelerate efforts for slowing global warming. This includes an end to government support for new coal-fired power plants by the members.

Notes:
The Banking Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2020 has been notified for the District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs) with State Cooperative Banks (StCBs). The Reserve Bank is required to sanction the amalgamation these banks.
Recently, the RBI said that it will consider amalgamation of StCBs and DCCBs, subject to many conditions, including that a proposal should be made by the state government concerned, NABARD’s recommendation, additional capital infusion strategy, assurance regarding financial support etc.

Notes:
The National Green Tribunal has set up a committee to submit a report on alleged violation of norms in the construction of a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu, in Karnataka.
Karnataka earlier proposed to construct the dam in the area and the proposal was deferred by the Cauvery Water Management Authority twice. Tamil Nadu Government had expressed its strong opposition citing the pendency of case before the Supreme Court.

Notes:
The American space agency NASA has proposed an Earth System Observatory, which would provide key information regarding climate change, disaster mitigation, fighting forest fires, and improving real-time agricultural processes.
The design involves a constellation of satellites, which would develop a holistic 3D model of the earth from bedrock to atmosphere.

Notes:
As a part of its efforts to curb frauds, Market regulator SEBI is set to appoint auditors for conducting forensic audits of financial statements of listed companies.
SEBI has invited applications from eligible Chartered Accountant firms with at least 10 years of experience in the field of audit or forensic audit, among other criteria. In October 2020, SEBI asked listed companies to make disclosures about their initiation of forensic audit to stock exchanges.

Notes:
The United Nations has warned that urgent measures are needed to avoid famine in Tigray, an embattled region of Ethiopia.
The conflict in Tigray has reached over seven months and is estimated to have killed thousands of people and left around five million in need of aid. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a military operation in Tigray in 2020.

Notes:
India holds the BRICS 2021 Chairship. It is the third time that India will be hosting the BRICS Summit after 2012 and 2016.
Recently, the second BRICS Sherpas’ and Sous Sherpas’ meeting was convened by India to prepare for the upcoming meeting of the BRICS Foreign Ministers. The theme of the Chairship is “BRICS @ 15: Intra-BRICS Cooperation with Continuity, Consolidation and Consensus”.

Notes:
Amnesty International, is a non-governmental organisation focused on human rights, which was founded in London in the year 1961.
Amnesty International Day is celebrated on May 28 every year, to honour its founding day. The organisation was awarded the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize for its campaign against torture and the United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights in 1978.