Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2017

Notes:
Uruguay will become the first country in the world to fully allow the production, sale and consumption of marijuana when its pharmacies will be allowed to sell marijuana in July 2017. It adopted a revolutionary law that fully legalized production, sale and consumption of marijuana. Under the law, buyers must sign up for a national registry of marijuana users to ensure they have fulfilled licensing procedures and do not exceed the monthly maximum purchase of 40 grams (1.4 ounces). Under the law, users also have the option to grow their own pot at home, or join cannabis clubs that grow it in cooperatives.

Notes:
The Madhya Pradesh government has recently launched the Deendayal Rasoi Yojana (DRY), under which subsidized meals will be available at Rs 5 per plate to people, especially the economically disadvantaged sections of society. Under the yojana, anyone can have a wholesome meal at Rs 5 which includes four chapatis, one vegetable curry and Dal every day between 11 am to 3 pm. The arrangement would cater to at least 2000 persons every day. The wheat and rice would be made available at these canteens at Rs one each through fair price shops. Local municipal bodies will make the water and electricity available free-of-cost. The funds for setting up these centres would be made available under Chief Minister’s Urban Infrastructure Scheme.

Notes:
India’s first-ever micro-drama festival “Thespis” has started at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts in New Delhi on April 9, 2017. The micro drama festival has presented the series of 25 micro drama tales composed with the duration of 10 minutes and is named after Thespis of Icaria, who lived in 6th century BC and was the first actor to perform solo. The plays are conceptualised in 10 different languages, including Kashmiri, Rajasthani, Urdu, Punjabi, Oriya, Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi and English. It is organized by Delhi based registered theatre group ‘Vriksh’.

Notes:
The 12th edition of Indo – Mongolian Joint Military Exercise “Nomadic Elephant” has started at Vairengte in Mizoram from April 5, 2017 and will continue till April 18, 2017. Mongolian Army is represented by nine officers and 36 soldiers of the elite 084 Special Forces Task Battalion while Indian Army is represented by a contingent comprising of three officers, four JCOs and 39 soldiers of the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles. The purpose of the military exercise is to train the troops in Counter Insurgency & Counter Terrorism Operations under the United Nations mandate. The joint training will also lay emphasis on conducting operations by a joint subunit, comprising of troops from both the armies, in adverse operational conditions aimed at enhancing the interoperability between the two armies.

Notes:
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Intel as its official Innovation Partner for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2017. The ICC has collaborated with Intel to transform the cricket experience for fans and help coaches and players improve performance. The 2017 season will be the 8th edition of the Champions Trophy, which will begin on June 1 and end on June 18. 8 teams will participate and a total of 15 matches will be played. The opening game will be played between England and Bangladesh, while the India Pakistan rivalry will be played on June 4 at Birmingham.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, M Venkaiah Naidu has recently released a book titled “Gandhi in Champaran” authored by noted author Dinanath Gopal Tendulkar at National Mahatma Gandhi Museum in New Delhi. Naidu also released a book containing a collection of letters and articles of the correspondence between Nobel laureate Romain Rolland and Mahatma Gandhi as well as DG Tendulkar’s 8 volume biography of Mahatama Gandhi.

Notes:
The first-ever G20 Digital Ministerial Meeting on Digital Economy was held in Dusseldorf, Germany on April 6-7, 2017 with theme “Digitisation: Policies for a Digital Future”. The conference established a general agreement on how to maximize the benefits of digitalisation and highlighted the importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as the backbone of today’s digital economy.

Notes:
The Indian School team has won the 5th edition of Asian School Hockey Championship after defeating Malaysia by 5-1 at the Aishbagh Stadium in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. For India, Alishan Mohammad scored two goals and Pratap Lakra successfully converted a penalty corner and a penalty stroke in the goal. Maninder Singh scored the fifth goal. Malaysia managed to score its single goal through Akhimullah Anuar Esook.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently released a book ‘Matoshree’, authored by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in New Delhi on April 11, 2017. The book ‘Matoshree’ covers the life and times of legendary Devi Ahilyabai Holker who ruled the Holkar Empire spread over the Malwa region from 1767 to 1795. Ahilyabai Holkar was a very able ruler and organizer, highly respected during her lifetime and considered as a saint by people after her death. She is remembered and worshipped by people for her exemplary governance, sense of justice and fairness.

Notes:
The National Safe Motherhood Day (NSMD) is observed every year on April 11 to create awareness on maternity care for pregnant and lactating women. The NSMD is an initiative of White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, India (WRAI). The focus of year 2017 is to ensure that women must have the availability and adequate access to care during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal services.