Current Affairs - 11 April 2021
1.Indian Army Officer “Bharat Pannu" breaks two Guinness World Records for Fastest Solo Cycling
- Indian Army's Lieutenant Colonel Bharat Pannu has earned two Guinness World Records for his fastest solo cycling feats from October last year.
- The first record was created when Pannu cycled from Leh to Manali (472 km distance) on October 10, 2020, in just 35 hours and 25 minutes.
- Pannu created a second record when he cycled the 5,942-km-long 'Golden Quadrilateral' route, which connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, in 14 days, 23 hours and 52 minutes.
- This cycling event had started from India Gate in New Delhi on October 16, and it ended back at the same spot on October 30.
Foot Notes
About Indian Army:
Chief of Defence Staff: Gen. Bipin Rawat
Founded: 1 April, 1895, India
Headquarters: New Delhi
2. World Parkinson’s Day 2021: April 11
- April 11 is World Parkinson's Day, and April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. World Parkinson's Day is observed on the birthday of James Parkinson! He was a neurologist, geologist, scientist, and activist. He was born April 11, 1755, and died December 21, 1824.
- When you see a pink ribbon, you likely think of a breast cancer survivor or breast cancer awareness. Likewise, for Alzheimer's disease awareness, a purple ribbon is the chosen color. Interestingly, for Parkinson's disease awareness, it is a red tulip. This red tulip was developed by J.W.S. Van der Wereld, a Dutch horticulturist who had Parkinson’s disease. He dedicated and named this tulip for James Parkinson.
3.Singapore becomes first Country to ratify mega free trade agreement ‘RCEP’
- On April 9, 2021, Singapore ratified the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, the world’s largest free trade agreement, led by China.
- In doing so, Singapore became the first among 15 participating countries to ratify RCEP.
- RCEP is a multi-nation trade pact, comprising 10 ASEAN economies as well as Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
- The RCEP was signed by the 15 participating countries in November 2020. India had opted out of it in 2019.
- The RCEP must first be ratified by at least six ASEAN and three non-ASEAN member states to come into effect.
- Once implemented, RCEP would be the world’s largest free trade agreement, covering around one-third of the world’s population and about 30% of the world’s economy.
Foot Notes
About Singapore:
Prime Minister: Lee Hsien Loong
Currency: Singapore dollar
4.Government launched Mass Vaccination Programme “Teeka Utsav” to control surging COVID-19 cases
- In a bid to fight against the surging COVID-19 cases, the Government of India has launched a mass vaccination programme “Teeka Utsav (vaccine festival)” from April 11 to 14, 2021.
- It must be noted that April 11 marks the birth anniversary of Jyotiba Phule and April 14 is the birth anniversary of Baba Saheb Ambedkar.
- As a result, the nationwide vaccination drive will be observed as a vaccination festival and will aim to inoculate a maximum number of eligible people against the coronavirus.
- All eligible persons for vaccination can register and book an appointment with the help of CoWIN portal and Aarogya Setu App. Apart from this, an on-site registration facility is also available.
- PM Narendra Modi has urged the youth to come forward and help senior citizens and others who need help to register for COVID vaccination.
5.India-Netherlands Virtual Summit held on April 09, 2021
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mr. Mark Rutte, held a Virtual Summit on April 09, 2021.
- During the India- Netherlands virtual Summit, the two leaders reviewed the existing bilateral engagements and also exchanged views on further expanding and diversifying the relationship in trade and economy, water management, agriculture sector, smart cities, science & technology, healthcare and space.
- Apart from this the two Prime Ministers also agreed on instituting a ‘Strategic Partnership on Water’ to further deepen the Indo-Dutch cooperation in the water-related sector and upgrading the Joint Working Group on the water to Ministerial-level.
- They also exchanged views on regional and global challenges such as climate change, counter-terrorism and Covid-19 pandemic and agreed to leverage the emerging convergences in new areas like Indo-Pacific, Resilient Supply Chains and Global Digital Governance.
Foot Notes
About Netherlands:
Capital: Amsterdam
Currency: Euro
Prime Minister: Mark Rutte
6.Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated Khelo India State Centre of Excellence for Rowing discipline at Water Sports Academy in Srinagar
- Union Minister for Sports & Youth Affairs Shri Kiren Rijiju inaugurated Khelo India State Centre of Excellence for Rowing discipline at the Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council Water Sports Academy in Srinagar on 10th April 2021. He was joined by Shri Manoj Sinha, Lt. Governor, J&K, Shri Farooq Khan, Advisor to LG of J&K and Shri Alok Kumar, Secretary, Youth Services, J&K for the ceremony at the Nehru Park in Dal Lake, Srinagar.
- Rijiju had announced earlier this year during the Khelo India Winter Games that the Union Sports Ministry would open a state-of-the-art water sports facility in Srinagar. All procedures are now in place and the money has been allocated.
7. ADB approves USD 484 million loan to improve Transport Connectivity at CKIC in Tamil Nadu
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 484 million loan to improve transport connectivity and road maintenance in the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor (CKIC) in Tamil Nadu.
- The CKIC is part of India's East Coast Economic Corridor, which stretches from West Bengal to Tamil Nadu and connects India to the production networks of Southeast and East Asia.
- The project will upgrade about 590 km of state highways in the CKIC influence areas. Climate change adaptation measures will be incorporated in the highway upgrades, including improved drainage, raised road embankments in critical sections, and resizing of bridges and culverts.
Foot Notes
About ADB:
Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
Founded: 19 December, 1966
President: Masatsugu Asakawa
8.Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launched 'Mask Abhiyan' against COVID-19
- Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 8th April launched 14-day 'Mask Abhiyan' as part of efforts to prevent the spread of coronavirus in view of rising cases and urged people to strictly follow the safety guidelines.
- Its aim is to turn the use of a mask into a habit.
- This will play a huge role in controlling the current resurgence of COVID-19.
- Also, the Odisha State Government has increased the fines for violators from Rs.1000 to Rs.2000.
Foot Notes
About Odisha:
Capital: Bhubaneswar
Governor: Ganeshi Lal
Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik
9. Akhtari: The Life and Music of Begum Akhtar to be released soon
- A new book “Akhtari: The Life and Music of Begum Akhtar” to be released soon.
- Originally written in Hindi the book is now available in English.
- The book edited by Yatindra Mishra and published by HarperCollins India.
- Akhtaribai Faizabadi, or Begum Akhtar as she was better known, was a legend even during her own lifetime, and one of the last of the great singers from the tawaif community.
- This book is a tribute to Begum Akhtar, featuring essays on her life and music.
10.SEBI imposed penalty of Rs. 25 crore on Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani and others
- The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs. 25 crore on the Ambani family and firms linked to the promoter group for violation of takeover code regulations in the year 2000.
- In January 2000, the promoter stake in Reliance Industries (RIL) had increased by 6.83 percent following conversion of warrants issued in 1994.
- However, the promoter group failed to make an open offer as mandate under the Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers (SAST) Regulations 1997.
- Under the regulations, a promoter group acquiring more than 5 percent of the voting rights, in any financial year ending March 31, needs to make an open offer to minority investors.
Foot Notes
About SEBI:
Founded: 12 April, 1992
Headquarters: Mumbai
Chairman: Ajay Tyagi
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