Daily Current Affairs and GK | 27 March 2021

Topic: International News

1. Rajanath Singh and Suh Wook inaugurated Indo-Korean Bilateral Friendship Park in Delhi Cantt.

• An Indo-Korean friendship park has been inaugurated by the Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook at Delhi cantonment.
• It has been built in remembrance of the contribution of Indian peacekeepers in the Korean war of 1950-53.
• South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook is on a three-day visit to India. The main objective of the visit is to enhance bilateral defence and military cooperation between both countries.
• South Korea is one of the major defense suppliers to India.
• South Korea:
  • It is a country in East Asia.
  • It shares its border with North Korea.
  • Its capital is Seoul.
  • Moon Jae-in is the President and Chung Sye-kyun is the current Prime Minister of South Korea.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Books and Authors

2. Samir Soni is writing his debut book titled “My Experiments with Silence”.

• Actor Samir Soni is currently writing his debut book “My Experiments with Silence”. It will be released later this year.
• It will be published by OM Books International.
• In this book, he has written some of his “darkest, most intense and introspective thoughts” on anxiety and self-discovery.
• He has narrated his personal experience in dealing with anxiety and depression.

Topic: Indian Economy

3. West Bengal’s Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) has ruled that selling eatables is eligible for benefits of ITC under GST regime.

• West Bengal’s Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) has ruled that selling eatables is eligible for benefits of Input Tax Credit (ITC) under GST regime.
• However, selling and serving the food is not eligible for ITC under GST. In other words, the shopkeeper cannot get the benefit of ITC if the shopkeeper sells eatables and provide a facility to consume them.
• Advance Ruling refers to a written opinion or authoritative decision by an Authority that will have tax consequences.
• Finance Act, 1993 introduced the scheme of advance rulings. Authority for Advance Ruling consists of a Chairman and two members. The chairman should be a retired Judge of Supreme Court.
• Under the advance ruling mechanism in GST regime, Authority for advance ruling can be constituted under the provisions of State Goods and Services Tax Act. 

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

4. MoUs signed for implementation of city specific action plans under National Clean Air Programme.

• MoUs were signed for implementation of city specific action plans under the National Clean Air Programme.
• These MoUs were signed by representatives of State Pollution Control Boards, Urban Local Bodies and Institutes of Repute for 132 identified cities.
• Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, was present at the signing of MoUs.
• He said that these initiatives are in line with PM Modi’s vision of curbing air pollution by 20% in the next 4 years in more than 100 cities.
• He urged the States to quickly procure e-buses for transport purposes under FAME Scheme.
• Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME India) Scheme was launched in the year 2015.
• FAME-II scheme, second phase of FAME-I became effective from April 1, 2019, for a period of three years with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore.
• National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) is a national level strategy with targets to achieve 30% to 20% reduction in Particulate Matter concentrations by 2024 (with 2017 as base year).

Topic: Important Days

5. World Theatre Day: 27 March.

• World Theatre Day is celebrated every year on 27 March.
• International Theatre Institute (ITI) initiated World Theatre Day in 1961.
• World Theatre Day is being celebrated by ITI Centres and the international theatre community since 1962.
• Various national and international theatre events are organized to mark this occasion.
• The first World Theatre Day International Message was written by Jean Cocteau (France) in 1962.

Topic: International News

6. The World’s first ship tunnel will be constructed in Norway.

• Norway is going to build World’s first ship tunnel.
• The tunnel will be constructed under the mountains in Norway’s Stadhavet peninsula. It will be 1,700 meters long, 37 meters high and 26.5 meters wide.
• The construction of the tunnel has to start in 2022 and will be completed by 2025 or 2026.
• It will be constructed at an estimated cost of $315 million.
• Norway:
  • Norway is located in Northern Europe.
  • Oslo is its capital and largest city.
  • Erna Solberg is its Prime Minister.
  • The Norwegian krone is its currency.

Topic: State News/ Madhya Pradesh

7. Tourism Minister launched ‘MICE Roadshow - Meet in India’ and inaugurated Chhatrasal Convention Centre at Khajuraho.

• Prahlad Singh Patel, Minister of State for Tourism and Culture, and Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, inaugurated the Chhatrasal Convention Center under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme in Khajuraho.
• They also launched “MICE Roadshow Meet in India” Brand and Roadmap for the Promotion of India as MICE Destination in Khajuraho. MICE stand for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions.
• Ministry of Tourism, in association with the Madhya Pradesh government and India Convention Promotion Bureau, organized ‘MICE Roadshow – Meet in India’ to promote India as MICE Destination.

Topic: National News

8. India plans out a four-point strategy to deal with Suez Canal blockage crisis.

• The government of India has chalked out a four-point strategy to deal with the situation arising from the blockage of the Suez Canal.
• The blockage began on 23 March after a huge container ship ‘Ever Given’ got stuck in the Suez Canal. It is affecting global shipping.
• According to the plan, export organizations will identify cargoes that contain perishable goods so that they can be shipped first.
• The arrangement will also be made at the ports of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Mundra and Hazira to deal with the bunching of ships after the blockage is over.
• Container Shipping Lines Association (CSLA) is also exploring the option of re-routing of ships through the Cape of Good Hope.
• India uses the Suez Canal route for the export and imports of products from North America, South America and Europe.
• Suez Canal was opened in 1869. Its construction was started in 1859. It was expanded in 2015. It connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea. It is a 193 km long waterway.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

9. Health Ministry launched ‘Tribal TB Initiative’ to achieve the goal of “TB Mukt Bharat”.

• Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, launched the “Tribal TB Initiative” to achieve the goal of “TB Mukt Bharat”.
• The Health Minister has also announced that the Lakshadweep and district of Badgam in Jammu and Kashmir have become TB Free.
• The minister has said that the government is committed to free treatment and care for TB.
• India accounts for 30% of the world’s TB cases. India has the highest burden of both TB and MDR TB.
• India has increased the budget allocation four-fold for TB in the last five years.
• Tuberculosis spread through the air and usually attacks the lungs but can also spread to other parts of the body.
• Initiatives launched by the government for elimination of TB:
  • In March 2017, the Government of India had set a target to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025.
  • In 2018, the government launched the Nikshay Poshan Yojana to provide nutritional support for TB patients.
  • In 2019, the government launched the ‘TB Harega Desh Jeetega’ Campaign.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: India and its Neighbourhood

10. PM Modi visited Bangladesh’s National Martyrs’ Memorial.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh’s National Martyrs’ Memorial during two-day visit to Bangladesh.
• National Martyrs’ Memorial was built in memory of those who died in the Bangladesh War of Independence of 1971.
• It is PM Modi’s first foreign visit after the COVID-19 outbreak.
• PM Modi visit will help in enhancing the bilateral cooperation between both countries.
• National Martyrs’ Memorial:
  • It was inaugurated on 16 December 1982.
  • It was designed by Syed Mainul Hossain and built by Concord Group.
  • It is located in Savar near Dhaka.
• Bangladesh:
  • It is located in the east of India on the Bay of Bengal.
  • It got independence on 26 March 1971 with the support of India.
  • This year Bangladesh is celebrating its 50th independence day.
  • Sheikh Hasina is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Topic: International News

11. New Zealand Parliament passes miscarriages bereavement leave law.

• New Zealand Parliament has passed a miscarriages bereavement leave law. It is the second country in the world to pass such kind of law.
• The legislation proposes to give mothers and their partners three days paid bereavement leave after a miscarriage or stillbirth.
• The bereavement leave for miscarriage bill has amended existing New Zealand act on vacation days and sick leave.
• This leave policy will also be applicable for parents planning to have a child through adoption or surrogacy.
• Around 20,000 women in New Zealand have a miscarriage every year.
• New Zealand is the first country in the world to give voting rights to women.
• New Zealand:
  • It is an island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
  • Its capital is Wellington and the currency is Dollar.
  • Jacinda Ardern is the current Prime Minister.