Daily Current Affairs – 26th April 2021

Topics/Highlights

1. EXERCISE VARUNA – 2021
2. Oxygen concentrator
3. MOXIE
4. Groundwater depletion
5. Agricultural export
6. PM CARES Fund
7. Cybercrime volunteer programme

Focus

1. Exercise VARUNA – 2021

In News

Indian and French Navy bilateral exercise ‘VARUNA-2021’ is scheduled to be conducted in the Arabian Sea from 25th to 27th April 2021.

This is the 19th edition of this exercise.

Key Points

1. Guided missile stealth destroyer INS Kolkata, guided missile frigates INS Tarkash and INS Talwar, Fleet Support Ship INS Deepak, with Seaking 42B and Chetak integral helicopters, a Kalvari class submarine and P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft are the participants from the Indian Navy’s side.
2. The exercise showcases increased levels of synergy, coordination and inter-operability between the two friendly navies.

Source – PIB

2. Oxygen concentrator

In News

Oxygen concentrator is in demand for oxygen therapy, especially among patients in home isolation and for hospitals running out of oxygen during the short supply of oxygen cylinders.

Key Points

1. It is a medical device that concentrates oxygen from ambient air.
2. 78 per cent nitrogen and 21 per cent oxygen, with other gases making up the remaining 1 per cent is present in the atmospheric air.
3. The oxygen concentrator takes the air and filters it through a sieve and releases the nitrogen back into the air.
4. This oxygen which is compressed and dispensed through a cannula is around 90-95 per cent pure. 
5. The pressure valve in concentrators helps regulating the supply, ranging from 1-10 litres per minute.

Source – Indian Express

3. MOXIE

In News

NASA has announced that a device on Mras Perseverance rover has extracted oxygen from the carbon dioxide in the thin Martian atmosphere..

Key Points

1. MOXIE is Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment able to produce 5 grams of from carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere.
2. It is designed to generate up to 10 grams of oxygen per hour.
3. It separates oxygen atmos from the carbon dioxide molecules. It uses heat at a temperature of around 800 degree celsius, and also produces carbon monoxide as a waste product.

Source – All India Radio

4. Groundwater depletion

In News

Groundwater depletion may reduce winter cropping intensity by 20% in India.

Key Points

1. India is the second largest producer of wheat in the world.
2. Around 30 million hectares in the country dedicated to producing this crop.
3. Wheat, barley, mustard and peas are some of the winter crops.
4. Cropping intensity or the amount of land planted in the winter season may decrease by up to 20% by 2025 with severe groundwater depletion.

Source – The Hindu

5. Agricultural export

In News

30 percent increase in agricultural export in 2020-21 in comparison to 2019-20 financial year despite Covid situation.

Key Points

1. 1.3 lakh crore rupees of export business was recorded last year in comparison to 1.1 lakh crore rupees in previous financial year.
2. India is getting the opportunity to provide reliable food and nutritional support to the world.
3. 40 percent increase in export of organic products this year in comparison to last financial year stated by APEDA Chairman.
4. There was high demand for herbal and medicinal products in Europe, US and Middle East.

Source – All India Radio

6. PM CARES Fund

In News

551 oxygen plants are set up inside government hospitals across the country. 

PM CARES Fund will provide financial aid in setting up these plants.

Key Points

1. PM CARES Fund is the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund.
2. It was launched on 27 March 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
3. It will be used for relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and similar pandemic like situations in the future.
4. Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is the chairman of the fund.
5. The trustees include the Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh; Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, and Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Government of India.
6. The fund will be getting the donations and will be exempted from income tax under section 80(G).

Source – All India Radio

7. Cybercrime volunteer programme

In News

Since the Police comes under the State List and hence is a state subject, the Union Home Ministry has said that it doesn’t maintain a centralised list of volunteers who are enrolled under the Cybercrime Volunteer Programme.

Key Points

1. To bring all the citizens passionate to serve the country, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has envisaged the Cyber Crime Volunteers Program which brings these volunteers on a single platform.
2. They contribute their part to fight against cybercrime in the country.
3. Programme focuses on roping in around 500 persons, who would be working on flagging online content which is unlawful.

Source – thehindu