These current affairs are written in a easy to remember format and are useful for competitive exams like - UPSC Civil Services, UPPSC, BPSC, MPPPSC, State PSCs and other competitive examinations.
National Capital Territory (GNCTD) Amendment Act, 2021
National Capital Territory (GNCTD) Amendment Act, 2021, came into effect from April 27, 2021. The Act passed by the Parliament on March 24 gives more teeth to the office of the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Delhi.
According to the legislation, the "government" in Delhi means the "Lieutenant Governor."
The city government will now mandatorily have to take the opinion of the L-G before taking any executive action.
The Act gives discretionary powers to the LG of Delhi even in matters where the Legislative Assembly of Delhi is empowered to make laws.
Delhi is a Union Territory with a legislature and it came into being in 1991 under Article 239AA of the Constitution inserted by "the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991.
As per the parent Act of 1991, the legislative assembly of Delhi has power to make laws in all matters except public order, police and land.
In 1966, Delhi was converted into a union territory and eventually the Chief Commissioner was replaced by a Lieutenant Governor.
The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the Union Territory of Delhi to be formally known as National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Polity
Net Zero Producers Forum
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude exporter, will join the United States, Canada, Norway, and Qatar to be part of the new "Net Zero Producers Forum" for oil and gas producers, which will discuss ways to achieve net zero carbon emission targets to limit global warming.
Read More: net zero carbon emission
Environment
Chinese Space Station
The core element of the Chinese Space Station named "Tianhe (Harmony of the Heavens)" was launched to Earth orbit atop a heavy-lift Long March 5B rocket from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the island of Hainan.
Tianhe is one of three main components of what would be China's first self-developed space station, rivalling the only other station in service - the International Space Station (ISS).
The ISS is backed by the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada. China was barred from participating by the United States.
Tianhe forms the main living quarters for three crew members in the Chinese space station, which will have a life span of at least 10 years.
It is first of 11 missions needed to complete the space station, which will orbit Earth at an altitude of 340 to 450 km (211-280 miles).
Work on the space station programme began a decade ago with the launch of a space lab Tiangong-1 in 2011, and later, Tiangong-2 in 2016.
China has sent 11 astronauts into space since becoming the third country to so so on its own in 2003, and has sent orbiters and rovers to the moon and Mars.
Science & Tech
MACS 1407: Variety of Soybean
Indian Scientists from MACS- Agharkar Research Institute, Pune, in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi have developed a high-yielding and pest-resistant variety of soybean, called MACS 1407.
It is suitable for rain-fed conditions of north- east India.
Science & Tech
Regulation of use of self-driving vehicles
The UK has become the first country to announce regulation of the use of self-driving vehicles at slow speeds on motorways.
UK govt. will start with Automated Lane Keeping Systems (ALKS) - which use sensors and software to keep cars within a lane, allowing them to accelerate and brake without driver input.
The use of ALKS would be restricted to motorways, at speeds under 60 km per hour.
International Relations