Current Affairs Quiz 1st March 2022 : Daily GK Update Quiz

Exp. Chhattisgarh signed two MOUs for establishing dung-based power plants & food irradiation facility

The government of Chhattisgarh signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to boost agricultural & rural economy.

The first agreement was signed with the Chhattisgarh Biofuel Development Authority (CBDA) and Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Trombay, Mumbai to set up dung-based power plants in ‘gauthans’ where technical guidance will be provided by BARC.

The second MoU between Chhattisgarh Seed Corporation with the Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) to set up the Food Irradiation Center in Chhattisgarh.

Exp. GoI launched ‘Operation Ganga’ evacuation mission

Government of India has launched ‘multi-pronged’ initiative named as ‘Operation Ganga’ evacuation mission to bring back Indian nationals who are currently stranded in Ukraine.

A dedicated Twitter handle titled ‘OpGanga Helpline’ has also been announced to assist Indian evacuation from Ukraine. India has already successfully brought back more than 1,000 of its nationals. India has also set up 24×7 control centre through border crossing points with Hungary, Poland, Romania.

With the help of International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, the GoI have guided the Indian citizens towards the border of Ukraine.

Exp. NLP will be integrated with ULIP to make Multi Modal Logistics Ecosystem

Government has announced to integrate National Logistics Portal (NLP) with Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) to make the Multi Modal Logistics Ecosystem more efficient.

It shall standardize the procedures and speed up the procedures related to overall trade.

ULIP aims at electronic data transfer regime leading to reduction in compliances, creating environment for boosting the confidence of using NLP/ ULIP by ensuring data authenticity, standardization of procedures.

Exp. Centre constituted High Level Task Force to analyse the impact of sanctions against Russia

Centre constituted a high-level ministerial task force to analyse the impact on India by the sanctions made against Russia by the USA, the European Union (EU), UK, Japan, Canada, Taiwan, and New Zealand.

The sanctions target Russian banks, oil refineries, and military exports. Russia is the 26th largest trade partner of India, with exports in 2020-21 valued at $ 2.6 billion and imports at $ 5.4 billion.

The task force awaits the updated sanctions guidelines from the United States (US) Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The task force comprises Secretaries and senior officials from Ministries and Departments such as External Affairs, Defence, Finance, Home, Commerce & Industry and Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Currency: Russian ruble

Capital: Moscow

Exp. MNRE approved development of 400 MW solar project in upper Kinnaur by SJVN

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) approved the development of a 400 MW solar park by the state owned, SJVN Limited at Upper Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh.

According to SJVN Limited, an in-principle approval has been agreed by the ministry for development of this project under ‘Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks’ of its solar park scheme.

SJVN is already preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for 880 MegaWatt (MW) Kaza Solar Park in HP.

Exp. Google launched ‘Play Pass’ subscription in India

Exp. NSO projected India’s GDP growth in 2021-22 at 8.9%

National Statistical Office (NSO) has released the second advance estimates of national accounts. The GDP growth rate projection as per NSO for 2021-22 (FY22) and 2020-21 (FY21) is 8.9% (earlier it was 9.2% in first advance estimates) & -6.6% (earlier it was -7.3%) respectively.

According to NSO data, Gross Value Added (GVA) growth in the manufacturing sector growth remained almost flat at 0.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2021-22, compared to a growth of 8.4 per cent a year ago.

Exp. Union Cabinet approved FDI of up to 20% in LIC under automatic route

The Union Cabinet approved Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of up to 20 percent under the ‘automatic route’ in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India, ahead of the mega initial public offering (IPO) of the LIC of India in mid-March 2022.

It is aimed at attracting long-term foreign investors to the issue. An IPO is the selling of securities (shares of the company) to the public in the primary market (usually to institutional investors and retail investors).

The current FDI policy which permits 74% foreign investment under the automatic route in the insurance sector does not apply for the LIC, as it is established and governed under the LIC Act, 1956, and the law did not have any specific provision for foreign investment in the insurer.

The current FDI policy allows FDI in the insurance sector but as LIC being a statutory corporation, is not covered under either “Insurance Company” or “Intermediaries or Insurance Intermediaries”.

Thus, the cabinet has made an amendment to the FDI Policy in 2021 which is sufficient in facilitating investment in LIC up to 20 percent through automatic route which already permits 20 percent of FDI inflows for public sector banks in government approval route.

Exp. Sanjay Pandey appointed as new Police Commissioner of Mumbai

IPS officer Sanjay Pandey (1986 batch IPS officer) has been appointed as the new Police Commissioner of Mumbai by Maharashtra government

He was the former acting Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra. He was removed from the post of acting DGP on February 18 after Bombay High Court pulled up the state government for his appointment in April last year

He succeeded Hemant Nagrale, who has been appointed as the MD of Maharashtra State Security Corporation.

Exp. IISER Prof Deepak Dhar became first Indian to bag Boltzmann Medal

The renowned Indian physicist and Emeritus Professor at the Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, Prof Deepak Dhar will be conferred the prestigious Boltzmann Medal 2022 for contribution in the field of statistical physics.

He became the first Indian to be awarded the Boltzmann Medal. He will share the medal with John J Hopfield of Princeton University. The medal presentation ceremony will be held during the StatPhys28 conference in August 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Boltzmann Medal (or Boltzmann Award) is named after the physicist Ludwig Boltzmann and awarded to physicists for contributing new results in statistical mechanics and it was instituted in 1975.

The Boltzmann Medal is given every three years by the C3 Commission on Statistical Physics of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP).

First award- Kenneth G. Wilson (Cornell University) in 1975.

Exp. Annpurna Devi presented National ICT Awards to 49 teachers across country

Union Minister of State for Education, Annpurna Devi has presented National ICT Awards to 49 teachers across the country.

Recognition given in the form of National Award for school teachers for use of ICT in Education indirectly contributes to motivate teachers to use ICT extensively and significantly in their classrooms.

ICT Awardees are also being bestowed with responsibility to function as ICT Ambassadors in widening the outreach of ICT in Education.

Exp. India’s Sadia Tariq won gold in Russia Wushu Stars Championship 2022

Indian Wushu player Sadia Tariq has won a gold medal in the junior tournament at the Moscow Wushu Stars Championship 2022. The 15-year-old Sadia Tariq hails from Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Wushu Stars Championship is being held in Moscow, Russia from February 22 to 28. From India, 38 players, including 23 junior and 15 senior participated in the championship.

Exp. India secured 8 medals at Singapore Weightlifting International 2022

India has concluded its campaign at Singapore Weightlifting International 2022 with eight medals, including six golds and silver and bronze each.

Each of the eight Indian lifters who registered for Singapore International won medals and secured their spots at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, scheduled to be held in July-August.

A total of 12 weightlifters from India qualified for Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.

Exp. Mithilesh Tiwari authored a book titled “Udaan Ek Majdoor Bachhe Ki” by Captain AD Manek

A new book titled “Udaan Ek Majdoor Bachhe Ki” by Captain AD Manek authored by Mithilesh Tiwari was released by the famous Bhajan Samrat Anup Jalota in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

It highlights the life journey, struggle and success story of Captain AD Manek. Capt AD Manek is the founder of “The Skyline Aviation Club”. It was established in 1987 and currently he is presiding as Managing Trustee and Chief Advisor of The Skyline Aviation Club in Mumbai.

Exp. 1-7 March: Janaushadhi Diwas week

Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers will organize the Janaushadhi Diwas Week from 1st March to 7th March 2022. On 7th March 2022, the 4th Jan Aushadhi Diwas will be celebrated. The theme of 4th Janaushadhi Diwas: “Jan Aushadhi-Jan Upyogi”.

The Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,500 by the end of March 2025.

Aim: To create awareness about the usages of generic medicines and the benefits of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) was launched by the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India in November 2008 to provide quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all.

Exp. 1 March: Zero Discrimination Day

The Zero Discrimination Day is held every year on the 1st of March. The day aims to ensure right to equality, inclusion and protection of all people without any discrimination in their law and policies to live a full life with dignity regardless of any barriers.

Zero Discrimination Day highlights how people can become informed about and promote inclusion, compassion, peace and, above all, a movement for change. Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination.

Zero Discrimination Day was first celebrated on March 1, 2014, and was launched by UNAIDS Executive Director at Beijing after UNAIDS launched its Zero Discrimination Campaign on World AIDS Day in December 2013.

Theme 2022: “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower”