Daily Current Affairs and GK | 1 and 2 March 2022

Topic: Sports

1. Rafael Nadal wins Mexican Open title by defeating Cameron Norris.

• He won his 91st ATP title by defeating Cameron Norris by 6-4, 6-4 in Acapulco.
• It is his third title in 2022 and 25th tournament win on the hard court.
• Rafael Nadal has clinched Mexican Open title for the fourth time. This year, he has also won the Australian Open.
• In the doubles final, Feliciano Lopez and Stefanos Tsitsipas won the title by defeating Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer by 7-5, 6-4.
• Mexican Open:
  • It is a professional tennis tournament and is part of the ATP Tour 500 series.
  • It is held every year in Acapulco since 2001.

Topic: Government Schemes and initiatives

2. Union Minister Parshottam Rupala will inaugurate Sagar Parikrama on 5 March 2022.

• Sagar Parikrama will start from Mandvi at Shyamiji Krishna Varma Memorial, Gujarat, as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava.
• It will be conducted in all coastal states/UTs through a pre-decided sea route to demonstrate solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders.
• Government of India’s Department of Fisheries is organizing Sagar Parikrama along with Gujarat government’s Fisheries Department, Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, Gujarat Maritime Board and fishermen representatives.
• The first leg of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ will start on 5th March 2022 from Mandvi and end at Porbandar on 6th March 2022.
• India has a coastline of 8118 km, which passes through 9 coastal states and 4 union territories.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

3. Professor Deepak Dhar has become first Indian to win Boltzmann Medal.

• He shares the medal with John J Hoefield of Princeton University.
• The medal ceremony will take place during the StatPhys28 conference, which will take place in Tokyo in August 2022.
• Professor Dhar is a physicist. He is a professor at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune.
• Boltzmann Medal is presented by Commission on Statistical Physics of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics once in three years.
• Boltzmann Medal is given for contributions in the field of statistical physics.
• StatPhys is an international conference on statistical physics of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.

Topic: National News

4. International Women’s Day week is being celebrated by Ministry of Women and Child Development from 1^st to 8^th March 2022.

• The celebration started on 1^st March in collaboration with Bureau of Police Research and Development to raise awareness on safety and security of women.
• The events on 2nd March focused on the role played by One Stop Centres (OSCs) in supporting women in distress.
• Ministry will launch the Stree Manoraksha Project in collaboration with NIMHANS Bengaluru.
• On March 3, 2022, a function will be held on the theme 'Women of Tomorrow'.
• On March 4 and 5, 2022, a two-day National Workshop will be organized with the State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights.
• In this event, contemporary topics related to child rights will be discussed. This event will be held in Bhopal.
• On 7th March 2022, MoWCD and UNICEF India will jointly launch ‘Back to School’ Campaign as ‘Kanya Shiksha Pravesh Utsav’.
• On 8th March 2022, two major events– Nari Shakti Puraskaar and International Women’s Day Conference for Women Police Delegates from all States/ UTs will be organised.
• International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8 March. ‘Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’ is the UN theme for International Women's Day 2022.

Topic: National News

5. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights marked its 17^th Foundation Day.

• On March 1, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) commemorated its 17th Foundation Day at the Red Fort in New Delhi.
• Smriti Zubin Irani, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, was the chief guest at the event.
• On this occasion, Smriti Irani unveiled the NCPCR's new motto, "‘भविष्यो रक्षति रक्षित:"
• She also praised the NCPCR and Border Security Force's collaboration on the 'SAHARA' special initiative.
• 'SAHARA' is an initiative aimed at providing psychosocial counselling and assistance to the children of BSF jawans who have paid the supreme sacrifice.

Topic: Important Days

6. Zero Discrimination Day 2022: 1 March

• Every year on March 1st, Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated around the world.
• This day was established by the United Nations and other international organisations to promote equality before the law.
• It is observed to end inequality on the basis of income, gender, age, health status, occupation, disability, etc.
• The theme of the Zero Discrimination Day 2022 is ‘Remove Laws That Harm, Create Laws That Empower.’
• It was first started by UNAIDS Director Michel Sidibe in December 2013 and celebrated for the first time on 1 March 2014.
• Under Article 16 of the Indian constitution, discrimination on the basis of religion, race, caste, gender, origins, place of birth, and place of residency are prohibited.
• UNAIDS:
  • It is a Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS. It aims to achieve universal access of HIV prevention, treatment, and care.
  • As part of the Sustainable Development Goals, UNAIDS is leading the global effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
  • It was formed on 26 July 1994. Its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Its Executive Director is Winnie Byanyima.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

7. FM Nirmala Sitharaman launched a major e-governance initiative-Electronic Bill (e-Bill) processing system on occasion of 46th Civil Accounts Day celebration.

• As announced in the Budget 2022-23, the e-bill system will be implemented in all central ministries and departments.
• It is a further step to enhance transparency, efficiency, and a faceless- paperless payment system.
• Suppliers and contractors will now be able to file their claims online, which can be tracked in real-time.
• 46th Civil Accounts Day was celebrated on 2^nd March 2022 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi.
• Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman was the Chief Guest.
• Civil Accounts Day is celebrated every year on 1^st March. The Departmentalization of Union Accounts (Transfer of Personnel) Act, 1976 came into force on 1 March 1976.
• Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) is celebrating March 1 every year as the Civil Accounts Day.

Topic: Sports

8. Saurabh Chaudhary won India's first gold medal at International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in Cairo, Egypt.

• He defeated Michael Schwald of Germany in the gold medal match of Men’s 10m Air Pistol event. Russian Artem Chernousov won a bronze medal.
• On 28 February 2022, India’s Shreya Agarwal missed semifinals by 0.1 point. She scored 629.3 in women’s air rifle.
• In the men’s section, Rudrankksh Patil secured the 11th position with a score of 628.5. Former world No.1 Divyansh Singh Panwar finished 25^th with a score of 626.8.
• International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) is the governing body of Olympic shooting events in rifle, pistol and shotgun. It is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

Topic: Appointments

9. Dr Bhushan Patwardhan appointed as chairperson of NAAC executive committee.

• Former vice-chairman of the University Grants Commission Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan has been appointed as chairperson of the executive committee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
• Currently, he was the chairman of the interdisciplinary AYUSH R&D task force on Covid-19.
• He has been a member of various academic research and policy committees including NITI Aayog, Planning Commission, and National Board of Examination.
• He will try to align the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with the recommendations of the National Education policy.
• National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC):
  • It is an autonomous body funded by the University Grants Commission.
  • It is responsible for assessing and accrediting higher educational institutions of India.
  • It functions through its general council and executive committee.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. Annpurna Devi presented National ICT Awards to 49 teachers.

• Teachers have been awarded National ICT Awards for using ICT in education.
• Now, this award will be also given to School Complexes, CRCs, BRCs, BIETs, DIETs, CTEs/IASEs, etc. for their best practices.
• On this occasion, Annpurna Devi said that Information and Communication Technology [ICT] intervention under Samagra Shiksha will help in providing IT infrastructure to schools and Teacher Education Institutes (TEIs).
• In recent years, the government has launched initiatives like DIKSHA, ePathshala, NISHTHA, etc. for promoting ICT in education.
• National ICT Awards:
  • It is given to teachers of primary, upper primary, secondary, and higher secondary schools, Teacher educators, and best practicing States/UTs.
  • Each awardee teacher gets an ICT Kit, a laptop, and a commendation certificate.
  • The government has instituted 36 ICT awards for different states/UTs and seven autonomous bodies/organizations.

Topic: Appointments

11. Madhabi Puri Buch appointed as new chairperson of SEBI.

• Government has appointed Madhabi Puri Buch as the chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India for three years.
• She is the first woman chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India.
• She replaced Ajay Tyagi whose term ended on 28 February.
• She was whole-time member (WTM) of SEBI from 5 April 2017 to 4 October 2021.
• She also headed a seven-member expert group formed to help SEBI design in-house technological systems.
• She has also served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at ICICI Securities Limited.
• The Financial Sector Regulatory Appointments Search Committee (FSRASC) headed by Cabinet Secretary has recommended the name after shortlisting candidates.
• Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
  • It was set up in 1988 and given statutory status in 1992.
  • It is a regulator of the securities market in India and aims to protect the interests of investors in securities.
  • Its headquarters is located in Mumbai.

Topic: Economy/Banking/Finance

12. Government permitted up to 20% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under automatic route in LIC.

• Union Cabinet has approved amendments in FDI policy to allow FDI up to 20% in LIC. 
• Minor changes have also been made in FDI policy to facilitate FDI in other corporate bodies also. 
• There was no specific provision in the existing FDI policy for foreign investment in the corporation.   
• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had proposed to allow FDI in LIC.
• Government has approved the listing of shares of LIC on the stock market through Initial Public Offer (IPO). 
• Last year, the government has raised the FDI limit in the insurance sector to 74 percent from 49 percent.
• FDI inflows into India have increased from $ 74.39 billion in 2019-20 to $81.97 billion in 2020-21.
• Life Insurance Corporation (LIC):
  • It was formed in September 1956. It is completely (100%) owned by Government of India. 
  • It is headquartered in Mumbai.
  • M R Kumar is the chairman of Life Insurance Corporation.

Topic: Sports

13. Dabang Delhi K C clinched Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 title.

• Dabang Delhi K C defeated Patna Pirates by 36-37 in the final of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 in Bengaluru.
• Pawan Sehrawat was awarded the Raider of the season award for his 304 raid points in 24 matches.
• Mohammadreza Chiyaneh of Patna pirates got the Defender of the Season award.
• Mohit Goyat was announced as the Emerging Player of the season.
• Most Valuable Player of the Season award went to Naveen Kumar.
• The winner of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 got a cash prize of 3 crores.

Topic: International News

14. World’s largest plane destroyed by Russia strikes in Ukraine.

• The world’s largest cargo aircraft, the Antonov AN-225 or ‘Mriya’, has been destroyed in the Russia-Ukraine war.
• Antonov AN-225 was designed during the 1980s. It was initially part of the Soviet aeronautical program.
• It took its first flight in 1988 and now was used to deliver relief supplies during calamities.
• It is 84 meters long (276 feet) and can transport 250 tonnes of cargo at a speed of up to 850 kilometres per hour (528 mph).
• Weapons manufacturer Ukroboronprom estimated that the restoring cost would be over $3 billion and take more than five years.