Daily Current Affairs and GK | 20 and 21 March 2022

Topic: National News

1. Union Panchayati Raj Minister Shri Giriraj Singh has released Disaster Management Plan (DMP) of Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR).

• The Minister said that DMP has been developed by MoPR with an aim to develop disaster resilience at the grassroots level among the Panchayats.
• He further said that MoPR has developed DMP with an aim to establish a framework to align disaster management measures in rural areas to that of NDMA.
• Under Disaster Management Plan of Ministry of Panchayati Raj (DMP-MoPR), every Indian village would have “Village Disaster Management Plan”.
• Similarly, every Panchayat would have its own Disaster Management Plan under DMP-MoPR.
• DMP-MoPR is in compliance with Disaster Management Act 2005, National Disaster Management Policy 2009, and guidelines issued by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
• NDMA had issued the first National Disaster Management Plan in 2016 and it was revised after review in 2019.

Topic: Important Days

2. International Day of Forests 2022: 21 March

• 21 March was proclaimed by United Nations General Assembly as the International Day of Forests in 2012.
• International Day of Forests aims to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.
• UN Forum on Forests and UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) organize the day in collaboration with Governments, Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) and other organizations.
• ‘Forests and Sustainable Production and Consumption’ is the theme for 2022 International Day of Forests.
• UN Forum on Forests is an intergovernmental policy forum headquartered in New York, USA. It was formed in 2000.
• Collaborative Partnership on Forests is a voluntary inter-agency partnership of 15 international organizations, institutions and secretariats. It was set up in April 2001.

Topic: International News

3. India and Japan have signed six agreements after 14^th India-Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi.

• The six agreements are in the areas of cyber security, waste water management and clean energy.
• An agreement on promoting bamboo-based products from the northeast region has also been signed.
• During 14^th India-Japan Annual Summit, PM Modi and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida talked about ways to boost economic and cultural linkages between two countries.
• They also interacted on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
• India and Japan have set an investment target of five trillion yen ($42 billion or Rs 3.2 trillion) in next five years. Japan will invest this amount in India in next five years.

Topic: National News

4. A historic shipbuilding agreement signed by Dredging Corporation of India for the first Make in India project.

• The agreement has been signed at Cochin Shipyard Limited for the construction of the first Beagle Series 12 Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger of 12000 Cubic Meter capacity.
• Keeping in view the importance of dredging for port operations, the Ministry has issued Dredging Guidelines for Major Ports.
• The Shipbuilding Agreement will also get benefit from the Shipbuilding Financial Support Policy (SFAP) (2016) for Indian Shipyards.
• This policy provides financial assistance to Indian shipyards equal to 17% of the "Contract Price," "Fair Price," or "actual payments received".
• A provision of Rs. 4,000 crores has been made for a period of ten years, viz. 2016-2026.
• The Ministry will be able to meet the objectives of Maritime India Vision 2030 by reducing the logistic cost of cargo.
• Dredging Corporation of India Ltd. (DCIL):
  • DCI is India's premier dredging company, providing dredging and related services to major and minor ports, the Indian Navy, fishing ports, and other maritime organizations.
  • It was founded on March 29, 1976. Its headquarters are in Visakhapatnam.
  • DCIL’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer is Prof. Dr. G.Y.V. Victor.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

5. World Sparrow Day 2022: 20 March

• World Sparrow Day is commemorated annually on March 20 to increase public awareness about sparrows.
• The goal of the day is to raise awareness about the protection of Sparrow.
• The theme of World Sparrow Day 2022 is “I Love Sparrows”.
• World Sparrow Day was first celebrated in 2010 in different parts of the world.
• World Sparrow Day was initiated by the India-based Nature Forever Society and the France-based Eco-Sys Action Foundation.
• Mohammed Dilawar, who made efforts to raise awareness about the bird, founded the Nature Forever Society.
• He was named ‘Heroes of the Environment’ in 2008 by TIME Magazine for his efforts as a conservationist.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

6. UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network released World Happiness Report 2022.

• In the 10^th edition of the World Happiness Report, Finland has topped the list for the fifth time. It is followed by Denmark, Iceland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
• The World Happiness Report is based on two key ideas – happiness or life evaluation.
• In 2022, India has been ranked 136^th among 146 countries. According to the UN World Happiness Report 2021, India was ranked 139^th out of 149 countries.
• Afghanistan has been ranked as the unhappiest nation, followed by Lebanon, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Botswana respectively.
• Austria’s rank has dropped out of the top 10 happiest countries in the world.
• The World Happiness Report ranks countries based on several factors such as real GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, etc.

Topic: Important Days

7. International Day of Happiness: 20 March

• The International Day of Happiness is observed every year on 20 March.
• The first International Day of Happiness was observed in 2013.
• The theme for Happiness Day 2022 is ‘Keep Calm, Stay Wise and Be Kind’.
• The General Assembly of the United Nations in its Resolution 66/281 on 12 July 2012 declared March 20 as the International Day of Happiness.
• It is observed to increase awareness about the importance of happiness for humanity. It also promotes happiness as a universal human right.

Topic: International News

8. Ukraine legalized cryptocurrencies.

• Ukrainian President has signed virtual assets bill, which legalizes cryptocurrencies.
• Foreign and Ukrainian cryptocurrency exchanges will now be allowed to operate legally.
• Banks will also be allowed to open accounts for crypto companies.
• National Securities and Stock Market Commission and National Bank of Ukraine will regulate virtual assets.
• The Ukrainian government has recently associated with FTX exchange to convert crypto contributions.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

9. NMDC and IIT Kharagpur inked an MoU for drone-based mineral exploration.

• National Mineral Development Corporation limited company has been involved in exploring minerals.
• NMDC and IIT Kharagpur would develop spectral products, methods, and algorithms for exploration using the Drone (UAV) for mining.
• This collaboration will also help in the development of software spectral tools for mineral excavation.
• Both organizations will also work on developing capacity-building programs on mining technology.
• National Mineral Development Corporation Limited will be the first central public enterprise to conduct Drone-based geophysical surveys and hyperspectral studies for mineral exploration.
• It is the first public enterprise to use online monitoring of exploration of data on the BHUVAN Platform.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

10. 5^th edition of Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards has been organized by NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) on 21 March 2022.

• WTI Awards have been conferred to 75 women achievers to celebrate their contributions towards a ‘Sashakt Aur Samarth Bharat’.
• The awards have been given by Kiran Bedi, Lakshmi Puri, Arundhati Bhattacharya and many more women.
• NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant and singer Kailash Kher were present at the event.
• Women Entrepreneurship Platform is an aggregator portal. It aims to catalyze the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women.
• Women Transforming India Awards:
  • It is an annual initiative of NITI Aayog.
  • It aims to highlight commendable and ground-breaking endeavours of India’s women leaders and change-makers.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Sports

11. Pankaj Advani has won his eighth Asian Billiards title at the 19^th Asian Billiards Championship 2022.

• This is Pankaj Advani’s 24^th international title and 8^th Asian title. He defeated compatriot Dhruv Sitwala in Doha, Qatar on 20 March 2022.
• Earlier, Advani had defeated Myanmar's Pauk Sa to earn a position in the final.
• Pankaj Advani:
  • He is an Indian cueist. A cueist is a player who plays pool, snooker or billiards.
  • He is nicknamed as the Prince of India, the Golden Boy, and the Prince of Pune. 

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

12. India and Indonesia participated in second security dialogue in Jakarta.

• It was co-chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs of Indonesia, Mohammad Mahfud on 17 March 2022.
• India-Indonesia Security Dialogue is organized to strengthen ties between both countries in the field of political and security issues.
• Both countries’ representatives discussed many issues including current global and security issues, terrorism and violent extremism, and ways to enhance maritime, defense, and cyber security cooperation.
• India and Indonesia also signed the Memorandum of Understanding for Security Dialogue.
• India and Indonesia had held their first security dialogue in 2018.
• India and Indonesia:
  • India and Indonesia are two key maritime powers in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • India and Indonesia are Comprehensive Strategic Partners since 2018.
  • Indonesia is India’s second-largest trade partner in the ASEAN region.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Books and Authors

13. “Shri Dharmajivan Gatha” volumes of a book on the life of Gurudev Shri Shashtriji Maharaj has been released.

• Swami Shri Madhavpriya Dasji has written these volumes of the book on the life of Gurudev Shri Shashtriji Maharaj.
• Gurudev Shri Shashtriji Maharaj had re-established the ancient Gurukul education system.
• His disciple Swami Shri Madhavpriya Dasji has written about his good work in this book.
• The book has been released in “Bhav Vandana Parva” function organized by Swaminarayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Pratishthanam in Ahmedabad.
• Shastriji Maharaj established branches of Swaminarayan Gurukul in Rajkot, Junagadh, and Ahmedabad. He was the founder of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Rajkot Sansthan.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

14. Mukesh Ambani is the richest man in India and Asia: 2022 Hurun Global Rich List.

• Hurun India has released the 2022's Global Rich List in association with realty firm M3M.
• According to this report, Mukesh Ambani is the richest man in Asia and India. His wealth has increased by 24 percent.
• Ambani is the only Indian to find a place in the Top 10 2022 M3M Hurun Global Rich List. He has also got the 'Richest Telecom Entrepreneur' title.
• Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani is on 12^th position. He got the 'Richest Energy Entrepreneur' title.
• Shiv Nadar has got the 46^th position in the 2022 M3M Hurun Global Rich List. He is the third richest software and services billionaire in the world.
• Serum Institute of India founder Cyrus S Poonawalla has got the 'Richest Healthcare Billionaire' title in the world. His wealth has increased by 41 percent as compared to the previous year.
• Nykaa founder Falguni Nayar with a net worth of $7.6 billion found a new place in the billionaire’s list.
• According to the Hurun India report, a total of 153 new billionaires have been added to the list this year.
• The 2022 M3M Hurun Global Rich List ranked 3,381 billionaires from 69 countries.
• Last year, 2,071 billionaire’s wealth has increased while 942 billionaire’s wealth has decreased.