Daily Current Affairs and GK | 22 March 2022

Topic: Defense

1. Indian Army will participate in Joint Military Exercise Lamitiye 2022 along with Seychelles Defence Forces.

• The Joint Military exercise will be conducted at the Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA) from March 22 to 31.
• Its main objective is to share the experiences gained during various operations against hostile forces in a semi-urban environment.
• Troops from the 2/3 Gorkha Rifles group (Prikanthi Battalion) will participate in this exercise.
• Training exercises, combat discussions, lectures, and demonstrations will be part of this 10-day-long joint exercise.
• The main aim of this exercise is to further promote bilateral military relations between both countries.
• Joint Military Exercise Lamitiye:
  • Lamitiye, which means friendship, is a biennial military exercise being conducted in Seychelles since 2001.
  • It is a joint Military Exercise between India and Seychelles.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

2. World Down Syndrome Day: 21 March

• Every year on March 21, World Down Syndrome Day is observed to raise awareness about Down syndrome disease.
• Every year around 3,000 and 5,000 infants are born with this chromosomal disorder.
• The first World Down Syndrome Day was observed in 2006.
• The UN General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day in December 2011 but it came into effect in 2012.
• World Down Syndrome Day 2022 theme is “Inclusion Means”.
• Down Syndrome:
  • It is also known as Trisomy 21.
  • It is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of the third copy of chromosome 21.
  • It can cause physical growth delays, mild to moderate intellectual disability, and characteristic facial features.

Topic: Important Days

3. World Water Day 2022: 22 March

• Every year on March 22, World Water Day is commemorated.
• It is observed to raise awareness of the value of fresh water and the need to conserve it.
• The theme of World Water Day 2022 is “Groundwater: Making the invisible visible”.
• The day is being celebrated every year since 1993.
• The main goal of the day is to support the idea of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030 and help achieve the goal.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

4. Kuwait has become the hottest place on earth.

• Kuwait hit a temperature of 53.2 °C (127.7 °F), making it one of the world's hottest places.
• The extremes of climate change are posing a threat to existence all over the world.
• Last summer in Kuwait, it was so hot that birds fell out of the sky.
• A recent study has held climate change responsible for 67% of heat-related deaths in Kuwait.
• Saudi Arabia is pitching futuristic car-free cities, while Dubai plans to ban plastic and increase the number of green parks in the emirate.
• According to the World Resources Institute, Kuwait is still using oil for electricity production and it is among the top worldwide carbon emitters per capita.
• Kuwait:
  • It is located in West Asia.
  • It shares its boundary with Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
  • Its capital is Kuwait City and the currency is Kuwaiti dinar.
  • Kuwait is a constitutional emirate with a parliamentary system of government.
  • Its Prime Minister is Sabah Khalid al-Sabah.

Topic: New Developments

5. China developed a laser weapon for destroying space satellites.

• Chinese researchers have developed a microwave machine called the "Relativistic Klystron Amplifier (RKA)" that is capable of jamming or destroying space satellites.
• The RKA has the ability to produce a 5-megawatt wave burst in the Ka-band.
• The Ka-band is a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
• The RKA's development has heightened fears that future fights could take place in space.
• RKA cannot shoot targets from the ground to the sky but it may be placed on satellites and used to strike enemy space locations.
• Although China denies that the RKA is a directed energy weapon (DEW).
• Directed energy weapons (DEWs) use concentrated electromagnetic energy rather than kinetic energy to damage or destroy enemy equipment and/or personnel.

Topic: Important Days

6. Bihar Diwas 2022: 22 March

• Every year on March 22, Bihar Diwas is celebrated to commemorate the foundation of Bihar.
• This year marks the 110^th anniversary of Bihar's foundation.
• On March 22, 1912, the state of Bihar was carved out from Bengal's presidency.
• The theme of Bihar Diwas 2022 is 'Jal Jeevan Haryali'.
• On this occasion, a three-day event is being organized in which 18 state departments, as well as several organizations, will participate.
• Bihar:
  • It is located in the eastern part of India.
  • It shares its boundary with Uttar Pradesh, Nepal, West Bengal, and Jharkhand.
  • It is divided into two parts by the river Ganga.
  • It is the third-largest state by population and the twelfth-largest by territory.
  • It has 40 Lok Sabha seats, 16 Rajya Seats, and 243 Legislative assembly seats.
  • Phagu Chauhan is the Governor and Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister of Bihar.
  • Madhubani painting is a famous painting of Bihar.
  • It has the second-lowest Urban Population in India.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. PM Modi and Australian PM Scott Morrison held second India-Australia Virtual Summit on 21 March 2022.

• They took stock of the progress made on various initiatives under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
• PM Modi welcomed the announcement of setting up of Centre of Excellence for Critical and Emerging Technology Policy in Bangalore.
• He said that early completion of Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement will be crucial for our economic relations, economic revival and economic security.
• He also thanked Morrison for taking initiative to return ancient Indian antiquities.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

8. Prasar Bharati has signed a MoU with Australia's public service broadcaster Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).

• MoU has been signed to boost cooperation in the field of broadcasting.
• The MoU will expand the reach of DD News, DD India and multiple language services of DD News amongst the Indian Diaspora in Australia.
• Through this MoU, Prasar Bharati and SBS will explore opportunities in co-production and joint broadcasting of programmes.
• They will also exchange professionals and organise training to share knowledge on programme production.
• Prasar Bharati was formed in November 1997. It is headquartered in New Delhi. Its CEO is Shashi Shekhar Vempati.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Awards and Prizes

9. Neeraj Chopra awarded Sportsman of the Year (Track and Field) award at Sportstar Aces awards 2022.

• Neeraj Chopra received the Sportsman of the Year (Track and Field) award from tennis player Leander Paes. He also won the Sportstar of the Year (Male) award.
• Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu received the ‘Sportstar of the Year (Female)’ award.
• Lovlina Borgohain has been awarded the ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ award in the individual Sports category.
• Savita received the ‘Sportswoman of the Year’ award in the Team Sports category.
• Avani Lekhara awarded the ‘Parathlete of the Year’ award in Females while Pramod Bhagat received the ‘Special recognition award’.
• Women’s hockey team wins the ‘Breakthrough Performance of the Year’ award.

Topic: State News/ Nagaland

10. Nagaland becomes first Legislative Assembly to successfully implement National e-Vidhan project.

• Nagaland is the first State Assembly to become completely paperless by implementing the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) programme.
• Members of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly can now use electronic devices to participate in House proceedings.
• This initiative will promote paperless operations and show the government's commitment towards the development of the North East region.
• National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) will help the Chair of the House in conducting legislative business. It has been deployed on NIC Cloud, MeghRaj.
• Paperless Assembly or e-Assembly makes the entire law-making process, and tracking of decisions and documents automatic.
• National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) programme:
  • The main objective of the programme is to bring all the state legislatures of India at one platform.
  • It has been developed on the theme of 'One Nation – One Application'.
  • Its implementation is funded by the Centre and the state government on a 90:10 sharing basis.

Topic: State News/ Manipur

11. N Biren Singh takes oath as Chief Minister of Manipur for second consecutive term.

• N Biren Singh will be the 12^th Chief Minister of Manipur.
• The newly-elected MLAs have unanimously elected N. Biren Singh as their legislature party leader.
• Governor La Ganeshan administered the oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhawan, Imphal.
• BJP has won 32 out of 60 Assembly seats in the recent election. Naga People's Front bagged five and the Kuki People's Alliance got two seats.
• Manipur:
  • It is a state in northeast India.
  • It shares borders with Nagaland, Mizoram, Assam, and Myanmar in the east.
  • Its capital is Imphal.
  • The Governor of Manipur is La Ganesan.
  • Lok Sabha seats: 2, Rajya Sabha: 1

Topic: Sports

12. Lakshya Sen finishes as runner-up at the All England Championships.

• Indian badminton player Lakshya Sen lost in the final from the world number one player Viktor Axelsen.
• Viktor Axelsen defeated Lakshya Sen by 21-10, 21-15 in the men's singles final of the All England Open Badminton Championship in Birmingham.
• Lakshya Sen is the first Indian to reach in men's singles final at the All England Championships in the last 21 years.
• He is only the fifth Indian to reach the final of the All England Championships.
• Recently, Lakshya Sen has become 1st Indian to won the Silver medal at the Badminton World Federation Superseries 300 German Open 2022.
• All England Open Badminton Championships is a badminton tournament. It is organized by Badminton England in association with the Badminton World Federation.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

13. World Poetry Day: 21 March

• Every year World Poetry Day is observed on 21 March.
• Its main aim is to encourage young poets and appreciate the role of poetry in the development and enlightenment of the world.
• Poetry is an art form that can transform even the most basic of lines into a powerful catalyst.
• It is observed to honour poets and aware the new generation about the tradition of Poetry.
• UNESCO announced 21 March as World Poetry Day at its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999.
• Poetry is the oldest form of readable and understandable human language.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: International News

14. Serdar Berdymukhamedov wins the Presidential election of Turkmenistan.

• Turkmenistan leader’s son Serdar Berdymukhamedov has got nearly 73 percent of the votes. He will succeed his father Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.
• His nearest rival is Khyrdyr Nunnayev, who got 11 percent of the total votes.
• Serdar Berdymukhamedov had earlier served as Deputy Prime Minister.
• Presidential elections were held in Turkmenistan on March 12. Serdar Berdymukhamedov was the candidate from the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan.
• Turkmenistan:
  • It is a country in Central Asia.
  • It is bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and the Caspian Sea.
  • Its capital is Ashgabat.
  • Its currency is Turkmenistan Manat.
  • It became independent in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union.