Daily Current Affairs and GK | 3 March 2022

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

1. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs organized a conclave on ‘Social Enterprises for Garbage Free Cities: Encouraging Women Entrepreneurs in Waste management’.

• On 3 March 2022, this conclave has been organized in collaboration with the Government of Chhattisgarh under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 in Raipur.
• It provided a platform to States and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for learning various centralized and decentralized waste management practices.
• The “National Capacity Building Framework for Garbage Free Cities” was also released during the conclave.
• Representatives from 17 states and their ULBs participated in this day-long conclave.
• Participants visited a vermi-composting center for demonstrating scientific, value-added processing of segregated wet waste to compost.
• The main attraction of this conclave was various women-led waste management initiatives.
• The theme song ‘Swachhata Jaari Hai’ was also released during the conclave.
• Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0 was launched for creating “Garbage Free Cities”. It is being implemented under the principle of “waste from wealth”, and “circular economy” for maximizing resource recovery.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

2. India has third largest population of billionaires: Knight Frank

• According to Knight Frank’s latest edition of the Wealth Report, the number of ultra-high net worth individuals (UHNWIs) has increased by 11 percent in India.
• At present, India has 145 billionaires and Mumbai has the highest number of 1596 UHNWIs followed by Hyderabad with 467 UHNWIs.
• Bengaluru witnessed the highest growth in the number of UHNWIs followed by Delhi.
• In the last five years, the number of UHNWIs has increased by 101.2% in Delhi followed by Mumbai (+42.6%) and Bengaluru (+22.7%).
• Equity markets and digital adoption are the key factors in the growth of UHNWIs in India.
• In the next five years, the global UHNWIs population will increase by 28%. The UHNWI population in India is expected to grow by 39%.
• At present, the United states has the highest number of UHNWIs while China is on the second spot.
• Around 69 % of the super-wealthy individuals in India wealth will increase by 10% in 2022.

Topic: Important Days

3. World Hearing Day: 3 March

• Every year on March 3, the World Health Organization commemorates World Hearing Day.
• It is celebrated to raise awareness about preventing hearing loss and also to promote ear and hearing care across the world. 
• The theme of World Hearing Day 2022 is "To hear for life, listen with care."
• According to the World Health Organization, the day was established in 2007 to raise awareness of deafness.
• It was initially named International Ear Day, but in 2016 it was renamed World Hearing Day.
• In 2021, WHO released the World Report on Hearing, which highlighted the growing number of people living with hearing loss.

Topic: State News/ Telangana

4. Telangana topped in terms of Per Capita Net State Domestic Product at Current Prices.

• Telangana has become India's best performing state by surpassing Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• In 2014, Telangana State started its journey with the spirit of "Startup State".
• Its goal was to stay flexible, open to expansion, and dedicated to developing a one-of-a-kind model of good governance.
• Among states with a population of over 1 crore, Telangana has the highest growth rate in terms of per capita net state domestic product at current prices, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation.
• Telangana's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) grew from 3,59,434 crores in 2011-12 to 11,54,860 crores in 2021-22.
• The state's GDP has increased by 31.12% in the last decade - the highest jump for any state in the country.
• The TRS government, under the leadership of CM K Chandrasekhar Rao, has implemented given below schemes.
  • Rythu Bandhu- Focussed on farmers.
  • Kaleshwaram - World's largest lift irrigation project, with the aim of providing water to the fields of Telangana.
  • Arogya Laxmi - To ensure the provision of basic and supplementary food and nutrition to pregnant and lactating women.

Topic: Appointment

5. Sreekumar Prabhakaran took over as Chief of Western Air Command.

• Air Marshal Sreekumar Prabhakaran has taken over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command.
• He is a graduate of the National Defense Academy and was commissioned as a fighter pilot on December 22, 1983.
• He has succeeded Air Marshal Amit Dev, who retired after 39 years of distinguished service in the Indian Air Force.
• In October 2005, he received the Vayu Sena Medal, and in 2022, he was given the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.
• Headquarters of Western Air Command: New Delhi

Topic: Sports

6. 31^st Southeast Asian Games will be organized in Vietnam.

• The 31^st Southeast Asian Games will be held in Vietnam from May 12 to 23, 2022, which is the region's most important sporting event.
• Around 10,000 participants are expected to attend the Games, which will feature 40 sports and 526 events.
• The main venue will be Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, as well as 11 neighbouring cities such as Quang Ninh, Phu Tho, and Bac Ninh.
• The biennial event was originally scheduled for November 2021, but was postponed because of the COVID pandemic in Vietnam and the surrounding region.
• Vietnam is hosting the event for the second time since 2003.
• The Vietnam finished second in the previous edition with 98 gold, 85 silver, and 105 bronze medals, just behind the host nation, the Philippines.
• Vietnam:
  • It is a South-East Asian country.
  • It is known for its beaches, rivers and Buddhist pagodas.
  • Its capital is Hanoi, and the currency is Vietnamese dong.
  • Pham Minh Chinh is the Prime Minister of Vietnam.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. Union Minister of Electronics & IT Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated Tech Conclave 2022 on 3^rd March 2022.

• Tech Conclave 2022 is a two-day event being organized by National Informatics Centre (NIC), at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on 3^rd & 4^th March 2022.
• Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar, will be the guest of honour at the event.
• Tech Conclave 2022 is the third edition of NIC Tech Conclave. Its theme is “Next Gen Technologies for Digital Government”.
• NIC organizes Tech Conclave focused on Emerging Technologies applicable especially in e-Governance.
• TechConclave:
  • It is an annual event organized by the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), constituted by NIC.
  • The second edition of Technology Conclave was hosted by NIC from 21^st to 22^nd January 2020.
• National Informatics Centre:
  • It is an attached office under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
  • It was set up in 1976 with an aim to provide technology-driven solutions to Central and State Governments. 

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

8. World Wildlife Day: 3 March

• World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on 3^rd March.
• The theme for World Wildlife Day 2022 is “Safeguarding key species for ecosystem restoration”.
• In December 2013, UN General Assembly, in its 68^th session, decided to celebrate March 3 as World Wildlife Day.
• 3 March is day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973. 
• 3 March was proclaimed as World Wildlife Day by UN to raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.
• Sustainable Development Goal 15 focuses on halting biodiversity loss.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

9. India slipped three spots to 120^th position on 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

• India has been placed in the 120th position on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. India’s last year’s rank was 117th.
• India’s overall Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) score is 66 out of 100.
• In the latest ranking, India is behind of all south Asian nations except Pakistan.
• According to the Centre for Science and Environment's State of India's Environment Report, 2022, India's ranking has fallen due to challenges in 11 SDGs.
• India has performed poorly on zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, gender equality and sustainable cities and communities, etc. SDGs.
• According to the report, India also not performed well on quality education and life on land aspects.
• Jharkhand and Bihar are the least prepared to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
• In the latest ranking, Kerala is on the first position while Tamil Nadu and Himachal Pradesh are on second positions.
• The third position is shared by Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
• Among the Union Territories, Chandigarh is on the first position, followed by Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry in the second place.
• In the Sustainable Development Report 2021, Finland is on the top position with a score of 85.90 while Sweden is on second spot with 85.61 points.
• Denmark and Germany are on the fourth and fifth position respectively.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
  • It was adopted by 193 United Nations countries in 2015. It is based on 17 Goals.
  • These are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.
  • It is a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

Topic: National News

10. India’s first mobile ambulance for street animals flag off in Chennai.

• India’s first fully equipped mobile ambulance for on-site treatment of street animals has been launched by the Blue Cross of India.
• It has been flagged off by Justice Dr. Anitha Sumanth of the Madras High Court.
• The Chennai-based Blue Cross of India charity used to receive around 500 requests for animal care every day, but they used to treat only 60 due to lack of pickup and transportation.
• Now, with the help of this ambulance they can cover the whole city.
• This ambulance is equipped with an inverter, two fans, a fridge, and cabinets. It will also have dog-catching equipment and oxygen facility.
• It is a significant step toward the welfare of street animals.

Topic: International News

11. India and Japan renewed bilateral swap arrangement of up to $75 billion.

• The Bank of Japan and the RBI signed the amendment and restatement agreement of the bilateral swap agreement (BSA).
• It aims to strengthen financial safety nets and promote cooperation between both countries.
• The Bilateral swap agreement is a two-way arrangement to swap the local currency in exchange of the Dollar.
• Prime Ministers of India and Japan had negotiated the Bilateral swap agreement in 2018. It will bring greater stability to foreign exchange.
• India-Japan Relations:
  • India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) was signed on 16 February, 2011.
  • India and Japan have upgraded their bilateral relations to ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’.
  • India and Japan had established their diplomatic relations on 28 April 1952.

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

12. NITI Aayog is developing National Gender Index.

• National Gender Index will measure the gaps in gender equality and help the government in framing policy related to gender equality.
• It will be aligned to the framework of Sustainable Development Goals.
• It will act as a tool to measure the progress of states and Union Territories (UTs) on defined gender metrics.
• NITI Aayog has also developed a draft State Energy and Climate Index.
• Clean energy initiatives, generation capacity, environmental sustainability and new initiatives, affordability and reliability of energy, and energy efficiency are the indicators of the State Energy and Climate Index.
• The index will assist states in managing their energy resources more efficiently.

Topic: Important Days

13. World Civil Defence Day: 1 March

• Every year on 1 March, World Civil Defence Day is celebrated around the world.
• World Civil Defence Day was established by the International Civil Defence Organization (IDCO).
• It is celebrated to honor the sacrifice of Civil Defence personnel and to spread awareness about the importance of self-Defence.
• It is also observed to mark the anniversary of the recognition of ICDO by the United Nations.
• The theme of World Civil Defence Day 2022 is “Civil Defence and Management of Displaced Populations in Face of Disasters and Crises; Role of Volunteers and the Fight Against Pandemics”.
• International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO):
  • It was formed in 1931 by George Saint-Paul.
  • It promotes citizen development and safety while protecting infrastructure and the environment.

Topic: Books and Authors

14. Rahul Gandhi unveils autobiography of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

• The first volume of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin’s autobiography ‘Ungalil Oruvan’ (One Among You) has been unveiled in Chennai.
• Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Water Resources Durai Murugan received the first copy of the book.
• It contains MK Stalin early life experiences and other details related to him.
• MK Stalin is the current Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He is also the President of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party.
• MK Stalin is the first Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.