Daily Current Affairs and GK | 30 March 2022

Topic: Indian Polity

1. Government introduced Chartered Accountants Bill in Lok Sabha.

• The government has introduced the Chartered Accountants, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2021 in Lok Sabha for consideration and passing.
• The bill will amend the Chartered Accountants Act 1949, the Cost and Works Accountants Act 1959, and the Company Secretaries Act 1980.
• The bill has provisions to strengthen the disciplinary mechanism under these Acts and the timely disposal of cases against members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
• Currently, the disciplinary committee of ICAI has five members - three ICAI central council members and two government nominees.
• The bill has proposed to include two CAs and three non-CAs in the disciplinary committee of ICAI and it will be headed by a non-CA.
• The Bill was first introduced in December 2021 but was sent to a standing committee for further discussion.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

2. Meghalaya’s living root bridges have been made part of UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list.

• On 21 January 2022 (50^th anniversary of creation of Meghalaya), CM Sangma had proposed that these bridges should be given UNESCO recognition.
• The tentative list includes properties that State Parties consider suitable for inscription on World Heritage List.
• In May 2021, six Indian places were added to UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list.
• About Living Root Bridges:
  • The living root bridges are locally known as Jingkieng Jri. They can last for over 150 years.
  • They are grown by Khasi and Jaintia tribes by weaving and manipulating roots of ficus elastica (Indian Rubber) tree over 10 to 15 years.
• Distribution of Living Root Bridges:
  • 100 living root bridges are presently known across 72 villages in Meghalaya.
  • The living root bridges are found in Meghalaya’s dense subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion.
  • They are very common in Meghalaya’s southern part. They can also be found in the state of Nagaland.
• Famous Living Root Bridges:
  • Rangthylliang Bridge is one of the longest known living root bridges in Meghalaya.
  • The living root bridge of Nongriat is most famous double-decker living root bridge. It is located in East Khasi Hills.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

3. World Piano Day 2022: 29 March

• It is celebrated on 88^th day of the year. It generally falls on 28^th or 29^th March.
• It was celebrated for the first time on March 29, 2015.
• It is celebrated on the 88th day of the year and the number of keys on a standard piano is also 88.
• German pianist and composer Nils Frahm gave the idea of celebration of World Piano Day.
• Piano was invented in Italy by Bartolomeo Cristofori. 

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. Wilfried Brutsaert won Stockholm Water Prize 2022.

• Brutsaert has won the award for his work to quantify environmental evaporation.
• Brutsaert has devised ways to quantify evaporation and its contribution to energy balance of the Earth.
• The award will be presented to Brutsaert on 31 August 2022, during World Water Week.
• He is a renowned hydrologist of Belgian origin. He is called Mr Evaporation. He is an expert on terrestrial evaporation.
• Stockholm Water Prize:
  • Stockholm International Water Institute awards it in cooperation with Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
  • It is often called Nobel Prize of water. It is given for extraordinary water-related achievements.
  • Its winner is announced ever year generally in March.

Topic: Companies/ Corporates

5. PVR and INOX announced their merger.

• PVR and Inox Leisure have announced their merger to make the country's largest multiplex network.
• The combined company will be known as PVR INOX Ltd, with existing screens continuing to be branded as PVR and INOX, respectively.
• The new cinema halls opened after the merger will be branded as PVR INOX.
• The merger of PVR and INOX will create a multiplex network of over 1,500 screens across India.
• The swap ratio is 3:10, i.e. 3 PVR shares for 10 Inox shares, according to the agreement.
• PVR:
  • It was founded in June 1997.
  • Its headquarters is in Gurugram.
  • It’s Chairman and MD is Ajay Bijli.
• INOX Leisure:
  • Its headquarters is in Mumbai.
  • It was founded in 1999.
  • Its CEO is Alok Tandon.

Topic: Books and Authors

6. NITI Aayog and FAO released a book titled ‘Indian Agriculture Towards 2030’.

• Shri Narendra Singh Tomar unveiled the book titled “Indian Agriculture Towards 2030: Pathways for Enhancing Farmers' Income, Nutritional Security, and Sustainable Food and Farm Systems”.
• NITI Aayog, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations had organized the launch event.
• The book is published by Springer.
• The book mentions the deliberation process of national dialogue by NITI Aayog, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and the results of the facility provided by FAO since 2019.
• The following themes are covered in Indian Agriculture towards 2030:
  • Transforming Indian Agriculture
  • Structural Reforms and Governance
  • Dietary Diversity, Nutrition and Food Safety
  • Managing Climate Risks in Agriculture
  • Science, Technology and Innovation
  • Symbiosis of Water and Agricultural Transformation in India
  • Pests, Pandemics, Preparedness and Biosecurity
  • Transformative Agroecology-Based Alternatives for a Sustainable and Biodiverse Future

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

7. PM Modi to virtually attend 5^th BIMSTEC Summit on 30 March 2022.

• Sri Lanka is hosting the summit meeting. Sri Lanka holds current chairmanship of BIMSTEC.
• The summit meeting is being held in virtual mode. The meetings of BIMSTEC Foreign Ministers were held on 29 March 2022.
• 4^th BIMSTEC Summit was held in August 2018. It was hosted by Nepal. 1^st BIMSTEC Summit was held in 2004.
• BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation):
  • It is an international organization of seven countries for multi-sectoral technical and economic cooperation.
  • It was founded on 6 June 1997 and is headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  • Its members are Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

8. Seema Rekha has been declared winner of ‘Outstanding Leadership Award’.

• She has been declared winner at Health 2.0 Conference in Dubai.
• She is Managing Director at Antarmanh Consulting, a management consultancy.
• Health 2.0 Conference is a forum for healthcare professionals and business leaders.
• This conference highlighted the latest developments in the domains of healthcare and wellness.

Topic: Committees/ Commissions/Taskforces

9. Environment Ministry constituted a “permanent” coordination committee to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks.

• The Ministry of Railways and the Environment Ministry formed a “permanent” coordination committee to reduce the number of elephant deaths on the railway track.
• In the last two years, around 26 elephants have died on railway tracks. 19 elephants have died from collisions with the train during 2018-19.
• The government is taking several steps to stop the deaths of elephants on railway tracks.
• The government has imposed speed restrictions in the identified elephant corridors and habitat and is constructing underpasses for the smooth movement of elephants.
• The government erected signage to warn train drivers and launched the 'Plan Bee' initiative to prevent trains from hitting elephants.
• Collision with trains is the second largest cause of the unnatural death of elephants.
• The Wildlife Institute of India in association with other stakeholders has published a document named ‘Eco-Friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure’ to help agencies in designing infrastructure.

Topic: Summits/ Conferences/ Meetings

10. Ministry of MSME is organizing the ‘Mega International Summit on MSMEs’ in New Delhi.

• Union Minister for MSME Shri Narayan Tatu Rane has inaugurated the ‘Mega International Summit on MSMEs’.
• This two-day summit is being organized on 29-30 March 2022 at India International Centre, New Delhi.
• Entrepreneurs, academicians, policymakers, industry leaders, startups, etc. are attending the summit.
• MSMEs and self-help groups from India and across the world are participating in this summit.
• At the Summit, experts will discuss the challenges and opportunities in the MSME sector after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• They will also discuss the role of incubators/accelerators in MSMEs’ growth, technology and innovation, and the digital transformation of MSMEs.

Topic: Defence

11. IAF launched a new initiative for refueling its convoys.

• The Indian Air Force launched the 'Fleet Card - Fuel on Move' initiative in collaboration with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd.
• This initiative has been launched to speed up the refueling of convoys of the Indian Air Force.
• As of now, the IAF procures fuel from various agencies and distributes it within the Air Force establishments. IAF convoys are refueled at the Air Force stations.
• With the help of the Fleet Cards, the IAF can refuel its convoys at any IOCL fuel station. It will increase the pace of movement of Convoys.
• This initiative has been launched by Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari.
• This initiative by the Indian Air Force provides a paradigm shift to the logistics management of fuel.
• Indian Oil Corporation:
  • It is the largest government-owned oil corporation in India.
  • It is under the ownership of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Defence

12. US and Philippines begin their biggest military exercise in the last seven years.

• Armies of the United States and the Philippines are conducting "Balikatan" (shoulder-to-shoulder) military exercise in the South China Sea.
• Around 9000 Filipino and American soldiers will take part in this 12-day military exercise.
• It is the largest military exercise between both countries since 2015.
• Maritime security, amphibious operation, live-fire training, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance are part of this exercise.
• The exercise has been designed to improve defensive capabilities and readiness to respond.
• This exercise will help in strengthening defense ties and reflect the “deepening alliance” between the two countries.

Topic: National News

13. National Commission for Women (NCW) launched legal aid clinic to resolve grievances of women.

• National Commission for Women (NCW) in association with Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) has launched a legal aid clinic.
• Its main objective is to make legal assistance more accessible to women.
• It will act as a single-window facility to resolve the grievances of women.
• The legal aid center will provide free legal advice and services to women in Delhi.
• This legal center will also provide assistance, advice, and information on various schemes of the National Legal Services Authority.
• National Commission for Women (NCW) is planning to open similar legal services clinics in other State Commissions for Women.

Topic: State News/ Assam

14. Assam, Meghalaya inked an agreement to resolve border disputes.

• The government of Assam and Meghalaya signed an agreement to resolve border disputes.
• Both state government has drafted a resolution to resolve their border disputes along the 884-km boundary.
• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma signed the agreement in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• Assam and Meghalaya have already resolved 6 out of 12 points of the dispute. The remaining 6 points will be also resolved soon.
• The land dispute has emerged in 1972 when Meghalaya was carved out of Assam to form a new state.
• The border dispute has emerged due to different readings of the demarcation of boundaries in the initial agreement.