Daily Current Affairs and GK | 5 March 2022

Topic: Miscellaneous

1. Ministry of Culture to organize “Swacchagraha: celebrating Swachhta and Swadhinta” event in collaboration with Sulabh International.

• It will be organized as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav on 5 March to encourage mass awareness with focus on “Swachhta, Swadhinta, and Sulabh”.
• This event will be conducted in two sessions and many eminent personalities like Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Baba Ramdev, Prof. Kameshwar Nath Singh will participate in this event.
• On this occasion, a special screening of the Amrit Mahotsav film will be also done.
• The evening session themed ‘Ek Shaam Sur, Taal aur Swachhta ke Naam’ will be addressed by Chief Guest Vijay Goel.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

2. Government approved the Modernization Plan for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)

• The Government has approved the scheme-Modernisation Plan-IV- for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) with an outlay of Rs 1,523 crore.
• It is the extension of the “Modernisation Plan-III” scheme for CAPFs.
• The Modernisation Plan-IV for CAPFs will be implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs from 1 February 2022 to 31 March, 2026
• Its main vision is to provide modern weapons and equipment to CAPF as per their requirement.
• Under this scheme, upgraded IT solutions will also be provided to CAPFs.
• The implementation of the scheme will improve the operational efficiency/preparedness of CAPF.
• It will improve the capability of the CAPFs to deal with the challenges of Left Wing Extremism, insurgency in North Eastern States and terrorism in J&K.
• Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF):
  • It is the largest Central Armed Police Force in India.
  • It functions under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
  • It was established on 27 July 1939.
  • Kuldiep Singh is the Director general of CRPF.

Topic: National News

3. Indigenous anti-collision technology 'Kavach' was successfully tested to prevent rail accidents.

• Indian Railways has successful conducted anti-collision test of the 'Kavach' system, which is an indigenously developed system to avoid rail accidents.
• Kavach, an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, has been created to assist the Railways in achieving their goal of zero accidents.
• ‘Kavach' automatically stops the train before 380 metres of other locomotives at the front.
• The Kavach will be the world's most cost-effective system for preventing train collisions. It will cost 50 lakh rupees per kilometre to operate once it is implemented.
• In February 2016, the first field tests on passenger trains began. Based on the experience gained, the Kavach's first specifications were finalised on in May 2017.
• On the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors, the Kavach will be implemented to increase speed to 160 kmph as part of the "Mission Raftaar Project."

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

4. World Obesity Day 2022: 4 March

• Every year on March 4^th, the world commemorates World Obesity Day.
• Its aim is to raise awareness about the Obesity and to assist people in overcoming it.
• 'Everybody Needs to Act' is the theme of the World Obesity Day 2022.
• The World Obesity Federation organises the day.
• Obesity is a disease of the body that has tripled since 1975. It mostly affects children and adolescents.
• It is one of the major risk factors for hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.

Topic: State News / Himachal Pradesh

5. Himachal Pradesh government presented budget for FY 2022-23.

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has presented the state budget for FY 2022-23 at the state assembly.
• He stated that the old age social security pension would be increased from Rs. 1001 to Rs. 1500.
• The government has reduced the age limit for getting such pension from 70 years to 60 years without any income limit.
• The Chief Minister also declared that the fund for Members of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALAD) will be increased from 1.80 crore to 2 crore.
• The Chief Minister also stated that the discretionary grant for MLAs will be increased from 10 lakhs to 12 lakhs per year in the next financial year.
• The Chief Minister has announced the creation of 500 new doctor positions.
• Thakur declared that the Himcare card would need to be renewed every three years instead than every year in order to receive free health services for a variety of ailments.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News / Arunachal Pradesh

6. Arunachal Pradesh will construct a Greenfield Airport in Hollongi.

• Considering the significance of air connectivity to the capital city, the Airports Authority of India has begun construction on developing a Greenfield Airport in Hollongi, 15 kilometres from Itanagar.
• The project costing Rs 645 crore includes construction of airport pavement, air side work, terminal building and city side work.
• The proposed airport is designed to accommodate A-320 aircraft.
• The airport's terminal structure spans 4100 square metres. It will be able to accommodate 200 people during peak hours.
• The airport is expected to be operational on August 15, 2022.
• The Greenfield Airport Policy 2008 was created by the government to give extant guidelines for the development of greenfield airports in the country.
• The central government has given its approval for the development of 21 greenfield airports.

Topic: Personality in News

7. Australian cricketer Shane Warne recently passed away in Koh Samui, Thailand.

• Shane Keith Warne played his first Test match in 1992 against India. His Test Match career spanned 15 years from 1992 to 2007.
• He is regarded as one of greatest bowlers in history. He took 708 wickets in 145 Test matches. He is the second highest wicket taker in Test Cricket. 
• He was right-arm leg spinner and a lower-order batsman. He took over 1,000 wickets in Tests and One Day Internationals.
• He is the third-highest five-wicket haul taker after Muttiah Muralitharan and Richard Hadlee.
• In 2000, he was selected as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century. Donald Bradman, Garfield Sobers, Jack Hobbs and Viv Richards are other four Wisden Cricketers of the Century.
• Australian wicket-keeper Rod Marsh also passed away recently on 04 March.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

8. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) and Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) signed an MoU on 24 February 2022.

• The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed in order to realize green energy objectives and Government of India’s efforts towards carbon-neutral economy.
• MoU envisages cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy and Electric Mobility.
• It also envisages cooperation in the field of alternative fuels including the development of ESG Projects.
• Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, which is owned by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
• It is the third-largest oil refining and fuel marketing company in the country. Its headquarters is in Mumbai.
• Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI):
  • It is Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
  • It was set up in September 2011 to facilitate the implementation of National Solar Mission.

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

9. Indian Hotels Company Ltd partnered with UNESCO to preserve intangible cultural heritage in India.

• It is the first of its kind collaboration to preserve and promote the cultural heritage of India.
• This partnership is part of the initiative to transform the landscape of tourism in the post-COVID 19 world.
• The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage was adopted by 178 countries in 2003.
• Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) represents the “living” heritage of a country. India has 14 Intangible Cultural Heritage. It includes Kumbh Mela, Kutiyattam, Durga Puja etc.
• IHCL and UNESCO will offer special tours packages for a better experience of the living heritage of India.
• UNESCO:
  • It promotes peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture.
  • It was established on 16 November 1945.
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations based in Paris, France.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

10. Scientists of Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered new gin berry species in Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary.

• This berry species, named ‘Glycosmis albicarpa’ is endemic to the southern Western Ghats. It belongs to the Orange family.
• Like other species of Glycosmis, it is also a host plant for butterflies.
• Glycosmis species berries have the unique characteristic of ‘gin aroma’ and is a popular edible fruit.
• Plants related to these taxonomic groups are utilized for their medicinal values and food.
• This species has been found in Tirunelveli semi-evergreen forests.
• Glycosmis pentaphylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae, known commonly as orangeberry and gin berry.
• Botanical Survey of India (BSI):
  • It is the apex taxonomic research organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
  • It was established on 13 February 1890.

Topic: Defence

11. Ministry of Defence has approved indigenous defence projects.

• The government has approved nine projects for the design and development of defence equipment by Indian industries.
• It is a significant step towards self-reliance in the defence sector. The Central government will provide 90 percent funding in a phased manner.
• Out of nine projects, four projects have been approved under the 'Make-I category' while five projects have been approved in the 'Make-II category'.
• The four projects include design and development of light tanks, communication equipment with Indian security protocols, airborne electro-optical pod with ground-based system, and airborne stand-off jammers.
• After the launch of Defence Acquisition Procedure-2020, it will be the first time that Indian industry has been involved in the development of light tanks and communication equipment with Indian security protocols.
• In the 'Make-II category’, Government will provide no funding for the prototype development.
• The indigenous development of these (nine) projects will position India as a design leader in these technologies.

Topic: New Developments

12. Researchers of IIT Kanpur have developed a biodegradable nanoparticle to protect crops from disease.

• It can be used in the place of chemical-based pesticides and will help farmers in protecting their crops from bacterial and fungal infections.
• A team led by Santosh K Misra and Piyush Kumar in association with researchers of ICAR has developed nanoparticle bio-degradable-carbonoid-metabolite (BioDCM).
• It acts fast as it is applied in bioactive form and can withstand high temperature.
• Nanoparticles will boost crop yield and reduce the effect of bacterial and fungal infections.
• The biodegradable and non-harmful nature of the nanoparticle will help farmers in doing Organic farming.
• In December 2021, IIT Kanpur had launched a soil testing device called Bhu Parikshak to measure soil health in 90 seconds.
• A nanoparticle is a small particle that ranges between 1 to 100 nanometres in size.

Topic: Sports

13. Shri Nivetha, Esha, Ruchita combinedly win gold in the women's 10m air pistol team event at ISSF World Cup.

• Shri Nivetha, Esha, Ruchita had also topped the qualification stage 1 with a total score of 856.
• They had also topped the qualification stage 2 with a total score of 574.
• In the bronze medal match, the Indian men’s pistol team finished on fourth place.
• Earlier, Saurabh Chaudhary has clinched gold in the men's 10m air pistol event.
• More than 500 athletes from 60 nations are taking part in the ISSF World Cup.
• ISSF World Cup was started by the International Shooting Sport Federation in 1986.

Topic: State News/ Meghalaya

14. Meghalaya becomes ninth state to withdraw consent to CBI.

• The withdrawal of approval means that the CBI will be unable to probe any case in the state without the permission of the state administration.
• CBI is governed by the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946 and it has to obtain consent from the state government before beginning investigation.
• The consent of the state government to CBI can be either case-specific or general.
• General consent is the consent by default while in specific consent CBI would have to apply to the state government in every case.
• Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, and Mizoram have withdrawn their general consent to CBI.
• Mizoram was the first state to withdraw consent in 2015. West Bengal government had withdrawn general consent to CBI in 2018.
• Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI):
  • It is an investigating agency in India that works under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
  • It was established on the recommendation of the Santhanam Committee.
  • Subodh Kumar Jaiswal is the current director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.