Current Affair of March 2022

National

1. On 1^st March, 2022, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) marked its 17^th Foundation Day. Celebrations took place at 15^th August Ground at Red Fort, New Delhi. Union minister for Women and Child Development, Smriti Zubin Irani was the chief guest.

2. Glycosmis albicarpa is the recently discovered species of gin berry. Glycosmis albicarpa was discovered by scientists of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). It was discovered as undergrowth in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli semi-evergreen forests at the Panagudi forest section of the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary.

3. Government of Delhi is all set to develop a "Science Innovation Hub" at a school run by it in Kautilya Enclave. Delhi Science Innovation Hub includes all the modern and latest facilities, like a planetarium which is a museum to provide enhanced knowledge of scientific culture, and temperament to students.

4. 'Sambhav' and 'Svavlamban' are the initiatives to tackle the issue of plastic waste in India. 'Sambhav' and 'Svavlamban' initiatives were launched by Union Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, at the International Summit on Plastics Recycling and Waste Management.

5. On 3^rd March 2022, a National conclave on Social Enterprises for Garbage Free Cities: Encouraging Women Entrepreneurs in Waste management in Raipur is being organized by the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 which falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), in collaboration with the Chhattisgarh government.

6. Acetabularia jalakanyakae is the new marine algae species discovered in India. Acetabularia jalakanyakae was discovered by Indian scientists from the Central University of Punjab in the Andamans archipelago. The scientists sighted the species in 2019 during their trip to Andamans.

7. The Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam have witnessed a sharp rise in the population of rhinos and tigers. The authorities of the national park expect the tiger population will rise to more than 60 from 48 as per the 2021 census.

8. The Delhi government will be holding Business Blasters Investment Summit and Expo with the aim of providing a bigger platform to the young entrepreneurs. This summit will be held on 5^th March. During this event, 100 or more business ideas by student entrepreneurs will be selected and showcased.

9. Karewas are highly fertile alluvial soil deposits found in the Kashmir valley. In the Kashmiri dialect, Karewas means "elevated table-land". Godwin-Austin (1859) was the first one to use the term karewa to refer to a sequence of an unconsolidated to semi – consolidated sand-clay-conglomerate.

10. New Delhi Police has launched three digital initiatives Anubhuti, a QR code-based feedback system, e-Chittha portal, and a refurbished Delhi Police website. These digital initiatives were launched with the aim to add a new dimension in modernizing and digitizing the police force.

11. On 4^th March 2022, the two-day Study in India (SII) 2022 meet was inaugurated in Dhaka by Vikram Doraiswami, India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, and Dipu Moni, Bangladesh's Education Minister. This event has been organized by the High Commission of India.

12. On the occasion of National Science Day 2022, the government has launched an International Monsoons Project Office. It was launched by Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoS (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Earth Sciences; PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space.

13. Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report 2020-21 on school education of India was recently released. Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) was initiated in 2012-13. It is one of the largest Management Information Systems on School Education.

14. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister, will launch the electronic bill (e-Bill) processing system under the Digital India eco-system and ease of doing business. This e-governance initiative was announced in the Budget 2022-23 by the Finance Minister.

15. Even if greenhouse gas emissions are decreased, several disasters caused by climate change are likely to happen in the next two decades, according to a report compiled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). India will be severely impacted if emissions are not reduced, according to the second installment of the IPCC report.

16. The United Nations climate science panel, in a major report, warned that climate change is upon us and humanity is not prepared for it. The report noted that over half of the world's population was already exposed to increasingly hazardous climate impacts and called for massive action.

17. The Indian government has allowed the import and manufacture of national flags which are machine-made of polyester. The 2002 Flag Code of India has been amended for this purpose. Earlier rules permitted only those flags which were made by only "hand-spun and weaved wool, cotton, or silk khadi bunting while machine-made flag imports were banned in 2019.

18. On 5^th March 2022, the Haryana government introduced the "Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2022" in the Vidhan Sabha (State legislative assembly). As the ruling party has the majority, the bill is likely to be passed by the state legislative assembly.

19. Domestic violence is violence that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage. The victims of domestic violence are overwhelmingly women. Examples include dowry harassment, sexual abuse. It protects the right of all women in a domestic relationship to live free from any form of domestic violence. It entered into force in 2006.

20. The State of India's Environment Report, 2022 of the Centre for Science and Environment was released by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. According to this report, India's ranking has slipped due to substantial challenges in 11 SDGs such as zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, gender equality, and sustainable cities and communities.

21. According to Mercom India Research, India installed a record 10 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity in the calendar year 2021, a 212 percent increase year on year (y-o-y). According to the report, 3.2 GW of solar capacity installations were made by India in 2020.

22. Vinaya Samarasya Yojana, an awareness programme has been announced by the government of Karnataka. This programme was announced with the aim of eradicating untouchability in Gram Panchayats located across the state. After a three-year-old Dalit boy named Vinay, this scheme has been named.

23. The Kaliyattam festival is an annual Theyyam festival held in the temples in Kerala's Malabar region. Theyyam is the name of a grand dance festival that is held in different parts of Kerala, including Kasargod. Theyyam consists of thousand-year-old rituals, traditions, and customs.

24. Meghalaya has become the ninth state of the country to withdraw consent to CBI to investigate cases in the state. The Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, governs the CBI and it is mandatory to obtain the concerned state government's consent before beginning to investigate a crime in a state.

25. While presenting the Budget 2022-23 in Himachal Pradesh's state assembly, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced that the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development (MLALAD) fund would be increased from Rs. 1.80 crore to Rs. 2 crore.

26. Pune Metro is a rapid transit system that serves Pune. The system consists of three lines totaling 54.58 kilometers, of which 12 kilometers are operational from March 2022. PM Modi inaugurated the Pune Metro on 6^th March 2022.

27. NITI Aayog is working on development of a "National Gender Index", that will be used to measure the progress and identify persisting gaps in gender equality in order to make informed policy decisions. NITI Aayog in its latest annual report 2021-2022 noted that, National Gender Index will serve as a tool to map the progress of states and Union Territories (UTs) on a defined gender metrics and build foundation for positive change.

28. The 73^rd and 74^th amendments provided compulsory reservation for SCs, STs, and women in Panchayats and Municipalities. However, reservation for backward classes is left to the discretion of state governments. However, in March 2022, the Supreme Court rejected the report because of a lack of empirical study and research by MSCBC.

29. The health heritage walks were held on the 4^th day of the Jan Aushadhi Diwas weeklong celebrations in 10 cities to spread the message of wellbeing from physical exercise and walking, as well as to spread the message of affordable and quality generic medications which can be availed from Janaushadhi Kendras.

30. The University Grants Commission (UGC) released 'Draft Guidelines for Transforming Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) into Multidisciplinary Institutions' and invited public feedback. The guidelines aim at promoting higher education institutions to offer courses in diverse subjects raise and break the silos present in higher education.

31. The Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (MDoNER), as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, is celebrating a week-long campaign called 'Nari Shakti of the North East,' to recognize the exceptional achievements of women and girls in North East India ahead of International Women's Day 2022.

32. Manish Sisodia, Delhi's Education Minister as well as Deputy Chief Minister has inaugurated, on a pilot basis, a health clinic at a government school located in Delhi's Moti Bagh. Health clinics will be established in Delhi government schools as part of the state government's 'Aam Aadmi School Clinics' project, which is similar to the 'mohalla clinics' projects.

33. To support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to raise funds through the NSE Emerge platform, the government of Telangana and the National Stock Exchange of India has signed an MoU. Under this MoU, the stock exchange, with the assistance of the State government, will build awareness among MSMEs about the opportunities for raising funds through the platform through roadshows, seminars, and workshops.

34. The state government of Rajasthan in its budget 2022-23 has announced a Camel Protection and Development Policy. According to the state government figures, in Rajasthan there are less than two lakh camels left. Since 2012, the number of camels has reduced by 1.5 lakh in India. Around 2.5 lakh camels were left when in 2019 it was last counted.

35. A taskforce of senior officers formed by the Home Ministry a few months ago to investigate cases of suicide in the central armed police forces (CAPFs) will also submit a complete report on occurrences of fratricide, in which seven BSF members were killed.

36. A mega campaign for urban farming will be launched by the Delhi government and a roundtable conference on 25 April will also be held to discuss the future course of action. A Delhi Environment Protection Committee will also be set up by the government of Delhi to make this initiative a mass movement.

37. The Cabinet of Assam in its meeting that was presided over Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave approval to the proposal of replacing paper ballots with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the polls of Guwahati Municipal Corporation.

38. Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) was established in 2000, by amending the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) Act, 1997. TDSAT was constituted to bring a separate disputes settlement mechanism for the telecom sector, thereby strengthening the regulatory framework of the sector.

39. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of Chhattisgarh has launched the 'Kaushalya Matritva Yojana'. On this occasion cheques of Rs. 5,000 each were also given to five women beneficiaries for safe motherhood at a state-level conference. Under this scheme, on the birth of a second girl child Rs. 5000 financial assistance will be given to women.

40. At the commencement of the first session of each year, Governor makes a customary address to the members of the state legislature. The Governor addresses the first session of the state legislature each year. The first session of any legislature is usually the budget session.

41. Commemorating the International Women's Day 2022 on 8^th March 2022, India's first 100 percent women-owned industrial park was opened in Hyderabad, Telangana. Telangana Industries Minister KT Rama Rao inaugurated this park. With 25 women-owned and operated Green Projects, this industrial park has begun its operations.

42. A floating solar project at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu has been set up by leading fertilizer manufacturer Southern Petrochemical Industries Corporation Ltd (SPIC) at an estimated cost of Rs. 150.4 crore. The unit was inaugurated by Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and is claimed to be India's largest and first floating power plant in Tamil Nadu.

43. R. K. Singh, Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, along with Krishan Pal Gurjar, the Minister of State for Power, has launched virtually the Virtual Smart Grid Knowledge Center (Virtual SGKC) and Innovation Park. The SGKCs digital twin is the virtual SGKC, which replicates the facilities which are available in SGKC via an online platform.

44. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar of Haryana while presenting the state budget has announced a 'Sushma Swaraj Award' for women for their significant achievements or contribution in different walks of life in the international and national spheres. The Sushma Swaraj Award will carry an award money of Rs. 5 lakh along with a commendation.

45. On 9^th March 2022, Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Labour and Employment released a book titled 'Role of Labour in India's Development'. 'Role of Labour in India's Development' book has 12 articles outlining the contribution of labour in the development journey of India.

46. Power foundation is the policy advocacy society set up by the government for power and allied sectors. Power foundation is a society formed under the aegis of the Power Ministry. It is registered under the Societies Act by leading power sector CPSEs such as NTPC, Powergrid, REC, PFC, NHPC, THDC, NEEPCO and SJVN.

47. Recently, a special convention was organized at Upleta town of Rajkot district for Gujarat's donkey breeders. The purpose of the special convention is to spread awareness among the pastoral community about Halari donkeys and help them appreciate the animal's worth.

48. Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri launched 'Indian Petroleum Natural Gas Statistics 2020-21' on 11^th March 2022. 'Indian Petroleum & Natural Gas Statistics' is the annual publication of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

49. In a gazette notification issued on 11^th March, the Union government amended Census Rules, 1990. An amendment has been made to clause C of Rule-2 of Census Rules, 1990, that deals with definitions. The terms "electronic form" and "self-enumeration" have been included in the schedule of questions to be asked during the census.

50. Recently, the government of Gujarat unveiled a new Sports Policy 2022-27. The objective of Sports Policy 2022-27 is to change the sports scenario in Gujarat. An equal emphasis has been laid on promoting the sports talent in Gujarat and also creating world-class sports infrastructure across the state.

51. On 13^th March, Mumbai Climate Action Plan (MCAP) was released, which was prepared by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Before the preparation of MCAP, a vulnerability assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) and natural green cover inventory was conducted. World Resources Institute (WRI), India, and the C40 Cities network provided technical support to BMC for the preparation of the plan.

52. On 13^th March, the health department of the Telangana State government issued a government order (GO) approving the Integrated Hospital Facility Management Services (IHFMS). IHFMS also extends to institutions, nursing colleges, and nursing schools in Telangana.

53. On 14^th March, Ministry for Forest, Environment, and Climate Change announced the project for the rejuvenation of 13 major rivers in the country. The 13 Rivers that will form part of the rejuvenation project include, Himalayan Rivers: Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra. Deccan or Peninsular Rivers: Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, & Cauvery. Inland drained Category River: Luni.

54. Debasish Panda has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) for a three-year term. Former Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary Debasish Panda, a retired IAS officer, has been appointed Chairperson of the IRDAI, the insurance regulator, by the Cabinet Appointments Committee.

55. 'Grameena Habba,' a platform for rural artisans to sell handicraft, agricultural, and handloom products, is being held by NABARD's Karnataka regional office in Bengaluru till 14^th March. This event features handloom sarees, handmade arts, home decors, handwoven clothing material, natural beauty products, tribal products, jewellery, organic food products, and accessories from weavers, rural artisans, farmers, and tribes from numerous districts of Karnataka and across India.

56. The Konkan Railway Corporation has finished electrification of its entire 741-kilometer route that stretches from Roha, Maharashtra to Thokur, Karnataka. This electrification of the 741-kilometer stretch will bring about savings of fuel amounting to Rs. 150 crore.

57. The Centre decided to table the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha during the Second part of the Budget Session of Parliament. The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill will be moved by Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda.

58. Nagaland became India's first State Assembly to implement the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) programme to become paperless. NeVA is a type of work-flow system that was deployed on NIC Cloud, MeghRaj which helps to conduct the proceedings of the House smoothly by the Chair of the House and also to conduct Legislative Business of the House in a manner which is paperless.

59. The Assembly of Haryana has passed the "Haryana Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religious Bill, 2022." According to the government of Haryana, this Bill is aimed to prevent religious conversions through force. This bill looks to prevent the conversion of a person's religion through force, fraudulent methods, allurement or under the guise of marriage.

60. On 14^th March Karnataka's IT Minister, C. N. Ashwath Narayan launched India's first-ever digital water data bank, AQVERIUM. The Digital water data bank is a list of water data sourced from various institutions. It provides reliable information and insights regarding the various aspects of water.

61. On 15^th March a three-judge Bench of Karnataka High Court (HC) gave a verdict on the petitions related to banning Hijab (headscarf) in Karnataka's educational institutions. High court upheld the order of Karnataka government prescribing wearing of uniforms in schools & pre-university colleges as per provisions of Karnataka Education Act, 1983.

62. In the budget of Kerala that was presented by Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal, importance has been given to the IT sector of the state, with the focus being given to the futuristic 5G networks. Expeditious steps will be initiated by the Kerala government to bring the 5G system to the state and to move forward rapidly in the service sector.

63. The Madhya Pradesh state government for the first time presented a 'child budget' as part of its annual financial plan. The government has allocated Rs. 57,803 crore for 220 schemes which will be implemented under 17 departments, including education, targeted at children aged below the age of 18.

64. The name of the new cyclone that is forming on the Bay of Bengal has been named 'Asani'. The cyclone seems to be carrying thunderstorms for the eastern coast of India which includes West Bengal, Odisha, etc. Meteorologists have predicted that the cyclone will move towards the north.

65. A project has been announced by the United Nations to put every individual on the planet in early weather-warning systems range within the next five years as natural disasters have grown frequent and more powerful due to the effects of climate change.

66. A new Carangid species has been identified by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) from the Indian coast of Kerala. This newly identified fish belongs to the group named 'queen fish'. The scientific name of this fish is Scomberoides pelagicus.

67. Jitendra Singh, MoS Ministry of Earth Sciences, has told Rajya Sabha that a rapid increase in ocean warming has been experienced by the tropical Indian Ocean. It has been observed that there was around a 1-degree Celsius (°C) average rise in sea surface temperature over the period of 1951 to 2015, which is equivalent to 0.15°C per decade.

68. The government has initiated the process of amendment to laws such as the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Indian Penal Code, and the Indian Evidence Act with the aim of making comprehensive changes in the criminal laws of the country.

69. V-Dem Institute has released a report titled "Democracy Report 2022: Autocratisation Changing Nature". According to the latest report of the V-Dem Institute, India is among the top 10 autocratising countries of the world along with El Salvador, Turkey, and Hungary. The report also indicated that there will be a further decline in democracy in India.

70. According to the newly released National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey 2019-2021, the highest incidents of pulmonary tuberculosis cases across the country were recorded in Delhi with the lowest being in Kerala. After six decades, this survey has been conducted and was released by the Union Health Ministry to mark World TB Day.

71. In the UNEP Annual Frontier Report 2022 which is titled 'Noise, Blazes and Mismatches', Dhaka has been ranked as the noisiest city in the world which is followed by Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Five Indian cities have been ranked in this list of being among the noisiest cities of the world which are Asansol, Jaipur, Kolkata, New Delhi, and Moradabad.

72. On 21^st March, India and Australia held a virtual summit. At the summit, there were talks regarding critical investment, critical minerals, migration, defense, technological cooperation, and digital sectors. Prime Minister Modi and Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister took part in this summit.

73. In the Conference of Parties (COP-4) Minamata Convention on Mercury, the participating parties have agreed to expand the mercury-added products list that has been planned to be phased out. The COP-4 Minamata Convention on Mercury, took place in Bali, Indonesia from 21^st to 25^th March 2022.

74. A permanent coordination committee has been set up by the Union Environment Ministry that also includes the Ministry of Railways to prevent the deaths of elephants on railway tracks. In 2018-19, 19 elephants were killed on railway tracks across the country. In 2019-20, 14 elephants were killed and in 2020-21 the number stands at 12.

75. On 23^rd March 2022, the Supreme Court announced that states are eligible to tax lottery schemes that are operating within the territories of the state as it falls under the activity of betting and gambling which comes under taxation covered under the State List.

76. A new brand of forest products has been launched from Nilambur. Minor forest produce harvested by Nilambur tribespeople, such as wild honey, will now be marketed under the Adavi brand. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) has jointly launched the Adavi brand at a tribal festival that was held at Nilambur.

77. Telangana is the first state in the country to record its crop diversification patterns in the form of an index. The crop diversification index has a base value of one, which represents the percentage of total cultivated area devoted to a single crop. If the index value is higher, it denotes that the crops are more diversified.

78. Dishaank is an application developed by Karnataka to ensure easy access to land records. The Survey Settlement and Land Records (SSLR) unit of Karnataka's revenue department is ensuring easy availability of original land records through an app called Dishaank.

79. Nagaland became India's first State Assembly to implement the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) programme to become paperless. NeVA is a type of work-flow system that was deployed on NIC Cloud, MeghRaj which helps to conduct the proceedings of the House smoothly by the Chair of the House and also to conduct Legislative Business of the House in a manner which is paperless.

80. India's largest iron ore producer, National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) Ltd, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IIT Kharagpur for the purpose of drone-based mineral exploration. Drone-based Geophysical Surveys and Hyperspectral Studies for Mineral Exploration would be conducted by NMDC for the first time in India.

81. Geographical Indication tag has been awarded to the Narasingapettai Nagaswaram under the category of musical instruments of class 15. Narasinghapettai nagaswaram is a classical wind music instrument that is traditionally made in a village near Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu.

82. The information regarding the Final Estimates of 2020-21 and First Advance Estimates of 2021-22 of Area and Production of various Horticultural Crops have been released by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Total Horticulture production in 2021-22: 333.3 Million Tonne (estimated), which is a 0.4 percent decrease of about 1.35 Million Tonne over 2020-21 (Final).

83. Over 1 lakh internship opportunities have been launched by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan through the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) internship portal. The internship opportunities have been announced with the aim of enhancing the students' employability skills.

84. On 23^rd March, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal has directed the officials to transform seventeen city forests in the capital of the nation into city forests of world-class level. In an area of nearly 3000 acres and spread across 17 locations in Delhi the world-class city forests will be developed.

85. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has been identifying new GI tagged Agri products so that they can be exported to new destinations. Geographical Indication (GI) tag is a unique identifier that is given to a product, which defines the region of origin of that product.

86. In the current fiscal year, goods and services procurement from the government portal GeM has crossed the mark of Rs. 1 lakh crore. This occurred due to a growth in the buying activities by various departments and ministries. With this newly achieved figure, GeM has been ranked among the world's top five systems for e-public procurement.

87. A Draft legislation has been approved by India's Union Cabinet to provide a regulatory framework for research activities of India in Antarctica and also to protect the continent's environment. The Ministry of Earth Sciences has piloted the Indian Antarctica Bill.

88. According to the Economic Survey of Delhi 2021-22, the nation's capital is one of the country's most prosperous states. It has ranked third as per the per capita income behind the states of Goa and Sikkim. This survey was presented in Delhi's state Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

89. The annual Mangaluru Kambala's fifth edition will be held on the grounds of Goldfinch City in Bangra Kulur on 26^th and 27^th March 2022. Around 150 pairs of buffalo bulls will be taking part in this event. This event generally takes place in November, but due to the COVID-19 restrictions, for the second year running, this event is being held in March.

90. Asia's largest Tulip Garden is located in Srinagar. This garden houses more than a million tulips. This garden has been a major global tourist attraction in Kashmir. On 23^rd March, it has been reopened to the public after being shut for the past nine months.

91. Two premier research and educational institutions have released a study shedding light on the space economy of India. Even as India's space programme expanded by leaps and bounds, the parameters surrounding it are vague. This study is a first-of-its-kind attempt to measure the size of the country's space economy.

92. The Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) in association with the National Commission for Women (NCW) has launched a legal aid clinic that aims to act as a single-window facility to resolve all the grievances that have been lodged by women by providing them with free legal assistance.

93. A border agreement was signed between Assam and Meghalaya on 29^th March 2022. With this newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Meghalaya will be gaining 18.33 square kilometers and Assam will be gaining 18.46 sq km out of the total of 36.79 sq km. in 6 out of 12 areas of differences that were resolved between the two states.

94. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain Campaign-2022 was launched by N. Biren Singh, the Chief Minister of Manipur on 29^th March 2022. The campaign was launched with the aim of intensifying the various measures of water conservation in all the identified water-stressed districts and blocks across Manipur.

95. On 30^th March Rajasthan Foundation Day or Rajasthan Diwas is observed to commemorate the state's formation. On 30^th March 1949, Rajasthan was formed after the merging of Rajputana into the Indian Union. The 73^rd foundation day of Rajasthan is being celebrated on Rajasthan Day 2022.

International

1. Recently, jurisdictions have started blockading their airspace to aircraft operated or registered by Russia, in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Use of airspace has become a crucial tool by countries to affirm their take in geopolitical conflicts.

2. A team of geologists have discovered a crater named "Yilan Crater", in northwest of Yilan in Heilongjiang Province of China. Prior to 2020, only one impact crater "Xiuyan Crater" was discovered in Liaoning province, despite China's large land area.

3. On 1 March, the GOES-T satellite was launched into space on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. About 3.5 hours after lift-off, GOES-T was deployed from the Atlas V's upper stage. GOES-T is the latest spacecraft in the USD 11.7 billion Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R series launched by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

4. The Montreux Convention Regarding the Straits Regime, or simply the Montreux Convention, is an international treaty that governs Turkey's Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits. This convention was signed to address the long-running Straits Question of who should manage the strategically important route between the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

5. President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, recently asked European Union (EU) to allow Ukraine to immediately become a member, under a special procedure. Following the request, President of European Council Charles Michel noted that, the council will have to "seriously look at Ukraine's request for EU membership".

6. On 1 March, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the nuclear forces to put on high alert amid tensions with the west over Ukrainian invasion. Following the order, nuclear submarines sailed off for drills in Barents Sea as well as mobile missile launchers roamed snow forests in Siberia.

7. Swiss Air Lines, the subsidiary of Lufthansa, plans to become the world's first airline to use solar fuel. Lufthansa and Swiss have started strategic cooperation with the manufacturer Synhelion for market launch. Under this deal, the Lufthansa Group and Swiss will help in developing the commercial fuel production facilities in Spain that have been planned by Synhelion.

8. In a biggest multilateral environmental deal, 175 countries have agreed to a legally binding global treaty called "Global Plastics Treaty", to end the plastic pollution crisis by tackling the entire supply chain of material. The resolution on first treaty was passed at meeting of UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi in Kenya.

9. Sri Lanka, reeling under its worst economic crisis, has announced a nationwide daily power cut of seven-and-a-half hours each. This is Sri Lanka's longest power cut announced in 26 years. The Sri Lankan government has been imposing sporadic power cuts due to its dwindling fuel supplies.

10. Researchers have discovered an astounding new species of orchid in the cloud rainforest of Northern Ecuador. It has been scientifically named Maxillaria anacatalina-portillae. This plant is unique with its showy, intense yellow flowers. It was described by Polish orchidologists in association with an Ecuadorian company working in in orchid research, cultivation and supply.

11. The 193-member UN General Assembly adopted a resolution strongly deploring Russia's aggression against Ukraine, just days after Russia vetoed a similar resolution on the increasing crisis between the two countries in the Security Council.

12. The United Nations Human Rights Council voted to have an urgent debate on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, further isolating Russia, which had previously resisted Ukraine's efforts to bring attention to war crimes. Russia's aggression against Ukraine dominated the start of the United Nations' main annual session in Geneva, Switzerland, with countries rallying behind Ukraine's demand to bring Russia's actions to the spotlight.

13. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has put at risk not just physical infrastructure and human lives, but also priceless works of art, monuments, and cultural artefacts. Several historical sites and heritage structures can be found in Ukraine, and its museums have significant specimens of Baroque and folk art.

14. The afterglow from an epic cosmic event known as "Kilonova" might have been spotted by astronomers. In the Astrophysical Journal Letters, a study based on the research was published. Kilonovas occur when two hyper-dense neutron stars collide, which are the remnants of stars that died in supernova explosions.

15. According to a new study, the first potential case of the novel coronavirus being passed to a person from a deer has been reported in Canada. Highly mutated clusters of SARS-CoV-2 genomes were identified by researchers in white-tailed deer, indicating that the deer could act as an animal virus reservoir.

16. In China, scientists have found evidence of a 40,000 years old culture, located 100 miles away from Beijing. Stone-age culture was known for now-extinct relatives of human species. These hominins used a pigment called Ochre and used to craft blade-like tools from stone.

17. At its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) marked its 50-year anniversary. Participants pledged to rally behind the idea of a green and inclusive future. In the recently concluded UN Environment Assembly 175 countries supported a landmark resolution to end plastic waste by forming an intergovernmental committee to negotiate and finalize a legally binding agreement by 2024.

18. The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) is an international treaty that prohibits all use, transfer, production and stockpiling of cluster bombs. It is an explosive weapon that releases smaller sub-munitions over a large area. They can be dropped from an aircraft or launched in a projectile that spins in flight, scattering many bombs as it travels.

19. A thermobaric weapon is one of the most devastating weapons as they cause significantly greater destruction than a conventional bomb of comparable size. It uses oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion. It is also known as an aerosol bomb, fuel-air explosive (FAE), or vacuum bomb.

20. Pandemic treaty is a proposed treaty to be better prepared for any future pandemics like the COVID-19. It adopted a decision titled "The World Together", under which it established an intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) to draft the contents of the pandemic treaty in compliance with Article 19 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution.

21. A grant is a fund given by an entity (public body, charitable foundation, etc) to an individual or another entity for a specific purpose linked to public benefit. Unlike loans, grants are not to be paid back. MCC is an independent U.S. foreign aid agency established in 2004 by the U.S. Congress.

22. Global Plastics Treaty will be one of the most significant international environmental laws in history. UN member states have agreed to start international negotiations on drawing up a global plastics treaty that could set rules for the production, use, and disposal of plastics.

23. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station is located near the city of Enerhodar, Southeastern Ukraine, on the Kakhovka Reservoir's southern shore on the River Dnieper. It is Europe's largest nuclear power plant and is among the world's top 10 largest.

24. On 3^rd March 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a virtual summit of Quad leaders, along with U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The leaders reviewed the progress on Quad initiatives since the 2021 Quad Summit.

25. Following severe sanctions implemented on Russia by the western countries, Moody's and Fitch downgraded the country's sovereign rating to 'junk' grade. Russia's long-term issuer and senior unsecured (local and foreign-currency) debt ratings have been downgraded to 'B3′ from 'Baa3' by Moody's Investors Service.

26. On 4^th March 2022, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has included United Arab Emirates (UAE) in its grey list. FATF is an inter-governmental body established by the G7 countries in 1989. It is mainly a policy-making body and its mandate is to promote reforms in a country's financial system to combat money-laundering and terror financing.

27. A no-fly zone is an area established by a military power over which unauthorized aircrafts are not allowed to fly. It is also known as no-flight zone (NFZ) or air exclusion zone (AEZ). No-fly zones are generally established by a nation in an enemy nation's territory during a conflict or war.

28. At the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many parts of Europe have been cut off from the internet after it encountered massive "cyberattacks". Military and cyber experts fear that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict would lead to cyberattacks, resulting in a "cyber Armageddon" with serious consequences for civilians in Ukraine and Russia, as well as the rest of the world, due to a spillover effect.

29. Humanitarian corridors are set up during the armed conflict by announcing temporary ceasefire. Humanitarian corridors are demilitarized zones, mainly set up to provide relief for civilians during an armed conflict. They are established in a specific area and for a specific time based on mutual agreement of both sides of an armed conflict.

30. A day after regional military agencies confirmed the country's second ballistic missile launch in a week, North Korea performed another test for reconnaissance satellite systems. The launch was carried out by North Korea's National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) and the Academy of Defence Science with the aim of developing a reconnaissance satellite.

31. Due to US sanctions imposed on Moscow as a result of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, American card network operators Mastercard, Visa, and American Express have suspended their services in Russia. Any cards that have been issued globally by banks on these networks will not work in Russia at point-of-sale terminals or ATMs as a result of the suspension. Also, cards issued that have been issued by Russian banks on these networks will no longer work outside of Russia.

32. According to a study, some white-tailed deer living in the US are infected with the SARS-CoV-2's Omicron variant. The study is yet-to-be peer-reviewed and has been posted recently on the bioRxiv preprint repository. It was the first time the SARS-CoV-2 virus had been discovered in a free-living animal.

33. On 7^th March 2022, the Government of the Russian Federation approved a list of foreign countries and territories that committed unfriendly actions against Russia. The unfriendly list of countries and territories included the United States, member states of the European Union (EU), United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland and Ukraine.

34. A partnership has been established by Australia and Indonesia with the aim of tackling plastic pollution in the Indo-Pacific region. The Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency has launched the Plastics Innovation Hub Indonesia project.

35. Due to its alignment with the solstices, Stonehenge, the world's most famous prehistoric monument, has long been thought to serve as an ancient solar calendar. A new study has discovered how the solar calendar might have functioned. Led by researchers from England's Bournemouth University, this study was recently published in the journal, Antiquity.

36. The Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) was signed by all four BBIN countries in 2015 but has not yet been implemented. Under the agreement, there is no need for trans-shipment of goods from one country's truck to another's at the border. Cargo vehicles will have an electronic seal so that they can be tracked. Regulators will be alerted every time the door of the container opens.

37. On 8^th March 2022, President of U.S. Joe Biden imposed an immediate ban on oil and gas energy imports from Russia, by signing an executive order. The ban on oil imports is in support of the Ukrainian people amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The ban got huge support from U.S. voters and lawmakers.

38. The European Commission decided to activate the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) to offer assistance to people fleeing Ukraine, amid the Russian invasion. Under Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) of 2001, "temporary protection" is described as an "exceptional measure to provide immediate and temporary protection to displaced persons from non-European Union (EU) countries and those unable to return to their country of origin".

39. A military satellite, Noor-2, has been launched into orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometres or 311 miles from the earth by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This is the Islamic Republic's second military satellite launch. In the Persian language Noor means light.

40. On 9^th March 2022, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi approved the establishment of the World Health Organization Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) in Gujarat. WHO GCTM will be established in Jamnagar, Gujarat under the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, and Homoeopathy).

41. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Vigil mission, formerly known as Lagrange, is a planned solar weather mission. Under this mission, two spacecraft will be stationed at the Lagrangian points L1 and L5, respectively. It's the first of its kind mission, with the aim of monitoring the unpredictable and active Sun and help protect the Earth from its outbursts.

42. Dubai has introduced crypto asset regulation, joining the ranks of Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, El Salvador, and other countries that have enacted cryptocurrency laws. The Virtual Asset Regulation Law has been passed by Dubai to regulate this new-age industry, which has been rapidly expanding.

43. Following his victory in South Korea's presidential election, Yoon Suk-yeol, a conservative former prosecutor, is set to become the country's next president. The 61-year-old Yoon Suk-yeol defeated Lee Jae-myung by a slim margin. With the final vote count separated by less than 1%, the results were the closest in the country's democratic history.

44. Russia imposed a ban on certain goods and equipment on 10^th March 2022. This is in retaliation to the sanctions imposed by western nations on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. A temporary export ban is imposed on 200 goods and equipment, which is effective until the end of 2022.

45. On 10^th March 2022, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General has said that IAEA has succeeded in establishing a high-level direct dialogue on nuclear security between Russia and Ukraine. IAEA Director-General held meetings with the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine in Turkey. Delegations from both countries also participated. At the meeting, both countries agreed to establish high-level direct dialogue and continue to engage with IAEA.

46. A proposed USD 1.8 billion for supporting the Indo-Pacific strategy of the USA was announced by President Joe Biden. To counter the malign behaviour of China another USD 400 million was also announced. Both these announcements are a part of the USD 773 billion annual defence budget that the US announced for the year 2023. The White House submitted this budget to the US Congress.

47. An Air Raid Alerts system is being rolled out by Google on Android phones in Ukraine. This system will act as a supplement to Ukraine's existing air raid alert systems and will be based on the government provided alerts. The Ukrainian Alarm app will also be highlighted by the company to Google Play users.

48. Recently, the Chief Economist of the World Bank warned that Russia and Belarus are close to being unable to pay their debts. Debt default is a failure by a borrower to repay the debts in due time. Recently, Argentina, Belize, Ecuador, and Suriname, defaulted on their debts.

49. The United States and the European Union have announced that they have an "in principle" agreement in place to create a new framework for the purpose of cross-border data transfers. This announcement has come as a much-needed relief for various tech giants like Google and Meta.

50. Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, has been elected as Hungary's first female president by the Hungarian parliament. Novak, who was most recently a minister for family policy, described her victory as a win for women.

51. On 11 March 2022, Joe Biden, U.S. President announced that the U.S. will revoke Russia's "permanent normal trade relations (PNTR)" status. This is to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Permanent normal trade relations status is a legal designation in the U.S. for free trade with a foreign country. In 1998, the U.S. changed the name from the most favored nation (MFN) to PNTR.

52. The global semiconductor chip supply chain which was earlier hit by the COVID-19 pandemic may again face a crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Both Russia and Ukraine contribute to the global semiconductor supply chain. Ukraine is one of the world's largest suppliers of Neon gas, which is used in the etching process.

53. At the 5^th BIMSTEC Summit which will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 30^th March, six documents which also include the BIMSTEC Charter, is likely to be adopted and signed. The heads of government of the BIMSTEC countries will be joining this Summit via virtual mode while foreign secretaries and minister-level delegations will be joining in person.

54. The 193-member United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution to proclaim 15^th March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The resolution regarding International Day to Combat Islamophobia was introduced by Pakistan's permanent representative to United Nations (UN), Munir Akram.

55. Australia and Netherlands decided to take legal action against Russia over its alleged role in downing Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine more than seven years ago. In 2014, the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.

56. The European Union (EU) countries decided to impose the world's first carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions tariff on imports of polluting goods. Starting from 2020, the European Union (EU) wants to introduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions costs on imports of steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminum, and electricity.

57. Ukraine has been linked to an electricity grid of continental Europe. This will reduce Ukraine's dependence on Russia. According to an announcement by the European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E), electricity grids of Ukraine and Moldova were successfully synchronized with the Continental European Power System on a trial basis.

58. A "Green Triangle" named after Mahatma Gandhi was inaugurated in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar on 16^th March. The Green Triangle was inaugurated as a part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' to commemorate the 75^th year of India's independence. It was jointly inaugurated by the Mayor of Antananarivo Naina Andriantsitohaina and India's Ambassador to Madagascar Abhay Kumar at a special ceremony.

59. A powerful storm system brought dust from the Sahara Desert to southern Europe. AEMET, the Spanish state meteorology agency named the storm system Celia. A thick layer of dust covered Spain and Portugal and turned the skies red-orange. The air quality degraded and a layer of mud accumulated in countries like Spain, Portugal, and France.

60. International Labor Organization (ILO) released the report "Care at work: Investing in care leave and services for a more gender-equal world of work" on the occasion of International women's day (8^th March 2022). The report observed that, around the world, 650 million women of reproductive age do not have maternity protection in line with Maternity Protection Convention, 2000.

61. Ashish Jha, a physician of Indian origin who lives in the United States, has been appointed the new White House Covid-19 Response Coordinator. Jeff Zeints will be replaced by Jha. Jha is a leading health specialist in the United States, and he is recognized for his knowledgeable and calming public presence.

62. The Azov Special Operations Detachment which is also known as the Azov Regiment, Azov Detachment, Azov Battalion, or simply Azov, is a neo-Nazi, right-wing extremist, a former paramilitary unit of Ukraine's National Guard based in Mariupol, in the coast of Azov Sea.

63. 65 new planets have been discovered by NASA outside the Earth's solar system. This new discovery takes the total number of exoplanets that have been discovered to over 5000. Some of these discovered planets are Earth-like. This newly discovered 65 planets has marked a milestone in space exploration.

64. The winner of the Abel Prize 2022 is Dennis Parnell Sullivan, an American mathematician. This award also includes prize money which amounts to 7 Million NOK (Norwegian Krone). He received this award for his contributions to topology, especially its geometric, algebraic, and dynamical aspects.

65. A project has been announced by the United Nations to put every individual on the planet in early weather-warning systems range within the next five years as natural disasters have grown frequent and more powerful due to the effects of climate change.

66. North Korea has test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) named Hwasong-17. This missile is the biggest ICBM ever developed. This missile can potentially deliver a nuclear warhead to any United States location. This missile is being named a 'monster missile' by analysts.

67. Leaked papers have revealed the drafting of a security deal of China with the Solomon Islands. This move has triggered an alarm in the neighbouring country of Australia along with its other Western allies. The leaked papers regarding this deal have highlighted that a military base could be set up by China on the island which is located to the north of Australia.

68. Due to climate change, the oceans are heating up and corals are continuing to bleach which is causing Australia's Great Barrier Reef's fish communities to fade and lose their colour, according to a new study. This study has been published in Global Change Biology.

69. The world's first wildlife bond has been issued by the World Bank, raising USD 150 million that will partly be used for the conservation of South Africa's black rhinos. The Wildlife Conservation Bond is the world's first-of-its-kind financial instrument that is outcome-based and will be channelling investments to conserve black rhino populations.

70. The European Union along with nine countries which also include India has called for international cooperation with the aim to promote data protection and the standards of privacy. To foster free data flow the key is to harness the opportunities which are presented by the digital economy.

71. The Oscars 2022 or the 94^th Academy Awards ceremony which is presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). This event was held on 27^th March, 2022 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.This event honoured the best films that were released between 1^st March to 31^st December 2021.

72. The United States and the European Union have announced that they have an "in principle" agreement in place to create a new framework for the purpose of cross-border data transfers. This announcement has come as a much-needed relief for various tech giants like Google and Meta.

73. The U.S. Senate gave its approval to a bill for providing USD 52 billion in the U.S. as subsidies for the manufacturing of semiconductor chips. The procedural vote of 68-28 returns the legislation to the House of Representatives, starting a lengthy process that will eventually lead to a formal process known as a "conference," in which politicians from both chambers will be seeking an agreement on a compromised version.

74. In this month, the merger of Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) will be completed. The decision to merge BBNL and BSNL had already been taken by the government and this process was scheduled to be completed before 31^st March.

Defence

1. India celebrates National Security Day on 4^th March. It is also known as Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas, and it honors the security forces of India. The aim of the day is to express gratitude to the nation's security forces, which include paramilitary, military, police officers, commandos, guards, and India's security forces, as well as those who help in maintaining the security and peace of the country.

2. Residents from the villages of Jammu and Kashmir will be enrolled for local defence before the delimitation process of Union Territory starts. The government has approved the village defence groups' (VDG) formation. VDGs will be created so that they can respond to threats in areas where the local police presence is thin.

3. Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020 promotes self-reliance in defence manufacturing in the spirit of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan'. It aims to provide a boost to the Make in India efforts in the defence sector– especially to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

4. In continuation of the scheme Modernisation Plan-III for CAPFs, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has approved the Modernisation Plan-IV for Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) scheme. Under this project the CAPFs will be equipped with modern state-of-the-art equipment and weapons as per the operational requirements while keeping in view their deployment pattern in various theatres.

5. HANSA-New Generation (HANSA-NG) is India's first indigenous aircraft trainer. HANSA-NG is indigenously designed and developed by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research -National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL). It is a two-seater aircraft and a revamped version of the HANSA, which was developed 30 years ago.

6. From 7^th to 10^th March, the ninth edition of the Indian and Sri Lankan Navy bilateral maritime exercise SLINEX (Sri Lanka–India Naval Exercise) will be held at Visakhapatnam. In two phases this exercise will be conducted with the Harbour Phase taking place at Visakhapatnam on 7^th and 8^th March, and the Sea Phase taking place in the Bay of Bengal on 9^th and 10^th March.

7. On 7^th March 2022, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually inaugurated the four-day Indo-Pacific Military Health Exchange (IPMHE) conference. This conference is being co-hosted by the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) and Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS).

8. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is one of India's Central Armed Police Forces. At present CISF is a premier multi-skilled organization that provides security cover to around 300 industrial units, government infrastructure projects and establishments located throughout India. CISF also has its own Fire Wing, which helps during fire accidents in Industries.

9. Invest4iDEX is an event that will be organized during the Defence Expo 2022. In this event, start-ups will be able to pitch their ideas in front of a live audience of reputable investors and venture capitalists. In Gandhinagar, Gujarat, Defence Expo 2022 will be held from 10th to 14^th March.

10. At Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Belagavi, Karnataka, the army contingents of India and Japan together carried out mock drills during the joint military exercise 'Dharma Guardian 2022'. Platoon level joint training on operations in semi-urban or urban terrain and the jungle is covered in this exercise.

11. Recently, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published the "Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2021" report. In 2017-21, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Australia, & China were the five largest arms importers. U.S., Russia, France, China, & Germany were the five biggest arms exporters.

12. The military exercise 'Cold Response 2022' has been organized by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Norway starting from 14^th March till 1^st April 2022. This exercise is held biennially in Norway and NATO Allies and partner nations take part.

13. EX-DUSTLIK's is a joint training exercise that is conducted between the armies of India and Uzbekistan. The 3^rd edition of this exercise is being conducted at Yangiarik, Uzbekistan from 22^nd to 31^st March 2022. Ex-DUSTLIK's last edition was conducted in March 2021 in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand.

14. On 22^nd March 2022, a joint exercise between the Indian Army's Agnibaaz Division and the Maharashtra Police named Exercise Suraksha Kavach 2 was organized at Lullanagar, Pune. India Army's Counter Terrorism Task Force (CTTF), Maharashtra Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad along with Dog Squads, Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), and Bomb Disposal Teams of the army, as well as the police, took part in this exercise.

15. For the first time, 14 items which are worth Rs. 380.43 crore have been cleared for procurement from Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) start-ups by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC). The Indian Navy, Army, and Air Force will be procuring all these items.

16. On 23^rd March 2022, the surface-to-surface BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The test-firing of this missile was witnessed by V. R. Chaudhari, India's Air Chief Marshal along with other defence officials.

17. 'Prasthan' is an offshore security exercise that was conducted in Mumbai's Offshore Development Area (ODA) on 23^rd March 2022. This exercise was conducted under the aegis of the Western Naval Command's Headquarters. This exercise is conducted every six months.

18. The second P-8I aircraft squadron of the Navy has been commissioned by the Indian Navy in a ceremony that was held at INS Hansa, Goa. 'Condors' is the title given to INAS 316. Condors are one of the world's largest flying land birds and have a massive wingspan.

19. From 26^th to 30^th March 2022, the maiden edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Maritime Exercise 2022 (IMEX-22) was conducted in the Arabian Sea and at Goa. This exercise was conducted with the aim of enhancing the interoperability of the participating nations in the area of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

20. The Indian Army and the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) are holding the 9^th Joint Military Exercise LAMITIYE-2022 at the Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA) in Seychelles from 22^nd March to 31^st March, 2022. This exercise will see the participation of an Infantry Platoon strength from both the Indian Army and the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), as well as Company Headquarters.

Business, Economy & Banking

1. Government of Delhi is all set to develop a "Science Innovation Hub" at a school run by it in Kautilya Enclave. Delhi Science Innovation Hub includes all the modern and latest facilities, like a planetarium which is a museum to provide enhanced knowledge of scientific culture, and temperament to students.

2. National Statistical Office (NSO) under 'Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation' released the Second Advance Estimates (SAE) of National Income, 2021-22 and Quarterly Estimates of GDP for October-December quarter (Q3), 2021-22. Growth in GDP during 2021-22 is estimated at 8.9%, against a contraction of 6.6% in 2020-21.

3. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is planning to launch a guaranteed return scheme called Minimum Assured Return Scheme (MARS). This scheme will be launched to provide people from salaried class an option for their investments.

4. According to NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, the logistics cost can be lowered down by leveraging the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP). The logistic cost is currently at 13%-14% of GDP. It can also be brought down by bringing all mode of transportation under single window by connecting all logistics stakeholders from ministries, enterprises and associations.

5. Co-founder and managing director of BharatPe, Ashneer Grover, resigned from company, days after BharatPe terminated the services of his wife and head of controls, Madhuri Jain Grover, over alleged financial irregularities. Following the resignation of Ashneer Grover, company noted to reserves the right to take action on the basis of report findings.

6. Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Finance Minister, will launch the electronic bill (e-Bill) processing system under the Digital India eco-system and ease of doing business. This e-governance initiative was announced in the Budget 2022-23 by the Finance Minister.

7. Union Ministry of Minority Affairs' have revised the deadline for long-delayed project to geotag all Waqf properties across India, from March 2022 to November 2023. This project was started in 2017 under the 'Quami Waqf Boards Taraqqiati Scheme'. Central Waqf Council, New Delhi is the Nodal Agency for implementation of this Scheme.

8. On 2^nd March, 2022, the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) invited public to comment on "draft framework on sustainable and sustainability-linked lending by financial institutions" in the IFSCs. The draft guidance framework seeks to encourage the IFSC banking units (IBU) and finance companies or finance units (FC/FUs) for internally developing a comprehensive board approved policy on green or social or sustainable or sustainability linked lending.

9. Reserve Bank of India's wholly-owned subsidiary Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) has set up an Ink Manufacturing Unit named "Varnika" at Mysuru, Karnataka. This new unit was dedicated to the nation by RBI governor Shaktikanta Das.

10. Canada has decided to impose a digital services tax on large companies that sell various services in Canada. Under the new rules of the Canadian government, a 3% digital services tax will be imposed on the companies with total annual revenue of at least 850 million and profits of 16 million or more from providing digital services in Canada.

11. The growing creator ecosystem of YouTube has contributed Rs. 6,800 crore to the GDP of India and has supported 6,83,900 full-time equivalent jobs in the country in 2020. This statement has been issued by an independent report done by Oxford Economics and was released by YouTube.

12. India and Canada decided to restart negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The benefits of India-Canada CEPA were highlighted by "India-Canada CEO Round Table" held in 2008. It was decided that bilateral trade would get boost by elimination of tariffs.

13. India Global Forum's (IGF) annual summit will bring together prominent faces of tech-driven disruption and those who have entered the unicorn club, as well as Union ministers, politicians, and global business executives. This event is taking place in Bengaluru on 7-8 March 2022.

14. This financial year, India is set to export around 7 million tonnes of wheat. This would be one of the highest exports of wheat by India. India is the world's second biggest producer of wheat, accounting for 13.53% of global production. But it only accounts for 1% of global wheat exports.

15. To support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) to raise funds through the NSE Emerge platform, the government of Telangana and the National Stock Exchange of India has signed an MoU. Under this MoU, the stock exchange, with the assistance of the State government, will build awareness among MSMEs about the opportunities for raising funds through the platform through roadshows, seminars, and workshops.

16. On 8^th March 2022, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das launched Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for feature phones called "UPI123Pay". UPI '123PAY' is a three-step method to initiate and execute services for those who use feature phones. Except 'scan and pay' option, all other transactions can be done by feature phones, with the help of UPI 123PAY.

17. On 9^th March 2022, the Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has approved the setting up National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC). NLMC was first proposed in the Union Budget 2021-22 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. NLMC will now be set up as a wholly-owned Government of India company.

18. An IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) loan of USD $125 million has been offered to West Bengal by the World Bank to help poor and vulnerable groups through social protection services in the state. Over 400 programs to give care services, social assistance, and jobs through an umbrella platform called Jai Bangla that is being run in West Bengal.

19. On 10^th March 2022, Narayan Rane, Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) launched the MSME Innovative Scheme. MSME Innovative Scheme aims to guide the MSMEs in developing business ideas into viable business propositions. Thus the scheme acts as a hub for innovation activities.

20. India and Canada agreed to re-launch Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) Negotiations. The decision regarding the re-launch of CEPA negotiations was announced following the fifth India- Canada ministerial dialogue on trade and investment, held on 11^th March.

21. According to data released by the Ministry of Finance, the Union government released Rs. 2,221 crores to the states of Bihar, Karnataka, and West Bengal to provide grants to rural local bodies. In its report, the 15^th Finance Commission had recommended that the Union government should provide grants to rural local bodies (Panchayati Raj institutions).

22. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of former finance secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey as the chairperson of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA). National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) is a statutory body, established in 2018 under the Companies Act 2013.

23. For the first time, India's equity market reached the world's fifth position in terms of market capitalization. At present India is ranked 5^th, after the U.S., China, Japan, and Hong Kong. At the start of 2022, India was ranked 7^th. Later, India climbed two positions despite a 7.4% drop in its market capitalization. Now, India's total market capitalization is $3.21 trillion.

24. Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has decided to reduce the interest on provident fund (PF) deposits from 8.5% in 2020-21 to 8.1% in 2021-22. The interest rate of 8.1% will be the lowest interest rate since 1977-78 when the figure stood at 8%. This cut in interest will impact five crore subscribers of the provident fund (PF).

25. On 14^th March Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced Regulatory Framework on microfinance loans. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has done away with the margin caps on the pricing of small loans given by non-banking financial company-microfinance institutions (NBFC-MFIs).

26. On 14^th March Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) announced the extension of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt (CGSSD) by another year. The scheme provides credit facility to the promoters of stressed MSMEs that are eligible for restructuring as per RBI guidelines. This credit facility is provided through banks and this facility is even available to special mention accounts (SMA)-2 and non-performing asset (NPA) accounts.

27. In line with the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision, the central government decided to give a renewed thrust to the use of geographical indications (GI) tag to promote India's unique agricultural products in the international markets. There are 150 GI-tagged products in India, which are agricultural and food products.

28. India's exports crossed the USD 400 billion mark in a fiscal year. This is the first time India's export has reached such heights. This milestone has been achieved due to good performance by various sectors such as engineering, petroleum products, jewellery and gems, and chemicals.

29. The Second Edition of Export Preparedness Index has been released by NITI Aayog. This report was released in association with the Institute of Competitiveness. In this index Gujarat has topped for the second time in a row. It is followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana.

30. The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) has been inaugurated by Shaktikanta Das, governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Bengaluru. RBIH has been set up as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RBI with Rs. 100 crore as an initial capital contribution.

31. A target of Rs. 1 trillion has been set by the government for the National Bank for Financial Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) to sanction loans to the country's infrastructure sector in the upcoming financial year. This new Development Finance Institution (DFI) will commence its operations in the first quarter of the upcoming financial year.

32. The framework that is related to geo-tagging of payment system touch points has been released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This framework has been created as a part of RBI's objective of deepening digital payments along with providing access to such services to all the citizens of India.

33. According to the Economic Survey of Delhi 2021-22, the nation's capital is one of the country's most prosperous states. It has ranked third as per the per capita income behind the states of Goa and Sikkim. This survey was presented in Delhi's state Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

34. A book titled "Indian Agriculture towards 2030: Pathways for Enhancing Farmers' Income, Nutritional Security and Sustainable Food and Farm Systems," was released by Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare at an event that was organized by NITI Aayog and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Science & Technology

1. Using the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) radio, more than a quarter of the northern sky has been mapped by astronomers from Durham University who collaborated with a team of international scientists for this project. This map provides an incredibly detailed radio image of over 4.4 million objects, as well as a very dynamic picture of our Universe.

2. On 3^rd March 2022, Union Minister of Communications, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA). HCA was signed in a virtual ceremony during the World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly-20 (WTSA-20) being held in Geneva, Switzerland.

3. The Ministry of Ayush has launched the world's first multicenter phase III clinical trial that will be assessing Ayurveda's efficacy in Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment. In accordance with the stringent guidelines of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use – Good Clinical Practice, this trial will be conducted.

4. Scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), in collaboration with several other research institutions, have identified about 15,000 selected germplasms of rice and wheat for developing varieties that are tolerant to floods, droughts, heatwaves, and diseases to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change on food production.

5. 'Kavach' is the automatic train anti-collision system developed by the Indian Railways. Kavach or "armor" is the indigenously-developed system that prevents collisions between trains. It is also known as Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). At present, it is operational in the Lingampalli & Vikarabad section of the South Central Railway (SCR) zone.

6. Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMICs) are a type of integrated circuit (IC) devices that have numerous applications in various sectors. MMICs operate at microwave frequencies (300 MHz to 300 GHz). They are very small in size and can be produced on a large scale. This mass production of MMICs was one of the reasons behind the mobile phone revolution in India.

7. TRAPPIST-1 is a red dwarf star in the Aquarius constellation. TRAPPIST-1 was earlier known as 2MASS J23062928–0502285 or K2-112, because it was spotted with the Two Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS). It was discovered in 1999 by astronomer John Gizis. It is older than the solar system, as it is 7.6 billion years old.

8. National Highway for Electric Vehicle (NHEV) is an organization which aims at promoting electrification of India's transportation systems. NHEV by 2020 is 1^st intercity e-mobility prototypical program to facilitate Ease of Doing Business through Single Window Clearance under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

9. Next-Gen 3D Printed Catalysts are developed by researchers at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University in Melbourne, Australia. The researchers claim that they solved the biggest challenge in the development of hypersonic aircraft i.e. controlling the enormous heat that builds up when aircraft fly at speeds more than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5).

10. PARAM Ganga is the 'Made in India' Petascale supercomputer installed at IIT Roorkee under National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). PARAM GANGA has a supercomputing capacity of 1.66 PFLOPS (Peta Floating-Point Operations per Second). It was designed and commissioned by C-DAC under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM).

11. Smart Event Tracking System (SETS) is a Google Maps-based planning and analysis tool. It is in-house software of the Indian Railways. Smart Event Tracking System (SETS) is being used to tackle the problem of cattle getting run over by the trains. Kilometer stamps on electrical masts along the railway tracks are mapped and the exact location of 'cattle run over' is fed into the system. It will become easy to identify the location of the accidents and observe the patterns of such accidents.

12. CERN is the European Organization for Nuclear Research where scientists probe the fundamental structure of the universe. CERN was established in 1954. It has 23 member states. 22 members are European countries. Israel is the only non-European nation that has full membership in CERN.

13. An electro-catalyst system for hydrogen production by urea electrolysis was developed by Indian Scientists. Scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology developed the Nickel oxide (NiOx) based system for production of hydrogen from electro-oxidation of urea.

14. On 9^th March 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on cryptocurrency. The executive order called on U.S. federal agencies to examine the risks and benefits of cryptocurrencies. The order also mentioned the need for a unified approach to regulation and oversight of digital assets.

15. The European Space Agency's (ESA) Vigil mission, formerly known as Lagrange, is a planned solar weather mission. Under this mission, two spacecraft will be stationed at the Lagrangian points L1 and L5, respectively. It's the first of its kind mission, with the aim of monitoring the unpredictable and active Sun and help protect the Earth from its outbursts.

16. Xenotransplantation is the process of transplantation of an animal organ into a human body. There is an increasing demand for human organs for transplantation, but they are limited in supply and not readily available. Animal organs can be used instead of human organs. Cells and tissues of animals can also be used for therapeutic purposes for diseases like neurodegenerative disorders and diabetes, where human materials are not usually available.

17. With the completion of clinical trials that demonstrated excellent results, the first indigenous drug to treat COVID-19 named Vincov-19 is expected to be made available to the public soon. CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB), VINS Bioproducts, and the University of Hyderabad (UoH) has collaborated to create the drug 'Vincov-19.'

18. Australia's La Trobe University in Melbourne developed an early screening tool that can detect autism in children aged between 12 and 24 months. The new tool is known as SACS (Social Attention and Communication Surveillance). It has two elements: SACS-Revised and SACS-Preschool.

19. On 16^th March, Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated a pilot project for Hydrogen-based advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV). This pilot project was initiated by Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. For this project, Toyota will work with International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT).

20. On 12^th March, a massive Triceratops called Horridus was displayed at the Melbourne Museum, Australia for the first time in the new public exhibit called "Triceratops: Fate of the Dinosaurs". Triceratops is an extinct genus of dinosaurs that first appeared during the Late Cretaceous period, about 68 million years ago in North America.

Government Schemes

1. On 1^st March 2022, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) launched Swachh Survekshan, the seventh consecutive edition of the world's largest urban cleanliness survey. Swachh Survekshan 2022 is designed to capture initiatives of cities for the welfare and well-being of frontline sanitation workers, with the notion of 'People First' as its driving philosophy.

2. The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is planning to launch a guaranteed return scheme called Minimum Assured Return Scheme (MARS). This scheme will be launched to provide people from salaried class an option for their investments.

3. The Janaushadhi Diwas is being organized from 1^st to 7^th March 2022 by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The 4^th Jan Aushadhi Diwas will be celebrated on 7^th March. By the end of March 2025, the Indian Government has taken up the target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,500.

4. Union Ministry of Minority Affairs' have revised the deadline for long-delayed project to geotag all Waqf properties across India, from March 2022 to November 2023. This project was started in 2017 under the 'Quami Waqf Boards Taraqqiati Scheme'. Central Waqf Council, New Delhi is the Nodal Agency for implementation of this Scheme.

5. The 'Stree Manoraksha Project' has been launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD)in collaboration with NIMHANS Bengaluru. This was launched with the aim to improve women's mental health across India. This project will focus on capacity building of OSC (One-Stop Center) functionaries the techniques and tools of how to handle cases of women approaching the OSC, especially those who have experienced violence and distress, with care and sensitivity.

6. A nodal organization named "MeitY Startup Hub' (MSH) has been set up under the ambit of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) with the aim of promoting start-ups, technology innovation, and the creation of Intellectual Properties.

7. Under "Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates scheme", Central Government has approved the proposal for continuation of seven existing sub schemes for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26. Scheme will be continued till 2025-26, with a total outlay of Rs. 1,452 crore.

8. The Sagar Parikrama Program will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala. This program has been organized by The Department of Fisheries, and the National Fisheries Development Board along with the Department of Fisheries, Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, Gujarat Maritime Board, and fishermen representatives.

9. The Delhi government will be holding Business Blasters Investment Summit and Expo with the aim of providing a bigger platform to the young entrepreneurs. This summit will be held on 5^th March. During this event, 100 or more business ideas by student entrepreneurs will be selected and showcased.

10. Jan Aushadhi Bal Mitra programme was held across the country at 75 locations on the 3^rd Day of Jan Aushadhi Diwas week-long celebrations. This programme was organized to engage children as Bal Mitras with the Jan Aushadhi scheme to educate them about the benefits of the Pariyojana, savings, Jan Aushadhi Seva Bhi Rozgar Bhi, the price difference between Jan Aushadhi medicines and branded medicines, etc.

11. The Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Program is a sub-scheme of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). SVEP is being implemented since 2016 by the Ministry of Rural Development. SVEP's objective is to support entrepreneurs in rural areas to set-up enterprises at the village-level in non-agricultural sectors.

12. On 5^th March 2022, the Swachhagraha event was organized with the aim of increasing awareness about the significance of Swadhinta and Swacchta among the citizens of the nation. An event on Swachhgraha was organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Ministry of Culture, and Ministry of Jal Shakti in collaboration with Sulabh International.

13. The government has approved the continuation of the Swatantrata Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) and its components for the financial years 2021-22 to 2025-26, with a financial outlay of Rs. 3,274.87 crore. Under this scheme, freedom fighters, and their dependents are given financial benefits and pensions.

14. On 7^th March 2022, an e-Book regarding the journey of the National Career Service (NCS) was launched by Dr. Shashank Goel, Additional Secretary/Director General of Employment, Ministry of Labor and Employment. The e-book of NCS was published on the occasion of iconic week (7^th March to 13^th March) celebrations by the Ministry of Labor and Employment, as a part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'.

15. On 7^th March 2022, Union Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Narayan Rane launched "SAMARTH", a special entrepreneurship promotion drive for women. At the launch event, the MSME minister held that there are numerous opportunities for women in the MSME sector.

16. Kanya Shiksha Pravesh Utsav is a campaign to bring out-of-school adolescent Indian girls back into the formal education and skilling system. The campaign was launched on the eve of International Women's Day (8^th March 2022) by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

17. Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for White Goods (Air Conditioners and LED Lights) was launched in 2021 with a budgetary outlay of Rs. 6,238 crore. PLI scheme is aimed at making India's manufacturing sector globally competitive by creating economies of scale, ensuring efficiencies, and removing disabilities.

18. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of Chhattisgarh has launched the 'Kaushalya Matritva Yojana'. On this occasion cheques of Rs. 5,000 each were also given to five women beneficiaries for safe motherhood at a state-level conference. Under this scheme, on the birth of a second girl child Rs. 5000 financial assistance will be given to women.

19. Dalit Bandhu is the Telangana government's flagship programme. It is a welfare scheme for empowering Dalit families of the state and enabling entrepreneurship among them through a Rs. 10 lakh direct benefit transfer per family. The Telangana government in its state budget allocated Rs. 17,700 crore for the Dalit Bandhu scheme for the year 2022-23.

20. Apart from successful COVID-19 vaccination, Odisha has the highest coverage of complete immunization in the country, with 90.5% coverage Odisha topped the list at the national level in full immunization coverage, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, with 90.5% coverage.

21. The Ministry of Tourism constituted the Swadesh Darshan awards in various categories to acknowledge the efforts made by state governments, union territory administrations, and various implementing agencies. The awards will be given to recognize best practices like innovative approach, achievement of planned objectives, the adoption of sustainability principles in design, planning, and operations, ability to attract private investments in peripheral development, efficient project monitoring, and efforts undertaken to ensure optimal operations and maintenance, etc.

22. Dr. C. N. Aswath Narayan, Minister of Higher Education, Electronics, S & T, IT-BT, and Skill Development of the Karnataka government has launched. On 8^th March on the occasion of Women's Day and focus will be given on corporate programs that will be helpful in attracting the women workforce.

23. Under Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana (PM-SYM), Union Labour and Employment Minister Bhupender Yadav launched the 'Donate-a-Pension' program. This initiative has been launched to make the process of contributing to and creating a pension fund for the support staff easier.

24. The Union Cabinet has approved the creation of a new company to monetize and hold surplus buildings and lands of PSUs and government agencies that are being shut down or being privatized. The National Land Monetisation Corporation (NLMC), the name given to this special purpose vehicle (SPV), will be set up as a wholly-owned Government of India company.

25. The draft report for setting up of National Digital Tourism Mission is published for feedback from the public. The tourism ministry has invited final comments on the draft report. The draft report highlighted that the tourism sector is highly fragmented and there are many challenges in subsectors of tourism such as transport, accommodation, restaurants, etc.

26. 'Captive Employer', is a first of its kind initiative that is aimed at addressing the vision of a demand-based and dynamic skilling ecosystem that caters to the requirements of the industry while assuring sustainable placements for the rural poor youth of the country. Under this initiative, post-training placement of candidates for at least six months with a minimum CTC of Rs. 10,000 has been assured.

27. The Supreme Court named AK Sikri, as chairperson of the High-Powered Committee (HPC), which will assess the Chardham project's cumulative and independent impact on the entire Himalayan valley.

28. The first 'Gati Shakti' cargo terminal of Indian Railways' was inaugurated in the Eastern Railway's Asansol division. The cargo facility is expected to boost railway earnings by roughly Rs. 11 crore per month. The Asansol division of Indian Railways has successfully commissioned a private siding of Maithan Power in Thaparnagar, Jharkhand, in accordance with the Prime Minister's vision of Gati Shakti and the Ministry of Railways' policy on the 'Gati Shakti Multi-Modal Cargo Terminal' (GCT).

29. The guidelines for the scheme "Strengthening of Pharmaceutical Industry (SPI)" were published by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals, and Fertilizers. The total financial outlay of the scheme is Rs. 500 Cr for three years (FY 21-22 to FY 25-26).

30. A new brand of forest products has been launched from Nilambur. Minor forest produce harvested by Nilambur tribespeople, such as wild honey, will now be marketed under the Adavi brand. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS) has jointly launched the Adavi brand at a tribal festival that was held at Nilambur.

31. Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) Kendras have added nutraceuticals to their product basket. Nutraceuticals are any food-related substances that provide health and medical benefits. They also help in preventing and treating certain diseases.

32. The government of Sikkim is set to announce the Bahini scheme in its annual Budget later this month. The Bahini scheme aims to provide secondary and senior secondary school-going girls with 100% access to free and safe sanitary pads. Under the Bahini scheme, Vending machines will be installed in 210 secondary and senior secondary government schools of Sikkim to provide free sanitary pads.

33. An online portal "My EV" was launched by the Delhi government for the purchase and registration of electric autos in Delhi. The 'My EV Portal' is an online portal developed by the Delhi government in collaboration with Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL).

34. The Tripura government announced a special scheme named "Mukhyamantri Chaa Srami Kalyan Prakalpa". The scheme aims to ensure the social security of around 7,000 Tripura's tea garden workers. The tea garden workers will be provided housing, rations, and financial support, by clubbing the entitlements of the Tripura government and Union government.

35. On 11^th March Union minister of rural development and Panchayati raj, Giriraj Singh launched Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) in Assam. Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULIPN) project was launched in Assam on a pilot basis.

36. 'Meri Policy Mere Haath' campaign was launched in Hassan, Karnataka. 'Meri Policy Mere Haath' campaign is part of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The campaign is aimed at motivating all farmers in the country to insure their crops. Under this program, every farmer who has taken insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) will get the policy documents at their doorstep.

37. The new water management and policy centre, AquaMAP has been inaugurated by the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. K. Vijay Raghavan, at IIT Madras, and its website https://aquamap.iitm.ac.in/ was also launched.

38. On 23^rd March 2022, the Sujalam 2.0 campaign was launched by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Union Minister of Jal Shakti. This campaign has been launched for greywater management. The launch event was held virtually by the Ministry of Jal Shakti's Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS).

39. The launch of the 'Dare to Erade TB' program on World TB Day 2022 was announced by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh. This program will be based on the data available in India. Genome Sequencing Consortium for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) TB Surveillance's formation was also announced.

40. A Data-Driven Research named "Dare2eraD TB" has been launched by the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology to eradicate TB. This initiative was launched on 24^th March on the occasion of World TB Day. The InTGS has been proposed on similar lines to the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia.

41. The 'Udaan' scheme of Rajasthan provides the rural girls of the state with scholarship schemes thus, allowing them to receive getting access to schooling. The Udaan project has been launched in collaboration with 'IPE Global', a development consulting group. Under this scheme focus is being given to the development of girls in the state.

42. The milestone of having 50,000 open defecation-free (ODF) Plus villages has been crossed by the country. The top-performing states under this programme are Telangana which has 13,960 ODF Plus villages. It is followed by Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.

43. The Union Cabinet which is chaired by PM Modi has approved the extension of 'Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)' for a time period of six months till September 2022. This scheme's phase-5 was scheduled to end in March 2022.

44. On the DBT Bharat Portal 313 centrally sponsored and central sector schemes from 53 different ministries have been onboarded with the aim of ensuring that the beneficiaries are accurately targeted. The aim of the Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) programme is to bring transparency to the subsidies transferred to the beneficiaries across the country through their bank accounts.

45. On 28^th March 2022, Anurag Thakur launched Training for Emirates Jobs And Skills (TEJAS) in Dubai. This is an initiative under the Skill India International Project to train Indians so that they can get employed overseas. This programme has the objective of skilling, providing certification, and employment of Indians overseas.

46. On 29^th March 2022, a decentralised waste management technology park will be inaugurated in East Jaffrabad, New Delhi under the Waste to Wealth Mission which is an initiative under the Principal Scientific Adviser to the central government's office. This park will be launched in association with the East Delhi Municipal Corporation.

47. Fresh wage rates have been notified by the central government under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the financial year 2022-23. Out of 34 Union Territories and states, 21 of them have received hikes of less than 5 percent.

Awards & Honours

1. On 1^st March 2022, the Union Minister of State for Education, Annpurna Devi, presented the National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Awards 2022. Award was presented to 49 teachers across India. On the occasion, minister noted that, National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasizes on extensive use of technology in teaching and learning processes, increasing access for DIVYANG students and removing language barriers, along with educational planning and management.

2. Nari Shakti Puraskar is the highest civilian honor for women in India. Nari Shakti Puraskar is an annual award given by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to individual women or to institutions working for women empowerment.

3. The Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam have witnessed a sharp rise in the population of rhinos and tigers. The authorities of the national park expect the tiger population will rise to more than 60 from 48 as per the 2021 census.

4. The largest reclining statue of Lord Buddha in India is being built in Bodh Gaya, Bihar. India's Buddhist pilgrimage circuit is being proactively revived and Bodh Gaya is an integral part of it. Hence, the site of Gautam Buddha's enlightenment will soon be home to his largest reclining statue.

5. On 8^th March 2022, Union Minister of Labor and Employment, Bhupender Yadav, presented Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP) and National Safety Awards (NSA). Vishwakarma Rashtriya Puraskar (VRP) and National Safety Awards (NSA) are presented by the Ministry of Labor & Employment since 1965.

6. From the 19^th March 2022, the annual Surajkund International Crafts Mela is being held in Surajkund, Haryana for celebrating Indian cultural heritage and folk traditions. This Mela attracts more than a million visitors including thousands of overseas visitors.

7. The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Valsura has been awarded the prestigious President's Colour by President Ram Nath Kovind. To mark this occasion, a guard of honour of 150-men was presented to the President and a ceremonial parade was held.

8. The Oscars 2022 or the 94^th Academy Awards ceremony which is presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). This event was held on 27^th March 2022 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The hosts for this ceremony were Amy Schumer, Regina Hall, and Wanda Sykes.

9. The Stockholm Water Prize 2022 has been awarded by The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to Professor Wilfried Brutsaert for his innovative work in evaluating environmental evaporation. This prize is widely considered to be the Nobel Prize for Water.

10. Le Corbusier, the planner of Chandigarh prescribed the Edict of Chandigarh. Urban planners and health experts have termed the edict as a mandated rule book on the planning of the city that was laid down by Corbusier. He, while planning the city wanted its citizens to become the city's guardians.

Sports

1. Indian wushu player, Sadia Tariq, recently won the gold medal at a junior tournament which was held in Moscow. Sadia Tariq is 15-year-old wushu player from Srinagar. She participated in "Moscow Wushu Stars championship", amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

2. In 1986 the International Shooting Sport Federation introduced the ISSF World Cup. The latest edition of the ISSF World Cup is being held in Cairo. Shooters had to compete in a qualification stage until last year. The top eight shooters would then compete in a final starting from scratch.

3. Shane Warne passed away on 4^th March 2022, from a suspected heart attack. He was a cricketer from Australia. He was a right-arm leg spinner who is widely regarded as one of the finest bowlers in cricket history, and he was named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century by a panel of cricket experts in 2000, the only specialist bowler in the quintet and the only one still playing at that time.

4. The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup 2022 was held in Cairo, Egypt from 26^th February to 8^th March 2022. With a total of seven medals, the Indian team took first place in the medals tally, with four gold, two silver, and one bronze.

5. The World Para Athletics Grand Prix began on 21^st March and will continue till 24^th March 2022. This event is being held in Dubai. 450 athletes from 43 different countries will be taking part in this event. This event will take place over a four-day period.

6. P. V. Sindhu won the Swiss Open 2022 defeating Busanan Ongbamrungphan of Thailand in the finals of the Swiss Open Super 300 badminton tournament held in Basel, Switzerland. This is her second title this season as she had earlier in January won the Syed Modi India International.

Download Current Affairs March 2022 PDF

References:
jagranjosh.com
gktoday.in
business-standard.com