24 March 2022 Current Affairs Updates in English

Current Affairs in English

Important Days

March 22 observed as Bihar Day 

Bihar Diwas 2022 marks the 110th anniversary of the state’s founding. The annual Bihar Diwas is no longer limited to festivities hosted by the state government; citizens from the state living throughout the country and overseas have begun to commemorate the occasion.

Every year on March 22, the Bihar Diwas commemorates the British carving away of Bihar from the Bengal Presidency in 1912. Patna was designated as the new province’s capital.

Bihar Diwas has originally proclaimed a state initiative by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The day was also observed by people from Bihar who resided in various regions of the country.

Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day Observed On 23rd March

Every year, the Nation was observed on March 23rd as Martyrs Day (Shaheed Diwas or Sarvodaya Day).

The day was observed to pay tribute to the death anniversary of the freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru, who laid their lives for the freedom of India. Also, 30 January is observed as Martyr’s Day or Shaheed Diwas in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.

They were hanged to death for assassinating John Saunders, a British police officer in 1928. They had mistaken him for British police superintendent James Scott. It was Scott who had ordered lathi-charge, which eventually led to the death of Lala Lajpat Rai.

World Meteorological Day 2022: “Early Warning and Early Action”

World Meteorological Day is celebrated globally on March 23rd every year. The day is celebrated as the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and it concentrates on the behavior of Earth’s atmosphere. The day also helps people be aware of their role in protecting Earth’s atmosphere.

World Meteorological Day is a significant day as it focuses on the global acknowledgment of different issues of planet earth. The day is conducted by raising awareness about multiple concerns of the Earth around the globe. World Meteorological Day is celebrated with a different motto every year. This year World Meteorological Day is celebrated keeping the theme of Early Warning and Early Action.

World Meteorological Day is celebrated as the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which was established on March 23, 1950. Today, it’s been 72 years of the organization, and it has made immense progress and helped the world to be a better place. WMO headquarters is situated in Geneva, Switzerland.

Useful notes for exams:

  • World Meteorological Organization Head: David Grimes.

International

Kuwait becomes the hottest place on earth, records 53.2 degrees Celsius

Kuwait reached a scorching temperature of 53.2 degrees Celsius (127.7 degrees Fahrenheit), making it among the hottest places on earth. It was so hot in Kuwait last summer that birds dropped dead from the sky.

Sea horses boiled to death in the bay. Dead clams coated the rocks, their shells popped open like they’d been steamed.

The country continues to burn oil for electricity and ranks among the top global carbon emitters per capita, according to the World Resources Institute.

As asphalt melts on highways, Kuwaitis bundle up for bone-chilling air-conditioning in malls. Renewable energy accounts for less than 1 percent of demand – far below Kuwait’s target of 15 percent by 2030.

Useful notes for exams:

  • Kuwait Capital: Kuwait City;
  • Kuwait Currency: Kuwaiti dinar.

National

Nagaland became the first paperless assembly by implementing the e-Vidhan application

Nagaland has created history by becoming the first State Assembly in the country to implement the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) program to become completely paperless. The Nagaland Assembly Secretariat has attached a tablet or e-book on each table in the 60 members’ assembly amid the ongoing Budget session.

NeVA is a workflow system deployed on NIC Cloud, MeghRaj which helps the Chair of the House to conduct the proceedings of the House smoothly and to conduct Legislative Business of the House in a Paperless manner.

NeVA is a device neutral and member-centric application created to equip them to handle diverse House Business smartly by putting entire information regarding member contact details, rules of procedure, list of business, notices, bulletins, bills, starred/unstarred questions and answers, papers laid, committee reports, etc. in their handheld devices/ tablets and equip all Legislatures/Departments to handle it efficiently.

Useful notes for exams:

  • Nagaland Capital: Kohima;
  • Nagaland Chief Minister: Neiphiu Rio;
  • Nagaland Governor: Jagdish Mukhi (additional charge).

Pushkar Singh Dhami takes oath as 11th CM of Uttarakhand 

Pushkar Singh Dhami has taken oath as 11th Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. He will take over the reins of the state for the second time in a row.

Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh administered him the oath of office and secrecy at the Parade Ground in Dehradun.

The BJP contested the Assembly elections under Dhami’s leadership and secured a comfortable majority in the 70-member House, winning 47 seats. Dhami, who lost from the Khatima constituency in the Uttarakhand, led the party’s poll effort as Chief Minister during the assembly polls held last month.

Business

PhonePe acquires freelance entrepreneur network GigIndia

PhonePe, a digital payments and financial services company, has acquired GigIndia, a network for independent micro-entrepreneurs based in Pune.

PhonePe will be able to integrate 1.5 million entrepreneurs and over 100 businesses as customers, in addition to its own employees, as a result of the acquisition. PhonePe will use GigIndia’s network of freelancing microentrepreneurs to assist corporations and businesses in expanding their customer bases and distribution channels.

PhonePe’s key services are payments and financial services, and the Walmart-owned company has a 47 percent share of monthly Unified Payments Interface (UPI) volumes.

Ranks and Reports

IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report: Delhi world’s most polluted capital

New Delhi has been ranked the world’s most polluted capital city for the second consecutive year as per IQAir’s 2021 World Air Quality Report. New Delhi is followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh), N’Djamena (Chad), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), and Muscat (Oman) as the top five most polluted capital cities respectively.

Meanwhile, Bhiwadi was the most polluted city in India, followed by Ghaziabad, Delhi, and Jaunpur. Bangladesh was the most polluted country, followed by Chad, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. India was the fifth most polluted country.

Knight Frank: India Placed 51st in Global House Price Index Q4 2021

India has improved its rank by five spots to be placed at 51st position in the ‘Global House Price Index Q4 2021’ released by property consultant Knight Frank. India was placed at 56th position in Q4 of 2020.

India witnessed a 2.1 percent annual appreciation in housing price rates during the October-December quarter of 2021 against Q4 of 2020. Turkey saw the highest annual price growth rate by 59.6 percent in Q4 2021.

New Zealand (22.6 percent), Czech Republic (22.1 percent), Slovakia (22.1 percent), and Australia (21.8 percent) are among the top 5 countries respectively in the latest research report.

Malaysia, Malta, and Morocco markets recorded a decline in housing prices by 0.7 percent, 3.1 percent, and 6.3 percent, respectively, in the year 2021.

Defence

EX-DUSTLIK between Indian and Uzbekistan armies begins

The 3rd edition of the joint training exercise named EX-DUSTLIK between the Indian army and Uzbekistan army begins at Yangiarik, Uzbekistan from 22 to 31 March 2022. The last edition of DUSTLIK was conducted in Ranikhet (Uttarakhand) in March 2021.

The Indian contingent will be represented by the Grenadiers Regiment and will join the Uzbekistan Army contingent represented by troops of the North-Western Military District.

The joint exercise would focus on Counter-Terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under a United Nations Mandate. The training schedule will focus primarily on sharing tactical level drills and learning best practices from each other. The exercise aims at enhancing understanding, cooperation, and interoperability between two armies.

Useful notes for exams:

  • Uzbekistan Capital: Tashkent;
  • Uzbekistan President: Shavkat Mirziyoyev;
  • Uzbekistan Currency: Uzbekistani soʻm.

Economy

Fitch Ratings reduce India’s FY23 growth forecast to 8.5%

Fitch Ratings has slashed India’s GDP growth forecast for the fiscal FY 2022-2023 to 8.5 percent in its Global economic Outlook-March 2022.

Earlier this rate was estimated at 10.3%. The downwards projection is due to sharply higher energy prices because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The Rating agency Fitch has revised upwards the GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal FY 2021-2022, by 0.6 percentage points to 8.7 percent.

With the Omicron wave subsiding quickly, containment measures have been scaled back, setting the stage for a pick-up in GDP growth momentum in the June quarter this year.

Awards

75 Women felicitated by NITI Aayog at 5th Women Transforming India Awards

The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) of the NITI Aayog organized the 5th edition of the Women Transforming India Awards (WTI).

As part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, to celebrate 75 years of India’s independence, the WTI Awards have been conferred 75 women achievers for their contribution towards a ‘Sashakt Aur Samarth Bharat’. 

The Women Transforming India Awards has been presented since 2018 by NITI Aayog, under the aegis of Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), to highlight the commendable and ground-breaking endeavors of India’s women leaders and change-makers, with a special focus on entrepreneurship.

Here is the full list of Winners:

  1. Aardra Chandra Mouli, Aeka Biochemicals
  2. Aditi Avasthi, Individual Learning Limited (Imbibe)
  3. Aditi Bhutia Madan, BluePine Food Pvt. Ltd
  4. Akshita Sachdeva, Trestle Labs Pvt. Ltd
  5. Akshya Shree, Tad Udyog Pvt. Ltd
  6. Alina Alam, Mitti Social Initiatives Foundation
  7. Anita Devi, Madhopur Farmers Producers Company
  8. Anju Bisht, Amrita SeRVe (Saukhyam Reusable Pad)
  9. Anju Srivastava, Winegreens Farms
  10. Anu Acharya, Mapmygenome India Ltd
  11. Anuradha Parekh, Vikara Services Pvt. Ltd (The Better India)
  12. Aparna Hegde, Armman
  13. Ayushi Mishra, DronaMaps
  14. Chahat Vasal, NerdNerdy Technologies Pvt. Ltd
  15. Chayaa Nanjappa, Nectar Fresh
  16. Chetna Gala Sinha, Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank
  17. Darshana Joshi, VigyanShaala International
  18. Dhevibala Umamaheswaran, Bigfix Gadget Care LLP
  19. Dipa Chaure, Krantijyoti Mahila Bachat Gat (Rural)
  20. Gauri Gopal Agarwal, Skilled Samaritan Foundation (Sirohi)
  21. Gayathri Vasudevan, LabourNet Services India Pvt. Ltd
  22. Geeta Solanki, Unipads India Pvt. Ltd
  23. Dr Girija K. Bharat, Mu Gamma Consultants Pvt. Ltd
  24. Gitanjali J. Angmo, Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh
  25. Hardika Shah, Kinara Capital
  26. Hasina Kharbhih, Impulse NGO Network
  27. Hina Shah, ICECD
  28. Jo Aggarwal, Touchkin eServices Pvt. Ltd (Wysa)
  29. Khushboo Awasthi, Mantra Social Services
  30. Kirti Poonia, Okhai
  31. Malini Parmar, Stonesoup
  32. Mayura Balasubramanian, Craftizen Foundation
  33. Megha Bhatia, Our Voix
  34. Meha Lahiri, Recity Network Pvt. Ltd
  35. Mita Kulkarni, Forest Essentials
  36. Neelam Chhiber, Industree Crafts Foundation
  37. Neetu Yadav, Animall Technologies Ltd
  38. Neha Satak, Astrome Technologies Pvt. Ltd
  39. Nimisha Varma, Aloe ECell
  40. Nisha Jain Grover, Vatsalya Legacy Educational Society
  41. Payal Nath, Kadam Haat
  42. Pooja Sharma Goyal, Building Blocks Learning Solutions Pvt. Ltd
  43. Prachi Kaushik, Vyomini Social Enterprise
  44. Preeti Rao, Weljii
  45. Prema Gopalan, Swayam Shikshan Prayog
  46. Priti Patel, Raspian Enterprises Pvt. Ltd
  47. Puunam G. Kaushik, Meteoric Biopharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd
  48. Dr Radhika Batra, Every Infant Matters
  49. Rajoshi Ghosh, Hasura
  50. Ramya S. Moorthy, Nimaya Innovations Pvt. Ltd
  51. Richa Singh, YourDOST Health Solutions Pvt. Ltd
  52. Romita Ghosh, Heal Healthtech Pvt. Ltd
  53. Roopa Maganti, Greentatwa Agri TechL LLP
  54. Samina Bano, RightWalk Foundation
  55. Savita Garg, Eclassopedia
  56. Sayalee Marathe, Aadyaa Originals Pvt. Ltd
  57. Shaheen Mistri, The Akanksha Foundation
  58. Shalini Khanna Sodhi, National Association for the Blind
  59. Shanti Raghavan, EnAble India
  60. Suchetha Bhat, Dream a Dream
  61. Suchi Mukherjee, LimeRoad
  62. Suchitra Sinha, Ambalika
  63. Sugandha Sukrutaraj, Amba
  64. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions
  65. Sumita Ghose, Rangsutra Crafts India
  66. Supriya Paul, Josh Talks
  67. Susmita Mohanty, Earth2Orbit
  68. Dr Swapna Priya K., Farms2fork Technologies Pvt. Ltd (CultYvate)
  69. Swati Pandey, Arboreal Bioinnovations Pvt. Ltd
  70. Tanuja Abburi, Transformation Skills India Pvt. Ltd
  71. Trishla Surana, Colour Me Mad Pvt. Ltd
  72. Trupti Jain, Naireeta Services
  73. Victoria Joshlin D’Souza, Swachha Eco Solutions Pvt. Ltd
  74. Vidya Subramanian, Vidya Subramanian Academy
  75. Vijaya Swithi Gandhi, Chitrika

About the Women Transforming India Awards:

The Women Transforming India Awards has been presented since 2018 by NITI Aayog, under the aegis of Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), to highlight the commendable and ground-breaking endeavors of India’s women leaders and change-makers, with a special focus on entrepreneurship.

Sports

Lakshya Sen finishes runner-up; loses to Axelsen in final Of All England Championship’s

Lakshya Sen, who won bronze at the World Championships, placed second at 2022 All England Open Badminton Championships after losing to world number one Viktor Axelsen in the men’s singles final on Saturday.

Sen rated No. 11 in the world, was defeated by reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen 10-21, 15-21. On his route to the top of the podium, the world No. 1 was unstoppable and didn’t drop a single game.

Obituary

Bangladesh’s former president Shahabuddin Ahmed passes away

Shahabuddin Ahmed, the former President of Bangladesh has passed away at the age of 92 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. He was the interim head of state as the consensus nominee of all parties amid a mass upsurge in 1990 to topple ex-military dictator HM Ershad.

Shahabuddin Ahmed also served as the President of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001. He was responsible for holding a “free and credible” election in the country in February 1991.

Former Malian Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maiga passes away

The former Prime Minister of Mali, Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga has passed away due to illness. Maiga served as prime minister of Mali from 2017 until 2019. He had been detained since August 2021 after the country was taken over by a military junta.

He was appointed Keita’s prime minister in 2017 but resigned in April 2019 over a massacre that left 160 people dead.

Useful notes for exams:

  • Mali Capital: Bamako;
  • Mali Currency: West African CFA franc;
  • Mali Continent: Africa.