30th March 2022 Current Affairs Updates with Quiz in English

Current Affairs in English

National

India’s first steel road featured in Gujarat 

Surat, Gujarat, features a road created entirely of steel waste, which is one of the best instances of sustainable development. ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India collaborated on the steel slag road with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) India, the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), and the government think tank Niti Aayog.

The trial project is a one-kilometre road with six lanes. So far, the path has proven to be reliable. Every day, almost 1,000 trucks, weighing between 18 and 30 tonnes, drive along the steel road.

Various plants across the country produce millions of tonnes of steel waste each year, which is disposed of in landfills. This one-of-a-kind initiative will now not only make use of a previously underutilised resource but will also result in more durable roadways.

Pramod Sawant takes oath as Chief Minister of Goa for 2nd term

Pramod Sawant took oath as the Chief Minister of Goa on March 28, 2022, for the second straight five-year term. Sawant led the BJP in the recently concluded 2022 Goa Assembly elections and won 20 seats in the 40-member Goa Assembly.

Mr Sawant was administered the oath by Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai at the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee stadium near Panaji. Mr Sawant is an Ayurveda Medical practitioner by profession.

He was sworn in as Chief Minister in March 2019 after the death of the sitting chief minister Manohar Parrikar. Mr Sawant represents the Sanquelim constituency.

International

Maltese PM Robert Abela sworn in after landslide election win

The Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela has been sworn in for a second term after his ruling Labour Party won the 2022 general election in a landslide victory. He was administered the oath of office by President George Vella.

Abela was first sworn in as prime minister in January 2020 after the former Labour Party leader and prime minister Joseph Muscat resigned.

It was the first electoral test for Abela, a 44-year-old lawyer since he took the helm of the tiny Mediterranean island nation in January 2020 following a Labour party vote. Labour secured a majority of almost 40,000 votes over its Nationalist Party rivals — a huge margin in the tiny EU state which has just 355,000 registered voters.

Useful Points:

  • Malta Capital: Valletta; Currency: Euro

Appointments

Shashi Sinha named as new Chairman of Broadcast Audience Research Council India

The board of Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India has elected IPG Mediabrands India CEO Shashi Sinha as the new chairman. He will take over from Punit Goenka, who served as chairman of the TV viewership measurement agency for the last three years.

Sinha, who also represents the Advertising Agencies Association of India as its board member, has played a key role in the formation of BARC.

The Broadcast Audience Research Council India is a joint industry body founded by organisations that represent Indian broadcasters, advertisers, and advertising and media agencies. It is the world’s largest television measurement science industry body.

Useful Points:

  • Broadcast Audience Research Council Founded: 2010;
  • Broadcast Audience Research Council Headquarters: Mumbai;
  • Broadcast Audience Research Council CEO: Nakul Chopra.

Gilbert Houngbo named next Director-General of International Labour Organization

Gilbert Houngbo from Togo will be the next Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Houngbo was elected by the UN agency’s governing body, comprising representatives of governments, workers and employers during their meeting in Geneva.

Houngbo, former Prime Minister of Togo, will be the 11th head of the agency and the first African to hold the post. His five-year term will begin on October 1, 2022. The current Director-General, Guy Ryder, from the United Kingdom, has held office since 2012.

Useful Points:

  • International Labour Organisation Founded: 1919;
  • International Labour Organisation Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

Banking

RBI Governor dedicates Varnika Ink Manufacturing Unit of BRBNMPL

Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) has set up an Ink Manufacturing Unit named “Varnika” at Mysuru, Karnataka, with an annual ink manufacturing capacity of 1,500 MT to enhance the security of banknotes.

Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI. Shaktikanta Das (Governor of RBI) has dedicated “Varnika”, the Ink Manufacturing Unit of Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) to the nation.

It is a boost to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. It ensures that the entire requirement of banknote printing inks is produced in-house.

This unit also manufactures Colour Shift Intaglio Ink (CSII) and meets the entire requirements of banknote printing presses in India, which has resulted in cost efficiency and self-sufficiency in banknote ink production.

Shaktikanta Das lays the Foundation Stone of the Learning and Development Centre of BRBNMPL in Mysuru

Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shaktikanta Das has laid the foundation stone for the establishment of a Learning and Development Centre (LDC) of the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) in Mysuru, Karnataka. Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RBI.

LDC is being established with active collaboration from Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) and Bank Note Paper Mill India Private Limited (BNPMIPL).

LDC will act as a forum for robust knowledge dissemination, thus ensuring that the best practices, experiences, and innovations are shared efficiently in a congenial environment to ensure uniformity in banknote production, quality and supply.

Business

PVR & INOX Leisure announced a merger combined entity to be called PVR Inox Ltd 

Multiplex companies INOX Leisure Ltd and PVR Ltd have announced the merger of their two companies. Inox will have a 16.66% stake in the new firm and PVR will have a 10.62% stake.

After the formalities of the merger, the company will be known as PVR Inox Limited. Ajay Bijli will be Managing Director of PVR Inox Limited, Sanjeev Kumar will be executive director and Pavan Kumar Jain will be non-executive chairman of the consolidated board.

The merger is subject to approval by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), stock exchanges, and other regulatory approvals as required. Merger to bring together two of India’s best cinema brands to deliver an unparalleled consumer experience with a network of 1,546 screens across 341 properties in 109 cities.

Useful Points:

  • PVR Cinemas Founded: June 1997;
  • PVR Cinemas Headquarters: Gurugram;
  • PVR Cinemas Founder & CEO: Ajay Bijli.

Defence

DRDO successfully test-fire Indian Army “MRSAM” Missile

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted two successful flight tests of the Indian Army version of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) against high-speed aerial targets at Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.

The first test launch was to intercept a medium-altitude long-range target and the second launch was for a low altitude short-range target. The Indian Army version of MRSAM is a Surface-to-Air Missile. It has been developed jointly by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel.

This MRSAM version is a Surface-to-Air Missile developed jointly by DRDO and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel for use by the Indian Army. The MRSAM Army weapon system comprises multi-function radar, mobile launcher system and other vehicles. The flight tests were carried out with the weapon system in deliverable configuration.

Useful Points:

  • Chairman DRDO: Dr G Satheesh Reddy;
  • DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi;
  • DRDO Established: 1958.

The US, the Philippines kick off ‘Balikatan 2022’ the largest-ever military drills

The United States military and the military of the Philippines kicked off the military drill Balikatan 2022. The Philippine-led annual exercise will take place across Luzon in the Philippines region near Taiwan, from March 28 to April 8, 2022.

Around 8,900 Filipino and American troops are participating in the military drill, making it the largest Balikatan military exercise ever.

According to the military, the drills will focus on “maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief”.

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) gives US troops a legal basis to be in the Southeast Asian country for bilateral exercises and governs the conduct of American armed force personnel.

Useful Points:

  • Philippines Capital: Manila;
  • Philippines Currency: Philippine peso;
  • Philippines President: Rodrigo Duterte.

Awards

Actress Deepika Padukone was named in the inaugural TIME100 Impact Award

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has been named as one of the awardees of the TIME100 Impact Awards 2022. The actress has got featured on the inaugural TIME100 Impact Awards list for her work in mental health struggles and raising awareness, through her LiveLoveLaugh Foundation.

The award recognizes global leaders who have gone above and beyond to move their industries and the world forward. Apart from Deepika, six other global leaders have also been honoured with the award. The awards were presented at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.

Sports

Max Verstappen wins the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Max Verstappen (Red Bull – Netherlands) has won the Formula One 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Saudi Arabia. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari- Monaco) came second and Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari – Spain) came third.

It was the second edition of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the second round of the 2022 Formula One World Championship. Lewis Hamilton managed to get a point on the board after coming 10th.

The men’s and women’s team has won gold in the National Cross Country Championship

In Kohima, Darshan Singh of the Services and Varsha Devi of the Railways finally defended their men’s and women’s titles in the National Cross Country Championships by winning their 10 Km events on the picturesque but difficult course, which was made more difficult by 60 per cent humidity and wind gusts.

After playing crucial roles in their respective teams’ successes, they were ecstatic to win the South Asian crowns at the second SAFF Cross Country Championships, which were held concurrently.

Darshan Singh was grouped at the front with his Services teammates Rajendra Nath, Deepak Singh Rawat, Dipak Suhaug, reigning champion Parasappa Madevappa Hajilol, and Railways Narendra Pratap Singh even before the runners had completed the first loop of 2 kilometres. He never lost his beat or his place.