Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 03 March 2022

Daily Current Affairs 03-03-2022

Important News: World

Ukraine files an application before the International Court of Justice, instituting proceedings against the Russia

Why in News

Ukraine has filed an application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), instituting proceedings against Russia.
The dispute is related to the interpretation, application and fulfilment of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the “Genocide Convention”).

Key Points

Ukraine has accused Russia of falsely claiming that “acts of genocide have occurred in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts of Ukraine”, and of using that as a pretext to recognise the independence of these regions and of going to war against Ukraine.

About International Court of Justice (ICJ):

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN).
It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.
The court is the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice (PCIJ), which was brought into being through, and by, the League of Nations, and which held its inaugural sitting at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, in February 1922.
After World War II, the League of Nations and PCIJ were replaced by the United Nations and ICJ respectively.
The PCIJ was formally dissolved in April 1946, and its last president, Judge José Gustavo Guerrero of El Salvador, became the first president of the ICJ.
Like the PCIJ, the ICJ is based at the Peace Palace in The Hague.

Judges of the court:

The ICJ has 15 judges who are elected to nine-year terms by the UN General Assembly and Security Council, which vote simultaneously but separately.
Four Indians have been members of the ICJ so far.

India at the ICJ:

India has been a party to a case at the ICJ on six occasions, four of which have involved Pakistan.

Source: Indian Express

Important News: India

India and Japan renew Bilateral Swap Arrangement of $75 billion

Why in News

India and Japan renewed their Bilateral Swap Arrangement (BSA) to the extent of $75 billion.

Key Points

The Bank of Japan, acting as an agent for the Minister of Finance Japan, and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) signed the amendment and restatement agreement of the BSA.
BSA is a two-way arrangement where both authorities can swap their local currencies in exchange for dollars.

Note:

The BSA was negotiated between India and Japan during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Japan in 2018.
Consequently, the swap arrangement was signed to the tune of $75 billion in October 2020, to bring greater stability to foreign exchange.

Source: Business Standard

Field assessment of Swachh Survekshan 2022 launched

Why in News

The field assessment for the seventh consecutive edition of world’s largest urban cleanliness survey, Swachh Survekshan (SS), was launched on 1^stMarch 2022 by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

Key Points

MoHUA kicked off the SS 2022 survey with around 3,000 assessors of the Assessment Agency - Ipsos Research Pvt. Ltd., ready to go on the field to assess the performance of cities.
The scope of the survey has been expanded to now cover 100% wards for sampling, as compared to 40% in previous years.

About Swachh Survekshan (SS):

SS was introduced by MoHUA in 2016 as a competitive framework to encourage cities to improve the status of urban sanitation while encouraging large scale citizen participation.
The journey that started in 2016 with only 73 cities with million plus population, has grown manifold, with 434 cities in 2017, 4,203 cities in 2018, 4,237 cities in 2019, 4,242 cities in SS 2020 and 4,320 cities in SS 2021, including 62 Cantonment Boards.

Source: PIB

Government has approved proposal for continuation of seven existing sub-schemes under Umbrella Scheme “Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates”

Why in News

The Centre Government has approved the proposal for continuation of the seven existing sub schemes under the Umbrella Scheme “Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates” for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total outlay of Rs.1,452 crore.

Key Points

The approval will ensure that assistance under the Umbrella Scheme, continues to reach beneficiaries through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The scheme enables migrants and repatriates, who have suffered on account of displacement, to earn a reasonable income and to facilitate their inclusion in mainstream economic activities.

The Government, at different points of time, had started different schemes. These seven schemes provide assistance for –

Relief and Rehabilitation of displaced families of Pakistan Occupied Areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Chhamb,
Relief assistance to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees,
Relief assistance to Brus lodged in relief camps in Tripura,
Enhanced relief to 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot Victims,
Financial Assistance and other facilities to the families of affected civilian victims of terrorist violence,
Grants-in-aid to Central Tibetan Relief Committee (CTRC),
Grants-in-Aid to Government of West Bengal for infrastructure development in 51 erstwhile Bangladeshi enclaves in India, situated in Cooch Behar District and for resettlement of 922 returnees from erstwhile Indian enclaves in Bangladesh.

Source: PIB

MyGov launches “Sabka Vikas MahaQuiz” series of 14 episodes

Why in News

In order to build awareness amongst citizens about good governance, MyGov has launched the “Sabka Vikas MahaQuiz” series, on 1st March, 2022.
This is a year-long project and consists of 14 episodes.

Key Points

“Sabka Vikas MahaQuiz series” aims to sensitise the participants about the various government schemes and initiatives.
This includes yojanas that resulted in the unprecedented number of houses built (PM Awas Yojana), water connections given (Jal Jeevan Mission), bank accounts (Jan Dhan), direct benefit transfer to farmers (PM KISAN) or free gas connections (Ujjwala) and many more life changing interventions for the poor.
The first quiz is on Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY). PM-GKAY is a pro-poor package intended to reduce the challenges encountered by the poor as a result of disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: PIB

Important News: State

Demand for Rajya Sabha Seat to Chandigarh

Why in News

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation approved a proposal to amend Article 80 of the Constitution so that its councillors could send a representative to the Rajya Sabha.

Key Points

Private Member Bill — the Constitution (Amendment Bill, 2021) and Amendment of Article 80:

The Private Member Bill is a bill introduced by a Member of Parliament (MP), who is not a minister. MPs sitting in the Opposition mostly bring Private Member Bills in the house.
Article 80 of the Constitution of India deals with the composition of the council of states also called the Upper House.

Where does Chandigarh stand?

Chandigarh is a Union Territory without any legislative assembly.
Chandigarh has a seat of Member of Parliament (MP) in the lower house (Lok Sabha) or House of the People.
Chandigarh residents elect an MP every five years through direct voting.

Note:

The union territories of Puducherry, Jammu and Kashmir and the National Capital Territory of Delhi have representation in the Rajya Sabha, while Ladakh, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli — Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep are unrepresented in the upper house.

Source: Indian Express

Important News: Award and Honours

Ujjain enters Guinness Book for lighting more than 11 lakh diyas on Mahashivratri

Why in News

In Madhya Pradesh, Ujjain entered the Guinness Book of World Records for lighting more than 11 lakh earthen lamps simultaneously on the occasion of Mahashivratri.

Key Points

The people of Ujjain have set a new record by lighting more than 11 lakh 71 thousand lamps simultaneously breaking the record of 9 lakh 41 thousand lamps lit in Ayodhya last November.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the ‘Shiv Jyoti Arpanam’ festival at Ramghat of Kshipra River.

Note: Ujjain is home to Mahakaleshwar, one of the 12 jyotirlingas associated with Shiva.
Source: ET

Important News: Important Days

March 3, World Wildlife Day

Why in News

World Wildlife Day is celebrated on 3rd March every year.

Key Points

The theme of World Wildlife Day 2022 is “Recovering key species for ecosystem restoration”.

History:

On 20 December 2013, the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim 3 March as World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.
The date is the day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973, which plays an important role in ensuring that international trade does not threaten the species’ survival.

Note:

According to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, over 8,400 species of wild fauna and flora are critically endangered, while close to 30,000 more are understood to be endangered or vulnerable.

Source: un.org

March 3, World Hearing Day

Why in News

World Hearing Day is observed on March 3 every year.

Key Points

The theme of World Hearing Day 2022 is “To hear for life, listen with care.”
The campaign is held every year by the Office of Prevention of Blindness and Deafness of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The campaign's objectives are to share information and promote actions towards the prevention of hearing loss and improved hearing care.
The first event was held in 2007. Before 2016 it was known as International Ear Care Day.

Note: Across the world, 360 million people suffer from disabling hearing loss.

Source: who.int