Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 04 March 2022

Daily Current Affairs – 04-03-2022

Important News: World

UNGA adopts resolution deploring Russian aggression in Ukraine

Why in News

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a resolution deploring the Russian aggression in Ukraine and urged Russia to immediately withdraw all forces from Ukraine.

Key Points

The resolution came up for voting with 141 members voting for and five members voting against it.
India and 34 other nations abstained from voting.
The emergency session of the UN General Assembly was called by the Security Council amidst ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine. It came after the 193-member assembly convened its first emergency session since 1997.

Note:

The UNGA resolution was similar to the one circulated in the 15-nation Security Council recently.
The UNSC resolution, which received 11 votes in favour and three abstentions, was blocked after permanent member Russia exercised its veto.

Source: newsonair

Montreux Convention

Why in News

Turkey is set to activate the Montreux Convention in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Key Points

Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister said that the situation in Ukraine had become a war, a declaration that authorises Turkey to activate the Montreux Convention and ban Russian war vessels from entering the Black Sea through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.

Bosporus and Dardanelles straits:

The Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, also known as the Turkish Straits or the Black Sea Straits, connect the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea via the Sea of Marmara.
It is the only passage through which the Black Sea ports can access the Mediterranean and beyond.

About Montreux Convention:

It was signed by Australia, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Japan, Romania, Yugoslavia, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and Turkey and has been in effect since November 1936.
Turkey has control over both the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.
In the event of a war, the pact gives Turkey the right to regulate the transit of naval warships and to block the straits to warships belonging to the countries involved in the conflict.

Source: Indian Express

Fifth UN Environment Assembly

Why in News

Recently, the Fifth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) concluded in Nairobi with 14 resolutions to strengthen actions for nature to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The theme for UNEA-5 was “Strengthening Actions for Nature to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals”.
The Assembly will be followed by "UNEP@50", a two-day Special Session of the Assembly marking UNEP's 50th anniversary.

Key Points

The UN Environment Assembly concluded with 14 resolutions to curb pollution, protect and restore nature worldwide.
The world's ministers for the environment agreed to establish an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee with the mandate to forge an international legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution.
This was the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Note:

Earlier, India had piloted a resolution on addressing single use plastic product pollution in the fourth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) held in 2019, bringing global focus on the issue.
India had announced the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, which notified the instructions on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging.

About UN Environment Assembly:

The Assembly is made up of the 193 UN Member States and convenes every two years to advance global environmental governance.
It is the governing body of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Source: Business Standard

Wealth Report 2022: India ranks 3rd in billionaire population globally

Why in News

According to Knight Frank’s latest edition of the Wealth Report 2022 (16^th edition), at 145 billionaires, India has the third-highest billionaire population globally, after the US and China.

Key Points

The number of Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) globally increased by 9.3% in 2021.
Over the next five years, Knight Frank forecasts that the global UHNWIs population will grow by a further 28%.
In India, the number of Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) with net assets of $30 million (Rs 226 crore) or more, increased 11% in 2021. This is the highest percentage growth in Asia Pacific.
Mumbai leads with the highest number of UHNWIs at 1,596, followed by Hyderabad at 467, Pune at 360, Bengaluru at 352, Kolkata at 257, Delhi at 210, Chennai at 160 and Ahmedabad at 121.

Note: The Wealth Report is Knight Frank’s flagship annual publication, offering a unique perspective on global wealth, prime property and investment.

Source: TOI

Important News: India

India slips 3 spots to rank 120 on 17 SDG goals adopted as UN’s 2030 agenda: Report

Why in News

According to the Centre for Science and Environment's State of India's Environment Report, 2022, India has slipped three spots from last year's 117 to rank 120 on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) adopted as a part of the 2030 agenda by 192 United Nations member states in 2015.

Key Points

With the latest rankings, India is now behind all south Asian nations except Pakistan, which stands at 129.
The south Asian countries ahead of India are Bhutan ranked 75, Sri Lanka 87, Nepal 96 and Bangladesh 109.
India's overall Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) score was 66 out of 100.
India's rank dropped primarily because of major challenges in 11 SDGs including zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, gender equality and sustainable cities and communities.
India also performed poorly in dealing with quality education and life on land aspects.
On the state-wise preparedness, Jharkhand and Bihar are the least prepared to meet the SDGs by the target year 2030.
Kerala ranked first.
Among the Union Territories, Chandigarh was ranked first.

Source: ET

Union Minister for Women & Child Development launches “Stree Manoraksha Project”

Why in News

Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani launched the “Stree Manoraksha Project”.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development is celebrating the International Women’s Day week from 1^stto 8^th March, 2022.

Key Points

The ‘Stree Manoraksha Project’ was launched in collaboration with NIMHANS Bengaluru.
The project is aimed at extending mental health training to 6000 One Stop Centres (OSC) functionaries across India.
The project would emphasise on the psychosocial well-being and aim to improve the mental health of women in India.

Women Empowerment Schemes:

One Stop Centres (OSC) Scheme
Women Helpline Scheme
NIRBHAYA Fund
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
KIRAN Scheme
Mahila e-haat
Mahila Police Desks and Anti Human Trafficking Units
Nari Shakti Puraskar
Mahila Shakti Kendras

Note: International Women's Day is celebrated annually on 8 March.

Source: PIB

India signs Host Country Agreement with the International Telecommunication Union for establishment of Area Office & Innovation Centre at New Delhi

Why in News

Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Communications and Houlin Zhao, Secretary General of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) signed the Host Country Agreement (HCA) for the establishment of an Area Office & Innovation Centre of ITU in New Delhi.

Key Points

The agreement was signed in a virtual ceremony during the World Telecommunications Standardisation Assembly-20 (WTSA-20) being held in Geneva, Switzerland.
WTSA is a four-yearly global conference of ITU dedicated to standardisation of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs).
India has proposed to host the next WTSA to be held in 2024.

Area Office & Innovation Centre of ITU in New Delhi:

The Area Office and Innovation Centre of ITU at New Delhi is expected to serve South Asian countries namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and India.
The Host Country Agreement provides the legal and financial framework for establishment and operations of the Area Office.

Note: India has been taking concrete steps towards development of telecom standards. The 5Gi standards developed within India have now been recognised by ITU as one of the three technologies for 5G.

About International Telecommunication Union (ITU):

ITU is the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technologies.
ITU currently has a membership of 193 countries and over 900 private-sector entities and academic institutions.

Source: PIB

Ministry of Tourism starts Swadesh Darshan Awards

Why in News

In order to acknowledge the efforts undertaken by the State Governments, Union Territory Administrations and various implementation agencies, the Ministry of Tourism has constituted Swadesh Darshan Awards in different categories.

Key Points

The awards will highlight best practices including achievement of planned objectives, innovative approach, adoption of sustainability principals in planning, design and operations, efficient project monitoring, ability to attract private investments in peripheral development and efforts undertaken to ensure optimal operations and maintenance etc.

Note:

The Ministry of Tourism under its flagship scheme of ‘Swadesh Darshan’ has sanctioned 76 projects in 31 States / Union Territories of India for more than Rs.5500 Crore.
As part of this scheme, tourism related infrastructure has been developed at more than 500 tourist destinations.

About Swadesh Darshan Scheme:

Swadesh Darshan Scheme is a Central Sector scheme launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture,Government of India for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits.

Source: PIB

Important News: Important Days

March 4, National Safety Day

Why in News

National Safety Day is observed on March 4 every year.

Key Points

The theme of National Safety Day 2022 is ‘Nurture Young Minds-Develop Safety Culture’.

History:

National Safety Day was first observed on the foundation day of the National Safety Council in 1972.
The National Safety Council (NSC) of India was set up by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on 4 March 1966.
The vision and mission of the Council is the successful running of the safety, health and environment (SHE) campaign.

Source: India Today