Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 31 March 2022

Daily Current Affairs 31 March 2022

Important News: World

PM Narendra Modi addresses 5th BIMSTEC Summit

Why in News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 5th BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Summit on 30 March 2022 hosted in virtual mode by Sri Lanka, the current chair of BIMSTEC.

Key Points

The Summit’s theme was “Towards a Resilient Region, Prosperous Economies, Healthy People”.
The main outcome of the Summit was the adoption and signing of the BIMSTEC Charter, which formalizes the grouping into an organization made up of member states that are littoral to, and dependent upon, the Bay of Bengal.
Prime Minister Modi along with other leaders also witnessed the signing of three BIMSTEC agreements which represent progress being achieved in ongoing cooperation activities:

(i) BIMSTEC Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters

(ii) BIMSTEC Memorandum of Understanding on Mutual Cooperation in the field of Diplomatic Training

(iii) Memorandum of Association on Establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility

Facts about BIMSTEC:

Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Founded: 6 June 1997
Member: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Note: With 21.7 percent of the world's population and combined GDP of USD 3.8 trillion, the BIMSTEC has emerged as an influential engine of economic growth.

Source: newsonair

Important News: India

Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges in UNESCO’s tentative list of World Heritage Sites

Why in News

Meghalaya’s Living Root Bridges, found in over 70 villages in the state, have been included in the tentative list of World Heritage Sites of the UNESCO.

Key Points

About Living Root Bridges:

It is a type of simple suspension bridgeformed by the method of tree shaping to form living plant roots across a stream or river.
Once mature, some bridges can have as many as 50 people crossing them and can last for over 150 years.
Locally known as jingkieng jri, these are very common in the southern part of Meghalaya where villages — from the Khasi and Jaintia tribes— grow them by training the ‘ficus elastica‘ tree on both sides of water bodies over a period of about 10-15 years where the roots form the bridge.
At present, there are about 100 known living root bridges spread across 72 villages in the state.

India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

The first sites to be inscripted were Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Agra Fort, and Taj Mahal, of which all were inscribed in the 1983 session of the World Heritage Committee.
The latest site to be inscribed is Dholavira, Gujarat in 2021.
As of July 2021, 19 of the 36 States and union territories of India are home to the World Heritage Sites, with Maharashtra having the highest number of sites (5).
At present, there are 40 World Heritage Sites located in India. Out of these, 32 are cultural, 7 are natural, and 1 is mixed (meeting both cultural and natural criteria), as determined by the organization's selection criteria.
India has the sixth largest number of sites in the world.

World's UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

As of July 2021, a total of 1,154 World Heritage Sites (897 cultural, 218 natural, and 39 mixed properties) exist across 167 countries.
With 58 selected areas, Italy is the country with the most sites on the list.

Source: Indian Express

Cabinet approves USD 808 million for “Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance”

Why in News

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, approved a USD 808 million or Rs 6,062.45 crore, World Bank assisted programme on “Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance” (RAMP).
RAMP is a new scheme and would commence in FY 2022-23.

Key Points

RAMP is a World Bank assisted Central Sector Scheme, supporting various Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID) Resilience and Recovery Interventions of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MoMSME).
RAMP programme with impacts across the country will directly or indirectly benefit all 63 million enterprises that qualify as MSMEs
However, a total of 5,55,000 MSMEs are specifically targeted for enhanced performance and, in addition, expansion of target market to include service sectors and increase of about 70,500 women MSMEs is envisaged.

Background:

RAMP was formulated and proposed by the Government of India, for strengthening MSMEs in line with the recommendations made by U K Sinha Committee, KV Kamath Committee and Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (PMEAC).

Source: HT

Malabar Rebellion

Why in News

Recently, the Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR) has deferred its decision on a recommendation to remove the 1921 Malabar Rebellion martyrs including Variamkunnaathu Kunhahamad Haji and Ali Musliyar from the list of India’s freedom fighters.

Key Points

The Malabar rebellion, Moplah massacre, Moplah riots or Mappila riots occurred between August 1921 and 1922 in the southern part of the Malabar district of the Madras Presidency.

About Indian Council for Historical Research (ICHR):

It is a captive body of the Ministry of Education established by an Administrative Order.
It provides financial assistance to historians and scholars through fellowships, grants, and symposia.
Headquarters: New Delhi
Founded: 27 March 1972

Source: The Hindu

Important News: Defence

IONS Maritime Exercise 2022 (IMEX-22)

Why in News

The maiden edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Maritime Exercise 2022 (IMEX-22) was conducted at Goa and in the Arabian Sea from 26 – 30 March 2022.

Key Points

The aim of the exercise was to enhance interoperability in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations among member navies.
The exercise witnessed participation of 15 out of the 25 member nations of IONS.
The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), established in 2007, is a premier forum for cooperation and collaboration among navies of littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
IMEX – 22 comprised a Harbour Phase at Marmugao port, Goa from 26 to 27 March 2022 followed by a Sea Phase in the Arabian Sea from 28 to 30 March 2022.
The participation included warships, Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters from the Navies of Bangladesh, France, India and Iran.
22 Observers from 15 IONS member navies, namely Australia, Bangladesh, France, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE and UK also participated in the exercise.

Source: PIB

CCS approves procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH)

Why in News

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has approved procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Limited Series Production at the cost of Rs. 3,887 Cr along with Infrastructure sanctions worth Rs. 377 Cr.

Key Points

About Light Combat Helicopter Limited Series Production (LSP):

LSP is an indigenously designed, developed and manufactured state of the art modern combat helicopter containing approx. 45% indigenous content by value which will progressively increase to more than 55% for SP Version.
The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) produces the helicopter.
This helicopter is equipped with requisite agility, maneuverability, extended range, high altitude performance and around-the-clock, all-weather combat capability to perform roles of Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Destruction of Enemy Air Defence (DEAD), Counter Insurgency (CI) operations, against slow moving aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs), high altitude bunker busting operations, Counter Insurgency operations in jungle and urban environments and support to ground forces and would be a potent platform to meet the operational requirements of Indian Air Force & Indian Army.

Source: Indian Express

Important News: Polity

Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Why in News

The Rajya Sabha passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

Key Points

The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 to omit Bhogta community from the list of Scheduled Castes in Jharkhand and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 for inclusion of certain communities in the lists of Scheduled Tribes in the State.
The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was introduced in the Upper House of Parliament on February 7, 2022.
The Scheduled Castes order specifies the castes, races and tribes deemed to be Scheduled Castes in various states and Union territories, while the Scheduled Tribes order specifies the same for tribes and tribal communities.

Note: Earlier, Lok Sabha passed a bill to include the ‘Darlong’ community as a sub-tribe of the ‘Kuki’ in the list of Scheduled Tribes of Tripura

Legal Provisions:

Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 against Untouchability
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

Source: TOI

Important News: Science

MATLAB on I-STEM National Portal launched

Why in News

For the first time in the country, academic users in India will be able to access the MATLAB software suite at no cost through the Indian Science Technology and Engineering facilities Map (I-STEM) portal.

Key Points

The MATLAB software suite is hosted on the cloud server of I-STEM to provide user friendly access from anywhere in India.

About MATLAB:

MATLAB is a proprietary multi-paradigm programming language and numeric computing environment developed by MathWorks.

About I-STEM:

I-STEM is an initiative of Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (PSA, GoI) under the aegis of Prime Minister Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC).
During Indian Science Congress of 2020, I-STEM portal was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the national web portal for sharing R&D facilities.
The I-STEM aims to strengthen the R&D ecosystem by connecting researchers with resources, in part by promoting technologies and scientific equipment development indigenously.

Source: PIB

Important News: Sports

Mirabai Chanu wins the BBC ISWOTY 2021 award

Why in News

Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has been announced the winner of the third edition of the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) 2021 award.

Key Points

Mirabai Chanu created history in 2021 when she became the first Indian weightlifter to clinch a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
The ‘BBC Emerging Player’ award has been presented to Shafali Verma, the youngest female cricketer who played for India in Women’s Twenty20 International match in 2019.
The first Indian woman to have won a medal at the Olympics in 2000, Karnam Malleswari has been presented the BBC Lifetime Achievement award.

Source: TOI