Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 01 March 2022

Daily Current Affair 01-03-2022

Important News: World

Removal of Russian banks from SWIFT system

Why in News

Recently, in a move to counter Russia’s war over Ukraine, the US and the European Union (EU) issued a joint statement to exclude some Russian banks from the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) messaging system.

Key Points

The assets of Russia’s central bank are also expected to be frozen, constraining Moscow’s ability to access its overseas reserves.
The intention of the moves is to further isolate Russia from the international financial system.
Prior to this, only one country had been cut off from SWIFT — Iran.

About SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication):

The SWIFT is a secure platform for financial institutions to exchange information about global monetary transactions such as money transfers.
While SWIFT does not actually move money, it operates as a middleman to verify information of transactions by providing secure financial messaging services to more than 11,000 banks in over 200 countries.
Based in Belgium, it is overseen by the central banks from eleven industrial countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, besides Belgium.

Source: Indian Express

Canada approves world's first plant-based COVID-19 vaccine

Why in News

Canada approved the use of Covifenz, the world’s first plant-derived COVID-19 vaccine.

Key Points

Covifenz was jointly developed by Medicago Inc., a biopharma company and GlaxoSmithKline Plc.
Covifenz is made from plant-based proteins that look like coronavirus and uses Glaxo’s adjuvant that contains DL-alpha-tocopherol, squalene, polysorbate 80, phosphate-buffered saline.
The other ingredients include potassium phosphate monobasic anhydrous, anhydrous sodium chloride, sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous, and water for injection.
In simple terms, the vaccine uses plant-based proteins to produce particles that resemble the target viral pathogen.

Source: HT

Important News: India

International Monsoons Project Office launched

Why in News

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh launched the International Monsoons Project Office (IMPO) on the occasion of National Science Day 2022.

Key Points

The International Monsoons Project Office (IMPO) will be hosted at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, an institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt of India, initially for five years.
It would encompass activities and connections related to international monsoon research that would be identified and fostered under the leadership of the World Climate Research Programme and the World Weather Research Programme.
Both the World Climate Research Programme and World Weather Research Programme are international programmes coordinated by the United Nations World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
As part of its core responsibilities, the IMPO would support activities of the Monsoons Panel, jointly established by the World Climate Research Programme's CLIVAR (Climate and Ocean Variability, Predictability, and Change) and GEWEX (Global Energy and Water Exchanges) projects.

Note: It also precedes the 7th WMO International Workshop on Monsoons which is being organized in India jointly by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, World Climate Research Programme, and World Weather Research Programme in March 2022.

Source: PIB

Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana

Why in News

Recently, Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar inaugurated a Camp in Maharashtra for distribution of daily living aids and assistive devices to Senior citizens under ‘Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana’ (RVY Scheme) of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

Key Points

In the inauguration camp, 4800 Daily Living aids and assistive have been distributed among as much as 895 senior citizen beneficiaries.

About Rashtriya Vayoshree Yojana:

It was launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
It is a central sector scheme funded from the Senior Citizens’ Welfare Fund.
It aims to provide aids and assistive living devices to senior citizens belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category who suffer from age-related disabilities.

Note: As per the Census figures of 2011, the population of senior citizens in India is 10.38 crore. More than 70% of the population of senior citizens lives in rural areas of the country.

Other Schemes Related to Elderly:

SACRED Portal for Elderly
SAMPANN Project
Elder Line: Toll-Free Number for Elderly
SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth Engine) Initiative
Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP)
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007
The Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana
Vayoshreshtha

Source: PIB

Janaushadhi Diwas week to be observed from 1st March to 7th March 2022

Why in News

Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), under the aegis of Department of Pharmaceuticals is going to celebrate their 4^thJan Aushadhi Diwas by organizing weeklong (1st March to 7th March 2022) celebrations at different locations across the country covering all States/UTs.
The last day of the week i.e. 7th March will be celebrated as ‘Janaushadhi Diwas’.

Key Points

The theme of 4th Janaushadhi Diwas is “Jan Aushadhi-Jan Upyogi”.
This will generate awareness about the usages of generic medicines and benefits of Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana.

About Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP):

PMBJP was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers in November, 2008.
As on 31^stJanuary, 2022, the number of stores has increased to 8,675.
Under the PMBJP, all 739 districts of the nation have been covered.
The scheme ensures easy reach of affordable medicine to the people in every nook and corner of the country.
The Government has set a target to increase the number of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) to 10,500 by the end of March 2025.

Source: PIB

Important News: Defence

INS Visakhapatnam

Why in News

Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh dedicated INS Visakhapatnam, the indigenously designed and constructed guided-missile stealth destroyer named after the City of Destiny – Visakhapatnam, in a formal ceremony held at Naval Dockyard on 27 Feb 2022.

Key Points

INS Visakhapatnam is on her maiden visit to the port for participating in the PFR and MILAN 2022.
It is the lead ship of the P15B class of guided missile stealth destroyers and was commissioned on 21 Nov 2021.
The ship symbolises India's matured shipbuilding capability and quest for the Make in India initiative towards achieving 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'.

Source: PIB

Important News: Appointment

Madhabi Puri Buch appointed first woman chairperson of SEBI

Why in News

Former banker Madhabi Puri Buch has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) - the first-ever woman to head the capital markets regulator.

Key Points

Buch was not only the first woman whole-time member of SEBI but also the first person from the private sector working at the regulator, has been appointed for a three-year term.
Starting her career with ICICI Bank, she went on to become the managing director and CEO at ICICI Securities from February 2009 to May 2011.

About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):

SEBI is the regulatory body for securities and commodity markets in India under the ownership of the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.
It was established on April 12, 1992 in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.

Source: The Hindu

Important News: Sports

India's Sadia Tariq wins gold medal in Moscow Wushu Stars Championship 2022

Why in News

India's Sadia Tariq has won a gold medal in Moscow Wushu Stars Championship 2022.

Key Points

The Wushu Stars Championship was held in Moscow, Russian from February 22 to 28.
Sadia Tariq, who hails from Srinagar, is a two-time gold medalist in the Junior National Wushu championship.

Source: TOI

Important News: Important Days

March 01, Zero Discrimination Day

Why in News

Zero Discrimination Day is an annual day celebrated on 1 March each year by the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations.

Key Points

The theme of the Zero Discrimination Day is “Remove laws that harm, create laws that empower”.
The day aims to promote equality before the law and in practice throughout all of the member countries of the UN.
The day was first celebrated on March 1, 2014, and was launched by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé on 27 February of that year.

Source: un.org