Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 23 March 2022

Daily Current Affairs 23-03-2022

Important News: World

Finlandization

Why in News

Recently, the French President Emmanuel Macron suggested Finlandization might be a realistic outcome for Ukraine if and when the Russia-Ukraine war ends.

Key Points

About Finlandization:

Finlandization refers to the policy of strict neutrality between Moscow and the West that Finland followed during the decades of the Cold War.
The principle of neutrality was rooted in the Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance (or YYA Treaty, from the Finnish “Ystävyys-, yhteistyö- ja avunantosopimus”) that Finland signed with the USSR in April 1948.
Article 1 of the treaty (translated) reads: “In the eventuality of Finland, or the Soviet Union through Finnish territory, becoming the object of an armed attack by Germany or any state allied with the latter (meaning, essentially, the United States), Finland will, true to its obligations as an independent state, fight to repel the attack.

Note: It will soon be a month since Russia invaded Ukraine, and despite several rounds of talks between the representatives of the two sides, it remains unclear when and how the war might end. Russia invoked the threat of Ukraine joining NATO as a pretext for the invasion; President Volodymyr Zelenskyy however, appeared to acknowledge last week that his country will not be part of the US-led military alliance in the foreseeable future.

Source: Indian Express

Important News: India

National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST)

Why in News

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has been dysfunctional for the last four years and has not delivered a single report to Parliament, a parliamentary committee has said in a recent report.

Key Points

About National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST):

It is an Indian constitutional body that was established through Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.
On the 89th Amendment of the Constitution coming into force on 19 February 2004, the National Commission for scheduled Tribes has been set up under Article 338A on bifurcation of erstwhile National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to oversee the implementation of various safeguards provided.

Composition:

The Commission comprises a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and three full-time Members (including one female Member). The term of all the Members of the Commission is three years from the date of assumption of charge.

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: The Hindu

Cabinet approves Minimum Support Price of Raw Jute for 2022 -23 season

Why in News

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, approved the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Raw Jute for 2022-23 season.

Key Points

The approval is based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.
The MSP of Raw Jute (TDN₃equivalent to TD₅ grade) has been fixed at Rs.4750/- per quintal for 2022-23 season.
This would ensure a return of 60.53 percent over all India weighted average cost of production.
The announced MSP of raw jute for 2022-23 season is in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times all India weighted average cost of production as announced by the Government in the Budget 2018-19.
The Jute Corporation of India (JCI) will continue as Central Government Nodal Agency to undertake Price Support Operations and the losses incurred, if any, in such operations, will be fully reimbursed by the Central Government.

Source: PIB

Important News: Defence

3^rdedition of joint training exercise between Indian and Uzbekistan armies, EX-DUSTLIK

Why in News

The 3^rdedition of joint training exercise between Indian and Uzbekistan armies, EX-DUSTLIK is being conducted at Yangiarik, Uzbekistan from 22 to 31 March 2022.

Key Points

The Indian contingent which comprises a platoon strength of Grenadiers Regiment departed for the exercise area on 22 March 2022 to join the Uzbekistan Army contingent represented by troops of the North Western Military District.
The last edition of DUSTLIK was conducted in Ranikhet (Uttarakhand) in March 2021.
The joint exercise would focus on Counter Terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain under a United Nations Mandate.
The Grenadiers battalion nominated for the exercise is one of the highly decorated battalions of Indian Army and has the unique distinction of participating in almost all the Pre and Post Independence Operations. The unit has been awarded eight Pre-Independence Battle Honours. Post Independence, it has earned theatre honour ‘RAJASTHAN’ in 1965 war and battle honour ‘JARPAL’ in 1971 war.

Source: India Today

Exercise Cold Response 2022

Why in News

The military exercise ‘Cold Response 2022’ has been organized by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Norway.
The exercise started on 14 March and will continue to 1 April 2022.

Key Points

Over 30,000 soldiers from 27 countries, as well as a number of civilian agencies participate in the exercise.
This exercise is held biennially in Norway.
Cold Response 2022 is a long-planned exercise bringing together thousands of troops from NATO Allies and partners, testing their ability to work together in cold weather conditions across Norway – on land, in the air and at sea.
Cold Response 2022 is organised by the Norwegian Armed Forces.
The first exercise was the largest military exercise in Norway in 2006.

About North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO):

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance among 28 European countries and 2 North American countries.
Established in the aftermath of World War II, the organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty, signed 4 April 1949.
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium

Source: nato.int

Important News: Appointment

Indian Economist Jayati Ghosh appointed in UN Advisory Board on Multilateralism

Why in News

Indian development economist Jayati Ghosh has been appointed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to a new high-level advisory board on effective multilateralism.

Key Points

UN chief Guterres announced the establishment of the Advisory Board on Effective Multilateralism to be co-chaired by former Liberian president and Nobel laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.
Ms Ghosh has been named to the 12-member board, which will be supported in its work by the Centre for Policy Research of the United Nations University in close coordination with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General.
She is also a member of the UN's high-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs.
Jayati Ghosh, 65, is a professor of economics at University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Note: The first United Nations High-level Advisory Board was established in June 2018 as a key element of the efforts to support the U.N. Member States in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Source: The Hindu

Important News: Award and Honours

NITI Aayog organizes fifth edition of Women Transforming India Awards

Why in News

NITI Aayog organized the fifth edition of the Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards.

Key Points

This year, as part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate 75 years of India’s independence, the WTI Awards were conferred on 75 women achievers to celebrate their contribution towards a ‘Sashakt Aur Samarth Bharat’.

About Women Transforming India (WTI) Awards:

The Women Transforming India Awards is NITI Aayog’s annual initiative to highlight the commendable and ground-breaking endeavours of India’s women leaders and change-makers.
Since 2018, the Awards have been hosted under the aegis of NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), with a special focus on entrepreneurship.
Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is an aggregator portal that aims to catalyse the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women and address information asymmetry.

Source: PIB

Important News: Important Days

March 23, Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day

Why in News

March 23 is observed as Shaheed Diwas or Martyrs’ Day in India.

Key Points

On March 23, 1931, Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, and Sukhdev Thapar were hanged to death by the British in Lahore Jail.
In order to honour and remember their sacrifice for India's freedom struggle, March 23rd is celebrated as Shaheed Diwas.
Martyr’s Day or Shaheed Diwas is also observed every year on January 30 in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi.

Note: On the occasion of Shaheed Diwas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Biplobi Bharat Gallery at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata.

Source: India Today

March 23, World Meteorological Day

Why in News

World Meteorological Day is celebrated on March 23 every year.

Key Points

The theme for World Meteorological Day 2022 is ‘Early Warning and Early Action’.
The day is celebrated as the establishment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), an organization of the United Nations, was created on 23 March 1950 to replace the International Meteorological Organization.
The first World Meteorological Day was held on 23 March 1961.

Source: un.org