NATIONAL UPDATES:
About Awaam Ki Baat: Awaam Ki Baat is
the novel initiative of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Jammu and
Kashmir which aims at disseminating the progressive steps taken by the
administration and seeks public feedback to make the process interactive,
participative and people-centric. The platform appreciates the heterogeneity of
our Union Territory.
2. India’s arms imports down by 33%, says Sipri report: India’s arms imports fell 33% between 2011-15 and 2016-20, said a report released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri). The report on international arms transfers attributed the drop in India’s arms imports mainly to an attempt to reduce its dependence on Russian arms and complex procurement processes. Russia was the most affected supplier, although India’s imports of US arms also fell by 46%. India’s top three arms suppliers during 2016-20 were Russia (accounting for 49% of India’s imports), France (18%) and Israel (13%), the report. Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Mauritius were the top recipients of Indian military hardware, the report. According to Sipri, India accounted for 0.2% of the share of global arms exports during 2016-20, making the country the world’s 24th largest exporter of major arms. This represents an increase of 228% over India’s export share of 0.1 % during the previous five-year period of 2011-15.
Note: Sipri Headquarters: Oslo, Norway; Sipri
Founded: 6 May 1966; Sipri Director: Dan Smith.
3. New Delhi Ranked as World’s most polluted capital city: New Delhi has been adjudged as the world’s most polluted capital city for the third straight year in the 2020 World Air Quality Report by Swiss organisation, IQAir. Globally, New Delhi is ranked as the 10th most polluted city in the world. The topmost polluted city in the world is Xinjiang in China. This is followed by nine Indian cities as the most polluted cities in the world, which are Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar, Bisrakh Jalalpur, Noida, Greater Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow and Bhiwari.
IQAir report: The IQAir report
measures air quality levels based on the concentration of lung-damaging
airborne particles known as PM 2.5, which is measured by ground-based
monitoring stations. As per the report, India was home to 35 of the world’s 50
most polluted cities, spanning 106 countries, which means India continues to
feature prominently at the top of the most polluted cities ranking. The IQAir
report seeks to empower individuals, organizations and communities to breathe
cleaner air through information, collaboration and technology solutions.
4. Lt Gen DP Pandey takes over as new commander of 15-Corps: Lt General DP Pandey has taken over the command of strategic Kashmir-based 15 Corps from Lt Gen BS Raju, who has been appointed as the new Director-General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, General Pandey was commissioned into the Sikh Light Infantry Regiment in December 1985 from Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
5. A Book ‘Battle Ready for 21st Century’ released: A book titled “Battle Ready for 21st Century” co-edited by Lt Gen AK Singh, Distinguished Fellow CLAWS and Brig Narender Kumar, Visiting Fellow CLAWS was released by Gen Bipin Rawat. The book lays down the conceptual framework for the strategic management of future conflicts.
The essence of the book: The book “Battle
Ready for the 21st Century” has endeavoured to postulate and define emerging
areas of conflict, desired capabilities and doctrinal issues that need careful
examination. The authors with hands-on experience and domain specialisation
have endeavoured to define and suggest the ways and means necessary to secure
India from emerging security challenges on land, air, sea, space, cyber domain
and even cognitive domain. The book is dwelling on future conflicts that India
may face and need to build capabilities to dissuade and prevent accidental
wars. The foreword is written by former Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash.
Former Chief of the Army Staff Gen NC Vij and Prof Gautam Sen have commented on
the book for empirically identifying future security challenges and the need
for building capabilities.
1. World’s Largest Floating Solar Farms being built in Singapore: The largest floating solar farm in the world is being built in Singapore. The country has resorted to set up energy plants off the coasts and reservoirs across it. This floating solar farm is being set up in the light that despite being one of the smallest countries across the world, it is one of the biggest per capita carbon dioxide emitters in India. Thus, to cater to the issue of climate change and to cut the greenhouse gas emission it is building the floating solar farm. This project is being built by Sembcorp Industries.
Renewable Energy in Singapore: Renewable energy is
a challenge for Singapore because the country has no rivers for
hydro-electricity. The wind is also not that strong to power the turbines.
Thus, with the setting up of the floating solar farms, the authorities seek to
change that notion. So, this tropical country has turned to solar power. Since,
it has little land space, equal to half the size of Los Angeles, the country
has decided to set up energy plants off its coasts and on reservoirs.
Note: Singapore Currency: Singapore dollar;
Capital of Singapore: Singapore; PM of Singapore: Lee Hsien Loong.
2. 6th India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Women’s Forum held Virtually: The Sixth India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Women’s Forum meeting was held virtually. The Forum discussed key issues that contribute towards the transformation of women’s lives. At the end of the conference, a joint declaration was also issued highlighting the shared IBSA goals and commitments for achieving gender equality in all spheres of life.
About IBSA Women’s Forum:
(1) The India-Brazil-South Africa Trilateral
Cooperation Forum is a unique platform that brings together India, Brazil and
South Africa, three large democracies and major economies from three different
continents.
(2) The meeting was led by the Ministry of
Women and Child Development, Government of India.
IBSA is committed to inclusive sustainable
development, in pursuit of the well-being of its citizens and those from other
developing nations.
(3) The principles, norms and values
underpinning the IBSA Dialogue Forum are participatory democracy, respect for
human rights, the Rule of Law and the strengthening of multilateralism. IBSA
lays efforts in South-South cooperation beyond the conventional areas of exchange
of experts and training.
Note: Minister of Women and Child
Development: Smriti Zubin Irani.
3. UN French Language Day: 20th March: The UN French Language Day is observed annually on 20 March. The day was established by the UN’s Department of Public Information in 2010, to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six official languages throughout the Organization. March 20 was chosen as the date for the French language since it coincides with the 40th anniversary of the International Organization of La Francophonie, representing countries and regions where French is a customary language.
History of the day: The date of French
Language Day was chosen symbolically in reference to March 20, 1970, which
marks the creation of the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT),
which became the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
Note: France Prime minister: Jean Castex;
France Capital: Paris; France President: Emmanuel Macron.
4. World Oral Health Day: 20th March: World Oral Health Day is observed every year on 20th March. It focuses on highlighting the benefits of good oral health, spreads awareness about oral diseases and promotes maintenance of oral hygiene. The theme for the next three years, 2021-2023 is: Be Proud Of Your Mouth. The day is an initiative of FDI World Dental Federation; an organization that brings together the world of dentistry with the aim of achieving optimal oral health for everyone.
5. International Day of Happiness: 20th March: International Day of Happiness is celebrated on March 20 to promote happiness as a fundamental human right for all human beings across the world. The 2021 International Day of Happiness campaign theme is ‘Keep Calm. Stay Wise. Be Kind’. Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day of Happiness as a way to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. The day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 June 2012.
6. World Sparrow Day: 20 March: World Sparrow Day is celebrated every year on March 20 to raise awareness about the House Sparrow and other common birds to urban environments, and of threats to their populations. The theme of 2021 World Sparrow Day “I LOVE Sparrows”. The day was initiated by the Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world. The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010.
1. Hashmatullah Shahidi becomes 1st afghan player to score Test double century: Afghanistan’s Hashmatullah Shahidi became the first batsman from the country to register a double hundred in Test cricket. He got his first double century on Day Two of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Abu Dhabi. He made 200 not out off 443 balls with 21 fours and one six as Afghanistan put up a mammoth 545 for 4 in their first innings.
Career of Hashmatullah Shahidi: Shahidi has
played five Tests and 42 ODIs for Afghanistan since making his international
debut in an ODI against Kenya. He made his Test debut in Afghanistan’s
first-ever Test, against India in Bengaluru in 2018. The 26-year-old
left-handed batsman has 347 runs from five Tests and 1155 runs from 42 ODIs to
his name thus far.
1. SBI and IOCL to ink India’s First Libor Alternative Rate Deal: The State Bank of India (SBI) and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) will sign the first Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) linked external commercial borrowing (ECB) deal. The deal will be signed because the de facto international benchmark reference rate called the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) will no longer work as the benchmark after December 2021.
About the agreement: The state bank of India
highlighted that it will be arranging $100 million linked to SOFR for 5 years.
The LIBOR will no longer work as the benchmark after December 2021. Thus, the
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) and Sterling Overnight Interbank
Average Rate (SONIA) are the most potential alternatives. But only a few swap
deals are linked to these alternatives at the international level. Libor is
still used extensively especially for loans that are getting matured within the
year.
Note: SBI Chairperson: Dinesh Kumar Khara;
SBI Headquarters: Mumbai; SBI Founded: 1 July 1955.
1. INS Jalashwa Arrives at Port Anjouan as part of Mission Sagar-IV: As part of Mission Sagar-IV, Indian Naval Ship Jalashwa arrived at Port Anjouan, Comoros to deliver 1,000 Metric Tonnes of rice. An official ceremony for handing over the food aid from the Government of India to the Government of Comoros. INS Jalashwa, the largest amphibious ship of the Indian Navy, has been specially sent to Comoros due to its large carrying capacity.
This consignment of 1000 metric tonnes of
rice as food assistance was flagged off to Comoros in the light of a promise
made by the Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu during his brief visit to
Comoros in the month of October 2019. This is the second visit of an Indian
Navy ship to the island country within a span of one year. Earlier, as part of
Mission Sagar-I, in May-June 2020, the Indian Navy had delivered essential
medicines to the nation and had also deployed a specialist medical team to work
alongside their counterparts and to render assistance for dengue fever-related
emergencies.
About the Mission Sagar: ‘Mission Sagar’,
builds on the excellent relations existing between the two countries and
deployment also resonates with the vision of our Prime Minister of Security and
Growth for All in the Region ‘SAGAR’ and highlights the importance accorded by
India to relations with the countries of the IOR. The operation is being
progressed in close coordination with the Ministries of External Affairs, and
other agencies of the Government of India.
Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Karambir
Singh; Indian Navy Founded: 26 January 1950.
OBITUARIES
1. Tanzanian President John Magufuli passes away: The President of Tanzania, John Magufuli has passed away following a heart ailment. Popularly nicknamed the “Bulldozer”, Magufuli served as the fifth President of Tanzania from 2015 until his death in 2021. He first won the presidential election in October 2015 and was sworn in on 5 November 2015. He was re-elected in 2020.
Note: Tanzania President: Samia Suluhu;
Tanzania Capital: Dodoma; Tanzania Currency: Tanzanian shilling.
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