Current Affairs Quiz - March 2022

Notes:
The Union Environment Ministry has designated October 5 as National Dolphin Day, to be observed annually from this year.
The decision to designate a National Dolphin Day was taken by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). As per the experts, the ministry should focus on improving the flow and water quality in Ganga and its tributaries to improve survival of the Gangetic dolphin.

Notes:
‘Prasthan’ is an offshore security exercise, conducted by the Indian Navy every six months. It includes participation from the Indian Air Force, Coast Guard, ONGC, Mumbai Port Trust, Customs, state fisheries department, Marine Police among others.
This exercise aims to ensure offshore security and to integrate efforts of all maritime stakeholders involved in offshore defence.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has decided to extend the PMGKAY till September 2022.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), 5 kg of food grains (wheat, rice, coarse grain) is provided to each beneficiary each month free of cost. Phase-V of the scheme was to end in March 2022.

Notes:
Bulgaria has recently abolished its controversial “Golden passports” scheme, which offers citizenship of the EU member state in return for substantial investment.
The scheme made it possible for foreigners to acquire residency when they invested a minimum of 500,000 euros in Bulgaria, and citizenship when they invested one million euros. The European Commission has called for the abolition of such schemes as they provide ways for money laundering.

Notes:
The U.S. Senate approved a bill to provide USD 52 billion in subsidies for semiconductor chips manufacturing. The legislation was sent to the House of Representatives, to launch a formal process known as a “conference”
The chip shortage has disrupted production across the globe. The Senate earlier passed chips legislation in June that also authorized USD 190 billion to strengthen U.S. technology and research.

Notes:
“Jingkieng Jri: Living Root Bridge Cultural Landscapes of Meghalaya” has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site tentative list.
The Living Root bridges are home to several critically endangered species of flora and fauna. They were built by the indigenous people of Meghalaya, using the living roots of Ficus trees planted on both sides of a river.

Notes:
Indian weightlifter Saikhom Mirabai Chanu has been announced the winner of the third edition of the BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year (ISWOTY) award. Mirabai Chanu 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 T20 International match in 2019. Karnam Malleswari was presented the BBC Lifetime Achievement award.

Notes:
Railway collisions were the second-largest reason for the unnatural deaths of elephants while Electrocution was the first most reason.
The Union Environment Ministry has constituted a permanent coordination committee that includes the Ministry of Railways and the Environment Ministry to prevent elephant deaths on railway tracks. 19 elephants were killed across the country on railway tracks in 2018-19, 14 in 2019-20 and 12 in 2020-21.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his death anniversary. He was born in the year 1857 in Mandvi, Gujarat, and passed away on March 30 in 1930 in Geneva.
Shyamji Krishna Varma founded the Indian Home Rule Society, India House and The Indian Sociologist in London.

Notes:
In the ‘Hurun global U-40 self-made billionaires 2022’, India is ranked at fourth place. USA leads the list with 37 billionaires, China second with 25 and UK is at third with 8.
India had 6 U-40 self-made billionaires. Globally, there are 87 self-made billionaires, up 8 in year and almost double in 5 years. Mark Zuckerberg (37) is the world’s no.1 under 40 years with USD 76bn. Tiktok founder Zhang Yiming (39) is the second with USD 54bn.