Current Affairs Quiz - March 2022

Notes:
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) retained the estimate of India’s real gross domestic product (GDP) at 5.5% in FY24.
This is lower than 8.1% in 2022-23. In its Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India, the GDP of emerging Asia – China, India and ASEAN Member Countries- is projected to grow 5.8% this year.

Notes:
Lok Sabha Member and Actor Hema Malini asked the government if it has any plan to encourage artists from Mathura-Vrindavan involved in Sanjhi art.
Sanjhi art is a unique craft form that features exquisite designs and picture motifs, cut into paper. Originated in Mathura in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Sanjhi painting is also practised in Vrindavan.

Notes:
Some desert foxes, found in the scrub forests of Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, are said to be suffering from loss of fur due to the ‘Mange skin disease’.
After locals spotted the disease in foxes, Wildlife conservationists have expressed concern on managing the disease. There were 8,331 foxes in the state according to the 2019 wildlife census of Rajasthan.

Notes:
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released the Final Estimates of 2020-21 and First Advance Estimates of 2021-22 of Area and Production of various Horticultural Crops.
Total Horticulture production in 2020-21 is estimated to a record 334.60 Million Tonne, an increase of about 4.4% over that achieved in 2019-20. Production of Fruits and Vegetables is estimated to be 102.48 Million Tonne and 200.45 Million Tonne respectively. Total Horticulture production in 2021-22 is estimated to be 333.3 Million Tonne, (decrease of 0.4%) over 2020-21.

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:
Surat has become the first in India to get a road that is made out of steel waste. It is seen as an example of sustainable development.
The road is built by Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India with CSIR India (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) & CRRI (Central Road Research Institute) with support from Ministry of Steel and Government think tank NITI Aayog.

Notes:
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has tied up with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) for ‘Fleet Card — Fuel on Move’ program.
The fleet card will enable IAF vehicles to refuel at any IOCL station, rather than the current practice of refuelling at only Air Force stations. This will be implemented for its fleet of vehicles that carry personnel, equipment and even bombs and missiles by road.

Notes:
A massive fire has recently broken out in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, located in Alwar district, in the state of Rajasthan
Air Force helicopters equipped with water sprays are battling the fire, as the 8-10 sq km area in the Akbarpur range has been affected. Sariska Tiger Reserve has a total of 27 tigers. As per the forest officials, the cause of fire is yet to be ascertained.

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:
The Karnataka government has announced Vinaya Samarasya Yojana, an awareness programme meant to eradicate untouchability in Gram Panchayats across the state.
The scheme has been named after a three-year-old Dalit boy Vinay, whose family was slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 by the village leaders last year for the boy’s act of entering into a local temple.