Current Affairs Quiz - March 2022

Notes:
The World Bank has issued the world’s first wildlife bond named as the Wildlife Conservation Bond (WCB).
The USD150 million will be spent on two South African reserves, the Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) and the Great Fish River Nature Reserve (GFRNR). The reserves would use the money for the conservation of black rhinoceros in the sanctuaries.

Notes:
The European Union and the U.S. announced they had agreed “in principle” to a new framework for cross-border data transfers.
Previously, there was an arrangement named Privacy Shield, allowing firms to share Europeans’ data to the U.S. The new agreement is expected to provide relief for tech giants like Meta and Google.

Notes:
The ‘National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey’ was recently released by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. He also released the country’s ‘annual TB report’
As per the report, Delhi had the highest prevalence (747) in 2019-2021 while Gujarat had the lowest (137). TB prevalence among India’s adults was 312 per 100,000 in 2019-2021. For every 2.84 persons with TB, only 1 was registered in the national surveillance system.

Notes:
Reserve Bank of India released the framework for geo-tagging of payment system touch points. Geo-tagging refers to capturing the geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude).
The framework aims to ensure proper monitoring of the availability of payment acceptance infrastructure including Point of Sale terminals, and Quick Response codes.

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:
Ministry of MSME, Government of India and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad, organised a ‘Mega International Summit on MSMEs’ at the India International Centre, New Delhi.
The two-day summit was attended by entrepreneurs, academicians, policymakers, industry leaders,  industry associations, start-ups, social impact organizations, MSMEs and self-help groups from India and across the world.

Notes:
Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Shaktikanta Das dedicated Varnika, the Ink Manufacturing Unit of Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL) to the nation in Mysuru.
It is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). BRBNMPL has set up Varnika with an annual ink manufacturing capacity of 1,500 MT to enhance the security of banknotes. It aims to achieve cost efficiency and reduced import dependency.

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:
IIT Kharagpur has launched the peta-scale supercomputer PARAM Shakti inaugurated by West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar.
PARAM Shakti was developed under the National Supercomputing Mission, a joint initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Science and Technology. Supercomputer ‘PARAM Ganga’ was earlier installed at IIT Roorkee.

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.