Current Affairs Quiz - March 2022

Notes:
The Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER) scheme is implemented through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
It comprises of the Antarctic program, Indian Arctic program, Southern Ocean program and Cryosphere and Climate program. The scheme is organising 41st Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. PACER scheme has recently been approved for continuation during 2021-2026.

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:
The Udaan project was launched by the Rajasthan government in collaboration with a consulting group ‘IPE Global’.
The project aims to keep girls in schools through their enrolment at the secondary level and also ensures that the eligible ones get their scholarships. It has strengthened the scholarship delivery system through IT-enabled services.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved a draft legislation to provide a regulatory framework for India’s research activities in Antarctica and protect the environment in the continent.
The Indian Antarctica Bill was piloted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. The Indian Antarctic programme, which began in 1981, has completed 40 scientific expeditions and built three permanent research base stations in Antarctica. Maitri and Bharati are fully operational at present.

Notes:
An ancient clay pot was recently unearthed at Maligaimedu excavation site in Ariyalur, in the state of Tamil Nadu.
The phase II excavation project at Maligaimedu in Gangaikonda Cholapuram was recently inaugurated by Chief Minister MK Stalin. A 25 cm high, 12.5 cm wide, ancient clay pot was unearthed recently. Besides this, a 30-layer brick wall and a clay spoon were excavated.

Notes:
According to the Economic Survey of Delhi 2021-22, Delhi ranked third in terms of per capita income behind Sikkim and Goa.
As per the survey, Delhi’s per capita income grew 16.81 per cent year-on-year to Rs 4,01,982 in fiscal 2021-22. The per capita income of Delhi was three times higher than the national average in 2021-22.

Notes:
The renowned hydrologist Wilfried Brutsaert is awarded the Stockholm Water Prize 2022 for his outstanding work to quantify environmental evaporation.
Professor Emeritus Wilfried Brutsaert, fondly known as Mr Evaporation, is the world’s leading authority on terrestrial evaporation. His works help to make accurate predictions of the impact that climate change has on local rainfall patterns and water sources.

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:
Indian Team emerged as the Champions of the 2022 SAFF U-18 Women’s Championships, despite losing 0-1 to Bangladesh.
The result was declared because of a better goal difference. India enjoyed a better goal difference of +11 in comparison to +3 of Bangladesh. The valuable player of the tournament and the highest goal scorer was Lynda Kom who scored five goals.

Notes:
The Union Government has appointed CS Rajan as Chairman and Managing Director of Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) for a period of six months.
Till March-end, the company has resolved debt amounting to Rs 55,000 crore. Out of which, Rs 21,000 crore has been discharged by way of monetisation of assets and debt repayment. The resolved debt amounts to 90% of the total debt that was expected to be resolved.