Current Affairs Quiz - March 2022

Notes:
Heavy rainfall and strong winds hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as a deep depression intensified over the north Andaman Sea, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The deep depression intensified into a cyclonic storm named ‘Cyclone Asani’ and made landfall near the port city of Thandwe in Myanmar.

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:
NITI Aayog, in partnership with the Institute of Competitiveness, released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2021.
As per the report, most of the Coastal States of India are the best performers, and Gujarat was the top-performer. The EPI ranks states and UTs on 4 main pillars namely ‘Policy; Business Ecosystem; Export Ecosystem; Export Performance’ and 11 sub-pillars.

Notes:
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind presented the prestigious President’s Colour to INS Valsura. The advanced Torpedo Training Facility was created in 1942 for the Royal Indian Navy during World War-II.
After India became a Republic, it was renamed as INS Valsura on 01 Jul 1950. The President’s Colour is presented upon a military unit in recognition of exceptional service rendered to the Nation, both in peace and in war.

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:
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 Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European countries that have officially abolished passport and other border control at their mutual borders.
The area has a common visa policy and is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement signed in Schengen, Luxembourg. Recently, many countries have lifted Covid-19 entry rules for the EU/Schengen Area Travellers.

Notes:
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind, presented the third National Water Awards and launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign 2022 in New Delhi.
The Government of India in 2019 launched the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’ and in the same year ‘Jal Jeevan Mission’ was also launched. On 22nd March in 2021, on ‘World Water Day’, the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’ campaign was launched, to urge citizens to conserve water.

Notes:
Tipu Sultan commissioned numerous significant paintings and many of those are being auctioned at huge sums.
A painting titled ‘The Battle of Pollilur’ is expected to fetch between £5,00,000 and £8,00,000. It is a 32-foot long monumental painting depicting the victory of the Mysore army led by Haidar Ali and his son Tipu, against the British troops of the East India Company in the Battle of Pollilur, 1780.

Notes:
Indian Navy commissioned its second P-8I aircraft squadron into the Navy. INAS 316 has been christened ‘Condors’, which are one of the largest flying land birds with a huge wingspan.
INAS 316 will operate the Boeing P-8I aircraft, a multi-role Long Range Maritime Reconnaissance Anti-Submarine Warfare (LRMR ASW) aircraft. It can be equipped with a range of Air-to-Ship Missiles and Torpedoes.