Current Affairs Quiz - March 2022

Notes:
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has inaugurated AquaMAP Water Management and Policy Centre and also launched its website
AquaMAP is a national water centre and IIT Madras is collaborating with IIT Dharwad in the project. The Centre aims at providing solutions for water problems by designing and evolving smart and optimal water management practices.

Notes:
The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) is a statutory body working under Ministry of Home Affairs. It was created through the Land Ports Authority of India Act, 2010. LPAI is responsible for creating, maintaining and managing border infrastructure in India.
The 10th anniversary of the Land Port Authority (LPA) was recently organised. India’s 15,000 km-long land borders with Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan.

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The UN General Assembly proclaimed 21 March as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
On the same day in 1960, Police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid Pass Laws.

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Bihar celebrated its 110th foundation day on March 22. The state of Bihar was carved out from Bengal’s presidency on the same day in 1912.
The theme of this year’s Bihar Diwas is ‘Jal Jivan Haryali’. A three-day function will be organized on this occasion, with over 18 departments of the state and different organizations would participate. A drone show will also be organized in which 500 drones will fly together.

Notes:
World number one Ashleigh Barty has announced that she will retire from professional tennis at the age of just 25.
Ashleigh Barty won three Grand Slam singles events, including this year’s Australian Open in January. She became the first home player to win the Australian Open men’s or women’s singles title in 44 years.

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:
India has crossed a landmark milestone as the eSanjeevani telemedicine service of Union Health Ministry has crossed 3 crore tele-consultations.
The service has set a new record by completing 1.7 lakhs consultations in a day. States that are leading in terms of adoption of eSanjeevani are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal. eSanjeevani, has two variants: eSanjeevani Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centre (AB-HWC) and eSanjeevaniOPD.

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 Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) works under the aegis of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
IIE has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) to promote entrepreneurship at a local level among the rural youth. Under the agreement, the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), will focus on promoting employment opportunities in rural India.

Notes:
Earth Hour was observed from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m on March 26. It is the world’s largest movement for the environment where people across the globe unite to take a stand against climate change by turning off non-essential lights for one hour.
It commenced as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, and then was observed every year on the last Saturday of March in more than 180 countries. It unites millions of people in the effort to decarbonise the planet. The theme for this year’s global event is “Shape our Future”.