Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2018

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Government has set up a 24-hour helpline that would provide information on education and offer guidance to students on March 1, 2018. Chief Minister K Palaniswami has formally launched the toll-free number – 14417 through the 24-hour Education Guidance Centre set up at the Secretariat that would offer information relating to school education and offer guidance to students.

Notes:
The 27th Technological Conference of Indian Jute Industries’ Research Association (IJIRA) on Shaping the Future of Jute was held in Kolkata, West Bengal. The function was focused on the promotion of geotextiles in the northeast region. Geotextiles are absorbent fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect or drain.

Notes:
The Zero Discrimination Day (ZDD) is observed every year on March 1 to promote the idea that everyone has a right to live with dignity. The day is also meant to highlight how everyone can be part of the transformation and take a stand towards a fair and just society. It recognizes that no one should ever be discriminated against because of their age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, language, health (including HIV) status, geographical location, economic status or migrant status, or for any other reason. This year (2018), the Zero Discrimination Day campaign invites people to ask themselves “What if …” and to reflect upon their own actions.

Notes:
The Western Naval Command has carried out three-week long tri-Services maritime exercise termed ‘Paschim Leher (XPL – 2018)’ in the Arabian Sea from February 12 with an aim of building inter- operability. In addition, units from Eastern Naval Command, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard also participated in the exercise. The exercise involves 40 warships and submarines, helicopters, reconnaissance aircraft and UAVs. The exercise includes a number of weapon firings, including missile, gun and torpedo firings during the initial phase. The second phase is structured to validate and refine the operational plans of the Western Naval Command. The XPL 2018 enabled testing and revalidation of operational plans and manoeuvres in a hostile maritime scenario on India’s Western Seaboard. The maritime exercise, which came after the Eastern Naval Command Operational Readiness Exercise (ENCORE), is ostensibly being conducted to show China India’s military prowess.

Notes:
The 42nd Civil Accounts Day (CAD-2018) was celebrated by Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) on March 1 in New Delhi to mark the 42nd anniversary of the beginning of the ICAS on this day in 1976. The ICAA is one of the Civil Services of India (“Group A”), which functions under the Department of Expenditure in the Union Ministry of Finance. It performs a key role in delivery of financial management services for the Government of India. The organisation provides payment services, supports the tax collection system, performs government wide accounting, financial reporting functions, preparation of budget estimates and carries out Internal Audit in civil ministries of the Union Government.

Notes:
The Nathpa Jhakri Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Sutlej river in Himachal Pradesh. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power production and it supplies a 1,500 megawatts underground power station with water. Before reaching the power station, water is diverted through a 27.4 km headrace tunnel.

Notes:
The Union Cabinet has approved the establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA). The NFRA will act as an independent regulator for the auditing profession which was one of the key changes brought in by the Companies Act 2013. The jurisdiction of NFRA for investigation of Chartered Accountants and their firms will be extended to the listed companies and large unlisted public companies. The Cabinet also gave nod to the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill – 2018 to deal with those escaping overseas to avoid getting caught. The Bill will help in laying down measures to deter economic offenders from evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian Courts. According to Union Finance ministry, the economic offences worth Rs 100 crore or more will come under the purview of the Bill.

Notes:
The Karnataka government has launched the world’s largest solar park ‘Shakti Sthalaon’ at Pavagada in Tumakuru district, about 180km from Bengaluru. The solar park has a capacity of 2,000 MW and has set up at an investment of Rs16,500 crore. The first phase of the park will generate 600MW, while the balance 1,400MW is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2018. The park will create employment and act as an incentive for natives and farmers to explore new opportunities of socio-economic growth in the region.

Notes:
The Indian Snooker team has lifted the first edition of IBSF Snooker Team World Cup title and won the prize money of $15,000. The Indian duo of Pankaj Advani and Manan Chandra defeated Pakistan (Muhammad Asif, Babar Masih) in the best-of-five final played in Doha on March 2.

Notes:
The mega annual cultural festival ‘India by the Nile’ will be held in Cairo, Egypt from March 6, 2018 with main focus on classical culture. The 12-day event will host a wide range of events to celebrate Indian culture and its diversity. It is the biggest foreign festival in Egypt which provides audiences an Indian cultural experience and encourages artistic collaborations between India and Egypt will be held in several cities such as Cairo. The festival, which is organised by the Embassy of India in Egypt and the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture in collaboration with entertainment company Teamwork Arts, is a celebration of contemporary and classical music, dance, theatre, visual arts, film, food and literature.