Current Affairs One - Liner : 22nd March 2024

• National:
• On March 10, 2024, Odisha’s Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated India’s first indoor athletics centre and an indoor aquatic centre at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. These facilities aim to provide athletes with year-round training opportunities.

• ‘Operation Indravati’ is an evacuation operation launched by India on March 21, 2024. The operation was initiated in response to the deteriorating security situation in Haiti, a Caribbean country that has descended into chaos with armed gangs taking over its streets. The operation aims to ensure the safety and well-being of Indian citizens in Haiti.
• The Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2024 were notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on 14th March 2024. The amendment provides a stricter definition of biodegradable plastics, stating that they should not leave any microplastics behind. This is a significant step towards addressing the issue of plastic waste pollution.
• International:
• On 21st March 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of India and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) signed a Working Arrangement. This agreement is aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two organizations in tackling various forms of crime, including organized crime, financial crimes, frauds, corruption, terrorism, cybercrime, human trafficking, drug trafficking, money laundering, environmental crimes, and illicit trafficking in cultural goods.
• New Zealand has announced that it will ban disposable e-cigarettes as part of its efforts to prevent minors from taking up the habit. Under the new laws, retailers that sell vapes to children under 18 years of age will face fines of up to 100,000 New Zealand dollars (USD 60,000), while individuals will be fined 1,000 New Zealand dollars (USD 600).
• Banking:
• Airtel Payments Bank (APBL), in partnership with Noise and Mastercard, launched a smartwatch on March 19, 2024. The smartwatch, priced at Rs 2,999, enables contactless payments for APBL customers. It features a 1.85-inch square dial, Bluetooth calling, up to 10 days of battery life, and supports 130 different sports modes. It also includes SpO2 Monitoring for health insights.
• On March 15, 2024, the Government of Guyana signed a Line of Credit (LOC) Agreement of US$23.27 million with the Export-Import Bank of India (EXIM Bank) for the procurement of two aircraft. This is part of the government’s effort to enhance the capabilities of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
• Apps & Portals:
• The MARLIN@CMFRI app, launched by the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) on March 18, 2024, is a mobile application designed to facilitate citizen science initiatives in marine fisheries research. The app allows users to upload photos of marine fish species, provide species details, and geotag the location of each observation.
• The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the BhashaNet portal on Universal Acceptance (UA) Day. The portal aims to promote digital inclusion and linguistic diversity in India by enabling website names and email addresses in local languages.
• Science & Technology:
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully executed a landing mission for its Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) named “Pushpak”. The mission was carried out from the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Karnataka’s Chalakere. The RLV landed autonomously with precision on the runway.
• The ‘Queqiao-2’ is a relay satellite launched by China on 20th March 2024. Its primary function is to establish and maintain communication between the Earth and the Moon. This satellite will play a crucial role in supporting China’s upcoming lunar missions. In the long term, ‘Queqiao-2’ is expected to be part of a constellation of relay satellites that will facilitate China’s exploration of other planets, such as Mars and Venus.
• Tamil Nadu has indeed made history with the launch of India’s second privately developed rocket. The Chennai-based space start-up, Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited, launched its first rocket, Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on March 22.
• Defence:
• The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) successfully tested its first-ever laser weapon, “DragonFire”, on 19th January 2024. The weapon can target and neutralize drones, and can hit a coin from a kilometer away. It’s a cheaper alternative to missiles, costing less than £10 per shot.
• India’s first indigenously-made 1500 HP engine for Main Battle Tanks was test-fired at BEML’s Engine division in Mysuru on March 20, 2024. The engine has high power-to-weight ratio and can operate in extreme conditions. This test signifies the completion of Generation One, focusing on technology stabilisation.
• Sports:
• Indian table tennis player Sathiyan Gnanasekaran indeed won the Men’s Singles title at the WTT Feeder Beirut 2024 tournament in Beirut. He defeated fellow Indian player Manav Thakkar in the final with a score of 3-1 (6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4).
• On March 20, 2024, at the Anju Bobby High-Performance Centre, Nayana James made a significant mark in the Indian Open Jumps Competition. She registered a leap of 6.67m, which is the third biggest leap by an Indian, and won her the gold medal in the women’s long jump event.
• Important Days:
• The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on March 21st to promote racial justice worldwide. The theme for 2024 is “A Decade of Recognition, Justice, and Development: Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent”.
• The World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People is celebrated annually on March 20. It’s a global campaign led by the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ International) to promote access to theatre for children and young people.
• Bihar Diwas, celebrated on March 22, marks the formation of the state of Bihar in 1912. It’s a day to honor Bihar’s history, culture, and achievements. The celebration includes cultural programs, seminars, exhibitions, and events that reflect Bihar’s diversity and progress. The purpose of celebrating Bihar Diwas is to commemorate the day when Bihar was carved out as a separate state from the Bengal Presidency in British India.
• Appointments & Resignation:
• Vo Van Thuong, who was serving as the President of Vietnam, resigned from his position on March 20, 2024. His resignation came amid an anti-corruption campaign. This incident marked a significant event in the political landscape of Vietnam.
• Naveen Jindal, Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power, took over as the President of the Indian Steel Association (ISA) on March 21, 2024. He succeeded Dilip Oommen, CEO of AMNS India. His focus is on the growth of the steel industry and its commitment to decarbonization.
• Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of Google’s DeepMind, has joined Microsoft as the CEO of its newly formed AI division. He will oversee the development of consumer-facing AI products such as Copilot, Bing, and Edge.
• Mr. Ashwani Kumar, a partner at Victor Forgings in Jalandhar, was elected as the new President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) on March 11, 2024. He has held several key positions in different organizations and aims to enhance the competitiveness of India’s export sector.
• Awards & Honours:
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honored with Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’ on 22nd March 2024. This prestigious accolade marks him as the first foreign Head of Government to receive this honor, signifying a monumental moment in the diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan.
• Obituaries:
• Frans de Waal, a renowned Dutch-American primatologist and author, passed away at the age of 75. He was known for his work on the inner lives of animals, particularly apes.
• David Seidler, the Oscar-winning British screenwriter best known for his work on the Academy Award-winning film “The King’s Speech,” passed away at the age of 86 on March 16, 2024. He was on a fly-fishing trip in New Zealand at the time of his death.

Questions:

Q.1 Who was honored with Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the ‘Order of the Druk Gyalpo’ on 22nd March 2024?
a. President Ram Nath Kovind
b. Prime Minister Narendra Modi
c. President Joe Biden
d. Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Q.2 Who launched the MARLIN@CMFRI app?
a. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
b. National Institute of Oceanography
c. Indian Space Research Organisation
d. National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research