VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE Current Affairs
(A book for TNPSC Examination) MARCH - 2021
An ISO 9001: 2015 Institution | Providing Excellence Since 2011
Head Office Old No.52, New No.1, 9th Street, F Block, 1st Avenue Main Road, (Near Istha siddhi Vinayakar Temple), Anna Nagar East – 600102. Phone: 044-2626 5326 | 98844 72636 | 98844 21666 | 98844 32666
Branches SALEM KOVAI MADURAI No.189/1, Meyanoor Road, No.347, D.S.Complex (3rd floor), 199, Dharshini Tower, Near ARRS Multiplex, Nehru Street, Near Gandhipuram 1st Floor, Vaigai Colony, (Near Salem New bus Stand), Central Bus Stand, Ramnagar, Anna Nagar, Opp. Venkateshwara Complex, Kovai - 9 Madurai - 625 020. Salem - 636004. Ph: 75021 65390 Ph: 91500 21999 | 91500 21998 Ph: 0427-2330307 | 95001 22022 EduCareer Location
VIVEKANANDHA EDUCATIONAL PATRICIAN COLLEGE OF ARTS SREE SARASWATHI INSTITUTIONS FOR WOMEN AND SCIENCE THYAGARAJA COLLEGE Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode - TK 3, Canal Bank Rd, Gandhi Nagar, Palani Road, Thippampatti, Namakkal District - 637 205. Opp. to Kotturpuram Railway Station, Pollachi - 642 107 Ph: 04288 - 234670 Adyar, Chennai - 600020. Ph: 73737 66550 | 94432 66008 94437 34670 Ph: 044 - 24401362 | 044 - 24426913 90951 66009
www.vetriias.com My Dear Aspirants, Greetings to all of you! “What we think we become” Gautama Buddha. We all have dreams. To make dreams come into reality it takes a lot of determination, dedication, self discipline and continuous effort. We at VETRII IAS Study Circle are committed to provide the right guidance, quality coaching and help every aspirants to achieve his or her life’s cherished goal of becoming a civil servant. The class room coaching at VETRII IAS Study Circle is meticulously planned to equip the aspirants with all the relevant facts and fundamentals of the subjects. Further the VETRII IAS Study Circle Study materials aim to support the candidate by providing the most relevant study material in a comprehensive manner.
Wishing You All The Very Best !!
DIRECTOR
(M.Shunmugam) Vetrii IAS Study Circle.
Published by VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE F Block New No. 1, 9th Street, 1st Avenue main Road, Chinthamani, Anna Nagar (E), Chennai – 102. Phone: 044 – 26265326 / 9600124042 / 9840097666 www.vetriias.com E-Mail: [email protected] / [email protected] / [email protected] Feedback: [email protected]
© All rights reserved with the publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmit- ted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, will be responsible for the loss and may be punished for compensation under copyright act. INDEX
01 - 20 HISTORY 01 . Important Days . Defence National Security and Terrorism . World Organisations – Pacts and Summits . Eminent Persons . Sports and Games . Books & Authors . Awards & Honours . Latest Historical Events . India & its Neighbours . Appointments – Who is who?
20 21 - 24 POLITICAL SCIENCE . Latest Court Verdicts .Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility
25 GEOGRAPHY 24 .Policy on Environment and Ecology
26 - 28 ECONOMICS 25 .Current Socio-Economic Problems .New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector 27 29 - 35 SCIENCE .Latest Inventions in Science & Technology . Mass Media & Communication
33 36 NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENTS
43 46 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
46 49 TAMIL NADU AFFAIRS Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Important Days History
1.1 Important Days
Date Day Theme / Remark
Theme 2021: “Forests and Livelihoods: 03-03-2021 World Wildlife Day Sustaining People and Planet”.
This year, the theme of World Hearing 03-03-2021 World Hearing Day day -March 3 was “Hearing Care for All”. India commemorated ‘Chabahar day’ on March 4, 2021, on the sidelines of the Marine India Summit-2021. The summit is being held from March 2 to 4. As per the MEA, the ministers of Armenia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Russia will participate in the event. India commemorates 04-03-2021 It is the only Iranian port with direct ‘Chabahar day’ access to the Indian Ocean and the agreement was signed between India and Iran in 2018 for its development. Chabahar Port It is located on the Gulf of Oman, Iran It is only 72 km away from the Gwadar port of Pakistan which has been developed by China.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 1 Important Days Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
The United Nations began celebrating International Women's International Women's Day in the Day (IWD) is celebrated 08-03-2021 International Women's Year, 1975. on 8 March around the International Womens Year – 1978. world
Theme 2021– 'Living Well with Kidney 11-03-2021 World Kidney Day Disease'.
International Day of The theme for 2021 IDM is 14-03-2021 Mathematics “Mathematics for a Better World“.
The theme for World Consumer World Consumer Rights 15-03-2021 Rights Day 2021 is “Tackling Plastic Day Pollution.”
2 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Defence, National Security and Terrorism
The BrahMos missile is produced by an 1.2 Defence, National Security India-Russian joint venture “BrahMos and Terrorism Aerospace” and it can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or from land platforms. Indian Air Force to Participate in EX It is the fastest supersonic cruise missile Desert FLAG VI in the world. For the first time ever, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is participating in Exercise India's resolute response on borders Desert Flag-VI, which has been organised Rajnath Singh has been participated at from March 03 to 27, 2021 at Al-Dhafra the Combined Commanders Conference airbase, UAE. (CCC) of the three Services at Kevadia in Ex Desert Flag is an annual multi-national Gujarat. large force employment warfare exercise It is being held from March 4 to 6 hosted by the United Arab Emirates Air Force. Combined Commanders Conference The exercise will also see the air forces It is the annual meeting of three-armed of United Arab Emirates, United States force services (Army, Navy and Air of America, France, Saudi Arabia, South Force) and the Ministry of Defence to Korea and Bahrain. plan India’s long-term security. The IAF is participating with six Su- It provides a platform for discussions at 30 MKI, two C-17 and one IL-78 tanker the apex Level on all the Joint Issues and aircraft. enables stock taking of the previous year and planning the way ahead for the next Desert Flag VI year. The Indian Air Force is for the first time It is chaired by the Defence Minister, participating in the annual multinational Minister of State (Defence) and also large force employment warfare exercise, attended by the ministry top officials, Desert Flag VI, hosted by the United Arab National Security Advisor (NSA), Chief Emirates Air Force. of Defence Staff (CDS), service chiefs and senior officers of the three services. India inks pact with Philippines for sale of ‘defence equipment’ including Scorpene-class submarine INS Karanj BrahMos commissioned into the Indian Navy India has signed a key pact with the in Mumbai Philippines called “implementing The third Scorpene-class submarine arrangement” for “procurement of “INS Karanj” was commissioned into the defence material and equipment”, on Indian Navy in Mumbai on March 10, March 02, 2021, as per which the country 2021, in presence of Chief of Naval Staff will buy the BrahMos cruise missiles Admiral Karambir Singh and Admiral from India. (Retired) VS Shekhawat.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 3 Defence, National Security and Terrorism Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
INS Karanj is third in the series of six Discussions regarding defence Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarine, cooperation would also focus on how being built for Indian Navy. both countries could consolidate military The technology have been designed by to military cooperation and defence trade France’s Naval Group and is being built and industry cooperation. in India by Mazagon Dock Limited under Project 75. India to buy 30 armed drones from US to counter China, Pakistan Other submarines of this class
First two submarines, INS Kalvari India plans to buy 30 armed drones from and INS Khanderi, have already been the U.S. to boost its sea and land defenses commissioned into the Navy. as tensions persist with neighbours China 4th- INS Vela –undergoing trials at sea. and Pakistan.
5th- INS Vagir – launched in November The South Asian nation will approve next 2020 and is expected to be commissioned month the $3 billion purchase of 30 MQ- in 2022 9B Predator drones manufactured by San 6th – ‘Vagsheer’ – currently under Diego-based General Atomics. construction The MQ-9B drone can fly for about 48 hours and carry a payload of about 1,700 Project-75 kilograms (3,700 pounds). It will give the It is a programme by the Indian Navy that Indian Navy the ability to better monitor entails building six Scorpene-Class attack Chinese warships in the southern Indian submarines. Ocean, and equip the army to engage The programme has been undertaken targets along the disputed India-Pakistan with transfer of technology from French border in the Himalayas. company Naval Group (formerly known as DCNS) at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).
U.S. Defense Secretary American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will visit India from March 19 to 21 and to meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Discussion To strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and exchange views on regional security challenges and common interests in maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo Pacific region.
4 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits India, USA, Japan and Australia with a 1.3 World Organisations – shared objective to ensure and support a Pacts and Summits “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region. The idea of Quad was first mooted by Narendra Modi receives India’s Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in homegrown 2007. However, the idea couldn’t move Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead with Australia pulling out of it, received his first dose of Covaxin, a apparently due to Chinese pressure. COVID-19 jab developed by Indian Purposes of QUAD vaccine maker Bharat Biotech. The idea behind the QUAD Group is to WHO keep the strategic and significant sea President : Tedros Adhanom routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland influence. Founded: 7 April 1948 It is seen as a strategic grouping to preempt and reduce Chinese influences. UN declares 2023 as International The core objectives of the QUAD is Year of Millets to secure a rules-based global order, The United Nations General Assembly liberal trading system and freedom of has adopted the India-sponsored navigation. resolution and has declared the year 2023 It seeks to contain a ‘rising China’ and as the International Year of Millets. work against its predatory trade and The resolution invites all member states economic policies. and organisations to raise awareness Another purpose of the QUAD is to offer regarding the benefits of millets. alternative debt financing for nations in the Indo-Pacific region. United Nations
Head Quarters: New York Quad leaders for ‘open, free’ Indo- President: Volkan Bozkır Pacific Founded on – 24th Oct, 1945. The meeting focused on vaccines, climate Quad to hold leadership summit change, emerging technologies makes group a force for global good. Leaders of Australia, India, Japan and US President- Joe Biden the United States will soon meet virtually Japanese Prime Minister - Yoshihide Suga for the first ever summit under the Australian Prime Minister - Scott quadrilateral security arrangement. Morrison Quad Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) is the informal strategic dialogue between
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 5 Eminent Persons Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 1.4 Eminent Persons 20th day of Tamil Month Masi (1st March 1833 CE, Friday).
Jeeva, the leader of the Tamil Nadu Vaikunda Swamigal (1809-1851) Green Movement, has passed away Born: 1809 at Sastankoil Vilai, a village in then south Travancore (Present day Jeeva, the leader of the Tamil Nadu Green Kanyakumari district). Movement and a doctor. He was one of the earliest crusaders of He started 7 hospitals in Erode, Tanjore social justice and pondicherry for service purposes. Original Name: Mudichudum Perumal Jeeva, who had a great devotion to was changed to Muthukutty by his Bharati, has been conducting Bharati parents due to objection raised by the festivals in Erode for many years. He upper caste Hindus set up a center in Erode to rehabilitate His followers called him Aiya (father) alchoholics. and his cult came to be known as Aiya His book on Tipu Sultan changed the Vazhi (path of the father) image of Tipu Sultan. Has translated He attacked the traditional caste-ridden more than 15 texts from English to Tamil. Travancore society and its ruler for Tamil Nadu Green movement collecting excessive taxes from the lower Conservation warrior and leader from the caste people Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Jayachandran He was arrested and jailed by the Raja of S, has won this year’s prestigious Travancore for his “seditious speeches” Sanctuary Wildlife Award for his Teachings pioneering work in key protected areas He exhorted them not to offer animal of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. sacrifices to their deities He started the Tamil Nadu Green Akila Thirattu: The compiled text of his Movement in 1990 which has been teachings which is recited religiously to actively assisting the forest departments this day in law enforcement and advocacy. He urged his followers to wear a turban, a Ayya Vaikunda Avataram right which was permitted only to upper castes in those days Ayya Vaikunda Avataram Day celebrated He requested the people to give up all by the followers of Ayyavazhi on the 20th the irrelevant rites and rituals in their day of the Tamil month of Masi, the date worship. on which the Ayyavazhi followers believe that Lord Narayana himself incarnated Former Dinamalar editor R as Vaikundar during an encounter with Krishnamurthy a deity Goddess Lakshmi, he was beget R Krishnamurthy, a former editor of inside the sea and arose from the sea of Tamil daily Dinamalar and a renowned Thiruchendur on Kollam Year 1008 at
6 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Eminent Persons epigraphist, died in Chennai due to age- at Thanjavur Tamil University and related ailments. president of the All India Institute of Krishnamurthy was born at Science Tamil. Vadiveeswaram near Nagercoil on Born on April 1, 1938 in Alawakottai, January 13, 1933. Ramanathapuram District, he worked as He joined Dinamalar in 1956 and became an Adjunct Professor at Chidambaram its editor in 1977. Annamalai University. He then served as He was also behind simplifying the Tamil the Director of the Department of Tamil script. He introduced the Periyar script Development at the Thanjavur Tamil with fewer alphabets. The government University from 1981, as the Professor of introduced the script in textbooks in 1979. Science Tamil and Tamil Development His interests in Tamil script reform led him from 1987, and as the Senior Professor to trace its origin which in turn kindled from 1997. an interest in numismatics making him He has authored more than 10 books travel across the world scouring museums in publications including the National and private collections for coins relating Book Trust, Sahitya Akademi, Tamil to ancient rulers of South India. University and other universities. He has also published more than 35 books Kannada poet Lakshminarayana as an editor. He has translated various Bhatta passes away scientific texts into Tamil. Born in 1936 in Shivamogga district, he was a prolific writer, publishing several Tirath Singh Rawat takes oath as collections of poems besides critical Chief Minister of Uttarakhand works and translations. Tirath Singh Rawat, the BJP Lok Sabha The poet, many of whose bhavageetes MP from Pauri Garhwal constituency, has (lyrical poems) were set to tune and been sworn in as the new Chief Minister popularised through cassettes. of Uttarakhand.
Dr. Bhatta translated 50 sonnets of He replaces Trivendra Singh Rawat who William Shakespeare, poetry and works had stepped down from the post on of T.S. Elliot and Yeats into Kannada. March 09, 2021. Tirath Singh Rawat was administered the He won several awards including oath of office by Uttarakhand Governor Karnataka Sahitya Akademi award, Baby Rani Maurya on March 10, 2021. Masti Prashasti and Kannada Rajyotsava Award. Uttarakhand Capital – Dehradun (winter capital), Scientific Tamil scholar Rama Gairsain (summer capital) Sundaram has passed away Governor – Baby Rani Maurya
Rama Sundaram passed away. He is National Park (NP) – Jim Corbett NP, a retired head of the Department of Nanda Devi NP, Valley of Flowers NP, Rajaji NP, Gangotri NP, Govind NP. Science Tamil and Tamil Development
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 7 Places in News Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 1.5 Places in News occur once in the life cycle of bamboo plants,” he added. Thorny bamboo (Bamboosa bambos) is a Similipal biosphere reserve monocarpic (flowering only once) plant A massive fire is threatening the Similipal belonging to the Poaceae family (grass Biosphere-one of the largest biospheres of family), and its flowering cycle varies India-prompting the Odisha government from 40 to 60 years. to deploy a big contingent of field-level staff to douse it. Similipal National Park is a national park 1.6 Sports and Games and a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district in the Indian state of Odisha. Indian shuttlers Varun, Malvika clinch This protected area is part of the UNESCO gold medals World Network of Biosphere Reserves Indian shuttlers Varun Kapur and since 2009. Malvika Bansod produced thrilling performances to emerge champions at the Gregarious bamboo flowering 2021 Uganada International in Kampala. in Wayanad poses thereat The phenomenon may cause mass Neeraj Chopra betters national record destruction of bamboo groves, the Neeraj Chopra has already qualified for mainstay of herbivores the Tokyo Olympics, bettered his own “Gregarious flowering of bamboo” inside national mark of 88.06, achieved at the the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. and the nearby Mudumalai Tiger Reserve History and Gudalur forest division in Tamil Born in the village of Khandra in Nadu this year may pose a threat to Haryana's Panipat district, Chopra. wildlife in the Nilgiri biosphere, a major tiger and elephant habitat. Achievements The bamboo groves in the Wayanad In 2015, he set a junior national record forest are the main stay of herbivores in with a throw of 68.4m. In the World the Nilgiri biosphere during summer. Under-20 Championships in Bydgosczsz, With the advent of the season, migration Poland, Chopra claimed gold and set a of wild animals starts from the adjacent world junior record in javelin (800g) with sanctuaries in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu a throw of 86.48m. to Wayanad due to shortage of fodder He also claimed gold in the 2016 South and water. Asian Games with a throw that measured Which grow in more than 500 hectares of 82.23m. In the 2017 Asian Championships the 344.44 sq km of the sanctuary, have in Bhubaneshwar, Chopra added another fully bloomed, a phenomenon said to gold, with a mark of 85.23 m.
8 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Sports and Games
Mary Kom appointed chairperson Swiss Open 2021 final of AIBA’s champions and veterans Swiss Open 2021 Top seed Carolina committee Marin steam rolled PV Sindhu in just 35 Six-time world champion boxer minutes to win the women's singles title, Mary Kom has been appointed as the her third crown of 2021. Chairperson of the International Boxing The gulf in class was evident as Marin got Association’s (AIBA) Champions and the job done in straight games 21-12, 21-5 Veterans Committee. against the Indian shuttler, who ran out The Committee was formed in December of ideas in Basel. 2020. It consists of most respected Sindhu, who came into the final without worldwide boxing veterans and dropping a game, could only match the champions who have achieved significant Spaniard in the opening exchanges of the results and who are ready to share their first game after which the latter took the experience. game away from the Indian world no. 7. Awards received by P V Sindhu: Sarita Mor wins silver at Matteo P.V.Sindhu honoured with Rajiv Gandhi Pellicone Khel Ratna Award, the highest sporting Wrestler Sarita More, brand ambassador honour of India, on 29 August 2016. of Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign, She received Arjuna Award for Sonepat, has won a silver medal in the badminton on 24 September 2013. ranking wrestling competition. She was awarded with India's fourth Sarita Mor has brought laurels to the state highest civilians award Padma Shri by bagging a silver medal in the 57 kg Award in 2015. category of the Mateo Pelicone ranking Earnings: $8.5 million, Sindhu was wrestling series held in Rome. Sarita ranked seventh in Forbes' list of "Highest- defeated Kazakhstan’s Altin S 4–1 in the Paid Female Athletes 2018. quarter-finals to enter the semi-finals. List of medals won by P.V. Sindhu Vinesh wins gold Olympic Games Star Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat Silver medal at 2016 Rio de Janeiro claimed her second gold medal with a Olympic Games. dominant win in the Matteo Pellicone World Championships ranking series event and reclaimed the Gold medal in 2019 (Women's singles) top rank in her category. Silver medal in 2018 (Women's singles) The 26 year old World bronze medallist Silver medal in 2017 (Women's singles) and only Indian woman wrestler to Bronze medal in 2014 (Women's singles) qualifiy for Tokyo Games. Bronze medal in 2013 (Women's singles)
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 9 Sports and Games Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
Wrestler Bajrang Punia Koneru Humpy is BBC’s Indian In wrestling, World Championship sportswoman of the year bronze medallist Bajrang Punia has World rapid chess champion Koneru clinched a gold medal by defeating his Humpy has won the BBC Indian familiar rival Tulga Tumur Ochir of Sportswoman of the Year award. BBC Mongolia in the Matteo Pallicone World director general Tim Davie, hosting the Ranking Series event in Rome. virtual awards ceremony. Bajrang defeated Ochir 2-2 by criteria in The Lifetime Achievement award went to the final of the 65kg freestyleat amd he veteran athlete Anju Bobby George. ranked World No 1 . English cricket star Ben Stokes announced This is Bajrang’s second consecutive gold the 19 year old Indian Shooter, Manu medal at the Matteo Pellicone event as he Bhaker as the winner of the Emerging had finished on the top of the series in Player of the Year award category. January 2020 as well. Bhaker, won two golds at the ISSF World Cup in 2018, followed by gold at the Background Youth Olympics and a Commonwealth In 2020, the Indian wrestler had defeated USA's Jordan Oliver in the final to clinch Games gold with a record to boot. the gold medal at the tournament. Mithali Raj achieves milestone by Punia had reserved his place in the score 10,000 international runs Tokyo Olympic Games in September 2019 after clinching bronze at the World Mithali raj has become the first Indian Championships. Woman cricketer as well as the second international woman cricketer to score Tiruvallur students won the National 10,000 international runs across all the Silambam Championship 2021 formats. She is the second woman cricketer to The 17th National Level Silamba Competition on behalf of the All-India achieve this milestone after England’s Silambam Championship was held at Charlotte Edwards.
Kanyakumari. Mithali Raj achieved the milestone during the ongoing 3rd ODI with South Africa. More than 600 children from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Vijay Hazare Trophy 2020-21 Final Pradesh and West Bengal participated. The event were held for boys and girls Mumbai begins as an overwhelming between the ages of 5 and 10 years. favourite to beat Uttar Pradesh and claim Raveen Chakraborty, a 5-year-old boy its fourth Vijay Hazare (50-over) title. from Palani, won a gold medal in the Vijay Hazare Silambam Championship. Nikita, a The Vijay Hazare Trophy, also known as 6-year-old girl from Palani, won a bronze the Ranji One-Day Trophy, was started medal. in 2002-03 as a limited-overs cricket
10 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Awards & Honours domestic competition involving state 1.8 Awards & Honours teams from the Ranji Trophy plates. It is named after the legendary Indian cricketer Vijay Hazare. V.S. Natarajan gets lifetime award Tamil Nadu is the most successful team Senior geriatrician V.S.Natarajan was having won the trophy 5 times. Mumbai presented with the lifetime achievement are the current champions (2020-2021) award at the Global Congress of who won their 4th title beating Uttar Physicians of Indian Origin through a Pradesh in the finals. virtual meeting held on February 27 and 28. Dubai Open : Muguruza Champion Amitabh Bachchan to be honoured Garbine Muguruza ended a two-year title drought by claiming a maiden Dubai with 2021 FIAF Award crown with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-3 victory over Megastar Amitabh Bachchan will unseeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova. be honoured with an award by the Krejcikova has enjoyed great success in International Federation of Film Archives doubles, reaching the number ranking (FIAF). and claiming two women's doubles The veteran actor will be the first Indian Grand Slam trophies, as well as three in cinema personality to be bestowed with mixed doubles. the FIAF Award for his dedication and contribution to the preservation of the world’s film heritage. 1.7 Books & Authors Head quarters of FIAF : Brussels, Belgium.
Deepika Padukone joins WEF list of Autobiography of ‘Frontier Gandhi’ Young Global Leader released in English Actor Deepika Padukone has joined the The autobiography of freedom fighter list of the Young Global Leaders (YGLs) ‘Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan’, titled “The compiled by the World Economic Forum. Frontier Gandhi: My Life and Struggle” The list also includes several Indian has been released. citizens and India-origin persons. The book is English translation of Khan’s The Forum of Young Global Leaders autobiography, which was first published was founded in 2005 by Klaus Schwab, in Iranian language Pashto in 1983. founder and executive chairman of the The English translation of the book is WEF, to create a world where leaders take done by former Pakistani civil servant responsibility for a sustainable future and author Imitiaz Ahmad Sahibzada. while meeting increasingly complex and interrelated challenges.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 11 Awards & Honours Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
WEF Gowsalya Shankar presented with President : Borge Brende IWOC 2021 Award
Founded on : 24 January 1971 The U.S. Consulate honoured Tamil Head Quarters : Cologny Switzerland Nadu based anticaste activist and human rights defender Gowsalya Shankar with Tamilisai Soundararajan presented the International Woman of Courage Global Women of Excellence Award (IWOC) Award. Lt. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan The of Nomination was handed over to was presented the Top 20 Global Women her by U.S. Consul General in Chennai of Excellence Award for 2020 at a US Judith Ravin at an event of ‘Courageous event. Women Inspire a Better World’ held . She joined a league of extraordinary women achievers across the world IWOC The International Women of Courage chosen for the award, including US Vice Award, also referred to as the U.S. President Kamala Harris. Secretary of State's International Women The award instituted by the US of Courage Award, is an American award Congressional Multi Advisory Task presented annually by the United States Force led by Congressman Danny K. Department of State to women around Davis, Representative of Illinois’s 7th the world who have shown leadership, Congressional district, was presented courage, resourcefulness, and willingness during the 9th Congressional International to sacrifice for others, especially in Women’s Day Gala at Naperville, Illinois. promoting women's rights. Kiran Bedi Receives Baton of Honor Imayam wins Sahitya Akademi Award from President Ram Nath Kovind Tamil writer Imayam, who calls himself President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind a writer of the Dravidian movement and presented a Baton of Honour and a letter captures the stark realities of the caste of appreciation to former Puducherry system and the lives of Maha dalits, won Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi at the the Sahitya Akademi Award for 2020 for Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi on March his novel Sellatha Panam. 08, 2021. He wants to dedicate the award to the The Baton of Honor is decorated with the leaders of the Justice Party and the emblem of the Indian Republic. Dravidian Movement, Periyar, Anna Bedi was recognised for her services to and Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. Ambedkar. He is the first writer from ‘Nadu Nadu’ Cuddalore, Villupuram and Arcot districts of Tamil Nadu to win the award.
12 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Awards & Honours
Born V.Annamalai in Cuddalore district, Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav in Andhra Imayam has written six novels, six short Pradesh. story collections and a novel. In 2019, Gandhi has repeatedly stressed the his first novel Koveru Kazhuthaikal, need for a separate national flag for our translated into English as Burden of country. Subsequently, Pingali vengayya Beast, completed 25 years. made more than 30 different flags and His novel Pethavan poignantly tells the displayed them when Gandhi visited story of the problems faced by a family Vijayawada in 1921. when their daughter falls in love with a Dalit. Sahitya Akademi Award for His latest work Vaazhga Vaazhga is translation goes to K.V. Jeyasri about the loss of innocent lives at political Award given for her translation of the events. Malayalam novel Nilam Poothu Malarnna Sahitya Akademi Awards Naal (The day the land bloomed and Sahitya Akademi award established in blossomed) into Tamil as Nilam Poothu 1954, is a literary honour that is conferred Malarntha Naal. annually by Sahitya Akademi, India’s K.V. Jeyasri, a Tamil teacher from National Academy of letters. Tiruvannamalai, has won the Sahitya Award is presented to the most Akademi Award 2019 for her translation outstanding books of literary merit of the Malayalam novel Nilam Poothu published in any of the twenty-four Malarnna Naal (The day the land major Indian languages recognized by bloomed and blossomed) into Tamil as the Akademi (including English). Nilam Poothu Malarntha Naal. ` Sahitya Akademi award is the The award includes a cash prize of 50,000 second highest literary honour by the and a copper plaque. Government of India, after Jananpith Ms. Jeyasri is currently translating award. IAS officer K.V. Mohankumar’s novel The award is presented in the form of a Ushnarasi. casket containing an engraved copper- It is about the communist movement in plaque, a shawl and a cheque of Rs 1 lakh. Kerala and culminates in its capture of power in 1957. Jagan honours daughter of National Flag creator, presents her Rs. 75 lakh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy felicitated National Flag creator Pingali Venkayya's daughter Ghantasala Seetha Mahalakshmi and his other family members on the occasion of 75 years of the Flag, and announced the launch of
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 13 Latest Historical Events Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 1.9 Latest Historical Events 1.10 India and its Neighbours
Modi flags off padyatra to India and Japan back in new Sri commemorate salt march Lanka port project Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged Sri Lanka announced it will develop off the foot march to re enact the historic the West Container Terminal (WCT) at Mahatma Gandhi led Salt March, the Colombo Port, along with India and while launching the ‘Azadi Ka Amrut Japan. Mahotsav’, the government’s initiative to The decision comes a month after the mark 75 years of India’s Independence. Rajapaksa government ejected the two Prime Minister Modi announced the 75th partners from a 2019 tripartite agreement anniversary celebrations would continue to jointly develop the East Container till August 15, 2023. Terminal (ECT), citing resistance to “foreign involvement”. He reiterated the Five Themes While the High Commission of India had Freedom Struggle “approved” Adani Ports, which was to Ideas at 75 invest in the ECT project earlier, Japan Achievements at 75 is yet to name an investor, according to Actions at 75 officially published Cabinet decisions. Resolves at 75 Neither India nor Japan has officially The padyatra is being undertaken by commented on the offer, or on the said 81 persons on April 5. The march from private investment from the countries. Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to Dandi in Navsari district, a distance of China gives green light for first 386 km, will take them 25 days. It will downstream dams on Brahmaputra mark the 91st anniversary of the historic A draft of China’s new Five-Year Plan march against the tax on salt imposed by (2021-2025), which is set to be formally the British in India. approved has given the green light for the first dams to be built on the lower reaches of Yarlung Zangbo river, as the Brahmaputra is known in Tibet before it flows into India. Current issues As India and China continue to grow demographically as well as economically amid increased consumption among its citizenry, both nations face water constraints and in a race to develop new projects in order to overcome them.
14 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 India and its Neighbours
Brahmaputra: Mizoram, Manipur offers help to It originates under the name of Siang Myanmar refugees or Dihang, from the Chemayungdung Four Northeast Indian states share glacier of the Kailash range near the the border with Myanmar: Arunachal Mansarovar lake. It enters India west of Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Sadiya town in Arunachal Pradesh. Manipur. Tributaries: Dibang, Lohit, Siang, Burhi Dihing, Tista, and Dhansari. Arunachal Pradesh
It is a perennial river and has several Capital City – Itanagar peculiar characteristics due to its Chief Minister – Pema Khandu geography and prevailing climatic Governor – B.D. Mishra conditions. State Animal – Gayal It is flooded twice annually. One flood is Nagaland caused by the melting of the Himalayan Capital – Imphal snow in summer and the other due to the Governor – Najma Heptulla monsoon flows. Chief Minister – N.Biren Singh National Park – Keibul Lamjao National First ever visit of Indian Naval Ships Park to the historic port city of Mongla Mizoram The Indian Naval Ships, INS Sumedha– Capital – Aizawl an indigenously build Offshore Patrol Governor – PS Sreedharan Pillai vessel, and INS Kulish–an indigenously National Parks (NP) – Murlen NP, built guided missile corvette, are on Champhai; Phawngpui National Park, three-day visit to the historic port town Lawngtlai of Mongla in Bangladesh from March 8 to Tiger Reserve – Dampa Tiger Reserve, 10, 2021. Mamit This is the first time ever that any Indian Naval Ship is visiting the port of Mongla About Manipur in Bangladesh. Capital - Imphal The basic aim of this visit is to pay Governor - Najma Heptulla homage to the Bangladeshi and Indian Chief Minister - N.Biren Singh combatants and citizens who laid down State Flower - Shirui Lily their lives during the Liberation War of State Tree - Uningthou 1971 against Pakistan. The ships will take part in the ongoing Indus Commissioners of India, Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations to Pakistan to meet in New Delhi on Mar commemorate 50 years of Liberation War 23-24 of 1971 and reiterating the historic Indo- The Indus Commissioners of India and Bangladeshi friendship. Pakistan will meet on March 23 and 24
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 15 1India and its Neighbours Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
to discuss a host of issues, including system into two halves. The three ‘western Islamabad's concerns to the design of rivers’ (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) went Indian hydropower projects on the to Pakistan and the three ‘eastern rivers’ Chenab River. (Sutlej, Ravi and Beas) were portioned to This will be the annual meeting of the India. Permanent Indus Commission. Under India is allowed to use 20% water of the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty, the western rivers for irrigation, power both the commissioners are required to generation and transport purposes. meet at least once a year alternately in IWT granted 3.6 million acre-feet (MAF) India and Pakistan. of “permissible storage capacity” to India This will also be the first meeting on the western rivers but due to poor between the two commissioners after water development projects, 2-3 MAF of the nullification of special provisions water easily flows into Pakistan. under Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The state was later carved into two union territories -- 1.11 Appointments – Who is Ladakh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian delegation will be led by who? Saxena with his advisors from the Central Water Commission, Central Electricity Shri Matam Venkata Rao was appointed Authority and National Hydroelectric as the Managing Director and Chief Power Corporation. Executive Officer of Central Bank of The Pakistani delegation will be led India. by Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah, Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters CII-TN Council gets a new chairman and his eight advisors. Dr. S. Chandrakumar, founder and executive chairman, Sri Kauvery Medical Indus water Treaty - 1960 Care India Ltd, Trichy has been elected The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) between chairman of the CII Tamil Nadu State India and Pakistan marks its 61st Council for 2021-22. anniversary. The Indus system comprises the main Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and CII is a non-government, not for profit, Sutlej. The basin is mainly shared by industry led and industry managed India and Pakistan with a small share for organization, playing a proactive role in China and Afghanistan. India's development process. With the partition of India in 1947, waters Founded in 1895, India's premier business of Indus rivers system were also divided. association has around 9000 members, The sharing formula, devised after from the private as well as public sectors, prolonged negotiations, sliced the Indus including SMEs and MNCs, and an
16 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Appointments – Who is who?
indirect membership of over 300,000 Functions: It sets the global environmental enterprises from around 276 national and agenda, promotes the sustainable regional sectoral industry bodies. development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative Indian Economist Ligia Noronha advocate for global environment appointed as Assistant Secretary- protection. General of UN Major Reports: Emission Gap Report, Leading Indian economist Ligia Noronha Global Environment Outlook, Frontiers, has been appointed as the Assistant Invest into Healthy Planet. Secretary-General and Head of the Major Campaigns: Beat Pollution, UN75, New York Office of the United Nations World Environment Day, Wild for Life. Environment Programme (UNEP). Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya. Noronha will succeed fellow Indian and development economist Satya Tripathi. NABARD’s Chairman G.R. Chintala Noronha, who is working with UNEP takes charge as Chairman of APRACA since 2014, is an economist with over 30 G.R. Chintala, the Chairman of years of international experience in the National Bank for Agriculture and field of sustainable development. Rural Development (NABARD), has
Prior to joining the UNEP, Noronha been sworn in as the new Chairman worked at The Energy and Resources of APRACA (Asia Pacific Rural and Institute (TERI) in New Delhi as Executive Agricultural Credit Association). Director (Research Coordination) and as Chintala has taken over from DPK Director of the Division on Resources, Gunasekera, who is the Chief Executive Regulation and Global Security. Officer of Bank of Ceylon. United Nations NABARD The United Nations (UN) is an Started on: 12 July 1982 international organization founded
in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 Head Quarters: Mumbai Member States. Chairman: G.R.Chintala The UN is structured around five APRACA principal organs: Asia-Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit General Assembly Association (APRACA) is a regional United Nations Security Council (UNSC) association that promotes cooperation Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and facilitates mutual exchange of International Court of Justice information and expertise in the field of
UN Secretariat. rural finance. United Nations Environment Programme Currently,it has a total of 86 institutions The UNEP is a leading global in 24 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region environmental authority established on that are affiliated with the APRACA as 5th June 1972. its members.The General Secretariat of
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 17 Appointments – Who is who? Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 APRACA is located in Bangkok,Thailand. to be part of the Territorial Army and a APRACA along with NENARACA (Near part of 124 Sikh Regiment. East – North Africa Agricultural Credit Territorial Army Association) and AFRACA (African Rural The modern Territorial Army was and Agricultural Credit Association) inaugurated by the first Indian Governor- were established with the help of FAO General of India, C. Rajagopalachari, on following the 1975 World Conference on 9 October 1949 after the Independence Agricultural Credit. Territorial Army Act was passed in 1948. By 1972, units were either disbanded or Bach re-elected IOC chief converted to Regular Army units with the
Thomas Bach was re-elected as president exception of infantry battalions. of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for a final four year term. Girish Murmu re-appointed Chairman Bach received unanimous backing in of UN Panel of External Auditors the election in which he was the sole Comptroller and Auditor General of candidate, with 93 of the 94 valid votes India (CAG), Girish Chandra Murmu has from IOC members in favour of his been re-appointed as the Chairman of the re-election. Panel of External Auditors of the United International Olympic Committee Nations for the year 2021. Prior to this, Mr Summer and Winter Olympic Games are Murmu was elected as Chairman of the organized by the IOC. Panel for 2020 as well. It is a non-governmental sports At present, the panel consists of 13 organization headquartered at Lausanne, countries which are India, Germany, Switzerland. Chile, China, United Kingdom, France, Philippines, Switzerland, Italy, Ghana, It was founded by Pierre de Coubertin Indonesia, Canada and Russia. and Demetrios Vikelas on 23rd June 1894. CAG Anurag Thakur promoted as captain The Constitution of India provides for in Territorial Army an independent office of the Comptroller Minister of State for Finance and Corporate and Auditor General of India (CAG) in Affairs Anurag Thakur became the first chapter V under Part V. serving union minister to be promoted The CAG is mentioned in the Constitution as Captain in the Territorial Army as a of India under Article 148 – 151. regular commissioned officer. He is the head of the Indian Audit and Thakur was promoted to the rank Accounts Department. of Captain at 124 Infantry Battalion He is the guardian of the public purse and Territorial Army (Sikh). Thakur controls the entire financial system of the announced that it is an honour and pride country at both the levels- the centre and state.
18 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Appointments – Who is who?
His duty is to uphold the Constitution of (RBI) Department Of Statistics and India and the laws of Parliament in the Information Management. field of financial administration. He will replace Kshatrapati Shivaji who was holding additional charge of the post Appointment and Term to Constitutionals since September 2020. Posts: Dr. Samanta will also serve as the The CAG is appointed by the President Secretary in the Ministry of Statistics and of India by a warrant under his hand and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). seal. Term: 6 years or 65 years. New IOB director Government Appoints Dr. GP Samanta S. Srimathy has taken charge as the as new Chief Statistician of India executive director of Indian Overseas Bank. The Central Government has appointed She was also deputed as the chief Dr. G P Samanta as the new Chief vigilance officer of the National Bank Statistician of India (CSI) for a period of for Agriculture and Rural Development two years. He is India’s fourth CSI. (NABARD) in July 2018. Currently, Dr Samanta was serving as an adviser in the Reserve Bank of India’s
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 19 Latest Court Verdicts Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 POLITICAL 2. SCIENCE 2.1 Latest Court Verdicts 2.2 Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their Bureaucrats cannot be State Election Commissioners utility The Supreme Court held that independent persons and not bureaucrats should be Janaushadhi Scheme appointed State Election Commissioners. The Janaushadhi week is being celebrated SEC across the country from 1st March to 7th The Constitution of India vests in the March 2021. State Election Commission, consisting Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi of a State Election Commissioner, the Pariyojana superintendence, direction and control Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi of the preparation of electoral rolls Pariyojana (PMBJP) is a campaign for, and the conduct of all elections to launched by the Department of the Panchayats and the Municipalities Pharmaceuticals in 2008 under the name (Articles 243K, 243ZA). Jan Aushadi Campaign. The State Election Commissioner is Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) appointed by the Governor. is the implementation agency for PMBJP. As per article 243 (C3) the Governor, The Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India when so requested by the State Election works under the Ministry of Chemicals & Commission, make available to the State Fertilizers. Election Commission such staff as may PMBJP stores have been set up to provide be necessary for the discharge of the generic drugs, which are available at functions conferred on the SEC. lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs. It also intends to extend the coverage of quality generic medicines so as to reduce the out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines and thereby redefine the unit cost of treatment per person.
20 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Govt – Welfare oriented...
It will create awareness about scheme, belong to women account generic medicines through education holders. and publicity so that quality is not With regard to the Pradhan Mantri synonymous with an only high price. MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), it said, about 68 per cent or 19.04 crore accounts with Cases and articles related to an amount of Rs 6.36 lakh crore (as of Reservation February 26, 2021) have been sanctioned The Constitution Bench will decide on to women entrepreneurs under the these broad issues: scheme since its inception.
Indira Sowhney Judgement of 1992, PMJDY Scheme which fixed reservation at 50%, requires Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana a relook by a larger Bench “in the light of (P`MJDY) was launched by Narendra subsequent constitutional amendments, Modi on 28th August 2014. It is a national judgments and changed social dynamics mission with an aim to provide access of the society”. to various financial services including Maratha quota law is covered by the Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension, exemption of “exceptional circumstances” Banking Savings & Deposit Accounts in by which reservation can cross the 50% an affordable manner. mark. 102nd Constitutional Amendment Act MUDRA Scheme deprives a State legislature of its power to Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana enact a legislation to identify socially and (PMMY) is a scheme launched by the economically backward classes within Hon'ble Prime Minister on April 8, 2015 the State to confer quota benefits to them. for providing loans up to 10 lakh to the Article 342A abrogates a States’ power non-corporate, non-farm small/micro to legislate for or classify “any backward enterprises. These loans are classified as class of citizens”, and thereby, affects the MUDRA loans under PMMY. federal policy/structure. Cabinet approves ‘PM Swasthya Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana Suraksha Nidhi’ as single non- The finance ministry announced about lapsable reserve fund 55 per cent of the total account holders The Union Cabinet approved the under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMJDY), a flagship scheme of Nidhi (PMSSN) as a single non-lapsable the government to promote financial reserve fund for share of Health from the inclusion, are women. proceeds of Health and Education Cess As of February 24, 2021, 23.21 crore levied under Finance Act, 2007. accounts, out of the total 41.93 crore The major benefit of PMSSN will be accounts opened under the PMJDY enhanced access to universal and
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 21 Govt – Welfare oriented... Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
affordable health care through availability its supply through Integrated Child of earmarked resources, while ensuring Development Services and Mid-Day that the amount does not lapse at the end Meal scheme from April. of financial year. Fortified rice is being distributed via Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha ration shops, also called the public Nidhi, PMSSN is a non-lapsable reserve distribution system (PDS), in one district fund for Health in the Public Account and each in six states out of the 15 states Proceeds of share of health in the Health identified for implementation of a central and Education Cess will be credited into scheme on a pilot basis for three months it. in 2019-20. The administration and maintenance of The objective of the scheme was to address the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha anaemia and micro-nutrient deficiency in Nidhi is entrusted to the Health Ministry the country. and in any financial year. About 65 per cent of India's population consumes rice as a staple food. Sewer network scheme Fortification of rice is a cost-effective Nearly 8,000 sewer connections have and complementary strategy to increase been provided in the added areas under vitamin and mineral content in diets and the Metro-water scheme ‘Ilanthorum a step towards nutritional security and Inaippu’. to fight anaemia and malnutrition in the The scheme, which was launched last country. month facilitates residents to pay a bill in 10 installments in five years after the Integrated Child Development Services house service connection is given as part CDS stands for Integrated Child of the underground sewer network. Development Services.
Presently, residents from Tiruvottiyur, ICDS was launched in the year 1975. Ambattur, Valasaravakkam and It is a centrally sponsored scheme Sholinganallur had opted for connections executed by the Ministry of Women and under the scheme. Child Development. The project is being undertaken at a cost
of `50 crore in the first phase. A similar The Central Government is responsible scheme is being executed in core areas for programme planning and operating under the ‘Azhaithal Inaippu’ scheme, costs while State governments are where sewer connections are provided accountable for programme execution based on calls from residents. & providing additional nutrition out of their own resources. Government to supply fortified rice through ICDS, Midday Meal scheme Govt invites bids for over 390 air from April routes under fresh UDAN To ensure nutritional security, the The civil aviation ministry has invited government has decided to scale up the bids for around 392 routes under the distribution of fortified rice and start regional air connectivity scheme as part
22 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Govt – Welfare oriented...
of continuing efforts to improve domestic New Saral Pension scheme offers connectivity as well as make flying more retirees options affordable. Insurance regulator IRDAI's Saral Under the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik pension plan is one such scheme that (UDAN) regional connectivity scheme, comes into effect on April 1, 2021. Under which will complete four years this year, the scheme, insurers will pay the policy as many as 325 routes and 56 airports holders a minimum sum of Rs 1,000/ have been operationalised. month, Rs 3,000/ quarter, and Rs 12,000/ These include five heliports and two water year. aerodromes. On the commencement of the In India, retirement planning is often ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (India@75)’ perceived to begin only in the latter years of a person's career often through making launched by the Government of India, the rent-accruing investments in combination Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has with insurance. proposed about 392 routes under UDAN Under the Insurance Regulatory and 4.1 bidding process. Development Authority of India's The UDAN 4.1 round is focused on guidelines, the maximum amount that connecting smaller airports, along with can be paid by insurance firms is not special helicopter and seaplane routes. capped. Industry experts say that like other annuity plans, the Saral Pension Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik scheme requires people to pay a lump Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) sum amount at the time of purchasing the was launched as a regional connectivity policy, and this will then be followed by scheme under the Ministry of Civil annuity payments. Aviation in 2016. Under the guidelines, the annuity It is an innovative scheme to develop the payments are given to the insurer for regional aviation market. life, and upon the death of the policy The objective of scheme is to create holder, they will be paid to the spouse or affordable yet economically viable and the nominee. Saral Pension, as the name profitable flights on regional routes so suggests, is a simple pension plan that that flying becomes affordable to the guarantees immediate payments with no common man even in small towns. dependence on markets and no cap on The scheme envisages providing investments made by the policy holders. The minimum age to begin receiving the connectivity to un-served and annuity payments is 40 years and the underserved airports of the country maximum is 70 years. through the revival of existing air-strips and airports. The scheme is operational Insurance Regulatory and Development for a period of 10 years. Authority of India Founded: 1999 Headquarters: Hyderabad Chairperson: Subhash Chandra Khuntia
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 23 Policy on Environment and Ecology Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 3. GEOGRAPHY 3.1 Policy on Environment and Ecology
5 NEW FROG SPECIES IN WESTERN most species are known to have narrow GHATS geographical ranges. Researchers from India and the U.S. have discovered five new species of shrub Killing two birds with one stone frogs from the Western Ghats, one of the The authorities in Assam’s Hailakandi globally recognised biodiversity hotspots. district are relying on the sparrow to The frogs, belonging to the the Old World motivate the voters to exercise their tree frog family Rhacophoridae. franchise on April 1. Researchers said the new species were The house sparrow abundant in the identified and found to be distinct based region and it has been made the mascot of on multiple criteria, such as their external Hailakandi’s SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ morphology, DNA, calling pattern, Education and Electoral Participation) behaviour, and other natural history programme. observations. It will spread awareness about the need to According to the researchers, over 80% conserve the small bird and also motivate of the globally known shrub frogs are the voters. restricted to the Western Ghats, and
24 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Current Socio-Economic Problems
4. ECONOMICS 4.1 Current Socio-Economic 4.2 New Economic Policy & Problems Govt. Sector
Wipro joins World Economic Forum GST revenue hits ₹1 Lakh-crore for initiative to advance racial justice, 5th month social equality Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections Wipro has joined the World Economic in February topped `1 lakh crore- mark for a record fifth month in a row, Forum’s (WEF) ‘Partnering for Racial with collections worth `1,13,143 crore, Justice in Business’ initiative to promote a indicating a sustained economic recovery culture of diversity, inclusion, equity and and improved tax administration. justice for people of all racial backgrounds GST in the workplace. In India, GST Bill was first introduced The initiative is aimed towards driving in 2014 as The Constitution (122nd action and accountability for companies Amendment) Bill. to confront racism at a systemic level, set This got an approval in 2016 and was new global standards for racial justice in renumbered in the statute as The business and accomplish necessary policy Constitution (101st Amendment) Act, changes for inclusion and advancement 2016. Central GST to cover Excise duty, Service of professionals with under-represented tax etc, State GST to cover VAT, luxury racial and ethnic identities. tax etc. World Economic Forum Integrated GST to cover inter-state trade. Article 246A – States have power to tax President : Børge Brende goods and services. Founded on : 24 January 1971 Head Quarters : Cologny Switzerland GST Council Article 279A - GST Council to be formed by the President to administer & govern GST. It's Chairman is Union Finance Minister of India with ministers nominated by the state governments as its members.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 25 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
The council is devised in such a way that India’s Forex Reserves include: the centre will have 1/3rd voting power Foreign Currency Assets and the states have 2/3rd. Gold The decisions are taken by 3/4th majority. Special Drawing Rights Reserve position with the International Anti-dumping tax Monetary Fund (IMF). The U.S. Department of Commerce is preparing to tax aluminium sheet GDP to grow at 11% in FY22 exporters from 18 countries including Crisil announced it expects the Indian India. economy to grow at 11% in fiscal 2022,
An anti-dumping tax is a protectionist after an estimated 8% contraction this tariff that a domestic government imposes fiscal due to the pandemic. on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value. Dumping CRISIL (Credit Rating Information is a process wherein a company exports Services of India Limited) a product at a price that is significantly This full-service rating agency is the lower than the price, it normally charges major credit rating agency in India, with in its home (or its domestic) market. a market share of more than 60%. It is offering its services in financial, India's forex reserves increase by manufacturing, service, and SME sectors. $689 million to $584.55 billion The headquarter of CRISIL is in Mumbai India's forex reserves increased for the The majority stake of CRISIL was held second consecutive week, touching $ by the world’s largest rating agency 584.554 billion as of February 26, up by $689 million. Standard & Poor’s. The foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of HDFC Bank launches ‘SmartUp non-US units like the euro, pound and Unnati’ for Women Entrepreneurs yen held in the foreign exchange reserves. India’s largest private sector lender Foreign Exchange Reserves: HDFC Bank has launched a dedicated Foreign exchange reserves are assets held mentoring programme ‘SmartUp Unnati’, on reserve by a central bank in foreign to support women entrepreneurs. currencies, which can include bonds, The initiative has been launched on the treasury bills and other government occasion of International Women’ Day on securities. March 08, 2021. It needs to be noted that most foreign The programme is available only to exchange reserves are held in U.S. dollars. existing customers and will initially target These assets serve many purposes but are most significantly held to ensure that more than 3,000 women entrepreneurs the central bank has backup funds if the associated with the bank’s SmartUp national currency rapidly devalues or programme. becomes altogether insolvent.
26 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology 5. SCIENCE
5.1 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology
CSIR lab helped develop key molecule ISRO lining up launch of India's geo for Covaxin imaging satellite GISAT-1 The Indian Institute of Chemical The Indian Space Research Organisation Technology (IICT), a Council for Scientific is lining up the launch of its geo imaging and Industrial Research (CSIR) lab played satellite GISAT-1. a role in the development of Covaxin, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle indigenous vaccine developed by the (GSLV-F10) will launch GISAT-1 from city based Bharat Biotech International the Second Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Limited. Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. The vaccine has been formulated with Weighing about 2268kg, GISAT-1 is ‘Algel IMDG’, which contains chemically the first state of the art agile earth absorbed TLR7/8 as an agonist or an observation satellite which will be placed adjuvant onto aluminium hydroxide gel in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by to generate the requisite type of immune GSLV-F10. responses without damaging the body. PSLV-C51 Mission IAF to participate in 70th anniversary The Indian Space Research Organisation celebrations of Sri Lanka Air Force (ISRO) launched the primary satellite The Indian Air Force aerobatic display Amazonia-1 of Brazil and 18 co-passenger teams, the fixed wing “Suryakirans’ satellites onboard the Polar Satellite and rotary wing ‘Sarang’, along with Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C51) from Satish Light Combat Aircraft Tejas arrived at Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) Sriharikota Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 27 Feb 21 on an Range (SHAR) invitation from the Sri Lanka Air Force In this mission, ISRO launched the first (SLAF). The Suryakirans, Sarang and satellite designed, integrated by Brazil LCA Tejas will participate in an Air - Amazonia-1. Show at Galle Face, Colombo, scheduled It is the first dedicated commercial from 03–05 Mar 21 as part of the 70th mission of NewSpace India Limited anniversary celebrations of SLAF. (NSIL), a Government of India company under the Department of Space.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 27 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
Along with Amazonia-1, 18 co-passenger We are the 1st organization in the World satellites were also launched on Sunday. to have launched Satellites through high These include four from IN-SPACe (three school and college students. UNITYsats from the consortium of three Indian academic institutes and One Satish Russia launches first Arctic- Dhawan Sat from Space Kidz India) and monitoring Satellite ‘Arktika-M’ 14 from NSIL. The Russian space corporation Roscosmos successfully launched its first Amazonia-1 satellite to monitor the Arctic’s climate The 637-kg Amazonia-1 is the optical and environment. earth observation satellite of the National The satellite called “Arktika-M”, was Institute for Space Research (INPE), launched on February 28, 2021, onboard the research unit of Brazil's ministry of Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket, from the science. Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. This satellite would further strengthen the This satellite will help to collect existing structure by providing remote information to solve operational sensing data to users for monitoring meteorology and hydrology problems, deforestation in the Amazon region and and monitoring the climate and analysis of diversified agriculture across environment in the Arctic region. the Brazilian territory. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) China releases high-resolution Mars A Government of India company under images from its Tianwen-1 probe the Department of Space. China's national space agency published In order to commercially exploit the high-resolution images of Mars captured products and services emanating by the country's Tianwen-1 probe, which from the India Space Programme., the is currently orbiting the Red planet. “NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)” has These images include two panchromatic been incorporated in March 2019, as a view and one colour image, said the wholly-owned Government of India China National Space Administration Company. (CNSA). Headquarters : Bangalore It is estimated that the diameter of the largest impact crater in the images is Space Kidz India, Chennai around 620 meters, state-run Xinhua "Space Kidz India", is an organization news agency reported quoting CNSA creating "Young scientists" for the statement. "Country" and spreading awareness China launched Tianwen-1 on July 23, among children for a "borderless world". 2020. It creates International experiential The spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter, a learning for students in the field of lander and a rover, entered the parking science, Technology, Art, and Culture. orbit around Mars on February 24.
28 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology
India became the first Asian country It has been commissioned on the 3.6-m to have successfully launched its Mars Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT), in orbiter mission Mangalyaan which the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. entered the orbit of the red planet in 2014. DRDO successfully flight test SFDR Mars Size and Distance: technology It is the fourth planet from the Sun and
the second-smallest planet in the Solar The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted System. successful flight test of Solid Fuel Ducted Mars is about half the size of Earth. Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Previous Mars Missions integrated test range (ITR), Chandipur, The Soviet Union in 1971 became the first off Odisha coast. country to carry out a Mars landing. The success of SFDR technology will The second country to reach Mars’s enable DRDO to develop long-range air surface is the United State of America to air missiles. (USA). Since 1976, it has achieved 8 The SFDR is a missile propulsion system successful Mars landings, the latest being being developed primarily by the Defence the ‘Insight’ in 2019. Research and Development Laboratory European Space Agency has been able (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat to place their spacecraft in Mars’s orbit (RCI) in Hyderabad. through the Mars Express Mission. The High Energy Material Research Laboratory (HEMRL) has developed India’s Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or the nozzle-less booster while the ramjet Mangalyaan: engine is being developed with Russian It was launched from the Satish Dhawan assistance. Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh by DRDO Indian Space Research Organisation in Chairman: Dr G Satheesh Reddy November 2013. Head Quarters: New Delhi Indigenously developed Founded on: 1958 “Spectrograph” commissioned in Missiles Nainital Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic Indian Scientists at Aryabhata Research missile – Prithvi Institute of observational sciences Intermediate-range surface-to-surface (ARIES), Nainital, have indigenously ballistic missile – Agni designed and developed a low-cost Short-range low-level surface-to-air optical Spectrograph named as Aries- missile – Trishul Devasthal Faint Object Spectrograph & Medium-range surface-to-air missile Camera (ADFOSC). – Akash Third generation anti-tank missile – Nag
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 29 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
NASA's Perseverance Drives on Mars' ISRO Terrain for First Time Chairman : K.Sivan
NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover Head Quarters : Bengaluru performed its first drive on Mars March Founded on : 15 August 1969 4, covering 21.3 feet (6.5 meters) across ISRO develops radar for joint mission with the Martian landscape. NASA The drive served as a mobility test that ISRO has completed development of marks just one of many milestones as a Synthetic Aperture Radar capable of team members check out and calibrate producing high-resolution images for a every system, subsystem, and instrument joint earth observation satellite mission on Perseverance. with the U.S. space agency NASA. The drive, which lasted about 33 minutes, The mission is targeted to be launched in propelled the rover forward 13 feet (4 2022. meters), where it then turned in place 150 degrees to the left and backed up 8 In a first, China launches virus feet (2.5 meters) into its new temporary passport parking space. China has launched a health certificate The main tool the science team will use to programme for Chinese international do close-up examination of the geologic travellers, leading the world in plans for features of Jezero Crater. so called virus passports. Aim : To help promote world economic ISRO will handle Projects recovery and facilitate cross border travel. The Indian Space Research Organisation Although the certificate is meant for (ISRO) has announced it will be in charge travel in and out of China, it is currently of projects linked to national security and only available for use by Chinese citizens, advanced technology such as the forth and it is not yet mandatory. coming Chandrayaan2 missions and the There is also no indication authorities in Gaganyaan mission that plans to send other countries will use it when Chinese Indian cosmonauts into space. travellers go abroad. The Standing Committee on Science and Technology, led by Rajya Sabha member First military exercise in space Jairam Ramesh on whether the NSIL launched - AsterX would “replace” ISRO. France has successfully launched the first The NSIL recently coordinated the launch of the Amazonia satellite by Brazil military exercise in space. on February 28, its first fully commercial It will help the country in testing its mission that also saw 18 other satellites abilities to protect its satellites as well being launched. as other defence equipment from other space forces.
30 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology
The exercise has been codenamed ‘AsterX’ ISRO launches Sounding Rocket ‘RH- and the German Space force and the US 560’ to study Altitudinal Variations space force have also been participating The Indian Space Research Organisation in it. (ISRO) launched the indigenously made sounding rocket, RH-560, on March 12, India, Japan space agencies 2021, from the Satish Dhawan Space Indian and Japanese space agencies Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota Range reviewed cooperation in earth (SHAR), Andhra Pradesh. observation, lunar cooperation and The aim of this RH-560 is to study satellite navigation, and also agreed to altitude variations in the neutral winds explore opportunities for cooperation and plasma dynamics. in “space situational awareness and The Bengaluru-headquartered space professional exchange programme”. agency, ISRO has developed a series of A bilateral meeting between the Indian sounding rockets called “Rohini series”. Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Among them the important ones are RH- the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency 200, RH-300 and RH-560. (JAXA) held virtually. India and Japan are already working on Martian ‘ blueberries’ find a parallel on a joint lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) Earth Similar haematite concretions mission and the two space agencies have have been found in Kutch, Gujarat been working on the mission that aims In 2004, NASA’s Mars exploration to send a lander and rover to the Moon’s rover ‘Opportunity’ found several small south pole around 2024. spheres on the planet, informally named Martian blueberries. Opportunity’s Italy spectrometers studied the mineralogy
India and Italy decided to explore and noted they were made of iron oxide opportunities in earth observation, compounds called haematites. This space science and robotic and human caused excitement, as the presence of exploration. heematites suggests that there was water Australia present on Mars. India and Australia signed an amendment to the MoU which will build on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both countries are also in discussions for Australia to host vital tracking infrastructure to support the Gaganyaan manned space flight mission.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 31 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 5.3 Mass Media & Communication E-Daakhil portal for consumer include Health System Strengthening in grievance redressal operational in 15 rural and urban areas for - Reproductive- Maternal- Neonatal-Child and Adolescent states, UTs Health (RMNCH+A), and Communicable
The government on February 26, 2021 and Non-Communicable Diseases. said the ‘E-Daakhil’ portal for consumer grievance redressal is now operational Some Major initiatives in 15 states and Union Territories (UTs). Mission Indradhanush – It helped in The Consumer Protection Act, 2019, increasing immunization cover by over which came into force from July 20, 2020, 5% in just 1 year. has a provision for e-filing of consumer Kayakalp Initiative – This was launched complaints in the consumer commissions with the plan to inculcate hygiene, and online payment of the fees for sanitation, effective waste management, filing a complaint. To facilitate the rural and infection control in public health consumers for e-filing, common service facilities. This initiative has introduced centres (CSC) has been integrated with awards which resulted in significant the E-Daakhil portal. improvement in sanitation standards.
J-K administration launches ANMOL cVIGIL App app under national health mission Election commission of India launched a The Jammu and Kashmir administration mobile app called cVIGIL. distributed tablets among auxiliary A user-friendly and easy to operate nursing midwives (ANMs) and launched Android application, requires an Android an application under the national health smartphone equipped with a camera, mission for identification and tracking of good internet connection and GPS access beneficiaries. It will be operational only where elections The ANMOL application will empower are announced. cVIGIL will allow anyone ANMs and frontline health workers in carrying out their day-to-day work in the election-bound state to report efficiently and effectively. violations of Model Code of Conduct. The ANMOL application allows ANMs to enter and update records of beneficiaries World’s fastest supercomputer on real-time basis. “Fugaku’ begins operations National Health Mission The world’s most powerful supercomputer National Health Mission (NHM) was named “Fugaku”, developed by Japanese launched by the government of India scientific research institute RIKEN and in 2013 subsuming the National Rural Fujitsu, has been made available for Health Mission and the National Urban research work. Health Mission. It was further extended The development of the machine was in March 2018, to continue till March 2020. started about six years ago in 2014 and The main programmatic components was completed in May 2020.
32 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 National – Diary of Event 6. NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENT
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan developed between Solapur-Vijapur (NH inaugurates Global Bio India 2021 52) in 18 hours. The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health NHAI National Highways Authority of India & Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan (NHAI) was set up under NHAI Act, inaugurated the second edition of Global 1988. It is under the administrative Bio-India-2021 in New Delhi through control of the Ministry of Road Transport virtual mode. and Highways. The three-day event will be held from It has been entrusted with the National March 01 to 03, 2021, on a digital platform. Highways Development Project, along Theme 2021 – “Transforming lives” with with other minor projects for development, the tag line “Biosciences to Bio-economy”. maintenance and management. Purpose -to showcase the strength and National Highways Development opportunities of the biotechnology sector Project (NHDP) is a project to upgrade, of India at national as well as international rehabilitate and widen major highways level. in India to a higher standard. The project Chief Electoral Office was started in 1998. Tamil Nadu Chief Electoral Officer - Satyabrata Sahoo Govt announces ‘One District One The Election Commission of India Focus Produce’ programme nominates or designates an Officer of With the aim to boost export of agriculture the Government of the State/Union products, the Centre has identified several Territory as the Chief Electoral Officer in products under 15 broad categories, consultation with that State Government/ allotting one product for each of the Union Territory Administration. country’s 728 districts so that there is convergence of resources under different NHAI builds 25.54-km lane in 18 schemes of various ministries and also it hours, to enter Limca Book of Records helps increase farmers’ income. The National Highway Authority of The products have been identified from India (NHAI) completed single lane of agricultural, horticultural, animal, the four-lane stretch of 25.54 km being poultry, milk, fisheries, aquaculture,
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 33 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
marine sectors across the country after Delimitation Commission gets one- taking inputs from the states, Union year extension to conclude its task in Territories and the Indian Council of J&K Agricultural Research (ICAR). For this The Delimitation Commission, a panel Initiative, Union government gives 35% for redrawing the parliamentary and fund to the organization. Assembly constituencies in Jammu and There are 36 districts in Tamil Nadu. Kashmir, has got a one-year extension. Kanyakumari, Nagapattinam, According to section 60 of the Jammu Chengalpattu and Ramanathapuram and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, districts have fish products, Thanjavur, the number of seats in the Legislative Coimbatore has coconuts, Trichy has Assembly of the Union Territory of bananas and Krishnagiri has mangoes. Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased Assistance is available to farmers under from 107 to 114. schemes like MITH, NFSM, RKVY, PKVY With 24 seats in PoK, the effective strength to produce agricultural products. will go up from 83 to 90.
State’s largest constituency Delimitation Commission
Sholinganallur in Chennai The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV works in collaboration with the Election merged into one single entity called Commission of India. Sansad TV Composition: The Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Retired Supreme Court judge Television channels that broadcast the Chief Election Commissioner proceedings of the upper and lower Respective State Election Commissioners Houses of Parliament, respectively, have Functions: been merged into a single entity. To determine the number and boundaries The new channel has been named as the of constituencies to make population of ‘Sansad Television’. all constituencies nearly equal. This change is effective from March 01, To identify seats reserved for Scheduled 2021. Castes and Scheduled Tribes, wherever Ravi Capoor, a retired IAS officer of the their population is relatively large. 1986 batch, has been appointed as the In case of difference of opinion among Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sansad members of the Commission, the opinion TV for one year. of the majority prevails. The Delimitation Commission in India is a high-power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.
34 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 National – Diary of Event
Bengaluru, Shimla ‘most live able’ IISc in top 100 list in natural sciences cities The Indian Institute of Science broke Bengaluru and Shimla were ranked as the into the top 100 in the natural sciences most live able in the categories of cities category of the QS World University with more than and less than 1 million Rankings by Subject 2021 population respectively by the Union Three institutions made it to the top 100 Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry’s the IITs Bombay, Delhi and Madras in Ease of Living Index. comparison to five institutions last year. The Ease of Living Index 2020, in The top¬ ranked Indian programme which 111 cities participated during the globally is the IIT Madras petroleum assessment in 2020 that included citizens’ engineering programme which dropped had Bengaluru at the top, followed by one place to the 30th rank, followed Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Surat, Navi by mineral and mining engineering at Mumbai, Coimbatore, Vadodara, Indore IITs Bombay and Kharagpur, which are and Greater Mumbai in the category of ranked at 41st and 44th place in their cities with over 1 million population. field. In cities with less than a million population, The University of Delhi’s development Shimla topped the list, followed by studies programme is the only other one Bhubaneshwar, Silvassa, Kakinada, in the top 50, sliding in at the 50th rank. Salem, Vellore, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, QS World University Rankings Davangere and Tiruchirappalli. Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) is a leading
The Ministry also released the Municipal global career and education network Performance Index 2020, which rated 111 for ambitious professionals looking to municipalities on their services, finance, further their personal and professional policy, technology and governance. development. Indore topped the ranking of municipalities with over 1 million Organization of the Petroleum population, followed by Surat and Exporting Countries (OPEC) Bhopal, and the New Delhi Municipal The Organization of the Petroleum Council was the best among civic bodies Exporting Countries (OPEC) is with under a million population, by a permanent, intergovernmental Tirupati and Gandhinagar. organization, created at the Baghdad Smart Cities Mission Conference in 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Smart Cities Mission was launched in Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. 2015 to promote sustainable and inclusive It aims to manage the supply of oil in an cities that provide core infrastructure and effort to set the price of oil in the world give a decent quality of life to its citizens, market, in order to avoid fluctuations a clean and sustainable environment and that might affect the economies of both application of Smart Solutions. producing and purchasing countries.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 35 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. New Science Centre Inaugurated at As of 2019, OPEC has a total of 14 Udaipur in Tripura Member Countries viz. Iran, Iraq, The Udaipur Science Centre was Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE), inaugurated by Governor of Tripura Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Ramesh Bais at Udaipur, Tripura. Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of The new science centre would enable the Congo, Angola, Ecuador and Venezuela students to learn many unknown facts are members of OPEC. about science. Recent Issues It has been developed by the National According to the International Energy Council of Science Museums (NCSM). Agency (IEA), the Organisation of the Udaipur centre is the 22nd Science Centre Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) which has been developed by NCSM plus might face sharp demand fall due under the Ministry of Culture’s Scheme to a recent surge in crude oil production for Promotion of Culture of Science. from the countries like USA, Norway, and Guyana. Panel led by Modi set up for 75th The non-OPEC countries which export I-Day crude oil are termed as OPEC plus The Centre set up a high level committee countries. for planning the commemoration of the OPEC plus countries include Azerbaijan, 75th year of Independence in 2022. Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, The Ministry notified the formation of the Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan and 259-member national committee, chaired Sudan. by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The members of the panel include former International Energy Agency president Pratibha Patil, Chief Justice of It was established in the wake of 1973 India SA Bobde, NSA Ajit Doval, 28 chief (set up in 1974) oil crisis after the OPEC ministers, artistes like Lata Mangeshkar, cartel had shocked the world with a steep Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, senior BJP increase in oil prices. leader LK Advani, almost all Union It is headquartered in Paris, France ministers and several governors. India became an associate member of the The celebrations are proposed to be International Energy Agency in 2017. launched 75 weeks prior to August 15, Mexico officially became the International 2022, on March 12, 2021, which is the 91st Energy Agency’s 30th member country anniversary of the historic Salt Satyagraha in February 2018, and its first member in led by Mahatma Gandhi. Latin America.
36 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 National – Diary of Event
Institute of National Importance tag India Science Research Fellowship for National School of Drama (ISRF) 2021 NSD Society chairman and actor Paresh Forty scholars from six countries have Rawal has announced, the government is been awarded with Indian Science actively considering giving the Institute Research Fellowship (ISRF) 2021. of National Importance tag to the These scholars have been selected on National School of Drama, as well as re- the basis of their research proposal, developing its campus in Delhi. experience, academic merit and The NSD, which has four regional publication record. centres in Varanasi, Bengaluru, Agartala Indian Science Research Fellowship and Gangtok, had received a request The Indian Science Research Fellowship from Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant- is a platform to establish research Governor Manoj Sinha recently for setting cooperation and S&T partnerships with up a centre in J&K. neighbouring countries of India. NSD is planning to collaborate with The initiative was launched by the various eminent theatre directors in Department of Science and Technology the country to produce 75 plays on the (DST) in 2015 for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, theme of freedom struggle and freedom Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri fighters. The details are being worked out Lanka, Thailand. in consultation with Ministry of Culture. Institute of National Importance SCI vessel makes history It is an institute ‘which serves as a pivotal This is the first time in the world maritime player in developing highly skilled history that a ship is being sailed by all personnel within the specified region of women officers. the country/state’. To commemorate International Women’s Institute of National Importance (INI) is a Day on March 8, 2021, achieved another status that may be conferred on a premier feat when Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister public higher education institution in of State (Independent Charge) for Ports, India by an act of Parliament of India. Shipping & Waterways, virtually flagged As of 2020, there are 159 institutes, declared off the ‘All Women Officers’ Sailing’ on as Institutes of National Importance m.t.Swarna Krishna SCI’s product carrier under a distinct Act of Parliament. These from JNPT Liquid Berth Jetty on March 6, INIs include 23 IITs; 15 AIIMSs; 20 IIMs; 2021 31 NITs; 25 IIITs; 7 IISERs, 7 NIPERs; 5 International Maritime Organization NIDs; 3 SPAs; 5 central universities; 4 India joined the IMO in 1959. medical research institutes and 14 other The IMO currently lists India as among specialized institutes. the 10 states with the ‘largest interest in international seaborne trade’.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 37 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
Anganwadis This desk is the first-of-its-kind gender- Only half of government schools and inclusive community policing initiatives anganwadis have tap water supply, in the country. despite a 100day campaign for 100% The desk was formally inaugurated by coverage being launched by the Jal Cyberabad Police chief VC Sajjanar in a Shakti Ministry in October 2020, ceremony that was attended by over 200 according to information provided to the transgender people. Parliamentary Standing Committee on It will also be the focal point for Water Resources. all grievance redressal among the The campaign to provide potable transgender community in Cyberabad piped water supply for drinking and Commissionerate. cooking purposes and tap water for Note washing hands and in toilets in every In 2014, the Supreme Court of India, in school, anganwadi and ashramshala or the case of the National Legal Services residential tribal school was launched on Authority versus Union of India, October 2, Gandhi Jayanti. established the foundation for the States with 100% tap-water coverage rights of transgender persons in India State by recognising ‘transgender’ as a ‘third Andhra Pradesh gender’ and laying down several measures Goa for prohibition of discrimination against transgender persons and protection of Tamil Nadu their rights. Haryana Telangana Acts Transgender Persons (Protection of Punjab Rights) Rules, 2020 Least coverage The Central Government made the State % of schools with rules under the powers conferred by tap water supply the Transgender Persons (Protection of Uttar Pradesh 7.93 Rights) Act, 2019. West Bengal 10.89 The Act came into effect on 10th January Jharkhand 12.99 2020, which is the first concrete step towards ensuring welfare of transgender India’s first ‘Transgender Community persons. Desk’ opens in Telangana ‘Shop-and-donate’ platform launched The Cyberabad Police has launched Sethu Foundation launched an India’s first-ever Transgender e-merchandising programme Community Desk’ at the Gachibowli “Kalpavrisksha: shop and donate” Police Station in Hyderabad, Telangana.
38 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 National – Diary of Event
which will have products cultivated and that the programme enables a culture of handcrafted by women. surveillance and could create potential The first product we will have on our social distrust by encouraging civilians web platform for purchase is Lakadong to report the online activities of other Turmeric from Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya. citizens. The government had approved the National Human Rights Council setting up of 1,023 Fast Track Special NHRC of India is an independent Courts (FTSCs), including 389 exclusive statutory body established on 12 October, POCSO Courts, for expeditious trial 1993 as per provisions of Protection of and disposal of cases related to rape and Human Rights Act, 1993, later amended the Protection of Children from Sexual in 2006. Offences (POCSO) Act. NHRC has celebrated its Silver Jubilee (25 years) on October 12, 2018. Its Uttarakhand’s Ranikhet gets India’s headquarter is located in New Delhi. first Forest Healing Centre It was established in conformity with The first-of-its-kind ‘Forest Healing the Paris Principles, adopted for the Centre’ of India has been inaugurated at promotion and protection of human Kalika near Ranikhet in Uttarakhand. rights in Paris (October, 1991) and The unique centre is based on the concept endorsed by the General Assembly of the of making people healthy by bringing United Nations on 20 December, 1993. them into direct contact with nature. Tamilnadu human rights commission Spread over an area of around 13 acres, was created in 1997. the centre has been established in a pine- dominated forest, by the research wing of Cyber volunteer programme rolled Uttarakhand Forest Department after a out for ‘cyber hygiene promotion detailed study of the revitalising impact The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of forests on human health. informed the Lok Sabha that a “cyber volunteer” programme has been rolled PM Narendra Modi inaugurates ‘Maitri out for “cyber hygiene promotion” Setu’ between India and Bangladesh and the services of volunteers would Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi be utilised by the State police as per inaugurated ‘Maitri Setu’ bridge requirement. between India and Bangladesh through The MHA is a cybercrime grievance a video conference on March 09, 2021 to portal- cybercrime.gov.in, aims to raise a strengthen the connectivity between both group of “cybercrime volunteers” to flag the countries, and especially with the unlawful content on the Internet. Various north-eastern region of India. groups, including the Internet Freedom The Maitri Setu bridge has been built on Foundation (IFF), have expressed concern the Feni river, which lies between Indian
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 39 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh. NTPC with an installed capacity of 447 The 1.9 Kilometres long bridge will MW in the southern region and the entire connect Sabroom in India with Ramgarh capacity will be commissioned by March in Bangladesh. 2023. The bridge has been constructed by the National Highways and Infrastructure PM shops from Tribes India Development Corporation Limited at a Minister Narendra Modi choose to buy project cost of around Rs. 133 Crore. products made by tribal women and Maitri bridge will also make Tripura as self-help groups to mark International the ‘Gateway of North East’ with access Women's Day, the Tribes India portal to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which saw the daily average visitor count of is just 80 km from Sabroom. 2,200 shoots up to over 30,000 and orders worth almost Rs 1.50 lakh received. World's Best Hospitals 2021 A long way from Midnapore, 25-year-old This is the third year that Newsweek has Monisha Toda is based in Ooty where partnered with Statista Inc, the respected she makes the embroidered Toda shawls global data research firm, to reveal the unique to the Toda tribals of the Nilgiri World's Best Hospitals. hills in Tamil Nadu. The 2,000 hospitals named in this list The painting was made by Sarita Dhurvi which covers 25 countries, including from Dindori district, Samnapur Tehsil, United States, United Kingdom, Germany Madhya Pradesh. Through the vibrant, and Canada stand out for their consistent earthy colours, she depicted the creation excellence, including distinguished of nature. The gond tribal art, practised physicians, top-notch nursing care and by the Gond tribe in Madhya Pradesh. state of the art technology. 11 hospitals has been selected as the best Parliament passes Arbitration and hospitals in all over India. In that, Kanchi Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 Kamakoti Child Trust Hospital placed Parliament approved a Bill to amend the the best in Tamil Nadu. arbitration law. The Arbitration and Conciliation Floating solar power plant (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed The country’s biggest floating solar through voice vote in the Rajya Sabha. power plant by generation capacity, The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on which is being developed by the NTPC February 12, 2021. in the reservoir of its thermal plant at The bill will replace an ordinance issued Ramagundam in Peddapalli district, on November 4, 2020. The bill seeks Telangana. to ensure that all stakeholders get an This will be one of the renewable (solar) opportunity to seek unconditional stay energy plants being developed by the on enforcement of arbitral awards where
40 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 National – Diary of Event the agreement or contract is "induced by identifying the nearest fair price shop. fraud or corruption". This app will benefit especially those ration card holders who move to new India’s first World Skill Centre at areas for livelihoods. Bhubaneswar The app is developed by the government in Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurated association with NIC "to facilitate various India’s first World Skill Centre at ONORC related services among National Mancheswar Industrial Area on the birth Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries, anniversary of legendary Biju Patnaik. particularly migrant beneficiaries, FPS The World Skill Centre, an 18 storey dealers and other relevant stakeholders. building is aimed to make Odisha the The ONORC, system which was started global capital of trained manpower and initially in 4 States in August 2019, has is dedicated to different skills and trades. been swiftly rolled out in a very short span of time in 32 States/UTs by December Self-reliant India is good for world’ 2020 and the integration of remaining 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted States/UT (Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi that a “self-reliant India was in the and West Bengal) is expected to be interest of the world” as he expounded completed in next few months. the core beliefs in the Bhagavad Gita. The system covers nearly 69 Crore He is releasing the ‘Kindle’ version of NFSA beneficiaries (about 86% NFSA Swami Chidbhavananda’s book on the population) in the country and a monthly subject. average of about 1.5-1.6 Crore portability The beauty of the Gita was in its depth, transactions are being recorded under diversity and flexibility, he pointed out. ONORC. He quoted a peer reviewed journal of cardiology published by the University PM to inaugurate 4th Global Ayurveda of Oxford that talks at length about the Festival relevance of Gita during the time of the The festival will culminate on March 19. pandemic. The eight-day festival includes international seminar, a global exhibition Praises Tamil diaspora and business meet and will feature He praised the Tamil diaspora for scaling lectures by 35 internationally renowned new heights in many sectors and yet scientists and over 150 Indian scientists. carrying the greatness of its culture. The launch of the National AYUSH Mission of India shows the importance Govt launches 'Mera Ration' app given to Ayurveda. It strengthens
To facilitate the 'One Nation-One Ayurvedic treatment and education. The Ration Card' system in the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) has government Friday launched 'Mera announced the launch of a global center Ration' mobile app to benefit citizens in for traditional medicine in India.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 41 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
The Prime Minister said that our policy on Ministry. Only Assam will not be Ayurveda is in line with the World Health included, given the recently completed Organizaiton’s traditional treatments for National Register of Citizens (NRC). 2014-2023. National Population Register It is a list of “usual residents of the India ranks 5th in the Fastest Growing country”. Countries 2021 A “usual resident of the country” is one
According to the List of PwCs (Price who has been residing in a local area for Waterhouse and Coopers) Report 2021, at least the last six months, or intends to India ranks 5th in the fastest growing stay in a particular location for the next countries. six months. After Brexit agreement, England ranks 4th, Japan Ranks 6th and Australia Ranks Legal Provisions: 7th. The NPR is being prepared under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 India’s first centralised AC railway and the Citizenship (Registration of terminal in Bengaluru Citizens and Issue of National Identity India’s first centralised air-conditioned Cards) Rules, 2003. (AC) railway terminal has been built at It is mandatory for every “usual resident Baiyappanahalli in Bengaluru. of India” to register in the NPR. Named after ‘Bharat Ratna Sir M Background: Visvesvaraya’ one of the foremost civil The data for the NPR was first collected engineers, the AC railway terminal. in 2010 along with the house listing phase It has been built at an estimated cost of Rs of Census 2011. 314 crore. In 2015, this data was further updated by The Byappanahalli terminal is the third conducting a door-to-door survey. coach terminal named after Bharat With the use of Aadhaar as the key vehicle Ratna Sir M Visvesvaraya, sanctioned in for transfer of government benefits in 2015-16. the last few years, the NPR has taken a The Centre will allow residents to fill backseat. the National Population Register (NPR) form on their own, through the online mode, a month before the door-to-door enumeration by Census officials starts. The National Population Register (NPR) updation exercise will be undertaken alongside Census 2021.It will be conducted by the Office of the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Home
42 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 International Affairs 7. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Chinese cyber attack of 450 GW of installed Renewable Energy Chinese state-sponsored threat Actor capacity by 2030. group known as Red Echo is targeting Indian Power sector’s Regional Load India-Sweden Virtual Summit 2021 Dispatch Centres (RLDCs) along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi State Load Dispatch Centres (SLDCs). participated in the virtual India-Sweden Chinese group “Red Echo”, which has summit with the Prime Minister of been identified as responsible for the Sweden, Stefan Lofven. Mumbai outage, they had been warned The virtual summit was organised to by the Ministry of Electronics and exchange views on regional and global Information Technology’s (MeitY’s) issues and to discuss the bilateral relations Cyber Emergency Response Team (India) between the two countries. (CERT-in) about the threat from malware This was the fifth interaction between the called “ShadowPad” in November 2020. two leaders since 2015. NCIIPC informed [Power Ministry] through a mail dated 12th February, 2021 UN report about the threat by Red Echo through a The United Nations has released a study malware called Shadow Pad. on food waste called the Food Waste Code 2021. Globally, 9.31 crore tonnes of Renewable Energy MoU with France food wasted in 2019. Of these, 61 percent The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave were wasted from homes, 26 percent from ex-post facto approval to the signing of a restaurants and 13 percent from retail. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) 2019 in Indian homes in that category 6.80 between India and France on renewable crore tonnes Food is wasted on a scale. In energy cooperation. India, it is estimated that an individual It covers technologies relating to solar, consumes 50 kg of food per year. The wind, hydrogen and biomass energy. United States consumes 59 kg of food per This MoU will help in the development person per year and China consumes 64 of technological know-how in the field of kg of food per person per year. Overall, Renewable Energy and thereby aid the 17 percent of the world’s food is wasted. process of attaining the ambitious target
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 43 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021
According to the United Nations Chief Economist of the IMF Gita Gopinath Environment Program, food waste is a announced as she hailed the country for major cause of greenhouse gas emissions playing a very important role during the and can reduce pollution by reducing crisis by manufacturing and shipping the food waste. COVID-19 vaccines to several nations. United Nations IMF The United Nations (UN) is an The formation of the IMF was initiated in international organization founded 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference. in 1945. It is currently made up of 193 IMF came into operation on 27th Member States. December 1945 and is today an The UN is structured around five international organization that consists of principal organs: 189 member countries. Headquartered in General Assembly Washington, D.C., United Nations Security Council (UNSC) IMF focuses on fostering global monetary Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) cooperation, securing financial stability, International Court of Justice facilitating and promoting international UN Secretariat. trade, employment, and economic growth around the world. The IMF is a Czech envoy calls on Prince of Arcot specialized agency of the United Nations. The Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India in Delhi, Milan Hovorka, made Singapore Tops Economic Freedom a courtesy call on the Prince of Arcot Index 2021 Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali in Amir Singapore has topped the global ranking Mahal. in the Economic Freedom Index 2021, for The Ambassador was keen to promote second year in a row, published by US education in India, particularly joint conservative think-tank, The Heritage venture programmes with the leading Foundation educational institutions in Tamil Nadu. The overall score of Singapore increased by 0.3 points to 89.7 in this edition, Czech Republic primarily due to an improvement in the President: Miloš Zeman score for government spending. Prime Minister: Andrej Babiš The index has covered 184 countries in Capital: Prague the study and the period of study is July Currency: Czech Koruna 2019 to June 2020. India stands out in terms of vaccine India in the index policy India has been placed at 121 position India has been at the forefront in fighting in the index, with a score of 56.5 out of the coronavirus pandemic announced by 100. India is put under “Mostly Unfree category”
44 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 International Affairs
Among Asia-Pacific countries, India The four countries will do things that ranks 26 out of 40 countries. are "conducive" to regional peace and stability instead of the "opposite". China and Russia Inks MoU to jointly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US build Lunar Space Station President Joe Biden, Australian Prime The space agencies of China and Minister Scott Morrison and his Japanese Russia have signed a Memorandum of counterpart Yoshihide Suga will attend Understanding (MoU) on behalf of their the virtual summit, which is the first national governments, to jointly construct conclave of the top leaders of the a lunar space station that will be open to Quadrilateral alliance. all countries. About Quad:
Dubbed as the “International Scientific Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) Lunar Station (ISLS)”, the centre will be is the informal strategic dialogue between a “complex of experimental and research India, USA, Japan and Australia with a facilities” created on the moon’s surface shared objective to ensure and support a and/or in orbit of the moon. “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific The goal of setting up ISLS is strengthening region. research cooperation and promoting the The idea of Quad was first mooted by exploration and use of outer space for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in peaceful purposes in the interests of all 2007. mankind. In November 2017, India, the US, The MoU was officially signed between Australia and Japan gave shape to the the Chinese space agency, China National long-pending “Quad” Coalition to Space Administration (CNSA) and the develop a new strategy to keep the critical Russian space agency Roscosmos, on sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any March 09, 2021. influence (especially China).
First Quad summit As the US, India, Australia and Japan are set to hold their first Leaders' Summit of Quad.
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 45 Tamilnadu Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 8. TAMILNADU AFFAIRS
Thirukkural Postal vote The Director of the Tamil Development For the first time in Tamil Nadu and Department and the World Tamil Puducherry, the Election Commission of Research Institute announced that India has allowed the casting of postal they plan to translate Thirukkural into votes for elederly voters aged over 80, the Hebrew. differently-abled, and those who have tested positive for COVID-19 Learn to Write education program Electors should fill up a 12-D consent 100% attendance is compulsory for form when officials visit their residences. writing the literacy test in the Learn to Within five days of the notification of the Write Movement. election schedule, officials will visit the residences of persons failing in the three Learn to Write education program categories after preparing a list and ask Based on the letters of the Central them whether they want to cast their votes Government in view and the results of the through postal ballots. If they choose the Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting option, they will be provided with a 12-D held on 21.10.2020, in Tamil Nadu, consent form for casting votes based on the 2011 Census, with a view to imparting basic literacy to illiterate Saksham 2021 Awards for Oil & Gas persons above the age of 15 years who Conservation are completely illiterate. The New Delhi-based Petroleum Under the Tamil Nadu Literacy Initiative, the Non-School and Adult Education Conservation Research Association Directorate is planning to implement (PCRA) launched a month long pan-India a new adult education program called campaign “SAKSHAM 2021 (Sanrakshan Kshamata Mahotsav)’ from January 'Karpom Ezhuthuvom Movement' in all districts under the 60:40 funding of the 16, 2021 to February 15 2021 to create Central and State Governments. awareness about the adverse impact of fossil fuels on health and environment, and to convince the consumers of fossil fuels to Switch towards cleaner fuels
46 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, March - 2021 Tamilnadu Affairs
ts and Oil Companies for Oil & Gas documents in the House of Commons. Conservation 1. Passport Best Overall Category-I Tamil 2. Driving license Performance (Big State) Nadu 3. Employee Identity Card issued by Central and State Government Award for Departments and Public Sector State Govt. Undertakings 4. Nationalized Banks and Postal Fourth rank in ease of living Saving Account Book with photo Chennai has secured the fourth rank in 5. Permanent Account Number Card the ease of living among 49 cities in the issued by the Central Government million plus category. 6. National People’s Registration The city stood 14th in the previous survey. Identity Card Chennai’s total score in the ease of living 7. Card issued under the National is 62.61 out of 100. Rural Employment Guarantee Act In the Citizen Perception Survey, it has 8. Insurance card issued by the Labor ranked third. It has ranked high in overall Welfare Department safety and security. 9. Pension document with photograph Chennai is ranked 18th. In the municipal 10. Official Identity Card issued to performance index, which measures members of the Legislative Assembly governance, planning, technology, finance and Parliamentary States and services. It is ranked third in finance, 11. You can use any of the contents of 17th in services, 18th in technology, 44th the card. in planning and 25th in governance. Chennai is better ranked in affordable Postal dak adalat to be held on March and quality education, recreational 19 facilities and safety of women. Affordable The Department of Posts will conduct a housing has been an area of concern. Dak Adalat at its Anna Road Head Post Coimbatore has improved its rank from Office on March 19 . 25th to seventh. Residents may send their grievances by Report post or email to doannaroadhpo.tn@ The Municipal Performance and Ease of indiapost.gov.in. on or before March 16. Living Indices 2020, issued by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Details of 11 documents to vote for the legislature The House of Representatives says the Legislature can vote on any of the 11
Vetrii IAS Study Circle 47