VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE Current Affairs (A book for TNPSC Examination) MARCH - 2021

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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. M. SHUNMUGAM Further the VETRII IAS Study Circle Study materials Director aim to support the candidate by providing the Vetrii IAS Study Circle. most relevant study material in a comprehensive manner. We also thank other family members of Vetrii for making this effort a reality. We wish the aspirants ALL THE VERY BEST for their journey in Civil Services !

Pages : 68 Size : (240 × 180) mm Price : 40 © All rights reserved with the publisher. No part of this Published by: publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or VETRII IAS STUDY CIRCLE transmitted in any form or by any F Block New No. 1, 9th Street, means, electronic, mechanical, 1st Avenue Main Road, Chinthamani, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written Anna Nagar (E), Chennai – 102. permission of the publisher, will be Phone : 044-2626 5326 responsible for the loss and may 98844 72636 | 98844 21666 | 98844 32666 be punished for compensation under copyright act. E-mail : [email protected] Web : www.vetriias.com CONTENTS

HISTORY 01

15 POLITICAL SCIENCE

GEOGRAPHY 17

18 ECONOMICS

SCIENCE 20 NATIONAL–DIARY OF EVENT 23

INTERNATIONAL 31 AFFAIRS

TAMILNADU AFFAIRS 35

PRACTICE QUESTIONS 1. HISTORY 18-03-2021 22-03-2021 20-03-2021 18-03-2021 Date Day Ordnance Factories' Global Recycling Day 2021 World Water Day Happiness International Dayof Day 1.1 IMPORTANTDAYS ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Arms LogisticsBoardofIndia ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ in avideoconference event. Minister Narendra Modi will launch the ‘campaign On theoccasion of World WaterDay,Prime the Rain’2030. and sanitationforallbyJal ShaktiAbhiyan:Catch of sustainabledevelopment goal(SDG)6:water main focusofthedayisto“support theachievement According to theUnitedNations(UN) website,the about thewatercrisisthatworldfaces. and raisingawareness importance ofwater the globe onMarch 22 withthepurpose of highlighting World Water Dayis observed annually across the theme is‘KeepCalm.StayWise.BeKind’. The 2021 International Dayof Happiness campaign Head Quarters:Kolkata Formed on:1712 divisions oftheOrdnanceFactoryBoard(OFB). comprises Currently, theOrdnanceFactoriesorganisation India. artillery, ammunitionetcinexhibitionsallover The Ministry ofDefence(MoD). The IndianOrdnanceFactoriesoperateunderthe 18, 1802. near KolkatawhereproductionstartedonMarch Cossipore Ordnance FactoryincolonialIndiaat The The themefor2021is“RecyclingHeroes”. Vetrii IAS Study Circle day day is commemorates 41 celebrated factories Theme /Remark by grouped displaying the foundation into five the rifles, operational of the guns, first 24-03-2021 23-03-2021 27-03-2021 Date Day World Tuberculosis Rajguru) Thapar, andShivaram Singh, Sukhdev Martyrs Day(Bhagat Earth Hour2021 Day ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ by theWorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF), The Dayisaworldwidemovementorganized Change toSaveEarth”. The Earth Hour 2021 theme will focus on “Climate 2021. Earth Hour2021isbeingmarkedonMarch27, commitment towardsbetterplanet. support on thelastSaturdayofMarchmonthtoshow Every year,theEarthHouriscelebratedworldwide COVID-19. masks and preventthespreadoftuberculosis Medical College Hospital to promote the use of campaign waslaunchedattheGovernmentStanley On World Tuberculosis Day, ‘Mask for the Masses’ Clock isTicking’. The themeofWorldTuberculosisDay2021is‘The Lajpat Rai. led tothedeathofLala charge, whicheventually superintendent JamesScott,whohadordered lathi They hadmistookhimforBritishpolice John Saunders,aBritishpoliceofficerin1928. for assassinating these threewerehangedtodeath It was on March 23 in1931,Lahore(Pakistan),that their livesforthefreedomofIndia. Sukhdev Thapar,andShivaram Rajguru, wholaid anniversary on death Diwas orSarvodayaDay)topaytribute March 23isobservedasMartyrsDay(Shaheed from 8:30to9:30p.m. and householdstoturnofftheirlightsforonehour, encouraging individuals,communities, corporates, Vetrii IAS Study Circle for of fight Theme /Remark the freedom against fighters climate Bhagat change Singh, and HISTORY | 3 1.2 DEFENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY AND TERRORISM INS Jalashwa reaches Port Anjouan in ▪ This mortar was successfully deployed on the Comoros to deliver 1,000 tonnes of rice Line of Control in the Leepa valley ( Hazad ▪ The Indian Naval Ship INS Jalashwa arrived Kashmir, Pakistan) and the Hajipir Bowl at Port Anjouan, Comoros on 14 March 2021 and played a crucial part in maintaining the to deliver 1,000 Metric Tonnes of rice, under sanctity of the Line of Control. Mission Sagar-IV. Indian naval Landing Craft Utility L58 ▪ SAGAR, which stands for “Security and commissioned at Port Blair Growth for all in the Indian Ocean Region”, ▪ Indian Naval Landing Craft Utility (LCU) was started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi L58, the eighth and last ship of the Landing in May 2020 to assist maritime neighbours such Craft Utility (LCU) Mark IV Class, was as Comoros amid the coronavirus pandemic. commissioned into the Indian Navy at Port ▪ INS Jalashwa is the largest amphibious ship of Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islandss. Indian Navy. IAS Study Circle Vetrii

▪ The LCU 58 is an amphibious ship that can SAGAR carry 160 troops, in addition to its crew. With ▪ Security and Growth for All in the Region a displacement of 900 tons, the ship is capable (SAGAR) was launched in 2015. It is India’s of carrying various types of combat vehicles strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region such as Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), BMPs, (IOR). Armoured Vehicles, trucks, etc. ▪ Through SAGAR, India seeks to deepen ▪ The ship measures 63 meters in length and economic and security cooperation with its is fitted with two MTA 4,000 series engines, maritime neighbours and assist in building which are capable of propelling the ship at their maritime security capabilities. speeds of up to 15 knots (28 kmph). Indian Army Decommissions two of Samudri Virasat Pradarshan by Indian longest serving artillery systems Navy ▪ The Indian Army decommissioned two of the ▪ INS Netaji Subhas, as part of the Swarnim longest serving artillery systems from service Vijay Varsh 2021 Celebrations at Kolkata, on March 16, 2021 at Mahajan Field Firing conducted an Operational Demonstration on Ranges in Rajasthan. the Hooghly on 20th March 2021. ▪ These include: 130mm Self Propelled M-46 ▪ This unique event displayed the maritime Catapult Guns and the 160mm Tampella prowess of assets and personnel who sail the Mortars. high seas as well as operate along the coast. ▪ The two weapon systems, have been in the Ahom warrior a symbol of Atmanirbhar inventory of the Indian Army for around 60 military years. ▪ Prime Minister Narendra Modi called 17th ▪ They have been decommissioned to make century Ahom General Lachit Borphukan way for newer equipment with the latest a symbol of India’s “atmanirbhar” military technologies. might 130mm Catapult ▪ PM Modi referring Ahom as a freedom fighter ▪ It had a range of more than 27 km. who “contributed to the independence of the ▪ The system was developed by merging two country” at a programme to launch the ‘Azadi existing weapon systems: Vijayanta tanks and IAS Study Circle Vetrii ka Amrit Mahotsav’ on March 12.

130mm M-46 guns. ▪ In 1671, Borphukan led the Ahoms in the Battle 160mm Tampella mortars of Saraighat, considered the greatest naval ▪ It had a range of 9.6km. battle on a river, to victory over the Mughals. www.vetriias.com 3 4 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

▪ The Prime Minister announced Borphukan commissioned on March 24, 2021 at Chennai was the inspiration behind strengthening by General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Defence India’s naval force and revitalising inland Staff. water transport and creating infrastructure. ▪ The vessel was indigenously designed and India ranked fourth most powerful built by Larsen and Toubro Shipbuilding Ltd in Chennai. military in world ▪ It is the sixth in series of seven Offshore Patrol ▪ China has the strongest military force in the Vessels and will enhance coastal security. world while India stands at number four, according to a study released by defence India, U.S. begin two-day naval website Military Direct. exercise in eastern Indian Ocean region ▪ The USA, despite their enormous military ▪ India and the US kicked off a two-day naval budgets, comes in 2nd place with 74 points, exercise in the eastern Indian Ocean Region, followed by Russia with 69, India at 61 and reflecting the growing congruence in their then France with 58. The UK just about makes

Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii defence and military partnership.

the Top 10, coming in 9th place with a score ▪ The Indian Navy deployed its warship Shivalik of 43 and long-range maritime patrol aircraft P8I in ▪ The world's biggest military spender with a the 'PASSEX' exercise while the US Navy was budget of USD 732 billion per year is the USA, represented by the USS Theodore Rosevelt it noted, adding that China comes second with carrier strike group. USD 261 billion, followed by India at USD 71 ▪ The Malabar naval exercise was participated billion. by the navies of the US, Australia and Japan. ICG Ship Vajra Commissioned ▪ The four countries are part of the Quad or ▪ Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship 'Vajra' was Quadrilateral coalition.

1.3 WORLD ORGANISATIONS – PACTS AND SUMMITS

UNDP launches Sahi Disha campaign About United Nations Development ▪ The United Nations Development Program Program: has launched the ‘Sahi Disha’ Campaign ▪ United Nations Development Programme for celebrating the livelihoods and (UNDP) is a specialised agency of United entrepreneurship of women living in rural Nation formed in 1965 parts of India. ▪ The United Nations Development Programme ▪ The campaign highlights the problems (UNDP) is the UN's global development impacting the opportunities for women to network. It provides expert advice, training access jobs and livelihoods. and grants support to developing countries, About Disha Initiative: with increasing emphasis on assistance to the ▪ The Disha initiative is a five years collaboration least developed. between the IKEA Foundation and the United ▪ UNDP India's country programme for 2018- Nations Development Program. 2022 has three major focus areas: ▪ It enabled around 1 million women through ▪ Inclusive growth counselling and skilling services for accessing IAS Study Circle Vetrii ▪ Environment and energy

livelihood and job opportunities in rural India. ▪ Strengthening systems and institutions.

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India ranks 139 in World Happiness included China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Report, Finland tops Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. ▪ India has been placed at 139th position out ▪ The next meeting of the Council of the RATS of 149 countries in the UN World Happiness SCO is scheduled to be held in September in Report 2021 released on March 19, 2021. In Uzbekistan. 2019, India was ranked 140th. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation ▪ The World Happiness Report 2021 has been ▪ SCO is a permanent intergovernmental topped by Finland, for the fourth consecutive international organisation. year. ▪ It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military ▪ The 2021 report is the ninth World Happiness organisation aiming to maintain peace, Report and focuses on the effects of COVID-19 security and stability in the region. and how people all over the world have fared. ▪ It was created in 2001. Top 10 Countries ▪ The SCO's official languages are Russian and ▪ Finland is followed by Iceland, Denmark, Chinese. Switzerland, The Netherlands, Sweden, IAS Study Circle Vetrii

Germany, Norway, New Zealand and Austria. World Bank Releases “World Development Bottom 5 Countries Report 2021: Data for Better Lives” ▪ People in Afghanistan (149) are the most ▪ The “World Development Report 2021: Data unhappy with their lives, followed by for Better Lives” was released by the World Zimbabwe (148), Rwanda (147), Botswana Bank on March 24, 2021. (146) and Lesotho (145). ▪ The World Development Report focuses on World Happiness Report how data can improve the lives of poor people ▪ The World Happiness Report is issued by and advance development objectives, to ensure the UN Sustainable Development Solutions no one is left behind. Network, to rank countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be. World Bank ▪ President : David Malpass ▪ The countries of the world are ranked on the basis of questions from the Gallup World Poll. ▪ Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United The results are then correlated with other States factors, like gross domestic product per person, ▪ Founded: July 1944, Bretton Wood healthy life expectancy and the opinions of 2020 was Best Year for Wind Industry: residents. Global Wind Report 2021 India, Pakistan, China to participate in ▪ Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 SCO joint anti-terrorism exercise was the best year in history for the global wind ▪ India, Pakistan, China and other members of industry as this sector installed 93GW of new the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) capacity in 2020, according to a new report will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise this titled ‘Global Wind Report 2021, released by year. the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC- ▪ The decision to hold the joint exercise "Pabbi- Headquarters location: Brussels, Belgium). Antiterror-2021" was announced during the ▪ This is the 16th annual flagship report, released 36th meeting of the Council of the Regional by GWEC on March 25, 2021. Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) held in ▪ The 93GW represents a 53% year-on-year

Tashkent, Uzbekistan on March 18. IAS Study Circle Vetrii increase.

▪ The SCO is an economic and security bloc in United Nations Peace-Keeping Force which India and Pakistan were admitted as full members in 2017. Its founding members ▪ United Nations Peacekeeping is a joint effort between the Department of Peace Operations www.vetriias.com 5 6 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

and the Department of Operational Support. Internationally ▪ Every peacekeeping mission is authorized by ▪ As of 2020, there are currently 13 active UN the Security Council. Peacekeeping Missions ▪ The financial resources of UN Peacekeeping ▪ These missions are spread across 3 continents; operations are the collective responsibility of Asia, Africa and Europe. The highest number UN Member States. of peacekeeping missions are in Africa. ▪ According to UN Charter every Member State ▪ Troops, police and civilian personnel for UN is legally obligated to pay their respective peacekeeping missions are contributed by share for peacekeeping. more than 120 countries.

1.4 EMINENT PERSONS Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

Kathakali exponent Guru Chemancheri Tanzania’s First women president Kunhiraman Nair dies in Kerala ▪ Samia Suluhu Hassan, 61 sworn in as ▪ Veteran Kathakali exponent Guru Tanzania's first female president. Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair died at his ▪ Hassan, vice president since 2015, gave a brief residence at nearby Cheliya in Koyilandi. and sombre address after she was sworn in as ▪ He had been honoured with the Padma president, becoming the first female head of Shree in 2017 in recognition of his glorious state in the east African country of 58 million. contribution to the art form. ▪ Note – Zanzibar is an autonomous region of Tanzania. ▪ His portrayal of Lord Krishna and Kuchela on stage always left the audience spellbound and About Tanzania: his last notable public performance was at the ▪ Capital – Dodoma age of 100. ▪ President – Samia Suluhu Hassan ▪ Prime Minister – Kassim Majaliwa Renowned Padma Bhushan winning painter Laxman Pai passes away in Goa ▪ Currency – Tanzanian Shilling ▪ Renowned Indian artist and painter Laxman Former SEBI Chairman Ramakrishna no Pai has passed away. He was 95. more ▪ The Goa-based painter was a recipient of the ▪ G.V. Ramakrishna, 91, who was the first Padma Bhushan, India’s third highest civilian chairman of the Securities and Exchange honour. Board of India. ▪ Apart from this, Pai was honoured with ▪ An administrator, renowned for his integrity several other prestigious awards, including and no-nonsense approach to addressing Padma Shri, Nehru Award and Lalit Kala issues, Ramakrishna was appointed in 1990 Akademi Award among others. as the second chairman of the then two-year- old Securities and Exchange Board. During his P.S.Kumaraswamy Raja tenure, he oversaw the transition of the Board ▪ Poosapati Sanjeevi Kumarswamy Raja Indian into a legally empowered markets regulator politician and chief Minister of Madras following the enactment of the Securities and presidency from 6 April 1949 to 10 April IAS Study Circle Vetrii Exchange Board of India Act, 1992.

1952 and former Governor of Orissa in the ▪ Ramakrishna was the minister of economic period from 1954 until 1956. He was born in affairs at the Embassy in Washington in 1972 Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu. and India’s Ambassador to the European

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Economic Community (European Union) in Bangladesh, leading his troops from the front 1989 with the motto he coined “bash on regardless”. ▪ Ramakrishna he worked at the Finance Former RBI Deputy Governor KC Ministry and Ministries of Industry, Steel, Coal Chakrabarty passes away at 68 and Petroleum. He was adviser in the Planning Commission in 1981 and Member in 1994. ▪ Veteran banker and former Deputy Governor at the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), K.C. 1971 Battle of Basantar hero, Lt Gen Chakrabarty has passed away. He was 68 Pinto (retd) dies at 97 years old. ▪ Lieutenant General WAG Pinto (Retd), a ▪ Mr Chakrabarty served as the RBI DG from military hero who led an infantry division to June 2009 to April 2014 and resigned three a legendary victory in the 1971 India-Pakistan months before his term concluded. War has passed away in Pune at the age of 97. ▪ He started his career teaching at the Banaras ▪ He led the 54 Infantry Division in the Battle Hindu University (BHU). of Basantar in the war that gave birth to Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

1.5 PLACES IN NEWS Kaziranga National Park ▪ It covers an area of 18 square kilometres and is ▪ It is located in the State of Assam and covers part of a natural wetland including its floating 42,996 Hectare (ha). It is the single largest gardens. undisturbed and representative area in the ▪ The floating gardens, known as “Raad” in Brahmaputra Valley floodplain. Kashmiri, blossom with lotus flowers during Legal Status: July and August. ▪ It was declared as a National Park in 1974. Suez canal ▪ It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007. ▪ The Suez Canal is an artificial sea level It has a total tiger reserve area of 1,030 sq km waterway running north to south across with a core area of 430 sq. km. the Isthmus of Suez in Egypt, to connect the International Status: Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. ▪ It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage ▪ It was opened for navigation in November Site in 1985. 1869. ▪ It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by ▪ The 150-year-old canal was controlled by BirdLife International. British and French interests in its initial years, but was nationalized in 1956 by Egypt. Dal Lake ▪ The canal separates the African continent from ▪ Dal is a lake in Srinagar, the capital of the Asia. Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Dal Lake is a misnomer as Dal in Kashmiri means ▪ It provides the shortest maritime route between lake. Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and western Pacific oceans. ▪ It is integral to tourism and recreation in Kashmir and is named the “Jewel in the crown ▪ It is one of the world’s most heavily used of Kashmir” or “Srinagar’s Jewel”. shipping lanes, carrying over 12% of world trade by volume. ▪ It is also an important source for commercial operations in fishing and water plant IAS Study Circle Vetrii ▪ It provides a crucial link for oil, natural gas

harvesting. and cargo being shipped from East to West.

www.vetriias.com 7 8 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle 1.6 SPORTS AND GAMES Bhavani Devi- First Indian Fencer to National steeplechase record Qualify for Olympics ▪ Avinash Sable has made a habit of breaking ▪ The 27-years-old Indian Fencer, Bhavani Devi, his own records and setting new benchmarks. has created a history and has become the ▪ In the Federation Cup, the steeplechaser set first Indian fencer to qualify for Olympics in yet another National record, his fifth in three years, while also breaching the Olympic Women’s individual Sabre. qualification mark, also for the second time. ▪ The fencer finds her place in the Tokyo ▪ Neeraj Chopra, meanwhile bettered his own Olympics by the “Adjusted Official ranking meet record by almost two metres with a method” on March 14, 2021. best throw of 87.80m but fell short of a new Annu Rani rewrites own National mark National mark. ▪ The other big hope for Olympics, shot-putter ▪ National javelin throw champion Annu Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii Tajinderpal Singh Toor, could only manage a Rani moved closer to the elusive Olympic best throw of 20.58m, good enough to winbut qualification with a 63.24m throw, bettering way off the qualifying mark of 21.10m. her own twoyearold mark for a new National record on day one of the 24th Federation Cup. Tamil Nadu athletes dominate the ▪ The Olympic qualification mark is 64m Federation Cup ▪ The track event dominance of Tamil Nadu Sreeshankar qualifies for Tokyo athletes continued with a double in the 100m ▪ Murali Sreeshankar has qualified for the hurdles at the 24th Federation Cup Senior Tokyo Olympics 2021 in the long-jump event. Athletics Championships. T. Veeramani was Diya Chitale retains title at Junior the winner in the men's 110m hurdles with a timing of 14.57s, while Tamil Nadu's C. and Youth National Table Tennis Kanimozhi won the 100m hurdles gold medal. Championships ▪ Tamil Nadu's Dhanalakshmi created waves ▪ Defending champion Diya Chitale retained on the athletics circuit by defeating reigning the youth girls title with a hard-fought win Indian 100m record holder Dutee Chand. while Swastika Ghosh came-from behind to claim her maiden junior girls crown at the Top Indian paddlers book their tickets UTT 82nd Junior and Youth National Table for Tokyo Games Tennis Championships. ▪ India’s top singles table tennis players, Sharath Kamal, G. Sathiyan, Manika Batra and Virat Kohli becomes the first player to Sutirtha Mukherjee, all booked their places in score 3000 runs in men’s T20I the Tokyo Olympics. ▪ Indian captain Virat Kohli has breached the Anjum qualifies for final 3000-run mark in Twenty20 Internationals ▪ Anjum Moudgil as the World Championship with his last shot in the second T20I against silver medallist qualified in second place in England. Kohli’s knock of 73 runs, which came women’s air rifle with a score of 629.6 of the off 49 balls, also helped India to level the five- shooting World Cup at the Dr. Karni Singh match T20I series. Range, Tughlakabad.

▪ He also became the third captain in IAS Study Circle Vetrii Kamalpreet books record for Olympics

international cricket to score 12000 runs as a ▪ Kamalpreet Kaur qualified for the Tokyo captain. He joined legendary captains Ricky Olympics in women's discus throw event Ponting and Graeme Smith in the elite list. with a national record attempt of 65.06 metres 8 www.vetriias.com HISTORY | 9

during the ongoing Athletics Federation Cup. Aslan Karatsev The Olympic qualification benchmark is 63.5 ▪ Aslan Karatsev reached milestone in the 2021 metres. ATP Tour season and he beat Lloyd Harris 6-3, Yashaswini Wins Gold , Silver For Manu 6-2 to claim his maiden ATP Tour title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Bhaker ▪ India's Yashaswini Singh Deswal personified India's Divyansh Singh Panwar, Elavenil consistency and calmness on her way to Valarivan Win Gold winning the gold medal in the women's 10m ▪ India's Divyansh Singh Panwar and Elavenil air pistol ahead of the more celebrated Manu Valarivan won the gold medal in the 10m Air Bhaker in the ISSF World Cup. Rifle Mixed Team event at the ISSF World Cup Nikhat Zareen, Gaurav Solanki being held in Delhi. win bronze at Bosphorus Boxing ▪ The India duo shot a combined total of 16 in the gold medal match to finish ahead of Tournament Hungarian world number one Istvan Peni and ▪ Indian boxers Nikhat Zareen (51kg) and IAS Study Circle Vetrii Eszter Denes who managed 10. Gaurav Solanki (57kg) ended up with a bronze medal each as both lost their semifinal bouts at Ganemat, Angad win gold at Shooting the Bosphorus Boxing Tournament in Turkey. World Cup Sharath Kamal, Manika Batra seal ▪ Indian shooters Ganemat Sekhon and Angad Vir Singh Bajwa bagged the skeet mixed team Olympic mixed doubles spot gold medal at the ISSF World Cup. ▪ Indian table tennis duo Sharath Kamal and ▪ Qatar’s Reem A Sharshani and Rashid Hamad Manika Batra qualified for the mixed doubles claimed the bronze medal. event at the Tokyo Olympics after winning the final at the Asian Olympic Qualification Aishwary in blistering form, clinches Tournament in Doha, Qatar. gold ISSF World Cup 2021 ▪ Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar won the men’s ▪ Indian shooter Divyansh Singh Panwar, the rifle 3-position gold while Chinki Yadav world No. 1 in the men’s 10m Air Rifle has beat Rahi Sarnobat and Manu Bhaker for the won bronze in men’s 10m Air Rifle event at the women’s sports pistol gold in the World Cup ISSF World Cup 2021 in New Delhi. at the Dr. Karni Singh Range. ▪ The Indian team bagged the air rifle men’s ▪ The 20-year-old Aishwary beat a strong field team event with a cumulative score of 1885.9. and pushed world No. 1 Istvan Peni to the The USA stood second with score of 1880.8 silver by 0.9 point. followed by South Korea with 1880.3. Tokyo Olympics 2021 ▪ The International Shooting Sport Federation ▪ The Grand Start of the Olympic Torch Relay (ISSF) World Cup 2021 is being held at Dr in Japan's northeastern prefecture Fukushima Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi marked the beginning of a four month-journey from March 18, 2021. The event will end on towards the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo March 29, 2021. Games on 23 July 2021. ▪ It is the first international event of 2021 by ISSF. ▪ Iwashimizu Azusa, a key player of the ▪ More than 300 shooters from as many as 43 Japanese women's football team that won the countries are participating in the World Cup World Cup in 2011, was the first runner with being held in all three disciplines – shotgun, IAS Study Circle Vetrii the torch.

rifle, and pistol. ▪ The events start from July 23 and end to August 8.

www.vetriias.com 9 10 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

Indian women win 25m sports pistol Shooting World Cup in New Delhi. ▪ Rahi Sarnobat, Chinki Yadav and Manu ▪ 18-year-old Vijayveer Sidhu and 16-year- Bhaker combined strongly to win the 25 metre old Tejaswini defeated Gurpreet Singh and sports pistol team gold with a resounding 17¬7 Abhudnya Patil 9-1 in a gold medal match. victory over Poland in the shooting World Cup at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, Tughlakabad Indian teams trap gold ▪ Men’s and women’s teams nailed the elusive India adds two gold; silver for Vijayveer trap gold in the shooting World Cup that ▪ World junior champion Vijayveer Sidhu concluded at the Dr. Karni Singh Range, claimed silver in the shooting World Cup at Tughlakabad. the Dr. Karni Singh Range. ▪ Shotgun shooters Prithviraj Tondaiman, ▪ India won two gold. In the mixed rifle Lakshay Sheoran and Kynan Chenai ended 3-position, it was through Sanjeev Rajput and India's campaign at the ISSF World Cup with Tejaswini who beat Serhiy Kulish and Anna a gold medal in the men's trap team event . Ilina of Ukraine 31-29. There was also the

Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii ▪ With this India has 15 Gold, 9 Silver, 6 Bronze,

men’s 50-metre rifle team gold. totally 30 medals have won by India. Vijayveer Sidhu, Tejaswini win gold ▪ India’s 25m rapid fire pistol mixed team won a gold and silver medal in the ongoing ISSF

1.7 BOOKS & AUTHORS

My life in full: work, family and our About Indra Nooyi: Future ▪ Indra Nooyi, an Indian American, worked at ▪ Padma Bhushan awardee Indra Nooyi, the PepsiCo for around 24 years. former CEO of PepsiCo is set to publish her ▪ She served as the CEO and Chairman of memoir titled “My Life in Full: Work, Family PepsiCo for 12 years from 2006 to 2018. and Our Future”. The book will feature both ▪ She was honoured with Padma Bhushan in the personal and professional life of Indra 2007 for trade and Industry. Nooyi.

1.8 AWARDS & HONOURS 67th National Film Awards Announced ▪ Best Actor (shared) : Manoj Bajpayee for ▪ The winner of 67th National Film Awards was Bhonsle (Hindi), and Dhanush for Asuran announced on 22 March 2021 in New Delhi to (Tamil) honour best of Indian cinema in 2019. ▪ Best Actress: Kangana Ranaut for Panga ▪ Most Film Friendly State Award – Sikkim (Hindi) and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (Hindi) ▪ Award for Best Book on Cinema – A Gandhian Affair: India’s Curious Portrayal of Love in ▪ Best Director: Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan for Cinema, by Sanjay Suri Bahattar Hoorain (Hindi) Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii ▪ Best Non-Feature Film: An Engineered Dream

▪ Best Feature Film: Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (Malayalam) (Hindi) ▪ Best Hindi Film: Chhichhore.

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Gandhi Peace Prize for 2019 and 2020 Ministry of Sports Decides to Extend announced “Khelo India” scheme from 2021-22 to ▪ The Gandhi Peace Prize for the years 2019 and 2025-26 2020 has been conferred on the following: ▪ The Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju has announced that Year Winner Contribution the Sports Ministry has decided to extend the 2019 (Late) His Strengthening Khelo India scheme for a period of five years, Majesty relations between from 2021-22 to 2025-26. Sultan India and Oman, Khelo India Qaboos bin and his efforts to ▪ The scheme was launched in 2016–17, to Said Al Said promote peace improve India’s sports culture at the grass-root level through organized talent identification, of Oman and non-violence structured sporting competitions and in the Gulf infrastructure development.

region. IAS Study Circle Vetrii 2020 Bangabandhu Inspiring the EY Entrepreneur year of the award Sheikh liberation of 2020 Mujibur Bangladesh, ▪ Marico chairman Harsh C.Mariwala was named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020. Rahman of laying the ▪ He will represent the country at the EY World Bangladesh foundation for Entrepreneur of the Year Award in June. the close and ▪ Marico is one of the largest and most fraternal relations recognizable FMCG (Fast-moving consumer between India goods) companies in the country. and Bangladesh, ▪ It owns brands such as Parachute and Saffola. and promoting peace and non-violence in the Indian subcontinent.

1.9 INDIA AND ITS NEIGHBOURS Pakistan National Day discuss the situation that had arisen due to the ▪ March 23 marks the adoption of the outbreak of the Second World War and the Pakistan Resolution in 1940 at a summit of Government of India joining the war without taking the opinion of the Indian leaders, and Muslim leaders in Lahore city in which the also to analyse the reasons that led to the defeat subcontinent's Muslim leaders set the agenda of the Muslim League in the general election of for a separate homeland for Muslims. 1937 in the Muslim majority provinces. The Lahore Resolution ▪ The Resolution was adopted on 24 March with ▪ Lahore Resolution adopted at the general IAS Study Circle Vetrii great enthusiasm. The Hindu Press dubbed session of the muslim league. In 1940 it as the 'Pakistan Demand', after the scheme mohammed ali jinnah called a general session invented by Rahmat Ali, an Indian Muslim of the All India Muslim League in Lahore to living at Cambridge. www.vetriias.com 11 12 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

LoC silent in March ▪ Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered ▪ Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane has prayers at the centuries-old Jeshoreshwari Kali evinced hope that the ceasefire reiteration at temple in Ishwaripur village in southwestern the Line of Control with Pakistan will stay. The Bangladesh. reason being no incident of ceasefire violation ▪ Modi honours Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur has happened since the joint announcement Rahman with Gandhi Peace Prize, announces and also because it has the Pakistan Army’s Swarna Jayanti scholarship for youths of support. Bangladesh and invites 50 entrepreneurs from Bangladesh is celebrating 50th the neighbouring country to come and invest Independence Day in India. ▪ The 13-day military conflict is one of the ▪ Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute shortest wars in history. It ended with a to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu decisive win for India and led to the creation Mausoleum Complex, Tungipara.

of Bangladesh. India on Wednesday is IAS Study Circle Vetrii ▪ Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his observing the 50th anniversary of the 1971 war Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina visited with Pakistan, also known as the Bangladesh the Bangabandhu International Conference Liberation War. Center in Dhaka.

1.10 APPOINTMENTS – WHO IS WHO? Lt Gen B S Raju appointed as the DGMO of France on 30th November 2015 in Paris, ▪ Lt Gen B S Raju, the General-Officer- France on the side-lines of the Conference of Commanding of the Srinagar-based Chinar the Parties (COP-21), with 121 solar resource- Corps, will be the new Director General of rich countries lying fully or partially between Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn as Army. prospective members. ▪▪ Objective: To collectively address key common Ajay Mathur takes over as Director challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in General of International Solar Alliance ISA member countries. (ISA) M A Ganapathy appointed as Chief of ▪ Dr Ajay Mathur has assumed office as the National Security Guard ▪ Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) with effect from March 15, 2021. ▪ Senior IPS officer M A Ganapathy has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of ▪ He has been appointed for a period of four National Security Guard (NSG) on March 16, years which can be renewed for an additional 2021. term. National Security Guard (NSG) ▪ Dr Ajay Mathur has replaced Upendra Tripathy, who completed his term on March ▪ The NSG is a counter-terrorism unit that 15, after serving as the Director General since formally came into existence in 1986 by an act 2017. of Parliament ‘National Security Guard Act, Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii 1986’. International Solar Alliance ▪ The idea behind raising such force came in the ▪ It is an Indian initiative that was launched by aftermath of Operation Blue Star (an Indian the Prime Minister of India and the President military action carried out to remove militant

12 www.vetriias.com HISTORY | 13

religious leader from the Golden Temple, Court Chief Justice and acting Chief Justice of Amritsar) in 1984, Akshardham Temple attack Andhra Pradesh High Court. and the assassination of former PM Indira ▪ Justice NV Ramana is due to retire on August Gandhi, for ‘combating terrorist activities 26, 2022. with a view to protect states against internal Chief Justice of India disturbances.’ ▪ The Chief Justice of India and the Judges Kuldiep Singh appointed as Chief of of the Supreme Court are appointed by the Central Reserve Police Force President under clause (2) of Article 124 of the ▪ The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet Constitution. has appointed senior IPS officer Kuldiep Singh ▪ The Supreme Court has ruled that the office as the Director General (DG) of the Central of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is a public Reserve Police Force (CRPF). authority under the Right to Information (RTI) ▪ Singh, a 1986 batch IPS officer of the West Act, 2005. Bengal cadre, is presently the Special DG,

Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii Indian-American Doctor Vivek Murthy

CRPF. appointed as US Surgeon General Dr. Harsh Vardhan appointed as ▪ The US Senate has voted, 57-43, to confirm Chairman of ‘Stop TB Partnership the appointment of Indian-American doctor Board’ Vivek Murthy as the Surgeon General under US President Biden’s administration. ▪ The Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, has been appointed as the chairman ▪ The 43-year-old Dr Murthy would occupy the of “Stop TB Partnership Board” on March 18, position of America’s Surgeon General for the 2021. second time. ▪ This appointment was made to recognise ▪ Dr Murthy was appointed as surgeon general his outstanding contribution towards the under the Obama administration in 2011 but movement of eradicating Tuberculosis (TB) was fired by former President Trump in 2017. from India by 2025. K. Vijay Raghavan gets one-year ▪ He will be serving the global body for a three- extension year term from July 2021. ▪ The government has extended the term of ▪ Stop TB Partnership was established in 2001. Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) K. Vijay ▪ The organization was established after the Raghavan by a year. Order was issued by the meeting of First Session of Ad Hoc Committee Department of Personnel and Training. on Tuberculosis Epidemic which was held in ▪ Dr. Vijayaraghavan, 67, was appointed PSA in London in 1998. 2018 after retiring as Secretary, Department of ▪ India has committed to eliminating TB by 2025. Biotechnology. India’s deadline is five years ahead of global Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser deadline of 2030. ▪ It was set-up in November 1999 by the Cabinet Justice N.V. Ramana set to take over as Secretariat. 48th CJI Objectives: ▪ Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde has ▪ To evolve policies, strategies and missions recommended Justice N.V. Ramana, the for the generation of innovations and support senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as the systems for multiple applications.

next top judge. IAS Study Circle Vetrii UIDAI, FCI get new heads in govt

▪ Justice NV Ramana is currently the senior- ▪ Saurabh Garg as the CEO of Unique most judge in the Supreme Court of India. Identification of Authority of India (UIDAI), He was previously serving as the Delhi High Sanjeev Kumar as Chairman of Airports

www.vetriias.com 13 14 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

Authority of India and Atish Chandra as CMD Corporation Act 1964 of Food Corporation of India (FCI). ▪ Head Quarters – New Delhi ▪ Prashant Kumar Singh as CEO of Government AAI e¬Marketplace (GeM). ▪ Founded in 1995, the Airports Authority Unique Identification Authority of India of India was created through the Airports ▪ The Unique Identification Authority of India Authority of India Act, 1994 under the aegis (UIDAI) is a statutory authority established on of the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Hence, it is a 12 July 2016 by the Government of India under statutory body. the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics ▪ The headquarters of the Airports Authority of and Information Technology, following the India is in New Delhi. provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016. Government e-Marketplace (GeM) ▪ The UIDAI is mandated to assign a 12-digit ▪ GeM is a one-stop National Public Procurement unique identification (UID) number (Aadhaar) Portal to facilitate online procurement of to all the residents of India. common use Goods & Services required ▪ The UIDAI was initially set up by the IAS Study Circle Vetrii by various Central and State Government

Government of India in January 2009, as an Departments / Organizations /Public Sector attached office under the aegis of the Planning Undertakings (PSUs). Commission. ▪ It was launched in 2016 to bring transparency FCI and efficiency in the government buying ▪ The Nodal Agency in Food Management is process. Food Corporation of India, which is responsible ▪ It operates under the Ministry of Commerce to procure, store and distribute the foodgrains. and Industry. FCI is a statutory body established via Food Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

14 www.vetriias.com ▪ ▪ importance tag Haryana, T.N. institutesgetnational ▪ ▪ ▪ Pradhan MantriKisan SAMPADA Yojana ▪ ▪ ▪ 2.1 GOVT–WELFAREORIENTEDSCHEMES,THEIRUTILITY It isaCentral SectorScheme. (PMKSY). Pradhan MantriKisan Sampada Yojana In 2017,SAMPADA was renamed as the 2016-20. an allocation of implemented with which wasproposedtobe of Agro-Processing Clusters or SAMPADA, for Agro-MarineProcessingandDevelopment In 2016,MoFPIintroducedanumbrellaScheme IITs. which willmakethematparwiththeIIMsand collaborate withotherworld-class institutions The main aim is tomakedecisions and from thisscheme. Yojana, been createdundertheKisanSAMPADA into entrepreneurs. So far, 444 lakh jobs have The lawwillalsocreatejobsandturnfarmers Entrepreneurship andManagement. as National Institutesof Food Technology, of FoodProcessingTechnology,Thanjavur Management Kundli,andtheIndianInstitute Food TechnologyEntrepreneurshipand The Billdeclares National Instituteof Management Bill,2019byvoicevote. of FoodTechnology,Entrepreneurshipand The RajyaSabhapassedNationalInstitutes national institutes. Haryana andThanjavur in Tamil Nadu as two food technology institutesatKundliin declares that Rajya Sabhaapprovedabill and 2. POLITICAL 147 ` 6,000 crores for the period of lakh farmers SCIENCE have benefited ▪ ▪ Objectives: ▪ About PMAY- G: Vetrii▪ Pradhan MantriAwaas Yojana-Gramin. IAS Study▪ Circle▪ ▪ About Van DhanVikasKendras initiative: ▪ ▪ Dhan Vikas Program Manipur isthemodelstateforVan ▪ ▪ To create processing and preservation To supplementagriculture. Ministry: Ministry ofRuralDevelopment. Mantri AwaasYojana-Gramin. 10 crorehouses completed underPradhan present 20%toaround60%. Forest Produceisexpectedtorisefromthe of tribalsinthevaluechainNon-Timber Significance: MFP atgrassrootslevel. promoting primarylevelvalueadditionto It mainstreams the tribalcommunity by artisans. livelihood developmentoftribalgatherersand The initiativeaims to promoteMFPs-centric was launchedinOctober2019. state governmentateverylevel.The program of activecooperationandparticipationthe The achievementhasbeenattainedbecause for localtribals. proved tobeamajor source of employment state wheretheVanDhanVikasYojanahas winning Manipur hasbeenannouncedasthe wastage. To add value leadingtothereductionof level ofprocessing. processing units withaview to increasingthe To modernise andexpandexistingfood capacities. Through this initiative, the share 16 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

▪ The erstwhile rural housing scheme Indira at the same time, increasing availability of Awaas yojana (IAY) has been restructured skilled masons and enhancing employability into Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana –Gramin of such masons. (PMAY-G) from 01.04.2016. Selection of beneficiaries: ▪ PMAY-G aims at providing a pucca house, ▪ Based on housing deprivation parameters of with basic amenities, to all houseless and those Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC), households living in kutcha and dilapidated 2011, subject to 13 point exclusion criteria, house, by 2022. followed by Gram Sabha verification. ▪ Target: Construction of 2.95 crore houses with all basic amenities by the year 2022. Swadesh Darshan Scheme ▪ The scheme was launched by the Union Cost sharing : Tourism Ministry with the objective to develop ▪ The cost of unit assistance in this scheme theme-based tourist circuits in India. is shared between Central and State Governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas ▪ These tourist circuits will be developed

and 90: 10 for North Eastern and Himalayan IAS Study Circle Vetrii on the principles of high tourist value, States. competitiveness and sustainability in an integrated manner. ▪ The scheme envisages training of Rural Masons with the objective of improving workmanship ▪ The scheme was launched in 2015. and quality of construction of houses while ▪ It is a Central Sector Scheme (which means 100% sponsored by the GOI). Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

16 www.vetriias.com ▪ ▪ Iceland bracingforvolcaniceruption peninsula insouthwesternIceland. to Mount Fagradalsfjall ontheReykjanes of Streams subsiding. for Iceland's capital Reykjavikafterawakening red lavanear spewed glowing A volcanothat a the fissure first 3.1 POLICYONENVIRONMENTANDECOLOGY of in red time a lava valley in 900 bubbled in years Geldingadalur, and appeared flowed to close out 3. GEOGRAPHY be

Vetrii IAS Study Circle ▪ Researchers findnewbutterflyspecies species A groupoflepidopteristshaveadded a Threatened Taxa. ago hasnowfoundplaceinthejournalof Agasthyamalais intheWesternGhatsadecade Sinhala ramaswamiiSadasivan, 2021inthe India. The discovery of the species Nacaduba to the expanding list of butterflies in ▪ ▪ ▪ speaks withNirmalaSitharaman US Treasury SecretaryJanetYellen ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Development Finance Institution ▪ ▪ DFI Cabinet givesnodtoBillforsettingup various multilateral fora,includingthe G20. economic and strategiccollaboration in They agreedto workcloselythroughcommon Secretary oftheUnitedStates inJanuary. after This and discussedtheglobaleconomic outlook. critical during whichsheappreciatedIndia’s role asa Finance MinisterNirmalaSitharaman with US TreasurySecretaryJanetYellenhasspoken competitive rate. ability This ensurestheircreditworthinessand or internationaldevelopmentfunds. The sourceofcapitalthesebanksisnational national governments. These DFIsareusuallymajority-ownedby finance especiallyindevelopingcountries. primarily toprovide development/ Project These are specialized institutions set up Finance Corporation(IFCI). in 1948withthesettingupofIndustrial In activity. for fundinginfrastructureanddevelopment up anationalbank setting would be it that Budget had mentionedinthe The government Minister NirmalaSitharamanannounced. a DevelopmentFinanceInstitution, approved aBilltosetup The UnionCabinet India, was she partner to 4.1 NEWECONOMICPOLICY&GOVT.SECTOR became Yellen’s the provide first in fighting the first project DFI first call was the finance woman with Covid operationalized Sitharaman in pandemic Treasury a very 4. ECONOMICS ▪ insurance to74% Rajya SabhapassesbilltoraiseFDIin ▪ ▪ Background ▪ Electoral bonds ▪ Vetrii▪ FDI IAS▪ Study▪ Circle and theUnitedKingdom. States, theRussianFederation,France,China The (FEMA), driven bythe under ForeignExchange ManagementAct Foreign investmentwas introduced in 1991 allowing 74percent. 49 percentFDIandnowthe amendmentisfor In 2015,thelawwasamended further toallow allowed intheinsurancesector. Vajpayee’s tenurewhen26percentFDIwas The refer theBilltoastandingcommittee. current 49percent,despiteoppositionpushto FDI ininsurancesectorto74percentfromthe seeks toraisethe (Amendment) Bill,2021that Rajya Sabhapassed the Insurance crore withoutanymaximumlimit. Rs. 10,000,1lakh,10lakhand The bondsareissued in multiplesofRs.1,000, making donationstopoliticalparties. Electoral victimisation”. political donors to protectthem from “political to allowed anonymity and it scheme incourt scheme on January 2, 2018. Itdefended the The Act five government was permanent Bond first is amended notified a members financial n FMManmohan Singh. the during electoral instrument are the Atal United bonds Bihari for ECONOMICS | 19

NGOs received Rs 50,975-crore foreign The Rangarajan Committee on disinvestment funding in last 4 years 1993 ▪ NGOs working in India and registered under ▪ The Rangarajan Committee of 1993 was the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act constituted by the government for making have received funding of over Rs 50,975 crore recommendations in context with the disinvestment. from abroad in the last four years with the highest donations of Rs 19,941 crore coming ▪ The committee proclaimed that: from the United States. ▪ The units to be disinvested should be identified and disinvestment could be made ▪ The foreign contributions are received by upto any level, except in defence and atomic 18,000 NGOs from about 130 countries on an energy where the government should retain average. the majority holding in equity. ▪ There are around 22,400 NGOs in the country ▪ Disinvestment should be a transparent process registered under the Foreign Contribution duly protecting the right of the workers.

(Regulation) Act. IAS Study Circle Vetrii ▪ An autonomous body for the smooth

Govt Working To Provide Optical Fibre functioning and monitoring of the disinvestment programme should be Connection to 6.5 Lakh Villages established. This recommendation led to the ▪ The government is working to provide optical Disinvestment Commission in 1996 as an fibre connection to 6.5 lakh villages, Minister of advisory body having a fulltime chairman Communications and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad and four part-time members. The Commission announced. was required to advise the government on ▪ The National Broadband Mission (NBM) the extent, made, timing and princing of was launched on December 17, 2019 with a disinvestment. vision to enable fast track growth of digital ▪ It suggested four modes of disinvestment viz. communications infrastructure, bridge the Trade sale, Strategic Sale, Offer of shares and Closure or sale of Assets. digital divide for digital empowerment and inclusion, and provide affordable and HDFC Bank Adjudged “India’s Best SME universal access to broadband for all. Bank” By Asiamoney Chief Economic Adviser ▪ HDFC Bank has emerged as the ‘India’s Best Bank for SMEs’ at the Asiamoney Best Bank ▪ The disinvestment target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore Awards 2021. for 2021-22 was 'imminently achievable,' ▪ The Asiamoney Best Bank Awards is based Chief Economic Adviser KV Subramanian upon “Annual Best Banks survey” by a announced the proposed Initial Public Offering financial magazine based in Hong Kong, to (IPO) by LIC itself could garner Rs 1 lakh crore identify which banks in each market have for the government. excelled across a range of core banking activities over the past 12 months. Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

www.vetriias.com 19 ▪ Covovax trialsbegininIndia ▪ ▪ ▪ capable ballisticmissileShaheen-1A Pakistan successfullytest-fires nuclear- ▪ ▪ ▪ ISRO ▪ ▪ Communication Over300Metres Quantum India’s First Free-Space against African and UK variants of COVID-19 India. Adarsaid thevaccinehasbeen tested company by bothSIIandUS-based biotechnology Covovax, a vaccine jointly tobedeveloped Poonawalla, has announced thetrialsfor the world'slargestvaccine maker,Adar The CEOofSerumInstitute ofIndia(SII), it highlyaccuratemissilesystem. and advanced guidance system, which makes Shaheen 1-Aisequippedwithsophisticated The missilehasarangeof900kilometers. missile Shaheen-1AonMarch26,2021. nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic The Head Quarters:Bengaluru Founded on:15thAugust1969 Chairman: K.Sivan buildings withinthecampus. Ahmedabad, between twoline-of-sight signals, atSpaceApplicationsCentre(SAC), conferencing using quantum-key-encrypted The demonstrationincludedlivevideo the country. several technologiesdevelopedwithin with Communication overadistanceof300metre, demonstrated free-space Quantum Research Organisation(ISRO)successfully In 5.1 LATESTINVENTIONSONSCIENCE&TECHNOLOGY a first-of-its-kind Pakistan Novavax, Army initiative, successfully have finally the Indian test-fired started Space 5. SCIENCE in a ▪ Scientist AjmalKhan Found onISONamedAfterIndian New BacteriaMethylobacteriumajmalii ▪ ▪ south eastIndiancoast New speciesofredalgaeseeninwest, ▪ ▪ Vetrii▪ ▪ IAS Study▪ Circle▪ 2021. The vaccine could be launched by September and hasoverallefficacyof89percent. Microbiology. in arecentissue ofthejournalFrontiers in The the ISSacrosstwoconsecutive flights. It was isolated from different locations aboard Methylobacteriaceae. The bacterialstrainsbelonging tothefamily that areinvolvedinpromotingplantgrowth. ajmalii strainsrevealedthepresenceofgenes The genomeanalysisofMethylobacterium University inTamilNadu. Ajmal Khan, aformer professor at Annamalai renowned Indianbiodiversityscientist,Dr Methylobacterium ajmalii,inhonourofthe The researchers named the novelspecies as different locationsaboardtheISS. The new bacterialstrainsdiscovered from and DiuislandofDamanDiu. bullata was discovered from Kanyakumari Pathan andSivrajpurinGujarat,Hypnea Kanyakumari inTamilNadu,andSomnath While Hypneaindicawasdiscovered marks onitsbody–bullate). blisterlike (because ofthe bullata Hypnea Named Hypnea indica(afterIndia)and from CentralUniversityofPunjab,Bathinda. discovered by agroupofmarinebiologists Two newspeciesofseaweedhavebeen findings of the study were published SCIENCE | 21

About the Research : Venkateswaran of NASA’s Jet Propulsion ▪ The research teams were led by Kasthuri Laboratory.

5.2 LATEST DISCOVERIES IN HEALTH SCIENCE Fourth firm ties up to make Sputnik V global supply of Sputnik V to international ▪ Russia’s sovereign wealth fund RDIF (Russian partners of RDIF. Direct Investment Fund) announced it had ▪ It is the fourth such agreement RDIF has entered into an agreement with Virchow entered into for producing Sputnik V in India, Biotech of Hyderabad to produce up to 200 beginning with the Hetero Group to make 100

million doses per year of COVID-19 vaccine IAS Study Circle Vetrii million doses.

Sputnik V in the country. ▪ The other two are with Gland Pharma (252 ▪ Virchow Biotech’s capacities will help facilitate million doses) and Stelis Biopharma (200 million doses).

5.3 MASS MEDIA & COMMUNICATION cVIGIL ▪ The objective is to ensure that every student ▪ The poll panel has received as many as 1,120 in the country has access to the best quality complaints regarding violation of MCC higher education at the affordable cost. through c-vigil mobile application, of which, ▪ Academicians from hundreds of institutions 695 have been resolved and other complaints throughout the country are involved in are being looked into. developing & delivering Massive open online About App courses (MOOCs) through SWAYAM in ▪ Election commission of India launched a almost all disciplines from senior schooling to mobile app called cVIGIL. Post Graduation. ▪ A user-friendly and easy to operate Android SWAYAM Prabha application, requires an Android smartphone ▪ It is an initiative of the Ministry of Human equipped with a camera, good internet Resources Development to provide 32 High connection and GPS access. Quality Educational Channels through DTH SWAYAM across the length and breadth of the country ▪ Study Webs of Active Learning for Young on 24X7 basis. Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM), was launched ▪ It has curriculum-based course content on July 9, 2017 by the Ministry of Education to covering diverse disciplines. provide one integrated platform and portal for ▪ This is primarily aimed at making quality learning resources accessible to remote areas online courses. IAS Study Circle Vetrii

where internet availability is still a challenge. ▪ This covers all higher education subjects and ▪ The DTH channels are using the GSAT-15 skill sector courses. satellite for programme telecasts.

www.vetriias.com 21 22 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

POWERGRID Launches Certified Power Grid Corporation of India Limited E-Tendering Portal “PRANIT” (POWERGRID) ▪ State-owned Power Grid Corporation of India ▪ It is an Indian central public sector unit and a (POWERGRID) has launched an “e-Tendering Maharatna company. The company is owned Portal” called ‘PRANIT’ to make tendering by Ministry of Power. It is headquartered in process more transparent. Gurugram, India. ▪ The portal ”PRANIT” will involve less paperwork and allow ease of operation, which in turn will make the tendering process more transparent. Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

22 www.vetriias.com ▪ ▪ ‘Vanvasi Samagam’ inSonbhadra(UP) President attendstribalcongregation ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ and Kashmir World’s highestrailbridgeinJammu ▪ ▪ Statue ofUnitycrosses50lakhvisitors operational use for running oftrainsbetween project hasbeen completed and thelineisin Construction The overall length of the bridgeis 1,315 metres. above theChenabriverbed The than theEiffelTower. 35 metrestaller The raillineisexpectedto be Reasi districtofJammuandKashmir. in the railway bridge the "world'shighest" be The 476metre-longsteelarch,whichissetto last stagesofconstruction. Chenab riverinJammuandKashmiristhe over the rail bridge The world’shighest Minister NarendraModionOctober31,2018. Prime Dam inKevadia,wasinauguratedby the Sadhu Bet islet near the Sardar Sarovar Patel, billedas the world's tallest and built on The 182-metretallstatueofSardarVallabhbhai attractions forallagegroups. tourist destination,offeringmultiple The statuehasemergedasaninternational lakh visitorssinceitsinaugurationin2018\. Narmada districthascrossed themark of50 Kevadia inGujarat's at of Unity' The 'Statue of SevaKunjAshram. inaugurated thenewlyconstructedbuilding and Vanvasi SamagamasChiefguest the Block of Sonbhadra district where he attended area inBabhani The PresidentvisitedChapki Sonbhadra districtofUttarPradesh. tribal congregationVanvasi Samagam in President RamnathKovindaddressed the ` 1,250-crore bridgewillbe 359metres of the first three phases of DIARY OFEVENT the 6. NATIONAL– ▪ Vetrii▪ ▪ IAS▪ Study Circle▪ World AirQualityReport 2020 ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ helplines WCD Ministryplanstomergeallwomen construction of raillines are involved in this Railway withextensiveexperienceinthe Three agencies; IRCON, KRCL and Northern Jammu-Udhampur-Katra inJammuregion. Baramulla-Banihal inKashmirvalleyand Bhiwari. Noida, Greater Noida, Kanpur, Lucknow and Ghaziabad, Bulandshahar, BisrakhJalalpur, most pollutedcitiesinthe world,whichare This is followed by nineIndian cities as Xinjiang inChina. The top most polluted cityof the world is polluted cityintheworld. most 10th New Delhiisrankedasthe Globally, Swiss organisation,IQAir. Report by year inthe2020WorldAirQuality most pollutedcapitalcityforthethirdstraight New Delhi has been adjudged as the world’s the firstinterfacewithagovernmentsystem. time. Likewise,childhelpline1098wouldsee both willbeintegratedtoimproveresponse helplines but to dialboth Women willbeable women helplinesacrossthecountry. About 54lakhwomenwereassistedthrough emergency) bemergedforbetterresponse. helplines 112(emergency)and181(non- districts anddecided that thetwinwomen's women and children and 112 aspirational districts with thehighestcrimes against Smriti Iraniheldameetingwithtop100 Women andChildDevelopmentMinister women helplinesinthecountry. Ministry statedthatitislookingtomergeall The WomenandChildDevelopment(WCD) project. 24 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

IQ Air report Standards Act, 2006 (FSS Act). ▪ The IQAir report measures air quality levels ▪ Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, based on the concentration of lung-damaging Government of India is the administrative airborne particles known as PM 2.5, which Ministry of FSSAI. is measured by ground-based monitoring ▪ Headquarters: Delhi. stations. Mission POSHAN ▪ As per the report, India was home to 35 of ▪ The programme seeks to improve nutritional the world’s 50 most polluted cities, spanning outcomes for children, pregnant women and 106 countries, which means India continues lactating mothers. to feature prominently at the top of the most ▪ Launched in 2018 with specific targets to be polluted cities ranking. achieved by 2022. India has gained reputation of first, It aims to reduce: reliable responder: Jaishankar ▪ Stunting and wasting by 2% a year (total 6%

▪ External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar IAS Study Circle Vetrii until 2022) among children.

announced that India had developed a ▪ Anaemia by 3% a year (total 9%) among reputation of being the first and reliable children, adolescent girls and pregnant responder in the region, stating that the women and lactating mothers. country had provided “Made in India” ▪ The target of the mission is to bring down vaccines for COVID-19 to 72 countries. stunting among children in the age group 0-6 ▪ Medicines have been supplied to 150 nations, years from 38.4% to 25% by 2022. 82 of them as grants. The Federation of Indian Export Make in India Organisations (FIEO) ▪ Make in India is a Government of India ▪ The Federation of Indian Export Organisations scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra represents the Indian entrepreneurs spirit of Modi in 2014 intended to boost the domestic enterprise in the global market. It was set up manufacturing sector and also augment in 1965. investment into the country. ▪ It is an Apex body of the export promotion Plan to test anganwadi food by FSSAI councils, community boards and development authorities in India. ▪ The Mission POSHAN 2.0 provides for testing of meals and food packets distributed at ▪ It provides the crucial interface between anganwadis for nutritional standards and international trading community of India & quality by FSSAI labs. the Central and State Governments, financial institutions, ports, railways and all engaged in ▪ The Ministry of Women and Child export trade facilitation. Development, which is the nodal Ministry for implementing the Mission POSHAN, will also ChildLine under Ministry of Home partner with the Panchayati Raj Ministry so that Affairs FSSAI and the National Institute of Nutrition ▪ The proposal to shift Childline 1098, the can train Panchayati Raj functionaries at village national helpline for children, from the level and anganwadi workers in maintaining administrative control of the Ministry of and monitoring quality of take-home ration Women and Child Development (WCD) to and supplementary nutrition distributed at Ministry of Home Affairs, has drawn flak from anganwadis. child rights activists in Tamil Nadu. Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

FSSAI ▪ ChildLine 1098 is an initiative for rescuing and ▪ Food Safety and Standards Authority of assisting children in distress. It is operated by India (FSSAI) is an autonomous statutory the ChildLine India Foundation, which is a body established under the Food Safety and nodal agency of the Ministry of WCD. 24 www.vetriias.com NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENT | 25

Poshan Pakhwada Being Celebrated Global Hunger Index from 16th to 31st March ▪ The Global Hunger Index (GHI) report, which ▪ The Ministry of Women and Child has placed India at 94th (out of 107 countries) Development is celebrating the Poshan rank in 2020. Pakhwada from March 16 to March 31, 2021. ▪ India’s ranking had improved from 102 in ▪ The Department of Women & Child 2019 to 94 in 2020. Development or the Social Welfare Department About Global Hunger Index: will be the nodal department to look after the ▪ Annual Report: Jointly published by Concern Poshan Pakhwada across the states and Union Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. Territories. ▪ It was first produced in 2006. It is published Poshan Pakhwada 2021 every October. The 2020 edition marks the ▪ The key focus areas of the Pakhwada are to 15th edition of the GHI. address the nutritional challenges using the Government ropes in 12 institutions Food Forestry and to organize the Poshan Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii to evaluate impact of National Food

Panchayats. Security Act ▪ Under it, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) working under the Ministry ▪ The government informed Parliament that it has roped in 12 monitoring institutions for of AYUSH, will distribute 4 samplings of 2020-23 to assess the impact of the National the nutritional rich plants to each of the Food Security Act (NFSA). Anganwadi Centers. ▪ Minister of State for Food Danve Raosaheb Poshan Abhiyaan Dadarao announced that During 2018-20, about ▪ The Poshan Abhiyaan was launched on March 26 institutions and universities were engaged 8, 2018 by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra as monitoring institutions for conducting the Modi. evaluation of the implementation of the NFSA Nirbhaya Fund in states and Union Territories. ▪ Government of India has legislated various ▪ The NFSA, passed in 2013, provides for the child centric Acts such as the Commissions for supply of subsidised foodgrains through Protection of Child Rights Act (CPCR) 2005, ration shops up to 75 per cent of the rural Protection of Children from Sexual Offences population and up to 50 per cent of the urban population, which as per Census 2011, comes (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the Juvenile Justice to a maximum of 81.35 crore persons. (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) for protection and promotion of child Woman swims from Talaimannar to rights. Arichalmunai About Nirbhaya fund: ▪ 47-year-old Hyderabad-based woman named ▪ The Rs 1,000 crore Nirbhaya Fund was Shyamala Goli became the world’s second announced in Union Budget 2013 by the then female to swim across the 30-mile long Palk Finance Minister P Chidambaram. Strait between India and Sri Lanka. ▪ The corpus was to be utilised for upholding ▪ She swam for 13 hours and 43 minutes safety and dignity of women. from Talaimannar in northern Sri Lanka to Dhanushkodi in India to create the record. ▪ Ministry of Women and Child Development apart from several other concerned ministries NITI Aayog were authorised to work out details of IAS Study Circle Vetrii ▪ NITI Aayog (National Institution for

structure, scope and application of this fund. Transforming India) ▪ The Fund is administered by Department of ▪ Planning has been in Indian psyche as our Economic Affairs of the finance ministry. leaders came under influence of the socialist www.vetriias.com 25 26 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

clime of erstwhile USSR. Planning commission great detail the park’s ecological uniqueness served as the planning vehicle for close to six that it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage decades with a focus on control and command Site, houses a range of forest types, has one of approach. the best-preserved tropical rainforests in the ▪ Planning Commission was replaced by a new world. institution – NITI Aayyog on January 1, 2015 with emphasis on ‘Bottom –Up’ approach to Ken-Betwa: First River Linking project envisage the vision of Maximum Governance, ▪ The interlinking of the rivers will destroy the Minimum Government, echoing the spirit of Panna Tiger Reserve located in the state of ‘Cooperative Federalism’. Madhya Pradesh. Administrative Skeltal Ken Betwa River Linking Project ▪ Chairperson: Prime Minister ▪ The River interlinking project aims to divert ▪ Vice-Chairperson: To be appointed by Prime- the surplus water from Ken river in Madhya Minister Pradesh to Betwa river in Uttar Pradesh. This ▪ Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all IAS Study Circle Vetrii is being done with the objective of irrigating states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories. the drought-prone Bundelkhand region ▪ Regional Council: To address specific regional across the districts of Jhansi, Lalitpur, Banda issues, Comprising Chief Ministers and Lt. & Mahoba districts in UP and Tikamgarh, Governors Chaired by Prime Minister or his Chhatarpur & Panna districts in MP. This nominee. project is one among the 30 rivers interlinking ▪ Adhoc Membership: 2 members in ex-officio projects across the country. capacity from leading Research institutions on PM Modi launches ‘Catch the Rain’ rotational basis. campaign to be funded by MGNREGA ▪ Ex-Officio membership: Maximum four from ▪ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched Union council of ministers to be nominated by ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’ campaign Prime minister. on the occasion of World Water Day for Galathea Bay National Park conserving water. ▪ Galathea National Park is a National Park ▪ PM urged that every penny of MGNREGA located in the Union Territory of Andaman (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment and Nicobar Islands. It is located on the island Guarantee Act) funds be spent on rain water of Great Nicobar in the Nicobar Islands. conservation till the monsoon arrives. ▪ Meeting on January 5, 2021, the Standing ▪ The ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign will be Committee of the National Board for Wildlife implemented across the country, in both rural (NBWL) denotified the entire Galathea Bay and urban areas from March 22 to November Wildlife Sanctuary to allow for the port there. 30, 2021 (the pre-monsoon and monsoon ▪ Galathea Bay as one of the ‘Important Coastal period in the country). and Marine Biodiversity Areas’ and ‘Important ▪ The main aim of the campaign is to take Marine Turtle Habitats’ in the country. It is water conservation at grass-root level through included in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-I, people’s participation and urge stakeholders the zone with maximum protection. to create rainwater harvesting structures ▪ “Zero extent” Ecologically Sensitive Zone suitable to the climatic conditions and subsoil (ESZ) for the Galathea NP to allow use of land strata, to ensure proper storage of rainwater.

in the south-eastern and south-western part of IAS Study Circle Vetrii MGNREGA the island for the NITI Aayog plan. ▪ Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee ▪ The October 2020 draft notification for this Act 2005 (or, NREGA No 42, later renamed zero extent ESZ had ironically listed out in as the "Mahatma Gandhi National Rural

26 www.vetriias.com NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENT | 27

Employment Guarantee Act" or MGNREGA), in transport, energy, water, sanitation, is an Indian labour law and social security telecommunication education sector. The Lok measure that aims to guarantee the 'right to Sabha had passed the Bill. work'. ▪ The Act (bill) gives space to private institutions ▪ This act was passed in September 2005 under to come up for which we give tax benefits the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. for first five years and for this institution ▪ Uttar Pradesh has become the top state in the (NaBFID), we are giving tax benefits for 10 country to provide employment to the workers years. under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural ▪ About 7,000 projects have been identified Employment Guarantee Scheme MGNREGA. under the National Infrastructure Pipeline Bihar becomes first state to have (NIP) with a projected investment of Rs 111 lakh crore during 2020-25. Ethanol Promotion Policy ▪ NIP, a first-of-its-kind initiative to provide ▪ Bihar has become the first state of the country world-class infrastructure across the country to have its own ethanol policy called Ethanol Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii and improve the quality of life for all citizens, Production Promotion Policy, 2021. will be crucial for attaining the target of ▪ The Policy was approved by the Central becoming a USD 5 trillion economy by government in December 2020 in consonance Financial Year 2025. with National Policy of Biofuels, 2018 and subsequently by National Biofuel Co- West Bengal tops in Facebook political ordination Committee. ad ▪ The ethanol promotion policy would pave ▪ Among the four states and one union territory the way for making Bihar an ethanol hub and that are going to polls from March 27, West investors’ coveted destination. Bengal emerged as the topper in spending ▪ The policy would allow investors to directly for political advertisements on Facebook this make ethanol from maize, molasses, broken year, according to data available with the rice and rotten grains, which was restricted to social media platform. sugarcane. ▪ Besides West Bengal, assembly elections will Andhra to launch India’s First Govt Run be held in three other states Assam, Kerala Animal Ambulance Network and Tamil Nadu and in the union territory of ▪ The state government of the Andhra Pradesh Puducherry. has decided to set up “India’s first government- ▪ During the period, political parties of West run ambulance network” for animals. Bengal spent about Rs 3.74 crore on poll- Asia’s largest Tulip Garden related campaigns which fall under Facebook's advertisement category of 'social issues, ▪ Asia's largest tulip garden, situated on the banks of the Dal Lake, Jammu and Kashmir is election or politics'. all set to be thrown open for the visitors. ▪ West Bengal is followed by Tamil Nadu (Rs 3.3 ▪ Tulip garden, located at the foothills of crore), Assam (Rs 61.77 lakh), Kerala (Rs 38.86 Zabarwan range in Jammu and Kashmir. lakh) and Puducherry (Rs 3.34 lakh) during the period, as per the data. Parliament passes Bill to set up National Bank for Financing Vizag gets mobile water and Water Infrastructure and Development Knowledge Centre Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii ▪ The Hyderabad-based startup, Maithri ▪ The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill-2021 was passed by the Aquatech has set up the world’s first mobile Rajya Sabha, is aimed at providing long-term water-from-air kiosk and ‘Water Knowledge funding to infrastructure projects including Centre’ in the smart city of Visakhapatnam. www.vetriias.com 27 28 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

▪ This initiative is supported by Greater 7th annual summit of NATHEALTH Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation ▪ Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, (GVMC) and project SEWAH (Sustainable Dr Harsh Vardhan, addressed the 7th annual Enterprises for Water and Health) an alliance summit of NATHEALTH in virtual mode on between USAID and SWN (Safe Water March 26, 2021. Network). ▪ The summit focused on ‘Indian Health system ▪ The kiosk will provide clean potable water from expansion in post-COVID era’. the air by making use of Maithri Aquatech’s ▪ The summit the minister reiterated the Meghdoot solution as a source to generate commitments of government for fulfilling goal water with no dependency on groundwater as of Health for all. He noted that, “Health for well as surface water resources. All” is a top priority for current Government ▪ The kiosk will also function as a Water and to institutionalize the approach towards Knowledge Resource Centre (WRKC) this goal, government has launched the by creating awareness and imparting “National Health Policy” in 2017. The primary

necessary information to members of the IAS Study Circle Vetrii vision of policy-framework is to attain highest local underserved communities as well as possible level of health and well-being for all nearby schools on the benefits of good water, irrespective of all age groups. sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices. ▪ Government also launched Ayushman Bharat National Company Law Appellate program with the objective of providing Tribunal (NCLAT) Universal Free Access to primary health care, ▪ It was Constituted under Companies Act, promoting health and wellbeing. 2013. Pradhan Mantri Atma Nirbhar Swasthya Functions: Yojana ▪ It hears appeals against the orders of: ▪ This scheme was launched with the aim ▪ NCLT under Section 61 of the Insolvency and of strengthening health systems to meet Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). challenges of covid-19 pandemic and future pandemics. It also seeks to strengthen the ▪ Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India expanding & building robust IT enabled under Section 202 and Section 211 of IBC. surveillance systems in order to track and ▪ The Competition Commission of India (CCI). contain spread of diseases. Composition: ▪ The President of the Tribunal and the Cargo traffic at 12 major ports falls for chairperson and Judicial Members of the 11th month Appellate Tribunal shall be appointed after ▪ India has 12 major ports under the control of consultation with the Chief Justice of India. the central government - Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Mormugao, New Right to Information Act Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar About the RTI Act, 2005: (earlier Ennore), V. O. Chidambaranar, ▪ It sets out the rules and procedures regarding Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata citizens’ right to information. (including Haldia). ▪ It replaced the former Freedom of Information ▪ Cargo handling at Kamrajar Port (Ennore) Act, 2002. nosedived 23.29 per cent during April- ▪ This act was enacted in order to consolidate the February to 22.23 MT. fundamental right in the Indian constitution Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii BIS licence is must for packaged ‘freedom of speech’. Since RTI is implicit in the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression drinking water companies under Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, it ▪ The Food Safety and Standards Authority of is an implied fundamental right. India (FSSAI) announced that from April 1, 28 www.vetriias.com NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENT | 29

the BIS licence will become a “pre-condition” household through Functional Household Tap for manufacturers of packaged drinking water Connections (FHTC) by 2024. and mineral water to obtain or renew the ▪ JJM focuses on integrated demand and supply- FSSAI licence. side management of water at the local level. ▪ According to the regulations, manufacturers need to display both the FSSAI licence number Protection of Children from Sexual as well as the BIS Certification mark on their Offences Act, 2012 labels. ▪ It was enacted to protect the children from ▪ Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment Restriction on Sales) Regulations 2011 state and pornography with due regard for that no person should manufacture, sell or safeguarding the interest and well-being of exhibit for sale, packaged drinking water and children. mineral water except under the Bureau of ▪ It defines a child as any person below eighteen Indian Standards (BIS) certification mark. years of age and regards the best interests and

Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii welfare of the child as a matter of paramount Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary importance at every stage, to ensure the ▪ Over a lakh migratory water birds arrived healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and at the Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in social development of the child. Himachal Pradesh in winter 2020-21. ▪ Location: Kangra District, Himachal Pradesh. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ▪ In 1994, the Government of India declared it a “Wetland of National Importance”. ▪ It was enacted to protect the children from offences of sexual assault, sexual harassment ▪ Pong Dam Lake was declared as Ramsar Site and pornography with due regard for in November 2002. safeguarding the interest and well-being of Over 4 crore rural households provided children. with tap water supply under Jal Jeevan ▪ It defines a child as any person below eighteen Mission years of age and regards the best interests and ▪ Over 4 crore rural households in the country welfare of the child as a matter of paramount have been provided with tap water supply importance at every stage, to ensure the since the Jal Jeevan Mission was launched in healthy physical, emotional, intellectual and August 2019, the Jal Shakti Ministry. social development of the child. ▪ 7.24 crore households (38 per cent), that is, Government approves issuance of more than one-third of the rural households electoral bonds from April 1-10 are getting potable water through taps. ▪ Amidst assembly elections in four states and ▪ Goa has become the first state in the country a Union territory, the government approved to provide 100 per cent tap water supply issuance of the 16th tranche of electoral bonds followed by Telangana and Andaman and which will be open for sale from April 1 to Nicobar Islands. 10. Electoral bonds have been pitched as an ▪ Announced by Prime Minister Narendra alternative to cash donations made to political Modi on August 15, 2019, with the aim to parties as part of efforts to bring transparency provide tap water supply to every rural home in political funding. However, Opposition by 2024, the Jal Jeevan Mission has reached a parties have been raising concerns about new milestone of providing over 4 crore rural alleged opaqueness in funding through such households with tap water supply. IAS Study Circle Vetrii bonds.

Jal Jeevan Mission ▪ The 29 specified SBI branches are in cities ▪ Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) envisages supply of 55 such as Kolkata, Guwahati, Chennai, litres of water per person per day to every rural Thiruvananthapuram, Patna, New Delhi, www.vetriias.com 29 30 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

Chandigarh, Shimla, Srinagar, Dehradun, 'Heart of Asia' conference Gandhinagar, Bhopal, Raipur, Mumbai, and ▪ External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived Lucknow. The sale of the first batch of electoral in Tajikistan's capital to attend a key conference bonds took place from March 1-10, 2018. on Afghanistan, where representatives Electoral Bond from around 50 countries and international ▪ Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for organisations would discuss building regional making donations to political parties. consensus around the peace process in the ▪ The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, war-torn country. Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 ▪ The 9th Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA- crore without any maximum limit. IP) ministerial conference is part of the Istanbul ▪ State Bank of India is authorised to issue and Process - a regional initiative on security encash these bonds, which are valid for fifteen and cooperation for a stable and peaceful days from the date of issuance. Afghanistan - that was launched on November 2, 2011 in Turkey. ▪ These bonds are redeemable in the designated account of a registered political party. IAS Study Circle Vetrii ▪ The development comes in the backdrop of understanding the resumption of the 2003 ▪ The bonds are available for purchase by any ceasefire between Pakistan and India, reached person (who is a citizen of India or incorporated at the end of February and the meeting held on or established in India) for a period of ten days Indus water sharing after a gap of two years. each in the months of January, April, July and October as may be specified by the Central Government. Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

30 www.vetriias.com ▪ ▪ Air bubblepact ▪ ▪ IRENA ▪ About AirBubbleTransport: remaining from nuclear. followed by6%fromnatural gasandthe needs wouldbesupplied byrenewable, It estimatedthatby2050,90% oftotalelectricity Energy Agency(IRENA). brought outbytheInternational Renewable World EnergyTransitions Outlook report, sources, saysthe energy shift torenewable economies fromfossilfuelsandacceleratethe opportunity for countries to decouple their The COVID¬-19 crisis offers anunexpected to traveloutorin. only thosewhoclearthesecheckswillbeable ministry and the foreigncountries could mean India’s home restrictions imposedby fact that to countries in an arrangement willbepermitted COVID-19 times. It means that airlines of both Air Bubble is the termcoined during year. COVID19 restrictionswereimplementedlast air operationsareyettoresumeafterthe mission as fullscale international commercial for the Air India under the Vande Bharat an arrangementthatwassolelyreserved to travel to and from India on a limited basis airlines Under the airbubblescheme, commercial east. west andJapan,ChinaSingaporeinthe priority would be Saudi Arabia, Kuwait inthe arrangement withmorecountries,andthe government wantedtoexpandthe“airbubble” announced the RajyaSabhathat External AffairsMinisterS.Jaishankar fly passengers from specific both ways countries but 7. INTERNATIONAL alluded are allowed to the ▪ About IRENA Vetrii▪ IAS Study▪ UNSC membership India, Portugal extends supportfor Circle▪ ▪ Economic Relation ▪ ▪ Background ▪ India –FinlandVirtualSummit ▪ ▪ ▪ sustainable useofrenewableenergy. knowledge, andpromotetheadoption mandated to facilitate cooperation, advance It isanintergovernmentalorganization 179 members. Parliamentary bodyconsisting ofmore than is one of the oldest and largest international The Inter-Parliamentary Union formed in 1889, support forPortugal'selection totheIPU. India forits Hall and thanked Central at the Pacheco addressed Members ofParliament Inter-Parliamentary UnionPresidentDuarte Finland andthefifthlargestwithinAsia. India was the 23rdlargesttradepartner of within theEuropeanUnion. India acrossworldwhileitwas10thlargest Finland was the 60thlargesttradepartnerof President ofFinland-SauliNiinistö Capital ofFinland-Helsinki Sanna Marin. virtual summit withhis Finland counterpart Prime MinisterNarendraModi will holda IRENA isanofficialUnitedNationsobserver. in MasdarCity,AbuDhabi,UAE. into forceon8July2010andisheadquartered It was founded in 2009& its statute entered countries. needs inbothindustrializedanddeveloping exclusively onrenewableenergy,addressing It is the first international AFFAIRS organisation to focus 32 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

▪ Pacheco, a Member of Parliament of Portugal, Need to build resilient systems to was recently elected as the President of IPU, provide solutions for sustainable use of an international organization of national water: India at UN parliaments, for a three-year term from 2021 ▪ Implementation of the Water-Related Goals to 2023. He is visiting India at the invitation of and Targets of the 2030 Agenda” convened the Parliament of India. by President of the General Assembly Volkan UN Security Council Bozkir, Minister of Jal Shakti (Department ▪ The Security Council was established by the of Drinking Water and Sanitation) Gajendra UN Charter in 1945. It is one of the six principal Singh Shekhawat said that there is no doubt organs of the United Nations. that in the journey to achieve the 2030 Agenda, ▪ The other 5 organs of the United Nations water supply and sanitation have to be the are—the General Assembly, the Trusteeship center of the global efforts. Council, the Economic and Social Council, ▪ Water being critical to life on earth, also the International Court of Justice, and the plays a seminal role in the social, economic,

Secretariat. IAS Study Circle Vetrii and environmental evaluation of the world ▪ Its primary responsibility is to work to towards a sustainable future. Nearly 1.1 maintain international peace and security. billion people lack access to water, with 2.7 ▪ The council has 15 members: the five billion people facing water scarcity for at least permanent members and 10 non-permanent one month every year. members elected for two-year terms. ▪ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 ▪ The council is headquartered at NewYork. specifically addresses access to water and sanitation. The UN General Assembly has World’s Largest Floating Solar Farms declared 2018 to 2028, the Water Action being built in Singapore Decade, which also addresses the increased ▪ The largest floating solar farm of the world global pressure on water resources, and is being built in Singapore. The country has exacerbated risk of droughts and floods. resorted to set up the energy plants off the Mission coasts and reservoirs across it. ▪ ‘The Clean India Mission’, launched in 2014 ▪ It is one of the biggest per capita carbon to achieve universal sanitation, became the dioxide emitters in India. world’s biggest sanitation campaign with ▪ To cater to the issue of climate change and to the construction of 110 million toilets in only cut the greenhouse gas emission it is building six years resulting in an open-defecation free the floating solar farm. This project is being India. built by Sembcorp Industries. Indo-Pacific strategic partnership Sixth India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) ▪ US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin, who Women’s Forum arrived in New Delhi met Prime Minister ▪ The Sixth India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Narendra Modi and conveyed Washington’s Women’s Forum meeting was held virtually “strong desire” to further enhance the strategic partnership for peace, stability and prosperity on March 16, 2021. in the Indo-Pacific region. ▪ The event was chaired by the Ministry of ▪ Prime Minister and National Security Advisor Women and Child Development, GoI, led by Ajit Doval also participated during the Smt Smriti Zubin Irani. discussion.

▪ The meeting witnessed participation of IAS Study Circle Vetrii Ministers and officials responsible for Women International Atomic Energy Agency Affairs of IBSA Countries. ▪ The IAEA was created in 1957.

32 www.vetriias.com INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS | 33

▪ It is an Independent International Organization ▪ Aim: To promote and protect human rights that reports annually to the United Nation around the globe. Apart from that, the General Assembly. UNHRC also investigate alleged human rights ▪ The Agency works with its Member States violations in countries. and multiple partners worldwide to promote ▪ Members: The council has 47 members elected safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear for a 3-year term. 5 Regional groups elect these technologies. 47 members. ▪ In 2005, it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize ▪ Head Quarters: Geneva, Switzerland. for their work for a safe and peaceful world. Kerala''s TB eradication programme ▪ Headquarter: Vienna, Austria. bags award Indian-Israeli collaboration testing oral ▪ Kerala’s tuberculosis eradication programme COVID vaccine has won national honour as the state bagged ▪ An Indian-Israeli collaboration has reportedly the Union government''s award for reducing the prevalence of the disease through various developed an oral vaccine for COVID-19, one IAS Study Circle Vetrii

that can be swallowed like a pill instead of systematic initiatives. being injected, as is the norm. A preliminary ▪ The disease control was made possible in test in animals showed that the vaccine the southern state through various projects produced the expected antibodies that confer including "Akshaya Kerala'' under the "My protection. Tuberculosis Free Kerala" scheme implemented ▪ Premas Biotech, a Gurugram-based by the state Health Department. biotechnology firm, and Oramed World’s first Ship Tunnel to be built in Pharmaceuticals, a Jerusalem headquartered Norway company, have a long-standing collaboration on developing new drug delivery techniques. ▪ The Norwegian Coastal Administration has received the green signal to start working on ▪ The nascent COVID-19 vaccine candidate is the construction of world’s first tunnel, being a “protein-based VLP (Virus Like Particle) built exclusively for ships. vaccine candidate” that generates “triple protection” against the SARS CoV-2 virus, i.e., ▪ The tunnel is dubbed as “Stad Ship Tunnel” it is able to target the spike, membrane, and and would be built under the mountainous envelope proteins of the coronavirus. Stadhavet peninsula in northwestern Norway. ▪ Oravax, the company developing the vaccine, ▪ The 1.7 km tunnel will be able to handle ships is a joint venture between Premas and Oramed. of up to 16,000 tonnes and give ships a safer passage through the treacherous Stadhavet India abstains in UNHRC vote on Sri Sea. Lanka India, Pakistan and China to participate ▪ India abstained from a crucial vote on Sri Lanka’s rights record at the United Nations exercise “Pabbi-Anti-Terror 2021” Human Rights Council in Geneva. ▪ The member states of the Shanghai Cooperation ▪ The resolution on ‘Promoting reconciliation, Organisation (SCO), including India, Pakistan accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ and China, will hold a joint anti-terrorism was adopted after 22 states of the 47-member exercise named “Pabbi-Anti-Terror 2021” in Council voted in its favour. later 2021. ▪ The exercise will be hosted by Pakistan at UNHRC its premier anti-terrorism centre in Pabbi in ▪ The UNHRC is a United Nations body IAS Study Circle Vetrii

Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. established in 2006. It replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human ▪ It would be the first time that Indian forces will Rights. travel to Pakistan for any military exercise.

www.vetriias.com 33 34 | Current Affairs, March - 2021 Vetrii IAS Study Circle

▪ The decision to hold “Pabbi-Antiterror-2021” ▪ The annual IP Index 2021 was released was announced during the 36th meeting of on March 23, 2021 by the US Chamber of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Commerce Global Innovation Policy Centre Structure (RATS) held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (GIPC). on 18 March. ▪ This is ``the ninth edition of the IP index ▪ RATS is a permanent organ of the 8-member released by the GIPC. bloc-SCO to promote cooperation of member ▪ Categories include: Patent, Copyrights, states against terrorism, separatism and Trademarks, Design Rights, Trade Secrets extremism. and Market Access, Commercialization of IP Shanghai Coopeartion Organization Assets, Enforcement, Systematic Efficiency, ▪ It is a permanent intergovernmental and International Treaties. international organisation. ▪ In 2020 also, India ranked 40th among 53 ▪ It’s creation was announced on 15 June 2001 economies. in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Indo-Korean friendship park in Delhi Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, IAS Study Circle Vetrii the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, ▪ An India South Korea friendship park was the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of jointly inaugurated by Defence Minister Uzbekistan. Rajnath Singh and Minister of National Defence of South Korea Suh Wook at Delhi ▪ The SCO’s official languages are Russian and cantonment. Chinese. ▪ The park has been built to commemorate the India, US to resume homeland security contribution of Indian peacekeeping force dialogue during the Korean war of 1950-53. ▪ India and the US announced they will re- New Zealand becomes only second establish the Homeland Security Dialogue country after India to pass Miscarriages focused on issues such as cybersecurity, emerging technology, and violent extremism. Bereavement Leave Law ▪ The Bill allows mothers and their partners the ▪ A discussion between US secretary for right to paid leave following a miscarriage or homeland security Alejandro Mayorkas and still birth, without having to tap into sick leave. Indian ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu. ▪ Employees will get three days leave when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth. ▪ An initiative of the Obama administration, the first India-US Homeland Security Dialogue ▪ With this, New Zealand has become only the was held in May 2011. second country in the world to do so. ▪ The second India-US Homeland Security ▪ India is the only other country in the world Dialogue was held in Washington DC in with similar legislation that provides leave for 2013 between Napolitano and the then home miscarriage and stillbirth. minister Sushilkumar Shinde. India ranks 40th on International Intellectual Property Index 2021: GIPC ▪ India has been ranked 40 among 53 global economies in the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index 2021. Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii

34 www.vetriias.com ▪ ▪ ▪ Thanjavur SastraUniversity Launch ofLegalDevelopmentSeatat ▪ among poll-boundStates Tamil Nadu hashighestrevenuedeficit ▪ ▪ ▪ 20,000 crorefundforBluerevolution according toareport. for 2020-21), among poll-bound States, ` Tamil formulated. National Fisheries Policy -2020 has been exports seafood To increaseforeignexchangethrough announced thatoverRs.20,000crore. Dairy MinisterPratapChandra Sarangi has Central Fisheries,Animal Husbandry and in maritimestatesincludingTamilNadu R Vaithiyasubramaniam. Direct UniversityViceChancellor S Attorney GeneralKParasaranandShastra Attorney GeneralKKVenugopal,former Advocate CSVaithiyanathan, attended by the SupremeCourtMNVenkatasalaiah,was The event,chairedbyformerChiefJusticeof development. inaugurated theseatforlawandits Nariman Supreme CourtJudgeRohingya development. Department hasstartedaseatforlawandits Thanjavur ShastraDirectUniversityLaw 65,994 crore (as per revised budget estimate 65,994 crore(asperrevisedbudget s 20,000croreinvestmentforbluerevolution Nadu and has protect the highest the fishing revenue community, deficit at 8. TAMILNADU ▪ ▪ Vetrii IAS Study▪ ▪ Circle▪ Revenue Deficit ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ of India’seconomy. At Assam (17th)andPuducherry(26th). West Bengal(sixth),Kerala(11th), followed by economy isthelargest(thirdinIndia), In termsofsizetheeconomy,TamilNadu’s payment. government forthepurposeotherthaninterest It indicatestheBorrowingrequirementsof expenditure overrevenuereceipts. Revenue Deficit andInterestpayment. Payment. Itisthedifference between Fiscal Primary were alsobelowthenationalaverage. The unemploymentratesinotherfourStates national averageof6.9%. the 2021 was4.8%,lowerthan February in TamilNadu The unemploymentrate of 6.7%. during FY16-2020,abovethenationalaverage Tamil Nadu’seconomic growth averaged8% 11% forFY21. followed byindustry38%andagricultureat half oftheTamilNadu’s economic output, The services sector accountedfor51%orover Kerala’s economicgrowth. on parwiththenationalaverage,whileat6.3% West BengalandPuducherry’s economy grew during thefour-yearperiodtoFY20. of 8.6% highest averageeconomicgrowth the According to thereport,Assam has witnessed ` 19 lakhcrore,TamilNaduaccountsfor9% Deficit deficit is AFFAIRS is Fiscal the Deficit excess net of of revenue Interest