Latest Current Affairs in 2022 : March 2022 Current Affairs, GKToday, Great Learning

1 .

The Earth Hour Day is marked every year on which day?

A)

March 24th

B)

March 25th

C)

March 26th

D)

March 27th

Correct Answer : March 26th

Earth Hour : Every year on March 26th, people around the planet take an hour off electricity by switching off their lights at homes and offices as a show of support for conservation of energy during the World Earth Hour. The theme for this year's event invites people across the globe to unite in a moment of reflection on our relationship with each other and our collective home – the Earth.

Significance of Earth Hour : Started by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and its partners in Sydney in 2007, the practice has become a catalyst for dramatic change and collective action towards protecting the environment.

The symbolic lights-out Earth Hour has become the world's largest grassroots movements to raise awareness about climate change and energy conservation and to assure a sustainable, brighter future.

Earth Hour theme for 2022 : The theme of this year's Earth Hour is 'Shape Our Future'. It is a pivotal year for everyone to shape the world for the future generations by raising awareness about the damages to climate that are impacting our world today.

How is Earth Hour celebrated?

Earth Hour is celebrated by switching off lights for an hour – from 8:30pm to 9:30pm local time – and indulge in activities like reconnecting with nature, cooking meals and spending time with families and loved ones, getting artistic and so on. Governments, companies and environment activists around the world take part in this event..

Source : Hindustan Times

Published On : March 26, 2022

2 .

Who has signed an agreement with Defence Public Sector Undertaking Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the joint indigenous development of systems?

A)

Air India

B)

National Highways Authority of India

C)

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation

D)

Airports Authority of India (AAI)

Correct Answer : Airports Authority of India (AAI)

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed an agreement with Defence Public Sector Undertaking Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for the joint indigenous development of systems for air traffic management and surface movement of aircraft at airports across the country, which were previously imported.

Important Points :

* BEL and AAI will collaborate to develop the Civil Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) with Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (ASMGCS), a complex ground surveillance system that manages air traffic at airports and in Indian civil airspace to ensure safe flight operations from take-off to landing.

* According to a Civil Aviation Ministry release, BEL and AAI will work together to develop the Civil Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) with Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (ASMGCS), a complex ground surveillance system that manages air traffic at airports and in Indian civil airspace for safe flight operations from take-off to landing.

* “The current arrangement is in accordance with AAI’s R&D Policy to update its ANS Infrastructure in a methodical, efficient, and cost-effective manner, as well as the Government of India’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ missions.” This will lessen AAI’s reliance on foreign suppliers for ANS infrastructure.

* Air traffic control has two purposes: to ensure safety by maintaining separation between many planes and to manage airport operations efficiently.

* In order to guarantee safe surface mobility in all weather situations at the airport, ASMGCS provides routing, guidance, and surveillance services to aircraft and vehicles on the ground.

* The goal of ATMS with ASMGCS is to provide the air traffic controller with a complete air traffic picture of the coverage area while interacting with primary or secondary radar, ADS-B, Multilateration System (MLATs), and navigational equipment such as GPS, Instrument Landing System (ILS), and Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range (DVOR).

* It also communicates with other systems such as the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network (AFTN), the Airport Operational Database (AODB), the Airport Collaborative Decision Making (ACDM), and the Centralised Air Traffic Flow Management system (CATFM).

* The system is used to accommodate a significant amount of air traffic, including military flights, in congested airports and airspaces.

* The system includes a Situation Display for Air Traffic Controllers, Surveillance Data Processing (SDP), Flight Data Processing (FDP), Safety Net and Decision Support (SNET), Control & Monitoring Display (CMD), Advanced ASMGCS, and other in-house developed technologies.

* By lowering controller strain, improving air traffic flow, and reducing flight delays, it aids in boosting capacity while also improving safety. ATM activities are protected by a redundant and distributed architecture that provides increased system dependability and availability.

Published On : March 26, 2022

3 .

Which company to acquire neo bank Avail Finance?

A)

Ola

B)

Uber

C)

Rapido

D)

Zoomcar

Correct Answer : Ola

Mobility firm Ola has signed an agreement to acquire neo bank "Avail Finance" which provides financial services to the blue-collared workforce and has over 6 million users, the company said on Thursday(24th Mar 2022).

The acquisition is a key step in Ola's broader push into the fintech space as it looks to build a mobility-focused financial services business under Ola Financial, it stated.

"With this acquisition, Ola Financial Services will further strengthen its play in the credit underserved segments that comprise blue-collar workers such as Ola's driver-partner ecosystem. The deal is subject to shareholder approval," Ola said.

With this expansion, Ola will be able to cross-sell multiple lending products to its large driver-partner base.

Ola recently invested nearly Rs 800 crores into its financial services business. The company is offering a buy now pay later service, Ola Postpaid, to its four crore customers..

Source : Business Standard

Published On : March 26, 2022

4 .

Who has been inaugurated Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) in Bengaluru?

A)

Gita Gopinath

B)

Mr Raghuram Rajan

C)

Mr Shaktikanta Das

D)

Nirmala Sitharaman

Correct Answer : Mr Shaktikanta Das

* As per RBI, the hub is an investment for the future

* The central bank added that the hub would bring convergence among stakeholders - BFSI Sector, Start-up ecosystem, Regulators & Academia

* It has been set up with an initial capital contribution of ₹100 crore

Nearly 1.5 years after announcing it in August 2020, the governor of RBI "Mr Shaktikanta Das" inaugurated the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) in Bengaluru yesterday(24th Mar 2022).

The hub aims to promote and facilitate an environment that accelerates innovation across the financial sectors and will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of the RBI.

It has been set up with an initial capital contribution of ₹100 crore, and will have an independent Board with Mr Senapathy (Kris) Gopalakrishnan as Chairman and other persons from industry and academia as members. Mr Gopalakrishnan was the co-founder and former co-Chairman of Infosys..

Source : India Times

Published On : March 26, 2022

5 .

Name the secretary general of NATO whose tenure has been extended for one year till 2023?

A)

Olaf Scholz

B)

Jens Stoltenberg

C)

Antony Blinken

D)

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Correct Answer : Jens Stoltenberg

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has approved an extension in the tenure of its Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg by a year until September 30, 2023.

Published On : March 26, 2022

6 .

Government has organised the 10-days long "Bharat Bhagya Vidhata" festival at which place to showcase the heritage, culture and diversity of India?

A)

India Gate

B)

Red Fort

C)

Sansad Bhavan

D)

Rashtrapati Bhavan

Correct Answer : Red Fort

Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smriti Irani inaugurated the ten-day mega Red Fort Festival, ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ at Red Fort in Delhi on March 25, 2022.

Published On : March 26, 2022

7 .

Which state has topped the NITI Aayog's Export Preparedness Index 2021?

A)

Gujarat

B)

Tamil Nadu

C)

Maharashtra

D)

Uttar Pradesh

Correct Answer : Gujarat

Gujarat has retained the top position in the second edition of NITI Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index 2021. The first edition was released in 2020.

Published On : March 26, 2022

8 .

Which institute Centre for Digital Transformation sets up retail tech consortium?

A)

IIM Bangalore

B)

IIM Lucknow

C)

IIM Kozhikode

D)

IIM Ahmedabad

Correct Answer : IIM Ahmedabad

The Centre for Digital Transformation at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), a premier global management institute, has recently set up a Retail Tech Consortium and plans to collaborate with several retail and technology organisations in India. The consortium will work towards sharing deep knowledge, research, and setting up industry best practices for better collaboration amongst retail tech players in the country. Flipkart, the India-based e-commerce marketplace, has joined as a principal partner for the inaugural year of the consortium, bringing its industry knowledge and experience and consumer insights in the internet ecosystem to contribute to this effort.

In the past two years of the pandemic, the retail sector has undergone massive adaptation. Digitalisation of retail has happened at a fast pace and has impacted both online and traditional retailers. This consortium will largely bring to the fore unbiased voices of customers on the digitalisation of retail in the country which will help retailers understand their consumers better..

Source : Telegraph India

Published On : March 25, 2022

9 .

Indian Army with ___________ Police conducted "Suraksha Kavach 2" Exercise?

A)

Gujarat

B)

Karnataka

C)

Maharashtra

D)

Uttar Pradesh

Correct Answer : Maharashtra

Indian Army’s “Agnibaaz Division” organized a joint exercise “Suraksha Kavach 2” with Maharashtra Police at Lullanagar, Pune. The exercise aimed to counter any terrorist actions in Pune. The exercise involved the participation of the Counter-Terrorism Task Force (CTTF) of the Indian Army, Anti-Terrorism Squad of Maharashtra Police along with Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), Dog Squads, and Bomb Disposal Teams of both agencies. The exercise aimed to harmonize the drills and procedures undertaken by Army and Police to counter-terrorism.

Published On : March 25, 2022

10 .

United Nations has designated which day to be observed as the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members?

A)

23rd March

B)

24th March

C)

25th March

D)

26th March

Correct Answer : 25th March

The United Nations observes the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members on 25th March every year. This is a day to mobilize action, demand justice and strengthen our resolve to protect UN staff and peacekeepers, as well as our colleagues in the non-governmental community and the press.

The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members has taken on even greater importance in recent years, as attacks against the United Nations intensify. This is a day to mobilize action, demand justice and strengthen our resolve to protect UN staff and peacekeepers, as well as our colleagues in the non-governmental community and the press.

History of the day : The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is marked each year on the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist who was working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) when he was abducted by armed gunman in 1985. His body was finally found in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in 2009.

Published On : March 25, 2022

March - 2022 Current Affairs