31st March, 2022 Current Affairs

Sakshi Education

NATIONAL
Centre launches auction of 122 Coal and Lignite mines

Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi has launched an auction of 122 Coal and Lignite Mines including 18 New Mines. Addressing the fifth tranche of auction launch in New Delhi, Mr Joshi said that 42 coal mines have already been auctioned successfully.
Along with ensuring energy security of the nation this will provide employment opportunities to more than 1,17,000.
The success of these auctions indicates that right steps are being taken by the Government to provide further momentum to the growth of Coal sector.
The Ministry of Coal is on the journey to reform the sector and unlock its potential. He said the recent reforms initiated in the coal sector will further strengthen the vision of Aatmnirbhar Bharat.

NITI Aayog and FAO Launch Book Titled Indian Agriculture towards 2030

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), Narendra Singh Tomar has released a book titled “Indian Agriculture towards 2030: Pathways for Enhancing Farmers’ Income, Nutritional Security and Sustainable Food and Farm Systems”, at an event organized by NITI Aayog and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Indian Agriculture towards 2030 captures the outcomes of the deliberative process of national dialogue by NITI Aayog and the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare; and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and facilitated by FAO since 2019.

India and the WHO have agreed to establish a global traditional medicine centre in Jamnagar

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of India signed a memorandum of understanding to create the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Gujarat. According to a WHO statement, the onsite opening of the new WHO global centre for traditional medicine in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, will take place on April 21, 2022.
In Jamnagar, Gujarat, India, a new WHO centre will be established. While Jamnagar will serve as the centre’s hub, the new facility will engage and benefit people from all over the world.
With a USD 250 million investment from the Indian government, this worldwide knowledge hub for traditional medicine intends to harness the potential of traditional medicine from around the world using modern science and technology to improve people’s and the planet’s health.
Traditional medicine is the first line of treatment for many millions of people all over the world.
According to the WHO declaration, “traditional medicine” includes ancient methods like acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine, and herbal mixes, as well as modern pharmaceuticals used to preserve health and prevent, diagnose, and cure physical and mental illness.

INTERNATIONAL
US President Biden nominates Dean R Thompson as next ambassador to Nepal

US President Joe Biden has proposed Dean R. Thompson as the new Ambassador to Nepal. Thompson will replace present US envoy Randy Berry. Thompson currently serves as the State Department's Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs and is the acting Assistant Secretary from 2020-2021.
Thompson was the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Thompson also was the Consul General of the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata.
Thompson's nomination comes a few weeks after Nepal's House of Representatives ratified the US grant aid following weeks of a rift within the ruling alliance.

SPORTS
Belgian Footballer Miguel Van Damme passes away

Veteran Belgian footballer, Miguel Van Damme has passed away aged 28 after a long battle with leukaemia. Van Damme was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016 and was undergoing treatment for cancer for over five years.
During his eight-year professional career, Van Damme played for CercleBrugge and made 40 appearances for the team.

IMPORTANT DAYS
International Transgender Day of Visibility 2022

The International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) occurs annually on March 31 to raise awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, while also celebrating their contributions to society.
The day is dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as celebrating their contributions to society.
The day was founded by US-based transgender activist Rachel Crandall of Michigan in 2009. As a reaction to the lack of LGBT recognition of transgender people, citing the frustration that the only well-known transgender-centred day was the Transgender Day of Remembrance which mourned the murders of transgender people but did not acknowledge and celebrate living members of the transgender community.
The first International Transgender Day of Visibility was held on March 31, 2009. It has since been spearheaded by the U.S.-based youth advocacy organization Trans Student Educational Resources.

APPOINTMENTS
FedEx appoints Indian-born Raj Subramaniam as new CEO

The world’s largest express transportation company FedEx has announced that its new Chief Executive Officer will be Indian American Raj Subramaniam.
He has more than 30 years of global experience across strategy and operations and has led the company through a period of tremendous growth.
The US multinational courier delivery giant was previously helmed by Frederick W Smith. Smith, chairman and CEO, will step down from this position on June 1. He will now be its executive chairman. In his new role, Smith said he looks forward to focusing on Board governance as well as issues of global importance, including sustainability, innovation, and public policy. Smith had founded FedEx in 1971.

IFS officer Renu Singh appointed Forest Research Institute (FRI) director

Dr. Renu Singh has been appointed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) as the next director of the Forest Research Institute (FRI) in Dehradun.
She will be the institute’s second woman director. Singh joined as FRI director after AS Rawat, director-general, ICFRE, handed over his additional charge of director FRI to her.
Dr. Renu Singh has an extensive experience in Forest Policy, Forest Management and Research Issues. She has a special interest in gender and development, climate change adaptation and mitigation issues in the forestry sector.
She has participated in and represented various biodiversity, forest and climate change-related issues in international conventions like United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
As a field practitioner, she has vast experience of implementing Joint forest management practices involving rural communities and addressing their livelihood related needs from the forest while working in the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department.

ECONOMY

ICRA cuts India’s GDP growth forecast in FY23 to 7.2%

Rating agency ICRA has lowered the growth forecast for India’s GDP in 2022-23 (FY23) to 7.2 per cent. Earlier this rate was 8 per cent.
The ICRA Ltd. has projected the GDP growth forecast for 2021-22 (FY22) at 8.5%, lower than the official advance estimate from the National Statistical Office of 8.9%.
Citing elevated commodity prices and supply chain challenges arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as higher prices of fuels and edible oils denting demand due to squeezed household incomes.

Published date : 31 Mar 2022 05:43PM