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IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF MARCH 22^nd, 2019

              IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS OF MARCH  22^nd, 2019

1.      (22nd March 2018) is World Water Day.

a.      This day is a United Nations initiative to celebrate clean water and bring attention to those who don’t have enough of it.

b.      The first World Water Day was celebrated in 1993 after the United Nations approved of the same. 

c.      Theme of World Water Day 2019 : 'Leaving no one behind'

2.     India has been ranked 140 out of 156 countries in the United Nations' World Happiness Report 2019, dropping 7 positions from last year. 

a.      India's neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh and China are ranked 67th, 125th and 93rd respectively. 

b.      Finland topped the list for the second consecutive year, followed by Denmark and Norway, while war-torn South Sudan was ranked last.

c.      Top 10 in World Happiness Index 2019

i)      Finland

ii)    Denmark

iii) Norway

iv)  Iceland

v)    Netherlands

vi)  Switzerland

vii)             Sweden

viii)           New Zealand

ix)  Canada

x)     Austria

d)    Bottom 10

147.           Haiti 

i)        Botswana 

ii)      Syria 

iii)    Malawi

iv)    Yemen

v)      Rwanda

vi)    Tanzania

vii)  Afghanistan

viii)Cen African Rep

ix)     South Sudan

3.     Exercise 'Mitra Shakti VI' which is conducted annually as part of military diplomacy and interaction between armies of India and Sri Lanka will be held during 26th March to 8th April 2019 in Sri Lanka.

a.      Troops from 1st Battalion the Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army and Gemunu Watch Battalion of Sri Lankan Army would be jointly undertaking the exercise.

b.      Aim of Mitra Shakti 2019 : To build and promote close relations between armies of both the countries and to enhance the ability of joint exercise commander to take military contingents of both nations under command.

4.     British Prime Minister Theresa May is attending the crucial European Council summit at Brussels. 

a.      At the meeting, Ms May will put her case before European Union leaders for an extension to the Brexit withdrawal process till 30th of June.

5.     Bihar is celebrating its 107th foundation day today. 

a.      It was on this day in 1912, Bihar was carved out of Bengal presidency. 

b.      About Bihar :

i)      Capital : Patna

ii)    Formed on : 22nd March 1912

iii) Statehood : 26th January 1950

iv)  Total Districts : 38

v)    Governor : Lal Ji Tandon

vi)  Chief Minsiter : Nitish Kumar

vii)             Official Language : Hindi

6.     Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Dr Harsh Vardhan are among the 7 Indians who have been named in the 'World's 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy for 2019' for taking steps in order to combat climate change.

a.      The list was published by Apolitical, a global network for government helping public servants find the ideas, people and partners they need to solve the hardest challenges.

b.      Other Indians in the lsit are :

i)      Pune Mayor Mukta Tilak.

ii)    Executive director of Integrated Research and Action for Development, a research and policy analysis institute focusing on sustainable development Jyoti Kirit Parikh.

iii) Well-renowned environmentalist and political activist, Sunita Narain.

iv)  Environmental activist, Vandana Shiva.

v)    Director general of the International Solar Alliance, Upendra Tripathi.

7.     Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das called for a permanent status to Finance Commission and a robust expenditure planning without compromising on fiscal consolidation as fiscal federalism gathers momentum in the era of uniform Goods and Services Tax (GST).

a.      Das who is also a member of the 15th finance commission said there is a need to ensure consistencies between finance commissions so that there is some certainty in the flow of funds to states.

8.     State-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC) is going to acquire the government's entire 52.63% stake in Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) for about ₹14,500 crore. 

a.      Both PFC and REC are Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises with combined annual revenues of about ₹50,000 crore.

b.      Post the acquisition, both the firms will continue to remain government-owned companies.

9.     Indian low-cost airlines SpiceJet has joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 

a.      With this, SpiceJet became the 1st Indian budget carrier to join the IATA, which has over 290 airlines as members.

10.Cash-strapped Pakistan will receive over 2 billion US Dollars loan from China to provide a boost to its ailing economy.

a.      Pakistan has received 1 billion US dollars each from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as part of the bailout packages by the two Gulf nations to help shore up Islamabad's dwindling foreign currency reserves.

11.Homegrown ride-hailing app Ola has been suspended from operating any vehicles including cars, autos and bikes in Bengaluru for the next 6 months by the Regional Transport Office. 

a.      This comes after Ola operated illegal bike taxis, as per Karnataka On Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules 2016. Currently, bike taxis in Karnataka are illegal due to the lack of policy framework. 

12.American multinational automaker Ford has named 20-year Amazon veteran Tim Stone as its next Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

a.      He is going to replace Ford's present CFO Bob Shanks who is going to retire by this year end. 

b.      With this Tim becomes the 1st external hire in around 70 years.

13.India has clinched the SAFF Women's Championship (football) for the 5th time in a row, defeating hosts Nepal in the final at Biratnagar.

14.India won 368 medals (85 Gold, 154 Silver & 129 Bronze) at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, which was held at UAE's Abu Dhabi from March 14 to 21. 

a.      Indian powerlifters bagged the maximum number of medals including 20 gold, 33 silver and 43 bronze.

b.      Note : The next Special Olympic Games are set to take place in Sweden in 2021.