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31 March 2021 CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS AFCAT NDA COMPETITITVE EXAMS

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Written by NDI EDITOR

Mar 31 2021

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31 March 2021 CURRENT AFFAIRS | UPSC CDS AFCAT NDA COMPETITITVE EXAMS

CURRENT AFFAIRS 31 MARCH 2021

1. VAJRA PRAHAR 2021
The 11th edition of Indo-US Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR was conducted at Special Forces Training School located at Bakloh, HP in March 2021.

About:

  • The joint exercise by the Special Forces of both the countries is conducted alternatively between India and the United States.

  • Objective is to share the best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics as also to improve interoperability between the Special Forces of both nations.
Source : PIB
 
2. DIGHA & KANKARBAGH SEWAGE PROJECTS
Financing agreements for developing STPs and Sewerage network for Digha and Kankarbagh zones of Patna were signed between DK Sewage Project Pvt Ltd (a subsidiary of VA Tech Wahagh) and PFS.

About:

  • The scope of the project includes development of Sewage Treatment Plants of 150 MLD capacity along with sewerage network of over 453 km in the Digha and Kankarbagh zones of Patna, one of the most populous cities on the banks of the river Ganga.

  • This is the first of its kind project which comprises of a mix of Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (‘DBOT’) scope and Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) scope.

  • With the implementation of Digha and Kankarbagh sewerage projects all the sewage zones of Patna city will be covered with sewerage network and sewage treatment capacity to achieve the objective of the Namami Gange program of preventing any untreated waste water entering the river Ganga.
Source : PIB
 
3. CULEX MOSQUITOES
With the change in season and rise in temperature, culex or common house mosquitoes have made a reappearance across Delhi.

About:

  • Warmer temperatures are the main reason for the appearance of these mosquitoes.

  • Their presence is especially felt more in areas around floodplains in East and South Delhi as it is an ideal condition of breeding.

  • Culex mosquitoes are known carriers of Japanese encephalitis, a potentially life-threatening but rare viral disease that causes “acute inflammation” of the brain. They breed in dirty, stagnant water.

  • They can fly up to a distance of 1-1.5 km.

  • Unlike Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread dengue and chikungunya and breed in clean water, culex mosquitoes breed in unclean stagnant water.
Source : Indian Express
 
4. NACADUBA SINHALA RAMASWAMII SADASIVAN
A group of lepidopterists have found a new butterfly species in India.

About:

  • The discovery of the species Nacaduba sinhala ramaswamii Sadasivan, 2021 in the Agasthyamalais in the Western Ghats a decade ago has now found place in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.

  • The new taxon of Lycaenid butterflies belongs to the Nacaduba genus.

  • Line Blues are small butterflies belonging to the subfamily Lycaenidae and their distribution ranges from India and Sri Lanka to the whole of south-eastern Asia, Australia and Samoa.

  • It is the first time that a butterfly species was discovered by an all-Indian research team from the Western Ghats.

Do you know?

  • Lepidopterology is a branch of entomology concerning the scientific study of moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies.
  • Someone who studies in this field is a lepidopterist or, archaically, an aurelian.
Source : The Hindu
 
5. WORLD IMMUNISATION AND LOGISTICS SUMMIT
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare digitally participated in a panel discussion on vaccine production and distribution across Asia at the “World Immunisation and Logistics Summit”.

About:

  • The HOPE Consortium’s World Immunisation & Logistics Summit opened on March 30, 2021 to enhance collaboration in the world’s approach to tackle COVID-19 and ensure a healthier future for all.

  • The two-day virtual Summit, hosted in by Abu Dhabi, kicked off under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, with the participation of acclaimed global healthcare and philanthropic leaders, decision-makers, experts and senior government officials, to explore a unified global approach to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOPE Consortium?

  • Spearheaded by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, who has led the formation of the emirate-wide consortium, the HOPE Consortium brings together leading brands to deliver an end-to-end solution to distribute COVID-19 vaccines globally.
Source : PIB
 
6. PHALTAN-PUNE DEMU TRAIN
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar flagged off DEMU train from Phaltan to Pune via Lonand on 30.3.2021 through video conferencing.

About:

  • Phaltan is a town, a taluka and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The town is about 59 kilometres northeast of the city of Satara and about 110 km from Pune.

  • Introduction of trains between Phaltan and Pune via Lonand will help the people of this region in general and agriculturists to reach new markets, students to reach educational institutions of their choice & workers to seek more green pastures in particular.

DEMU trains?

  • A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines.
  • Diesel-powered units may be further classified by their transmission type: diesel–mechanical DMMU, diesel–hydraulic DHMU, or diesel–electric DEMU.
Source : Times of India
 
7. ANANDAM: THE CENTER FOR HAPPINESS
Union Education Minister inaugurates Ānandam: The Center for Happiness in IIM Jammu, to help students live a stress-free life.

About:

  • Incorporating happiness in the academic curriculum of students is a very crucial step towards empowering our nation. This step will take our education system to newer heights, similar to the times of ancient Indian universities like Nalanda and Takshashila.

  • Anandam: The Center for happiness aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 that aims to transform India’s education system by 2021.

  • Prime activities envisaged under the concept of ‘Ānandam: The Center for Happiness’ will be divided into five broad categories, namely, Counselling, Holistic wellness, Elective courses on Happiness Development, Research and Leadership & Faculty Development.

  • The Center for Happiness acquires its name ‘Ānandam’ from the Indian wisdom tradition where the pure consciousness is being as “anandam”. “Ānandam” doesn’t aim for only happiness but knowing the truth, doing good and enjoying the beauty around.

  • The tagline for “Ānandam” further reinforces its ideology that it will work for the well-being of all. The tagline “Sarvabhūtahiteratāḥ” stands for being always engaged for the well-being of all.

 
Source : All India Radio
 
8. INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN INDIA’S HEALTHCARE SECTOR
NITI Aayog Releases Report ‘Investment Opportunities in India’s Healthcare Sector’.

About:

  • The report outlines the range of investment opportunities in various segments of India’s healthcare sector, including hospitals, medical devices and equipment, health insurance, telemedicine, home healthcare and medical value travel.

  • India’s healthcare industry has been growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of around 22% since 2016. At this rate, it is expected to reach USD 372 billion in 2022.

  • In the hospital segment, the expansion of private players to tier-2 and tier-3 locations, beyond metropolitan cities, offers an attractive investment opportunity.

 
Source : PIB
 
9. DUST WINDS
Dust-laden winds swept Delhi on Tuesday, pushing the air quality into the poor category and increasing the concentration of coarse particles in the air.

About:

  • According to forecasts, strong winds that are carrying dust to Delhi from Rajasthan are expected to continue until Thursday.

  • The concentration of particulate matter of 10 micrometres (PM10) — coarse particles suspended in the air — was 341 micrograms per cubic metre air (µg/m3) as of 5pm, against the 24-hour acceptable limit of 100 µg/m3.

  • The concentration of PM2.5 — particles that are smaller in size and are released from combustion activities — was about 105 µg/m3, a little higher than the 24-hour acceptable limit of 60 µg/m3.

  • The spike in PM10 concentration shows the impact of dust-laden winds on air quality, which, according to the Centre’s Early Warning System for Delhi, is expected to largely remain in poor category for the next five days.

Reason for Dust Winds in Delhi

  • Weather and environmental experts said a cyclonic circulation over Rajasthan and high temperatures over the past few days in northwest India is contributing to this phenomenon.
  • Delhi witnesses long-range transport of dust nearly every year from Rajasthan, and even from Afghanistan, during summer months.
Source : Indian Express
 
About Authour
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Written by NDI EDITOR

National Defence Institute's Editor

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