Monthly Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2018

Notes:
The 27th Technological Conference of Indian Jute Industries’ Research Association (IJIRA) on Shaping the Future of Jute was held in Kolkata, West Bengal. The function was focused on the promotion of geotextiles in the northeast region. Geotextiles are absorbent fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect or drain.

Notes:
The Western Naval Command has carried out three-week long tri-Services maritime exercise termed ‘Paschim Leher (XPL – 2018)’ in the Arabian Sea from February 12 with an aim of building inter- operability. In addition, units from Eastern Naval Command, Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Coast Guard also participated in the exercise. The exercise involves 40 warships and submarines, helicopters, reconnaissance aircraft and UAVs. The exercise includes a number of weapon firings, including missile, gun and torpedo firings during the initial phase. The second phase is structured to validate and refine the operational plans of the Western Naval Command. The XPL 2018 enabled testing and revalidation of operational plans and manoeuvres in a hostile maritime scenario on India’s Western Seaboard. The maritime exercise, which came after the Eastern Naval Command Operational Readiness Exercise (ENCORE), is ostensibly being conducted to show China India’s military prowess.

Notes:
Khagendra Jamataia (64), the Tripura Fisheries and Cooperation minister, has passed away in New Delhi on March 2, 2018. Jamataia was a CPI (M) candidate from the Krishnapur constituency in the February 18 assembly election. Jamatia had joined CPI (M) in 1983 and had been winning from Krishnapur constituency since 1988. This is the second setback for CPI (M) after the death of Ramendra Narayan Debbarma who was contesting from Charilam (ST) constituency.

Notes:
Justice S. Ratnavel Pandian (89), the former Supreme Court judge, has passed away at Chennai, Tamil Nadu on February 28, 2018. He was a multi-faceted personality who tried his hands in politics before entering the legal profession. In the apex court, he was part of a Bench that decided the famous Indra Sawhney case, in which the constitutionality of reservations to Backward Classes was upheld in 1992. After his retirement in 1994, Justice Pandian headed the 5th Central Pay Commission and submitted its final report in April 1997. He took over as chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes on August 14, 2006 and was given the status of Union Cabinet Minister for the duration of the term of his office, which lasted till 2009.

Notes:
The Karnataka government has launched the world’s largest solar park ‘Shakti Sthalaon’ at Pavagada in Tumakuru district, about 180km from Bengaluru. The solar park has a capacity of 2,000 MW and has set up at an investment of Rs16,500 crore. The first phase of the park will generate 600MW, while the balance 1,400MW is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2018. The park will create employment and act as an incentive for natives and farmers to explore new opportunities of socio-economic growth in the region.

Notes:
Navjot Kaur has scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a Gold medal at the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships. She clinched the coveted yellow metal in the 65 kg freestyle category at the tournament held at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan on March 2, 2018. Navjot defeated Japan’s Miya Imai, 9-1 in a one-sided final bout yesterday to give India’s its first Gold of the ongoing Championships. Rio Olympics Bronze medallist Sakshi Malik won a bronze in the 62 kg division after getting the better of Kazakhstan’s Ayaulym Kassymova, 10-7.The two medals took India’s medals tally to six – 1 Gold, 1 Silver and 4 Bronze.

Notes:
Armen Vardani Sarkissian has been elected as the new president of Republic of Armenia on March 2, 2018. Sarkissian will succeed Serzh Sarkisian and will assume the presidency in April 9, 2018. This was the first time in Armenia’s history when the president was elected by the National Assembly instead of popular vote. Sarkissian served as Prime minister of Armenia from November 1996 to March 1997. Previously, he had been Armenia’s ambassador in London. He has also served as the Armenian ambassador to the European Union, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the Holy See.

Notes:
India’s shooter Manu Bhaker from Haryana won the gold medal in 10 metre Air Pistol Women event at the 2018 ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico on March 4. She shot 237.5 points to bag top honour at the ongoing event. Meanwhile, in the men’s 10-metre Air Rifle event, Ravi Kumar won a Bronze, which was his first World Cup medal. India has so far bagged 4 medals – two gold and two bronze at the event. A total of 404 athletes from 50 National Olympic Committees are participating in the in the 12-day competition, which will have 15 medal events including three mixed team events. India has fielded a 33-member squad.

Notes:
The Odisha government has launched a programme “Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas (Our Village, our development)” to reach out to the people in rural areas and involve themselves in the developmental activities. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has flagged off mobile video vans for ‘Ama Gaon Ama Vikas’ programme that will move across the State to highlight various welfare schemes at villages in the state. Through these Wi-Fi enabled latest technology video wall vans, people can directly send their grievances to the Chief Minister’s Office at the Secretariat in Bhubaneswar. This initiative will help people in solving their grievances instantly.

Notes:
Vinod Kumar Omprakash has clinched bronze in men’s 70kg freestyle at the 2018 Asian Wrestling Championships at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Also, defending champion Bajrang Punia won bronze in men’s 65kg freestyle on March 3. Earlier, in the tournament, Navjot Kaur scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold in the senior continental championship as she clinched the yellow metal in the 65kg freestyle category. Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik won a bronze in the 62kg freestyle category. With this, the medal haul includes one Gold, one Silver and six Bronze medals.