This is the current affairs of 21 March 2024. Here are questions and answers of daily current affairs for better preparation of competitive exams for government jobs.
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1. What is India’s ranking among happy countries according to the United Nations (UN) World Happiness Index 2024?
a. 12
b. 116
c. 126
d. 167
Answer: c. 126
– On World Happiness Day (March 20, 2024), the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Solutions Network released the Happiness Index 2024 report.
– India’s ranking is 126. In the previous report, this ranking was 125. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar had dismissed this ranking last year.
– Compared to India, Pakistan is a happier country. Its ranking is 108.
Criteria for Ranking
– The World Happiness Report 2024 includes an index of 143 countries.
– 6 criteria were prepared to measure the happiness of these 143 countries.
– These include ranking based on the country’s GDP per capita, social support, generosity, corruption perception, social freedom, and healthy life expectancy.
Neighboring Countries of India
– China: 60
– Nepal: 93
– Bangladesh: 129
– Pakistan: 108
– Myanmar: 118
– Afghanistan: 143
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2. Which is the happiest country in the world according to ‘World Happiness Index 2024’?
a. India
b. Denmark
c. Finland
d. Iceland
Answer: c. Finland
– Finland has consistently ranked first in the list of the happiest countries in the world for the 7th consecutive time.
– Afghanistan ranked last (143rd) on this list.
– The report mentioned that most of the happiest countries are European.
Finland:
– Capital: Helsinki
– President: Alexander Stubb
– Prime Minister: Petteri Orpo
– Currency: Euro
– Population: 5.6 million
– Neighboring countries: Sweden, Norway, Russia
– Finland and Sweden are the 32nd and 31st members of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
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3. Military exercise ‘Tiger Triumph-24’ was organized between India and which country?
a. USA
b. France
c. Japan
d. Germany
Answer: a. USA
– In March 2024, this military exercise was organized between India and America on the eastern coast of India.
– This is a tri-service exercise, meaning that all three forces (Army, Navy, and Air Force) participated.
– Its aim is to strengthen Tri-Service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.
– In this exercise, ships, helicopters, and landing craft of the Indian Navy are participating.
– The first Tiger Triumph exercise was conducted for 9 days in 2019.
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4. According to the climate report of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which was the hottest year on record?
a. 2020
b. 2021
c. 2022
d. 2023
Answer: d. 2023
– Report Title: State of the Global Climate 2023
– Issued By: World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
– Date of Release: March 19, 2024
– According to it, the global average temperature was 1.45 degrees Celsius (with a margin of uncertainty of ± 0.12 degrees Celsius) above the pre-industrial baseline. This marked the warmest decade on record.
– WMO issued a red alert for all countries, stating that the world had never been so close to the lower limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius set by the Paris Agreement on climate change.
What the Report Says:
– The report indicates that several indicators of the climate system, including greenhouse gas levels (GHGs), surface temperature, ocean heat, sea level rise, Antarctic sea ice coverage, glacier retreat, etc., have broken many records.
– Data spanning 10 years was collected to prepare the report, revealing that the past decade was the warmest century. If lessons are not learned from this, finding a path to saving our planet will become difficult.
Greenhouse Gases:
– The unprecedented level of greenhouse gas levels (GHGs) in the atmosphere is primarily attributed to the rapid warming of the planet.
– Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide trap incoming solar radiation in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
– The report states that greenhouse gases are increasing, and the previous decade was the warmest. Land and water temperatures are rising rapidly.
– Heatwaves are occurring in many parts of the world, leading to an increase in sea temperatures.
– Glaciers face the biggest threat because the rapid increase in temperature has accelerated their melting process, disrupting the environmental balance.
– According to the report, 90% of the marine areas are experiencing heatwaves. The most significant glacier melting has occurred since 1950.
UN Chief Warns of Catastrophe:
– Following the release of this report, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed serious concern.
– He said the report clearly indicates that our planet is on the brink of catastrophe.
– Earth is telling us how bad the situation has become.
– The level of pollution indicates that if we want to make changes, they must happen very quickly.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO):
– It is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
– It is part of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
– Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
– President: Abdulla Al Mandous
– Secretary-General: Celeste Saulo
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5. When is International Day of Forests celebrated?
a. 23 March
b. 22 March
c. 21 March
d. 20 March
Answer: c. 21 March
Theme of the year 2024:
– Forests and Innovation: New Solutions for a Better World
– The United Nations General Assembly passed a proposal on November 28, 2012, declaring March 21st as International Day of Forests to be celebrated annually.
– This day is observed worldwide to raise awareness among people about the importance of forests.
– Every year, more than 13 million hectares of forests are lost.
– Continuous deforestation brings humans into contact with viruses from animals.
– According to the United Nations (UN), 60% of the world’s infectious diseases spread to humans through contact with animals.
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6. When is World Poetry Day celebrated?
a. 24 March
b. 23 March
c. 22 March
d. 21 March
Answer: d. 21 March
– In 1999, at the 30th session of UNESCO held in Paris, the announcement was made to celebrate this day.
– The objective of this day is to honor the creative glory of poets and poetry.
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7. PM Modi told the Presidents of which countries on phone in March 2024 that the issue of war should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue?
a. Russia and Belarus
b. Russia and USA
c. Russia and France
d. Russia and Ukraine
Answer: d. Russia and Ukraine
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his election victory by phone call on March 20, 2024. In fact, Putin has been elected President for the fifth time.
– During this conversation, both leaders discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict. PM Modi reiterated India’s stance on the conflict, emphasizing that issues should be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue.
– Just a few hours later, PM Modi also phoned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He urged the Ukrainian President to seek a resolution to the conflict through dialogue as well.
– After the phone calls, PM Modi posted on social media saying, “Had a good discussion with President Zelensky on strengthening India-Ukraine partnership. India has always supported the swift end of wars and peace. We will continue humanitarian assistance.”
Russia-Ukraine conflict reaches 2-year mark
– In February 2024, the Russia-Ukraine conflict reached its 2-year mark. According to American estimates, the conflict has resulted in the deaths of 180,000 Russian soldiers and 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers so far. Russia has seized control of 5 major cities in Ukraine.
– Both countries are not ready to negotiate a settlement.
– Ukraine says it will continue its attacks until Russia withdraws from its territories.
– While Russia is unwilling to relinquish control of Ukrainian territories.
Modi had told Putin – This is not the era of war
– In 2022, at the SCO Summit in Uzbekistan, PM Modi had told President Putin that this is not the era of war. This statement was also included in the declaration of the G20 under India’s presidency.
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8. Who becomes the new CEO of Microsoft AI?
a. Mustafa Suleyman
b. Parag Agrawal
c. Vivek Murthy
d. Afsar Ahmed
Answer: a. Mustafa Suleyman
– Suleyman Gul is the co-founder of DeepMind. Google acquired DeepMind in 2014.
– Now, as the CEO of Microsoft AI, he will directly report to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
– He is British and a dropout from Oxford.
CEO of OpenAI : Sam Altman
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9. When is World Down Syndrome Day observed?
a. 22 March
b. 21 March
c. 23 March
d. 20 March
Answer: b. 21 March
Theme of the year 2024:
– End the Stereotypes
– This day was first observed in the United Nations in 2012.
– March 21st (the third month of the year) was chosen as the 21st day to signify the uniqueness of the trisomy of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down syndrome.
– Down syndrome is named after British physician John Langdon Down, who first identified it in 1866.
Down syndrome:
– It falls under the category of genetic disorders.
– And it is also a cause of developmental disability.
Babies born with this condition often face thyroid or heart-related issues.
– Down syndrome exhibits physical, mental, and psychological symptoms.
– Physical traits include hypotonia, meaning low muscle tone, making it difficult to lift hands or legs. The facial features include upward slanting eyes, a flat nose, a protruding tongue, a flat head, a short neck, small ears, and short, thick hands with small fingers.
– Mental: Children with Down syndrome typically have a lower IQ.
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10. When is World Puppetry Day celebrated?
a. 23 March
b. 22 March
c. 21 March
d. 20 March
Answer: c. 21 March
– The objective of this day is to disseminate this ancient folk art to the masses and to familiarize future generations with it.
– Puppetry is a fusion of several arts, including writing, performing arts, visual arts, costume design, sculpture, woodwork, textile art, makeup, music, dance, etc.
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11. According to WWF-India report ‘Netted in Illegal Wildlife Trade: Sharks of India’, which state has reported the highest number of cases of illegal trade in shark body parts?
a. Karnataka
b. Tamil Nadu
c. Gujarat
d. Kerala
Answer: b. Tamil Nadu (Approximately 65%)
– After Tamil Nadu, similar cases have also come to light in states like Karnataka, Delhi, Gujarat, Kerala, and Maharashtra, among others.
– The illegal trade of shark body parts was predominantly (about 65%) reported from Tamil Nadu.
– Report Name: ‘Netted in Illegal Wildlife Trade: Sharks of India’
– Issued by: This report was released by the non-governmental organizations working for wildlife conservation, TRAFFIC, and WWF-India.
– Date of Release: March 2024
– TRAFFIC stands for: Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce.
Seizure of Shark Parts in India:
– According to the report, approximately 16,000 kilograms of shark fins were seized between January 2010 and December 2022.
– These constituted nearly 80% of shark-derived products.
– Additionally, 1,600 kilograms of cartilage and 2,445 kilograms of teeth were seized.
Note: Parts related to other wildlife were also seized in some incidents.
What is Done with Shark Parts?
– Shark meat is consumed as food.
– Skin is used as leather.
– Liver oil (squalene) is used as a lubricant, in cosmetics, and as a source of Vitamin A.
– Cartilage is used for extracting chondroitin sulfate for pharmaceuticals.
– Jaws and teeth are used for making artifacts.
Where are the Parts Sent?
– The report states that the seized parts were sent to Singapore, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Sri Lanka, and China.
Purpose of the Released Report:
– The purpose of this report is to raise awareness about the illegal trade of sharks in India.
– And to highlight the threats faced by these species and concerns related to their conservation.
Highest Conservation Status of Sharks:
– According to The Hindu newspaper, out of the 160 shark species reported in India, only 26 have been listed under Schedule I and II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, providing them with the highest conservation status.
Note: Globally, there are over 500 species of sharks.
What is TRAFFIC?
– TRAFFIC was established in 1976.
– It came to India in the year 1991 as a division of WWF-India.
– It is a leading non-governmental organization.
– It works on the international trade of wildlife, both in terms of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of both flora and fauna.
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