This is the current affairs of 22 & 23 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. Which operation was launched by India to evacuate its citizens from the violence-hit country Haiti to the Dominican Republic?
a. Operation Shanti
b. Operation Indravati
c. Operation Sagarmatha
d. Operation Ganga
Answer: b. Operation Indravati
– Under Operation Indravati, approximately 90 Indian citizens were sent to the Dominican Republic (to a safe location).
– The Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar initiated this campaign on March 21, 2024.
Note – The situation is concerning in the Caribbean country Haiti. Criminal gangs have wreaked havoc here.
Names of previous rescue campaigns:
– Operation Indravati (Year 2024): During violence by criminal gangs in Haiti
– Operation Ajay (Year 2023): During the Hamas-Israel conflict
– Operation Kaveri (Year 2023): During civil war in Sudan
– Operation Ganga (Year 2022): After Russian attacks on Ukraine
– Operation Rahat (Year 2015): During conflict in Yemen
Other foreign campaigns:
– Operation Dost: In 2023, relief campaign in Turkey after an earthquake
– Operation Maitri: In 2015, relief campaign in Nepal after an earthquake
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2. In which country did America have to airlift its embassy personnel in March 2024 due to criminal gang violence?
a. Jamaica
b. Haiti
c. Sudan
d. Gabon
Answer: b. Haiti (Caribbean country)
– Haiti is a Caribbean country.
– It is an island group located in the Atlantic Ocean.
– This island group has an area of 4,020 kilometers in length and 257 kilometers in width.
– Capital: Port-au-Prince
Haiti was once a French colony.
– Haiti was once a prosperous French colony.
– Now it is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, struggling with a struggling economy, political instability, natural disasters, and epidemics.
– Emergency situations have arisen here.
– The population here is around 11 million (approximately 11 crores). Of these, 50 percent of the population is below the poverty line.
– Haiti gained independence from France in the 19th century. And it remained under American control for two decades.
Violence and Emergency in Haiti:
– There are several criminal gangs in Haiti. – Due to being a small country, these gangs have been very influential for years.
– This incident dates back to February 29, 2024. At that time, members of the criminal gangs in the country attacked several government institutions. They attacked the jail, after which 4,000 prisoners escaped.
– Among the escapees were those prisoners who were involved in the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
– Many people were killed in this horrific violence during the jail attack.
– After this, the violence escalated even further. All gangs united and created chaos in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
– At that time, the government there declared a state of emergency for some time.
– However, later the Prime Minister had to resign.
Why did the violence erupt and why did the PM resign?
– Violence erupted in Haiti after the departure of the incumbent Prime Minister Ariel Henry to Kenya.
– Essentially, discussions were underway for deploying the International Security Forces (Multinational Security Force) in Haiti under the leadership of the incumbent Prime Minister, which led to the criminal gangs in Haiti uniting and resorting to violence.
– Subsequently, Ariel Henry had to resign from the position of Prime Minister.
Why did the United States airlift embassy personnel?
– Essentially, the United States has a presence in Haiti, which is opposed by the local population. This benefited the criminal gangs there.
– When the incumbent Prime Minister discussed deploying the Multinational Security Force, the criminal gangs were agitated, and the public also rallied against it. The whole sentiment turned against the United States because of America’s interest in deploying the force.
– As the criminal gangs united and began violence in the capital, the threat was also felt by the American embassy.
– Then, in March 2024, the US military conducted an operation to airlift non-essential embassy personnel from Haiti.
– America augmented its forces to enhance embassy security.
How many criminal gangs are there in Haiti?
– Currently, there are more than 200 gangs in Haiti, with 20 of them located in and around the Port-au-Prince area.
– Two main coalition gangs are at the center of violence – one is G9 Family and Allies, led by former special forces police officer Jimmy Cherizier (also known as Barbecue).
– The other is G-PEP, led by Gabriel Jean-Pierre.
– Additionally, there are other gangs involved in the ongoing violence in Haiti.
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3. Where has the first 2+2 meeting of India and Brazil been held?
a. Perth
b. Washington DC
c. New Delhi
d. Melbourne
Answer: c. New Delhi
– Both countries convened this meeting on March 14, 2024, to strengthen strategic relations.
– This is the first 2+2 meeting between India and Brazil.
Which ministers participated in the dialogue?
– Leading the dialogue from the Indian side were Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs G. Shrinivas and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence Vishwesh Negi.
– The Brazilian delegation was led by Marcelo Camara, Director of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Rear Admiral Fernando de Luca Marques de Oliveira.
How many strategic partners of India
– In March 2024, India and Brazil had their first 2+2 meeting.
– Currently, India has a total of five major strategic partners.
– India previously held 2+2 meetings with four major strategic partners: the United States, Australia, Japan, and Russia.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, discussions were held on the following issues:
– Defense
– Space
– Energy
– Critical minerals
– Technology
– Counter-terrorism
– Regional
– Multilateral
– Mutual interests
– Other issues
What is a 2+2 meeting?
– A 2+2 meeting is a format of dialogue between the foreign and defense ministers of India and its partners on strategic and security issues.
Brazil:
Capital – Brasília
President – Lula da Silva
Currency – Brazilian Real
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4. Which Chief Minister arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in March 2024?
a. Nitish Kumar
b. Hemant Soren
c. Rakesh Maria
d. Arvind Kejriwal
Answer: d. Arvind Kejriwal
– After a 2-hour interrogation by the ED in the Delhi Liquor Policy case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was arrested on March 21, 2024.
– In this case, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has been in jail for 13 months, and AAP leader Sanjay Singh for 6 months.
– Despite the arrest, Arvind Kejriwal remains the first person in the country to continue as Chief Minister.
What is the case of changes in the liquor policy?
– In Delhi, 60% of liquor shops were government-owned, and 40% were private. Every year vendors paid fees for license renewal.
– On November 17, 2021, the new Liquor Policy 2021-22 was implemented, which resulted in the government withdrawing from the liquor business, and this business was privatized.
– On July 8, 2022, Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar alleged corruption in this policy. It was said that Sisodia had provided undue benefits to liquor traders. The Lieutenant Governor demanded a CBI inquiry based on the report.
– On August 17, the investigating agency filed a case. It accused Manish Sisodia, three retired officers, 9 businessmen, and two companies.
– Seeing the controversy escalate, on July 28, 2022, the Delhi government canceled the new liquor policy and reinstated the old one.
– On August 22, 2022, the ED sought information from the CBI and filed a money laundering case.
– On February 26, 2023, Manish Sisodia, on October 4, 2023, Sanjay Singh, and on March 21, 2024, Arvind Kejriwal were arrested by the ED.
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5. To which player did Mahendra Singh Dhoni hand over the captaincy of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2024?
a. Ajinkya Rahane
b. Ruturaj Gaikwad
c. Devon Conway
d. Ravindra Jadeja
Answer: b. Ruturaj Gaikwad
– Just before the start of IPL 2024, on March 22, 2024, Mahendra Singh Dhoni stepped down as the captain of Chennai Super Kings, handing over the captaincy to Ruturaj Gaikwad.
– Mahendra Singh Dhoni will continue playing in the IPL.
– He is the most successful captain in IPL history.
– Dhoni has been the captain of CSK in every season.
– It’s the first time that another player is captaining CSK.
– MS Dhoni has won the IPL title in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, and 2023 during his captaincy.
– He has led India to victory in ICC Champions Trophy (2013), Cricket World Cup (2011), and T20 World Cup (2007) as the captain.
Why was Gaikwad made the captain?
– 27-year-old batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad is an Indian cricketer.
– Gaikwad has been seen as a leadership option in the cricketing circles for quite some time.
– Since he played his first season for Chennai, some experts have been considering him as a future captain.
– He is also said to be Dhoni’s preference.
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6. Where the fourth edition of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Startup Forum held in March 2024?
a. Gandhinagar
b. Patna
c. Mumbai
d. New Delhi
Answer: d. New Delhi
SCO Startup Forum 2024
– Edition: Fourth
– Event: Held in New Delhi.
– When: 19 March 2024
What will happen at the Startup Forum?
– This initiative aims to broaden startup discussions among SCO member countries, foster an conducive environment for innovation, promote job creation, and focus on developing innovative solutions by harnessing the talent of young individuals.
– More than 30 representatives from SCO countries will come together for this.
Note: DPIIT and Startup India hosted the first SCO Startup Forum on October 27, 2020.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
– Establishment: June 15, 2001
– Headquarters: Beijing, China
Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO):
– China
– Russia
– Kazakhstan
– Kyrgyzstan
– Tajikistan
– Uzbekistan
– India
– Pakistan
– Iran (Joined in 2022 and became a full member in 2023)
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7. Indian-origin Leo Varadkar was the Prime Minister of which country, who resigned in March 2024?
a. Ireland
b. England
c. Mauritius
d. Seychelles
Answer: a. Ireland
– Leo Varadkar announced his resignation from office on March 20, 2024, citing personal and political reasons.
Leo Varadkar:
– He was born in 1979 in Dublin. He is 45 years old.
– His father was originally from Sindhudurg, Maharashtra. They later settled in Ireland.
– Varadkar studied medicine.
– He first became Prime Minister in 2017. He is gay.
Ireland:
– Capital: Dublin
– President: Michael D. Higgins
– Currency: Euro
– Neighbor country: United Kingdom
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8. Name the first black leader of the Wales Government in Great Britain?
a. Makaziwe Mandela
b. Hans Albert
c. Vaughan Gething
d. Michelle Gething
Answer: c. Vaughan Gething
– Vaughan Gething was elected as the new leader of the Welsh Labour Party on March 20, 2024.
– He becomes the first non-white leader of any government in Britain.
– He secured 27 votes out of 51 in the Assembly.
– Following approval by King Charles III, Gething will be sworn in.
Out of the four governments in Britain, three now have non-white leaders:
– England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, along with Wales, which is one of the four parts of the United Kingdom.
– The population of Wales is approximately 3 million (30 lakh).
– The capital of Wales is Cardiff.
1. Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister of England (of Indian origin).
2. Humza Yousaf as First Minister of Scotland (of Pakistani origin).
3. Michelle O’Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly as leaders of Northern Ireland (both are white).
4. Vaughan Gething becomes the first non-white leader of Wales. (Born in Zambia)
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9. Based on the report of an expert committee, the Central Government has banned how many ‘cruel and dangerous’ breeds of dogs in March 2024?
a. 20
b. 23
c. 25
d. 30
Answer: b. 23
– The central government issued a circular on March 12 based on the report of a special committee, imposing a ban on these breeds:
– The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying of the central government had imposed a ban on these breeds of dogs.
Banned Dog Breeds
1. Pitbull Terrier
2. Tosa Inu
3. American Staffordshire Terrier
4. Fila Brasileiro
5. Dogo Argentino
6. American Bulldog
7. Boerboel
8. Pauper
9. Central Asian Shepherd Dog
10. Caucasian Shepherd Dog
11. South Russian Shepherd Dog
12. Tornjack
13. Surplaninac
14. Japanese Tosa and Akita
15. Mastiff
16. Rottweiler
17. Terriers
18. Rhodesian Ridgeback
19. Wolf Dogs
20. Canario
21. Akbash
22. Moscow Guard
23. Cane Corso
Reasons for the central government imposing the ban:
– Incidents of attacks by these dogs are consistently increasing nationwide.
– The attacks by these dogs are so dangerous that they have resulted in the deaths of many people.
– Additionally, animal welfare organizations and the general public are troubled by the attacks of these dogs.
– Seeing the increasing cases of deaths, the central government instructed the states to impose a ban on the sale of 23 ‘cruel and dangerous’ breeds of dogs.
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10. Which state’s High Court put a stay on the ban imposed by the Central Government on 23 ‘cruel and dangerous’ breeds of dogs?
a. Delhi High Court
b. Karnataka High Court
c. Patna High Court
d. Kerala High Court
Answer: b. Karnataka High Court
– On March 19, 2024, the Karnataka High Court issued a stay on the implementation of a circular issued by the central government banning 23 breeds of ‘cruel and dangerous’ dogs.
– However, the High Court clarified that this stay would be limited to Karnataka only.
What directives did the Karnataka High Court give to the central government?
– Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed an interim order on a petition filed by Bengaluru residents King Solomon David and Mardona Jones.
– The High Court directed the central government to present those documents for examination that formed the basis for issuing the circular banning breeds of dogs.
– These documents formed the basis for issuing the ban on breeds of dogs.
Some recent dog attacks:
March 11, 2024: A pit bull attacked a two-year-old child in Uttar Pradesh, leaving the child injured.
October 2023: In Hisar, Haryana, a pit bull attacked a woman, causing severe injuries.
July 2023: In Hisar, Haryana, a woman was bitten by a pit bull, which held onto her leg for five minutes.
July 2023: In a village in Uttar Pradesh, a pit bull attacked its owner, causing serious injuries.
September 2023: In Ghaziabad, a 14-year-old child died after being bitten by a dog.
– Countries where pit bull dogs are banned include the United States, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Britain, Ireland, Romania, Canada, Italy, and France, among 41 other countries.
Karnataka:
Capital: Bengaluru
Governor: Thawar Chand Gehlot
Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah
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