The Current Affairs Today 12th March 2024 Daily GK Update holds immense significance for students preparing for upcoming exams. In a constantly evolving world, staying abreast of current events not only enhances general knowledge but also enriches critical thinking skills.
These updates provide valuable insights into global affairs, politics, science, and technology, all of which are integral components of various competitive exams. Understanding recent developments enables students to contextualize their learning, fostering a deeper understanding of complex issues. Moreover, it cultivates the ability to analyze and articulate viewpoints effectively, essential skills for excelling in exams and navigating real-world challenges.
Daily Current Affairs 12th March 2024 Daily GK Update
Important day
March 12 – National Mauritius Day
- Mauritius Day is celebrated every year on 12 March, is a time to commemorate the country’s independence from Britain in 1968 and its transition to a republic in 1992.
- This led to an increasing call for self-rule in Mauritius, and the 1966 elections resulted in a victory for an alliance of the Mauritius Labour Party and other self-rule parties.
- Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam also became the country’s first Prime Minister.
- Twenty-four years later, on 12 March, 1992, Mauritius was proclaimed as a republic within the British Commonwealth.
Exam Related Facts
- On 12 March, 1968, Mauritius was proclaimed a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II remaining head of state.
National News
India now stands as the world’s second-largest producer of mobile phones
- India now stands as the world’s second-largest producer of mobile phones at the end of the decade 2014-2024.
- India Cellular and Electronics Association said in a statement that the sector has transitioned from being 78 percent import-dependent in 2014 to 97 percent self-sufficiency.
- Only three percent of the total mobile phones sold in India are now imported.
- India’s mobile phone production is nearing 20 lakh crore rupees in a decade of unprecedented growth.
- India produced 2.45 billion units of mobile phones during these ten years, against a goal of 2.5 billion units.
- China is the largest producer of mobile phones; Indonesia stands at 3rd.
Majuli Mask Making and Manuscript Painting Receive GI Tags
- Mask making and manuscript painting of Majuli, an island-district of Assam, have received Geographical Indication (GI) tags.
- Majuli’s Mukha Shilpa traces its origins to Srimanta Sankardev, who used arts as medium for Bhakti.
- Mask making or ‘Mukha Shilpa’ of Majuli is an age-old art form in the island, dating back to the 16th century. It is one of the most famous traditional crafts still practiced in Majuli, the world’s largest inhabited river island.
- ‘Mukha Shilpa’ has been an integral part of the ‘Sattriya’ culture of Assam.
North India’s First Government Homeopathic College to be Established in Kathua
- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, announced the establishment of North India’s first Government Homeopathic College in the Jasrota area of Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir.
- The proposed structure will include a hospital complex, a college, an administrative block and one hostel each for male and female students.
- The open space will be utilised later on for construction of an auditorium, playground, etc.
Exam Related Facts
- The project, funded centrally at Rs 80 crore, reflects a significant stride in healthcare and education infrastructure development in the region.
PM Modi launches Mahtari Vandan Yojana in Chhattisgarh
- PM Narendra Modi has launched the Mahtari Vandan Yojana in Chhattisgarh.
- The scheme has been launched in Chhattisgarh to provide financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month to eligible married women of the state as monthly DBT.
- It has been envisioned to ensure economic empowerment of women, provide them financial security, promote gender equality and strengthen the decisive role of women in the family.
- The scheme will provide benefits to all eligible married women of the state who are above 21 years of age as of January 1, 2024.
- Widows, divorced, and deserted women will also be eligible for this scheme. Around 70 lakh women will benefit from the scheme.
Exam Related Facts
PM Modi unveiled a 125-foot bronze statue of ‘Ahom general’ Lachit Borphukan (Statue of Valour) in Assam’s Jorhat
- PM Modi lays foundation stone of “Experience of Spirituality at Chitrakoot Ghat” project in Chitrakoot
- PM Modi dedicated the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh to the country
- PM Modi launched 52 tourism sector projects worth over Rs 1400 crore under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes.
- PM Modi inaugurates India’s first underwater metro in Kolkata
Jal Shakti Ministry launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain 2024
- The Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has launched the “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain” campaign 2024.
- It is the fifth edition of the campaign. The launch of Catch the Rain Campaign was scheduled to be held at the NDMC Convention Centre in New Delhi.
- The theme of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain Campaign 2024 is Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti.
- This theme revolves around the role of Women in water Conservation as well as water management.
Exam Related Facts
- The conducting body of the Catch the Rain Campaign is the National Water Mission, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation.
Easy Trip Planners partners with Ministry of Rural Development to empower self-help groups
- Easy Trip Planner Ltd.’s EaseMyTrip.com, signed an MoU with the Ministry of Rural Development to train members of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) ‘s Women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Lakhpati Didi Yojana.
- The initiative aims to focus on women-led skill development, fostering entrepreneurial skills and financial independence among rural women.
- Through the MoU, EaseMyTrip will train members of SHGs in 800 districts across India.
Exam Related Facts
- The eligibility criteria for selection includes basic knowledge of reading & writing English/Hindi and familiarity with using a computer & browsing the internet.
- The training will cover making travel reservations across all essential segments, including trains, buses, hotels and flights.
Appointment
Devendra Jhajharia elected new President of PCI
- A two-time Paralympic gold medalist, Devendra Jhajharia has been elected as the new President of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
- He succeeds another renowned para-athlete, Deepa Malik.
- Devendra Jhajharia, a javelin thrower, won gold medals in the 2004 Athens and 2016 Rio Paralympics in the F46 disability category.
Exam Related Facts
Vice Presidents- R. Chandrashekhar and Satya Prakash Sangwan
- Treasurer- Sunil Pradhan
- Secretary General- Jayawant Hammanawar
- Joint Secretaries- Lalit Thakur and T. Diwakara
- Executive Committee Members- 5 members elected
Recent Appointment
- President & Managing Director for SAP Indian Subcontinent –Manish Prasad (replace Kulmeet Bawa)
- New Lokpal of country– Justice AM Khanwilkar
- Chairman & MD of NHPC Limited – Rajendra Prasad Goyal (additional charge)
- CEO of The World Gold Council India– Sachin Jain
- Captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad- Pat Cummins (Australia)
AS Rajeev sworn in as Vigilance Commissioner
- Former Bank of Maharashtra Chief Executive AS Rajeev was sworn in as the Vigilance Commissioner at the Central Vigilance Commission.
- A S Rajeev is a career banker with over 38 years of experience in four banks, namely, Syndicate Bank, Indian Bank, Vijaya Bank and Bank of Maharashtra.
- The tenure of the Vigilance Commissioner is of four years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years
- Chief Vigilance Commissioner – Praveen Kumar Srivastava
Exam Related Facts
- The Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, provides for the appointment of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners.
Recent Appointments
- President of Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) – Devendra Jhajharia (replace Deepa Malik)
- Chairman & MD of NHPC Limited – Rajendra Prasad Goyal (additional charge)
- President & Managing Director for SAP Indian Subcontinent – Manish Prasad (replace Kulmeet Bawa)
- Captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad- Pat Cummins (Australia)
- CEO of The World Gold Council India – Sachin Jain
Kishor Makwana assumes charge as Chairman of NCSC
- Kishor Makwanahas assumed the charge of Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
- While, Luv Kush Kumar also assumed the charge of Member of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
- Kishor Makwana was appointed by the President of India as the Chairman of the NCSC, Government of India.
Exam Related Facts
Makwana has previously served as the joint spokesperson of the Gujarat unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
About National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC)
- NCSC is a constitutional body. It was established to provide safeguards against exploitation of the Scheduled Castes (SC). Also, it has been done with the aim of promoting the social, educational, economic and cultural interests of SC.
- Established – 19 February 2004
- Headquarters – New Delhi
- Under – Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Initially there was a provision in the Constitution for the appointment of a special officer under Article 338. The Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes was appointed as the special officer.
- Article 338 was amended by the 89th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003. Also, the then National Commission for SC and ST was replaced by two commissions from the year 2004. Which were:
- The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) operates under the authority of Article 338.
- The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) functions under the jurisdiction of Article 338A.
Exam Related Facts
Recent Appointment
- President of Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) – Devendra Jhajharia (replace Deepa Malik)
- Chairman & MD of NHPC Limited – Rajendra Prasad Goyal (additional charge)
- President & Managing Director for SAP Indian Subcontinent – Manish Prasad (replace Kulmeet Bawa)
- Captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad- Pat Cummins (Australia)
- CEO of The World Gold Council India – Sachin Jain
Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Cabinet resign
- Manohar Lal Khattar has resigned from his position as the Chief Minister of Haryana, following emerging rifts within the coalition government formed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP).
- Meanwhile, Nayab Singh Saini has been named as the new Haryana Chief Minister.
- In the 90-member Haryana assembly, the BJP has 41 MLAs, Congress 30 and JJP 10.
- Seven are Independents, while there is one MLA each from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the HLP.
Exam Related Facts
About Haryana
- Capital – Chandigarh
- Governor – Bandaru Dattatreya
- Legislative Assembly Seats- 90
Awards
96th Osacar 2024 winners announced
- The 96th Academy Awards happened at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.
- The awards honor outstanding work in filmmaking as decided by the Academy’s voting members.
- 96thOsacar Awards List-
| Best Picture | Oppenheimer |
| Best Actress | Emma Stone, “Poor Things” |
| Best Director | Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” |
| Best Actor | Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer” |
| Best Song | “What Was I Made For?” from “Barbie” |
| Best Score | Oppenheimer |
| Best Sound | The Zone of Interest |
| Best Short Film (Live Action) | The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar |
| Best Cinematography | Oppenheimer |
| Best Documentary Feature | 20 Days in Mariupol |
| Best: Documentary (Short Subject) | The Last Repair Shop |
| Best Film Editing | Oppenheimer |
| Best Visual Effects | Godzilla Minus One |
| Best Supporting Actor | Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer” |
| Best International Feature | The Zone of Interest |
| Best Costume Design | Poor Things |
| Best Production Design | Poor Things |
| Best Makeup and Hairstyling | Poor Things |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | American Fiction |
| Best Original Screenplay | Anatomy of a Fall |
| Best Animated Feature | The Boy and the Heron |
| Best Animated Short | War Is Over! |
| Best Supporting Actress | Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers” |
Exam Related Facts
The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, celebrate both the artistic and technical achievements in movies.
They’re given out every year by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States.
Defence
INS Tir participates in Exercise Cutlass Express in Seychelles
- INS Tir, the lead ship of First Training Squadron (1TS), participated in Exercise Cutlass Express 24 (CE-24) held at Port Victoria, Seychelles.
- The exercise was inaugurated by Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan with dignitaries from India, the US and African countries present on the occasion.
- As part of Exercise Cutlass Express, the Indian Navy actively engaged with participants from 16 friendly foreign countries.
Exam Related Facts
Recent Exercise
- Indian Air Force Conduct Exercise Vayu Shakti-2024 – Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
- Desert Knight Exercise between India, France, UAE – over Arabian Sea
- 1st edition of Military Exercise – SADA TANSEEQ between India & Saudi Arabia – Rajasthan
- 12th edition of MILAN Naval Exercise – Visakhapatnam
- 11th edition of Khanjar Exercise between India-Kyrgyzstan – Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh
Defence Ministry signs ₹200 crore contract for anti-drone systems
- The Ministry of Defence has signed a ₹200 crore contract for anti-drone systems for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF).
Defence Ministry signs ₹200 crore contract for anti-drone systems Big Bang Boom Solutions Private Limited (BBBS).
Exam Related Facts
- This is the largest contract signed by the MoD under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative.
- The focus of the iDEX programme is to foster an ecosystem of innovation and technology development in defence.
DRDO successfully conducts Mission Divyastra
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted first successful flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
- The flight test named Mission Divyastra was carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. This Mission accomplished the designed parameters.
- Missiles equipped with MIRV technology can aim multiple targets that can be located hundreds of kilometres apart. Agni-5, which can carry nuclear warheads and hit targets more than 5,000 km away, is aimed mainly at thwarting the challenge from China.
- The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and have already been deployed.
- This included medium to intercontinental versions. Agni-5 has been successfully tested several times since 2012.
Exam Related Facts
Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)
- Founded – 1 January 1958
- Headquarters – New Delhi
- Motto – “Strength’s Origin is in Knowledge”
- Chairman – Samir V Kamat