Current Affairs 19 March 2024

Ruby Thakur
March 19, 2024
102

In Current Affairs for 19 March 2024, we will see the latest national and international current affairs news. These important current affairs will be beneficial for your upcoming NDA, CDS, CDS OTA, AFCAT, TA, Agniveer Army, Agniveer Navy, Agniveer Air Force, Women Military Police, INET, MNS, ACC exams, SCO, PCSL, CAPF, and SSB interviews, and direct entries for Army, Navy, and Air Force like SSC Tech, TGC, JAG, NCC, TES, 10+2 Cadet. Download a PDF file about current events at the end of this article. Let us now see the Current Affairs.

Current Affairs 19 March 2024

Oil Palm Processing Unit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated India’s first integrated oil palm processing unit, operated by 3F Oil Palm, marking a significant stride in the nation’s journey towards self-reliance in edible oils.
Situated in Arunachal Pradesh’s Roing, this project aligns with Mission Palm Oil under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the oil palm processing unit on, signaling the beginning of its commercial operations.

The integrated Oil Palm project comprises a state-of-the-art oil palm factory (Palm Oil Processing and Refinery), a zero-discharge effluent plant, and a palm waste-based power plant, alongside supporting structures and go-downs. This initiative represents a pivotal step towards achieving Atmanirbharta (self-reliance) in edible oils and empowering farmers, particularly in the Northeast region.
Oil Palm has invested Rs 100 crore in the region, with plans to invest Rs 1100 crore by 2030, generating employment opportunities for 1,700 people. Arunachal Pradesh alone has identified 1,30,000 hectares of suitable land for Oil Palm cultivation, with the Northeast region holding 33% (9.6 Lakh hectares) of the designated area.

However, only 4% of this potential has been utilized for Oil Palm Development. India currently imports 96% of its required palm oil, constituting 67% of the country’s edible oil import bill, surpassing Rs. 1 Lakh crore.
The NMEO-Oil Palm Policy aims to reduce this dependency through domestic cultivation promotion, particularly in the Northeast.

Formula 4 Car Racing

The beautiful Dal Lake in Kashmir witnessed an exciting event on March 18. Formula-4 car racing was held for the first time in the region. The sleek racing cars raced along the Boulevard road near the lake, creating a thrilling atmosphere.
The Zabarwan Hills provided a stunning backdrop for the event. The high-speed car race showcased Kashmir’s ability to host world-class sports events.
He expressed confidence that such initiatives would improve Kashmir’s image, boost tourism, and stimulate the local economy.

The successful inaugural Formula-4 car racing event has set a precedent. It demonstrated that with the right support and infrastructure, Kashmir can host impactful events that contribute to the Valley’s social and economic progress.
“This is a momentous occasion for the Valley, showcasing our ability to host prestigious international events and attracting visitors from around the world,” Khalid remarked.
As the roar of engines faded into the evening, the inaugural Formula-4 car racing event left a lasting mark on Kashmir’s sporting landscape. It paved the way for more thrilling events and further cemented the region’s status as an emerging hub for adventure and tourism.

Diana Memorial Award

Uday Bhatia and Manasi Gupta from India were honored with the prestigious ‘Diana Memorial Award’.
Along with them, a total of 20 people from around the world were honored with the ‘Diana Memorial Award’. This award is given every two years in memory of Princess Diana.

It recognizes exceptional youth for their social work or humanitarian services. The Diana Award charity, established in memory of the late Princess of Wales, is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Uday Bhatia and Manasi Gupta received the award from Prince William at the awards ceremony at the Science Museum, London.
Prince William is the elder son of the late Princess Diana. Uday Bhatia is an inventor from Delhi.
His company, Uday Electric, founded by the 18-year-old, is headquartered in Delhi.
Uday’s low-cost invention can provide relief from power cuts. He started mentoring 16-year-old school students in a slum in Uttar Pradesh, where he found that power cuts were hampering their education.

His invention provided uninterrupted lighting for 10 hours during power cuts, benefiting 950 families and increasing their education and employment opportunities.
Manasi Gupta is a mental health campaigner from Haryana. The Huesothemind Foundation, founded by Manasi Gupta, is headquartered in Gurugram. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 24-year-old’s mental health services were appreciated, and she received recognition.

Saraswati Samman

Renowned poet Prabha Varma has been selected for the Saraswati Samman for the year 2023 for his work in Malayalam language.
He has been considered for this award for his Malayalam language poetry work, Roudra Sathwikam and also for his contribution to the literature during the period 2013 to 2022.

The honour carries, apart from a citation, a plaque and an award money of fifteen lakh rupees.
Roudra Sathwikam is a poetic work of Prabha Varma in Malyalam language which was published in 2022.
The novel in poetic verse probes the conflict between power and politics, individual and state, art and power in a unique manner.

Startup Mahakumbh

The three day Startup Mahakumbh, one of the biggest events showcasing the startup ecosystem, began at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
This startup event aims at connecting startups with a spectrum of inventors including venture capitalists, investors and potential corporate partners.

Speaking at the event, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, DPIIT Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said, there are over one lakh Startups in the country as of now, which were only 300 when the Startup India initiative was launched in 2016.
He said, India is the third largest Startup ecosystem in the world and there is a presence of Startups in 670 districts of the country. He said, over 50 per cent of Startups are from tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
DPIIT has recently launched Bharat Startup Ecosystem Registry collaborating data from all the stakeholders to create synergy between Startups in terms of productive economic activities.
The ecosystem has created over one million jobs in the last eight years and over 10 million indirect jobs. He said, India is the third largest Startup ecosystem in the world and becoming the number one is a big task.

Women’s Premier League

In the Final of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) Cricket, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) beat Delhi Capitals by 8 wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi last night.
Chasing a target of 114 runs set by Delhi Capitals, RCB scored 115 for 2 in 19.3 overs. For RCB, Ellyse Perry was the highest scorer with 35 runs followed by Sophie Devine with 32 and Smriti Mandhana 31 runs.

Earlier, deciding to bat first, Delhi Capitals were all out for 113 runs in 18.3 overs. For Delhi Capitals, Shafali Verma was the top scorer with 44 runs.
For RCB, Shreyanka Patil picked up 4 wickets, Sophie Molineux 3 and Sobana Asha took 2 wickets. Sophie Molineux was declared Player of the Match.

EU Unveils Partnership With Egypt

European Union has announced a landmark partnership agreement with Egypt, elevating the bloc’s relationship with the North African nation and unveiling a substantial funding package to support Egypt’s faltering economy and address shared challenges.
The deal, unveiled during a high-level delegation visit to Cairo, encompasses cooperation in key areas such as renewable energy, trade, security, and managing migration flows.

At the heart of the partnership is a comprehensive funding package totaling €7.4 billion over the next three years.
The proposed assistance, designed in close coordination with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), includes: €5 billion in concessional loans, €1.8 billion in investments, €600 million in grants, including €200 million specifically for managing migration, The majority of the funding is newly allocated, with €1 billion of the macro-financial loan to be delivered this year, subject to approval by the European Parliament.

The substantial financial support underscores the EU’s commitment to fostering stability and economic recovery in Egypt, a country of 106 million people grappling with high inflation, foreign currency shortages, and increasing migration pressures.

Current Affairs 19 March Question

Startup Mahakumbh Is Inaugurated In
A. New Delhi
B. Bhubaneshwar
C. Chennai
D. Hyderabad
ANSWER: A
Saraswati Samman Is Awarded To
A. Sunita Roy
B. Prabha Varma
C. Sheetal Upadhyay
D. Kriti Sharma
ANSWER: B
First Integrated Oil Palm Processing Unit Is Inaugurated In
A. Assam
B. Gujrat
C. Kerala
D. Arunachal Pradesh
ANSWER: D
Which Tokyo Based Startup Recently Failed To Become Japan’s First Private
Firm To Put A Satellite Into Orbit
A. Space in Japan
B. Space One
C. Rocket Lab
D. Blue Origin
ANSWER: B
What Medication Is India Set To Resume Manufacturing In 2024 Under The
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme
A. Penicillin G
B. Aspirin
C. Ibuprofen
D. Amoxicillin
ANSWER: A
Where Will The National Para Badminton Championship Be Hosted
A. New Delhi
B. Jaipur
C. Jamshedpur
D. Ranchi
ANSWER: C
Where Is The Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela Being Hosted For The First Time
A. Ranchi
B. Dhanbad
C. Jamshedpur
D. Simdega
ANSWER: D
Where was the ‘India-Bangladesh Tourism Fair’ organized
A. Kolkata
B. Dhaka
C. Mumbai
D. Chittagong
ANSWER: B
In Which Indian State Did The Geological Survey Of India Unveil The
Stratigraphic Column Of The Supergroup
A. Maharashtra
B. Andhra Pradesh
C. Karnataka
D. Tamil Nadu
ANSWER: B
Where Is The Newly Constructed Nausena Bhawan, The Headquarters Of The
Indian Navy, Located
A. Mumbai
B. Kolkata
C. Delhi
D. Chennai
ANSWER: C
Which Country Unveiled The World’s First-ever 3D Printed Mosque
A. United Arab Emirates
B. Qatar
C. Kuwait
D. Saudi Arabia
ANSWER: D
In the V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Report, Which Rank Did India Secure
Among 179 Countries
A. 164
B. 124
C. 144
D. 104
ANSWER: D
Which Country Tested Laser Weapon Capable Of Hitting A Coin From A
Kilometre Away
A. United Kingdom
B. United States
C. China
D. Russia
ANSWER: A
Name Of The New Artificial Intelligence Chatbot Launched By Cognition
A. Devin
B. Echo
C. Atlas
D. Max
ANSWER: A
Name Of NITI Aayog’s Initiative Aimed At Empowering Grassroots
Entrepreneurship And Bolstering Local Economies
A. Aspirational Blocks Programme
B. Aakanksha Logo
C. GeM Window
D. Vocal for Local
ANSWER: D
Which Bank Has Launched The Bob Earth Green Term Deposit Scheme
A. Bank of Baroda
B. State Bank of India
C. ICICI Bank
D. HDFC Bank
ANSWER: A
Perumbakkam Wetland, Is Located In Which State
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Kerala
C. Maharashtra
D. Karnataka
ANSWER: A
Operation Rising Sun Is Related To Which One Of The Following
A. Smuggling of foreign-origin gold
B. Smuggling of Drugs
C. Smuggling of Tiger’s skin
D. Smuggling of red sandalwood
ANSWER: A
What Is The Objective Of The Tripartite Mou Signed Among USOF, Prasar
Bharati, And ONDC
A. Enhancing urban infrastructure
B. Extending affordable digital services in rural India
C. Promoting international trade
D. Strengthening cybersecurity measures
ANSWER: B
Which Institution Released The ‘Gender Snapshot 2023 Report
A. United Nations
B. IMF
C. World Bank
D. WEF
ANSWER: A