CURRENT AFFAIRS OF MARCH 2021

 1. UN REPORT SHOWS CLOSE TO 931 MILLION TONNES OF FOOD WERE WASTED GLOBALLY IN 2019 

Recently, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released the FoodWaste Index Report 2021. “It has revealed that 17% of all food available at consumer level (11% in households,5% in food service and 2% in retail) was wasted in 2019 and around 690 million people had to go hungry. 

“It presents The most comprehensive food waste data collection, analysis and modelling to date, . generating a new estimate of global food waste. 

This reports estimates that around 931 million tonnes of food waste was generated in 2019. 61% of which came from households, 26% from food service and 13% from retail. 

«Wasta:es across allincome ours: 

Food waste generation is found to be equally relevant across all income countries such as high, ~ upper middle and lower middle income countries. 

Developed countries like Austria produce very low amounts of waste at 39 kg/capita/ year. On the other hand, countries like Nigeria aap reducing waste at 189 kg/capita/year. For India, the waste in kg/capita/year was 50. 

This diverges from earlier narratives concentrating consumer food waste in developed countries, and food production, storage and transportation losses in developing countries. 

Sinificance of reduction of food waste: 

Reduce Hunter: Reducing food waste can slow the destruction of nature through land . ‘conversion and pollution, enhance the availability of food and thus reduce hunger and save money at the time of global recession. 

2. ISRAEL CLAIMS IRAN DUMPED OIL IN SEA IN ‘ENVIRONMENT ATTACK’ 

*Israel’s environmental protection minister has said Iran was responsible for a recent oil s ill that ravaged its shores and has claimed without evidence the incident was a form of “environmental terrorism”. 

3. INDIAN ARMY BEGINS TRAINING TURKMENISTAN SPECIAL FORCES IN COMBAT CAPABILITIES

A unique institution in itself, the special . forces training school (SFTS) is located in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh. It is responsible . for providing training to the Indian Army’s special forces. Turkmenistan § . ecial Forces 

Commence Combat Free Fall Training at Indian Special Forces Training School. 

“BACKGROUND: 

The Indian Special Forces (SF) have over a period earned immense respect and reputation of being one of the finest Special Forces in the world due to its professionalism, operational expertise and sacrifice. 

Special forces of friendly Nations including the USA, Australia, countries of Central Asian region and the middle East have increasingly shown their : desire to train with the battle hardened Indian SF troops. 

-WHAT ARE THE INDIAN SPECIAL FORCES (SF)? . 

«India has several special forces (SF) units . 

These are working under the commands of the Indian armed forces, Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. 

«There are other special forces which are not controlled by the military but operate under civilian organisation such as home ministry. 

“MA ORSPECIAL FORCES SF OF INDIA: 

*MARCOS (Marine Commandos), is a special forces unit that was raised by the Indian Navy in 1987 for direct action, special reconnaissance, amphibious warfare and counter terrorism. 

«Para Commandos: formed in 1966, the para Commandos are part of the highly trained parachute regiment of the Indian Army and are the , largest part of the special forces of India. The parachute units of the Indian Army are among the oldest airborne units in the world. 

*Ghatak Force: True to its name Ghatak,this infantry Platoon goes for the kill and spearheads strikes ahead of a battalion. Every infantry battalion in the Indian Army has won platoon and only the most physically fit and motivated soldiers make it to the Ghatak Platoon. 

COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) is a specialised unit of the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) that was formed to counter naxalism in India. It is one of the few Indian Special Forces, that is exclusively trained in Guerrilla

Force One came into being in the year 2010 after the deadly 26/11 terrorist strikes in Mumbai. The prime role of this special Elite force to protect the city of Mumbai from terrorist attacks. 

"The National Security Guard is India’s premier counter terrorist force. The NSG provide security to VIPs,conducts anti-sabotage checks, and is responsible for neutralising terrorist threats to vital installations. 

The Special Protection Group: Its is a security force of the Government of India that is responsible for the nrotection of the Drime Minictar of India 

4. SUPREME COURT SAYS NEW RULES TO REGULATE OTT PLATFORMS LACK TEETH 

The Supreme Court has said the government’s new rules to regulate OTT (Over-the-top) platforms lacked teeth to punish violators or to screen offensive content. 

What’s the issue? 

The new rules were ‘more in the nature of guidelines” and there was “no effective mechanism for screening or to take appropriate action” against violators. For the first time, the government, under the Ambit of the information technology(intermediary guidelines and digital media ethics code) Rules 2021, has brought in detailed guidelines for digital content on both digital media and over-the-top(OTT) platforms. 

5. MEGHAN MARKLE AND PRINCE HARRY’S OPRAH INTERVIEW IS A ROYAL BALANCING ACT