NATIONAL:
1. New Delhi World Book Fair 2023
Why in news - Minister of State for Education Rajkumar Ranjan Singh inaugurated New Delhi World Book Fair 2023.
Key Points –
• Theme - Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• The PM-YUVA Mentorship Scheme was launched to train India's young authors, with the theme of unsung heroes during the Indian national movement.
• YUVA -Young Upcoming Versatile Author.
2. India's 1st Marina
Why in news - India's first Marina would be constructed at Byndoor in the Udupi district, KA.
Key Points –
• Aim - to promote coastal tourism.
• Marina - A small area of water (a harbour) designed for pleasure boats.
• Ancient temples in KA - Madhukeshwara (in Banavasi) and Dattatreya (in Ganagapura).
3. “Neutral Citation System”
Why in news – CJI D Y Chandrachud announced that the Supreme Court would adopt a “neutral citation system” for its judgments.
Key Points –
• Neutral citation - The court would assign its own citation, distinct from those given by traditional Law Reporters. Citation is essentially an identification tag for a judgment.
• The Delhi, Kerala and Madras HCs have already introduced neutral citation.
• All judgments would now have neutral citations i.e., from January 1, 2023 to 1950.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Northern Ireland Dispute
Why in news - United Kingdom has reached a deal with the European Union to resolve trade dispute over Northern Ireland.
Key Points –
• Trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland was easy before Brexit (both parts EU having same trade rules).
• When Northern Ireland (UK) left the EU, a deal was required to prevent checks being introduced.
Northern Ireland Protocol –
• New checks were introduced.
• But rather than taking place at the Irish border, inspection and document checks are carried out at Northern Ireland's ports.
Windsor Framework –
• The new deal is aimed at significantly reducing the number of checks.
• Two lanes would be created for goods arriving in Northern Ireland from Great Britain–
A. Green lane (checks scrapped) - For goods which will remain in Northern Ireland.
B. Red lane (subject to checks) - For goods which may be sent on to the EU.
2. FATF Suspended Russia
Why in news – Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has suspended Russia’s membership.
Key Points –
• Reason - Moscow’s war in Ukraine violated the organisation’s principles.
• FATF headquarter - Paris, France.
• Eurasian Group on Money Laundering (EAG) (2004) –
• It is a FATF-style regional body comprising 9 countries.
• EAG is an associate member of the FATF.
RANKS & INDICES:
1. International IP Index Report
Why in news – The US Chamber of Commerce released its latest International IP Index report.
Key Points –
• India Rank - 42nd (out of 55 countries).
• Top – USA.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Green Hydrogen Plants
Why in news – Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) plans to set up green hydrogen plants at all its refineries by 2047.
Key Points –
• It is part of a Rs 2-lakh crore green transition plan to achieve net-zero emissions.
• India's oil consumption is set to rise from 5.1 million barrels per day (bpd) to 7–7.2 million bpd by 2030 and 9 million bpd by 2040.
• Hydrogen is considered the cleanest fuel that emits just oxygen and water when burnt.
• Crude oil refineries use hydrogen to reduce the sulphur content in diesel fuel.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)
Why in news – LS Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the 19th annual zone III Conference of CPA India Region in Gangtok, Sikkim.
Key Points –
• After the Africa Region, India has the largest number of member branches of the CPA.
• Administratively, the CPA India Region is divided into 4 zones.
• An Indian Parliamentary delegation led by LS Speaker Om Birla attended the 65th CPA at Halifax, Canada in August 2022.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. National Science Day 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on Feb 28 to commemorate the discovery of the “Raman Effect” by Indian physicist CV Raman.
Key Points –
• Theme 2023 - “Global Science for Global Wellbeing”.
• In 1986, the Government of India designated February 28 as National Science Day.
• Physicist Sir CV Raman won Nobel Prize in 1930 for Raman Effect.
• Raman Effect –
• When a stream of light passes through a liquid, a fraction of the light scattered by the liquid is of a different colour.
• This happens due to the change in the wavelength of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected by molecules.
2. 56th Death Anniversary of VD Savarkar
Why in news – 56th death anniversary of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was observed on Feb 26, 2023.
Key Points –
About Veer Savarkar –
• He was arrested for –
• Nasik Conspiracy Case (1909) - abetment to murder of Nashik Collector Jackson, and
• Waging a conspiracy against the King emperor under Indian Penal Code 121-A.
• Following the two trials, Savarkar was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment and transported in 1911 to the Cellular Jail in A&N islands.
• Founded –
• Abhinav Bharat Society (secret society).
• Free India Society (inspired from Giuseppe Mazzini).
• His books –
• The History of the War of Indian Independence
• Hindutva: who is Hindu?
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. LLaMA Model
Why in news – Meta has released its Large Language Model Meta AI (LLaMA).
Key Points –
• LLaMA (not a chatbot) - Foundational language model developed to assist researchers in their work in the subfield of AI.
• It is Meta’s third LLM after Glactica and Blender Bot 3.
• Other language models –
Chats bots:
SPORTS:
1. ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023
Why in news - Australian women won an unprecedented sixth T20 World Cup trophy.
Key Points –
• They defeated South Africa by 19-run in the summit clash.
• Venue - Cape Town, South Africa.
BIHAR:
1. Bihar 17th Economic Survey Report 2022-23
Why in news - The 17th report was tabled in the legislative assembly by finance minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Feb 27, 2023.
Key Points –
• GSDP rate in 2021-22 (at constant prices) - 10.98%.
• This was the 17th report, a practice started by the Nitish Kumar government in 2006-07.
• The capital expenditure increased by 29.4% over the previous year to reach ₹33,903 crore.
• Highest growth rate – Rajasthan (1st), Andhra Pradesh (2nd) and Bihar (3rd).
POINTERS:
• Where was the first PM Gati Shakti Workshop for the Western and Central zone held – Goa.
• The world's highest weather station has been reconstructed on which hill - Mount Everest.
• Which ministry has launched "mPassport Police App" for speedy police verification of passports - Ministry of External Affairs.
• Projects worth how many crores have been approved for pollution control and development of ghats in Ganga basin - Over Rs 1,278 crore.
• Which state government has approved the new excise policy to reduce the consumption of liquor - Madhya Pradesh.
• Indian Railways has completed electrification of all broad-gauge routes in which state - Uttar Pradesh.
• Who has been selected by the BCCI as the title sponsor of the Women's Premier League - Tata Group.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the Air Services Agreement with which country – Guyana.
• Who has won the bronze medal in the women's 10m air rifle at the ISSF World Cup - Tilottama Sen.
• Where will the country's second bone and spine hospital with more than 400 beds be built -Patna, Bihar.