NATIONAL:
1. GIFT City, Gujarat
Why in news – Two Australian universities would set up their campuses in GIFT city, Gujarat
Key Points –
• 2 universities —
A. Deakin University
B. University of Wollongong (UOW)
• Deakin University is set to become the first foreign university to enter India via an independent campus.
2. 284th Jayanti of Sant Sevalal Maharaj
Why in news – For the first time ever, birth anniversary of Sant Sevalal Maharaj is being celebrated by the Ministry of Culture.
Key Points –
• He was the Spiritual & Religious Leader of Banjara Community.
About Sant Sevalal Maharaj –
• Born – February 15, 1739 in Shivamogga district of Karnataka.
• Tandas – Permanent settlement of Banjaras.
• He had mastery in Ayurveda and Naturopathy.
• Samadhi Sthal of Saint Sewalal – Pohradevi (Washim District, Maharashtra). It is also known as Banjara Kashi.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. 83.7% enriched Uranium in Iran
Why in news – International Atomic Energy Agency discovered uranium particles enriched up to 83.7% in Iran.
Key Points –
• Location - Fordow nuclear site.
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Headquarter – Vienna.
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, July 14, 2015) –
• It is a landmark accord reached between Iran and P5 countries & Germany.
• Iran agreed to dismantle much of its nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars’ worth of sanctions relief.
• President Trump withdrew the United States from the deal in 2018.
• It is commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.
About Enriched Uranium –
• Main fissile isotope of uranium - U-235.
• Low-enriched uranium (3-5%) - to produce fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.
• Highly enriched uranium (20% or more) - used in research reactors.
• Weapons-grade uranium (90% or more) – to make atom bomb.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Grievance Appellate Committee
Why in news – Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar launched the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC).
Key Points –
• Objective - to look into concerns of Indian social media users regarding content and other issues.
• It was established under IT Rules, 2021.
• The GACs would function as a "traffic signpost" on the Internet. Every GAC would have 3 members.
2. National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases NSPAAD
Why in news – Parshottam Rupala launched phase 2 of the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) in Chennai.
Key Points –
• He also launched the Genetic Improvement Programme of Penaeus indicus (Indian white prawn).
• NSPAAD objective – to get rid of the problem of diseases in fisheries.
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aim - increasing fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonnes and increasing fish export earning to ₹1 lakh crore by 2024-25.
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. Chandrayaan-3
Why in news – ISRO successfully conducted the flight acceptance hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic engine.
Key Points –
• It would power the cryogenic upper stage of the launch vehicle for the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
• It was carried out at the High-Altitude Test Facility of the ISRO Propulsion Complex at Mahendragiri in Tamil Nadu.
• Spectro-polarimetry of Habitable Planet Earth (SHAPE) - to study the spectral and polarimetric measurements of Earth from the lunar orbit.
• Chandrayaan-3 has 3 major modules: the propulsion module, lander module, and a rover.
• ISRO plans to launch the mission in June 2023.
• To be launched by Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh).
2. HIV Cure:
Why in news – A 53-year-old man from Germany has become at least the third person to have been “cured of HIV”.
Key Points –
• He is referred to as the Dusseldorf patient.
• This was achieved with a bone-marrow transplant from people carrying a specific HIV-resistant genetic mutation.
• Other two HIV cured persons - Timothy Ray Brown (1st , 2008) and Adam Castillejo (2nd, 2019).
• Current treatments for HIV - No cure at present, the disease can be managed using antiretroviral therapy.
CCR5 mutation and fighting off HIV?
• CCR5-delta 32 genetic mutation – A mutation that is known to make the carriers almost immune to HIV.
• HIV mainly attacks the CD4 immune cells in the human body.
• CCR5 receptors on the surface of the CD4 immune cells act as a doorway for the HIV virus.
• CCR5-delta 32 mutation prevents these receptors from forming on the surface, effectively removing the doorway.
• Only 1% of the people in the world carry two copies of the CCR5-delta 32 mutation.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2023
Why in news – India was among 190 countries that participated in GBBC 2023.
Key Points –
• It is an annual event that brings bird enthusiasts for counting birds they see around the places where they live, work or study.
• Highest number of species –
A. West Bengal (489)
B. Uttarakhand (426)
C. Arunachal Pradesh (407)
• India uploaded the second-highest number of checklists after the United States of America.
• Kerala recorded the highest number of checklists of birds.
• The GBBC was launched in 1998.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. 'Naatu Naatu' Song in Oscars 2023
Why in news – 'Naatu Naatu' would be performed at the 95th Academy Awards by singers Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava in their Oscar debut.
Key Points –
• 'Naatu Naatu' is nominated in the 'Best Original Song' category.
• 'Naatu Naatu' was shot at the Mariinskyi Palace (Ukraine Presidential Palace) in Kyiv.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Civil Accounts Day
Why in news – The day was celebrated on March 1, 2023 to mark the 47th foundation day of Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS).
Key Points –
• Public Financial Management System is the flagship activity of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) (Ministry of Finance).
• PFMS (2009) objective - tracking funds released under all schemes and real-time reporting of expenditure at all levels of Programme implementation.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Rajesh Malhotra
Why in news – Rajesh Malhotra has assumed charge as Principal Director General of Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Key Points –
• He is an Indian Information Service (IIS) Officer of the 1989 batch.
• He replaced Satyendra Prakash.
POINTERS:
• Which state has recently won the 13th Senior Women's National Championship' - Madhya Pradesh.
• Which country's scientists have detected the fifth layer inside the inner core of the Earth – Australia.
• According to the recently released data from RTI, what percentage of voters have linked Aadhaar with Voter ID - 60%.
• Who has signed MoU with CSC Academy to enhance digital literacy – NIELIT.
• With whom has Infosys collaborated to promote Enterprise Cloud Adoption – Microsoft.
• Which country has approved $442 million "Adani Wind Power Plant" - Sri Lanka.
• How much does it cost per month for Twitter Blue Tick in India - Rs 900.
• Where is the first G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting held – Bengaluru.
• In which country's Shree Muktinath Temple, a bell has been installed in honour of late Chief of Defence Staff Vipin Rawat – Nepal.
• Where has the first PM Gati Shakti Workshop for Western and Central zone been held – Goa.