NATIONAL:
1. Asian Ultra Cycling Championship
Why in news – Asia's longest cycle race, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, flagged off on March 1, 2023.
Key Points –
• It would cover 3655 kilometres from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
• The cyclists who complete the race would automatically qualify for the World event.
2. 7th International Dharma Dhamma
Why in news – President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 7th International Dharma Dhamma Conference in Bhopal.
Key Points –
• Theme - Eastern Humanism for the New Era.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Mutual Recognition of Qualifications
Why in news – India and Australia signed a framework mechanism for mutual recognition of qualifications.
Key Points –
• Aim - to ease the mobility of students and professionals between the two countries.
• India has set the target of providing 50% of its youth with either higher education or skill education by 2035.
• Joint/ Dual/ Twinning degrees have been brought in recently under National Education Policy 2020.
• Education is a very important pillar of India – Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2020).
2. Vo Van Thuong
Why in news - Vietnam’s Parliament has selected Vo Van Thuong as the country’s new president.
Key Points –
• His predecessor, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, was forced to resign from office in January 2023.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. Weapons of control, shields of impunity: Internet shutdowns in 2022
Why in news – The report was released by “Access Now” and the KeepItOn coalition.
Key Points –
• India topped in the list of nations that ordered internet shutdowns for the fifth year in a row.
• India enforced as many as 84 internet shutdowns in 2022.
• Top 3 states/UTs –
A. Jammu and Kashmir (49 times).
B. Rajasthan (12 times).
C. West Bengal (7 times).
• Internet shutdown orders are governed under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.
• Top 3 countries (times) –
A. India (84)
B. Ukraine (22)
C. Iran (18)
2. The Value of Prime International Residential Index (PIRI 100)
Why in news – Property consultant Knight Frank released the report.
Key Points –
• It is a global list of movements in prices of luxury homes.
• Top 3 cities –
A. Dubai (44.2% increase)
B. Aspen (27.6%)
C. Riyadh (25%).
• From India –
A. Mumbai Rank -37th (6.4%).
B. Bengaluru Rank – 63rd (3%)
C. Delhi Rank – 77th (1.2%)
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Porter Prize 2023
Why in news – The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) was awarded the Porter Prize 2023.
Key Points –
• Reason - for successfully combating the COVID-19 crisis.
• India delivered more than 2.5 billion doses.
• The prize was announced at The India Dialog at Stanford University.
• Theme of conference - The Indian Economy 2023: Innovation, Competitiveness and Social Progress.
SECURITY:
1. Exercise Shinyuu Maitri
Why in news – The Indian Air Force (IAF) participated in Exercise Shinyuu Maitri with the Japan Air Self-Defence Force (JASDF).
Key Points –
• Venue - Komatsu, Japan.
• It was organised on the side-lines of the Indo-Japan Joint Army Exercise, Dharma Guardian.
ECONOMY:
1. IESH and CCS Survey
Why in news – Reserve Bank of India launched two key surveys to provide "useful inputs" monetary policy.
Key Points –
• They are –
A. Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH).
B. Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS).
• IESH – to capture subjective assessments on price movements and inflation, based on their individual consumption baskets.
• CCS – to gather qualitative responses from households, regarding their sentiments on general economic situation, employment scenario, price level, households' income and spending.
• Both surveys are to be conducted in 19 cities.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. National Safety Day 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on March 4 every year in India.
Key Points –
• Aim - to highlight safety measures and make sure that people are aware of them and follow them to avoid accidents at work.
• Theme - “Our Aim – Zero Harm”.
• National Safety Week - From 4 to 10 March.
FESTIVALS:
1. Siang Unying Festival
Why in news – Sarbananda Sonowal attended the colorful Siang Unying Festival in Arunachal Pradesh.
Key Points –
• It is an important festival of the Adi community at Boleng, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Unying is a spring festival marking the beginning of the spring season & new year of Adi community.
SPORTS:
1. Chess Player-of-the-Year Award
Why in news – Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh was honoured with Player-of-the-Year award by the Asian Chess Federation (ACF).
Key Points –
• Reason - Clinching gold medal with a record-breaking score of 9/11 in the 44th Chess Olympiad at Mahabalipuram in 2022.
• ‘Best Women’s team of the Year’ - Indian women’s team (Koneru Humpy, D Harika, R Vaishali, Tania Sachdev and Bhakti Kulkarni).
• Men’s Coach-of-the-Year - R B Ramesh.
• Women’s Coach-of-the-Year awards - Abhijit Kunte.
BIHAR:
1. Millets Mahotsav
Why in news – A two-day Millets Mahotsav was organized from 28th February to 1st March 2023 at Bhojpur, Bihar.
Key Points –
• It was inaugurated by Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Shri Pashupati Kumar Paras.
• United Nations declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
• Bihar is known for the production of Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and Small Millets.
• Bhojpur is the hub of sourcing of Sorghum and Small Millet.
• During the year 2021-22, Bihar has exported 21,187.60 MT Millets worth 5.92 Million US Dollars.
About Millets –
• Being grown in more than 130 countries, Millets are considered traditional food for more than half a billion people across Asia and Africa.
• India is the largest producers of millet in the world (41% share in global production).
2. “The Book of Bihari Literature”
Why in news – Bihar Minister of Industry, Samir Kumar Mahaseth has released a book titled “The Book of Bihari Literature.
Key Points –
• It was edited by Abhay Kumar, an Indian poet- diplomat.
• It was released during Grand Trunk Road Initiatives 3.0 (GTRi 3.0) held in Patna, Bihar.
• It is a collection of short stories and poems written over a period of 2600 years.
3. National CBIP Award
Why in news – Gangajal Aapurti Yojana and Gayaji Dham (Falgu River, Gaya) were given the National Award CBIP Award 2022.
Key Points –
• Both were selected by the Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP) in the category of best implementation of water resources.
• The award was received by Sanjay Kumar Agrawal, Secretary, Water Resources Department and Ishwar Chandra Thakur, Engineer-in-Chief, Irrigation.
• While preparing the plan, the needs of the population till the year 2051 have been kept in mind.
POINTERS:
• Which country has tied up with ISA to increase the use of solar energy - Bangladesh.
• Which country has been awarded the Government Leadership Award 2023 by the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) Association – India.
• Which company has recently commissioned India's first "Air-cooled Condenser" – NTPC.
• Which airline has emerged as the largest foreign airline - Emirates Airline.
• Which country has the potential to contribute 15% of global growth in 2023, according to the IMF – India.
• Which company has become the second strongest telecom brand in the world - Reliance Jio.
• Recently, 'Bola Tinubu' has become the new President of which country – Nigeria.
• Who is hosting the second G-20 Business Conference event recently – Aizawl.
• Who has won the women's singles title of 'National Badminton Championship' recently - Anupama Upadhyay.
• NASA has appointed which woman as the agency's science chief for the first time - Nicola Fox.