NATIONAL:
1. Surekha Yadav
Why in news – Surekha Yadav became the first woman loco pilot of Vande Bharat Express.
Key Points –
• She operated Vande Bharat Express from Solapur to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal (CSMT) in Maharashtra.
• Surekha Yadav became the country's first female train driver in 1988.
• She is also Asia's first female locomotive pilot.
• Mumtaz Kazi (ladies' special train) - First suburban motor woman of Asia.
2. Longest Railway Platform
Why in news – PM Modi inaugurated world's longest railway platform in Hubballi-Dharwad, Karnataka.
Key Points –
• Station name - Shree Siddharoodha Swamiji station.
• The 1,507-metre-long platform has been built at a cost of about ₹20 crores.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. US Bank Collapse
Why in news – Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank of USA collapsed on March 10 and March 12, 2023 respectively.
Key Points –
• The tech startup industry is the biggest customer of SVB with a large number of Indian start-ups, especially in the SaaS (software as a service) sector.
• Signature Bank has a big lender in the crypto industry.
• Bank term funding program (BTFP) – It is a facility created by the US Federal Reserve that allows banks to offer high quality securities as collateral for cash at par value, meaning banks can monetize these securities holdings well above the market value.
• Largest bank failures in U.S. history –
A. Washington Mutual, Seattle, Washington (2008, nominal assets - $307 billion).
B. Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), California (2023, nominal assets - $209 billion).
C. Signature Bank, New York (2023, nominal assets - $118 billion).
2. Saudi Arabia – Iran Deal
Why in news – Saudi Arabia and Iran have announced the restoration of diplomatic ties.
Key Points –
• China acted as peace broker for the historic deal.
• 4 days of undisclosed talks held in Beijing.
• Iran and Saudi Arabia would patch up a 7-year split. Ties were severed since 2016.
History of Regional Rivalry –
• The rivalry between Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (Shia) is rooted in Islamic sectarianism.
• In modern times, this sectarian rivalry has translated into a tussle for regional hegemony.
• Both sides are involved in multiple proxy conflicts against each other in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.
3. Colombian Army
Why in news – Colombia opened military service to women for the first time in 25 years.
Key Points –
• A cohort of 1,296 women have been enlisted in Colombia’s Army in February 2023.
• Colombia is a country in South America that opens in both Pacific and Atlantic ocean.
ECONOMY:
1. Hindu Rate of Growth
Why in news – Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan feels India is “dangerously close” to the “Hindu rate of growth”.
Key Points –
• He stated that the sequential slowdown in the quarterly growth was worrying.
• As per National Statistical Office (NSO), India’s GDP grew at just 4.4% in the quarter ending December 2022.
About Hindu Rate of Growth –
• It was coined by Indian economist Raj Krishna.
• It has been in use in India’s economic history literature since 1982.
• It a polemical device intended to draw attention to the meagre 3.5% growth rate experienced by India over the long run.
• It remained steady through changes in governments, wars, famines, and other crises, made it an inherently cultural phenomenon.
2. Cancellation of NBFCs
Why in news – The Reserve Bank of India cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of 17 non-banking financial companies (NBFCs).
Key Points –
• It was done under Section 45-IA (6) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
• In 2022, three NBFCs on December 13 surrendered their certificate of registration to the RBI.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Mudumalai National Park
Why in news – Oscar winner documentary “The Elephant Whisperers” was shot in the Mudumalai National Park.
Key Points –
About Mudumalai National Park (1990) –
• Location - Nilgiris District (Tamil Nadu), at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• It was designated as a tiger reserve by the Tamil Nadu state government in April 2007.
• It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• The Moyar River flows into the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
• It is home to tall grasses known as "Elephant Grass".
• Tiger and Asian Elephant are the two flagship species.
• It is home to 8% of all bird species found in India.
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. V883 Orionis
Why in news - Astronomers have discovered gaseous water in the planet-forming disc around the star V883 Orionis.
Key Points –
• They have used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) for the discovery.
• It supports the idea that the water on earth is even older than the Sun.
• Comets could have delivered water to our planet.
• Research team - Part of the European Southern Observatory, (ESO).
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. The Elephant Whisperers
Why in news - The Elephant Whisperers has won Best Documentary Short Subject at the 95th Academy Awards.
Key Points –
• Director - Kartiki Gonsalves.
• Producer - Guneet Monga.
• It is the first Indian film to win an Oscar in this category and the third to be nominated after The House That Ananda Built (1969) and An Encounter With Faces (1979).
• It is the tale of an orphaned elephant calf named Raghu in the Mudumalai National Park.
• It was released on Netflix in December 2022.
• Deepika Padukone was the presenter. She is the third Indian star to present at the Oscars after Persis Khambatta and Priyanka Chopra.
BIHAR:
1. Interest Free Loan
Why in news - Officers and personnel of Bihar Police would get an interest-free loan of Rs 300000 for the treatment of 43 types of diseases.
Key Points –
• This amount would be given from the Police Charitable Fund.
• Interest-free loans would also be given for the treatment of their dependents.
2. Madhubani Painting
Why in news – Patna High court took cognizance of plight of Madhubani painting artists.
Key Points –
• Artists are deprived of their due royalties accruing to GI tags assigned to such paintings in 2005.
• PIL was filed by “Atmabodh”, a non-profitable organization.
About Madhubani Painting –
• Origin - ‘Mithilanchal’ in Bihar. Birthplace of Goddess Sita.
• In Ramayana, Tulsidas gives a vivid account of Mithilanchal being decorated with Mithila painting at the wedding of Sita with Ram.
• There are ample references to Mithila painting in Banabhatta’s Harshacharita.
• Painters - Sita Devi, Ganga Devi, Mahasundari Devi and Baua Devi.
• Drawn on auspicious occasions such as the birth of a child, sacred-thread ceremony of the Brahmins, ‘Chhath’ and ‘Devatthan Ekadasi’.
• Theme - Mysticism, folklore and regional versions of Hindu epics.
• One of the important themes of Mithila painting is kohabara. It is a room prepared for a groom where he stays at his in-laws place after the wedding.
POINTERS:
• Which country will host the Malabar 2023 exercise – Australia.
• India's first electric pilgrimage corridor is being built in which state – Uttarakhand.
• The aim of the government is to pass the Digital India Act 2023. Which act will it replace it – Information Technology Act (IT), 2000.
• Nusantara seen in news recently is related to which country - New capital of Indonesia.
• Which state approved the new sports policy 2023 – Uttar Pradesh.
• India's first death due to H3N2 Influenza virus was reported from which state – Karnataka.
• On the occasion of International Women's Day 2023, the health minister of which state launched a new health program for women 'Aarogya Mahila' – Telangana.
• Who was elected as the President of China in March 2023 – Xi Jinping.
• Who has been named the new Prime Minister of China - Li Qiang.
• Which state has created the Guinness World Record for the largest handwritten notes – Assam.