NATIONAL:
1. Methanol-Run Buses
Why in news – Bengaluru's first methanol-run bus was unveiled by Nitin Gadkari on March 12, 2023.
Key Points –
• Pilot trial of –
(a) MD15 - diesel with 15% methanol.
(b) M100 – 100% methanol.
• On October 5, 2018, Assam Petrochemicals launched Asia’s first canister-based methanol cooking fuel program.
Methanol Economy (by NITI Aayog) –
• Methanol is a low-carbon, hydrogen carrier fuel.
• Produced from - high ash coal, agricultural residue, CO2 from thermal power plants and natural gas.
• It is slightly lower in energy content than petrol and diesel.
• Uses –
(a) Transport sector (road, rail and marine)
(b) Energy sector (boilers, Diesel Generator Sets)
(c) Retail cooking (replacing LPG [partially], kerosene and wood charcoal).
• 15% methanol blending - 15% reduction in the import of gasoline/crude oil and 20% reduction in GHG emissions.
• Di-methyl Ether (DME) is a derivative of methanol used in LPG.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Greensand Project
Why in news – Denmark became the first nation in the world to bury carbon dioxide (CO2) imported from abroad under its Greensand project.
Key Points –
• It stored carbon dioxide 1,800 metres beneath the North Sea.
• The project aims to store up to 8 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2030.
ECONOMY:
1. Cryptocurrency Trade Under PMLA
Why in news – Finance Ministry brought casinos, cryptocurrencies and other virtual digital assets trade under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (PMLA).
Key Points –
• Provision - Any individual or group who holds about 10% ownership in a 'reporting entity' would be seen as the beneficial owner (earlier - 25% ownership).
• Reporting entities - Banks and financial institutions, firms (e.g., real estate and jewellery).
• PMLA was passed to show India’s commitment to the Vienna Convention on combating money laundering, drug trafficking, and countering the financing of terror (CFT).
ENVIRONMENT:
1. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
Why in news – India has proposed to launch a mega global alliance under its leadership to protect big cats.
Key Points –
• Funding - $100 million (over Rs 800 crore) over 5 years.
• Animals covered – 7 major big cats i.e., tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah.
• Membership to the alliance would be open to 97 “range” countries, other interested nations, international organisations, etc.
• India is the only country in the world to have tigers, lions, leopards, snow leopards and cheetahs in the wild. (except the pumas and jaguars).
Value Addition –
• Tiger population (2018 census) – 2967, 70% of the world’s tiger population.
• Asiatic Lion population (2020 census) – 674.
• Gir National Park (Gujarat) is the last abode of the Asiatic Lions in the world.
• Snow Leopard population – 500.
• Spread over J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Cheetah – 8 from Namibia and 12 from South Africa were introduced in Kuno National Park (MP).
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 5th ASEAN-India Business Summit 2023
Why in news – It was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 6, 2023.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Strengthening and Moving Forward ASEAN – India Economic Relations for the strategic business partnership”.
• Rajeev Chandrasekhar addressed the summit.
• It was part of the ASEAN-India Year of Friendship (2022).
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. Megha Tropiques-1 Satellite
Why in news – ISRO brought down the satellite in a controlled manner after its end of life.
Key Points –
• It was the first time that ISRO attempted such a manoeuvre to clear out space debris.
• Kessler syndrome – A scenario where the amount of space debris reaches a point where they just create more with one collision triggering others.
• The Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC) (1993) - to co-ordinate efforts to deal with debris in orbit around the Earth founded in 1993.
About Megha Tropiques-1-
• Weather satellite
• It was developed as a joint mission by Indian and French space agencies.
• Launched by PSLV in 2011.
• It provided data on water cycle and energy exchanges in the tropics.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Why in news – Savlon India appointed Sachin Tendulkar as the world's first “Hand Ambassador” for its Swasth India Mission.
Key Points –
• Aim - to inspire billions to practice proper handwashing.
2. PEN/Nabokov Lifetime Achievement Award 2023
Why in news – Vinod Kumar Shukla has won the PEN America award for lifetime achievement in literature.
Key Points –
• His work – 1st Novel ---Naukar Ki Kameez (1979) and Poetry collection - Sab Kuch Hona Bacha Rahega (1992).
• It is also called “the Oscars for books”.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023
Why in news – 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas was celebrated on March 7, 2023.
Key Points –
• Theme - “Jan Aushadhi – Sasti bhi Acchi bhi”.
• Organised by - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI).
• PMBI implements Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
FESTIVALS:
1. Yaoshang Festival
Why in news – The 5-day-long Yaoshang festival held in Manipur.
Key Points –
• It is Manipur’s version of Holi.
• They perform Thabal chongba. It is a Manipuri folk dance of Meitei tribe.
• Yaosang Mei thaba means Burning of the Straw Hut.
STATES/UTs:
1. Self-Employment Scheme for Single Women
Why in news – Uttarakhand rolled out a self-employment scheme for single women.
Key Points –
• Earlier, Uttarakhand granted 30% reservation in public services to women domiciled in Uttarakhand.
BIHAR:
1. State Sports Awards and Honors Scheme
Why in news – Bihar government has formulated the scheme to honor sports personalities.
Key Points –
• Aim – to honour state’s winning players and coaches in national and international sports competitions.
• Provision –
• A 9-member selection committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Director General of the State Sports Authority for the selection of players.
• They would be honored on National Sports Day every year on August 29.
2. G20 Meeting in Patna
Why in news – G-20 group meeting to be held in Patna on June 22 – 23, 2023.
Key Points –
• Venue - Samrat Ashoka Convention Centre.
• The Art and Culture Department has been made the nodal agency for the G-20 event.
• The delegates would also be taken on a tour of major places including Patna, Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and Vaishali etc.
POINTERS:
• Which bank has partnered with ITC to introduce Rural Lending products to farmers. - Axis Bank.
• Which Indian state hosted the Global Responsible Tourism Summit – Kerala.
• Which country will appoint the “Tech Envoy” to the Indo-Pacific – Britain.
• Who has been appointed as the first Indian American judge in the New York Court - Arun Subramaniam.
• Mimeusemia ceylonica, a rare moth species which was last recorded in Sri Lanka 127 years ago, has been rediscovered in which Indian state – Tamil Nadu.
• Which telecom brand has become the second strongest telecom brand in the world - Reliance Jio.
• According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), the annual per capita (Net National Income) at current prices has become how much in 2022-23 - Rs 1,72,000.
• The National Commission for Minorities has evacuated all the Indians stranded in which country – Libya.
• Where has the Chief Election Commissioner inaugurated the Vote Fest 2023 – Bangalore.
• Which neighboring country of India has tied up with ISA to increase the use of solar energy – Bangladesh.