NATIONAL:
1. Disqualification of MP
Why in news - Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was held guilty and sentenced to two years in jail in a 2019 defamation case by a Surat court.
Key Points –
• He was held Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code sections 499 and 500.
• Articles 102(1) - Disqualifications for members in either House of Parliament.
• Article 191(1) - Disqualifications for members in the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council of the state.
• Disqualification can happen in two instances –
(a) Section 8(1) of the Representation of the People Act (RoPA) of 1951 – Convicted of promoting enmity, bribery and undue influence or personation at an election.
Defamation does not fall under this list.
(b) Section 8(3) of RoPA 1951 - An MP can be disqualified if convicted and sentenced to not less than two years of imprisonment.
Lily Thomas case (2013):
• Section 8(4) of the RoPA was struck down as “unconstitutional” by the Supreme Court’.
• Section 8(4) protected convicted legislators from disqualification on account of their appeals pending before the higher courts.
2. Festival of India
Why in news - Meenakshi Lekhi inaugurated the “Festival of India” in Kuwait on March 17, 2023.
Key Points –
• Organized by - Ministry of Culture.
• 3 Troupes Performed –
(i) Qutbi Brothers – Qawwali performance
(ii) Hasan Khan and Group - Rajasthani Folk
(iii) The Anirudh Varma Collective – Fusion of Indian classical and contemporary music.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Uganda’s Anti-LGBTQ Law
Why in news - The Ugandan Parliament passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023.
Key Points –
• It attracts stringent penalties, from life imprisonment to capital punishment, for anyone engaging in sex with a person of the same gender.
2. New Development Bank
Why in news - Egypt officially became a member of BRICS' New Development Bank (NDB).
Key Points –
• In Sept 2021, BRICS development bank admits UAE, Bangladesh, Uruguay as new members.
About NDB (2014) –
• A multilateral bank operated by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
• Headquarter: Shanghai, China
• Established at the 6th BRICS Summit (2014) at Fortaleza, Brazil.
• The Bank’s membership is open to members of the UN.
• Initial subscribed capital - USD 100 billion.
• None of the countries has the veto power.
• In 2018, the NDB received observer status in UN General Assembly.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World TB Day 2023
Why in news – It is observed on March 24 each year.
Key Points –
• Theme 2023 - "Yes! We can end TB!".
• Global tuberculosis report is released by WHO.
• India Tuberculosis (TB) report is released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• India (28% of global cases) - Largest contributor to global TB cases.
• Nikshay portal (by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) - Helps in real-time reporting of new TB cases.
• Ni-kshay mitras - To adopt TB patients and provide them with monthly nutritional support.
India’s TB Elimination Target -
• Indian scenario - 312 cases per lakh population.
• India aims to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025 (global target – 2030).
• National strategic plan 2017-2025 –
(a) Reporting no more than 44 new TB cases or 65 total cases per lakh population by 2025.
(b) Reduce mortality to 3 deaths per lakh population by 2025.
(c) Reduce catastrophic costs for the affected family to zero.
• The plan is in line with WHO’s End TB strategy.
Global TB Elimination Target (2030) -
• WHO calls for –
(a) 80% reduction in the number of new cases
(b) 90% reduction in mortality
(c) Zero catastrophic cost by 2030.
About TB –
• On March 24, 1882, Dr Robert Koch announced discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that causes TB.
• Newer drugs - Bedaquiline and Delamanid for the treatment of drug-resistant TB.
• CB-NAAT and TureNat test– To make an early and definitive diagnosis of tuberculosis, including MDR-TB.
• BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) vaccine - to prevent tuberculosis.
• New vaccines (under trail) –
(a) Immuvac – New vaccine to prevent TB (initially developed to prevent leprosy).
(b) VPM1002 - Recombinant form of the BCG vaccine.
2. World Water Day 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated on March 22 every year.
Key Points –
• Theme - Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.
• It aims to achieve the vision of sustainable water and sanitation for all by 2030.
• The UN held the UN Water Conference 2023 on March 22-24, 2023 in New York (first of its kind in the last 50 years).
• SDG 6 - Clean water and sanitation for all.
• SDG 14 - Life below water.
• The UN World Water Development Report is published by UNESCO.
• The first World Water Day Was observed on March 22, 1993.
3. 5th Poshan Pakhwada
Why in news – It was celebrated from 20th March to 3rd April 2023.
Key Points –
• By - Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Theme 2023 - "Nutrition for All: Together Towards a Healthy India".
• Focus – Popularisation of ‘Shree Anna’ (millets).
• Poshan Abhiyaan was launched by PM Narendra Modi on March 8, 2018 to improve nutritional outcomes in a holistic manner.
• Poshan Pakhwada - Celebrated in the month of March for 15 days.
• Rashtriya Poshan Maah – Celebrated in September.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 12th World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)Forum 2023
Why in news – The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was held in Geneva.
Key Points –
• Theme - WSIS Action Lines for Building Back Better and Accelerating the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• It was organized by International Telecommunication Union, UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD.
• Aim of WSIS - to promote Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2023
Why in news – The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and National Informatics Centre (NIC) have been honored with the prize.
Key Points –
• Reason - for conducting online audit of all Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
• Audit Online Application of (MoPR) has been awarded under the Action Line category ICT Applications: e-Government.
• The 12th edition of summit was held in Geneva by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
2. Order of Australia
Why in news – Australia has appointed India’s well-known business tycoon Ratan Tata to the Order of Australia.
Key Points –
• Ratan Tata is Chairman Emeritus of India’s one of largest business houses Tata Sons.
• The Order of Australia recognises persons who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.
3. Sangit Kalanidhi Award
Why in news – Bombay Jayashri would be awarded with by the Music Academy.
Key Points –
• She is a renowned Carnatic vocalist and musician.
• Nritya Kalanithi award - Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari (Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer).
• Sangit Kala Acharya - Palkulangara Ambika Devi (Carnatic musician) and KS Kalidas (mridangam vidwan).
• TTK award - Thirunageswaram T R Subramaniam and Sargurunatha Odhuvar.
• Musicologist award - Arimalam S Padmanabhan
STATES/UTs:
1. Jharniyojan Portal
Why in news – Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren inaugurated the Jharniyojan Portal.
Key Points –
• By - Department of Labour Planning, Training and Skill development.
• Aim - to provide a platform to employers and candidates looking for employment.
BIHAR:
1. Dr. Lohia Jayanti
Why in news – Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia's 113th birth anniversary was celebrated on March 23, 2023.
Key Points –
• He was born on March 23, 1910 in Faizabad, UP.
• He was one of the founders of the Congress Socialist Party and editor of its mouthpiece Congress Socialist.
• He Formed the Socialist Party (Lohia) in 1956 and became editor of the journal, Mankind.
• Lohia wrote a pamphlet titled “The Concept of Civil Liberties”.
POINTERS:
• Who has been appointed as the new MD & CEO of Invest India - Manmeet K. Nanda.
• Which Indian-American has been named as the Deputy CEO of the US Finance Agency - Nisha Biswal.
• Which state government has declared Gandhamardan hill range as Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) – Odisha.
• In which state Asia's largest 4-metre 'International Liquid Mirror Telescope' has been inaugurated – Uttarakhand.
• How many billion dollar bailout package has been given by IMF to Sri Lanka facing financial crisis - 3 billion dollars.
• Which state government has proposed to implement State Millets Mission for five years - Tamil Nadu.
• Which Bollywood actor has been selected as India's Most Valuable Celebrity as per Brand Valuation Report 2022 - Ranveer Singh.
• What is the name the world's first LAB manufacturing company to get BIS certification recently - Tamilnadu Petroproducts ltd.
• Which American astrophysicist who contributed to solar physics, passed away recently - Eugene Newman Parker.
• Which leader has topped the “Morning Consult Ratings” recently - Narendra Modi.