NATIONAL:
1. Vienna Convention
Why in news - Pro-Khalistan protestors took down the Indian flag at the High Commission in London.
Key Points –
• On the same day, pro-Khalistani attacked and damaged the Indian Consulate in San Francisco.
• India reminded UK of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention.
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) –
• It provides diplomatic immunity that enables diplomats to perform their functions without fear of coercion or harassment by the host country.
• Entered into force on April 24, 1964.
• Nearly universally ratified (exceptions - Palau and South Sudan).
• Article 22 - Obligations with regards to the premises of the Mission. The host nation is accountable for security.
2. Rahul Gandhi Disqualified
Why in news - Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi’s membership of Parliament has been cancelled after his conviction by a local court in Surat.
Key Points –
• He was disqualified from March 23, 2023 under Article 102(1)(e) of the Constitution of India read with Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (RoPA).
• He was disqualified from contesting elections for 8 years (2+6 years).
• Section 8(3) of RoPA, 1951 - “a person convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for not less than two years shall be disqualified and shall continue to be disqualified for a further period of six years since his release.
• Lok Prahari v Union of India (2018) - The Supreme Court held that disqualification will be reversed if the conviction is stayed by a court.
• President is the final authority regarding the disqualification of a member of either house of the Parliament after taking the opinion of the Election Commission.
• Presiding officer of the house has the final say in matters of disqualification on the grounds of defection.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Gordon Moore
Why in news - Intel Corp co-founder Gordon Moore died at the age of 94.
Key Points –
• Moore’s Law - It predicted a steady rise in computing power for decades.
• In 1968, Moore and Noyce started the memory chip company named Intel.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Synthesis Report
Why in news - IPCC released the final report of its 6th assessment cycle known as the Synthesis Report.
Key Points –
• Earth has already warmed an average of 1.1OC since the industrial age.
• The world is on track to breach the 1.5o C global warming limit by the 2030s that would cause irrevocable damage.
• It can be averted by slashing greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and completely phase them out by 2050.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a UN-backed body of world’s leading climate scientists.
2. Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Why in news - A new wildlife sanctuary (WLS) to come up in Erode, Tamil Nadu.
Key Points –
• This is the 18th wildlife sanctuary (WLS) in Tamil Nadu.
• It acts as a connecting point between Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Other wildlife sanctuaries in Erode - Vellode Birds Sanctuary and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR).
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Negotiations
Why in news - India participated in the 2nd Indo-Pacific Economic Framework(IPEF) for Prosperity negotiations in Bali, Indonesia.
Key Points –
• It covered all the four pillars of the IPEF –
(a) Trade (Pillar I)
(b) Supply Chains (Pillar II)
(c) Clean Economy (Pillar III)
(d) Fair Economy (Taxation & Anti-corruption) (Pillar IV).
• India participated in the discussions related to Pillars II to IV.
• First IPEF Round - Brisbane, Australia (December 10-15, 2022).
About IPEF (May 2022) –
• US-led initiative for promoting fair and resilient trade.
• It has 14 members.
• Represent 40% of global GDP and 28% of global goods and services trade.
• It has four pillars. India has joined 3 pillars (except trade).
2. One World TB Summit
Why in news – PM Narendra Modi addressed the One World TB Summit in Varanasi, UP on March 24, 2023.
Key Points –
• He laid the foundation stone of the National Centre for Disease Control & High Containment Laboratory in Varanasi.
• Award for their progress towards ending TB –
(a) States/UTs - Karnataka and Jammu & Kashmir.
(b) Districts - The Nilgiris, Pulwama and Anantnag.
• Executive Director of Stop TB Partnership - Dr Lucica Ditiu.
• India TB Report is released by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
ECONOMY:
1. Fire-Resistant Steel
Why in news - Jindal Steel and Power (JSP) has received BIS certification to manufacture India’s first fire-resistant steel.
Key Points –
• To be built at - Rail Mill and Special Profile Mill in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.
• Uses - High-temperature or fire-prone areas.
• It can withstand temperatures up to 600O C for a maximum duration of 3 hours.
SCIENCE- TECHNOLOGY:
1. International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT)
Why in news - Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated Asia’s largest 4-meter ILMT at Devasthal in Uttarakhand.
Key Points –
• Aim - to detect transient or variable celestial objects such as supernovae, gravitational lenses, space debris, and asteroids.
• Mirror is made up of a thin layer of liquid mercury to collect and focus light.
• ILMT –
(a) First liquid mirror telescope designed exclusively for astronomical observations
(b) Largest aperture telescope is available in the country at present
(c) First optical survey telescope in India.
• It is located on the campus of Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Abel Prize 2023
Why in news - Luis Caffarelli has won the 2023 Abel Prize.
Key Points –
• He is the first Abel laureate from South America (Argentina).
• It recognizes pioneering scientific achievements in mathematics.
• It is considered to be an equivalent of the Nobel prize which does not have a category for mathematics.
• It was first awarded in 2003.
SECURITY:
1. 2nd AFINDEX 2023
Why in news - Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX 2023) began in Pune.
Key Points –
• Venue - Aundh Military Station, Pune.
• Focus - Humanitarian Mine Assistance and United Nations Peacekeeping Operation.
• 24 African militaries participated.
• AMRUT - Africa-India Militaries for Regional Unity.
STATES/UTs:
1. Gaja Mitras
Why in news - West Bengal (WB) has launched “Gajamitra (Friends of Elephants)” to check the human-elephant conflict (HEC).
Key Points –
• WB appointed 600 local youth from HEC-prone pockets.
2. Advocates Protection Law
Why in news - Rajasthan became the first state in India to enact a law protecting lawyers.
Key Points –
• It prohibits assault, grievous hurt, criminal force and criminal intimidation on Advocates in connection with the discharge of duties in the court premises.
BIHAR:
1. Justice Vinod Chandran
Why in news - Justice Vinod Chandran has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of Patna High Court (HC).
Key Points –
• Currently, he is a senior judge of the Kerala HC.
• He would replace acting Chief Justice of Patna HC Chakradhari Charan Singh.
• His retirement is due on April 24, 2025.
• The post was vacant after the elevation of Patna HC Chief Justice Sanjay Karol as a judge in the Supreme Court.
2. Radiation Monitoring
Why in news - A sensor for continuously recording of gamma terrestrial radiation levels has been installed at Patna.
Key Points –
• Indigenously developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Mumbai.
• This is the first such installation in eastern India.
• 4 more instruments to be installed at Valmikinagar, Purnia, Bhagalpur and Gaya.
• Uses - to study the background environmental radiation, terrestrial radiation as well those of cosmic origin.
• Data would also be utilized to study the emission pattern of gamma ray radiation during thunderstorms.
• In case of any nuclear emergency, this network would be helpful in quickly locating the source area.
• The sensors are being installed under the Indian Environmental Radiation Monitoring Network (IERMON) project of the Department of Atomic Energy.
POINTERS:
• Who has taken over as the new CEO of Starbucks - Laxman Narasimhan.
• Indian Army has signed an MoU with organization for setting up of Hydrogen based micro grid power plant project - NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd.
• Who has won the 'Christopher Martin Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award 2022' - Asif Sheikh.
• Which state has become the first state to pass the Right to Health Bill - Rajasthan.
• In which state the National Sports University has been established - Manipur (Imphal).
• Which department will set up a task force for formulating a framework to determine logistics costs in the country - Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (Ministry of Commerce and Industry).
• Which ministry has launched the 'City Finance Ranking 2022' – Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
•'MV Ram Prasad Bismil' recently became the longest vessel ever to sail on which river - Brahmaputra.
• Recently, SBI has announced to set up Innovation, Incubation and Acceleration Center in which city – Hyderabad.
• Which country has developed a "Relativistic Klystron Amplifier (RKA)", able to destroy satellites in space – China.