Daily Current Affairs For BPSC as on 27.03.2023

NATIONAL:

1. Rashtrapati Nilayam

Why in news - President Droupadi Murmu opened Rashtrapati Nilayam (constructed in 1860) in Secunderabad to the public.

Key Points –

• It is one of the three presidential retreats.

• This is the first time that the heritage building is being opened to the general public.

• Cheriyal paintings - Traditional paintings of Telangana.

• Hyderabad is home to the famous Salar Jung Museum, Golconda Fort and Charminar.

INTERNATIONAL:

1. Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)

Why in news - 5 people have died due to Marburg virus in Tanzania’s north-west Kagera region.

Key Points –

• Earlier, Equatorial Guinea, reported its first case of the Marburg virus disease.

About MVD –

• It is a severe and fatal haemorrhagic fever.

• Like Ebola, Marburg is a filovirus. Both diseases are clinically similar.

• Natural host - Rousettus fruit bats.

• First detected in 1967.

• There is no approved antiviral treatment or vaccine for MVD as of now.

GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:

1. Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP)

Why in news - Sarbananda SonowaI inaugurated India’s first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) in Gurugram, Haryana.

Key Points –

• Collaboration between the Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

• India aims at becoming a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030.

GTTP –

• Aim – To power tug boat with Green Hybrid Propulsion systems, and subsequently adopt non-fossil fuel solutions like Methanol, Ammonia and Hydrogen.

• Tug boat - Marine vessels that maneuver ships by pushing or pulling them, mostly using tow lines.

• Green tugs to start working in all major ports by 2025.

• Half of the existing tug boats at India’s major ports to be converted into green tugs by 2030.

ECONOMY:

1. Cybersecurity Training Institute

Why in news - RBI governor Shaktikanta Das laid the foundation stone of cybersecurity training institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Key Points –

• Aim - for augmenting the existing computing infrastructure of the RBI supported by cutting edge facilities for research and capacity building.

ENVIRONMENT:

1. Airport Carbon Accreditation Program

Why in news - Airports Council International (ACI) has started the program which is a global standard for carbon management at airports.

Key Points –

• The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has given a target to the airports to achieve 100% use of Green Energy by 2024 and net zero by 2030.

• Cochin Airport - First green airport in the world. It is completely powered by solar energy.

• Delhi and Mumbai airports - Achieved the highest level of 4+ Carbon Accreditation of ACI.

• The program assists the airports in assessment of their emission and reducing their carbon footprints.

2. Aravalli Green Wall Project

Why in news – Bhupender Yadav launched the project to celebrate the International Day of Forests (Mar 21) at Tikli Village in Haryana.

Key Points –

• Aim - to green the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in four states.

• He also unveiled the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation through Forestry Intervention.

• Government aims to achieve the national goal of creating an additional 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon sink by 2030.

• Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (Rstablished - 1986) (Headquarter - Dehradun).

About Aravalli Green Wall Project –

• By - Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

• Aim - to combat land degradation and desertification by creating green corridors.

• It covers states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi.

Aravalli Range –

• Oldest fold mountains of the world

• Southwest direction.

• Passing through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

• Rivers’ origin from the Aravalis - Banas, Sahibi and Luni.

Africa’s Great Green Wall (GGW) Program:

• Aim - to restore 100 million hectares of degraded ecosystems across 11 countries in the Sahel region.

• Sahel region - From Senegal (West) to Ethiopia (East).

3. Earth Hour 2023

Why in news – It was held annually on the last Saturday of March (2023 – March 25).

Key Points –

• Organized by - World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

• Aim - Encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour (from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm).

• It was started in Australia’s Sydney in 2007.

4. Protecting Ramsar Sites

Why in news – National Green Tribunal (NGT) slapped Rs 10 crore penalty on Kerala government for failure to protect Ramsar sites.

Key Points –

• Reason - failure to check the indiscriminate pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes.

• Penalty was imposed on the basis of the “polluter pays principle (PPP)” .

• PPP - Those who pollute the environment should bear the costs of their actions.

• PPP was first introduced in 1972 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

• 3 Ramsar sites in Kerala - Vembanada – Kol wetland, Ashtamudi wetland and Sasthamkotta lake.

SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:

1. OneWeb Constellation

Why in news – ISRO’s LVM-3 successfully launched 36 satellites, completing OneWeb constellation.

Key Points –

• This was the 18th launch of OneWeb satellites, and the third this year.

• It brought the total number of satellites in the constellation to 618.

• LVM-3 - India’s heaviest rocket.

• India opened the space sector to private players in 2020. India only has 2% of the commercial market at the moment.

• India plans to increase India’s 2% share in the commercial market to 10% by 2030

About OneWeb Constellation –

• OneWeb - A UK-based company supported by India’s Bharti Enterprises.

• Aim - to provide global connectivity at high speed and low latency.

AWARDS & HONOURS:

1. Christopher Martin-Jenkins (CMJ) Spirit of Cricket Award 2022

Why in news – Nepal wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh is the recipient of the CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award 2022.

Key Points –

• Reason - Aasif refused to run out Ireland’s Andy McBrine, who was accidentally upended by bowler Kamal Airee when attempting a run.

• The award was created in 2013 in the memory of Christopher Martin-Jenkins who was passionate about promoting the spirit of the game.

SPORTS:

1. Rani’s Girls Hockey Turf

Why in news - The Indian Railways’ Modern Coach Factory Stadium in Raebareli was renamed as Rani's Girls Hockey Turf.

Key Points –

• It was named after Indian team’s star hockey player Rani Rampal.

• Rani Rampal has become the first woman in the sport to have a stadium named after her.

• Rani Rampal is a Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2021) and Padma Shri awardee.

2. WPL Final 2023

Why in news - Mumbai Indians won the inaugural WPL title.

Key Points –

• Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals by 7 wickets.

• Player of the match - Nat Sciver-Brunt.

• Venue - Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

• It was a five-team tournament.

Other Awards –

• Purple cap - Hayley Matthews.

• Orange cap - Meg Lanning.

• Most valuable player - Hayley Matthews.

STATES/UTs:

1. All-India Police Athletics Championship

Why in news - UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the championship in Lucknow on March 21, 2023.

Key Points –

• Mascot - Barasingha deer named Tejas.

• The event took place in the state after a gap of 10 years.

BIHAR:

1. Community Based Savings Group (CBSG)

Why in news - 79 groups made up of 1050 beggars from across the state deposited Rs 6.69 lakh in banks.

Key Points –

• Beggars were identified by Saksham under the supervision of the Social Welfare Department with the help of the World Bank.

• CBSG for beggars are running in 10 districts.

• 10 districts - Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga, Purnea, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Saharsa, Munger, Saran and Nalanda.

• The Center has also adopted the Chief Minister's Beggary Prevention Scheme for the rehabilitation of beggars.

POINTERS:

• Which bank has launched an ambitious plan to distribute three lakh food packets to poor people during Ramzan - UAE Food Bank.

• Who has been appointed as Asian Hockey Federation Athlete Ambassador - Salima Tete.

• Where was the United Nations 2023 “Water Conference” held - New York.

• The US and which country have signed an agreement on the removal of refugees from the unauthorized border - Canada.

• Which Union Minister has virtually inaugurated the Maa Sharda Temple at Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir - Amit Shah.

• According to the recent UNESCO report, what percentage of the world's population does not have access to safe drinking water - 26%.

• Which state government has issued the Disaster Management Plan 2023 - Tamil Nadu.

• Who has launched cricket fantasy sports app CrickPe - Ashneer Grover.

• The joint exercise “Konkan” was conducted between India and which country in the Arabian Sea - Britain.

• Who has chaired a regional conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' in Bengaluru - Amit Shah.

 

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