NATIONAL:
1. Clean Drinking Water Supply
Why in news – The World Bank has approved a $363 million loan to Karnataka to provide clean drinking water supply.
Key Points –
• Aim - to provide clean water to 2 million rural households through a piped water connection.
• Almost 77 percent of Karnataka is arid or semi-arid and is vulnerable to climate-change-related variable rainfall.
2. Medicines for Rare Diseases
Why in news – All drugs imported for personal use for the treatment of rare diseases have been exempted from basic customs duty.
• Exempted rare diseases are listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021.
• Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) - Used in the treatment of various types of cancer.
• The exemption has been granted by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
• Rare diseases - Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSD), Pompe disease, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, hemophilia etc.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. New Member in SCO
Why in news – Saudi Arabia became a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Key Points –
• Iran had its permanent membership approved in September 2021.
About SCO (formed - June 15, 2001) –
• Founding members - China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
• Pakistan and India became full members in 2017. (currently – 8 members).
• 4 “Observer States” - Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia.
• Dialogue Partners” - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
• In 2004 Tashkent Summit (Uzbekistan), the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) was established.
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. State of India’s Environment (SoE) Report 2023
Why in news – The report was released by Down To Earth and Centre for Science and Environment.
Key Points –
• Waterbodies encroached - Over 30,000.
• Municipal solid waste generation every day - 150,000 tonnes.
• Life lost to air pollution in India - 4 years and 11 months.
• Rural India is losing more years due to air pollution-related health issues than the urban belt.
• Between January and October 2022 (304 days), India witnessed extreme weather events on 271 days.
• As per the India State of Forest Report 2022 - Forest cover had increased by 0.5% between 2017 and 2021.
• India’s rank in global Sustainable Development Report, 2022 - 121 (out of the 163 countries).
2. India Fixed Communications Forecast
Why in news – The report was released by GlobalData.
Key Points –
• Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of fixed communication services revenue - 6.4%.
• Estimated increase - $13.9 billion in 2027 ($10.2 billion in 2022).
• Fibre optic lines would hold over 85% of total broadband lines in 2027.
• Company at the forefront of the fixed broadband services market - Reliance Jio.
3. Passport Index 2023
Why in news – Passport Index 2023 released by Arton Capital.
Key Points –
• India’s rank – 144th (2022 – 138th)
• India’s Mobility Score – 70.
• Top - United Arab Emirates (mobility score – 181).
• Top in Asia - South Korea (rank – 12th, score - 174).
• In January 2023, India ranked 85th out of 199 countries in the Henley Passport Index.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. 'Special Literary Award'
Why in news – A “Special Literary Award” was conferred on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Key Points –
• Reason - For his trilogy of books –
(a) The Unfinished Memoirs
(b) The Prison Diaries
(c) New China 1952.
• Mujibur Rahman is considered Father of Nation of Bangladesh.
• Given by - Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL).
• The 63rd SAARC Literature Award- 2023 was held in New Delhi.
2. Lifetime Achievement Award
Why in news – Naveen Jindal has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the university of Texas.
Key Points –
• In 2011, the university rechristened its School of Management as the Naveen Jindal School of Management.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. Universal Acceptance (UA) Day
Why in news – It is celebrated globally on March 28.
Key Points –
• Organized by –
(a) Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG)
(b) Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)
• A 2-day event (March 27-28) was organized in New Delhi.
• India has set a target of becoming a USD 1 trillion digital economy by 2025-2026.
• Adoption of UA in India can add another 500 million broadband users to add value to the digital economy.
• Next 1 billion internet users are likely to come from non-English speaking countries, heightening the importance of multilingual internet.
• India is home to more than 18,000 dialects.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. “Phoolange”
Why in news – The book is written by Lekhnath Chhetri, a Darjeeling based writer.
Key Points –
• It focuses on the failed Gorkha movement for a separate state.
• It was originally written in the Nepali language.
• Nepali version was shortlisted for the Madan Puraskar in 2021, Nepal's most prestigious literary award.
SPORTS:
1. Premier League Hall of Fame
Why in news – Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
Key Points –
• Sir Alex Ferguson - Former Manchester United manager.
• Arsene Wenger - ex-Arsenal coach.
• Ferguson and Wenger are the first managers to bag this honour.
• The Hall of Fame (launch – 2021) has footballers like David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Eric Cantona etc.
POINTERS:
• Who has announced Herbal Life as one its official partners for Tata IPL 2023 – BCCI.
• Which IIT institute developed pocket friendly device to detect adulteration in milk - IIT Madras.
• Where was the 601st meeting of the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India held – Hyderabad.
• In which state/UT "Anji Khad Bridge" was commissioned - Jammu and Kashmir.
• What was the name of India's first cloned Desi Gir calf developed by the National Dairy Research Institute at Karnal, Haryana – Ganga.
• The central government has sanctioned how many crores of rupees for 7432 public fast charging stations under the FAME scheme - Rs 800 crores.
• How many schools have been selected by the Ministry of Education for the flagship Pradhan Mantri Schools for the Rising India scheme – 9000.
• By which year, India aims to achieve defence equipment export target worth Rs 40,000 crore – 2026.
• Which state government launched the “Dayalu Yojana” to provide financial assistance to the family in case of accidental death or disability of a member in Antyodaya family – Haryana.
• Where will the Quad summit be held in May 2023 - Sydney, Australia.