NATIONAL:
1. European GI Tag
Why in news – Kangra Tea from Himachal Pradesh has been granted the European Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Key Points –
• In India, Kangra tea received the Geographical Indication designation in 2005.
About Kangra Tea -
• Grown 900-1,400 meters above sea level, on the slopes of the Dhauladhar mountain range in the Western Himalayas (Himachal Pradesh region).
• It is made from the leaves, buds, and tender stems of the Camellia sinensis species cultivated in the Kangra valley.
• Black tea and green tea have both been cultivated in the Kangra Valley.
2. Vaikom Satyagraha
Why in news – Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Vaikom Satyagraha on April 1, 2023.
Key Points –
• Portuguese travellers Duarte Barbosa wrote about untouchability in Travancore.
• The issue of temple entry was first raised by Ezhava leader TK Madhavan in a 1917 editorial in his paper Deshabhimani.
• Kakinada session of the INC (1923) - A resolution was passed by the Kerala Provincial Congress Committee to take up anti-untouchability as a key issue.
About Vaikom Satyagraha –
• Vaikom town - in the princely state of Travancore,
• March 30, 1924 – A non-violent agitation started, marking the beginning of “temple entry movements” across the country.
• Lower castes like the Ezhavas and Pulayas were considered polluting.
• For the first time, it brought Gandhian methods of nonviolent protest to Travancore.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. National Genome Strategy
Why in news – The UAE has launched a national strategy to map the DNA of every Emirati.
Key Points –
• Aim - to provide personalized treatment and help diagnose conditions caused by changes in the DNA.
• Emirates Genome Council (established – 2021) would oversee the National Genome Strategy.
2. Finland to Join NATO
Why in news – Finland is set to become 31st member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO).
Key Points –
• Turkey became the final NATO nation to ratify Finland's membership.
• Finland has a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) long border with Russia.
About NATO (April, 1949) –
• Also called Washington Treaty.
• Currently 30 members.
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
• Headquarters of Allied Command Operations: Mons, Belgium.
• NATO's protection does not extend to members' civil wars or internal coups.
• Article 5 of NATO - An attack against one member of NATO` should be considered an attack against all.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Swachhotsav 2023
Why in news – 1000 Cities targeted to become 3-Star Garbage Free by October 2024.
Key Points –
• The urban India has become –
(a) Open Defecation Free (ODF) with all 4,715 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) completely ODF
(b) 3,547 ULBs are ODF+ with functional and hygienic community and public toilets
(c) 1,191 ULBs are ODF++ with complete faecal sludge management.
• Waste processing in India has gone up by over four times from 17% in 2014 to 75% in 2023.
• In the 2nd phase of the Swachh Bharat Mission- Urban (SBM-U 2.0), India aims to become a garbage free nation (GFN).
ECONOMY:
1. Evergreening of Patents
Why in news – India rejected the secondary patent of the Johnson and Johnson’s TB medication bedaquiline.
Key Points –
• Its primary patent expires in July 18, 2023.
• The drug first became available in India under the government’s TB programme in 2015.
• It is also essential for those living with HIV who are likely to develop more resistant forms of TB.
• Ever-greening of patents – Companies make slight changes to the formulation to extend the patent period, guaranteeing their monopoly over the drug.
About Bedaquiline -
• Used for the treatment of drug-resistant infections.
• In 2012, became the first new TB therapy to become available after a period of 40 years.
• Halved course of treatment from two years to 9 month to one year.
• World Health Organisation has includeed bedaquiline as the core drug for drug resistant TB.
Indian Patents Act, 1970 –
• Section 3(d) - It does not allow ‘evergreening’ of patents to prevent innovator pharma companies from extending the patent beyond the stipulated period of 20 years.
• Section 92 - The central government has the power to allow compulsory licenses to be issued at any time in case of extreme urgency.
• It could compel companies to license their patents to manufacturers, even if they did not think the offered price was acceptable.
Novartis vs Union of India case 2012
• The Supreme Court upheld the validity of section 3(d).
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. Detecting Milk Adulteration
Why in news – IIT Madras has developed a 3D paper-based portable device that can detect adulteration in milk within 30 seconds.
Key Points –
• Adulterating agents - Urea, detergents, soap, starch, hydrogen peroxide, sodium-hydrogen-carbonate and salt.
• It uses colorimetric detection technique.
• The purity of milk can be tested using a milk slip test/lactometer.
2. Two Biological Fathers
Why in news – Japanese scientists have created mice with two biological fathers after they generated eggs from male cells for the first time.
Key Points –
• Research by - Katsuhiko Hayashi of Kyushu University (Japan).
• It has opened new possibilities for gay-male couples — or even single men — to have their biological child without needing a female egg.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. International Day of Zero Waste
Why in news – For the first time, it is celebrated on March 30, 2023, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat.
Key Points –
• It makes a considerable contribution to the triple planetary issue of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
• Just 55% of the 2.24 billion tonnes of municipal solid garbage that humanity produces each year is managed in facilities under supervision.
• It has been adopted by 105 nations.
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs organised the "Swachhotsav - 2023: Rally for Trash Free Cities" in New Delhi.
APPOINTMENTS:
1. Ajay Singh
Why in news – Ajay Singh has been elected as the International Boxing Association (IBA) vice-president.
Key Points –
• International Boxing Association (IBA) President - Umar Kremlev.
SPORTS:
1. American Runner Lashinda Demus
Why in news – Lashinda Demus officially became an Olympic champion at the age of 40, more than a decade after the 2012 London Games.
Key Points –
• Demus was formally reallocated the gold medal in the 400-meter hurdles by the International Olympic Committee.
• Original winner Natalya Antyukh (Russia) was implicated in the doping case.
• Zuzana Hejnová of Czechia was upgraded to silver, and the bronze was reallocated to Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica.
POINTERS:
• Lionel Messi who scored his 100th international goal, is associated with which country – Argentina.
• Which bank has announced a donation of Rs 48 lakh for tree plantation - State Bank of India.
• The Ministry of Defence has signed three contracts worth how many thousand crores to strengthen defence capabilities - About 5400 crore rupees.
• The second Agricultural Deputies Meeting of the Agricultural Working Group (AWG) was held in which city – Chandigarh.
• Regional Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise was conducted by the Indian Coast Guard during 28-29 March 2023 at which place - Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
• Union Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh launched which initiative under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) - Captive employment initiative.
• For the first time, scientists of which university observed the piezoelectric effect in liquids - Michigan State University.
• Which bank launched India's first pocket-sized swipe machine 'Micropay' - Axis Bank.
• Which Indian-origin Sikh woman has become the assistant police chief in the US state of Connecticut - Lieutenant Manmeet Kolan.
• Who has been appointed Vice President of UAE - Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.