NATIONAL:
1. India-Mauritius Partnership
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi and Mauritius’ PM Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated several community development projects on Agalega Island.
Key Points -
• Agalega island is a small, remote Mauritian island located in the south-western Indian Ocean.
• Projects inaugurated include an airstrip and a jetty.
• Mauritius became the first country to join India’s Jan Aushadhi scheme (JAS).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Dengue Emergency
Why in news - Peru declared a health emergency as a heat wave and heavy rains have led to a spike in dengue fever cases.
Key Points -
• Climatic conditions, including high temperatures and increased rainfall, have created ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
• El Niño has warmed the seas off Peru's coastline, exacerbating environmental conditions conducive to mosquito proliferation.
2. Lowest Fertility Rate
Why in news - South Korea’s fertility rate – already the lowest in the world – has fallen yet again.
Key Points -
• The average number of babies a South Korean woman is expected to give birth to during her life fell to 0.72 from 0.78 in 2022.
• There had been an 8% decline in the country’s fertility rate in 2023 compared with the previous year.
• Country’s population of 51 million may halve by 2100 based on current rates.
• These levels are far below the 2.1 children needed to maintain a country’s population at its current level.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Coal Logistics Plan and Policy
Why in news - Ministry of Coal launched "Coal Logistics Plan and Policy".
Key Points -
• It aims to meet the escalating energy demand projected to surge from 980 MT to 1.5 BT by 2030.
• It proposes a strategic shift towards a railway-based system in first mile connectivity (FMC) projects, aiming for a 14% reduction in rail logistic costs and an annual cost saving of Rs 21,000 Crore.
• A 10% saving in average turnaround time of wagons nationwide is expected.
SCIENCE - TECH:
1. ISRO Launch Complex
Why in news - PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a new launch complex at Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district.
Key Points -
• The Rs 986 crore facility is set to accommodate 24 launches per year.
• He also launched India's first indigenous green hydrogen fuel cell inland waterway vessel under Harit Nauka initiative.
• This launch complex is built for launching SSLV type of rockets.
2. Eco-Friendly Wound Dressing
Why in news - Eco-Friendly wound dressing developed by Indian scientists using banana fibres.
Key Points -
• Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) have transformed banana pseudo stems into an eco-friendly wound dressing material.
• India, the world's largest banana-farming country, has an abundance of banana pseudo stems, discarded after harvest.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Report on Status of Leopards in India
Why in news - Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the report on Status of Leopards in India.
Key Points -
• The fifth cycle leopard population estimation was carried out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India.
• It was conducted as part of the quadrennial “Monitoring of Tiger, Co-predators, prey and their habitat” exercise in tiger range States.
Findings -
• India's leopard population is estimated at 13,874 (Range: 12,616 – 15,132) individuals, representing stable population.
• In India, there is a 1.08% per annum growth.
• Largest population of leopards - Madhya Pradesh (3907), Maharashtra (1985) and Karnataka (1,879).
• Bihar has 86 leopards.
2. International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
Why in news - Union Cabinet approved the establishment of International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) with headquarters in India.
Key Points -
• It will have a one-time budgetary support of Rs.150 crore for a period of five years from 2023-24 to 2027-28.
• Seven big cats include Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Puma, Jaguar and the Cheetah out of these five big cats viz. Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard and Cheetah are found in India.
• The International Big Cat Alliance recognizes the importance of integrating biodiversity policies with sustainable development goals (SDGs) to achieve holistic and inclusive conservation outcomes.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Knighthood Honour
Why in news - Sunil Bharti Mittal has been awarded an honorary Knighthood by Britain’s King Charles III.
Key Points -
• Mittal is granted a KBE (Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
• The prestigious accolade was conferred to him “for services to UK and India business relations”.
• Mittal joins a distinguished list of Indian luminaries who have received the Honorary KBE, including Ratan Tata, Ravi Shankar, and Jamshed Irani.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Wildlife Day 2024
Why in news - World Wildlife Day is celebrated on 3 March 2024.
Key Points -
• Theme - Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.
• On March 3, 1973, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted.
• CITES ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
BIHAR:
1. Tourism Survey Awards
Why in news - Union MoS (independent charge) for earth sciences Kiren Rijiju and Delhi lieutenant governor V.K. Saxena conferred the awards at a function in New Delhi.
Key Points -
• Bihar won in three categories each -
(a) Adventure destination: Valmiki tiger reserve, West Champaran, Bihar.
(b) Mountain destination: Kaimur hills, Rohtas, Bihar.
(c) Festival destination: Sonepur fair, Sonepur in Saran district of Bihar.
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