NATIONAL:
1. Poshan Pakhwada 2024
Why in news: WCD Ministry organised Poshan Pakhwada 2024 from 9th March to 23rd March
Key points:
• During the Pakhwada, mass sensitisation and community activities will be held.
• Themes: Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, dietary practices focused on sensitisation around nutrition and health of pregnant women
• To inculcate healthy eating habits and mass sensitisation, Jan Andolans are being celebrated annually in the form of Poshan Pakhwada and Poshan Maah since the launch of POSHAN Abhiyaan in 2018.
2. ‘Measles and Rubella Champion’ Global Award
Why in news: India received ‘Measles and Rubella Champion’ Global Award for its Exemplary Efforts in combating these Diseases
Key points:
• The award was received by the ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington on March 6th.
• These efforts have resulted in 50 districts consistently not witnessing any measles case while 226 districts have not reported rubella cases over the past 12 months.
• The measles and rubella partnership comprises a multi-agency planning committee, including the American Red Cross, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), UNICEF and World Health Organisation.
• All of these organisations are dedicated to reducing global measles deaths and preventing rubella illness.
3. Subhash Abhinandan
Why in news: Launch of Digital Exhibition “Subhash Abhinandan”, based on the life of Subhash Chandra Bose on 134th Foundation Day of National Archives of India
Key points:
• The National Archives of India is celebrating its 134th Foundation Day.
• On this occasion, a digital exhibition “Subhash Abhinandan”, based on the life of Subhash Chandra Bose is being organized.
• The National Archives of India is an Attached Office under the Ministry of Culture. I
• It was established on 11 March 1891 at Kolkata (Calcutta) as the Imperial Record Department.
4. Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI)
Why in news: Union cabinet approves Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialization Scheme (UNNATI), 2024
Key points:
• It is a Central Sector Scheme for the development of industries and generation of employment in the states of the Northeast Region.
• Objective: To generate gainful employment, which will lead to the area’s overall socio-economic development and productive economic activity in the manufacturing and service sectors.
• Scheme period: 10 years along with 8 years of committed liabilities.
• Eligibility: All new Industrial units and Expanding units.
• Maximum eligible benefits to one unit from all components: Rs. 250 Cr.
• Green industries like EV charging stations are on the positive list, while cement, plastic, and others are on the negative list.
5. ‘NITI for States’ Platform
Why in news: Government has launched the ‘NITI for States’ platform.
Key points:
• It is a comprehensive digital initiative designed to empower States/UTs in their pursuit of national development goals.
• It offers a centralised repository of valuable resources, including best practices, policy documents, datasets, and NITI Aayog publications.
• Multilingual: It will be available in 22 major Indian languages and 7 foreign languages.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:
1. The Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technology Hub (MATH)
Why in news: DST and T-Hub Launch AI-ML Hub in Hyderabad
Key points:
• The Department of Science and Technology (DST), in collaboration with T-Hub, has launched the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technology Hub (MATH) in Hyderabad.
• This initiative aims to accelerate AI innovation, facilitate job creation, and foster a supportive ecosystem for AI and ML startups.
• The MATH initiative targets to generate over 500 AI-related jobs by 2025.
• It aims to nurture more than 150 AI and ML startups annually, providing them with essential resources and mentorship.
2. ISRO’s New Spaceport
Why in news: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is developing a new spaceport at Kulasekharapatnam in Tamil Nadu
Key points:
• Its main purpose is to efficiently launch payloads to polar orbits.
• This strategic location offers a significant advantage over the launch pads in Sriharikota.
• It allows small satellite launch vehicles (SSLV) to fly directly southward without the need for a fuel-consuming dogleg maneuver.
• A dogleg maneuver involves altering the trajectory of a satellite’s launch by a sharp turn or bend to avoid collisions or prevent debris from falling in populated areas.
ECONOMY:
1. Strategy Paper on Coal Import Substitution
Why in news: Ministry of Coal released “Strategy Paper on Coal Import Substitution”
Key points:
• This has been prepared by the Inter-Ministerial Committee, constituted by the Ministry for making recommendations on import substitution of coal by 2030.
• Despite having rich coal deposits (around 378.20 billion tonnes), India is second largest importer of coal, importing 237 MT in FY2023 costing ?3.83 Lakh Crores.
• Coal is majorly consumed for electricity generation in India (about 64%), followed by steel and cement sectors.
• Coal dominates and accounts for 56% of primary energy consumption.
• It accounts for 76% of electricity generation and will remain major fuel with 55% share by FY2030.
2. PM Ujjwala Yojana
Why in news: Union Cabinet approves continuation of targeted subsidy
Key points:
• Union Cabinet approves continuation of targeted subsidy of Rs.300 per LPG cylinder for up to 12 refills per year under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) during FY 2024-25.
About PM Ujjwala Yojana:
• Launched in 2016 with the objective to provide clean cooking fuel to rural and deprived households which were otherwise using traditional cooking fuels.
• Government targets 10.35 crore LPG connections under the scheme.
• Ministry: Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
SPORTS:
1. 5th ONGC Para Games
Why in news: Minister Hardeep S Puri Inaugurated 5th ONGC Para Games
Key points:
• Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Housing & Urban Affairs, inaugurated the 5th ONGC Para Games.
• The event took place at Thyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi.
• India demonstrated para-sports excellence with 19 medals at Tokyo Paralympics 2020.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Corbett Tiger Reserve
Why in news: Committee to be set up for Corbett Tiger Reserve
Key points:
• Supreme Court has directed to constitute a committee to assess the damage caused in the Corbett Tiger Reserve due to Tiger Safaris.
About Corbett Tiger Reserve:
• Located on foothills of Himalayas in Uttarakhand and spread over Bhabar and lower Shivalik region.
• First national park to be established in mainland Asia.
• Declared as an 'Important Bird Area' (IBA) by Birdlife International.
IMPORTANT DAY:
1. No Smoking Day 2024
Why in news: No Smoking Day is observed annually on March 13.
• Every year, No Smoking Day is celebrated across the world to spread awareness about the harmful effects of smoking.
• The first No Smoking Day was celebrated on Ash Wednesday in 1984 in the United Kingdom.
• It is now observed on the second Wednesday of March every year.
Click here to download Current Affairs English PDF
Click here to download Current Affairs Hindi PDF