Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: March 06, 2023
The current affairs section needs to be given extra attention if you are preparing for competitive examinations. A candidate should constantly study fresh information about events in the globe, country, state, and all other sectors. To maintain a level of general knowledge, all you need to know are the essentials. Reading about current events is not difficult; it is really interesting. In order to help all the candidates score well in this section, we have analysed the most recent news from The Hindu, Indian Express, the Economic Times, and so on.
Current Affairs: National
SCO’s First International Conference and Expo on Traditional Medicine inaugurated by Ayush Minister
Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the first B2B Global Conference and Expo on Traditional Medicine under Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at Guwahati recently.
More than 150 delegates from 17 SCO (4 virtually) countries and partners attended the inaugural ceremony.
The four days Expo on Traditional Medicine was also inaugurated by Shri Sonowal in the same premises.
Details:
India puts a lot of effort into the quality assurance of education and practices of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homeopathy (Ayush).
India has also taken the lead in developing the country’s “integrative Medicine Policy” to integrate Traditional systems of medicine and western medicine while ensuring their training, research and safety.
About AYUSH:
The Ministry of Ayush, the ministry of the Government of India, is responsible for developing education, research and propagation of traditional medicine systems in India.
Ayush is a name devised from the words the alternative to healthcare systems covered by the ministry: Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
It was established in the year 2014, and the current minister is Sarbananda Sonowal.
About SCO:
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and International security and defence organisation.
It is the world’s largest regional organisation in terms of geographic scope and population, covering approximately 60% of the area of Eurasia, 40% of the world population, and more than 30% of the global GDP.
It was formed in 1996 between the People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. It is headquartered in Beijing.
Question: 1
The Ayush Minister inaugurated SCO’s first International Conference and Expo on Traditional Medicine in which of the following cities?
A. Jaipur
B. Guwahati
C. Delhi
D. Shimla
Answer: B
Check out the Highlights of the Economic Survey 2022-23 by clicking on the link given below: Economic Survey 2022-23
Current Affairs: Defence
Union Cabinet approves contract for three Cadet Training Ships under Buy (Indian-IDDM) category
The Union Cabinet has accorded approval to sign a contract with Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) for the acquisition of three Cadet Training Ships, at an overall cost of ₹3,108.09 crore, under Buy {Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)} category. The delivery of ships is scheduled to commence in 2026.
Details:
These ships will cater to the training of officer cadets, including women, at sea after their basic training to meet the future requirements of the Indian Navy.
The ships would also provide training to cadets from friendly countries with the aim of strengthening diplomatic relations.
The ships can also be deployed for evacuation of people and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
About the ships:
The ships will be indigenously designed, developed and constructed at the L&T shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai.
The project will generate employment of 22.5 lakh man-days over a period of four-and-half years.
This will encourage the active participation of Indian shipbuilding and associated industries, including MSMEs.
With the majority of the equipment and systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers, these vessels will be proud flag bearers of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in accordance with the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the Government.
Question: 2
The Union Cabinet recently approved a contract with which of the following companies for three cadet training ships, worth over ₹3,100 crore, under the Buy (Indian-IDDM) category?
A. Larsen & Toubro
B. Forge India
C. BHEL
D. DRDO
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Technology and Governance
India tops the list of internet shutdowns
In 2022, the Indian government ordered 84 internet shutdowns.
India has been at the top of the list for cutting off the internet to its citizens for five years consecutively, as per a report by The Indian Express.
The shutdowns were exercised for various reasons, including protests, school exams, and elections.
Details:
The title of the report is: “Weapons Of Control, Shields Of Impunity — Internet Shutdowns”.
India saw 84 shutdowns out of the total 187 worldwide.
Ukraine saw the second-highest number of shutdowns, with 22 imposed by external forces during the armed conflict in the country and Yemen.
Iran remained in third position with 18 shutdowns.
Key Findings:
Authorities disrupted internet access at least 49 times in Jammu and Kashmir due to political instability and violence.
This included a string of 16 back-to-back orders for three-day-long curfew-style shutdowns in January and February 2022.
Laws related to Telecommunications in India:
The proposed Draft Indian Telecommunication Bill has empowered central and state governments with unrestricted powers to impose shutdowns when “necessary and expedient”, signals the government’s intention to continue down this troublesome path, violating fundamental rights of expression and assembly and providing opportunities to cover up human rights abuses.
In Anuradha Bhasin vs Union of India, the SC had laid down procedural safeguards to be followed by the government before resorting to internet shutdowns.
Current Affairs: Technology
NTPC commissions India’s first Air cooled condenser
NTPC has commissioned India’s first Air Cooled Condenser installed Super Critical plant to demonstrate its commitment towards water conservation through the three R’s—reduce, reuse and recycle.
Details:
This project has been envisaged with Air Cooled Condenser (ACC), which has almost 1/3rd water footprint as compared to a conventional Water Cooled Condenser (WCC).
NTPC will further imbibe the three R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle) for water conservation and management while carrying out its core business activity of power generation.
What is an air cool condenser:
An air-cooled condenser (ACC) is a direct dry cooling system where steam is condensed inside air-cooled finned tubes.
The cool ambient airflow outside the finned tubes is what removes heat and defines the functionality of an ACC.
In air-cooled condensers, condenser heat is rejected directly to the ambient air.
The obvious advantage of air-cooled condensers relative to water-cooled condensers is that cooling water is unnecessary.
About National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC):
NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, is an Indian central public sector undertaking under the ownership of the Ministry of Power, Government of India which is engaged in the generation of electricity and allied activities.
NTPC is currently meeting 24 per cent of the country’s demand through coal, gas, hydro, solar and wind plants.
Question: 3
Which of the following has recently commissioned India’s first Air cooled condenser at the North Karanpura Super critical plant in Jharkhand?
A. BARC
B. NTPC
C. IOCL
D. HPCL
Answer: B
Current Affairs: National
Gold Mines found in three districts of Odisha
Gold mines have been found at different locations in three districts of Odisha, informed Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallik recently in the state assembly.
Details:
Surveys by Odisha’s Directorate of Mines and Geological Survey of India (GSI) have confirmed gold deposits in three districts, including Deogarh, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.
These gold deposits have been found at four places in the Keonjhar district, four places in the Mayurbhanj district and one place in the Deogarh district.
It is noteworthy that after the confirmation of lithium reserves in Jammu and Kashmir last month, now the indication of gold reserves in Odisha is an important achievement for the country.
Surveys were done in these areas of Odisha in the 1970s and 80s. The survey campaign was conducted by the Directorate of Mines and Geology and the GSI. At that time, the report of this survey was not made public.
According to State Mining Minister Prafulla Kumar Malik, GSI had again conducted surveys in these three districts in the last two years.
Question: 4
According to recent news, gold mines have been found at different locations in three districts of which of the following states?
A. Odisha
B. Karnataka
C. Madhya Pradesh
D. Maharashtra
Answer: A
Check out the Highlights of Union Budget 2023 by clicking on the link given below: Union Budget 2023-24
Factbook: 03-March-2023
Vietnam parliament elects new President Vo Van Thuong
Vo Van Thuong has been elected as the new President of Vietnam. The country’s top legislature convened a special meeting and elected Thuong with an approval rate of 98.38%.
Born in December 1970, Thuong is the youngest member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
He hails from Mekong Delta’s Vinh Long province and holds an M.A. in Philosophy and an advanced degree in political theory from the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.
Huong’s election comes after the resignation of the former President, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, for personal reasons.
The National Assembly appointed Vo Thi Anh Xuan as the acting President the next day after Phuc’s resignation.
Raisina Dialogue 2023
It is a multilateral conference committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community, held annually in New Delhi since 2016.
It takes its name from Raisina Hill- the seat of the Indian government.
It is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs.
It brings together global leaders in policy, business, media, civil society, defence and foreign policy.
‘SWAYATT’ Start-ups Women and Youth Advantage Through e-transactions
A function was held to commemorate the success of “SWAYATT”, an initiative on Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
About SWAYATT: The initiative was first launched in 2019.
It aims to promote the inclusiveness of various categories of sellers and service providers on the GeM portal.
GeM has been set up (under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) for the procurement of goods and services by Central Ministries, State Departments, PSEs and Autonomous Bodies.
Hekani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse become 1st women MLAs from Nagaland
In a significant milestone, people in Nagaland have elected two women candidates after 60 years since it attained statehood. Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu.
Both are from the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, which made history by becoming the first women candidates to be elected in the state assembly election. Kruse won from Western Angami AC, and Jakhalu clinched the Dimapur-III constituency.
Question: 5
Hekani Jakhalu and Salhoutuonuo Kruse recently became the first women MLAs from which of the following Northeastern states?
A. Mizoram
B. Tripura
C. Meghalaya
D. Nagaland
Answer: D
Indian Army to buy 310 Indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System
Following extensive trial firings over several years, the Indian Army has submitted a proposal to acquire the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), an indigenously built weapon capable of being deployed in high-altitude areas.
The ATAGS has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Kalyani Group and Tata Advanced Systems Limited.
The gun is capable of being deployed in high-altitude regions along India’s frontier with Tibet, where the Army is locked in a tense standoff with China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The indigenous gun boasts unparalleled range capabilities, with its Extended Range Sub-Bore Boat Tail (ERFB BT) ammunition capable of striking targets at 35 km and ERFB BB (Base Bleed) ammunition reaching a range of approximately 45 km. Notably, in 2017, the ATAGS was successfully fired at an impressive range of 47 km.
HDFC Bank and IRCTC launch India’s most rewarding co-branded travel credit card
Indian Railway-backed catering services provider IRCTC tied up with the largest private sector lender HDFC Bank today launched one of India’s most rewarding co-branded travel credit cards.
The co-branded card, called “IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card”, will be in a single variant exclusively available on NPCI’s Rupay network.
The card will provide exclusive benefits and maximum savings on train ticket bookings through the IRCTC’s ticketing website and the IRCTC Rail Connect app.
IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit cardholders will enjoy an attractive joining bonus, discounts on bookings and access to the several executive lounges at railway stations across the country.
India wins GSMA Government Leadership Award 2023
GSM Association (GSMA) has conferred Government Leadership Award 2023 to India for implementing best practices in telecom policy and regulation.
GSMA, which represents more than 750 mobile operators and 400 companies in the telecom ecosystem, recognises one country every year.
India was declared the winner in the Mobile World Congress Barcelona ceremony on 27 Feb 2023.
Kerala, UN body ink pact to boost women-friendly tourism activities
The Kerala government signed an MoU with the UN Women to boost women-friendly activities in the State’s tourism sector.
The MoU signed by Kerala Tourism and UN Women India agreed to work towards promoting gender-inclusive tourism sites in the State.
The MoU was signed by Kerala Tourism Director P B Nooh and UN Women India representative Susan Ferguson.
Both parties agreed to work towards promoting gender-inclusive tourism sites in the State.
It would be implemented by the Responsible Tourism Mission.
It will be done by creating modules and capacity-building of relevant stakeholders.
Pepsi Appoints Ranveer Singh as its New Brand Ambassador
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh becomes the Brand Ambassador of the beverage manufacturing company Pepsi.
This youth-focused corporation has invented a new tagline, “Rise Up Baby”.
This step has been taken up for the upcoming summer campaign in order to increase sales. Famous Kannada actor Yash has also been selected as the new face of Pepsi.
Ranveer Singh reportedly had a brand value of $158.3 million and saw an improvement in brand rankings in 2021.
After cricketer Virat Kohli, Singh had the second-highest brand value in the rankings. Singh has 45 brand endorsements.
ISRO organises Flight Acceptance Tests of CE-20 Engine
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully concluded the flight acceptance of the CE-20 Cryogenic Engine.
This engine intends to power the Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 launches vehicle for the Lunar Mission, Chandrayaan-3.
This cryogenic engine is further integrated with propellant tanks, associated fluid lines, and space structures, as described by the Space Agency.
This flight acceptance hot test comes a day after the Chandrayaan-3 lander successfully completed the crucial EMI-EMC (Electromagnetic Interference/ Electromagnetic Compatibility) test.
Chandrayaan-3 is India’s third moon mission and is a follow-on mission to Chandrayaan-2 to demonstrate end-to-end capability in safe landing and roving on the lunar surface.
The mission is slated to be launched later this year by Launch Vehicle Mark 3 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
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