NATIONAL:
1. Rashtrapati Nilayam
Why in news - President Droupadi Murmu opened Rashtrapati Nilayam (constructed in 1860) in Secunderabad to the public.
Key Points –
• It is one of the three presidential retreats.
• This is the first time that the heritage building is being opened to the general public.
• Cheriyal paintings - Traditional paintings of Telangana.
• Hyderabad is home to the famous Salar Jung Museum, Golconda Fort and Charminar.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Marburg Virus Disease (MVD)
Why in news - 5 people have died due to Marburg virus in Tanzania’s north-west Kagera region.
Key Points –
• Earlier, Equatorial Guinea, reported its first case of the Marburg virus disease.
About MVD –
• It is a severe and fatal haemorrhagic fever.
• Like Ebola, Marburg is a filovirus. Both diseases are clinically similar.
• Natural host - Rousettus fruit bats.
• First detected in 1967.
• There is no approved antiviral treatment or vaccine for MVD as of now.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP)
Why in news - Sarbananda SonowaI inaugurated India’s first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) in Gurugram, Haryana.
Key Points –
• Collaboration between the Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
• India aims at becoming a ‘Global Hub for Green Ship’ building by 2030.
GTTP –
• Aim – To power tug boat with Green Hybrid Propulsion systems, and subsequently adopt non-fossil fuel solutions like Methanol, Ammonia and Hydrogen.
• Tug boat - Marine vessels that maneuver ships by pushing or pulling them, mostly using tow lines.
• Green tugs to start working in all major ports by 2025.
• Half of the existing tug boats at India’s major ports to be converted into green tugs by 2030.
ECONOMY:
1. Cybersecurity Training Institute
Why in news - RBI governor Shaktikanta Das laid the foundation stone of cybersecurity training institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Key Points –
• Aim - for augmenting the existing computing infrastructure of the RBI supported by cutting edge facilities for research and capacity building.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Airport Carbon Accreditation Program
Why in news - Airports Council International (ACI) has started the program which is a global standard for carbon management at airports.
Key Points –
• The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has given a target to the airports to achieve 100% use of Green Energy by 2024 and net zero by 2030.
• Cochin Airport - First green airport in the world. It is completely powered by solar energy.
• Delhi and Mumbai airports - Achieved the highest level of 4+ Carbon Accreditation of ACI.
• The program assists the airports in assessment of their emission and reducing their carbon footprints.
2. Aravalli Green Wall Project
Why in news – Bhupender Yadav launched the project to celebrate the International Day of Forests (Mar 21) at Tikli Village in Haryana.
Key Points –
• Aim - to green the 5 km buffer area around the Aravalli Hill Range in four states.
• He also unveiled the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation through Forestry Intervention.
• Government aims to achieve the national goal of creating an additional 2.5 billion tonnes of carbon sink by 2030.
• Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (Rstablished - 1986) (Headquarter - Dehradun).
About Aravalli Green Wall Project –
• By - Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Aim - to combat land degradation and desertification by creating green corridors.
• It covers states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Delhi.
Aravalli Range –
• Oldest fold mountains of the world
• Southwest direction.
• Passing through Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
• Rivers’ origin from the Aravalis - Banas, Sahibi and Luni.
Africa’s Great Green Wall (GGW) Program:
• Aim - to restore 100 million hectares of degraded ecosystems across 11 countries in the Sahel region.
• Sahel region - From Senegal (West) to Ethiopia (East).
3. Earth Hour 2023
Why in news – It was held annually on the last Saturday of March (2023 – March 25).
Key Points –
• Organized by - World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
• Aim - Encourages individuals, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour (from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm).
• It was started in Australia’s Sydney in 2007.
4. Protecting Ramsar Sites
Why in news – National Green Tribunal (NGT) slapped Rs 10 crore penalty on Kerala government for failure to protect Ramsar sites.
Key Points –
• Reason - failure to check the indiscriminate pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes.
• Penalty was imposed on the basis of the “polluter pays principle (PPP)” .
• PPP - Those who pollute the environment should bear the costs of their actions.
• PPP was first introduced in 1972 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
• 3 Ramsar sites in Kerala - Vembanada – Kol wetland, Ashtamudi wetland and Sasthamkotta lake.
SCIENCE – TECHNOLOGY:
1. OneWeb Constellation
Why in news – ISRO’s LVM-3 successfully launched 36 satellites, completing OneWeb constellation.
Key Points –
• This was the 18th launch of OneWeb satellites, and the third this year.
• It brought the total number of satellites in the constellation to 618.
• LVM-3 - India’s heaviest rocket.
• India opened the space sector to private players in 2020. India only has 2% of the commercial market at the moment.
• India plans to increase India’s 2% share in the commercial market to 10% by 2030
About OneWeb Constellation –
• OneWeb - A UK-based company supported by India’s Bharti Enterprises.
• Aim - to provide global connectivity at high speed and low latency.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Christopher Martin-Jenkins (CMJ) Spirit of Cricket Award 2022
Why in news – Nepal wicketkeeper Aasif Sheikh is the recipient of the CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award 2022.
Key Points –
• Reason - Aasif refused to run out Ireland’s Andy McBrine, who was accidentally upended by bowler Kamal Airee when attempting a run.
• The award was created in 2013 in the memory of Christopher Martin-Jenkins who was passionate about promoting the spirit of the game.
SPORTS:
1. Rani’s Girls Hockey Turf
Why in news - The Indian Railways’ Modern Coach Factory Stadium in Raebareli was renamed as Rani's Girls Hockey Turf.
Key Points –
• It was named after Indian team’s star hockey player Rani Rampal.
• Rani Rampal has become the first woman in the sport to have a stadium named after her.
• Rani Rampal is a Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2021) and Padma Shri awardee.
2. WPL Final 2023
Why in news - Mumbai Indians won the inaugural WPL title.
Key Points –
• Mumbai Indians beat Delhi Capitals by 7 wickets.
• Player of the match - Nat Sciver-Brunt.
• Venue - Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.
• It was a five-team tournament.
Other Awards –
• Purple cap - Hayley Matthews.
• Orange cap - Meg Lanning.
• Most valuable player - Hayley Matthews.
STATES/UTs:
1. All-India Police Athletics Championship
Why in news - UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the championship in Lucknow on March 21, 2023.
Key Points –
• Mascot - Barasingha deer named Tejas.
• The event took place in the state after a gap of 10 years.
BIHAR:
1. Community Based Savings Group (CBSG)
Why in news - 79 groups made up of 1050 beggars from across the state deposited Rs 6.69 lakh in banks.
Key Points –
• Beggars were identified by Saksham under the supervision of the Social Welfare Department with the help of the World Bank.
• CBSG for beggars are running in 10 districts.
• 10 districts - Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga, Purnea, Muzaffarpur, Bhagalpur, Saharsa, Munger, Saran and Nalanda.
• The Center has also adopted the Chief Minister's Beggary Prevention Scheme for the rehabilitation of beggars.
POINTERS:
• Which bank has launched an ambitious plan to distribute three lakh food packets to poor people during Ramzan - UAE Food Bank.
• Who has been appointed as Asian Hockey Federation Athlete Ambassador - Salima Tete.
• Where was the United Nations 2023 “Water Conference” held - New York.
• The US and which country have signed an agreement on the removal of refugees from the unauthorized border - Canada.
• Which Union Minister has virtually inaugurated the Maa Sharda Temple at Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir - Amit Shah.
• According to the recent UNESCO report, what percentage of the world's population does not have access to safe drinking water - 26%.
• Which state government has issued the Disaster Management Plan 2023 - Tamil Nadu.
• Who has launched cricket fantasy sports app CrickPe - Ashneer Grover.
• The joint exercise “Konkan” was conducted between India and which country in the Arabian Sea - Britain.
• Who has chaired a regional conference on 'Drug Trafficking and National Security' in Bengaluru - Amit Shah.