Daily Current Affairs for Competitive Examinations: March 09, 2023
A part of the question paper for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, IAS, Railway-RRB, UPPSC, UGC NET, SBI, MPPSC, etc., is devoted to the Current Affairs section. Moreover, scoring well in this portion is not difficult if we have a sound preparation plan. Candidates can ace the current affairs section of any exam by using the right tools and daily news analysis.
The most recent events from around the globe have been selected by our specialists at Embibe and are included in this post. We analysed the most recent news of the day, from The Hindu to the BBC, to give students the latest current affairs.
Current Affairs: Defence
Indian Navy successfully test-fires indigenous surface-to-air missiles
The Indian Navy recently carried out a successful test-firing of a Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from the frontline warship INS Visakhapatnam.
Details:
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) jointly developed it. It reflects the Indian navy’s commitment to “Atamanirbhar Bharat”.
It is designed to destroy hostile aircraft at a 70 km range.
The latest test-firing came two days after the Navy successfully test-fired the ship-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic missile.
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or battle group and defend them against powerful short-range attackers.
About INS Visakhapatnam:
INS Visakhapatnam is the lead ship and the first of the Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers of the Indian Navy.
The ship, commissioned on 21 November 2021, is one of the largest destroyers in service with the Indian Navy.
Visakhapatnam was delivered to the Indian Navy on 28 October 2021 and commissioned on 21 November 2021 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command, headquartered in Mumbai.
About IAI:
Israel Aerospace Industries is Israel’s major aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial and astronautic systems for both military and civilian usage. IAI is completely state-owned by the government of Israel.
Question: 1
Indian Navy successfully test-fires indigenous surface-to-air missile from INS Visakhapatnam, jointly developed by DRDO and IAI. This IAI is an agency of which of the following countries?
A. USA
B. France
C. Israel
D. Japan
Answer: C
Check out the Highlights of the Economic Survey 2022-23 by clicking on the link given below: Economic Survey 2022-23
Current Affairs: International
International Women’s Day 2023
Every year, March marks Women’s History Month – an annual month-long celebration highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.
On 8 March, people commemorate International Women’s Day.
Theme:
This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is Embrace Equity or #EmbraceEquity.
History and Significance:
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century across North America and Europe.
UNESCO states, “The first National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on 28 February 1909”.
which the Socialist Party of America dedicated in honour of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York where women protested against harsh working conditions.
In 1917, women in Russia chose to protest and strike under the slogan “Bread and Peace” on the last Sunday in February (which fell on 8 March on the Gregorian calendar). Their movement ultimately led to the enactment of women’s suffrage in Russia.
In 1977, the United Nations (UN) started celebrating International Women’s Day. It was officially agreed that the day would be widely observed every year on 8 March.
Question: 2
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on which of the following dates?
A. 15 January
B. 20 February
C. 08 March
D. 12 April
Answer: C
Current Affairs: National
Centre releases guidelines for celebrities, social media influencers
The Centre recently released a set of guidelines for celebrities, influencers, and virtual influencers on social media platforms to ensure that individuals do not mislead their audiences when endorsing products or services.
Details:
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has released a set of guidelines called ‘Endorsements Know-hows’ which ensures that Individuals do not mislead their audiences when endorsing products and services.
Endorsements are in compliance with Consumer Protection Act (CPA), 2019.
Guidelines provide clarification with reference to ‘Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022’, which are issued under CPA 2019.
What is the need for these Guidelines?
Increased use of social media for promotional activities and influencer violations comprising almost 30% of ads taken up by the Advertising Standards Council of India.
India’s social media influencer market is expected to reach ₹ 2,800 crores by 2025 (from ₹ 1,275 crore in 2022).
Key highlights:
Endorsements must be made in simple, clear language.
Terms including advertisement, sponsored, collaboration and paid promotion can be used, which must be indicated as a hashtag or headline text.
Individuals must not endorse any product and service that they have not personally used or experienced or in which due diligence has not been done by them.
Failure to disclose any material connection or non-compliance with CPA 2019 and the rules made thereunder would make such violators liable for strict action under the law.
Question: 3
Which of the following ministries has recently released the guidelines for celebrities, influencers, and virtual influencers on social media platforms?
A. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
B. Ministry of Information and Technology
C. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
D. Central Home Ministry
Answer: A
Current Affairs: Environment and Ecology
India to launch a global alliance for big cats
INDIA has proposed to launch a mega global alliance under its leadership to protect big cats and assured support over five years with guaranteed funding of $100 million (over ₹800 crore), according to records reviewed.
The proposed International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) will work towards the protection and conservation of the seven major big cats—tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar and cheetah. Membership to the alliance will be open to 97 “range” countries, which contain the natural habitat of these big cats, as well as other interested nations, international organisations, etc.
Fact:
India is the only country in the world to have five big cats in the wild (except pumas and jaguars).
Open to 97 “range” countries, which contain the natural habitat of these big cats, as well as other interested nations, international organisations, etc.
How will this body work?
IBCA’s governance structure has a General Assembly consisting of all member countries.
Council of at least seven but not more than 15 member countries elected by the General Assembly for a five years term, and a Secretariat.
Upon recommendation of the Council, the General Assembly will appoint IBCA Secretary General for a specific term.
Why do we need to protect big cats?
Cats are apex predators whose loss can set off a “trophic cascade”, wherein prey populations may explode, resulting in overgrazing and degrading the health of the landscape.
Protecting tiger habitats means protecting forests which facilitate fighting climate change and thereby supporting economies through ecotourism.
Question: 4
Which of the following countries has recently proposed to launch a mega global alliance under its leadership to protect big cats and assure support over five years with guaranteed funding of $100 million?
A. Russia
B. India
C. Australia
D. Japan
Answer: B
Current Affairs: Science and Technology
Isro successfully deorbits dead Megha Trophiques satellite
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently successfully deorbited a satellite after the end of its mission.
Megha Trophiques-1 was brought down from its orbit as it disintegrated and burned up in the skies above the Pacific Ocean.
What is Megha-Tropiques-1?
The Megha-Tropiques-1 (MT1) is a joint satellite venture of ISRO and the French space agency, CNES, for tropical weather and climate studies.
It was launched on October 12 and was supposed to have a mission life of three years.
However, it continued to provide valuable data services for over a decade, supporting regional and global climate models until 2021.
The name Megha-Tropiques-1 is derived from Sanskrit and French, meaning ‘cloud’ and ‘tropics,’ respectively.
Reason for crashing the satellite:
ISRO is crashing the satellite as part of its commitment to the United Nations Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (UNIADC) following the end of its mission life.
The UN guidelines state that at the end of its life, the satellite should be deorbited, preferably through controlled re-entry to a safe impact zone or by bringing it to an orbit where the orbital lifetime is less than 25 years.
The other option was to leave it in orbit as it continued to decay, but that would have resulted in an orbital lifetime of over 100 years.
The spacecraft still has about 125 kg of onboard fuel that could pose risks for accidental break-up, making it critical for ISRO to deorbit it.
The UN/IADC space debris mitigation guidelines recommend deorbiting a Low Earth Orbit object at its end-of-life, preferably through controlled re-entry to a safe impact zone or by bringing it to an orbit where the orbital lifetime is less than 25 years.
It is also recommended to carry out the “passivation” of onboard energy sources to minimise the risk of any post-mission accidental break-up.
Check out the Highlights of Union Budget 2023 by clicking on the link given below: Union Budget 2023-24
Factbook: 08-March-2023
Bio-computers
Scientists at John Hopkins University have planned research on “organoid intelligence (OI)” to create biocomputers.
Organoids are tiny, self-organised three-dimensional cells or tissues derived from stem cells. The planned research will use brain organoids, i.e., cultures of brain cells, as biological hardware.
Biocomputers are defined as computers that use components of biological origin (such as molecules of DNA) instead of electrical components.
Benefits: Greater Energy and Data efficiency; Multitasking via parallel computation; improved AI capabilities; ability to self-organise and self-repair; decoding pathology of drug development for neuro-developmental and degenerative diseases, etc.
Indian Railways ties up with ISRO for real-time train tracking
The Indian Railways is utilising data analytics for seamless transit. Under the Real Time Train Information System (RTIS) project, it has started a project that will now allow real-time tracking of train movements with the help of satellite photography.
Railways have integrated their systems with NavIC and Bhuvan while using bandwidth provided by ISRO.
Every locomotive is equipped with a gadget and a SIM card that broadcasts the train’s precise location to a satellite and allows for feedback. A three-second update is made to the movement.
When it’s necessary to determine a train’s precise location to provide assistance in the event of an accident, flood, or landslide, real-time rail tracking can be helpful.
400 Chattisgarh Tribes to be selected by CRPF
The Ministry of Home Affairs instigated the special recruitment drive to onboard 400 tribal youths as Constables.
The training and selection will solely be conducted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) organisation of India.
The mission is to tackle the Naxalites in accordance with the Anti-Maoist Operations that have been carried out for years.
Sri Lanka’s use of INR to alleviate the currency crisis
Facing the economic crisis, Sri Lanka has initiated the use of the Indian Rupee (INR) for economic transactions with India. This move will not only assuage Sri Lanka’s currency crisis but also will improve its bilateral ties with India.
State Bank of India and the Indian Bank have shared their experiences and informed the audience that they had started carrying out INR-denominated trade transactions through their respective Vostro/Nostro accounts.
The benefit of settling in INR was also discussed by the participating banks, including quicker timescales, cheaper exchange rates, and simpler access to trade credits, among other factors.
The initiative’s beneficial effects on the travel and hotel industries were also emphasised, as was its contribution to growing collections that other industries may make use of.
Japan’s flagship H3 rocket fails on the first test flight
The Japanese space agency experienced a technological setback on Tuesday, as the country’s newest rocket, the H3, failed minutes into its first demonstration flight.
The uncrewed rocket carried a satellite to observe the Earth and was intended to serve as the flagship vehicle for sending satellites into orbit and beyond.
While not a permanent complication for Japan’s space program, the loss means that another H3 rocket will need to be built before a second test.
The H3 rocket, which is about 200 feet long, lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan on Tuesday, 7 March.
The rocket’s second stage was deliberately destroyed to ensure that its wreckage landed in an area of the ocean where it would not threaten people or property, and the payload was obliterated.
Qatar’s top diplomat takes oath as new Prime Minister
Sheikh Khalid Bin Khalifa Bin Abdulaziz Al Thani had served as Prime Minister, and the interior minister responsible for domestic security had been replaced by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Jassim Al Thani.
He has served as foreign minister since 2016 and was the public face of Qatar as it navigated a three-and-a-half-year economic boycott by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt.
He replaced Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, who had served as prime minister and interior minister and was responsible for domestic security.
Union MoS Dr L. Murugan confers 8th National Photography Awards
These awards recognise the extraordinary talent and outstanding capabilities of these photographers.
A total of 13 awards were presented, comprising of one Lifetime Achievement Award with a cash prize of ₹3,00,000, one award each in the Professional Photographer of the Year category and Amateur Photographer of the Year category with a cash prize of ₹1,00,000 and ₹75,000, respectively, and five Special Mention Awards in both Professional and Amateur categories with a cash prize of ₹50,000/- and ₹30,000/- each, respectively.
Winners of the 8th National Photography Awards…
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sipra Das
Professional Photographer of the Year Award
Sasi Kumar Ramachandran
Special Mention Awards in the Professional category
Dipjyoti Banik
Manish Kumar Chauhan
R S Gopakumar
Sudipto Das
Umesh Harishchandra Nikam
S.S. Dubey takes charge as the new Controller General of Accounts
Shri Dubey, a 1989-batch Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) officer, has been appointed by the Government of India as the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) effective 6 March 2023. Before this, he was serving as the Additional Controller General of Accounts, Public Financial Management System (PFMS).
Shri Dubey has held various important positions in the Indian government:
Chief Controller of Accounts in the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, and
Controller/Deputy Controller of Accounts in the Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Revenue, and Department of Supply.
He has also served as the Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer at Bank Note Press, Dewas.
Lt Gen Sahi assumes Spear Corps (Three Corps) command in Dimapur
Lt Gen HS Sahi AVSM, YSM, SM assumed the command of the Dimapur-based Spear Corps (3 Corps) on 6 March.
Lt Gen Sahi was commissioned in the RAJPUT Regiment in 1988. He is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun Defence Services Staff College Wellington, Army War College, Mhow and National Defence College, New Delhi.
He is also a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Sena Medal, and Chief of Army Staff and General Officer Commanding in Chief Commendations as recognition of his professional contribution both during Command and Staff assignments.
Odisha CM unveils Biju Patnaik’s iconic Dakota aircraft for public display
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has unveiled former CM Biju Patnaik’s iconic “Dakota” DC3 (AT-AUI) aircraft for public display at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar.
On 18 January 2023, the ace pilot Biju Patnaik’s Dakota DC-3 aircraft was transported from Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport to the capital of Odisha, where it was rebuilt before being shown to the general public at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.
A 10-member team of Aerospace Research Development required 12 days to dismantle the aircraft and pack it in proper shape for public viewing.
This is perhaps the first airport in the world where an aircraft is being displayed at the entrance for public viewing.
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