Current Affairs in English – March 7 2023

March 7, 2023

National Events:

Massmerize:

• Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal inaugurated the 1st Session of Massmerize 2023 in New Delhi on 6 March 2023.
• Massmerize is a dialogue forum between government and retail, Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and e-Commerce sectors to discuss regulatory issues, Macro-Economics, and consumer trends.

‘Har Payment Digital’:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 6 March 2023, launched the Mission ‘Har Payment Digital’ on the occasion of Digital Payments Awareness Week (DPAW) 2023.
• This is part of RBI’s initiative to make every person in India a user of digital payments. The campaign theme is “Digital Payment Apnao, Auron ko bhi Sikhao” (Adopt digital payments and Also teach others).

National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 3rd session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction on 10th March 2023 in New Delhi.
• The theme of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 is ‘building local resilience in the face of climate change’. Home Minister Amit Shah will chair the Ministerial session with the Ministers of States and Union Territories.

Savlon Swasth India:

• Savlon Swasth India on 6 March 2023, announced Sachin Tendulkar as the World’s First ‘Hand Ambassador’ to inspire billions to wash their hands.
• The campaign features a series of films featuring Sachin Tendulkar’s Hand as their chief protagonist-bringing the importance of hand hygiene to everyone’s notice. Started in 2016, the Savlon Swasth India Mission program is run by ITC Limited.

Tiruchirappalli International Airport:

• Tiruchirappalli International Airport is rated the best in the Asia Pacific region, as per ASQ Awards 2022 announced by the Airports Council International (ACI) on 6 March 2023.
• It has been adjudged the best airport in the Asia-Pacific category of under-2 million passengers. Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey is the world-renowned global benchmarking program measuring passengers’ satisfaction.

Lieutenant General HS Sahi:

• Lieutenant General HS Sahi assumed the command of 3 Corps based at Rangapahar, Dimapur on 6 March 2023. Lt Gen Sahi was commissioned into Rajput Regiment in 1988. He is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun.
• He is also a recipient of the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, Sena Medal, Chief of Army Staff & General Officer Commanding in Chief Commendations.

Indian Navy:

• Indian Navy successfully undertook MRSAM (Medium Range Surface to Air Missile) firing from INS Visakhapatnam on 7 March 2023. MRSAM is jointly developed by DRDO & IAI & produced at BDL.
• MSRAM is a high response, quick reaction, vertically launched supersonic missile, designed to neutralize enemy aerial threats- missiles, aircraft, guided bombs, helicopters.

ISRO:

• ISRO conducted the Rail Track Rocket Sled deployment tests of the Gaganyaan Pilot and Apex Cover Separation (ACS) parachutes in cluster configurations.
• It was conducted at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), Chandigarh, on March 1 and 3, 2023. These pilot parachutes are used in the Gaganyaan mission to extract and deploy the main parachutes independently.

ACI:

• Delhi airport has been ranked among the cleanest airports in Asia-Pacific as a part of the Airport Council International (ACI)’s annual service quality award.
• The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), operated by DIAL, has bagged the award for Airport Service Quality (ASQ) best airport for 2022 in the category of over 40 Million Passengers Per Annum (MPPA).

Central Board of Irrigation And Power (CBIP) Award:

• Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) has been awarded the Central Board of Irrigation And Power (CBIP) Award 2022 for ‘Best Contribution in Solar Energy’.
• CBIP awards are conferred for outstanding contribution to the development of water, power and renewable energy sectors.

CGA:

• S. Dubey took charge as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA). He is the 28th officer to hold the position of CGA.
• Prior to that, Dubey has served as Chief Controller of Accounts in Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion etc and as Controller/Deputy Controller of Accounts in Ministry of Environment & Forest, Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Revenue, Department of Supply etc.

Tejal Mehta:

• Tejal Mehta, an Indian-American woman judge who promised to make a real impact to the community and treat people with compassion, has taken oath as the first Justice of a district court in the US state of Massachusetts. Mehta will serve as the first Justice of the Ayer District Court. She has served as an Associate Justice with the same court and was unanimously selected and sworn in by Judge Stacey Fortes, Chief Justice of the District Court.

Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarozgar Yojana:

• Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami has announced the launch of Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarozgar Yojana in the state at the end of Women Empowerment and Safety Week.
• Women in remote villages of the state are giving impetus to the rural economy through self-help groups. Through their skill potential, women are providing strength to the economy of their families.
• The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, many efforts have been made to empower the mother power.
• Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, steps such as linking 23 crore women to banks through Jan Dhan accounts have been taken across India. From financial inclusion to social security, quality health care to housing, education to entrepreneurship, several steps have been taken in recent years to keep women at the forefront of India’s development journey, the Uttarakhand chief minister said, adding that these initiatives will only gain momentum in the coming years.

PMBJP:

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in collaboration with Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), the implementing agency of Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) and States and Union Territories is celebrating 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas 2023 under (PMBJP).
• Department of Pharmaceuticals has planned various events in different cities starting from 1st of March 2023 to 7th March 2023 which will focus on awareness about the Jan Aushadhi Scheme. The 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas is organized across India based on the theme “Jan Aushadhi – Sasti bhi Acchi bhi”.

IIT Madras:

• Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the four year Bachelor Science Degree in Electronic Systems at IIT Madras on March 2023. The new BS in Electronic Systems course will be delivered online.
• Unlike other undergraduate courses offered by the institute, candidates can take admission to this one without appearing in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE).

Pharma Anveshan-2023:

• Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, inaugurated Pharma Anveshan-2023 on the occasion of National Pharmacy Education Day. She also launched a ‘One Stop-Non Stop’ digital job portal of Pharmacy Council of India.
• The day was observed on 6 March 2023. The day commemorates the birth anniversary of Prof. M.L. Shroff – father of Pharmacy Education of India.

Tamil Nadu Events:

Keezadi Museum:

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin inaugurated the Keezadi Museum, which has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 18.43 crores in an area of 31,000 square feet on two acres of land, for the public to see the archeological artifacts found in the Geezadi excavations in Sivagangai district.
• In this museum, the artefacts found in the excavations are displayed in a three-dimensional form for the public to enjoy.

International Events:

 “Tillyardembiids”:

• Fossils of the oldest known insect and the world’s first plant pollinators called “tillyardembiids” were discovered in March 2023 in Russia.
• They were discovered along the riverbank near the village of Chekarda in Russia. It is estimated to be around 280 million years old, predating the previously-known pollen-covered insects by about 120 million years.

Battle of Bakhmut:

• The battle of Bakhmut is being fought between Ukrainian and Russian soldiers in Bakhmut city, Ukraine. Bakhmut is located on the Bakhmutka River, about 89 kilometers north of Donetsk, the administrative center of the oblast.
• It is a key transport hub and has numerous supply lines running through it. Bakhmut city is noted for its salt mining activity.

International Women’s Day:

• International Women’s Day is observed on 8 March every year. The theme for 2023 is Embrace Equity. It was in 1945 that the Charter of the United Nations became the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men.
• During International Women’s Year in 1975, the UN celebrated its first official International Women’s Day.

HCL & Azure Quantum:

• Domestic information technology (IT) services firm, HCL Technologies, announced a partnership with Azure Quantum, Microsoft’s quantum cloud computing service.
• Through this partnership, HCLTech will offer cloud-based quantum computing services to businesses using Microsoft’s platform as a technology stack.

FRINJEX-23:

• On March 7 and 8, 2023, the Indian Army and the French Army will hold their first joint military exercise, FRINJEX-23, at Pangode Military Station in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• The two armies are participating in this format for the first time, with each contingent consisting of a Company Group from the French 6th Light Armoured Brigade and Indian Army personnel stationed in Thiruvananthapuram.

UN member countries:

• The UN member countries have made an agreement to protect the world’s oceans and its biodiversity. At the end of the relevant talks held in New York, 200 member countries, including India, have signed this agreement.
• According to the agreement, 30 percent of the oceans will be protected by 2030. Activities such as fishing, shipping, and deep-sea mining will be prohibited in those areas.

Sports Events:

’BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year’ award:

• Tokyo Olympic Games silver-medallist weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has bagged the 2022 ’BBC Indian Sportswoman Of The Year’ award after a public vote.
• The 28-year-old weightlifter from Manipur became the first athlete to win the award twice in a row after bagging it in 2021 as well.
• BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award was launched in 2019 to celebrate sportswomen in India who have made their mark on the world stage.

Women’s Snooker World Cup:

• Women’s Snooker World Cup is being held in Bangkok, Thailand. Tamilnadu player Anupama, who is participating for the Indian team, won the gold by defeating the England team along with Madhya Pradesh player Ame Kamini in the team competition held two days ago.
• Meanwhile, in the women’s under-21 singles final, Anupama won the gold again in the match between Thailand’s Ploysomboo Lokiabang and became the champion.