Current Affairs
25.03.2023
1. When is the 'World Tuberculosis Day' observed every year?
Answer: March 24
World Tuberculosis Day, observed on 24 March each year, is designed to
build awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to
eliminate the disease. In 2018, 10 million people fell ill with TB, and 1.5
milion died from the disease. On this occasion, 'One World TB Summit' will
be organized in Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi.
2. Which country conducts the multi-domain air-land exercise named 'Exercise Vayu Prahar'?
Answer: India
Exercise Vayu Prahar is a multi-domain air-land exercise conducted by the
Indian Army and the IAF close to the Line of Actual Control. This exercise
is part of the efforts taken to institutionalize the tactical-level
jointness between the Indian defence forces.
3. Which state/UT passed the 'Mediapersons Protection Bill 2023'?
Answer: Chhattisgarh
The Chhattisgarh Mediapersons Protection Bill 2023 was passed by the state
assembly. Its aim is to give protection for media persons and prevent
violence against them. The opposition MLAs demanded that the Bill be sent to
the Select Committee of the Assembly for examination, which was rejected by
Speaker Charandas Mahant.
4. Which institution released the 'Triple Threat Report'?
Answer: UNICEF
The 'Triple Threat Report' was released recently by the UNICEF, According
to this report, the absence of monitoring of the WASH-related programmes,
projects and policies are the main drivers of the water insecurities in the
world's worst-impact countries.
5. Which institution released the 'Technology and Innovation Report 2023'?
Answer: UNCTAD
The Technology and Innovation Report 2023 was recently released by the
UNCTAD-United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. According to this
report, the global economic inequalities are widening as the developed
countries benefit most from the green technologies.
6. Which procedure is used to fast-track financial business by grouping together undiscussed clauses of a bill for voting?
Answer: Guillotine
Parliamentary Procedure Guillotine is a parliamentary procedure used to
fast-track financial business by grouping together undiscussed clauses of a
bill or resolution for voting. Several MPs have raised concerns recently
that the government may guillotine the demands for grants and pass the
Finance Bill without any discussions in the Lok Sabha.
7. Which country recently introduced an anti LGBTQ Act that makes it a crime to identify as LGBTQ?
Answer: Uganda
Uganda recently introduced an anti-LGBTQ Act that makes it a crime to
identify as LGBTQ. It provides broad powers to authorities to target gay
Ugandans. Uganda is one of 30 African countries which bans same-sex acts and
the new legislation received sweeping support in Parliament. The bill
proposes the death penalty for 'aggravated homosexuality' which includes
having sex with someone who is HIV positive or repeat offenders.
8. Lake Natron, which was seen in the news ,is in which country?
Answer: Tanzania
Lake Natron is an alkaline lake in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is
hostile due to the presence of salt, soda and magnesite deposits. It has
been reported that the lake turns animals that touch it into "stone". Ol
Doinyo Lengai, which contribute to the lake's condition, is the only active
volcano to emit natrocarbonatites -a rare carbonatite lava.
9. Claude Lorius, who passed away recently, was associated with which field?
Answer: Climate science
Claude Lorius, the pioneer of the climate science, has recently passed away
at the age of 91. His discoveries in Antarctica in the 1980s helped prove
the role of anthropogenic activities in the global warming.
10. Marburg virus, which was seen in the news, has killed over five people in which country?
Answer: Tanzania
Marburg virus is an Ebola-like virus that causes viral hemorrhagic fever.
It has recently killed five people in Tanzania's north-western Kagera
region. The highly-infectious disease is like Ebola, with symptoms including
fever, muscle pains, diarrhoea, vomiting and, in some cases, death through
extreme blood loss. Hundreds of people have died from the virus in recent
years, with almost all cases in Africa.
11. Which country has launched 'Love Better Campaign' to help teenagers recover from breakups?
Answer: New Zealand
The New Zealand Government launched Love Better Campaign to help teenagers
recover from breakups. It specifically targets Gen Z. The campaign will
receive USD 4 million over three years from the Ministry of Social
Development to help teens recover from breakups and minimize harm in their
relationships.
12. 'Power-of-Siberia 2 Gas Pipeline' aims to connect Siberia to which country?
Answer: China
Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline aims to connect Siberia to northwest China.
A bilateral agreement between Russia and China regarding this project was
finalized recently. The proposed pipeline would bring gas from the Yamal
peninsula reserves in west Siberia to China. China is the world's top energy
consumer and a growing gas consumer.
13. Which Union Ministry provides financial assistance for "Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans'?
Answer: Ministry of MSME
The 'Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans' provides a better working
environment for Khadi artisans. It aims to provide storage space for raw
material, implements, accessories, semi-finished, finished goods, etc.
Ministry of MSME, through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC),
provides financial assistance to artisans to construct workshed under
'Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans'.
14. Union Ministry of Defence entered a contract with which institution for supply of this MPR 'Arudhra' Radar?
Answer: BEL
Medium Power Radar 'Arudhra' is a 4D multifunction phased array radar
developed by DRDO and manufactured by BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited). The
Union Ministry of Defence recently entered into a contract with the BEL for
the supply of this radar to the IAF.
15. Exercise Konkan 2023 is a bilateral maritime exercise between India and which country?
Answer: UK
Exercise Konkan 2023 is a bilateral maritime exercise between the UK's
Royal Navy and the Indian Navy. It is held in March this year off the Konkan
coast in the Arabian Sea. INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate of the
Indian Navy, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate of the
Royal Navy, participated in this edition of the exercise.
16. 'Gooty-Pendekallu Line' which was seen in the news, is a part of which railway link?
Answer: Hyderabad-Bengaluru railway link
The Indian government has sanctioned a project for doubling of
Gooty-Pendekallu section of the Hyderabad-Bengaluru railway link. This
section is a major link for trains operating between the northern and
southern parts of India. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 352 crore.
The Gooty-Pendekallu section is essential in the Guntakal Division, which
has frequent train traffic from Bengaluru to Hyderabad.
17. Which Union Ministry launched thee DigiClaim' digitized claim settlement module?
Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare recently launched the
DigiClaim, the National Crop Insurance Portal's digitized claim settlement
module, under the PMFBY. The newly launched module will benefit the farmers
in 6 states by supporting the electronic disbursal of claims.
18. Which day is celebrated as 'Shaheed Diwas', to commemorate the anniversary of the execution of Sukhdev Thapar, Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru?
Answer: March 23
Shaheed Diwas, also known as Martyrs' Day, is observed on March 23 in India
to pay homage to the martyrs who gave their lives for India's freedom. The
day commemorates the anniversary of the execution of Sukhdev Thapar, Bhagat
Singh and Shivaram Rajguru in 1931.
19. Sagar Manthan is the Real-time Performance Monitoring Dashboard of which Union Ministry?
Answer: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Sagar Manthan, which was inaugurated recently, is the Real-time
Performance Monitoring Dashboard of Ministry of Ports, Shipping and
Waterways (MoPSW). The dashboard will help organizations monitor and track
the progress of their projects and key performance indicators.
20. Russia unveiled a broad long-term blueprint for deepening relations with which country?
Answer: China
China and Russia unveiled a broad long-term blueprint for their deepening
relations following Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow and talks
with President Vladimir Putin. In the joint statement both sides firmly
condemn the politicisation of multilateral platforms. Both the countries
pledged to work together to push back against the U.S. Indo-Pacific
strategy.