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Days

• 3^rd March: This day was celebrated as the World Wildlife Day 2024.
  • Theme : “Connecting  People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.”
  • The First World Wildlife Day was celebrated in 2014, by the proposal of Thailand in 2013 in the United Nations General Assembly.
  • On 1973, this very day CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) was signed as an international agreement that ensures the global trade in such flora and fauna doesn’t endanger their survival.
• 3^RD March was also celebrated as World Hearing Day by WHO.
  • Theme 2024: “Changing mindsets: Let’s make ear and hearing care a reality for all”.
  •  WHO: HQ – Geneva, Switzerland            DG- T.A. Ghebreyesus, Estd – 1948
• 4^th March 2024 was celebrated as “National Safety Day” commemorating the foundation of National Safety Council, Ministry of Labour, GoI in 1966.
  • Theme: “Focus on Safety Leadership for ESG Excellence”
    • ESG – Environmental, Social and Governance.
• 5^th March 2024 was celebrated as the Birth Anniversary of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati, following the tenth day of Krishna Paksha in Falgun.
  • Born on : 12^th February 1824, in Gujarat.
  • He was the founder of Arya Samaj.
  • Famous works: Satyarth Prakash.
  • Famous slogans: “India for Indians”, “Back to the Vedas”
  • DAV (Dayanand Anglo Vedic) Schools came into existence to realize the visions pf Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

State News

• The Chapchar Kut festival was celebrated in Mizoram with all traditional fervour and pomp. It is an iconic festival of Mizoram that is celebrated to thank God after the arduous season of jungle clearing for Jhum Cultivation in the beginning of an year.
• Uttar Pradesh becomes the first state in the country to achieve 5 Cr+ issuing of Ayushman Cards under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB- PMJAY) .
  • AB PMJAY: It’s world’s largest health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the government that was launched on 23^rd September, 2018 by the PM Narendra Modi with an annual coverage of cashless access to Rs. 5 lakh for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals in India.
• Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurates Project ODISERV for Odia Graduates.
  • This is a 100 hour training program launched by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in cooperation with Bajaj Finserv, with an aim to educate knowledge and skills on the domains of banking, finance and insurance industries to the graduates of the state through Bajaj Finserv’s various facilities.
• Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates the first ever made in India ASTDS (Approved Standard Tug Design and Specifications) tug boat named “Ocean Grace” at the Paradip Sea port in Odisha. It is built by Cochin Shipyard Limited.
• LATEST GI TAGs & STATES:
  • Cuttack’s famous Centuries old “Chandi Tarkasi” or “Silver Filigree” gets the GI tag from Odisha. ‘Tar’ means ‘wire’ and ‘Kasi’ means ‘design’, according to ASI, it had arrived in India from Mesopotamia  – via Indonesia 500 years ago – where it is an ancient craft practice dating back to 3500 BC .
  • Banglar Muslin – the popular traditional handloom craft of Bengal famous for its high tensile strength gets GI tag from Bengal.
  • Naesapur Crochet Lace Products from Andhra Pradesh gets GI Tag.         
  • Ratlam Riyawan Lahsun (Garlic) gets GI Tag from Madhya Pradesh.
  • Ambhaji White Marble gets GI Tag from Gujarat.
  • Risa Textile – a hand woven cloth of upper female garment of the traditional Tripuri attire that comprises three parts – Risa, Rignai and Rituku – gets GI Tag from Tripura.
  • Hyderabad Lac Bangles, famous for exquisite mirror work encrusted upon semi-precious stones, gets GI Tag from Telangana.
  • Majuli Mask and Majuli Manuscript Painting of Assam gets GI Tag from Assam.
• Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has announced the launching of the “Indiramma Housing Scheme” starting March 11, that aims to provide housing solutions to the economically disadvantaged sections of the state. Under this scheme, those with a plot of land will be given Rs. 5 Lakh to build a house and the homeless poor will be given a plot along with Rs. 5 lakh to build house.
• Researchers have unearthed a Neolithic Child Burial site in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. It is an ancient burial of a child aged b/w 9 and 11 with a pot beside.

National

• The Reserve Bank of India issues warnings against “Juice Jacking” – a form of security exploit and cyberattack where the hackers tamper with public USB charging ports that allow them to steal data connected to them. The term “Juice Jacking” was coined in 2011 by an investigative Journalist ”Brian Krebs”.
  • Although this concern can be mitigated using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and ensuring that the device is laced with latest security updates.
• The Department of Biotechnology (DBT),Ministry of Science & Technology has announced that it has completed  sequencing of 10,000  healthy genomes from different regions of the country, representing 99 distinct populations. This is so far the largest gene mapping of the nation.
  • The ’10,000 Genome’ Project was completed by 20 premier institutions of the nation, headed by IISc Bengaluru and the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biollogy, Hyderabad.
  • The entire 8 petabytes of Data will be stored at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC), at Faridabad, Haryana.
  • Prior to the foundation of IBDC, India used to store its data in the European and US servers.
  • India first sequenced a complete human genome in 2006.
• Union Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh has launched ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with IDEX) Scheme with a financial outlay of Rs. 750 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26 during the ongoing DefConnect 2024 in New Delhi on March 4, 2024. Its aim is to provide start-ups with grant-in aid of upto Rs. 25 cr for research, development and innovations in defence technologies.
  • IDEX – Innovations for Defence Excellence under the Department of Defence Production.
• Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya Scindia, has inaugurated India’s first Green Hydrogen Plant in Stainless Steel sector at Jindal Stainless Limited, Hisar, Haryana.
  • This project is set to become world’s first off grid Green Hydrogen Plant for the stainless steel industry and world’s first Green Hydrogen Plant with rooftop and floating solar.
• The Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey (HCES) Report 2022-23:
  • After a span of 11 years, the Government of India has released the broad findings of the Household Consumption and Expenditure Survey 2022-23, with key data in reviewing critical economic indicators including the GDP, poverty levels and the Consumer Price Inflation (CPI).
  • Key Findings:
    • The average Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE) in Indian households has risen since 2011-12 by –
      • Urban Households: 33.5%
      • Rural Households: 40.42%
    • The proportion of spending on food has reduced since 2011-12 to –
      • Rural Households: 46.4% from 52.9%
      • Urban Households: 39.2% from 42.6%
    • The bottom 5% of Indian population have an average MPCE of-
      • Rural population : ₹1,373
      • Urban Population: ₹2,001
    • The top 5% of Indian population have an average MPCE of-
      • Rural population: ₹10,501
      • Urban Population: ₹20,824
    • State with highest MPCE for both rural and urban population: SIKKIM.
    • State with lowest MPCE for both rural and urban population: Chattigarh.

Awards

• Dr. Pradeep Mahajan, the founder and CMD of StemRx Hospital and Research Centre has been awarded the Maharashtra Bhusan Award 2024 in recognition of his contributions to the field of regenerative medicine.
  • Maharashtra Bhusan is the highest civilian award annually presented by the Maharashtra Government since 1996.

Defence and Tech

• Indian Navy in its latest development in the Indian Ocean, commissions INS Jatayu at the Naval Base of the Minicoy Islands. Minicoy is the Southern most islands of Lakshadweep separating it from Maldives by 8 degree Channel. This development is significant in strengthening India’s vigil on the West Arabian Sea, bolster Anti-Piracy and Anti-Narcotics operations and as a move to Maldives’ closer affiliations with China.
• After completing 8 week Sniper Course at the Central School of Weapon and Tactics (CSWT) in Indore, Sub-Inspector Suman Kumari becomes the first women Sniper of the BSF (Border Security Force).
• The Indian Navy is going to commission the MH 60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter , imported from the US, at INS Garuda naval station in Kochi under the name of INAS 334 Squadron . It is the maritime variant of US’ Blackhawk helicopter.

Business & Finance

• Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) has partnered with star athlete Neeraj Chopra announcing him as the Brand Ambassador of BPCL’s premium perol variant “Speed”.
  • BPCL CMD: G. Krishnakumar.
• International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) under Ministry of Industries has awarded its first PLI (Production Linked Incentive) Automotive certificate to Ola Electric Technologies Pvt. Ltd. for showcasing their dedication to the ‘Make in India’ abhiyaan.
• Reliance and Disney has formed a joint agreement that would facilitate the merger of television and digital streaming business of Viacom18 and Star India.
• Global rating Agency Moody’s has raised India’s Growth forecast to 6.8% from earlier 6.1% for the 2024 calendar year.
• E-commerce giant Flipkart launches its UPI services in collaboration with Axis Bank under the name Flipkart UPI that will facilitate both online and offline payments within and outside the Flipkart App.

International

• Nicaragua becomes the first Spanish speaking country to adopt Indian Pharma Standards after signing an MoU on Pharmacopoeia.
  • Pharmacopoeia is basically a book describing chemicals, drugs and other standards that are used as medicines. Countries have either own Pharmacopoeia or they refer to any other standard of medicines of a country of choice.
  •   The Indian Pharmacopoeia has been recognised by five countries – Afganistan, Nepal, Ghana, Mauritius and Suriname.
  • Nicaragua is a North American country, Managua is its capital.
• France is set to become the first country in the World to include the Right to Abortion in its Constitution after amending the country’s 1958 constitution.

Sports

• F1 Driver of RedBull Max Verstappen wins the Baharain Grand Prix.
• Alex De Minaur becomes the winner of Mexican open 2024 as his eighth ATP Title, after defeating Casper Rudd in the final.
• Tokyo Marathon 2024:
  • Men’s winner : Benson Kipruto (Kenya) (breaking the record of former world champion Eliud Kipchoge)
  • Women’s Winner: Sutume Asefa Kebede (Ethiopia)

Current Affairs                          6^th March,2024

Day

• 5^th March was celebrated as the International Day for Disarmament and Non Proliferation Awareness 2024 by the United Nations since 2021.
  • ‘United Nations Disarmament Week’ is also celebrated every year from 24 to 30 October.

Obituaries

• Padma Shri Awardee  and renowned archaeologist Arun Kumar Sharma has passed away at the age of 90. He was the senior most member of the team of archaeologists that excavated the Ram Janmabhoomi  Ayodhya Site on the order of the Allahabad High Court.
  • He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017.

Appointments

• Brajesh Mehrotra has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of Bihar.
  • Some of the recent most important appointments:
    • BSF’s first Female sniper – Suman Kumari.
    • Head of the Parliament Security – Anurag Agarwal
    • NSG’s new DG – Daljit Singh Chaudhury.
    • Lokpal Chairperson – AM Khanwilkar
    • CMD of IRCTC – Sanjay  Kumar Jain
    • President of ICAI – Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal.

Sports

• Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth , who represented India in International Badminton arena – and secured Bronze Medal in World Championship 2019, won the Singapore Open Title in 2017 and represented India in the Tokyo Olympics 2020 – has announced his retirement from International Badminton due to injury.
• Pro Kabaddi League Season 10:
  • Total Teams: 12
  • Winner: Puneri Paltan.
  • Runners up : Haryana Steelers .
  • Final Venue: Gadchibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad.
  • Most Successful team in the tournament history: Patna Pirates (3 Times)
  • MVP (Most Valuable Player): Puneri Paltan Captain, Aslam Inamdar.
• Unseeded Katie Boulter of England has clinched the title of San Diego Open WTA 500 championship after beating sixth seeded Marta Kostyuk in the final.

State News

• UP CM Yogi Adityanath has launched the “MYUVA  Scheme” ( Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan ) that aims at nurturing entrepreneurship among the youth of the state by providing interest free loans for projects upto Rs. 5 lakh to 1 lakh young entrepreneurships every year. The govt has kept a financial outlay of Rs. 1000 Cr in FY 2024-25 to support the scheme.

National News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has witnessed the commencement of core loading at India’s first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (500Mwe) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu
  • FBR – Fast Breeder Reactor is as nuclear reactor that uses fast neutrons to generate more nuclear fuel than they consume during the reaction.
  • The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has been fully developed by the BHAVINI (Bhartiya Nabhikya Vidyut Nigam Limited ), estd. in n2003.
• National Horticultural Fair 2024 is being celebrated by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru from 5^th March  to 7^th March 2024.
  • Theme: “Nextgen technology led horticulture for sustainable development”.
• Union Minister for Information Technology and Electronics Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched the “Chakshu facility”  on Sanchar Sathi Portal for protecting public from mobile phone frauds by empowering citizens to proactively report suspected fraud communications.
  • The Union Minister has also launched Department of Telecommunication’s (DoT) ‘Digital Intelligence Platform’ (DIP) for coordination among the stake holders to curb misuse of the telecommunication resources.
• Indian Space Research Organisation has enabled precise air quality monitoring – Ocean Colour Monito (OCM -3) Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) Product – utilizing the data of EOS 6 Satellite.

Science and Tech

• Astronomers have discovered 2 new moons revolving around Neptune and 1 new moon revolving around Uranus, thus taking the total number of moons for the planets to 16 and 28 respectively.
  • The moon of Uranus is – “S/2023 U1”.
  • The moon of Neptune is – “ S/2002 N5” & “S/2021 N1”.
  • In the solar system, Saturn has the maximum number of Moons – 146.
  • The largest moon of the Solar System is Ganymede of Jupiter.
• SpaceX has launched the 8^th long duration crew , carrying 3 US and 1 Russian astronauts to the International Space Station for a six-month science mission in Earth orbit.
• During a joint mission by the US and the Egypt of excavating south of the Egyptian city Minya, archaeologists have discovered the upper part of a huge statue of King Ramses II .
  • Ramses II , known as Ramses the great was one of ancient Egypt’s most powerful pharaohs who ruled between 1279 to 1213 BCE.