Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC -6th March 2024

 

1.Minister Hardeep S Puri Inaugurates 201 CNG Stations And GAIL’s First Small Scale LNG Unit 

• Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, overseeing Petroleum and Natural Gas as well as Housing and Urban Affairs, dedicated 201 CNG Stations and India’s inaugural Small Scale LNG Unit of GAIL to the nation via video conferencing. 
• The establishment of GAIL group’s 201 CNG stations across 52 Geographical Areas signifies a significant stride towards achieving sustainability goals and environmental responsibility. 

2.Government Raises Minimum Age For Postal Voting To 85 Years 

• In a significant development, the Indian government, following consultations with the Election Commission of India (ECI), has revised the minimum age criterion for senior citizens to avail the postal ballot voting facility. 
• The decision, which comes into effect immediately, raises the eligibility age from 80 to 85 years, marking a pivotal change in the electoral process aimed at ensuring greater convenience for the nation’s elderly population. 

3.South Eastern Coalfield Limited’s Gevra Mine Set To Become The Largest Coal Mine In Asia 

• South Eastern Coalfield Limited’s (SECL) Gevra mine, located in Chhattisgarh, is on the verge of becoming the largest coal mine in Asia. 
• The mine recently received environmental clearance to enhance its production capacity to 70 million tons per annum, up from the existing 52.5 million tons. 
• This expansion marks a pivotal moment not only for SECL but also for the nation’s energy sector, as India moves to bolster its coal production capabilities. 

4.India’s First Underwater Metro Train Service Launched In Kolkata By PM Modi 

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s pioneering underwater metro train service in Kolkata, ushering in a landmark achievement in the nation’s infrastructure and urban development. 
• The service, which is a significant component of the Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, is designed to enhance connectivity between Howrah and Salt Lake, the twin cities of West Bengal’s capital. 
• The Ministry of Railways revealed that 10.8 kilometers of the East-West Metro route would be underground, complemented by 5.75 kilometers of elevated sections. 

5.Hungary Parliament Elects New President: Tamas Sulyok 

• Hungary’s parliament recently appointed a new president following the resignation of the previous head of state amidst a scandal involving a controversial pardon granted in a child sexual abuse case. 
• The appointment of Tamás Sulyok, a former head of Hungary’s Constitutional Court, sparked debate among opposition parties calling for direct presidential elections. 
• Tamás Sulyok, a 67-year-old lawyer, assumed the presidency after a secret parliamentary vote, receiving 134 votes in favor and five against. 

6.Kerala Welcomes ‘Iris’ Its First Generative AI Teacher 

• Kerala school has introduced Iris, a humanoid teacher, marking a significant milestone in the realm of educational technology. 
• Developed in collaboration with Makerlabs Edutech Private Limited, Iris represents a pioneering effort to make learning more interactive, engaging, and accessible. 
• Iris is designed to be more than just a robotic presence in the classroom; it is a generative AI entity capable of conducting interactive learning sessions. 
• With the ability to communicate in three languages, Iris can tackle a wide array of questions, making it a versatile and invaluable educational tool. 

7.IIHR Kicks Off 3-Day Horticulture Fair In Hessarghatta, Bengaluru 

• Bengaluru, famously known as the Garden City, is poised to become the epicenter of cutting-edge advancements in the horticulture sector. 
• The Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) is gearing up to host the three-day National Horticultural Fair 2024 at its Hessarghatta premises, situated on the outskirts of Bengaluru. 
• This event, themed “Nextgen Technology-led Horticulture for Sustainable Development,” promises to be a showcase of the nation’s most advanced technologies and practices in horticulture. 

8.India’s 1st Dolphin Research Centre Inaugurated In Patna 

• India’s first National Dolphin Research Center (NDRC) was officially inaugurated by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. 
• This landmark facility, built at a cost of Rs 30 crore, is situated on the banks of the Ganges River within the Patna University campus. 
• The NDRC’s primary objective is to aid researchers and students in understanding the behavior and ecology of freshwater dolphins, particularly the endangered Gangetic dolphin. .

9.Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Inaugurates Management Education Center At NALCO, Angul 

• The Union Minister for Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, inaugurated the Centre of Management Education jointly established by IIM Mumbai and IIM Sambalpur. 
• The inauguration took place at the NALCO Training Institute in Angul, Odisha, amidst the presence of Shri Sridhar Patra, CMD, NALCO. 
• The center aims to enhance logistics and supply chain activities through digitization and specialized skill development programs. 

10.Raksha Mantri Inaugurates ‘Chola’ Building At Naval War College, Goa 

• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the new Administrative & Training building at the Naval War College (NWC), Goa on March 5, 2024. 
• The modern edifice, named the ‘Chola’, pays homage to the mighty maritime empire of the Chola dynasty of ancient India. 
• The event marked a significant milestone in the history of the NWC, reinforcing its commitment to excellence in military education and nurturing maritime thought. 

11. France becomes the first country in the world to make abortion a constitutional right 

• France has become the first country in the world to include the right to abortion in its constitution. On March 4, 2024, members of both houses of Parliament in France voted in a special session to amend the Constitution. 
• In the special session of the Parliament of Versailles, 780 voted in favor and 72 against. This amendment has ensured freedom of abortion in France. Lawmakers voted to amend the country's 1958 constitution to ensure women "guarantee freedom" to seek abortions. 
• Article 34 of the French Constitution provides that "the law shall determine the circumstances in which a woman has the guaranteed freedom to have recourse to abortion". 
• French President Emmanuel Macron said that the government is ready to pass this amendment. In this regard, a special function will be organized on the occasion of International Women's Day on March 8. The President described the move as a matter of "French pride". 
• The constitutional change was prompted by recent developments in the US, where the right to abortion was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2022. Joint sessions are rare in France, this session being the first to be held to change the constitution since 2008. 

France 

• France has a long history of supporting abortion rights. There, a law was made in 1975 to legalize the provision of voluntary termination of pregnancy. This law was made in the name of the then Health Minister Simon Weil, who supported it. 
• This law allowed abortion up to ten weeks. Later in 2001 it was increased to 12 weeks and in 2022 it was increased to 14 weeks. This procedure has been included in the French national health care system since 1980.
• It becomes the 25th amendment to the founding document of modern France and the first since 2008. Following the vote, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit in celebration with the message "My Body My Choice". 

12. Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized the 5th edition of ‘National Youth Parliament Festival’ in Parliament. 

• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will organize the inauguration of the 5th National Youth Parliament Festival, 2024 on 5 March 2024 and the closing ceremony on 6 March 2024 at the Central Hall of Parliament, New Delhi. 
• The theme of this event is- 'Youth Voice: Join the change in the nation and become empowered'. This celebration started across the country from 9 February 2024 and will conclude on 6 March 2024. 
• Youth Parliament was organized at three levels in 785 districts of the country. District Youth Parliament was organized from 9 to 14 February. Its winners participated in the State Youth Parliament from 19 to 24 February. 87 state level winners will participate in the finals of the National Youth Parliament, out of which 29 will present their views on various topics. 
• The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports is organizing the Youth Parliament through Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and National Service Scheme (NSS). 
• The National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF) is based on the idea given by the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat address on 31 December 2017. Taking inspiration from the Prime Minister's idea, the first National Youth Parliament Festival (NYPF)-2019 was organized. 

13.Finance Minister Sitharaman Inaugurates LIC’s International Business Centre And Receives Interim Dividend 

• In a virtual ceremony, Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman received an interim dividend cheque of ₹2,441.44 crore from LIC Chairman Siddhartha Mohanty, showcasing the insurance giant’s financial strength. 
• The event also marked the inauguration of LIC’s new international business centre at GIFT City, Gujarat, emphasizing the company’s dedication to offering top-notch insurance and financial services globally. This strategic move underscores LIC’s commitment to offering world-class insurance and financial services at GIFT City, aligning with its global expansion strategy. 

14. India becomes the second country in the world to start a fast breeder reactor based nuclear plant. .

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnesses the commencement of the core loading of India's first indigenous 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) at Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu on March 5, 2024. 
• When this reactor becomes operational, India will be the second country after Russia to have a commercially operated fast breeder reactor. 
• The Central Government in 2003 approved the creation of Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI), Kalpakkam, to build and operate India's most advanced nuclear reactor—the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). 
•  This reactor has the capacity to produce 500 MW electricity. More than 200 Indian industries including micro, small and medium entrepreneurs have contributed significantly in its construction. 

Kalpakkam Plant 

• The Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) will initially use uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. The uranium-238 surrounding the fuel core will undergo nuclear transmutation to produce more fuel, thus giving it the name 'breeder'. 
• This phase also proposes the use of thorium-232, which is not a fissionable substance in itself. Through conversion, the thorium will create fissile uranium-233 that will be used as fuel in the third stage. 
• In terms of safety, the PFBR is an advanced third generation reactor with built-in passive safety features. 

Fast breeder reactor 

• A breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material than it consumes. 
• They can create more fissile fuel than can be used by irradiation of materials such as uranium-238 or thorium-232. It is powered by mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. 
• The operationalization of PFBR will mark the beginning of Phase II of India's three-phase nuclear power programme. 
• At first, India used pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWR) and natural uranium-238 (U-238) as the fissile material. 
• In Phase III, Pu-239 will be combined with thorium-232 (Th232) in reactors to produce energy and U-233. 
• Homi J Bhabha has designed a three-step program. The country is expected to achieve complete self sufficiency in nuclear energy through three phases. 

15. Thirty Banks Join RBI’s UDGAM Portal For Unclaimed Deposits 

•  The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced that 30 banks are now participating in the UDGAM portal, designed for individuals to search for their unclaimed deposits/accounts. 
• This portal, developed by the RBI, aims to provide a centralized platform for users to access information regarding unclaimed deposits across multiple banks. 
• As of March 4, 2024, 30 banks are already onboarded onto the UDGAM portal, covering approximately 90% of unclaimed deposits in value terms. 

16.Tata Motors Unveils Next-Generation Green-Fuel Powered Fleet To Tata Steel 

• Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has recently unveiled its next-generation, green-fuel powered commercial vehicles to Tata Steel. 
• The fleet comprises Prima tractors, tippers, and the Ultra EV bus, which are powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and battery electric technologies. 
• The flag-off ceremony took place during Tata Group’s Founder’s Day celebrations in Jamshedpur, officiated by Mr. N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons.

17.Himachal Pradesh Announces “Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojna” 

• In a significant move, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has announced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering women in the state. 
• Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu unveiled the “Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojna,” a scheme designed to provide financial support to women aged between 18 to 60 years. 
• Under this scheme, eligible women will receive a monthly stipend of ₹1,500, amounting to an annual expenditure of ₹800 crore. The initiative aims to cover over five lakh women, offering them much-needed financial assistance. 

18.Tiger Woods Honored With USGA’s Prestigious Bob Jones Award 

• Legendary golfer Tiger Woods has been selected to receive the Bob Jones Award, the highest honour bestowed by the United States Golf Association (USGA). 
• This prestigious award recognizes Woods’ dedication to sportsmanship, his respect for the traditions of the game, and his significant charitable endeavors. 
• The Bob Jones Award will be formally presented to Woods on June 12th during the week of the U.S. Open held at Pinehurst Resort’s famed Course No. 2 in North Carolina. 

19.Slice Appoints Nayanthara As Brand Ambassador

• Slice, the popular mango-flavored drink, has recently announced the appointment of acclaimed actress Nayanthara as its latest brand ambassador. 
• This collaboration aims to strengthen Slice’s connection with its audience and reaffirm its status as the go-to beverage for mango enthusiasts. 
• Originally introduced by PepsiCo in 1984. In India, PepsiCo reintroduced Slice in 2008 as a mango-flavored fruit drink under the brand Tropicana Slice. 

20.Future Generali India Life Insurance Appoints Alok Rungta As Managing Director & CEO 

• Alok Rungta has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of Future Generali India Life Insurance, effective April 1st, pending regulatory approvals.
• He will succeed Bruce De Broize, who currently holds the position until March 31st. Alok Rungta, currently serving as the Deputy CEO and CFO, brings over two decades of experience in the insurance industry to his new role. 

21.Spain Wins First UEFA Women’s Nations League 

• Spain’s women’s team secured a historic victory over France, winning the first-ever UEFA Women’s Nations League with a convincing 2-0 triumph in Seville. 
• The win represents a significant achievement for Spain in the realm of women’s football, further solidifying their position as a dominant force in the sport.

22.Asian River Rafting Champions Take On The Sutlej River 

• The scenic town of Shimla has become the centre stage for the first-ever Asian River Rafting Championships, officially opened on March 4th, 2024, by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. 
• The championship is taking place on the Sutlej River, near Basantpur in the Sunni region, from March 4th to 9th, 2024. 
• Around 20 national and international teams are participating, hailing from countries like Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia. 

23. India’s IN-SPACe Inaugurates Satellite & Payload Technical Centre in Ahmedabad 

• Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh has inaugurated the IN-SPACe Technical Centre at the headquarters of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) in Bopal area of Ahmedabad. 
• Our target is to take the space economy from 2 per cent to 10 per cent by 2030, which will be a five-fold increase. We have mentioned 15 per cent by 2047 as per our vision document. 
• The IN-SPACe Technical Centre will help develop rockets and not just satellites. 
• The IN-SPACe offers a range of facilities including the Climate Simulation Test Facility (CSTF), Thermal and Vacuum Environment Simulation Facility (TVAC), Vibration Test Facility (VTF), the Space Systems Assembly Integration Testing and Checkout Laboratory, the RF and Opto-Electronics Laboratory and Clean Rooms for AIT activities. 

24. A book on Indian modern art “The Gems of Indian Art” launched 

• The launch of “The Gems of Indian Art”, a comprehensive documentation of Harish Khullar’s extensive collection of 20th-century Indian modern and contemporary art. 
• This near-300-page book was unveiled by Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and S.P.S. Baghel, marking a pivotal moment in India’s art scene. 
• Edited by the veteran art critic Vinod Bhardwaj, the publication is a distinguished addition to the discourse on Indian contemporary art history, appreciated for its archival quality by the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi. 

Recent Books 

• Doing Business in Uncertain Times – Ramesh Nair 
• Goa 1961: The complete story of Nationalism and Integration – Valmiki Falero 
• The Great Flap of 1942: How the Raj Panicked over a Japanese Non-invasion – Mukund Padmanabhan. 
• 50 Memories from Fifty of Service – Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (PM of UAE) 
• Al and National Security – CDS Anil Chauhan 

25. 6 March – Ghana Independence Day 

• On 6th March 1957 Prime Minister of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah declare de country free from British Colonial rule. 
• Ghana set record as the first country to gain independence from colonial rule after de long fight for freedom. 
• In 1957, on this day, Ghana became the first African country in sub-Saharan Africa to officially become a free nation. 
• Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to become independent from European colonial rule. This day marks the declaration of Ghanaian independence from the British colonial rule. 

About Ghana 

• Capital- Accra 
• Currency- Ghanaian Cedi 
• President -Nana Akufo-Addo 
• Official language - English