NATIONAL NEWS

Chintan Shivir on ‘Drugs: Quality regulation and Enforcement’

• Chintan Shivir on ‘Drugs: Quality Regulation and Enforcement’ was inaugurated by health minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

• The Chintan Shivir started at Kanha Shanti Vanam, 40 kilometres from Hyderabad.

• Its objective is to review processes and implementation of policies and programmes related to drug quality and enforcement in the country.

• During the meeting, ways and means for facilitating ease of doing business will also be recommended by reviewing transparency and compliance with Indian drug standards and regulatory capacities across states and centre.
• Participants will also discuss global best practices.
• Participants will also discuss the introduction of newer interventions like digital tools and clinical trial standards.

President to Inaugurate 14th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav

• 14th Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsav was formally inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu.
• The 14th edition of Sanskriti Mahotsav is being held in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
• The Sanskriti Mahotsav is being organized at Dr. Karni Singh Stadium.
• It is a 9-days long festival.
• It is being organized for the first time in Rajasthan.
• Sand sculpture, an exhibition based on crafts and other arts is also being organized as part of the festival.
• The festival is aimed at preserving, promoting and popularizing the rich cultural heritage of the country.

‘Clean Plant Centres’ to Boost Fruit Yield

• In order to increase domestic production, the Center plans to establish 10 “Clean Plant Centers” as the demand for fruits like apple, avocado and blueberry has increased over time.

• These centers will be set up under the ‘Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Program’, which was announced by the finance minister in the Union Budget 2023-24.

• The 10 centres will be established for fruit crops like apple, walnut, almond, grapes, mango, pomegranate, etc., and will be fully funded by the Centre.

• The centres will be implemented in a PPP mode in partnership with research organisations, agriculture universities and private sector partners.

• The Clean Plant Centres will provide services of disease diagnostic, therapeutics, multiplying of plants and generation of mother plants.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Japan to Provide Loans for 2 Projects in India

• Japan will provide loans worth Rs 2,288 crore to India for the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link Project in Maharashtra and a Super-Specialty Cancer and Research Centre in

• Japan has approved JPY 30.755 billion or about Rs 1,728 crore for the project in Maharashtra and JPY 9.918 billion or around Rs 560 crore for developing the centre in Mizoram.

• Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link Project aims to improve connectivity in Mumbai Metropolitan Region by connecting Mumbai with Navi Mumbai, thereby contributing to the mitigation of traffic congestion and promoting regional economic development.

• The project for the centre in Mizoram aims to improve access to cancer prevention, detection and treatment as well as human resource development and research that support cancer control systems.

BANKING

Bharti AXA Life Insurance Partners with Unity Bank

• Bharti AXA Life Insurance, announced its bancassurance partnership with Unity Small Finance Bank (Unity Bank), a new-age, digital first bank for the distribution of life insurance products through the Bank’s network of 111 branches and 206 offices pan-India.

• Unity Bank’s customers will benefit from a diverse range of new-age insurance solutions offered by Bharti AXA Life.

• Bharti AXA Life Insurance is a joint venture (JV) between Paris-headquartered AXA Group and Bharti Enterprises – one of India’s leading business groups with interests in Telecom, agricultural business and financial services.

• This partnership arrangement can be profitable for both companies.

SBI Introduced Amrit Kalash Deposit FD Scheme

• India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has launched a new retail term deposit scheme called Amrit Kalash Deposit.

• The Amrit Kalash Deposit is valid for customers from 15 February to 31 March 2023.

• The scheme is launched for both domestic and Non-Resident Indian (NRI) customers

• The interest rate of regular citizens is 7.10% while the interest rate of senior citizens is 7.60%.

• The total tenure of the deposit scheme is 400 days.
• For example, if they invest Rs 1 lakh in the SBI Amrit Kalash deposit scheme, after 400 days they will receive an interest of Rs 8,600.
• A premature loan facility is also available under the SBI Amrit Kalash deposit scheme.
• There is an additional 1% return for pensioners and employees of SBI.

ABSLI Nishchit Aayush Plan

• Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI), the life insurance subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (ABCL), has launched a new-age savings solution ABSLI Nishchit Aayush Plan.

• The Plan is a non-linked non-participating individual savings life insurance plan offering guaranteed regular income starting as early as the end of the first policy month along with a lump-sum benefit at maturity.

• The Plan is a non-linked non-participating individual savings life insurance plan offering guaranteed regular income starting as early as the end of the first policy month along with a lump-sum benefit at maturity.
• The maximum entry age to avail ABSLI Nishchit Aayush Plan is 55 years, while the minimum age is 30 days (long term income option) and 30 years (whole life income).
• The minimum annualised premium is ₹30,000.
• Policyholders can choose from multiple premium payment term options ranging from 6, 8, 10, 12 years.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

NASA Appoints Dr Nicola Fox

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has appointed a longtime solar scientist who heads its heliophysics division, Dr Nicola Fox to become the S. space agency’s science chief – the first woman named to serve in the role.

• This will be the first time that a woman has led the space agency’s science division.

• Fox will succeed Mr Thomas Zurbuchen, a Swiss-American astrophysicist who had led the directorate since 2016.

•  In 2018, she was appointed as the head of the agency’s Heliophysics Division.
• She was the lead scientist for the Parker Solar Probe mission studying the sun.

New President of Vietnam

• Vo Van Thuong, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), was elected as the country's new President by the National Assembly of Vietnam.
• Thuong's election came after the sudden resignation of the previous president, Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
• Thuong began his political career in 1993.
• In 2003, Thuong became secretary of the Communist Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh City.
• Thuong was elected as a member of the SPV Central Committee for the third time in 2021 and became a member of the Politburo for the second time.

DEFENCE

India to Get Civil Aviation Research Centre by the End of 2023

• The Civil Aviation Research Organisation, (CARO), a facility with advanced simulators being established in Hyderabad, will become fully operational by the end of 2023.

• It will have labs to analyse cyber security threats and facilitate aviation data management.

• CARO, which is being established on a 20-acre plot within the Begumpet airport at a cost of ₹13 crore, will offer solutions in key areas in the civilian aviation sector in India.

• A research facility is functioning in a limited way at Begumpet airport with employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
• The objective is to promote in-house and collaborative research to cater AAI’s needs through the establishment of a world-class research infrastructure with advanced simulators and laboratory facilities.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

A New Book Authored by R. Kaushik and R. Sridhar

• A book titled ‘COACHING BEYOND: My Days with the Indian Cricket Team’ authored by R. Kaushik and R. Sridhar.

• The book primarily reflects on R. Sridhar’s seven-year coaching tenure with the Indian cricket team as its fielding coach

• The book is not technical but anecdotal, providing an insider’s account of the rise and rise of Indian cricket

• The book covers Virat Kohli’s journey, Rishabh Pant’s development and the team’s progression towards the number one Test ranking.

• Kaushik has been a cricket writer for more than three decades.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Wildlife Day

• World Wildlife Day 2023 is celebrated every year on 03 March 2023.

• World Wildlife Day 2023 theme is ‘Partnerships for wildlife conservation’.

• This aims to draw attention to the conservation of some of the most severely endangered species of Wild animals and plants.

• It commemorates the day of the signature of the Convention on International Trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared 03 March at its 68th session the day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

World Hearing Day

• World Hearing Day is announced to be celebrated on 03 March 2023

• World Hearing Day 2023 Theme is ‘Ear and hearing care for all! Let’s make it a reality.’

• On World Hearing Day 2023, WHO will focus on the importance of safe listening as a means of maintaining good hearing across the life course.

• It is possible to have good hearing across the life course through ear and hearing care.