Daily Current Affairs and GK | 8 and 9 March 2023

Topic: Reports and Indices/Ranking

1. Number of pregnant women suffering from undernutrition has increased by 25 percent: UNICEF

• According to UNICEF, since 2020, the number of pregnant women and nursing mothers suffering from undernutrition has increased by 25 percent in 12 countries.
• This UNICEF report is based on the data analysis of women in the world.
• The report estimates that more than one billion women and adolescent girls are suffering from undernutrition.
• Most of the undernutrition women are living in the world's poorest regions.
• 68 percent of the undernutrition women and adolescent girls are living in the South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Malnutrition increases the risk of neonatal death and can affect children's nutrition, growth, and learning capacity.
• 51 million children under two years are affected by stunting in the world. About half of these children gets affected by stunting during pregnancy.
• Between 2020 and 2022, the number of pregnant or breastfeeding women suffering from acute malnutrition increased by 25 percent.
• These 12 countries include Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Chad and Yemen.
• UNICEF said that priority will be given to women and girls in terms of access to nutritious food.

Topic: State News/ Manipur

2. Yaoshang festival started in Manipur.

• The Yaoshang festival will be celebrated for five days in Manipur.
• The festival is celebrated by the Meetei, who are predominantly Hindu.
• During the Yaoshang festival, many cultural and religious activities will held for five days.
• Yaoshang festival:
  • It starts on the full moon day of the month of Lamda.
  • Thabal Chongba (Dancing in the Moonlight) is the most unique feature of the festival.
  • As a part of the Yaosang sports festival, old folks show off their skill in a traditional form of wrestling known as mukna.
  • It is celebrated during the same time as Holi.

Topic: Important Days

3. International Women’s Day 2023: 8 March

• On 8 March every year, International Women’s Day is celebrated.
• The day is celebrated to help create a gender equal world, celebrate the achievements of women and their growing visibility in every walk of life.
• The day celebrates the economic, social, political and cultural achievements of women worldwide.
• The United Nations celebrated the International Women’s Day 2023 under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.”
• In 1909, Women's Day first came into existence and was known as National Women's Day.
• On 28 February 1909, the day was initially celebrated.
• In 1975, the United Nations began celebrating 8 March as International Women's Day.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: National Appointment

4. Group Captain Shalija Dhami became the first woman officer to command a frontline combat unit in the Indian Air Force.

• On 7 March, the Indian Air Force announced that Group Captain Shalija Dhami will take over the command of the Missile Squadron in the Western Sector.
• Ms. Dhami was commissioned as a helicopter pilot in 2003.
• She has over 2800 hours of flying experience.
• She has previously participated in a number of search and rescue missions as well as flood relief operations.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Summits/Conferences/Meetings

5. EC organized the 3rd International Conference virtually on 9 March.

• Election Commission hosted the Conference on the theme ‘Inclusive Elections and Elections Integrity’.
• ECI is leading the Cohort on Election Integrity, which was set up as a follow-up to the 'Summit for Democracy' held in 2021.
• The conference attracted over 46 participants from 25 countries, including representatives from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and civil organisations.
• The conference was addressed by Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, Election Commissioners Anoop Chandra Pandey and Arun Goyal.
• Participating countries include Angola, Armenia, Australia, Canada, Norway, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland and Zambia.
• The first International Conference of the Analysis Group on the topic ‘Role, Framework and Capacity of Election Management Bodies’ was held in New Delhi in November last year.
• The second conference was hosted by the Election Commission in January this year on the theme ‘Use of Technology and Electoral Integrity’.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: Banking System

6. PMLA will apply to the trading of crypto currency or virtual assets.

• The government has stated that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 will apply to trade in crypto currency or virtual assets.
• The Finance Ministry has stated in the notification that the exchange between one or more forms of virtual digital assets and the transfer of virtual digital assets will be covered under the money laundering act.
• Apart from this, participating in financial services related to safekeeping of virtual digital assets and sale of virtual digital assets will also come under the money laundering law.
• Crypto exchanges and intermediaries dealing in Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) will now have to conduct KYC for their customers and users of the platform.
• In addition, exchanges will have to report suspicious activity to the Financial Intelligence Unit of India.
• The notification states that entities operating in VDAs will be considered "reporting entities" under the PMLA.
• It includes Banks, financial institutions, entities engaged in the real estate and jewellery sectors as well as casinos are now 'reporting entities'.
• Under this law, every reporting entity is required to maintain records of all transactions. It includes the record of all cash transactions of more than Rs 10 lakh for at least five years.
• Prevention of Money Laundering Act:
  • It was enacted in 2003 but it came into force on 1 July 2005.
  • It was enacted to prevent and control money laundering in India.
  • The act was amended in 2005, 2009 and 2012.

(Source: News on Air)

Topic: State News/Maharashtra

7. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tabled the economic survey for 2022-23 in the state legislature.

• According to the economic survey of 2022-23, Maharashtra approved investment proposals worth ₹3,57,393 crore.
• This is the highest among states in the country in the past three years.
• According to the survey, Maharashtra approved the highest number of investment proposals (780).
• As per the survey, Maharashtra received the highest investment of ₹2,77,335 crore in 2021-22. This is higher than any state in the country.
• In 2020-21, Maharashtra got an investment worth over ₹44,188 crore through 296 projects.
• In 2022-23 till November, Maharashtra received investments worth ₹35,870 crore.
• The survey states Maharashtra was the most attractive investment destination. The investment is more than Gujarat (₹ 2,36,866 crore, 602 projects) and Karnataka (₹2,93,149 crore, 331 projects).
• According to the survey, Maharashtra comes second after Karnataka in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI).
• For two consecutive years (2021-22 and 2022-23), Karnataka has received more FDI than Maharashtra.
• Between April 2000 to September 2022, Maharashtra received ₹10,88,502 crore as FDI inflow.
• This FDI inflow is higher than any other state across the country. Karnataka is at 2nd position with ₹5,51,044 crore as FDI inflow.
• As per the survey, the economy of Maharashtra is expected to grow by 6.8% in 2022-23.
• Agricultural and allied sectors are projected to grow at the highest rate of 10.2%. The services sector is projected to grow at 6.4%.
• The projected growth for this year is lower than the 9.1% growth seen in 2021-22. 
• The survey states that Maharashtra’s 14% share in the national nominal GDP is the highest among all states.

Topic: Personality in News

8. Veteran actor Satish Kaushik passed away on 09 March 2023.

• Satish Kaushik was also a director. He was 66-year old and acted in more than 100 films.
• He was born in Haryana. He started his career in Bollywood with the film Masoom in 1983.
• He was known for his role as Calendar in the 1987 superhit film, Mr. India.
• He was also known for his role as Pappu Pager in Deewana Mastana.
• He also won the Filmfare Best Comedian Award in 1990 for Ram Lakhan and for Saajan Chale Sasural in 1997.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: State News/ Tripura

9. Manik Saha becomes Chief Minister of Tripura for the second time.

• Manik Saha took the oath of Chief Minister for leading the BJP-led government in Tripura for the second time.
• Eight MLAs also took oath as the Minister in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• In the recently concluded election, the BJP won 32 seats out of 60 with a vote share of around 39%.
• Tipra Motha emerged as the second-largest party securing 13 seats.
• The CPI-M won 11 seats while the Congress bagged three.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured constitutional solution to all issues of the 14 lakh indigenous people.
• The strength of the Council of Ministers in the 60-member House is 12.
• Manik Saha has been re-elected from the Town Bordowali seat for the second time after defeating Congress opponent Ashish Kumar Saha.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

10. India proposed to launch a mega global alliance for protecting big cats.

• India proposed to launch a mega global alliance to protect big cats with a funding of $100 million (over Rs 800 crore).
• The proposed International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) will be for protection and conservation of the seven major big cats- tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, puma, jaguar, and cheetah.
• The membership of the alliance will be open for 97 countries.
• The countries that have natural habitats for these big cats could became a member of this alliance.
• The Indian government has approached IBCA member states with this proposal.
• This alliance will be a platform for capacity building, resource pooling, research and development, and awareness generation activities.
• It will mainly focus on activities that include law, partnership, knowledge e-portal, capacity building, eco-tourism and partnership between expert groups.
• IBCA all members are likely to be members of the alliance and a Council of at least seven members will be elected by the General Assembly for five-year terms.
• The General Assembly will appoint the IBCA secretary general for a fixed term on the recommendation of the council.
• India has set an example through its initiatives for the conservation of big cats. India has worked for the long-term restoration and rehabilitation of big cats.

Topic: Defence

11. Indigenous surface-to-air missile successfully test fired from INS Visakhapatnam.

• On 7 March, Indian Navy successfully carried out test firing of Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) from INS Visakhapatnam.
• The test validates the capability to engage the weapon as an anti-ship missile.
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI) have jointly developed MRSAM. It has been produced at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
• The development of MRSAM reflects the Indian Navy’s commitment to Atmanirbhar bharat.
• INS Visakhapatnam was commissioned on 21 November 2021. It is one of the largest stealth guided-missile destroyers in service with the Indian Navy.
• Under P-15B, Visakhapatnam class stealth destroyer, four warships were to be inducted. These were Visakhapatnam, Mormugao, Imphal and Surat.
• INS Mormugao was commissioned in Mumbai on 18 December 2022.
• INS Visakhapatnam is indigenously designed by Directorate of Naval design and constructed by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

12. Sipra Das awarded with Lifetime Achievement award at the 8th National Photography Award ceremony.

• A total of 13 photographers have received National Photography awards in various categories in New Delhi.
• Senior photojournalist Shipra Das was honoured with Lifetime Achievement award.
• The winner of the Lifetime Achievement award was given a cash prize of Rs 3,00,000.
• The winners of Professional Photographer of the Year and Amateur Photographer of the Year category were given cash prize of Rs.1,00,000 and Rs.75,000 respectively.
• Special Mention Awardees in both Professional and Amateur categories received a cash prize of Rs.50,000/- and Rs.30,000/- each respectively.
• The theme of the award competition was- Cultural heritage of India (Professional category) and Life and Water (Amateur category).
• List of 8^th National Photography Award winners:

• National Photography Awards:
  • The Photo division of the government of India annually gives these awards to promote various facets of India like art, culture, heritage, history, development, people, life, etc, through photography.
  • The award also aims to encourage professional and amateur photographers in India.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Geography

13. ISRO revealed a study of the top 10 landslides district in India.

• The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)'s research of the 147 most vulnerable districts revealed that the western Himalayan region is more vulnerable to landslides.
• Rudraprayag and Tehri Garwhal districts of Uttarakhand have the greatest landslide density in the nation.
• Rajouri, Thrissur, Pulwama, Palakkad, Malappuram, South Sikkim, East Sikkim and Kozhikode in Kerala, Jammu Kashmir and Sikkim are other high-risk districts.
• For the first time, NRSC scientists assessed risk based on 80,933 landslides recorded in 147 districts across 17 states and two union territories between 1988 and 2022 to create the Landslide Atlas of India.
• The maximum number of landslides 12,385 has been recorded in Mizoram, followed by 11,219 in Uttarakhand, 7,280 in Jammu and Kashmir and 1,561 in Himachal Pradesh.
• Among the southern states, the highest number of landslide hot spots have been reported from Kerala (6,039).
• Of the total landslides across states between 2010 and 2022, Uttarakhand has recorded the highest number of landslides during this period. In Uttarakhand, Rudraprayag and Tehri districts have recorded the maximum number of landslides.
• In the top 10 worst-affected districts, eight other districts included Thrissur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, and Malappuram in Kerala, Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir, South and East districts of Sikkim.
• The list of 147 districts includes 64 districts of the Northeast.
• India is the third most landslide-prone country in the world, with more than one person killed per 100 square kilometers due to landslides every year.

Topic: Indian Polity

14. Conrad K Sangma and Neiphiu Rio took oath as Chief Minister of Meghalaya and Nagaland, respectively.

• Conrad Konrad Sangma has sworn in as the Chief Minister of Meghalaya for the second consecutive term.
• On March 7, Phagu Chauhan, the Governor of Meghalaya, administered the oath of office and secrecy in Shillong.
• The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance 2.0 came to power for the second time after the NPP garner the support from BJP, UDP, PDF, HSPDP and a few Independents.
• Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar were sworn in as deputy chief ministers of the state.
• In the 12-member new NPP-led Meghalaya Cabinet, Alexander Laloo Hek, Dr. Ampareen Lyngdoh, Paul Lyngdoh, and Comingone Ymbon took their oaths as ministers.
• In Nagaland, Neiphiu Rio took oath as Chief Minister for the fifth term in Kohima.
• In the 60 Assembly Constituencies, the NDPP-BJP alliance won 37 seats, securing a clear majority.
• The NDPP-BJP coalition has formed the government in Nagaland for the second time in a row.