Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2023

Notes:
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced a tour package named ‘Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra’.
This tour package covers some significant sites associated with the life of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar including Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Nagpur, Sanchi, Varanasi, Gaya, Rajgir, and Nalanda. The tour is part of the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative to promote domestic tourism.

Notes:
Kerala entered into an agreement with UN Women, to boost women-friendly activities in the State’s tourism sector. It was signed during the first-ever Global Responsible Tourism Summit in Kumarakom, Kerala.
A memorandum of understanding agreed to work towards promoting gender-inclusive tourism sites in the State. It seeks to provide training stakeholders who include young representatives and civil organisations.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Culture kicked-off the celebrations of Santh Sevalal Maharaj Jayanti at Dr. BR Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi.
The Union government kicked-off year-long celebrations to mark the 284th birth anniversary of Santh Sevalal Maharaj, a spiritual and religious leader of the Banjara community. It is a nomadic community that has been declared a Scheduled Tribe (ST) in a few States of India.

Notes:
The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been granted approval by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for a new variant of the Hindustan 228-201 LW aircraft.
The recent DGCA approval will enable commercial pilots to fly the aircraft with a reduced qualification requirement, increasing the availability of pilots for the aircraft.

Notes:
The 47th Civil Accounts Day is observed on March 1, 2023. The day marks the foundation of the Indian Civil Accounts Service in New Delhi’s Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.
The Indian Civil Accounts Service (ICAS) was established in 1976 after separating the maintenance of accounts of the Union Government from audit.

Notes:
The Supreme Court said it will set up a six-member panel to look into regulatory mechanisms to protect investors’ interest after a report by a US short seller Hindenburg on the Adani conglomerate led to large investor losses.
The shares of Adani group firms nose-dived last month after the short seller Hindenburg Research alleged a massive financial fraud. The Adani group strongly denied the allegation and called Hindenburg’s report a “calculated attack” on India, its institutions and growth story.

Notes:
The Jerdon’s narrow-mouthed frog has been rediscovered by zoologists in the Western Ghats of India.
It was last studied by a British scientist in 1934 and has not been seen since. The frog is known for its long snout and shiny brown skin with spots. The species is classified as ‘Near Threatened’ in the IUCN List while researchers are campaigning for the frog to be reclassified as ‘Endangered’.

Notes:
The Indian Army has proposed the acquisition of an indigenous Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) to fill critical capability gaps in high altitude regions
The ATAGS has been designed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to replace the current 155 mm artillery system in service, the Bofors towed guns.

Notes:
Scientists from Australia and the UK have discovered a new disease called “Plasticosis” in birds. This disease is caused by the consumption of plastics.
It leads to long-term inflammation and the formation of scar tissue in the digestive system of birds. The study has found that plastic consumption can cause serious damage to the digestive system of birds, making them vulnerable to parasites.

Notes:
The Digital India Bill is the proposed successor to the Information Technology Act, 2000, which currently regulates entities on the internet in India.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT will hold a public consultation at Bengaluru to present the basic guiding principles and architecture of this proposed legislation. The Digital India Bill aims to ensure that the internet in India is open, free from user harm and criminality, and that there is an institutional mechanism of accountability.