Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2023

Notes:
The Adani’s Mundra Petrochem project was suspended recently. Under this project, a greenfield coal-to-PVC plant was planned to be set up in Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) land in Gujarat.
The Adani group has suspended work on a Rs 34,900 crore project, as it focuses on resources to consolidate operations and address investor concerns following the report by US-based short seller Hindenburg.

Notes:
International Day of Forests is observed every year on March 21. The theme for 2023 is “forests and health”.
It highlights the ecosystem services provided by forests like purification of water and air, carbon capture to fight climate change, and supply of life-saving medicines.

Notes:
The United Nations has released its annual report ranking the happiest countries in the world.
For six consecutive years, Finland has been declared the happiest country in the world. The Nordic region dominates the top three spots in the report, with Denmark and Iceland placing second and third respectively. India’s rank has improved from 136 to 126 in this year.

Notes:
Additional Tier 1 (AT1) bonds are a class of bonds that do not carry any maturity date but have call option.
These are currently the riskiest bonds owned by Credit Suisse. This has the potential to cause a major wipe-out in Europe’s AT1 market.

Notes:
Archaeologists have discovered the oldest pearl town in the Persian Gulf on the Siniyah Island of the United Arab Emirates. This island is situated in Umm al-Quwain, an emirate situated some 50 km northeast of Dubai.
The discovery finds hundreds of homes dating as far as the region’s pre-Islamic history in the late 6th century.

Notes:
Exercise Konkan 2023 is a bilateral maritime exercise between the UK’s Royal Navy and the Indian Navy.
It is held in March this year off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea. INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate of the Indian Navy, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate of the Royal Navy, participated in this edition of the exercise.

Notes:
Shaheed Diwas, also known as Martyrs’ Day, is observed on March 23 in India to pay homage to the martyrs who gave their lives for India’s freedom.
The day commemorates the anniversary of the execution of Sukhdev Thapar, Bhagat Singh and Shivaram Rajguru in 1931.

Notes:
Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate-AIM4C) was launched by the UAE and the US at Conference of Parties-26. India recently joined this grouping in 2023.
AIM4C is a global partnership that aims to accelerate investment and support for climate-smart agriculture & food systems innovation.

Notes:
Project Tiger will complete 50 years in 2023. It was launched in 1973 in Corbett National Park to conserve tiger population in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate three-day mega event in Mysuru to mark 50 years of Project Tiger.

Notes:
Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers is set to seek the Cabinet nod for the ‘PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM)’.
It is expected to save Rs 20,000 crore in fertiliser subsidy for the government over the next three years. This scheme aims to create a balance between chemical fertilizers and alternative solutions.