Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2023

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.

Notes:
Mission Arikompan is an operation involving the capture of the wild tusker locally called Arikompan. In an interim order, the Kerala High Court has stayed the state forest department’s decision to capture Arikomban.

Notes:
Mahim Fort is situated in the Mahim Bay in Mumbai, Maharashtra. This 800-year-old fort is currently being developed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) as a tourist destination.
As per BMC, the descendants of King Bimbdev, who established his kingdom Mahikawati in ‘Aparant’ or north Konkan belt of Maharashtra, built the fort between 1140 and 1241.

Notes:
International Day of Zero Wastes is observed on March 30 every year. The theme for this year is ‘Achieving sustainable and environmentally sound practices of minimizing and managing waste’.
The International Day of Zero Waste aims to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, support the societal shift towards circularity and raise awareness about how zero-waste initiatives contribute to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Notes:
As part of the ongoing Swachhotsav 2023 campaign, the Mission is set to mobilize citizens from over 2,800 cities as part of the ‘Swachh Mashaal March’.
The Mashaal March aims to spread awareness regarding the idea of a ‘Garbage Free City’. It is organised by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Notes:
H3N8 is a subtype of the Influenza A virus. It is also known as Equine influenza virus.
China reports its first H3N8 bird flu of 2023, and this is the third time that the virus has been discovered in the country, although a previous strain caused the 1889 pandemic.

Notes:
The first-ever India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave is being held in Pune. The aim of the event is to strengthen defence relations and create an institutionalised framework for better military-to-military cooperation between the two parties.

Notes:
The Mahila Samman Savings Certificate Scheme has been announced in the Union Budget 2023-24. Union Minister of State for Finance announced that the scheme will start in Financial Year 2023-24.
It is a deposit facility up to two lakh rupees in the name of women or girls for a tenure of two years and it was announced that the interest will be 7.5 per cent.

Notes:
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, the eldest son of the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has been named the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.
This puts him next in line to take over as the leader of the federation. He has served as a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and as chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office.

Notes:
Mukupirna fortidentata is an ancient marsupial that roamed the Earth 25 million years ago. Its fossil remains were found by scientists in Australia.
Described as a cross between a wombat and a marsupial lion, Mukupirna fortidentata is thought to have weighed up to 50kg. Skull, bone and jaw fragments from the animal were recovered from a site near Alice Springs in central Australia.