Current Affairs is the most important area in all competitive exams. But the difficulty level is very high. That’s why; many aspirants get confused, how to select Current Affairs for Preparation of Competitive Examination? In this Post, Daily Current Affairs 3 March 2023, we have tried to cover each and every point and also included all important facts from National/ International news that are useful for upcoming competitive examinations such as UPSC, SSC, Railway, State Govt. etc.
So, here is the Top News of the Day for 3 March 2023 to help you prepare the Latest Current Affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.
Current Affairs for Competitive Exam – 3 March 2023
World Wildlife Day 2023 celebrates on 3rd March
World Wildlife Day 2023: Every March 3rd, the UN World Wildlife Day is observed all over the world. This date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the signing of CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, in 1973. This global event is marked annually to celebrate and promote awareness of the planet’s wild fauna and flora. In 1973, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was also signed. The goal of CITES is to keep international trade from threatening species’ survival.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
50th Anniversary of CITES
This World Wildlife Day 2023 coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of CITES. Since its inception, CITES has stood at the junction of trade and conservation. It has sought to build partnerships and reconcile differences between the groups that are guided and governed by its regulations.
World Wildlife Day 2023: Theme
World Wildlife Day will be celebrated in 2023 under the theme “Partnerships for wildlife conservation”, honoring the people who are making a difference.
World Wildlife Day 2023: Significance
The day is set aside to honour and raise awareness about the world’s diverse wild fauna and flora. This day serves as a reminder of the value of wildlife and their habitats. It is also a day of global significance to promote the need for their protection and conservation. The United Nations carefully selects a theme each year to draw attention to specific challenges confronting wildlife populations and ecosystems.
The day holds significance as it coincides with the adoption of CITES, an international agreement that aims to prevent the trade of endangered species from threatening their survival. World Wildlife Day is a reminder that the conservation of biodiversity is crucial for the survival of all species, including humans.
World Wildlife Day: History
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was established in 1973. Its goal was to ensure that international trade did not endanger wild fauna and flora species’ survival. On March 16, 2013, the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP16) was held in Bangkok. It was during this meeting that the Kingdom of Thailand sponsored a resolution. This resolution designates March 3 as World Wildlife Day. The United Nations General Assembly’s Sixty-eighth session officially declared March 3 as World Wildlife Day on December 20, 2013. It was to be marked to celebrate and raise awareness of the planet’s wild fauna and flora. This date coincides with the day CITES was adopted in 1973.
The CITES Secretariat, along with other relevant United Nations organisations, is in charge of facilitating World Wildlife Day implementation. CITES, with 183 member states, remains one of the world’s most powerful tools for biodiversity conservation by regulating the trade in wild fauna and flora.
SpaceX launches NASA Crew-6 mission
SpaceX launches NASA Crew-6 mission: NASA’s Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station was launched into orbit by SpaceX, with a Russian cosmonaut and a United Arab Emirates astronaut joining two NASA crewmates for the flight.
The SpaceX launch vehicle, consisting of a Falcon 9 rocket topped with an autonomously operated Crew Dragon capsule called Endeavour, lifted off at 12:34 a.m. EST (0534 GMT) from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
About Crew-6 mission:
The mission will send two US astronauts, one Russian Cosmonaut, and one UAE astronaut into space. This is Crew Dragon’s fourth flight.
Previous flights of Crew Dragon were as follows:
- Demo-2 Crew Test flight
- Crew-2 flight in 2021
- Private Axiom Mission-1
The landing site of the mission is the Atlantic Ocean. It is a part of the Commercial Crew Program of NASA. The program provides crew transportation services, that is, carrying cargo and astronauts from and to ISS.
Significance of Crew Dragon :
It is a spacecraft that can be reused. It transports cargo to and from the International Space Station. Previously, the crew dragon was referred to as the Dragon rider.
Need of Crew-6 Launch:
The Crew-6 launch comes after Russia is preparing to send Soyuz MS-23 to replace Soyuz MS-22. Due to a coolant leak in Soyuz MS-22, the astronauts were stranded in space.
India’s Unemployment rate rose to 7.45% in Feb: CMIE
India’s Unemployment rate rose to 7.45% in Feb: CMIE- The CMIE measures joblessness. The overall unemployment rate in India remained high in February 2023, rising to 7.45% from 7.14% the previous month.
About the Rural-Urban Unemployment:
The urban unemployment rate fell for the second month in a row, falling to 7.93% in February from 8.55% in January. It touched a record high of 10.09% in December 2022. But more worrying the rural unemployment rate spiked to 7.23% last month from 6.48% in January.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Coupled with Decline in GDP Growth:
According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, India’s GDP growth rate fell for the second consecutive quarter in October-December (Q3FY23), coming in at 4.4 percent. The latest quarterly growth number at 4.4 per cent is lower than the 6.3 per cent growth that was seen in the second quarter of 2022-23.
Record growth in eight core sectors:
The government also released the data for the production of eight core sector growth in January. It showed that production of eight core sector growth expanded at a four-month high of 7.8 per cent in January, which is up from a 7 per cent growth recorded in December.
Manufacturing sector in India: The biggest concern:
The manufacturing sector in India expanded at the slowest pace in four months in February but remained relatively strong amid buoyant domestic demand, despite higher inflationary pressures.
Rising borrowing costs and manufacturing weakness have slowed the Indian economy. The manufacturing sector shrank 1.1 per cent in the quarter year-on-year, the second straight contraction reflecting weakness in exports.
The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global dipped to 55.3 last month from January’s 55.4.
Jishnu Barua appoints as new chairperson of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission
Jishnu Barua appoints as new chairperson of Central Electricity Regulatory Commission : Jishnu Barua has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC). On February 27, 2023, Barua was appointed chairperson of the CERC. Barua was chief secretary of Assam from October 2020 to August 2022. Prior to this, he had been additional chief secretary to Assam looking after various departments of the state from August 2017 to October 2020.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Following his retirement, Barua was appointed chairperson of Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd. Barua has an M.Phil in Defence and Strategic Studies, a PG in History, and a Graduation in Philosophy. During his interaction with the new CERC chairperson, Singh commended the good work done by him during his stint as chairperson of the Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd and said that the power system in the country has improved significantly in recent years.
About the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)
The CERC was established by the Indian government in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Regulatory Commissions Act of 1998. CERC is the central commission established by the Electricity Act of 2003, which replaced the ERC Act of 1998. The commission consists of a chairperson and four other members, including Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority, who is the ex-officio member of the commission.
Major functions of CERC under the Act are, inter-alia, to regulate the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the central government, to regulate the tariff of other generating companies having a composite scheme for generation and sale of electricity in more than one state, to regulate the inter-state transmission of electricity and to determine tariff for such transmission of electricity, etc. According to the Act, the CERC shall also advise the central government on the formulation of national electricity policy and tariff policy; the promotion of competition, efficiency, and economy in electricity industry activities; the promotion of investment in the electricity industry; and any other matter referred to the central commission by the government.
Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu become 1st women MLAs from Nagaland
Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu become 1st women MLAs from Nagaland: Salhoutuonuo Kruse and Hekani Jakhalu, both from the ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, made history by becoming the state assembly election’s first female candidates. In a significant milestone, people in Nagaland have elected two women candidates after 60 years since it attained statehood. Kruse won from Western Angami AC and Jakhalu clinched Dimapur-III constituencies.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
According to the Election Commission of India, the ruling NDPP-BJP alliance won five seats and was leading in 34 seats in the Nagaland assembly election. This year, the four women candidates who contested elections are Jakhalu, Kruse, Rosy Thomson of the Congress and Kahuli Sema of the BJP. While women have contested elections in Nagaland, they have seldom been voted into power. Rano M Shaiza was the only woman elected to the Lok Sabha in 1977, and S Phangnon Konyak became the first woman to secure a seat in the Upper House in 2022.
Who is Hekani Jakhalu?
Hekani Jakhalu, a Delhi University graduate and US-educated lawyer turned social entrepreneur, has won the Dimapur-III seat as part of BJP’s ally NDPP. Her manifesto focuses on youth development, women’s empowerment, minority rights, and creating a model constituency. Jakhalu was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar for her efforts to promote gender equality. She founded YouthNet, an organization dedicated to empowering young people in the area.
Who is Salhoutuonuo Kruse?
Salhoutuonuo Kruse, also a NDPP candidate, is a local hotel owner. She has contested against Keneizhakho Nakhro, an Independent. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio have been heavily campaigning for Kruse in recent weeks.
RBI’s new pilot project on coin vending machines
RBI’s new pilot project on coin vending machines: During the most recent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) address, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das stated that the apex banking regulator, in collaboration with banks, would launch a pilot project to evaluate the operation of a QR-code based coin vending machine.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
More about the project:
- Instead of physically tendering banknotes, the vending machines would dispense coins, with the appropriate amount debited from the customer’s account via the United Payments Interface (UPI).
- Customers would be able to withdraw coins in the desired quantities and denominations.
- The central concept here is to make coins more accessible.
About Coin Vending Machines:
Instead of physically tendering banknotes, the vending machines would dispense coins, with the appropriate amount debited from the customer’s account via United Payments Interface (UPI). Customers would be endowed the option of withdrawing coins in required quantities and denominations. The central idea here is to ease the accessibility to coins. With particular focus on ease and accessibility, the machines are intended to be installed at public places such as railway stations, shopping malls and marketplaces.
Where will coin vending machines be launched:
The pilot project will initially be implemented in 19 locations across the country in 12 cities. These vending machines are intended to be installed at public places such as railway stations, shopping malls, and marketplaces to enhance ease and accessibility.
Indian Economy: recent status of coins:
- Circulation of Coins: As of December 30, last year, the total value of circulation of rupee coins was Rs.28,857 crore. The figure is an increase of 7.2% from the previous year.
- The circulation of small coins remained constant at Rs.743 crore. Coins in India are issued in denominations of one rupee, two rupees, five rupees, ten rupees, and twenty rupees.
- Volume of digital payments: According to the Digidhan Dashboard, the volume of digital payments is expected to be around Rs.9,557.4 crore until December 2022. The number includes mobile banking, internet banking, IMPS, BHIM-UPI, and NEFT, among other services.
Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela Organized by IARI in New Delhi
Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela Organized by IARI in New Delhi: The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) organises the Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela every year, and it will be held in New Delhi from March 2nd to March 4th, 2023.The Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela will be inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar. This time the theme of the fair is “Nutrition, Food and Environmental Protection with Shree Anna”.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela Organized by IARI in New Delhi- Key Points
According to IARI Director Dr. A.K. Singh, the main attractions of the fair this year will be Technical Sessions on important and contemporary agricultural issues, as well as the development of the Shree Anna-based value chain under the International Year of Millets. Thematic exhibitions of key technologies will also be organized, while stalls of research institutes, startups, and entrepreneurs will be set up.
Shree Anna-based stalls will educate visitors on the various types of Shree Anna, cultivation practises, value addition, and nutritional value. Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad as well as VPKAS Almora, CAZRI Jodhpur, and S.K.N. Agricultural University, Jobner, which are involved in research on Shree Anna, will also participate in the fair. Agri-startups, especially Shree Anna-based startups will set up their stalls.
Live demonstrations of important varieties of wheat, mustard, gram, vegetables, flowers, and fruits will be held at the fair. A live webcast of the fair will be available for remote farmers and consumers, and there will be stalls for farmers, entrepreneurs, and input agencies. Awards will be given by the institute to encourage the farmers. During this, the Innovative Farmers’ Conference will facilitate the exchange of ideas among the farmers.
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) commemorates the success of “SWAYATT”
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) commemorates the success of “SWAYATT”: In New Delhi, a celebration was organised to mark the accomplishment of “SWAYATT,” an effort to support start-ups, women, and youth advantage through electronic transactions on the government eMarketplace (GeM). Ms. Radha S Chauhan, Secretary, Ministry of Personnel and Training, and Mr. Sanjeev Gautam, Director SFAC (representing the Farmer Producer Organizations), attended the event as guests of honour. The Chief Guest was Ms. Mercy Epao, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
More than 8.5 lakh Micro and Small Businesses (MSEs) have been registered on the GeM platform, and they have been able to receive approximately US$ 22.65 billion (Rs. 1.87 lakh crore) in commerce distributed across 68 lakh+ orders. Mr. P.K. Singh, CEO of GeM, informed the house about the progress made in achieving social and financial inclusion. Additionally, he stated that approximately 43K SC/ ST MSEs had delivered 1.35 lakh+ orders worth US$ 313.9 million (Rs 2,592 Crore) on the GeM platform, while more than 1.45 lakh women MSEs had completed 7.32 lakh orders totalling US$ 1.92 billion (Rs 15, 922 Crore).
This initiative aims to promote Startups, Women, and Youth Advantage Through eTransactions (SWAYATT) on GeM. It was established by GeM in February 2019.
Goal: To stimulate the inclusion of diverse categories of sellers and service providers on the portal.
It was achieved by taking aggressive measures to simplify their training and registrations.
GeM CEO: P.K. Singh
Bajaj Finserv gets nod from Sebi to launch mutual fund business
Bajaj Finserv gets nod from Sebi to launch mutual fund business: Financial services company Bajaj Finserv Ltd. has received the “final registration” from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to start its mutual fund (MF) business, it said.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund, with Bajaj Finserv Asset Management Ltd. (BFAML) as the investment manager, will soon offer a range of MF products, including equity, debt, and hybrid funds, in the active and passive segments, it said in a press release on Wednesday. The products include equity, debt, and hybrid funds, both in the active and passive segments, for investors.
The company said that with the addition of mutual funds, Bajaj Finserv now has a full range of financial services for customers, from asset acquisition, lifestyle enhancement through financing, asset protection through insurance, and family protection through life and health insurance to healthcare needs, besides savings, investment, and retirement products.
BFAML CEO: Ganesh Mohan
Bajaj Finserv Chairman: Sanjiv Bajaj
Pakistan PM appoints first Ambassador for Kartarpur Corridor
Pakistan PM appoints first Ambassador for Kartarpur Corridor : Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora as the Ambassador-at-Large for Kartarpur Corridor as part of efforts to attract Sikh pilgrims from across the world, a government notification said on Wednesday.
February 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
This appointment is part of efforts to attract Sikh pilgrims from across the world. He hails from Kartarpur in Narowal. He is also the central general secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) minorities wing.
This corridor links Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan with the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India.
In November 2019, Prime Minister Khan formally inaugurated the Kartarpur Corridor as part of the commemoration of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak at a colourful ceremony, paving the way for Indian Sikh pilgrims to visit one of their religion’s holiest sites in Pakistan without needing a visa.
