2. In 95th Academy Awards ceremony, India's 'Naatu Naatu song'
from SS Rajamouli's film RRR today made history by becoming the
first Indian film to win an Oscar for best original song.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his delight at the
country's achievements at the Oscars in Los Angeles today.
Congratulating the entire team of the movie RRR for winning in
the best original song category, Mr Modi said that the popularity
of the song ‘Naatu Naatu’ is global. In a tweet, he remarked that
the song will be remembered for years to come.
The Prime Minister also congratulated the entire team of the
documentary short film The Elephant Whisperers for their win at
the event.
He lauded their work, which he said, wonderfully highlights the
importance of sustainable development and living in harmony
with nature.
www.indopraba.blogspot.com
India creates history by winning two Oscars; Song Naatu Naatu
from film RRR wins Best Original Song award; The Elephant
Whisperers bags Best Documentary Short Film award
3. Retail inflation, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), eased to
6.44 percent in February.
Earlier, Inflation in January stood at a three-month high level of 6.52
percent.
As per the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
data released today, inflation in the food basket last month
moderated to 5.95 percent from 6 percent in January.
Food prices contribute to nearly 40 percent of the CPI basket.
In February, Rural inflation stood at 6.72 percent, whereas urban
inflation came in at 6.10 percent.
In December last year, the CPI came below the Reserve Bank of
India’s upper margin of 6 percent for the first time in the calendar
year, standing at 5.72 percent.
The Government had mandated the Central Bank to maintain retail
inflation at four percent with a margin of two percent on either side.
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Retail inflation based on CPI eases to 6.44% in February
4. There are 533 coal mines, including 21 private coal mines in
10 States.
In a written reply in Rajya Sabha (RS), Minister of Coal and
Mines Pralhad Joshi informed that Jharkhand has the most
significant number of public and private coal mines.
He told the House that in 2022, the Ministry of Coal issued
guidelines for the closure of 43 public and two private coal
mines that were closed, abandoned, or discontinued till
March 2022
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Jharkhand has most significant number of public & private
coal mines: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi informs RS
5. Government presents 2nd batch of
Supplementary Demands for Grants for
2022- 23 in Lok Sabha
The Government today presented the second batch of
Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2022- 23 in Lok Sabha.
Under it, the Centre has sought approval to authorise the gross
additional expenditure of over 2 lakh 70 thousand crore rupees.
The proposals involve net cash outgo of over 1 lakh 48 thousand
crore rupees and a gross additional expenditure of 1 lakh 22
thousand crore rupees.
Under it, the Government has sought 36 thousand 325 crore
rupees for fertiliser subsidy, 25 thousand crore rupees for the
Department of Telecommunication and over 33 thousand 700
crore rupees for payment for arrears of the One Rank One
Pension scheme.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Choudhary today presented
a statement showing Supplementary Demands for Grants-
Second Batch for 2022-23 in Lok Sabha.
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6. The Government has asked Charity hospitals in the country to open
medical colleges to provide quality and affordable medical education.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, he held a meeting with
62 Charity Hospitals in this regard.
These hospitals include Breach Candy Hospital Trust, Sathya Sai Hospital,
Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Amrita Hospitals and Anandamayi
hospital.
Mr. Mandaviya said, twelve Charity hospitals have already applied for the
opening of medical colleges.
The Minister said, the motive behind this is to provide medical education
to more Indian students so that they should not venture abroad for
medical studies.
He informed that the Government has relaxed the norms for Charity
hospitals to open medical colleges.
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Government asks Charity hospitals in country to open medical
colleges to provide quality & affordable medical education
’
7. Saudi Space Commission holds discussions with
ISRO
A high-level delegation from the Saudi Space Commission, led by CEO
Dr Mohammed Saud Al-Tamimi, recently visited India from March 6 to
10 to hold discussions on space cooperation.
The delegation engaged in wide-ranging talks with various entities in
India, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and
Indian companies involved in the space sector such as New Space India
Limited and Centum Electronics.
During the visit, Dr Al-Tamimi met with S. Somanath, Chairman of ISRO,
and visited the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and
the U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru.
The delegation also visited the Indian Institute of Space Sciences and
Technology, and a technical team separately visited the National Remote
Sensing Centre.
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8. New initiative called 'beggar-free city' being
started in Maharashtra's Nagpur
In Maharashtra, a new initiative called 'beggar-free city' has
been started in Nagpur. Commissioner of Police of Nagpur City,
Amitesh Kumar said that, notification of 144 CrPC has been
issued in this regard.
Notices have been served to people. While speaking to
reporters he said that they will strictly enforce this and begging
will not be allowed in public places.
This is the joint venture of Nagpur City police and Nagpur
Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) social welfare department.
The NMC has made special arrangements to accommodate
homeless people in the shelters owned by it.
The civic body has kept a bus and an ambulance ready to shift
the beggars caught in police drive to its shelter home.
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9. On March 7 this year, the Indian Navy conducted a successful
test-firing of a Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM)
from INS Visakhapatnam, a frontline warship.
The successful test-firing validated the capability to use the
weapon as an anti-ship missile, demonstrating the Navy’s
preparedness to safeguard its assets from attacks by adversary
forces.
The MRSAM was developed by the Defence Research and
Development Organisation (DRDO).
The missile was produced at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). The
MRSAM technology is an important milestone for India’s
indigenous defence industry and is expected to enhance India’s
self-reliance in defence technology.
The Army and Air Force use different variants of missiles.
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What is MRSAM?
10. What is Yaoshang Festival?
Celebrated over five days during the full moon day of the
Lamda month (February-March), Yaosang is one of the key
festivals in Manipur.
The festival is part of the indigenous traditions of the
Meitei people. It begins just after sunset in every village
with the Yaosang Mei thaba (burning of the straw hut).
The Manipuris celebrate Holi as the Yaoshang festival. The
festival is celebrated for five days.
It is celebrated to mark the beginning of spring.
Worshippers sing hymns and kirtans on this day.
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11. What is Influenza Sub-type H3N2?
Influenza sub-type H3N2, commonly called Hong Kong
Flu, is causing a surge in hospitalizations due to
respiratory illness across India.
H3N2 is responsible for at least 92 per cent of all severe
acute respiratory infections (SARI) and outpatient
influenza-like illnesses.
It is causing more hospitalizations than other influenza
subtypes. Recently, it caused 2 deaths- 1 in Karnataka and
another in Haryana.
India sees the virus as “Seasonal Influenza”.
The Union Health Ministry recently included the virus in
the IDSP network to monitor and track its status. ICMR
issued advisories on precautions to be taken against
preventing influenza.
The GoI is expecting the cases to decline by March.
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12. What is Shab e-Barat?
Shab-e-Barat, also known as the Night of Forgiveness, is a significant
Islamic event observed every year on the 15th of the Islamic month of
Shaban.
The term ‘Shab’ means night and ‘Bharaat’ means forgiveness.
It is celebrated throughout South Asia, Central Asia, and Turkey.
It is a ceremony of forgiveness. Both Shia and Sunni Sufi Muslims
observe this ceremony. There are seven significant sectors of Muslims.
They are Sunni, Whabbi, Shia, Berelvi, Deobandi, Sufi, and Salfi. Sunni is
the largest branch. 85% to 90% of the Muslims belong to this community.
They are mostly in Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Bangladesh.
Most of the Muslims in the Gaza strip and West Bank are Sunni Muslims.
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13. What are e-Fuels?
E-fuels are a type of fuel that is produced by capturing carbon
emissions and combining them with hydrogen made from renewable or
CO2-free electricity.
Their examples include e-kerosene, e-methane, and e-methanol.
When e-fuels are burned in an engine, they release carbon dioxide into
the atmosphere, but the emissions are balanced by the amount of
carbon dioxide removed from the air to make the fuel, making it
carbon-neutral.
Electro fuels are fourth-generation biofuels.
The third-generation and fourth-generation biofuels use non-arable
land.
The non-arable lands are those lands that are not suitable for growing
agricultural crops.
This can be because of rockiness, erosion hazards, steepness, or climate
activities.
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14. “Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures” Exhibition
The “Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures” Exhibition, which
features 26 repatriated Indian antiquities, will be displayed in
the national capital as part of efforts to raise awareness about
the prevention of illicit trafficking of antiquities.
The exhibition has been set up at the Khajuraho G20 culture
group meeting.
The exhibition showcases a range of historical artefacts,
including the 12th-century Dancing Ganesha, a stone
sculpture from Central India that was recovered from the U.S.
in 2021, and the Yaksha, Amin Pillar from 2nd century B.C.,
which was discovered in the U.K. and repatriated in 1979-80.
According to the Archaeological Survey of India, 244 stolen/
missing artefacts have been repatriated till now.
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15. What is Moon Time Zone?
Moon Time Zone has been proposed for establishing a
universal timekeeping system that will simplify
communication and coordination among different lunar
missions.
The proposal has come in response to the increasing
number of lunar missions being planned and launched by
different countries and entities- with some of the
upcoming missions including Japan’s M1 lunar lander and
the Nova-C lander of Houston-based Intuitive Machines.
Its creation will help in future space explorations, including
the possibility of establishing a Martian time zone.
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