Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2023

Notes:
The ‘International Bio-resource Conclave & Ethno-pharmacology Congress 2023’ commences in Imphal.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the International Biotech Conclave. For the first time since Independence, North East Region is organizing an International Conference on Biotechnology. Over 700 International and National delegates representing over 35 countries participated in the conference.

Notes:
The Indian Air Force contingent comprising 145 Air Warriors is participating in Exercise Cobra Warrior in United Kingdom.
The Exercise Cobra Warrior is a multilateral Air exercise in which Air Forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, United States of America and Singapore would also be participating alongside Royal Air Force and IAF.

Notes:
Dibang Hydropower Project, which was approved by the Central Government recently, is India’s largest-ever hydropower project.
It is being set up close to China’s border on the Dibang River, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Dibang Valley District. This project will be developed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) with an estimated cost of 319 billion INR.

Notes:
Yamunotri Dham is part of Char Dham, the four famous Hindu pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas. The other famous Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas are Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.
The state government of Uttarakhand has inked a contract to construct a 3.38 km ropeway from Janki Chatti in Kharsali to Yamunotri Dham. The ropeway will bring down the travel time and it is estimated to cost Rs. 166.82 crore.

Notes:
Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) is an expert body which examines and authorises diversion of forest land for projects.
The Holistic Development of Great Nicobar Island Project is being criticised for its adverse impact on the island’s ecology and indigenous tribes. The Environment Ministry has withheld all discussions on forest clearance for the entire project recommended by the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC).

Notes:
Mizoram would export ‘Bird’s eye chilli’ of the state to the United States for the first time. 7.5 metric tons of organic bird’s eye chilli would be sent to the US after the budget session of the assembly.
The state government has obtained geographical identification (GI) tag for bird’s eye chilli or ‘Mizo chilli’.

Notes:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has banned use of foreign words to ‘protect’ Russian language. The Russian government officials are now banned from using foreign words in official documents and correspondence as well as while carrying out their duties.
This decision was taken in an attempt to protect the Russian language from Western influence. Separately, a list of words with foreign roots that can still be used will be released.

Notes:
The POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system characterized by a rapid rise in heart rate after standing up or lying down.
Research is being conducted to identify the relationship between the POTS and COVID-19. There are at least 1 million or more new POTS patients in the United States as a result of COVID.

Notes:
A whip, in parliamentary language, may refer to a written order to members of a particular party in the House to abide by a certain direction. It may also refer to an official of the party who is authorized to issue such a direction.
Supreme Court recently observed that Members of a House is bound by the whip. If any section of MLAs belonging to a political party that is part of the ruling coalition does not want to go with the alliance, the MLAs will be disqualified.

Notes:
The S-400 Triumf is a surface-to-air missile system that was developed in Russia in the 1990s as an upgrade to the S-300 family.
The system was first put into service on April 2007. The S-400 Triumf has advanced features such as a long-range, high-altitude interception capability, and the ability to track multiple targets simultaneously.