Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2023

Notes:
India has provided a grant of Rs 2 Billion to Bhutan for the Gyalsung Infra Project. The project aims to empower the youth of Bhutan and build a strong foundation for the country’s future.
The first tranche of the grant of Rs 1 Billion was presented recently by the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan. The grant is in addition to India’s commitment to provide planning assistance of Rs.50 Billion to Bhutan.

Notes:
The Kerala government launched robotic scavenger named ‘Bandicoot’, to clean sewages in temple town of Guruvayur.
It becomes the first state in the country to use robotic technology to clean all its commissioned manholes. It was launched under Guruvayur Sewerage Project in Thrissur district by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA), as part of the 100-day action plan of the state government.

Notes:
National Science Day is celebrated in India on February 28th every year to mark the discovery of the Raman Effect by Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman.
It was observed for the first time in 1987. The day celebrates the contributions of scientists and creates awareness about the importance of science in everyday life. This discovery of Raman Scattering won Raman the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930, making him the first Indian to receive a Nobel Prize in a scientific field.

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:
Iran has claimed to have discovered a lithium deposit in the western province of Hamedan. It is found to contain around 8.5 million metric tons of lithium ore.
Lithium is a soft, silver-white metal belonging to the alkali metal group of elements. It is highly reactive and flammable, and it is stored in mineral oil or other liquids to prevent it from reacting with moisture or air. It is commonly used in rechargeable batteries for electronic devices and EVs.

Notes:
The BrahMos missile is a type of supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, airplanes, or land.
It is currently the fastest supersonic missile in the world and was developed by a partnership between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, forming BrahMos Aerospace. Recently, Indian Navy successfully test fired the ship-launched version of the BrahMos missile.

Notes:
Dr Manik Saha was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state of Tripura for the second term. The BJP won 32 seats while its ally IPFT got one seat in the assembly polls conducted.
The TIPRA Motha, a regional party headed by Pradyot Kishore Debbarma emerged as the main opposition party securing 13 seats.

Notes:
Swachhotsav, a 3-week long women-led cleanliness campaign under the Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0, has been launched by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
It aims to recognize and celebrate the shift from women in sanitation to women-led sanitation. The Women Icons leading Sanitation & Waste Management (WINS) Challenge-2023 was also announced during the launch event.

Notes:
Influenza sub-type H3N2 is recently causing a surge in hospitalizations due to respiratory illness across India. H3N2 is responsible for at least 92 percent of all severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and outpatient influenza-like illnesses.
This virus was responsible for causing the 1968 pandemic that resulted in deaths of over a million people. This flu pandemic is known as called Hong Kong flu pandemic of 1968.

Notes:
The European Space Agency (ESA) has recently proposed the need for a lunar time zone. It has called for an international coordination and consensus to establish it.
Moon Time Zone has been proposed for establishing a universal timekeeping system that will simplify communication and coordination among different lunar missions.