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:
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 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:
The Indian High Commission in London opened its visa application process for U.K. nationals to apply for the new Young Professionals Scheme (YPS).
Under the reciprocal scheme signed between India and UK at the G20 summit in Indonesia last November, Indian and British nationals aged between 18 and 30 can apply to live and work in either country for a period of up to two years.

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:
The preliminary surveys conducted by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) found the presence of lithium reserves in Mandya district of Karnataka.
The Central Government has started taking steps to initiate commercial exploration after lithium reserves was discovered earlier in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The AMD is the oldest unit of India’s Department of Atomic Energy.

Notes:
The United Kingdom signed a deal regarding post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland, with a view to remove the border between Britain and Northern Ireland running through the Irish Sea.
The ‘Windsor Framework’ is set to replace the Northern Ireland Protocol, which had created political and economic issues between the UK and the EU after Brexit.

Notes:
On the occasion of National Science Day (February 28), the Indian Government launched the VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme for the Indian Diaspora abroad.
The newly launched scheme aims to improve the research capability of India’s higher education institutions. It will facilitate academic and research collaborations between the Indian higher education institutions and the top performing institutions from across the world.

Notes:
The first round of negotiations concerning the amendments to the WHO International Health Regulations 2005 concluded recently.
More than 300 suggested changes were proposed for this document. The International Health Regulations 2005 is being implemented by 196 countries across the world. It is the binding instrument of international law that entered into force in 2007.

Notes:
The Supreme Court said it will set up a six-member panel to look into regulatory mechanisms to protect investors’ interest after a report by a US short seller Hindenburg on the Adani conglomerate led to large investor losses.
The shares of Adani group firms nose-dived last month after the short seller Hindenburg Research alleged a massive financial fraud. The Adani group strongly denied the allegation and called Hindenburg’s report a “calculated attack” on India, its institutions and growth story.