Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2023

Notes:
The first Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) Regiment is being raised to enhance the Indian Army’s air defence and capacity development along the Northern Borders.
This regiment is equipped with the MRSAM weapon system, which has been indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Notes:
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has announced a tour package named ‘Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra’.
This tour package covers some significant sites associated with the life of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar including Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Nagpur, Sanchi, Varanasi, Gaya, Rajgir, and Nalanda. The tour is part of the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative to promote domestic tourism.

Notes:
The Centre has approved the Quality Control Order (QCO) for mandatory certification of cotton bales.
The compulsory requirement of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for cotton bales sold in India is expected to check imports of substandard cotton and ensure domestic cotton meets certain minimum quality parameters, as per the Textiles Ministry.

Notes:
Turkey has launched a temporary salary support scheme and banned job cuts in southern provinces that are hit by earthquakes.
The devastating quakes killed over 42,000 people in the country as well as in Neighbouring Syria. The government will provide salary support for employers in provinces under the state of emergency. The government also banned layoffs in the earthquake zone, except for some valid reasons.

Notes:
India’s indigenously-made light combat aircraft Tejas will be participating in an international multilateral air exercise named Exercise Desert Flag VIll.
It is hosted by the UAE, which will see participation from the air forces of the UAE, France, Kuwait, Australia, the UK, Bahrain, Morocco, Spain, Republic of Korea, and the US. As per the Indian Air Force, five LCA Tejas and two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft would take part.

Notes:
The 8th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue is India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy. It is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with Observer Research Foundation.
Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni joined the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. The theme of the 2023 Edition of Dialogue is “Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence: Lighthouse in the Tempest.

Notes:
Savita received the Sportstar ACES Sportswoman of the Year award, after she led the team to a Bronze Medal performance at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. She was also instrumental in the team winning the inaugural FIH Women’s Nations Cup.
PR Sreejesh was named Sportsman of the Year (Team Sports) for his outstanding performance in 2022, which saw the Indian team finish third in the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021-2022, followed by a silver medal at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.

Notes:
The World Bank has announced the extension of 2 complementary loan of 500 million USD each to India to support the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.
The Mission was launched in 2021 with an aim to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across India. With a budget of Rs.64,180 crore, the mission has three aspects: strengthening public health institutions, building an IT-enabled disease surveillance system, and expanding research on infectious diseases.

Notes:
The Ministry of Culture’s flagship initiative, “Dhara: An Ode to Indian Knowledge Systems,” has completed its first year.
During this year, 10 successful conferences were organized on various themes highlighting India’s civilizational achievements. The next phase of Dhara will focus on metallurgical, agricultural, and ancient economic traditions of India.

Notes:
The Indian Government launched the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) in 2010.
In line with the NPCDCS, a164-bed Super-Specialty Cancer and Research Centre is being set up in Mizoram. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Indian Government signed a loan agreement to provide Rs.560 crore credit for this project’s implementation.