Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2023

Notes:
The Tata Group and US Aerospace Lockheed Martin have agreed to produce fighter wings at their joint venture, Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) in Hyderabad.
The MOU allows the production of 29 fighter wing shipsets and includes an option for additional shipsets. Deliveries will start in 2025.

Notes:
The Eliminating Backlogs Act of 2023, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the US House of Representatives.
It aims to effectively utilize the employment-based visas allocated each year under existing federal immigration law. The legislation seeks to put an end to the country-based discrimination in high-skilled immigration and ensure that visas allocated under the law are properly used.

Notes:
The first international conference on Shared Buddhist Heritage commenced in New Delhi. It is being organised with a focus on India’s civilisational connect with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) nations 2023.
The event, under India’s leadership of SCO, will bring together Central Asian, East Asian, South Asian and Arab countries on a common platform to discuss Shared Buddhist Heritage.  The programme is being organised by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of External Affairs and the International Buddhist Confederation.

Notes:
Australia has unveiled plans to buy up to five U.S. nuclear-powered submarines, then build a new model with U.S. and British technology under an ambitious plan.
The announcement came at an event at California naval base where U.S. President Joe Biden hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Albanese called it the biggest single investment in Australia’s defence capability in all its history.

Notes:
The government has appointed Deepak Mohanty as chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA). He replaced Supratim Bandyopadhyay, whose term ended in January.
Prior to this, Mohanty, a former executive director of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), served as a member of PFRDA.

Notes:
The ‘Saudi-Iran Détente’ is a peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia which was recently brokered by China.
It is seen as Beijing’s step towards gaining a major influence in West Asia, where it has economic and political interests and rivalry with the US and the western powers.

Notes:
Gujarat, the only home of Asiatic lions in India, is set to move 40 lions from Gir National Park to the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is expected to house 40 adult and sub-adult Asiatic lions. It is located some 100 km from the Gir National Park.

Notes:
Ganeshaiah’s dwarf gecko (Cnemaspis ganeshaiahi) is a newly discovered species of gecko endemic to the Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills).
It is named after KN Ganeshaiah – a famous agricultural scientist and a Kannada writer.

Notes:
Mukhyamantri Ladli BahnaYojana was launched by the Madhya Pradesh Government to provide Rs.1,000 monthly aid to women.
It is currently increasing women’s usage of bank accounts in Jabalpur district. The application for this scheme is set to start on March 25.

Notes:
Customs, Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal (CESTAT) is commemorating its 40 years of operations. It was set up under Customs Act, 1962 in the year 1982.
CESTAT is mandated to hear appeals against orders passed by the Commissioners or Commissioners (Appeals) under Section 129A of the Customs Act,1962. As 80,000 cases are pending before CESTAT, the Government to set up committee to suggest steps to reduce litigation.