Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2023

Notes:
Polio cases were recorded in Burundi for the first time in 30 years. The Poliovirus type 2 was confirmed from environmental surveillance of wastewater in the region.
Polio is transmitted through contaminated water and food, or by contact with an infected person. Though many do not become seriously ill, some can go on to develop acute flaccid paralysis.

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The study titled “Pathways to Atmanirbhar Bharat” was released recently by the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
The study noted that India can achieve energy independence by 2047.

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The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) is an autonomous institute under the Union Ministry of Culture.
It aims to preserve and reconstruct the history of the Indian independence movement. The Museum recently launched a project to digitize the research materials that are under its possession.

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The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) USD 3 billion bailout programme for Sri Lanka was approved by the financial agency’s Executive Board.
It is expected to help the island nation overcome its economic crisis.

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The United Nations has released its annual report ranking the happiest countries in the world.
For six consecutive years, Finland has been declared the happiest country in the world. The Nordic region dominates the top three spots in the report, with Denmark and Iceland placing second and third respectively. India’s rank has improved from 136 to 126 in this year.

Notes:
Euoplos dignitas is a new species of giant trapdoor spider. It was found by researchers in Queensland, Australia.
The tarantula-like creature is a type of golden trapdoor spider belonging to the genus Euoplos.

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‘International Shooting Sports Federation- ISSF World Cup Shooting Championship’ in 2023 was inaugurated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Around 200 shooters from 30 countries are participating in the World Shooting Championship. This is the first ever Shooting World Cup to be held outside New Delhi in the country. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated this championship at Kushabhau Thackeray International Convention Center in Bhopal.

Notes:
More than 100 delegates are scheduled to participate in the two-day G20 Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) Conference Dibrugarh, a city in Assam.
During the conference, discussions will be held on ways towards building a sustainable and circular bio-economy.

Notes:
The Chhattisgarh Mediapersons Protection Bill 2023 was passed by the state assembly. Its aim is to give protection for media persons and prevent violence against them.
The opposition MLAs demanded that the Bill be sent to the Select Committee of the Assembly for examination, which was rejected by Speaker Charandas Mahant.

Notes:
Lake Natron is an alkaline lake in the Arusha Region of Tanzania. It is hostile due to the presence of salt, soda and magnesite deposits.
It has been reported that the lake turns animals that touch it into “stone”. Ol Doinyo Lengai, which contribute to the lake’s condition, is the only active volcano to emit natrocarbonatites – a rare carbonatite lava.