1. India’s overall exports cross all time high of 750 Billion US dollars
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said on March 28 that India's total exports have crossed US$ 750 billion which is the highest ever and this achievement has come in the 75th year of independence.
An overview of the news
In 2021-22, the country's goods and services exports reached an all-time high of US$ 422 billion and US$ 254 billion, respectively, taking total shipments to US$ 676 billion.
Exports fell by 8.82 per cent in February 2022, while imports fell by 8.21 per cent, the biggest decline in more than two years.
Experts have expressed concern over the slowdown in exports due to recession concerns and weak global demand.
Exports declined by 8.8 per cent to $33.88 billion in February 2023 from $37.15 billion in February 2022.
Imports also declined for the third consecutive month in February at $51.31 billion, down 8.21 per cent from $55.9 billion a year ago.
The country's trade deficit in February stood at $17.43 billion.
2. Tanzania announces outbreak of deadly Marburg virus disease
Tags: International News
Tanzania recently declared an outbreak of the highly contagious and deadly virus Marburg virus, which causes viral hemorrhagic fever.
An overview of the news
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), through contact tracing in the country, around 161 people have been identified as at risk of infection.
The government has deployed an emergency response team to the area as well as neighboring countries have increased surveillance.
What is Marburg Virus Disease?
According to the World Health Organization, Marburg is a highly contagious viral disease that leads to hemorrhagic fever, with a mortality rate of up to 88%.
Marburg is as deadly as Ebola and no suitable drug or vaccine has yet been discovered to treat and prevent the disease.
Outbreaks of this disease have been reported in many African countries in the past, including Kenya, Congo, Angola, South Africa, and Uganda.
These outbreaks have also resulted in a large number of deaths, most of which have occurred in southern and eastern Africa.
Symptoms of Disease
High fever, severe headache, muscle pain, abdominal pain, and cramping.
Nausea and vomiting may also begin on the third day after infection.
Transmission
Human infection initially results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies.
Once a human has been infected with Marburg virus, it can be spread to others through direct contact with their blood, secretions or other bodily fluids.
Another route of transmission may be through sexual contact.
This virus is secreted in our body fluids such as saliva, sweat, nasal secretions and semen.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),
Antigen detection tests,
Serum neutralization tests,
Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay,
Virus isolation by cell culture.
There is no specific treatment for Marburg virus disease yet.
3. Cheetah died of kidney disease in Kuno National Park
Tags: National News
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A cheetah named Sasha, brought from Namibia, died on March 27 due to kidney disease.
An Overview of the News
Sasha was one of eight cheetahs relocated to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on 17 September.
This female cheetah was four and a half years old.
Sasha's creatinine level was very high, indicating poor kidney function.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) - J.S. Chauhan
Important Point
The first batch of cheetahs translocated from Namibia to India were released on 17 September at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
The cheetahs (5 females and 3 males) were brought from Namibia in Africa as part of 'Project Cheetah'.
It was the first time in the world that a large carnivore was translocated from one continent to another.
About Kuno National Park
It is a protected area located in Madhya Pradesh, India, named after the Kuno River.
It was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1981 with an initial area of 344.686 km (133.084 sq mi) in Sheopur and Morena districts.
In 2018, the Kuno National Park was given the status of a national park and is part of the Khathyar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.
Kuno National Park was selected as a possible site for the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project, which aimed to establish a second lion population in India.
Between 1998 and 2003, approximately 1,650 residents of 24 villages were resettled to sites outside the protected area to make way for the project.
4. First meeting of G20 trade and investment working group begins
Tags: Summits National News
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On 28 March the first meeting of the G20 Trade and Investment Working Group began in Mumbai and the conference was inaugurated by Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
An Overview of the News
The primary objective of India's G20 Presidency is to develop a common understanding of the challenges associated with accelerating global trade and investment and to identify opportunities to achieve human-centred outcomes.
The three-day meeting was attended by over 100 delegates from G20 member states, invited countries, regional groupings and international organisations.
The meeting will focus on the role of banks, financial institutions, development finance institutions and export credit agencies in bridging the trade finance gap.
Experience zones on spices, millets, tea and coffee will be set up and an exhibition on textiles will be displayed during the meeting at the conference venue.
About the G20
It is an international forum of the world's leading economies established in 1999.
Its primary objective is to promote international financial stability and sustainable economic growth.
The G20 serves as a forum to discuss and coordinate policies related to a wide range of economic and financial issues such as trade, investment, employment, energy and climate change.
5. First joint conference of army chiefs of India and African countries held in Pune
Tags: Summits National News
The first joint conference of army chiefs of India and African countries was held in Pune on 28 March.
An overview of the news
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the conference as the chief guest. Army Chief General Manoj Pandey was also present.
This is the first ever conference of the army chiefs of these countries.
Army chiefs of 10 countries were present in this conference along with 31 representatives of African countries.
A defense exhibition will be organized under the Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign and the aim of the exhibition is to target African countries as a market for defense products.
About African continent
It is the second largest continent (after Asia), covering about one-fifth of the total land surface of Earth.
It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, the Mediterranean Sea in the north, the Red Sea and Indian Ocean in the east, and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in the south.
The island of Madagascar, off the coast of Africa, is one of the largest islands in the world.
The African continent has a population of over one billion, with a combined GDP of $2.5 trillion, making it a huge potential market.
Africa is a resource-rich continent rich in crude oil, gas, pulses and lentils, leather, gold and other metals, all of which are lacking in substantial quantities in India.
6. Government of India launched National Rabies Control Program (NRCP) for prevention and control of Rabies
Tags: Government Schemes National News
The Central Government has launched the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) for prevention and control of Rabies recently.
National Rabies Control Program Strategy
Provision of Rabies Vaccine and Rabies Immune Globulin through National Free Drug Initiative.
Training on proper management of animal bites, prevention and control of rabies, surveillance and inter-sectoral coordination.
Strengthening monitoring of reporting of animal bites and rabies deaths.
Awareness about prevention of rabies.
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a viral disease. This virus is present in the saliva of animals suffering from rabies such as dogs, cats, monkeys etc.
It is caused by the rabies virus of the Lyssavirus genus of the Rhabdoviridae family. It is an RNA virus.
According to statistics, about 99 percent of cases in humans are caused by dog bites.
Rabies is 100% fatal and 100% preventable through vaccines.
India accounts for33% of global rabies deaths.
The time period between bites of an animal infected with rabies and the appearance of symptoms of rabies can range from four days to two years, or sometimes more.
World Rabies Day
The day is observed every year on 28 September to raise awareness about the effects of rabies virus disease and ways to prevent it.
The day is celebrated to mark the anniversary of Louis Pasteur's death.
Louis Pasteur developed the first rabies vaccine and laid the foundation for the prevention of rabies.
The theme of this day for the year 2022 is 'Rabies: One Health, Zero Deaths'.
7. Center sets up committee to monitor tur stock
Tags: committee National News
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The Department of Consumer Affairs on 27 March constituted a committee to monitor the stock of Tur (Arhar) held by importers, millers, traders, and other such entities.
An overview of the news
This committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
A committee will monitor the stock of Arhar in coordination with state governments.
The decision was taken following reports that traders were not selling the pigeon pea stock in the market despite a good quantity of imports.
The Government is also closely monitoring the stock position in the domestic market to take necessary measures in case of an unexpected increase in the prices of pulses in the coming months.
The Government had issued an advisory to the States/UTs on August 12, 2022, to implement stock disclosure in respect of Toor under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
Hike of Toor prices
According to the ministry’s data, the all-India daily average retail price of Tur was recorded at Rs 114.44 per kg on 27 March, 2023, which was 11.47 per cent higher than a year ago.
The all-India daily average wholesale price of Tur was recorded at Rs 10,462.03 per quintal, which was 12.48 per cent higher than a year ago.
8. PM Modi inaugurated Whitefield (Kadugodi) for Krishnarajapura Metro Line
Tags: National
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On March 26, PM Modi inaugurated the new metro line connecting Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapuram.
An Overview of the News
- The inauguration was seen as a boost to 'Ease of Living' for the people of Bengaluru.
- The new metro line is expected to reduce travel time and improve connectivity in the area.
- The Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapura Metro line is a part of the Namma Metro project in Bengaluru.
- The project was completed at a cost of about Rs 4,200 crore.
- The metro line extends over a distance of 15.5 km and has 14 stations.
About Namma Metro Project
- Namma Metro is a rapid transit system, also known as Bangalore Metro.
- The project was launched in 2005 with the goal of providing a safe, efficient and sustainable means of public transport for the city's growing population.
- The first phase of the project was completed in 2017 and consists of two lines: the Green Line and the Purple Line.
- The Green Line runs from Nagasandra in the northwest to Yelachenahalli in the south, while the Purple Line runs from Baiyappanahalli in the east to Mysore Road in the west.
- The second phase of the project is currently under construction and will add an additional 72.1 km of track to the network.
- The second phase will include the expansion of both the Green and Purple Lines as well as two new lines, the Yellow and Blue Lines.
9. India summons Canadian High Commissioner over actions of separatist elements
Tags: International Relations
The Government of India summoned the High Commissioner of Canada on 26 March 2023 and the purpose of the summons was to express strong concern over the actions of separatist and extremist elements against India's diplomatic missions and consulates in Canada.
An Overview of the News
The Government of India sought an explanation on how such elements were able to breach the security of diplomatic missions and consulates despite the presence of the police.
The Government of India requested that the Government of Canada arrest and prosecute individuals who have already been identified as having been involved in such acts.
India's Ministry of External Affairs expects the Government of Canada to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of diplomats and the security of diplomatic premises.
About Canada
Geography: Canada is the second largest country in the world by land area. It shares a border with the United States to the south.
Government: Canada is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy. The current monarch is Queen Elizabeth II.
Languages: Canada has two official languages, English and French. French is primarily spoken in the province of Quebec, while English is the most widely spoken language in the rest of the country.
Culture: Hockey is considered the national sport of Canada, and the country is also known for its winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding.
Nature: Some of the country's most famous natural sites include Niagara Falls, Banff National Park, and the Canadian Rockies.
Capital - Ottawa
Prime Minister - Justin Trudeau
Currency - Canadian Dollar
10. PM Modi launched ‘Call Before u Dig’ app
Tags: National National News
The Prime Minister on 22 March launched the ‘Call Before u Dig’ (CBuD) app, to tackle Uncoordinated digging and excavation.
An overview of the news
The mobile application is an initiative of the Department of Telecom, Ministry of Communications.
It aims to prevent damage to underlying assets such as optical fiber cables, which is caused by unorganized quarrying and mining, which leads to a loss of about Rs 3,000 crore every year.
This will save potential business losses due to lesser disruption of essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity and reduce the inconvenience caused to citizens.
The app will connect excavators and property owners so that planned excavation can be carried out in the country while ensuring the safety of underground assets.
Significance
The App will save potential business loss and minimise discomfort to the citizens due to reduced disruption in essential services like road, telecom, water, gas and electricity.
