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Daily Current Affairs and MCQs for March 15th, 2023

By Prishth || March 16, 2023, 12:16 IST

Stay informed and test your knowledge with our daily current affairs and MCQs for March 15th, 2023. Download the PDF and challenge yourself with our MCQs on a range of topics, from politics to sports. Perfect for students and exam preparation. Stay ahead of the game - Read now.

Welcome to the Daily Current Affairs page for March 15th, where we provide you with the latest updates on national and international news. Here are the key highlights for March 15th 2023, followed by some multiple-choice questions based on the current affairs:

Click Here: Download Current Affairs For March 15th In PDF Format

1. India's first behavioural lab will be established in Jaipur. (Relevant to human psychology and behavioural studies)

• The government has approved funding of 1.22 crore rupees to establish a behavioural lab at Harish Chandra Mathur Rajasthan Institute of Public Administration (HCM-RIPA).
• The lab will be managed by the faculty of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Udaipur, who will provide training to researchers.
• International experts in the field of human behavior will conduct experiments and workshops at the lab.
• The lab will use innovative technology to study human behavior, which will help researchers gain insights into decision-making, communication, and other aspects of human psychology.
  

2. DRDO successfully completed the first flight of Power Take Off Shaft (PTO) on Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. (Relevant to defence technology and India's military capabilities)

• The Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested the Power Take-Off Shaft (PTO) on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas in Bengaluru.
• The shaft was developed by DRDO's Fighter Research and Development Institute in Chennai, using indigenous technology.
• Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has praised DRDO, PSUs, and industry for their achievement in developing this important aircraft component, which contributes to India's goal of self-reliance.
• The PTO shaft is an important part of the aircraft and will be useful in designing future fighter aircraft.
• The PTO shaft was designed and manufactured using a patented technique called "Frequency Spanning Technique," which enables the shaft to accommodate different engine speeds.
• The PTO shaft is lightweight, high-speed, and lubrication-free, and it transmits high power between the aircraft engine gearbox and the aircraft-mounted accessory gearbox while accommodating misalignment in the driveline.
  

3. Atal Innovation Mission has launched ATL Sarathi. (Relevant to innovation and start-up ecosystem in India)

• NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) has launched ATL SARATHI to improve Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in schools across India.
• ATLs are designed to encourage creativity, imagination, and skills like Design Thinking, Computational Thinking, and Physical Computing in students.
• AIM has provided financial assistance to 10,000 schools to set up ATLs and is continuously improving the ecosystem by developing tools and frameworks.
• ATL SARATHI has four pillars to improve the performance of ATL through regular process improvements.
  

4. Additional financial aid of more than 1,816 crore rupees under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) has been approved. (Relevant to disaster management and relief efforts in India)

• Five states (Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Meghalaya, and Nagaland) were affected by floods, landslides, and cloudbursts in 2022.
• The Central government has approved financial aid for these states:
• Assam: 520 crore rupees
• Himachal Pradesh: 239 crore rupees
• Karnataka: 941 crore rupees
• Meghalaya: 47 crore rupees
• Nagaland: 68 crore rupees
• The aid was approved by a High-Level Committee chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
• This additional aid is on top of the funds already released to the states from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
• In the financial year 2022-23, over 15,770 crore rupees have been released by the Central government to 25 states from the SDRF.
• Around 502 crore rupees have been released to 4 states from NDRF.

5. National Horticulture Board introduced a simplified process for filling and approving applications under Subsidy Schemes. (Relevant to agriculture and rural development in India)

• The new scheme will help farmers by reducing the approval time from 6-8 months to less than 100 days.
• The new scheme design became effective on March 15th.
• The National Horticulture Board (NHB) has removed the need for In-Principle Approval, and applicants can now apply for clearance directly.
• The application process is entirely digital, including examination and sanction of applications.
• Instead of an in-person inspection, a mobile app-based self-inspection will be used to grant clearance.
• This change was made based on the demands of farmers for a simpler documentation and sanctioning process.
• The NHB, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, promotes 
  

6. CBI extradited 33 fugitives in a year under 'Operation Trishul'. (Relevant to law enforcement and security in India)

• The CBI brought back 33 criminals who fled India and are involved in various crimes.
• The CBI is currently working on extraditing more fugitives to India.
• The CBI extradited Mohammed Hanif Makkat from Saudi Arabia for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping and murder case under 'Operation Trishul'.
• The CBI is also processing the extradition of other big fugitives such as Nirav Modi.
• 'Operation Trishul' helps the CBI locate criminals in other countries with the help of Interpol.
• The CBI launched 'Operation GARUDA' in September 2022 to dismantle drug networks with international links.
• The CBI launched 'Operation Megha Chakra' against the sharing and dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) online.
  

7.  10% horizontal reservation approved by Uttarakhand govt for statehood activists in state govt jobs. (Relevant to social justice and political movements in India)

• The Uttarakhand government has approved a 10% job reservation for those who have agitated for the formation of the state.
• The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in Bharadisain.
• Earlier, the governor had rejected the bill proposing the reservation for state agitators.
• This decision is significant as the state agitators were not getting the benefit of reservation in government jobs for the last twelve years.
• The cabinet also approved a new solar policy, and the proposal to increase the MLA Local Area Development Fund from Rs 3 crore 75 lakh to Rs 5 crore per year.
• Other major decisions include enhancing financial assistance to Mahila Mangal Dal from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 40 lakh and increasing the grant for beautification of temples from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.
  

Click Here: Download Current Affairs For March 15th In PDF Format

8. World Consumer Rights Day 2023:15 March (Relevant to consumer rights and awareness in India)

• March 15 is celebrated as World Consumer Rights Day every year.
• This day aims to protect consumers from unfair market practices and ensure their rights are respected.
• The theme for World Consumer Rights Day 2023 is "Empowering consumers through clean energy transitions".
• In 2019, the Consumer Protection Act 2019 was introduced to safeguard the interests of consumers and help resolve disputes faster.
• World Consumer Rights Day was first celebrated in 1983.
• India observes National Consumer Day on December 24 every year.
  

9. RBI granted 'Infrastructure Finance Company' status to IREDA. (Relevant to finance and economic development in India)

• IREDA, an infrastructure financing and development company focusing on renewable energy, has been granted Infrastructure Finance Company (IFC) status.
• This will enable IREDA to provide higher financing exposure to the renewable energy sector and access a wider pool of investors for funding.
• With IFC status, IREDA will play a larger role in achieving the government's target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel installed capacity by 2030.
• This recognition is a significant achievement for IREDA's long-standing commitment to financing sustainable sources of energy.
• IREDA, founded in 1987 with the motto "Energy for Ever," has been supporting the financing of new and renewable energy sources for over three decades.

10. Union Minister inaugurated Khelo India Dus Ka Dum Tournament in New Delhi. (Relevant to sports and youth development in India)

• The Khelo India Dus Ka Dum tournament is being organized by the Youth Affairs and Sports Ministry from March 10th to 31st.
• The tournament will feature 10 sports and have around 15,000 women athletes from 50 countries.
• The tournament aims to give a platform to women athletes who couldn't participate in state or national competitions before.
  

11. New York-based commercial bank, Signature Bank has been shut down.

• Signature Bank, a New York-based bank, was closed by state regulators on Sunday.
• California authorities had also recently shuttered Silicon Valley Bank, causing a collapse that affected global markets.
• The collapse left billions of dollars of uninsured deposits belonging to companies and investors stranded.
• The U.S. Treasury Department and other bank regulators issued a joint statement ensuring that all depositors of Signature Bank will be compensated, and no losses will be borne by taxpayers.
  

12. Additional Important News:

• BIS launched the 'Learning Science via Standards' initiative.
• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduces an educational program called "Learning Science via Standards" for students
• The program aims to help students understand scientific concepts, principles, and laws through the lens of standards
• It features a set of lesson plans that demonstrate the practical applications of these concepts in the manufacturing, functioning, and quality testing of various products as per Indian standards
• Lesson plans are focused on everyday products that are relevant to both the course curriculum and industrial applications
• BIS officials and resource personnel will deliver the lesson plans to students, allowing for an engaging and interactive learning experience
• Lesson plans will be available on the BIS website for easy access.
  

IMPORTANT MCQs FOR 15^th MARCH 2023

1. What is the purpose of India's first behavioural lab that will be established in Jaipur?

a) To provide training to researchers

b) To conduct experiments and workshops on human behaviour

c) To study communication skills

d) All of the above

Answer: b) To conduct experiments and workshops on human behaviour

Explanation: The lab will use innovative technology to study human behavior, which will help researchers gain insights into decision-making, communication, and other aspects of human psychology.

2. What is the name of the new program launched by Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) to improve Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in schools across India?

a) AIM Sarathi

b) AIM Innovation

c) ATL Sarathi

d) ATL Innovation

Answer: c) ATL Sarathi

Explanation: ATL SARATHI has four pillars to improve the performance of ATL through regular process improvements. The ATL Cluster is a self-sustainable model for ATLs and local authorities to work closely with each other and form clusters of 20-30 ATLs in a particular area.

3. What is the financial aid approved by the Central government for Karnataka under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for floods, landslides, and cloudbursts in 2022?

a) 239 crore rupees

b) 941 crore rupees

c) 520 crore rupees

d) 68 crore rupees

Answer: b) 941 crore rupees

Explanation: The Central government has approved financial aid for five states (Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Meghalaya, and Nagaland) affected by floods, landslides, and cloudbursts in 2022. Karnataka received financial aid of 941 crore rupees.

4. What is the purpose of the Power Take-Off Shaft (PTO) that was successfully tested on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas by the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)?

a) To transmit high power between the aircraft engine gearbox and the aircraft-mounted accessory gearbox

b) To accommodate misalignment in the driveline

c) To be useful in designing future fighter aircraft

d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

Explanation: The PTO shaft is an important part of the aircraft and will be useful in designing future fighter aircraft. The PTO shaft is lightweight, high-speed, and lubrication-free, and it transmits high power between the aircraft engine gearbox and the aircraft-mounted accessory gearbox while accommodating misalignment in the driveline.

5. What is the National Horticulture Board (NHB)?

a) A new program launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

b) An autonomous organization under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

c) A new subsidy scheme for farmers

d) None of the above

Answer: b) An autonomous organization under the administrative control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Explanation: The NHB, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, promotes commercial horticulture and cold chain infrastructure through subsidy schemes.