ANSWER: B

 ANSWER: C

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: A

• Recently, for the first time, United Nations members have agreed on a unified treaty to protect biodiversity in the high seas.
• The treaty is negotiated under the United Nations Convention on Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) of 1982 which governs the rights of countries regarding marine resources.
  • High seas begin at border of countries’ EEZ, which extend up to 370km from coastlines.
  • They comprise more than 60% of world’s oceans and nearly half planet’s surface.
  • But until now only about 1% of these waters have been protected.
• Treaty of High Seas, also known as Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, will create a new body to manage conservation of ocean life and establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in high seas.
• The treaty also establishes ground rules for conducting environmental impact assessments for commercial activities in the oceans.

Importance of High Seas:

• Ninety per cent of global warming occurs in the ocean, deeply affecting Marine life.
• Comprehensive protection of endangered species and habitats is not possible without High Seas.
• Several marine species — including dolphins, whales etc make long annual migrations, crossing national borders and the high seas.
• High seas are the crucial component in global efforts to bring 30% of the world’s land and sea under protection by the end of the decade, a target known as “30 by 30”.

 ANSWER: D

• Bureau of India Standards (BIS) has prohibited the sale of hallmarked gold jewelry or gold artefacts without 6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification Number (HUID) after 31st March 2023.
• However, Hallmarked jewellery lying with consumers as per old schemes shall remain valid.
• Earlier, the old hallmarked jewelry with 4 marks without HUID was also permitted to be sold by the jewelers along with the 6-digit HUID mark.

Hallmarking

• Hallmarking is the accurate determination and official recording of the proportionate content of precious metal in precious metal articles.
• Hallmarking scheme for Jewellery was started by BIS in the year 2000.
• In India, at present two precious metals namely gold and silver have been brought under the purview of Hallmarking.
• However, Mandatory Hallmarking has been successfully implemented in 288 districts of the country with effect from 23 June 2021 by Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery and Gold Artefacts Order, 2022.

About HUID

• HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification.
• It is a 6-digit alphanumeric code consisting of alphabets and numbers.
• HUID is stamped at the BIS-certified Assaying and Hallmarking Centre.
• For every piece of gold jewellery which is hallmarked by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), a unique HUID code is given to it.
• After introduction of 6-digit HUID in 2021, hallmark consisted of 3 marks viz, BIS logo, purity of the article and six-digit alphanumeric HUID. Each hallmarked article has unique HUID number which is traceable.

 ANSWER: C

• Scientists at John Hopkins University have planned research on “organoid intelligence (OI)” to create biocomputers where 3D brain cultures grown in the lab are coupled to real-world sensors and input/output devices.
• The planned research will use brain organoids, i.e., cultures of brain cells, as biological hardware.
  • Organoids are tiny, self-organized three-dimensional cells or tissues derived from stem cells.
• Biocomputers are defined as computers that use components of biological origin (such as molecules of DNA) instead of electrical components.
• Potential Benefits:
  • Greater Energy and Data efficiency; Multitasking via parallel computation; improved AI capabilities; ability to self-organize and self-repair, decode pathology of drug development for neuro-developmental and degenerative diseases etc.

 ANSWER: C

• It is the maiden Joint Military Exercise between Indian Army and French Army to be conducted in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
• It is for the first time that the armies of both nations are engaging in this format with each contingent comprising of a Company Group each from the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Army troops and French 6th Light Armoured Brigade.
• Objective- enhancing inter-operability, coordination and cooperation between both forces.
• Other military dialogues and regularly held joint exercises include
  • Varuna (navy),
  • Garuda (air force), and
  • Shakti (army).

 ANSWER: B

• An Indian Economist Raj Krishna coined the term “Hindu Rate of Growth” in 1982.
• It was then used to refer to the growth rate of period, which was stagnant at 3.5-4% for a long period.
• This rate of growth remained steady through changes in governments, wars, famines, and other crises.

 ANSWER: A

• It was launched by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) during Digital Payments Awareness Week (6th to 12th of March) 2023 to encourage digital payments adoption.
• RBI appealed to all stakeholders – banks, payment system operators (PSOs), digital payment users, etc. – to adopt digital payments and teach others about merits of using digital payments.
• RBI also launched ‘75 digital villages programme’ to adopt 75 villages and convert them into digital payment enabled villages.
• PSOs will adopt these villages and conduct awareness camps and onboard merchants for digital payments.

ANSWER: C

• GEM Report was released by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Important takeaways

• Only 17% of countries cover sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression issues – least covered areas in CSE curricula.
  • Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality.
• Only 20% countries have laws and 39% have a national policy that specifically addresses sexuality education.
• Sexuality education in primary education is compulsory in 68% countries and in secondary education in 76%.
• Contraception issues are covered in school curriculum in two-thirds of countries.

 ANSWER: C

• International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th every year to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, as well as to raise awareness of the ongoing struggle for gender equality.
• The first International Women’s Day was observed in 1911.
  • The United Nations (UN) started celebrating International Women’s Day in 1977, it was officially agreed that the day will be widely observed on March 8 every year.
• International Women’s Day 2023 theme- “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality” to honours and celebrate the women and girls who are leading the way in the development of transformational technology and digital education.

 ANSWER: B

• S. Dubey took charge as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA). He is the 28th officer to hold the position of CGA.
• Prior to that, Dubey has served as Chief Controller of Accounts in Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

 ANSWER: A

• Gagan Kapoor and Navesh Narula were elected chairman and vice-chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Himachal Pradesh, respectively, for the year 2023-24 at Shimla today.

ANSWER: A

• A double-lane bridge will be built over the Beas at Pirdi, which will connect the National Highway-3 with the Kullu-Bhuntar main road.
• The work on the bridge will be started after receiving approval from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). A survey has been conducted and Rs 20 crore will be spent on the project.
• The Public Works Department (PWD) has also marked the site for the bridge.
• This bridge will be useful for the people of Mohal, Shamshi, Badah and adjoining areas and the load of vehicles on the Bailey bridge of Bhuntar will also be reduced.