Current Affairs One - Liner : 5th March 2024

• National:
• According to a recent study published in The Lancet, obesity levels in India have seen a significant increase. The number of obese adults has risen from 3.5 million in 1990 to 70 million in 2022. Similarly, the prevalence of obesity among children and teenagers has increased from 0.4 million to 12.5 million during the same period. This rise is attributed to a shift in dietary choices and physical inactivity.

• On 5th March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for multiple development projects in Sangareddy, Telangana. These projects, worth more than Rs 6,800 crores, span key sectors like road, rail, petroleum, aviation, and natural gas.
• India’s first Green Hydrogen Plant in the stainless steel sector was inaugurated at Jindal Stainless Limited, Hisar, Haryana on March 4, 2024. The plant, owned and operated by Hygenco India, will produce 78 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, replacing the grey hydrogen currently used at the JSL manufacturing unit. This initiative is expected to reduce around 54,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions over 20 years.
• On March 4, 2024, the Supreme Court of India ruled that lawmakers cannot claim immunity from prosecution in bribery cases. This decision ensures that lawmakers can be held accountable for their actions, promoting transparency and integrity in the political system.
• Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the AYUSH-ICMR Advanced Centre for Integrated Health Research at AIIMS in New Delhi on March 4, 2024. The centre aims to integrate traditional AYUSH practices with modern medical science. He also announced initiatives including a clinical trial on Anaemia and the launch of Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) for AYUSH healthcare facilities.
• International:
• The first-ever US-India Cyber Security Initiative was launched on February 27, 2024. This initiative, a collaboration between the US Consulate and the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), aims to strengthen IT connections between the two countries. It will unite top cybersecurity experts globally to create jobs and develop cutting-edge solutions.
• The Union of the Comoros and the Democratic Republic of Timor–Leste have formally become members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) held in Abu Dhabi on 26th February 2024. This increases the total number of WTO members to 166.
• On March 4, 2024, France became the first country to enshrine the right to abortion in its constitution. This historic amendment guarantees women’s freedom to choose an abortion.
• Banking:
• REC Limited has listed two bonds on the NSE and BSE, totaling over ₹5,375 crore. The first bond is valued at ₹2,500 crore with a 10-year maturity and a yield of 7.47%. The second bond, worth ₹2,875 crore, has a maturity of 3 years and 2 months and offers a yield of 7.64%. The funds raised will be used for regular business activities. Both bonds have received high credit ratings.
• The rise in the percentage of Term Deposits (TDs) in Scheduled Commercial Banks’ (SCBs) total deposits from 57.2% in March 2023 to 60.3% in December 2023, as per the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) quarterly data, indicates a shift in the deposit patterns.
• On March 1, 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman virtually launched seven infrastructure projects worth over ₹1,000 crore. These include residential quarters for Income Tax Department officers in Faridabad and Gurugram. The projects aim to boost business activities.
• The Indian government has permitted derivatives trading in 11 more commodities, taking the total to 104. The new commodities include skimmed milk powder, cement, apple, bamboo, timber, weather, freight, white butter, cashew, metal alloys, and manganese. This move aims to boost market liquidity and provide more opportunities for traders.
• Economy:
• Moody’s has upgraded India’s GDP growth projection for 2024 to 6.8% from the earlier estimate of 6.1%. This is due to India’s strong economic performance in 2023 and easing global economic challenges. Despite some divergence between the Gross Value Added (GVA) and GDP in Q4 2023, the economy’s momentum is expected to continue into Q1 2024. For 2025, the GDP growth is estimated at 6.4%.
• Science & Technology:
• The SpaceX Crew-8 mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, was launched on March 2, 2024. The crew, including NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, traveled to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, Endeavour. They are expected to return to Earth in the fall of 2024.
• Sports:
• Indian badminton player B Sai Praneeth announced his retirement from international badminton on March 4, 2024. He will now serve as the head coach of the Triangle Badminton Academy in the US.
• Important Days:
• The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is observed annually on March 5. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly to promote better understanding of disarmament among the general audience, with a special emphasis on raising disarmament awareness among young people.
• Appointments:
• Sub-Inspector Suman Kumari from Himachal Pradesh became the first woman sniper of the Border Security Force (BSF) in India on March 4, 2024. She completed an 8-week course at the Central School of Armament and Warfare Skills (CSWT) in Indore.
• Brajesh Mehrotra, a senior IAS officer from the 1989 batch, has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Bihar. He was previously the Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue and Land Reforms with additional charge of General Administration and Parliamentary Affairs.

Questions:

Q.1 Who were the NASA astronauts on the SpaceX Crew-8 mission?
a. Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps
b. Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, Alexander Grebenkin
c. Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps, Alexander Grebenkin
d. Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps, Alexander Grebenkin
Q.2 Which country became the first to enshrine the right to abortion in its constitution?
a. United States
b. Germany
c. France
d. Canada