Current Affairs – March 22 2023
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Current Affairs – March 22 2023
1. World Water Day 2023 is observed on March 22
World Water Day is celebrated every year on March 22 to propagate water management systems among the populace across the globe. It is imperative that healthy freshwater environments need to be created in various nations around the world.
Today on this day i.e. March 22, 2023 (Wednesday) World Water Day is acknowledged. This annual practised was for the first time proposed by the universal organisation United Nations in 1993.
Reasons for Celebrating World Water Day 2023
People may wonder why there is a need to worship water as a part of World Water Day in 2023. Every year the mission is to make human beings cognizant of the righteous use of water.
Not only on this single day but fresh water must also be consciously used and preserved for the rest of the year in order to make it effectively available for posterity.
Theme for World Water Day 2023
The current year’s theme for World Water Day is “accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis”.
It encourages the public to alter their ways of water usage, consumption and management in their everyday lives. This is done to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 which aims at “Water and Sanitation for all by 2030”.
2. Experience ‘Bard’ a ChatGPT Competitor
On March 21, 2023 (Tuesday) Google provides access to its new AI chatbot called ‘Bard’. Bard has been designed as a rival of ChatGPT. It was the first time announced by the multinational company Google in February last month.
ChatGPT recently gained worldwide popularity after GPT-4, its latest model was launched. Now, this advanced Artificial Technology model Bard is all set to be available for testing for some users. The tests have already started in U.S. and U.K.
Google Introduces AI Product ‘Bard’
Global Tech Company Google unveils a classy futuristic model that is made using Artificial Technology. The firm welcomes ‘Bard’ and calls it an experiment and only some specifically selected users will be able to access ChatGPT’s rival in the market.
Who can Sign Up & Use Google Bard?
Currently, Google has only given access to Bard Users in the US and UK as they are conducting tests to check its productivity.
Similar to Microsoft’s launch of new Bing, Google’s Bard will also be made accessible to premium users who wish to sign up for a waitlist. After some time, this will appear in other countries also.
3. Nepal-India Literature Festival
The Nepal-India Literature Festival was a three-day literary extravaganza organized by Biratnagar Metropolitan City and Krantidhara Literature Academy of Meerut, India.
The festival witnessed the participation of over 350 literary writers from all seven provinces of Nepal and a majority of the states of India. The event concluded with the adoption of a 10-point Biratnagar declaration aimed at promoting literature between Nepal and India.
Literary Creations on the Occasion
Over 200 litterateurs cited their literary creations on the occasion, which included poetry, short stories, and novels. The festival provided a platform for literary writers of Nepal and India to showcase their work and exchange ideas.
4. Spring Equinox 2023
After the long winter blues, it’s time to welcome the Spring Equinox 2023, which marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, the equinox falls on March 20 and brings with it a perfect balance of day and night, marking the beginning of longer days and warmer weather.
What is spring equinox?
The Spring Equinox happens due to the Earth’s tilt at an angle of 23.5 degrees on its axis. This angle results in the uneven distribution of sunlight between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres during different seasons.
During the spring equinox, the sun passes directly over the equator, resulting in equal daylight and darkness in most parts of the world. However, the length of day and night may vary slightly depending on your location.
5. Africa-India field training exercise AFINDEX-23 to be held in Pune
The Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX-2023) has begun with the participation of 100 participants from 23 African countries, including Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zambia, among others.
The joint exercise is divided into four phases, including training of trainers, a Humanitarian Mine Action and Peace Keeping Operations Phase, and a validation exercise to assess the results of the training.
History of the (AFINDEX-2023) exercise:
The joint military exercise between India and 23 nations of the African continent, AFINDEX-2023, is a continuation of India’s efforts to enhance its relationship with Africa, which began with the India-Africa Summit in 2008 and was subsequently held in 2015 and 2019.
6. Ranveer Singh named India’s most valuable celebrity of 2022
According to a report by Kroll, a corporate investigation and risk consulting firm, actor Ranveer Singh has been named India’s most valuable celebrity of 2022, surpassing cricketer Virat Kohli who held the top spot for five years.
The report titled “Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2022: Beyond the Mainstream” reveals that Singh’s brand value is $181.7 million.
Virat Kohli, who previously held the top spot, has fallen to the second position with a brand value of $176.9 million, according to the Kroll report.
Other celebrities in the list:
- The Kroll report reveals that Akshay Kumar and Alia Bhatt have maintained their positions as the third and fourth most valuable celebrities in India, with brand values of $153.6 million and $102.9 million, respectively.
- Deepika Padukone has moved up two ranks to the fifth spot with a brand value of $82.9 million, and has since become the brand ambassador of Qatar Airways and PotteryBarn.
- For the first time, South Indian stars Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna have made it to the list of India’s top 25 most valuable celebrities.
7. Japan’s Plan for Free & Open Indo-Pacific
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently introduced a new plan to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region during his visit to India.
The plan is aimed at forging stronger ties with countries in South and Southeast Asia to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the region, particularly over the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea. This article will delve deeper into Japan’s new Indo-Pacific plan.
The Four Pillars of Japan’s Plan
Kishida outlined four “pillars” to Japan’s new Indo-Pacific plan, which includes maintaining peace, dealing with new global issues in cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries, achieving global connectivity through various platforms, and ensuring the safety of the open seas and skies.
8. Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary became 18th wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu
The Tamil Nadu Government has announced the notification of Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, making it the 18th wildlife sanctuary in the state.
Spread across 80,567 hectares in the forest areas of Anthiyur and Gobichettipalayam taluks in Erode district, the sanctuary will include reserve forest areas in Anthiyur, Bargur, Thattakarai and Chennampatti. The announcement was made during the state budget recently.
Wildlife and Species Found in Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at close proximity with the Malai Mahadeshwara wildlife sanctuary, BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, Cauvery wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka.
- It acts as the connecting point between Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary.
- The sanctuary is home to 21 species of mammals, 136 species of birds and 118 species of butterflies. It hosts fauna like elephants, leopards, wild boars, gaurs and deer.
9. ‘World Trade Center’ To Come Up In Kolkata’s Salt Lake: Merlin Group
Merlin Group has partnered with the World Trade Centers Association to develop a World Trade Center in Kolkata that will cover an area of 3.5 million square feet.
The project’s License Agreement was signed by Scott Wang, Vice President of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) Asia Pacific region, and Merlin Group’s Chairman, Sushil Mohta, and Managing Director, Saket Mohta.
The oldest World Trade Center in India is located in Mumbai, and there are additional Centers in Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Noida, Pune, and other cities.
