Top Current Affairs 05 March 2021
Top Current Affairs 05 March 2021: This post contains the latest current affairs for 05 March 2021 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.
National
New Science Centre Inaugurated At Udaipur in Tripura
- The Udaipur Science Centre was inaugurated by Governor of Tripura Ramesh Bais at Udaipur, Tripura on February 28, 2021.
- The new science centre would enable the students to learn many unknown facts about science.
- Udaipur Science Centre has been developed at a cost of Rs 6 crore with funding jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India and Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Tripura Government.
- It has been developed by the National Council of Science Museums (NCSM).
- With this new centre, NCSM has now set-up science centres in all the north eastern states.
- Also, Udaipur centre is the 22nd Science Centre which has been developed by NCSM under the Ministry of Culture’s Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science.
- NCSM plans to open 4 more new science centres in different parts of India during 2021.
International
UNGA adopts India-led resolution of observing 2023 as International Year of Millets
- On March 03, 2021, the 193-member United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted the resolution, sponsored by India, declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
- The International Year of Millets is aimed at raising awareness about the health benefits of the grain and their suitability for cultivation under changing climatic conditions.
- The resolution titled International Year of Millets 2023′ was initiated by India with Bangladesh, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Russia and Senegal and was co-sponsored by over 70 nations.
SpaceX successfully tests Starship SN10 prototype rocket
- Elon Musk owned private rocket company, SpaceX successfully tested its Starship prototype rocket “SN10 “ after two recent failed attempts.
- SpaceX launched the rocket prototype on March 03, 2021, to an altitude of 10,000 kilometers and then landed back on the ground. However, the rocket exploded about six minutes after landing.
- But this test launch is deemed successful because the goal of this launch was to gather information on how the flaps work to control the rocket when it is horizontal as it is falling back to earth.
- The SN10 is an early prototype of the Starship Mars rocket of SpaceX which aims to get people and payloads to the moon, Mars and other distant destinations.
- This rocket is also a part of the company’s strategy to phase out its other flight hardware including, the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets and Dragon cargo and crew capsules, and let Starship shoulder the entire load.
Agreement
India inks pact with Philippines for sale of ‘defence equipment’ including BrahMos
- India has signed a key pact with the Philippines called “implementing arrangement” for “procurement of defence material and equipment”, on March 02, 2021, as per which the country will buy the BrahMos cruise missiles from India.
- The BrahMos missile is produced by an India-Russian joint venture “BrahMos Aerospace” and it can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or from land platforms.
- It is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world.
- Currently the missile is used only by India, however several countries including Philippines, Vietnam, South Africa, Egypt, Oman, Chile and Brunei have expressed interest in the procurement of the missile.
Rankings
MIT-USA Retains Top Spot in QS World University Rankings 2021; IIT Bombay top Indian Institute placed at 172
- The 11th edition of the QS World University Rankings was released on March 04, 2021.
- The QS World University Rankings 2021 ranks the top 1,000 universities from around the world, covering 80 different locations. There are 47 new entrants in the list.
- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States has retained its top position as the best university for the ninth year in a row.
- Stanford University, United States and University of Cambridge, United Kingdom are the second and third best University globally in QS World University Rankings 2021.
- From India, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay has emerged as the best institution. It is placed at 172 position. No institute of India is in top 100.
- Indian Institute of Science (185), Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (193) are the only other universities from India to feature in top 200.
2021 QS World University Rankings by Subject
- In terms of subject, twelve Indian universities and higher education institutions have made it to top 100, with three Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) making it to top 50 for their respective subject.
- The 12 universities are IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IISC Bangalore, IIT Guwahati,, IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, JNU, Anna University, University of Delhi, and O.P Jindal University
- IIT Madras ranks 30th for Petroleum Engineering, IIT Bombay ranks 41st and IIT Kharagpur ranks 44th for Minerals and Mining Engineering, and University of Delhi ranks 50th for Development Studies.
Bengaluru & Shimla adjudged best cities among 111 cities in Ease of Living Index 2020
- Bengaluru and Shimla have topped the Ease of Living Index 2020, released by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri on March 04, 2021.
Key takeaways from the assessment
- A total of 111 cities under the Smart Cities Program, participated in the assessment exercise that was conducted in 2020.
- The Ease of Living Index 2020 ranked cities in following two categories:
- Million+ populated cities – those with a population of more than a million
- Less than Million populated cites – those with a population of less than a million.
- No city has been included from West Bengal because of “data challenge”.
Million+ category
- Bengaluru emerged as the top performer in this category.
- This was followed by Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Surat, Navi Mumbai, Coimbatore, Vadodara, Indore, and Greater Mumbai respectively.
Less than Million category
- In this group , Shimla was ranked the highest in ease of living.
- This was followed by Bhubaneshwar, Silvassa, Kakinada, Salem, Vellore, Gandhinagar, Gurugram, Davangere, and Tiruchirappalli.
Indore and NDMC tops Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2020
- The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs released the final rankings of the Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2020 on March 04, 2021.
- The ranking has classified municipalities into two categories based on their population which are: million-plus category and less than million category.
- The Municipal Performance Index will help Municipalities in better planning and management, filling the gaps in city administration, and improving the liveability of cities for its citizens.
Million plus population category
- Indore has topped this list, followed by Surat and Bhopal.
Less than million category
- New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) emerged as the leader, followed by Tirupati and Gandhinagar.
Loans
World Bank to launch $100 million guarantee scheme for solar rooftop projects
- The World Bank is planning to introduce a $100-million credit guarantee scheme to boost the rooftop solar programme in India for MSMEs.
- The scheme will enable micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to avail concessional debt financing for setting up rooftop solar units.
- To implement the scheme, the World Bank will collaborate with State Bank of India (SBI) and the MSME ministry.
- The scheme will be beneficial for those firms that do not meet banks and other financial institutions’ lending criteria.
Appointment
Mary Kom appointed chairperson of AIBA’s champions and veterans committee
- Six-time world champion boxer Mary Kom has been appointed as the Chairperson of the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) Champions and Veterans Committee.
- The 37-year-old was voted to the post by AIBA’s board of directors on March 03, 2021.
- The Committee was formed in December 2020. It consists of most respected worldwide boxing veterans and champions who have achieved significant results and who are ready to share their experience.
Manpreet Vohra Appointed as High Commissioner of India To Australia
- Manpreet Vohra has been appointed as the High Commissioner of India to Australia.
- Vohra, a 1988 batch Indian Foreign Service Officer, is presently Ambassador of India to Mexico.
