Daily GK Update: 8th March 2023

 National & International Appointments

1. Manik Saha sworn in as chief minister of Tripura for second time

• Dr. Manik Saha has been sworn in as the new chief minister of Tripura for the second consecutive term.
• Tripura governor Satyadeo Narain Arya administered the oath to him at Vivekananda Maidan in the capital city of Tripura, Agartala.
• The oath ceremony was attended by PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
• In 2022, he was made the chief minister after replacing Biplab Deb.
• He joined the BJP in 2016 after quitting Congress.
• He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in March 2022.

 National & International Appointments

2. Arun Subramanian becomes first Indian-American judge in NY District court

• Indian-American Arun Subramaniam has been confirmed as the first South Asian District Judge for the Southern District of New York.
• His nomination was confirmed by Senate Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer by a vote of 58-37.
• He received his Juris Doctor (J.D) from Columbia Law School in 2004 and his BA from Case Western Reserve University in 2001.
• South District New York notably has one of the largest South Asian-American populations in the country.

 Banking & Finance

3. BSE & UN Women India launches a new programme 'FinEMPOWER'

• Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and UN Women India launched a new program named 'FinEMPOWER' on 8th March 2023.
• It is a year-long joint capacity-building program between BSE and UN Women to empower women toward financial security.
• BSE and UN Women India collaboratively organized the 'Ring the Bell for Gender Equality' ceremony to accelerate investment in women leaders and entrepreneurs at BSE.
• MD and CEO of BSE: Sundararaman Ramamurthy

 Defense

4. Indian Navy successfully tests MRSAM from INS Visakhapatnam

• The Indian Navy successfully fired a medium-range surface-to-surface missile (MRSAM) from INS Visakhapatnam.
• Reason: To validate the capability of the anti-tank missiles
• MRSAM was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and produced at Bharat Dynamics Ltd.
• The DRDO has already handed over two other versions to Indian Army and Indian Air Force to augment the country’s air defense power.

 Important Dates

5. International Women's Day 2023: 8th March

• International Women's Day is observed every year on March 8 to raise awareness about gender equality and create a better society free of gender bias.
• The day celebrates women and addresses issues such as women's equal rights, violence and abuse against women, and reproductive rights.
• 2023 Theme:  DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality
• This theme emphasizes the importance of technology in bringing gender issues to light.

 Banking & Finance

6. Max Life partners with Ujjivan SFB to offer life insurance solutions

• Max Life Insurance and Ujjivan Small Finance Bank have partnered to offer life insurance offerings to Ujjivan SFB’s customers.
• Through this partnership, both will offer a range of savings, protection, retirement, and group life insurance plans to Ujjivan SFB customers.
• Max Life Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture between Max Financial Services Limited and Axis Bank Limited.
• Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited began its operations in February 2017.

 State Affairs

7. Odisha CM unveils Dakota aircraft for public viewing in Bhubaneswar

• Odisha's CM, Naveen Patnaik has unveiled the iconic Dakota aircraft of legendary leader Biju Patnaik for public viewing at the Bhubaneswar Airport.
• It was unveiled on the 107th birth anniversary of the former CM of Odisha.
• It was brought from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata to Bhubaneswar on January 18, 2023.
• A 10-member team of Aerospace Research Development required has dismantled the aircraft and packed it in proper shape for public viewing

 National Affairs

8. India installs ‘World’s first’ bamboo crash barrier on Maharashtra Highway

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has installed a 200-meter-long Bamboo Crash Barrier on the Vani-Warora Highway in Maharashtra.
• The highway connects the Chandrapur and Yavatmal districts of the state.
• This Bamboo Crash Barrier has been christened as ‘Bahu Balli’.
• Bahu Bali:
  • The bamboo species used in the making of this barrier is Bambusa Balcoa.
  • It is treated with creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE).

 State Affairs

9. Ashwini Vaishnaw released special ‘Go Green, Go Organic’ cover for Sikkim

• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and four Sikkim ministers released a unique cover of the Department of Posts, 'Go Green, Go Organic' for Sikkim.
• The special cover is a testament to the state's achievements in organic farming and progress and a reminder of the importance of sustainable development for the entire country.
• Sikkim is the first state in the world to get recognized as an Organic state by the World Book of Records (London).

 State Affairs

10. Yaoshang festival begins in Manipur

• The Yaoshang festival has begun in Manipur on March 7, 2023, and will continue for five days.
• The festival is celebrated by the Meetei who are predominantly Hindu and it is celebrated at the same time as Holi.
• However, during the Yaoshang festival, apart from playing with colour, the festival also witnessed a number of cultural and religious activities for five days.
• The Manipur Governor and CM conveyed warm greetings to the people of Manipur.