Current affairs 06 March 2023

Deakin University becomes 1st foreign university to set up at GIFT City.

• Deakin University (Australia) has become the 1st foreign university to receive the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA)'s approval to set up an International Branch Campus in GIFT City.
• During Budget 2023-24, Finance Minister announced that the World Class Foreign Universities and Institutions would be allowed in GIFT City.
• The in-principle approval was based on the recommendation of the Committee of Experts set up by GIFT City Company Ltd.

Asian Chess Federation confers D Gukesh with Player of the Year award.

• 60th Indian GM D Gukesh was honored with the Player-of-the-Year award 2023 by the Asian Chess Federation (ACF) for winning the gold medal with a record-breaking score of 9/11 in the 44th Chess Olympiad at Mahabalipuram.
• Other awardees:
• Most Active Federation: All India Chess Federation
• Man-of-the-Year: Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin
• Best Women’s team of the Year: Indian women’s team
• Men’s Coach-of-the-Year: GM R B Ramesh
• Women’s Coach-of-the-Year: GM Abhijit Kunte

New India Assurance becomes 2nd company to offer surety bonds.

• New India Assurance has become the second domestic insurance company to launch surety insurance bonds.
• Surety bond insurance acts as a security arrangement for infrastructure projects and will insulate the contractor as well as the principal.
• These bonds are legally enforceable tripartite contracts that guarantee compliance, payment, and performance.
• The issuing insurer provides a guarantee, for a premium, in case of a default in the execution of a project.

Mansukh Mandaviya released book "India’s Vaccine Growth Story".

• Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya released the book India’s Vaccine Growth Story- From Cowpox to Vaccine Maitri at World Book Fair in New Delhi.
• Additional Secretary of Finance Ministry Sajjan Singh Yadav has authored the book.
• Dr. Mandaviya also urged the writers to inculcate research-based documentation.
• The research-based documentation reflects knowledge and science that have proven exemplary in times of crisis.

Govt to launch Seed Traceability System.

• During the Indian Seed Congress event, organized by the National Seed Association of India, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the government would soon launch a seed traceability system.
• Reason: To ensure the availability of good quality seeds to the farmers.
• This system will help to curb the pilferage in the seed trade sector.
• India is in the leading position in agriculture but needs to be self-sufficient in oilseeds and cotton areas.