Current affairs 23 March 2023

Asia’s largest 4-metre liquid mirror telescope inaugurated in Uttarakhand.

• Union MoS (Independent Charge) Science & Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh has inaugurated Asia’s largest 4-meter International Liquid Mirror Telescope (ILMT) at Devasthal in Uttarakhand.
• It is situated at an altitude of 2450 meters at the observatory, which lies at the campus of Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences.
• The ILMT employs a 4-meter-diameter rotating mirror, which was made up of a thin layer of liquid mercury, to collect and focus light.

Indian-American Mindy Kaling awarded the National Humanities Medals.

• US President Joe Biden has awarded the prestigious 2021 National Humanities Medal to Indian-American actress and producer Mindy Kaling.
• Reason: For empowering the new generation to tell their stories with irreverence and sincerity.
• The National Medal of Arts is the highest award, given to artists, arts patrons, and groups by the US government.
• Other notable recipients: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bruce Springsteen, Vera Wang, Gladys Knight, Judith Francisca Baca.

Ranveer Singh named India's most valuable celebrity of 2022.

• According to a Kroll report Celebrity Brand Valuation Report 2022: Beyond the Mainstream, with a brand value of $181.7 million, actor Ranveer Singh is India's most valued celebrity of 2022.
• He surpassed cricketer Virat Kohli, who occupied the top spot for five years.
• Kohli ranked second, followed by actors Akshay Kumar, and Alia Bhatt.
• Notably, the aggregate brand value of the top 25 celebrities is $1.6 billion in 2022 (estimated), a 29.1% rise from 2021.

More than 40% hike in enrolments under APY in FY 2021-22 from FY 2019-20.

• According to the data shared by the Union MoS for Finance, Dr. Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad in Rajya Sabha, the enrolments under Atal Pension Yojana have shown a hike of more than 40% hike in FY 2021-22 from FY 2019-20.
• The total fund allocated under APY for Government Co-contribution, Payment of Incentives to Banks, Promotional Campaigns, and Gap fund is Rs. 2078.94 crore (2015 to Feb 2023).
• Out of the total amount, Rs. 1529.41 crores has been released till February 2023.

Tamil Nadu’s 18th wildlife sanctuary to come up in Erode.

• The Tamil Nadu Government has notified Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary as the 18th wildlife sanctuary in the state.
• It is spread over 80,567 hectares in the forest areas of Anthiyur and Gobichettipalayam taluks in Erode district.
• It is close to Malai Mahadeshwara wildlife sanctuary, BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, and Cauvery wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka.
• It also acts as a connecting point between Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary.