Current affairs 26 March 2023

Luis Caffarelli won the Abel Prize for 2023.

• Luis Caffarelli (74) was honored with the 2023 Abel Prize for his seminal contributions to regularity theory for nonlinear partial differential equations including free-boundary problems and the Monge-Ampère equation.
• The prize includes a monetary award of 7.5 million kroner and a glass plaque (designed by Norwegian artist Henrik Haugan).
• It is awarded by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, on behalf of the Ministry of Education.

NGT fines ₹10 crore on Kerala govt for failure to protect Ramsar sites.

• The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has imposed a penalty of ₹10 crore on the Kerala government for its failure to check the indiscriminate pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes (listed as Ramsar sites).
• The Bench was led by its chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel.
• The penalty of ₹10 crore had to be utilized for conservation/restoration measures by preparing an action plan to be preferably executed within six months.

UAE Food Bank launches initiative to eradicate food waste.

• The UAE Food Bank launched an initiative to distribute three million meals and food parcels to disadvantaged individuals and families during Ramadan.
• Aim: To raise public awareness regarding the crucial goal of achieving zero food waste.
• For this initiative, the organization has partnered with Ne’ma -the national initiative to reduce food loss and wastage, to enhance community awareness, education, and empowerment in making better decisions regarding food consumption.

Nitu Ghanghas wins Gold in IBA Womens World Boxing Championship 2023.

• Indian Woman boxer, Nitu Ghanghas has clinched Gold in the 48-kg category of the IBA Women's World Boxing Championship 2023 held at the K.D. Jadhav Hall IG Stadium New Delhi.
• She defeated Altantsetseg Lutsaikhan from Mongolia by 5-0.
• She became the only sixth Indian boxer (male or female) to win a World championship.
• In the semifinals, she defeated Kazakh Alua Balkibekova.
• International Boxing Association (IBA) Headquarters: Lausanne, Switzerland

Cabinet approves 4 % hike of Dearness Allowance to Central Govt employees.

• The central government has increased the Dearness Allowance (DA) by 4%, taking the total to 42% of the Basic Pay for central government employees and pensioners.
• The Union Cabinet has given its approval to release an additional installment of DA to Central Governments employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners with effect from 1st January 2023.
• The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both DA and Dearness Relief will be over 12,815 crore rupees per annum.