• The Passport Index published its latest update, revealing that India's Mobility Scores has fallen. India experienced the largest global drop on the Index this year. It fell from a mobility score of 71 ahead of the pandemic in 2019, rising to 73 in 2022 as it rode the post-pandemic wave of increasing mobility. As of March 2023, its mobility score sits at 70.
• This fall comes off the back of record increases in mobility as the world and national economies re-opened after the pandemic. India’s ranking has fallen by six places so far this year, now individually ranked 144 in 2023 as opposed to 138 in 2022.

• The 'Statue of Knowledge' installation dedicated to Ambedkar was approved by Govt.The construction of a 75-foot-tall "Statue of Knowledge" dedicated to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in
• the city of Latur has received approval from the Maharashtra government.
• The state government issued an order regarding the beautification of the statue and Ambedkar
• Park in the city.Rs 10 crore has been sanctioned for this entire project.Last year, a 75-foot replica of Ambedkar's statue was installed, and some organisations have been On April 14, the foundation stone laying ceremony for the project will be performed on Dr. Ambedkar's birth anniversary.

• National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi for the first time  will organise “Spring Fiesta” 2023, to celebrate 69 years of the museum which was  officially inaugurated on  March 29, 1954 by Vice President Dr. S Radhakrishnan.
• The fiesta is the first of its kind and the audience will be captivated by a variety of creative products accessible for purchase at nominal prices. To tickle the taste buds, food stalls will also be available. A sketching and painting session has also been planned to engage visitors and give them the opportunity to display their artistic ability on canvas. To mix things up, a 3-D mapping projection on the art treasures will be projected before the event concludes.

• Tanzania announces outbreak of deadly Marburg virus disease.Five deaths and three further cases of the Ebola-like virus have been reported in the country’s north-west
• Through contact tracing, approximately 161 people have been identified as at risk of infection, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The government has deployed an emergency response team to the area and neighbouring countries have stepped up surveillance. No cases have yet been reported outside Kagera.

• Private sector lender Axis Bank launched ‘MicroPay’, first pocket-sized swipe machine of India, based on ‘Pin on Mobile’ technology for accepting digital payments.The bank launched ‘MicroPay’ along with Ezetap by Razorpay and MyPinpad as the technical solution partners.
• ‘MicroPay’ is a revolutionary ‘PIN on Mobile’ solution that converts a merchant’s smartphone into a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal, thereby simplifying digital payments and delivering a unique customer experience.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is training four people to live on Mars in June 2023.These four 'Martians' will be part of NASA's human exploration mission to Mars.These four people will be a part of NASA's Human Exploration Journey to Mars.
• In addition, NASA is sending a satellite, the InSight lander, a robotic helicopter and related systems to Mars, which will conduct comprehensive investigations of Mars.NASA is working on a plan for three such trips to Mars.The US space agency is planning three such missions to better understand Mars.

• SpiceJet's Chairman & Managing Director Ajay Singh has assumed charge as the President Assocham, replacing Renew Power MD Sumant Sinha after the completion of his tenure.
• Sanjay Nayar, founder and Chairman of Sorin Investment Fund is the new Senior Vice-President of Assocham, the industry body said in a release on Wednesday. ''I am taking over at times which are both exciting and challenging. As an economy, India stands out as a robust economy in the midst of global headwinds.

• The State Bank of India has announced a donation of ₹48 lakh for the plantation of 32,000 tree saplings at Garden City University, Bengaluru, in association with an NGO, That’s Eco Foundation, as part of its corporate social responsibility.

• The government has identified 1275 railway stations under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme for the development of railway stations in India.
• Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav gave this information in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on March 29.The scheme envisages development of stations on a sustained basis with a long term approach.

• The University of Texas at Dallas has conferred Indian industrialist Naveen Jindal with a lifetime achievement award for his accomplishments in industry, politics and education.
• An alumnus of the University of Texas at Dallas’ 1992 batch, Jindal received the award in a ceremony held there on March 25.Jindal is the second person to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Texas at Dallas after noted Nobel Laureate Aziz Sancar.This is the highest award that the University of Texas, Dallas bestows on alumni to recognise a graduate whose contributions have bettered society.

Download Daily GK PDF of 30 March 2023