Daily Current Affairs Notes for 03 March 2023

SpaceX sent NASA's Crew-6 mission carrying two NASA crew members, a Russian cosmonaut, and a United Arab Emirates astronaut to the International Space Station.

At 12:34 a.m. EST (0534 GMT), the autonomous Crew Dragon capsule named Endeavour, mounted on top of a Falcon 9 rocket, was launched by SpaceX from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

About Crew-6 mission:

On this mission, a Russian cosmonaut, a United Arab Emirates astronaut, and two American astronauts are being launched, marking Crew Dragon's fourth flight.

Previous flights of Crew Dragon were as follows:

• Demo-2 Crew Test flight
• Crew-2 flight in 2021
• Private Axiom Mission-1

As part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, the mission will end with a landing in the Atlantic Ocean. The program offers crew transportation services to the International Space Station, including the transportation of cargo and astronauts.

Significance of Crew Dragon :

The Crew Dragon, formerly known as the Dragon Rider, is a reusable spacecraft that delivers cargo to the International Space Station.

Need of Crew-6 Launch:

Following a coolant leak in Soyuz MS-22 that left the astronauts stranded in space, Russia is now preparing to send Soyuz MS-23 as a replacement. The launch of Crew-6 comes amidst this development.

World Wildlife Day 2023

UN World Wildlife Day is celebrated worldwide every March 3rd, which coincides with the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973. This annual global event promotes awareness and celebrates the planet's wild fauna and flora. CITES strives to prevent the international trade of wildlife from endangering species survival.

50th Anniversary of CITES

World Wildlife Day 2023 marks the 50th Anniversary of CITES, which has been at the forefront of trade and conservation efforts since its establishment. Over the years, CITES has worked to foster partnerships and bridge the gap between groups governed by its regulations while promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.

World Wildlife Day 2023: Theme

The theme for the 2023 World Wildlife Day celebration is "Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation", which pays tribute to individuals who are working to make a positive impact in the field of wildlife conservation.

World Wildlife Day 2023: Significance

World Wildlife Day is a global event aimed at celebrating and raising awareness of the world's diverse wild fauna and flora. This day offers an opportunity to emphasize the significance of wildlife and their habitats, while also promoting their protection and conservation. The United Nations selects a theme each year to draw attention to specific challenges faced by wildlife populations and ecosystems.

The significance of World Wildlife Day lies in its coincidence with the adoption of CITES, an international agreement that seeks to prevent the trade of endangered species from jeopardizing their survival. This day serves as a reminder that the conservation of biodiversity is essential for the survival of all species, including humans.

World Wildlife Day: History

• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was adopted in 1973 with the goal of protecting wild fauna and flora species from the threat of extinction caused by international trade.
• World Wildlife Day was designated on March 3rd by a resolution sponsored by the Kingdom of Thailand during the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP16) held in Bangkok on March 16, 2013.
• March 3rd was officially recognized as World Wildlife Day by the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly on December 20, 2013. The day is celebrated globally to raise awareness of the world's wild fauna and flora, coinciding with the adoption of CITES on the same date in 1973.
• The implementation of World Wildlife Day is facilitated by the Secretariat of CITES, in collaboration with other relevant United Nations organizations.
• Regulating the trade in wild fauna and flora, CITES is considered one of the world's most effective tools for biodiversity conservation, with 183 member states.

IPS officer Rashmi Shukla named Director-General of SSB

Rashmi Shukla, a 1988 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Maharashtra cadre, has been appointed as the Director-General of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), a border-guarding force deployed along the Nepal and Bhutan border. Prior to her new role, Shukla was posted with the Central Reserve Police (CRPF). In 2019, she was heading the State Intelligence Department in Maharashtra Police when the phones of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and Nationalist Congress Party leader Eknath Khadse were allegedly tapped.

The Ministry of Home Affairs proposed the appointment of Rashmi Shukla, a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer presently serving as Additional DG of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), as Director General of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB). The proposal was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. Rashmi Shukla, who belongs to the 1988 batch of the Maharashtra cadre, will hold the position at Level-16 of Pay Matrix from the date of joining the post until June 30, 2024, which is her superannuation date, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. SSB is the border-guarding force deployed along the Nepal and Bhutan border.