Weekly Current Affairs March 2024 (05th to 11th Mar, 2024)

 

 

Current Affairs March 2024

Read this post to know about Weekly Current Affairs in short for the Week March 05 to 11, 2024. If you’re getting ready for entrance exams in India, it’s really important to know what’s happening around you. Whether you want to study UPSC, SSC, Bank Exams, Defence Exams or something else, keeping up with current events is a must. The exams often have questions about what’s going on in the world – like news about our country, other countries, or new discoveries. Being aware of these things not only helps you do well in the exams but also makes you smarter in general. It’s like having a wider view of the world, which is good for interviews and discussions too. So, it’s not just about passing the exams but also about being informed and ready for whatever comes your way.

In this post, you can see the headlines of current happenings categorised for your convenience. The categories of weekly current affairs of Week 1 of March are given below:
 

 

• Section A: INDIA
• Section B: INDIA & THE WORLD
• Section C: WORLD
• Section D: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• Section E: AWARDS
• Section F: BANKING & FINANCE
• Section G: ECONOMY
• Section H: CORPORATE
• Section I: STATES
• Section J: SPORTS

 

Weekly Current Affairs Update

For the Week: March 5 to 11, 2024

HEADLINES

 
 
Section A: INDIA

• SC overrules its 1998 judgment in JMM bribery case
• DoT launches Chakshu to tackle spam/fraud calls
• Indigenously developed explosive detectors handed over Intelligence Bureau
• Procurement of 34 Dhruv choppers for Indian Coast Guard, Army approved
• Dharmendra Pradhan launches various initiatives in School and Teacher Education
• SC approves safaris in buffer zones of tiger reserves
• Centre to rope in ISRO to provide Internet in 80 remote tribal villages
• Govt launches ‘Catch the Rain-2024’ campaign
• President’s Standard and Colours given to four units of IAF
• PM addresses Republic Summit 2024
• Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigns
• Sudha Murty nominated to Rajya Sabha

 

Section B: INDIA & THE WORLD

• India signs trade and economic partnership agreement with EFTA
• busts network trafficking Indians to Russia for Ukraine war
• China signs defence cooperation agreement with the Maldives
• World Bank’s legal gender gap index
• India-Japan ‘Dharma Guardian’ military exercise held in Rajasthan
• Border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh held DG-level talks
• India presents detailed model on behalf of G4 nations for UNSC reform
• High level MEA delegation meets Taliban Foreign Minister for first time
• Coast Guards of India and US conduct Sea Defenders 2024 exercise
• Indian Navy rescues Liberian-flagged merchant vessel
• EAM visits South Korea
• USIEF announces annual Fulbright-Nehru, other fellowships
• 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue held
• RBI, Bank of Indonesia sign MoU promoting use of local currencies for trade
• Pakistan gets first Sikh minister in Punjab province

 

Section C: WORLD

• Three killed in Houthi missile attack on cargo ship in Gulf of Aden
• France makes abortion a constitutional right
• Sweden officially joins NATO after completing its accession process
• Nepal PM forms new coalition
• FAO launches report “The Unjust Climate”
• Hungary president signs Sweden’s NATO membership ratification
• NATO launches Nordic Response 2024 defence exercise
• World experienced warmest Feb on record: EU climate agency
• International Women’s Day observed on March 8
• UN celebrates International Day of Women Judges on March 10
• International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness observed on March 5
• Asif Ali Zardari becomes Pakistan’s 14th president
• Former President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa launches book
• Peru PM resigns after controversial audio clips

 

 

Section D: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• SpaceX Dragon with Crew-8 aboard docks to ISS

 

Section E: AWARDS

• President presents Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards
• National Creators Awards presented by PM
• India bags Measles and Rubella Champion Award
• Maharashtra Bhushan MaTaa Sanmaan for playback singer Suman Kalyanpur
• Writer Amitav Ghosh wins Erasmus Prize
• Riken Yamamoto awarded Pritzker Prize 2024
• Srinivasan K. Swamy wins IAA Golden Compass Award
• Peru PM resigns after controversial audio clips
• Krystyna Pyszkova becomes Miss World

 

Section F: BANKING & FINANCE 

• RBI says banks have to offer customers a choice of credit card network
• RBI approves AU Small Finance Bank acquisition of Fincare Small Finance Bank
• RBI bars JM Financial’s arm from lending against shares
• PE cos Advent, Multiples to invest Rs 1,930 crore in Ananya Birla’s Svatantra Microfin
• Sensex closes above 74,000 for the first time

 

Section G: ECONOMY

• Centre raises M&A thresholds for antitrust regulator’s nod
• DPIIT notifies changes in FDI norms in space sector
• Cooperation Minister launches National Cooperative Database
• First Advance Estimate of fruits & vegetables production released
• India’s forex reserves surge by $6.55 bn to $625.63 bn as of March 1
• DefConnect 2024: Rajnath Singh launches ADITI scheme
• NITI Aayog launches central data repository for states
• Union Cabinet approves ‘India AI mission’
• AI knowledge consortium formed by 12 organisations
• IBM, C-DAC ink pact for high-performance computing in India
• Railway Minister unveils Vande Bharat sleeper variant
• Project to develop AMCA 5th generation stealth fighter aircraft cleared
• LPG price reduced by ₹100
• Subsidy under Ujjwala Yojana extended till next fiscal starting April 1
• Cabinet raises jute MSP to Rs 5,335 per quintal
• NFRA organises conference in New Delhi
• Services sector PMI eases in Feb to 60.6 from 61.8 in Jan

 

Section H: CORPORATE

• Cricbuzz, UAE-based eVision join hands for new cricket channel
• Indian Oil unveils Storm petrol
• Okaya EV launches “Ferrato”
• Accenture launches LearnVantage
• Aramco Digital, LTIMindtree to launch IT services company
• Swedish defence major SAAB begins work on unit in India
• Future Generali India launches new women’s health insurance plan
• Pidilite ventures into decorative paints market with Haisha Paints
• Sanskritech unveils Swandook: The anytime health monitoring bag
• Adani Enterprises arm acquires France-based Le Marche Duty Free
• Nikon ventures into cinema with RED Digital acquisition
• Tata Motors to demerge
• CIEL Group acquires stake in Courseplay
• Pharma veteran Ranjit Shahani passes away at 74
• Japanese comics creator Akira Toriyama dies at 68

 

Section I: STATES

• PM visits Azamgarh, UP
• Cheetah Gamini gives birth to five cubs at MP’s Kuno National Park
• PM launches Mahtari Vandan Yojana in Chhattisgarh
• Uttarakhand Cabinet approves Ordinance to recover damage cost
• PM visits J&K
• Himachal CM announces Rs 1,500 per month for women
• AAP govt to give ₹1,000 per month to women
• Gujarat govt to provide financial assistance to Class 9–12 students
• Goa: Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2024
• PM Modi inaugurates Agra Metro priority corridor
• PM visits Bihar
• PM visits Odisha
• PM visits Telangana
• Tamil Nadu: PM visits Kalpakkam nuclear power plant
• SC advises Centre and Kerala govt. to sort out differences over states’ borrowings
• Kerala to launch Sabari K-Rice
• Kozhikode to get India’s first cooperatives museum
• Human-wildlife conflict declared State-specific disaster in Kerala
• India’s first government-owned OTT platform launched in Kerala
• Lakshadweep: Navy commissions INS Jatayu, MH-60R helicopter squadron
• PM launches India’s first underwater Metro line in Kolkata
• PM visits Arunachal Pradesh
• PM visits Assam
• PM virtually inaugurates several projects in Tripura
• PM virtually inaugurates several projects in Meghalaya
• Manipur govt. invokes ‘No Work, No Pay’ rule for officials
• Gorsam Kora festival held in Arunachal Pradesh
• Bombay HC acquits UAPA case accused DU ex-Professor, five others
• SC rebukes TN minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for Sanatana Dharma comments
• West Bengal: Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay joins BJP

 

Section J: SPORTS

• Khelo India medal winners eligible for central govt jobs, promotion now
• French Open BWF Super-750 badminton
• India win test series against England 4-1
• Services win Santosh Trophy
• Indian men’s, women’s TT teams qualify for Olympics for the 1st time
• B Sai Praneeth retires from international badminton

 
 

Section A: INDIA

 

SC overrules its 1998 judgment in JMM bribery case

A seven-judge Bench of the Supreme Court on March 4, 2024 ruled that Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) cannot claim immunity from prosecution for accepting bribes to cast a vote or make a speech in the House in a particular fashion.

 

Article 105(2) of the Indian Constitution confers on MPs immunity from prosecution in respect of anything said or any vote given in Parliament or on any parliamentary committee. Similarly, Article 194(2) grants protection to MLAs.

 

The unanimous verdict authored by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud overruled a 25-year-old majority view of the Supreme Court, laid down in the JMM bribery case judgment of 1998, that lawmakers who took bribes were immune from prosecution for corruption if they go ahead and vote or speak in the House as agreed.

 

The seven-judge Bench said the majority on the five-judge Bench in the JMM bribery case had erred. Chief Justice Chandrachud clarified that the offence of bribery was complete the moment the corruption money was accepted.

 

“The legislator will face criminal prosecution whether or not he makes a speech or votes in favour of the bribe-giver. The offence of bribery is complete on the acceptance of the money or on the agreement to accept money being concluded,” Chief Justice Chandrachud observed.

 

The Constitution Bench dismissed notions that whittling down parliamentary immunity would expose a vote or a speech made by Opposition lawmakers in the House to criminal investigation and thus enhance the possibility of abuse of the law by political parties in power.

 

Chief Justice Chandrachud reasoned that the freedom of speech and expression, which include voting in the House, and attendant immunities granted to legislators under Articles 105 and 194 did not extend to giving or taking bribes.

 

2012 case

Sita Soren, a member of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), was accused of accepting a bribe to cast her vote in favour of a certain candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections of 2012. Soon a chargesheet was filed against her. In 2014, the Jharkhand High Court dismissed Soren’s plea wherein she claimed she enjoyed legal immunity under Article 194(2). The dismissal in the High Court led to an appeal being filed in the Supreme Court.

 

1998 case

The P.V. Narasimha Rao ruling involves the 1993 JMM bribery case against former Union Minister Shibu Soren, who along with some of his party members, were accused of taking bribes to vote against the no-confidence motion against the then P.V. Narasimha Rao government. While two judges on the Constitution Bench opined that legislative immunity granted under the Constitution could not be extended to such cases, the majority (3) of them, while acknowledging the seriousness of the offence, ruled that “a narrow construction of the constitutional provisions” may result in the impairment of the guarantee of “parliamentary participation and debate”.

 

DoT launches Chakshu to tackle spam/fraud calls

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on March 4, 2024 launched Chakshu, a platform for telecom users to report fraud or spam callers. The facility, available at sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc, will allow citizens to “proactively report suspected fraud communication”, the DoT said in its announcement.

 

The platform will allow users to report frauds related to bank account, payment wallet, SIM, gas connection, electricity connection, KYC update, expiry, deactivation, impersonation as government official or relative, and sextortion.

The Digital Intelligence Platform would be a non-public data-sharing resource for Telecom Service Providers, law enforcement agencies, banks & financial institutions, social media platforms, identity document issuing authorities, and so on.

 

Minister for Communications and Electronics & Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw also supported Caller Name Presentation (CNAP), a feature that would allow telecom users who opt for the service to view the registered name of everyone calling them. Telecom firms and some civil society groups had warned that it would adversely impact people’s privacy rights.

 

Indigenously developed explosive detectors handed over Intelligence Bureau

The Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have indigenously developed two different categories of explosive detectors for Indian Security Forces.

 

The explosive detectors were recently handed over to the Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) by the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to Government of India, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood for their deployment with the Security Forces. The detectors will be handed over by the IB to 12 identified Security Agencies for field deployment.

 

The detectors, based on Ion Mobility Spectrometry (lMS) technique and Raman Back Scattering (RBS) principle respectively, have been customised as per specific requirements of the Security Agencies, as part of a development project initiated at the behest of IB in 2017. The user agencies have been asked to provide feedback about the field deployment experience of the two detectors so that further improvements, if required, could be effected in future versions of the detectors.

 

Procurement of 34 Dhruv choppers for Indian Coast Guard, Army approved

The Indian government has approved a proposal for 34 new Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv choppers, marking a significant move towards indigenization in defense manufacturing. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will manufacture these helicopters, with nine slated for the Indian Coast Guard and 25 for the Indian Army.

 

The Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv) is a multi-role, new-generation helicopter in the 5.5-ton weight class, indigenously designed and developed by HAL. The Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter is a workhorse for the Indian Armed Forces. In use with the Army, it flies to extremely high altitudes to serve soldiers in the Siachen glacier and in Ladakh. In recent times, there have been concerns about mechanical defects and reliability in the forces.

 

In a related development, the government has also sanctioned a project to upgrade BMP infantry combat vehicles for the Indian Army’s mechanized infantry directorate. These projects are expected to be valued at over Rs 8,000 crore, further emphasizing the government’s focus on indigenous defense production.

 

Dharmendra Pradhan launches various initiatives in School and Teacher Education

Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, launched various initiatives in School and Teacher Education, developed by the Department of School Education & Literacy (DoSEL), Ministry of Education, at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi on March 9, 2024. Pradhan also launched the National Mission for Mentoring (NMM) and National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST), 52 Primers in Indian languages, printed books on NMM and NPST, various schemes/guidelines with Video of SCERTs/DIETs; Video of Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) and 200 TV Channels.

 

He said that the launch of DIETS of Excellence, National Professional Standard for Teachers, National Mission for Mentoring, 52 Primers of NCERT, National Vidya Samiksha Kendra and 200 TV Channels will lead to the effective implementation of NEP 2020 at the grassroots, empower teachers and learners and will make quality education more inclusive, innovative and equitable.

 

Various initiatives announced by the minister are:

NMM: The National Mission for Mentoring (NMM) aims to provide support and guidance to teachers.

 

NPST: The National Professional Standards for Teachers (NPST), as envisioned in NEP 2020, focuses on improving the teachers’ personal and professional development by providing them with an understanding of what is expected in terms of their performance and what needs to be done to enhance the same.

 

52 Primers in Indian languages are meant for young learners, especially for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), providing them access to education in their mother tongue/local language.

 

PMeVidya: Launch of 200 DTH TV Channels under PMeVidya DTH TV Channels for School Education is an integral component of the PMeVidya Initiative which is aimed at unifying all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education to enable multi-mode access to education.

 

National Vidya Samiksha Kendra: NCERT has made National Vidya Samiksha Kendra functional for facilitating research and development and capacity building program. Now, the National Vidya Samiksha Kendra has been integrated with their state counterparts. It has currently enabled visibility, insights, and actionability across 11 programs. National Initiative for School Heads’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA), DIKSHA, Energized Textbooks (ETBs), NIPUN Bharat initiative for Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, NCERT Quiz, National Achievement Survey, Performance Grading Index (PGI), Unified District Information System for Education Plus, PM Poshan, National Curriculum Framework (NCF), Micro-Improvements program (recognition of best pedagogy practices) & PRASHAST (A Disability Screening Checklist for Schools) and PM SHRI.

 

DIETs of Excellence: Financial assistance, totalling to Rs 9000 crores, will be provided to States/UTs for the physical upgradation of all 613 District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs) to develop them as DIET of Excellence in the country in a phased manner in the next five years.

 

SC approves safaris in buffer zones of tiger reserves

The Supreme Court on March 6, 2024 allowed establishment of ‘tiger safaris’ in buffer or peripheral zones of tiger reserves, but prohibited the display of healthy big cats from the habitat along with those bred in a zoo.

 

Ordering scrupulous implementation of National Tiger Conservation Authority’s 2016 guidelines, a bench of Justices B R Gavai, P K Mishra and Sandeep Mehta said, “No tiger shall be obtained from a zoo (for tiger safari). Wild tigers which are from the same landscape as that of the area in which the safari is set up should be kept there and would include injured ones after their recovery, orphaned tiger cubs which are unfit for re-wilding and conflict tigers. No healthy tiger or other species of animal should be sourced from the wild to be kept in safaris.”

 

The bench ordered the ministry of environment, forest & climate change to appoint a high-powered committee, which could co-opt experts in the field, to study this problem and submit its preliminary findings within three months on restrictions and regulations on resorts around tiger reserves.

 

One of the tasks of the committee is to examine what type of activities should be permitted and prohibited in the buffer zone and fringe areas of tiger reserves. “While doing so, if tourism is to be promoted, it must be eco-tourism. The type of construction that should be permissible in such resorts would be in tune with the natural environment,” it said.

 

Centre to rope in ISRO to provide Internet in 80 remote tribal villages

The Tribal Affairs Ministry is planning to collaborate with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to deploy V-SAT (very small aperture terminal) stations on a pilot basis for around 80 tribal villages in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Maharashtra to bring Internet services there, according to a proposal unveiled on March 7, 2024 at a Ministry event chaired by Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda, on innovative projects for empowering tribal communities.

 

Govt launches ‘Catch the Rain-2024’ campaign

The Ministry of Jal Shakti on March 9, 2024 launched the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain-2024’ to optimise rainwater harvesting and other sustainable water management practices. Speaking at the launch of the campaign in New Delhi, Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat emphasised the pivotal role of women in water management, conservation, and sustainability. The event themed ‘Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti’, which marked the fifth edition of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, was held at the New Delhi Municipal Council Convention Centre. Since its inception in 2019, under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, approximately 1.29 crore water-related works have been undertaken across the country, with 661 Jal Shakti Kendras established and 527 districts preparing District Water Conservation Plans.

 

President’s Standard and Colours given to four units of IAF

President Droupadi Murmu presented President’s Standard to 45 Squadron and 221 Squadron and President’s Colours to 11 Base Repair Depot and 509 Signal Unit at a function held at the Air Force Station Hindon (Uttar Pradesh) on March 8, 2024.

 

PM addresses Republic Summit 2024

PM addressed Republic Summit 2024 hosted by Republic Media Network in New Delhi on March 7, 2024 on the theme: ‘Bharat: The Next Decade’.

NEWSMAKERS

 

Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigns

Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned on March 9, 2024. His tenure was till 2027. According to a notification by the Law Ministry, his resignation has been accepted by President Droupadi Murmu. With the resignation, the Election Commission has been reduced to just one member – Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey retired in February. Goel, a 1985-batch IAS officer of the Punjab cadre, joined the commission on November 21, 2022.

 

Earlier, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), an NGO, had filed a public interest litigation petition in the Supreme Court challenging Goel’s appointment claiming that due procedure had not been followed. The top court had refused to interfere with the appointment stating that a Constitution Bench had already examined the process and refrained from passing any adverse orders.

 

The current vacancies in the commission would have to be filled in accordance with the new Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, which was brought in by the government in December 2023.

 

The Act provisions that a selection committee headed by the Prime Minister, which comprises the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a PM-nominated Union Minister, will select the members of the commission.

 

Sudha Murty nominated to Rajya Sabha

Philanthropist and author Sudha Murty was nominated to the Rajya Sabha on March 8, 2024 by President Droupadi Murmu. Murty, wife of Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy, has authored several books in English and Kannada. She chaired the Infosys Foundation for over two decades, and through the foundation carried out several philanthropic activities. She is the recipient of the Padma Shri in 2006 and Padma Bhushan in 2023. She was the first woman engineer at Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company.
 
Top
 

Section B: INDIA & THE WORLD

 

India signs trade and economic partnership agreement with EFTA

India on March 10, 2024 signed a trade and economic partnership agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) – a grouping of Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

 

As part of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), EFTA has committed to promote investments to increase the stock of foreign direct investments (FDI) in India by $100 billion in the next 15 years, and to facilitate the generation of one million direct employment in India through such investments, the government said in a statement.

 

The agreement gives India the right to rebalance or suspend concessions if the investment value is not realised. They also stated that the deal provides legal certainty in terms of tariff regime and investment relations.

 

TEPA is the fourth major deal signed by India to promote trade and economic cooperation in the last three years. The others are with Australia, Mauritius and the UAE.

 

EFTA is offering 92.2% of its tariff lines, which cover 99.6% of India’s exports. The agreement also covers tariff concession on processed agricultural products (PAP) from India. India is offering 82.7% of its tariff lines, which covers 95.3% of EFTA exports, nearly 80% of which is in gold.

 

Swiss watches and chocolates will enjoy the elimination of duty after seven years. The concessions are also expected to help India import machinery at cheaper rates.

 

India has provided concessions on 105 of 156 sub-sectors, including areas like accounting, business, and health within services. On the other hand, EFTA countries have provided concessions in over 110 sub-sectors including accounting, auditing, and legal.

In the case of visa, India has secured a commitment in three categories: intra-corporate transferee, contractual service supplier, and independent professional.

 

India will have the option of temporarily withdrawing customs duty concessions on EFTA country goods under the trade agreement between the two sides, if the four European nation bloc would not fulfil its USD 100 billion investment obligations. Though the investments have to flow in 15 years — USD 50 billion in the first 10 years (counted after implementation of the pact) and another USD 5 billion in next five years, the trade deal also provides for a three-year grace period to the EFTA bloc to meet the obligations

 

Govt. busts network trafficking Indians to Russia for Ukraine war

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on March 7, 2024 said it had busted a network of agents sending Indian citizens to fight for Russia in Ukraine under the pretext of giving them jobs. The agents were luring people through social media and 35 people had fallen victims to the racket. The development comes after two Indians, who were duped into travelling to Russia, were killed in the war. They are: Mohammed Asfan from Hyderabad and Hemil Mangukiya from Gujarat.

 

The CBI said it had found that trafficked Indian nationals were being trained in combat roles and deployed at front bases in the Russia-Ukraine war zone “against their wishes, thus, putting their lives in grave danger”. The agency has filed cases against several private visa consultancy firms and agents, conducting searches at 13 locations, including Delhi and Mumbai.

 

The Ministry of External Affairs said that it was working with Russian authorities to get Indian nationals discharged from the army.

 

China signs defence cooperation agreement with the Maldives

China on March 4, 2024 signed a defence cooperation agreement with the Maldives to provide free military assistance to foster “stronger” bilateral ties with Male.

 

The visit of the Chinese military delegation took place days after Male allowed Xiang Yang Hong 03, a hi-tech Chinese research ship to make a port call for the “rotation of its personnel and replenishment.” On January 5, Sri Lanka had denied entry to the same ship.  Earlier President Mohamed Muizzu set a deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his island nation.

 

The Maldives is one of India’s key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

 

The current government of President Mohamed Muizzu has said that it was reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements signed with India by the previous governments.

 

The Maldives’ proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it significant strategic importance.

 

World Bank’s legal gender gap index

India’s ranked improved to 113 out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s Women, Business and Law index, according to the 10th edition of the report released March 4, 2024.

 

The index indicates the gap between legal rights enjoyed by men and women.

 

Indian women enjoyed 60% of the legal rights given to men as per the new report, lower than the global average of 64.2%, as per the 2024 index report.

 

India’s performance was much lower when it came to supportive frameworks, which include measures like national policies, plans, programs, services, budgets, procedures, inspections, and sanctions for noncompliance with quality standards.

 

Only 54.2% of supportive frameworks needed to promote law were established in the country. The global weightage in this regard was much lower at 39.5%.

 

The new index measures performance on legal frameworks across 10 indicators like safety, mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood, childcare, entrepreneurship, assets and pension. Safety and childcare were added to the new index, which has moved India up in the ranking. Based on the old parameters, India ranked 129 out of 190 countries in the index.

 

While India’s score has been constant at 74.4% since 2021, its ranking in the index has declined from 122 in 2021 to 125 in 2022 and 126 in the 2023 index.

 

Globally, none of the countries had a full score in the new index, indicating that women did not enjoy equal rights in any of the countries.

 

India-Japan ‘Dharma Guardian’ military exercise held in Rajasthan

A joint military exercise between India and Japan was completed on March 8, 2024 at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan. The fifth joint military exercise named ‘Dharma Guardian’ between the Indian Army and Japan Ground Self Defense Force was successfully conducted at Mahajan Field Firing Range on March 8, 2024.

 

Border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh held DG-level talks

Border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh March 9, 2024 agreed to undertake joint efforts to “bring down to absolute minimum” the incidents of attack on BSF personnel by criminals from the neighbouring country along the 4,096-km-long International Border (IB) shared by them, an official statement said. The bi-annual Director General (DG) level talks between the Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) ended in Dhaka on March 9, 2024. The Indian delegation was led by BSF DG Nitin Agrawal while BGB DG Maj Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui headed the Bangladeshi delegation.

 

India presents detailed model on behalf of G4 nations for UNSC reform

India has presented a detailed model on behalf of the G4 nations for Security Council reform that includes new permanent members elected democratically by the General Assembly and displays flexibility on the veto issue. Participating in the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform (IGN) on March 7, 2024, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj presented the ‘G-4 model’ on behalf of Brazil, Germany, Japan and India in the UN General Assembly for debate, dialogue and finally negotiations.  Currently, only the five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the UK and the US – hold veto powers. The remaining 10 nations in the Council are elected to sit as non-permanent members for two-year terms and do not have veto powers.

 

High level MEA delegation meets Taliban Foreign Minister for first time

An Indian delegation led by Joint Secretary (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran) MEA JP Singh on March 7, 2024 met Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Kabul to discuss several issues including New Delhi’s humanitarian assistance in what was the first high level meeting between the Taliban regime and Indian government. The two sides discussed wide-ranging issues including regional developments and political issues. India has been regularly supplying humanitarian assistance to people of Afghanistan. New Delhi keeps a close watch on any use of Afghan territory to launch cross-border terror activities in India.

 

Coast Guards of India and US conduct Sea Defenders 2024 exercise

Coast Guards of India and US conducted joint maritime security exercise Sea Defenders 2024 at Port Blair on March 8-9, 2024.

 

Indian Navy rescues Liberian-flagged merchant vessel

Navy came to rescue of yet another merchant vessel, Liberian-flagged MSC Sky-II, with 23 crew members including 13 Indians, after it was hit by a missile in the Gulf of Aden on March 4, 2024. “Guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata’s specialised firefighting team of 12 personnel embarked on the merchant vessel to help. A specialist EOD team provided assistance in residual risk assessment,” an officer said.

 

EAM visits South Korea

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on March 5, 2024 said what happened in Manipur is “truly tragic” while underlining that the entire people of India wish to see normalcy return to the northeastern state. Jaishankar was addressing the Indian community in Seoul as part of the first leg of his four-day visit to South Korea and Japan. Manipur has witnessed escalating violence between Meiteis and the Kuki communities since May 3, 2023 with 219 casualties reported after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ in the hill districts protested the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Earlier in the day, after reaching Seoul, the External Affairs Minister called on South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo among other things. He co-chaired the 10th India-South Korea Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) with his counterpart Cho Tae-yul on March 6.

 

USIEF announces annual Fulbright-Nehru, other fellowships

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) on March 6, 2024 announced the opening of its annual competition for Fulbright-Nehru and other fellowships for Indian citizens, the MEA said in a statement. “Funded by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India and the US Department of State, such exchanges have helped bring the people of India and the US closer together through opportunities that enrich fellows’ academic, research, teaching, and professional capacity”, the statement said. Outstanding Indian students, academics, teachers, policy makers, administrators, and professionals are encouraged to apply, the statement said. The USIEF is now accepting applications from Indian citizens for the academic year 2025-26, it added.

 

16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue held

India sees Japan as a “natural partner” in its journey, development and transformation, and in its quest for peace, prosperity and stability in the strategic Indo-Pacific region, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on March 7, 2024 as he held talks with his Japanese counterpart Kamikawa Yoko. In his opening remarks at the 16th India-Japan Foreign Ministers Strategic Dialogue in Tokyo,

 

RBI, Bank of Indonesia sign MoU promoting use of local currencies for trade

The Reserve Bank of India and the Bank of Indonesia on March 7, 2024 signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions. The MoU, which was signed by RBI governor Shaktikanta Das and Bank Indonesia governor Perry Warjioyo, will deepen financial integration and strengthen economic relations between the two countries, the domestic central bank said.

NEWSMAKERS

 

Pakistan gets first Sikh minister in Punjab province

Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora has been sworn in as a provincial minister, making him the first Sikh to occupy a ministerial position in post-partition Punjab. Belonging to the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, Arora has returned to the Lahore provincial assembly for the third term after winning the February 8 polls. Arora, 49, was recently elected Pardhan (president) of the Pakistan Gurdwara Parbhandhak Committee and also as the ambassador to the Kartarpur Corridor. He was administered the oath along with 17 others on March 6, 2024. Arora has been allotted the portfolio of minorities of Punjab province in the cabinet of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, incidentally, also the first woman to hold the post in the country.

 
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Section C: WORLD

 

NEWS ROUND UP

 

Three killed in Houthi missile attack on cargo ship in Gulf of Aden

Three crew members have been killed in a Houthi missile strike on a cargo ship off southern Yemen, its owners and the US say – the first deaths caused by the group’s attacks on merchant vessels. The Barbados-flagged True Confidence was abandoned after it was hit in the Gulf of Aden by an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen on March 6, 2024, which inflicted significant damage.

 

Two of the sailors who died were Filipinos and the other was Vietnamese. The vessel was manned by a crew of 20, comprising one Indian, four Vietnamese and 15 Filipino nationals. Three armed guards – two from Sri Lanka and one from Nepal – were also on board. The Houthis say their attacks are in support of the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

 

The Indian Navy said that INS Kolkata, a destroyer deployed in the region as part of a US-led naval taskforce, arrived at the scene and rescued 21 crew members using a helicopter and boats. Indian sailors provided critical medical aid to the injured and evacuated them to Djibouti.

 

France makes abortion a constitutional right

France on March 4, 2024 enshrined the right to abortion in its constitution. France has become the first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution. Parliamentarians voted to revise the country’s 1958 constitution to enshrine women’s “guaranteed freedom” to abort. The measure was approved in a 780-72 vote in the Palace of Versailles. President Emmanuel Macron described the move as “French pride” that had sent a “universal message”. Abortion has been legal in France since 1975. While several other countries include reproductive rights in their constitutions – France is the first to explicitly state that an abortion will be guaranteed.

 

Sweden officially joins NATO after completing its accession process

Sweden on March 7, 2024 formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have spiked following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Secretary of State Antony Blinken presided at a ceremony in which Sweden’s “instrument of accession” to the alliance was officially deposited at the State Department.

 

Nepal PM forms new coalition

Nepal’s Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda on March 4, 2024 broke the one-year old alliance between his Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and the Nepali Congress.  On March 6, Prachanda announced a new coalition with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and two other parties. Former PM K. P. Sharma Oli is the Chairman of the CPN-UML. Prachanda inducted eight Ministers from the CPN-UML, five Ministers from his own party, four from the Rastriya Swatantra Party and two from CPN (Unified Socialist) into his cabinet.

 

FAO launches report “The Unjust Climate”

Women who run farms and rural households in poor countries suffer more from climate change and are discriminated against as they try to adapt to other sources of income in times of crises, the United Nations warned March 5, 2024. A new report by the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization, “The Unjust Climate,” found that female-headed rural households lose on average 8% more of their income during heat waves and 3% more during floods, compared to male-headed households. That disparity translates into a per capita reduction of $83 due to heat stress and $35 due to floods – coming up to an annual total of $37 billion and $16 billion respectively in poor countries, the UN agency said in the report.

 

 

Hungary president signs Sweden’s NATO membership ratification

Hungary’s President Tamas Sulyok on March 5, 2024 signed the bill that approved Sweden’s accession to the NATO military alliance, clearing the way for Sweden to become the 32nd member of the alliance in the coming days. Stockholm abandoned its non-alignment policy for greater safety within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The remaining formalities, such as depositing accession documentation in Washington, are likely to be concluded swiftly.

 

NATO launches Nordic Response 2024 defence exercise

NATO kicked off an exercise on March 4, 2024 to defend its newly expanded Nordic territory when more than 20,000 soldiers from 13 nations take part in drills that is being held in the northern regions of Finland, Norway and Sweden and will conclude on March 14. With over 4,000 Finnish soldiers taking part, the Norway-led Nordic Response 2024 represents the NATO newcomer’s largest ever participation in a foreign exercise, according to Finland’s military.

 

World experienced warmest Feb on record: EU climate agency

For the ninth straight month, Earth has obliterated global heat records — with February 2024, the winter as a whole and the world’s oceans setting new high-temperature marks, the European Union climate agency Copernicus said March 6, 2024. Feb 2024 averaged 13.54°C, breaking the old record from 2016 by about an eighth of a degree. Feb was 1.77°C warmer than the late 19th century, Copernicus calculated.

 

International Women’s Day observed on March 8

The International Women’s Day was observed on March 8, 2024 with its theme as: ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress’. The day’s purpose is to recognise women’s financial, political, and cultural accomplishments.

 

UN celebrates International Day of Women Judges on March 10

The UN celebrated International Day of Women Judges on March 10, 2024 with the campaign “Women in Justice, women for justice” to promote the full and equal participation of women at all levels of the judiciary, to celebrate the progress that has been made and raise awareness about the challenges ahead! While equality in the judiciary has been historically uneven, steps are being taken to remedy this as evidenced by the declaration by the United Nations General Assembly of 10 March as the International Day of Women Judges.

 

International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness observed on March 5

The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness was observed on March 5, 2024. Observed on 5 March, the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness plays a role in deepening the global public’s understanding about how disarmament efforts contribute to enhancing peace and security, preventing and ending armed conflicts, and curbing human suffering caused by weapons.

NEWSMAKERS

 

Asif Ali Zardari becomes Pakistan’s 14th president

Asif Ali Zardari was overwhelmingly elected as the 14th President of Pakistan on March 9, 2024, becoming the only civilian president of the coup-prone country for a second time. Zardari, the co-chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party, was the joint candidate of the ruling alliance of the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

 

His rival, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, is the head of his Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP). He was fielded by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and backed by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).

 

Zardari, 68, received 255 votes while his 75-year-old opponent got 119 votes in the National Assembly and the Senate. The new president was elected by the electoral college of the newly elected members of the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies, which formed the electoral college.

Zardari would replace the incumbent Dr Arif Alvi, whose five-year term ended in 2023. However, he has continued since the new electoral college was not yet formed.

 

Former President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa launches book

Sri Lanka’s former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced the launch of his book ‘The Conspiracy to oust me from the Presidency’ on March 6, 2024. When he was President from November 2019 to July 2022, Sri Lanka experienced its worst economic crisis since Independence in 1948, as the country ran out of dollars for essential imports, following a host of fiscal decisions taken by his government.

 

Peru PM resigns after controversial audio clips

Peru’s PM Alberto Otarola resigned March 5, 2024 amid allegations of influence-peddling to help a woman. The media released recordings, dating back to 2021, where Otarola speaks to a woman named Yazire Pinedo, 25, who landed two contracts this year worth $14,000 to do archive and administrative work for govt.

 
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Section D: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

 

SpaceX Dragon with Crew-8 aboard docks to ISS

NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, as well as Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin arrived at the International Space Station (ISS), as the SpaceX Dragon, named Endeavour, docked to the complex on March 5, 2024. They joined a seven-person crew currently at the space station.

 

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the four had blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the ISS on March 4. The Falcon propelled the spacecraft it was carrying – named Endeavour – into orbit nine minutes after lift-off.

 

The Crew-8 mission will be in space for six months where they plan to do various experiments. One will involve growing artificial replicas of human organs in the low-gravity environment – which is not possible on Earth.

 

ISS is the largest human-made object in space. It has been continuously maintained by a US-Russian consortium including Canada, Japan, and 11 European countries.

 
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Section E: AWARDS

 

President presents Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards

President Droupadi Murmu on March 6, 2024 presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for 2022 and 2023 to eminent artists in the field of performing arts.

 

Murmu also gave away the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, or Akademi Ratna, to seven eminent artists. It is the highest honour given to artists for his or her exceptional contribution to a performing art form. The fellows are folklorist Vinayak Khedekar, veena virutoso R. Visweswaran, Kathak exponent Sunayana Hazarilal, Kuchipudi dancers Raja and Radha Reddy, and theatre artists Dulal Roy and D.P. Sinha.

 

2023 winners 

Twelve artists from the field of music, 12 from dance, 11 from folk and tribal arts, and nine from the field of theatre received the Akademi Awards for 2023. Some of the notable awardees are Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, Neyveli Narayanan for Carnatic instrumental (mridangam), Urmila Sathyanarayanan for Bharatanatyam, and Pallavi Krishnan for Mohiniyattam.

 

Prizes

The Akademi Awards were fist given in 1952. The Akademi fellows will receive an amount of ₹3 lakh, while the Akademi Award carries a prize money of ₹1 lakh.

 

National Creators Awards presented by PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 8, 2024 presented awards to top creators on social media. The winners include the Most Creative Creator- Female award to Shraddha Jain (AiyyoShraddha) and Most Creative Creator-Male to RJ Raunac (Bauaa) at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi.

 

In addition, PM Modi also presented the Heritage Fashion Icon Award to Jahnvi Singh and the Best Creator in Food Category Award to Kabita Singh (Kabita’s Kitchen) at Bharat Mandapam. Several other notable individuals were also recognized for their achievements.

 

List of all the awardees:

➤ ‘Green Champion’ award: Pankhti Pandey

➤The best storyteller: Keerthika Govindasamy

➤’Cultural Ambassador of the Year’: Maithili Thakur

➤Best Creator in the Tech Category: Gaurav Chaudhary

➤Best Health and Fitness Creator award: Ankit Baiyanpuria

➤Best Creator in the Education Category: Naman Deshmukh

➤Favourite Travel Creator: Kamiya Jani

➤Disruptor of the Year: Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps)

➤Best Creator for Social Change: Jaya Kishori

➤Gaming Category: Nishchay

➤Celebrity Creator of the Year: Aman Gupta

➤Best International Creator: Drew Hicks

➤ Heritage Fashion Icon: Jahnvi Singh

➤ Best Nano Creator: Piyush Purohit

➤ Best Creator in Tech: Gaurav Chaudhary

➤ Best Creator: Naman Deshmukh

➤ Most Impactful Agri Creator: Lakshay Dabas

➤ Best Creative Creator Male: RJ Raunac

➤ Best storyteller: Keerthika Govindasamy

 

The National Creators Award, presented for the first time at Bharat Mandapam, aims to recognize excellence and impact in various domains such as storytelling, social change advocacy, environmental sustainability, education, and gaming. It serves as a platform to encourage creativity for positive change. The award received an overwhelming response, with over 1.5 lakh nominations and 10 lakh votes cast. The winners, including three international creators, were chosen from a pool of 23 finalists.

India bags Measles and Rubella Champion Award

India has been bestowed with the prestigious Measles and Rubella Champion Award in recognition of the country’s tireless efforts to combat these infectious diseases, the health ministry said on March 8, 2024. The award was given by the Measles and Rubella Partnership at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington DC, US on March 6. Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Washington DC, received the award on behalf of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

 

The Measles and Rubella Partnership comprises a multi-agency planning committee, including the American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF and WHO, all dedicated to reducing global measles deaths and preventing rubella illness, the health ministry said in a statement.

 

The Government of India’s proactive MR vaccination campaign in high-risk areas and innovative strategies to reach underserved populations, robust surveillance systems and effective public-awareness initiatives have played a key role in safeguarding the health and well-being of its population.

 

These efforts have resulted in 50 districts consistently not witnessing any measles case while 226 districts have not reported rubella cases in the last 12 months.

 

Measles and rubella are vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and the MR vaccine is part of the UIP since 2017. The Indian government is working towards eliminating measles and rubella from the country.

 

Maharashtra Bhushan MaTaa Sanmaan for playback singer Suman Kalyanpur

Bollywood playback singer Suman Kalyanpur, classical singer Mahesh Kale and organic farming exponent Rahibai Popere were presented the Maharashtra Times Maharashtra Bhushan MaTaa Sanmaan Puraskar, MaTaa Youth Icon and MaTaa Vasundhara Sathi Sanmaan awards, respectively, at the ‘PNG Presents MaTaa Sanman 2024 Powered by Saraswat Bank, Co-Powered by CIDCO’ in Mumbai on March 7, 2024.

 

Artists, writers and technicians from the Marathi entertainment industry were awarded MaTaa Sanman in different categories. The awards were given for film, theatre, small screen and web series categories. It was the 24th year of the awards.

 

Film personalities Tamannaah Bhatia, Kartik Aaryan, Bhagyashree Patwardhan, Saiyami Kher and Ankita Lokhande were presented with a special appreciation award.

 

Kalyanpur (87), a Padma Bhushan awardee, has lent her melodious voice to songs in 13 languages in her seven-decade journey.  Popere (59) is Padma Shri awardee known for her work in organic farming and seed bank creation.

 

Writer Amitav Ghosh wins Erasmus Prize

Author Amitav Ghosh was on March 7, 2024 awarded the Erasmus Prize 2024 for his writings on the climate crisis and human interactions with nature. Netherlands-based organisation Praemium Erasmianum Foundation, which gives out the award each year, said that Ghosh “receives the prize for his passionate contribution to the theme ‘imagining the unthinkable’, in which an unprecedented global crisis – climate change – takes shape through the written word”. The Erasmus Prize is awarded to a person or institution that has “made an exceptional contribution to the humanities, the social sciences or the arts, in Europe and beyond”. It consists of a cash prize of 1,50,000 euros, or over Rs 1.35 crore. Ghosh is known for his novels such as ‘The Shadow Lines’, ‘The Hungry Tide’ and the Ibis Trilogy. His nonfiction work includes ‘The Great Derangement’. He received Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary prize, in 2018.

 

Riken Yamamoto awarded Pritzker Prize 2024

Japanese architect Riken Yamamoto (78) was on March 5, 2024 announced as the winner of the 2024 Pritzker Prize, often dubbed the “Nobel of architecture.” Yamamoto, who founded Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop in 1973, is an “architect and social advocate,” according to the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Known for his projects throughout Japan, China, South Korea, and Switzerland, Yamamoto’s career spans five decades and encompasses private residences, public housing, elementary schools, university buildings, civic spaces, institutional buildings, and city planning.

 

Srinivasan K. Swamy wins IAA Golden Compass Award

Srinivasan K. Swamy, CMD of integrated marketing services firm RK Swamy Ltd, was presented with the IAA Golden Compass Award at the 45th IAA World Congress in Penang, Malaysia. The award honours significant global contributions to the field of marketing, advertising and media. This is the first time that this award is being bestowed upon an Indian industry leader, the firm said.

 

Krystyna Pyszkova becomes Miss World

Czech Republic’s Krystyna Pyszkova won the Miss World 2024 title in Mumbai on March 9, 2024. Lebanon Yasmina Zaytoun was named the first runner-up. India was represented by 22-year-old Sini Shetty, who could not make it to the top four of the contest. India has won the title six times — Reita Faria (1966), Aishwarya Rai Bachchan (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra Jonas (2000), and Manushi Chillar (2017).

 
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Section F: BANKING & FINANCE

 

RBI says banks have to offer customers a choice of credit card network

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has directed banks and credit card companies like American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, Rupay, and Visa not to enter into any exclusive agreement to issue credit cards.

 

In a notification the central bank has directed banks to provide an option to their customers to choose from multiple card networks at the time of issual and renewal of cards.

 

The notification follows a draft circular issued in July last year which asked banks to issue cards from more than one network provider giving an option to customers to choose any one among the multiple card networks.

 

“It is observed that some arrangements existing between card networks and card issuers are not conducive to the availability of choice for customers,” the RBI said.

 

All banks and payment networks have to adhere to the new norms whenever they are issuing new cards or renewing existing cards. The new RBI directions are applicable from September this year.

 

The directions are however not be applicable to credit card issuers with number of active cards at 10 lakh or less.

 

Also card issuers who issue credit cards on their own authorised card network are excluded from the applicability of the circular.

 

RBI approves AU Small Finance Bank acquisition of Fincare Small Finance Bank

The Reserve Bank of India on March 4, 2024 gave its go-ahead to the first ever merger between two small finance banks. As per the agreement between the two, shareholders of Fincare Small Finance Bank will receive 579 equity shares of AU Small Finance Bank for every 2,000 shares held. The acquisition will give Jaipur-headquartered AU a foothold in southern India and pave its entry into microfinance business. Out of the 10 small finance banks that received license in 2015 from RBI, AU and Capital Small Finance Bank had no microfinance legacy. While 49% of Fincare’s branches are based in south India, AU had merely 2%. The merged entity will have 2334 branches. AU came into existence as a non-bank vehicle financier in 2003 before its conversion into a bank in April 2017. Its gross advances stood at Rs 67,624 crore at the end of December.

 

RBI bars JM Financial’s arm from lending against shares

RBI on March 5, 2024 barred JM Financial Products from extending loans against shares, including financing subscriptions to IPOs of shares and debentures, with immediate effect over irregularities and corporate governance issues. JM Financial Products, an NBFC, is a subsidiary of the listed JM Financial, an investment bank and holding company. An RBI statement said the “action is necessitated due to certain serious deficiencies observed with respect to loans sanctioned by the company for IPO financing as well as NCD (debenture) subscriptions. RBI carried out a limited review of the company’s books on the basis of the information shared by Sebi”. The RBI action comes just a day after the central bank barred IIFL Finance from offering gold loans due to multiple violations.

 

PE cos Advent, Multiples to invest Rs 1,930 crore in Ananya Birla’s Svatantra Microfin

In one of the biggest financing deals in India’s microfinance space, Ananya Birla’s Svatantra Microfin has entered into a definitive agreement with Advent International and home-grown Multiples Private Equity to raise Rs 1,930 crore in equity. The investment comes after Svatantra’s recent acquisition of Chaitanya India Fin Credit Limited. Upon completion of the proposed transaction and merger with Chaitanya, the combined entity will be amongst the largest non-banking microfinance companies in India, said the company in its official statement. “The current promoter group led by Ananya Birla will continue to have a significant majority stake,” said the company on post-infusion shareholding.

 

Sensex closes above 74,000 for the first time

Sensex and Nifty scaled new life-highs on March 6, 2024. Sensex went above the 74,000-point mark for the first time and closed at 74,086 while Nifty closed at 22,474.

 
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Section G: ECONOMY

 

Centre raises M&A thresholds for antitrust regulator’s nod

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs on March 8, 2024 increased the asset and turnover thresholds for mergers and acquisitions of firms that would require the approval of the antitrust regulator, sparing small deals from mandatory scrutiny and reducing the compliance burden.

 

According to a notification by the ministry, two domestic companies pursuing M&A plans will now have to seek the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI’s) clearance if their combined assets and annual turnover in India exceed ₹2,500 crore and ₹7,500 crore, respectively, compared with ₹2,000 crore and ₹6,000 crore earlier.

 

For those with overseas operations, regulatory clearance would be needed if the combined assets are in excess of $1.25 billion (with at least₹ 1,250 crore in India), against $1 billion (with ₹1,000 crore in India) earlier. The turnover thresholds are $3.75 billion globally and ₹3,750 crore in India, up 25% each from the earlier limits.

 

Two domestic groups involved in an M&A deal will have to seek the CCI approval if their combined assets and turnover are in excess of ₹10,000 crore and ₹30,000 crore, respectively, compared with the earlier thresholds of ₹8,000 crore and ₹24,000 crore.

 

For two foreign groups with India operations, the thresholds of combined assets and turnover have been raised to $5 five billion (with at least ₹1,250 crore in India) and $15 billion (₹3,750 crore in India), respectively, up 25% each from the earlier limits.

 

According to another notification, if the target of an acquisition has assets of less than ₹450 crore or annual turnover of under ₹ 1,250 crore, the deal would be exempted from the CCI approval. The earlier limits for assets and turnover were ₹350 crore and ₹1,000 crore, respectively. This relief is for two years. The increase of thresholds is done periodically to account for changes in the wholesale price index and the exchange rate. The last revisions were made in 2016.

 

DPIIT notifies changes in FDI norms in space sector

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has notified changes in the foreign direct investment norms (FDI) in the space sector. A decision in this regard was taken by the Union cabinet on February 21.

 

The government has allowed 100 per cent overseas investment in making components for satellites, as part of efforts to attract foreign players and private companies into the segment.

 

The investee entity shall be subject to sectoral guidelines as issued by the Department of Space from time to time.

 

The satellite sub-sector has been divided into three different activities with defined limits for foreign investment in each such sector.

 

Earlier, FDI in the space sector was allowed up to 100 per cent in the area of satellite establishment and operations through government routes only.

 

By changing the current policy, the government has allowed up to 74 per cent FDI under automatic route in satellite manufacturing and operation, satellite data products, and ground and user segments.

 

Beyond this limit, government approval will be required in these areas for FDI.

 

Up to 49 per cent FDI is allowed through the automatic route for launch vehicles and associated systems or subsystems, the creation of spaceports for launching and receiving spacecraft. Beyond 49 per cent, FDI in these activities would require government approval.

 

Further, up to 100 per cent overseas investments are permitted under the automatic route for manufacturing of components and systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground and user segments.

 

Cooperation Minister launches National Cooperative Database

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on March 8, 2024 launched the National Cooperative Database which will help in the expansion and development of cooperatives in the country. There are more than 8 lakh registered societies in the country, with over 30 crore people connected with them.

 

The database is a web-based digital dashboard wherein data of cooperative societies, including national/state federations, have been captured. It has collected or mapped information about 8 lakh cooperatives. With the help of this platform, all information about registered cooperative societies across the country will be available at the click of a button. On the occasion, Shah also unveiled ‘National Cooperative Database 2023: A Report’.

 

The National Cooperative Database has been carried out in three phases.

 

In the first phase, mapping of about 2.64 lakh societies in three sectors — Primary Agricultural Credit Societies, Dairy, and Fisheries, was completed.

 

In the second phase, data from various national federations, state federations, state cooperative banks (StCB), district central cooperative banks (DCCB), urban cooperative banks (UCBs), state cooperative agriculture and rural development banks (SCARDB), primary agricultural and rural development banks (PCARDBs), cooperative sugar mills, district unions, and multi-state cooperative societies (MSCS) were collected/mapped.

 

In the third phase, data mapping of all the remaining 8 lakh primary cooperative societies in other sectors was carried out.

 

First Advance Estimate of fruits & vegetables production released

The production of onions in the country during the year 2023-24 (July-June) is expected to drop to around 25. 473 million tonnes compared to around 30.208 million tonnes last year due to a lower yield in key producing states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, according to First Advance Estimate for the year released by the agriculture ministry on March 7, 2024.

 

The production of potatoes is also expected to decline 58.9 million tonnes in 2023-24 compared to last year’s 60.1 million tonnes due to a lesser output in West Bengal.

 

“Production of Onion in 2023-24 (First Advance Estimates) is expected to be around 254.73 Lakh Tonne compared to around 302.08 Lakh Tonne last year due to decrease of 34.31Lakh Tonne in Maharashtra, 9.95 Lakh Tonne in Karnataka, 3.54 Lakh Tonne in Andhra Pradesh and 3.12 Lakh Tonne in Rajasthan, “ the ministry said in a statement.

 

The production of vegetables is expected to be around 209.39 million tonnes. The government expects an increase in production of cabbage, cauliflower, pumpkin, tapioca, tomato among others. The production of tomatoes is expected to go up by 1.93% touching 20.8 million tonnes.

 

The overall horticulture production in the country in 2023-24 is estimated to be about 355.25 million tonnes on account of in increase in area by 1.15% over last year, according to the First Advance Estimates.

 

The production of fruits is expected to reach 112.08 million tonnes, mainly due to increases in production of Banana, Mandarin and Mango.

 

India’s forex reserves surge by $6.55 bn to $625.63 bn as of March 1

India’s foreign exchange reserves are up by of $6.55 billion to $625.63 billion for the week ending on March 1, latest data by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed on March 8, 2024.

 

Previously, forex reserves surged by $2.98 billion to $619.07 billion, for the week ended on February 23, 2024.

 

According to the Weekly Statistical Supplement released by the RBI, Foreign currency assets (FCAs) increased by $6.04 billion to $554.23 billion. Expressed in dollar terms, the FCAs include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.

 

Gold reserves were up by $569 million to $48.42 billion, whereas SDRs dipped by $17 million to $18.18 billion.

 

Reserve position in the IMF decreased by $41 million to $4.8 billion.

 

It can be noted that in October 2021, the country’s forex kitty had reached an all-time high of USD 645 billion. The reserves have been declining as the central bank deploys the kitty to defend the rupee amid pressures caused majorly by global developments.

 

Typically, the RBI, from time to time, intervenes in the market through liquidity management, including through the selling of dollars, with a view to preventing a steep depreciation in the rupee.

 

The RBI closely monitors the foreign exchange markets and intervenes only to maintain orderly market conditions by containing excessive volatility in the exchange rate, without reference to any pre-determined target level or band.

 

DefConnect 2024: Rajnath Singh launches ADITI scheme

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced the creation of a corpus of ₹750 crore under the Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme. The scheme, launched by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during DefConnect 2024 in New Delhi in March 2024, aims to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.

 

Start-ups under the ADITI scheme are eligible to receive a grant-in-aid of up to ₹25 crore for their research, development, and innovation endeavors in defence technology, said in an official statement. This initiative is expected to nurture the innovation of youth and propel the country forward in the field of technology. The scheme marks an expansion of the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative, with iDEX Prime offering increased assistance from ₹1.5 crore to ₹10 crore to motivate young innovators.

 

DefConnect 2024 also witnessed the launch of the 11th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC), heralding a new chapter in the collaboration between the defence establishment and the start-up ecosystem. The DISC 11 introduces 22 problem statements – Indian Army (4), Indian Navy (5), Indian Air Force (5), Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (7) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited (1) – aimed at addressing critical defence challenges, inviting innovators to propose innovative solutions that can enhance the country’s defence capabilities and contribute to national security, as per the statement.

 

NITI Aayog launches central data repository for states

NITI Aayog, on March 7, 2024, launched the ‘NITI for States’ portal, a multi-sectoral live repository of 7,500 best practices, 5,000 policy documents, over 900 datasets, 1,400 data profiles, and 350 NITI publications.

 

The portal is expected to equip officials with robust knowledge, actionable insights, and user-friendly digital tools which will help accelerate digital transformation of governance.

 

“NITI for States offers a centralised repository of valuable resources, including best practices, policy documents, datasets, and NITI Aayog publications, spanning various sectors and cross-cutting themes like gender and climate change,” the Aayog said.

 

Launching the portal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, union minister for railways, communications, electronics and information technology, said India’s vision for future growth is based on four important pillars, vis physical, digital and social infrastructure, inclusive development, manufacturing, and focus on simplification of laws and processes.

 

Union Cabinet approves ‘India AI mission’

The Union Cabinet on March 7, 2024 approved the ‘India AI mission’ with an outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore for a period of five years, to give a further push for Artificial Intelligence in India.

 

Implemented by the ‘IndiaAI’ Independent Business Division (IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC), this mission is set to have eight components including IndiaAI Compute Capacity, IndiaAI Innovation Centre, a dataset platform among others. The government also plans to generate highly skilled employment opportunities with this mission.

 

As part of building a mega computing facility, the government aims to add AI compute infrastructure of 10,000 or more Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), built through public-private partnership.

 

Further, an AI marketplace will be designed to offer AI as a service and pre-trained models to AI innovators. It will act as a one-stop solution for resources critical for AI innovation.

 

Moreover, the innovation centres will undertake the development and deployment of indigenous Large Multimodal Models (LMMs) and domain-specific foundational models in critical sectors.

 

As for education in AI, the government plans to roll out IndiaAI FutureSkills, which is conceptualized to mitigate barriers to entry into AI programs and will increase AI courses in undergraduate, masters-level, and Ph.D. programs. Under the mission, the government will also set up Data and AI Labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across India.

 

AI knowledge consortium formed by 12 organisations

Twelve research institutions and think tanks on March 7, 2024 established the Artificial Intelligence Knowledge Consortium (AIKC) in India, “dedicated to championing [a] multi-stakeholder approach to AI governance”. The AIKC’s secretariat will be housed at Koan Advisory, a private consultancy that advises foreign firms on entering the Indian market. The members include Aapti Institute; Cyber Saathi; Communeeti; Esya Centre; Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics, and New Indian Consumer Initiative. The launch was accompanied by a report titled “What Indian Parliamentarians Think of AI”, which surveyed 37 MPs on the technology.

 

IBM, C-DAC ink pact for high-performance computing in India

Multinational technology company IBM and ministry for electronics and IT-backed Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) on March 6, 2024 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create a joint working group to accelerate high-performance computing (HPC) in India. “This collaboration is intended to spur and support the growth of India’s developer community, with a focus on processor design, system design, firmware, and application development, including contributions to open source initiatives,” IBM said in a statement.

 

Railway Minister unveils Vande Bharat sleeper variant

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled the body structure of Vande Bharat’s sleeper coaches at a Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) facility in Bengaluru on March 9, 2024. BEML comes under the Ministry of Defence and manufactures products for various sectors such as defence, aerospace, mining, construction, rail and metro among others. It has also got orders to make 10 trainsets of (160 coaches) Vande Bharat Sleeper. Vande Bharat train has three versions — chair car, sleeper and metro. The chair car version has already been launched.

 

Project to develop AMCA 5th generation stealth fighter aircraft cleared

In a major development, the Cabinet Committee on Security has cleared the project to design and develop the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft fifth generation stealth fighter jet project to be undertaken by the DRDO. Under the around Rs 15,000 crore project, Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Aeronautical Development Agency would develop the stealth fighter jet and its technologies in partnership with various private and public sector agencies and build around five prototypes in around five years. The project would see the prototype manufactured by industry including the public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

 

LPG price reduced by ₹100

Cooking gas will be cheaper by ₹100 per refill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on March 8, 2024. Refilling a 14.2 kg cylinder will now cost ₹803 in Delhi. For poor households who have gas connections under the Ujjwala scheme, the effective cost would be ₹503 as they get a subsidy of ₹300 per cylinder which other customers don’t. Ujjwala customers get a subsidy of ₹300 per 14.2 kg refill up to 12 times a year. The subsidy proportionately reduces on 5 kg refill.

 

Subsidy under Ujjwala Yojana extended till next fiscal starting April 1

The government has announced the extension of the Rs 300 per LPG cylinder subsidy to poor women under the Ujjwala Yojana for the next fiscal starting April 1. The Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) was launched in May 2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections to adult women of poor households. While the connection was provided for free, beneficiaries had to purchase LPG refills at market price.

 

Cabinet raises jute MSP to Rs 5,335 per quintal

The Union cabinet has approved a hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of raw jute for the 2024-25 season to Rs 5,335 per quintal, according to Union Minister Piyush Goyal on March 7, 2024. This is up from the current MSP of Rs 5,050 per quintal, a hike of 5.6%. In the current season 2023-24, the government has procured a record amount of more than 6.24 lakh bales of raw jute through the Jute Corporation of India, at the cost of Rs 524.32 crore, benefitting around 1.65 lakh farmers.

 

NFRA organises conference in New Delhi

The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has transformed from a predominantly enforcement-driven regulator in its early days to one with a judicious approach towards both enforcement and supervision, its chairman Ajay Bhushan Pandey said on March 5, 2024, listing out new initiatives to further bolster its supervisory role. “When NFRA began its operations (in 2018) we started with focus on the enforcement approach rather than the supervisory approach as the prevailing scenario demanded that kind of medicine,” Pandey said. Pandey was speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on Transparent Financial Reporting and Audit Quality—Pillars of Corporate Governance, organised by the NFRA in the national capital.

 

Services sector PMI eases in Feb to 60.6 from 61.8 in Jan

India’s service sector growth momentum eased in February but remained robust despite a slowdown in new orders and output, according to a private survey released on March 5, 2024. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services Business Activity Index fell to 60.6 in February from 61.8 in the previous month. A level of over 50 indicates expansion.

 
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Section H: CORPORATE

 

Cricbuzz, UAE-based eVision join hands for new cricket channel

eVision, the media and entertainment arm of UAE-based e&, has partnered with Times Internet-owned cricket platform Cricbuzz to launch Cricbuzz TV, a 24/7 channel featuring top global cricket competitions and events. The strategic collaboration will provide fans with more live cricket action on eLife, SwitchTV, and Starzplay throughout the year. Emirates Telecommunications Group Company, popularly known as e&, is a UAE-based multinational telecom operator. eVision is also a content aggregator in the Middle East and North Africa region and Pakistan.

 

Indian Oil unveils Storm petrol

Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) on March 6, 2024 unveiled ‘Storm’ petrol that it will supply for the Asian region motorcycle road racing championship. IOC will supply fuel for all the motorcyclists from 15 countries that will participate in the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship. According to the company, its ‘Storm – Ultimate Racing Fuel’ is different from regular commercial as well as premium gasoline or petrol (95-Octane XP95 and 100-Octane XP100) in fuel properties like density range, distillation range, vapour pressure, and olefins.

 

Okaya EV launches “Ferrato”

Okaya EV, an electric two-wheeler manufacturing company, launched “Ferrato” – a brand for its premium electric two-wheeler products.

 

Accenture launches LearnVantage

Accenture has launched Accenture LearnVantage, a technology learning and training services for its clients. The company will invest $1 billion in Accenture LearnVantage over three years and has agreed to acquire educational platform Udacity.

 

Aramco Digital, LTIMindtree to launch IT services company

Aramco Digital, the digital and technology subsidiary of Aramco of Saudi Arabia, and LTIMindtree have signed a shareholders’ agreement to create an IT services company in Saudi Arabia. The joint venture is being formed under the Aramco Namaat Industrial Investments Program.

 

Swedish defence major SAAB begins work on unit in India

Swedish defence major Saab on March 4, 2024 started construction of its new manufacturing facility in India for its Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons with a formal ground-breaking ceremony. The facility is being built at MET City at Jhajjar in Haryana. The production facility is being built at MET City, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited.

 

Future Generali India launches new women’s health insurance plan

Future Generali India Insurance Company (FGII), a private general insurer, launched women’s health insurance plan FGII “HEALTH POWHER” that aims to address the various needs of women across the different stages of their lives.

 

Pidilite ventures into decorative paints market with Haisha Paints

Pidilite Industries (PIL), known for its adhesives and home improvement products, ventured into the decorative paints market with the debut of Haisha Paints.

 

Sanskritech unveils Swandook: The anytime health monitoring bag

Indian healthtech company Sanskritech introduced Swandook, an innovation in healthcare technology. The ultra-smart Anytime Health Monitoring Bag has been approved by the CDSCO. It serves as a comprehensive point-of-care diagnostics platform, capable of conducting over 60 invasive and non-invasive health tests in real-time.

 

 

Adani Enterprises arm acquires France-based Le Marche Duty Free

Gautam Adani-led Adani Enterprises on March 6, 2024 said that the company’s Dubai arm, Ospree International FZCO, has acquired France-based Le Marche Duty Free SAS (LMDF) at a cost of 5,000 euros. In an attempt to further push its expansion in the duty free industry, Adani Enterprises said in an exchange filing that the acquisition is of strategic nature in the interest of Mumbai Travel Retail Private Limited. LMDF was incorporated on February 7, 2024 and is owned by promoter of Flemingo Group, Atul Ahuja and business operations are yet to commence.

 

Nikon ventures into cinema with RED Digital acquisition

Nikon, the Japanese camera giant, announced on March 7, 2024 its intention to acquire RED Digital Cinema, a renowned US manufacturer of high-end movie cameras. This move marks Nikon’s foray into the world of cinema and comes shortly after the resolution of a legal dispute between the two companies over alleged patent infringement. This acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions outlined in the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement with RED’s founder, James Jannard, and current President, Jarred Land.

 

Tata Motors to demerge

In a bid to unlock value, Tata Motors has decided to demerge its passenger and commercial vehicles businesses into two separately listed entities. The company stated that the demerger will not impact the manufacturing units as they have already been separated for commercial and passenger vehicles.

 

CIEL Group acquires stake in Courseplay

Human resource solutions provider CIEL Group on March 5, 2024 said it has acquired a strategic stake in Courseplay, a Mumbai-based global learning experience platform.

NEWSMAKERS

 

Pharma veteran Ranjit Shahani passes away at 74

Ranjit Shahani, former Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Novartis (India), passed away on March 9, 2024 at the age of 74.  Shahani was Novartis’ India chief when the Swiss drugmaker fought a benchmark patent battle in the country, involving its blood cancer drug Glivec. Novartis lost the seven-year battle (to get patent protection for Glivec) in the Supreme Court (2013). Shahani also served as President Emeritus of Organisation of Pharmaceuticals Producers of India (OPPI – a platform for multinational pharma companies) and Chairman of JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals.

 

Japanese comics creator Akira Toriyama dies at 68

The creator of Japan’s beloved ‘Dragon Ball’ comics and anime, Akira Toriyama, passed away at the age of 68 on March 1, 2024. ‘Dragon Ball’, which first debuted in 1984, is one of the best-selling and most influential manga titles of all time. It has inspired numerous anime series, films, and video games. The story revolves around Son Goku, a young boy who gains power by collecting magical balls that contain dragons. Together with his allies, Goku fights to protect the Earth from evil adversaries.

 
Top
 

Section I: STATES

 

PM visits Azamgarh, UP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 10, 2024 inaugurated, dedicated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives worth more than Rs 34,000 crores in an event at Azamgarh Uttar Pradesh.

 

Providing a major boost to the civil aviation sector, the Prime Minister inaugurated and lay the foundation stone of 15 airport projects across the country worth more than Rs 9800 crore. He inaugurated 12 new Terminal Buildings of Pune, Kolhapur, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Delhi, Lucknow, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Shravasti and Adampur Airports. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of three new Terminal Buildings of Kadapa, Hubballi and Belagavi Airports.

 

Prime Minister inaugurated Light House Project (LHP) in Lucknow and Ranchi under which more than 2000 affordable flats have been built with modern infrastructure. The LHPs are known for innovative construction technology. Earlier, Prime Minister has inaugurated similar Light House Projects in Chennai, Rajkot and Indore. For Ranchi LHP, Germany’s Precast Concrete Construction System – 3D Volumetric technology has been adopted. A unique feature of LHP Ranchi is that each room has been made separately and then the entire structure has been added like Lego Blocks toys.  LHP Lucknow has been constructed using Canada’s Stay In Place PVC Formwork with Pre-Engineered Steel Structural System.

 

Cheetah Gamini gives birth to five cubs at MP’s Kuno National Park

Cheetah ‘Gamini’ on March 10, 2024 gave birth to five cubs in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, taking the total number of the big cats in the country to 26, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said. Female cheetah Gamini, aged about 5 years, was brought from Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa. The number of cheetah cubs born in India now stands at 13, the minister added. This is the fourth cheetah litter on Indian soil and the first litter of cheetahs brought from South Africa. Under the cheetah reintroduction project, eight Namibian cheetahs, comprising five females and three males, were released into enclosures at KNP on September 17, 2022. In February 2023, another 12 cheetahs were brought to the park from South Africa. Gamini is part of the group brought from South Africa.

 

PM launches Mahtari Vandan Yojana in Chhattisgarh

In a major boost to women empowerment in Chhattisgarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 10, 2024 launched the Mahatari Vandana Yojana and disbursed the first instalment under the Scheme. The scheme has been launched in Chhattisgarh to provide financial assistance of Rs 1000 per month to eligible married women of the state as monthly DBT. It has been envisioned to ensure economic empowerment of women, provide them financial security, promote gender equality and strengthen the decisive role of women in the family. The scheme will provide benefits to all eligible married women of the state who are above 21 years of age as of January 1, 2024. Widows, divorced, and deserted women will also be eligible for this scheme.

 

Uttarakhand Cabinet approves Ordinance to recover damage cost

The Uttarakhand Cabinet on March 4, 2024 approved an Ordinance for the recovery of the cost of damage to public property during riots and protests from those involved. The government has also formed a tribunal which will assess the cost of the damage. Those found guilty of offence under the Uttarakhand Public (Government) and Recovery of Damage to Private Property (Ordinance) Act 2024, will also have to pay a fine of up to ₹8 lakh apart from the recovery amount. It will be used to pay for the expenses incurred on riot control.

 

PM visits J&K

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 7, 2024 unveiled a slew of development projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore and addressed a public meeting. The PM landed at the Srinagar airport and then flew to Badamibagh Cantonment, the headquarters of the Army’s 15 or Chinar Corps. He launched nationwide projects related to the tourism sector worth more than Rs 1,400 crore under the ‘Swadesh Darshan’ and ‘PRASHAD’ (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) schemes, including a project for the integrated development of the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar. Modi also inaugurated the ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll’ and the ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora’ campaign as well, besides announcing tourist destinations selected under the Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) scheme.

 

Himachal CM announces Rs 1,500 per month for women

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu on March 4, 2024 announced that women aged between 18 and 60 will receive financial aid worth Rs 1500 per month under Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana.

 

AAP govt to give ₹1,000 per month to women

Putting women at the centre of its budget, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on March 4, 2024 promised Rs 1,000 per month to all women above 18 years of age for the 2024-25 fiscal in the national capital. Presenting the budget 2024-25, Delhi finance minister Atishi announced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana under which the AAP government will give ₹1000 monthly to all the women above the age of 18.

 

Gujarat govt to provide financial assistance to Class 9–12 students

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on March 9, 2024 launched two schemes to provide financial assistance to students from Classes 9 to 12, for which the government has allocated Rs 1,650 crore in the state budget. Under its “Namo Lakshmi Yojana”, the government will provide Rs 50,000 to girls studying in Classes 9 to 12 over four years, while Rs 25,000 will be given to both girls and boys who have opted for the science stream in Classes 11 and 12 under the “Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana”.

 

Goa: Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2024

The Union Cabinet has approved a crucial bill aimed at providing reservations to Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the Goa Legislative Assembly. This significant decision comes after the realization that the ST community currently has no reserved seats in the assembly. The ‘Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2024’ will empower the Census Commissioner to ascertain and determine the population of STs in Goa. Based on this determination, the Election Commission will amend the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, to facilitate ST reservation in the 40-member Goa Assembly.

 

PM Modi inaugurates Agra Metro priority corridor

The priority corridor of Agra Metro was inaugurated virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 6, 2024 as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other leaders took the inaugural train ride from the Taj Mahal station to Taj Mahal East station here. Metro services on the 6-km corridor will be available to commuters from March 7, 2024 onwards, with stops at Taj Mahal East station , Captain Shubham Gupta station , Fatehabad Road station, Taj Mahal station and Mankameshwar Temple station. The priority corridor inaugurated remotely by the prime minister from Kolkata will have three elevated and three underground stations, according to an official statement.

 

PM visits Bihar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled projects worth Rs 12,800 crore in Bihar on March 6, 2024. The PM unveiled the projects at a programme at Bettiah, the district headquarters town of West Champaran.

 

Governor Rajendra V Arlekar, Deputy CMs Samat Chaudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, and state minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary of the JD(U) were among those present at the programme.

 

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was, however, not present at the programme.

 

The PM inaugurated the 109-km-long Muzaffarpur-Motihari LPG pipeline of Indian Oil, which will not only provide cleaner cooking fuel to the people of Bihar but also to neighbouring Nepal.

He also inaugurated Indian Oil’s LPG bottling plant and storage terminal at Motihari. It would also act as a strategic supply point for the export of petroleum products to Nepal, besides the eight districts of north Bihar.

 

The PM laid the foundation stone of the city gas distribution project in East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Siwan and Deoria, and grain-based ethanol projects at HCPCL Biofuels Ltd’s facilities at Sugauli and Lauriya.

 

He also inaugurated the two-laning of the Piprakothi-Motihari-Raxaul section of NH-28A and the Sheohar-Sitamarhi section of NH-104. He laid the foundation stone for a six-lane cable bridge over the Ganga, parallel to Digha-Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge, and the four-laning of the Bakarpur Hat-Manikpur section of NH-19 bypass.

 

Among the railway projects he inaugurated were the doubling of the 62-km line from Bapudham Motihari to Piprahan, and the gauge conversion of the Narkatiaganj-Gaunaha section.

 

The PM also laid the foundation stone for the doubling and electrification of the 96-km-long Gorakhpur Cantt-Valmiki Nagar rail line, and the redevelopment of the Bettiah railway station.

 

He flagged off two new trains on the Narkatiaganj-Gaunaha and Raxaul-Jogbani routes.

 

PM visits Odisha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 5, 2024 laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crores in Chandikhole, Odisha. The projects relate to sectors including oil & gas, railways, road, transport & highways and atomic energy.

 

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Indian Oil Corporation Limited Mono Ethylene Glycol project in Paradip Refinery which will further help in reducing India’s import dependency. He also inaugurated a 344 km long product pipeline traversing from Paradip in Odisha to Haldia in West Bengal. To augment the import infrastructure on the Eastern Coast of India, the Prime Minister inaugurated 0.6 MMTPA LPG Import facility at Paradip.

 

In order to boost road infrastructure in the region, the Prime Minister dedicated to the nation four laning of Singhara to Binjabahal Section of NH-49; four laning of Binjabahal to Tileibani Section of NH-49; four laning of Balasore-Jharpokharia Section of NH-18 and four laning of Tangi-Bhubaneswar Section of NH-16. He will also lay the foundation stone for eight laning of Chandikhole – Paradip Section at Chandikhole.

 

The Prime Minister dedicate to the nation, 162 Km Bansapani – Daitari – Tomka – Jakhapura Rail Line. The inauguration of CONCOR Container Depot in Kalinga Nagar was also done with an aim to boost domestic and international trade. The foundation stone was laid for the Electric Loco Periodical Overhauling Workshop at Narla, the Wagon Periodical Overhauling Workshop at Kantabanji and the upgradation and augmentation of maintenance facilities at Baghuapal. Other railway projects include the flagging off of new train services.

 

The Prime Minister also inaugurated a 5 MLD capacity seawater desalination plant at Odisha Sands Complex of IREL(I) Ltd. This project has been built as a part of field applications of indigenous desalination technologies developed by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.

 

PM visits Telangana

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 5, 2024 laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth more than Rs 6,800 crores in Sangareddy, Telangana. These projects encompass key sectors like road, rail, petroleum, aviation and natural gas.

 

The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for three National Highway projects. The two National Highway projects that the Prime Minister inaugurated include four laning of 40 km long Kandi to Ramsanpalle section of NH-161. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the upgradation of 47 km long Miryalaguda to Kodad Section of NH-167 to two lanes with paved shoulders. Further, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the six-laning of the 29 km long Pune-Hyderabad Section of NH-65.

 

The Prime Minister inaugurated the doubling and electrification of Sanathnagar – Moula Ali rail line along with six new station buildings. The entire 22 Route Kms of the project has been commissioned with Automatic signalling and has been completed as part of the MMTS (Multi Modal Transport Service) Phase – II project. As part of it, six new station buildings have come up at Ferozguda, Suchitra Centre, Bhudevi Nagar, Ammuguda, Neredmet and Moula Ali Housing Board stations. Doubling and electrification work paves the way for the introduction of passenger trains for the first time in this section. It will help improve punctuality and overall speed of trains in the region by reducing the burden on other highly saturated sections.

 

The Prime Minister flagged off the inaugural MMTS Train Service from Ghatkesar – Lingampalli via Moula Ali – Sanathnagar. This train service extends the popular suburban train service in the Hyderabad – Secunderabad twin city regions to new areas for the first time. It connects the new areas in the eastern part of the city like Cherlapalli and Moula Ali with the Western part of the twin city region. The safe, fast and economical mode of transport connecting the eastern with the western part of the twin city region will be highly beneficial for commuters.

 

Further, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Indian Oil Paradip-Hyderabad Product Pipeline. The 1212 km product pipeline with a capacity of 4.5 MMTPA traverses through the states of Odisha (329 km), Andhra Pradesh (723 km) and Telangana (160 km). The pipeline shall ensure safe and economical transportation of petroleum products from Paradip Refinery to delivery stations at Visakhapatnam, Atchutapuram, Vijayawada (in Andhra Pradesh), and Malkapur near Hyderabad (in Telangana).

 

The Prime Minister inaugurated the Civil Aviation Research Organization (CARO) center in Hyderabad. It has been set up at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad by Airports Authority of India to upgrade and enhance the Research and Development (R&D) activities in the civil aviation sector.

 

Tamil Nadu: PM visits Kalpakkam nuclear power plant

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 4, 2024 witnessed the commencement of “core loading” at India’s first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor (500 MWe) at Kalpakkam near Chennai in Tamil Nadu. He took a tour of the reactor vault and the control room of the reactor. India has developed comprehensive capabilities spanning the entire spectrum of the nuclear fuel cycle. The government had approved in 2003 the creation of Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd. (BHAVINI) to operate India’s most advanced nuclear reactor-Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). The PFBR has been fully designed and constructed indigenously by BHAVINI with contributions from 200 Indian industries. Once commissioned, India will be the second country after Russia to have commercial operating Fast Breeder Reactor.

 

SC advises Centre and Kerala govt. to sort out differences over states’ borrowings

Fiscal mismanagement by states is an issue the union government has to be concerned about as it impacts the nation’s economy, the Supreme Court observed on March 6, 2024 and advised the Centre and the Kerala government to iron out their differences a cap on net borrowing by the southern state. The apex court made the observation while it was hearing a suit filed by the Kerala government accusing the Union of India of interfering in the exercise of its “exclusive, autonomous and plenary powers” to regulate the state’s finances by imposing a ceiling on borrowing. Article 131 empowers the apex court to deal with disputes between the Centre and a state or between states.

 

Kerala to launch Sabari K-Rice

State Food and Civil Supplies Minister G.R. Anil on March 6, 2024 announced that the Kerala government has decided to introduce ‘Sabari K-Rice’ with an intention to provide good quality rice at affordable rates to the public through Supplyco outlets. The existing supply of subsidised rice from Supplyco of 10 kg per card will continue, with K-rice too forming a part of it, the Minister said. Differentiating K-Rice from Centre’s Bharat Rice, Anil said that while high-quality varieties are being sold at subsidised rates under the K-Rice brand, rice that is available at ₹18.59 per kg through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation Of India Limited (NCCF) is being sold as Bharat Rice at ₹29 per kg.

 

Kozhikode to get India’s first cooperatives museum

A 14-storey International Cooperative Museum (ICM) is being set up in Kozhikode, Kerala. A ₹150-crore project of Karassery Service Co-operative Bank that began operations in 1994, the museum will be the second of its kind in the world (the first is in Toad Lane, the U.K., set up in 1844). There are more than 8 lakh cooperatives in India today, with a collective membership of 29 crore. Maharashtra has the maximum number of cooperative societies, at 2.3 lakh, with 5 crore members. The museum will showcase the success and achievements of cooperative movements in India, especially Kerala. The building will also house a wax museum and an art gallery. The ICM is the brainchild of N.K. Abdurahiman, the chairperson of Karassery Bank.

 

Human-wildlife conflict declared State-specific disaster in Kerala

The Kerala Cabinet on March 6, 2024 declared human-wildlife conflict a State-specific disaster. The decision comes in the wake of increasing deaths, injuries, and crop and property loss caused by recurrent wildlife incursions into human habitations abutting forests in the State. The Cabinet’s declaration has opened the door for the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority to play a vital role in mitigating such conflicts. The Cabinet also created a committee headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to alleviate the threat of marauding wildlife to humans, especially plantation workers and tribal communities. A panel comprising the Chief Secretary would work out the modalities. It also announced an inter-State coordination committee involving Karnataka and Tamil Nadu forest officials to police the forests contiguous to the three States.

 

India’s first government-owned OTT platform launched in Kerala

Kerala on March 7 launched India’s first government-owned OTT platform ‘CSpace’ with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurating CSpace, managed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), Thiruvananthapuram. The CM said this is a pioneering initiative that gives prominence to Malayalam films with artistic and cultural value without hurting the mainstream film industry. KSFDC is a state-owned company entrusted with the promotion of Malayalam Cinema and industry, under the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. The platform, which operates on a pay per view basis, allows viewers to watch a feature film for Rs 75 and shorter contents for a much lesser price. Exactly half of the amount charged goes to the content provider. Viewers can download the CSpace app from the PlayStore and the App Store.

 

Lakshadweep: Navy commissions INS Jatayu, MH-60R helicopter squadron

The Indian Navy on March 6, 2024 commissioned INS Jatayu at Minicoy Island, its second base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti, in the presence of Admiral Hari Kumar; Administrator of Lakshadweep, Praful K Patel. This will strengthen India’s surveillance and security posture in the strategically located islands close to the Nine Degree channel and critical sea lanes of communication. The Navy also commissioned its first MH-60R multi-role helicopter squadron INAS 334 ‘Seahawks’ at Kochi, Kerala, a major capability boost for its rotary fleet and its anti-submarine warfare capabilities. MH-60R helicopter, produced by US defence giant Lockheed Martin Corporation, is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics and sensors. The chopper is a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter.

 

PM launches India’s first underwater Metro line in Kolkata

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 6, 2024 inaugurated India’s first underwater metro route connecting Kolkata and Howrah in West Bengal along with other connectivity projects across the country worth ₹15,400 crore. The 4.8 km stretch of East-West metro from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade, which passes below the Hooghly river, was built at a cost of ₹4,965 crore. It will also have the deepest metro station in India at Howrah – 30 metres.

 

The prime minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple connectivity projects across India from the same occasion. These include a 5.4km new metro corridor from Kavi Subhash to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay in east Kolkata, a 1.2km extension of the Purple Line metro up to Majerhat, Pune Metro from Ruby Hall Clinic to Ramwadi stretch, Kochi Metro Rail Phase I Extension project (Phase IB) from SN Junction Metro station to Tripunithura Metro station, Agra Metro’s stretch from Taj East Gate to Mankameshwar and Duhai-Modinagar (North) section of Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor.

Kolkata Metro is the first metro system in India which became operational on October 24, 1984.

 

PM visits Arunachal Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the strategically significant Sela Tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh on March 9.

 

Built with a total cost of ₹825 crore by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the tunnel is situated at an altitude of 13,700 feet in West Kameng district on the road connecting Tezpur to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh

 

Sela is the country’s highest tunnel providing all-weather connectivity to the strategic Tawang region and other forward areas bordering China near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

 

The tunnel will also reduce more than one hour of travelling time from Tezpur to Tawang. ​Travellers would be able to avoid the dangerous snow-covered Sela top at a height of 13,700 feet, according to a statement from Prime Minister’s office

 

The project is world’s longest twin-lane tunnel built at an altitude of above 13,000 feet. It comprises Tunnel 1, which is a 980 m long single tube tunnel, and Tunnel 2, which is a 1555 m long twin tube tunnel. Tunnel 2 has one bi-lane tube for traffic and one escape tube for emergencies. It also includes the construction of an approach road of seven kilometres to Tunnel 1, which takes off from BCT Road, and a link road of 1.3 kilometres, which connects Tunnel 1 to Tunnel 2.

 

Other projects

The PM also laid the foundation stone of the Dibang Multipurpose Hydropower Project in the Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, which will be built at a cost of Rs 31,875 crore. It will be the highest dam structure in the country.

 

He inaugurated about 1,100 projects of Jal Jeevan Mission in the state, and 170 telecom towers under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) benefiting more than 300 villages, among others.

The PM also launched a new industrial development scheme for the region, named UNNATI (Uttar Poorva Transformative Industrialisation). The scheme will strengthen the industrial ecosystem in the Northeast, attract new investment, help set up new manufacturing and services units and give a boost to employment.

 

PM visits Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 9, 2024 unveiled the 125-feet tall statue of medieval era Ahom General Lachit Borphukan that has been installed near the latter’s maidam, or the burial tomb, at Hollongapar in Jorhat district of the State. Named “The Statue of Valour”, the statue is part of the Lachit Barphukan Maidam Development Project that also includes a museum, a 500-seating capacity auditorium and a hostel. Lachit Borphukan (24 November 1622 – 25 April 1672) is remembered for his exceptional leadership in the Battle of Saraighat. The Battle of Saraighat was a naval battle fought in 1671 between the Mughal Empire and the Ahom Kingdom (led by Lachit Borphukan) on the Brahmaputra River at Saraighat, now in Guwahati, Assam. Although weaker, the Ahom Army defeated the Mughal Army. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Tinsukia Medical College & Hospital that was constructed at a cost of Rs. 620 crores and the Rs. 4,000-crore Barauni-Guwahati Natural Gas Pipeline under PM Urja Ganga Project.

 

PM virtually inaugurates several projects in Tripura

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 9, 2024 virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation of projects worth Rs 8,534 crore in Tripura, including an integrated check-post at Sabroom along the India-Bangladesh border. He also inaugurated Eklavya Model Residential Schools at Rupaichari and Karbook in South Tripura district at Rs 48 crore and four new schools at Rs 10 crore.

 

PM virtually inaugurates several projects in Meghalaya

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 9, 2024 virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple development projects worth more than Rs 290 crores in Meghalaya. Notable projects for which the foundation stone was laid include the construction of an IT Park in Tura. He also inaugurated a Farmers’ Hostel-cum-Training Centre in Upper Shillong, along with avenues aimed at promotion of sports, tourism and education in the state.

 

Manipur govt. invokes ‘No Work, No Pay’ rule for officials

The Manipur government has invoked the ‘No Work, No Pay’ rule for officials. A statement issued by chief secretary Vineet Joshi on March 6, 2024 said the move was taken following reports that many officials attached with Deputy Commissioners/line departments/field level offices, are not attending the offices to which they have been attached, or not reporting for duty. The officials so attached are those unable to attend office at their usual place of posting on account of the prevailing law and order situation in the state, it stated. Manipur witnessed unprecedented violent clashes, attacks, counter attacks and arsoning of houses, vehicles and government and private properties in more than 10 districts during and after May 3, 2023 ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ called by the All-Tribal Students’ Union of Manipur (ATSUM) to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

 

Gorsam Kora festival held in Arunachal Pradesh

Nestled in the Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh, Zemithang valley along the Nyanmjang Chu River holds historical significance as the sanctuary where the 14th Dalai Lama found refuge upon his escape from Tibet in 1959. This annual festival, the Gorsam Kora is held at Gorsam Chorten, a 93 feet tall Stupa, built during 13th century AD by a local monk- Lama Pradhar.

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Bombay HC acquits UAPA case accused DU ex-Professor, five others

The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on March 5, 2024 acquitted Delhi University ex-professor GN Saibaba and five others, who were convicted under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, for want of proof apart from procedural flaws.  The bench held that the prosecution failed to establish legal seizure of material and could not prove anything incriminating against the accused. The case was “unsustainable in the hands of law”, the court said upholding the appeals of the defendants. Saibaba, 54, is wheelchair-bound and has been lodged in Nagpur central jail. In May 2014, the former DU professor was arrested by the anti-Naxal operations unit of the Maharashtra Police accusing him of being the ‘urban contact’ of banned CPI(Maoist).

 

SC rebukes TN minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for Sanatana Dharma comments

The Supreme Court on March 4, 2024 came down heavily on DMK politician and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his comments on Sanatana Dharma, and said that as a minister he should know the consequences of what he says. “You abuse your right under Article 19(1)(a) (right to freedom of speech and expression of the Constitution). You abuse your right under Article 25 (freedom of conscience, the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate religion).

 

“Now you are exercising your right under Article 32 (to file plea in the Supreme Court directly)? Do you not know the consequences of what you said? You are not a layman. You are a minister. You should know the consequences,” the bench said.

 

“Few things cannot be opposed, that should be abolished only. We can’t oppose Dengue, Mosquitoes, Malaria, or Corona, we have to eradicate this that’s how we have to eradicate Sanatana. Rather opposing Sanatana it should be eradicated,” Stalin had said in September 2023.

 

West Bengal: Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay joins BJP

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay on March 7, 2024 joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a few days after stepping down as a judge of the Calcutta High Court. Earlier in February, the Supreme Court tagged Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee’s plea to issue directions to take action against Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his alleged “continuous politically motivated interviews” in connection with sub-judice cases.

 
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Section J: SPORTS

 

Khelo India medal winners eligible for central govt jobs, promotion now

Medal winners and those finishing at up to third position in different categories of Khelo India games will now be eligible for recruitment, promotion and other incentives meant for sportspersons in central govt.

 

Issuing revised norms for recognition of meritorious sportspersons through incentives including central govt jobs, department of personnel and training (DoPT) on March 4, 2024 announced addition of medal winners in Khelo India Youth Games (aged above 18 years), Khelo India Winter Games, Khelo India Para Games and Khelo India University Games to list of eligible candidates. The new list, like earlier, includes sportspersons who have represented state or country in national/international competitions; medal winners in junior national championships; and medal winners in School Games Federation of India (SGFI) in any of the games or sports mentioned in the instructions.

 

Khelo India were first organised in 2018 to revive sports culture in India at the grassroots level.

 

The order of preference for extending incentives including govt jobs has also been revised, with medal winners or those finishing upto third in Khelo India University Games listed as third preference; and those winning medals or finishing up to third in Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India Winter Games or Khelo India Para Games listed as fourth preference.

 

Candidates who have represented the country in an international competition will continue to be first preference, followed by those who have represented a state/UT in senior or junior level national championships organised by national sports federations recognised by sports ministry or in national games organised by Indian Olympics Association.

 

French Open BWF Super-750 badminton

India’s Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the men’s doubles title at the French Open BWF Super-750 badminton tournament in Paris on March 10, 2024 by defeating Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan of Taiwan in the final 21-11, 21-17. China’s Shi Yu Qi won men’s singles title by defeating Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand 22-20, 21-19 in the final. An Se Young of South Korea defeated Akane Yamaguchi of Japan 18-21, 21-13, 21-10 in the final to win women’s singles title. Women’s doubles title was won by China’s Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan who beat Japan’s Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida in the final 21-12, 19-21, 24-22. China’s Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping bagged the mixed doubles title by defeating South Korea’s Seo Seung Jae and Chae Yu Jung 21-16, 21-16 in the final.

 

India win test series against England 4-1

India (477) defeated England (218, 195) by an innings and 64 runs in 5th test at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala on March 9, 2024 to end series 4-1. Kuldeep Yadav, who took seven wickets, was Player Of The Match while Yashasvi Jaiswal was named Player Of The Series. Playing his 187^th test, England’s James Anderson (41) became the third bowler in the history of test cricket to take 700 wickets. Only spinners Muthiah Muralidaran (800) and Shane Warne (708) are ahead of him.

 

Services win Santosh Trophy

Services lifted the Santosh Trophy for the seventh time, beating Goa 1-0 in the 77^th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy Final at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, on March 9, 2024. P.P. Shafeel scored the only goal of the match. Awards: Best Goalkeeper: Sayad bin Abdul Kadir (Services), Top scorer of the tournament: Phijam Sanathoi Meitei (Manipur) – 11 goals, Player of the tournament: Samir Murmu (Services) and Fair Play Award: Jharkhand.

 

Indian men’s, women’s TT teams qualify for Olympics for the 1^st time

The Indian men’s and women’s teams on March 4, 2024 qualified for the Olympics for the first time ever based on their world rankings. After the conclusion of the World Team Championships Finals in Busan in February 2024, which served as the last qualifying event for the Paris Olympics, seven spots in the team events remained, which have been awarded to sides based on their rankings. “The highest-ranked teams not yet qualified in the latest World Team Ranking booked their ticket to Paris 2024,” ITTF said. In the women’s event, India, ranked 13, Poland (12), Sweden (15), and Thailand have secured their passage to Paris. While Croatia (12), India (15), and Slovenia (11) have secured their spots in the men’s team event.

 

B Sai Praneeth retires from international badminton

World Championships bronze medallist B Sai Praneeth (31) on March 4, 2024 announced his retirement from international badminton, bringing down curtains on a successful career during which he won the Singapore Open and also represented India at the Tokyo Olympics.

 
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