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National News

• India’s Cabinet Committee on Security Approves Development of Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

– The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gives the green light for the development of India’s fifth-generation fighter jet, AMCA.

– Undertaken by DRDO, the AMCA is a 25-tonne twin-engine stealth aircraft with internal weapons bay and Diverter-less Supersonic Intake.

– The project marks India’s first indigenous development of such technology.

– AMCA’s specifications include internal carriage of 1,500 kg payload, 5,500 kg external payload, and 6,500 kg internal fuel.

• Indian Warship Rescues Crew in Two Separate Operations in Gulf of Aden:

– March 6: Rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian, from MV True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged bulk carrier hit in the Gulf of Aden.

– March 4: INS Kolkata responded to distress call from MSC Sky II, a Liberian-flagged container vessel hit southeast of Aden, conducting a successful rescue operation.

• Union Cabinet Extends LPG Subsidy for PMUY Beneficiaries Ahead of General Election:

– Union Cabinet decides to extend LPG subsidy of ₹300 per cylinder for up to 12 refills annually till the end of the next financial year.

– Approximately 10.27 crore beneficiaries under PMUY will benefit from the extended scheme.

– Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal announces the decision, stating a total expenditure of ₹12,000 crore.

– Started as ₹200 per cylinder in May 2022, the subsidy was increased to ₹300 per cylinder in October 2023.

– As of February 1, 2024, the effective price for domestic LPG for PMUY consumers stands at ₹603 per 14.2 kg cylinder.

PM Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) launched on May 1, 2016, by PM Narendra Modi

– Objective: Distribute 50 million LPG connections to BPL women

– Budget: ₹80 billion allocated

– Replaced by Ujjwala Yojana 2.0 in 2021.

• Centre Announces Additional DA and DR for Government Employees and Pensioners:

– The Union Cabinet, in its March 7 meeting in New Delhi, approves extra Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective from January 1, 2024.

– The increase amounts to four percentage points over the existing 46% of basic pay/pension, addressing inflation concerns.

– Union Minister Piyush Goyal states the combined impact on the exchequer is ₹12,868.72 crore annually.

– Approximately 49.18 lakh Central government employees and 67.95 lakh pensioners will benefit from this decision.

• Indigenous Explosive Detectors Developed for Security Forces:

– Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), and DRDO collaborate on two categories of explosive detectors for security forces.

– Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announces the development, emphasizing indigenous efforts.

– The detectors, handed over to the Intelligence Bureau (IB), aim to enhance security measures and are a testament to India’s technological self-reliance.

• Amit Shah to Inaugurate National Cooperative Database for Cooperative-Centric Economic Model:

– Cooperation Minister Amit Shah to launch the national cooperative database on Friday.

– The initiative aims to promote a cooperative-centric economic model.

– Alongside the launch, Amit Shah will release the ‘National Cooperative Database 2023: A Report’.

– The move underscores efforts to strengthen cooperative sectors and their role in economic development.

• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Launches NITI Aayog’s ‘NITI For States’ Platform:

– Minister of Communication, Railways, and Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, inaugurates NITI Aayog’s ‘NITI For States’ digital platform on March 7.

– The platform serves as digital public infrastructure for policy and governance.

– Additionally, Mr. Vaishnaw inaugurates the ‘Viksit Bharat Strategy Room’ at NITI Aayog, reinforcing commitment to strategic planning for national development.

• India’s 1st Dolphin Research Centre Inaugurated in Patna:

– Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurates the National Dolphin Research Center (NDRC), India’s first facility for dolphin research.

– Costing Rs 30 crore, the NDRC is located on the banks of the Ganges within the Patna University campus.

– The center aims to aid students and researchers in understanding the behavior of freshwater dolphins, particularly those inhabiting the Ganges.

– The Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was declared the national aquatic animal in 2009.

• The NDRC project was approved in 2013 on the request of

Professor R.K. Sinha — also known as the Dolphin Man of

India.

• India’s 1st Under-River Metro Tunnel Inaugurated in Kolkata:

– PM Modi inaugurates India’s inaugural under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata, a transportation milestone.

– The tunnel spans under the Hooghly River, connecting Howrah Maidan to Esplanade, completing the first such passage beneath a mighty river in India.

– The metro journey through the 520-meter stretch under the Hooghly River takes only 45 seconds.

– Executed at a cost of Rs 4,965 crore, the Howrah Metro Station, situated 33 meters below ground level, is India’s deepest metro station.

– The project is undertaken by the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL).

– Kolkata proudly holds the distinction of being the first city in India with an operational metro system.

• ICAR-IIHR Unveils India’s First Ready-to-Serve Dragon Fruit Beverage and Jackfruit Curry:

– ICAR-IIHR scientists create groundbreaking ready-to-serve dragon fruit beverage and ready-to-eat jackfruit curry, showcased at the National Horticulture Fair in Bengaluru.

– Karnataka exports over 800 tonnes of tender jackfruit, gaining popularity as a meat substitute, to countries like Bangladesh and Thailand.

– This innovation highlights India’s strides in offering unique and diverse agricultural products.

• Postal Ballot Option Extended to 85+ Senior Citizens for Elections by the Union Gov.:

– The Union Law Ministry amends ‘Conduct of Elections Rules-1961,’ raising the age criterion for senior citizens eligible for postal ballots from “above 80 years” to “above 85 years.”

– Previously, Section 27(A) (e) defined senior citizens as those above 80 years.

– The postal ballot facility, introduced in 2019, now covers persons with disabilities, absentee voters in essential services, and senior citizens (above 85 years).

– Officials visit those opting for postal ballots at home, facilitating the process under the scrutiny of political parties and videography.

• India’s First IN-SPACe Technical Centre Inaugurated in Ahmedabad:

– Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurates the first-of-its-kind IN-SPACe Technical Centre in Ahmedabad.

– Provides private sector unprecedented opportunities for rigorous testing and validation of space technologies, fostering rocket and satellite development.

– India targets a five-fold increase in the space economy by 2030, currently standing at USD 8 billion.

•  IN-SPACe:

– IN-SPACe is tasked with promoting, enabling, authorizing, and supervising various space activities of non-governmental entities.

– Responsibilities include building launch vehicles & satellites, providing space-based services, sharing space infrastructure, and establishing new space facilities.

– Headquartered in Bopal, Ahmedabad, with Dr. Pawan Kumar Goenka as Chairman.

• Raksha Mantri Unveils ‘Chola’ Building, a Naval Tribute in Goa:

– In a significant ceremony, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates the cutting-edge Administrative & Training building, christened ‘Chola,’ at the Naval War College in Goa.

– This contemporary structure serves as a symbolic ode to the formidable maritime legacy of the ancient Chola dynasty in India, reflecting a fusion of tradition and modernity in naval education and administration.

• First Comprehensive Book on Indian Modern Art, “The Gems of Indian Art,” Launched:

– The book, edited by veteran art critic Vinod Bhardwaj, documents the late Harish Khullar’s collection of 20th-century Indian modern and contemporary art.

– A practical and comprehensive resource, “The Gems of Indian Art” marks a significant contribution to the documentation of India’s artistic heritage.

• Khelo India Medalists Eligible for Government Jobs with Revised Criteria:

– Medal winners in Khelo India competitions, including Youth, University, Para, and Winter Games, now qualify for government jobs under revised criteria.

– The Khelo India Games, initiated in 2018 under the Modi Government, aim to rejuvenate sports culture at the grassroots level.

• Seminar on Strategic Engagement with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) Held by Department of Economic Affairs:

– The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, conducts a seminar in New Delhi on ‘Facilitating Strategic Engagement with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) for a Future-Ready India.’

– Secretary Ajay Seth shares the vision of an empowered, inclusive India, emphasizing the transformation of MDBs towards a Better, Bigger, and Bolder system.

– The seminar aims to strengthen the commitment to Viksit Bharat 2047, exploring ways to enhance India’s engagement with MDBs for transformative impact.

– Over 200 participants from the Government of India, State Governments, MDBs operating in India, and major private sector partners attend the seminar.

• World’s Largest Literary Festival ‘Sahityotsav’ Set for March 11-16:

– Sahitya Akademi hosts the world’s largest literary festival, ‘Sahityotsav,’ from March 11 to 16, commemorating 70 years of Sahitya Akademi.

– Over a hundred renowned writers and scholars will participate in the festival, featuring more than 190 sessions representing over 175 languages.

– The festival’s highlight includes the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2023 presentation ceremony on March 12 at New Delhi’s Kamani Auditorium, with Chief Guest Pratibha Rai, a distinguished Odia writer.

– The Samvatsar lecture on March 13 at the Meghdoot open theatre will be delivered by renowned Urdu writer and lyricist Gulzar.

• Karnataka and Rajasthan Launch Auction of Exploration Licence for Critical Minerals:

– Karnataka and Rajasthan pioneer the auction of Exploration Licence (EL) for critical and deep-seated minerals, marking the first such auction in India.

– Karnataka auctions one block for Gold, Copper, and Lithium, while Rajasthan auctions three blocks for Rare Earth Elements, Rare Metal, and Potash minerals.

– The amendment to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in 2023 introduced the new mineral concession of Exploration Licence for 29 critical and deep-seated minerals, promoting exploration and mining in the country.

– The auctioned exploration licenses will facilitate reconnaissance and prospecting for challenging minerals like Cobalt, Lithium, Nickel, Gold, Silver, and Copper.

– The initiative aims to attract expertise from global Junior Mining Companies, leveraging their capabilities in acquiring, processing, and interpreting exploration data, enhancing the discovery of deep-seated mineral deposits through advanced technologies.

State News

• Kerala Introduces ‘Sabari K Rice’ to Counter ‘Bharat Rice’ Sales:

– Kerala launches ‘Sabari K Rice’ to counter the Central government’s ‘Bharat Rice,’ available soon at Supplyco depots.

– The ‘K Rice’ will be procured at Rs 40.11 per kg, offered to consumers at a subsidized rate of Rs 29.

– Ration card holders can purchase up to 5 kilograms of K-Rice monthly in this initiative led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Business & Finance

• Alok Rungta appointed as the new Managing Director & CEO of Future Generali India Life Insurance, succeeding Bruce De Broize, who will continue until March 31.
• RBI and Bank Indonesia Sign MoU to Promote Cross-Border Transactions in Local Currencies:

– The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Bank Indonesia (BI) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Mumbai to boost the use of local currencies, Indian Rupee (INR), and Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) for cross-border transactions.

– Signed by RBI Governor Mr. Shaktikanta Das and BI Governor Mr. Perry Warjiyo, the collaboration strengthens bilateral cooperation and promotes trade, financial integration, and historical ties between India and Indonesia.

– The MoU covers current account transactions, permissible capital account transactions, and other agreed economic and financial transactions.

– Facilitating invoicing and payments in domestic currencies, the framework aims to develop an INR-IDR foreign exchange market, optimizing costs and settlement time for transactions.

Sports

• Shabnim Ismail Sets Record with Fastest Delivery in Women’s Cricket:

– South African pacer Shabnim Ismail makes history with the fastest recorded delivery in women’s cricket, reaching an impressive 132.1km/h (82.08mph).

– Achieved during a Women’s Premier League match for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals, this milestone breaks the 130kph barrier for the first time since the introduction of speed guns.

– Ismail, who recently retired from international cricket, showcases remarkable skill in this historic achievement.

Ranks & Indices

• India Improves in World Bank’s Women, Business and Law Index:

– India climbs to 113th rank out of 190 countries in the 2024 Women, Business and Law index, a significant improvement from the 2023 ranking of 126.

– The World Bank’s index assesses the enabling environment for women’s economic opportunities, measuring legal rights on a scale from 0 to 100.

– Covering eight key areas, including mobility, workplace, pay, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship, assets, and pension, the report reveals that Indian women enjoy 60% of the legal rights granted to men, below the global average of 64.2%.

– This 10th edition underscores the global absence of any country with full scores, indicating unequal rights for women worldwide.

• World Bank Overview

– The World Bank comprises the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA).

– Headquartered in Washington, DC, U.S., with Ajay Banga as the President.

– Established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference alongside the IMF.

– It serves as an international financial institution, offering loans and grants to low and middle-income/developing countries for capital projects.

International News

• Sweden Officially Joins NATO as 32nd Member Amid Rising Concerns about Russian Aggression:

– On March 7, Sweden formally becomes the 32nd member of NATO, abandoning decades-long post-World War II neutrality.

– The ceremony, held at the State Department, was attended by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

– Sweden’s decision to join the transatlantic military alliance is driven by heightened concerns about Russian aggression in Europe, particularly in the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

• President Biden to Announce U.S. Military Building Temporary Port and Pier on Gaza’s Coastline:

– In his State of the Union address, President Biden will reveal plans for a temporary port and pier on Gaza’s coastline to facilitate a new route for humanitarian aid.

– The initiative is part of Biden’s  strategy to “flood the zone” with assistance through air, land, and sea channels.

– Hamas announces the departure of its delegation from cease-fire negotiations in Cairo to consult on issues, including aid and the return of displaced people.

– Cease-fire talks are expected to resume next week, with increasing pressure to reach an agreement before the start of  Ramadan.

– First Arab Woman Graduates from NASA Astronaut Program:

– Nora al-Matrooshi achieves a historic milestone as the first Arab woman to graduate from NASA’s astronaut training program.

– Her graduation marks a significant step forward for diversity and inclusion in space exploration.

– Nora al-Matrooshi is now poised and prepared for her journey into space, representing a groundbreaking achievement for Arab women in the field of space exploration.

Current Affairs              8^th & 9^th March, 2024

Importance of the Day

• 8^th March : This day is celebrated as “International Women’s Day” globally. Its theme for the year 2024 is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”.
  • National Women’s Day is celebrated on 13^th February every year commemorating the Birth Anniversary of Sarojini Naidu.

Books and Personalities

• The book “India’s Contemporary Macroeconomic Themes- Looking Beyond 2020” honouring Former Chairman, Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister and former RBI Governor, C. Rangarajan, was launched at an event organised at Madras School of Economics. The editors of this book are D.K. Shrivastava and K.R. Shanmugham.

Awards

• As a first time to an Indian Industry Leader, IAA (International Advertising Association) Golden Compass Award was awarded to Srinivasan K. Swamy, CMD of RK Swami Ltd. at the 45^th IAA World Congress held in Penang, Malayasia.
• President Draupadi Murmu presents the President’s Standard and Colours to four IAF Units :
  • President’s Standard award (for 18 years of excellent service): 45 Squadron and 221 Squadron.
  • President’s Colours award (for 25 years of excellent service): 11 Base Repair Depot and 509 Signal Unit.     
• National Creators Award: PM Modi has awarded the first ever National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi in 20 different categories.
  • Disruptor of the Year – Ranveer Allahbadia
  • Creative Social Change – Jaya Kishori
  • Agriculture Impact – Lakshya Dabas
  • Cultural Ambassador – Maithili Thakur
  • Travel Content Creation- Kamiya Jani (Curly Tales)
  • Tech Innovation – Gaurav Chaudhary (Technical Guruji)
  • Culinary Excellence – Kabita’s Kitchen

National News

• President Draupadi Murmu has nominated Philanthropist Sudha Murty to Rajya Sabha. The President can nominate 12 persons from some specific areas to the Rajya Sabha. The Minimum age to be a member of the Rajya Sabha is 30 years.
• The Government of India have launched the IndiaAI Mission with a financial outlay of Rs.10,372 crore for high-end capacity building in Artificial Intelligence.
• “Pink Patrol” initiative was flagged off from Women’s Police Station in Gandhinagar, Jammu for safety and security of women and girls.
• The Union Cabinet has approved 4% hike in Dearness Allowance for the central government employees and pensioners with retrospective effect from January 1, 2024.
• The Jharkhand Government led by CM Champai Soren launches ‘Vidhwa Punarvivah Protsahan Yojana’ as a first of its kind in the country. Under this scheme the widows willing to get married again ( who should be of marriageable age, not a govt employee, pensioner or IT Payer) would be provided Rs.2 Lakh rupees as an incentive by the Government.
• ‘IRIS’, a humanoid generative AI teacher was unveiled at KTCT Higher Secondary School at the capital of the state in association with Makerlabs Edu Tech Pvt. Ltd.
  • This development is a part of NITI Aayog’s 2021 Project “Atal Tinkering Lab” under its “Atal Innovation Mission” that promotes students’ extra-curricular activities in the schools.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Virtually) and UP CM Yogi Adityanath unveils the Agra Metro from The Taj Mahal Station. This is the sixth metro running in Uttarpradesh.
• Bharat Steam Boiler Expo 2024:
  • Venue – Guwahati, Assam
  • Aim – to promote growth and efficiency of various industries that use steam boilers along side facilitating the exchange of knowledge and innovation.
• An MoU was signed between CSIR-IIP (Indian Institute of Petroleum), Dehradun and UCOST under the “Adarsh Champawat Mission”, to implement the Pine-Needle based fuel-making technology in Champawat.
• National Youth Parliament 2024:
  • 1^st Edition – 2019
  • Objective – To listen to the voice of youth belonging to the age bracket of 18 – 25 who are eligible for voting but ineligible to be represented in the legislatures.
  • Minimum age for representation – LS : 25Y, RS:35Y.
• Under the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 Scheme, PM Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone of “Experience of Spirituality at Chitrakoot Ghat” project in Chitrakoot, MP
• Union Minister Piyush Goyal launches the ‘e-Kishan Upaj Nidhi’ scheme of Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) to ease farmers’ warehousing logistics.
• Indian Oil, the largest oil company unveils ‘Storm’ petrol to be used in the Asian region moto-Formula 1 Championship.
• Bengaluru becomes the first state in India to have a 10.8 km driverless metro.
• Kerala becomes the first state in the country to launch its own state-run OTT  Platform named ‘CSpace’.

Defence and Tech

• Indian Navy commissions INAS 334 ‘SEAHAWKS’ – its first MH60R Squadron at INS Garuda, Southern Naval Command, Kochi.

Banking & Finance News

• The Reserve Bank of India and the Bank Indonesia signs an MoU to promote the use of local currency Indian Rupee and Indonesian Rupiah for cross border transaction.

International News

• During the visit of D-8 Trade Ministers in Dhaka, Bangladesh PM Seikh Hasina introduced the idea of using a common currency among the Muslimcountries on the lines of European Union to give a fillip to their cross-country trade and commerce.
  • D8: It is an organisation  for Economic Cooperation among the Muslim Countries set up in 1997. The members are – Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia.
• Sweden becomes the 32^nd Member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) after Finland (31^st).
  • NATO:
    • Foundation: 1949,  Washington Treaty.
    • Purpose: It is a military and security alliance of countries from North America and Europe to counter the domination of the erstwhile USSR. An attack against any of the member country by an external nation would be considered an attack against all.
    • Secretary: Gen. Jens Stoltenberg.
• Panama becomes the 97^th Member  to ratify the International Solar Alliance. Chile and Hungary are the 95^th and 96^th Member respectively.
  • The ISA was formed in 2015 with the joint venture of India and France. Its Head quarter is in Gurugram, India.
    • ISA DG: Dr. Ajay Mathur.

Current Affairs              10^th, 11^th & 12^th February

Important Days

• 10^th March: CISF Raising Day.
  • CISF – Central Industrial Security Force – was established on this day in 1969 and  is one of the seven CAPFs.
  • DG of CISF: Nina Singh
• 10^th March: International Day of Women Judges.
  • Theme: “Women in Justice, Women for Justice.”
• 11^th March: 134^th Foundation Day of the National Archives of India. It is an office under the Ministry of Culture , established in 1891 in Kolkata under the name of ‘Imperial Record Department’.
• 12^th March: President Draupadi Murmu will be the chief guest in the celebrations of  Mauritian National Day.

Appointments & Personalities

• Rajendra Prasad Goyal has been appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director of NHPC Ltd. on an additional charge.
  • NHPC Ltd. (erstwhile National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd.) is a Mini Ratna-I CPSE.
    • HQ- Faridabad, Haryana.
• Election Commissioner Arun Goel stands resigned from his post after President Draupadi Murmu has accepted her resignation. Following this, the three membered body – Election Commission stays with just Chief Election Commissioner Rajeev  Kumar since Arun Pandey, the other Election Commissioner retired in last February.
  • The Election Commission was set up in 1950. It consists of three person, one CEC and two Election Commissioners.
• Paralympic Gold Medalist, Javelin thrower, Devendra Jhajharia becomes the new President of Paralympic Committee of India.
• Kishor Makwana has been appointed as the Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC).
  • NCSC is mentioned in the Article 338 of the Indian Constitution.

Awards

• 71^st Miss World pageant 2023/24 :
  • Venue: Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai (After 28 years being held in India).
  • Participation from 112 countries.
  • Hosts: Karan Johar and Megan Young.
  • Winner: Krystyna Pyszkova (Czech Republic)
  • Indian Representative – Sini Shetty.
• India receives the “Measels and Rubella Champion” Global Award for its superlative combating efforts at the American Red Cross Headquarters, in Washington.
• The 96^th Academy (Oscar) Awards 2024:
  • Presented by: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS)  on 10 th March.
  • Venue: Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, LA, US
  • Host: Jimmy Kimmel (4^th Time)
  • Best Actor: Cillian Murphy, ‘Oppenheimer’.
  • Best Director: Christopher Nolan, ‘Oppenheimer’.
  • Best Picture: “Oppenheimer”
  • Best Actress: Emma Stone, “Poor Things”.
  • Best Supporting Actor: Robert Downey Jr. , “Oppenheimer”.
  • Best Supporting Actress: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Woldovers”.
  • Best Song: “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish from “Barbie”
  • Best International Feature Film: “The Zone of Interest”.
  • Best Animated Feature: “The Boy and the Heron”.
  • Best Documentary Feature: “20 Days in Mariupol”.

National News

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Sela Tunnel, built by the Border Road Organisation (BRO) at a cost of Rs. 825 crore in Arunachal Pradesh, above13000 ft. that connects Tezpur of Assam to Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh.
  • It is the world’s longest bi-lane tunnel at an altitude above 13000ft.
• PM Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone for  2880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project in Lower Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh. After its completion around 2032, this 278 metre high dam is going to be the highest Concrete-GravityDam of India.
  • It is also going to be the highest RCC (roller compacted concrete) dam of the World.
• Annual holy Gorsam Kora Festival is going to be held at Tawang’s Zemithang. The festival is attended by not only Buddhists of entire NE India, but also many Bhutanese Nationals. The Gorsam Chorten, a 93 ft. tall stupa is a landmark icon in Himalayan Buddhism. It is the place where the 14^th Dalai Lama took refuge after his escape from Tibet in 1959.
  • Theme: “Zero Waste Festival”.
• India is set to explore the ocean bed by the end of 2025 with its ‘Matsya 6000’ deep sea exploration vehicle under the ‘Samudrayaan Mission’. Threepersonnel will be sent to 6000 mt under water for exploration and research purpose under this mission. This mission was commissioned in 2021 under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  • The ‘Matsya 6000’ vehicle is developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the 125mt Bronze Statue of Ahom Military General Lachit Borphukan in Assam’s Jorhat. the statue was sculpted by Ram Vanji Sutar.
• Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology , Ashwini Vaishnaw has launched India’s fastest and indigenously developed  IP/MPLS router (Multiprotocol Label Switching) in Bengaluru. This router comes with a lightning speed of 2.4 Terabits Per Second (TBPS).
• North India’s first Government Homeopathic College has been established in Kathua of J&K.
• Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Sekhawat has launched the first edition of the “Jal Shakti Abhiyaan: Catch the Rain” campaign under the National Water Mission.
  • Theme: “Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti”.
• The annual 15 days campaign of Poshan Pakhwada is being celebrated from 9^th March to 23^rd March under which mass sensitisation and community activities will be held.
  • Theme 2024: Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi.
  • The POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nutrition) abhiyaan was launched by the Prime Minister on 8^th March, 2018.
• India’s first Cooperative Museum is being set up in Kozhikode, that will showcase the growth and legacy of India’s cooperative movement , especially in Kerala. Maharashtra is the state with the most number of cooperatives in India – 2.3 lakh.

State News

• Union Minister for Power and Renewable Energy, R.K. Singh has laid the foundation of NTPC REL’s 630 MW Barethi Solar Project in Madhya Pradesh.
• The Chattisgarh govt. has launched the ‘Mahtari Vandan Yojana’ under which each  70 lakh women of the state belonging to the age group of 23 to 60 will be provided a monthly amount of Rs.1000 through DBT.

Reports and Indices

• According to a report, Kerala emerges as the top state with the most number of Passports issued to women till 2023, followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Gujarat.
  • Kerala is also the top state with highest number of total passport holders (both female and male) with 98.92 lakh passports.
  • This high magnitude of Passport Penetration is mainly attributed to the high literacy rate in the state.

Defence and Tech

• Indian and US Coast Guards participates in the maritime security exercise “Exercise Sea Defenders -2024” in Port Blair.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fires the first indigenously developed intercontinental land ballistic missile of India AGNI-5, from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha Coast.
  • It is  a MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) with a range over 5000 km having three-stage solid fuelled engine.
  • Agni 5 is a surface to surface ballistic missile developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) – a brainchild of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
    • Under the IGMDP, DRDO is to develop 5 premium indigenous missiles: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag.

Sports

• Indian Badminton Duo, famed as “Brothers of Destruction” Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty has won the French Open for a second time after winning over Taiwan.
• 77^th National Football Championship, Santosh Trophy :
  • Venue of Final: Golden Jubilee Stadium, Papum, Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Winners: Services
  • Runners: Goa

Red Bull F1 Racer Max Verstappen wins the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024