Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Monthly One Liners - March 2021
Monthly One Liners - March 2021
Monthly One Liners - March 2021
• World NGO Day is commemorated on 27th February online services of the Women and Child Development
• Rare Disease Day is held on the last day of February • Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
every year to raise awareness of rare diseases. has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding
• Every year, National Science Day is celebrated (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to
on February 28, to mark the discovery of the Raman develop the MSME ecosystem in the State.
effect by Indian physicist Sir CV Raman, back in 1928 • In Kerala, amid the Covid-19 pandemic the devotees
• Protein Day is an annual awareness day observed will take part in the Attukal pongala from their homes.
on February 27th, that aims to rally towards the • In Gujarat, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel
mission of protein awareness and sufficiency in India. launched ‘Gujarat Budget’ mobile application at
Chenab River in Kouri area, will achieve • Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan laid the
• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has acres of land at District Hospital Mon, Nagaland.
announced that UPI AutoPay has now gone live • The growth in India’s real GDP during 2020-21 is
Javadekar has said that the new guidelines for social • The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority
media intermediaries, OTT platforms and Digital Media of India (IRDAI) has directed all general and health
will bring uniformity among all in the field of media. insurance companies to mandatorily offer a standard
• Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra personal accident insurance policy by 1 April, 2021.
Singh Tomar inaugurated Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021 • Private lenders HDFC Bank and Kotak Mahindra
at Noida Haat. Bank have initiated exchanges that they have invested
allowed domestic flight operators to give concessions • The ‘E-Daakhil’ portal for consumer grievance
in ticket prices to travellers who carry no baggage or redressal is now operational in 15 states and Union
• An Indian company Omega Seiki will set up an electric • Sharad Goklani has been appointed as President &
• State Bank of India has tied up with JPMorgan to use • Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry
the US bank’s blockchain technology to speed up of Jal Shakti has announced the selection of twelve
• Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala • Khadi and Village Industry Commission’s e-Market
Sitharaman has participated virtually in the First G20 Portal has registered a gross turnover of over one crore
Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors 10 lakh rupees in just eight months of its launch.
(FMCBG) meeting under the Italian Presidency to • Union Minister of Science and Technology Harsh
discuss policy actions for transformative and equitable Vardhan highlighted how science technology and
• Yusuf Pathan, former India all-rounder, announced his skills and functioning in the post-pandemic world.
retirement from all formats of cricket. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that there is a lot
• Pacer Vinay Kumar announced his retirement from all of contribution of the power of science in
• Renowned Malayalam poet, priest and academician • Government has said that monitoring and predictive
Vishnu Narayanan Namboothiri died on. He was 81 analysis of prices of essential commodities has taken a
years old. giant step forward in India Mobile App for price
• Michael Somare, Papua New Guinea’s first prime monitoring of 22 essential commodities.
minister, who played a major role in leading the country • Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office
to independence from Australia, died in Port Moresby, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the first academic
• The Zero Discrimination Day is held every year on 1 • Russia has successfully launched its first satellite to
March.Zero Discrimination Day is an annual day monitor the Arctic’s climate and environment.
celebrated by the United Nations (UN) and other • Global money laundering watchdog the Financial
• The 45th Civil Accounts Day was celebrated in New its terrorism financing “grey list”.
• The City Innovation Exchange (CiX) platform was congratulated Foreign Minister of Brazil Ernesto Araújo
launched by Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, for successful launch of Amazonia-1 on ISRO’s
Science and Technology Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) • Public-sector lender Canara Bank said its Executive
inaugurated a 2-day long 6th Technology Exhibition Director Matam Venkata Rao has been appointed as
cum Seed Sale Mela on the theme “Shaping the Future the new MD & CEO of Central Bank of India.
Farming for Better Returns” at Shalimar campus of the • KPMG in India appoints Anindya Basu as National
• The Union Minister of Health Harsh Vardhan arrived in • Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has virtually addressed
• Federal Bankis set to launch credit cards in coming the Global Association for Physicians of Indian Origin
months and remains bullish about growth opportunities (GAPIO), through video conference.
• Digital financial services firm Paytm said it achieved been awarded the prestigious Golden Globe for Best
over 2 billion monthly transactions on its platform, Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama.
driven by growth in offline payments and financial • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive the
• SBI General Insuranceand Indian Overseas award during an annual international energy
distribution of non-life offerings. • As part of the Maritime India Summit 2021, Cochin Port
• Announcing the fellowships, Principal Scientific Trust has signed three MoU’s for developing a Free
Adviser to the Government of India, Prof. K. Vijay Trade Warehousing Zone, Cryogenic Warehous and
Raghavan said, India is a diverse cultural wonder with Aviation Fuel Terminal.
our practices and lifestyle being confronted by many • The Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT) has signed MoUs
• United Nations Secretary-General António and government agencies ahead of the Maritime India
Guterreshas announced the appointment of Ligia Summit 2021, which will be held in virtual mode from
Head of the New York Office of the United Nations • The Indian trio of Mairaj Ahmed Khan, Angad Vir Singh
Environment Programme. Bajwa and Gurjoat Khangura won the bronze medal in
• Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs Tarun men’s skeet team event at the International Shooting
Bajaj has been given additional charge of Department Sport Federation tournament (ISSF) Shotgun World
Command.
• The Third Jan Aushadhi Diwas celebrations began Mar of India Act, 1934.
01. The week-long celebrations will go on till 7th of • Bank of India organised a cricket tournament for AMO
• The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI) celebrated Pichukulagunta Grounds in Guntur.
its 9th Foundation Day on 01 March 2021. • Telangana Grameena Bank, Andhra Pradesh
• Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal virtually Grameena Vikas Bank becomes first RRBs in the
presided the Third Governing Council Meeting of the country to adopt this tech that offers zero contact
Gadkari launched the Real-Time Monitoring System of • Bharat Petroleum Corporation Board has approved
Toll Plazas at a function in New Delhi. sale of its 61.65 percent stake in Numaligarh Refinery
• Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry launched the field for 9,875 crore rupees.
assessment of Swachh Survekshan -2021 at a web • Suryakirans, Sarang and Light Combat Aircraft
• Minister for Social justice and Empowerment from March 3 to 5 as part of the 70th-anniversary
Thaawarchand Gehlot will virtually launch “Sugamya celebrations of the Sri Lankan Air Force.
Bharat App” and a handbook entitled “Access – The • In the Indian Space Research Organisation’s
Photo Digest”. (ISRO) first mission of the year, the country’s polar
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Maritime rocket successfully launched Brazilian satellite
India Summit-2021 through video conferencing. Amazonia-1 and 18 other satellites from the Satish
• On World Wildlife Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s
• In Ladakh, Councillor (Town) LAHDC, Kargil Haji Mahotsav 2021 in West Bengal organized by
Mohammad Abass Adulpa inaugurated a Pradhan the Ministry of Culture, Government of India began on
Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra at District Hospital, 27th February 2021 at Murshidabad, West Bengal.
Kargil to celebrate the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi • The Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth
• In the eastern Ladakh region, zero border villages are Vardhan inaugurated the second edition of Global Bio-
now getting better connectivity by all means. India-2021 in New Delhi through virtual mode.
• RBI has announced through a notification issued dated • Anindya Dutta has written the book titled “Advantage
22 February 2021 that Fino Payments Bank has been India: The Story of Indian Tennis”.
• Jaideep Bhatnagar has taken over as Principal Director • India announced it will send a consignment of 1,000
General, Press Information Bureau. metric tonnes of rice and 100,000 tablets of
Mexico, has been appointed as the next High • The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime
Commissioner to Australia, the Ministry of External Minister Narendra Modi was apprised of the signing
• Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the appointment of (MoU) between India and French Republic in the field
former Australia all-rounder, Tom Moody, as the new of renewable energy cooperation.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will receive inaugural session on ‘Harnessing Education, Research
the CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment and Skill Development for an Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
Leadership Award this week in recognition of • Union Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal
his commitment to sustainability in the energy and the ‘Nishank’ released the study material of Indian
• The Golden Globes 2021 ceremony was held March 1. Open Schooling (NIOS) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
• The first M K Arjunan Master award was conferred on • The Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha Television
lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi. channels that broadcast the proceedings of the upper
• India’s star wrestler Vinesh Phogat defeated 2017 and lower Houses of Parliament, respectively, have
world champion V Kaladzinskay to win the gold medal been merged into a single entity.
at the Outstanding Ukrainian Wrestlers and Coaches • Israel’s president formally received the first-ever
• The All India Football Federation confirmed Odisha as last year’s historic agreement between the countries.
the venue for the 2020-21 edition of the Indian • A new passenger train service between Dhaka and
March 04 Bangladesh.
• The world observes World Hearing Day on March • Nagaland launched its first air cargo services
Rehabilitate, Communicate’, to address hearing loss • Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap
and ear diseases across the life course Chandra Sarangi have expressed concern over the fire
• World Wildlife Day is observed annually on March 3 to spreading in the forest areas of Similipal in the
celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s flora and Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, which is a Tiger Reserve
• A two-day national seminar on National Education Biocon Biologics as the Chief Commercial Officer –
Policy and its Implementation, organised by Makhanlal Emerging Markets (CCO-EMs) w.e.f. March 1, 2021.
Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and • Lijo Jose Pellissery’s Jallikattu has been nominated for
Communication, Bhopal, NITI Aayog and Bharatiya the prestigious Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE)
(Sebi) eased the listing norms for large companies, • The Rotary Police Engagement (ROPE) Lifetime
apparently paving the way for the much-awaited mega Achievement awards were presented to senior police
float of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). officers in the state who have taken the initiative to
• The gross GST revenue collected in the month of modernise and popularise Kerala Police.
February is one lakh 13 thousand 143 crore rupees. • The Dharwad-headquartered Karnataka Vikas
• Academy of Fraud Investigations along with Grameena Bank (KVGB) has signed memorandum of
Consult Verraton have developed Trayambak, a understanding (MoU) with Our Food Pvt Ltd,
solution to prevent ATM, online banking and PoS (point Visakhapatnam, for arranging cost-effective processing
• Homegrown payments and banking technology • In Boxing, Deepak Kumar (52kg) wins the silver medal
company, Cashfree on announced its partnership with at the 72nd Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia,
PayPal to enable international payments for Bulgaria.
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in the and recognized by the Deaf International Cricket
Exercise Desert Flag-VI along with the air forces of Council (DICC) will organize the 2nd ODI National
the UAE, the US, France, Saudi Arabia, South Korea Zone Cricket Championship league for the deaf
• Asia’s richest person and Reliance Industries chairman • Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha MP Nandkumar
Mukesh Ambani has been ranked eighth on the Hurun Singh Chauhan He was 69.
Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has resigned after he was • National Safety Day is observed on March 4 every year
allegedly caught up in a sex scandal CD released. to commemorate the foundation of the National Safety
Officerof its Retail Finance Business. • On March 4 India is celebrated as National Security
• Biocon Biologics Ltd., a fully integrated ‘pure play’ Day (Rashtriya Suraksha Diwas) every year, in
biosimilars company and a subsidiary of Biocon the honor of the Indian Security Forces.
• Government on 2nd March 2021 notified India in the Ease of living Survey conducted by
comprehensive amendments to the Insurance the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Ombudsman Rules, 2017, with a view to improve the • The State Bank of India (SBI) Mutual Funds has
working of the Insurance Ombudsman mechanism to launched its first overseas offering on 1 March 2021.
facilitate resolution of complaints regarding deficiencies • Private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank will handle
in insurance services in a timely, cost-effective and the salary account of the Indian army personnel.
• The ‘Made in India’ optical spectrograph named as sale of its 61.65 percent stake in Numaligarh Refinery
Aries-Devasthal Faint Object Spectrograph & Camera for 9,875 crore rupees.
(ADFOSC) is indigenously designed and developed • India received the highest ever Foreign Direct
by Aryabhatta Research Institute of observational Investments of over 67 billion US dollars for the first
• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the Nag • Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh
River Pollution Abatement Project has been approved Puri announced the release of the final rankings
at a cost of over Rs 2,117 crore. of Ease of Living Index-2020 and the Municipal
• Wipro has joined the World Economic Forum’s Performance Index-2020 in New Delhi in an online
equity and justice for people of all racial backgrounds charge of Central Reserve Police
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash • Six-time world champion pugilist Mary Kom has been
Javadekar held a meeting with representatives of Over appointed as the Chairperson of the International
the Top, OTT industry and explained to them the Boxing Association’s (AIBA) champions and veterans
• The UN General Assembly adopted by consensus a • The 30th Bihari Puraskar for 2020 will be given
resolution sponsored by India and supported by to Mohankrishna Bohara for his Hindi book of Criticism,
over 70 nations declaring 2023 as the International titled Taslima: Sangharsh aur Sahitya.
Year of Millets • Mumbai City FC beat ATK Mohun Bagan 2-0 and
• Newly formed Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir Union finished at the top of the ongoing Indian Super League,
Territories will have a separate cell in National thereby clinching the ISL League Winners Shield and
Commission for Women (NCW). securing a spot in the 2022 AFC Champions League.
• Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has tweeted • On Feb 25 to 28, 2021, Indian shuttlers Varun
that Bengaluru has emerged as the most livable city in Kapur and Malvika Bansod registered hard-fought wins
respectively at the 2021 Uganda International in • Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Railway
• India captain Virat Kohli has recorded another century, station in Maharashtra to be awarded with Gold
albeit not on the pitch this time, as he became the first certification as per CII’s Indian Green Building
cricketer in the world to have 100 million followers on Council (IGBC) ratings.
social media platform Instagram. • The first of its kind in North Kashmir, Community Radio
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to former Army for the Awam in Mazbugh, Sopore.
Chief Minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik on his 105th Birth • In Meghalaya, the State Government launched the
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a virtual summit the Meghalaya Identification Registration (Safety and
with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Löfven. Security) of Migrant Workers Act 2020, in a function
‘Nishank’ announced opening of two new Kendriya • The World Bank plans to introduce a $100-million credit
• Indian Medicines Pharmaceutical Corporation Limited Bank for a strategic co-lending service that will facilitate
(IMPCL) will sell products on the Government e-Market retail home loans at competitive rates.
• SpaceX successfully tested its Starship SN10 and Android app icon again.
prototype rocket after two recent failed attempts. • India and the Philippines have signed a key
its national app portal bdapps.com. deals on military hardware, including the potential
his German counterpart Heiko Maas. • Senior diplomat Manpreet Vohra has been appointed
• The Karnataka government has launched the country’s as India’s next High Commissioner to Australia,
maiden Engineering Research & Development (ER&D) the Ministry of External Affairs
Policy to raise its contribution to the sector in the • Drug major Glenmark Pharma said it has signed
country to 45% in the next five years. cricketer Rohit Sharma as brand ambassador for its
• The Udaipur Science Centre, at Udaipur, Tripura was product Candid Powder.
dedicated to the people by the Governor of Tripura, • American filmmaker Zack Snyder will be presented with
Shri Ramesh Bais on 28th February 2021. the first-ever Valiant Award from The Hollywood Critics
Association at the virtual fourth Annual HCA Film • Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal
Awards ceremony. ‘Nishank’ inaugurated the New Delhi World Book Fair
the CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment • A new cultural centre of the High Commission of
• The Tata Nexon EV won the inaugural Green Dr. S. Jaishankar in Dhaka.
Car award. • Women visitors will be allowed free entry to all centrally
• Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal protected monuments to mark International Women’s
securing a position in top 100 in the QS World • Australian conservationists unveiled plans to build
University Rankings by Subject 2021. the world’s first refuge for the platypus, to promote
• India commemorated the ‘Chabahar Day’ on March 04, • The Food Waste Index Report 2021, from the United
2021 on the sidelines of the Maritime India Summit- Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partner
2021 which was held from March 2-4, 2021. organisation WRAP, said that around 931 million
• Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha are the tonnes of food waste was generated in 2019, sixty-one
best performing Indian states in land record digitisation, per cent of which came from households, 26 per cent
according to an annual land records index prepared by from food service and 13 per cent from retail.
Delhi-based think-tank National Council of Applied • Anil Ambani-led Reliance Power has formed a joint
• The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation develop a new gas-fired power generation project
provident fund deposits at 8.5 per cent for financial • India has extended a grant of 44.17 million Nepali
• Dr Harsh Vardhan encouraged scientists Rupandehi district of the country under the Nepal-
of CSIR laboratories across the country to develop the Bharat Maitri Development Partnership.
land available at each laboratory to be set up as a • Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S .Jagan Mohan
model under the “CSIR Floriculture Mission”. Reddy has launched the AP Fact Check website and
• The Government has constituted a National Committee Twitter account at his camp office.
headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to • National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence. partnered with SBI Payments to announce the launch
• State-owned Indian Bank will divest stake in joint Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup Shotgun stage, in
venture entity ASREC (India) Ltd as part of asset Cairo, Egypt, going down 4-6 to Russia in the final.
monetisation exercise.
(DRDO) has successfully tested a flight demonstration • The International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated
based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology on March 8 every year, to celebrate the social,
from the Integrated Test Range in Odisha’s Chandipur. economic, cultural, and political achievements of
of the King-dom of Sweden H.E. Stefan Löfven held a • On March 07, 2021,Prime Minister Narendra Modi will
Virtual Summit where they discussed bilateral address the ‘Janaushadhi Diwas’ celebrations via video
mutual interest. • Forty scholars from six countries have been awarded
• An Indian-origin veteran of the financial services with Indian Science Research Fellowship (ISRF) 2021.
industry has been appointed as the first vice president • The National Committee set up to commemorate 75
and chief operating officer of the Federal Reserve Bank years of India’s Independence will hold its first meeting
• As part of Women’s Day observance celebrations, JCI • Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has said that India will
Trivandrum Green City is honouring some of be fully Aatmanirbhar in Silk production in the next two
education field from the city. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon the people
• Bangladesh has announced the names of 9 individuals to use medicines from Jan Aushadhi Kendra saying
and one organization for conferring the Independence that people have saved more than 9,000 crore
Award, the highest civilian award of Bangladesh for the rupees through these Kendras.
year 2021. • Indian Railway has integrated all railway help lines into
• Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Agriculture signed single number 139 which is Rail Madad Helpline for
an MoU to amplify sericulture activities in the country in quick grievance redressal and enquiry during the
Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala. • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate Maitri
• Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir topped the Setu between India and Bangladesh through video
• India’s Women’s Trap team trio of Kirti Gupta, Manisha the historic speech given by Bangabandhu Sheikh
Keer and Rajeshwari Kumari won a silver medal on the Mujibur Rahman in Dhaka on 7th March 1971.
• The United States has announced to offer temporary Publisher of the Year’, owing to the highest tally on the
Venezuelans who fled their country due to economic • As many as 19 women achievers from different fields
• The Tripura government has come up with a digital to mark the International Women’s Day.
platform to help people get benefits from various • Chess player Koneru Humpy won the BBC India
schemes of the Centre and the state government. Sportswoman of the Year award for 2020.
• India’s biggest Kidney Dialysis Hospital was • India defeated England in the final Cricket test match
inaugurated at Balasahib Gurudwara in Delhi. at Ahmedabad to enter the final of the inaugural edition
• Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has announced of the World Test Championship.
Rs Ten thousand each for ASHA and Anganwadi • MG George Muthoot, the Chairman of Muthoot Group
volunteers, who had worked during the Covid 19 phase of Companies, died in New Delhi. He was 71.
on the occasion of International Women Day. • Noted Kannada poet, critic, and translator N S
• Axis Securities announced the launch of ‘YIELD’ – an Lakshminarayana Bhatta passed away. He was 84.
online platform to buy and sell bonds as well as • Veteran Indian athlete Ishar Singh Deol, a recipient of
debentures in the secondary market. the Dhyan Chand National Sports Award, has died at
institutions and banks in the event of • The Cyberabad Police launched India’s first-ever
and managing trustee of Sarathi Trust was inducted • FICCI’s Overall Business Confidence Index has
into the unique Har-She campaign of world-renowned witnessed a decadal high of 74.2 in the current round
chocolate company Hershey for International Women’s on account of improvement in present conditions as
• Union Ministry of Women and Child • Navratna Defence Public Sector Undertaking Bharat
Development signed an agreement with Invest India in Electronics Limited, BEL paid interim dividend of 140
New Delhi to enhance cooperation. percent on its paid-up capital to the Government for
• The Hindu Group won two golds and two Day, Minister of State for External Affairs V
silvers at WAN IFRA’s South Asian Digital Media Muraleedharan unveiled two of the Passport Seva
Awards, culminating in being named ‘Champion Kendras, PSKs to be transformed as All Women PSKs.
• Chairing the first meeting of the National Committee to Woman Parade’ at the historic Ridge Grounds in
commemorate 75 years of independence, Azadi Ka Shimla, aimed at increasing the strength of women in
Amrit Mahotsav virtually, Prime Minister Narendra Modi the police force.
informed that 5 pillars have been decided for • Markets regulator Sebi cancelled the certificate of
• Minister of State for Electronics and Information sub-broker citing its failure to fulfill the “fit and proper”
the International Conference on Multifunctional • Defence and Aerospace sectors have received foreign
Electronic Materials and Processing (MEMP direct investment worth of four thousand 191 crore
2021) virtually on the occasion of 30th foundation day rupees till January this year.
of Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology. • The Dharwad-headquartered Karnataka Vikas
• Government has said that more than 81 percent Grameen Bank (KVGB) has launched the ‘Vikas Asha’
accounts under Stand up India Scheme and about 68 loan scheme for women.
percent of loan accounts under MUDRA scheme • Union health minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan addresses the
• The Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bharati and IMS Foundation organized the 2nd edition
Ministry has said that a total of 122 non attainment of the conclave bringing together stakeholders from the
cities, NACs have been identified under the National HealthTech sector on a virtual platform.
• On part of the ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ celebration Patel inaugurated the All-Women’s Art
commemorating 50 years of the 1971 war triumph Exhibition titled ‘Akshya Patra’ at Rabindra
against Pakistan, Indian Naval Ships are scheduled to Bhavan Galleries in New Delhi on the occasion
make the first-ever visit to the historic port town of of International Women’s Day.
Mongla in Bangladesh from March 8 to 10. • The President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind laid the
• Two ships of Indian navy arrived at the port city of foundation stone for the conservation works of
Mongla in Bangladesh on a port call between March 8- Singorgarh Fort in Singrampur village of Damoh district
• Uttar Pradesh government launched the second phase • Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah
of Mission Shakti on the occasion of International Naidu complimented Congress leader Mallikarjun
• Manipur Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana becomes the Rajya Sabha.
changing factor for lives of tribal women • Nomadland and the Crown won big at the 26th Annual
• On the occasion of International Women’s Day, Critics ’ Choice Awards that was held earlier.
• Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik felicitated city- Gita and also address the occasion through virtual
as the best SHG for its outstanding contribution • In Russia, the media regulator, Roskomnadzor,
towards mask making during the COVID-19 pandemic. announced that it was slowing down online access to
• From March 01 to 07, 2021,The 35th edition of the social media giant Twitter, accusing the social
the Boxam International Tournament was held media company of failing to remove around three
• Vinesh Phogat continued her golden return to wrestling • In Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan relieved
after she defeated Canada’s Diana Weicker 4-0 to win the country’s Chief of General Staff Onik Gasparyan of
• Former Rajasthan Governor Anshuman Singh passed • The Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Council under
• Maharashtra government will be holding various support of National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing
• Digital News Publishers Association has welcomed • The Portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham temple will open
the Information Technology (Guidelines for on May 17 this year. Shri Kedar Nath moving Deity will
Intermediaries and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules of depart from Omkareshwar Temple Ukhimath to
• IT and Communication Minister Ravi Shankar • In Uttarakhand, Tirath Singh Rawat was sworn-in as
Prasad said Apple’s plan to produce I-phone 12 the new chief minister.
Smartphones in India will create jobs in large numbers. • The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export
• Union Minister for Labour and Employment Santosh Development Authority launched its first virtual trade
Kumar Gangwar launched the convergence of ESI fair to boost export of agricultural and processed food
Arogya Yojana, PM-JAY in 113 districts • Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium
of Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Enterprises, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the two
media that from 1st of next month, Post offices will • Shares of IDBI Bank zoomed nearly 18 per cent in
charge 25 on every cash withdrawal from its account. early trade after RBI removed the lender from its
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the Kindle enhanced regulatory supervision or Prompt Corrective
Action (PCA) framework after a gap of nearly four • World rapid chess champion Koneru Humpy has won
• Imran Amin Siddiqui, the General Manager of state- • The Prime Minister of Ivory Coast’s Hamed
owned Indian Bank, has been appointed as Bakayoko has passed away in the German city of
the Executive Director (ED) of the Bank with effect from Freiburg.
March 10, 2021. • Veteran Marathi actor Shrikant Moghe has passed
• On March 10, 2021, The Second edition of India – • World Kidney Day is observed annually on the 2nd
Uzbekistan joint military exercise DUSTLIK Thursday in March. The World Kidney Day Steering
II commenced in Foreign Training Node Chaubatia, Committee has declared 2021 the year of “Living Well
• On March 10, 2021, India’s third stealth Scorpene- • World Sleep Day is an annual event observed on
class submarine INS Karanj, was commissioned into March 13 organized by the World Sleep Day
the Indian Navy in Mumbai. Committee of the World Sleep Society, formerly World
• China and Russia will build a lunar research station, on Association of Sleep Medicine, since 2008.
the moon’s surface, marking the start of a new era in • Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will be
space cooperation between the two countries. chairing a Conference of States and UTs Ministers
• US conservative think-tank, the Heritage on Jal Jeevan Mission and review the progress made
• The autobiography of ‘Khan Abdul Ghaffar Prakash Javadekar will inaugurate exhibitions at six
My Life and Struggle” has been released. • The first Meeting of the BRICS Contact Group on
• On March 15, 2021, The book, titled Dynasty to Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI) was held under
Democracy: The Untold Story of Smriti Irani’s Triumph, India’s Chairship from 9th till 11th of this month.
is set to be released. • Indian Navy Ship (INS) Talwar, deployed in the Gulf of
• India’s premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was Oman, provided technical assistance to a stranded
named the ICC men’s Player of the Month for merchant vessel carrying seven Indian crew members.
• On March 07, 2021,India’s ace shuttler PV the South Asian region will participate in the ten-day-
Sindhu settled for a silver medal in the BWF Swiss long celebrations being organised on the occasion of
the centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib and 50 agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, • State-owned Indian Bank will divest stake in joint
the District Administration, Ramban has developed a venture entity ASREC (India) Ltd as part of asset
many public delivery services and departments on the • On March 12, 2021, Union Ministry of Consumer
• The Kempegowda International Airport in Ration” Mobile App for those ration card holders who
Bengaluru now has India’s first dedicated Express migrate to new places in search of livelihood.
Cargo Terminal exclusively for export and import of • The Indian Poet, cultural theorist Ranjit
Mitra’ portal for handholding and facilitation of domestic • The readers’ editor of The Hindu S.
Subramaniam and Anamika are among the twenty • Actor, producer, director, writer Susmita
writers who will be conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Mukherjee’s new book of short stories ‘Baanjh:
Award 2020. Incomplete Lives of Complete Women’ released in
six ‘Digambara Kavulu’ has been chosen for the • The National Anti-Doping Agency’s (NADA) disciplinary
Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award-2020 for his anthology panel imposed sanctions on weightlifter Madhavan R
of poems Agniswaasa penned in 2017. and boxer Ruchika for violation of its code.
• American TowerCorporation announced that Sanjay • On March 12, 2021, Mithali Raj became the first Indian
Goel has been appointed Executive Vice President and woman to score 10000 runs in international
(DRDO) has Developed an important milestone in the March. This year, the themeof the International Day of
(AIP) System by proving the land-based prototype. • World Consumer Rights Day Observed on Mar 15. The
• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has World Consumer Rights Day 2021 theme is to gather
completed the development of a radar for the joint all the consumers in a fight to “Tackle Plastic Pollution”.
• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has • Kia Motors India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kia
announced a new scheme for tourist vehicle Corporation, has appointed Hardeep Singh Brar as
• Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal • Eminent author Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay, better
Nishank has announced linking of Online Teacher known as Shankar, is set to receivethe Sahitya
Pupil Registration Management System, OTPRMS Academy Award this year for his Memoirs ‘Eka Eka
• Information and Broadcasting Minister, Prakash • For V Krishna Vadhyar, based at Irinjalakuda,
Javadekar inaugurated the exhibition to commemorate the Kendra Sahitya Akademi Award for Best Children’s
75 years of India’s Independence, Azadi Ka Amrit book is recognition of his work towards promoting
• India’s first centralised air-conditioned (AC)railway • The Indian Navy provided technical assistance to
named “Fugaku”,developed by Japanese scientific • On March 12, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra
research institute RIKEN and Fujitsu, has been made Modi inaugurated the fourth edition of the Global
available for research work. Ayurveda Festival through video conference.
• Jammu and Kashmir government has approved a • The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Celebrates
rupees to the urban homeless economically weaker • On March 11, 2021, Union Culture Minister Prahlad
section beneficiaries under Beneficiary Led Singh Patel inaugurated Digitisation of 4 crore 50 lakh
Construction (BLC) component of the Pradhan Mantri pages of Records and Exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi
• ‘Covid Tracker’ helpline has been launched for the • On March 12, 2021, The Indian Space Research
• A country wide Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat campaign, 560) from Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota-based Satish
which highlights the age-old tradition of our country – Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC).
• The assembly elections in four states and a union announced Fugaku is fully operational and ready to
territory, a startup firm has unveiled a mobile prove itself as the world’s most powerful
economy to help voters take fact-based decisions • A newly discovered Hemiandrus jacinda cricket has
before exercising their franchise been named after New Zealand’s prime minister,
Jacinda Ardern, making it the fourth insect to be named Private Limited-Lahoti Buildcon Limited for
conservative party and son of billionaire industrialist • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the
Serge Dassault, was killed in a helicopter crash. Agriculture Department organized a day-long Kisan
• On March 13, 2021, Former undisputed middleweight Mela at the Agriculture Complex in Kupwara district.
world champion Marvelous Marvin Hagler has Passed • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,
• The National Vaccination Day, also called Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) where the Chinar
the National Immunization Day, is celebrated every saplings were planted within the premises.
year on March 16to convey the importance of • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a day-
vaccination to the entire nation. long “Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” programme was
Development organized a seminar with District Officers • The wholesale price-based inflation rose to 4.17
from Aspirational Districts and Districts with high rates percent to hit 27 month high in February this year.
of crime against women and children. • Government has decided to sell 16.12 per cent stake
• The Government said that Life Insurance Corporation in Tata Communications Limited TCL through an Offer
• The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) • The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to
Amendment Bill 2021 was introduced in the Lok implement the image-based Cheque Truncation
Amendment Bill 2021 was introduced in the Lok • AU Small Finance Bank on announced that it has
• Inter Parliamentary Union President Mr. Duarte Qualified Institutions Placement and has raised
Pacheco called on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rs.5 crore through the issuance of 50 lakh equity
witnessed the proceedings of the Upper House. shares at an issue price of Rs.1,251 per share.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a Virtual • “ReNew Power has been named to the World
Summit with Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin. Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Lighthouse Network,
• A tripartite Concession Agreement has which recognises companies using new technologies to
been signed between the National Mission for Clean achieve environmentally sustainable, community
supportive, profitable growth,” the company said in a • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has
• The Institute of Company Secretaries of India Estimate of Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening
has signed a memorandum of understanding with of Transmission and Distribution of power in Arunachal
for academic collaboration • The Union Cabinet has approved a bill to set
• National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), the up Development Finance Institution (DFI) with an initial
umbrella entity for digital payments in India, has capital infusion of 20 thousand crore rupees.
launched UPI-Help on BHIM UPI. • Parliament has passed the Medical Termination of
• On March 14, 2021 Indian Naval Ship (INS) Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 with the Rajya
1,000 tonnes of rice as part of the Mission Sagar-IV. • National Telemedicine Service – eSanjeevani has
• HP made its first ever consumer PC using plastic completed 30 lakh consultations.
waste in the ocean, a move that builds on the • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be speaking at
launched a new online certificate course on 5G • The first shipment of food products exported from
technology. Bangladesh to India using the inland waterways left the
• Tamil Nadu’s Chadalavada Anandha Bhavani Pran Industrial Park from Palash in Narsingdi.
Devi became the first-ever fencer from India to qualify • The Sixth India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Women’s
• The Government announced the Rajya Sabha would • Cab aggregator Uber has said that it will give its UK
soon set up a world class winter sports academy in drivers a guaranteed minimum wage, holiday pay and
• On March 14, 2021, Renowned artist & painter from should be classified as workers and entitled to such
• Veteran Kathakali exponent Guru Chemancheri the Ministry of Information to the Ministry of Information
• Chemicals and Fertilizer Minister Sadananda has approved capital raise of up to Rs.250 crore by
Gowda will inaugurate the 11th edition of India Chem- way of preferential issue to third party investors.
2021.
• The United States has surpasses Saudi • Former Union Minister and BJP leader Dilip
Arabiaas India’s second biggest oil supplier. Gandhi has passed away.
(SBI) for contravention of certain provisions of Section • Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin
10 of the Banking Regulation (BR) Act, 1949 and the Gadkari will make a statement regarding ‘Vehicles
central bank’s specific directions issued to the bank on Scrapping Policy’ in both the Houses of Parliament.
payment of remuneration to employees in the form of • Foreign Affairs Minister of Kuwait Ahmed Nasser Al-
Understanding (MoU) signed between the Union • Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla met Italian
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Ambassador Vincenzo De Luca and welcomed Italy’s
Maldives for cooperation in Sports and Youth Affairs. • The Union cabinet gave its nod to shut downloss-
• On March 16, 2021, Indian Army de-commissioned two making Handicrafts and Handlooms Export Corp. of
• On March 16, 2021, Indian Army de-commissioned two • Italy signed the International Solar Alliance under the
of its longest serving Artillery systems. amended ISA Framework Agreement.
• On March 15, 2021 , The Maharashtra Governor • The Secretary-level meeting between Water
Bhagat Singh Koshyari released a digital e-book titled Resources ministries of India and Bangladesh under
Dawn Under The Dome. the framework of the Joint Rivers Commission was
• Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has published her held in Delhi on.
memoir titled My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our • Karnataka Health and Medical Education Minister, Dr.
• The International Cricket Council (ICC) has imposed invited to utilize its CSR funds towards upgrading 2500
an eight years ban on former UAE Cricketers Primary Health Centres in the state.
Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar from all • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,
cricket, for trying to fix matches during the T20 World Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, initiated the
• On March 15, 2021, International Boxing Association launching its website at Raj Bhavan, Jammu.
(AIBA) announced that Asian Boxing Championships • Giving a fillip to the Indo-Bangla friendship, the Maitri
2021 will be hosted by New Delhi, India from May 21- Cycle Rally, organised by BSF, completed its journey
Mizoram.
• In Haryana, Government College for Women at remaining 30 per cent shareholding over a period of
Lieutenant Kiran Shekhawat Government College for • A team of botanists has recently stumbled upon a
• Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers D.V. of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh.
Sadananda Gowda has said that the Indian chemicals • The government has constituted an experts advisory
and petrochemicals industry is growing to new heights committee for the overall execution and monitoring of
and an investment of 8 lakh crore rupees is anticipated the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme.
in the sector by 2025. • New Delhi was the world’s most polluted capital for the
• Doodh Duronto special trains have transported seven third straight year in 2020, according to IQAir.
crore litres of Milk to National Capital, New Delhi in the • On March 16, 2021, Sprinter S Dhanalakshmi beat
current financial year 2020-21, which is the highest national record holder Dutee Chand to win
ever transportation since its commencement. the women’s 100m sprint final in the Federation Cup
• The Income Tax Department said it has issued over 2 Senior National Athletics Championships in Patiala.
lakh crore rupees worth refunds to more than 2.1 crore • Lou Ottens, the Dutch engineer credited with inventing
• Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh • Barrister Moudud Ahmed, a standing committee
Vardhan has been appointed as the Chairman of member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP),
Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, have • US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin will arrive in
been shortlisted for the post of MD and CEO of India. During the visit, he will meet Defence Minister
National Share Depository Services Ltd (NSDL), a Rajnath Singh, and other senior dignitaries of the
leading provider of equity demat accounts. government to discuss deepening the India US Major
appointed Chirag Gandhi as MD Senior Advisor, Team • The Rajya Sabha has passed the Insurance
• On March 16, 2021, The Sixth India-Brazil-South Africa • Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, and Amazon Web
(IBSA) Women’s Forum meeting was held virtually. Services announced new initiatives to strengthen the
• On March 15, 2021, Tech Mahindra will acquire a 70 innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in India.
percent stake in Ireland-based Perigord Asset Holdings • Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Amar
Ltd for around Rs 182 crore and plans to buy the Ekushey book fair in Dhaka.
• Legendary Jamaican and West Indies Cricketer Chris • In order to boost rural innovation and entrepreneurship
Gayle has thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the agri-businesses, National Bank for Agriculture
people and government of India for the gift of Made In and Rural Development (Nabard) launched Rural
• The World Bank has approved USD 200 million to help • The total number of basic bank accounts
Bangladesh to provide support and services to the low- under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) has
pandemic and the migrants who had to return • WE HUB, an exclusive incubator for women-led
Narendra Singh Tomar and Chief Minister Shivraj • The Textile Ministry has put its weight behind an early
Singh Chouhan have launched the Mission limited Free Trade Deal between India and the
Gramodaya in the state. UK which, it says, must include tariff reduction for
• The golden jubilee celebrations of the 1971 war across textile and clothing items, resulting in possible gains for
the nation continue with the Victory flame reaching the sector, officials have said.
the Akashvani Bhawan in Kolkata. • Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has passed
• Punjab Government has decided to create a robust away at a hospital in Dar es Salaam. He was 61.
and integrated technology solution to implement and • Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte led his People’s Party
review the progress of the Direct Benefit Transfer for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) to a fourth victory
transparency, and responsiveness. • On March 17, 2021, The Indo-U.S. Science and
• In Kargil the department of Technical Education and Technology Forum’s (IUSSTF) US India Artificial
Skill development is organizing Kaushal Mela as part of Intelligence (USIAI) Initiative was launched.
the skill development programme of the government of • On March 15, 2021, The government will sell up
• Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur said, due (TCL) through an Offer for Sale starting at the floor
to better planning under the leadership of Prime price of Rs.1,161 per equity share.
Minister Narendra Modi, the country’s economy is • Adani Ports and Special Economic Zones (APSEZ) is
witnessing a ‘V’ shaped recovery. acquiring the 5 percent stake held by Windy Lakeside
• India has supplied a second batch of 20 thousand litres Investment Limited (an affiliate of Warburg Pincus)
of Malathion 95 percent ULV pesticide to Iran under a in Gangavaram Port Limited (GPL) for around Rs 1,954
research and training on domains such as artificial started a Yoga Volunteer Training Programme on
intelligence, machine learning and computer vision. Common Yoga Protocol (CYP) from 1st of February
out its first batch of Medium Range Surface to Air • Government has said that around 373 Kisan Rail
• CAIT launched a vendor onboarding mobile app for transporting more than one lakh 20 thousand tonnes of
• India’s arms imports fell 33 % between the 2011-15 • Embassy of India, Seoul launched the ‘Festival of
and 2016-20 report released by the Sweden-based Independence’ India@75 – the 75 Weeks
• The KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi has the world, in a bid to tackle climate change.
been renamed after former Pakistan speedster Shoaib • The first high-level U.S.-China meeting in
• On March 17, 2021, Tanzania’s President John exchange of words in a rare public display as two
• The International Day of Happiness is celebrated number of international tourists coming to India by
March. The theme of International Day of Happiness • Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset
for 2021 is “Happiness For All, Forever” Management (DIPAM) Tuhin Kanta Pandey has said
• World Sparrow Day is celebrated every year on March that GAIL buyback of shares have been fully
other common birds to urban environments, and of • Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som
threats to their populations. Theme of 2021 World Parkash informed the Rajya Sabha that over 44
• The World Oral Health Day is marked every year the Department for promotion of Industry and Internal
on March 20.The theme for the next three years, 2021- trade since the launch of the initiative.
2023 is: Be Proud Of Your Mouth. • Lender disburses 23,000 crore under ECLG scheme.
• US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin met with National • The Labour Bureau signed a service level
• The Ministry of AYUSH through its autonomous body- India Limited, BECIL for conducting all India surveys on
Migrant Workers and All India Quarterly Establishment Nagar Van Scheme will help in creation of Urban
• On March 19, 2021, The Defence Ministry sealed a • Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Science &
deal with state-run Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) to technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated the new
acquire 4,960 anti-tank guided missiles at a cost Advanced High Resolution Microscopy Facility at
of 1,188 crore for the Indian Army. National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI)
• On March 17, 2021, Data Patterns India Private • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually launch Jal
Limited handed over the indigenously made checkout Shakti Abhiyan : Catch the Rain campaign on the
system to the Indian Space Research Organisation occasion of World Water Day.
(ISRO) for its ambitious ‘Gaganyaan’ mission. • India participated in the Nowruz festivities at the SCO
Indian track and field athletes to make the cut for the • Indian Embassy in Beijing
Olympics for the fifth time during the started India@75 celebrations with belated Vishwa
ongoing Federation Cup in Patiala. Hindi Diwas celebrations which were attended by the
Nations General Assembly on November 28, 2012. dedicated various development projects worth Rs.
• World Poetry Day is celebrated on 21 March, and 1411 crore to the people of the State through video
was declared by UNESCO in 1999, “with the aim of conference from Chandigarh.
supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression • The Road, Transport and Highways Ministry has
and increasing the opportunity for endangered received reports from Indian Computer Emergency
• The International Day for the Elimination of Racial intrusion activities directed towards Indian Transport
remind people about the negative consequences of • Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) said it has shortlisted three
• The World Puppetry Day is observed every year Innovation Lab (MAIL)
on March 21,to promote the puppet arts. • Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL) said it has signed
• The United Nations declared March 22 as World Water a share purchase agreement for acquiring 100%
• Union Environment and Information & Broadcasting MW operating solar project from Toronto-based
Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the new SkyPower Global.
wholly owned subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Limited • World Meteorological Day is observed every year
(PEL), has raised 4,050 crore through issuance of long- on March 23 to highlight the importance of the role that
term, five-year non-convertible debentures (NCDs) in people and their behaviour play in protecting Earth’s
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will introduce • The Government of India has launched an ambitious
the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and scheme called “Gram Ujala” under which high quality
Development Bill, 2021 in the Lok Sabha. energy efficient LED bulbs will be given for just Rs 10
• Three nature camps were felicitated by the State per piece in rural areas.
government with Chief Minister’s Award for best • Department of Posts is organizing Universal Postal
performance in forest protection through nature tourism Union 2021 International Letter Writing Competition for
on the occasion of World Forestry Day. Young People in all States of the country through the
India (CCI) approved the acquisition of 51 percent • The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan,
stake in Odisha power utility NESCO from Grid Mohammed Haneef Atmar arrived in New Delhi for
Corporation of Odisha (GRIDCO). a three-day visit to discuss, among other things, the
• On March 18, 2021, Indian Space Research ongoing peace process in the war-torn country.
Organisation (ISRO) and National Institute of • Bihar has become the first state of the country to have
Technology(NIT), Rourkela signed an MoU for setting its own ethanol policy called Ethanol Production
• On March 18, 2021, The government, • India supplied two Mobile Harbour Cranes
while encouraging private players to host apps, is (MHCs) each weighing 100 tons to Iran.
equally keen to develop and strengthen its own mobile • Government has said that more than 57 thousand lakh
• On March 19, 2021, Former Ireland skipper Gary Yojana till February this year.
Wilson announced his retirement from professional • Government has said that more than 23 lakh loans
• Mumbai captain Prithvi Shaw became the first player to the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors, Atma Nirbhar Nidhi
breach the 800-run mark in a single edition of the Vijay Scheme – PM SVANidhi.
• G V Ramakrishna, a former chairperson of India’s (BSNL)can launch 4G services, a key requirement for
market regulator, SEBI Passed away. its revival, with an investment of about 1,000
• Manu Kumar Jain, Managing Director of Mi India, is development practitioner’s prescription was launched
giving out one-time hardship bonus to 1,200 of its through virtual mode.
corporate employees for roughing out a very • The Sports Ministry has decided to extend the Khelo
tough, pandemic-struck year, 2020. India scheme for a period of five years, from 2021-22
management change after Jeh Wadia resigned from • On March 21, 2021, India Legends defeated Sri Lanka
the post of managing director after serving in the role Legends by 14 runs in the final of Road Safety World
• Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has made two key • In badminton,Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia has won the All
“unacceptable” by his powerful governing defeated Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the summit
ratcheting up the pressure to reach a peace agreement • On March 22, 2021, Veteran Bollywood writer and
the best of Indian cinema in 2019. • World Tuberculosis Day, observed on 24 March each
• HCL Technologies announced its support for RISE year, is designed to build public awareness about the
with SAP, an offering by SAP that helps clients take global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate
their business-critical elements into the cloud, thereby the disease. The Theme for World TB Day 2021 is ‘The
realization of their investments on their journey to • Every year March 24 is observed as the International
becoming an “intelligent enterprise.” Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human
• On March 17, 2021, Indian Navy undertook Passage Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, to say
Exercise (PASSEX) with Royal Bahrain Naval Force no to all forms of violence, injustice and oppression
• India has gone down13 spots to rank at 56th place in Jalashwa arrived at Port Ehoala, Madagascar to deliver
the latest global home price index 2020 released by a consignment of one thousand Metric Tonne of rice
property consultant Knight Frank. and one lakh Hydroxychloroquine tablets in response
• On 20th March 2021, Hon’ble Vice President of India, to an appeal made by Madagascar for assistance to
Sri M. Venkaiah Naidu launched the The Book deal with natural calamities.
“Bringing Governments and People Closer” A • India has welcomed the initiative announced by Saudi
• Indian Railways have launched a massive drive against • The I-PACE is a Jaguar vehicle above all else a true
Railways in the view of incidents of fire resulting in loss • Private sector lender ICICI Bank
of property and danger to life in various Zonal has launched an instant EMI facility on its internet
• The US Senate has voted to confirm Indian-American • As per the ‘Amalgamation of Urban Cooperative
Dr Vivek Murthy to be President Biden’s Surgeon Banks, Directions, 2020’, issued by the RBI, it
General, handing the administration one of its top may consider proposals for merger and amalgamation
public health officials amid the coronavirus pandemic. among UCBs under three circumstances, including
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands Governor Admiral D K when the net worth of the amalgamated bank is
Joshi declared that the UT achieved 100 percent positive, and the amalgamating bank assures to protect
coverage in Islands. • The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has set up a five-
• Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Minister S member Standing External Advisory Committee for the
Pangnyu Phom launched i-Learn, a capacity building purpose of evaluating applications for Universal Banks
and performance tracking application for Community as well as Small Finance Banks.
Health Officers, CHOs in the state at his office chamber • Suzlon Energy said market regulator Sebi has
in appointed forensic auditor to carry out forensic audit of
Thakur virtually launched e-Office, e-Heli Service, e- • Esaf Small Finance Bankhas been awarded ‘Great
Aagman and e-Lahaul for Lahaul-Spiti district from Place to Work’ certification by the Great Place to Work
Shimla. Institute.
• American credit rating agency Fitch has revised India’s • The Union Cabinet was apprised of the Memorandum
GDP growth estimate to 8% for next fiscal from the of Cooperation (MoC) signed between Department of
previous 11% on the back of a stronger carryover Water Resources, River Development and Ganga
effect, a looser fiscal stance, and better virus Rejuvenation of Ministry of Jal Shakti and Water and
• MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed hope that with Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan in the
industry in India will be worth 25 to 30 thousand crore • The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of
• Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, a central (MoU) between Union Public Service Commission
PSU, has established an e-Tendering Portal-PRANIT. (UPSC), India and Independent Administrative
Reforms and Civil Services Commission (IARCSC), develop world class ‘Wayside Amenities’ at more than
• On March 22, 2021, The defence ministry finalised • Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri introduced
a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems Ltd (MDSL) the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India
to procure 1,300 light combat vehicles for the Indian (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Lok Sabha.
Army at a cost of Rs 1,056 crore. • The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to
• On March 22, 2021, The government has fully Bangladesh starting on 26 March will be of very special
exited Tata Communications Ltd by selling its 12% significance in reinforcing the comprehensive strategic
stake and has netted Rs 8,846 crore in the process, partnership between the two countries.
the department of investment and public asset • The Union Minister of State (I/C) for Power & New and
• A central PSU under Ministry of Power, Power Grid UJALA programme in Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh.
Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), has • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Asia’s
established an e-Tendering Portal-PRANIT which will largest Tulip Garden in Srinagar is scheduled to
lead to less paperwork and ease of operation, making be opened for the general public and tourists.
the tendering process more transparent. • Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur has
• China has the strongest military force in the world inaugurated the first Solar Lift Irrigation Scheme of
while India stands at number four, according to a study Kargil Renewable Energy Development Agency
defence website Military Direct. • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with the
• Girl Gang, a track by New Zealand singer Gin aim of promoting good health and expanding the
Wigmore, has been announced as the official song of outreach of comprehensive primary healthcare services
the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup. to the people of J&K, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj
• World-renowned Egyptian author Nawal El Saadawi, Sinha e-inaugurated as many as 73 AYUSH Health &
an outspoken champion of women’s rights in the Arab Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat across the
• Parliament has passed the Finance Bill, 2021 with Chaudhary has inaugurated ‘Pashudhan Mela’ in
• In a major move to improve commuters’ experience on • The Regional SARAS Fair 2021, an initiative of Ministry
National Highways for both passengers and truckers, of Rural Development, to promote rural products and
the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will build capacities of Self Help Groups, SHGs got
underway at Kohima Local Ground Launching the on the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board,
• The Competition Commission of India ordered a probe • Kerala Agricultural University has been selected for
into the new privacy policy of WhatsApp. the Chancellor’s Award 2020 in the category of
NABARD organized a credit camp in Samba district for • There has been yet another ‘recusal’ from Magsaysay
the members of Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) to provide Award recipient Indian Forest Services officer Sanjiv
collateral free institutional credit support to landless Chaturvedi’s petition by a member of the bench of
farmers, sharecroppers, oral lessees, small & marginal the Central Administrative Tribunal, making it the
farmers and other rural poor to take up farm, off-farm seventh such instance since 2013.
and non-farm activities. • State-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has
• Chief Justice of India Justice S A Bobde has signed a memorandum of understanding with CNB
recommended Union Government to appoint the senior Logitech to monitor, track and optimize the movement
most Supreme Court Judge Justice N V Ramanna as of 5 million containers through the port located near
• Levine is a co-founder, Chairman or board member for • Pakistan will hold Pabbi-Antiterror-2021, under the
several other start-ups, including FeeX, FairFly, aegis of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation later this
Seetree, and Refundit. year.
• Leading Private Sector lender Karnataka • For the first time in the country, The Indian Space
Bank has appointed Dr. D S Ravindran as Additional Research Organisation (ISRO) has
2021 and the appointment will be effective from 1st Communication over a distance of 300 metres.
April, 2021. Dr D S Ravindran (PhD), aged 61 years, is • On March 22, 2021, Russian space agency
• Intel has announced that it will be establishing a new satellites into orbit, onboard Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket
standalone business unit, Intel Foundry Services (IFS) from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
which will be led by the National Institute of • The study led by researchers from Pune-based
Technology, Kurukshetra alumni Randhir Thakur as Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) named the new
part of the company’s new IDM 2.0 strategy species found in the Mula river as Epithemia
for its integrated device manufacturing model. agharkarii, in honour of the institute’s founder-director
storage and infrastructure options firm introduced the • India captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Rohit
appointment of Shankar Arumugavelu to the Sharma are among the India batsmen to progress in
the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings after clinching the • HarshC. Mariwala, chairman of Marico, was named
home series against England 3-2 in Ahmedabad. the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020.
• Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has the SKOCH Award as the best DGP in the country for
launched more than one hundred comic books created outstanding performance in policing, public safety and
by teachers and students of CBSE schools and curated taking up technical reforms in AP Police.
• The government is working to roll out a GPS based toll ahead of the Oscars as the movie bagged the top prize
collection system and introducing E-Highway from at the 2021 Producers Guild Awards.
Delhi to Mumbai in the upcoming months. • On March 25, 2021, Union Minister for Finance &
• Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank held a Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman here
virtual meeting with Director General UNESCO, Ms virtually launched Central Scrutiny Centre (CSC) and
Audrey Azoulay in New Delhi. Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s
provided maternity benefits in 2020 under the Pradhan • India ranked 40 among 53 global economies on the
Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, PMMVY. latest annual edition of the International Intellectual
• The Bank of England unveiled the design of the new Property (IP) Index.
GBP 50 banknote, which features British scientist • Actor Samir Soni will release his debut book, My
and World War II codebreaker Alan Turing. Experiments With Silence, later this year.
• The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S. Jagan • India ended the 2021 World Shooting Para Sport
Mohan Reddy has inaugurated the Kurnool Airport competitions with seven medals.
• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya celebrated on 27 March. It was initiated in 1961 by the
the issuing of ten crore cards to a resident of Bihar. • Every year, the Earth Houris celebrated worldwide on
• IT services major Infosys announced the appointment the last Saturday of the March month to show support
of former Salesforce executive Chitra Nayak as an for fight against climate change and commitment
• To give wings to its global ambitions, TVS Motor • Prime Minister Modi announced Swarna Jayanti
Company has brought on board Ralf Speth, former scholarship for youths of Bangladesh.
• Hyderabad-based startup, Maithri Aquatech has set up • Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed over the Gandhi
the world’s first mobile water from air kiosk and water Peace Prize 2020 to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
• Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan launched ‘Tribal TB singer Asha Bhosle for the Maharashtra Bhushan
Initiative’ in pursuit of TB Mukt Bharat. Award, the highest honour presented by the
Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-K) has • Hyderabad bagged three awards in different categories
achieved historic win as they emerged as winners at at the 2021 International Exhibition and 6th Smart
the CoreNet Global Academic Challenge 6.0, Cities India Expo held during March 24-26 in New
Interior Architects. • To improve air quality of 132 cities under the action
• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in plan proposed in the National Clean Air Programme,
association with 9 IIMS has invited applications a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with different
for Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship till 27th of this stakeholders were signed in the presence of the union
• India and US have agreed to further India-US • Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks with his
economic cooperation on the basis of shared Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.
objectives and resolve pending legacy issues through • On March 24, 2021, Indian Coast Guard ship ‘Vajra’,
mutual dialogue and discussion. the sixth offshore patrol vessel to enhance coastal
• Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture security, was formally commissioned into service.
(Independent Charge) Prahlad Singh Patel and Chief • The Indian Government has announced it will sell a
Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh 15% stake in Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) to raise
Centre at Khajuraho. • On March 24, 2021, North Korea fired two ballistic
• Three Wheels United (TWU), a Bengaluru-based tech- missiles into the Sea of Japan.
enabled financier of light electric vehicles, has • On March 25th, 2021, the African forest elephant is
appointed Hardip Singh Goindi as the company’s Chief listed as Critically Endangered and the African savanna
approved various new appointments on March 25, • A Book Titles Indians: A Brief History of A Civilization”
• Public Health Department, Maharashtra and National Sinha’s ‘Thappad’ recording the most wins with seven
Health Mission, government of India dedicated ‘Two air awards, followed by ‘Gulabo Sitabo’, winning six, both
conditioned Mobile Medical Vans’ to the nation in Jalna emerging as big winners.
• Prasar Bharati CEO, Shashi Shekhar Vempati has Prakash Javadekar has congratulated Mahinder Giri,
expressed happiness that the public broadcaster- range officer of Rajaji Tiger Reserve for being the only
run Direct to Home (DTH) platform DD Free Dish has ranger from Asia to win the prestigious International
Prasad has said that whenever various types of • India and Bangladesh signed 5 MoUs in the fields of
challenges arose in India, Judiciary always came with trade, IT and setting up of sports facilities on the
an apt and competent answer to it. concluding day of the 2-day long official visit of Prime
economic cooperation on the basis of shared • On March 26, 2021, Pakistan conducted a successful
objectives and resolve pending legacy issues through test-fired of a Shaheen-1A nuclear-capable surface-to-
Adityanath inaugurated Shaheed Ashfaq Ulla Khan locations aboard the ISS .
Zoological Park in Gorakhpur. • The American author Carmen Maria Machado has won
• Under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat State of Goa is the £30,000 Rathbones Folio prize.
paired with Jharkhand. • On March 26, 2021, The Asian Football Confederation
• Biocon Ltd, an innovation-led global biopharma (AFC) announced the venues for the AFC Women’s
between Biocon Pharma Limited, a wholly owned • On March 26, 2021, Noted journalist and author Anil
subsidiary of Biocon Limited, and Libbs Farmaceutica, Dharker passed away in Mumbai.
a pharmaceuticals company in Brazil, to launch generic • Noted Odissi dancer Laxmipriya Mohapatra, Passes
country.
oversee the sealing of advocate Mehmood Pracha’s • External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met
computer in a case of alleged tutoring of a witness in Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani and had a
connection with the northeast Delhi riots. discussion on the Afghan peace process.
• External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will attend • Vaccine developers Bharat Biotech International,
the 9th Ministerial Conference of Heart of Asia – Biovet and Sapigen Biologix on March
• The new version of Exam Warriors written by Prime vaccines and health care solutions.
Minister Narendra Modi is now available with many • State-run Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd
new mantras for students as well as parents. (HPCL) will buy out the share of its JV (joint venture)
• Jal Jeevan Mission has achieved a new milestone of partner SP Ports Pvt. Ltd (SPPPL) in 5 million metric
providing over 4 Crore rural households with tap tonnes per annum (MMTPA) LNG re-gasification
• Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and US • The “World Development Report 2021: Data for
Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm have agreed Better Lives” was released by the World Bank on
• Government has received multiple expressions of the best year in history for the global wind industry as
interest for privatisation of Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd this sector installed 93GW of new capacity in
extended the restriction imposed on scam-hit Punjab Council (GWEC– Headquarters location: Brussels,
further period of 3 months till June 30, 2021. • In the first, the navies of India and Madagascar
• The Congolese politician Denis Sassou Nguesso has conducted joint patrolling of Madagascar’s Exclusive
been re-elected president of the Republic of the Economic Zone (EEZ) and also conducted a Passage
• Finance Industry Development Council has • On March 25th, 2021, Edelweiss Infrastructure Yield
Chairman Emeritus, FIDC and Sanjay Chamria, VC & per cent stake in French energy major, Engie
MD, Magma Fincorp & Umesh Revankar, Group’s, solar portfolio in India.
MD, Shriram Transport Finance Co. Ltd. as its Co- • Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and
Chairmen with effect from April 1, 2021. Family Welfare addressed the 7th annual summit of
• Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor • In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, as part
& Veteran banker Kamalesh Chandra of Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav celebrations, a one-day
• The International Day of Drug Checking takes place • India’s economy has bounced back amazingly from
on March 31 every year since 2017 to ensure people the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide
are educated on drugs and aware of their effects. lockdown over the last one year, but it is not out of
• International Transgender Day of Visibility is an the woods yet, according to the World Bank, which in
annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to its latest report has predicted that the country’s
celebrating transgender people and raising real GDP growth for fiscal year 21/22 could range
people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their • Various loans offered by Non-Banking Finance
• World Backup Day is marked every year on March (MFI) are expected to be cheaper from April 1.
31 the day aims to reminds us to protect our precious • The Board of Directors of P. Moller – Maersk has
digital documents as we’ve become more reliant on decided to appoint Chief Technology & Information
technology. Officer (CTIO) Navneet Kapoor to the
• Union Minister of Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Executive Board with effect from 1 April 2021.
‘Nishank’inaugurated “Ānandam: The Center for • Low-cost carrier and country’s largest regional player,
Happiness” virtually on March 30, 2021 at Indian homegrown carrier SpiceJet said it
• Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash with New York-based Avenue Capital Group, for
Javadekar flagged off DEMU train from Phaltan to financing, acquisition and sale and lease-back of 50
• Government has operationalised 22 new routes in the • India is to participate in France-led naval drill La
last three days under the UDAN scheme. Perouse for the first time in the Bay of Bengal.
• The New Zealand Parliament has recently • On March 26, 2021, The BPCL sold its entire 61.5%
passed legislation to provide leave for miscarriage stake in Numaligarh Refinery (NRL) in Assam to a
and for stillbirth consortium of Oil India and Engineers India and
attacked Maharashtra’s Industrial Development • ITI Limited, India’s telecom products manufacturing
Corporation’s (MIDC) computer systems last week. arm, and Thalamus Irwine, a local startup have come
together to develop a technology for storing medical • On March 28, 2021, All-rounder Thisara
data on blockchain. Perera became the first Sri Lankan to hit six sixes
• Cochin Shipyard Ltd. delivers MV ‘Sindhu’ A 500 pax from one over.
passengers cum 150 MT Cargo Vessel built • India finished at the top of the medals table at the
indigenously for Andaman and Nicobar Island. 2021 ISSF World Cup New Delhi.
• The book of Daribha lyndem titled NAME PLACE • On March 28, 2021, Lewis Hamilton won the 2021