MARCH 1-7 WEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRS

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

IPS officer Daljit Singh Chaudhary appointed as new director general of NSG
➢ The Centre has appointed 1990 batch IPS officer, Daljit Singh Chaudhary as the director general
(DG) of National Security Guard (NSG) in place of M A Ganapathy.
➢ Daljit Singh Chaudhary, who is currently the DG of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB),
has been given the additional charge of heading the NSG.
➢ An order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
NATIONAL SECURITY GUARD
➢ Founded: 22 September 1986
➢ Motto: सर्वत्र सर्ोत्तम सरु क्षा (Sanskrit); Omnipresent omnipotent security
➢ Headquarters: New Delhi
➢ Formed: 16 October 1984
IPS officer Anurag Agarwal appointed head of Parliament security
➢ Senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Anurag Agarwal has been appointed joint secretary
(security) of the Lok Sabha secretariat.
➢ Anurag Agarwal, a 1998 batch officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, currently serves as the
Shillong-based Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) North East Sector.
➢ Raghubir Lal, the last officer to hold the post of joint secretary (security) at the Lok Sabha
secretariat.
CENTRAL RESERVE POLICE FORCE
➢ Founded: 27 July 1939
➢ Headquarters: New Delhi
➢ Agency executive: Anish Dayal Singh, IPS, Director General, CRPF
IAS officer Chockalingam named new chief electoral officer of Maharashtra
➢ The Election Commission of India (ECI) appointed senior IAS officer S Chockalingam as the new
chief electoral officer (CEO) of Maharashtra.
➢ The 1996-batch IAS officer will replace incumbent CEO Shrikant M Deshpande.
➢ A CEO supervises work related to Assembly/Parliament elections in a state/Union
Territory under the overall superintendence, direction and control of the ECI.

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA (ECI) :

➢ Founded: 25 January 1950
➢ Headquarters: New Delhi
➢ Chief Election Commissioner: Rajiv Kumar (25th )
Former Uttarakhand DGP appointed Sports University VC
➢ Former Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttarakhand Ashok Kumar
(IPS: 1989: UK) has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the
Sports University of Haryana.
➢ S S Deswal, former DGP, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), was the first VC of
the university who had joined in December, 2022, and was appointed as the
VC till December, 2025. But Deswal resigned from the post a few days ago.
RBI approves ex-Sebi director as TMB’s part time chairman
➢ The RBI has approved S Ravindran's appointment as part-time chairman of TMB.
➢ His appointment is effective from Feb 29, 2024, till Aug 2, 2026.
➢ Ravindran has 29 years of work experience at SEBI, including being an executive director and
advisor to the Central Bank of Bahrain.
➢ He was its executive director from August 2011 t0o May 2022.
➢ S Ravindran has extensive experience in Sebi and Central Bank of Bahrain.
TAMILNAD MERCANTILE BANK
➢ Founded: 11 May 1921
➢ Headquarters: Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu
➢ CEO: K V Rama Moorthy
World Gold Council Appoints New India CEO
➢ The World Gold Council has appointed Sachin Jain as its new CEO, India, who will take up the role
from March 2024.
➢ He will replace Somasundaram P.R., the current India CEO, who will remain with the organization as
an advisor.
➢ Jain has worked in senior roles at De Beers for 13 years, including as Managing Director of De Beers
India. Before that, he has held positions at Lladro, Swatch Group, and Benetton.
➢ The World Gold Council is an association of the world's leading gold mining companies. Its
headquarters are in London, with offices in India, China, Singapore, and the United States.
WORLD GOLD COUNCIL
➢ Founded: 1987
➢ Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
➢ CEO: David Tait
Brajesh Mehrotra appointed as new chief secretary of Bihar
➢ Brajesh Mehrotra appointed as new chief secretary of Bihar, replacing Amir Subhani. Chaitanya
Prasad appointed as new development commissioner.
➢ Nitish Kumar approved Subhani's request for voluntary retirement.
STATIC:
Bihar Capital: Patna, Formation: 22 March 1912
Chief Minister: Nitish Kumar Governor: Rajendra Arlekar
Sub-inspector Suman Kumari Makes History as BSF's First Woman Sniper
➢ Sub-inspector Suman Kumari has created history by becoming the first woman sniper
to join the Border Security Force (BSF).
➢ She completed an 8 Week sniper training at the Central School of Weapons and
Tactics (CSWT) in Indore, where she received the "Instructor grade.
BORDER SECURITY FORCE
➢ Founder: Khusro Faramurz Rustamji
➢ Founded: 1 December 1965
➢ Headquarters: New Delhi, India
➢ Chairman: Nitin Agarwal
Jishnu Barua becomes new chairperson of power regulator CERC
➢ Jishnu Barua has become the new chairperson of power regulator Central
Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC).
➢ He has been appointed chairperson of the CERC effective on 27 February 2023.
➢ “Union Minister for Power R K Singh administered the oath of office and secrecy
to Jishnu Barua, chairperson, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC), in New Delhi.
➢ He was chief secretary of Assam from October 2020 to August 2022. Prior to this, was the additional
chief secretary to Assam looking after various state government departments from August 2017 to
October 2020.
➢ CERC is the Central Commission for the purposes of the Electricity Act, 2003, which has repealed
the ERC Act, 1998. (Headquarters: New Delhi)

Pakistan: Maryam Nawaz becomes first woman Chief Minister of West Punjab
➢ In Pakistan, Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of three-time Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,
became the first woman Chief Minister of West Punjab.
➢ In the recently concluded elections, PML-N won 137 seats in the Punjab Assembly while
independents backed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) won
113 seats.
STATIC:
➢ Pakistan Capital: Islamabad
➢ Currency: Pakistani Rupee
Pakistan Related Previous News:
➢ Pakistan: Proposed Acquisition of J-31 Chinese Stealth Fighters
➢ $3 Billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) between Pakistan and IMF
➢ Pakistan receives $700 million from China
➢ Shehbaz Sharif took the oath of office as Pakistan's prime minister for a second time.
➢ Geetika Srivastava, a 2005 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, is appointed as the new Charge
d’Affaires (CDA) in Islamabad, succeeding Dr M Suresh Kumar.
➢ Saveera Parkash, a 25-year-old doctor, became the first Hindu candidate to contest in the Pakistan
general elections.
➢ Pakistan’s Punjab gets first Sikh minister in Ramesh Singh Arora
Future Generali India Life Insurance appoints Alok Rungta as managing director & CEO
➢ Alok Rungta has been appointed as the Managing Director and CEO of Future Generali India Life
Insurance, beginning April 1st, subject to regulatory approval.
➢ He will succeed Bruce De Broize, who is currently in the role until March 31st.
➢ Alok Rungta, now the Deputy CEO and CFO, brings almost two decades of experience in the
insurance industry to his new position.
➢ Alok Rungta has over twenty years of insurance experience.
➢ Since February 2023, I have served as Future Generali India Life Insurance’s Deputy CEO and Chief
Financial Officer (CFO).
➢ Previously held executive roles with major insurance businesses in the Philippines,
Hong Kong, and India.
Future Generali India Life Insurance
➢ Headquarters: Mumbai
➢ Founded: 2007, September
MS Kamath Managing Director of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL)
➢ Mundkur Shyamprasad Kamath took charge as the Managing Director (MD) of Mangalore Refinery
and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL). (succeeding the outgoing MD, Sanjay Varma.)
➢ Sanjay Varma, who took on the role of MD in June 2023, has concluded his tenure. As reported by
people matters, Kamath’s association with MRPL dates back to 1992, during which he has held
various leadership positions, showcasing his dedication and experience over the past three decades.
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited
➢ Founded: 7 March 1988
➢ Headquarters: Mangaluru
➢ Parent organization: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
Recent News:
➢ MRPL is category 1 schedule "A" Miniratna, Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) functioning
under the MoP&NG.
➢ MRPL signs agreement with BPCL for RLNG.
➢ MRPL's ATF gets aerospace standard certification.
➢ MRPL reports robust Q3 net profit of ₹387 crore; Declares Interim Dividend.
Shehbaz Sharif elected Pakistan's prime minister for second term
➢ The Pakistan National Assembly elected Shehbaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan
Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as the 24th Prime Minister in a session that
started with Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members creating a ruckus by shouting
slogans.
➢ Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly, announced
Shehbaz Sharif's victory with 201 votes.
➢ Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and SIC candidate for prime minister,
Omar Ayub Khan, received 92 votes.

Hungarian parliament elects top court chief as new president

➢ Hungary’s parliament recently appointed a new president following the resignation of the previous
head of state amidst a scandal involving a controversial pardon granted in a child sexual abuse case.
➢ The appointment of Tamás Sulyok, a former head of Hungary’s Constitutional Court, sparked debate
among opposition parties calling for direct presidential elections.
➢ Tamás Sulyok, a 67-year-old lawyer, assumed the presidency after a secret parliamentary vote,
receiving 134 votes in favor and five against.
STATIC:
➢ Hungary Capital: Budapest
➢ Currency: Forint (HUF)
➢ Prime minister: Viktor Orbán
Pat Cummins appointed Sunrisers Hyderabad captain for IPL 2024
➢ Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) appointed Australia's 2023 World Cup winning
captain Pat Cummins (Australia) as their skipper for the upcoming IPL season.
➢ Pat Cummins, , known for his stellar performances and leadership skills, takes
over the captaincy from South African batter Aiden Markram.
➢ The 30-year-old bowling all-rounder was bought by SRH for a whopping
Rs 20.5 cr in the IPL auction last year.
➢ SRH is set begin their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 23 at
Eden Gardens, Kolkata, as the 2024 season kicks off on March 22.
Bulgarian PM submits resignation
➢ Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov submitted his resignation to the National Assembly.
➢ Denkov was nominated for his position by the We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-
DB) coalition, the second largest parliamentary group.
➢ The nomination was as a result of a deal negotiated when his government was elected by the
Parliament on June 6, 2023.
STATIC:
➢ Capital: Sofia
➢ Currency: Bulgarian Lev
➢ President: Rumen Radev
➢ Prime minister: Nikolay Denkov
Ex-LIC chief MR Kumar joins Bank of India as non-executive chairman
➢ Bank of India announced the appointment of MR Kumar, former chairman of LIC, as the non-
executive chairman and Rajiv Mishra as an executive director.
➢ MR Kumar, a science graduate from the University of Madras, also serves on the board of Ambuja
Cements. He joined Life Insurance Corporation in 1983 and was its chairman from 2019 to March
2023.
➢ Rajiv Mishra, currently CGM, Union Bank of India, has been appointed Executive Director (ED), Bank
of India, for a period of three years.
BANK OF INDIA:
➢ Founded: 7 September 1906
➢ Headquarters: Mumbai
➢ Founder: Ramnarain Ruia
➢ Tagline: Relationship Beyond Banking

Tuvalu named Feleti Teo as new prime minister

➢ Feleti Teo named Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, succeeding Kausea Natano.
➢ Teo’s elections follows Tuvalu’s general elections highlighting diplomatic relations with iTaiwan
and China’s increasing influence in Pacific Politics.
➢ Tuvalu was formerly known as the Ellice Islands.
STATIC:
➢ Capital: Funafuti
➢ Continent: Oceania
➢ Currencies: Australian Dollar, Tuvaluan Dollar

BJP wins senior deputy mayor post in Chandigarh Municipal Corporation

➢ BJP party won both the Senior Deputy Mayor and the Deputy Mayor Seats in
Chandigarh
➢ BJP’s Kuldeep Singh Sandhu defeated candidate Gurpreet Singh Gabi
➢ Rajendra Kumar Sharma won the Deputy Mayor Post
➢ The Supreme Court declared Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Councilor Kuldeep
Kumar as the winner of the Chandigarh mayoral Polls.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay resigns as Calcutta High Court judge

➢ Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of Calcutta High Court on March 5 resigned as the
Judge and announced his plan to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of
the Lok Sabha election.
➢ He was elevated as permanent judge on July 30, 2020.
➢ He said that for the last two years, he has been dealing with “huge corruption”,
especially in the education sector.
➢ The resignation came into effect immediately under Article 217 (1) (a) of the Constitution.
Subcontinent Maharashtra extends tenure of DGP Rashmi Shukla for 2 years
➢ The Maharashtra government extended the tenure of DGP Rashmi Shukla
(IPS: 1988: MH) by two years from the date of her appointment.
➢ Shukla will now retire from service on January 3, 2026.
➢ Earlier, she was scheduled to retire in June this year. This was the first time
when the state government extended the tenure of Maharashtra DGP by 2 years.

AWARDS & HONORS

Knighthood by Britain's King
➢ Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman, Sunil Bharti Mittal has become the first Indian
citizen to receive an Honorary Knighthood from United Kingdom's King Charles III.
➢ The award grants Mr. Mittal the title of Knight Commander of the Most
Excellent Order of the British Empire.
➢ Knighthood is one of the highest honours granted by the British Sovereign to
civilians, conferred upon foreign nationals in recognition of their exceptional contributions.
Romain Rolland Book Prize

➢ Pankaj Kumar Chatterjee, the Bengali translator of Stalin’s Couch, a

French novel about the Soviet ruler’s final years, has won the 7th edition
of the Romain Rolland Book Prize.
➢ The French original, Le Divan de Staline, was written by Jean-Daniel Baltassat
➢ Instituted in 2017 by the French Institute in India, it recognises translations of French
books into Indian languages, including English.
Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2024

➢ News: Dr. Pradeep Mahajan, the Founder and CMD of StemRx Hospital and Research Centre,
along with StemRx Bioscience Solutions, has been awarded the prestigious
Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2024.
➢ Why: contributions to the field of regenerative medicine.
➢ Maharashtra Bhushan was first awarded in 1996.
President presents Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards

➢ News: President Droupadi Murmu presented the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards
for 2022 and 2023.
➢ Ms. Murmu also gave away the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, or
Akademi Ratna, to seven eminent artists. It is the highest honour given to
artists for his or her exceptional contribution to a performing art form.
Winners:
➢ The fellows are folklorist Vinayak Khedekar, veena virutoso R. Visweswaran, Kathak exponent
Sunayna Hazarilal, Kuchipudi dancers Raja and Radha Reddy, and theatre artists Dulal Roy and
D.P. Sinha.
➢ Also: 12 artists from the field of music, 12 from dance, 11 from folk and tribal arts, and 9 from field
of theatre received the Akademi Awards for 2023.
Winners:
➢ Carnatic vocalist Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, Neyveli Narayanan for Carnatic instrumental
(mridangam), Urmila Sathyanarayanan for Bharatanatyam, and Pallavi Krishnan for
Mohiniyattam.
➢ Prize Money: Akademi fellows will receive an amount ₹ 3 lakh, while the Akademi Award carries a
prize money of ₹ 1 lakh.
IAA Golden Compass Award

➢ Winner: Srinivasan K. Swamy, CMD of integrated marketing services firm

RK Swamy Ltd. has been awarded
➢ Where: 45th International Advertising Association World Congress held in Penang, Malaysia.
➢ Presented by: Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak.
PM Modi presents first-ever National Creators Awards in Delhi
➢ Prime Minister Modi presented the first 'National Creators Award' 2024
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored 23 individuals for their creative work and social change
contributions at the inaugural 'National Creator Awards' 2024 in New Delhi.
➢ Notable among them, Jaya Kishori received the best writer award for social change.
Winners list of National Creators Award 2024

Below is the list of winners of the National Creators Awards 2024. We have
arranged the list category wise
New India Champion Award: Abhi and Niyu
Best Storyteller Award: Keerthika Govindhasamy (Keerthi History)
Disruptor of the Year Award: Ranveer Allahbadia
Green Champion Award: Ms. Pankti Pandey
Best Creative for Social Change Award: Jaya Kishori (Meera of modern times)
Most Impactful Agri Creator Award: Lakshya Dabas
Cultural Ambassador of the Year Award: Maithili Thakur
Best International Creator Award: Drew Hicks, Kiri Paul, Cassandra Mae Spittmann
Best Travel Creator Award: Kamiya Jani (Curly Tales)
Tech Creator Award: Gaurav Chaudhary (Technical Guruji)
Swachhata Ambassador Award: Malhar Kalambe
Heritage Fashion Icon Award: Jahnvi Singh
Best Creative Creator – Female Award: Shraddha
Best Creative Creator – Male Award: RJ Raunaq
Best Creator in Food Category Award: Kabita’s Kitchen
Best Creator in Education Category Award: Naman Deshmukh
Best Health and Fitness Creator Award: Ankit Baiyanpuria
Gaming Creator Award: Nischay (Triggered Insaan)
Best Micro Creator Award: Aridaman
Best Nano Creator Award: Piyush Purohit
Best Celebrity Creator Award: Aman Gupta (Founder and CEO of boAT)
So this was all about the creators award 2024. It was a positive step from the government to
recognise and honour the hard work of Indian content creators. This was the first edition with more
to come.
➢ The National Creators Award 2024 honored outstanding work in sectors such as storytelling,
social change, sustainability, and education.
➢ It aimed to promote positive change and creativity. With 1,50,000 nominations and 1 million votes,
23 winners, including 3 internationals, were celebrated, inspiring others to use creativity for
society's betterment.
Yatin Bhaskar Duggal Wins First Prize in National Youth Parliament Festival 2024
➢ In 2024, the National Youth Parliament Festival took place with Yatin Bhaskar
Duggal from Haryana winning the first prize,
➢ Vaishna Pitchai from Tamil Nadu securing the second, and Kanishka
Sharma from Rajasthan getting the third prize.
➢ Held in New Delhi,
➢ the event featured speeches emphasizing youth's role in making India a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047
and setting an example for the world.
➢ Sports Union Minister Anurag Thakur.
➢ The finals had 87 State-level winners, and speakers urged youth to use platforms like YouTube
for spreading policies in local languages and fostering team-led leadership for personal growth.
Zoya Akhtar and Asma Khan honored with 'India-UK Achievers' Award
➢ Zoya Akhtar and Asma Khan were honored at the annual 'India-UK Achievers’
awards in London for their contributions to cinema & culinary arts, respectively.
➢ The awards ceremony recognizes the achievements of Indian students and
alumni who have participated in international programs.
➢ Zoya Akhtar received the Living Legend Award for her work in promoting understanding of India
through her films, including "Luck By Chance," "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara," and "The Archies."
➢ Chef Asma Khan, from the women-run Darjeeling Express restaurant in London, was also honored
for her culinary accomplishments and work as a cookery writer.
➢ The India-UK Achievers initiative was launched by the National Indian Students and Alumni Union
(NISAU) UK in partnership with the British Council in India and the UK Government's Department
of Trade, aiming to celebrate bilateral educational relations between the two countries.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Amazon Pay get RBI's payment aggregator license

➢ Amazon Pay, the financial technology division of e-commerce giant Amazon, has secured the
esteemed payment aggregator (PA) license from the RBI.
➢ It permits the payments platform to function as a payment aggregator, empowering it to
facilitate e-commerce transactions through its application.
➢ A payment aggregator license allows a company to operate as an intermediary between
merchants and payment processors or banks.
➢ Amazon Pay already holds a Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) license, enabling it to operate
its wallet services, including Amazon Pay balance
➢ Recent: Zomato, Juspay, Decentro, Mswipe, Zoho, and Stripe
'Smart Choice Gold Loan’
➢ Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. has announced the introduction of 'Smart Choice Gold Loan' for
customers.
➢ By utilising gold as a collateral, borrowers can enjoy lower interest rates compared with
conventional credit.
GDP growth for FY24 pegged at 7.6%
➢ The NSO raised India's real GDP growth estimate for this year to 7.6% from the 7.3% projected
last month.
➢ India's gross domestic product grew by 8.4% in Q3 FY24, quickening from 8.2% and 8.1% in Q1
and Q2, respectively.
CG Power to set up Gujarat chip unit for ₹ 7,600 crore
➢ CG Power and Industrial Solutions Ltd. announced that it would invest ₹ 7,600 crore over five
years in a joint venture with Japan's Renesas Electronics and Thailand's Stars Microelectronics
➢ to build and operate an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test facility in India.
➢ The unit would come up at Sanand in Gujarat.
₹ 5.49 cr. fine on Paytm bank
➢ The Financial Intelligence Unit-India has fined Paytm Payments Bank Ltd. ₹. 5.49 crore.
➢ Why: violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, after finding substantial proof of
money generated from illegal activity.
India’s GST collection
News: GST collection grows 12.5% to over Rs 1.68 lakh cr in Feb 2024
increase from the Rs 1.50 lakh crore collected during the corresponding period last year.
➢ 12.5% Year-on-Year Increase
➢ Note: The government has set a target of Rs 9.57 lakh crore for GST collection in the current fiscal
year.
National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation Limited
News: Amit Shah launched the NUCFDC, the Umbrella organisation for the Urban Cooperative Banks
in New Delhi.
➢ NUCFDC to set up one urban cooperative bank in each unrepresented town/city in a time-bound
program. UCBs should upgrade themselves to provide ATM facility, credit/debit cards, clearing
system, maintain SLR (statutory liquidity ratio) limit and refinancing
➢ NUCFDC has received RBI’s approval to function as a non-banking finance company and a self-
regulatory organisation for the urban cooperative banking sector. • Note: Vishwanathan
Committee, had recommended an umbrella body for UCBs.
Flipkart UPI payments facility launched
➢ News: Ecommerce company Flipkart launched its UPI services, Flipkart UPI, in partnership with
Axis Bank.
➢ The facility is called Flipkart UPI.
➢ The service will allow its users to make UPI payments without switching to other applications.
➢ Flipkart CEO - Kalyan Krishnamurthi
Moody's raises India's 2024 GDP forecast
➢ News: Moody’s Investor Service sharply raised its gross domestic product forecast for India.
➢ Raised 2024 growth estimate to 6.8% from 6.1%. India is likely to stay the fastest growing among
G-20 economies
Swedish defence major SAAB begins work
➢ News: Swedish defence major Saab started construction on its new manufacturing facility in India
for its iconic Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons.
➢ Where: at MET City at Jhajjar in Haryana
➢ Saab has established a new company, Saab FFVO India Pvt Ltd, which will fully own the new
manufacturing facility and produce the Carl-Gustaf M4 weapon.
OPEC expects Indian oil imports to rise again
News: Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said that a bigger share of India's oil imports in
coming decades due to the supplies proximity.
share of oil imported by India declined from 65% in 2022 to 50% last year.
OPEC:
➢ Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
➢ Established at the Baghdad Conference in 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
➢ other members are Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo,
and the United Arab Emirates.
➢ HQ: Vienna, Austria.
➢ Qatar in 2019 quit OPEC
➢ Ecuador left in 2020 and Indonesia suspended its membership in 2016.
Periodic Labour Force Survey, 2023
➢ By National Sample Survey Office
➢ to estimate the key employment and unemployment indicators
➢ Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): Percentage of persons in the
labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work) in the population.
➢ Worker Population Ratio (WPR): Percentage of employed persons in the population.
➢ Unemployment Rate (UR): Percentage of persons unemployed among the persons in the labour
force.
RBI, Bank Indonesia sign pact
➢ News: The Reserve Bank of India and the Bank Indonesia signed a MoU in Mumbai for
establishing a framework to promote the use of local currencies viz., the Indian Rupee and the
Indonesian Rupiah for cross-border transactions.
➢ The MoU was signed by the Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das and the Bank
Indonesia governor Perry Warjiyo.
➢ This framework would enable exporters and importers to invoice and pay in their respective
domestic currencies, - enable the development of an INR-IDR foreign exchange market.
Vaishnaw launches NITI Aayog's digital public infra platform
➢ Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched government think tank NITI Aayog's platform 'NITI
For States', a digital public infrastructure for policy and governance.
➢ Vaishnaw, the Minister of Communication, Railways and Electronics & IT, also inaugurated the
'Viksit Bharat Strategy Room' at NITI Aayog.
PNB & EaseMytrip partners to launch co-branded travel credit card: PNB EMT Credit card
➢ Punjab National Bank (PNB), a public sector bank, has collaborated with EaseMyTrip, an online
travel tech platform, to launch a co-branded travel credit card called "PNB EMT Credit Card."
➢ The target audience for this credit card ranges from mass to premium segments, offering rewards
in categories such as flights, hotels, and holiday packages.
➢ The PNB EMT Credit Card features a contactless payment wallet for convenient transactions.
➢ With an annual membership fee of Rs. 2000, this credit card is accepted across 100 countries.
BOB offers LITE Saving account with lifetime zero balance feature
➢ Bank of Baroda offers a special savings account called bob LITE, which is a lifetime zero balance
account.
➢ To maintain a free RuPay Platinum Debit Card, customers need to meet a Quarterly Average
Balance (QAB) requirement that varies based on the branch location (metro/urban, semi-urban, or
rural).
➢ The debit card comes with exclusive offers and discounts on various consumer brands, enhancing
the account holder's banking experience.
➢ bob LITE Savings Account is open to all resident individuals, including minors aged 10 years and
above who can read and write.
➢ To open this account, one can either use the digital account opening through Video KYC on the
provided link or visit the nearest Bank of Baroda branch. Key features of the account include a
lifetime zero balance requirement, accessibility for residents, a free RuPay Platinum Debit Card
based on QAB, a free credit card (subject to eligibility), discounts and offers on Bank of Baroda
Debit & Credit Cards, and 30 free cheque leaves per financial year.

OBITUARIES

Eminent archaeologist and Padma Shri awardee Arun Kumar Sharma dies at 91
➢ Renowned archaeologist and Padma Shri awardee, Arun Kumar Sharma, who
had served as the archaeological advisor to the Chhattisgarh government and
was one of the key witnesses in the Ram Janmabhoomi case.
➢ In 2016, Sharma along with his team re-established Lord Ganesh idol on
Dholkal mountain in Dantewada district of Bastar region.
➢ He was appointed as the archaeological advisor to the state government in 2004 and remained
active till 2017-18. He was awarded with the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2017

Prime Minister announces state funeral for the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney
➢ The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that a state funeral will
be held for the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of
Canada, who passed away.
➢ The Right Honourable Brian Mulroney was an extraordinary statesman and a
distinguished politician, lawyer, and businessman who devoted his career to
serving Canadians.
➢ As Canada’s 18th Prime Minister, he made significant progress on important issues here at home
and around the world.
Former Uttar Pradesh Governor and Congress veteran Aziz Qureshi died at a hospital in
Bhopal
➢ Former Uttar Pradesh Governor and senior Congress leader Aziz Qureshi
passed away.
➢ Qureshi had served as the governor of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and
Mizoram.
➢ He was first elected as an MLA in 1972 from Sehore seat in Madhya Pradesh
and became a Lok Sabha member in 1984.
 BOOKS & AUTHORS
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Releases Coffee Table Book Titled ‘FIH Odisha
Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023’
➢ Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released a coffee table book titled
‘FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023’ published by Sportstar, the sports magazine of The
Hindu Group.
➢ The 252-page book captured every on-field and off-field moment of the 15th edition of the
(Fédération Internationale de Hockey, or International Hockey Federation) FIH Odisha Hockey
Men’s World Cup 2023, which was held from 13th to 29th January 2023 in Bhubaneswar &
Rourkela, Odisha.
Former UN Assistant Secretary General Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri Launches Debut Book
“Swallowing the Sun”
➢ Lakshmi Murdeshwar Puri, Former Assistant Secretary General, United
Nations (UN) and wife of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, penned her
debut novel ‘Swallowing the Sun: A Novel’. She is also a former deputy
executive director of UN Women.
❖ The novel is published by Aleph Book Company, an independent publishing firm promoted by
Rupa Publications India.
A book on Indian modern art “The Gems of Indian Art” launched
➢ "The Gems of Indian Art," a book documenting Harish Khullar’s extensive
collection of 20th-century Indian modern and contemporary art, was launched.
➢ The nearly 300-page book was unveiled by Ministers Shri Nitin Gadkari, Shri Arjun Ram
Meghwal, and Shri S.P.S. Baghel, marking a significant moment in India’s art scene.
➢ Harish Khullar's collection is internationally celebrated for its exceptional quality and
prestigious provenance, representing a deep-rooted passion for Indian art within the Khullar
family.
➢ The book is edited by veteran art critic Vinod Bhardwaj and is recognized for its archival
quality by the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi.
➢ The collection features masterpieces by renowned Indian artists such as Tyeb Mehta, M.F.
Husain, and F.N. Souza, reflecting Harish Khullar’s epicurean taste and vision for Indian art.
A book title “Basic Structure and Republic” Released by Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
➢ In a notable event at the Durbar Hall (Old) of Raj Bhavan, Governor
Shri P. S. Sreedharan Pillai unveiled his latest literary contribution, “Basic
Structure and Republic,” marking his 212th publication.
➢ Archbishop of Changanacherry, His Gracious H. G. Mar Joseph Perumthottam,
released the book.
➢ The first copy was presented to Shri. Subhash Shirodkar, embodying the collaborative spirit
between the governance and the intellectual discourse.
➢ Smt. Rita Shreedharan Pillai, the First Lady of Goa, also graced the event, adding to its prestige.
➢ Book focus, particularly spotlighting the landmark Kesavananda Bharati V/S Sanyasi case,
adjudicated by a 13-judge bench after the longest ever hearing of sixty-six days.

IMPORTANT DAYS
March 1 – Zero Discrimination Day
➢ Zero Discrimination Day is observed every year on March 1 to promote
inclusion, equality, and peace and raise awareness about the impact of
discrimination worldwide.
➢ The day was first celebrated on March 1, 2014.
➢ Ten years ago, UNAIDS had launched its Zero Discrimination Campaign on
'World AIDS Day' in December 2013.
➢ UNAIDS is a joint United Nations program on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
➢ Theme: “To protect everyone's health, protect everyone's rights.“
March 01: World Civil Defense Day
➢ The International Civil Defence Organization (ICDO) decided to celebrate this
day in 1990.
➢ The day also recognises the efforts put in by the organisations in protecting
communities and saving lives.
➢ Theme 2024: “Honor Heroes and Promote Safety Skills."
March 02: World Teen Mental Wellness Day
➢ World Teen Mental Wellness Day is observed on 2 March every year.
➢ It is established to raise awareness about mental health and to reduce the
stigma associated with it.
➢ According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in seven people
between 10 and 19 years old experience mental illnesses.
➢ This includes major depression, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.
March 03: World Wildlife Day
➢ World Wildlife Day was first proposed by Thailand to the UN General
Assembly in 2013.
➢ The General Assembly adopted a resolution on 20 December 2013,
designating March 3 as World Wildlife Day in 2014.
➢ The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a
global agreement to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does
not threaten their survival, was signed on this day in 1973.
➢ Theme 2024: "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife
Conservation“

Note: World Wildlife Day celebrated at Okhla Bird Sanctuary focusing on Mission LiFE
March 03: World Hearing Day

➢ World Hearing Day is celebrated annually on March 3rd to raise awareness

about hearing loss and deafness.

➢ In 2007, the World Health Organization (WHO) established World Hearing Day.
➢ Theme 2024: "Changing mindsets: Let's make ear and hearing care a reality
for all"
Dissociative Identity Disorder Awareness Day 2024
➢ March 5th <> presents a complex mental health challenge for both individuals
affected Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously named Multiple
Personality Disorder, presents a complex mental health challenge for both
individuals affected by it and the professionals who aim to diagnose and treat it.
➢ This condition involves the existence of two or more distinct personality states, each exhibiting its
own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This disorder is annually acknowledged on March 5th.
 INTERNATIONALS
Agalega Island in Mauritius
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Mauritius, H.E. Mr. Pravind Jugnauth, will
jointly inaugurated the new Airstrip and St. James Jetty along with six community development
projects at the Agalega Island in Mauritius - Virtually.
➢ The projects will fulfil the demand for better connectivity between mainland Mauritius and
Agalega, strengthen maritime security and foster socioeconomic development.
➢ In 2015, India had signed an MOU with Mauritius to develop Agalega Island. Under this, more
than $200 million projects are being funded by India.
➢ Also: launch of UPI and RuPay Card services in Mauritius.
Biden administration to investigate national security risks posed by Chinese-made 'smart
cars’
➢ Biden administration plans to investigate Chinese-made "smart cars" due to potential national
security risks.
➢ The investigation may result in new regulations to prevent China from using technology to track
drivers and their personal information.
➢ This action, though not a complete ban, demonstrates President Biden's commitment to
safeguarding Americans' data.
Nicaragua becomes first Spanish speaking country to recognise India pharma standards
➢ News: India and Nicaragua have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on
Pharmacopoeia on cooperation in the field of the regulation of medicines.
➢ With this MoU, Nicaragua has become the first nation in Spanish speaking world to recognise
Indian Pharmacopeia.
➢ Pharmacopeia refers to “a book describing chemicals, drugs, and other substances and how they
are used as medicines”.
Countries either have their own Pharmacopoeia or recognise Pharmacopoeia of another country for
referring the standards of drugs manufactured or consumed in that country
About Nicaragua:
Central American Country
Capital<> Managua
Currency: Nicaraguan Córdoba
President: Daniel Ortega
Shehbaz Sharif
➢ News: Shehbaz Sharif takes oath as Pakistan's 24th Prime Minister
➢ President Arif Alvi administered the oath to Mr. Shehbaz.
➢ Mr. Shehbaz earlier served as Prime Minister of coalition government from April 2022 to August
2023.
Nobel Laureate Yunus granted bail
➢ News: Nobel Laureate Yunus granted bail in Bangladesh embezzlement case.
➢ Involved in a in a $2.3 million financial crime.
➢ pioneered the use of microcredit to help poor people.
➢ 2006 Nobel Peace Prize, He was known as 'Banker to the Poor'.
Abortion constitutional right
➢ News: French parliament votes to make abortion constitutional right.
➢ Making France the first country in the world to offer protection for terminating a pregnancy.
➢ France PM: Gabriel Attal
Haiti government declares state of emergency
News: Haiti's government declared a state of emergency and night-time curfew after a deadly gang
assault on the capital's main prison that allowed thousands of inmates to escape.
Haiti:
Central American Country
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Currency: Haitian Gourde
PM: Ariel Henry
Archaeologists in Egypt unearth section of large Ramses II statue
➢ News: A joint Egyptian-U.S. archaeological mission has uncovered the upper part of a huge statue
of King Ramses II during excavations south of the Egyptian city of Minya.
➢ The limestone block is about 3.8 metres (12.5 feet) high and depicts a seated Ramses wearing a
double crown and a headdress topped with a royal cobra.
➢ Also known as Ramses the Great, he was the third pharaoh (ruler) of the Nineteenth Dynasty of
Egypt and ruled from 1,279 to 1,213 BCE.
Maldives defence deal with Russia
➢ News: The Maldives will get free “nonlethal” military equipment and training from China's military
under a new agreement.
➢ This is the first time Maldives has signed a deal with China for military cooperation of this level.
About Maldives:
Capital : Male
President: Mohammed Muizzu
Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa
D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation
➢ News: Bangladesh PM pitches for common currency for Muslim countries, to boost trade and
commerce among them.
➢ Bangladesh PM said this during the visit of D-8 trade ministers in Dhaka.
➢ D-8 is an Organization for Economic Cooperation among the eight Muslim countries: Bangladesh,
Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
➢ Developing -8 Organization for Economic Cooperation was announced officially through the
Istanbul Declaration of Summit of Heads of State/Government on June 15, 1997.
Ghana Parliament Passes Anti-LGBTQ Bill
➢ Ghana's parliament has approved a contentious anti-LGBTQ bill called the Human Sexual Rights
and Family Values Bill. This bill seeks to preserve traditional Ghanaian family values and control
human sexual rights, criminalizing identification with LGBTQ identities and imposing penalties of
up to three years in prison.
➢ Individuals promoting or supporting LGBTQ activities could face up to five years in prison under
this proposed law, while Ghana already prohibits gay sexual acts with a maximum three-year
prison sentence.
 PLACES IN NEWS
India's leopard population rises to 13,874
➢ As per MoEFCC, India's leopard numbers rose by 8% from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022.
➢ The survey covered 20 States of India.
➢ Highest number of leopards were reported in Madhya Pradesh (3,907).
➢ Only three other States reported over 1,000 animals each - Maharashtra
(1,985), Karnataka (1,879) and Tamil Nadu (1,070).
➢ Uttarakhand reported a 22% decline in the big cat numbers - reportedly
due to poaching and man-animal conflict.
➢ Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal saw a collective 150% rise to
349 animals.
➢ Leopards are known to prey on cattle and thus be involved in conflict, resulting
in higher mortality.
New marine species named after President Draupadi Murmu
➢ The Zoological Survey of India named a new marine species of head-shield sea slug with ruby
red spot.
➢ which was discovered from West Bengal and Odisha coast after President
of India Droupadi Murmu.
➢ Species belonging to Melanochlamys genus
➢ ZSI Director: Dhriti Banerjee (HQ<> Kolkatta).
➢ Child burial site dating back to neolithic
➢ age unearthed in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.
Child burial site dating back to neolithicage unearthed in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu
➢ The excavation started at Chettimedu Pathur Archeologists have unearthed
an ancient burial site of a child with a pot beside it likely dating back to the
neolithic period.
➢ Dated between 5000-1500 BCE
➢ Many shreds of burnished red ware, burnished grey ware and red ware
having elongated neck and wide mouth belonging to the same period were also found.
 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NICDC and IIT Delhi sign MoU to Collaborate on Assessment of Location Optimality for the
National Industrial Corridor Development Programme using PM GatiShakti Portal
➢ NICDC under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India and the Foundation for
Innovation and Technology Transfer at the Indian Institute of
Technology, Delhi (FITT-IITD) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.
➢ With an objective to evaluate optimality of locations for development
of Greenfield Industrial Smart Cities in India leveraging the principles
and framework of PM GatiShakti.
➢ As India aims to become a $5 trillion economy, efforts like this show
how important technology, research, and working together are in
building a strong and lasting future.
➢ This is crucial to achieve the goal of "Viksit Bharat" (developed India).

Navy to commission a new base INS Jatayu on Minicoy Island

➢ The Indian Navy will commission Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS
Jatayu on March 6, 2024, marking the second naval base in
Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak.
➢ The Indian Navy will commission a new base INS Jatayu on Minicoy
Island on March 6 to incrementally augment security infrastructure at
the strategically important Lakshadweep Islands.
➢ Minicoy is the southernmost island of Lakshadweep which straddles
the vital Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs).
➢ The Commissioning of the Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu will take place in the presence
of Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff.
➢ The Naval Detachment Minicoy was set up in the early 1980s under the operational command of
Naval Officer-in-Charge (Lakshadweep).
L&T Commissions First Indigenously Built Green Hydrogen Electrolyser
➢ Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has commissioned its first indigenously-
manufactured electrolyser at the Green Hydrogen Plant at A M Naik
Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat.
➢ The electrolyser, featuring a rated power capacity of 1 MW
(expandable to 2 MW), can produce hydrogen of 200 Nm3/Hr
(normal meter cubed per hour), a unit to measure gas flow rate.
➢ Green hydrogen is generated through the electrolysis of water using
electricity derived from renewable sources.
➢ The carbon footprint of this process hinges on the carbon neutrality of the electricity source.
➢ In simpler terms, the more renewable energy in the electricity mix, the greener the produced
hydrogen becomes.
➢ L&T Electrolysers has been allocated a significant 300 MW per annum capacity under the
Production Linked Incentive of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched by the Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy and implemented by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.
Eco-Friendly wound dressing developed by Indian scientists using banana fibres
➢ Banana pseudo stems have been used to make an eco-friendly wound dressing material, providing a
sustainable and effective solution for wound care.
➢ Banana cultivation in India is the largest in the world, due to which
the pseudo stems of banana are available in abundance.
➢ Scientists from autonomous institutions like the Institute of Advanced
Study in Science and Technology (IASST) have developed this
excellent wound dressing material.
➢ The dressing material uses organic polymers such as chitosan and
guar gum, which combine antioxidant properties to form a
multifunctional patch.
➢ This research has recently been published in the International Journal of Biological
Macromolecules, further highlighting its importance.

India - Malaysia Bilateral Maritime Exercise Samudra Laksamana

➢ Exercise Samudra Laksamana is underway off Visakhapatnam.
➢ Indian Naval Ship Kiltan and Royal Malaysian Ship KD Lekir are
participating in the 3rd edition of this exercise which has harbour
professional interactions followed by the operational phase at sea.
➢ At harbour, crew of both ships will have various professional
interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchange on topics of mutual
interest, sports fixtures, and other interactions.
➢ These interactions are aimed to enhance knowledge base, share best practices and further
cooperation on maritime aspects.
➢ The exercise aims to strengthen bonds and enhance interoperability between the Indian and Royal
Malaysian Navy.

SpaceX launches Crew-6 mission for NASA

➢ SpaceX launched four people to the International Space Station from Florida as Elon Musk’s
company begins the final of the original six missions it was awarded by NASA.
➢ The mission is SpaceX’s sixth operational crew launch for NASA to date and the company’s ninth
human spaceflight to date.
➢ The crew is made of two Americans, one Russian and one Emirati: NASA astronauts Warren
Hoburg and Bowen, Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev and United Arab Emirates astronaut
Sultan Alneyadi.
➢ SpaceX launched the astronauts in its Crew Dragon capsule called Endeavour, on top of a Falcon 9
rocket. Both the rocket and capsule are reusable, with the latter flying on its fourth mission to date.
➢ NASA awarded SpaceX with additional missions, for a total of 14, compared with Boeing’s six.
SPACEX
➢ Founders: Elon Musk, Tom Mueller
➢ CEO: Elon Musk
➢ Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, United States
➢ Founded: 14 March 2002
➢ COO: Gwynne Shotwell
Indian Navy to Commission MH 60R ‘Seahawks’ into its Fleet as INAS 334 Squadron
➢ Indian Navy is set to commission the MH 60R Seahawk multi-role
helicopters into its fleet on March 6, 2024, at INS Garuda in Kochi.
➢ This marks a pivotal moment in India’s defense modernization efforts,
with the Seahawks being integrated as the INAS 334 Squadron.
➢ These helicopters, part of a 24-aircraft Foreign Military Sales (FMS)
contract signed with the US government in February 2020, represent
a considerable leap in the Navy’s operational capabilities.
➢ Designed to excel in a variety of roles including anti-submarine
warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation
(MEDEVAC), and vertical replenishment (VERTREP), the Seahawks have been thoroughly tested
under Indian Reference Atmosphere (IRA) conditions.

Iran's Pars 1 satellite enters space after Russian launch

➢ Russia launched into space an Iranian research satellite which will scan Iran's topography from an
orbit of 500 km (310 miles).
➢ The remote Pars 1 research-sensing satellite, launched by a Russian Soyuz rocket from the
Vostochny Cosmodrome, weighs 134 kg (295 pounds) and is equipped with three cameras.
➢ The cosmodrome, which came into service in 2016, is in the Amur region of Russia's Far East, not
far from the Russian border with China and about 1,500 km (930 miles) from the port of
Vladivostok.
➢ Russia sent Iran's remote Khayyam sensing satellite into orbit in 2022
from Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome, reflecting deeper scientific
cooperation between the two U.S.-sanctioned countries.
STATIC
➢ Russia Capital: Moscow ➔ Iran Capital: Tehran
➢ Currency: Ruble ➔ Currency: The rial
➢ President: Vladimir Putin ➔ President: Ebrahim Raisi
➢ Continent: Europe, Asia
New species of Amazon anaconda, world's largest snake, discovered

➢ Researchers in the Amazon have discovered the world's largest snake species – an enormous green
anaconda - in Ecuador's rainforest that split off from its closest relatives 10 million years ago
though they still nearly look identical to this day.
➢ A video shared online shows the scale of these 20-foot-long (6.1-meter-long) reptiles as one of the
researchers, Dutch biologist Freek Vonk, swims alongside a
giant 200-kilo (441-pound) specimen.
➢ The new species, dubbed the “northern green anaconda,” weighs
up to 200 kilograms (441 pounds) and showcases significant genetic
divergence from its counterpart.
Google unveils Genie AI
➢ Google’s DeepMind introduces Genie, an AI platform that generates interactive 2D video games.
➢ Genie uses a ‘world model’ trained on 200,000 hours of video footage from 2D platformer games.
➢ The AI platform can generate video games from a single prompt or image.
What is Genie AI?
➢ Google’s Genie is a revolutionary AI platform developed by Google DeepMind’s Open-Endedness
Team.
➢ It’s designed to generate interactive 2D video games from a single image prompt or text description.
➢ This groundbreaking technology is set to transform the gaming industry by providing a new,
innovative way to create games.
GOOGLE:
➢ Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin
➢ Parent organization: Alphabet Inc.
➢ Founded: 4 September 1998, USA
➢ CEO: Sundar Pichai

Rajnath Singh launches ADITI scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence
tech
➢ Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday launched the Acing
Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme
to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.
➢ Under the scheme, start-ups are eligible to receive grant-in-aid of up
to Rs 25 crore for their research development and innovation
endeavours in defence technology.
➢ The scheme was launched during DefConnect 2024 event here in the
presence of Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and others.
➢ The ADITI scheme worth Rs 750 crore for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26 falls under the iDEX
framework of the department of defence production under the ministry of defence. It aims to
develop about 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies in the proposed timeframe.
➢ In the first edition of ADITI, 17 challenges Indian Army (three), Indian Navy (five), Indian Air Force
(five) and Defence Space Agency (four) - have been launched.
➢ The Defence Ministry stated that the idea behind schemes or initiatives such as ADITI, iDEX, iDEX
Prime is to also transform India into a knowledge society.

Chakshu Portal: India unveils platform for fraud calls, texts

➢ The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched Chakshu, a
platform for telecom users to report fraud or spam callers.
➢ The facility, available at sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc, aims to allow citizens
to “proactively report suspected fraud communication.
➢ The platform will allow users to report “Bank Account / Payment
Wallet / SIM / Gas connection / Electricity connection / KYC update /
expiry / deactivation, impersonation as Government official / relative, sextortion related [scams]”.
Scientists discover three previously unknown new moons around Uranus and Neptune
➢ Astronomers have identified two new moons revolving around
Neptune and one encircling Uranus, augmenting the known tally of
satellites to 16 and 28, respectively.
➢ Astronomers have identified a diminutive moon around Uranus,
tentatively labelled "S/2023 U1." This tiny satellite, measuring just
5 miles (8 km) wide, embarks on a 680-day orbit around Uranus.
➢ Its discovery, the first around Uranus in over two decades, presents
an intriguing addition to the planet's lunar family.
➢ These discoveries were announced by the International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center,
as reported by Space.com.

IN-SPACe technical centre focussed on ‘satellites & payloads’ inaugurated in Ahmedabad

➢ In order to provide the private sector with “unparalleled opportunities”
to rigorously test and validate their space technologies, a first-of-its-kind
technical centre built by Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation
Centre (IN-SPACe) in Ahmedabad was inaugurated by Union minister of state
for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh.
➢ Investment Landscape: Private entities invested ₹1000 crore in India’s
space sector between April and December 2023.
➢ Acceleration: Establishment of the technical center poised to expedite India’s
advancements in space technology.

Raksha Mantri Inaugurates ‘Chola’ Building At Naval War College, Goa

➢ Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the new Administrative & Training building at the
Naval War College (NWC), Goa on March 05, 2024.
➢ The modern edifice, named the 'Chola’, pays homage to the mighty maritime empire of the Chola
dynasty of ancient India.
➢ In his address, the Raksha Mantri lauded the Navy for creating a world-class state-of-the-art
training facility that resonates with India's stature among the maritime powers of the world.
➢ The inaugural ceremony was also attended by Goa Chief Minister Shri Pramod Sawant, Union
Minister of State for Tourism & Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Shripad Naik, Chief of Naval
Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and Flag Officers Commanding in Chief, Western & Southern Naval
Commands.
➢ The event marked a significant milestone in the history of the NWC, reinforcing its commitment to
excellence in military education and nurturing maritime thought.
STATIC
➢ Formation: On 30 May 1987
➢ Goa Capital: Panaji
➢ CM: Pramod Sawant
➢ Gov: P. S. Sreedharan Pillai
Indian Coast Guard Ships Samarth and Abhinav departed from Port of Colombo
➢ Indian Coast Guard Ships Samarth and Abhinav departed from Port of Colombo.
➢ The visit is seen to further strengthens the maritime cooperation between
the two countries’ coast guards.
➢ During the entire week that the ships spent at Galle and Colombo, several
activities and included professional training for the Sri Lanka Coast Guard
on various aspects such as VBSS, Fire Fighting, Damage Control, and
Maritime Pollution Response.
➢ Additionally, activities like yoga, beach cleaning, and a walkathon were
carried out during the stay. The ships also conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with
the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, enhancing maritime cooperation.
➢ This visit is aligned with India's SAGAR doctrine and 'Neighbourhood First' policy,
aiming to strengthen camaraderie and interoperability between the two friendly navies.
Indian Coast Guard
➢ Established: 1 February 1977
➢ Headquarters: New Delhi
➢ Director General: Rakesh Pal (25th)

1st Naval Commanders’ Conference of 2024: Raksha Mantri witnesses ‘twin-carrier operations’
➢ Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh embarked at sea to witness the Indian Navy’s ability to
conduct ‘twin-carrier operations’.
➢ The demonstration was held as part of the first edition of the Naval
Commanders’ Conference which is being held in hybrid form this time.
➢ During the inaugural session, both the aircraft carriers showcased their
ability to safeguard India’s maritime interests.
➢ He lauded the anti-piracy operations of the Indian Navy in the Indo-Pacific
region, adding that the force is working towards peace and prosperity in line
with Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) as envisioned by PM Narendra Modi.

Delhi’s first-ever bilateral hand transplant

➢ In a first in Delhi, a team of doctors at Ganga Ram Hospital successfully
performed a bilateral hand transplant on a painter who lost both hands
in a train accident in 2020. The highly complex surgery lasted for 12 hours.
➢ Meena Mehta, who has pledged her organs for donations, became Kumar’s
donor, providing the hands for the transplant.
➢ The Transplant surgery was performed by Dr. Mahesh Mangal and Dr. Swaroop Gambhir

New Satellite Will Launch to Track Methane Emissions

➢ A new satellite mission, spearheaded by the Environmental Defense Fund, aims to help scientists
spy on global methane emissions from the oil and gas industry.
➢ And it could help policymakers crack down on major sources of the potent greenhouse gas.
➢ The project involves a number of partners, including the New Zealand Space Agency, Harvard
University, British aerospace company BAE Systems and others.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that is more than 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide at
trapping heat in the atmosphere in the short term.
SPACEX
➢ Founded: 14 March 2002
➢ CEO: Elon Musk
➢ Founders: Elon Musk, Tom Mueller
➢ Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, United States

NLC India Green Energy Limited (NIGEL) Signs Power Purchase Agreement with GUVNL for 600
MW Solar Power Project
➢ NLCIL has won 600 MW Solar Power Project tender in the GSECL Khavda Solar Park, floated by
GUVNL through competitive bidding process.
➢ In line with the policy of developing RE projects under the green energy wholly owned subsidiary
(WoS), the project development has been vested with NIGEL.
➢ The annual generation of electricity is set at 1,577.88 MU (Million Unit), with a cumulative
electricity generation of 39.447 BU (Billion Unit) in its lifetime. The project is set to offset approx
35.5 Million Metric Tons of Carbon dioxide emissions during its entire life.
NLC INDIA LIMITED:
➢ Founded: 1956
➢ Headquarters: Neyveli
➢ CMD: Prasanna Kumar Motupalli

Indian Navy rescues 21 crew, including 1 Indian, after ship hit by Houthi missile in Gulf of Aden
➢ The Indian Navy rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national , after Barbados-flagged
Liberian-owned bulk carrier True Confidence was reportedly hit by a missile in the Gulf of Aden.
➢ INS Kolkata was deployed for the Maritime Security Operation using integral helicopter and boats.
➢ "INS Kolkata deployed for Maritime Security Operations, arrived on location at 1645 hrs & rescued
21 crew, incl one Indian national, using integral helicopter and boats.
INDIAN NAVY:
➢ Founded: 26 January 1950
➢ Headquarters: New Delhi
➢ Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): General Anil Chauhan
➢ Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS): Admiral R. Hari Kumar
➢ Vice Chief of the Naval Staff (VCNS): Vice Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi

Swedish SAAB begins work on new Carl-Gustaf manufacturing facility in India

➢ Swedish defence major Saab on Monday started construction on its new manufacturing facility in
India for its iconic Carl-Gustaf M4 weapons with a formal groundbreaking ceremony.
➢ The facility is being built in the State of Haryana at MET City at Jhajjar in Haryana.
➢ The State has a strong industrial base of good potential partners and skilled employees.
➢ Saab’s factory will be the first foreign fully-owned defence production facility in India.
STATIC

➢ Sweden Capital: Stockholm

➢ Continent: Europe
➢ Currency: Swedish Krona
➢ PM: Ulf Kristersson

Google partners with Shakti to battle misinformation ahead of general elections

➢ Google has announced a partnership to combat misinformation. The tech giant has partnered with
Shakti, an Indian fact-checking collective, to help detect online misinformation, including deepfakes.
➢ Shakti comprises of major Indian news outlets along with independent fact-checkers.
➢ It aims to create a common repository that news publishers can use to tackle the challenges of
misinformation at scale.
➢ Shakti will be driven by DataLEADS, in collaboration with the Misinformation Combat Alliance, The
Quint, VishvasNews, Boom, Factly, and Newschecker, with support from the Google News Initiative.
STATIC:
➢ Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin
➢ Parent organization: Alphabet Inc.
➢ Founded: 4 September 1998
➢ CEO: Sundar Pichai
➢ Headquarters: California, United States

SPORTS

Asian River Rafting Champions Take On Sutlej River

➢ Shimla, a gorgeous town, will host the first-ever Asian River Rafting
Championships, which will be officially launched on March 4th, 2024, by
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.
➢ The competition will take place on the Sutlej River in Basantpur in the Sunni
area from March 4th to 9th, 2024.
➢ Approximately 20 national and international teams are competing, representing Nepal, Bhutan, Sri
Lanka, Iran, Iraq, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia.
➢ The successful river rafting marathon was held at Nadaun, Hamirpur district.
➢ The paragliding championship was hosted last year in Junga, Shimla district, in collaboration with a
commercial firm.
Puneri Paltan Makes History: Clinches Maiden Pro Kabaddi League Title in Season 10 Final
Thriller
➢ Puneri Paltan secured their first-ever Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) title by
defeating Haryana Steelers with a score of 28-25 in a closely contested final,
marking a historic moment for the team in PKL Season 10.
➢ Key players like Pankaj Mohite and Gaurav Khatri displayed exceptional performances, with Khatri
being awarded the Defender of the Day for his
pivotal role in securing the win.
➢ The presence of esteemed para-athletes such as Palak Kohli, Mandeep Kaur, Yogesh Kathuniya, and
Pranav Soorma highlighted the league's commitment to promoting inclusivity and awareness about
para-sports in India.
IPL Purple Cap winners from 2008 to 2024

➢ Sohail Tanvir: The first bowler to receive the Purple Cap in 2008, Tanvir played for the Rajasthan
Royals and took 22 wickets in 11 games.
➢ RP Singh: The first Indian player to win the Purple Cap in 2009, Singh took 23 wickets in 16
matches.
➢ Lasith Malinga: The only Sri Lankan player to win the Purple Cap, Malinga won in 2011.
➢ Dwayne Bravo: Won the Purple Cap in 2013 and 2015, taking 32 and 26 wickets respectively.
➢ Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Won the Purple Cap back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.
➢ Harshal Patel: Won the Purple Cap in 2021.
➢ Kagiso Rabada: Won the Purple Cap in 2020.
➢ Imran Tahir: Won the Purple Cap in 2021.
➢ Andrew Tye: Won the Purple Cap in 2018.
➢ Mohit Sharma: Won the Purple Cap in 2024.
Abdusattorov Wins Prague Masters
➢ The Prague Masters has become a dream tournament for GM Nodirbek
Abdusattorov.
➢ In a field with three candidates, the 19-year-old Uzbek GM secured victory
with a round to spare while moving to world number four in the live ratings,
surpassing World Champion Ding Liren.
Neil Wagner retires from international cricket
➢ Fast bowler Neil Wagner has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing down
the curtains on a 12-year-old Test career during which he played 64 Tests, the New Zealand Cricket
(NZC).
➢ He will finish his career fifth on the list of New Zealand’s top Test wicket-takers with 260 wickets, at
an average of 27.
➢ Wagner won 32 of his 64 Tests, and claimed 143 wickets at an average of 22 in those victories.
➢ The left-arm pacer debuted for the BlackCaps in 2012 and was a key member of the side during
their ascent to the number one ICC Test world ranking and victory in the inaugural ICC World Test
Championship in 2021.
STATIC:
➢ New Zealand Capital: Wellington
➢ Currency: Dollar
➢ PM: Christopher Luxon
Khelo India University Games 2023 concludes in Guwahati
➢ The Khelo India University Games 2023, which started on the 17th of February,
were officially declared closed by the Assam sports Minister Shrimati Nandita
Gorlosa at the Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati.
➢ Chandigarh University clinched the overall championships of the 4th Khelo India
University Games 2023, Ashtalakshmi with their boxers adding five gold, one
silver and four bronze medals to ensure that none of their close contenders even
had an outside chance of staking claim to the top spot.
➢ Lovely Professional University were a distant second → 42 medals (20G, 14S, 8B)
➢ Guru Nanak Dev University finished third → 51 medals (12G, 20S, 19B) and was only contingent
apart from the champions to cross the 50-medal mark.
France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba banned for four years for doping
➢ France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba says he will try to clear his name after he was handed a
four-year doping ban.
➢ The France international was provisionally suspended by a tribunal of Italy’s national anti-doping
organisation (NADO Italia) in September after testing positive for DHEA – a banned substance
which naturally raises levels of testosterone.
STATIC
➢ France Capital: Paris
➢ Currency: The euro
➢ PM: Gabriel Attal
➢ President: Emmanuel Macron

Rohit Sharma becomes 1st-ever player to achieve all-format catching milestone

➢ Rohit becomes 1st-ever non-keeper to take 60 catches in all formats.
➢ Rohit Sharma took his 60th catch in Test cricket in Dharamsala.
➢ India bowled out England for 218 runs in 1st innings.
Puneri Paltan crowned PKL Season 10 champion
➢ Puneri Paltan won the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 10 by defeating
the Haryana Steelers in the finals held at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in
Gachibowli, Hyderabad.
➢ It marks Puneri Paltan's first-ever PKL title win since its first edition in 2014.
➢ The title winner was awarded Prize money of Rs 3 crore and runner up Haryana Steelers was
awarded Rs. 1.8 crore.

Spain Wins First UEFA Women’s Nations League

➢ Spain’s women’s team secured a historic victory over France, winning the first-
ever UEFA Women’s Nations League with a convincing 2-0 triumph in Seville.
➢ The win represents a significant achievement for Spain in the realm of women’s
football, further solidifying their position as a dominant force in the sport.
➢ Aitana Bonmati volleyed in a cross from Olga Carmona after the half-hour, the
lead doubled eight minutes after the interval when Mariona Caldentey turned in
Ona Battle’s delivery.

Former WC Bronze Winner Sai Praneeth Announces Retirement from Badminton

➢ The 2019 World Championship bronze medalist, B. Sai Praneeth has decided
to retire from badminton.
➢ The 31-year-old from Hyderabad, Telangana, had won the bronze medal in the
2019 edition held in Basel, Switzerland and was part of the Indian team that won
bronze medals in the Asian Team Championships in 2020 and 2016.
➢ The 2010 World Junior Badminton Championships bronze medallist, Sai Praneeth
was also a member of the Indian team that won gold medal in the South Asian Games 2016.

Sports ministry revokes Paralympic Committee of India's suspension

➢ The Sports Ministry revoked the suspension imposed on the Paralympic
Committee of India (PCI) after the body initiated the process for its long-pending
elections in which multiple-time Paralympic medallist Devendra Jhajharia is set to
be elected President.
➢ The ministry terminated PCI's recognition for "intentional delay to elect a new
executive committee" as per the National Sports Code.
➢ Devendra Jhajharia also won a silver medal in the Tokyo Paralympics in 2021.
➢ He clinched a world championships gold in 2013 and a silver in 2015 (both F46 category) as well as
a silver in the Asian Para Games in 2014.
➢ R Chandrashekhar and Satya Prakash Sangwan are set to be elected unopposed as the two vice-
presidents, while Sunil Pradhan was the lone candidate for the treasurer's post. Lalit Thakur and T
Diwakara are set to be the two joint secretaries.
➢ The eight candidates who are in the fray for the five executive committee members are: Sutapa
Chakrabarty, Bhati Chandulal Tarachandji, Sandeep Kumar, Usha Manaki, Amrik Singh, Chandan
Roy Choudhary, Shaminder Singh Dhillon and Singarapu Babu.
Shahbaz Nadeem retires from international and India’s domestic cricket
➢ Former Indian cricketer Shahbaz Nadeem has retired from all forms of Indian cricket, pulling the
curtains down on his 20-year-long career.
➢ Shahbaz Nadeem played 2 Tests for India
➢ Nadeem also played 72 matches in the Indian Premier League
➢ Nadeem has 842 wickets in first-class, List A and T20 cricket
➢ Nadeem last played competitive cricket in Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy 2024 match
against Rajasthan in Jamshedpur, where he picked up 3 wickets and scored 46
runs.
Hockey India launches comprehensive curriculum for coaches and match officials
➢ Hockey India has introduced comprehensive courses focusing on the education and development of
budding coaches and match officials, recognising their key role in shaping the future of Indian
hockey.
➢ Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey emphasized on the importance of
focusing on grassroots development and providing opportunities to aspirants
to grow in their careers.
➢ Additionally, Hockey India is conducting the Hockey India Technical
Representative and Umpire Manager Course in New Delhi to deepen the
understanding of the FIH rules and regulations governing their roles.
Yuan beat wang in Austin final to capture first WTA Title
➢ Yuan Yue, the eighth seed, won her first WTA title at the 2024 ATX Open
in Austin, Texas.
➢ Yuan Yue defeated Wang Xiyu, the sixth seed, in the all-Chinese final.
➢ She is currently 64th in the world, three lowers than her peak in January.
➢ She participated in the Australian Open in 2023 and 2024 but didn't get
past the first round.
➢ Her best record in all four Grand Slam tournaments was reaching the third round at the U.S. Open in
2022.
Alex de Minaur creates history by clinching Mexican Open title
➢ Third seed Alex de Minaur defeated Casper Ruud 6-4 6-4 to defend his Mexican
Open title.
➢ De Minaur captures eighth ATP title and seventh top-15 scalp in 2024.
➢ The 25-year-old broke fifth-seeded Ruud twice more to seal victory and join
David Ferrer (2010-12), Nicolas Almagro (2008-09) and one-time world
No 1 Thomas Muster (1993-96) in securing successive Mexican Open crowns.
➢ De Minaur was contesting his 16th ATP Tour final, and second of the year, after losing to Australian
Open champion Jannik Sinner last month in Rotterdam.
India secures top spot in ICC World Test Championship rankings
➢ The Indian Men's Cricket Team has reached on top in the World Test Championship (WTC)
standings, replacing New Zealand.
➢ The International Cricket Council (ICC) updated their WTC points table today, in which India moved
to the top of the points table, following Australia's victory over New Zealand in the Wellington Test.
San Diego Open: Katie Boulter wins WTA 500 title
➢ Unseeded Katie Boulter of England capped a run of upsets to win the San Diego
Open singles title with a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory over sixth-seeded Marta Kostyuk of
Ukraine.
➢ A 10-year tour veteran, the 27-year-old Boulter won her second pro singles title
with her fifth straight victory over higher-seeded players in the week-long WTA
500 event.
Ireland claim first ever Cricket test win over Afghanistan
➢ Ireland claimed their first test victory when they beat fellow minnows
Afghanistan by six wickets in a one-off match in Abu Dhabi after skipper
Andy Balbirnie took charge in the run chase with an unbeaten half-century.
➢ Ireland, who acquired test status along with Afghanistan in 2017, had lost
seven straight matches before they eventually beat the Asian side in a low-scoring affair that
finished inside three days.
STATIC:
➢ Ireland Capital: Dublin
➢ Currency: The euro
➢ President: Michael Daniel Higgins
World First jet suit race in Dubai featuring “Iron Man” pilots

➢ The world’s first jet suit race took place in Dubai, creating a scene that looked more like something
out of Marvel’s Iron Man than reality.
➢ The competition featured eight racers each wearing a jet suit. The suit uses engines located on the
back as well as on each arm, which are used to control the flight path.
➢ The competition took place over water, with the skyscrapers of Dubai Marina looming in the
distance.
STATIC:
➢ UAE Capital: Abu Dhabi
➢ Currency: Dirham
➢ Prime minister: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
➢ President: Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
 STATES IN NEWS
Nagaland Govt Unveils Universal Life Insurance Plan
➢ The Nagaland government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, has unveiled an
initiative aimed at alleviating financial hardships caused by the untimely demise of a family’s
primary earner. This scheme, presented as part of the state’s budget, marks a step towards
ensuring the welfare and security of its citizens.
Objective: To mitigate the effects of losing a family’s breadwinner on various aspects of life.
Key Features and Provisions:
➢ AcLife insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh for breadwinner and three
family members cidental insurance coverage of Rs 2 lakh each for
breadwinner and family.
➢ Accidental insurance covers disability and death with varying sums insured
➢ Scheme extends to every household in Nagaland.
➢ Provision of Rs 15 crore for premium costs
➢ Local Area Development Fund (LADF) allocation per constituency doubled to Rs 2 crore
➢ Continuous efforts to enhance revenue streams for capital infrastructure
Tawi Festival’ In Jammu To Kick Off On March 1, 2024, For Four Days
➢ Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the umbrella of the
Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) are poised to
make a significant mark at the upcoming 4-day ‘Tawi Festival’ in Jammu.
➢ This endeavor aims to spotlight the rich tapestry of art forms and
cultural heritage of the region while highlighting the skills and creativity of local artisans.
JAMMU & KASHMIR:
➢ Capital : Srinagar (May–October), Jammu (November–April)
➢ Lieutenant Governor: Manoj Sinha
PM Dedicates HURL Sindri Fertiliser Plant To The Nation
➢ The Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, marked a significant
moment in the nation’s journey towards self-sufficiency by dedicating
the Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd (HURL) Sindri Fertiliser Plant
at Sindri, Dhanbad, Jharkhand.
➢ This inauguration stands as a testament to the government’s commitment to fostering an
‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
Dharmendra Pradhan Launches Project ODISERV For Odisha’s Graduates
➢ Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra
Pradhan, launched Project ODISERV today in Sambalpur to prepare young
graduates of Odisha for employment opportunities in the financial
services sector. While speaking at the event, Shri Pradhan said that
the Project ODISERV will empower the youth of the country, make them
more employable and fulfil their aspirations. He also mentioned how NEP
2020 is bridging the gap between education and skilling, creating more
synergies and allowing students to acquire job-ready skills along with academic knowledge.
PM Modi Inaugurates Rs 7,200 Crore Projects In West Bengal
➢ Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated and laid the
➢ foundation stone for projects worth Rs 7,200 crore in Arambagh area of
Hooghly district in West Bengal.
➢ The PM laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple developmental projects
related to sectors like rail, ports, oil pipelines, LPG supply and wastewater treatment.
➢ "India of the 21st century is progressing at a fast pace and together we all have set the goal of
making a developed India by 2047“.
➢ PM Modi said the Centre has taken steps for the welfare of the poor and that is why in the last
10 years, about 25 crore people of the country have come out of poverty.
21-Ft Maharana Pratap Statue Unveiled In Hyderabad
➢ The unveiling of a 21-feet statue of Maharana Pratap at the Begum Bazar
Maharana Pratap Chowk marked a significant moment for Hyderabad.
➢ This statue, the largest of its kind in the city, serves as a testament to the
enduring legacy of the revered Rajput warrior, encapsulating his spirit for generations to come.
➢ Maharana Pratap, also known as Pratap Singh I, was a legendary king of Mewar, a region in
present-day Rajasthan, India.
Telangana Government Introduces One-Time Scheme
➢ The Telangana state government has issued a directive for the adoption
➢ of the One Time Scheme (OTS) across all urban local bodies (ULBs),
including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
➢ This initiative is geared towards alleviating the financial strain faced by property owners who
are grappling with mounting arrears interest on property tax payments.
Chapchar Kut Festival Celebrated Across Mizoram
➢ Chapchar Kut, the grandest festival in Mizoram, resonated throughout
the state with vibrant traditional customs and jubilant festivities.
➢ Thousands of attendees converged upon the Assam Rifles Ground – Lammual – in the heart of
Aizawl city, filling it to its capacity.
➢ The event featured a rich display of Mizo community traditions and culture, highlighted by
traditional songs and captivating cultural dance performances, making it a day-long celebration
to remember.
Uttar Pradesh Government Announces Electricity Bill Waiver For Farmers
➢ Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,
has announced a complete waiver of electricity bills for private tube
wells owned by farmers, effective from April 1, 2023.
➢ This decision, announced, aims to alleviate the financial burden on the state’s farmers,
enhancing their agricultural productivity and overall well-being.
Kerala Welcomes ‘Iris’ Its First Generative AI Teacher
➢ Kerala school has introduced Iris, a humanoid teacher, marking a
significant milestone in the realm of educational technology.
➢ Developed in collaboration with Makerlabs Edutech Private Limited, Iris represents a
pioneering effort to make learning more interactive, engaging, and accessible.
➢ Located in Thiruvananthapuram, KTCT Higher Secondary School, under the aegis of Kaduvayil
Thangal Charitable Trust, has become the first educational institution in Kerala to employ an
AI-powered teacher.
➢ This initiative stems from the Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) project by NITI Aayog, launched in
2021 to enhance extracurricular activities in schools across India.
IIHR Kicks Off 3-Day Horticulture Fair In Hessarghatta, Bengaluru
➢ ICAR-IIHR, based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, is set to host the grand
‘National Horticulture Fair – 2024’ from March 5 to 7, 2024.
➢ The event is organized in collaboration with the Society for Promotion
of Horticulture (SPH), BESST-HORT (a Technology Business Incubator
of ICAR-IIHR), ICAR-ATARI Bengaluru, and various prominent development
departments dedicated to advancing horticulture and allied sectors.
Kerala to introduce ‘K-Rice’ in apparent counter to Centre’s ‘Bharat Rice’
➢ 'K Rice' will be acquired at Rs 40.11 per kg and sold at a subsidized rate of Rs 29.
➢ All ration card holders can buy up to 5 kilograms of K-Rice every month.
➢ Initially Jaya rice will be sold at Rs. 29 per kg and Matta and Kuruva rice at Rs. 30 per kg.
➢ Kerala food and civil supplies minister: G R Anil.
Kerala:
Capital: Thiruvananthapuram
Chief Minister: Pinarayi Vijayan
Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan

UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurates Agra Metro's Priority Corridor with maiden ride after
PM Modi's virtual launch
➢ The 6 km long priority corridor connects the iconic Taj Mahal's eastern
gate to the Mankameshwar Temple station, providing a vital transportation link.
Uttar Pradesh:
➢ Chief minister: Yogi Adityanath
➢ Governor: Anandiben Patel
Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi, Banglar Muslin Get GI Tag
➢ In a significant nod to India’s rich heritage of craftsmanship and artistry, the
Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi, more widely known as Silver Filigree, has recently been
awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag by the Geographical Indications
Registry in Chennai.
➢ This recognition, sought by the Odisha State Co-operative Handicrafts Corporation Limited and
supported by the Department of Textile and Handicrafts, Government of Odisha, places
Cuttack’s Silver Filigree on the map as a unique and protected form of art.
Telangana Government Announces Launch Of Indiramma Housing Scheme
➢ Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has announced the launch of the
Indiramma Housing Scheme starting March 11.
➢ The scheme aims to provide housing solutions to the economically
disadvantaged segments of society.
➢ The first phase will witness the approval of 3,500 houses in each Assembly constituency,
catering to a significant number of beneficiaries.
➢ Chief Minister Reddy emphasized the importance of ensuring that eligible individuals without
homes benefit from the scheme.
Haj Suvidha App Launched And Haj Guide Released For Haj-2024 By Union Minister Smriti
Irani
➢ Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Smriti Zubin Irani, introduced two
significant initiatives aimed at enhancing the Haj pilgrimage experience for
2024.
➢ The Haj Suvidha App was launched to provide essential information and access to crucial
services, while the Haj Guide-2024 was released to educate pilgrims about various aspects of
the journey, with a focus on utilizing the app effectively.
➢ Languages: Published in 10 languages for widespread accessibility.
➢ Distribution: Will be issued to all Haj pilgrims to facilitate a better understanding of the
pilgrimage process and the utilization of digital resources.
➢ Objective: To educate pilgrims about various aspects of the Haj pilgrimage and promote the
effective utilization of the Haj Suvidha App.
Bengaluru to Get India’s 1st Driverless Metro Train
➢ The driverless Bengaluru Metro train is set to be commissioned for the
under construction 18.8 km yellow line, connecting RV Road and
Bommasandra.
➢ The new driverless train will use Communication-based Train Control (CBTC) system.
➢ CBTC is a modern communication-based system that uses radio communication to transfer
timely and accurate train control information.
➢ Also use artificial intelligence for safety purposes.
➢ Coaches for the driverless Bengaluru Metro are manufactured by Chinese firm CRRC Nanjing
Puzhen Co Ltd, along with their domestic partners Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan launches country’s first state-owned OTT platform ’CSpace’
➢ Kerala Launches India’s First State-Run OTT Platform ‘CSpace’.
➢ Managed by the Kerala State Film Development Corporation.
➢ A total of 42 films have been selected in the first phase for streaming on
CSpace, including 35 feature films, six documentaries, and one short film.
➢ Films that have won national or state awards and those exhibited in major film festivals will
also be streamed.
DST, T-Hub launch AI-ML hub in Hyderabad
➢ The Department of Science and Technology and start-up ecosystem enabler
Thub have joined hands to to set up a Machine Learning and Artificial
Intelligence Technology Hub.
➢ The hub will work to foster AI innovation, create job opportunities, and provide a conducive
ecosystem for AI & Machine Learning start-ups.
➢ The Centre of Excellence aims to generate over 500 AI-related jobs by 2025 and nurture more
than 150 start-ups annually.
J&K launches 'Pink Patrol' initiative
➢ In Jammu and Kashmir, on the eve of International Women’s Day, ADGP
Jammu Zone, Anand Jain flagged off “Pink Patrol” from Women’s Police
Station Gandhinagar Jammu.
➢ It will be deployed on various vital & crowded locations within Jammu city for safety & security
of the women folk & girls.
• It will ensure proper patrolling in various locations to timely address issues of crimes against
women especially eve-teasing.
‘Vidhwa Punarvivah Protsahan Yojana’(Widow Remarriage Incentive Scheme)
➢ ‘Vidhwa Punarvivah Protsahan Yojana’ launched y Champai Soren, CM of Jharkhand.
➢ Women who chose to get married again after the death of their husbands, will be given an
incentive of Rs 2 lakh by the government.
➢ The beneficiary should be of marriageable age and not a government employee, pensioner or
income tax payer.
Jharkhand:
Capital: Ranchi Chief minister: Champai Soren
Governor: C. P. Radhakrishnan Founded: 15 November 2000
India’s 1st Dolphin Research Centre Inaugurated In Patna
➢ India’s first centre for research on conserving the endangered Gangetic river dolphin, National
Dolphin Research Centre was inaugurated in Patna.
➢ Inaugurated by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
➢ Aims to assist scientists and researchers in studying Gangetic dolphins comprehensively.
➢ Project was approved in 2013 on the request of Professor.
➢ R.K. Sinha — also known as the Dolphin Man of India.
➢ This landmark facility, built at a cost of Rs 30 crore, is situated on the banks of the Ganges River
within the Patna University campus.
Gangetic Dolphin:
➢ Blind. They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds.
➢ IUCN: Endangered
➢ Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 : Schedule
➢ Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) in Bhagalpur, Bihar is the only dolphin
sanctuary in India.
 SUMMITS & CONFERENCES
MoSPI Signs MoU with ISRO on Urban Frame Survey using Bhuvan
➢ In a significant move toward modernization, the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under
the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has
partnered with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to digitize the Urban Frame
Survey (UFS) using advanced Geo ICT tools and techniques through the
Bhuvan Platform.

Key Points of the MoU:

Objective: Facilitating the Urban Frame Survey (UFS) in a digital mode to enhance efficiency and
accuracy in data collection and maintenance.
Participants: Signed by Shri Subash Chandra Malik, Additional Director General, NSSO, MoSPI,
and Dr. Srinivasa Rao S, Deputy Director, BGWSA, NRSC, in the presence of key officials.
Scope:
➢ Development/improvement of mobile application for Geo-tagging of NSSO Urban Frame Survey
data.
➢ Creation of a web portal for visualization, data scrutiny, editing, etc., of data submitted through
the mobile application.
➢ QGIS plug-in development for accessing captured polygons.
➢ Fine-tuning of Block, IV-unit, Ward, and Town boundaries of UFS using High-Resolution
Satellite Imagery.
➢ Capacity building of NSSO officials by NRSC.
Progress:
➢ Digital UFS conducted for the first time during Phase 2017-22, covering more than 5300 towns.
➢ In the current phase (2022 – 2027), survey works of around 8134 towns are planned with
improved digital solutions.
Benefits:
Transformation of UFS from analogue to digital mode.
Timely updating of Urban Frame to meet MoSPI’s targets.
BhuvanIIT Madras Hosts Four-Day Long All India Research Scholars’ Summit 2024
➢ Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is hosting the All India Research Scholars’
Summit (AIRSS) 2024 from 4th to 7th March 2024.
Fostering Ideas, Innovation, and Collaboration
➢ The All India Research Scholars’ Summit 2024 promises to be a melting pot
of ideas, innovation, and collaboration. As researchers converge to share their
insights and experiences, the event aims to propel India’s research ecosystem
to new heights, contributing to the nation’s journey towards excellence in academia and
beyond.
The First Bharat Steam Boiler Expo 2024 in Guwahati
➢ The inaugural Bharat Steam Boiler Expo 2024 has officially commenced
in Guwahati, Assam, marking a significant milestone in India’s industrial
journey. Launched with the objective of enhancing the growth and
efficiency of sectors reliant on steam boilers, this three-day event has
been inaugurated by Sanjay Kishan, the state’s Labour and Employment Minister.
➢ This pioneering expo is the result of a collaborative effort among industry stalwarts including
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Oil India Ltd (OIL), Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL), Brahmaputra
Cracker and Polymer Ltd (BCPL), Assam Petro Chemicals Ltd, and NTPC Ltd.