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Current Affairs Weekly PDF – March 2024 – 2nd Week
(9–16)
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Bharat Tex
2024 in New Delhi
Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat
Tex 2024, the world's biggest textile event held from
26th to 29th February 2024 at the Bharat Mandapam,
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delhi.
Bharat Tex 2024 inspired by PM Modi’s 5F Vision(Farm
to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) was
organised with a unified Farm to Fashion focus.
Initiatives and Projects launched at Bharat Tex
2024:
Innovative Business Practices and Economic Models in
the Textile Value Chain in India’ (IndiaTex) project, a 4
year United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
project was also launched during the event.
✓ The Ministry of Textile also launched
the Textiles Grand Innovation
Challenge along with Startup
India, DPIIT(Department for Promotion of
Industry and Internal Trade) to leverage the
pool of untapped innovation opportunities.
✓ Textiles Committee, GeM & SCOPE signed
MoU to promote upcycled Products Made
From Scrap
✓ MoU between IIM Jammu and NIFT Srinagar to
boost entrepreneurship in J&K.
Overview of PM Modi’s visit to Jharkhand,
West Bengal & Bihar from 1st-2nd March
2024
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Jharkhand,
West Bengal and Bihar from 1st to 2nd March 2024.
PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and
dedicated to the nation various development projects
worth Rs 35,700 crore in Sindri, Dhanbad district in
Jharkhand.
✓ PM Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the
foundation stone for various development
projects worth Rs 7200 crore in the Arambagh
area of Hooghly district, West Bengal.
✓ PM Modi inaugurated the Hindustan Urvarak
and Rasayan Limited (HURL) Sindri Fertilizer
Plant at Sindri, Dhanbad district of Jharkhand.
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✓ PM laid the foundation stone of BPCL’s(Bharat
Petroleum Corporation Limited) 9 projects on
2nd March 2024 in Begusarai, Bihar.
Overview of PM Modi’s visit to Telangana,
Tamil Nadu and Odisha on 4th-5th March
2024
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Telangana,
Tamil Nadu, and Odisha on 4th and 5th March,2024,
inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for various
projects.
✓ PM Narendra Modi inaugurated a Civil Aviation
Research Organization (CARO) which is
developed by the Airports Authority of India for
Rs. 350 crores at Begumpet Airport,
Hyderabad, Telangana
✓ PM Narendra Modi visited Tamil Nadu on 4th
March 2024 and inaugurated India’s first
indigenous Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
(PFBR) with a capacity of 500 Mwe(Megawatt
electric) at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu marking a
significant step in the country’s nuclear power
program
✓ PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the
foundation stone of multiple development
projects worth over Rs 19,600 crore during his
visit to Odisha.
Click here to read full News
Union Minister Hardeep S Puri inaugurates
201 CNG Stations and India’s First Small
Scale LNG Unit of GAIL
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of
Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) virtually
inaugurated 201 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Stations and India’s 1st Small Scale Liquefied Natural
Gas (LNG) Unit of GAIL (India) Limited.
✓ The 201 CNG stations were set up by 15 City
Gas Distribution (CGD) entities of the GAIL
group in 52 Geographical Areas (Gas) across
17 states.
✓ The LNG unit was set up by GAIL at its Vijaipur
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant in
Vijaipur, Madhya Pradesh (MP).
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 5
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✓ India aims to increase the share of natural gas
in the primary energy basket to 15% by 2030.
MoCA Notifies Provision to Let CCI Impose
Penalty on Firm’s Global Turnover
Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA) notified that the
provisions of sections 20, 35 & 40 of the Competition
(Amendment) Act, 2023 will come into force with
effect from 6th March 2024.
✓ The amendments allows the Competition
Commission of India(CCI) to impose penalty
on the global turnover of a company for
engaging in activities that distort competition.
✓ The CCI can impose a penalty of up to 30% on
the global turnover of companies involved in
anti-competitive practices.
Cabinet Approvals on March 7, 2024
Cabinet Committee headed by Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi approved the following proposals and
schemes:
✓ Cabinet approved the extension of targeted
subsidy of Rs 300 per 14.2 kg cylinder to the
beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
(PMUY) for Financial year 2024-2025 (FY25).
• The estimated budget for the scheme
is Rs 12,000 crore for FY (2024-
2025) and is expected to benefit
approximately 10 crore families.
✓ The Union Cabinet has approved
ambitious IndiaAI mission to strengthen the
Artificial intelligence (AI) innovation
ecosystem. It has allocated the budget outlay
of Rs 10,371.92 crore. It will be implemented
by “IndiaAI” Independent Business Division
(IBD) under Digital India Corporation (DIC).
✓ The Union Cabinet has approved the Uttar
Poorva Transformative Industrialization
(UNNATI) Scheme,2024 for a period of 10
years from the date of notification along with 8
years for committed liabilities at a total cost
of Rs 10,037 crore.
• The scheme will be implemented by
Department for Promotion of Industry
and Internal Trade (DPIIT) (works
under the Ministry of Commerce and
Industry) in cooperation with states.
✓ The Union Cabinet has approved the release of
an additional installment of Dearness
Allowance(DA) to Central Government
employees and Dearness Relief(DR) to
pensioners with effect from 1st January, 2024.
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• The additional installment would bring
DA from 46% to 50% of basic
pay/pension. This saw an overall
increase of 4% in DA over the existing
rate.
✓ The Cabinet approves the introduction the
“Readjustment of Representation of
Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies
of the State of Goa Bill, 2024” in Parliament.
The Bill is proposed by Ministry of Law and
Justice.
✓ CCEA has approved the hike in Minimum
Support Price (MSP) of raw jute for (2024-
2025) season. During the 2024-2025 season,
the MSP for raw jute (TDN3 equivalent to TD-5
grade) has been fixed at Rs 5, 335 per quintal.
It was 5,050 per quintal (2023-2024) and its
shows an overall increase of 5.6%.
Click here to read full News
Highlights of PM's visit to West Bengal and
Bihar on 6th March, 2024
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited West
Bengal and Bihar on 6th March, 2024. He inaugurated
India’s first underwater metro in Kolkata (West Bengal),
spanning 16.6 km under the Hooghly River ( East-West
Metro corridor) and also unveiled development
projects worth Rs 12,800 crore in Bihar’s Bettiah town
in West Champaran district.
✓ India’s first underwater metro line, which
connects Howrah Maidan and Esplanade,
spanning 4.8 km and passes under
the Hooghly River. The project was executed
by Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation
Limited(KMRCL) and costs Rs 4,965 crore.
✓ PM Narendra Modi inaugurated projects worth
Rs 12,800 crore in Bihar at a program in
Bettiah, the district headquarters town of West
Champaran.
Click here to read full News
VMC, Civic body of Gujarat, issues Asia’s
1st Certified Green Municipal Bond
Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), a civic body of
Gujarat, has raised Rs 100 crore (USD 12.07 million)
by issuing Asia's first certified green municipal bond for
Sustainable Water Infrastructure. VMC, with a semi-
annual coupon rate of 7.90% on the issue, invited bids
from investors, setting a new standard in green finance.
✓ The bond was opened for bidding on the
Electronic Bidding Platform (EBP) of BSE
(Bombay Stock Exchange). This is the 2nd
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 6
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issue of bonds by Vadodara, after its first issue
was oversubscribed by 10 times.
PM Modi Virtually Inaugurated Priority
Corridor of Agra Metro, the 6th Metro in UP
Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi virtually
inaugurated the Agra Metro’s priority corridor (from Taj
East Gate to Mankameshwar) in Agra, Uttar
Pradesh(UP).
✓ The Agra metro has created history for being
the 1st in India to start operations almost 9
months ahead of schedule. The Metro has
become the 1st in India to achieve the record
of developing 3 underground stations in an
area of 3 km.
✓ The project was financed partly by the
Government of India and Govt. of UP on an
equal equity basis and EUR 450 million
(approx. Rs. 4860 crore) loan from EIB
approved in December 2021.
✓ The Agra Metro Rail Project backed
by EUR 450 million loan from the European
Investment Bank (EIB) covers the construction
of 2 interconnected urban metro rail lines,
spanning 30 kilometers long, and a network of
27 strategically located stations in Agra, UP.
Kerala Launches ‘CSpace’, India’s 1st
Government-Owned OTT Platform
Kerala Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan has
launched India’s first government-owned OTT (over-
the-top) platform, 'CSpace', at an event held at the
Kairali Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
✓ CSpace is managed by Kerala State Film
Development Corporation (KSFDC), a state-
owned company responsible for the promotion
of the Malayalam cinema industry on behalf of
the Department of Cultural Affairs,
Government of Kerala.
Sea Defenders-2024; India-USA Maritime
Security Exercise held at Port Blair
‘Sea Defenders-2024’, the comprehensive maritime
security exercise between the Indian Coast Guard
(ICG) & United States Coast Guard (USCG) was
successfully concluded at Port Blair, Andaman &
Nicobar (A&N) Island on 9th March 2024.
✓ Aim of the Exercise: To enhance maritime
cooperation and interoperability between ICG
& USCG.
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RPF Holds the Largest Share of Women
Personnel among CPF
The Railway Protection Force (RPF), established in
1957 under the Ministry of Railways (MoR), has the
largest share of women personnel (9%) among Central
Paramilitary Forces (CPF) in India.
MoJS & IISc Bangalore signed MoA to
Establish ICED
Central Water Commission (CWC) under the
Department of Water Resources, River Development &
Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR), Ministry of Jal
Shakti (MoJS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement
(MoA) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc)
Bangalore(Bengaluru), Karnataka to establish an
International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED).
✓ The ICED will be established under the Dam
Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP)
Phase II and III. ICED at IISc Bangalore will be
the 2nd International centre focused on Dam
safety. The 1st ICED was established at the
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee,
Uttarakhand signing of MoA in February 2023.
✓ The Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with
the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation
(DDWS) under MoJS launched the Swachhata
Green Leaf Rating (SGLR) program, to
transform sanitation standards in India’s
tourism sector.
Cabinet Committee on Security Approves
Rs.15,000 Crore for 5th Generation Aircraft
Project
Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, has approved fund
worth Rs 15,000 crore for an indigenous fifth-
generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft
(AMCA) fighter jet project for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
✓ AMCA project aims to develop five prototypes
of AMCA over the next five years (before 2030)
with the first prototype of AMCA expected to
roll out in 2026.
✓ These aircraft will be built by the Special
Purpose Vehicle (SPV) consisting of
Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) of
the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) and Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL)
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Union Minister for Communication Ashwini
Vaishnaw Launches NITI Aayog’s – ‘NITI for
States’ Platform & Viksit Bharat Strategy
Room
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of
Communications unveiled the National Institution for
Transforming India (NITI Aayog)’s transformative
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) platform ‘NITI For
States’ in New Delhi, Delhi for enhancing policy and
governance.
✓ He also inaugurated the ‘NITI For States - Viksit
Bharat Strategy Room’ at the NITI
Aayog Bhawan in New Delhi to facilitate
effective decision-making through visualisation
and engagement with insights.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
Inaugurated I-Hub Foundation in IIM
Sambalpur
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of
Education (MoE), has inaugurated ‘I-Hub Foundation’
during the 100 Cube Startup Conclave held at Indian
Institutes of Management (IIM) Sambalpur in Odisha
on 1st March 2024.
✓ IIM Sambalpur signed a MoU with IG Drones to
launch the first ever drone centre of
excellence (CoE) at Delhi Campus of IIM
Sambalpur.
India & EFTA Signed USD 100 bn Free Trade
Pact to Promote Investments in 15 Years
India and European Free Trade Association (EFTA),
signed a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement
(TEPA) committing an investment of USD 100 billion
over 15 years.
✓ Under the TEPA, EFTA commits to promote
investments to increase the stock of foreign
direct investments (FDI) in India. This will also
facilitate the creation of 1 million direct
employment in India.
Note: EFTA is the intergovernmental organisation of
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
NHAI Collaborates with HLL Life care to
Strengthen IMS and Assist Accident Victims
on NH
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed
a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
HLL Lifecare Limited to provide immediate assistance
to accidents victims and to strengthen NHAI's Incident
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Management System (IMS) on the National Highways
(NHs).
Under this MoU, NHAI will strengthen its existing
Incident Management System. The system includes
Ambulances, Route Patrol Vans & Cranes, real time
tracking, and supportive supervision.
MHA notified Citizenship Amendment Act
Rules, 2024
the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) notified the rules
under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA-
2019). These rules, called the Citizenship
(Amendment) Rules, 2024 to fast-track the
citizenship process for non-Muslims, immigrants such
as Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and
Christians from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and
Afghanistan, who had entered India before December
31, 2014.
✓ The rules are notified over four years after
Parliament passed this law on December 11,
2019 amending the Citizenship Act of 1955.
These rules will enable the persons eligible
under CAA-2019 to apply for grant of Indian
citizenship.
Click Here to Read about the Act
Department of Pharmaceuticals Launches
RPTUAS to Enhance Tech Capabilities of
Pharma Industry
The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of
Chemicals and Fertilizers, has announced the
Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation
Assistance Scheme (RPTUAS) to enhance the
technological capabilities of the pharmaceutical
industry, aligning it with global standards.
✓ Aim of Revamped PTUAS: To support the up-
gradation of the pharmaceutical industry
according to the Revised Schedule-M & World
Health Organization (WHO)-Good
Manufacturing Practices (GMP) standards.
Incentive Structure:
Pharmaceutical units with the following average
turnover for the last 3 years will be eligible for incentive
subject to a maximum of Rs. 1 crore per unit:
Turnover Incentives
20% of investment under
less than Rs 50 crore
eligible activities
from Rs 50 crore to
15% of investment under
less than Rs 250
eligible activities
crore
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 8
 Weekly Content PDF
from Rs 250 crore to
10% of investment under
less than Rs 500
eligible activities
crore
EaseMyTrip & MoRD Partnered to Empower
SHG under Lakhpati Didi Yojana
New Delhi (Delhi) based Easy Trip Planner Limited
(EaseMyTrip.com) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Rural
Development (MoRD) to train Deendayal Antyodaya
Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-
NRLM)‘s Women Self Help Groups (SHG) members
under the Lakhpati Didi Yojana.
✓ As per the MoU, EaseMyTrip (EMT) will train
members of Women’s SHGs on making travel
reservations including flights, trains, buses &
hotels.
Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
Launched Credit Assistance Program for Jan
Aushadhi Kendras
Union Minister, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Ministry of
Chemicals and Fertilizers(MoC&F), inaugurated a
credit assistance program of the Small Industries
Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for Jan Aushadhi
Kendras(JAKs) during the event held in New Delhi,
Delhi.
✓ He also presided over the exchange of
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
between SIDBI and Pharmaceuticals and
Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) to offer
term loan and working capital credit to JAKs.
✓ He also launched the website(https://jak-
prayaasloans.sidbi.in/home) for credit
assistance to Jan Aushadhi Kendras.
MoD Inks Rs 200 Crore Deal with BBBS
Under iDEX Initiative for Anti-drone Systems
to Indian Army & IAF
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed Rs 200 crore
contract for anti-drone systems for the Indian Army
and Indian Air Force (IAF) with Chennai (Tamil Nadu)-
based Big Bang Boom Solutions Private Limited
(BBBS), India’s fastest-growing defence sector start-
up.
✓ This marks the largest contract signed by the
MoD under the Innovations for Defence
Excellence (iDEX) initiative and one of the
largest contracts signed with an Indian startup.
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Overview of PM Modi’s 3-Day Visit
to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, WB & UP
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi visited Assam,
Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh
from 8th to 10th March 2024. During the visit, he
inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various
projects.
✓ On 9th March 2024, PM Modi inaugurated,
dedicated to the nation, and laid the
foundation stone of projects worth Rs 17500
crore at Jorhat, Assam.
✓ PM Narendra Modi participated in the ‘Viksit
Bharat Viksit North East program’ at Itanagar,
Arunachal Pradesh. During the visit, He
inaugurated the Sela Tunnel and launched a
new Industrial Development Scheme for the
North East named UNNATI(Uttar Poorva
Transformative Industrialization Scheme).
✓ PM Narendra Modi inaugurated and dedicated
to the nation multiple developmental projects
in the rail and road sector worth more than Rs
4500 crores during the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit
West Bengal Programme’ in Siliguri, West
Bengal.
✓ Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated, and laid
the foundation stone of multiple development
initiatives worth more than Rs 42,000 crores.
Click here to read full News
MoWCD Introduces National Curriculum for
ECCE & National Framework for Early
Childhood Stimulation
The Ministry of Women and Child Development
(MoWCD) launched a National Curriculum for Early
Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children
from 3 to 6 years and a National Framework for Early
Childhood Stimulation for children from birth to 3
years.
Interest rates on Small Savings Schemes
remain unchanged for Q1FY25
The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA-Budget
Division), Ministry of Finance has kept the interest rate
on small savings schemes unchanged for first quarter
of 2024-2025(Q1FY25) i.e. from April 1, 2024 to June
30, 2024 from those notified for Q4FY24.
Interest Rates on Small Savings Schemes for
Q1FY25
Rate of interest from April
Instruments
1, 2024 to June 30, 2024
Savings Deposit 4
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 9
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1-Year Post Office Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,

6.9
Time Deposits Government of India for cooperation in the
2-Year Post Office areas of food safety.
7
Time Deposits ✓ Signing of MoU between India and Bhutan on
3-Year Post Office General Supply of Petroleum, Oil, Lubricants
7.1 (POL) and related products from India to
Time Deposits
5-Year Post Office Bhutan.
7.5
Time Deposits
5-Year Recurring
6.7
Deposits
National Saving
7.7
Certificates (NSC)
Kisan Vikas Patra 7.5 (will mature in 115
(KVP) months)
Public Provident
7.1
Fund (PPF)
Sukanya Samriddhi
8.2
Account
Senior Citizens
8.2
Savings Scheme
Monthly Income
7.4
Account

Cabinet Approvals on 13th March 2024

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister (PM)
Narendra Modi approved the following proposals on
13th March 2024,
✓ The Union Cabinet Chaired by PM Narendra
Modi approved two new Delhi Metro corridors
connecting Lajpat Nagar to G Block in Saket
and Inderlok to Indraprastha Costing Rs 8,399
crore.
✓ Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement
between India and UAE on cooperation for the
empowerment and operation of the India-
Middle East Europe Economic Corridor.
✓ Signing of an MoU between India and Bhutan
on cooperation in the field of Energy Efficiency
and Energy Conservation Measures.
• It was signed between the
Bureau of Energy Efficiency
(BEE), Ministry of Power,
Government of India, and
Department of Energy,
Ministry of Energy and Natural
Resources, Royal Government
of Bhutan.
✓ The Union Cabinet has approved the signing of
an agreement between the Bhutan Food and
Drug Authority (BFDA), Ministry of Health,
Royal Government of Bhutan, and Food Safety
and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
PM Narendra Modi Launches PM-SURAJ
National Portal; Sanctioned Credit Support
to Disadvantaged Sections
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually launched
the ‘Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan evam
Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan’ (PM-SURAJ) national portal,
aimed at uplifting the most marginalised sections of
society, and sanctioned credit assistance for 1 lakh
entrepreneurs from socially disadvantaged sections.
✓ The portal was launched during a nationwide
outreach program for credit support to
disadvantaged communities by the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) in
New Delhi, Delhi.
USOF, Prasar Bharati & ONDC Partnered to
Offer Digital Services across Rural India
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) has signed a
tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
Prasar Bharati and Open Network for Digital
Commerce (ONDC) to proliferate affordable and
accessible digital services across India.
✓ Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of
Information & Broadcasting(MIB), has
launched Prasar Bharti - Shared Audio Visuals
for Broadcast and Dissemination (PB-SHABD),

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 Weekly Content PDF
a news sharing service from Prasar Bharati,
during an event held in National Media Centre,
New Delhi, Delhi.
✓ He also launched the websites of Doordarshan
(DD) News and Akashvani News; and the
updated News on Air mobile application.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh Inaugurates
National Speed Breeding Crop Facility in
NABI, Mohali
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (MoS)
(Independent Charge) for Science and Technology,
inaugurated the first-of-its-kind “National Speed
Breeding Crop Facility”, at the National Agri-Food
Biotechnology Institute (NABI) Mohali, Punjab.
GoI Designates September 17 as
'Hyderabad Liberation Day'
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Government of
India (GoI), issued a gazette notification, officially
designating September 17 of every year as Hyderabad
Liberation Day. The Day marks the integration of the
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
WB, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and
UNICEF pledge approx. USD 600mn to
Combat Cervical Cancer
The World Bank (WB), the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation and the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) pledged nearly USD 600 million towards
eliminating cervical cancer.
✓ This funding includes USD 400 million over
three years by WB, USD 180 million from the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and USD 10
million from UNICEF.
✓ This commitment was made during the first-
ever ‘Global Cervical Cancer Elimination
Forum: Advancing the Call to Action’ held in
Cartagena, Colombia from March 5-7, 2024.
Sweden Officially Joins NATO as it's 32nd
Member
Sweden officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), becoming the alliance's 32nd
member. With this, Sweden ends decades of post-
World War II neutrality and 200 years of non-alignment
with major powers.
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erstwhile princely State of Hyderabad into the Indian
Union in 1948.
MoRD & IIT Delhi Partners for Using
Geospatial Technology to Monitor
MGNREGA Assets
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian
Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT - Delhi), New Delhi,
Delhi for leveraging the use of geospatial technology
and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor assets under
the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment
Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia
inaugurated Fly91 & flagged its First Flight
Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ministry of Civil
Aviation (MoCA) has inaugurated Just Udo Aviation
Private Limited (Fly91), Ribandar (Goa) based regional
airline and flagged off its maiden flight between
Manohar International Airport (MOPA), Goa and Agatti
Islands, Lakshadweep.
Sweden now benefits from the protection provided
under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, which guarantees
the freedom and security of its allies.
Panama becomes 97th member to ratify the
International Solar Alliance
Panama joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as
its 97th member, showing its commitment to
advancing solar energy in the energy sector. This move
aligns with the efforts of other nations in harnessing
solar energy for a sustainable future.
✓ Notably, on March 5th, Malta became the
119th Signatory country to join the ISA.
NIELIT & Egypt’s ITI Collaborated for IECT
domain
India’s National Institute of Electronics and Information
Technology (NIELIT) and Egypt’s Information
Technology Institute (ITI) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to promote cooperation and
collaboration in Information Electronics and
Communication Technology (IECT) domain.
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 11
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BANKING & FINANCE
RBI and Bank Indonesia Sign MoU to
Promote Use of Local Currencies for
Bilateral Transactions
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank
Indonesia (BI) signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) for establishing a framework to
promote the use of local currencies of both countries,
such as the Indian Rupee (INR) and the Indonesian
Rupiah (IDR), for cross-border transactions.
✓ The MoU was signed by RBI Governor
Shaktikanta Das and Bank Indonesia Governor
Perry Warjiyo.
✓ This framework would enable exporters and
importers to invoice and pay in their respective
domestic currencies, which in turn would
enable the development of an INR-IDR foreign
exchange market.
RBI amends Card Rules; Customers can
Choose Card Network
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in exercise of the
powers conferred by Section 35A of the Banking
Regulation (BR) Act, 1949 and Chapter IIIB of the RBI
Act 1934, amended the 'Master Direction - Credit Card
and Debit Card – Issuance and Conduct Directions,
2022', the provisions of which will come into effect
from March 07, 2024.
✓ As per it, card issuers are barred to enter any
arrangement with card networks for the
issuance of credit cards that restrain them
from availing the services of other card
networks.
✓ This will benefit as customers as they will get
the freedom to choose from multiple card
networks. The timeline to follow the new
norms by the card issuers is 6 months.
Fairfax India Provides Liquidity Support of
USD 200 Million to IIFL Finance
Indian-Canadian billionaire Prem Watsa-backed
Fairfax India Holdings Corporation committed to
provide up to USD 200 million liquidity support to IIFL
Finance Limited. Fairfax India is one of the long-term
investors in the IIFL group of companies and it owns a
15% stake in IIFL Finance.
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SEBI introduces Settlement Scheme III on
Illiquid Option Cases
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
introduce a Third (III) Settlement Schemes for entities
involved in the Illiquid Stock Options (ISO)/reversal
trades segment of Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in
terms of Section 15JB of the SEBI Act, 1992 read with
Regulation 26 of SEBI (Settlement Proceedings)
Regulations 2018. The Scheme is being implemented
from March 11, 2024 to May 10, 2024.
✓ Under this, entities involved in reversal trades
in stock options between April 01, 2014, and
September 30, 2015, with pending
proceedings will be offered a settlement
opportunity. After the scheme period ends,
Securities laws will be enforced against
entities that do not take advantage of this
settlement opportunity.
SEBI notifies Regulations for Small and
Medium REITs
The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has
introduced amendments to the Real Estate Investment
Trusts (REITs) Regulations 2014 namely ‘SEBI (REIT)
(Amendment) Regulations 2024’. This will establish
guidelines for creation of Small and Medium REITs, or
SM REITs.
✓ SM REITs can raise funds starting from Rs 50
crore by issuing units to a minimum of 200
investors for acquiring and managing real
estate assets, generating income for investors.
✓ An SM REIT's listing is same as an IPO, with a
key distinction: at least 95% of its assets must
be fully developed and generating revenue,
compared to the 80% requirement for larger
REITs.
✓ The initial offering for an SM REIT requires a
minimum subscription amount of Rs 10 lakh
per investor, lower than the usual Rs 25 lakh.
Complaints Received by ORBIOs & CRPC
under RB-IOS increased by 68.24% in FY23
According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s Annual
Report of Ombudsman Scheme, 2022-23, the number
of complaints received by the Offices of the RBI
Ombudsman (ORBIOs) and Centralised Receipt and
Processing Centre (CRPC) increased by 68.24% to
7,03,544 during fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23) compared
to 4,18,184 complaints during FY22.
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✓ 1st stand alone report under Reserve Bank –
Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS),
2021 explaining the activities of the 22
ORBIOs, CRPC and the Contact Centre.
✓ Out of the 7,03,544 complaints, 4,68,270 were
closed by CRPC as non-complaints/non-
maintainable complaints and ORBIOs handled
2,34,690 complaints.
✓ Complaints against banks constituted the
majority (1,96,635 complaints), comprising
83.78% of the total complaints received by the
Ombudsman Offices.
IndusInd Bank launches India’s first
contactless payment wearable ‘Indus
PayWear’
IndusInd Bank Limited has launched its contactless
payments wearable ‘Indus PayWear’ which is India's
first all-in-one tokenizable wearable for both debit and
credit cards exclusively on Mastercard. Indus
PayWear allows users to tokenize their IndusInd Bank
cards onto a chip-enabled wearable device.
✓ Indus PayWear currently comes in 3 different
Wearable variants : Sticker; Watch Clasp; and
Ring.
SIDBI secures First Green Climate Fund
Project worth USD 120 million
The Small Industries Development Bank of India
(SIDBI) has secured approval from the Green Climate
Fund (GCF) for its first anchored project, the Avaana
Sustainability Fund (ASF), valued at USD 120 million.
GCF will contribute USD 24.5 million to ASF.
Bank of Baroda unveils bob Earth Green
Term Deposit Scheme to Finance Earth
Friendly Projects
Bank of Baroda (BoB), one of India’s leading public
sector banks, has launched ‘bob Earth Green Term
Deposit Scheme’ to raise deposits to finance eligible
environment-friendly projects and sectors.
✓ 1.5 years Tenure – signifying the aim to limit
global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius
above pre-industrial levels. 1717 days Tenure
– doubly emphasising the United Nations
(UN)’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG).
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Future Generali Launches ‘Health PowHER’,
a Unique Health Insurance Plan for Women
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Future Generali India Life
Insurance Company Limited (FGILI) has launched a
comprehensive women’s health insurance plan
‘Health PowHER’ designed specifically for women.
Note: FGILI is a joint venture(JV) between Generali
Group and Future Group.
SEBI expands Framework for Qualified
Stock Brokers; Mandates Registration of
Index Providers
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
expanded the framework of Qualified Stock Brokers
(QSBs) to more stock brokers in order to protect the
interest of investors, building trust in securities market,
and strengthening the compliance culture among stock
brokers
✓ For designating stock brokers as QSBs, the
applicable date will be September 1 of the
subsequent year with respect to two
parameters viz. Compliance
Score and Grievance Redressal Score.
✓ SEBI has notified the SEBI
(Index Providers) Regulations, 2024 in
exercise of the powers conferred by sub-
section (1) of Section 30 read with sub-section
(2) of Section 11 and Section 12 of the
SEBI Act, 1992 (15 of 1992).
✓ Under this, SEBI has mandated registration for
index providers managing important indices
based on Indian-listed securities. This
promotes transparency in governing and
administering financial benchmarks in the
securities market.
✓ This regulation requires all index providers to
register, and the provisions will take effect on
the 180th day from March 8, 2024.
SBI partnered with One97 Communications
for UPI Transactions
State Bank of India (SBI), India’s largest public sector
bank, has partnered with Noida (Uttar Pradesh) based
One97 Communications Limited (OCL) to settle
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions upon
acquiring the third-party app provider (TPAP) license.
✓ The partnership aims to redirect Paytm
Payments Bank (PPBL)’s handle "@paytm" to
one of the four banks for settlement. The other
three banks are HDFC Bank Limited, Axis Bank
Limited and YES Bank Limited.
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L&T Finance signs Financing Pact with JICA
for USD 125 million
On March 12, 2024, a loan agreement ceremony was
held between the L&T Finance Holdings Ltd. (LTFH)
and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in
Mumbai, Maharashtra. This follows the signing of loan
agreement in December 2023 by LTFH with JICA for up
to USD 125 million to improve financial access in the
India’s lagging states.
✓ The project was signed as a part of the Facility
for Accelerating Financial Inclusion (FAFI),
established in May 2023. The project was
arranged by the Asian Development Bank
(ADB) who co-financed the funding amount.
Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank launches
New Loan Scheme ‘Vikas Spoorty’
Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVGB) has launched
a new loan scheme called ‘Vikas Spoorty’ to
strengthen the rural credit delivery system and to
motivate the common man to take up income-
generating activities on a smaller scale.
✓ Vikas Spoorty scheme offers hassle-free loan
to small entrepreneurs without collateral
security and surety. Under this scheme, people
may avail loan ranging from a minimum of Rs
50,000 to a maximum of Rs 2 lakh.
RBI bars Federal, South Indian Bank from
issuing co-branded Credit Cards; Imposes
penalty on BOI, BDN
On March 12, 2024, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
barred Federal Bank and South Indian Bank from
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Reliance Consumer Products & Elephant
House Partners for Beverages
Reliance Consumer Products Limited (RCPL) has
partnered with Sri Lanka-based Elephant House to
manufacture, market, distribute and sell beverages
under the Elephant House brand across India. Through
the collaboration, RCPL will strengthen their beverage
portfolio, which already includes brands like Campa,
Sosyo, and Raskik.
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issuing co-branded credit cards to new customers on
account of regulatory deficiencies
RBI imposes penalty on Bank of India, Bandhan Bank
✓ RBI in exercise of its powers conferred under
the provisions of section 47 A (1) (c) read with
sections 46 (4) (i) and 51(1) of the Banking
Regulation (BR) Act, 1949 and section 25(1)(iii)
read with section 23(4) of the Credit
Information Companies/CIC (Regulation) Act,
2005 has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs
1.4 crore on Bank of India (BOI).
NPCI signed MoU with IISc Bangalore for
Joint Research on Blockchain and AI
Technology
The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
has signed a multi-year Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of
Science (IISc), Banglore(Bengaluru, Karnataka), to
conduct joint research on Blockchain and Artificial
Intelligence (AI) technology.
✓ Under this partnership, NPCI–IISc Centre of
Excellence (CoE) for Deep Tech Research &
Development will be established to foster
innovation in these fields.
Tech Fini Join hands with NPCI to provide credit line
on UPI
✓ Tech Fini, a Mumbai-based Fintech firm
specializing in payment infrastructure
solutions, has partnered with NPCI to offer
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) 2.0 Acquiring
and Issuing Switch Solutions to its merchants.
Under this collaboration NPCI allows Tech Fini
to introduce 'Credit Lines on UPI,' providing
clients with financial flexibility and security.
India to grow 6.8% in FY25, Inflation to ease
to 4.5%: CRISIL
According to CRISIL’s India Outlook 2024 Report titled
“Growth Marathon – Emerging Sectors, investments,
efficiency gains priming India’s medium term pace
(March 2024)”, India’s real GDP growth will likely
moderate to 6.8% in fiscal 2025. This follows the 7.6%
expansion in FY24. The report highlighted that inflation
will likely fall to 4.5% in FY25.
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 14
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AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Japanese Architect Riken Yamamoto Wins ✓ Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy

Pritzker Architecture Prize 2024 Chief of Mission, Embassy of India,
Architect Riken Yamamoto of Yokohama, Japan, has Washington D.C., The United States of
been named the 2024 Laureate of the Pritzker America (USA) has received the award on
Architecture Prize, the highest global architectural behalf of MoHFW.
recognition. He is the 53rd laureate of the Pritzker
Architecture Prize and the 9th Japanese architect to
win the prize. The award includes a cash prize of USD
100,000 and a bronze medallion.

Indian Writer Amitav Ghosh Awarded the

Netherlands’ Erasmus Prize 2024
Eminent Indian Writer and Padma Shri Awardee Amitav
Ghosh was awarded the Erasmus Prize 2024 by the
Netherlands’ Praemium Erasmianum Foundation for
his writings on the planetary crisis and climate change.
✓ He was honoured for his contribution to the
theme of the Erasmus Prize 2024 “imagining
the unthinkable”.
✓ He was the first English-language writer to be
honoured with the Jnanpith Award, India’s
highest literary award, in 2018.
✓ He also got Padma Shri in 2007 in the field of
'literature and education'.
✓ He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award President Murmu Presents “President’s
in 1990 for his book “The Shadow Lines.” Standard & Colours” to 4 IAF Units
On 8th March 2024, the Droupadi Murmu, President of
PM Narendra Modi presents 1st National India, presented the President’s Standards and
Colours to four units of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at
Creators Award in New Delhi
the ceremony held at Hindon Air Force station,
On March 8, 2024, the Prime Minister (PM) of India
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh(UP).
Narendra Modi presented the inaugural National
✓ President’s Standard were presented to No. 45
Creators Award (2024) at Bharat Mandapam, New
‘Flying Daggers’, the first Light Combat Aircraft
Delhi in Delhi. These awards aim to honor excellence
(LCA) squadron, and No. 221 Squadron
and impact across various domains, serving as a
‘Valiants’ which flew several missions during
catalyst for positive change through creativity.
1999 Kargil conflict.
✓ The first National Creators Award event saw
23 winners including 3 international creators.
The awards were presented in the 20 96th Academy Awards - Oscars 2024:
categories, following voting round. ‘Oppenheimer’ Wins 7 awards, Poor Things
Click here to view full Award Winners Wins 4
The winners of the 96th Academy Awards (Oscars
India’s MoHFW Receives ‘Measles and 2024) were announced at the ceremony held at the
Rubella Champion’ Award Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood, Los Angeles,
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW), California, United States of America (USA) on 10th
Government of India, was recognised with the March 2024.
“Measles and Rubella Champion” Award by the ✓ ‘Oppenheimer’ wins seven awards at the
Measles and Rubella Partnership(M&RP) for its efforts Oscars 2024; Director - Christopher Nolan,
towards Measles and Rubella Disease Prevention. Best actor - Cillian Murphy, Best supporting
actor - Robert Downey Jr., Film editing -
Jennifer Lame,Cinematography - Hoyte van

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 Weekly Content PDF
Hoytema ,Music (Original Score) - Ludwig
Göransson, and Best Picture.
✓ “Poor Things” won four awards, including
Best Actress, Production Design, Makeup &
Hairstyling, and Costume Design.
✓ “The Zone of Interest” won two Oscar awards,
including Best Sound and Best International
Feature Film.
✓ Indian Art Director Nitin Chandrakant Desai
was remembered at the Oscars’ In Memoriam
segment, which honoured those who passed
away last year.
✓ The Academy Awards (Oscars) have been
presented annually by the Academy of Motion
Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since
1929.
Click here to read full news
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Alok Rungta appointed as MD & CEO of
Future Generali India Life Insurance
Mumbai (Maharashtra) based Future Generali India Life
Insurance Company Limited (FGILI) has appointed
Alok Rungta as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from 01st April
2024. Alok Rungta will take charge from Bruce De
Broize, who has been serving as the MD and CEO since
2022.
Gustavo Adrianzen Becomes New PM of
Peru
Gustavo Lino Adrianzen Olaya was sworn in as Prime
Minister (PM) or President of the Council of Ministers
(PCM) of the Republic of Peru with effect from 6th
March 2024. Gustavo Adrianzen succeeded Alberto
Otarola who resigned from the post on 05th March
2024 due to a political scandal.
Famous Indian Author, philanthropist &
Padma Awardee Sudha Murty Nominated to
Rajya Sabha by President
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu has
nominated renowned author, Indian philanthropist &
Padma Awardee Sudha Murty as the 12th nominated
Member of Parliament (MP) in the Upper House of
Parliament (Rajya Sabha (RS)).
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Krystyna Pyszkova of Czech Republic Wins
Miss World 2024
Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic won the
Miss World 2024 title at the 71st Miss World Pageant
held in Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai,
Maharashtra. Yasmina Zaytoun of Lebanon secured
the 1st runner up position.
✓ Krystyna Pyszkova was crowned by Poland’s
Karolina Bielawska, Miss world 2022. She is
the second Miss World from the Czech
Republic after Tatana Kucharova, Miss World
2006.
✓ The 71st edition of Miss Word Pageant was
hosted by India for the first time after 28 years.
Previously India hosted the event in 1996.
✓ Reliance Foundation Chairperson Nita Ambani
was honored with the 'Beauty with a Purpose
Humanitarian Award' as recognition for her
commitment to philanthropy and social work.
Asif Ali Zardari Sworn in as Pakistan's 14th
President for 2nd Term
Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of
the center-left Pakistan People's
Party (PPP) was sworn in as the
14th President of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan for the 2nd
time. Previously, he served as the
11th President of Pakistan from 9th
September 2008 to 9th September 2013.
✓ Asif Ali Zardari replaced Arif Alvi, who stayed in
office for 5 months after completing his 5-year
term in September 2023.
✓ Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa
administered the oath to Asif Ali Zardari at
Aiwan-e-Sadr, the Presidential Palace in
Islamabad, Pakistan.
Nayab Singh Saini Sworn in as 11th CM of
Haryana
Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana State
President of the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) and a Member of
Parliament (MP) elected from the
Kurukshetra Constituency, was
sworn in as the 11th Chief Minister
(CM) of Haryana.
✓ Nayab Singh Saini succeeded Manohar Lal
Khattar who stepped down resulting in a split
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 16
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in BJP-Jannayak Janata Party (BJP-JJP) alliance
which had ruled the state since 2019.
Devendra Jhajharia Elected as President Of
Paralympic Committee Of India
Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia was elected
unopposed as the president of the Paralympic
Committee of India (PCI). He succeeded para-athlete
Deepa Malik as president of PCI, whose term ended on
31st January 2024.
✓ The other office-bearers who were elected
along with the President were R.
Chandrashekhar and Satya Prakash Sangwan
as Vice Presidents, Jayawant Hammanawar as
Secretary General

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

CCI approvals on March 12, 2024 Aditya Birla Finance to be Amalgamated

On March 12, 2024, the Competition Commission of
India (CCI) approves the following mergers:
✓ CCI approved the merger of a financial
technology company, Garagepreneurs Internet
Private Limited (GIPL) with the North East
Small Finance Bank (NESFB).
✓ CCI also approved the acquisition of stake in
Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology
Private Limited by TPG Growth V SF Markets
Pte. Ltd. and Waverly Pte. Ltd. through Asia
Healthcare Holdings Pte. Ltd.
with Aditya Birla Capital
The Board of Directors (BoD) of Aditya Birla Capital
Limited (ABCL) has approved the Scheme of
Amalgamation of Aditya Birla Finance Limited (ABFL),
with ABCL. The scheme aims to make ABCL a large
unified operating Non-Banking Financial Company
(NBFC).
✓ After the merger, Vishakha Mulye will be
acting as Managing Director (MD) & Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) whereas Rakesh
Singh will assume the role as Executive
Director (ED) and CEO (NBFC) of the merged
amalgamated company.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

India Conducted Flight test of Agni-5 Missile
with MIRV Technology under Mission
Divyastra
India successfully conducted the 1st flight test of an
indigenously developed Agni-5 ballistic missile by the
Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO), equipped with Multiple Independently
Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology from
DR. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
✓ The flight test was conducted as part of India’s
nuclear-capable missile named Mission
Divyastra (divine weapon). MIRV, allows a
single inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM)
to carry 4 to 6 nuclear warheads, each capable
of hitting distinct targets.
PFRDA Inaugurates Zerodha Developed
NPS Web App for Financial Inclusion
Deepak Mohanty, Chairperson of the Pension Fund
Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA),
inaugurated the National Pension System (NPS) web
application developed by Bengaluru(Karnataka) based
Zerodha Broking Limited.

ENVIRONMENT
----------

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SPORTS

India Men’s Cricket Team Defeats England Championship Winner Runner

to Win Anthony de Mello Trophy 2024
Kunlavut
The Indian men’s test cricket team led by Rohit Sharma
Men’s Singles Shi Yu Qi (China) Vitidsaran
won the Anthony de Mello Trophy 2024 by defeating
(Thailand)
England (captained by Ben Stokes) in the five-match
Akane
test series for 4-1 held from 25th January to 9th March Women’s An Se Young (South
Yamaguchi
2024 in five venues across India. Singles Korea)
(Japan)
✓ Ravichandran Ashwin played his 100th Test
for India in the fifth Test against England at Satwiksairaj Rankireddy Lee Jhe-
Dharamshala, where he also took five wickets and Huei and
in the second innings. Yang Po-
Men’s Doubles
✓ Ashwin is the ninth bowler and the second Hsuan
Chirag Shetty (India)
Indian(After Anil Kumble - 619) to pick up 500 (Chinese
Test wickets. Taipei)
✓ Yashasvi Jaiswal was the top run scorer in the Nami
series with 712 runs. He won the Player of the Matsuyama
Series award. Women’s Chen QingChen and Jia and
✓ The Anthony de Mello Trophy 2024 series is the Doubles Yi Fan (China) Chiharu
first-ever Test series where more than 100 Shida
sixes were hit. (Japan)
✓ Bumrah became the quickest Indian fast Seo Seung-
bowler to 150 Test wickets (in the second Test Feng Yanzhe and Jae and
match against England), achieving the feat in Mixed Doubles Huang Dongping Chae Yoo-
34 Test matches. (China) Jung (South
✓ The Indian men’s cricket team claimed the top Korea)
spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC)
Test rankings after winning the test series Red Bull’s Max Verstappen Wins Saudi
against England. Arabian Grand Prix 2024
Belgian-Dutch driver Max Verstappen (competing
Badminton: Indian Pair under the Dutch flag) of Red Bull won the Formula 1
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (F1) Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (GP) 2024 held at Jeddah
Win Men’s Doubles Title in French Open Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 7th to 9th
March 2024.
2024
Winners of Saudi Arabian GP 2024:
The Indian badminton pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and
Chirag Shetty won the men’s doubles title by defeating Position Driver Team
Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang Po-Hsuan at Red
1 Max Verstappen
the finals of the YONEX French Open 2024. The 94th Bull
edition of the French Open, the Badminton World Red
2 Sergio Perez (Mexico)
Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 750 Badminton Bull
tournament, was held from 5-10th March 2024 at the Charles Leclerc
3 Ferrari
Arena Porte de la Chapelle, Paris, France. (Monaco)
Winners of French Open 2024:

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 Weekly Content PDF
OBITUARY
Japan Manga Creator Akira Toriyama Passed
Away
Akira Toriyama, one of the most famous Japanese
comic (manga) artists and character designers, passed
BOOKS & AUTHORS
Sri Lanka’s Ex-President Gotabaya
Rajapaksa authored the Book ‘The
Conspiracy to Oust Me from the
Presidency’
Former President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa,
has authored a book titled ‘The Conspiracy to Oust
Me from the Presidency’ which speaks about his
political downfall to a “conspiracy” involving foreign
and local parties. Gotabaya Rajapaksa served as the
7th Executive President of Sri Lanka from 2019 to
2022.
IMPORTANT DAYS
International Women's Day 2024- March 8
The United Nations (UN) International Women’s Day
(IWD) is annually observed across the globe on 8
March to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and
political achievements of women. The day aims to
renew collective commitment to accelerate women's
equality.
✓ The 2024 theme of IWD is, “Invest in
women—accelerate progress.” The UN
officially recognised IWD for the 1st time in
1977.
✓ On International Women’s Day 2024 (8 March
2024), Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi,
announced a reduction of Rs 100 reduction on
the price of Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG)
cylinder.
International Day of Women Judges 2024-
March 10
The United Nations (UN) International Day of Women
Judges (IDWJ) is annually observed across the globe
on 10 March to raise awareness about gender equality
within the legal profession. IDWJ highlights the
importance of women's representation and
contributions in the judiciary around the world.
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away. He was born on 05th April 1955 in Nagoya,
Japan. He was the creator of Dragon Ball, one of the
most influential and best-selling manga.
Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur
unveiled the Book ‘Israel War Diary’ written
by Vishal Pandey
Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting (MIB), has released a
book titled ‘Israel War Diary "इजराइल वॉर डायरी"
authored by Vishal Pandey at an event held in New
Delhi, Delhi. The book is published by Prabhat
Prakashan Private Limited.
✓ 10 March 2024 marks the observance of the
3rd IDWJ. The 1st ever International Day of
Women Judges was observed on 10th March
2022.
55th Raising Day of Central Industrial
Security Force - 10th March 2024
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Raising
Day is annually observed across India on 10th March
to honour the contributions and sacrifices of the CISF
personnel in providing security to public sector
undertakings (PSUs), and critical infrastructure.
✓ CISF, established in 1969, plays a pivotal role
in safeguarding vital installations and assets in
India. 10 March 2024 marks the observance of
the 55th CISF Raising Day.
World Rotaract Day 2024 - March 13 &
World Rotaract Week 2024 - March 11–17
World Rotaract Day is annually observed across the
globe on 13 March to recognise and acknowledge the
services provided by the Rotaractors, and members of
Rotaract clubs across the world.
✓ 13 March 2024 marks the observance of the
56th anniversary of the formation of the 1st
Copyright 2014-2024 @ AffairsCloud.com 19
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Rotaract Club in North Carolina, United States
of America (USA).
✓ World Rotaract Week is annually celebrated
around the world by the Rotaractors and
Rotarians during the week on which World
Rotaract Day is observed (13 March).
World Rotaract Week 2024 is observed from
March 11–17, 2024.
✓ 14 March 2024 marks the celebration of the
27th anniversary of the International Day of
Action for Rivers. The 1st International Day of
Action for Rivers was observed on 14 March
1998.
✓ The 2024 theme of International Day of Action
for Rivers is, “Water for All.”

World Kidney Day 2024 - March 14

World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global campaign annually
observed across the globe on the 2nd Thursday of
March to raise awareness of the importance of kidneys
to overall health and equitable access to care and
medication for all.
✓ WKD 2024 is observed on 14 March 2024.
WKD was first launched on 9 March 2006
(Thursday), and fully inaugurated on 8
March 2007 (Thursday).
✓ The 2024 WKD campaign theme is, "Kidney
Health for All - Advancing Equitable Access
to Care and Optimal Medication Practice."
✓ WKD 2023 was observed on 9 March 2023;
WKD 2025 will be observed on 13 March 2025.

International Day of Mathematics 2024 -

March 14
World Sleep Day 2024 - March 15
International Day of Mathematics (IDM) is annually
World Sleep Day (WSD) is annually observed across
observed across the globe on 14th March to create
the globe on the Friday before Spring Vernal Equinox
awareness about the importance of mathematics in
to raise awareness about the significance of sleep and
addressing the challenges in areas like Artificial
promote the management and prevention of sleep
Intelligence (AI), climate change, energy and
disorders.
sustainable development.
✓ The theme and slogan for the 2024 World
✓ The theme of IDM 2024 is ‘Playing with math’.
Sleep Day is, "Sleep Equity for Global
✓ 14th March 2024 marks the observance of the
Health".
5th IDM. The first-ever IDM was observed on
✓ WSD is annually organised by the World Sleep
14th March 2020.
Day Committee of the World Sleep Society
✓ In the month/date format, March 14th
(WSS). WSD 2024, the 17th annual World
represents the value of Pi, 3.14, which defines
Sleep Day, was observed on 15th March
the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its
2024. The 1st WSD was held on 14 March
diameter.
2008 under the slogan “Sleep Well, Live Fully
Awake.”

International Day of Action for Rivers 2024 -
March 14
The International Day of Action for Rivers is annually
observed across the globe on 14 March to raise
awareness about the importance of rivers and
advocate for their protection and preservation. The day
aims to draw attention to the threats faced by the
rivers.
International Day to Combat Islamophobia
2024 - March 15
The United Nations (UN) International Day to Combat
Islamophobia is annually observed across the globe
on 15 March to raise awareness and combat hate
crimes, and other forms of intolerance against
Muslims. 15 March 2024 marks the observance of the
2nd International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

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✓ The first-ever International Day to Combat
Islamophobia was observed on 15 March
2023.
STATE NEWS
UP CM Yogi Launched MYUVA Program to
Nurture Youth Entrepreneurship in UP
Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh
(UP), has launched the
Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (MYUVA)
program to empower young entrepreneurs in UP and
promote a culture of innovation and enterprise.
✓ The program offers interest-free loans of up to
Rs 5 lakh for projects in the industry and
service sectors. The funding will be provided
through nationalized, scheduled, rural banks,
Small Industries Development Bank of India
(SIDBI) and all financial institutions notified by
the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
PM Narendra Modi Launches ‘Mahatari
Vandana Yojana’ scheme in Chhattisgarh
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi launched the
Mahatari Vandana Yojana in Chhattisgarh, aiming to
uplift and economically empower women in the state.
The PM also disbursed Rs 655 crore, as the first
installment of the Mahatari Vandana Yojana.
✓ This scheme aims to provide financial
assistance of Rs 1000 per month to eligible
married women of the state through monthly
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Bichom Inaugurated as 27th District of
Arunachal Pradesh
On 8th March 2024, Pema Khandu, Chief Minister (CM)
of Arunachal Pradesh, inaugurated Bichom, the 27th
district of Arunachal Pradesh and laid the foundation of
its headquarters at Napangphung. The new district
Bichom was carved out of West Kameng and East
Kameng districts.
Nagaland’s DoIC signed MoU with YES Bank
& Sellmetric Pvt Ltd to Utilize ONDC
platform
The Department of Industries & Commerce (DoIC),
Government of Nagaland have signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) with YES Bank Limited and
Sellmetric Private Limited to facilitate digital sales for
small businesses, farmers, and entrepreneurs, through
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the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)
platform.
Karnataka-WEF agree to set up Centre for
Artificial Intelligence in State
The State Government of Karnataka has signed a Letter
of Intent with World Economic Forum (WEF) to
establish India's sole Centre for Artificial Intelligence
(AI) in Karnataka. This center will be a part of the WEF
Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR)
Network, aiming to govern inclusive technology and
foster digital transformation.
✓ The AI center in Karnataka, the only one in
India under WEF, will facilitate industry-
academia networks, technological trend
exchanges, research collaborations, and
global issue responses.
Telangana CM Anumula Revanth Reddy
Launches Indiramma Indlu' Housing
Scheme
Telangana Chief Minister (CM) Anumula Revanth
Reddy launched 'Indiramma Indlu', a housing scheme
to provide house for homeless poor people, in
Bhadrachalam, Bhadradri Kothagudem district of
Telangana. The scheme will be implemented by the
Telangana State Housing Corporation Limited (TSHCL).
✓ Under the scheme, a housing site and Rs 5 lakh
financial assistance will be given to the poor
who do not own land.
Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Renaming of
Eight Railway Stations in Mumbai
The Maharashtra Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister
Eknath Shinde, approved the renaming of the eight
railway stations in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
✓ The following is the new names for the
stations: Curry Road as Lalbaug, Sandhurst
Road as Dongri, Marine Lines as Mumbadevi,
Cotton Green as Kalachowki, Charni Road as
Girgaon, Dockyard Road as Mazgaon, and King
Circle as Tirthakar Parshivnath.
✓ It also decided to rename the 'Ahmednagar'
district as ‘Ahilya nagar’ in honour of the late
Maratha Queen Ahilyabai Holkar.
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GoI approved ‘TG' Prefix on Vehicle
Registration Plates in Telangana
On 12th March 2024, the Government of India(GoI)
approved the 'TG' prefix on vehicle registration number
plates in Telangana by replacing the ‘TS’ prefix. The
approval was granted in the exercise of the powers
conferred by sub-section (6) of section 41 of the Motor
Vehicles Act, 1988 (59 of 1988). The change will be
applied to new vehicles and the vehicles with TS
number plates will continue.

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