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Monthly Digest
March-2023
Dear readers,

This Monthly GK Digest is a complete docket of important news and events that occurred in the month of ‘March-2023’. This
file is important for CLAT and LAW Entrance exams.

Economic & Financial Awareness

1. According to the Union ministry of statistics, India's 5. According to the Finance Ministry, the government
Gross Domestic Production (GDP) growth has collected Rs 1,49,577 crore as gross goods and
been registered at 4.4% in the October-December service tax (GST) revenue in the month of
third quarter of the current fiscal (2022-23). February 2023.
Note: GDP in the third quarter of 2022-23 is Note: This amount was increased by around 12%
estimated at Rs 40.19 lakh crore, as against Rs 38.51 on an annual basis (YoY). India's GST revenue in
lakh crore in the third quarter of 2021-22. The real February 2022 was Rs 1,33,026 crore. Of the total
GDP is estimated to grow at 7% for the current FY revenue collected, CGST is Rs 27,662 crore, SGST is
compared to 9.1% in 2021-22. While Nominal GDP is Rs 34,915 crore, IGST is Rs 75,069 crore while cess is
estimated to grow at 15.9 percent. Rs 11,931 crore (including Rs 792 crore collected on
2. According to the data released by the Reserve Bank import of goods).
of India (RBI), the credit growth of Indian banks has 6. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has received
doubled to 16.8% in the October-December the approval from Securities & Exchange Board of
quarter (2022-23) from a year earlier. India (SEBI) to launch the rupee-denominated
Note: Bank credit had expanded by 8.4% in the NYMEX WTI Crude Oil and Natural Gas (Henry
quarter that ended December 2021 and 17.2% in the Hub) futures contracts in its commodity derivatives
quarter that ended September 2022. The aggregate segment.
deposits of banks increased by 10.3% year-on- Note: Earlier, NSE had signed a data licensing
year in the December quarter. Banks' credit-deposit agreement with CME Group allowing NSE to list,
ratio rose further to 75.9% in the December quarter. trade and settle rupee-denominated NYMEX WTI
3. Bajaj Finserv Ltd has received the final Crude Oil and Natural Gas derivatives on its
registration from SEBI to commence its mutual platform. NSE MD: Ashishkumar Chauhan
fund operations under Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund. 7. Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation
Note: Bajaj Finserv Mutual Fund, with Bajaj Finserv Ltd (IRCTC) and HDFC Bank partnered to launch a
Asset Management Ltd (BFAML) as the Investment co-branded travel credit card - IRCTC HDFC Bank
Manager, will soon offer a range of mutual fund Credit Card.
products. The products include equity, debt, and Note: It is a co-branded card, in a single variant, and
hybrid funds, both in the active and passive is available on NPCI's Rupay network. This is the
segments, for investors. third tie-up of IRCTC after the State Bank of India
4. Global rating firm Moody’s Investors Services has and Bank of Baroda. The card will provide
raised the growth projection of India to 5.5% in exclusive benefits and maximum savings on
2023 from the earlier projection of 4.8 percent in bookings of train tickets. Chairman & MD, IRCTC:
November 2022. Rajni Hasija
Note: Moody's also projected the growth of India at 8. Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has
6.5% in 2024. According to Moody’s projection, launched Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and
India’s growth rate in 2023 is the highest among G20 'Swadhan-e-pension-Gov' services for Kangra
countries. It is followed by China (5 %) and Central Cooperative Bank.
Indonesia (4.8%). The US is expected to grow by Note: Aim: To make bank transactions easier and
0.9%, the Euro area by 0.5%, Japan by 1.5%, and the quicker, especially for the elderly and those living in
UK (-0.4%). remote areas. These services would benefit

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 thousands of account holders of the bank. He also Note: The lending will be divided into two
released the bank's annual calendar on this occasion. complementary loans of $500 million each. The
9. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty bank will support India’s flagship Pradhan Mantri-
of three crore six lakh sixty-six thousand rupees Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission
on Amazon Pay (India) Private Limited. (PM-ABHIM) which was launched in October 2021.
Note: Reason: For non-compliance with certain The loans will prioritize health service delivery in
directions related to Prepaid Payment Instruments seven States - Andhra Pradesh, Kerala,
and Know Your Customer. The action was based on Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and
deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not Uttar Pradesh.
intended to pronounce upon the validity of any 15. MoS, personnel, public grievances, and pensions, Dr.
transaction or agreement entered into by the entity Jitendra Singh informed that the Department of
with its customers. Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare will integrate all the
10. RBI has imposed a Rs 5,000 cap on withdrawals pension portals - Pension Disbursing Bank
by individual customers from Tamil Nadu-based portals, ANUBHAV, CPENGRAMS, CGHS, etc into a
Musiri Urban Co-operative Bank. single portal.
Note: Reason: It is a part of several restrictions Note: These portals will be integrated into the form
imposed on the lender due to its deteriorating of the newly created “Integrated Pensioners’ Portal”
financial condition. The restrictions on the lender (https://ipension.nic.in). Aim: To ensure the ease of
will remain in force for six months from the close of living for the elder citizens
business on March 3, 2023. Without the approval of 16. The All India Home Price Index (HPI), released by
the RBI, the cooperative bank cannot grant loans, the RBI, has recorded a 2.79% growth (year-on-
make any investments, or disburse any payments. year) to 302 in the third quarter (ended
11. New India Assurance has become the second December) of 2022-23 as compared with 293.8,
domestic insurance company to launch surety despite the rise in interest rates.
insurance bonds. Note: On a quarter-on-quarter sequential basis, the
Note: Surety bond insurance acts as a security index rose from 298, an increase of 1.34%, from
arrangement for infrastructure projects and will September 2022. The Y-o-Y movements in HPI
insulate the contractor as well as the principal. These varied widely across the cities, ranging from a
bonds are legally enforceable tripartite contracts growth of 7.1% (Kochi) to a contraction of 9%
that guarantee compliance, payment, and (Jaipur).
performance. The issuing insurer provides a 17. According to the CRIF High Mark, the total retail
guarantee, for a premium, in case of a default in the loan outstanding was Rs 100.28 lakh crore in Dec
execution of a project. 2022, up from Rs 81.91 lakh crore a year ago.
12. The board of directors of HDFC Bank has Note: The share of female borrowers in the retail
recommended the reappointment of Sashidhar loans outstanding has gone up to 26% at Rs 26.07
Jagdishan as managing director and CEO for three lakh crore as of Dec 2022 from 25% (Rs 20.47 lakh
years, with effect from 27 October 2023. crore) in Dec 2021. Major retail loan products
Note: The Bank also informed that it is subject to the availed by female borrowers in India: Gold loans
approval of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the (42% share), Education loans (35%), Home loans
shareholders. Sashidhar Jagdishan joined the Bank in (32%), and Loans against property (29%)
1996 and was appointed as a chief financial officer in 18. The RBI Governor, Shaktikanta Das has launched the
2008, after which he was appointed as the MD and Mission ‘Har Payment Digital’ during the Digital
CEO. Payments Awareness Week 2023, which is being
13. According to National Statistical Office (NSO), the observed from March 6 to 12, 2023.
estimated annual per capita (net national income) Note: Campaign theme: Digital Payment Apnao,
at current prices for 2022-23 is Rs 1,72,000, Auron ko bhi Sikhao (Adopt digital payments and
showing a growth of around 99% from Rs 86,647 in Also teach others) RBI has launched a program to
2014-15. adopt 75 villages and convert them into digital
Note: However, after adjusting for inflation payment-enabled villages. Payment system
(constant prices), the per capita income has risen by operators (PSOs) will adopt these villages across the
approximately 35% from Rs 72,805 in 2014-15 to country.
Rs 98,118 in 2022-23. The average growth of India’s 19. Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and UN Women
per-capita income in real terms from 2014 to 2019 India launched a new program named
was 5.6 percent per annum. 'FinEMPOWER' on 8th March 2023.
14. The World Bank will lend up to $1 billion to India Note: It is a year-long joint capacity-building
to strengthen its health infrastructure. program between BSE and UN Women to empower
women toward financial security. BSE and UN
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 Women India collaboratively organized the 'Ring 25. In an exchange filing, the Bank of Baroda has
the Bell for Gender Equality' ceremony to informed that the bank's board has approved
accelerate investment in women leaders and divesting up to 49% stake in subsidiary BoB
entrepreneurs at BSE. MD and CEO of BSE: Financial Solutions Ltd.
Sundararaman Ramamurthy Note: Currently, BOB holds 100% of the total
20. Max Life Insurance and Ujjivan Small Finance equity share capital of BFSL. BFSL, a registered non-
Bank have partnered to offer life insurance offerings banking financial institution, is primarily involved in
to Ujjivan SFB’s customers. credit cards and merchant-acquiring businesses.
Note: Through this partnership, both will offer a 26. The FinMin has tightened the definition of
range of savings, protection, retirement, and group beneficial owners under the anti-money
life insurance plans to Ujjivan SFB customers. Max laundering law, mandating reporting entities to
Life Insurance Company Limited is a joint venture collect information from their clients.
between Max Financial Services Limited and Axis Note: Beneficial Owners: Any individual or group
Bank Limited. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank Limited holding 10% ownership (earlier 25%) in the
began its operations in February 2017. client of a reporting entity. The reporting entities are
21. As per the Finance Ministry notification, the banks and financial institutions engaged in real
exchange between virtual digital assets and fiat estate and jewellery sectors. They also include
currencies, the exchange between one or more intermediaries in casinos and crypto or virtual
forms of virtual digital assets, and the transfer of digital assets.
virtual digital assets will be covered under the 27. Stock exchanges BSE and NSE have designated 15
money laundering act. trading platforms as Qualified Stock Brokers
Note: The safekeeping or administration of virtual (QSBs) with effect from July 1, 2023.
digital assets and the participation in financial Note: These shortlisted stock brokers are required
services related to the offer and sale of virtual digital to meet enhanced obligations and discharge
assets will also come under the preview of the Act. additional responsibilities. Some of the notable
22. SEBI has imposed restrictions on the placement of stock brokers in the QSB list are Zerodha Broking,
bids, price, and volume for the companies 5Paisa Capital, HDFC Securities, IIFL Securities, ICICI
undertaking share buyback through the stock Securities, Motilal Financial Services, Kotak
exchange route, effective on March 9, 2023. Securities, and Sharekhan among others.
Note: A company will not be able to purchase more 28. Yes Bank has partnered with Aadhar Housing
than 25% of the average daily trading volume of Finance Ltd to offer home loans at competitive
its shares in the 10 trading days preceding the day in interest rates to customers from lower and middle-
which such purchases are made. The company will income groups.
not place bids in the first 30 minutes and the last 30 Note: This partnership is in accordance with the co-
minutes of the regular trading session. lending framework of the Reserve Bank of India
23. On International Women’s Day 2023, Kotak (RBI). Under this framework, the RBI enables banks
Mahindra Asset Management Company (AMC) and non-banking companies to jointly bring forth
launched a digital campaign called ‘DigitALL: financial solutions that cater to the requirements of
Innovation and technology for gender equality’. unserved and underserved sections of society.
Note: Aim: To drive the culture of digital literacy 29. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank has launched the
among the women's fraternity. The campaign calls ‘Unpause Initiative’ to assist women who have
for the digital inclusion of all with the hashtag, taken a career break and are now ready to return to
#IncludeAll. The digital campaign showcases Kotak the workforce.
group’s women employees sharing their stories Note: The initiative is part of the bank's commitment
about supporting and empowering other women in to promoting workplace diversity and inclusion. The
their lives. bank’s employees participated in a 3 km walk from
24. Axis Bank and ITC (FMCG) joined hands to offer its registered headquarters in Koramangala to
lending products and services to farmers who are support an initiative. Ujjivan SFB has also announced
a part of ITC's agriculture ecosystem. a special Hiring Drive and Employee referral
Note: Aim: To enable the bank to reach out to the program for women.
unserved and under-served farmers across rural 30. Central government has released Rs 1,40,318
regions. The bank will offer credit facilities for rural crores as monthly instalment for March towards
lending products like Farmer Funding loans & Gold tax devolution to states, which is much more than
Loans. The bank will also leverage ITC-MAARS the normal monthly devolution of Rs 70,159 crore
(Meta Market for Advanced Agricultural Rural made for states.
Services) to address farmers' financial needs. Note: This is in line with the commitment to
strengthen the hands of states to accelerate their
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 capital and developmental expenditure, an official 36. According to the Mudra portal (as of 27.01.2023),
statement said. Uttar Pradesh has received the more than 38.58 crore loans have been extended
highest installment of Rs 24,783 crore among all since the inception of the Scheme in April 2015.
states. Note: Out of this, over 26.35 crore loans have been
31. IDFC Mutual Fund has been rebranded itself as extended to Women Entrepreneurs (68%).
Bandhan Mutual Fund and its schemes will reflect SC/ST/OBC category borrowers received 19.84
the new name with effect from March 13, 2023. crore loans (51%). As per the Ministry of Labour
Note: IDFC Mutual Fund has also unveiled a new survey, PMMY helped in generating 1.12 crore net
logo as the company was acquired by Bandhan additional employment in the country from 2015 to
Financial Holdings-led consortium in April 2022. 2018.
Scheme of the fund house will be renamed to replace 37. Suryoday Small Finance Bank has launched a new
the word ‘IDFC’ with ‘Bandhan’. Unitholders of IDFC savings account for women customers called the
MF would continue to benefit from the same Blossom Women’s savings account.
high‐quality investment approach. Note: Women can earn up to 7% interest rate per
32. Punjab National Bank has signed a Memorandum annum. An exclusive and free Rupay Platinum Debit
of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Card that rewards women customers with discounts
Warehousing Corporation to facilitate financing and cashback. Monthly Interest Pay-out in the
under e-NWR (Electronic Negotiable account. One complementary account for child
Warehousing Receipt). (Savings Aditya Account). Average Monthly Balance
Note: Aim: To provide easy access to finance to (AMB) of ₹10,000
farmers/ food processors/ traders against the pledge 38. According to the data released by the National
of agriculture commodities stored in CWC Statistical Office (NSO), India's retail inflation has
warehouses. CWC is a statutory body under the lowered to 6.44% in February 2023 from 6.52% in
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public January 2023.
Distribution. Note: But it remained above the upper band of the
33. According to the report, released by PhonePe and 4+/- 2 percent medium-term target of the Reserve
Boston Consulting Group, India's digital payments Bank of India (RBI) for the second consecutive
market will more than triple from $3 trillion to month. While food inflation eased marginally to 5.95
$10 trillion by 2026. percent in February 2023 from 6% in January 2023,
Note: In 2015, the Indian government launched its inflation for cereals, milk, and fruits picked up.
Digital India program, with the objective to achieve 39. New York-based Signature Bank was shut by
a “faceless, paperless and cashless” status for regulators in the US, becoming the second bank in
financial transactions at the grass-root level. NPCI the country after Silicon Valley Bank.
launched UPI in 2016, which enables inter-bank Note: The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
transactions through mobile devices instantly. (FDIC) has been appointed as a receiver, which
34. In an initiative to promote Central Bank Digital typically means it will liquidate the bank’s assets to
Currency (CBDC), Kochi Metro has started pay back its customers, including depositors and
accepting digital currency in its parking facilities. others. The standard insurance amount from FDIC is
Note: With this, Kochi Metro is the first Metro in the $250,000 per depositor, per bank, for each account
country to accept CBDC. The program was ownership category.
inaugurated at the parking facility in Thykoodam 40. Wholesale Price-based Inflation (WPI) has been
and system would be introduced in all other parking eased to two years low of 3.85% in February 2023
areas of the Metro soon. The program was against 4.73% recorded in January 2023.
introduced in association with IDFC FIRST Bank Note: It will primarily contribute to the fall in the
partnered with Anantham Online, a technology prices of crude petroleum, food products, electronics,
startup chemicals, and electrical equipment. In February,
35. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granted an fuel and power rose 14.82% as compared to 15.15%
‘Infrastructure Finance Company (IFC)’ status to in January 2023. While the food index stood at
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency 2.76% (Feb 2023) against 2.95% (Jan 2023). Retail
(IREDA). inflation (Feb 2023): 6.44%
Note: Earlier, it was classified as an Investment 41. RBI has granted approval to foreign banks in 18
and Credit Company (ICC). With the IFC status, countries to open Vostro accounts to settle
IREDA will be able to take higher exposure in RE international trade in rupees.
financing. It will also help the company to access a Note: 18 Countries: Botswana, Fiji, Germany,
wider investor base for fund mobilization, resulting Guyana, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar,
in competitive rates for fundraising. New Zealand, Oman, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore,
Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda, and UK. MoS Finance,
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 Bhagwat Karad informed in the Rajya Sabha. In July Note: Aim: To help in setting cross-border
2022, govt informed that it would set up a transactions using the Indian rupee. It enables local
mechanism to settle international trade in rupees. customers to enter into transactions denominated in
42. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has the Indian Rupee and eliminates the need to conduct
approved Reliance Industries Ltd to acquire the Trade and Remittance transactions in US dollars.
German firm Metro AG's wholesale operations in Nostro account: It is a bank account held in a
India for ₹2,850 crore. foreign country by a domestic bank, denominated in
Note: On 22 December 2022, Reliance Retail the currency of that country.
Ventures Ltd (RRVL) signed definitive agreements to 48. The Indian Renewable Energy Development
acquire a 100% equity stake in Metro Cash & Carry Agency (IREDA) has received approval from the
India Pvt Ltd. Metro started operations in India in Union Government for listing on the Stock
2003 as the first company to introduce a cash-and- Exchanges.
carry business format in the country. Note: The CCEA decided to approve an Initial Public
43. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) signed an MoU Offer (IPO) by the part sale of the Government’s
with the Central Bank of the UAE to promote stake in the CPSE. Aim: To raise funds through the
innovation in financial products and services. issue of fresh equity shares. Department of
Note: Both central banks will work together to Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM)
explore Central Bank Digital Currencies. They will will drive the listing process.
also investigate interoperability between the CBDCs 49. ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has launched ICICI
of CBUAE and RBI. They will conduct proof-of- Pru Gold.
concept and pilot tests of the bilateral CBDC bridge Note: It is an innovative long-term savings product
to facilitate cross-border transactions of remittances designed to enable customers to create an additional
and trade. income stream to meet their diverse income
44. According to the credit rating agency CRISIL report, requirements. Besides receiving guaranteed lifelong
India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated income, the life cover component in the product
to grow at 6% in 2023-24, slower than the 7% provides financial security to the family. This
estimated for 2022-23. product is available in three variants i.e. Immediate
Note: Report Title: Rider in the Storm: Tracing Income, Immediate Income with Booster, and
India’s Growth in a Volatile World. It was also Deferred Income.
estimated that the corporate revenue would 50. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive
continue to grow in double digits, buoyed by strong board has approved a $3-billion four-year extended
domestic demand. Retail inflation will average 5% financing arrangement for Sri Lanka.
over 2023-24, lower than the 6.8% (averaged in Note: It paves the way for an immediate
2022-23). disbursement of about $333 million to the cash-
45. The Go Digit General Insurance has announced strapped country. The new Extended Fund Facility
three new plans under the Digit Health Insurance (EFF) arrangement program aims to restore Sri
policy. Lanka’s macroeconomic stability and debt
Note: The three plans—Digit Double Wallet, Digit sustainability, mitigate the economic impact on the
Infinity Wallet, and Digit Global Treatment. Aim: poor and vulnerable, and safeguard financial sector
To meet Indians’ newly evolved health insurance stability.
demands following the pandemic. Under the Infinity 51. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a
Wallet and Worldwide Treatment plan for every monetary penalty of 22.7 million rupees
claim-free year, the policyholders can earn 50% of ($274,915) on private lender RBL Bank Ltd.
the sum insured as a cumulative bonus of up to Note: Reason: For not complying with certain
100% of the SI. directives on loan recovery agents. The RBI has
46. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed Rs 5 lakh found deficiencies in regulatory compliance after it
monetary penalty on mortgage financier HDFC Ltd examined complaints received against RBL's
for failing to transfer matured deposits of certain recovery agents during the financial years 2018-19
depositors to designated bank accounts of such to 2021-22. RBL Headquarters: Mumbai; MD &
depositors during 2019-20. CEO: R. Subramaniakumar
Note: As per RBI, HDFC was found to be non- 52. The gross NPA ratio was declining from 14.6% in
compliant with certain provisions of Housing March 2018 to 5.53% in December 2022.
Finance Companies (NHB) Directions, 2010. CEO of Note: All PSBs are in profit with aggregate profit
HDFC Bank: Sashidhar Jagdishan. being Rs 66,543 crore in 2021-22 and that further
47. Sri Lanka’s Seylan Bank has opened an Indian increased to Rs 70,167 crore in the first nine months
rupee-denominated Nostro account in Indian Bank of the current financial year. At the same time,
in Mumbai. resilience has increased with the provision coverage
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 ratio of PSBs rising from 46% to 89.9% in December platform to offer new tractor loans for agricultural
2022. The capital adequacy ratio improved from and allied activities in rural segments of the country.
11.5% to 14.5% in December 2022. Note: This partnership will leverage the wide
53. India and the World Bank have signed a loan customer experience of Autotrac Finance and the
agreement to construct the Green National deep financial expertise of Axis Bank to enable easy
Highway Corridors Project in four States. credit availability for farmers. They would be able to
Note: Four states: HP, Rajasthan, UP, and Andhra reach out to potential customers. Axis Bank CEO:
Pradesh. The agreement has been signed to Amitabh Chaudhry
construct 781 kilometers, with loan assistance of 500 59. Income Tax Department has launched a free-of-
million dollars. The total project cost is over 7,662 cost Mobile app namely AIS for taxpayers.
crore rupees. Objective: To demonstrate safe and Note: Aim: To facilitate the taxpayers to view their
green highways keeping in view climate resilience information as available in the Annual Information
and the use of green technologies Statement (AIS) and Taxpayer Information Summary
54. Commercial Bank, a digital Bank in Qatar has (TIS). In the app, taxpayers can view various
announced to launch of Unified Payment Interface information related to TDS, interest, share
(UPI) remittance service to India. transactions, tax payments, Income Tax refunds, and
Note: With this decision, this bank becomes the first GST Data among others. It will also have the option
bank in Qatar to offer this service. Customers can use and the facility to provide feedback.
Commercial Banking digital platforms to initiate UPI 60. Amazon Pay has collaborated with Bharat BillPay
payments using UPI-ID. The transactions can be to strengthen its loan repayment facility.
completed within 60 seconds and are available 24/7. Note: Bharat BillPay is a biller platform of the
UPI is a convenient payment system that allows National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
customers to transfer money in real time. Loan repayment is one of the top categories in terms
55. Women employees constitute over 25% of the of bill payment, amongst other options such as
total workforce on average in the nationalized electricity and municipal tax payments. The category
banks in the country. facilitates loan repayment options for customers
Note: The largest Public Sector Bank-- the State who avail of their loans through banks, microfinance
Bank of India (SBI), has 26.7% women employees institutions, and NBFCs.
in their total staff strength. While Indian Overseas 61. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has laid the
Bank has a maximum of 36% women staff and the foundation stone for the establishment of a
Punjab National Bank has the least 24% women staff “Greenfield Data Centre’ and ‘Enterprise
strength. This data was provided by the Ministry of Computing & Cybersecurity Training Institute’ in
Finance in the Lok Sabha. Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
56. According to the data shared by the Union MoS for Note: The Governor also highlighted the need for
Finance, Dr. Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad in Rajya Sabha, augmenting the existing computing infrastructure of
the enrolments under Atal Pension Yojana have the RBI supported by cutting-edge facilities for
shown a hike of More than 40% in FY 2021-22 from research and capacity building. It will cater to the
FY 2019-20. emerging requirements of the RBI and the financial
Note: The total fund allocated under APY for sector.
Government Co-contribution, Payment of Incentives 62. Egypt joined the BRICS New Development Bank
to Banks, Promotional Campaigns, and Gap fund is (NDB) as an official member.
Rs. 2078.94 crore (2015 to Feb 2023). Out of the Note: Egypt completed all the necessary procedures
total amount, Rs. 1529.41 crores has been released to become an eligible member on February 20, 2023.
till February 2023. BRICS' New Development bank was established in
57. According to the Finance Ministry report, the July 2014, after an intergovernmental agreement
Indian economy is expected to grow at 7% in FY23 was signed by the partner nations at the sixth BRICS
despite global headwinds. summit in Fortaleza. NDB bank includes India,
Note: Retail inflation would moderate in line with Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa as member
wholesale inflation which fell to a 25-month low in countries.
January 2023. It will be supported by the gains from 63. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a
high services exports, the moderation in oil prices, penalty of Rs 30 lakh on Karur Vysya Bank for
and the recent fall in import-intensive consumption violating rules.
demand. The current account deficit (CAD) of India is Note: Reason: For non-compliance with certain
estimated to fall in FY23 and FY24. provisions of directions issued by RBI on 'Reserve
58. Axis Bank has entered into a co-lending pact with Bank of India (Frauds - Classification and reporting
Autotrac Finance (AFL) through YubiCo.Lend by commercial banks and select FIs) directions
2016'. The penalty was imposed in the exercise of
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 powers conferred on RBI under the provisions of Note: In the quarterly economic update for Asia-
Section 47 A(1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. Pacific, S&P highlighted that the inflation rate will be
64. The central government has increased the Dearness eased to 5% in 2023-24 from 6.8% in the current
Allowance (DA) by 4%, taking the total to 42% of financial year (2022-23). It has also been forecasted
the Basic Pay for central government employees and that the GDP of India will grow by 7% in the current
pensioners. financial year ending March 31 (2022-23). S&P
Note: The Union Cabinet has given its approval to Global HQ: New York, U.S.
release an additional installment of DA to Central 70. According to the World Bank's report titled 'Falling
Governments employees and Dearness Relief to Long-Term Growth Prospects: Trends, Expectations,
Pensioners with effect from 1st January 2023. The and Policies', the global economy’s 'speed limit' is
combined impact on the exchequer on account of on track to crash to a three-decade low by 2030.
both DA and Dearness Relief will be over 12,815 Note: The 'speed limit' refers to the maximum long-
crore rupees per annum. term growth rate without sparking inflation
65. Karur Vysya Bank signed an agreement as an concerns. At 2.2%, the global average potential GDP
additional bancassurance partner in the life growth rate would be sharply lower than the 3.5%
insurance category with SBI Life. recorded in the first decade of the century.
Note: Under this arrangement, banks earn additional 71. Aditya Birla Group has agreed to sell its insurance
revenue from the sale of insurance products via broking business, Aditya Birla Insurance Brokers
commission. And, insurance companies can reach a Ltd (ABIBL) to Samara Capital for ₹455 crore.
wider set of customers without increasing their Note: ABIBL is specialized in providing integrated
manpower. Bancassurance: It is an arrangement insurance broking and advisory services to
between a bank and an insurance firm through companies and individuals. It also offers reinsurance
which the insurer sell its products to the bank's solutions to insurance companies. It is subject to
customers. receipt of the approval of IRDAI and other regulatory
66. Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a and statutory approvals.
loan of up to Rs 754 crore to SAEL Industries Ltd for 72. First Citizens Bank will acquire Silicon Valley
setting up biomass power plants in Rajasthan. Bank and assume control of all its deposits and
Note: SAEL is a solar and agricultural waste-to- loans.
energy company. It has developed a business model Note: As part of the deal, North Carolina-based First
where crop residues are used as fuel in waste-to- Citizens Bank has agreed to purchase $72 billion
energy projects. The company aims to grow its worth of SVB’s assets at a $16.5 billion discount
portfolio to 3.5 GW over the next four years by from the FDIC. First Citizens Bank will take control of
adding 100 MW of new biomass and 600 MW of new $56 billion in deposits. The Federal Deposit
solar capacity annually. Insurance Corporation (FDIC) will continue to retain
67. The Centre has notified a hike in wage rates up to receivership of around $90 billion worth of SVB’s
10% under MGNREGS for 2023-24, Haryana assets.
having the highest daily wage at ₹357 per day. 73. Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has
Note: Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh the fixed 8.15% interest rate on employees' provident
lowest at ₹221. The wage hikes, which range from fund (EPF) deposits for 2022-23.
₹7 to ₹26, will come into effect from April 1, 2023. It Note: In March 2022, EPFO lowered the interest on
is a flagship program aimed at enhancing the EPF for 2021-22 to 8.1% for its about five crore
livelihood security of households in rural areas by subscribers, from 8.5% in 2020-21. After the CBT's
providing at least 100 days of guaranteed wage decision, the interest rate on EPF deposits for 2022-
employment. 23 will be sent to the Ministry of Finance for
68. ICICI Lombard launched the ‘Anywhere Cashless’ concurrence. EPFO provides the interest rate only
feature for health insurance policyholders to avail after finance ministry ratification.
of cashless facilities at any hospital. 74. The government has set a maximum rate of GST
Note: The feature will be subject to the hospital’s compensating cess on pan masala, cigarettes, and
acceptance of the cashless facility. Policyholders other kinds of tobacco, with the highest rate tied to
must inform the company 24 hours prior to the date the retail sale price.
of admission by giving basic information about the Note: The cess rate was capped as part of
patient, policy details, hospital name, diagnosis, and amendments to the Finance Bill 2023. According to
treating doctor, among others. the amendment, the maximum GST compensation
69. S&P Global Ratings has kept its forecast for India's cess rate for pan masala will be 51% of the retail
economic growth unchanged at 6% for 2023-24 and sale price per unit, from the current cess charge at
6.9% for 2024-25. 135% ad valorem.

8|Page
75. CRIF Connect Private has received approval from borrowing is scheduled to be completed in 26
RBI to commence operations as an NBFC Account weekly tranches of Rs 31,000-39,000 crore. The
Aggregator (AA). Centre has budgeted a gross market borrowing of
Note: CRIF Connect is uniquely positioned to benefit ₹15.43 trillion in FY 2024. The borrowing program
both consumers and financial institutions. It is an is finalized in consultation with the RBI.
end-to-end encrypted platform that securely fetches 81. According to data presented in the Rajya Sabha, the
and transfers a consumer’s financial data based on public sector banks (PSBs) have written off
their explicit consent between financial institutions, around ₹91,000 crores in the first 9 months of the
making data sharing extremely safe based on RBI- current fiscal year.
approved guidelines. Note: PSBs have just managed to recover a little over
76. The SEBI has simplified the procedural requirements ₹1 out of ₹5 in written-off accounts during FY22.
for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) onboarding. However, the pace of recovery has picked up from
Note: SEBI has allowed designated depository around 8% in 2017-18 to a little over 21% in FY22.
participants (DDPs) to grant FPI registration Bank-wise details: SBI (₹17,356 cr) followed by
based on scanned copies of application forms and Union Bank of India (₹16,497 crore), and BoB
supporting documents. Trading can only be activated (₹13,032 cr)
following the verification of the physical documents. 82. SEBI has approved a framework for an Application
It has allowed DDPs to accept the use of digital Supported by a Blocked Amount (ASBA) like
signatures by FPIs for the execution of registration- facility for secondary market trading.
related documents. Note: It is based on the blocking of funds for trading
77. SEBI has imposed penalties totaling of ₹35.67 in the secondary market through UPI. ASBA: It is an
crore on PNB Finance and Industries Ltd, Camac IPO application process under which the application
Commercial Company Ltd, and various other money by an investor is blocked in that investor’s
entities. bank account. And once the IPO application is
Note: It includes promoters Samir Jain and Meera approved, the application money is debited from the
Jain who have also been barred from the securities investor’s account.
market. Reason: Comply with the minimum public 83. The Securities and Exchange Board of India
shareholding requirement under Sebi norms. Listed (SEBI) has allowed Private Equity (PE) funds to
companies are required to have at least 25% public sponsor Mutual Fund schemes.
shareholding. SEBI imposed a fine of Rs 12 crore on Note: The decision comes in the backdrop of IDFC
PNBFIL. Mutual Fund getting acquired by a consortium
78. NPCI has recommended an interchange fee of up to comprising Bandhan Financial Holdings Ltd,
1.1% on merchant UPI transactions done using Sovereign Wealth Fund GIC, and private equity fund
prepaid payment instruments (PPIs)– ChrysCapital. It has also permitted the set-up of self-
wallets/cards–with effect from April 1, 2023. sponsored asset management companies (AMCs).
Note: The charges will be levied on UPI payments of SEBI chairperson: Madhabi Puri Buch
over ₹2,000 made to online merchants, large 84. The Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank
merchants, and small offline merchants. However, on has approved a $100 million loan to Odisha.
certain merchant categories, a lower interchange Note: Reason: To robust its early forecasting systems
starting from 0.5%, might be levied as per applicable for improved response to disasters and enhance its
caps. social protection coverage for poor and vulnerable
79. Under the IRDAI (Payment of Commission) households through digital platforms. Odisha is
Regulations, 2023, the IRDAI has replaced the earlier vulnerable to natural disasters with cyclones hitting
individual cap on commission payments on the state every 15 months on average. The Program
insurance products with an overall cap on Expenses has a maturity of 12.5 years with a grace period of 3
of Management (EoM) of insurers. years.
Note: EoM: It is computed as a percentage of 85. BharatPe has joined hands with NITI Aayog’s
premiums collected, and includes Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) to
commissions/other expenses. It is applicable for life extend its support to women entrepreneurs in the
and non-life insurers. The EoM of general insurers country.
cannot exceed 30% of the gross premium written Note: Focus area: To facilitate the development of a
in India in a financial year. first-of-its-kind aggregator platform that gives access
80. The Finance Ministry informed that the to peer support, mentorship, networking channels.
government has decided to make a gross market According to the 6th economic census, women
borrowing of ₹8.88 trillion in the first half of FY24. comprise only 13.76% of the total entrepreneurs
Note: It is accounting for 57.55% of the overall in India.
market borrowings planned for the year. The
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86. Aditya Birla Health Insurance Co. Ltd. (ABHICL) segment borrowers based in rural and semi-urban
has signed a bancassurance pact with UCO Bank for regions. It will leverage the financial expertise of
the distribution of health insurance products. bank, and the loan processing technology of SHFL to
Note: This partnership enables ABHICL to expand its assess the credit profile of borrowers and provide
national footprint by leveraging UCO Bank’s widely loans at competitive interest rate.
distributed network of 3,164 branches. ABHICL now 89. Ambit Finvest has partnered with SKALEUP
has 17 bancassurance partners with over 80,000 (digital technology services arm of Bajaj Finserv
direct-selling agents, across the country. CEO, Aditya Direct) to develop a Direct-to-customer (D2C)
Birla Health Insurance: Mayank Bathwal instant loan application.
87. Godrej Capital has signed a strategic MoU with the Note: Under this partnership, they will provide give
State Bank of India (SBI) for various financial business loans to MSME business owners through a
products and offerings. completely paperless and automated digital
Note: Both organizations joined together to make onboarding process. Ambit Finvest is the NBFC of
financial solutions more accessible and affordable, the Ambit Group. CEO of Bajaj Finserv Direct:
unlocking opportunities for financial inclusion. The Ashish Panchal
association leverages the strengths of both groups by 90. The World Bank's Executive Board of Directors has
facilitating a gamut of financial services provided by approved a USD 363 million loan to Karnataka.
the bank such as banking products, credit cards, and Note: Reason: To provide a clean drinking water
wealth management. supply to two million rural households in the state
88. Axis Bank and Shriram Housing Finance Limited through a piped water connection in their homes.
signed a partnership agreement under the co- The USD 363 million loan from the International
lending model through the Yubi Co.Lend Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
platform. The loan has a maturity of 13.5 years including a
Note: Both lenders will offer secured MSME loans grace period of two years.
and home loans to the middle and low-income

Obituaries

1. Former Chief Justice of India, A M Ahmadi passed roles in Mr. India, Tere Naam, Roop Ki Rani Choron
away at 90 due to a brief illness. Ka Raja, Deewana Mastana, Brick Lane, Saajan Chale
Note: He was the 26th Chief Justice of India from Sasural among others.
October 1994 to March 1997. In 1964, he was 5. American Olympic athlete Pat McCormick died at
appointed a civil and sessions judge in Ahmedabad 92 in California due to health-related problems and
and become the state’s law secretary. In 1976, he dementia.
was appointed a judge of the Gujarat High Court and Note: She won the women’s 3-meter springboard
was elevated to the Supreme Court in 1988. and 10-meter platform competitions at the 1952
2. Renowned Bengali novelist and short story writer, Olympics in Finland. She was honored by the
Sasthipada Chattopadhyay passed away in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) with the James E.
Howrah, West Bengal. Sullivan Award - amateur athlete of the year in
Note: He was known for his famous ‘Pandav 1956. She was the 2nd woman to win the award
Goenda’ (five detectives) series. He joined after Swimmer Ann Curtis(1944).
Anandabazar Patrika and also worked for its 6. Japanese novelist, Kenzaburo Oe passed away at
‘Rabibasoryo’ supplement before joining the Indian the age of 88 on March 3, 2023, due to age-related
Railways. He created two more detective series — issues.
‘Detective Ambar Chatterjee’ and ‘Goenda Tatar’. Note: He was known for his pacifist and anti-
3. A former Indian diplomat, Chandrashekhar nuclear views. He was honoured with the Nobel
Dasgupta passed away at the age of 82. Prize in Literature in 1994 for creating "an
Note: He joined the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in imagined world, where life and myth condense to
1962. He served as the ambassador to the European form a disconcerting picture of the human
Union, Belgium, Luxembourg, and China. He was predicament today". His notable works are 'A
honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2008 for his Personal Matter' and 'The Silent Cry'.
work in Indian civil service. 7. Actor Sameer Khakhar, best known for his role in
4. Bollywood actor-director Satish Kaushik passed the iconic television show Nukkad, has died at 71
away at the age of 66 in Delhi due to cardiac arrest. due to respiratory and other medical problems.
Note: Kaushik was an alumnus of the National Note: He rose to fame with his roles in TV shows
School of Drama (NSD) and the Film and Television ‘Nukkad’ and ‘Circus’. He was also featured in
Institute of India (FTII). He was known for his iconic ‘Shrimaan Shrimati’, and ‘Adaalat’. He also played
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 vital roles in films, including ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’, ‘Jai Note: He was the driving force behind the
Ho’, and ‘Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi’. development of modern computing devices. He
8. Jag Mohan Nath (retd), who passed away, was a started working on semiconductors in the 1950s
veteran IAF Wing Commander. and co-founded the Intel Corporation in 1968. He
Note: He was honoured with the Maha Vir Chakra, was best known for coining Moore's law which
for gathering information during his missions which predicted the speed of advances in computer chips
proved vital to Indian air efforts during the wars. that came to explain the exponential improvement
Wing Commander Nath retired in 1970 and later in technology of all kinds.
joined Air India as a commercial pilot. 12. Renowned Malayalam actor ‘Innocent’ Vareed
9. Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamy of Jain mutt, Thekkethala, who passed away at 75.
passed away at 73 due to health-related issues. Note: He joined the film industry in 1972 with the
Note: The seer was a scholar in Sanskrit and movie 'Nrityashala' starring Prem Nazir and
Prakrit. During his tenure as head of the mutt, he Jayabharathi. He acted in over 700 films and was
conducted mahamastakabhisheka, the grand known for his comic roles. He was also a former
anointment of the 57-foot tall Gomateshwara statue Lok Sabha MP. He had won the 2014 Lok Sabha
at Shravanabelagola four times (1981, 1993, 2006, elections as an independent candidate backed by
and 2018). The ceremony is organized once in 12 the Left Democratic Front, from Chalakudy. He also
years. acted in a few Hindi films, notably 'Malamaal
10. Journalist Naidunia Abhay Chhajlani, who passed Weekly'.
away at 88 due to health-related issues, was 13. Artist Vivan Sundaram, who passed away in Delhi
associated with which field. at the age of 79.
Note: He entered the field of journalism in 1955 Note: His work has been showcased in museums
and graduated from the Thomson Foundation, and exhibitions across the world. He worked with
Cardiff (UK). He was awarded the Padma Shri in different media – painting, sculpture, printmaking,
2009 for his outstanding contribution to photography, installation, and video art. He was a
journalism. He also served as the president of the founding member of the Kasauli Art Center, the
Indian Language Newspaper Association (ILNA) Journal of Arts & Ideas, the Safdar Hashmi Memorial
and Indian Newspaper Society (INS). Trust (SAHMAT), and a managing trustee of the
11. Gordon Moore, who passed away, was the creator Sher-Gil Sundaram Arts Foundation.
of Intel.

Important Days

1. World Wildlife Day 2023 is marked annually on preventing and ending armed conflicts, and curbing
March 3 to celebrate the unique wild species and human suffering caused by weapons. This day
create awareness to help conserve them. seeks to promote better awareness and
Note: Theme 2023: Partnerships for Wildlife understanding of disarmament issues among the
Conservation. The 68th session of the UNGA has public, especially young people.
designated March 3 as World Wildlife Day on 4. World Obesity Day is observed on March 4 every
December 20, 2013. Reason: To raise awareness year to promote practical solutions and maintain a
about the conservation of the world's wild flora and healthy weight.
fauna Note: 2023 theme: Changing Perspectives: Let’s
2. The 5th Jan Aushadhi Diwas is being organized on Talk About Obesity
7th March 2023 across India to enhance 5. India celebrates National Security Day on March 4
awareness about the scheme and promote generic every year.
medicines. Note: The purpose of this day is to express
Note: Theme 2023: Jan Aushadhi – Sasti bhi gratitude to our nation’s security forces, which
Acchi bhi. The Ministry of Health in collaboration include the police, paramilitary units, guards,
with the Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices Bureau commandos, army officers, and other units involved
of India (PMBI), and States/UTs. A week-long event in preserving the safety and security of our citizens.
is being organized in different cities all across the 2023 theme: Nurture young minds – Develop
country from March 1-7, 2023. safety culture
3. The International Day for Disarmament and Non- 6. National Safety Day is observed on March 4
Proliferation Awareness was observed on 5 March. annually to promote safe working environment and
Note: Aim: To deepen the global public’s ensure the safety of people in all aspects.
understanding of how disarmament efforts
contribute to enhancing peace and security,
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 Note: This year will mark the onset of the 52nd Note: 2023 Theme: Empowering Consumers
National Safety Day. The theme for 2023 National Through Clean Energy Transitions. This day was
Safety Day is ‘Our Aim – Zero Harm’. first observed on March 15, 1983, which was
7. Zero Discrimination Day is observed on 1 March inspired by US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy's
to celebrate the right of everyone to live a full and US Congress address on March 15, 1962. He
productive life and live it with dignity. addressed the issue of consumer rights and laid
Note: Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a emphasis on its importance.
global movement of solidarity to end all forms of 14. National Vaccination Day is observed every year
discrimination. Theme 2023: Save lives: on March 16 to spread awareness about the
Decriminalise importance of vaccinations for human health.
8. World Civil Defence Day is observed on 1st March Note: The theme for 2023 has not been announced
to raise awareness about the importance of civil by the Ministry of Health. The day was first
defence measures in protecting people. observed in 1995 when the Indian government
Note: The day honours the work of several civil started the Pulse Polio Immunisation program. It
defence organisations. 2023 theme: Uniting the focuses on the relevance of vaccinations in the
world’s leading specialists for the safety and battle against deadly diseases and appreciates the
security of future generations hard work of healthcare professionals.
9. World Seagrass Day is celebrated annually on 1st 15. Global Recycling Day is observed every year on
March to raise awareness about seagrass and its 18th March to help recognise, and celebrate, the
important functions in the marine ecosystem. importance recycling plays in preserving our
Note: The seagrasses are grass-like plants that live precious primary resources and securing the future
close to the sea. They are the only flowering plant to of our planet.
grow in the marine environment. Note: It is a day for the world to come together and
10. International Women's Day is observed every put the planet first and was created in 2018. Theme
year on March 8 to raise awareness about gender of 2023: Creative Innovation.
equality and create a better society free of gender 16. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has
bias. organized the fifth Poshan Pakhwada from 20th
Note: The day celebrates women and addresses March to 3rd April 2023 with various activities
issues such as women's equal rights, violence and nationwide.
abuse against women, and reproductive rights. Note: Theme 2023: "Nutrition for All: Together
2023 Theme: DigitALL: Innovation and Towards a Healthy India". Aim: To raise
technology for gender equality. This theme awareness about the importance of nutrition and
emphasizes the importance of technology in promote healthy eating habits through Jan Andolan
bringing gender issues to light. and Jan Bhagidari. Poshan Abhiyaan was launched
11. No Smoking Day is observed on the second by PM Narendra Modi on 8th March 2018 to
Wednesday of March. improve nutritional outcomes in a holistic manner.
Note: In 2023, No Smoking Day falls on March 8. 17. The International Day of Happiness (World
Aim: To encourage people to quit smoking and raise Happiness Day) is celebrated every year on March
awareness about its harmful effects on their health. 20 to create a kinder and happier world by urging
This year’s theme is: “Stopping smoking people to adopt simple, daily practices to be happy.
improves your brain health". The United Note: Theme 2023: Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be
Kingdom witnessed that people in the country are Kind. On 12th July 2012, the United Nations
getting addicted to smoking. General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed March 20 as
12. The International Day of Women Judges is the International Day of Happiness in its resolution
observed every year on March 10 to honour all- 66/281. This day was first celebrates in 2013.
female judges who have taken the lead in the fight 18. World Oral Health Day is observed globally on
against social injustice. March 20 every year with the primary aim of
Note: This day is being observed with the creating awareness about the importance of oral
campaign “Women in Justice, Women for health.
Justice”. It is a symbolic day for the fight for gender Note: The theme for 2023 is 'Be Proud of Your
equality and the fight against gender-based Mouth,' which is the same theme used for the past
discrimination. In April 2021, UNGA enacted three years. World Oral Health Day was celebrated
resolution 75/274 designating March 10 as the first on September 12, 2007, by the World Dental
International Day of Women Judges. Federation (FDI). It is the birth date of Dr. Charles
13. World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated on Godon (founder of FDI).
March 15 every year to raise awareness about 19. The International Day of Forests is celebrated
consumer rights and promote consumer protection. each year on March 21 to raise awareness about
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 the importance of forests and trees for the survival Note: The theme for 2023 World Tuberculosis
of humanity. Day is "Yes! We can end TB!". On March 24, 1882,
Note: 2023 theme: Forests and health. This day Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of
can be traced back to 1971 when the Food and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that
Agriculture Organization (FAO) established World causes tuberculosis. The elimination of
Forestry Day. In 2011, the United Nations declared Tuberculosis is one of the sustainable development
the years 2011 to 2020 as the International Decade targets to be achieved by 2030 by the world.
of Forests. 23. International Day of Remembrance of the
20. World Water day is celebrated on March 22 every Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave
year to spread awareness about the water crisis all Trade is observed on March 25.
over the world. Note: 2023 theme: Fighting Slavery's Legacy of
Note: UNGA adopted World Water Day in 1992. The Racism Through Transformative Education. It
theme for 2023 is "Accelerating the change to was established in 2007 with the adoption of
solve the water and sanitation crisis." In 2015, General Assembly resolution 62/122.
the world was committed to Sustainable 24. Earth Hour was observed annually on Last
Development Goal (SDG) 6 as part of the 2030 Saturday in March from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
agenda. A promise to provide safely managed water Note: In 2023, this day was observed on March 25
and sanitation by 2030. The report is published on at 8.30 pm local time. It is a worldwide movement
World Water Day every year. organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to
21. World Meteorological Day is observed on March encourage individuals, communities, and businesses
23 every year to celebrate the formation of the to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour.
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1950. It was first started in Sydney, Australia on March
Note: This day was designated to raise awareness 31, 2007, at 7:30 pm local time and has since gained
about various weather-related issues and to popularity and momentum.
encourage people to take action to address them. 25. The international theatre community and ITI
2023 theme: The future of weather, climate, and centers celebrate World Theatre Day on March
water across generations. The theme highlights 27th.
the changes in weather and climatic conditions and Note: The theme for 2023 is "Theatre and a
their effects on Earth. Culture of Peace". The International Theatre
22. World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on Institute founded World Theatre Day in 1961. ITI is
March 24 to educate the world about the impact of a worldwide organization that promotes
tuberculosis, globally. international exchange in theatre arts and promotes
the values of UNESCO.

New Appointments

1. Rajesh Malhotra, a 1989-batch IIS officer, has been 3. Pakistan Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif has
appointed as the Principal Director General of the appointed Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora as the
Press Information Bureau (PIB), with effect from Ambassador-at-Large for Kartarpur Corridor.
March 1, 2023. Note: This appointment is part of efforts to attract
Note: He succeeded Satyendra Prakash, who was Sikh pilgrims from across the world. He hails from
superannuated on February 28, 2023. He was Kartarpur in Narowal. He is also the central general
associated with the ECI as in-charge of media and secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League (N)
communication for 21 years (1996-2017). While minorities wing. This corridor links Gurdwara
Priya Kumar was named the Director General of Darbar Sahib in Pakistan with the Dera Baba Nanak
Doordarshan News (DD News). She will succeed shrine in Gurdaspur district, Punjab, India.
Mayank Agrawal. 4. Hekani Jakhalu of the Nationalist Democratic
2. The ruling party candidate, Bola Tinubu (70) has Progressive Party (NDPP) has created history by
defeated vice president Atiku Abubakar becoming the first woman MLA of the Nagaland
(opposition People’s Democratic Party) to win the Assembly.
disputed presidential election in Nigeria. Note: She was announced the winner from the
Note: He received 37%, Atiku Abubakar polled Dimapur-III constituency in the 2023 Nagaland
29%, and Labour's candidate Peter Obi received Assembly elections. She defeated Azheto Zhimomi
25% of the vote. The opposition parties dismissed of LJP (Ram Vilas) by 1,536 votes. Of 31,874 votes
the poll as a sham and demanded a rerun. He will counted in the constituency, she received 45.16% of
become Nigeria’s fifth elected president since 1999. the votes, just ahead of the LJP (RV)’s Azheto
Zhimomi who received 40.34% votes.
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5. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has Note: Prior to this role, he was an Additional
approved the appointment of a 1988 batch IPS Controller General of Accounts, Public Financial
officer of the Maharashtra cadre, Rashmi Shukla as Management System (PFMS). CGA is ‘the Principal
director general of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Advisor’ on Accounting matters to the Union
till her superannuation (30.06.2024). Government. CGA is also responsible for exchequer
Note: Presently, she is serving as the Additional control and internal audits for the Central
Director General of CRPF. SSB: A border protection Government.
force of India deployed along the borders with 11. National People's Party president, Conrad K
Nepal and Bhutan. SSB Founded: 1963; Sangma, has taken oath as the chief minister of
Headquarters: New Delhi Meghalaya for the second consecutive term.
6. The Vietnam lawmakers have elected the candidate Note: Governor Phagu Chauhan has administered
of the ruling Communist Party, Vo Van Thuong the oath of office to Sangma. The sworn-in
(52) as the new President of the country. ceremony was attended by PM Narendra Modi, BJP
Note: His election comes after the sudden president JP Nadda and home minister Amit Shah.
resignation of his predecessor Nguyen Xuan While Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party
Phuc in January 2023, who the Party blamed for (NDPP)'s Neiphiu Rio will take oath as Nagaland
wrongdoing and violations. A total of 487 out of 488 chief minister.
deputies present at the National Assembly voted for 12. Dr. Manik Saha has been sworn in as the new chief
him. He is the youngest member of the party’s minister of Tripura for the second consecutive
Politburo (the country’s top decision-making body). term.
7. Karnataka Bank has appointed Abhishek Sankar Note: Tripura governor Satyadeo Narain Arya
Bagchi as a chief financial officer (CFO) on a administered the oath to him at Vivekananda
contract basis. Maidan in the capital city of Tripura, Agartala. The
Note: He has replaced Muralidhar Krishna Rao, oath ceremony was attended by PM Modi and Home
whose tenure has been completed on 1 March 2023. Minister Amit Shah. In 2022, he was made the chief
He has over 18 years of work experience in RBI minister after replacing Biplab Deb.
reporting, strategic planning, fund management, 13. Indian-American Arun Subramaniam has been
financial reporting, financial planning & control, confirmed as the first South Asian District Judge
taxation, and budgeting. He was CFO and Head of for the Southern District of New York.
Finance at NSDL Payments Bank since September Note: His nomination was confirmed by Senate
2017. Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer by a vote
8. Hockey India has appointed South African Craig of 58-37. He received his Juris Doctor (J.D) from
Fulton as the new chief coach of the Indian men's Columbia Law School in 2004 and his BA from Case
hockey team. Western Reserve University in 2001. South District
Note: He will succeed Australian Graham Reid New York notably has one of the largest South
who resigned in January 2023. He has nearly 25 Asian-American populations in the country.
years of coaching experience and earned 195 caps 14. Group Captain Shaliza Dhami (Ludhiana) has
over a span of 10 years for South Africa. He also been selected by the Indian Air Force to take over
played Atlanta and Athens Olympic Games. He was a frontline combat unit's command in the
named the Belgium Coach of the Year after he western sector.
guided his club KHC Dragons to the Belgium Hockey Note: She becomes the first woman officer in the
League title in the 2020-21 season. history of the IAF to be given the frontline combat
9. Crown prince, Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah has unit command. Currently, she is posted in the
been re-appointed as the Prime Minister of operations branch of a frontline command
Kuwait. headquarters. She also served as flight commander
Note: This decision came more than a month after of a Chetak unit at the Hindon air base— both firsts
the government resigned due to increased tensions for an IAF woman officer.
with the parliament. Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal 15. Senior Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra
al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who also oversees the duties of Paudel (78) has been elected the third President
the ruling emir has nominated Sheikh Ahmed. of Nepal.
Although political parties are prohibited in Kuwait, Note: He defeated CPN-UML Vice-chair Subash
the legislature has more power than similar bodies Chandra Nembang. He won the presidential
in other Gulf monarchies. elections with 33,802 votes, while his opponent
10. S.S. Dubey, a 1989-batch Indian Civil Accounts received 15,518 votes. The President is elected by
Service (ICAS) officer, has taken charge as the 28th an Electoral College consisting of the members of
Controller General of Accounts (CGA) effective the Federal Parliament and the Provincial
from 6th March 2023.
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 Assembly. The tenure of Bidya Devi Bhandari as Note: She operated Vande Bharat Express from
Nepal's President will be ended on March 12. Solapur to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal
16. Citi group has named Bhanu Vohra as the head of (CSMT) in Maharashtra. She hails from Stara,
Citi Commercial Bank (CCB) business in India. Maharashtra, and become the country's first female
Note: He has replaced Tushar Vikram, who is train driver in 1988.
now the global head of healthcare for CCB. He will 23. The government has appointed two Managing
report to Ashu Khullar (Citi India CEO) and Rajat Directors (MD) of the Life Insurance
Madhok (head of Citi Commercial Bank Asia Pacific). Corporation of India (LIC) - M Jagannath and
17. B Gopkumar (MD & CEO of Axis Securities) has Tablesh Pandey.
been appointed as the new CEO of Axis Mutual Note: M Jagannath took the charge as MD on March
Fund. 13, 2023. Before this, he was working as the Zonal
Note: He would replace Chandresh Nigam who Manager of South Central Zone, Hyderabad. While
has stepped down as the CEO. Nigam's tenure will Tablesh Pandey is an Executive Director at the
be ended April 30, 2023, and Gopkumar will take Central office of LIC in Mumbai and will take charge
over on May 1, 2023, for a 3-year term. Gopkumar on April 1, 2023.
has been in charge of Axis Securities since October 24. The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) appointed
2019. legendary boxer MC Mary Kom and actor Farhan
18. Rohit Jawa has been appointed as the Managing Akhtar as the brand ambassadors of the IBA
Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO) Women’s World Championships 2023.
of Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) with effect from Note: BFI also unveiled the title sponsor, Mahindra
27th June 2023. Automotive for the event. The championship is
Note: He is presently the Chief of Transformation scheduled from March 15 to 26 at the Indira Gandhi
for Unilever and has been appointed for 5-year. He Sports Complex in New Delhi. India is hosting the
will succeed Sanjiv Mehta, who was the part of World Championships for the third time.
Hindustan Unilever since 2013. He will also join 25. The United States of America (USA) Senate
Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE). approved the appointment of Eric Garcetti as the
19. Xi Jinping has secured an unprecedented third next US Ambassador to India.
term as the President of China and has been re- Note: His appointment will now fill in the key
elected as the General Secretary of the Communist diplomatic position that had been vacant for more
Party for five-year. than two years. His nomination was confirmed via a
Note: Nearly 3,000 members of China's rubber- 52-42 vote, which was pending before the US
stamp parliament, National People's Congress Congress since July 2021.
(NPC), voted unanimously for Xi Jinping to be 26. Deepak Mohanty has been appointed as the
president. Apart from him, Zhao Leji has been chairman of the Pension Fund Regulatory and
elected as the new parliament chair and Han Zheng Development Authority (PFRDA).
as the new vice president. Note: He replaced Supratim Bandyopadhyay,
20. Siddhartha Mohanty has been appointed as the whose term ended in Jan 2023. Before this, Mohanty
interim chairman of Life Insurance Corporation was a former executive director of the Reserve Bank
of India (LIC) for three months with effect from of India. He was appointed PFRDA member
March 14, 2023. (Economic) in August 2020 for a period of three
Note: He is presently a managing director and chief years or till attaining the age of 62 years.
executive officer (MD & CEO) of LIC Housing 27. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has appointed
Finance. Currently, Bishnu Charan Patnaik, Ipe Mini, veteran K Krithivasan as MD & CEO designate
Siddhartha Mohanty, and Raj Kumar are the with effect from March 16, 2023.
Managing Director of LIC. Note: He has replaced Rajesh Gopinathan, who
21. RBI has approved the appointment of Sumant resigned recently. Gopinathan completed his six
Kathpalia as MD and CEO of IndusInd Bank for years as CEO and was reappointed as CEO till 2027.
two years from 24 March 2023. He will continue with the company till September
Note: RBI's confirmation comes nearly six months 15, 2023, and provide transition and support to K
after the bank's board of directors had cleared Krithivasan. Before this role, K Krithivasan served
another term for Kathpalia. He has been an MD & as President and Global Head of BFSI Business
CEO of the bank since March 2020. Before this role, Group, TCS.
he served as Head of the Consumer Bank at 28. FSIB has recommended the executive director of
IndusInd Bank. Indian Bank, Ashwani Kumar as an MD of UCO
22. Asia's first female locomotive pilot, Surekha Bank.
Yadav is now operating the Vande Bharat Note: Before Indian Bank, he worked as chief
Express. general manager of the Mumbai Zone of Punjab
15 | P a g e
 National Bank (PNB). He would succeed Soma 34. Siddhartha Mohanty has been selected by the
Sankara Prasad, whose tenure will be completed on Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) as the
May 31, 2023. The final decision on the FSIB new chairman of the Life Insurance Corporation
recommendation would be taken by the ACC of India (LIC).
headed by PM Narendra Modi. Note: As per the guidelines, the chairman is
29. ICICI Bank's executive director Anup Bagchi will selected from the four managing directors of the
take over as the CEO of ICICI Prudential Life company. At present, he is an MD of LIC and was
Insurance on June 19, 2023, subject to regulatory earlier given interim charge as chairman for a
and statutory approvals. period of three months, effective from March 14,
Note: He will replace the present CEO, NS 2023. The final decision will be taken by the
Kannan, who will superannuate on June 18, 2023. Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
He has been working with the ICICI group since 35. Former Brazilian President, Dilma Vana Rousseff
1992 and was appointed as an executive director of has been appointed as the new President of New
ICICI Bank on February 1, 2017. He worked as the Development Bank (NDB), with immediate effect.
Non-Executive Director of ICICI Prudential Life Note: She has replaced Marcus Troyjo. She served
since October 2018. as the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil
30. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed between January 2011 to August 2016. She was
India's Kavilmadam Ramaswami Parvathy as the elected the President of Brazil for two consecutive
United Nations Resident Coordinator in terms. NDB is a multilateral financial institution set
Tajikistan. up by the five BRICS countries.
Note: She has served in leading roles at the World 36. Justice Pritinker Diwaker has been appointed as
Food Programme in Türkey and Afghanistan. She the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court.
has more than 30 years of experience in the Note: Justice Ramesh Sinha of Allahabad has been
development and humanitarian sectors, focusing on appointed as Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High
strategic planning, performance, risk management, Court. Justice K Vinod Chandaran of Kerala High
people management, conflict analysis, and Court as Chief Justice of Patna HC. In February
humanitarian access negotiations. 2023, the SC Collegium recommended several
31. Luxor Writing Instruments Private Limited has judges as Chief Justices of HC.
signed cricketer Virat Kohli as its new brand 37. The 14th Dalai Lama has named an 8-year-old
ambassador. Mongolian boy as the 10th Khalkha Jetsun
Note: He will represent Luxor’s stationery products Dhampa Rinpoche - the third highest rank in
and help the company increase its appeal among Tibetan Buddhism.
young writers. He will also help to enhance the Note: The ceremony was organized in Dharamsala,
market position in the country. Luxor International where the Dalai Lama (87) lives in exile. The eight-
Private Limited is a well-known Indian stationery year-old boy is the son of a university professor and
manufacturer. has a twin brother. In 1995, the Dalai Lama named a
32. The government has approved the appointment of new Panchen Lama, the second most important
Lalit Kumar Gupta as CMD of the Cotton figure in the faith. The boy was arrested by Chinese
Corporation of India (CCI), with effect from the authorities.
date of his assumption of charge of the post for a 38. NDTV has appointed U.K. Sinha and Dipali
period of five years. Goenka as the Independent Directors of NDTV
Note: He was recommended for the post of CMD of for two years effective March 27, 2023.
CCI by the PESB panel. Presently, he is serving as Note: U.K. Sinha has also been designated as the
Director (Finance) in the same organization. He Non-Executive Chairperson of NDTV. U.K. Sinha
joined CCI in August 1994 and has a very long served as the Chairman of SEBI between 2011 and
association with Cotton Corporation of about 25 2017 and also served as the Chairman of UTI Asset
years. Management for 6 years. Dipali Goenka is the Chief
33. Manmeet K Nanda has been appointed as the Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director
Managing Director & CEO (Additional charge) of (MD) of Welspun India Limited.
Invest India. 39. Vice-President, Jagdeep Dhankhar appointed Prof
Note: She is joint secretary in the Department for (Dr.) Renu Cheema Vig as the Vice Chancellor of
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Panjab University for a term of three years.
She has replaced Deepak Bagla, who resigned from Note: She is also the first woman to hold the
the post. Deepak Bagla has served the organization position in the varsity’s 141-year history. She was
for nearly 8 years and contributed to Invest India’s working as the Acting Vice Chancellor of Panjab
development. University since January 16, 2023, after the
resignation of Prof. Raj Kumar amid allegations of
16 | P a g e
 corruption. A three-member selection committee He is also serving as the Chairman of the CII
was formed for recommending names for the Western Region council and co-chairs the CII
position National Committee on Power. He has also
40. The board of Hero Motocorp has appointed contributed to setting up the first international
Niranjan Gupta as the new CEO with effect from incubator in India for promoting innovations in the
May 1, 2023. clean energy space.
Note: He has been elevated from his current 42. The central government has approved the
designation of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and appointment of Justice TS Sivagnanam as Acting
Head-Strategy and Mergers and Acquisitions Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court with
(M&A). He has played an important role in Hero effect from March 31, 2023.
Motocorp’s partnerships with Harley Davidson and Note: He succeeded the current Chief Justice
Zero Motorcycles. While Pawan Munjal will Prakash Shrivastava who retired. He enrolled in
continue as Executive Chairman and Whole-Time the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu in September 1986.
Director on the company's Board. He was appointed as an additional judge of the
41. Tata Power has approved the reappointment of Madras High Court in March 2009. He was
Praveer Sinha as CEO and MD for four years, transferred to the Calcutta High Court in October
effective from May 1, 2023. 2021.
Note: His present tenure as a CEO and MD is
scheduled to conclude on April 30, 2023. Currently,

Important News – India

1. The Ministry of Electronics and Information 4. The Indian govt has approved the signing contract
Technology (MeitY) has launched a digital with Larsen and Toubro Limited for the
platform - Grievance Appellate Committee acquisition of three Cadet Training Ships.
(GAC). Note: The delivery of these indigenously designed,
Note: It was established by Union MoS Electronics developed, and constructed ships are scheduled to
and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar. It is a faceless commence in 2026. These ships can use to train the
dispute-resolution mechanism that would make officer cadets at sea and can be deployed for the
all platforms (big and small) accountable to digital evacuation of people. They can also train cadets
citizens. In accordance with the modified IT from friendly countries to strengthen diplomatic
Regulations, 2021, the IT Ministry announced that relations.
three GACs must be established. 5. Government eMarketplace (GeM) has
2. Union MoS (Independent Charge) Science & commemorated the success of “SWAYATT”
Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh has launched the initiative.
VAIBHAV Fellowship scheme for the Indian Note: This initiative aims to promote Startups,
Diaspora abroad. Women, and Youth Advantage Through
Note: Aim: To improve the research ecosystem of eTransactions (SWAYATT) on GeM. It was
India’s Higher Educational Institutions by established by GeM in February 2019. Goal: To
facilitating academic and research collaborations stimulate the inclusion of diverse categories of
between Indian Institutions and the best sellers and service providers on the portal. It was
institutions in the world. Eligible applicant: achieved by taking aggressive measures to simplify
Should be NRI, PIO, or OCI. Must have obtained their training and registrations.
Ph.D/M.D/M.S degree from a recognized University. 6. NTPC has commissioned India’s first air-cooled
3. Union Minister for fisheries and animal husbandry, condenser at the North Karanpura supercritical
Purushottam Rupala, has launched phase 2 of the thermal plant in Jharkhand.
National Surveillance programme. Note: It would help in water conservation. This
Note: Reason: For aquatic animal diseases and project has been envisaged with Air Cooled
genetic improvement programme. Aim: To help Condenser (ACC) which has almost 1/3rd water
the farmers to identify and report the disease and footprint as compared to a conventional Water
also offer solutions. The government has allocated Cooled Condenser (WCC). NTPC started commercial
33 Crore rupees for a period of three years for the operation of 1st unit of 660 MW at North
implementation of the programme. The crop Karanpura (3X660 MW) on March 1, 2023.
insurance scheme for shrimp-growing farmers was 7. Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and
also launched. Broadcasting Minister, Anurag Singh Thakur has

17 | P a g e
 launched Yuva Utsava - India@2047 from Ropar under Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA).
in Punjab. SWAMIH investment fund is a government-funded
Note: He has also launched the Dashboard of initiative and it is managed by the State Bank
Yuva Utsav. Aim: To promote youth power. In the Group's SBICAP Ventures Limited.
first phase, Yuva Utsav is being organized in 150 13. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has
districts across the country till the 31st of March, prohibited sale of hallmarked gold jewellery or
2023. Youth Affairs Ministry is conducting ‘Yuva gold artefacts without the six-digit alphanumeric
Utsav India @2047’ under its flagship youth hallmark unique identification number (HUID)
organization Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan. after March 31, 2023.
8. Union Home Minister, Amit Shah has launched the Note: Aim: To protect consumers and enhance their
first phase of the Safe City project in Bengaluru, confidence in the purchase of hallmarked gold
Karnataka. jewellery. It would ensure traceability and assure
Note: The project is an initiative to ensure the quality in gold jewellery. The six-digit HUID
safety and security of residents in Bengaluru, number was introduced on July 1, 2021.
especially women. Phase-1 of the project features 14. The 8th Edition of the Raisina Dialogue will be
high-resolution cameras, forensic vans, safety organized from 2-4 March 2023 in New Delhi.
islands, and much more. The city police must Note: The Dialogue will be inaugurated by PM
maintain maximum reach and speed in addressing Narendra Modi and joined by the PM of Italy,
emergency situations while using the right Giorgia Meloni as the Chief Guest. Theme 2023:
technological intervention. Provocation, Uncertainty, Turbulence:
9. During the Indian Seed Congress event, organized Lighthouse in the Tempest. It is a flagship
by the National Seed Association of India, conference of India on geopolitics and geo-strategy.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said It is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in
that the government would soon launch a seed collaboration with Observer Research Foundation.
traceability system. 15. The first Anti-Corruption Working Group
Note: Reason: To ensure the availability of good (ACWG) meeting of the G20 is being organized in
quality seeds to the farmers. This system will help Gurugram, Haryana from 1st - 3rd March 2023.
to curb the pilferage in the seed trade sector. India Note: The ACWG was joined by over 90 delegates
is in the leading position in agriculture but needs to from 20 member countries, 10 Invitee countries,
be self-sufficient in oilseeds and cotton areas. and 9 International Organizations. Aim: To
10. Deakin University (Australia) has become the strengthen International Anti-corruption
first foreign university to receive the mechanisms. G 20 ACWG meetings have one Chair
International Financial Services Centres (Presidency country) and one co-chair country. The
Authority (IFSCA)'s approval to set up an co-chair for the G20 ACWG 2023 is Italy.
International Branch Campus in GIFT City. 16. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra
Note: During Budget 2023-24, Finance Minister Singh Tomar has inaugurated the three-day-long
announced that the World Class Foreign Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela in New Delhi.
Universities and Institutions would be allowed in Note: It is being organized with the theme
GIFT City. The in-principle approval was based on Nutrition, Food, and Environmental Protection
the recommendation of the Committee of Experts with Shree Anna. The event also conducts technical
set up by GIFT City Company Ltd. sessions on contemporary issues in Agriculture,
11. President Droupadi Murmu has launched the ‘Catch including the development of Shree Anna-based
the Rain-2023’ as part of efforts to turn the value chain, Smart Farming Model, Sustainable
conservation of water into a mass campaign in Agriculture, and Farmer Producer Organisations.
the run-up to the monsoon season. 17. India hosted the Quad Foreign Ministers in New
Note: The theme of the 2023 campaign was Delhi on March 3, 2023.
‘Source Sustainability for Drinking Water'. The Note: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar
president also conferred 18 awards under Swachh chaired the meeting. The Foreign Ministers of
Bharat Mission – Grameen, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Australia and Japan and the Secretary of State of the
National Water Mission. US participated in the meeting. It is an opportunity
12. The Special Window for Affordable and Mid- for the Ministers to continue their discussions held
Income Housing (SWAMIH) Investment Fund has at their last meeting in New York in September
completed 20,557 homes worth ₹12,000 crore since 2022.
its inception in 2019. 18. President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 7th
Note: About SWAMIH Investment Fund: It was International Dharma-Dhamma Conference at
launched in November 2019. Aim: To complete Bhopal (MP) on March 3, 2023, and will continue
stressed and brownfield properties registered till March 5, 2023.
18 | P a g e
 Note: Theme: Eastern Humanism for the New that India with CSIR and sister Organizations will
Era. Aim: To bring together religious, political, and provide tangible results in the three priority areas
thought leaders from Dharma-Dhamma traditions of Water, Lithium and Vaccines.
to ponder over building a philosophical framework 24. After having comprehensive talks between Indian
for the emerging new world order. Organized by: PM Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, both
India Foundation in collaboration with Sanchi countries are ready to elevate their bilateral ties to
University of Buddhist-Indic Studies a strategic partnership.
19. Governor of Goa, P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has Note: Both countries signed an MoU on defense
inaugurated the 23rd Commonwealth Law cooperation and announced the establishment of a
Conference in Goa, which is being held from March ‘Startup Bridge’ between India and Italy. Both
5-9, 2023. nations also decided to hold joint exercises and
Note: The event was also attended by Union training courses between the armed forces. Italian
Minister for Law, Kiren Rijiju, and Goa CM PM also attended the 8th Raisina Dialogue in New
Pramod Sawant. Minister also informed that the Delhi.
government had started eCourts phase III to make 25. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has
Indian Judiciary completely paperless. 500 installed a 200-meter-long Bamboo Crash
delegates from 52 countries attended the Barrier on the Vani-Warora Highway in
Conference. It is a platform for open discussions on Maharashtra.
critical issues. Note: The highway connects the Chandrapur and
20. India and Lithuania have agreed to work in the Yavatmal districts of the state. This Bamboo Crash
areas of deep tech startups and forge lasting ties in Barrier has been christened as ‘Bahu Balli’. Bahu
the manufacturing of semiconductor chips. Bali: The bamboo species used in the making of this
Note: Minister Jitendra Singh and Economy and barrier is Bambusa Balcoa. It is treated with
Innovation Vice Minister of Lithuania, Karolis creosote oil and coated with recycled High-Density
Aemaitis discussed ways and means to revive the Poly Ethylene (HDPE).
2010 agreement in the area of science and tech. In 26. Australian PM Anthony Albanese arrived in
2010, a revised Indian counter-draft with a few Ahmedabad, Gujarat on a state visit to India on
modifications was formally submitted to the March 8, 2023.
Lithuanian and its formal response is still awaited. Note: During his four-day tour, he will also visit
21. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) Mumbai and Delhi as well. He will be accorded a
has signed two MoUs with HTMi, and Lamrin Tech ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhawan on
Skill University. 10th March and call on President Droupadi Murmu.
Note: NSDC and HTMi: It aims to provide He will hold the Annual Summit with PM Modi to
certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, and discuss areas of cooperation under the India-
certification courses in hospitality trades to aspiring Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
students. NSDC, HTMi, and LTSU: LTSU as an 27. The Task Force report titled “Production and
implementation partner for the first phase of this Promotion of Organic and Bio-fertilizers with
partnership, NSDC & HTMi envisage similar such Special Focus on Improving Economic Viability of
partnerships as the program gets scaled up. Gaushalas” was released by NITI Aayog.
22. The flagship company of the Godrej Group, Godrej Note: It suggested measures to make Gaushalas
& Boyce has partnered with Renmakch to economically viable, address the problem of stray
collaborate on Machinery & Plant (M&P) projects and abandoned cattle, and utilization of cow dung
for Railways and Metro Rail, offering ‘Made in and cow urine in the agriculture and energy sector.
India' world-class equipment. It provides factual estimate of operating and fixed
Note: With the help of this partnership, Godrej & costs and other Gaushalas issues.
Boyce will be able to offer a complete value chain 28. The Department for Promotion of Industry and
ranging from design to building for the Railways. Internal Trade (DPIIT) has issued operational
The Company has been a trusted partner of the guidelines, that the government will provide
Indian Railways for over 15 years. financial assistance to eligible agencies for
23. India has signed an MoU with Mexico on research, undertaking initiatives for the promotion of
technology, and innovation collaborations in Geographical Indications (GIs) products.
New Delhi. Note: It can be extended to eligible agencies as
Note: Focus: Key technology areas including 100% grants in aid for the promotion of GIs. DPIIT
Aerospace, Electronics, Earth and Ocean Sciences is an arm of the commerce and industry ministry.
and Water, Minerals, Clean Energy, Biotech, and 29. PM Modi has dedicated the 10-lane and 118-km-
Healthcare. Union Minister, Dr. Jitendra Singh has long, Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway in
assured Mexican Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard Karnataka to the nation.
19 | P a g e
 Note: It was constructed at a cost of over 8400 which India has a co-production agreement. It
crore rupees. It will reduce the travel time would benefit mainly small filmmakers keen on
between Bengaluru and Mysuru from three hours shooting movies in that country.
to about 75 minutes and boost connectivity and 35. India and the US inked an initial pact on
socio-economic growth in Karnataka. He also laid increasing private-sector cooperation in the
the foundation stone for the Mysuru-Kushalnagar area of semiconductors.
highway. Note: The two countries would facilitate business
30. The Central Railway has achieved 100% opportunities and develop an ecosystem with a
electrification of its broad gauge network of 3,825 view to reducing their dependency on China and
kilometers. Taiwan. Both sides have agreed to set up a
Note: The CSMT-headquartered zonal railway semiconductor sub-committee, led by the
informed that the 52-kilometer Ausa Road-Latur Department of Commerce for the US side and MeitY
Road stretch in the Solapur division was the last and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for the
non-electrified section and its electrification was Indian side.
completed in March 2023. This move helps in 36. PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 3rd Session
reducing carbon footprints of 5.204 lakh tonnes of the National Platform for Disaster Risk
every year as well as savings of 1670 crore rupees. Reduction (NPDRR) in New Delhi on March 10,
31. The second edition of 'World Food India-2023’ 2023.
will be organized from 3-5 November 2023 at Note: Theme: Building Local Resilience in a
Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Changing Climate. It is jointly organized by the
Note: The event will be organized by the Ministry of Home Ministry, National Disaster Management
Food Processing Industries. During the event, Union Authority, National Disaster Response Force, and
Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras outlined pivotal National Institute of Disaster Management. It will
elements of the WFI-2023 as Millets- ‘Shree Anna- comprise four Plenary Sessions, one Ministerial
The Super Food of India’, Innovation and Session, and eight Thematic Sessions.
Sustainability ‘Green Food’, White Revolution 2.0, 37. The Election Commission of India (ECI) hosted
making India an export hub and focus on the 3rd International Conference in virtual
technology and digitisation. format on 09 March 2023.
32. The Ministry of Jal Shakti had constituted a Note: Theme: Inclusive Elections and Elections
Committee to identify 75 Water Heritage Integrity. ECI is leading the Cohort on Elections
Structure (WHS) in reference to 75 years of India's Integrity which was established as a follow-up to
Independence. the ‘Summit for Democracy’ held virtually in
Note: A total of 421 nominations were received and December 2021. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv
out of which, Committee has recommended 75 Kumar and Election Commissioners Anup Chandra
water heritage structures. It includes 5 WHS from Pandey and Arun Goel addressed the Conference.
Gujarat and 4 WHS from Andhra Pradesh. At 38. Misra Centre for Financial Markets and
present, there is no central fund Economy (MCFME) at the Indian Institute of
allocated/disbursed for the maintenance of these Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), along with Centre
sites. for Advanced Financial Research and Learning
33. India and Sweden signed a Memorandum of (CAFRAL) has organized 'International Research
Cooperation (MoC) to strengthen cooperation and Conference on FinTech: Innovation, Inclusion,
promote research networking between research and Regulation'.
institutions from both countries. Note: It is a two-day conference for bringing top
Note: Aim: To promote mobility funding researchers, practitioners, and regulators from
opportunities in both countries. It facilitates across the globe together to deliberate on key issues
academic cooperation through mobility activities as of FinTech.
well as through seminars, workshops, and 39. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has
conferences. This partnership will take forward inaugurated two-day G20 Flower Festival has been
joint Science and Technology efforts particularly in being organized at Delhi’s Connaught Place for
smart cities, AI, and many more. highlighting the vibrancy of G20 members and guest
34. India and Australia signed an audio-visual co- countries.
production agreement to offer filmmakers Note: G20 countries like Japan, Singapore, and the
financial incentives amounting to up to 30% of the Netherlands are participating in it. Flower plants of
expenditure incurred in the respective countries. different colours and varieties are being displayed
Note: The agreement was signed by I&B Secretary in different forms and installations to showcase the
Apurva Chandra and Australian High Commissioner diversity of the Indian subcontinent.
Barry O'Farrell. Australia is the 16th country with
20 | P a g e
40. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Note: This program was organized by Bangalore
Election Commissioners Anup Chandra Pandey and Agricultural University in collaboration with the
Arun Goel has inaugurated Vote Fest 2023 to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
create awareness on the election process in It was participated by students from 60 State
Bengaluru. Agricultural Universities/Deemed
Note: They also inaugurated ‘Electhon 2023’, which Universities/Central Universities participated. Aim:
is a 30-hour hackathon for securing the electoral To integrate Indian agriculture by connecting
future. The fest seeks people's suggestions on various Indian cultures
improving voter turnout, ensuring the registration 46. MoS (I/C) Earth Sciences Dr. Jitendra Singh has
of new voters, and how to ensure the involvement informed in Lok Sabha that REACHOUT is being
of urban youth in the democratic process. implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences
41. Arjun Ram Meghwal has inaugurated the for capacity building.
exhibition titled ‘Women and Nation Building: Note: REACHOUT: Research, Education, and
1857 to the Republic' at National Archives of Training Outreach. It is an umbrella scheme of the
India, New Delhi on 133rd Foundation Day of following six sub-schemes: R&D in Earth System
National Archives of India. Science; International Training; Centre for
Note: The exhibition highlights the contributions of Operational Oceanography; Program for
women in nation building and freedom struggle Development of Skilled manpower in Earth System
from 1857 in an interesting manner like Durgawati Sciences; Outreach and awareness; KRCNet; BCWC
Devi and Kasturba Gandhi. It also presents a 47. Union Minister Fisheries, Animal Husbandry &
selection of original documents drawn from the Dairying, Parshottam Rupala unveiled the
attics of the archival repository. department’s annual publication, the ‘Basic
42. Union Minister Narayan Rane launched the MSME Animal Husbandry Statistics 2022’.
Competitive (LEAN) Scheme at the NDMC Note: Total milk production in the country
Convention Centre, Delhi. during 2021-22 is 221.06 million tonnes. Top 5
Note: Aim: To provide a roadmap to global Producing States: Milk: Rajasthan (15.05%), UP
competitiveness for the MSMEs of India. Under (14.93%), MP (8.06%), Gujarat (7.56%) and Andhra
the scheme, MSMEs will implement LEAN Pradesh (6.97%). Egg: Andhra Pradesh (20.41%),
manufacturing tools like 5S, Kaizen, KANBAN, visual TN (16.08%), Telangana (12.86%), WB (8.84%) and
workplace, and Poka Yoka. MSMEs can reduce Karnataka (6.38%)
wastages substantially, increase productivity, 48. Union Minister of Renewable Energy & Power, R. K.
improve quality, work safely, expand their markets, Singh informed in the Lok Sabha, that Solar
and finally become competitive and profitable. projects of an aggregate capacity of 64,380 MW
43. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) - NITI Aayog have been installed in the country (as of
launched ATL Sarthi. 28.02.2023).
Note: It is a comprehensive self-monitoring Note: India's solar capacity has increased from
framework to strengthen the ecosystem of Atal 21,651 MW to 64,380 MW, an increase of 197% in
Tinkering Labs. Atal Innovation Mission has the last 5 years. The Government has set a target of
established Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in achieving 500 GW of installed capacity from non-
schools to foster curiosity, creativity, and fossil fuels (including around 270 GW of solar
imagination in young minds. ATL Sarthi is a capacity) by 2030.
charioteer and will enable the Atal Tinkering Labs 49. Japan's PM, Kishida Fumio will be on a two-day
to be efficient and effective. visit to India from 20th March 2023.
44. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has Note: He will hold talks with PM Modi and also hold
launched the ‘Learning Science via Standards’ discussions on regional issues of mutual interest
series for students. and priorities for their respective Presidencies of
Note: Focus: Aimed to use scientific concepts, the G7 and G20. Japan is the fifth largest investor in
principles, and laws to help students understand India. The bilateral trade stood at 20.75 billion
their practical applications in manufacturing, dollars in 2022 (largest ever). Defense and security
functioning, and testing of quality characteristics of cooperation has emerged as one of the most
different products. This series is in a continuum important pillars of the Special Strategic
with an earlier BIS initiative under which 50. Mos (IC) for MoSPI, Rao Inderjit Singh released the
‘Standards Clubs’ are being established in Women and Men in India 2022 report.
educational institutions. Note: India’s sex ratio is expected to improve
45. Union Minister of Agriculture Narendra Singh from 943 in 2011 to 952 by 2036. The Labor
Tomar has inaugurated a 5-day cultural Force Participation Rate (above 15 years) has been
program“AgriUnifest” in Bengaluru. increasing since 2017-2018. However, the rate was
21 | P a g e
 77.2% for males and only 32.8% for females in 56. The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and
2021-22. It has also highlighted the gender the Ministry of Ayush signed an MoU for the
disparity in wages, with men in rural areas earning skilling of rural youth and empowering women.
more than women in urban areas. Note: The MoU is valid for three years. Under this
51. According to the US Department of Energy's MoU, the training program shall be funded as per
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, India can Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya
achieve energy independence by its 100th year Yojana (DDU-GKY) cost norms. National Rural
of independence in 2047. Livelihoods Mission and DDU-GKY will
Note: Study title: Pathways to Atmanirbhar Bharat. communicate to States/UTs for enlisting willing
It has been suggested that achieving this goal would SHG members and rural poor youth
result in significant economic, environmental, and 57. GAIL (India) has signed MoU with Shell Energy
energy benefits for India, including USD 2.5 trillion India Private Ltd to explore prospects of importing
in consumer savings by 2047. It also reduces fossil and handling of ethane and other hydrocarbons.
fuel import expenditure by 90% ($240 billion) Note: It is primarily used as petrochemical
annually. feedstock and is separated from the other
52. According to the report, published GCEW, revealed components of natural gas in most well-developed
that India will face a reduction of over 16% in gas fields. It will be transported further through
food supply due to water and heat stress in 14,830 km of natural gas pipelines to different
2050. demand centres. Ethane is mainly used to produce
Note: However, the report placed China at the ethylene, which is used for other products.
top, where food supply would be reduced by 22.4%, 58. V.V. Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI)
followed by South America by 19.4%. The water signs MoU with Associated Chambers of
supply availability in India is between 1100-1197 Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) to
billion cubic meters (bcm). In contrast, the demand promote professional and organizational
is expected to grow from 550-710 bcm in 2010 to development in labour and employment-related
900-1,400 bcm in 2050. areas that benefit stakeholders in the sector.
53. The 3rd annual edition of International SME Note: It includes policy advocacy, with the
Convention 2023 (ISC) is to be organized from organizations working together to advocate for
19th to 21st March 2023 in New Delhi. policies.
Note: It is jointly organized by Ministry of MSME 59. The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry
& Ministry of External Affairs, India SME Forum, has signed an MoU with the World Food
along with Govt. of Madhya Pradesh as a Key State Programme (WFP) during the Global Millets
Partner and Govt. of Uttar Pradesh as Associate (Shree Anna) Conference.
State Partner. International partner: International Note: The MoU between WFP and the Government
Network for SMEs and World Union of Small and of India for cooperation between 2023 and 2027
Medium Enterprises was signed in the presence of Agriculture Minister
54. The Civil20 India (C-20) Inception meeting will be Tomar. The WFP is working towards promoting
hosted by Orange City, Nagpur, Maharashtra food self-sufficiency and supporting governmental
from 20th to 21st March 2023. and global efforts to ensure long-term solutions to
Note: It is one of the empowered groups, which the challenge of hunger.
provides a platform for Civil Society Organisations 60. India and Japan signed two documents on the
to voice the people’s aspirations to the world sidelines of the bilateral talks between PM Modi and
leaders in G20. The inaugural ceremony will be Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.
attended by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi and Note: Renewal of Memorandum of Cooperation in
Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandmayi. Focus the Japanese language. Exchange of notes on JICA
issues: Health, Lifestyle for Environment, Art and loan for 300 billion Yen on Mumbai-Ahmedabad
Crafts high-speed railway project. PM Kishida formally
55. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has invited PM Modi to G7 Hiroshima Summit. PM Modi
virtually addressed the Global Conference on also urged the Japanese PM to declare 2024 as the
Digital Health – Taking Universal Health year of Youth Exchanges between the two countries.
Coverage to the Last Citizen. 61. NGEL (a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited)
Note: This conference is a co-branded event under has signed a Joint Venture Agreement with IOCL for
India’s G20 Presidency organized by WHO – South- setting up renewable energy projects to meet
East Asia Region in collaboration with the Ministry Round the Clock power requirement of IOCL
of Health & Family Welfare. The Indian government Refineries.
aims to launch a global initiative on digital health as Note: NGEL has set a target of building a
an institutional framework. renewable generation portfolio of 60 GW over
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 the next decade to aggressively pursue its green 67. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has
energy business. approved Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Raw
62. Government has announced the sites for setting up Jute at 5,050 rupees per quintal for 2023-24.
of 7 PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Note: The approval is based on the Commission
Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks for the Textile for Agricultural Costs and Prices
industry in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Gujarat, recommendations. This would ensure a return of
Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and 63.20% over the all-India weighted average cost of
Maharashtra. production. The Jute Corporation of India will
Note: PM MITRA will offer the opportunity to create continue as Central Government Nodal Agency to
an Integrated Textiles Value Chain right from undertake Price Support Operations and the losses
spinning, weaving, processing/dyeing and printing incurred, if any.
to garment manufacturing etc. at one location and 68. FM Nirmala Sitharaman has announced the
will reduce logistics cost of the Industry. government has established a committee to review
63. According to a Parliamentary Standing Committee the New Pension System (NPS), headed by TV
report, the groundwater levels in Delhi, Somanathan.
Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and 20 other cities Note: From January 2004, the government has
dipped by more than 20 meters from 2017 to opted to move to NPS for all new recruits, with the
2020. government employees contributing 10% of their
Note: While Faridabad (Haryana) becomes 100% salary towards pension and the govt making a
dependent on groundwater use and cities like matching contribution. Recently, Rajasthan,
Ghaziabad (UP) are on the verge of becoming totally Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, HP, and Punjab have
dependent on it. The total annual extractable decided to opt out of NPS.
groundwater resource of 398 billion cubic meters 69. The first Urban Climate Film Festival under U20
(BCM) in the country till 2020, 245 BCM was being engagement events was organized by National
extracted. Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) from 24-26
64. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar March 2023.
launched a DigiClaim, under the ambit of Pradhan Note: A curated selection of 11 films from nine
Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for claim disbursal countries was showcased in the festival to create
through National Crop Insurance Portal. wider awareness of the impact of climate change on
Note: With the DigiClaim Module, insurance claims life in cities. The festival was organized with
of over 1,260 crore rupees have been disbursed to support from the Ministry of Housing and Urban
insured farmers of six states on March 23, 2023. Affairs, the French Development Agency, and the
The states are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal European Union.
Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. 70. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate
65. BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover launched a Change, Bhupender Yadav launched Aravalli Green
cricket-focused fantasy sports app named CrickPe. Wall Project to green the 5 km buffer area
Note: The launch comes ahead of the marquee around the Aravalli Hill Range in four states.
Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament that is set Note: He also unveiled the National Action Plan
to begin on March 31, 2023. This sports app can be to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation
available on the Google Play store and Apple store. Through Forestry Interventions and a FAQ on
He has raised about $4 million in seed funding for Agro-forestry published by the Indian Council of
his venture Third Unicorn Pvt Ltd. Notably, the Forestry Research and Education.
cricket app has been launched to take on rivals like 71. The Government has constituted a Committee to
Dream11, MPL, and My11Circle. monitor the stock of Tur held by entities such as
66. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has importers, millers, stockists, and traders in close
extended the subsidy of 200 rupees per LPG coordination with the state governments.
cylinder for a period of one year, under the PM Note: The decision has come against the backdrop
Ujjwala Yojana. of reports of market players not releasing stocks
Note: It will be provided to the Ujjwala Yojana despite the regular arrival of imports in good
beneficiaries for up to 12 refills per year. The total quantities. The Committee has been constituted
expenditure on it in 2022-23 will be 6,100 crore under the chairmanship of Additional Secretary
rupees and in 2023-24 will be 7,680 crore rupees. Nidhi Khare.
The government launched PM Ujjwala Yojana in 72. Union Minister for Rural Development, Giriraj Singh
May 2016 to provide deposit-free LPG connections has onboarded 19 Captive Employers under Deen
to women of poor households. Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana
(DDU-GKY).

23 | P a g e
 Note: Captive employers will train Rural Poor PAHCHAN card is an initiative to issue Aadhar
Youth and employ trained youth in their link identity cards to handicrafts artisans under
company or subsidiary. MoRD and the Captive this initiative. The Union MoS for Textiles, Darshana
Employers also signed MoU towards this aim. DDU- Jardosh informed in Lok Sabha.
GKY is a placement-linked skilling program of the 78. NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd has signed an MoU
Ministry of Rural Development under the aegis of with Indian Army for setting up Green Hydrogen
the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM). Projects in its establishments on Build, Own, and
73. The Union government has sanctioned 800 crore Operate (BOO) model.
rupees under the Faster Adoption and Note: Aim: To reduce complex logistics and
Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) dependence on fossil fuels and to accelerate
Scheme Phase -2 for setting up 7432 public fast decarbonization. NTPC REL CEO, Mohit Bhargava
charging stations across the country. and Lt. General Rajinder Dewan signed MoU. NTPC
Note: At present, there are about 6,586 charging REL will also design, develop, and install renewable
stations across the country. This move will boost energy projects for the Indian Army. NTPC REL is a
the electric vehicle ecosystem in India and wholly subsidiary of NTPC.
encourage more people to switch to cleaner modes 79. Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
of transportation. The government has formulated (SJE) signed an MoU with the Sant Nirankari
FAME India Scheme in 2015. Mandal for spreading the message of Nasha Mukt
74. The Ministry of Education has shortlisted around Bharat Abhiyaan among the youth, women, and
9,000 schools across the country for its flagship students.
Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India (PM Note: Aim: To create awareness about the ill effects
SHRI). of substance abuse among the youth, with a focus
Note: The institutions were selected based on six on higher education institutes, and university
broad parameters including curriculum, access and campuses. It was signed in the presence of Minister
infrastructure, human resources, and gender equity for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra
were assessed. PM Modi announced this scheme on Kumar and MoS, SJE Pratima Bhoumik.
5th September 2022. It is a Centrally Sponsored 80. Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)
Scheme. Aim: To upgrade and develop around and the Society for Electronic Transactions and
14,500 schools Security (SETS) collaborated to do joint R&D
75. Ministry of Electronics and Information leading for the development of tools and products
Technology (MeitY) has constituted a nine- in deep tech domains.
member task force to make India a ‘product Note: Both organizations will also conduct joint
developer and manufacturing nation’. research on emerging tech areas like Cyber
Note: It will be chaired by the additional Security, IoT Security, etc. Aim: To improve self-
secretary (MeitY), Bhuvnesh Kumar with the reliance on information and cyber security and to
joint secretary (electronics), Amitesh Kumar Sinha reduce dependence on tools developed outside the
as the member convenor. This is an effort to country.
position itself as an alternative to the likes of China 81. PM Modi addressed the One World TB Summit
and Vietnam. 2023 in Varanasi on the occasion of World
76. According to the annual Periodic Labour Force Tuberculosis Day (March 24).
Survey (PLFS) Report 2021-22, Agriculture has Note: Organized by: Health and Family Welfare
the highest estimated percentage distribution of Ministry and Stop TB Partnership. In March 2018,
female workers. the PM called on India to achieve TB-related SDG
Note: Nearly 63% of workers are female in the targets by 2025. The PM also awarded select
agriculture sector at the pan-India level, followed States/UTs and districts for their progress toward
by 11.2% in the manufacturing sector. The ending TB. State level: Karnataka and J&K. District
government has incorporated several protective level: Nilgiris, Pulwama, and Anantnag
provisions in the labor laws for equal opportunity 82. The second G20 Infrastructure Working Group
and a congenial work environment for women (IWG) meeting is being organized in
workers. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from March 28-
77. Ministry of Textiles has issued PAHCHAN cards to 29, 2023.
30.53 lakhs handicrafts artisans and 30.90 lakhs Note: It is being conducted under the theme of
handloom weavers across the country under the Financing Cities of Tomorrow: Inclusive,
PAHCHAN initiative. Resilient, and Sustainable. The conference is
Note: The cardholder's details are available on the attended by 63 representatives of G-20 countries
website of the Office of the Development and other invited organizations, ADB and World
Commissioner of Handicraft and Handloom. Bank. The first G-20 IWG summit was held in
24 | P a g e
 Pune (Maharashtra) under the presidency of 85. The First G20 Disaster Risk Reduction WGM
India. under India’s G20 Presidency is being held in
83. The first G20 Trade and Investment Working Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 30th March to 1st April
Group (TIWG) Meeting under India’s G20 2023.
Presidency is being organized in Mumbai Note: The meeting was inaugurated by Principal
(Maharashtra) from March 28− 30, 2023. Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr. P K Mishra
Note: The event was attended by 100 delegates and MoS for Communications Devusinh
from G20 member countries, invitee countries, Chauhan. Five priority areas have been identified
regional groupings, and international organizations. for the meeting which include an early warning for
On the first day, an International Conference will be all, resilient infrastructure, and improving the
held on 'Trade Finance’. On the second day, the National system for financing Disaster Risk
focus will be on making trade work for growth and Reduction.
prosperity. 86. Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board
84. India hosted a meeting of National Security approved a unified tariff for a natural gas
Advisors (NSA)- SCO and top officials on March 29, pipeline of Rs 73.93 per metric million British
2023. thermal units (MMBtu), effective from April 1,
Note: National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval 2023.
addressed the meeting. Pakistan and China Note: Aim: To boost the consumption of natural gas
attended the SCO-NSA meeting virtually. SCO is an and increase its share in India’s energy basket from
intergovernmental organization established in 6.2% to 15% by 2030. Three zones for unified
2001. Members: India, China, Kazakhstan, tariff: 1st: Up to the distance of 300 km from the
Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and source. 2nd: More than 300 km and up to 1,200 km.
Uzbekistan. 3rd: Remaining length of the grid system.

Important News – State

1. A Kerala temple, Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna district-level awards has been raised from Rs
Temple (Thrissur district), has introduced a life- 5,000 to Rs 25,000.
size motorized model of an elephant for 4. Odisha's CM, Naveen Patnaik has unveiled the
performing rituals such as carrying processional iconic Dakota aircraft of legendary leader Biju
deities. Patnaik for public viewing at the Bhubaneswar
Note: The 11-foot-tall robotic elephant, weighing Airport.
800 kg and made of an iron frame and rubber Note: It was unveiled on the 107th birth
coating, was donated by People for Ethical anniversary of the former CM of Odisha. It was
Treatment of Animals (PETA) India. Film actor brought from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
Parvathy Thiruvothu joined hands with PETA in International Airport, Kolkata to Bhubaneswar on
donating the robotic elephant, which cost 5 lakh January 18, 2023. A 10-member team of Aerospace
rupees. Research Development required has dismantled the
2. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan aircraft and packed it in proper shape for public
announced that Mauganj, a tehsil of Rewa district, viewing
will be the 53rd district of state. 5. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and four Sikkim
Note: It will be developed by joining four tehsils ministers released a unique cover of the
of Rewa district. Four tehsils: Mauganj, Hanumana, Department of Posts, 'Go Green, Go Organic' for
Nai Garhi, and Deotalab. Residents of Mauganj were Sikkim.
raising the demand for a separate district for a long Note: The special cover is a testament to the state's
time. He has also released 605 crore in the bank achievements in organic farming and progress and a
accounts of 27,000 beneficiaries of the Sambal reminder of the importance of sustainable
Yojana in financial distribution program. development for the entire country. Sikkim is the
3. Presiding over a state-level event for International first state in the world to get recognized as an
Women's Day (8th March), Himachal Pradesh CM Organic state by the World Book of Records
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a nearly (London).
five-fold increase in the monetary award under 6. The Yaoshang festival has begun in Manipur on
the Himachal Pradesh Mahila Vikas Protsahan March 7, 2023, and will continue for five days.
Puraskar. Note: The festival is celebrated by the Meetei who
Note: The monetary award for the Mahila Vikas are predominantly Hindu and it is celebrated at the
Protsahan Puraskar has been hiked to Rs 1 lakh same time as Holi. However, during the Yaoshang
from the current Rs 21,000. The allowance for festival, apart from playing with colour, the festival
25 | P a g e
 also witnessed a number of cultural and religious 12. A new initiative called 'beggar-free city' has been
activities for five days. The Manipur Governor and started in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
CM conveyed warm greetings to the people of Note: Commissioner of Police of Nagpur City,
Manipur. Amitesh Kumar informed that notification of 144
7. Maharashtra Deputy CM, Devendra Fadanvis has CrPC has been issued in this regard. Notices have
informed that the state government will introduce been served to people. The Nagpur police will
the fourth women's policy. strictly enforce this and begging will not be allowed
Note: Aim: To give more opportunities to women. in public places. This is the joint venture of
State Government initiative: To introduce a Nagpur City police and Nagpur Municipal
rehabilitation scheme for those above 18 years old Corporation’s (NMC) social welfare department.
girls from the orphanage. To start a Hirkani 13. Sweden India Business Council (SIBC) has signed
Room(Kaksha) for breastfeeding mothers at the an MoU with the Maharashtra government for
police station. Govt also proposed to provide equal cooperation in waste to energy, sustainable
and dignified positions to women in all sectors. infrastructure & transportation, defense
8. Directorate of Rural Sanitation, Jammu and manufacturing, and investment.
Kashmir has launched Swachh Bharat Mission Note: The MoU was signed between SIBC and
Grameen Internship-2023 for engaging the youth Maharashtra Industrial Development
enrolled in colleges and universities, as well as Corporation (MIDC) in the presence of
research scholars, who are interested in working in Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra
rural areas. Fadnavis. Both have also agreed to work together to
Note: It will provide an opportunity for young explore and facilitate funding opportunities.
minds to gain valuable experience, develop their 14. Punjab government has cancelled 813-gun
skills, and contribute meaningfully towards the licenses in the state to clamp down on the gun
implementation of the SBM (G) Phase II. culture, along with a review of all licenses issued
9. Uttarakhand has become India's first state to within 3 months.
launch the Resham Keet Bima scheme for Note: The new rule will also bar the issuance of
sericulturists. new licenses for the next 3 months, except in
Note: In the first phase of this pilot project, 200 extraordinary circumstances. The ban is on carrying
sericulturists from five blocks of four districts -- and displaying weapons in public functions,
Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, and religious places, marriage ceremonies, or any other
Nainital -- have been insured from the ill effects of events in Punjab.
climate change, scarcity of water, and other 15. An Agri Legal Aid Clinic has been inaugurated in
hazards. This scheme will be run under Saral the Jangaon District of Telangana to provide
Krishi Beema. benefits to the farmer community.
10. According to the Landslide Atlas report, prepared Note: It was inaugurated by Supreme Court
by the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) of Judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian. It is a Joint
ISRO, the Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand initiative of Telangana Legal Services Authority
has the maximum exposure to landslide risk in with technical support from NALSAR University of
the country. Law, and an NGO, Legal Empowerment and
Note: Tehri district (Uttarakhand) ranked second Assistance for Farmers Society. Aim: To educate
on the list of landslide-prone districts. As per the farmers on various agricultural legislations, Welfare
State Emergency Operation Centre data, Schemes, rights etc.
Uttarakhand reported 253 landslides between 2018 16. J&K LG, Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stone for a
and 2021. Kerala's Thrissur and Palakkad districts ₹250-crore mega shopping mall at Srinagar’s
ranked 3rd and 5th respectively. Sempora area.
11. Odisha's state cabinet led by CM Naveen Patnaik Note: This shopping mall will be constructed by
has announced a new livelihood and income- Dubai-based Emaar Group. It is the first “foreign
generating scheme for the tribal people with an direct investment” in the Union territory. It will be
outlay of Rs 500 crore for three years (2023-24 constructed over an area of 10 lakh sq. ft. and is
to 2025-26). expected to be completed by 2026.
Note: The livelihood cluster development initiative 17. Bihar observed its 111th foundation day on
will be implemented by the ST & SC Development, March 22, 2023.
Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare dept under Note: On this day, the state of Bihar was carved out
Mukhya Mantri Janajati Jeebika Mission. The state- from the Bengal presidency in 1912. The theme of
funded scheme will be implemented in 119 tribal the 2023 event is "Yuva Shakti Bihar ki Pragati".
sub-plan (TSP) blocks. This year, a number of events are being organized
in Gandhi Maidan, Patna from March 22 to 24, 2023.
26 | P a g e
 Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief project would receive house service connections in
Minister Nitish Kumar have congratulated people these five cities
on the occasion of Bihar Divas. 20. The Principal Bench of the National Green
18. Tamil Nadu has notified Thanthai Periyar Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has imposed a
Wildlife Sanctuary as the 18th wildlife sanctuary penalty of ₹10 crore on the Kerala government
in the state. for its failure to check the indiscriminate
Note: It is spread over 80,567 hectares in the forest pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes.
areas of Anthiyur and Gobichettipalayam taluks Note: The Bench was led by its chairperson
in Erode district. It is close to Malai Mahadeshwara Adarsh Kumar Goel. The penalty of ₹10 crore had
wildlife sanctuary, BRT Wildlife Sanctuary, and to be utilized for conservation/restoration
Cauvery wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka. It also acts measures by preparing an action plan to be
as a connecting point between Nilgiris Biosphere preferably executed within six months.
Reserve and Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary. 21. Rajasthan becomes the first state in India to pass
19. Himachal Pradesh signed an MoU with the French the 'Right to Health (RTH) Bill'.
Development Agency Agence Francaise de Note: Under this bill, private hospitals will not be
Development (AFD) for Rs 817.12 crore project. able to charge emergency patients and will be
Note: Objective: To develop better sewerage compensated by the state. Free healthcare services
facilities in five towns of the state - Manali, including diagnostics, drugs, emergency transport,
Bilaspur, Palampur, Nahan and Karsog. It also emergency care, and procedure will be provided at
aims to improve drinking water supply in Manali public institutions. In the case of medico-legal
and Palampur towns. The beneficiaries of the nature, no private or public hospital can delay
treatment on grounds of police clearance.

Important News – World

1. According to the WHO Global Report on Sodium 4. TIME Magazine has released its annual list of the
Intake Reduction, two million deaths can be 50 greatest places in the world for 2023.
prevented by 2025 and seven million by 2030 if Note: Among the chosen destinations are two
policies recommended by WHO to reduce sodium locations from India: Ladakh and Mayurbhanj.
intake are implemented. Ladakh is a high-altitude region, which is famous for
Note: The world is off-track to achieve its global its breathtaking landscapes, crystal-clear lakes, and
target of reducing sodium intake by 30% by 2025. snow-capped mountains. On the other hand,
The global average salt intake is estimated to be Mayurbhanj is a lesser-known destination located
10.8 grams per day (more than double the WHO in the eastern state of Odisha. The list also includes
recommendation of fewer than 5 grams of salt per Willamette Valley; Río Grande etc.
day (one teaspoon)). 5. According to the tenth Global Terrorism Index
2. The US has formally recognized the McMahon Line (GTI) report, Afghanistan remains the country
as the international boundary between India’s most impacted by terrorism for the fourth
Arunachal Pradesh and China. consecutive year, despite the attacks and deaths
Note: The US has also rejected Beijing’s claim that falling by 75% and 58%, respectively.
the northeastern state falls under Chinese Note: Afghanistan followed by Burkina Faso,
territory. A bipartisan resolution acknowledged Somalia, Mali, and Syria. Pakistan has climbed four
Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India. The spots to rank sixth on the index. While India
resolution, titled ‘Reaffirming the state of Arunachal ranked 13th on the index. South Asia remains the
Pradesh as Indian territory and condemning the region with the worst average GTI score.
People’s Republic of China’s provocations in South 6. According to the World Happiness Report 2023,
Asia'. published by the UN Sustainable Development
3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh Solutions Network, India ranked 125 based on
counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated the the various parameters of happiness.
India-Bangladesh friendship diesel pipeline. Note: India’s neighboring countries such as Nepal,
Note: The foundation stone for the construction of China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have a higher
this pipeline was laid in September 2018. Since ranking than India. Finland tops the ranking for the
2015, Numaligarh Refinery Limited has been sixth consecutive year with a score of 7.8 followed
supplying petroleum products to Bangladesh. IBFP by Denmark and Iceland. Out of the 137 countries,
is the first cross-border energy pipeline between Afghanistan has ranked last.
India and Bangladesh with a capacity to transport 1 7. UAE Food Bank launched an initiative to
MMTPA of High-Speed Diesel to Bangladesh. distribute three million meals and food parcels
27 | P a g e
 to disadvantaged individuals and families during University ranking: Engineering and Technology,
Ramadan. Arts and Humanities, Life Sciences and Medicine,
Note: Aim: To raise public awareness regarding the Natural Science and Social Sciences and
crucial goal of achieving zero food waste. For this Management. IIT Delhi’s Electrical engineering
initiative, the organization has partnered with ranked 49 and IIT Bombay's mathematics ranked
Ne’ma -the national initiative to reduce food loss 92.
and wastage, to enhance community awareness, 11. According to the 2023 M3M Hurun Global Rich
education, and empowerment in making better List, released by Hurun India and M3M India,
decisions regarding food consumption. Mukesh Ambani is the only Indian in the world's
8. UAE has launched its National Genome Strategy to top 10 billionaires list (rank 9).
provide a comprehensive legislative and Note: The list is topped by Elon Musk, followed by
governance framework to support the development Jeff Bezos, Bernard Arnault, Bill Gates, Warren
and implementation of genomic programs. Buffett, and Sergey Brin. Indian billionaires list:
Note: The strategy will last ten years and will focus Gautam Adani and family (Rank 23); Cyrus S
on delivering public health priorities while Poonawalla (Rank 46); Shiv Nadar and family (Rank
improving the country's well-being. The Emirates 50); Lakshmi N Mittal (Rank 76)
Genome Council will oversee the National Genome 12. According to UN World Water Development
Strategy. It will advance the nation's preventive and Report 2023, About 26% of the world's
personalized healthcare agenda. population does not have safe drinking water,
9. According to a Kroll report 'Celebrity Brand and 46% lack access to safely managed sanitation.
Valuation Report 2022: Beyond the Mainstream', Note: Between 2-3 billion, people experience
with a brand value of $181.7 million, actor water shortages for at least 1 month per year.
Ranveer Singh is India's most valued celebrity of This poses severe risks to livelihoods and access to
2022. electricity. The global urban population facing
Note: He surpassed cricketer Virat Kohli, who water scarcity is projected to double from 930
occupied the top spot for five years. Kohli ranked million (2016) to 1.7 -2.4 billion (2050).
second, followed by actors Akshay Kumar, and Alia 13. According to the Passport Index 2023, released by
Bhatt. Notably, the aggregate brand value of the top Arton Capital, 144 is the rank of India passport.
25 celebrities is $1.6 billion in 2022 (estimated), a Note: In 2023, India ranked 138th out of 199
29.1% rise from 2021. countries. The ranking was topped by the United
10. According to the QS World University Rankings Arab Emirates (UAE) with a mobility score of 181,
by Subject 2023, 44 programs from various followed by Sweden, Germany, Finland,
campuses have been featured in the global top Luxembourg, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands,
100 list. and Austria. Note: India ranked 85th out of 199
Note: In 2022, only 35 Indian programs were countries in the Henley Passport Index 2023.
featured in the list. Five broader areas of

Honor & Awards

1. India has been awarded the prestigious GSM awarded the Sahitya Akademi award in 1999 for
Association (GSMA) Government Leadership Naukar Ki Kameez, the Atta Galatta-Bangalore
Award 2023 at Mobile World Congress Barcelona Literature Festival Book Prize in 2019, and the
on 27 February 2023. Mathrubhumi Book of the Year award in 2020.
Note: Reason: For implementing best practices in 3. The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry
telecom policy and regulation. Minister for has received the Porter Prize 2023.
Communications, Ashwini Vaishnaw has also Note: The ministry was honored for the
informed that the Right of Way (RoW) permissions government's strategy in managing COVID-19, its
which used to take more than 230 days, now get approach, and the involvement of various
approval within 8 days. More than 85% of mobile stakeholders (involvement of ASHA workers to
tower clearances are now instantaneous. create PPE Kits). It was announced during 'The
2. Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla (87) has won India Dialog' at Stanford University, California.
the 2023 PEN America award for lifetime Porter Prize: This award was named after award-
achievement in literature. winning economist Michael E. Porter. Minister for
Note: It is one of the most coveted literary prizes Health: Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya
worldwide. His acclaimed novels like Naukar Ki 4. Under the Perform, Achieve, and Trade (PAT)
Kameez (1979) and poetry collections like Sab program of the Union Ministry for Power, the
Kuch Hona Bacha Rahega (1992). He was Punjab State Power Corporation Limited
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 (PSPCL) was awarded as the top performer Note: Category: TV/Cinema Commercials
among all Discoms across the country for energy International and Country International. Arvind
conservation measures. Singh, Secretary (Tourism) received awards on 8th
Note: The award ceremony was held in New Delhi March 2023 at ITB, Berlin. The Golden City Gate
on March 1. During PAT cycle II, a total number of Tourism Multi-media Awards are given annually
80,686 ‘Energy saving certificates’ (ESCerts) in various categories related to the Tourism and
were issued to PSPCL. PAT is a flagship scheme Hospitality sectors.
under the National Mission on Enhanced efficiency. 10. The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs,
5. NTPC Limited has been honored with the CBIP Hardeep Singh Puri has launched the ‘Women
Award 2022 for Outstanding Contribution in Icons Leading Swachhata’ (WINS) Awards 2023.
Power Generation, attributed to its Vindhyachal Note: Aim: To recognize celebrate and disseminate
Super Thermal Power Station (VSTPS). inspiring and exemplary initiatives in urban
Note: VSTPS is the largest power station in the sanitation and waste management by women-
country for its efficiency and high level of led organizations and individual women. The
generation. Union Minister of Power, R.K. Singh applications are open from 8th March to 5th April
presented the award. It is conferred to 2023. Applications for the Awards are open to SHG,
institutions/individuals for their outstanding Micro-enterprises, NGOs, Startups, and Individuals.
contributions to the development of water, power, 11. RRR’s Naatu Naatu has created history by winning
and Renewable Energy Sectors. the prestigious Academy Awards 2023 in the
6. 60th Indian GM D Gukesh was honored with the Best Original song category.
Player-of-the-Year award 2023 by the Asian Note: The music of Naatu Naatu was given by M. M.
Chess Federation (ACF) for winning the gold Keeravani and Lyrics by Chandrabosedouble-
medal with a record-breaking score of 9/11 in the dagger. While India's The Elephant Whisperers
44th Chess Olympiad at Mahabalipuram. (directed by Kartiki Gonsalves) won the award
Note: Most Active Federation: All India Chess for Best Documentary Short Subject. Best Actress:
Federation. Man-of-the-Year: Tamil Nadu CM M K Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once).
Stalin. Best Women’s team of the Year: Indian Best Actor: Brendan Fraser (The Whale).
women’s team. Men’s Coach-of-the-Year: GM R B 12. Tamil writer Perumal Murugan's novel 'Pyre'
Ramesh. Women’s Coach-of-the-Year: GM Abhijit has been selected for the International Booker prize
Kunte longlist for 2023.
7. According to the Airport Council International Note: This book is a translation of his original
(ACI), Delhi airport has been ranked among the Tamil book 'Pukkuli' which tells the story of an
cleanest airports in Asia-Pacific. inter-caste couple who elope, setting in motion a
Note: ACI is a trade association of global airports. story of terrifying foreboding. Aniruddhan
The airport service quality award is based on Vasudevan translated this novel into the English
passenger surveys carried out to rate customer language in 2016. Prize money: £50,000, will be
satisfaction on the day of travel. It covers over 30 split equally between the author and translator.
performance indicators across key elements of a 13. The Reserve Bank of India Governor, Shaktikanta
passenger’s airport experience such as ease of Das was awarded the title 'Governor of the Year'
finding your way and dining offerings. for 2023 by Central Banking.
8. Weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has won the 2022 Note: Reason: For his leadership during difficult
BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award after periods, such as the failure of a significant non-
a public vote. banking company, COVID-19 pandemic, and the
Note: She becomes the first athlete to win the inflationary effects caused by Russia's invasion of
award twice in a row after winning for the year Ukraine. The National Bank of Ukraine was also
2021. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she became the awarded the Central Bank of the Year award.
first Indian to win a silver medal in weightlifting. Central Banking is an international economic
Para Sportswoman: Bhavina Patel (TT Player). research journal.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Pritam Siwach 14. Tamil writer Sivasankari has been selected for
(Women Hockey Player). Emerging Player: Nitu Saraswati Samman for the year 2022 for her
Ghanghas (Boxer). Best goal (Puskas award): book Survya Vamsam.
Marcin Oleksy Note: This is a book of memoirs in Tamil language
9. The Ministry of Tourism of India has bagged a and was published in 2019. Saraswati Samman: It
Golden & Silver Star at The International ‘Golden was instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation in 1991.
City Gate Tourism Awards 2023’ at ITB, Berlin It is recognized as the most prestigious and the
2023. highest literary award in the country. It carries an

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 award money of 15 lakh rupees, a Citation, and a 20. Isha Ambani won the GenNext Entrepreneur
Plaque. Award at the 12th Forbes India Leadership
15. Bengaluru won the 'Partnership for Healthy Awards 2023.
Cities' award and a cash prize of $ 150,000 for Note: She is the head of the $800 billion Reliance
effectively enforcing smoke-free laws at a summit Retail Ventures Ltd and launched the JioMart. CEO
held in London. of the year: CK Venkataraman (MD of Titan).
Note: The focused effort from smoke-free Lifetime Achievement Award: AM Naik (Chairman
Bengaluru resulted in a reduction of public-place L&T). Emerging Innovator: Pawan Chandana and
smoking from 18.2% (2017) to 13.3% (2021). Naga Bharath Daka (founders of Skyroot
The display of 'no-smoking' signs in the city also Aerospace). Turnaround Star: Tata Communications
increased from 23.1% (2017) to 75%. The global 21. Assam’s Pathsala NGO was conferred with the
summit brought together officials from over 50 Children’s Champion Award 2023.
cities to discuss public health concerns. Note: The Mission popularly known as Tapoban
16. Carnatic vocalist, Bombay Jayashri has been has been awarded in the health and nutrition
selected for the Sangita Kalanidhi award 2023 of category. The founder president of the Mission,
the prestigious Music Academy, Chennai. Kumud Kalita, received the award that carries Rs
Note: Initially, she was trained under her parents 75,000, a certificate and a plaqe. This award was
and later under T R Balamani and violin maestro instituted by the Delhi Commission for the
Lalgudi G Jayaraman. She was awarded the Padma Protection of Child Rights.
Shri in 2021. While the Nritiya Kalanidhi award 22. Sacred to the Hopi Native has been awarded a
2023 will be conferred to Bharatanatyam and ‘Water and Heritage Shield’ by the International
Kuchipudi dancer, Vasanthalakshmi Committee on Monuments and Sites International
Narasimhachari. The awards will be conferred to Science Committee.
awardees in January 2023. Note: The Shield was awarded to the Black Mesa
17. Nepalese batsman Aasif Sheikh was declared the Trust (BMT), a Hopi grassroots organization.
winner of the 2022 Christopher Martin-Jenkins Purpose of Shield: To aware public of the
Spirit of Cricket Award. significance of water and indigenous sacred sites all
Note: Reason: For his sporting conduct shown in a over the world and the right to cultural and
Men’s T20I between Nepal and Ireland in Feb 2022. historical memory.
The Award is presented every year by the 23. The Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), UK in (FOSWAL) conferred Special Literary Award 2023
conjunction with the BBC. his award was created in to Bangladesh’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
2013 by MCC and the BBC in memory of former Rahman in its 63rd Literature Festival.
MCC President and BBC Test Match Special Note: He was awarded for his trilogy- The
commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins (CMJ). Unfinished Memoirs, The Prison Diaries, and New
18. US President Joe Biden has awarded the prestigious China 1952. In a citation issued by the Foundation
2021 National Humanities Medal to Mindy of SAARC Writers and Literature, he is compared to
Kaling. Mahatma Gandhi. SAARC Literary Award is an
Note: Reason: For empowering the new generation annual award conferred by the FOSWAL since 2001
to tell their stories with irreverence and sincerity. 24. Alia Mir has been honoured with the Wildlife
The National Medal of Arts is the highest award, Conservation Award 2023 by the administration
given to artists, arts patrons, and groups by the US for her conservation efforts in the region.
government. Other notable recipients: Julia Louis- Note: J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha
Dreyfus, Bruce Springsteen, Vera Wang, Gladys facilitated her with the wildlife honour award. She
Knight, Judith Francisca Baca is also the first woman from Kashmir who works
19. Luis Caffarelli was honored with the 2023 Abel for the charity Wildlife SOS organization which is
Prize for his seminal contributions to regularity part of the Wildlife Rescue Team. She was awarded
theory for nonlinear partial differential equations for her achievements in bear rescue in Kashmir,
including free-boundary problems and the Monge- rescue, and release of wild animals.
Ampère equation. 25. Naveen Jindal was honored with a lifetime
Note: The prize includes a monetary award of 7.5 achievement award from the University of Texas
million kroner and a glass plaque (designed by at Dallas.
Norwegian artist Henrik Haugan). It is awarded by Note: He was conferred in recognition of his
the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, on accomplishments in industry, politics, and
behalf of the Ministry of Education. education. He was an alumnus of the University of
Texas at Dallas' 1992 batch. He is the second
person to receive this award from the University of
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 Texas, after Nobel Laureate Aziz Sancar. Steel and Power Ltd.
Currently, he is serving as the Chairman of Jindal

Sports News

1. Asia's longest-ever cycle race was flagged off tournament from the 10th to the 31st of March.
from Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar (J&K) and will Nearly 15,000 women athletes participated in the
culminate at Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu). contest in more than 50 cities of the country. The
Note: The race will cover the longest highway, game features 10 sports.
National Highway-44 distance of 3651 kilometers, 6. Spanish tennis player, Carlos Alcaraz (19) has
passing through twelve major states, three major won his maiden 2023 Indian Wells title after
metropolitan cities, and over twenty major cities of defeating Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-2 in the
the country. It has been accorded the status of Asian final.
Ultracycling Championship by the World Note: With this feat, he has also dethroned Novak
Ultracycling Association. Djokovic to reclaim World No.1 spot. He also
2. Russian tennis player, Daniil Medvedev defeated become the youngest world number one ever after
his Russian compatriot Andrey Rublev by 6-2, 6-2 his triumph and claimed his third Masters 1000
to win the 2023 Dubai Tennis Championships title. He joined Rafael Nadal as the only player to
title. win at least three as a teenager. Nadal won six
Note: With this performance, he moved to sixth in before turning 20.
the ATP rankings, while Rublev dropped to number 7. Sarabjot Singh has clinched the gold medal in the
seven. After winning the trophies in Rotterdam and men's 10m Air Pistol event at the ISSF Rifle and
Doha in February 2023, he is the third player to win Pistol World Cup 2023 held in Bhopal, Madhya
Pradesh.
three titles in as many weeks since 2021, joining
Note: While Varun Tomar secured bronze in the
Casper Ruud (July 2021) and Felix Auger-Aliassime
same event. In the women’s 10m Air Pistol event, Li
(October 2022).
Xue from China won the gold and Germany’s Doreen
3. Karnataka won its 5th Santosh Trophy National
Vennekamp settled for silver. China’s Qian Wei
Football Championship title after defeating
completed the podium with a bronze medal finish.
Meghalaya by 3-2 in the final at the King Fahd 8. Rani Rampal has become the first woman in the
International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. sport to have a stadium named after her, in Rae
Note: Karnataka last won the title 54 years ago. Bareli, Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier, Services won third place beating Punjab 2-0
Note: The MCF Rae Bareli has renamed the hockey
in the play-off match held before the final. Most
stadium as ‘Rani’s Girls Hockey Turf'. Earlier this
successful team: West Bengal (32 titles). Santosh
year, she made a successful comeback to the Indian
Trophy was founded in 1941 and organized by the
hockey team during the tour of South Africa, where
All India Football Federation (AIFF).
she was selected as one of the 22 players in the
4. Red Bull's driver, Max Verstappen has won the
squad.
season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix 2023, held at 9. India clinched both men's and women's titles of
Bahrain International Circuit. the Asian Kho Kho Championship 2023 held at
Note: He defeated Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who Tamulpur in Assam.
placed second in the race. It was the first time he
Note: In the women's category, Indian Eves
had won in Bahrain and also the first time he had
defeated Nepal by an inning and 33 points. On the
triumphed in a Formula One opener. Fernando
other hand, the men's team also defeated Nepal
Alonso (Aston Martin's driver) placed third
by an inning and six points. India remained
followed by C. Sainz Jr. (Ferrari's driver).
unbeaten in both categories throughout the
5. Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh
tournament. A total of nine countries participated in
Thakur inaugurated Khelo India Dus Ka Dum the event.
Tournament at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New 10. Rudraksh Patil and R. Narmada Nitin has secured
Delhi. the bronze in the 10m air rifle mixed team event
Note: In the run-up to the International Women’s at the ISSF 2023, held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Day 2023 celebrations, the Youth Affairs and Sports Note: While Varun Tomar and Rhythm Sangwan
Ministry organized the Khelo India Dus Ka Dum won silver in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team
31 | P a g e
 Competition. With these medals, India's medal tally Note: They defeated Delhi Capitals by 7 wickets.
to three including one gold, one silver, and one Mumbai Indians captain: Harmanpreet Kaur. Most
bronze. China topped the medal tally with three valuable player of the tournament: Hayley
gold and two bronze medals. Matthews. Orange cap: Meg Lanning. Purple Cap:
11. Nitu Ghanghas has clinched Gold in the 48-kg Hayley Matthews. Emerging Player of the season:
category of the IBA Women's World Boxing Yastika Bhatia. Fairplay award: Mumbai Indians and
Championship 2023 held at the K.D. Jadhav Hall IG Delhi Capitals .Catch of the season: Harmanpreet
Stadium New Delhi. Kaur
Note: She defeated Altantsetseg Lutsaikhan from 14. Indian Women Boxer, Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina
Mongolia by 5-0. She became the only sixth Indian Borgohain have managed to win a gold medal at
boxer (male or female) to win a World the Women's World Championships 2023, was
championship. In the semifinals, she defeated held in New Delhi.
Kazakh Alua Balkibekova. International Boxing Note: Nikhat Zareen won gold in the 50kg light
Association (IBA) Headquarters: Lausanne, flyweight division after defeating two-time Asian
Switzerland champion Nguyen Thi Tam of Vietnam by 5-0.
12. India’s men’s doubles badminton pair, Satwiksairaj Lovlina Borgohain has secured her first gold at the
Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the Swiss competition after settling for bronze in the 2018
Open Super 300 title in 2023, held in Basel, and 2019 editions. She defeated Australia's Caitlin
Switzerland. Parker in the 75kg middle-weight category.
Note: They beat Ren Xiang Yu and Tan Qiang 15. Tamil Nadu’s Archana Suseendran has clinched
from China by 21-19, and 24-22. Men's singles: two gold medals in 100m and 200m at the AFI
Koki Watanabe (Japan). Women's singles: Indian Grand Prix 2, held in Kerala on March 27,
Pornpawee Chochuwong (Thailand). Women's 2023.
doubles: Rena Miyaura and Ayako Sakuramoto Note: In the Women's 100m final, she defeated
(Japan). Mixed doubles: Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Assam sprinter Hima Das and completed her
Yaxin (China) 100m race in 11.52 seconds. While she completed
13. Mumbai Indians have won the inaugural the 200m race in 23.21 seconds. In the Men's 100m
Women's Premier League final, held at the race category Sanjeet from Haryana clinched the
Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai from 4-26 March gold. The AFI Indian Grands Prix 3 and 4 will be
2023. held in Bengaluru on April 10 and 15.

Books and Authors

1. Health Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya released 3. “As Good as My Word,” written by KM
the book 'India’s Vaccine Growth Story- From Chandrasekhar.
Cowpox to Vaccine Maitri' at World Book Fair in Note: He served as the Cabinet Secretary from 2007
New Delhi to 2011. The book provides knowledge of Indian
Note: Additional Secretary of Finance Ministry politics and bureaucracy during the UPA era. In his
Sajjan Singh Yadav has authored the book. Dr. book, Chandrasekhar gives a thorough overview of
Mandaviya also urged the writers to inculcate the UPA administration during one of its most
research-based documentation. The research-based difficult periods and talks about his own role in
documentation reflects knowledge and science that navigating India through many crises.
have proven exemplary in times of crisis. 4. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar released of the
2. Supreme Court Judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian book “Mundaka Upanishad: The Gateway to
has released a book titled India’s Struggle for Eternity”.
Independence – Gandhian Era. Note: A former member of parliament, Dr. Karan
Note: It was authored by a former Judge of Singh has written the book. He is a philosopher and
Madras High Court, P. Jyothimani, and G. Balan, politician from India. Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan
former professor of history, Pachiayappa’s College. initially released this book in 1987.
It was published by Vanathi Pathipagam. The book 5. The book “Snakes In the Ganga: Breaking India
covers aspects such as the relevance of Mahatma 2.0” authored by Rajiv Malhotra and Vijaya
Gandhi as of the date. Viswanathan has received considerable
recognition in India.

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 Note: It sheds light on the various threats to India’s veteran Indian filmmaker Basu Chatterjee.
national security from the United States, which is Published by: Penguin Random House India (PRHI)
not typically perceived as a major risk by the 9. Ghulam Nabi Azad, a former Chief Minister of
average Indian. Jammu and Kashmir and Union Minister, has
6. Rachna Biswat Rawat, a journalist and writer written an honest and forthright autobiography
from India, has recently written a book called ‘Azaad’.
“Bipin: The Man Behind the Uniform". Note: It will be launched in New Delhi on April 5,
Note: The book was presented to India’s Minister 2023. This book chronicles Azad’s political journey
of Defence, Rajnath Singh. The book is published and provides insights into the significant political
by Penguin Veer, a Penguin Random House imprint. changes that India has undergone over the past five
This book focuses on the life, personality, and decades. Published by: Rupa Publications India
principles of General Bipin Rawat. 10. Shrimant Kokate has recently released his first
7. The English translation of the Nepali novel English book titled “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
“Phoolange” will be released on April 17, 2023. (illustrated)”.
Note: It was written by Lekhnath Chhetri. Note: It was translated by Dilip Chavan. The book
Published by: Penguin Random House India (PRHI). was released by Amol Kolhe. He has written a total
This book focuses on the failed Gorkha movement of 10 books on various subjects.
for a separate state. The original Nepali version of 11. Anurag Behar has authored a new travel book
the novel was shortlisted for the Madan Puraskar, titled “A Matter of the Heart: Education in India”.
which is Nepal’s most prestigious literary award, in Note: He is the CEO of Azim Premji Foundation
2021. and the founding vice-chancellor of Azim Premji
8. A new book titled ‘Basu Chatterji: And Middle-of- University. The book has been published by
the-Road Cinema’ has been released. Westland Nonfiction.
Note: Aniruddha Bhattacharjee is the author of
this book. It is a chronicle of the life and times of the

Science and Defence

1. ISRO has successfully conducted the flight and Disaster Relief Operations in a Contested
acceptance hot test of the CE-20 cryogenic Environment”.
engine for the Chandrayan-3 mission. 4. INS Trikand has participated in the International
Note: The test was successfully conducted on Maritime Exercise/ Cutlass Express 2023
February 24 at the ISRO Propulsion Complex, (IMX/CE-23), which is being held in the Gulf
Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. The hot test was carried region from 26 Feb to 16 Mar 23.
out for a planned duration of 25 seconds at the High Note: INS will exercise with participants from over
Altitude Test Facility. The engine will power the 50 nations and international maritime agencies.
Cryogenic Upper Stage of the LVM3 launch vehicle Common aim: To enhance maritime security and
of the mission. keep sea lanes in the region safe for maritime
2. The Indian government has approved the commerce. IMX/CE-23 is one of the largest
procurement of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer multinational maritime exercises in the world.
Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited 5. The first edition of the 2023 Naval Commanders'
(HAL) for the Indian Air Force. Conference has been started on March 6, 2023.
Note: Reason: It will meet the shortage of basic Note: The first phase of the conference is held
trainer aircraft of IAF for the training of newly onboard India's first indigenous aircraft carrier, INS
inducted pilots. The HTT-40 is a turboprop aircraft Vikrant, in the Arabian Sea off Goa. Rajnath Singh
designed to have good low-speed handling qualities addressed the Naval Commanders onboard INS
and provide better training effectiveness. The Vikrant. This conference serves as a platform for
aircraft will be supplied over six years. Naval Commanders to discuss important security
3. The maiden joint military exercise 'FRINJEX-23' issues at the military-strategic level and interact
between India and France, will be scheduled to with senior government functionaries.
conduct at the Pangode military station in 6. The US Air Force handed over an earth
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala from March 7 and observation satellite, NASA-ISRO Synthetic
8, 2023. Aperture Radar (NISAR) to ISRO on March 8,
Note: It is for the first time that both countries are 2023.
engaging in this format with each contingent Note: A US Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying the
comprising a Company Group. The theme for the NISAR has landed in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It
exercise is based on “Humanitarian Assistance was jointly developed by NASA and ISRO. This
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 satellite will be used by ISRO for a variety of to 45%. While France emerged as the second-
purposes including agricultural mapping, and largest arms supplier to India followed by the US.
landslide-prone areas. It is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) 12. An apex body of the defense ministry for clearing
observatory. It will map the entire globe in 12 days. weapons procurement, the Defence Acquisition
7. ISRO has successfully carried out an "extremely Council (DAC) met under the chairmanship of
challenging" controlled re-entry experiment of DM Rajnath Singh.
the decommissioned orbiting Megha-Tropiques- Note: The DAC has accorded Acceptance of
1 (MT-1) satellite. Necessity (AoN) for capital acquisitions worth Rs
Note: The final impact region estimated is in the 70,500 crore under Buy Indian-IDDM
deep Pacific Ocean within the expected latitude and (Indigenously Designed, Developed, and
longitude boundaries. The low Earth satellite was Manufactured) — a new procurement category. It
launched on October 12, 2011. It is a joint satellite includes 307 Advanced Towed Artillery Gun
venture of ISRO and the French space agency, CNES Systems and 60 indigenous marine utility
for tropical weather and climate studies. helicopters.
8. NASA has partnered with the Italian Space 13. The Technology Innovation Institute in Abu
Agency, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) to build Dhabi (UAE) has launched Falcon LLM, a large
and launch MAIA (Multi-Angle Imager for language model (LLM) with 40 billion parameters.
Aerosols) missions. Note: It was trained on one trillion tokens and built
Note: Aim: To investigate the health impacts of air by the AI and Digital Science Research Center's
pollution in the world’s most populated cities. It AI Cross-Centre Unit. The model outperforms GPT-
is the first mission of the agency whose primary 3 and requires only 75% of its training compute, as
goal is to benefit societal health and will launch well as lower percentages of other large language
before the end of 2024. It will consist of the models' training compute. LLMs have a wide range
PLATiNO-2 satellite (provided by ASI), and a of applications, including chatbots.
science instrument (NASA). 14. The artificial intelligence research company,
9. The Indian Navy successfully fired a medium- OpenAI has unveiled its new and more advanced
range surface-to-surface missile (MRSAM) from model called GPT-4.
INS Visakhapatnam. Note: The latest version is more creative and
Note: Reason: To validate the capability of the anti- accurate in its response. It has better problem-
tank missiles. MRSAM was developed by the solving capabilities than ChatGPT (developed by
Defence Research and Development Organisation OpenAI). GPT-4 is a large multimodal model, which
(DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and cannot outperform humans in real-world scenarios
produced at Bharat Dynamics Ltd. The DRDO has but can exhibit “human-level performance on
already handed over two other versions to Indian various professional and academic benchmarks.
Army and Indian Air Force to augment the country’s 15. NASA unveiled a new generation of spacesuit for
air defense power. humanity's return trip to the Moon.
10. The third edition multi-lateral maritime exercise Note: This spacesuit comes with specialist features
La Pérouse 2023 started between the navies of to support astronauts as they conduct scientific
India, Australia, France, Japan, and the United States experiments on the lunar surface. The prototype is
in the Indian Ocean Region from 13-14 March said to be a better fit for female space travelers.
2023. NASA hopes to have the updated suit ready for the
Note: It is a biennial exercise, conducted by the Artemis III mission to the Moon in 2025. A well-
French Navy. Aim: To enhance maritime domain fitting suit is crucial to prevent excessive fatigue
awareness and optimize maritime coordination and at worst, physical harm.
amongst the participating navies in the Indo-Pacific 16. The government has allocated a budget of Rs. 9023
Region. India's INS Sahyadri and fleet tanker INS Crore towards achieving the objectives of
Jyoti have participated. Gaganyaan mission.
11. According to the Stockholm International Peace Note: Scope of Gaganyaan program: To
Research Institute (SIPRI) report, despite an 11% demonstrate human spaceflight capability to Low
drop in arms import between 2013-17 and 2018- Earth Orbit and safe return. ISRO is also developing
22, India remained the world’s largest arms indigenous technologies for Human rated launch
importer from 2018 to 2022 followed by Saudi vehicle, Life Support System, Crew Escape System,
Arabia. Ground Station Network, Crew Training and
Note: Russia was India’s largest arms supplier in Recovery. The Union MoS, S&T, Dr. Jitendra Singh
the periods between 2013-17 and 2018-22. But informed in Lok Sabha.
Russia's share of arms imports to India fell from 64

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17. The Indian Space Research Organisation is from March 21-30, 2023 to strengthen the military
organizing a young scientist program named Yuva ties between the countries.
VIgyani Karyakram (YUVIKA). Note: The exercise will promote the idea of Africa-
Note: Aim: To impart basic knowledge on space India Militaries for Regional Unity (AMRUT). A
technology, space science, and space applications to comprehensive validation exercise on the theme
students of Class IX. Registration for the program “Humanitarian Mine Actions and Peace Keeping
has been started on March 20, 2023. The YUVIKA Operations”.
program will be conducted between May 15 and 26 23. Indian Navy launched INS Androth, the second in
at seven centers. Interested students studying in a series of eight indigenous ships built by Garden
Class 9 as on 1 January 2023 within India are Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE),
eligible to apply. Kolkata.
18. DRDO has successfully conducted a flight test of Note: It is an Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow
the Power Take Off (PTO) Shaft on Light Combat Water Craft (ASWSWC). It is a 77.6-meter-long and
Aircraft (LCA Tejas) Limited Series Production 10.5-meter-wide vessel, propelled by three diesel-
(LSP)-3 aircraft in Bengaluru. driven water jets that will pack a punch. The ship is
Note: The PTO shaft is indigenously designed and capable of a maximum 25 knots speed and will
developed by the Combat Vehicles Research & carry lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets, and
Development Establishment (CVRDE), Chennai. The mines.
PTO shaft is a critical component in the aircraft. It 24. A joint maritime exercise, Konkan 2023 was
supports the requirements of future fighter aircraft conducted between the Royal Navy of Britain and
and their variants and offers competitive costs. the Indian Navy from 20-22 March has concluded
19. The 13th edition of a bilateral armour exercise, in Arabian Sea.
EX Bold Kurukshetra, between India and Note: It is a joint drill by the two navies to
Singapore was concluded on March 13, 2023, at demonstrate operational readiness, enhancing
Jodhpur Military Station, India. interoperability and improving the ability to
Note: The ten-day-long joint training that conduct joint operations. INS Trishul, a guided
commenced on March 5, fostered a common missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster participated. It
understanding of mechanized warfare in emerging covered all domains of maritime operations, air,
threats and evolving technologies. It involved surface, and subsurface.
soldiers from the 42nd Battalion, Singapore 25. The Defence Ministry signed two separate
Armoured Regiment and Armoured Brigade of the contracts with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL)
Indian Army. at a total cost of over Rs 3,700 crore.
20. The third edition of the Sea Dragon exercises is Note: Reason: To enhance the operational
being started in the USA (host) from March 15-30, capabilities of the Indian Air Force (IAF). First
2023. contract: Worth over Rs 2,800 crore, pertains to
Note: It is a coordinated multilateral anti- the supply of Medium Power Radars (MPR)
submarine warfare (ASW) exercise for long-range ‘Arudhra’ for the IAF. Second contract: Worth over
maritime reconnaissance aircraft. In this exercise, Rs 950 crore, relates to 129 DR-118 Radar Warning
Indian Navy participated with its P8I aircraft, Receivers (RWR). Both projects are under Buy
which arrived at Guam, USA on 14 March 2023. Indian- IDMM category.
Apart from India, US Navy with P8A, Japan with P1, 26. The Indian Army and Indian Air Force have
Canada with CP 140, and South Korea with P3C conducted a 96-hour multi-domain air and land
participated. exercise named ‘Vayu Prahar’ in the eastern
21. Inter-Services Organization (Command, Control sector.
and Discipline) Bill, 2023 has been introduced in Note: The exercise was conducted in the second
Lok Sabha to empower designated military week of March 2023 to formulate plans that can
commanders to take charge of soldiers and lead to synergy in multi-domain operations. The
enforce discipline, regardless of the service they scope of the joint exercise included the rapid
belong to. mobilisation of a rapid reaction force from the
Note: It came ahead of the impending move to hinterland.
establish integrated or joint commands, where all 27. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has conducted Regional
the manpower and assets will be under the Search and Rescue (SAR) exercise from 28 -29
operational control of a single three-star general of March 2023 at Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh.
the Indian Army, Navy, and IAF. Note: Aim: To simulate a real-time maritime
22. The 10-day Africa-India Field Training Exercise distress scenario and highlight the functioning of
(AFINDEX 2023) will be organized in Pune, India the SAR organization for a mass rescue operation. It
involved all stakeholders with the effective use of
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 available resources towards M-SAR (Maritime Mark (LVM) 3 -M3 satellite with 36 satellites of
Search and Rescue) contingency efficiently. ICG the One Web India-2 mission from the second
founded: 1 February 1977 launch pad from Sriharikota.
28. The Defence Ministry has signed three contracts Note: With this launch, OneWeb will have 616 of its
worth of 5400 crore rupees with BEL and New satellites in orbit. The 43m-tall launch vehicle has
Space India Limited to boost the defence successfully completed the three stages in the
capabilities. prescribed time limit including the involvement of
Note: Two contracts were signed with Bharat the ignition of the cryogenic engine.
Electronics Ltd for the procurement of Automated 31. Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT
Air Defence Control and Reporting System Project Madras) Researchers have developed a three-
Akashteer and the acquisition of Sarang Electronic dimensional (3D) paper-based portable device.
Support Measure systems. The third was with New Note: This device can detect adulteration in milk
Space India Limited for the procurement of an within 30 seconds. The test could be even
advanced Communication Satellite, GSAT 7B for the performed at home. It can detect multiple
Indian Army. substances commonly used as adulterating agents
29. Union MoS (Independent Charge) Science & including Urea, detergents, soap, starch, hydrogen
Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh has inaugurated peroxide, sodium-hydrogen-carbonate, and salt,
Asia’s largest 4-meter International Liquid among others.
Mirror Telescope (ILMT) in Devasthal, 32. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the
Uttarakhand. ‘Rising India Conclave’, which is held in New
Note: It is situated at an altitude of 2450 meters at Delhi on March 30, 2023.
the observatory, which lies at the campus of Note: During the event, he informed that India aims
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational to achieve defence equipment exports target
Sciences. The ILMT employs a 4-meter-diameter worth 40 thousand crore rupees by 2026. In the
rotating mirror, which was made up of a thin layer last few years, defence exports have witnessed a
of liquid mercury, to collect and focus light. quantum jump from 900 crore rupees to 14
30. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) thousand crore rupees (FY23).He also highlighted
successfully launched India's Launch Vehicle the progress made by the country in all sectors.

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