Current Affairs 6-12 March

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launches ADITI scheme to promote Defence Innovation

Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence(MoD), launched Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.
The scheme was launch during the DefConnect 2024 held in New Delhi, Delh
About Scheme:
The ADITI scheme falls under the iDEX (Innovations for Defence Excellence) framework of Department of Defence Production (DDP), MoD. The scheme will provide start-ups with grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for research, development, and innovation in defence technology.
Budget: Rs 750 crore has been allocated for the period 2023-24 to 2025-26.
Target: The scheme aims to develop approximately 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies.

Key Points:
• The scheme envisages to create a ‘Technology Watch Tool’ to bridge the gap between Armed Forces’ requirements and innovation capabilities.
• In its first edition, ADITI has launched 17 challenges across various branches of the Indian Armed Forces viz. Indian Army (3), Indian Navy (5), Indian Air Force (5) and Defence Space Agency (4).
• Notably, iDEX was expanded to iDEX Prime, with the assistance increasing from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 10 crore.
Other Events:
• The event marked the launch of the 11th edition of Defence India Start-up Challenge (DISC), fosteringcollaboration between the defence sector and start-ups. DISC 11 presents 22 problem statements acrossvarious branches and organizations within the defence sector, inviting innovative solutions to enhancenational security.
• A technology showcase was also organised by iDEX-Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) with adiverse range of technology start-ups at the forefront of innovation in the defence sector.

MoD inks MoU with BEML, BEL & MIDHANI for Development of Advanced Fueling & Control System

Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BEML Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI) for indigenous development of Advanced Fuelling and Control System for Engines for heavy duty applications.

Signatories:
The MoU was signed in New Delhi (Delhi) by Shantanu Roy, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD), BEML Limited; SK Jha, CMD, MIDHANI; Bhanu Prakash Srivastava, CMD, BEL.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Giridhar Aramane, the Defence Secretary, MoD.

About the MoU:

• The collaboration aims to develop indigenous capabilities to design, test, and manufacture an Advanced Fuelling and Control System
• As per the MoU, the firms will be offering their domain expertise for the development of engine systems with enhanced efficiency, performance, and reliability. This will ensure self-reliance in the field of Combat vehicles.
• By developing complex technologies within India, the project aligns with the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
Additional info:

• BEML Limited (formerly known as Bharat Earth Movers Limited) is a Schedule ‘A’ Public Sector Undertaking(PSU) under MoD. It is headquartered in Bengaluru (Karnataka).
• BEL, headquartered in Bengaluru, is a ‘Navratna’ PSU under MoD.
• MIDHANI, headquartered in Hyderabad (Telangana), is a PSU under MoD. It is a specialized metals and metal alloys manufacturing facility.

MoD signs Deal to Upgrade Su-30 MKI Fighter Aircraft Simulator

MoD has signed a contract with an Indian firm to upgrade the simulators of Sukhoi Su-30 MKI aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). This upgrade led by Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) will incorporate all indigenous weapons and capabilities. This will enhance the operational training for IAF pilots.

About Sukhoi Su-30 MKI:

• The Sukhoi Su-30MKI is a multi-role combat fighter aircraft jointly developed by the Moscow (Russia) based Sukhoi Design Bureau and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for IAF.
• MKI stands for Modernizirovannyi Kommercheskiy Indiski which means “Modernized Commercial Indian”.

“Status of Leopards in India”: Number of leopards in India Increased by 8% from 2018 to 2022

According to the report “Status of Leopards in India” released by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), estimated that the leopards population in India has risen by 8% from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022.
The fifth cycle leopard population estimation (2022) was carried out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India(WII), in collaboration with State Forest Departments. The leopard population increased at an annual growth rate of 1.08% from 2018 to 2022.
The report was part of the quadrennial(four-year) “Monitoring of Tiger, Co-predators, prey and their habitat” exercise in tiger range States.
Madhya Pradesh has 3907 leopards, the highest number of leopards in India, followed by Maharashtra(1985) and Karnataka(1,879) in the second and third, respectively.
Madhya Pradesh reported the most improvement in the number of leopards at 486 (3,421 in 2018 to 3,907 in 2022), while Odisha reported a drop of 192 (760 in 2018 to 568 in 2022).
Tiger Reserves or sites having the highest leopard population are Nagarajunasagar Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh), followed by Panna (Madhya Pradesh), and Satpura (Madhya Pradesh). The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and it was classified as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)Red List.
About Wildlife Institute of India(WII):
WII is an Autonomous Institution of the MoEFCC.
Chairman – Ms.Leena Nandan (Secretary of Environment, Forest and Climate Change)
Location- Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Established In – 1982

PM Modi flagged off ‘Swarna Sindhu’ first tanker carrying Crude Oil from ONGC

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi flagged off the first tanker ‘Swarna Sindhu’, carrying crude oil from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)’s KG-DWN-98/2 deepwater project. The project is located in the Krishna Godavari basin and is expected to add 7% to India’s oil and gas production at its peak. The Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) Armada Sterling V unit has been built and operated by Shapoorji Pallonji Energy Private Limited (SP Energy).
The FPSO has a processing capacity of over 50,000 barrels of oil per day and 3 million standard cubic meters per day of gas.

Union Minister Sonowal dedicates 1st Made-in-India ASTDS Tug

On 2nd March 2024, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) virtually inaugurated 60-tonne (60T) bollard pull tug named “Ocean Grace”, the first ever
Made-in-India Approved Standardised Tug Design and Specification (ASTDS) tug at Paradip Port, Odisha.
Ocean Grace, developed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited under MoPSW, was built at a cost of Rs 45 crores.
The tug is designed for optimal efficiency and reliability, guaranteeing seamless navigation and proficient vessel assistance, especially for large vessels like Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCCs) and ultra-large crude carriers (ULCCs).
The launch of the tug is in line with the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) which aims to convert at least 50% of all tugs into Green Tugs by 2030 and to have Green Tugs operating at all major ports.
Union Minister also inaugurated the Medical Mobile Unit (MMU) at Paradip Port which will offer services like maternal and paediatric care, disease management, and health awareness programs. MMU will cost around Rs 48 lakhs per annum to operate.

National Safety Day 2024 – March 4; National Safety Week 2024 – 4 to10 March

National Safety Day (NSD) is annually observed across India on 4 March to highlight the significance ofsafety measures in preventing workplace accidents. The day also encourages a culture of safety inworkplaces and stresses the importance of adherence to safetyguidelines.
4 March also marks the commencement of the National SafetyWeek Campaign, which is annually observed across India from4-10 March.
4 March 2024 marks the observance of the 53rd National SafetyDay/National Safety Week Campaign.
The theme of NSD/National Safety Week Campaign 2024 is “Focus on Safety Leadership forEnvironmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Excellence”.

Background:

• The National Safety Day/Safety Week Campaign has been spearheaded by the NSC of India since 1971 tomark its Foundation Day (4th March).
• In 1972, the NSC commemorated its foundation day by establishing the 1st National Safety Day.
Why March 4?March 4 marks the foundation day of the National Safety Council (NSC), which was established on 4thMarch 1966.
About National Safety Council (NSC):
The Director General is the Chief Executive of the NSC and the Secretary to the Board of Governors.
Director General – Dr. Lalit R Gabhane
Headquarters– Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

World Obesity Day 2024 – March 4

World Obesity Day (WOD) is annually observed across the globe on 4th March to create awareness aboutthe risks of obesity and to promote practical solutions to end the global obesity crisis.
4th March 2024 marks the observance of the 10th WOD.
The campaign theme of WOD 2024 is ‘Let’s TalkAbout Obesity And…’

Background:

• In 2015, the World Obesity Federation (WorldObesity), a non-profit organisation, established WOD asan annual campaign with the goal of stimulating andsupporting practical actions thereby helping people toachieve and maintain a healthy weight.Initially, World Obesity Day was observed on 11thOctober.
• The first ever WOD was observed on 11th October2015.
• Since 2020, the date of WOD has been changed from11th October to 4th of March.
The new World Obesity Day on March 4, 2020, was launched to call for a global response to this criticalchallenge.
About World Obesity Federation:
The World Obesity Federation (formerly the International Association for the Study of Obesity and theInternational Obesity Task Force), is the only global organisation focused exclusively on obesity.
President – Louise Baur
Headquarters – London, United Kingdom (UK)
Established in – 1967

Keyi Panyor Inaugurated as 26th District of Arunachal Pradesh

ema Khandu, Chief Minister (CM) of Arunachal Pradesh,inaugurated Keyi Panyor, the 26th district of ArunachalPradesh.
The new district, carved out of Lower Subansiri, will have itsheadquarters at Ter Gapin-Sam Sarth, strategically positionedfor agricultural and horticultural development.
Key People: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, Ministry of EarthSciences; Chowna Mein, Deputy CM of Arunachal Pradesh were present during the event.

Points to note:

• The formation of the new district was demanded by the people of Nyishi community of Arunachal Pradesh.
• During the inauguration, the CM handed over the district flag to the newly appointed deputycommissioner and superintendent of police.
Legislative Steps:

• On 8 February 2024, the state assembly passed the Arunachal Pradesh (Re-Organization of Districts)(Amendment) Bill, 2024.
• This legislative milestone paved the way for the creation Keyi Panyor and an upcoming 27th district,
Bichom, which is scheduled for inauguration early next week.
Note: Bichom carved out from East and West Kameng districts will have headquarters in Napangphung.

Union Minister of SDE Dharmendra Pradhan Launches Project ODISERV in Odisha

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE),launched Project ODISERV at Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) in Sambalpur, Odisha, aiming toequip young graduates of Odisha for employment opportunities in the financial services sector.The Project Odiserv is the inaugural skill development initiative by the National Skill DevelopmentCorporation (NSDC) and Bajaj Finserv Ltd.Note: NSDC, a Public Private Partnership (PPP) underMSDE, is a key player in shaping India’s skill ecosystem.About ODISERV: ODISERV utilises Bajaj Finserv’s Certificate Programmefor Banking Finance & Insurance (CPBFI) program totransmit knowledge and skills to graduates, especially firstgeneration graduates. CPBFI program is a 100-hour comprehensive traininginitiative that prepares youth from tier-II and tier-III citiesfor employment in the financial services sector.It was started to fill the talent gap in the financial servicessector. The project is expected to transform the skill development landscape in Odisha.Note: Around 1100 students in Odisha have already been trained under Project ODISERV and a some ofthem have also received job offers.The Training Program: A 100-hour training program focusing on the banking, finance, and insurance industries. Designed to boost competencies and increase the employability of Odisha’s youth.Expanding Reach: ODISERV is expected to launch CPBFI in 60 colleges across 11 cities and 10 districts includingSambalpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack, Khordha, Balasore, and Puri in Odisha. Already launched in 30 colleges, enrolling 1100 students and delivering 25,000 hours of training in 2months.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal Launches ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ to Facilitate Post-HarvestFinancing for Farmers

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution(MoCAF&PD),launched ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’, an online digital platform of the Warehousing Development and RegulatoryAuthority (WDRA) to facilitate post-harvest financing for farmers.

About ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’:

• The platform enables farmers to secure collateral-free loans from the banks against their farm producestored in the WDRA-registered warehouse.
• It also simplifies the process for farmers to store their produce at any WDRA-registered warehouse for sixmonths at 7% interest per annum.
• It was developed collaboratively by theDepartment of Food and Public Distribution, theDepartment of Financial Services, and theNational Bank for Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (NABARD).
Note: The union minister also announced thatthe security deposits to be paid by the farmersto WDRA registered warehouses would bereduced to 1% from 3%.
Points to note:

• This initiative was to overcome losses sufferedby farmers due to the low commodity prices ofagricultural products during the post-harvestseason.
• The loan amount will help farmers prepare their subsequent crops.
Process of getting loans:

• The farmers were given electronic Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (e-NWRs) once they stored theirproduce in a WDRA-registered warehouse.
• Launched in 2018, e-NWR is a digital warehousing receipt issued by registered warehouses regulated andgoverned by WDRA.
• The farmers were given e-NWRs once they stored their produce in WDRA-registered warehouses, andthey will seek loans from banks against their e-NWR.

Additional Info:
WDRA waived the application fee for the registration of warehouses storing agricultural commodities forfarmers until October 25, 2025.
About Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA):
The WDRA is a statutory authority under the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) ofMoCAF&PD.
Chairman – T K Manoj Kumar
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 2010

DoT Launched Digital Intelligence Portal & ‘Chakshu’ Facility to Curb Cyber Crime& Financial Frauds

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Ministry of Communications(MoC) launched the Department ofTelecommunications (DoT)’s ‘Digital IntelligencePlatform (DIP)’ and ‘Chakshu’(चक्षु)क्षु’ facility onthe Sanchar Saathi portal to empower the peopleand to foster a secure digital ecosystem.
DIP aims to eliminate the use of telecom resourcesin cybercrimes and financial frauds by coordinatingthe stakeholders.
Chakshu facility will enable the citizens to reportsuspected fraud communication.

About DIP:

• DIP, developed by the DoT, is a secure andintegrated platform.
• This enables the sharing of real-time intelligence,information exchange, and coordination among stakeholders like Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), lawenforcement agencies (LEAs), banks etc.
• This platform also offers information related to the cases detected as misuse of telecom resources.
• This will also act as a repository for the citizen-initiated requests on the Sanchar Saathi portal for actionby the stakeholders.
Chakshu Facility:
• Chakshu is a citizen-centric facility added to the existing facilities on the Sanchar Saathi portal of DoT.
• This will enable people to report fraud communication received over phone calls, short messageservice(SMS), or WhatsApp.
This includes Know Your Customer(KYC) expiry or update of bank account, gas connection andimpersonation as a government official, and disconnection of all mobile numbers by the Department ofTelecommunications.

2nd Phase of Dak Karmayogi Project Completed; MoS Devusinh Chauhan Launched25 New Courses

On 5th March 2024, Union Minister of State (MoS) Devusinh Chauhan, Ministry of Communications(MoC) participated in the event organised to markthe completion of the 2nd Phase of DakKarmayogi project, an e-learning platform toenhance the competencies of Gramin Dak Sevaksand Postal Department employees.
Union MoS also launched 25 new courses underDak Karmayogi during the event held in NewDelhi, Delh
He also launched a Special Cover commemoratingsuccessful journey of Dak Karmayogi Project.
The event was attended by Vineet Pandey,Secretary (Posts), Department of Posts, MoC

Note:
• Dak Karmayogi Project will enable them to effectively deliver a number of G2C (Government to Citizens)services, and upgrade their Attitude, Skill and Knowledge (ASK).
• The 2nd phase of the project was launched in June 2023

India Ranks 113 in the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law 2024 Index

According to the 10th edition of Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) 2024 report released by the WorldBank Group, India has climbed to 113th place out of 190 countries in the Index, with a score of 74.4%. Forthe first time, WBL assesses the gapbetween legal reforms and actualoutcomes for women in 190 economies.
The index shows that in India, womenenjoy 60% of the legal rights granted tomen, which is lower than the globalaverage of 64.2%.
Despite challenges, India outperforms itsSouth Asian counterparts, where womenenjoy 45.9% of the legal protectionsprovided to men.
World Bank (WB):
President (WB Group)- Ajay Banga
Headquarters– Washington, DC, USA
Established in– 1944

WB approved USD 452 Million Loan to Boost Connectivity in Assam

World Bank(WB) has approved a new project worth USD 452 million to improve connectivity for over 1.8million people living in rural areas of Assam.
The Assam Resilient Rural Bridges Program will strengthen the resilience and management of roads andbridges to help people living in 1,739 villages.

Key Points:

• The Program Development Objective (PDO)is to build green, inclusive, and resilientconnectivity for over 1.8 million people livingin rural areas of Assam and strengthen theroad and bridge management capability of thePublic Works Roads Department, Assam.
• The total finance of the program is USD564.71 million.
• Out of the committed USD 452 million,WB will use the financing instruments such asProgram-for-Results (PforR) DisbursementLinked Indicators (DLIs) – USD 424.29million.
  Investment Project Financing (IPF) financed Technical Assistance (TA) – USD 26.58 million.
• The program is implemented by the Public Works Roads Department, Government of Assam.
• The Program loan has a maturity of 19 years with a grace period of 4.5 years.
• v The project was approved for the fiscal year 2024 (1st July 2023 – 30th June 2024).

Significance:
• The connectivity is expected to save about USD 82 million within the next six years.
• The Program will support the Government of Assam to attract private investment and connect almost633,000 women-led textile and handicraft producers.
• There is also a plan to develop electronic vehicles and logistics hubs through the program.

About World Bank Group:
The World Bank consists of five arms namely

• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
• International Development Association (IDA)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

REC Limited Partnered with UNISED to Support Childrens Education inSiddharthnagar, UP

REC Limited through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm REC Foundation has partnered withthe Unit of Science and Educational Development (UNISED) to support the education of approximately75,500 children in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh (UP).
REC has committed financial support of Rs 9.91 crores to support education.
Note REC Limited, formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited, is a ‘Maharatna’ Central PublicSector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Power (MoP).

Signing of MoA:

• The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed between the REC Foundation and UNISED in NewDelhi, Delh
• The MoA was finalised by Bhupesh Chandolia, Head of CSR at REC Foundation, and Rashmi Kumari,Assistant Programme Director at UNISED.
• The agreement in line with UNISED’s dedication to enhancing educational opportunities forunderprivileged children

UNISED’s Innovative Approach:
• UNISED, with a nationwide presence and commitment,focuses on innovative learning systems.
• UNISED will implement solar energy-operated smartclasses and set up joyful learning resource labs ingovernment schools across Siddharthnagar.
• It aims to provide students with access to moderneducational tools and resources, enhancing academic andcreative excellence.

About REC Limited:
It is registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) as a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC), PublicFinancial Institution (PFI) and Infrastructure Financing Company (IFC).
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)- Vivek Kumar Dewangan
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Incorporated in– 1969

Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Took Oath as Pakistan’s PM for a 2nd Time

Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif was sworn in as the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan for a 2nd termon 4 March 2024. Pakistan’s newly formed parliament elected Shehbaz Sharif as the new PM, who secured201 votes in a 336-member National Assembly,surpassing the required 169 votes.
Previously, he served as PM of a coalitiongovernment for 16 months from April 2022 toAugust 2023 before Parliament was dissolved tohold general elections.
President Arif Alvi administered the oath to him ata ceremony at the Presidential mansion, Aiwan-eSadr in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Note:
On 14 August 2023, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar wasappointed as Pakistan’s 8th caretaker PM.
Shehbaz Sharif is the younger brother of 3-time PMof Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, who currently serves as the President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz(PML-N) party.

International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness 2024 – March 5

United Nations (UN) International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is annuallyobserved across the globe on 5 March to promoteawareness and understanding of disarmament issues amongthe public, especially among the youth.
5 March 2024 marks the observance of the 2ndInternational Day for Disarmament and Non-ProliferationAwareness.

Background:

• On 7 December 2022, the UN General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/77/51 andproclaimed the 5 March of every year as the International Day for Disarmament and Non-ProliferationAwareness.
• The 1st International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness was observed on 5 March2023.
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA):
Under-Secretary-General and High Representative– Izumi NakamitsuHeadquarters– New York, The United States of America(USA).

Union Minister Scindia Inaugurates India’s 1st Green Hydrogen Plant in Stainless SteelSector in Haryana

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ministry of Steel, virtually inaugurated India’s 1st Green HydrogenPlant in the Stainless Steel Sector at Jindal Stainless Limited (JSL) in Hisar, Haryana.The Green Hydrogen plant has been set up by JSLin association with Hygenco Green EnergiesPrivate Limited.
This plant will be the world’s 1st off-grid GreenHydrogen plant for the stainless steel industry andthe world’s 1st Green Hydrogen plant with rooftopand floating solar.
About the Green Hydrogen Plant:The state of the art Green Hydrogen Plant aims toreduce carbon emissions by around 2,700 MetricTonnes per annum and 54,000 tons ofCarbondioxide (CO2) emissions over 20 years.

Features:
• The plant features 350 normal cubic meters perhour (Nm3/hr) alkaline bipolar electrolyser thatoperates fully automated.
• It ensures an average uninterrupted round-the-clock supply of 90 Nm3/hr of green hydrogen usingdedicated solar energy and storage.
• The facility employs an advanced energy management and control system, and Hygenco manages itthrough the Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model.
• The facility has a comprehensive monitoring system, to track hydrogen generation, renewable energyproduction, states of charge, pressure, and temperature.
• This system empowers real-time decision-making, ensuring optimal efficiency.
Points to note:

• Hygenco’s state-of-the-art technology enhances hydrogen yield and also positions the plant to deliver costcompetitive hydrogen.
• The waterbody inside the facility has floating solar panels which will also help in reducing waterevaporation.
• The green hydrogen will be used by JSL in stainless steel manufacturing processes at the Hisar unit.
• The application of green hydrogen in stainless steel manufacturing is a significant step towards a cleaner,greener future.

MoSPI signed a MoU with ISRO’s NRSC to facilitate Urban Frame Survey in DigitalMode

Field Operations Division (FOD) of National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) under the Ministry of Statisticsand Programme Implementation (MoSPI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) withNational Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) under the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) tofacilitate Urban Frame Survey (UFS) in a digital mode.
The state-of-the-art Geo ICT(Information Communication Technology) tools and techniques using BhuvanPlatform will be used for UFS.
Signatories: Subash Chandra Malik, Additional Director General, NSSO, MoSPI, and Dr. Srinivasa Rao S,Deputy Director, Bhuvan Geoportal & Web Services Area (BG&WSA), NRSC signed the MoU in thepresence of Dr. Prakash Chauhan, Director NRSC, and Raushan Kumar Choudhary, Deputy DirectorGeneral (UFS).

About UFS:
• The survey was conducted once in every fiveyears to prepare and maintain a frame ofcompact urban geographical units, which will bethe sampling frame for NSSO large-scale socioeconomic surveys.
• For the preparation of the urban map underUFS, each town is divided into a certain numberof Investigator Units (IVUnits), which arefurther divided into UFS blocks. .
• UFS maps are prepared by drawingboundaries of blocks/wards/IV units/towns onsatellite pictures obtained from the Bhuvanportal using QGIS (Quantum Geographic Information System) software.
About UFS (2022 – 2027):

• The current UFS phase (2022–2027) is planned to conduct survey work in around 8134 towns usingimproved and robust versions of mobile, desktop, and web-based GIS (Geographic Information Systems)solutions built on the Bhuvan Platform.
• The previous UFS phase 2017–22 was conducted for the first time in digital mode, and before that, it wasconducted manually.
About the MoU:
The following works are to be undertaken through the MoU:

• Development/improvement of mobile application for Geo-tagging of NSSO Urban Frame Survey data.
• Creation of a web portal for visualization, data scrutiny, editing, etc., of data submitted through the mobileapplication
• QGIS plug-in development for accessing captured polygons.
• Fine-tuning of block, IV-unit, ward, and town boundaries of UFS using high-resolution satellite imagery.
• Capacity building of NSSO officials by the NRSC.

About National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC):
• NRSC was established in 1974 as National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), a registered society underDepartment of Science & Technology.
• The centre was renamed as NRSC and became a full-fledged centres of ISRO in 2008.
Director– Dr. Prakash Chauhan
Headquarters – Hyderabad, Telangana

Indian Navy Commissions INS Jatayu at Minicoy & India’s 1st MH-60R SeahawkHelicopter Squadron in Kochi

The Indian Navy (IN) commissioned the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Jatayu at Minicoy, the southernmostisland in Lakshadweep. This is the 2nd naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti,the capital of Lakshadweep.
It was commissioned by Admiral Radhakrishnan (R.) Hari Kumar, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS).The CNS R. Hari Kumar also commissioned Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 334 ‘Seahawks’, India’sfirst MH 60R multirole helicopter Squadron, at INS Garuda in Kochi, Kerala.
The first Seahawk squadron of 48 officers and 170 menis commanded by Captain M. Abhisheik Ram. Thesquadron is raised with six helicopters.

About Indian Navy (IN):
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)– AdmiralRadhakrishnan Hari Kumar
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
Founded– January 26, 1950

IAF’s C-17 Aircraft Successfully AirdropsIndigenously Built Platform

Indian Air Force (IAF)’s transport aircraft C-17airdropped an extra long and heavy indigenously developed platformthat can carry a maximum load of over 22 tonnes.
The platform was developed by the Aerial Delivery Research andDevelopment Establishment (ADRDE), which is a pioneer Research& Development (R&D) lab of the Defence Research andDevelopment Organisation (DRDO).
With the ability to carry multiple such platforms, the combatcapabilities of C-17 aircraft will be further enhanced in its variedmissions to air-deliver critical loads to troops on the ground.

6th Jan Aushadhi Diwas – 7th March 2024

The Jan Aushadhi Diwas (Generic Medicine Day) is annually observedacross India on 7th March to create awareness about the importance ofGeneric Medicines and to highlight the benefits of Pradhan MantriBhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
7th March 2024 marks the observance of 6th Jan Aushadhi Diwas.

Background:

• On 7th March 2019, the Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modideclared the 7th March of every year as Jan Aushadhi Diwas.
• The first ever Jan Aushadhi Diwas was observed on 7th March 2019.

About Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers (MoC&F):
Union Minister – Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)Union Minister of State (MoS) – Bhagwanth Khuba (Constituency:Bidar, Karnataka)

PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates Bharat Tex 2024 in New Delhi

Prime Minister(PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated Bharat Tex 2024, the world’s biggest textile event heldfrom 26th to 29th February 2024 at the Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, Delh The event took place in 2 venues, the Bharat Mandapam and YashoBhoomi, two of India’s largest exhibitioncentres.
Bharat Tex 2024 inspired by PM Modi’s 5F Vision(Farm toFibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) was organised with aunified Farm to Fashion focus.

• Textiles Committee, Government e-Marketplace (GeM) andStanding Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE), signedMoU to promote upcycled Products Made From Scrap
• Indian Institute of Management(IIM), Jammu, Jammu andKashmir(J&K) signed a MoU with the National Institute ofFashion Technology (NIFT ) Srinagar, J&K to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in the J&K.

About Ministry of Textile:
Union Minister– Piyush Goyal(Rajya Sabha- Maharashtra)Minister of State– Darshana Vikram Jardosh (Constituency- Surat, Gujarat)

Union Minister Hardeep S Puri inaugurates 201 CNG Stations and India’s First SmallScale LNG Unit of GAIL

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) virtuallyinaugurated 201 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Stations and India’s 1st Small Scale Liquefied NaturalGas (LNG) Unit of GAIL (India) Limited.
Key People:The inaugural event was attended by Union Minister of State (MoS) Rameswar Teli,MoP&NG; Pankaj Jain, Secretary, MoP&NG; Sandeep Kumar Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director(CMD), GAIL; Praveen Mal Khanooja,Additional Secretary, MoPNG.

About CNG Stations:

• The 201 CNG stations were set up by 15 CityGas Distribution (CGD) entities of the GAILgroup in 52 Geographical Areas (Gas) across17 states.
• Distribution breakdown: Out of these 15CGD entities, 53 stations belong to GAIL GasLimited, 50 to Indraprastha Gas Limited, 43 toGAIL and 20 to Mahanagar Gas Limited andothers such as Avantika Gas Limited, BengalGas Company Limited, Uttar Pradesh GasLimited etc.
About LNG unit:

• The LNG unit was set up by GAIL at its Vijaipur Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) plant in Vijaipur,Madhya Pradesh (MP).
• The unit was set up at the project cost of 150 crores.
• It has the potential to connect the isolated gas sources with the market and consumers.
Key Points:
• India aims to increase the share of natural gas in the primary energy basket to 15% by 2030.
• In order to make India a gas-based economy, it is important to develop a National Gas Grid (NGG) andCGD network.
• India also aims to set up 17,500 CNG stations and around 120 million PNG(Domestic) connections by2030.

About GAIL (India) Limited:GAIL (India) Limited is a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry ofPetroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG).
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) – Sandeep Kumar GuptaHeadquarters – New Delhi, DelhiEstablished in – 1984

Japanese Architect Riken Yamamoto Wins Pritzker Architecture Prize 2024

Architect Riken Yamamoto of Yokohama, Japan, has been named the 2024 Laureate of the PritzkerArchitecture Prize, the highest global architectural recognition.
He is the 53rd laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize and the 9th Japanese architect to win the prize.The award includes a cash prize of USD 100,000 and a bronze medallion.Note: Past laureates from Japan are Kenzo Tange(1987 – First Japanese to win the prize); FumihikoMaki (1993); Tadao Ando (1995); Kazuyo Sejima,and Ryue Nishizawa (2010); Toyo Ito (2013);Shigeru Ban (2014); Arata Isozaki (2019).

Award Ceremony:
• Riken Yamamoto will be honoured in Chicago,Illinois, United States of America (USA) in the2024 spring.
• On 16 May 2024, the 2024 Laureate Lecturewill be held at S. R. Crown Hall, Illinois Instituteof Technology (IIT), in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Center, USA.
About Riken Yamamoto:

• He founded the Riken Yamamoto & Field Shop Co., Ltd in 1973 in Japan.
• He served as a Professor at the Department of Architecture at Kogakuin University, Tokyo (Japan) from2002 to 2007 and Professor at the Yokohama Graduate School of Architecture, Yokohama NationalUniversity (Y-GSA) from 2007-11.
• From 2018-2022, he served as President of the Nagoya Zokei University of Art & Design.v He has been serving as a Visiting Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts since 2022.
Noted works: Hotakubo Housing (Kumamoto, Japan, 1991); Future University Hakodate (Hakodate, Japan,2000); Ecoms House (Tosu, Japan, 2004); THE CIRCLE at Zürich Airport (Zürich, Switzerland, 2020);Nagoya Zokei University (Nagoya, Japan, 2022).
About Pritzker Architecture Prize:
• It was established by the Chicago-based Pritzker family through their Hyatt Foundation in 1979. Jay A.Pritzker founded the prize with his wife, Cindy Pritzker.

Indian Writer Amitav Ghosh Awarded the Netherlands’ Erasmus Prize 2024

Eminent Indian Writer and Padma Shri AwardeeAmitav Ghosh was awarded the Erasmus Prize2024 by the Netherlands’ Praemium
Erasmianum Foundation for his writings on theplanetary crisis and climate change.
He was honoured for his contribution to thetheme of the Erasmus Prize 2024 “imaginingthe unthinkable”.

Points to note:
• The theme refers to the expression of theunprecedented global crisis ‘climate change’ inwritten words.
• His writings make the unimaginableconsequences of climate change visiblethrough compelling stories about the past.
About Amitav Ghosh:
• Amitav Ghosh was born in 1956 in Calcutta (Now Kolkata), West Bengal.
• He is famous for connecting the past with the present in relevant ways in his novels.
• His works primarily cover migration, diaspora, and cultural identity.
• His also work demonstrates that the climate crisis is a cultural crisis, caused by a lack of creativity.
Notable Works:
• The Circle of Reason (1986), In An Antique Land (1992), Dancing in Cambodia (1998), The CalcuttaChromosome (1995), The Living Mountain (2022), and Smoke and Ashes (2023).
• His Ibis trilogy consists of Sea of Poppies (2008), River of Smoke (2011), and Flood of Fire (2015). Itnarrates poppy cultivation and opium wars during colonialism in India.
Awards & Honours:
• He was the first English-language writer to be honoured with the Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literaryaward, in 2018.
• He also got Padma Shri in 2007 in the field of ‘literature and education’.
• He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1990 for his book “The Shadow Lines.”
• He was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2008 for his novel “Sea of Poppies”.
• In 2019, Foreign Policy magazine named him one of the most important global thinkers of the precedingdecade.

International Women’s Day 2024- March 8

The United Nations (UN) International Women’s Day (IWD) is annually observed across the globe on 8March to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day aims torenew collective commitment to accelerate women’s equality.
IWD aims to recognise the achievements of womenregardless of their national, ethnic, linguistic,cultural, economic, or political distinctions.

Theme:
• The 2024 theme of IWD is, “Invest in women—accelerate progress.”
• The campaign theme for IWD 2024 is InspireInclusion.
Background:
• In December 1977, the UN General Assembly(UNGA) adopted a resolution and proclaimed the 8March of every year as UN Day for Women’sRights and International Peace.
• The UN officially recognised IWD for the 1st time in 1977.
Points to note:On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2024 (8 March 2024), Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi,announced a reduction of Rs 100 reduction on the price of Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) cylinder witheffect from midnight.

UP CM Yogi Launched MYUVA Program to Nurture Youth Entrepreneurship in UP

Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister (CM) of Uttar Pradesh (UP), has launched theMukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (MYUVA) program to empower young entrepreneurs in UPand promote a culture of innovation and enterprise.
About the MYUVA program:
The MYUVA program is designed to empowereducated and skilled youth across UP and tofacilitate selfemployment opportunities and fosterthe establishment of new Micro, Small & MediumEnterprises (MSMEs).
Objective: To offer support and resources to youngentrepreneurs to kickstart their entrepreneurialventures.
Goal: The aims of the programe is to directlybenefit 10 lakh units over the next 10 years byfinancing 1 lakh units every year.
Eligibility: Beneficiaries trained under government-run schemes, like Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana,One District One Product (ODOP) Training and Toolkit Scheme, Scheduled Caste(SC), ScheduledTribe(ST), Other Backward Class (OBC) Training Scheme, and Skill Upgradation (Kaushal Unnayan) runby the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission are eligible for the assistance under MYUVA.

Financing:

• The program offers interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for projects in the industry and service sectors.
• To support this program, UP government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore in the budget for the financial year2024-25 (FY25).
• Upon successful repayment of the first loan, the individual will be given a loan of double the initialamount or up to Rs 7.50 lakh.
• The funding will be provided through nationalized, scheduled, rural banks, Small Industries DevelopmentBank of India (SIDBI) and all financial institutions notified by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The provided loan will be covered under the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises(CGTMSE).

VMC, Civic body of Gujarat, issues Asia’s 1st Certified Green Municipal Bond

Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), a civic body of Gujarat, has raised Rs 100 crore (USD 12.07million) by issuing Asia’s first certified green municipal bond for Sustainable Water Infrastructure.VMC, with a semi-annual coupon rate of 7.90% on the issue, invited bids from investors, setting a newstandard in green finance.

Note:

• The bond was opened for bidding on theElectronic Bidding Platform (EBP) of BSE(Bombay Stock Exchange).
• This is the 2nd issue of bonds by Vadodara, afterits first issue was oversubscribed by 10 times.
Key points:

• The funds generated will be dedicated toconstructing and enhancing liquid wastewatermanagement infrastructure throughout Vadodara,reflecting a commitment to sustainable urbandevelopment.
• The bonds are rated AA+ STABLE by IndiaRatings, and have received a green security certificate from the Climate Bond Initiative.
• Utilisation of proceeds for projects contributing to improved air and water quality through the collection,treatment, and reuse of sewage water.
• SBI Capital Markets and Tipsons Consultancy Services are the arrangers of the bond issue.
• Officials from the United States (US) Treasury Department provided technical assistance for thefundraising, underlining the global significance of this initiative.

Kerala Launches ‘CSpace’, India’s 1st Government-Owned OTT Platform

Kerala Chief Minister (CM) Pinarayi Vijayan has launched India’s first government-owned OTT (over-thetop) platform, ‘CSpace‘, at an event held at the Kairali Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
About CSpace:
CSpace is managed by Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC), a state-owned companyresponsible for the promotion of the Malayalam cinema industry on behalf of the Department of CulturalAffairs, Government of Kerala.

Curator panel:
• The curator panel consists of 60 members from cultural background constituted by KSFDC for selectingand approving the content.
• The list of curators includes Benyamin, OVUsha, Santhosh Sivan, Shyamaprasad, SunnyJoseph, and Jeo Baby.
• The three curators from the panel will evaluateevery content that is submitted to the platform forits artistic, cultural, and infotainment merit.
• The content will be featured on the platformafter the curator’s recommendations.
Note: For the first phase of CSpace, the curatorsselected 42 films, including 35 feature films, sixdocumentaries, and one short film.
Revenue Sharing Methodology:

• It operates on a pay-per-view basis and allows viewers to watch a feature film for Rs 75 and shorter contentfor a much lesser price.
• Exactly half of the amount charged goes to the content provider.

Sea Defenders-2024; India-USA Maritime Security Exercise held at Port Blair

‘Sea Defenders-2024’, the comprehensive maritime security exercise between the Indian Coast Guard(ICG) & United States Coast Guard (USCG) was successfully concluded at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar(A&N) Island on 9th March 2024.
Aim of the Exercise: To enhance maritimecooperation and interoperability between ICG &USCG.

Key Points:
• ‘Sea Defenders-2024 exercise covered varioussituations like pollution response, showcasingfirefighting and damage control skills, practice toneutralize asymmetric threats related to dronethreats and shipboard emergencies.
• The exercise also witnessed Visit Board Searchand Seizure (VBSS) Operations for inspectingvessels suspected of illegal activity and medicalevacuation exercises to enhance readiness inemergency situations.
• The joint exercise allowed both ICG & USCG to refine their skills and improve their ability to worktogether in a coordinated manner.

USCG Ship Bertholf:
• USCGC Bertholf, a Legend-class maritime security cutter, participated in the exercise by engaging inharbour activities, sea exercises and cross-visits
• Bertholf is equipped with advanced technology and weaponry such as a helicopter landing pad, state-ofthe-art sensors and communication equipment.About Indian Coast Guard (ICG):

Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG) – Rakesh Pal
Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Established in – 1977
Motto – Vayam Rakshamah (We Protect)

RPF Holds the Largest Share of Women Personnel among CPF

The Railway Protection Force (RPF), established in 1957 under the Ministry of Railways (MoR), has thelargest share of women personnel (9%) among Central Paramilitary Forces (CPF) in India.
These women personnel are specially trained to ensure safetyand provide assistance to female passengers in distress. The measures taken by RPF for women personnel includesInfrastructure Developments (designed for the special needsof women officers) and Nomination of Female NodalOfficers at all Zones/Units for the redressal of grievances ofFemale personnel.
The different operations of RPF includes – Meri Saheliinitiative, Operation Matrishakti, Operation AAHT (AgainstHuman Trafficking), Operation Nanhe Farishtey and OperationDignity

Sweden Officially Joins NATO as it’s 32nd Member

Sweden officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), becoming the alliance’s 32ndmember. With this, Sweden ends decades of post-World War II neutrality and 200 years of non-alignmentwith major powers.Note: This decision comes in the wake of securityconcerns in Europe following Russia’s invasion ofUkraine in February 2022.

Key Points:

• Sweden now benefits from the protectionprovided under Article 5 of the NATO Treaty,which guarantees the freedom and security of itsallies.
• Swedish accession strengthens the NATO’sdefence on the northern flank.

About North Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO):
NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance ofcountries from Europe and North America.
Objective- To safeguard the freedom and security of its members through both political and military means.Secretary General– Jens Stoltenberg
Established in 1949
Members– 32 countries(30 from Europe & 2 from North America).

PM Narendra Modi presents 1st National Creators Award in New Delhi

Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modipresented the inaugural National Creators Award(2024) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi in Delh
These awards aim to honor excellence and impactacross various domains, serving as a catalyst forpositive change through creativity.
The first National Creators Award event saw 23winners including 3 international creators.
The awards were presented in the 20 categories,following voting round.