IPL 2023

 16th edition of " Indian Premier League " ( TATA IPL 2023) starts today

Last year, the IPL saw 10 teams competing against each other to secure the highly coveted trophy. The newcomers, Gujarat Titans, clinched the title by defeating Rajasthan Royals in the final match. Lucknow Super Giants, another debutant team, secured the third spot, while Royal Challengers Bangalore finished in fourth place. However, two of the T20 league's heavyweights, Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, had a disappointing run and finished in the bottom two places of the table .

The IPL is about to undergo a significant change as the broadcast rights of the league move into a new phase. While the Star Sports Network has the rights to televise the league, Viacom18 will broadcast the matches on digital platforms .

This year , IPL will be broadcasted for free on Jio Cinema across mobile networks. Among the potential title contenders, the franchise led by Hardik Pandya is considered one of the top favorites. After winning the IPL title in their debut season, the Gujarat Titans, led by Hardik Pandya, will look to repeat their successful strategies and emerge victorious in the expanded 10-team competition.

IPL 2023

Creator: https://pixy.org/ 

Copyright: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Last season, Gujarat Titans not only lifted the IPL 2022 trophy but also executed a well-planned campaign among all their competitors. They won 10 out of 14 league games, finished at the top of the points table, and secured the best outcome of 20 points. After leading Gujarat Titans to victory, Pandya's status has grown, earning him the permanent captaincy job for India's T20Is, and even a chance in ODIs. Meanwhile, their young batsman Shubman Gill has cemented his position as a natural selection in at least two of the three international formats.

Pandya and Gill were the leading run-scorers for Gujarat Titans, with 487 and 483 runs respectively. The team relied on Mohammad Shami, who took 20 wickets, and Rashid Khan, who took 19 wickets, as their primary bowlers.

Although Gujarat Titans have released Lockie Ferguson, they still have a strong team with Ireland's Josh Little, West Indies' Alzarri Joseph, Shivam Mavi, Yash Dayal, and a few others. The absence of Ferguson is not expected to significantly impact the team's performance.

Match schedule :

[ Time - IST ]

Friday 31 March : Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings, Ahmedabad (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Saturday 1 April : Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Mohali (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Saturday 1 April : Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals, Lucknow (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Sunday 2 April : Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, Lucknow (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Sunday 2 April : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians, Bengaluru (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Monday 3 April : Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Tuesday 4 April : Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans, Delhi (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Wednesday 5 April : Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings, Guwahati (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Thursday 6 April : Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Friday 7 April : Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Saturday 8 April : Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals, Guwahati (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Saturday 8 April : Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Sunday 9 April : Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Ahmedabad (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Sunday 9 April : Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings, Hyderabad (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Monday 10 April : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Lucknow Super Giants, Benglaruru (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Tuesday 11 April : Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians, Delhi (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Wednesday 12 April : Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Chennai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Thursday 13 April : Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans, Mohali (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Friday 14 April : Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Saturday 15 April : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Delhi Capitals, Bengaluru (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Saturday 15 April : Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings, Lucknow (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Sunday 16 April : Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Sunday 16 April : Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Rouyals, Ahmedabad (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Monday 17 April : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings, Bengaluru (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Tuesday 18 April : Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians, Hyderabad (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Wednesday 19 April : Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants, Jaipur (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Thursday 20 April : Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mohali (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Thursday 20 April : Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Friday 21 April : Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Saturday 22 April : Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans, Lucknow (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Saturday 22 April : Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings, Mumbai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Sunday 23 April : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals, Bengaluru (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Sunday 23 April : Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Monday 24 April : Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals, Hyderabad (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Tuesday 25 April : Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians, Ahmedabad (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Wednesday 26 April : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Bengaluru (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Thursday 27 April : Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, Jaipur (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Friday 28 April : Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants, Mohali (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Saturday 29 April : Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans, Kolkata (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Saturday 29 April : Delhi Capitals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Sunday 30 April : Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings, Chennai (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Sunday 30 April : Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Monday 1 May : Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Lucknow (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Tuesday 2 May : Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals, Ahmedabad (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Wednesday 3 May : Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians, Mohali (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Thursday 4 May : Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Giants, Lucknow (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Thursday 4 May : Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Hyderabad (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Friday 5 May : Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans, Jaipur (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Saturday 6 May : Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians, Chennai (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Saturday 6 May : Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Sunday 7 May : Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants, Ahmedabad (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Sunday 7 May : Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Jaipur (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Monday 8 May : Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, Kolkata (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Tuesday 9 May : Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Wednesday 10 May : Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Chennai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Thursday 11 May : Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Friday 12 May : Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans, Mumbai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Saturday 13 May : Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants, Hyderabad (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Saturday 13 May : Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings, Delhi (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Sunday 14 May : Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Jaipur (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Sunday 14 May : Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Monday 15 May : Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Ahmedabad (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Tuesday 16 May : Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians, Lucknow (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Wednesday 17 May : Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals, Dharamshala (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Thursday 18 May : Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Hyderabad (Starts at 7:30 PM3pm BST)

Friday 19 May : Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, Dharamshala (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Saturday 20 May : Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings, Delhi (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Saturday 20 May : Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata (Starts at 7:30 PM)

Sunday 21 May : Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai (Starts at 3:30 PM)

Sunday 21 May : Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Titans, Bengaluru (Starts at 7:30 PM)

News360 - 30th and 31st March , 2023 | Daily Current Affairs

 1. CCI approves acquisition of share capital of NSPIRA Management Services Pvt Ltd by Puneet Kothapa, Ponguru Sindhura & Ponguru Sharani

Puneet Kothapa, Ponguru Sindhura, and Ponguru Sharani have been given the green light by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to acquire the share capital of NSPIRA Management Services Private Limited. This share capital was previously held by NHPEA Minerva Holding BV, which held 18.23%, and Banyantree Growth Capital II, LLC, which held 2.24%.

Puneet Kothapa is the Managing Director (MD) of NSPIRA Management Services Pvt. Ltd, while P. Sindhura serves as a Director and a Promoter of the company. P. Sharani holds 25.83% of the shareholding in the company on a fully diluted basis.

The Acquirers, namely Puneet Kothapa, Ponguru Sindhura, and Ponguru Sharani, are targeting the acquisition of NSPIRA Management Services Pvt. Ltd, while NHPEA Minerva Holding BV and Banyantree Growth Capital II, LLC are the Sellers of the share capital. As of now, the Acquirers have a combined shareholding of 79.48% in NSPIRA Management Services Pvt. Ltd.

2. CCI approves Acquisition of Shareholding of JM Baxi Ports & Logistics Limited by HL Terminal Holding B.V.

The acquisition of a specific shareholding of JM Baxi Ports and Logistics Limited by HL Terminal Holding B.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hapag Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft, has been approved by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

The Acquiring Entity is HL Terminal Holding B.V., and the Target of the acquisition is JM Baxi Ports and Logistics Private Limited. The proposed transaction falls under Section 5(a) of the Competition Act, 2002.

Acquiring Entity’s Purpose :

(i) The proposed transaction is part of HL Terminal Holding B.V.’s group’s ‘Prepare for Tomorrow’ strategy, whereby the Acquirer Group intends to invest in port terminals to stabilise cash flows and remain competitive in the global landscape.

(ii) India, which has the fastest-growing economy and provides an appealing environment for an investment of this kind, is a major strategic market for the Acquirer Group.

Target’s Purpose :

(i) Target is looking for a partner to support the growth of the internally synergetic business of terminals and inland logistics.

(ii) The Proposed Transaction will help Target raise capital for the expansion of its businesses.

3. DoCA constituted Committee to Monitor Stock Disclosure of Tur; Chaired by Nidhi Khare

A committee has been set up by the Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), which falls under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, to oversee the stock of Tur (Arhar) held by millers, traders, importers, and other related entities. Nidhi Khare, Additional Secretary at the DoCA, will head the committee.

The committee will work alongside state governments to monitor the stock of Tur. The decision to form the committee was made following reports that market players were holding onto stocks despite consistent arrivals of substantial imports, causing a spike in Tur prices.

As of March 27, 2023, the average daily retail price of Tur across India was recorded at Rs 114.44 per kg, representing an 11.47% increase from March 2022. The average daily wholesale price of Tur across India was recorded at Rs 10,462.03 per quintal, representing a 12.48% increase from March 2022.

Important :

The formation of this committee is a demonstration of the government's efforts to combat hoarding and unethical speculation in the market and to regulate the prices of Tur over the upcoming months. It is worth noting that on August 12, 2022, the government issued an advisory to the States/Union Territories (UTs) to mandate stock disclosure concerning Tur under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Additionally, to ensure smooth and seamless import of Tur, the government has eliminated the 10% duty imposed on Tur imports from non-LDC (Least Developed Countries) countries. This duty has been known to create procedural obstacles, even for zero-duty imports from the LDCs.

4. EPFO Marginally Increases Deposit Interest Rate to 8.15% for FY23

In an attempt to benefit almost 6 crore subscribers, the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has proposed a new interest rate of 8.15% for Provident Fund deposits for the current fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23). 

This proposed rate is slightly higher by 0.05% than the previous year's rate of 8.10%, which was the lowest in four decades. Notably, this is the first interest rate hike in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) since 2018-19, when it was raised to 8.65% from 8.5%. 

However, compared to previous years, the current rate hike of 0.05% is relatively small. The last time a similar hike of 0.05% was made was in 2015-16, when the rate was raised from 8.75% to 8.8% .

5. Bhupender Yadav launches e-passbook for EPFO members, inaugurates crèche facility in 63 regional offices of EPFO

An e-passbook has been launched by the Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, MoLW, to provide convenience and benefits to EPFO members. This feature allows members to access graphical representations of their account information .

Important :

(i) The Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, MoLW, inaugurated crèche facilities in 63 regional offices of EPFO that have 100 or more employees .

(ii) The foundation stone for the Regional Office building in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh was laid by him .

(iii) Additionally, he virtually inaugurated the Regional Office building in Keonjhar, Odisha .

6. ICAR & World Bank issue Delhi Declaration on modernisation of Agricultural Education System

During the closing session of the International Conference on Blended Learning Ecosystem for Higher Education in Agriculture 2023 (ICBLE 2023) in New Delhi, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the World Bank jointly released the Delhi Declaration to modernize the agricultural education system in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP).

Important :

(i) The Delhi Declaration highlights the need to incorporate digital resources and tools for effective accessible teaching and learning in agriculture .

(ii) This also shifts the focus towards creating a renewed and resilient system for gender-inclusive and sustainable education that will facilitate India’s agriculture education sector .

(iii) This also highlights that Multidisciplinary technology-facilitated education should be promoted and the policies on Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEAM) in agricultural higher education need to be transformed .

The National Agricultural Higher Education Project's (NAHEP) Resilient Agricultural Education System (RAES) development initiative included the first-ever International Conference on Blended Learning Ecosystem for Higher Education in Agriculture 2023 (ICBLE 2023), which was jointly organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the World Bank. The conference, aimed at promoting blended learning initiatives in agricultural higher education, was held for three days from March 21 to 23, 2023, at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, located in the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC) in New Delhi, Delhi .

Objectives :

(i) To deliberate on strategies to operationalize a blended learning ecosystem for Agricultural higher education

(ii) To deliberate upon the sustainability of the blended learning ecosystem through private-public partnerships in alignment with market need and demand

(iii) To deliberate among stakeholders to formulate mechanisms for continuous improvement of cross-sectorial integration of the blended learning ecosystem

Themes :

(i) Strategies for blended teaching-learning

(ii) Technologies for blended learning

(iii) Sustainability in the blended learning ecosystem

(iii) Building stakeholder capacities to navigate in a blended teaching-learning ecosystem

(iv) Contemporary curriculum for agricultural education

7. Government extends PAN-Aadhaar linking deadline to June 30, 2023

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) announced on March 28, 2023, that the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has decided to extend the deadline for linking Permanent Account Number (PAN) with Aadhaar from March 31, 2023, to June 30, 2023 .

Section 139AA(2) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 mandates every individual who has been assigned a PAN as of July 1, 2017, to link their Aadhaar Number with PAN. The MoF informed that as of March 28, 2023, more than 51 crore PANs have already been linked with Aadhaar .

8. IAF Participated in " Exercise Cobra Warrior " for The First Time

India made its maiden participation in "Exercise Cobra Warrior", which was conducted at the Waddington Air Force Base of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the United Kingdom (UK) from March 6–24, 2023.

Finland and Saudi Arabia have also made their maiden appearances in the exercise.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent of 145 Air Warriors participated in Exercise Cobra Warrior, which is the biggest multilateral air exercise held bi-annually by the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom. The IAF contingent included five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, and an IL-78 mid-air refueller aircraft.

Participants : 

RAF and the IAF, as well as air forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, the United States of America (USA), and Singapore.

Aim :

The aim of the exercise is to participate in a range of fighter aircraft encounters and learn from the top strategies employed by other air forces.

This exercise included high-intensity, large-force, and tactical air warfighting operations.

The RAF provided Surveillance, Multi-Engine Tactics, Qualified Weapons Instructor Courses, Qualified Space Instructor Courses, and other training during the exercise.

9.  MoD & BEL signs Rs 1700 crore Contract for 13 Lynx-U2 Fire Control Systems for Indian Navy

A contract worth Rs 1,700 crore was signed by MoD on 30th March 2023 with BEL for the procurement of 13 Lynx-U2 Fire Control Systems for the Indian Navy. The contract falls under the Buy Indian – IDMM category.

The Lynx-U2 System is an indigenous Naval Gun Fire Control System, which is a 4th generation complete indigenous system capable of accurately tracking and engaging targets amidst sea clutter and air/surface targets. It will be installed on New Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels, built indigenously at Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers and Goa Shipyard Limited, and is expected to create employment for around 2 lakh man-days over a period of 4 years. 

This initiative will also promote the participation of Indian industries, including Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and contribute to the Indian government's efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence.

10.  MeitY approves setting up of Electronics Manufacturing Cluster at Dharwad in Karnataka

On 24th March 2023, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Electronics & Information technology(MeitY), announced  that MeitY has approved to set up Rs 180 crore worth Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at at Kotur-Balur Industrial Area in Dharwad, Karnataka, which is expected to create over 18,000 jobs.

The Modified Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) scheme is facilitating the setup of a project that is expected to attract investments worth over Rs 1,500 crore soon. Already, 9 businesses, including start-ups, have committed to investing Rs 340 crore, and the project has the potential to create employment for 2,500 people. The EMC 2.0 scheme, which was introduced on 1st April 2020, aims to develop world-class infrastructure and shared testing facilities. The scheme has already approved 3 EMC projects covering an area of 1,337 acres, with a total project cost of Rs 1,903 crore, including Central financial assistance of Rs 889 crore. These projects are expected to attract an investment of Rs 20,910 crore.

11. PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates 13.7km Whitefield-KR Pura Metro Line in Bengaluru

On 25th March 2023, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister(PM) of India, inaugurated the 13.7 kilometres (Km) commercial operations of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapuram Metro stretch in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The operations started on 26th March 2023.

This is the 2nd largest Metro network in India after Delhi Metro and Whitefield is the first tech corridor connected by Metro in Bengaluru.

The KR Puram-Byappasahalli section (2 km) remains to be connected by BMRCL. Currently, the Whitefield Metro section operates as a separate line. Once completed, the 13.7 km stretch will reduce travel time by 40%, benefiting around 5-6 lakh people who commute to IT parks, export promotion industrial areas, malls, and hospitals. The maximum fare between Whitefield and KR Puram is set at Rs. 35, and the journey time is expected to be 22 minutes. With the commissioning of this new stretch, Bengaluru's Metro network will expand to 69.6 km and 63 stations.

12. Humza Yousaf sworn in as Scotland’s First Minister; Scotland’s 1st Muslim Leader

On 29th March 2023, Pakistani-origin Humza Yousaf (37), the new leader of the Scotland National Party (SNP), was legally sworn in as the new First Minister of Scotland at the Court of Session, Edinburgh. Humza Yousaf is the 1st Muslim to lead a democratic western European nation(Scotland).

He is the 6th politician to occupy the position and will now be the Keeper of the Scottish Seal after taking the oath of office and pledging his allegiance to King Charles III.

Humza Yousaf succeeded Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland, who resigned from her post in February 2023.

About Humza Yousaf  :

Born on 7th April 1985 in Glasgow, Scotland, Humza Haroon Yousaf's father, Muzaffar Yousaf, hails from Pakistan, while his mother, Shaista Bhatta, was born in Kenya. At the age of 25, he started his political career as the youngest Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow in 2011.

Since 2012, he has held various ministerial positions in the Scottish Government and joined the cabinet as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in June 2018. In 2021, he was appointed as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

During his decade-long tenure with the Scottish National Party (SNP), he served as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development, Minister for Transport and the Islands, and most recently, as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.

Throughout his political journey, Humza Yousaf has been a strong advocate for social justice, equality, and human rights. In 2012, he played a pivotal role in passing the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act, which legalized same-sex marriage in Scotland.

In 2016, Humza Yousaf was awarded the Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam award, one of Pakistan's highest civilian honours, by then President Mamnoon Hussain, in recognition of his efforts to improve the relationship between Scotland and Pakistan.

13. Union Home Minister Amit Shah attends 84th Raising Day of CRPF in Chhattisgarh

As the Chief Guest, Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs, attended the 84th Raising Day ceremony of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on March 25, 2023, in Jagdalpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh. 

During the event, he presided over the parade and inaugurated the Prasar Bharati’s news bulletin in the local Halbi language for the Bastar Division. 

The CRPF originated as Crown Representative's Police on July 27, 1939, and later became the Central Reserve Police Force on December 28, 1949, upon the enactment of the CRPF Act. As India’s largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), with around 3.25 lakh personnel, the CRPF is responsible for national internal security operations in three primary areas : Left Wing Extremism (LWE), counter-insurgency activities in the Northeast, and anti-terrorism activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

14. UN’s First International Day of Zero Waste - 30th March 2023

The United Nations(UN)’s first ever International Day of Zero Waste was observed on 30th March 2023 to create awareness about the importance of zero waste and encourage everyone to prevent and minimize waste and promotes a societal shift towards a circular economy.

The day also recognises the contribution of responsible consumption and production practices and urban waste management in achieving sustainable development goals(SDGs).

The day is jointly facilitated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).

News360 - 28th and 29th March , 2023 | Daily Current Affairs

 1. NALCO & BARC Releases India’s 1st Bauxite CRM ‘BARC B1201’

The National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Mines and India’s leading manufacturer and exporter of alumina and aluminium, announced the release of BARC B1201 - the first Certified Reference Material (CRM) for bauxite in India and fifth in the world. This groundbreaking CRM was launched at the NALCO Research & Technology Centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on March 24th, 2023.

BARC B1201 was developed through a collaboration between NALCO and the National Centre for Compositional Characterization of Materials (NCCCM) at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Hyderabad, Telangana. During the launch event, M.P. Mishra, Director (Projects & Technical) of NALCO, and Dr. A.C. Sahayam, Head of Division of NCCCM, jointly unveiled the new CRM.

The BARC B1201 CRM is expected to have a significant impact on industries, research laboratories, and academic institutions, as it can be used as a calibration standard to evaluate analytical methods, instrument performance, and data quality control in routine bauxite analysis. This development is also seen as a crucial step towards import substitution and furthering India's technological capabilities in the field.

2. MoD signs Rs 3,000 crore Contract with BEL for Procurement of 2 Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems ‘ Project Himshakti ’

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has recently entered into a contract with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) of Hyderabad, Telangana, on 24th March 2023. The contract involves the procurement of 2 Integrated Electronic Warfare Systems, which fall under the Buy [Indian - IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)] category. The project, called "Project Himshakti," comprises contemporary and niche technologies and will have an overall cost of approximately Rs 3,000 crore.

"Project Himshakti" will provide opportunities for Indian Electronics and associated industries, including sub-vendors of BEL from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to participate. The project aligns with the government's Make-in-India initiative, as it represents a significant advancement in developing indigenous capabilities and turning India into a self-reliant nation  or  "Aatmanirbhar " .

3. LVM3-M3 OneWeb India-2 Mission: ISRO Successfully Launches 36 OneWeb Gen-1 Satellites from SDSC, AP

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) achieved a successful launch of the 'LVM3-M3 OneWeb India-2 Mission' on March 26, 2023. The launch took place from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) Sriharikota Range (SHAR) in Andhra Pradesh (AP).

This launch marked the deployment of ISRO's heaviest rocket, LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark Three), which carried 36 OneWeb Gen-1 satellites with a total payload of 5,805 kg. These satellites are the property of the OneWeb Group, based in London, United Kingdom (UK). Each OneWeb Gen-1 satellite belongs to the 150 kg class.

After the launch, LVM3 successfully placed these satellites in their intended 450 km circular orbit with an inclination of 87.4 degrees. This successful launch is a remarkable achievement for ISRO and a significant milestone for India's space program.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, is embarking on its second commercial satellite mission. This entails launching 72 satellites for its customer, Network Access Associates Ltd (M/s. OneWeb Group) from the UK, into Low-Earth orbits (LEO). Once in orbit, the satellites will be distributed among 12 planes at approximately 1,200 km from Earth's surface. To prevent the risk of inter-plane collision, each plane will be separated by a distance of 4 km. OneWeb Group's initial launch of 36 satellites took place on October 23, 2022, and is part of its effort to create a low earth satellite constellation to enable enhanced connectivity for governments and businesses

The OneWeb Group company has now completed its 18th launch, with the third of the year 2023, bringing its total fleet of satellites to 618.

ISRO has completed its second mission of the year 2023, following the successful launch of the SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle)/D2-EOS07 mission in February 2023.

The LVM3 has now completed its sixth flight. Previously known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle MkIII (GSLVMkIII) with a cryogenic upper stage, it has the capacity to launch satellites weighing up to 10 tons. It stands tall at 43.5 meters and weighs 643 tons.

Notably, Bharti Enterprises is a significant investor in the OneWeb group.

4. General Manoj Pande Presents 'President's Standards' to 4 Armoured Regiments

At the Standards Presentation Parade held at Suratgarh Military Station in Rajasthan on March 25, 2023, General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff, presented the esteemed 'President's Standards' (Nishan) to four Armoured Regiments of the Indian Army: 49 Armoured Regiment, 51 Armoured Regiment, 53 Armoured Regiment, and 54 Armoured Regiment. The parade featured a mounted display by the four Armoured Regiments, showcasing their tanks.

Indian Army Armoured Corps :

The Armoured Corps is a combat unit recognized by the Indian Army, formed in 1947 from two-thirds of the personnel and assets of the Indian Armoured Corps of the British Indian Army. Currently, it consists of 67 armoured regiments, including the President's Bodyguards.

About the President's Standard :

The President's Standard is a prestigious recognition bestowed upon a military unit by the Supreme Commander in recognition of its outstanding service to India. This award is the highest honour that can be conferred upon a relatively smaller military structure or unit and is equivalent in status to the President's Colours.

5. GoI Launches NRCP for Prevention and Control of Rabies

The National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) was launched by the Government of India (GoI) with a focus on preventing and controlling the spread of rabies. The NRCP strategies, as released by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), include the provision of rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin through free drug initiatives at a national level, training for appropriate animal bite management, prevention and control of rabies, surveillance and coordination between various sectors, strengthening animal bite and rabies death reporting, and creating awareness about rabies prevention.

Other Efforts for Rabies Prevention and Control :

The Government of India has undertaken various initiatives to prevent and control rabies. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in conjunction with the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, has launched the " National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (NAPRE) from India by 2030 " .

The management and control of the stray dog population falls under the jurisdiction of local governments, and to address this, the Government of India has drafted the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, which will be implemented by local governments. These rules aim to curb the population of stray dogs through anti-rabies vaccinations and neutering.

The Supreme Court of India has ordered all state governments to actively implement the ABC (Dogs) Rules, 2001, and establish State Level Monitoring Committees and District Level Monitoring Committees to address issues related to stray dogs in their respective local bodies.

To ensure effective implementation of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has released revised guidelines and advisories.

6. PM lays foundation stone & dedicates development projects worth Rs. 1780 crores in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

(i) On 24th March 2023, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, laid the foundation stone and dedicated development projects worth more than Rs. 1780 crores in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh(UP) during the programme organised at Sampurnanand Sanskrit University ground.

This is in line with the efforts towards transforming the landscape of Varanis and enhance the ease of living for the people living in Varanasi and adjoining cities.

(ii) During his visit, He also participated in the “One World TB Summit” organised as a part of the World TB Day(24th March 2023) at Rudrakash Convention Centre in Varanasi, UP.

(iii) PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the Passenger Ropeway from Varanasi Cantt station to Godowlia in Varanasi.

The estimated cost of the projects is around Rs 645 crores.

The 3.75 kilometer(Km) ropeway system with 5 stations will facilitate the ease of movement for tourists, pilgrims and residents of Varani.

(iv) Prime Minister Modi also initiated several developmental projects in Varanasi. These include the construction of a 55 MLD sewage treatment plant at Bhagwanpur, which will be built at a cost of Rs 300 crores under the Namami Ganga Scheme.

(v) The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the Phase 2 and 3 of the redevelopment work of Sigra Stadium under the Khelo India Scheme. He interacted with the winners of the Khelo Banaras competition and announced plans for new sports facilities for the youth of Banaras. Additionally, he mentioned the establishment of an International cricket stadium in Varanasi.

(vi) The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) bottling plant at Isarwar village, Sewapuri. This plant will be built by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited and is expected to fulfill the demands for gas cylinders in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Western Bihar, benefitting numerous beneficiaries.

(vii) Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Prime Minister dedicated 19 drinking water schemes, which will benefit more than 3 lakh people in 63 Gram Panchayats.

Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of 59 drinking water schemes under the Mission. To strengthen the rural drinking water system .

News360 - 26th and 27th March , 2023 | Daily Current Affairs

 1. CCEA Approves Targeted Subsidy to PMUY Consumers

The CCEA, headed by PM Narendra Modi, has sanctioned a targeted subsidy of Rs. 200 per 14.2 kg LPG cylinder for PMUY beneficiaries, with a maximum of 12 refills per year. 

The total cost for the fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24 will be Rs. 6,100 crore and Rs. 7,680 crore, respectively. 

This subsidy is available to all PMUY beneficiaries and aims to encourage the use of LPG. The subsidy amount will be directly credited to the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries. Public-sector oil marketing firms such as Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL) have been offering this subsidy since May 22, 2022.

2. GoI Approves Setting Up of Electronics Manufacturing Cluster at Hubli-Dharwad in Karnataka

The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), led by Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has granted permission for the establishment of an Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) worth Rs. 180 crore in Dharwad District, Karnataka. 

The project, set up at Kotur-Balur Industrial Area in Dharwad under the Modified Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) scheme, is expected to create more than 18,000 employment opportunities and attract investments worth over Rs. 1,500 crore. 

The strategic location advantage of this EMC with excellent connectivity through NH-48 (1 km) and Hubli Domestic Airport (33 km) is expected to lower the logistics and transportation costs for the industry. Nine companies, including start-ups, have already committed to investing a total of Rs. 340 crore, which could lead to the creation of 2,500 jobs. The GoI has also approved a Common Facility Centre (CFC) in Mysore, Karnataka, for the development of an advanced testing facility to meet the industry's varied testing needs. Karnataka, which already has Apple plants in Kolar (Wistron) and Devanahalli (Foxconn), is fast emerging as a global electronics manufacturing hub.

3. MoU signed between Ministry of Ayush, ECHS for Integrating Ayurveda at 10 Polyclinics

The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Exservicemen Welfare/Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS/DoESW), a division of the Union Ministry of Defence (MoD), to integrate Ayurveda as an OPD service in 10 ECHS Polyclinics for a period of five years. 

The 10 polyclinics, located in Ambala (Punjab), Mysore (Karnataka), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Nagpur (Maharashtra), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Chennai (Tamil Nadu), Meerut (Uttar Pradesh), Danapur (Bihar), and Allepey (Alappuzha) (Kerala), will provide the infrastructure required for Ayurveda OPDs at suitable locations. 

The Ayush Ministry will provide technical guidance, support, and essential Ayurveda medicines, as well as enroll Ayurveda doctors and pharmacists for their engagement. The ECHS/DoESW will engage with Ayurveda specialists, medical officers, and paramedical staff on a contractual basis and provide necessary ancillary staff (administrative, clerical, and multi-tasking staff). Joint working groups comprising representatives from the Ministry of Ayush and ECHS/DoESW, MoD will be formed under the MoU to establish the OPDs.

The Ayurveda centres are already present in 37 cantonment Hospitals, 12 military hospitals of AFMC (Armed Forces Medical College) - Formed through two MoUs signed by the Ministry of Ayush and MOD in 2022.

Ayurveda OPD in Army Hospital Research And Referral (AH R&R), Air Force (AF) Hospital Hindan (Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh ) and five ECHS polyclinics - Formed via 2019 MoU  Ministry of Ayush and MOD.

4. NHIDCL & CSIR-SERC signs MoU for Innovative Highway Engineering

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR-SERC) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 23, 2023, to collaborate and share knowledge on innovative ideas and technologies in the field of highway engineering. 

The MoU was signed by NHIDCL's Managing Director (MD), Chanchal Kumar, and CSIR-SERC's Director, Dr. N. Anandavalli, to establish the basis of collaboration between the two entities for common interests, which include R&D activities in the road sector, sharing knowledge on innovative ideas and technologies in the field of highway engineering, and other infrastructure works on mutually agreed terms and conditions.

5.  PM Inaugurated new ITU Area Office & Innovation Centre in New Delhi; Launched 6G R&D Test Bed, CBuD App

On March 22, 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area office and Innovation Centre at a program held in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. 

During the event, he launched the Bharat 6G (6th Generation) Vision Document and unveiled the 6G Research and Development (R&D) Test Bed. 

Additionally, the Prime Minister launched the 'Call Before You Dig' App, which helps prevent unnecessary digging and damage to underlying assets, such as optical fiber cables, which costs the country approximately Rs. 3000 crore each year due to uncoordinated digging and excavation. 

The CBuD app connects excavators and asset owners via SMS/email notifications and click-to-call, facilitating coordinated planning and ensuring the safety of underground assets. The app aligns with the PM's vision of integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects under " PM Gati Shakti " .

6. Former Brazilian President Dilma Vana Rousseff to head BRICS Bank

Former President of Brazil Dilma Vana Rousseff was unanimously elected as the President of the New Development Bank (NDB), previously known as the BRICS Development Bank, by the Board of Governors on March 24, 2023. 

Rousseff's appointment as the President of NDB takes effect immediately and she will serve in this capacity until 2025. She succeeds Marcos Troyjo, who stepped down as the President of NDB on the same day.

News360 - 25th March , 2023 | Daily Current Affairs

 1. SYR of the IPCC AR6 Report Climate Change 2023: Underscores Need of Immediate Climate Action Plans

The ‘Synthesis Report (SYR) of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) Climate Change 2023' (Summary for Policymaker)’ released on March 21, 2023, by the United Nations’ (UN) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), highlights the prompt need to make more aggressive climate actions as the ongoing worldwide environment activity plans over the most recent 5 years are insufficient for example “insufficient” in restricting an Earth-wide temperature boost to 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) above pre-modern levels.

The report sums up the condition of information on climate change, its boundless effects and dangers, and climate change alleviation and variation.

The typical temperatures had proactively contacted 1.1 °C over the pre-modern times.

(i) Out of the 1.1°C temperature increase, around 1.07 degree Celsius was contributed by human exercises.

(ii) The aggregate net CO2 transmitted by the world from 1850 to 2019 was around 2400±240 GtCO2 (gigatonnes of carbon dioxide), in which 58% (the greater part) happened somewhere in the range of 1850 and 1989, and around 42% happened somewhere in the range of 1990 and 2019.

(iii) The report referenced the requirment of profound, fast and supported GreenHouse Gas (GHG) outflows decreases in all areas for continuing to warm to 1.5°C above pre-modern levels.

(iv) It likewise demands to cut GHG discharge by close to half by 2030, assuming that warming is to be restricted to 1.5°C.

Normal yearly GHG outflows during 2010-2019 were higher than in any earlier ten years, while the pace of development somewhere in the range of 2010 and 2019 was around 1.3% each year.

(v) Global surface temperature was 1.09°C higher in 2011-2020 than 1850-1900 with bigger increments over land (1.59°C ) than over the sea (0.88°C).

(vi) Global surface temperature in the initial twenty years of the 21st 100 years (2001-2020) was 0.99°C higher than 1850-1900.

(vii) Almost half of the total populace lives in districts that are profoundly defenseless against environmental change.

(viii) The last 10 years, passings from floods, dry spells and tempests were multiple times higher in exceptionally weak locales.

2. CCI approves LIC AMC’s Acquisition of Management Rights of IDBI MF Schemes

On 22nd March 2023, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) approved the LIC Mutual Fund Asset Management Limited(LIC AMC)’s acquisition of the rights to manage and administer the schemes of IDBI Mutual Fund (IDBI MF) from IDBI Asset Management Limited (IDBI AMC).

The Proposed Transaction is an acquisition of a business division (i.e., assets) under Section 5(a)(i)(A) of the Competition Act, 2002.

The proposed deal entails LIC AMC’s right to manage and administer the schemes of IDBI MF from IDBI AMC. It additionally covers LIC TC's securing of the trusteeship privileges of the plans of IDBI MF from IDBI TC.

Subsequently, the IDBI MF schemes will form a part of LIC MF, with LIC TC as the trustee company for the IDBI MF schemes and LIC AMC as the asset management company for the IDBI MF schemes.

Aside from single amount thought, IDBI AMC will procure a specific non-controlling shareholding in LIC AMC.

3. Indian President visits Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep: 16th to 21st March 2023 

Droupadi Murmu, President of India, visited Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep between the 16th and 21st March 2023.

(i) On sixteenth Walk 2023, the president visited the natively constructed present day plane carrying warship Indian Maritime Boat (INS) Vikrant.

During her visit to Kerala, She additionally presents the President's Colour to INS Dronacharya in Kochi, Kerala.

(ii) On seventeenth Walk 2023, she visited the Mata Amritanandamayi Math in Kollam and later went to the civic reception facilitated in her distinction in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

(iii) On 18th March 2023, she paid tribute at Vivekananda Smarak and the statue of Thiruvalluvar and visited the Vivekananda Kendra in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

On 18th March 2023, the President also attended another civic reception hosted in her honour in Kavaratti, Union Territory(UT) of Lakshadweep.

4. MoPSW Launches 'Green Tug Transition Programme’; India Aims to Become a Global Hub of Green Ship Building by 2030

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW), has announced the "Green Tug Transition Plan" (GTTP), in order to make India a "Global Hub for Green Ship Building” by 2030.

The GTTP programme would convert all tugboats operating in India into "Green Hybrid Tugs," running on non-fossil fuel like Methanol, Ammonia, and Hydrogen.

GTTP will first transform tugs into green hybrid tugs powered by hybrid propulsion systems, and thereafter adopt non-fossil fuel alternatives.

5. Navies of India, UK hold Bilateral Maritime Exercise 'Konkan 2023'

From March 20-22 Konkan 2023, an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom (UK), was held off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea.

Participants :

IN : INS (Indian Naval Ship) Trishul, a guided missile frigate

Royal Navy:  HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate of the Royal Navy

6. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates ‘Sagar Manthan’, the Real-time Performance Monitoring Dashboard of MoPSW

On March 23, 2023, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) virtually launched Real-time Performance Monitoring Dashboard of MoPSW.

It was introduced in the actual presence of  Minister of State (MoS) Shripad Yesso Naik, MoS, MoPSW; MoS Shantanu Thakur, MoPSW and other officials from the ministry.

7. Multi-Domain Air-Land Exercise Vayu Prahar was jointly conducted by Indian Army & Air Force

The Indian Army and Indian Air Force(IAF) jointly conducted the multi-domain 96-hour Air-Land Exercise “Vayu Prahar” along the Line of Actual Control(LAC) in the eastern command during the 2nd week of March 2023. Along with IAF, Army formations and special forces participated in the exercise.

8. World Meteorological Day - 23rd March 2023

The United Nations(UN)’s World Meteorological Day (WMD) is yearly seen across the globe on 23rd March to spread mindfulness about the way of behaving of the World's environment and to accentuate the job of people and their activities in safeguarding the climate of the Earth.

9. World Tuberculosis Day 2023 - March 24

World Tuberculosis Day is every year seen across the globe on 24th March to make mindfulness about the staggering wellbeing, social and monetary outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) and the endeavors to end the worldwide TB pandemic.

World TB Day 2023 is observed on 24th March 2023 under the theme “Yes! We Can End TB!”.

News360 - 24th March , 2023 | Daily Current Affairs

 1. PM Narendra Modi, Sheik Hasina Initiated first Cross-line Energy Pipeline IBFP between India and Bangladesh

On 18th March , 2023, the Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM, Sheik Hasina together initiated (virtually) the 131.5-kilometer-long India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFP), the first cross-line energy pipeline among India and Bangladesh.

The IBFP is a cross-line pipeline that interfaces Siliguri in West Bengal, India to Parbatipur in the Dinajpur region of Bangladesh.

The send off of the pipeline denotes the second cross-line energy pipeline among India and its neighbors.

2. MoHUA made 'City Finance Rankings 2022' Entry Live - to Evaluate , Recognize , and Reward ULBs

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has made the gateway 'City Finance Rankings 2022' www.cityfinance.in/rankings, live on 20th March, 2023, to evaluate , recognize , and reward Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) across India based on the nature of their ongoing monetary wellbeing and improvement over the long haul in monetary execution.

The entryway will enable the ULBs across India to take part in the Rankings through a completely advanced (entirely digital), 100 percent paperless, process.

3. NTPC REL signs MoU with IA for execution of Green Hydrogen Projects in Army Establishments

NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL), an subsidiary of NTPC Ltd, has gone into a settlement with the Indian Army (IA) to foster green hydrogen drives at military foundations through a Build, Own, and Operate (BOO) game plan.

As a component of this cooperation, potential areas will be together recognized for the development of green hydrogen projects that will create electricity.

This arrangement is the first such initiative of its kind to help line security by giving energy security to India's defence lines.

Aim :

To lessen complex strategies, reliance on non-renewable energy sources and to speed up decarbonization.

4. INS Androth : Second Ship of ASW SWC Sent off in Kolkata

On 21st March, 2023, the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Androth, the second in a series of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) was sent off in Kolkata, West Bengal. The send off was directed by VAdm Dinesh K Tripathi, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-IN-C) West.

INS Androth was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd. (GRSE), Kolkata, West Bengal.

They are 77.6 m long, have an uprooting of 900 tons with a greatest speed of 25 knots.

The ship was named Androth to mean the sea significance agreed to the island of Androth, which is situated around 170 Nm north-west of Kochi, in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.

5. L20 Takes on Joint Proclamations in Its Commencement Meeting in Amritsar, Punjab

The Labour-20 (L20) engagement group of the G20 (Group of Twenty) adopted two joint statements as the ultimate outcome of the two-day discussions at its inception meeting in Amritsar, Punjab, as part of India's G20 Presidency. The two joint statements are as follows -

(i) Joint Explanation on Universalisation of Social Secuirity

(ii) Joint Explanation on Women and the Future of Work

The joint assertions encouraged G20 nations to determine the issue of social security portability and to address the gender gap in the global workforce.

During the gathering,  trade union leaders, labour studies experts, and delegates from over 20 countries discussed social security, gender gap, and labour migration as a move towards worker welfare.

Labour-20 (L20) :

(i) The L20 is one of the G20 Engagement Groups that advocates for the interests of workers at the G20 level. The L20 summit first took place formally during the French Presidency in 2011.

(ii) As India is the official host for the G-20 in 2023, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, India’s largest trade union, has been appointed chair to host the L-20.

Hiranmay Pandya is the Seat of L20 in 2023.

(iii) India holds the G20 Administration from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023.

The theme for India's G20 Administration is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".

6. Visit of Japan's PM Fumio Kishida to India : March 20-21, 2023

On March 19-21, 2023, Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister (PM) of Japan, paid a two-day visit to India and held the 'Japan-India Summit Meeting 2023' with PM of India Narendra Modi, to examine ways of fortifying respective participation in various fields, including guard and security, exchange and venture, and high innovation.

PM Fumio Kishida met with PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Delhi, to examine needs as Japan accepts the G7 (Group of Seven) administration in 2023 and India holds the G20 (Group of Twenty) administration in 2023.

This is Kishida's second visit to India as Japan's PM.

The year 2022 honored the 70th commemoration of the conciliatory relations among India and Japan.

Japan's PM, Fumio Kishida, examined the  “Japan-India Special Strategic and Global Partnership”  and endeavors to understand a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" (FOIP), with an emphasis on India's rising noticeable quality in the  Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Fumio Kishida introduced the 41st Sapru House Lecture on "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)," and furthermore visited Delhi's Buddha Jayanti Park.

He has had conversations with PM Modi considering the forthcoming G7 Summit in Hiroshima in May 2023 and the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023.

7. World Water Day 2023 -  22nd March

The United Nations(UN)'s World Water Day(WWD) is yearly seen across the globe on 22nd March to make mindfulness and motivate activity against the water and sterilization emergency across the globe.

The day likewise celebrates water and makes mindfulness about the 2 billion individuals who are right now living without admittance to safe water.

The very first World Water Day was observed on 22nd March 1993.

The idea of World Water Day was first discussed during the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Worldwide Mission of WWD 2023 :

The worldwide mission of WWD 2023 "Be the Change you want to see in the World" urges individuals to make a move in their own lives to fundamentally have an impact on the manner in which they use, polish off and oversee water.

News360 - 21st March , 2023 | Daily Current Affairs

 1. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare , Narendra Singh Tomar , holds Bilateral Meetings with the Ministers of Guyana, Suriname, Zambia, Mauritius and Sri Lanka

On March 19, 2023, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, held bilateral meetings with counterparts from various countries such as Guyana, Suriname, Zambia, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka who participated in the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference 2023 in New Delhi.

(i) Meeting with Guyana's Agriculture Minister :

During the meeting with Guyana's Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustafa, Union Minister Tomar emphasized that agriculture is a crucial area of cooperation between the two countries. Guyana has vast arable land and water availability, while India has the technology, expertise, and skilled workforce, which will mutually benefit the two nations. India is keen to share its expertise and experience in the development of agriculture and allied sectors in Guyana, for which an MoU is under finalization. India has assured that it will consider Guyana's request for the nomination of two experts to ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) from India for two years to help the Guyana Sugar Corporation management and revive the sugar estates/plants in Guyana at the earliest.

(ii) Meeting with Suriname's Minister of Agriculture :

During the meeting with Suriname's Minister of Agriculture, Parmanand Prahlad Sewdien, Union Minister Tomar noted that 2023 marks the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in Suriname. India's exports of agri-related goods to Suriname in 2021-22 were USD 4.34 million.

(iii) Meeting with Zambia's Minister of Agriculture :

During the meeting with Zambia's Minister of Agriculture, Reuben Mtolo Phiri, Union Minister Tomar highlighted that Zambia is one of the few African countries that has greatly benefited from India's development cooperation program. India is one of the major investors in Zambia with dedicated investments of over US$ 5 billion. India provides scholarships for various higher education courses, ITEC training opportunities, and special capacity-building programs under the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) along with Exim Bank credit, Railway Wagons, Flood Relief Grant, and Line of Credit.

(iv) Meeting with Mauritius's Minister for Agri-Industry and Food Security :

During the meeting with Manish Gobin, Minister for Agri-Industry and Food Security, Mauritius noted that people of Indian origin comprise around 70% of the Mauritius population of 1.2 million. India is one of the largest trading partners of Mauritius. Bilateral trade grew by 69% to reach USD 786.72 million in 2021-22. Diplomatic relations between India and Mauritius were established in 1948.

(v) Meeting with Agriculture Minister of Sri Lanka :

Various agricultural topics were discussed during the meeting with Sri Lanka's Agriculture Minister, Mahinda Amaraweera. India has been one of Sri Lanka's largest trading partners, and Sri Lanka is one of India's largest trading partners in SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation).

2. RBI has Conceded Authorization for Banks from 18 Countries to Exchange INR :

60 applications from correspondent banks in 18 different countries have been approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) to settle payments in Indian rupees (INR). 

These correspondent banks are located in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Fiji, Germany, Guyana, Israel, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Russia, the Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom (UK).

Vostro account – A  “ Vostro ” account is an account that a domestic bank holds for a foreign bank in the currency of the domestic bank, which in India is INR . Rupee Vostro Accounts allow a foreign entity to keep its holdings in Indian banks in INR .

When an Indian importer makes a payment in INR to a foreign trader, the amount is deposited to this Vostro account. When an Indian exporter gets paid for supplying goods or services, the amount will be withdrawn from this Vostro account and credited to the exporter’s account.

Special Vostro Accounts – Normal Vostro Accounts only function as transit accounts, whereas Special Vostro Accounts permit the maintenance of INR (Indian Rupee) balances .

3. PM Narendra Modi Initiates Global Millets (Shree Anna) Meeting 2023 in New Delhi , Delhi

On Walk 18, 2023, the two-day Global Millets (Shree Anna) Gathering 2023 was officially initiated by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi at Subramaniam Corridor , National Agriculture Science Complex (NASC) Complex, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Campus, PUSA New Delhi, Delhi,to promote millets exports from India and give producers access to the market . 

Indian millets are famously alluded to as "Shree Anna" in the worldwide market .

The meeting was coordinated by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI).

India is the largest producer  of millet . Its significant millet-developing states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and so forth .

Millet filled in India is Pearl Millet , Sorghum, Finger Millet and minor Millets like Proso Millet, Kodo Millet, Little Millet, Foxtail Millet, Browntop Millet, Farm Millet, Amaranthus and Buckwheat .

India is sending out millet to 139 nations across the globe .

The significant bringing in nations were the United States of America (USA), Australia, Japan, Belgium and so on in 2011-12 which had been moved to Nepal (USD 6.09 million), United Arab Emirates UAE (USD 4.84 million) and Saudi Arabia (USD 3.84 million) in FY22.

India's export of millet is 64 million USD FY22. There is an expansion in the export of Millets by 12.5 % during the period April-December 2023 when contrasted with a similar period last year .

4. International Day of Happiness 2023 - 20th March

The United Nations(UN)’s International Day of Happiness is yearly seen across the globe on 20th March to perceive satisfaction , the fundamental goal of humans and to highlight its importance in the lives of people around the world . 

The theme of International Day of Happiness 2023 is “ Be Mindful, Be Grateful, Be Kind ”.

5. Sports News :

WPL  - MIW vs DCW [ Delhi Capital Women won by 9 wickets ]

Top Scores :

MIW : Pooja Vastrakar - 26 (19)  , Issy Wong - 23 (24)

DCW : Alice Capsey - 38 (17) , Shafali Verma - 33 (15)

Top wicket takers :

MIW : Hayley Matthews - 1/27 (2)

DCW : Marizanne Kapp - 2/13 (4) , Shikha Pandey - 2/21 (4)

Player of the match : Marizanne Kapp