NATIONAL NEWS
Union Minister Gadkari to inaugurate pilot project for Hydrogen based advanced fuel cell electric vehicle
The Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate the pilot project for Hydrogen based advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle. This will be the first of its kind project in India that aims at spreading awareness about Hydrogen. The country has been committed to cleaner energy and the low-carbon pathway for achieving accelerated economic growth. Hydrogen is known to be a key element of the energy strategy and also plays a key role in the low-carbon energy pathways. Transportation powered by Green Hydrogen is also going to be a key technology option of the future with significant application.
Prime Minister of Japan to visit India on March 19 Japan and India will cement their economic cooperation during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to India on March 19, 2022. Both leaders will also share their assessments on the crisis in Ukraine and Indo-Pacific. Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to India is a continuation of the physical summit between PM Modi and PM of Japan which was canceled due to the orchestrated protests in Assam because of the Citizenship Amendment Act. During the Japanese Prime Minister’s visit to India, he is expected to address a business event where the possibility of expanding the bullet-train project beyond the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor will be discussed. An early date for Prime Minister Modi and the Japanese Prime Minister meeting was sought by the Japanese side despite the global turmoil because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tamilnadu Petroproducts became world’s first LAB manufacturing company to get BIS certification
TPL (Tamilnadu Petroproducts Ltd.) is the world’s first linear alkylbenzene (LAB) manufacturing company to be certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). TPL’s ‘Superlab’ brand is one of the most well-known laboratory brands in the country. TPL’s position as the market leader and the only authorised seller of the chemical in India will be bolstered by the certification. LAB can be used to make biodegradable detergent, making it a more sustainable option than conventional detergent formulations.
Ajay Bhushan Pandey appointed as chairman of the NFRA
Ajay Bhushan Pandey has been appointed as the chairman of the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) for a period of 3 years. Pandey, a 1984-batch Maharashtra cadre IAS officer, retired as revenue secretary in February last year. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of former revenue secretary ABP Pandey as the chairperson of NFRA for a period of three years from the date of assumption of charge or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years. The NFRA acts as an independent regulator for the auditing profession. The body has powers to review the financial statement of companies, can seek explanations and probe irregularities with respect to accounting and auditing issues. The setting up of the NFRA, envisaged under the Companies Act, 2013, was approved by the Cabinet in May 2018.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
7.4 magnitude earthquake hits north Japan
In Japan, 4 people were killed and 97 others were injured in a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Fukushima in Northern Japan on March 16, 2022. The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida stated that 4 people died during the quake and the cause of their deaths is being investigated. He further added that the train partially derailed between Fukushima and Miyagi because of the quake, however, nobody was injured. Japan was devastated by a deadly 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami 11 years ago. It had killed 18,000 people and had caused nuclear reactor meltdowns, spewing massive radiation.
16 Chinese Nationals granted Indian Citizenship since 2007
A total of 16 Chinese Nationals have been granted Indian citizenship since the year 2007. According to the data available in the online citizenship module, 10 applications of Chinese nationals are pending for the grant of citizenship. The latest development was shared by the Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. He further said that the Overseas Citizen of India Cardholders and the Person of Indian Origin cardholders are entitled to the multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India.
