NATIONAL NEWS
Haryana’s CM announced ‘Sushma Swaraj Award’ for women
Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, while presenting the state budget, has announced a ‘Sushma Swaraj Award’ for women for their significant achievements or contribution in different walks of life in the international and national spheres. The Sushma Swaraj Award will carry an award money of Rs 5 lakh along with a commendation. Sushma Swaraj was a lawyer of the Supreme Court as well as an Indian politician. She was a senior member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, served as India’s Minister of External Affairs during the first Narendra Modi government (2014–2019). After Indira Gandhi, she was the second woman to occupy this position.
Karnataka government launched the ‘Women@Work’ program
The government of Karnataka has launched the ‘Women@Work’ program to provide five lakh jobs within 2026 to women with necessary employable skills. The program aims to focus on the efforts of corporate programs on attracting women workforce. It has been developed by Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) in association with KTECH, Karnataka Skill Development Corporation. It will act as an enabler for women to actively participate and join the workforce through industry upskilling. All efforts are being made to provide 5,000 jobs for women as part of the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission and added that the government is keen to actualise this mission in the coming days.
Ashwani Bhatia (SBI MD) appointed as an SEBI member
The cabinet has appointed Ashwani Bhatia, managing director (MD) of the State Bank of India (SBI), as a whole-time member (WTM) of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). According to some sources, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has also approved Ashwani Bhatia’s appointment as a whole-time member of SEBI for three years from the date of his assumption of the command. According to the sources, with Ashwani Bhatia’s appointment as a Whole-time member, the Securities and Exchange Board of India now only needs to appoint one Whole time member. In August 2020, Ashwani Bhatia, who will be retiring in May 2022, that is this year, was promoted to the post of managing director of State Bank of India.
NaBFID to be regulated as AIFI under RBI Act
Reserve Bank of India has announced that National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) will be regulated and supervised by it as an All India Financial Institution (AIFI) under the RBI Act, 1934. NaBFID will be regulated and supervised by RBI as an AIFI under Sections 45L and 45N of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. Presently RBI has four AIFIs under it namely EXIM Bank, NABARD, NHB and SIDBI. NaBFID will be the fifth AIFI under RBI. NaBFID has been set up as a Development Financial Institution (DFI) to support the development of long-term infrastructure financing in India.
Star Health and Allied Insurance launched ‘Star Women Care Insurance Policy’
Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited, a health insurance company launched “Star Women Care Insurance Policy”. It is a woman-centric comprehensive health cover specially designed to protect the healthcare needs of women at every stage of their lives. The policy can be purchased through premiums that can be paid in quarterly or half-yearly instalments, and this policy can also be taken for 1 year, 2 year or 3-year terms. The Star Women Care Insurance Policy is available as both an individual policy and a floater policy. Individual Sum– Insured only for females aged between 18 years and 75 years. Floater Sum Insured – Adult 18 years to 75 years with at least one female in the family along with the spouse and dependent children.
CRISIL projected GDP growth forecast at 7.8% for 2022-23
Domestic rating agency CRISIL retained its real GDP growth forecast at 7.8% for the fiscal year 2023, as compared with the 8.5% projected in the Economic Survey. FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget proposals focused on loosening the purse strings by boosting capital expenditure and going slow on fiscal consolidation are aimed in the right direction. The agency expects the nominal growth to come at 12-13%, higher than the 11.1% Budget Estimate, and the headline inflation to average 5.2%.
SPORTS NEWS
India finishes at the top in 2022 ISSF World Cup
India has taken first place in the medal standings at the ISSF World Cup 2022 in Cairo, organised by the International Shooting Sport Federation. By winning a total of seven medals, the Indian team took first place in the medals tally, with four gold, two silver, and one bronze. Norway took second place in the medals tally with six medals (three gold, one silver, and two bronze). France came in third place with three gold medals out of a total of twenty.
Famous Golfer Tiger Woods inducted into World Golf Hall of Fame
Famous Golfer, Tiger Woods was formally inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. The 46-year-old Woods entered the storied hall as part of the Class of 2022 along with retired PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, U.S. Women’s Open champion Susie Maxwell Berning and Marion Hollins, a U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and golf course architect who was recognised posthumously. During his career, Woods has broken many golfing records, establishing himself as arguably the greatest golfer of all time. He has won 15 majors, surpassed only by Jack Nicklaus’ 18, as well as a joint-record 82 wins on the PGA Tour.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
International Day of Women Judges: 10 March
March 10 marks the International Day of Women Judges. On this day, the United National reaffirms its commitment to develop and implement appropriate and effective strategies and plans for the advancement of women in the judicial system and institution at the managerial and leadership level. UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5 is Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls. Their goal is to achieve progress across all Development goals and to add a gender perspective to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
IMF board approves $1.4 billion emergency support for Ukraine
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved $1.4 billion in emergency support for Ukraine to finance expenditures and shore up the balance of payments. Ukraine has turned to financing from allies and international institutions to support its economy after the Russian invasion began on February 24. The disbursement under the IMF’s Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI), equivalent to 50% of Ukraine’s quota in the IMF, will help fund urgent spending needs in the short term, while helping to catalyze financing from other partners.
