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NATIONAL NEWS 

List of Padma Awards winners 2022

President of India Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Padma Awards 2022 at a civil investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today. Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was honoured with the Padma Bhushan award in the field of Public Affairs, while SII MD Cyrus Poonawalla received the Padma Bhushan, in the field of Trade & Industry.

India-Australia Summit: What will be on agenda?PM Narendra Modi and Australian PM Scott Morrison will hold the 2nd India-Australia Summit virtually on March 21, 2022. The two leaders are expected to discuss regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific region. They are also expected to commit to closer cooperation in critical minerals, in trade, migration, and mobility among others.

NTAGI recommends gap reduction between two doses of Covishield

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization has recommended the Union Health Ministry to reduce the COVID-19 vaccine Covishield’s duration of the second dose somewhere between 8-16 weeks after the first dose. As per the present guidelines, the second dose of the Serum Institute of India’s vaccine is given after a time period of 12-16 weeks of the first dose. However, this was just a recommendation from NTAGI and no decision has been taken so far. The purpose is to ramp up the vaccination. The Indian Government on the recommendations of NTAGI in May 2021 had extended the gap between two doses of the Covishield from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks.

Government considering alternative educational measure for Indian students returning from Ukraine

The Chief Minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai has said that the Central Government is considering alternative measures for medical students who have returned from Ukraine. The Chief Minister said that the course in Ukraine is different from that in India. The Union Government has been thinking about their future seriously as it involves the future of students from various states. The final rites of Naveen Shekharppa, who died in a shelling attack in Ukraine, were performed in Haveri on March 21, 2022. The Chief Minister was also present during the final rites.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

WTI Awards 2021 to be conferred to 75 women entreprenuers

The 5th edition of the Women Transforming India Awards (WTI) will be held today from 7-9 pm today. A total of 75 women achievers will be honoured with WTI Award 2021 for their contribution towards a ‘Sashakt Aur Samarth Bharat’. 

International Day of Forests 2022 observed

International Day of Forests was observed on March 21, 2022. The 2022 theme of the day is “Forests and sustainable production and consumption”. The day is significant as it aims to spread awareness regarding the importance of forests and its sustainable use. 

China Eastern flight MU573 crashes in China carrying over 130 people

A Boeing 737-800 carrying around 133 passengers crashed into a mountain in China’s Guangxi region earlier today, causing a massive fire in the region. There are no reports yet on survivors. The plane had taken off from Kunming at around 1.11 pm and wash scheduled to land at Guangzhou around 3 pm.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Challenge’ launched by Minister Hardeep Singh

Under the Ministry’s Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0, Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri launched the ‘India WaterPitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Challenge.’ This comes after the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ceremonial launch of AMRUT 2.0 on October 1, 2021, stakeholder discussions in Lucknow (during MoHUA’s Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav festivities), and Cabinet approval of the Mission on October 12, 2021. At India Habitat Centre, MoHUA hosted the ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-up Conclave,’ a first-of-its-kind networking platform for entrepreneurs, young innovators, industry partners, incubators, and states/cities. During the conclave, Union Minister HUA announced a startup challenge on the MyGov platform.

ISRO organized Young Scientist Programme “YUVIKA” for students

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is organizing a special programme for school children called “Yuva Vigyani Karyakram” (YUVIKA) or “Young Scientist Programme”. Aimed at creating awareness about emerging trends in science and technology, this programme is expected to encourage more students to pursue research and a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

In Ahmedabad, PM inaugurates the 11th Khel Mahakumbh

The 11th edition of the Khel Mahakumbh was started on Saturday at Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi claimed that he appointed Khel Mahakumbh as Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2010. Khel Mahakumbh, which began in Gujarat in 2010 with 16 sports and 13 lakh participants, now includes 36 general sports and 26 para-sports. The 11th Khel Mahakumbh has received over 45 lakh registrations. Due to COVID-19, we were not able to organize Khel Mahakumbh. Started in 2010 with 16 sports & 13 lakh participants, Khel Mahakumbh increased to 36 general sports & 26 para-sports in 2019.”

Geetanjali Shree’s translation ‘Tomb of Sand’ nominated for International Booker Prize

Author Geetanjali Shree’s translated Hindi novel “Tomb of Sand” is among 13 books long-listed for the International Booker Prize. It is the first Hindi language work of fiction to make it to the long list of the prestigious literary prize. The book was originally published as ‘Ret Samadhi’ and translated into English by Daisy Rockwell. It will compete for the GBP 50,000 prize, which is split evenly between the author and translator.

India’s 1st ever GI-tagged Kashmir carpets flagged off to Germany

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched quick response (QR) code for its GI-tagged Kashmiri carpet, to preserve the authenticity and genuineness of the hand-knotted carpets. The main objective of this QR Code attached to the GI tag is to help in reviving the sheen and glory of the Kashmiri carpet industry. The QR code will contain relevant information of the artisans, manufacturer, weaver, district, raw material used etc. Since the QR code label cannot be copied or misused, it will discourage the counterfeit production of carpets. Meanwhile, the first-ever consignment of GI-tagged hand-knotted carpets were exported to Germany from New Delhi on March 11, 2022. It must be noted that the Kashmiri carpets were granted GI-tag in June 2016 by the Geographical Indication Registry of the Department of Industry Promotion and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, but the registered carpets were certified from 2022.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

New Zealand restarts tourism

The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern has announced that the country is ready to welcome the world back. Most tourists are allowed to return by May as the nation eases its covid-19 restrictions. The tourists from Australia, under the new timeline, will be able to visit from April 12 and the tourists from other visa-waiver countries can visit from May 1, 2022. Notably, the tourists from non-waiver countries including China and India will need to wait unless they already have valid visitor visas. The tourists visiting New Zealand must be vaccinated and must be tested negative for the virus before leaving their home country and again after arriving in New Zealand.

Indonesia-Philippines earthquake

Earthquake tremors were felt on Monday in western Indonesia and the capital region of the Philippines before Japan. No immediate tsunami warning was issued. The US Geological Survey said a 6.7-magnitude quake was felt in Indonesia, with its epicenter about 169 km west of Pariman at a depth of 16 km. Pariman is a district located in the West Sumatra Province. The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said a 6.4-magnitude quake was felt in the Philippines’ capital region and outskirts of the province.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Morgan Stanely projects India’s GDP for FY23 at 7.9% 

Rating Agency Morgan Stanely has projected India’s GDP growth forecast for 2022-23 (FY23) at 7.9%. This is 50 bps less than its earlier projection due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on oil prices. Furthermore, Stanley raised the country’s retail inflation estimate to 6%, meanwhile, current account deficits are seen to widen by 3% of GDP. India is affected through three key channels – higher prices for oil and other commodities; trade, and tighter financial conditions, influencing business/investment sentiment. Analysts at the brokerage also raised their inflation forecast to 6 per cent – the upper end of the tolerance band for the RBI – and flagged stagflation risks because of the ongoing events.

EPFO lowers interest rate on PF deposits to 8.1% for 2021-22

The retirement fund body, Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has slashed the interest rate on provident fund deposits to 8.10% for 2021-22. This rate is 0.4% lower than the previous year. The interest rate on PF deposits was 8.5% in 2020-21 and 2019-20. This is the lowest in more than four decades. EPFO had credited 8.0% as interest rate in 1977-78. Since then, it has been either 8.25% or more. The interest rate of 8.1% has been declared based on EPFO’s estimated income for the year at Rs 76,768 crore and this will leave the retirement fund body with a surplus of Rs 450 crore. The move is expected to hit the earnings of over sixty million EPFO subscribers.

Global Investment in Digital Shopping 2021: India ranked 2nd

According to the London & Partners analysis of Dealroom. Co-investment data, India is the second-largest global venture capital investment hub for digital shopping companies, growing by a whopping 175% from $8 billion in 2020 to $22 billion in 2021. On a global scale, India came in second to the US last year, which attracted $51 billion in investment, followed by China at third with $14 billion and the UK at fourth with $7 billion. Within India, Bengaluru comes out on top globally with $14 billion worth of Venture Capital (VC) investments in digital shopping in 2021, followed by Gurugram at No. 7 with $4 billion and Mumbai at No. 10 with $3 billion.

J&K Bank bagged National Award for SHG Bank Linkage

Union Minister of Rural Development, Giriraj Singh honoured the Jammu and Kashmir Bank (J&K Bank) with the “National Award for Outstanding Performance for FY 2020-21” in recognition of its best performance in Self-Help Group Bank Linkage. Kirti Sharma, Zonal Head, Delhi, J & K Bank, accepted the award on the bank’s behalf from Union Minister Giriraj Singh. The award was presented during the event organized as a part of International Women’s Day (8th March 2022) at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, Delhi. In line with the Bank’s commitment to extend banking facilities and financial services into the under-banked areas of Jammu and Kashmir, J&K Bank has commissioned 4 Business Units (Bus) in the region.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

United National Security Council calls the meeting to assess Ukraine situation

The United Nations Security Council, at the request of 6 western nations, will meet on March 17, 2022. The 6 countries sought an open session on Ukraine ahead of an expected vote on a Russian humanitarian resolution on March 18, 2022. The mission has posted the flags of 6 council nations requesting the UNSC meeting. The six countries are the US, Norway, Ireland, UK, France, and Albania. UN Mission of the United Kingdom also tweeted that Russia is committing war crimes and targeting civilians. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat for all. On the other hand, Russia proposed a Security Council Resolution on March 15 that would demand the protection of civilians in vulnerable situations in Ukraine and safe passage for humanitarian aid and people.

Karolina Bielawaska crowned Miss World 2021

Poland’s Karolina Bielawaska was crowned Miss World 2021 at the 70th edition of the beauty pageant at San Juan, Puerto Rico. USA’s Shree Saini and Olivia Yace of Cote d’Ivoire were the first and the second runners-up respectively. India’s Manasa Varanasi failed to make it to the top 6, she was included in the list of top 13 at the 11th position. 

 

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.

 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Cyclone Asani to hit Andaman on March 21st

Cyclone Asani is likely to hit the Andaman & Nicobar Islands on March 21st. A low-pressure area. Which was formed on March 15, is expected to move east-northeastwards. After hitting Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Cyclone Asani is expected to move towards Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Kalpana Chawla’s Birth Anniversary observed today

Kalpana Chawla was born on March 17, 1962 in Karnal, Haryana. The Indian American astronaut was one of the seven crew members on board the ill-fated STS-107 flight,  the 28th and final flight of Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. The Colombia Space Shuttle disintegrated upon its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere on February 1st, just 16 minutes before touchdown. Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian-origin woman and second Indian to fly to space.

Offshore Patrol Vessels ICGS Saksham commissioned at Goa

Defence Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar commissioned the Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Saksham. It is the 5th in the series of 105 metre Offshore Patrol vessels Class, at Goa. It has been designed and built indigenously by the Goa Shipyard Limited and is fitted with advanced technology, navigation and communication equipment, sensors, and machinery. The vessel has been equipped with an Integrated Bridge System, Power Management system, integrated platform management system, and High-power external fire-fighting system. It has been designed to carry a twin-engine helicopter and four high-speed boats including the two inflatable boats.

Supreme Court upholds decision on One-Rank-One-Pension for defence forces

The Supreme Court of India has upheld the Central Government’s decision on One-Rank-One-Pension for the defense forces. The apex court did not find any form of constitutional infirmity on the OROP Principle and the notification of November 7, 2015. According to the Supreme Court bench, the policy decision of the Central Government of OROP is not arbitrary and it is not for the court to go into the policy matters of the government. The court also directed that the pending re-fixation exercise of OROP must be carried out from July 1, 2019.

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.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

What Is MetaWorldPad?

The MetaWorldPad is a new launchpad that will aid development and growth of the Metaverse ecosystem. It will enable investors to invest in infrastructure and other projects in the Metaverse space, giving the community first access to the building blocks of the future. The MetaWorldPad token will enable the crypto investors to access revolutionary projects and innovations such as next-generation P2E games, blockchain projects and NFTs. 

Who is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe?

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is British-Iranian National, who was arrested by the Iranian Government on April 3, 2016 on charges of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government. Despite her denying the charges, she was detained for six years. She was finally released by the Iranian government following months of negotiations and allowed to leave Tehran on March 16 along with another British-Iranian national, Anoosheh Ashoori, who was detained in 2017 on spying charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison. They were renunited with their loved ones after severan years. 

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Bhagwant Mann takes oath as Punjab Chief Minister at Khatkar Kalan

Bhagwant Mann took oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab earlier today in an exclusive ceremony at Khatkar Kalan, the ancestral village of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. He has become the first non-Congress, non-Akali Chief Minister of Punjab. During his swearing-in ceremony, he pledged to begin work from today itself, to fulfil the promise they have made to the people of Punjab. 

ISRO Young Scientist Program 2022

ISRO Young Scientist Program (YUVIKA) 2022 Registrations have begun and the last date to apply online is April 10th. The Yuviko 2022 program aims to basic knowledge on space science and its applications to school students, especially those from rural areas. The two-week program will be held during the summer holidays.

India’s Jhulan Goswami becomes first bowler to claim 250 wickets in Women’s ODIs

Jhulan Goswami has become the first-ever bowler to take 250 wickets in Women’s ODIs. She achieved the feat during India’s World Cup match against England. She is also the all-time highest wicket-taker in the history of the Women’s World Cup with 40 wickets. 

Central Government grants permission to Reliance Jio, Bharat Airtel, Vodafone and MTNL for conducting 5G Technology trials

The Union Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan has announced that the Government of India has granted permission to Reliance Jio, Bharat Airtel, Vodafone, and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam to conduct 5G Technology trials in India. The Union Minister shared the information in a written reply in Lok Sabha on March 16, 2022. The minister further stated that the frequency band opened for the International Mobile Telecommunications including 5G Technology in India has enough guard band to ensure that there is no aeronautical interference.

Supreme Court upholds decision on One-Rank-One-Pension for defence forces

The Supreme Court of India has upheld the Central Government’s decision on One-Rank-One-Pension for the defense forces. The apex court did not find any form of constitutional infirmity on the OROP Principle and the notification of November 7, 2015. According to the Supreme Court bench, the policy decision of the Central Government of OROP is not arbitrary and it is not for the court to go into the policy matters of the government. The court also directed that the pending re-fixation exercise of OROP must be carried out from July 1, 2019.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 

36th International Geological Congress: Theme, Objective and Dates

The 36th International Geological Congress, also described as the Olympics of Geosciences, will be hosted virtually by India from March 20-22.  The 36th IGC theme is “Geosciences: The Basic Science for a Sustainable Future.” The three-day Congress will see participation from globally renowned geoscientists. It is held once in four years.

Google Doodle celebrates French painter Rosa Bonheur’s 200th birth anniversary

Google celebrated the 200th birth anniversary of French painter Rosa Bonheur with an artistic doodle on March 16, 2022. Rosa Bonheur was one of the most famous female painters of the nineteenth century. She was mainly a painter of animals with her most internationally recognised work being ‘The Horse Fair’ and ‘Ploughing in the Nivernais’.