NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. GoI launched “Gram Ujala Scheme” for Rural Areas: The government of India has launched the “Gram Ujala Scheme” to provide the cheapest LED bulbs in rural areas. The scheme was launched by the Union power and new and renewable energy minister, Raj Kumar Singh. In the first phase, the scheme was launched from Arrah district in Bihar. In this phase, around 15 million LED bulbs will be distributed in the villages of Arrah (Bihar), Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra), and western Gujarat.
About the ‘Gram Ujala Scheme’: The Gram Ujala
Scheme is an ambitious scheme that offers the world’s cheapest LED bulbs in
rural areas. This is the first such scheme in India. It provides the LED Bulbs
in these areas at a mere ₹10. This scheme also furthers its climate change
strategy and strengthen the self-reliance credentials. The scheme does not come
with the government’s support or subsidy.
2. Kuldiep Singh appointed as Chief of Central Reserve Police Force: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has appointed senior IPS officer Kuldiep Singh as the Director General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). Singh, a 1986 batch IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre, is presently the Special DG, CRPF. The appointment of Singh as DG of CRPF will be effective from March 01, 2021, up to September 30, 2022 i.e. date of his superannuation. Singh replaces Dr. A P Maheshwari, who superannuated on February 28, 2021.
3. Union Cabinet clears setting up of Development Finance Institution: Nirmala Sitharaman: The cabinet has approved a detailed proposal for setting up the developmental finance institution (DFI) that was announced in the budget last month, clearing the decks for a dedicated government-owned infrastructure financier. The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) will be set up with a corpus of ₹20,000 crore and an initial grant of ₹5,000 crore from the government. Initially, it will be wholly owned but the government stake will be lowered to a quarter.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Italy signs International Solar Alliance amended Framework Agreement: Italy has signed the amended Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) with India. The framework agreement was signed by the Italian Ambassador to India Vincenzo De Luca. ISA is an alliance of over 121 nations that have been initiated by India. The European country signed the ISA framework agreement after an amendment to the Framework Agreement of the ISA entered into force on January 08, 2021, opening its membership to all member states of the UN. The amendments of the ISA framework agreement allows all the member states of the United Nations to join the ISA grouping, including those lying beyond the tropics.
About the International Solar Alliance: The International
Solar Alliance was launched jointly by the Indian Prime Minister and the French
President during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP21,
in Paris. It aims to contribute to the implementation of the Paris Climate
Agreement through rapid and massive deployment of solar energy.
Note: President of Italy: Sergio Mattarella;
Capital of Italy: Rome; Currency of Italy: Euro; Prime Minister of Italy: Mario
Draghi.
2. World Frog Day: 20th March: The World Frog Day is observed annually on March 20 to raise awareness about the tailless amphibian frogs: found on land and water both. The day was created in 2009 with the intention to save many different species of frogs from going extinct.
3. World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People: 20th March: The World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People is celebrated all over the world on March 20 every year since 2001, by the international community of theatre practitioners for children and young people. Purpose: to attract the attention of a wider public to the art of theatre for children and young people. The event is basically organised by the ASSITEJ International, an international alliance of professionals involved in theatre for children and young people.
4. International Day of Forests: 21 March: The International Day of Forests (also known as World Forestry Day) is celebrated every year on March 21. The day is to celebrate to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests, and trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations as well as to increase the public awareness among communities about the values, significance and contributions of the forests to balance the life cycle on the earth. The theme for International Day of Forests 2020 is “Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being”. This year’s theme fits into the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a call for the protection and revival of ecosystems around the world.
History of the day: The United Nations
General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests in 2012
to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests.
Countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts
to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree-planting
campaigns.
5. World Down syndrome Day: 21st March: The World Down Syndrome Day is observed globally on 21 March each year, to raise public awareness for the rights, inclusion and wellbeing of people with Down syndrome. This year, the theme for World Down Syndrome Day is “We Decide.” This day was first observed in the United Nation in the year 2012. The 21st day of March (the 3rd month of the year) has been selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
What is down syndrome: Down Syndrome is a
condition in which the child is born with an extra 21st chromosome. It comes in
the category of a genetic disorder, and it also causes developmental
disabilities. The child born with this condition is likely to suffer thyroid or
heart-related problems.
6. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: 21st March: The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March to remind people about the negative consequences of racial discrimination. This year theme is “Youth standing up against racism”. It engages the public through #FightRacism, which aims to foster a global culture of tolerance, equality and anti-discrimination and calls on each and every one of us to stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes.
History of the day: The International
Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on the
day the police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people
at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in 1960. In 1979, the
General Assembly adopted a programme of activities to be undertaken during the
second half of the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial
Discrimination. On that occasion, the General Assembly decided that a week of
solidarity with the peoples struggling against racism and racial
discrimination, beginning on 21 March, would be organized annually in all
States.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and IPU President Duarte Pacheco holds meeting in New Delhi: The Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju held a meeting with the President of Inter Parliamentary Union, (IPU) Mr Duarte Pacheco in New Delhi.
Key areas of discussions included: Discussion about
corporation among the international parliamentarians especially in the field of
Youth Affairs and Sports. India’s Fit India Movement, Yoga and how we have been
able to start certain sports-related activities in the country in a controlled
manner despite COVID 19. Proposed to arrange a World Youth Parliamentarian
meeting where the younger Parliamentarians can come together and promote some
fitness activities during the youth exchange of different countries.
Note: IPU headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland
2. India to host Asian Boxing Championships 2021 in May: International Boxing Association (AIBA) announced that Asian Boxing Championships 2021 will be hosted by New Delhi, India from May 21-31. It will be the first boxing tournament in Asia to be held in 2021. In the AIBA Asian Forum which took place virtually, 32 countries participated, Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) president Anas Al Otaiba delivered a report about the upcoming Asian Elite Men & Women Boxing Championships 2021.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Govt collects Rs 26,457 crore by decreasing stakes in six DPSUs in last 5 years: The government has collected Rs 26,457 crore by decreasing its shareholding in six defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs) in the last five years, according to details provided by Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik in Rajya Sabha. A total of Rs 14,184.70 crore was collected by decreasing stakes in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) while the amount was Rs 8,073.29 crore from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Rs 2,371.19 crore from Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). Similarly, Rs 434.14 was fetched from Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI), Rs 420.52 crore from Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRESE) and Rs 974.15 crore was collected from Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
2. SBI, Paytm Payments Bank, PhonePe lead in UPI transactions in Feb: SBI was the top remitter on the UPI platform in February, while Paytm Payments Bank led the chart in the beneficiary segment, as per data published by the National Payments Corporation of India. PhonePe topped the app category on the UPI platform in terms of volume and amount involved in the transactions that it facilitated. According to the data published by NPCI, State Bank of India (SBI) recorded 656.92 million remittance transactions in February, that is money was sent out from the bank using the UPI platform. It was followed by HDFC Bank with 207.27 million remittance transactions, Axis Bank (164.27 million), Paytm Payments Bank (149.32 million) and ICICI Bank (148.98 million).
DEFENCE
1. KRAS releases First batch of MRSAM Missiles: The Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS), which is a joint venture between the Kalyani Group of India and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems of Israel, have released the first batch of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) kits. The missile was released for the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. The release of the MRSAM Missile also marked the KRAS’ commitment to delivering more than 1000 MRSAM missile kits to India in near future. These missile sections will then be sent for further and future integration to Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). The Kalyani Group has infused the “State-of-the-art technology with engineering excellence in the company.
About KRAS: It is the private sector MSME of
India comprising of advanced manufacturing capabilities and facilities which is
specially dedicated to addressing the assembly, integration and testing (AIT)
of the state-of-the-art weapon systems which are being inducted in India’s
defence forces. KRAS also address the Maintenance and Repair Operations (MRO)
of the major in-service Air Defence Missile System in the Indian Air Force.
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