NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Max India’s Subsidiary Collaborates with IIT D for
Senior Citizen Care: Max India Limited's wholly owned subsidiary,
Antara Assisted Care Services Limited, has entered into a MoU with the IIIT
Delhi with an aim to develop offerings tailored specifically for the senior
demographic. The collaboration entails knowledge exchange, research
consultancy, EDPs, and the sharing of laboratory resources. One of the projects
under this collaboration involves designing a walking aid customized to the
specific needs and preferences of seniors.
2. Sheyphali Sharan appointed government spokesperson: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting
announces the appointment of Sheyphali B Saran, a senior Indian Information
Service officer, as the new government spokesperson. A 1990-batch officer,
Sharan will look after the charge as Principal Director General (Pr.DG) of the
Press Information Bureau (PIB) after incumbent Manish Desai's superannuation on
March 31. Saran had earlier served as the spokesperson of the Election
Commission and the Finance Ministry.
3. P&G India names Kumar Venkatasubramanian as new
CEO: P&G India has announced
the appointment of Kumar Venkatasubramanian as CEO effective May 1, 2024. Kumar
has played a pivotal role in P&G India’s growth trajectory in various roles
in his career. “Under LV’s leadership, the company has continued to grow at a
sustainable and balanced top and bottom line with integrated growth strategies.
4. Railways earned ₹1,230 crore from cancelled WL tickets: The Indian Railways clocked earnings of
₹1,229.85 crore from cancelled waiting list tickets between 2021 and 2024 (till
January). The Railway Ministry response to the RTI application filed by Madhya
Pradesh-based activist Vivek Pandey also showed that earnings from this source
have increased year on year. For instance in 2021, a total of 2.53 crore
tickets on the waiting list were canceled and the Railways earned ₹242.68
crore.
5. India’s First Ayurvedic Cafe
Opens in Delhi: Maharishi Ayurveda
Hospital in Shalimar Bagh, Delhi treats its patients with the utmost care
by providing them with panchakarma therapy, a meditation room, yoga training, deluxe room facilities and in-house
doctors. The hospital is making the headlines due to its in-house
restaurant, Soma-The Ayurvedic
Kitchen. Here, the food is given according to the health of the
visitor. From Dumplings to Pav Bhaji, several dishes are served here without
onion and garlic.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. French Language Day 2024: 20th March: French Language Day is celebrated on March 20 every year. The purpose of
the day is to raise awareness and respect for the culture, history and
achievements of the six major languages of the people of the world. French
Language Day was started in 2010 through an initiative of the United Nations
Department of Public Information. French is related to other languages such as
Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian.
2. Bihar’s Begusarai Most Polluted Metropolitan City
Globally in 2023: According to the 6th Annual World Air Quality Report,
Begusarai has emerged as the most polluted metropolitan area globally in 2023 IQAir
uses data from both government sources, such as air-quality data from
regulatory bodies like the US Environmental Protection Agency, and lower-cost
sensors like the ones it produces The report analyzed data from over 30,000 air
quality monitoring stations worldwide and indicates a concerning situation for
India's environment, health
3. World Oral Health Day:20th March: World Oral Health Day is celebrated annually
on March 20th to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining good oral
health practices. Oral diseases that are highly preventable affect 3.5 billion
people all over the world, as per WHO. The 2024 campaign's theme is - A happy
mouth is....a happy body.
4. Finland tops world happiness ranking for 7th year in a
row: According to the latest
World Happiness Report released by the UN, Finland has been named the happiest
country in the world for the seventh year in a row. India ranked 126 in the
happiness index, the same as the previous year. Afghanistan remains at the
lowest rank among the 143 countries evaluated. The United States and Germany
fell out of the top 20 happiest nations, ranking 23rd and 24th respectively.
5. New Delhi ranked world’s most polluted capital city
for 4th consecutive year since 2018: New Delhi is
ranked the world’s most polluted
capital city for the fourth consecutive year since 2018.
According
to Air Quality Report 2023 conducted by Swiss organization IQAir, Delhi’s PM2.5
levels worsened from 89.1 micrograms per cubic metre in 2022 to 92.7 micrograms
per cubic metre in 2023. Bihar’s Begusarai has emerged as the world’s most
polluted metropolitan area. With an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 54.4
micrograms per cubic metre, India had the third worst air quality after
Bangladesh and Pakistan.
6. 20 March – International Day of Happiness: International Day
of Happiness is observed every year on 20 March. This day is dedicated to spreading awareness about the
importance of happiness and well-being. The day also aims to highlight the
negative impact of stress and other mental health factors on happiness On July
12, 2012, The General Assembly of the United Nations passed a resolution to
proclaim March 20 as the International Day of Happiness. Since then, the
special day has been celebrated every year on the same day.
7. 20 March – World Sparrow Day: World Sparrow Day is celebrated every year on March 20. Objective – To raise awareness about the threats these
birds face and inspiring action for their conservation. Theme 2024 – I Love Sparrow The Nature Forever
Society of India, along with other organizations around the world, started
World Sparrow Day in 2010. They realized that sparrows were disappearing from
many places, and they wanted to do something about it.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Indian Navy & IIT Kharagpur signed a MoU to drive
innovation through research partnership: Indian
Navy has signed an MoU with Indian Institute of Technology
Kharagpur to promote technology development, innovative solutions and
joint R&D. The strategic collaboration focuses on joint research and
development initiatives involving teams from Indian Navy and IIT Kharagpur. The
MoU will be coordinated by INS Shivaji, Lonavala. This alignment signifies a
move towards a symbolic relationship between the Academia and the Military,
fostering an environment conducive to innovation and knowledge exchange.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Gross direct tax collections in FY24 grows at 18.74%: Gross Direct Tax collection has registered a growth of 18.74% during the
current Financial Year. According to the Finance Ministry, gross direct tax
collection stands at over 22 lakh 27 thousand crore rupees which is more than
18 lakh 75 thousand crore rupees reported in the corresponding period of FY
2022-23. Refunds amounting to three lakh 36 thousand 808 crore rupees have also
been issued in the Financial Year 2023-24.
2. YES Bank partners with Indian Olympic Association for
Paris Olympics 2024: YES Bank has partnered with the
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the Official Banking Partner for Team India
at the Paris Olympics 2024. As part of the collaboration, the bank
launched the campaign ‘Milkar Jitayengey’ and introduced the ‘YES Glory Debit
Card,’ specially designed for India’s Olympic athletes. The bank also unveiled
the ‘YES Glory’ savings account proposition, extending benefits to athletes and
their immediate family members. The YES Glory account offers a range of
benefits tailored to the needs of champion athletes. These perks include a
complimentary Welcome on-board Taj voucher, free orthopedic consultations, and
zero cross-currency mark-up on international spends.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Prabha Varma bags 33rd Saraswati Samman for ‘Roudra Sathwikam’: The K K Birla Foundation has selected noted poet Prabha Varma for the 33rd Saraswati Samman for 2023 for his novel Roudra Sathwikam. The novel “ Roudra Sathwikam, written in poetic verse in the Malayalam language, probes the conflict between power and politics and state and art and power in a unique way. He has published over 30 books, including a dozen collections of poems, three novels in verse, eight books on the contemporary socio-political milieu.
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