NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Neeraj Chopra becomes Eveready’s new brand ambassador:
Neeraj Chopra joined
Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan as he was named the newest brand ambassador of Eveready
Batteries. The brand aims to enhance its connection with the youth by
offering long-lasting value-for-money solutions. Neeraj Chopra is the first
Asian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in javelin and the first Asian to
win gold at the World Championship.
2. Sadanand Date appointed as chief of NIA: Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Sadanand Vasant Date has been
appointed as the Director General
of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He will succeed Dinkar
Gupta, who is due to superannuate on March 31. The Appointments Committee of
the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the appointment of Date as the Director General
(DG) of the NIA for a tenure up to his superannuation on December 31, 2026.
3. Sita Ram Meena appointed as
India’s next ambassador to Niger: Sita Ram Meena has
been appointed as the next
Ambassador of India to Niger. Meena currently serves as Director in the
Ministry. The bilateral activities between the two nations gained momentum
after India’s Mission in Niamey was opened in May 2009. Niger opened its
Embassy in New Delhi in 2011.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Indian-British writer's book in inaugural Women's
Prize for Non-fiction sho: Indian-British journalist
and commentator Madhumita Murgia's book which explores the impact of AI on
human society has been shortlisted for the 2024 inaugural Women's Prize for
Non-fiction. The six books cover a broad range of subjects - from life writing,
religion, art and history, to AI, social media and online politics.
2. India at G20 2nd Employment Working Group Meeting at
Brasilia: The two-day 2nd
Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting under the Brazilian
Presidency commenced in Brasilia,
Brazil. The G20 EWG’s mandate is to address labour, employment and social
issues for strong, sustainable, balanced and job-rich growth for all. As India
is a member of the G20 Troika, represented by Ms. Sumita Dawra, Secretary,
Labour & Employment, India is co-chairing the 2nd EWG meeting, along with
Brazil and South Africa.
3. Saudi Arabia to participate in Miss Universe event in
historic first: Saudi Arabia officially
joined the Miss Universe pageant with Rumy Alqahtani as the Islamic country’s
first-ever representative.
This
is another step for Saudi Arabia, which has been shedding its conservative
cloak under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Rumy Alqahtani, a
27-year-old model, would be the first participant from the country in the
international beauty pageant.
4. 28 March – World Piano Day: World Piano Day is celebrated annually on the 28th March. This day serves as a global platform to recognize the
beauty, cultural significance, and enduring appeal of the piano, fostering
appreciation for its rich legacy across generations and cultures. World Piano
Day, the annual event, is observed on the 88th day of the year. This day was
chosen in correspondence to the number of keys available on a piano. And
according to this, it falls on March 28 in the year 2024.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1. Sunrisers Hyderabad record for highest IPL total of
all time: Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 277/3 in 20 overs in Hyderabad
against Mumbai Indians to break the record of RCB’s total of 263/5 in 2013 against
the now-defunct Pune Warriors India. Highest totals in IPL history:
2. Sri Lanka to host Women’s Asia Cup 2024: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup 2024, scheduled to take
place in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, from July 19th to July 28th 2024. The
Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup 2024,
scheduled to take place in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, from July 19th to July 28th,
2024. The tournament will feature eight teams, one more than the previous
edition in 2022. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh will be joined by
the semifinalists of the Women’s Premier Cup 2024 – UAE, Malaysia, Nepal, and
Thailand.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Nidhu Saxena appointed MD & CEO of Bank of
Maharashtra: The Ministry of Finance appointed Nidhu
Saxena as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Maharashtra.
He replaced AS Rajeev upon his selection as Vigilance Commissioner in CVC. Saxena
is currently Executive Director of Union Bank of India.
2. NHPC inks pct with JBIC for 20 billion: The State-owned hydropower giant NHPC has
inked a loan agreement of JPY 20
billion (around Rs 1,100 crore) with Japan Bank for International Cooperation
(JBIC) for developing a 300 MW solar project in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
This is the first kind of loan syndication by NHPC with JBIC for the financing
of renewable energy project. JBIC’s loan is co-financed with MUFG Bank Ltd.,
Japan and Bank of Yokohama Ltd, Japan.
3. Kotak Mahindra Bank acquires Sonata Finance: Kotak Mahindra Bank has
acquired 100 per cent stake in
Sonata Finance Private Limited – a microfinance institution — for Rs 537 crore.
With this acquisition, Sonata has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
private sector bank. Sonata operates in 10 states through 549 branches and has
assets under management worth Rs 2,620 crore as on December 31, 2023.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Madhumita’s book shortlisted for Women’s Prize for
Non-fiction
: Indian-British
journalist and commentator Madhumita
Murgia’s book which explores the impact of AI on human society has
been shortlisted for the 2024
inaugural Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. The six books in the shortlist
are Murgia’s “Code Dependent: Living in the Shadow of AI”, “Thunderclap: A
Memoir of Art and Life and Sudden Death” by Laura Cumming, “Doppelganger: A
Trip Into the Mirror World” by Naomi Klein, “A Flat Place” by Noreen Masud,
“All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake”
by Tiya Miles, and “How to Say Babylon: A Jamaican Memoir” by Safiya Sinclair. The
six books cover a broad range of subjects – from life writing, religion, art
and history, to AI, social media and online politics.
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