NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Vedanta’s BALCO, first Indian
company to be certified with ASI Performance Standard: Chhattisgarh-based Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), a unit of
Vedanta Aluminium, has emerged as the first Indian company to achieve the
Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) Performance Standard V3 Certification
for the manufacture and supply of a wide range of primary aluminium products at
its facility in Korba. It aims to address sustainability areas in the aluminium
value chain, such as biodiversity, indigenous peoples’ rights, circularity and
greenhouse gas emissions. The independent, third-party audit of Balco was
carried out by CETIZION Verifica. The ASI Certification program was developed
through an extensive multi-stakeholder consultation process and is the only
comprehensive voluntary sustainability standard initiative for the global
aluminium value chain.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. India and Nepal agree to promote Sanskrit research and
education: Nepalese and Indian Sanskrit scholars have proposed
to organise an International Sanskrit Conference every year and set up a study
centre to conduct research and arrange publication of Sanskrit scriptures,
especially the manuscripts found in the Himalayan nation The prime objective of
the international conference was to strengthen the Nepal-Indian relations and
promote Sanskrit education in Nepal and India. The three-day conclave organised
by the Niti Anusandhan Pratisthan in collaboration with the Central Sanskrit
University, Delhi, and India Foundation, Delhi, saw the participation of over
120 Sanskrit scholars, professors and government officials from both the
neighbouring countries.
2. 2 April – World Autism Awareness Day: World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated
every year on April 2. World Autism Awareness Day aim to spread awareness about
autism as a disorder. Theme 2024 – Empowering Autistic Voices Autistic spectrum
disorder is a group of developmental disabilities in which children may behave,
communicate, interact and learn in ways that are different from most other
children.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Defence exports touch record Rs 21,083 crore in FY
2023-24: Defence exports have touched a record Rs 21,083
crore (approx. US$ 2.63 Billion) in the Financial Year (FY) 2023-24, a growth
of 32.5% over the last fiscal when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore. The recent
figures indicate that the defence exports have grown by 31 times in the last 10
years as compared to FY 2013-14. The defence Industry, including the private
sector and Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), have made tremendous
efforts in achieving the highest-ever defence exports.
SPORTS
1. Jannik Sinner clinches Men’s Single title of Miami
Open Tennis: Italy’s Jannik Sinner has won the Men’s
Singles title of Miami Open tournament in the United States. Second seed Sinner
defeated 11th seed Bulgarian player Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-1 in the final. Sinner’s
third title of the season means he will move to a career-high second in the ATP
world rankings, ahead of Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz. Unseeded American player
Danielle Collins has won the Women’s Singles title. In a major upset, Collins
defeated fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in straight sets 7-5, 6-3
in the final.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Credit cards breach the 100 million mark in India:
RBI: In February 2024, the total number of credit cards issued by banks in
India surpassed the 100 million mark, with an addition of 1.1 million cards
from the previous month. According to the latest data released by the Reserve
Bank of India, the outstanding number of credit cards in the system stood at
100.60 million. In February 2023, the total cards in circulation stood at 99.5
million. HDFC Bank is the leader in credit card issuances, with the lender’s
cards in circulation standing at 20.40 million. Other major players include SBI
Card with 18.75 million cards, ICICI Bank with 16.84 million, and Axis Bank
with 13.90 million.
2. Karnataka Bank raises Rs 600 cr through qualified
institutional placement: Karnataka Bank has raised around Rs 600 crore through qualified
institutional placement by issuing shares to institutional investors. The
qualified institutional placement opened on March 21 and closed on March 27. The
institutions that bought shares in the QIP include HSBC Mutual Fund, Morgan
Stanley Asia Singapore PTE, HSBC Global Investment Funds, SBI Life etc.
3. GST collection rises 11.5% to ₹1.78 lakh crore in
March: India’s Gross Goods and
Services Tax (GST) revenue for March 2024 reached ₹1.78 lakh crore (1,78,484
crore), the second-highest collection ever, according to the data released by
the Ministry of Finance. This surge was driven by a significant rise in GST
collection from domestic transactions at 17.6%. GST revenue net of refunds for
March 2024 is ₹1.65 lakh crore which is growth of 18.4% over same period last
year.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Hardik Singh and Salima Tete named the Player of the
Year for 2023: Hardik Singh and Salima Tete were named the
Player of the Year for 2023 among men and women respectively at the sixth
annual Hockey India awards. With a total prize pool of ₹7.56 crores, the awards
saw teams and individuals felicitated for their achievements in the past year. Interestingly,
even the 2016 Junior World Cup-winning men’s team was honoured at the event,
eight years since the triumph.
2. REC wins SKOCH ESG Award 2024 in Renewable Energy
Financing Category: REC Limited, a Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprise under the
Ministry of Power and a leading NBFC, has been bestowed with the SKOCH ESG
Award 2024 in the ‘Renewable Energy Financing’ category.
The award underscores REC’s dedication to sustainable financing, paving the way for a greener future and accelerating the transition to renewable energy. REC has emerged as a significant player in India’s clean energy transition, actively contributing to the nation’s sustainable future. Through various initiatives and achievements, REC has committed to numerous sustainable projects and signed various MOUs for green projects.
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