NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. NITI Aayog’s WEP partners with Urban Company to support women MSMEs: NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) under its award to reward initiative, launched a pilot program with urban company to support women MSMEs to scale up their businesses in the beauty and wellness sector.The program focuses on supporting women entrepreneurs who own local salons and parlors.Women entrepreneurs will be offered training across six key ecosystem needs of entrepreneurial growth. These are skilling, legal and compliance, access to finance, market, and business development services along with mentorship and networking.This collaboration with Urban Company is a significant step toward creating a robust ecosystem for women in the beauty and wellness sector. She said it will enable them to create more sustainable businesses
2. PM Modi inaugurated 1st Bodoland Mahotsav: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the 1st Bodoland Mahotsav in New Delhi. The two-day Mahotsav is a mega event on language, literature, and culture to sustain peace and build a Vibrant Bodo Society.The Mahotsav aims to integrate the indigenous Bodo people residing not only in Bodoland but also in other parts of Assam, West Bengal, Nepal, and other international border areas of the North East.The theme for the Mahotsav is ‘Peace and Harmony for Prosperous Bharat’ with a focus on the rich culture, language and education of the Bodo community along with other communities from the Bodoland Territorial Region. It aims to capitalise on the richness of cultural and linguistic heritage, ecological biodiversity and touristic potential of Bodoland.The Mahotsav is also about celebrating the remarkable journey of recovery and resilience ever since the signing of the Bodo Peace Accord in 2020 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This peace agreement resolved decades of conflict and violence in Bodoland and also catalyzed other peace settlements.
3. Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launches India’s ‘Know Your Medicine’ App: Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, has launched a nationwide appeal to strengthen the fight against doping in sports, urging athletes, coaches, and the entire sporting community to embrace the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) India’s ‘Know Your Medicine (KYM)’ app.This innovative tool aims to empower athletes with critical information, helping them avoid inadvertent doping and maintain fair play.The KYM app is part of NADA India’s broader mission to raise anti-doping awareness and education, equipping athletes with essential information to stay clean.The app allows users to easily verify whether a specific medicine or its ingredients contain any substances listed as prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). By offering this quick and seamless verification, the KYM app helps athletes to stay informed and uphold integrity of sport, fostering a culture of fair and ethical sportsmanship.
4. IMD launches dedicated weather forecast for Sabarimala pilgrimage: In a first for the Sabarimala pilgrimage, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has introduced a localised weather forecasting system, similar to those for the Amarnath and Char Dham yatras.Its regional centre has installed three rain gauges at Sannidhanam, Pamba, and Nilakkal to issue three-day weather forecasts. These forecasts will soon be upgraded to real-time weather bulletins, known as “nowcasts”.The initiative follows a request from the Pathanamthitta district administration, which sought real-time weather updates for Sabarimala due to the region’s susceptibility to extreme rainfall.
5. Himachal Government launched Come and Install Solar Power Projects initiative: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has launched the ‘Come and Install Solar PowerProjects’ initiative to encourage investment in the state’s solar and solar energy projects.
This is part of the state government initiative to turn Himachal Pradesh into a clean and green energy state by 31st March 2026.Under the State government’s Come and Install Solar Power Projects initiative, the private sector will be encouraged to invest in the solar power sector in the state.According to the government,300 MW of ground-mounted solar power projects have been awarded to the private sector, of which 62 MW are operational. The public sector is setting up 32 MW solar projects.The state government has launched a scheme to encourage people to rent lands to the government. Under this scheme, the government will pay a rent of Rs 20,000 per month to the farmers if they donate three bighas of land for the construction of a solar power plant.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Historic inauguration of 1st trilateral power transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh via Indian Grid: The first trilateral power transaction – from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian Grid, was inaugurated. Power Minister Manohar Lal jointly inaugurated the power flow from Nepal to Bangladesh, along with the Adviser of Bangladesh Ministry of Power, Fouzul Kabir Khan, and Nepal’s Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Dipak Khadka, through a virtual event.This historic occasion marks the first trilateral power transaction which has been carried out through the Indian grid.The government announced its decision to facilitate the first trilateral power transaction from Nepal to Bangladesh, through the Indian grid with an export of up to 40 MW of power during the visit of the former Nepal Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to India last year.EAM S.
Jaishankar launches his book ‘Why Bharat Matters’ in Dubai: External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar launched his book, Why Bharat Matters, at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library in Dubai, UAE.During the event, Dr. Jaishankar provided insight into the themes and key messages of his book, reflecting on the complex interplay of global and domestic factors shaping India’s position in the world.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. DRDO successfully completes Flight Tests of Guided Pinaka Weapon System: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully completed the Flight Tests of Guided Pinaka Weapon System as part of Provisional Staff Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) Validation Trials.The flight tests have been conducted in three phases at different field firing ranges.During these tests, the PSQR parameters viz., ranging, accuracy, consistency and rate of fire for multiple target engagement in a salvo mode have been assessed by extensive testing of rockets.Twelve (12) rockets from each production agency from two in-service Pinaka launchers upgraded by the launcher production agencies have been tested.
SPORTS
1. Haryana’s Anshul Kamboj bags all 10 wickets in an inning: Haryana fast bowler Anshul Kamboj created history by taking all the 10 wickets of Kerala in a Ranji Trophy match.He achieved this milestone when he dismissed Shoun Roger of Kerala to return with a match figure 10 for 49 in his 30.1 overs.The Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match between Haryana and Kerala is being played at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Stadium in Lahli, Haryana.This is the third instance in the history of the premier Ranji Trophy tournament when a bowler has taken all 10 wickets in an inning.Bengal’s fast bowler Premangsu Chatterjee was the first player to take all ten wickets in an inning. In the 1956-57 Ranji season, he took all 10 wickets of Assam in an innings.Pradeep Sunderam of Rajasthan was the second player who took all 10 wickets of Vidarbha in the 1985-86 Ranji Trophy season. Anshul Kamboj is the third player.
2. India won 24 medals at FISU World University Championship Shooting 2024: The Indian shooters finished their campaign at the 2024 FISU World University Championship Shooting with a rich haul of 24 medals, including 9 gold, 9 silver, and 6 bronze.The FISU World University Championship Shooting 2024 was held at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range in Tughlakabad, New Delhi. It was organised by the International University Sports Federation, known by its French acronym FISU and hosted by India.The mascot of the game was Trunky, an elephant.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. NHB raises Rs 3,830 cr through 10-yr bonds at 7.14%; gets ‘AAA’ rating: State-owned National Housing Bank (NHB) has raised Rs 3,830 crore through 10-year bonds in the domestic debt capital markets at a coupon rate of 7.14 per cent.The coupon rate is the rate of interest that the entity will pay to investors. NHB, a development financial institution which was earlier the apex regulator body for housing finance companies, was looking to raise Rs 5,000 crore, with a base issue size of Rs 2,000 crore and a green shoe option of Rs 3,000 crore. But it did not raise the full amount as the rates were slightly higher than anticipated. The bonds have been rated ‘AAA’ by domestic credit agency CRISIL, ICRA, and CARE NHB got bids for Rs 4,950 crore at a coupon of 7.16 per cent, and Rs 4,310 core at a coupon of 7.15 per cent.
1. India’s economy to grow to 7.2% in 2024: Moody’s: Moody’s Ratings forecast a 7.2 percent GDP growth for India in 2024, saying the Indian economy is in a sweet spot, but inflation risks may prompt the RBI to retain a relatively tight monetary policy this year.Moody’s said that despite the near-term uptick, retail inflation should moderate toward the Reserve Bank’s target in the coming months as food prices ease amid higher sowing and adequate food grain buffer stocks. The retail inflation scaled to a 14-month high of 6.21, breaching the RBI’s upper tolerance limit, on a sharp jump in vegetable prices.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Samantha Harvey Wins 2024 Booker Prize: Samantha Harvey has won the prestigious Booker Prize for her novel “Orbital”.Harvey’s book is a unique exploration of life aboard the International Space Station. It reflects on human connections and the beauty of Earth. The novel was inspired by the isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.“Orbital” is described as a space pastoral. It features six astronauts orbiting Earth. The narrative unfolds over 16 sunrises and sunsets.The confined setting amplifies the characters’ interactions. Harvey’s writing captures the fragile beauty of the planet. The book is concise, spanning only 136 pages.The Booker Prize carries a £50,000 award. It is open to English-language novels published in the UK or Ireland. Previous winners include notable authors like Ian McEwan and Margaret Atwood.
2. Dominica to Confer Highest National Honour to PM Modi: Dominica has announced to confer its highest national honour to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The Dominica Award of Honour will be bestowed to the Prime Minister in recognition of his contributions to Dominica during the COVID-19 pandemic and his dedication to strengthening the partnership between India and Dominica.President of Dominica Sylvanie Burton will confer the award during the upcoming India-CARICOM Summit, scheduled to take place in Georgetown, Guyana from 19th to 21st of this month.India supplied Dominica with 70 thousand doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine during the Covid pandemic in February 2021. The award also recognizes India’s support for Dominica in healthcare, education and information technology under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, as well as his role in promoting climate resilience-building initiatives and sustainable development on a global level.
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