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Current Affairs Magic

Current Affairs Magic March 5 to April 1st,2019 www.globalias.in

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Weekly Current Affairs Update

For the Week: March 5 to April 1st,2019

HEADLINES

Section A: INDIA

CEC announced schedule for Lok Sabha polls

96.5% of households in rural India have access to toilet: NARSS

Women to get permanent commission in 10 Army branches

Cabinet clears ordinance on reservation roster for faculty positions in varsities

‘Azaadi Ke Diwane’ Museum inaugurated at Red Fort Complex in Delhi

Dictionary on martyrs of India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947) released

President presents Colours to Air Force Station, Hakimpet and 5 Base Repair Depot

Scientist Ajit Kumar Mohanty appointed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Director

Govt appoints REC CMD P V Ramesh as DG of National Archives of India

Justice S. A. Bobde nominated as Executive Chairman of NALSA

Section B: INDIA & THE WORLD

US to end Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for duty free imports from India

Vice President visits Paraguay and Costa Rica

India collaborates with four nations to protect Asian rhinos

Cabinet approves ICAI’s pact with UK’s chartered accountant body, ICAEW

Prince Charles charity strikes new pact for girls’ education in India

India-Oman joint military exercise ‘Al-Nagah III’ to be held in Oman

India, Russia sign USD 3 billion deal for nuclear-powered attack submarine for Indian Navy

IAF jet shoots down Pakistani military drone in Bikaner

India has 15 out of 20 most polluted cities in world: World Air Quality Report

India launches 3rd IT corridor in China

Cabinet approves MoU between UPSC and CSCM

India nominates NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand for post of FAO Director General

Section C: WORLD

OECD cuts global growth forecast over trade, Brexit uncertainty

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi crashes with 157 aboard

Norway’s $1 trillion fund to cut oil and gas investments

International Women’s Day observed on March 8

Japanese woman recognised by Guinness as world’s oldest person at 116

UNDP appoints Padma Lakshmi as Goodwill Ambassador

Section D: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

PM panel on science and technology innovation identifies nine national missions

GSI sets up 22 GPS stations across country

ISRO unveils ‘Young Scientist’ programme to train students in space science

ISRO experts to receive training for Gaganyaan project in France: CNES

French space agency to open maritime surveillance centre in India



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Section E: AWARDS

President presents Swachh Survekshan 2019 Awards

Ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan wins ‘Yashwantrao Chavan National Award 2018’ BBC journalist Priyanka Dubey gets Chameli Devi Jain Award

Tourism Ministry wins award at ITB, Berlin

Ministry of Women and Child Development felicitates ‘Web Wonder Women’ Julie Andrews to be presented with Lifetime Achievement Award at Venice Film Festival

Japanese architect Arata Isozaki wins Pritzker Prize

Acko conferred with Golden Peacock award for innovative product

TVS Motor wins international sustainability award

Nayantara Sahgal awarded Loknete Bhai Vaidya Smruti Gaurav Puraskar

Section F: BANKING & FINANCE

White label ATM operators allowed to source cash directly from RBI

Centre approves interest subvention scheme for farmers

IBBI signs a Cooperation Agreement with the International Finance Corporation

PM releases new series of visually impaired friendly coins

Section G: ECONOMY

Cabinet approves Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage mission

Cabinet allows ministerial panel to decide on price, timing of CPSE sale

World Bank loan for National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP)

Conversion, Substitution & Mutation made online with the launch of e-Dharti App

Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal launches 3 Railway Projects

Railways Minister launches 3 projects of Rail Sahyog supported through CSR

Cabinet approves “FMBAP” for Flood Management Works

Govt amends hazardous and other wastes rules; bans import of solid plastic waste

Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh get new NCLT benches

Govt notifies FAME-II with Rs 10K-cr outlay, offers incentives on EVs

Suresh Prabhu launches GI Website & Tutorial Video on IPR

Washing machines, microwave ovens to have energy efficiency ratings

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates multipurpose berths at Deendayal Port in Kandla

WCD Ministry and Ministry of Skill Development enter into MoU for improving women livelihood

Union Cabinet announces interest subvention to sugar mills for ethanol production

Union Cabinet announces measures to promote power generation

MoU for collaboration between SVSU and NITTTR signed

UIDAI to levy fees for verification

Income tax exemption limit on gratuity doubled to Rs 20 lakh

Govt brings transport scheme to boost agriculture exports; to reimburse freight cost through DBT

Cabinet extends funding period extended to boost regional air connectivity

PM lays foundation of Integrated Command & Control Centres in 3 states in Smart Cities Mission

Gender pay gap still high, women in India earn 19% less than men: Monster Salary Index

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan releases India Cooling Action Plan

World Bank to provide loan for Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project

Forex reserves at USD 401.776 billion in the week to March 1

Subhash Chandra Garg named Finance Secretary

Sanjeev Ranjan named Road Transport Secretary, Sinha to be NHAI chief



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Section H: CORPORATE

Google launches ‘Bolo’ to tutor children to read Hindi, English

Culture Ministry and Google launch online exhibition on inventions and discoveries

Johnson & Johnson told to pay compensation for faulty hip implant

NGT tells Volkswagen India to deposit Rs.500 crore for cheat devices

Mahindra Group firm Pininfarina unveils electric super car Battista

Air India staff asked to say ‘Jai Hind’ after flight announcements

Swapna gets customised shoes from Adidas for her 12-toed feet

Mukesh Ambani ranked 13th on Forbes’ billionaire list

Section I: STATES

SC gives another chance for mediation on Ayodhya land dispute

Prime Minister launches development projects in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

PM launches development projects at Greater Noida

PM Modi visits Kanpur; launches various development projects

World Bank loan for Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project

Uttarakhand CM launches free milk scheme for anganwadi children

World Bank loan for Chhattisgarh Public Financial Management and Accountability Program

Prayagraj Kumbh concludes with the bathing festival of Maha Shivratri

MP governor approves ordinance to increase OBC quota

PM launches several development projects in Ahmedabad

Surat Metro Rail Project approved

PM inaugurates Maharashtra’s second Metro Rail in Nagpur

GI tag for Erode turmeric

PM visits Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

Goyal dedicates to nation 1,000-MW thermal power project of NTPL

BOLD–QIT project inaugurated along international border in Dhubri, Assam

ADB to provide loan for additional financing for Assam Urban Project

Cabinet nod to NHPC acquiring Lanco’s Teesta hydro-electric project

11 more State DD Channels on Satellite footprint

West Bengal govt. lays foundation of various projects including Hindi University

Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya joins Congress a day after quitting Akali Dal

Jagdish Mukhi sworn in as Governor of Mizoram

Former union minister V. Dhananjay Kumar passes away at 67

E. Sreedharan named top adviser to MRTS projects in J&K

Section J: SPORTS

Australia-India ODI series level at 2-2

Women’s Cricket: England beat India 3-0 in T20I series

Oceania nations, including Australia, to compete at 2022 Asian Games

Delhi HC bars IABF from using ‘India’ or ‘Indian’ in name

India win 8 medals at GeeBee Boxing Tournament in Helsinki, Finland

Kenyan athletics pioneer Daniel Rudisha dies at 73



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Section A: INDIA

NEWS ROUND UP

CEC announced schedule for Lok Sabha polls

Elections to the 17th Lok Sabha will be conducted in seven phases across the country from April 11 to May 19. The counting of votes will be

on May 23, the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced on March 10, 2019.

The Model Code of Conduct came into effect immediately on the announcement of the schedule, with the Election Commission introducing

fresh measures to enhance the integrity of the electoral process and raise the accountability of campaigners.

Voting across the country would be held on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19.

The Assembly election in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Odisha will be conducted simultaneously with the Lok Sabha

election. While Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will go to vote on April 11, the polling dates for Odisha have been

announced as April 11, 18, 23 and 29.

The election in 22 States and Union Territories will be conducted in a single phase. Two-phase elections are in Karnataka, Rajasthan,

Manipur and Tripura, while Assam and Chhattisgarh will have three phases. Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha will be

covered in four phases, Jammu and Kashmir in five, and Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in seven phases. In Anantnag, the election will

be held in three rounds.

91 constituencies would go to the polls in the first phase, 97 in the second phase, 115 in the third phase, 71 in the fourth, 51 in the fifth, and

59 each in the sixth and seventh phases.

As on January 1, about 900 million people were eligible to vote, as per the electoral rolls, compared with 814.5 million in 2014. While 71,735

overseas electors have been enrolled, more than 16.77 lakh are service electors. There would be more than 10.35 lakh polling stations, 10%

higher than in 2014. The Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, a total of 17.4 lakh units, will be used for the first time at all

stations.

The EVMs and postal ballot papers would carry photograph of all candidates to help voters identify the political leaders in the fray. The EC

said the provision for printing the candidate photographs will help avoid any confusion which may arise when candidates with similar

names contest from the same constituency. The photograph will be printed on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) ballot units as well as

on postal ballot papers.

96.5% of households in rural India have access to toilet: NARSS

The National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey, NARSS 2018-19 has found that 96.5 per cent of the households in rural India have access to a

toilet. Drinking Water and Sanitation Ministry in a release on March 5, 2019 said, the survey was conducted by an Independent Verification

Agency under the World Bank support project to the Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen).

The survey also re-confirmed the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status of over 90 per cent of villages which were previously declared and

verified as ODF by various districts and States.

The survey was conducted between November 2018 and February 2019 and covered over 92 thousand households in over six thousand

villages across States and Union Territories.

Since its launch in October 2014, the world’s largest sanitation program, Swachh Bharat Mission has changed the behaviour of crores of

people with respect to toilet access and usage.

50 crore people have stopped defecating in the open since the mission began. Over nine crore toilets have been built across rural India

under the mission.



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Women to get permanent commission in 10 Army branches

Women officers can now get permanent commissions in 10 branches of the Indian Army, the government announced on March 6, 2019.

The Defence Ministry said that it has taken necessary steps to ensure that women, who were earlier inducted for short service commission

(SSC), get permanent commission in the armed forces. Permanent commission will be granted to women officers inducted in branches such

as Signals, Engineers, Army Aviation, Army Air Defence, Electronics and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Army Ordinance Corps

and Intelligence. The Short Service Commission (SSC) women officers will have to give their option for permanent commission before

completion of four years of commissioned service and they would be able to choose their specialisation.

Cabinet clears ordinance on reservation roster for faculty positions in varsities

The Cabinet on March 7, 2019 cleared an ordinance on reservation mechanism for appointment of faculties in universities. Earlier, Human

Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Centre was committed to restoring the reservation roster in educational

institutions following a series of protests over the issue by various students’ and teachers’ organisations. They had been urging the

government to bring an ordinance to restore the 200-point roster taking college or university as a unit for reservation in teaching posts.

‘Azaadi Ke Diwane’ Museum inaugurated at Red Fort Complex in Delhi

The Minister of State for Culture (Independent charge) and Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mahesh Sharma inaugurated ‘Azaadi

ke Diwane’ museum at Red Fort, Delhi on March 4, 2019. Created by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the museum within the Red Fort

complex pays homage to unsung heroes of freedom struggle of the nation. The museum is fifth in the series of recently inaugurated

museums in the Red Fort Complex - others being, Subhash Chandra Bose and INA museum, Yaad-e-Jallian museum, Museum on 1857 -

India’s first war of Independence and Drishyakala - Museum on Indian Art.

Dictionary on martyrs of India’s Freedom Struggle (1857-1947) released

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 7, 2019 released the Dictionary of Martyrs of India’s Freedom Struggle, at an event in Lok Kalyan

Marg, New Delhi. This five-volume dictionary contains an account of the martyrs from India’s First War of Independence in 1857, to India’s

Independence in 1947. The project for compilation of “Dictionary of Martyrs” of India’s Freedom Struggle was commissioned by the Ministry

of Culture, to the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) to commemorate the 150th anniversary of uprising of 1857.

President presents Colours to Air Force Station, Hakimpet and 5 Base Repair Depot

President Ram Nath Kovind, presented Colours to Air Force Station, Hakimpet, and 5 Base Repair Depot at the Air Force Station, Sulur,

Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on March 4, 2019.

RECENT BOOKS

NON-FICTION

Political Parties, Party Manifestos and Elections in India, 1909-2014 by R.K. Tiwari

Ground Scorching Tax by Arun Kumar

The Right to Sanitation in India: Critical Perspectives by Edited by Philippe Cullet, Sujith Koonan, Lovleen Bhullar

Doing Justice by Preet Bharara

The Lives of Freda by Andrew Whitehead

Medical Education in Western India: Grant Medical College and Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy’s Hospital by Sunil Pandya

Business & Politics in India (Edited) by Christophe Jaffrelot & others

Dalit Literatures in India (Edited) by Joshil K. Abraham, Judith Misrahi-Barak

FICTION

I Have Become the Tide by Githa Hariharan

The Legacy of Nothing by Manoj Pandey

Three Plays by Annie Zaidi

Something I Never Told You by Shravya Bhinder

To Kill the Truth by Sam Bourne

Tiger Woman Paperback by Sirsho Bandopadhyay (translated by Arunava Sinha)



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NEWSMAKERS

Scientist Ajit Kumar Mohanty appointed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Director

Distinguished scientist Ajit Kumar Mohanty was on March 6, 2019 appointed Director of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) for a

period of three years. He is at present Director, Physics Group in BARC and Director, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics. The BARC is India’s

premier nuclear research facility based in Mumbai. It is a multi-disciplinary research centre with extensive infrastructure for advanced

research and development covering the entire spectrum of nuclear science, engineering and related areas.

Govt appoints REC CMD P V Ramesh as DG of National Archives of India

Ahead of REC’s takeover by Power Finance Corporation (PFC), the government on March 3, 2019 appointed the former’s CEO P. V. Ramesh

as the Director General of the National Archives of India under the Ministry of Culture. In December 2018, the Cabinet Committee on

Economic Affairs had approved the sale of the government’s 52.63 per cent stake in REC to PFC. The government is expected to garner

around Rs 15,000 crore from this merger.

Justice S. A. Bobde nominated as Executive Chairman of NALSA

Supreme Court judge Justice S. A. Bobde was on March 5, 2019 nominated as Executive Chairman of the National Legal Service Authority

following the retirement of Justice A. K. Sikri. National Legal Services Authority of India is mandated to provide free legal services to the

needy. It also organises Lok Adalats for speedy resolution of civil cases.



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NEWS ROUND UP

US to end Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for duty free imports from India

The United States has decided to end Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for duty free imports of textiles and auto-components from

India. On March 4, 2019, President Trump notified Congress in letters of his “intent to terminate” trade benefits for India and Turkey under

the GSP eligibility criteria.

Under the United States GSP programme, nearly 2,000 products including auto components and textile materials can enter the US duty-free

if the beneficiary developing countries meet the eligibility criteria established by Congress. India was the largest beneficiary of the

programme in 2017 with USD 5.7 billion in imports to the US given duty-free status and Turkey the fifth largest with USD 1.7 billion in

covered imports.

In a letter to Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Trump said he was determined that New Delhi had “not assured” the

US that it would “provide equitable and reasonable access” to the markets of India.

Vice President visits Paraguay and Costa Rica

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu went on an eight-day two-nation visit to Paraguay and Costa Rica from March 4, 2019. He was

accompanied by the Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, Alphons Joseph Kannanthanam. The Vice President returned to India on

March 11.

In Paraguay, Naidu visited the National Pantheon of Heroes in capital Asuncion and paid homage to fallen soldiers by placing a wreath. He

held talks with President Mario Abdo Benitez at Palacio de Gobierno. He also met Vice President Hugo Velazquez and the President of the

National Congress Silvio Ovelar. Both nations jointly released a commemorative stamp to honour Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth

anniversary. The two sides welcomed signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Diplomatic and Consular Academy

Paraguay and the Foreign Service Institute India. They underlined the need to take firm measures against terrorism and pledged to

strengthen multilateral cooperation to combat the scourge.

Naidu arrived in Costa Rican capital San Jose on March 7. He received the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris Causa) in International

Peace & Conflict Studies conferred by the University for Peace in recognition of his contribution to the rule of law, democracy, sustainable

development and peace. He met President Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Congress Carolina Hidalgo Herrera and the First Vice

President Epsy Campbell Barr.

India collaborates with four nations to protect Asian rhinos

India will collaborate with Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia to increase the population of three species of Asian rhinos, including the

Greater one-horned rhinoceros found in the Indian sub-continent. The five rhino range nations signed a declaration ‘The New Delhi

Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019’ for the conservation and protection of the species at the recently held Second Asian Rhino Range

Countries meeting in New Delhi on March 4, 2019. During the meet, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan affirmed India’s

commitment towards rhino conservation. The declaration was signed to conserve and review the population of the Greater one-horned,

Javan and Sumatran rhinos every four years to reassess the need for joint actions to secure their future. The meet was organised by the

environment, forest and climate change ministry in collaboration with IUCN Asian Rhino Specialist Group, WWF- India and Aaranyak.

Cabinet approves ICAI’s pact with UK’s chartered accountant body, ICAEW

The government on March 7, 2019 gave approval to the pact between the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and the

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales (ICAEW). The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave ex-post

facto approval of the memorandum of understanding signed in 2008 and renewed in 2014 between ICAI and ICAEW. The pact will

encourage more Indian chartered accountants to take up the recognition of ICAEW professional designation to further help them pursue

professional opportunities in the UK. The ICAI is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament of India.



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Prince Charles charity strikes new pact for girls’ education in India

A charity founded by Britain’s Prince Charles on March 6, 2019 announced a new partnership with British Telecom (BT) to launch a three-

year programme to use digital technology to help improve education and life skills for adolescent girls in India. British Asian Trust, founded

by the royal in 2007 to fight poverty in South Asia, said the pact with one of the UK’s leading telecom companies will explore the different

ways technology can be used to break down social barriers and help enhance employability, health choices and autonomy for the target

group of largely young girls in India. The programme will work in and around BT’s India operations in Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru, and

Kolkata, with the aim to help improve the education opportunities, health and skills of around 500,000 young people.

India-Oman joint military exercise ‘Al-Nagah III’ to be held in Oman

The India-Oman joint military exercise ‘Al-Nagah III’ will be held in Oman from March 12 to 25, 2019. A 60-member Indian Army contingent

from the Udhampur-based Northern Command will participate. ‘Al-Nagah III’ is the third in a series of bilateral army exercises between the

two countries.

India, Russia sign USD 3 billion deal for nuclear-powered attack submarine for Indian Navy

India on March 7, 2019 sealed a USD 3 billion deal with Russia for leasing of a nuclear-powered attack submarine for the Indian Navy for a

period of 10 years. Under the pact, Russia will have to deliver the Akula class submarine, to be known as Chakra III, to the Indian Navy by

2025. It will be the third Russian submarine to be leased to the Indian Navy. The lease of Chakra II will expire in 2022 and India is looking at

extending the lease.

IAF jet shoots down Pakistani military drone in Bikaner

A fighter jet of the Indian Air Force on March 4, 2019 shot down a Pakistani military drone in Bikaner sector of the Indo-Pak border using an

air-to-air missile. The Pakistani drone was detected by a ground-based radar station and minutes later one of the Sukhoi-30 jets deployed

in the area to keep an eye on Indian air space shot it down.

India has 15 out of 20 most polluted cities in world: World Air Quality Report

The latest data compiled in the IQAir AirVisual 2018 World Air Quality Report and interactive world’s most polluted cities ranking, prepared

in collaboration with Greenpeace Southeast Asia, reveals the state of particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in 2018. According to the report,

India has 15 out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world, with Gurgaon and Ghaziabad being the most polluted cities, followed by

Faridabad, Bhiwadi and Noida being in the top six, with Delhi on the 11th spot.

India launches 3rd IT corridor in China

India on March 8, 2019 launched its third IT corridor in China that will facilitate partnerships between Indian and Chinese companies. The

National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) entered into a partnership with China’s Xuzhou city from Jiangsu

Province in China to help develop the IT corridor. The IT industry body has already launched such corridors at Dalian and Guiyang cities.

Cabinet approves MoU between UPSC and CSCM

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 7, 2019 approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

between Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Civil Service Council of Mongolia (CSCM). The MoU will strengthen the existing

relationship between CSCM and UPSC. It will facilitate sharing of experience and expertise of both the parties in the area of recruitment.



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NEWSMAKERS

India nominates NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand for post of FAO Director General

India on March 4, 2019 nominated NITI Aayog member and agricultural economics and policy expert Ramesh Chand for the position of

Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Election for the agency’s top leadership post with a four-year term of

office starting on August 2019 will take place in Rome between June 22-29 at the 41st Session of FAO’s Conference in Rome. The deadline

for nominations was February 28. The other candidates, each nominated by his/her government, in fray are Mdi Moungui of Cameroon, Qu

Dongyu of China, Catherine Geslain-Lanelle of France and Davit Kirvalidze of Georgia.



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Section C: WORLD

NEWS ROUND UP

OECD cuts global growth forecast over trade, Brexit uncertainty

Trade tensions and political uncertainty including Brexit are weighing on the world’s economy, the Paris-based OECD warned on March 6,

2019 as it again cut its 2019 forecast for global economic growth. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development lowered

its forecast to 3.3 per cent for this year, down from the 3.5 per cent it predicted in November 2018. “High policy uncertainty, ongoing trade

tensions, and a further erosion of business and consumer confidence are all contributing to the slowdown,” the OECD said in an interim

version of its Economic Outlook. The OECD, which groups the world’s top developed economies, revised growth estimates lower in almost

all of the countries in the G20 group of industrialised and emerging nations.

Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi crashes with 157 aboard

A four-month-old Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 on a flight from Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa to Kenya’s capital, Nairobi crashed on March

10, 2019, killing all 149 passengers and eight crew. The plane left Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at 8:38 a.m., and contact was lost six minutes later.

Norway’s $1 trillion fund to cut oil and gas investments

Norway’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund is expected to sell some of its oil and gas holdings. The world’s largest sovereign wealth fund

owns $37bn of shares in oil companies such as BP, Shell and France’s Total. Selling the shares means it would not be as reliant on oil prices.

Norway is western Europe’s biggest oil and gas producer and its sovereign wealth fund, known officially as the Government Pension Fund, is

used to invest the proceeds of the country’s oil industry. The move is being positioned as a way to diversify the nation’s wealth away from

oil, not a judgement about the future price of oil.

International Women’s Day observed on March 8

UN observed the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019 with its theme as: ‘Think equal, build smart, innovate for change’. According

to the UN, International Women’s Day is also an opportunity to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the

effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all

women and girls; and number 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

Japanese woman recognised by Guinness as world’s oldest person at 116

116-year-old Japanese woman Kane Tanaka was on March 9, 2019 recognised as the world’s oldest living person by Guinness World

Records. She was officially recognized in a ceremony at the nursing home where she lives in Fukuoka, in Japan’s southwest. Tanaka was

born January 2, 1903. The oldest person ever was a French woman, Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived to 122 years, according to Guinness

World Records. Guinness said the world’s oldest man is still under investigation after Masazo Nonaka, living on Japan’s northernmost island

of Hokkaido, died in January 2019 at 113.



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NEWSMAKERS

UNDP appoints Padma Lakshmi as Goodwill Ambassador

Indian-American television personality Padma Lakshmi was on March 8, 2019 appointed by the United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP) as its newest Goodwill Ambassador, supporting the agency’s fight against inequality and discrimination around the world. In her

new role, the Emmy-nominated television personality and award-winning author will mobilise support for the Sustainable Development

Goals with a focus on fighting inequality, discrimination and empowering the disenfranchised. Lakshmi was named the Goodwill

Ambassador by UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. Lakshmi has been a judge and host, as well as executive producer, of Bravo Television’s

Emmy award-winning series Top Chef. She is joining a roster of UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors, which includes globally celebrated actors,

athletes, musicians and other high-profile influencers such as Spanish-born international star Antonio Banderas, Award-winning actor

Michelle Yeoh and legendary musician Bob Weir.



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PM panel on science and technology innovation identifies nine national missions

A high-powered advisory panel formed by the Centre on March 6, 2019 identified nine national missions, including applications of artificial

intelligence, that aim to address major scientific challenges to ensure India’s sustainable development.

The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC) on March 6, 2019 identified 9 missions of national

importance, including those on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, electric vehicles and deep ocean exploration.

The missions that would be led by a nodal ministry with collaborations from other ministries, research institutions and industry partners are

expected to focus on complex problems faced in each of these chosen fields within a stipulated time-frame.

“The idea is to look at the complexity of our science and technology landscape and see how various challenges faced by the country can be

addressed by the coming together of people who otherwise work in silos,” said K VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the

government, said.

PMSTIAC, constituted in October 2018, met four times to identify the mission areas. The council, headed by VijayRaghavan, has NITI Aayog

member VK Saraswat, former ISRO Chairman A. S. Kiran Kumar, Field Medal-winning mathematician Manjul Bhargava and Indian National

Science Academy President Ajay Kumar Sood among others, as members. PSA’s office is expected to coordinate and monitor the activities

on a regular basis.

The missions are aimed at understanding and conserving biodiversity, developing sustainable agricultural processes, leveraging precision

health for personal well-being, recovering wealth from waste, developing and using artificial intelligence, quantum computing, connected

mobility solutions and other technologies to address frontier scientific questions and the challenges that the country in particular and the

planet in general face.

The Quantum Frontier mission will focus on quantum technologies such as quantum computing, quantum cryptology and quantum

communication. The mission on artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to witness close academia-industry collaboration at national as well

as international levels in creating new knowledge as well as in developing and deploying applications. While the Department of Science and

Technology (DST) would be lead agency for quantum mission, NITI Aayog is expected to spearhead the AI mission.

The Department of Biotechnology and Department of Health Research will lead a mission on harnessing bioscience for improving health

of Indians.

One of the major tasks cut out for those involved in electric vehicles is to making them energy-efficient and economically viable. Those

working on this mission will have to develop light and efficient batteries, vehicle sub-systems and components suitable for Indian

conditions, including rare-earth based electric motors.

The Ministry of Earth Sciences will spearhead a mission that intends to scour the deep ocean.

Other missions would include the one for creating wealth from waste, conserving biodiversity, building an innovation ecosystem for

start-ups and using a combination of machine and human translation techniques to help Indian students who are not well-versed in English

language access scientific knowledge.

GSI sets up 22 GPS stations across country

The Kolkata-based Geological Survey of India (GSI), on March 4, 2019, launched 22 permanent global positioning system (GPS) stations

across India to identify seismically hazardous zones and encourage mapping activities.

“The GSI has taken a stride to establish and maintain a network of continuously operating 35 permanent GPS stations in a phased manner.

So far, 22 GPS permanent stations have been set up and another 13 will be operational by March 2020,” Director General Dinesh Gupta said

on GSI’s 169th Foundation Day.



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The 22 GPS-Geodetic (pertaining to Geodesy, the science of earth measurement) observatories are located in Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram,

Jaipur, Pune, Dehradun, Chennai, Jabalpur, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Raipur, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Gandhinagar Vishakhapatnam, Agartala,

Itanagar, Mangan, Jammu, Lucknow, Nagpur, Shillong and Little Andaman.

The new 13 stations will be located in Aizawl, Faridabad, Uttarkashi, Pithoragarh, Cooch Behar, Zawar, North Andaman, Middle Andaman,

South Andaman, Ranchi, Mangalore, Imphal and Chitradurga.

“These stations are meant to delineate high strain zones for earthquake probability, determine a seismic motion on faults that may lead to a

rupture and produce thematic maps with high positional accuracy,” said Gupta.

The organisation has launched a platform called “Bhuvisamvad” under the Ministry of Mines to facilitate interaction between geo-scientists

and university and college students.

ISRO unveils ‘Young Scientist’ programme to train students in space science

State-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on March 4, 2019 announced the launch of its Young Scientist programme to train

class 9 students in space technology and its applications. “ISRO has launched the special programme for school children ‘Yuva Vigyani

Karyakram’ (Young Scientist programme) to impart basic knowledge on space technology, space science and applications to the young

ones to arouse their interest in space activities,” the Bengaluru-based space agency said in a statement. The two-week residential training

programme will be held each year during summer holidays for students from across the country who have completed class 8 and are

studying in class 9.

ISRO experts to receive training for Gaganyaan project in France: CNES

Experts from ISRO will start receiving training for the ‘Gaganyaan’ project at the Toulouse Space Centre in France from this month, French

space agency CNES said on March 6, 2019. The experts will also be trained at CADMOS, the centre for development of microgravity

applications and space operations, and the MEDES Space Clinic in France. For further cementing ties in this area, the space agencies of India

and France signed an agreement to build a constellation of satellites for maritime surveillance intended to identify and track ships in the

Indian Ocean. The pact was signed after ISRO chairman K Sivan and CNES president Jean-Yves Le Gall held a meeting at Bengaluru and

discussed a range of issues to intensify cooperation in the area.

French space agency to open maritime surveillance centre in India

The French space agency, National Centre for Space Studies (CNES), on March 6, 2019 signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research

Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru to set up a maritime surveillance centre in the country. The agreement was signed by CNES President

Jean-Yves Le Gall and India’s space agency Chairman K. Sivan in Bengaluru. However, the details of where the maritime surveillance centre

would be set up in India and by when were not shared.



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Section E: AWARDS

President presents Swachh Survekshan 2019 Awards

Indore (MP) was on March 6, 2019 awarded the cleanest city in the country in the Swachh Survekshan 2019 (SS 2019) awards followed by

Ambikapur (Chhattisgarh) and Mysuru (Karnataka) in second and third positions respectively. Bhopal (MP) was declared as the cleanest

capital. Ahmedabad was declared the cleanest city in 10 lakh plus population category. Ujjain (MP) bagged the award for being the cleanest

city in the population category of 3 lakh to 10 lakh while New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) won the award for the cleanest city in

population category of 1 lakh to 3 lakh. The awards were presented by the President.

Ex-RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan wins ‘Yashwantrao Chavan National Award 2018’

Former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan has been chosen for the ‘Yashwantrao Chavan National Award 2018’ for his

contribution towards economic development. Rajan will be presented the award at a function in Mumbai on March 12 on the occasion of

106th birth anniversary of late Yashwantrao Chavan, who was the first chief minister of Maharashtra. The award is given every year to

individuals/institutions in recognition of their outstanding contribution towards national integration, democratic values, and social and

economic development.

BBC journalist Priyanka Dubey gets Chameli Devi Jain Award

Priyanka Dubey, a bilingual correspondent with the BBC at its Delhi bureau, was on March 9, 2019 awarded the Chameli Devi Jain Award for

an Outstanding Woman Journalist for the year 2018. Dubey was chosen for her multi-faceted, investigative and interrogative reportage. The

Chameli Devi Jain Award has been awarded to women journalists for the past 37 years for upholding standards of excellence through a

sustained body of work. Named after Chameli Devi Jain, a freedom fighter, it is perhaps the country’s longest running media award for

women.

Tourism Ministry wins award at ITB, Berlin

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has won the First Prize in the category of TV Cinema Spot at the prestigious international

Golden City Gate Tourism Awards 2019 in Berlin. The awards were received by Yogendra Tripathi, Secretary, Tourism on March 8, 2019. ITB,

Berlin was organised from March 6 to 10. These promotional films/television commercials produced by the Ministry as part of its Incredible

India 2.0 Campaign received the awards: Yogi of the Racetrack, The Reincarnation of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Sanctuary in Paris, Maharani of

Manhattan and The Masala Master Chef. The annual award ceremony takes place at ITB Berlin, the world’s leading tourism trade show.

Ministry of Women and Child Development felicitates ‘Web Wonder Women’

The Ministry of Women and Child Development on March 6, 2019 hosted a felicitation event for Web Wonder Women, a campaign

organised to celebrate the exceptional achievements of women, who have been driving social reforms via social media. As many as 30

women, who were selected after an extensive research process, were honoured by the Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka

Gandhi in New Delhi. Organised in collaboration with Twitter India and Breakthrough India, the event aimed to recognise the fortitude of

Indian women stalwarts from across the globe who have used the power of social media to run positive campaigns to steer a change in

society.

Julie Andrews to be presented with Lifetime Achievement Award at Venice Film Festival

Veteran actor Julie Andrews, the star of classic movies such as “Mary Poppins” and “The Sound of Music”, will be honoured with the Golden

Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 76th edition of Venice Film Festival. The award will be presented to the 83-year-old actor during the

festival, which will run from August 28 to September 7, 2019.

Japanese architect Arata Isozaki wins Pritzker Prize

Japanese architect Arata Isozaki was on March 6, 2019 selected for this year’s Pritzker Prize, widely considered to be the profession’s highest

honour. The jury said he pioneered the “understanding that the need for architecture is both global and local”. Isozaki will be awarded the



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prize of $100,000 in May at a ceremony at the Château de Versailles in France. The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and the

Palau Saint Jordi indoor sporting arena in Barcelona are among more than 100 of his major projects.

Acko conferred with Golden Peacock award for innovative product

ACKO General Insurance a new-age digital insurance company, was awarded the coveted Golden Peacock Innovative Product Award - 2019,

for their contextual microinsurance product -”Ola Ride Insurance” recently. Established by the Institute of Directors, India in 1991. The

Golden Peacock Awards for Corporate Leadership and Excellence are now regarded as a benchmark of business excellence. The Golden

Peacock Innovative Product/Service Award is designed to encourage systemic innovation in an organization to develop products and

services that are aligned with the current market demands. The Ola Re. 1 ride insurance is a contextual microinsurance solution that protects

the user against any unfortunate mishaps while commuting, providing benefits in cases of loss of baggage/laptops, missed flights,

accidental medical expense and ambulance transportation cover.

TVS Motor wins international sustainability award

TVS Motor Company said on March 4, 2019 to have recently bagged the ‘Green Era Award for Sustainability’ at Lisbon in Portugal. The two-

wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer also won the ‘Quality and Business Excellence Award’ for its endeavour to create new benchmarks

in product quality.

Nayantara Sahgal awarded Loknete Bhai Vaidya Smruti Gaurav Puraskar

Historian Nayantara Sahgal has been awarded the Loknete Bhai Vaidya Smruti Gaurav Puraskar. It will be presented to her on April 2, 2019

in Pune. The award comes with Rs.25,000 and a memento.



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White label ATM operators allowed to source cash directly from RBI

The Reserve Bank on March 7, 2019 relaxed norms for white label ATM (WLA) operators and allowed them to buy wholesale cash directly

from the central bank. The Central Bank also permitted WLA operators to source cash from any bank, including cooperatives and regional

rural banks. WLAs are owned and operated by non-bank entities on behalf of the banks. The RBI has repealed its earlier order of permitting

WLA operators to source cash from retail outlets. WLAs have been allowed to buy wholesale cash, above a threshold of 1 lakh pieces (and

in multiples thereof) of any denomination, directly from the Reserve Bank and currency chests against full payment.

WLA operators can also offer bill payment and Interoperable Cash Deposit services, subject to technical feasibility and certification by

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

RBI has also allowed WLA operators to display advertisements pertaining to non-financial products or services anywhere within the WLA

premises, including the ATM screen, except the main signboard. The advertisements running on the screen should disappear once the

customer commences a transaction.

Banks have been allowed to issue co-branded ATM cards in partnership with the authorised WLA operators. All guidelines, safeguards,

standards and control measures applicable to banks relating to currency handling and cyber-security framework for ATMs shall also be

applicable to the WLA operators.

Centre approves interest subvention scheme for farmers

The Reserve Bank of India on March 7, 2019 said the government has approved implementation of the interest subvention scheme (ISS)

with modifications for the years 2018-19 and 2019-20.

In order to provide short-term crop loans upto ₹ 3 lakh to farmers at an interest rate of 7% p.a. during the years 2018-19 and 2019-20, it

has been decided to offer interest subvention of 2% per annum to lending institutions viz. Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and Private Sector

Commercial Banks (in respect of loans given by their rural and semi-urban branches only). This interest subvention of 2% will be calculated

on the crop loan amount from the date of its disbursement/drawal up to the date of actual repayment of the crop loan by the farmer or up

to the due date of the loan fixed by the banks whichever is earlier, subject to a maximum period of one year.

To provide an additional interest subvention of 3% per annum to such of those farmers repaying in time i.e. from the date of disbursement

of the crop loan upto the actual date of repayment by farmers or upto the due date fixed by the banks for repayment of crop loan,

whichever is earlier, subject to a maximum period of one year from the date of disbursement. This also implies that the farmers repaying

promptly as above would get short term crop loans @ 4% per annum during the years 2018-19 and 2019-20. This benefit would not accrue

to those farmers who repay their crop loans after one year of availing such loans.

In order to discourage distress sale by farmers and to encourage them to store their produce in warehouses, the benefit of interest

subvention will be available to small and marginal farmers having Kisan Credit Card for a further period of upto six months post the harvest

of the crop at the same rate as available to crop loan against negotiable warehouse receipts issued on the produce stored in warehouses

accredited with Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority (WDRA).

To provide relief to farmers affected by natural calamities, an interest subvention of 2% per annum will be made available to banks for the

first year on the restructured loan amount. Such restructured loans will attract normal rate of interest from the second year onwards.

IBBI signs a Cooperation Agreement with the International Finance Corporation

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) signed a Cooperation Agreement on March 6, 2019 with the International Finance

Corporation (IFC), a Member of the World Bank Group (WBG). The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (Code) provides for re-

organisation and insolvency resolution of corporate persons, partnership firms and individuals in a time bound manner for maximization of

the value of assets.



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The IBBI exercises regulatory oversight over the Insolvency Professionals, Insolvency Professional Agencies and Information Utilities. It writes

and enforces rules for processes, namely, corporate insolvency resolution, corporate liquidation, individual insolvency resolution and

individual bankruptcy under the Code. The IBBI is interested in the effective implementation of the Code and its Allied Rules and

Regulations.

The IFC is interested to assist the IBBI to further build the capacity of the Insolvency Professionals, and Insolvency Professional Agencies for

the purposes of the Code. The Cooperation Agreement envisages technical assistance up to 30th June, 2021 by the IFC to IBBI in this regard.

It inter alia covers assistance in (a) Workshops and Training for Insolvency Professionals and Officers of the IBBI; (b) Train the Trainers for

Workshops for Insolvency Professionals, (c) Development of National Insolvency Programme, (d) Insolvency and Valuation Examinations.

PM releases new series of visually impaired friendly coins

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 7, 2019 released the new series of visually impaired friendly circulation coins in New Delhi. Rs.1,

Rs.2, Rs.5, Rs.10 and Rs.20 are the various denominations of coins released as part of the new series. Various new features have been

incorporated in the new series of circulation coins to make it easier for the visually impaired to use them.

Rs. 20 coin

The first ever ₹20 coin will be shaped like a 12-edged polygon with design of grains to denote farm dominance in the country. It will weigh

8.54 gm and its outside diameter will be 27mm with the outer ring made of nickel silver and the centre piece of Nickel brass.

The face of this coin shall bear the ‘Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar’ with ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below. The left periphery will have the

word ‘Bharat’ in Hindi and the right periphery will have the word ‘India’ in English. The reverse side of the coin would have the

denominational value ‘20’ in the international numerals along with the Rupee symbol.

The design of grains depicting the agricultural dominance of the country is flanked on the left periphery of the coin. The year of minting in

international numerals shall be shown on centre of left periphery of the coin.

Other coins

New series of Rs.1, Rs.2, Rs.5 and Rs.10 coins would also be minted. These will be circular in design and have denominations written in Hindi

script.

According to the notification the new ₹10 coin will have a outside diameter of 27 mm and weigh 7.74 gm, while the ₹5 coin will have a diameter of 25 mm and weight of 6.74 gms. The new series one rupee and two rupees coin will weigh 3.09 gm and 4.07 gm, while the

diameter would be 20 mm and 23 mm respectively.

The face of all these coins shall bear the Lion Capitol of Ashoka Pillar with the ‘Satyameva Jayate’ inscribed below, flanked on the left

periphery with the word ‘Bharat’ in Hindi and on the right periphery with the word ‘India” in English.

Mints

As per Coinage Act, 1906, the Government of India has the sole right to mint coins and the responsibility for coinage vests with the

Government. The designing and minting of coins in various denominations is also the responsibility of the Government. Coins are minted at

the four India Government Mints at Mumbai, Alipore (Kolkata), Saifabad (Hyderabad), Cherlapally (Hyderabad) and Noida (UP). The coins

are issued for circulation only through the Reserve Bank in terms of the RBI Act.



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Section G: ECONOMY

Cabinet approves Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage mission

The Centre has approved a phased manufacturing programme of electric vehicles (EVs), its assemblies and parts with the objective of

development of domestic manufacturing.

The Union Cabinet on March 7, 2019 approved the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage.

An official statement said, “The Mission will have an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee chaired by Chief Executive Officer (CEO), NITI

Aayog to promote clean, connected, shared, sustainable and holistic mobility initiatives. The Mission will also launch the Phased

Manufacturing Programmes (PMP) for Batteries and for Electric Vehicle components.”

The National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage will finalise and implement strategies for transformative mobility and

Phased Manufacturing Programmes (PMP) for electric vehicles, their components and batteries.

The Mission will finalise the details of PMP for Electric Vehicle ecosystem and drive its implementation. The details of the value addition that

can be achieved with each phase of localisation will be finalised by the Mission with a clear ‘Make in India’ strategy for EV components as

well as battery technologies. The Mission covers bus and trucks, passenger vehicles, two wheelers and three wheelers.

The Mission will ensure holistic and comprehensive growth of the battery manufacturing industry in India.

Cabinet allows ministerial panel to decide on price, timing of CPSE sale

The Union Cabinet on March 7, 2019 decided to authorise the Finance Minister-led Alternative Mechanism (AM) to take a call on strategic

disinvestments. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has empowered the AM — set up in 2017 to look into the strategic sale

of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) — to decide on the quantum of shares to be transacted, the mode of sale and the final pricing

of the transaction, or lay down the principles/guidelines for such pricing, the selection of strategic partner/buyer, and the terms and

conditions of sale.

It can also decide on the timing of the sale and any other related issue regarding the transaction. The AM, which will comprise Jaitley, Road

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and the minister representing the administrative department concerned, can now decide on the quantum

of shares to be transacted, the mode of sale and the final pricing of the transaction. Else, it can lay down the principles or guidelines for

such pricing and the selection of a strategic partner or buyer.

So far, the AM has decided only on the terms and conditions of the CPSE sale from the stage of inviting of expressions of interest (EoIs) till

inviting of financial bid.

World Bank loan for National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP)

The World Bank and the Government of India on March 5, 2019 signed in New Delhi a $250 Million Agreement for the National Rural

Economic Transformation Project (NRETP) which will help women in rural households shift to a new generation of economic initiatives by

developing viable enterprise for farm and non-farm products.

A Key Focus of the Project will be to promote women-owned and women-led farm and non-farm enterprises across value chains; enable

them to build businesses that help them access finance, markets and networks; and generate employment.

The National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP) is an additional financing to the $500 million National Rural Livelihoods

Project (NRLP) approved by the World Bank in July 2011. The NRLP which is currently being implemented across 13 states, 162 districts and

575 blocks, has so far mobilized more than 8.8 million women from poor rural households into 750,000 self-help groups (SHGs). These

SHGs have been further federated into 48,700 Village Organizations and 2900 Cluster/Gram Panchayat-level Federations. While these 13

states will continue to be supported under the new project signed today, 125 new districts will be added from within these states.



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Conversion, Substitution & Mutation made online with the launch of e-Dharti App

Hardeep S Puri, Minister of State(I/C) for Housing and Urban Affairs on March 7, 2019 launched e-Dharti app which is a new online system

where all the three main modules i.e. Conversion, Substitution and Mutation have been made online. The payment system in Land &

Development Office (L&DO) has also been completely digitized. The public can now submit their applications online by visiting L&DO

website and are not required to visit this office for submission of them and for follow up of their applications. L&DO deals with public

applications which are mainly related to Conversion of property from leasehold to freehold, Substitution of names of legal heirs and

Mutation in the name of purchaser, etc.

e-Dharti Geo Portal, another important application on which L&DO has started working, is GIS based mapping of all its approx. 65000

properties. Through this application each and every Government property under L&DO, whether it is allotted or still lying vacant, is

proposed to be mapped on a portal called “e-Dharti Geo Portal”. Through this portal the Lessee of the property will be able to see the basic

details of his/her property along with map showing its location.

Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal launches 3 Railway Projects

Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal on March 8, 2019 launched 3 projects: Station Illumination, Vistadome Coaches and e-office

project.

Station Illumination: Indian Railways has taken initiative to improve illumination at its Railway Stations at par with ‘Airport standards’. Out

of 190 Stations selected for improvement in illumination level at par with ‘Airport standards’, till date 100 stations have already been

upgraded and work at other Stations is likely to be completed by April, 2019. Further, due to overwhelming response received from public,

it has now been decided to improve illumination levels at 500 additional Stations.

Vistadome Coaches: Indian Railways has a number of scenically beautiful routes. Vistadome coaches have been designed to provide

panoramic view to the passengers while enhancing their travelling comfort on these routes. These coaches have large windows on the sides

and glass panels on the roof to provide better viewing experience. Three Vistadome coaches are running between Dadar and Madgoan, in

Araku Valley and in Kashmir Valley. Four hill railways -- Darjeeling Railway–4 coaches, Kalka Shimla Railway–2 coaches, Kangra Valley

Railway–1 coach and Matheran Hill Railway – 1 coach -- have already been provided with Vistadome coaches as well. In total 13 Vistadome

coaches are presently available. Now 2 coaches have been modified to Vistadome coach by Golden Rock Workshop, Tiruchirappalli for

Nilgiri Mountain Railway. With this addition, now all 5 hill railways will have Vistadome coaches.

e-office project: E-Office project is a Mission Mode Project (MMP) under the National e-Governance Programme of the Government of

India. The project aims to usher in more efficient, effective and transparent inter-government and intra-government transactions and

processes. Indian Railways will now shift from manual filing system to E-office for its day to day activities to bring transparency and

efficiency in functioning. RailTel, a Miniratna PSU under Ministry of Railways, has taken up the work of implementing e-Office system for

Indian Railways.

Railways Minister launches 3 projects of Rail Sahyog supported through CSR

Minister of Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal on March 8, 2019 launched several projects which will boost Railways infrastructure, enhance

passenger experience and improve cleanliness and hygiene. 3 of these projects are supported through Rail Sahyog which is a platform for

the Corporates and PSUs to contribute to creation of amenities at or near Railway Stations through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

funds. These 3 projects are: High-Speed Wifi at 4,791 Railway Stations through CSR from Tata Trust, over 2,400 toilets to be constructed in

circulating area of Stations through support from PSUs and 5,000 stainless steel benches at Railway Stations through support from General

Insurance Corporation

Cabinet approves “FMBAP” for Flood Management Works

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 7, 2019 approved the “Flood Management and Border Areas

Programme (FMBAP)” for Flood Management Works in entire country and River Management Activities and works related to Border Areas

for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20 with a total outlay of Rs.3342.00 crores.



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The FMBAP Scheme will be implemented throughout the country for effective flood management, erosion control and anti-sea erosion. The

proposal will benefit towns, villages, industrial establishments, communication links, agricultural fields, infrastructure etc. from floods and

erosion in the country. The catchment area treatment works will help in reduction of sediment load into rivers.

The funding pattern for FM Component for works in general category States will continue to be 50% (Centre): 50% (State) and for projects

of North Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the funding pattern will continue to be 70% (Centre): 30% (State).

Govt amends hazardous and other wastes rules; bans import of solid plastic waste

The Centre on March 6, 2019 amended the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016 to

include prohibition on import of solid plastic waste even in special economic zones (SEZ) and by export-oriented units (EOU). The Ministry

of Environment amended the rules by an order to strengthen the implementation of environmentally sound management of hazardous

waste in the country.

Besides prohibiting solid plastic waste from being imported including in SEZ and by EOU sectors, the Hazardous and Other Wastes

(Management and Transboundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2019 have exempted exporters of silk waste from requiring permission

from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Electrical and electronic assemblies and components manufactured in and exported from India, if found defective can now be imported

back into the country, within a year of export, without obtaining permission from the Ministry.

Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh get new NCLT benches

The Government on March 8, 2019 approved establishment of two new benches of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), one at

Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh and the other at Indore in Madhya Pradesh. This step has been taken keeping in view the increasing case load,

especially under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code 2016.

The jurisdiction of the Bench at Amaravati will be the state of Andhra Pradesh and that of Indore will be the state of Madhya Pradesh. At

present Andhra Pradesh comes under the Jurisdiction of NCLT Bench at Hyderabad and Madhya Pradesh comes under the jurisdiction of

NCLT Bench, Ahmedabad. It is expected that creation of new benches will enable faster disposal of cases.

The NCLT, which has been set up under the Companies Act, 2013, has provided an effective and time bound adjudication mechanism to

deal with matters related to the Companies Act, 2013, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016 and the LLP Act, 2008. The Act

provides for appointment of a President and such number of Members as the Government may deem necessary. As on date there are 17

Judicial Members and 10 Technical Members.

Presently, 14 numbers of NCLT Benches have been established, including the Principal Bench in New Delhi, and three recently set up

benches at Jaipur, Kochi and Cuttack.

Govt notifies FAME-II with Rs 10K-cr outlay, offers incentives on EVs

The government on March 8, 2019 notified the second phase of the FAME India scheme with a Rs 10,000-crore outlay to encourage

adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles. “The scheme is proposed to be implemented over a period of three years, with effect from April 1,

2019, for faster adoption of electric mobility and development of its manufacturing ecosystem in the country,” a notification issued by the

heavy industries ministry said.

Under the second phase of the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-II) scheme, 10 lakh registered electric

two-wheelers with a maximum ex-factory price will be eligible to avail incentive of Rs 20,000 each. It will also support 5 lakh e-rickshaws

having ex-factory price of up to Rs 5 lakh with an incentive of Rs 50,000 each.

FAME-II will offer an incentive of Rs 1.5 lakh each to 35,000 electric four-wheelers with an ex-factory price of up to Rs 15 lakh, and incentive

of Rs 13,000 each to 20,000 strong hybrid four-wheelers with ex-factory price of up to Rs 15 lakh.

It will support 7,090 e-buses with an incentive of up to Rs 50 lakh each having an ex-factory price of up to Rs 2 crore.



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The scheme will have a Rs 1,500-crore outlay in 2019-20; Rs 5,000 crore in 2020-21 and Rs 3,500 crore in 2021-22. It will cover buses with EV

technology; electric, plug-in hybrid and strong hybrid four wheelers; electric three-wheelers including e-rickshaws and electric two-wheelers.

An inter-ministerial empowered committee, ‘Project Implementation and Sanctioning Committee’ (PISC), headed by the heavy industry

secretary, shall be constituted for overall monitoring, sanctioning and implementation of the scheme.

Suresh Prabhu launches GI Website & Tutorial Video on IPR

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu, launched a tutorial video on “Intellectual Property Rights” for school students

and the GI website in New Delhi on March 8, 2019. The tutorial video is available on CIPAM’s You Tube Channel and will form part of the

existing resource pool on CIPAM’s official website www.cipam.gov.in which is freely available for public.

The 20-minute tutorial video has been created by the Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM), Department for Promotion of

Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) in collaboration with Qualcomm. The video explains the fundamentals of Intellectual Property Rights

(IPRs) such as Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks. ‘IP Nani’, India’s first Intellectual Property (IP) Mascot, features in a series of short

animated videos, to spread awareness about the importance of IPRs amongst children.

The Geographical Indications (GI) of India website showcases Indian GIs products, classified state wise as well as product category wise. The

website has specific and comprehensive details of geographical area, description of product, uniqueness, history, product process/

processing in addition to enlisting GI authorized users. It will increase the visibility and marketability of GIs of India and hence help in their

commercialization.

Washing machines, microwave ovens to have energy efficiency ratings

The power ministry on March 8, 2019 said two more electrical appliances microwave ovens and washing machines will now be assigned star

ratings based on their energy efficiency metrics. The star labelling programme have been formulated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency

(BEE), as part of its mandate, under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001. Initially, the programme for above two appliances will be

implemented on a voluntary basis and will be valid up to December 31, 2020. The programme is aimed at improving energy efficiency in

household appliances to reduce energy bills of common consumers.

The BEE has also revised the criteria for washing machine for inclusion of water efficiency in addition to energy performance for grant of

star rating.

The manufacturers will be able to register products online for availing appropriate star rating for respective models/products. Any

model/brand of washing machine or a microwave oven can avail star rating on a scale of 1 to 5 based on test report from NABL or

equivalent labs subsequent to scrutiny by the BEE. The BEE is a statutory body under the Ministry of Power, which assists in developing

policies and strategies with the primary objective of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy.

Nitin Gadkari inaugurates multipurpose berths at Deendayal Port in Kandla

The Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin

Gadkari inaugurated two multipurpose berths – No. 14 & No. 16 at Deendayal Port at Kandla through video conferencing on March 8, 2019.

He also laid the foundation stone for the Central Inland & Coastal Maritime Technology- IIT Kharagpur. In addition to this he also

inaugurated a Multi Skill Development Centres (MSDC) in Maritime Logistics under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK) programme

of MSDE at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.

WCD Ministry and Ministry of Skill Development enter into MoU for improving women livelihood

The Ministry of Women and Child Development and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, on March 8, 2019 entered into

a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving women livelihood and empowering them through skill development. The MOU was

signed in the presence of Maneka Gandhi, Minister, Women and Child Development and Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister, Skill Development

and Entrepreneurship. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) and the National Skill Development Council (NSDC) will be the implementing partners

on behalf of the Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship respectively. The



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training partners for the programme shall be from the partners approved under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna, keeping in view,

their local presence and experience in skill training. The MOU is valid for a period of 3 years.

Union Cabinet announces interest subvention to sugar mills for ethanol production

The Union Cabinet on March 7, 2019 cleared a proposal to give interest subvention of up to Rs.3,355 crore to the sugar industry for

increasing production of ethanol for the fuel blending programme. The subsidy will be given on the Rs.12,900-crore bank loans given to

sugar mills for augmenting ethanol production, as well as on the Rs.2,600 crore to be given to molasses-based standalone distilleries.

Union Cabinet announces measures to promote power generation

The Union Cabinet on March 7, 2019 approved a slew of measures to promote hydro and thermal power production in the country. It

decided to declare hydropower projects as renewable energy projects and announced steps to facilitate the availability of coal to thermal

projects with shorter term power purchase agreements. It also made it mandatory for Discoms delaying payments to pay a late-payment

surcharge.

MoU for collaboration between SVSU and NITTTR signed

A Memorandum of Understating (MoU) for collaboration between Shri Vishwakarma Skill University (SVSU), Gurugram and National

Institute of Technical Teacher’s Training and Research (NITTTR), Bhopal was signed in the presence of Anantkumar Hegde, Minister of State

for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship in New Delhi on March 6, 2019. The MoU will be in force for a period of three years. The

collaboration targets to ensure purposeful engagement of Faculty, Experts and Industry Partners for various academic activities. The

collaboration seeks to support Vision and Mission of both Institutions related to Technical and Vocational Education, Training and Research.

The parties seek to do this through nurturing the initial implementations and supporting practices offering various capacity building

services and resources. Both parties will work together with mutual consent and collaboration towards creating output of high standards

thus building a joint reputation of quality and effectiveness in delivery.

UIDAI to levy fees for verification

Business organisations will now need to shell out Rs.20 for each customer verification and 50 paise for authentication of each transaction

done using Aadhaar, according to a notification by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on March 6, 2019. Aadhaar

authentication services will be charged at the rate of Rs.20 (including taxes) for each e-KYC transaction and Rs.0.50 (including taxes) for each

Yes/No authentication transaction from requesting entities. However, government entities and the Department of Posts will be exempt from

authentication transaction charges. According to the notification, the entities shall be required to deposit the authentication transaction

charges within 15 days of issuance of the concerned invoice based on the usage. The delay in payment beyond 15 days shall attract interest

compounded at 1.5% per month and discontinuation of authentication and e-KYC services. Business organisations were incurring a cost of

Rs.150-200 per KYC without Aadhaar.

Income tax exemption limit on gratuity doubled to Rs 20 lakh

The labour ministry said on March 7, 2019 that the income tax exemption limit on gratuity has been doubled to Rs 20 lakh from the existing

Rs 10 lakh. The move would benefit those employees of public sector undertakings (PSUs) and other employees not covered by the

Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. The latest enhancement of tax exemption limit on gratuity follows a government notification issued on

March 29, 2018, under which the ceiling was increased from Rs 10 lakh to 20 lakh effective March 29, 2018.

Govt brings transport scheme to boost agriculture exports; to reimburse freight cost through DBT

The government on March 5, 2019 introduced a scheme for providing financial assistance for transport and marketing of agriculture

products with a view to boosting export of farm commodities to certain countries in Europe and North America. Under the Transport and

Marketing Assistance (TMA) scheme, the government would reimburse a certain portion of freight charges and provide assistance for

marketing of agricultural produce. The scheme covers freight and marketing assistance for export by air as well as by sea (both normal and

refrigerated cargo). The scheme would be applicable for a period as specified from time to time. Presently, it would be available for exports

effected from March 1 this year to March 2020.



23

Cabinet extends funding period extended to boost regional air connectivity

The Union Cabinet on February 7, 2019 gave its approval for extending the “time and scope” of financial support of Rs.4,500 crore to the

Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the revival of small airports for the regional connectivity scheme (RCS). The sum of Rs.4,500 crore had

earlier been promised for the development of 50 un-served and under-served airports for the period of three years between financial years

2018 and 2020. This was now being extended to all the airports AAI may develop until 2022. The AAI has developed 38 unfrequented and

less frequented airports since the launch of the scheme in March 2017. As many as 750 routes have been awarded for connecting 77 un-

served airports, 21 under-served airports, ten waterdromes and 31 helipads.

PM lays foundation of Integrated Command & Control Centres in 3 states in Smart Cities Mission

The Prime Minister on March 7, 2019 laid the foundation stones of Integrated Command and Control Centres in Gangtok in Sikkim, Namchi,

Pasighat and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh and Agartala in Tripura under Smart Cities Mission through video conference. Smart City

Command and Control Centres use digital technology to integrate different service networks. They enable real-time collaboration among

departments such as Police, Transport, Power, Water, Sanitation, and Public Safety utilities.

Gender pay gap still high, women in India earn 19% less than men: Monster Salary Index

Gender pay gap is still high in India, as women in the country earn 19 per cent less than men, and wage inequalities in favour of men are

present in all the relevant sectors, the Monster Salary Index (MSI) said on March 7, 2019. The current gender pay gap in India stood at 19

per cent where men earned Rs 46.19 more in comparison to women. The median gross hourly salary for men in India in 2018 stood at Rs

242.49, while for women it stood at around Rs 196.3.

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan Friday releases India Cooling Action Plan

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan on March 8, 2019 released the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) aimed at reducing emissions and providing

thermal comfort to citizens. The Union environment minister launched the ICAP along with five other publications, including a report on the

ministry’s five years of achievements and faunal biodiversity in protected areas. He said the plan provides an integrated vision towards

cooling across sectors encompassing inter alia reduction of cooling demand, refrigerant transition, enhancing energy efficiency and better

technology options with a 20-year time horizon. ICAP aims at reducing cooling and refrigerant demand across sectors by 20-25 per cent by

2037-38.

World Bank to provide loan for Dam Rehabilitation & Improvement Project

The World Bank, the Government of India and representatives of 5 States of Government of India and Implementing Agencies signed in

New Delhi on March 8, 2019 the Loan Agreement for Additional Financing of $137 Million for the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement

Project (DRIP) that will help rehabilitate and modernize over 220 selected large dams in the States of Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh,

Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand. In 2010, the Bank’s Board approved $350 million to finance the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement

Project to improve the safety and sustainable performance of over 220 selected dams in India. This Ongoing Project has so far benefitted

25 Million Primary Beneficiaries from urban and rural communities providing them water and livelihood opportunities.

Forex reserves at USD 401.776 billion in the week to March 1

The country’s foreign exchange reserves increased by USD 2.599 billion in the week to March 1 to reclaim the USD 400 billion-mark, RBI

data showed on March 8, 2019. The forex reserves stood at USD 401.776 billion in the reporting week. Foreign currency assets, a major

component of the overall reserves, swelled by USD 2.061 billion to USD 374.060 billion. Expressed in US dollars, foreign currency assets

include the effect of appreciation/depreciation of non-US currencies such as the euro, pound and yen held in the nation’s reserves. Gold

reserves rose by USD 488.7 million to USD 23.253 billion. The special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund also rose by

USD 3 million to USD 1.463 billion. The country’s reserve position with the IMF too increased by USD 6.2 million to USD 2.999 billion.



24

NEWSMAKERS

Subhash Chandra Garg named Finance Secretary

Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg was on March 8, 2019 named as the Finance Secretary. Garg, 58, a 1983 batch IAS officer

of Rajasthan cadre, has been working as the Secretary in Department of Economic Affairs since June 2017.

As per the convention, the senior-most among the five secretaries in the Finance Ministry is designated as the Finance Secretary. While Ajay

Bhushan Pandey is the Revenue Secretary, Rajiv Kumar is Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Atanu Chakraborty is Secretary in

Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) and Girish Chandra Murmu is the Expenditure Secretary.

Former finance secretary Ajay Narayan Jha superannuated on February 28. Jha has taken over as member, 15th Finance Commission. Set up

in November, 2017, the 15th Finance Commission is headed by former Planning Commission member N K Singh. It is mandated to

recommend distribution of net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the states for a period of five years -- April, 2020 to March, 2025,

among others.

Sanjeev Ranjan named Road Transport Secretary, Sinha to be NHAI chief

Senior IAS officer Sanjeev Ranjan has been named secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), as part of a top-level

bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the central government. Ranjan is at present the chairman of National Highways Authority of India.

Ranjan will take over as MoRTH secretary with effect from April 1, 2019. Nagendra Nath Sinha will replace Ranjan as the new NHAI chief.

Sinha is managing director, National Highways and infrastructure Development Corporation. He will continue to hold the additional charge

of this post too.



25


Google launches ‘Bolo’ to tutor children to read Hindi, English

Tech giant Google on March 6, 2019 unveiled a new app ‘Bolo’ that aims to help children in primary school learn to read in Hindi and

English. The free app, which is being launched in India first, uses Google’s speech recognition and text-to-speech technology. The app

features an animated character ‘Diya’, who encourages children to read stories aloud and helps if the child is unable to pronounce a word. It

also lauds the reader when he/she completes the reading.

Culture Ministry and Google launch online exhibition on inventions and discoveries

The National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an organization under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India has collaborated

with Google Arts & Culture for ‘Once Upon a Try’: Epic journeys of invention and discovery - the largest online exhibition about inventions

and discoveries ever curated, as an attempt to explore humanity’s greatest inventions and discoveries in an interactive online exhibition. The

online exhibition was launched on March 6, 2019 and contains collections, stories and knowledge from over 110 renowned institutions from

across 23 countries, highlighting millennia of major breakthroughs and the great minds behind them.

Johnson & Johnson told to pay compensation for faulty hip implant

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) on March 8, 2019 issued directions to Johnson & Johnson Private Limited (J&J)

for the payment of ₹74.5 lakh as compensation to the first patient in the case of faulty ASR (Articular Surface Replacement) hip implants

manufactured and imported by M/s DePuy International Limited (now Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd.).

NGT tells Volkswagen India to deposit Rs.500 crore for cheat devices

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on March 7, 2019 directed Volkswagen India to deposit a sum of Rs.500 crore with the Central Pollution

Control Board (CPCB) within two months for using cheat devices in its diesel vehicles to avoid detection of violation of emission norms. A

bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel enhanced the compensation amount of Rs.171 crore, which was

recommended by an NGT-appointed committee, as a means of “creating deterrence.”

Mahindra Group firm Pininfarina unveils electric super car Battista

Luxury electric vehicles brand Automobili Pininfarina, a part of the Mahindra Group, on March 5, 2019 unveiled its luxury electric vehicle

Battista in Geneva which is touted to be faster than a current Formula 1 race car in its 0-100 km/h sub-two second sprint. When it arrives in

2020, the Battista will be the most powerful car ever designed and built in Italy. It has the potential to accelerate to 62 mph in less than two

seconds, faster than a Formula 1 car, and break the 250-mph top speed barrier all with a potential zero emissions range of over 300 miles,

the company said.

Air India staff asked to say ‘Jai Hind’ after flight announcements

Air India crew have to say “Jai Hind” “with much fervour” after every flight announcement, said an advisory issued by the national carrier on

March 4, 2019.



26

NEWSMAKERS

Swapna gets customised shoes from Adidas for her 12-toed feet

Asian Games gold-medallist Indian heptathlete Swapna Burman has received a pair of customised shoes to fit her 12-toed feet. German

global sportswear company Adidas created and delivered customised footwear for Swapna, who has been struggled to fit in her feet into

regular shoes. Adidas took Swapna to their Athlete Services Lab in Herzogenaurach, Germany for a detailed footwear analysis. Apart from

Swapna, adidas recently signed athletes Hima Das and Nikhat Zareen amongst others to use sports as a catalyst to bring positive change.

Mukesh Ambani ranked 13th on Forbes’ billionaire list

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani has moved six places up to rank 13th in US magazine Forbes’ “World’s Billionaire list 2019”. Mukesh Ambani is now worth $50 billion -- up from $40.1 billion in 2018 when he was at the 19th spot on the billionaires’ list. Amazon

founder Jeff Bezos continued to remain the world’s richest man with a net worth of $131 billion, followed by Bill Gates at $96.5 billion and

Warren Buffett at $82.5 billion.



27

Section I: STATES

SC gives another chance for mediation on Ayodhya land dispute

Giving another chance for mediation, the Supreme Court on March 8, 2019 ordered setting up a three-member panel headed by a former

apex court judge Justice Fakir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla to explore a possible settlement of the decades-old politically sensitive Ram

Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute in Ayodhya. Spiritual guru and founder of Art of Living foundation Sri-Sri Ravishankar and senior

advocate Sriram Panchu, well known for his mediation experience, will be the other two members of the panel. All the three men appointed

by the apex court hail from Tamil Nadu.

The mediation process will be held in Faizabad of Uttar Pradesh, around 7 km from the twin city of Ayodhya. It will be held “in-camera” and

in “utmost confidentiality” will be completed within eight weeks. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said

it does not find any “legal impediment” to make a reference to mediation for a possible settlement of the dispute.

Fourteen appeals have been filed in the apex court against the 2010 Allahabad High Court judgment, delivered in four civil suits, that the

2.77-acre land in Ayodhya be partitioned equally among the three parties -- the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla. On

December 6, 1992, the Babri Masjid, constructed at the disputed site in the 16th century by Shia Muslim Mir Baqi, was demolished.

Prime Minister launches development projects in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh on March 8, 2019 and launched various development projects. He

unveiled the plaque to mark the inauguration of Civil Terminal of Hindon Airport. Hindon airport belongs to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and

the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has developed the civil enclave there. Generally, civil enclaves are part of airports of armed forces that

are used for commercial flights. He then visited Sikandarpur and laid the foundation stone of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid

Transit System. He also launched various other development projects and distributed certificates to the beneficiaries of various Government

schemes. The Prime Minister also visited the Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda) Metro Station in Ghaziabad and flagged off the metro rail from

Shaheed Sthal Station to Dilshad Garden.

PM launches development projects at Greater Noida

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 9, 2019 visited Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh, and launched various development projects. At

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology, the Prime Minister flagged off the Noida City Centre – Noida Electronic City section

of Metro through video link. He also laid the foundation stone of two 1320 MW Thermal Power Plants at Khurja in Uttar Pradesh and Buxar

in Bihar. The Prime Minister inaugurated the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Institute of Archaeology. He unveiled a statue of Pandit

Deendayal Upadhyaya at the campus.

PM Modi visits Kanpur; launches various development projects

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 8, 2019 visited Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh where he inaugurated the Lucknow Metro Rail project

and laid the foundation stone of Agra Metro Rail project. He also laid the foundation stone of Panki Thermal Power plant and unveiled

plaques to mark the launch of various development projects at Niralanagar in Kanpur.

World Bank loan for Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project

The World Bank, Government of India and Government of Uttarakhand (GoUK) on March 5, 2019 signed a $96 Million Loan Agreement to

provide additional funds to the State of Uttarakhand in its post-disaster recovery plans, ongoing since the floods of 2013, as well as

strengthen its capacity for Disaster Risk Management. The World Bank, through the Uttarakhand Disaster Recovery Project, has been

supporting the State Government since 2014 to restore housing and rural connectivity, and to build resilience of communities. So far, the

Project has completed more than 2,000 permanent houses and 23 public buildings and restored over 1,300 km of roads and 16 bridges. The

additional financing of $96 million will further help in the reconstruction of bridges, road and river bank protection works, and in the

construction of a training facility for the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).



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Uttarakhand CM launches free milk scheme for anganwadi children

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat launched the Mukhyamantri Anchal Amrit Yojana in Dehradun on March 7, 2019, under

which 2.5 lakh children at 20,000 Anganwadi kendras in the state will be given 100 ml milk twice a week for free.

World Bank loan for Chhattisgarh Public Financial Management and Accountability Program

The Government of India, the State Government of Chhattisgarh and the World Bank on March 5, 2019 signed in New Delhi a $25.2 Million

Loan Agreement to support the State’s Reforms in Expenditure Management. This support will cover Expenditure Planning, Investment

Management, Budget Execution, Public Procurement and Accountability. The Chhattisgarh Public Financial Management and Accountability

Program will also help the State strengthen its Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and Tax Administration Systems.

Prayagraj Kumbh concludes with the bathing festival of Maha Shivratri

About two months long Prayagraj Kumbh has successfully concluded with its sixth bathing festival of Maha Shivratri on March 5, 2019. The

Prayagraj Kumbh attracted more than 24 crore bathers on different bathing festivals including Makar Sankranti, Paush Purnima, Mauni

Amavasya, Vasant Panchami, Maghi Purnima and Maha Shivratri.

MP governor approves ordinance to increase OBC quota

Madhya Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel on March 10, 2019 approved an ordinance to increase reservation for Other Backward Classes

(OBCs) from 14 per cent to 27 per cent. Earlier on March 6, Chief Minister Kamal Nath had announced his government’s decision to increase

the reservation quota for OBCs. The Chief Minister had also assured that 10 per cent reservation for the economically weaker section in the

general category will also be implemented in the state.

PM launches several development projects in Ahmedabad

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ahmedabad and launched various development projects on March 4, 2019.

At Vastral Gam Metro Station in Ahmedabad, the Prime Minister inaugurated the first phase of Ahmedabad Metro Service. He laid the

foundation stone for the second phase of the Ahmedabad Metro. After inaugurating the 6.5-km stretch of phase one of the Ahmedabad

Metro, connecting Vastral to Apparel Park Area, Modi also took a ride on the metro.

The Prime Minister launched the One Nation One Card in association with the State Bank of India (SBI). It is the first National Common

Mobility Card (NCMC) that will enable users to make multiple kinds of payments such as transport charges, including metro services and toll

tax, across the country and withdraw money from the same card. Among other things, this card will let users pay for all times of public

transport using only one card all over the country. The stored value on card supports offline transaction across all travel needs with minimal

financial risk to users. Apart from the payment options, this inter-operable transport ‘One Nation One Card’, will also let users withdraw

money from ATM.

This ‘One Nation One Card’ has been developed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). The National Common Mobility

Card will be issued by all banks as debit, credit, and pre-paid card. This One Nation One Card is supported by Automatic Fare Collection

Gate ‘SWAGAT’ and an Open Loop Automatic Fare Collection System ‘SWEEKAR’.

Modi inaugurated the 1200 bed New Civil Hospital, New Cancer Hospital, Dental Hospital and Eye Hospital in Ahmedabad. He dedicated to

the nation, the Dahod Railway Workshop and laid the foundation stone of Lothal Maritime Museum. Modi also inaugurated the 51-km long

Patan- Bindi Railway line by digitally flagging off a goods train. He also laid the foundation stone of 78.8-km long Anand- Godhra Railway

line doubling project.



29

Surat Metro Rail Project approved

The Government of India on March 9, 2019 approved the Surat Metro Rail Project having two Metro Rail Corridors with combined length of

40.35 km. The project will be completed in 5 years at an estimated project cost of Rs. 12020.32 Crore. The project will be implemented by

Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation (GMRC) Ltd. The project will be financed mainly through equity from GoI and Government of Gujarat on

50:50 basis and loan from bilateral/ multilateral agencies.

PM inaugurates Maharashtra’s second Metro Rail in Nagpur

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 7, 2019 inaugurated a 13.5 km stretch under phase I of the Metro Rail in Nagpur, making it the

second city in Maharashtra after Mumbai to get a Metro Rail. With 65 per cent electricity generated through solar energy, the Nagpur

Metro is being hailed as the “greenest Metro” so far. The Nagpur Metro’s 13.5 km route stretching between Khapri and Sitabuldi, has five

stations.

GI tag for Erode turmeric

The turmeric farmers and traders thanked the Government for declaring Geographical Identification Tag for Erode turmeric. On March 6,

2019, they received the GI Tag with immediate effect.

PM visits Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kalaburagi in Karnataka and Kancheepuram in Tamil Nadu on March 6, 2019. He launched various

development projects at both locations.

At Kalaburagi, PM inaugurated dedicate the ESIC Hospital and Medical College, Bengaluru and the Super Specialty Block of KIMS, Hubballi.

These projects will ensure quality and affordable healthcare for the people in Karnataka. He laid the foundation stone of the Resitement of

BPCL Depot Raichur to Kalaburagi. He inaugurated the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal Terminal at Bengaluru and the ‘Women’s Hostel for

Students from North Eastern Region at Bangalore University.

At Kancheepuram, the Prime Minister unveiled multiple projects in roadways, railways and energy sector. He inaugurated the electrification

of Erode-Karur-Tiruchchirapalli and Salem-Karur-Dindigul railway lines. Electrification will reduce the GHG emissions and reduce the travel

time for people and goods plying the route. The Prime Minister dedicated the Ennore LNG Terminal to the nation. The Ennore LNG terminal

with a capacity of 5 MMTPA will help in meeting the LNG gas demand in Tamil Nadu and neighboring States. The PM unveiled the statue of

Dr. MG Ramachandran at Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts & Science for Women, Chennai through video link. Dr. MG Ramachandran was an

actor, and politician who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for ten years between 1977 and 1987. He was conferred with Bharat

Ratna.

Goyal dedicates to nation 1,000-MW thermal power project of NTPL

Coal Minister Piyush Goyal on March 4, 2019 dedicated to the nation a 1,000-megawatt (MW) thermal power project of Neyveli Tamil Nadu

Power Ltd (NTPL) and a 150-MW solar power projects of NLC India Ltd (NLCIL) in Tamil Nadu situated in Ramanathapuram and

Virudhunagar districts. The 1,000-MW coal-fired thermal power project of NTPL is a joint venture between NLCIL and TANGEDCO with an

equity participation of 89:11.

BOLD–QIT project inaugurated along international border in Dhubri, Assam

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on March 4, 2019 inaugurated the project BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically Dominated QRT Interception

Technique) under CIBMS (Comprehensive Integrated Border Management system) on India-Bangladesh border in Dhubri District of Assam.

Border Security Force is responsible for safeguarding of 4,096 Km long International Border with Bangladesh. At various places, it is not

possible to erect Border Fence due to the geographical barriers. The 61 Kms of Border area in District Dhubri, Assam where River

Brahmaputra enters into Bangladesh consists of vast char lands and innumerable river channels thus making border guarding in this area, a

daunting task especially during rainy season.



30

To overcome this problem, in the year 2017, Ministry of Home Affairs decided to go for technological solution besides the physical presence

of manpower of BSF. In Jan, 2018, Information and Technology Wing of BSF undertook the project BOLD-QIT (Border Electronically

Dominated QRT Interception Technique) and completed it with the technical support of various manufacturers and suppliers.

BOLD-QIT is the project to install technical systems under the Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS), which

enables BSF to equip Indo-Bangla borders with different kind of sensors in unfenced riverine area of Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Now,

the entire span of River Brahmaputra has been covered.

ADB to provide loan for additional financing for Assam Urban Project

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed on March 8, 2019 in New Delhi a $26 Million Loan Agreement to

provide additional financing for improving drainage infrastructure in Dibrugarh town of Assam under the ongoing Assam Urban

Infrastructure Investment Program. The ongoing Loan of $51 Million under the Program is helping to improve water supply infrastructure in

Guwahati, and solid waste management and drainage infrastructure in Guwahati and Dibrugarh cities of Assam. The additional financing will

further support in improving drainage system in Dibrugarh, and also support project management activities.

Cabinet nod to NHPC acquiring Lanco’s Teesta hydro-electric project

The Union Cabinet on March 7, 2019 approved state-owned NHPC taking over debt-laden Lanco’s 500 MW Teesta hydro-electric power

project in Sikkim. NHPC has also been allowed to spend Rs 574.04 crore to complete balance work at the project. The project would

generate 2,400 million units. Teesta Stage-VI hydro-electric project is a run of river (RoR) scheme in Sirwani Village of Sikkim to utilise the

power potential of Teesta river basin in cascade manner. The project shall help in meeting peaking demand of energy, balancing and

ramping requirement of the grid.

11 more State DD Channels on Satellite footprint

Prasar Bharati has brought 11 more state DD channels, including five channels of North-Eastern States, on the Satellite footprint of India

through DD Free Dish which will push the outreach and accessibility of Doordarshan. It is for the first time that Chhattisgarh, Goa, Haryana,

Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Uttarakhand have got their own DD Channel on a

Satellite Network through DD Free Dish, said an official release on March 9

West Bengal govt. lays foundation of various projects including Hindi University

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid foundation stone of various developmental projects including the first Hindi University of

Bengal in Howrah on March 6, 2019. She also announced a new scheme Yuvashree Arpan under which 50,000 youths will receive financial

assistance of Rs 1 lakh for setting up an enterprise.



31

NEWSMAKERS

Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya joins Congress a day after quitting Akali Dal

A day after resigning from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya joined the Congress on March 5, 2019. He is

the second MP of the NDA to join the Congress in the last three days. On March 2, BJP MP Savitri Bai Phule joined the Congress. Phule had

won from the Bahraich (SC) Lok Sabha constituency in the 2014 election on a BJP ticket.

Jagdish Mukhi sworn in as Governor of Mizoram

Jagdish Mukhi was sworn-in as the Governor of Mizoram in Aizawl on March 9, 2019. Gauhati High Court judge, Justice Nelson Sailo

administered the oath of office to Mukhi. Mukhi is also the Governor of Assam. He succeeded Kummanam Rajasekharan as the governor of

Mizoram as the latter resigned on March 7 and his resignation was accepted by the President Ram Nath Kovind who appointed Mukhi to

take additional charge of Mizoram.

Former union minister V. Dhananjay Kumar passes away at 67

Former minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Venur Dhananjay Kumar, passed away in Mangaluru on March 4, 2019 at the age of

67. A four-time Lok Sabha member, Kumar served in various capacities in the Vajpayee government, holding the portfolios of civil aviation,

finance and textiles, the latter two as minister of state. His journey in the electoral politics began from 1983 when he first became an MLA

from BJP.

E. Sreedharan named top adviser to MRTS projects in J&K

The Jammu & Kashmir Governor administration on March 10, 2019 approved the appointment of ‘Metro Man’ E Sreedharan as the Principal

Adviser to two Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) projects to be built in Jammu and Srinagar. Sreedharan, a retired IES (IRSE) officer, is

popularly known as the ‘Metro Man’ for changing the face of public transport in the country with his leadership in building the Konkan

Railway and the Delhi Metro. The Governor administration has approved setting up of two MRTCs — Jammu Mass Rapid Transit

Corporation and the Srinagar Mass Rapid Transit Corporation — for the two capital cities.



32

Section J: SPORTS

Australia-India ODI series level at 2-2

Australia (359/6 in 47.5) beat India (358/9 in 50) by 4 wickets in 4th ODI at Mohali on March 10, 2019 to level the 5-match series 2-2. Ashton

Turner (84* runs in 43 balls) was Player of the match.

On March 8, Australia (313/5 in 50 overs) defeated India (281 all out in 48.2 overs) by 32 runs in the third ODI in Ranchi on March 8, 2019.

Usman Khawaja (104 runs in 113 balls) was Player of the match.

On March 5, India (250/10 in 48.2) had beaten Australia (242/10 in 49.3) by 8 runs in 2nd ODI at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium,

Nagpur. Virat Kohli (116 in 120 balls) was Player of the match.

On March 2, India (240/4 in 48.2) had beaten Australia (236/7 in 50) by 6 wickets in first ODI at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium,

Hyderabad. Kedar Jadhav (81* runs in 87 balls) was Player of the match.

Women’s Cricket: England beat India 3-0 in T20I series

In Women’s Cricket, England (119/6 in 20) beat India (118/6 in 20) by 1 run in 3rd T20I at Guwahati on March 9, 2019, completing a 3-0

whitewash. India women had lost the first two T20Is at the same venue after having clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1.

Oceania nations, including Australia, to compete at 2022 Asian Games

Oceania nations, including sporting powerhouse Australia, have been invited to compete in Olympic team events such as football and

basketball at the 2022 Asian Games for the first time. The decision came at a meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia in Bangkok on March

3, 2019.

The invitation to the Games in China’s Hangzhou is limited to volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball and football and fencing, ruling out

sports such as swimming and track cycling which Australia would be expected to dominate.

Oceania -- Australia, New Zealand and a swathe of Pacific islands -- has not taken part in the Asian Games before. Australia has been a

member of the Asian Football Confederation since 2006, and previously took part in the East Asian Games in Osaka in 2001 and the 2017

Asian Winter Games in Sapporo. With 35 sports and 10,000 athletes competing, the Asian Games is second only to the Olympics as a global

multi-sport event.

Delhi HC bars IABF from using ‘India’ or ‘Indian’ in name

In an interim order, the Delhi High Court on March 7, 2019 directed the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation (IABF) not to use ‘India’ or

‘Indian’ in its name. The order came on a plea filed by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) seeking a permanent injunction against IABF from

using word ‘Indian’ in its name. BFI told the court that IABF had been de-recognised by the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs and it was

not a recognised federation any more. Therefore, BFI asked the court to restrain IABF from representing itself as a recognised national

sports federation for boxing.

India win 8 medals at GeeBee Boxing Tournament in Helsinki, Finland

India won 8 medals including 1 gold and 5 silver at the GeeBee Boxing Tournament in Helsinki, Finland on March 10, 2019. Kavinder Singh

Bisht (56kg) won gold while Shiva Thapa (60kg), Govind Sahani (49kg), Mohammed Hussamuddin (56kg) and Dinesh Dagar (69kg) won

silver medals. Ending with bronze medals after semifinal losses were Sumit Sangwan (91kg), Sachin Siwach (52kg) and Naveen Kumar

(+91kg).



33

Kenyan athletics pioneer Daniel Rudisha dies at 73

Daniel Rudisha, a member of Kenya’s silver medal-winning 4 x 400m relay quartet at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and father to 800m world

record holder David Rudisha, died in Nairobi on March 6, 2019 at the age of 73.

Section A: INDIA

Defence Ministry files affidavit in SC on leaked Rafale deal documents

DRDO develops ‘combat drugs’ to reduce casualties in Pulwama type attacks, warfare

Pinaka guided weapons system successfully test fired

NGT asks 6 States to submit action plan on bringing air quality standards within prescribed norms

NGT directs CPCB to prepare a noise pollution map

Officers with 6 months’ tenure can be named DGP: SC

Election Commission launches apps

Ex-SC judge Justice P.C. Ghose to be India’s first Lokpal

BJP MP Shyama Charan joins Samajwadi Party

BJD MP Balabhadra Majhi joins BJP

Senior journalist, environmental activist Darryl D’Monte passes away at 74


9th round of India-US Strategic Security Dialogue held in Washington

India gets first TIR shipment via Chabahar Port from Afghanistan

Enemy properties can be put to public use: Centre to states

India awards 200 Golden Jubilee Scholarships to Nepali students

PMs of Bangladesh and India inaugurate development projects

Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs meets PM Modi

New Delhi, Islamabad agree to work on operationalizing Kartapur corridor

India-Africa joint field training exercise to kick off on March 18

EAM Sushma Swaraj holds talks with her Maldivian counterpart in Male

CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership held in New Delhi

BRICS Sherpa meeting held in Curitiba

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster unveils Blue Room at Roosevelt House

Six new envoys present credentials to President

Section C: WORLD

UN unveils findings of Global Environment Outlook (GEO)

Women greatly outnumbered by men in political power: UN

SIPRI unveils report ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2018’ One Planet Summit held in Nairobi

Trump vetoes bill blocking emergency declaration

SCO to hold joint anti-terrorism exercise in 2019

India ranks 11th in gold holding: World Gold Council

Vienna tops Mercer’s index of most liveable cities

UK issues new ‘black hole’ coin in honour of Stephen Hawking

British Parliament rejects Theresa May’s Brexit deal for second time

EU adds 10 countries, including UAE, to tax blacklist

World Consumer Rights Day observed on March 15

World Kidney Day observed on March 14

China blocks designation of JeM founder Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist” by UNSC



34

Noted American poet W.S. Merwin dies at 91


UNEA adopts India’s resolutions on single-use plastic, sustainable nitrogen management

Climate vulnerability maps developed for Himalayan states

IIT KGP signs MoU with C-DAC for high performance computing

Russian-US crew arrives at International Space Station

Section E: AWARDS

Businessline Changemaker Awards presented

Raghu Karnad among winners of $165,000 Windham-Campbell Prize

National Grassroots Innovation Awards presented

Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) announced

Film director and novelist Ved Rahi wins ‘Kusumagraj Rashtriya Sahitya Puraskar’ Swati Shingade bags first prize of DD Mahila Kisan Award

Tulika Publishers wins Translation award at London Book Fair


RBI names SBI, ICICI and HDFC as systemically important banks

RBI to inject liquidity via forex swaps

First half of current fiscal shows some signs of capex recovery: RBI study

RBI categorises IDBI Bank as private sector lender after LIC acquisition

SBI launches ‘YONO Cash’ for cardless withdrawal of cash at ATMs

SBI launches doorstep banking service

Axis Bank names Rakesh Makhija as new Chairman

Bhargava is no more IDBI non-executive chairman

Section G: ECONOMY

Cabinet approves proposal to align with global trademark system

NITI Aayog CEO to head transformative mobility panel

MCA releases national guidelines on business conduct

Retail inflation jumps to a 4-month high of 2.57% in February

Wholesale inflation rises to 2.93% in February 2019

Industrial production growth slows to 1.7% in January 2019

India’s merchandise trade deficit narrows as exports rise 2.44% in February

India’s services exports up 8.6% in January 2019


Nifty rejig: Britannia Industries will replace HPCL in Nifty 50

Monsanto, govt cuts cotton seed royalty by half

IIT-Madras, Teertha sign pact to develop device to generate potable water from air

BEL, Israel’s Elbit Systems in tech pact for helmet-mounted display system

ITC’s campaign ranked No 2 in Warc Effective 100 index

Digital sector to overtake film entertainment area in 2019: FICCI report

India closes its airspace to the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft

Findings of CARE Ratings Survey on ‘Economic Perspective for 2019’ released

HCL Tech acquires US-based firm Strong-Bridge Envision

Jubilant FoodWorks launches first homegrown eatery brand Hong’s Kitchen

Mars Wrigley Confectionery brings global brand Skittles to India



35

Titan seals strategic pact with FTS USA

Google bids goodbye to instant messaging app ‘Allo’ Huawei launches Watch GT in India starting at Rs 15,990

Facebook launches ‘Facebook Hubs’ to foster innovation, support startups

YouTube music debuts in India

Brookfield buys gas pipeline from Mukesh Ambani for Rs.13,000 crore

Harley Davidson launches Forty-Eight Special motorcycle at Rs.10.98 lakh

GoDaddy partners with ICC as official sponsor for Cricket World Cup 2019

M. Ravi Kanth gets extension for six months as HUDCO chief

Six Indians in Young Global Leaders list of WEF

Wipro Chairman Premji allots profit from 34% of his shares for philanthropy

M. R. Kumar appointed LIC chairman

Lloyd ropes in Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh as brand ambassadors

Section I: STATES

Over 3 lakh items of clothing donated, Guinness world record created in Udaipur

Ayodhya land dispute: SC-appointed mediation panel holds first sitting In Faizabad

Arecanut gets ‘Sirsi supari’ geographical indication tag

Exclusion from draft Assam NRC will not affect voting rights for LS polls: ECI to SC

SC stays contempt punishment against Shillong Times

Former IAS officer Shah Faesal launches new party in J&K

Goa CM and former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar dies in Panaji at 63

Prominent Lingayat leader Mathe Mahadevi passes away at 74

Section J: SPORTS

Kento Momota, Yufei Chen win Singles titles at All England Open Badminton Championships

Shi Yuqi and Chen Yufei win singles titles at Swiss Open Badminton

Australia win ODI series 3-2

Karnataka win Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy

SC overturns BCCI’s life ban on Sreesanth in IPL spot-fixing case

SC appoints PS Narasimha as mediator to resolve disputes of cricket administration in BCCI

D. Gukesh finishes second in HD Bank International chess tournament in Ho Chi Minh City

Russia and China win World Team Chess Championship in Astana

Indian Oil win Bombay Gold Cup Hockey tournament

Ronnie O’Sullivan wins Players Championship title in Snooker

India to host U-17 Women’s Football World Cup in 2020

Olympic gold medallist Kelly Catlin dies at 23

India replaced by Thailand as host of Asian Junior Weightlifting Championship in July

Annu Rani improves her women’s javelin throw national record

Cristiano Ronaldo tops ESPN World Fame 100 list, Virat Kohli 7th

Valtteri Bottas wins Formula One Australian Grand Prix

Formula One’s race director Charlie Whiting dies in Melbourne at 66



36

Section A: INDIA

NEWS ROUND UP

Defence Ministry files affidavit in SC on leaked Rafale deal documents

The “photocopying” of sensitive documents on the war capacity of the Rafale combat aircraft and their leakage is a “conspiracy” affecting

national security, the government claimed in the Supreme Court on March 13, 2019.

The photocopying was done without the “permission, consent, acquiescence” of the government. It thus amounts to theft, an offence under

the Indian Penal Code.

“Those who have conspired in this leakage are guilty of penal offences under the Indian Penal Code, including theft by unauthorised

photocopying and leakage of sensitive official documents affecting national security,” an eight-page affidavit filed by the Ministry of

Defence, represented by advocate R. Balasubramaniam, declared in the Supreme Court.

The affidavit, signed by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra, informed that an internal enquiry has been under way since February 28, 2019. “It is

of utmost concern to the Central government to find out where the leakage took place so that in future the sanctity of decision-making

process in governance is maintained,” the Ministry said.

DRDO develops ‘combat drugs’ to reduce casualties in Pulwama type attacks, warfare

With 90 per cent of gravely wounded security personnel succumbing to injuries within a few hours, DRDO’s medical laboratory has come up

with a range of ‘combat casualty drugs’ that can extend the golden hour till the trooper is shifted to hospital. The spectrum includes

bleeding wound sealants, super absorptive dressings and glycerated salines, all of which can save lives in the event of warfare in jungle and

high-altitude areas as well as in terror attacks. Citing the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama where 40 CRPF soldiers were killed, DRDO

scientists said the medicines could have brought down the death toll. According to developers of the drugs at the Institute of Nuclear

Medicine and Allied Sciences, a laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, chances of survival and minimum

disability are highest when effective first aid care is given within the golden hour.

Pinaka guided weapons system successfully test fired

Defence Research and Defence Organisation (DRDO) on March 11, 2019 successfully test fired the Guided PINAKA from Pokhran ranges.

The weapon system is equipped with state-of-the-art guidance kit comprising of an advanced navigation and control system. In both the

missions, the weapon systems impacted the intended targets with high precision and achieved desired accuracies. Telemetry Systems

tracked and monitored the vehicle all through the flight path. All the mission objectives have been met. The indigenously developed Guided

Pinaka by DRDO will significantly boost the capability of the artillery to make precision hits.

NGT asks 6 States to submit action plan on bringing air quality standards within prescribed norms

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed six States to submit by April 30 action plans for bringing air quality standards within the

prescribed norms, failing which they would be liable to pay environment compensation of ₹1 crore each. A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel ordered the Chief Secretaries of Assam, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Nagaland

governments to submit their plan within the stipulated time. The States, where action plans are found to be deficient and deficiencies are

not removed till April 30, will be liable to pay ₹25 lakh each and the timeline for execution of the action plans is six months from the date of

their finalisation, the Bench said. The court order came after the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed the green panel that out

of 102 cities, action plan has been received from 83 cities, while 19 have not submitted it.

NGT directs CPCB to prepare a noise pollution map

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Central Pollution Control Board, CPCB, to prepare a noise pollution map and remedial

action plan to solve the issue across the country. A bench headed by National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel

directed the CPCB to identify noise pollution hotspots and categorise cities with specified hotspots and propose a remedial action plan

within three months. The NGT said the absence of implementation of noise pollution norms affects health of citizens, especially infants and

senior citizens.



37

Officers with 6 months’ tenure can be named DGP: SC

The Supreme Court on March 13, 2019 said senior police officers with a residual tenure of six months before normal retirement could be

considered for the post of Director General of Police (DGP). The order came on a plea by former Uttar Pradesh DGP Prakash Singh, who

contended that the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) was only considering police officers with a minimum two years’ residual tenure

for appointment as DGP. This had led to many competent officers being overlooked. On July 3, 2018, the Supreme Court had barred State

governments from appointing DGPs without first consulting the UPSC.

Election Commission launches apps

The Election Commission has launched several apps ahead of the elections. CVigil helps citizens report misdemeanours directly to the EC.

Voter Helpline can be used to check your name on the list, and Samadhan is a grievance redress system. Suvidha is for candidates to apply

for permissions for rallies, loudspeakers, etc.

RECENT BOOKS

NON-FICTION

Majoritarian State: How Hindu Nationalism is Changing India by Angana P. Chatterji (Editor), Thomas Blom Hansen (Editor), Christophe

Jaffrelot (Editor)

Coming Out As A Dalit by Yashica Dutt

The Transformative Constitution: A Radical Biography in Nine Acts by Gautam Bhatia

Belt and Road: A Chinese World Order by Bruno Macaes

Those Magnificent Women and their Flying Machines: ISRO’S Mission to Mars by Minnie Vaid

How to Win an Indian Election: What Political Parties Don’t Want You to Know by Shivam Shankar Singh

Insider/Outsider: Belonging and Unbelonging in North-East India (Edited) by Preeti Gill & Samrat Choudhary

Myanmar in the World — Journeys Through A Changing Burma by Abhijit Dutta

Ganga: The Many Pasts of a River by Sudipta Sen

The Verdict by Prannoy Roy, Dorab Sopariwala

The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells

The Indian Legal System: An Enquiry by Mahendra Pal Singh, Niraj Kumar

India’s Eastward Engagement by S.D. Muni, Rahul Mishra

Democracy Hacked by Martin Moore

FICTION

The Plotters by Un-Su Kim, trs Sora Kim-Russell

The Prince by Samhita Arni

A Secret History of Compassion by Paul Zacharia

Melody of a Tear by Haroon Khalid Akhtar

This Could Have Become Ramayan Chamar’s Tale by Subimal Misra (translated from Bengali by V. Ramaswamy)

The Storyteller’s Secret by Sejal Badani

Our Start-up Affair by Sheila Kumar

Beast by Krishna Udayasankar

Bells of Shangri-La: Scholars, Spies, Invaders in Tibet by Parimal Bhattacharya

A Gujarat Here, a Gujarat There by Krishna Sobti and Daisy Rockwell

In the City a Mirror Wandering by Upendranath Ashk

Tell Her Everything by Mirza Waheed

NEWSMAKERS



38

Ex-SC judge Justice P.C. Ghose to be India’s first Lokpal

Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose was on March 17, 2019 recommended to be the first Lokpal or anti-corruption

ombudsman of India. His name was finalised and recommended by the Selection Committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi,

Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and eminent jurist Mukul Rohatgi. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha

Mallikarjun Kharge, who is part of the committee, did not attend the meeting.

Justice Ghose, 67, who is a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) since June 2017, retired from the Supreme Court on

May 27, 2017. He had assumed charge as Supreme Court judge on March 8, 2013. His was among the names shortlisted by the Lokpal

Search Committee.

Justice Ghose’s appointment has come nearly five years after the Lokpal Act was notified on January 16, 2014. The law provides for a Lokpal

at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states to probe cases of corruption against public servants.

The Supreme Court, hearing a PIL filed by NGO Common Cause, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, has been pushing the

government to make the appointments.

On January 17, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Centre for repeatedly delaying the appointment of the Lokpal. On March 7, a bench

headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had asked the Modi government to inform the court within a fortnight by when it would

finalise the names.

Delayed for some reason or the other, the search committee was constituted on September 27, 2018, after the Supreme Court’s intervention

and former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai was nominated to head it.

BJP MP Shyama Charan joins Samajwadi Party

Uttar Pradesh BJP MP Shyama Charan Gupta on March 16, 2019 joined the Samajwadi party. He won Lok Sabha election from Prayagraj

constituency in 2014.

BJD MP Balabhadra Majhi joins BJP

Balabhadra Majhi, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP from Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat in Odisha, joined the BJP on March 16, 2019.

Senior journalist, environmental activist Darryl D’Monte passes away at 74

Senior journalist and environmental activist Darryl D’Monte, who worked with leading English dailies, died in Mumbai on March 17, 2019 at

the age of 74. In a career spanning several decades, he served as the resident editor of Mumbai editions of The Times of India and The

Indian Express.



39


NEWS ROUND UP

9th round of India-US Strategic Security Dialogue held in Washington

India and the United States (US) have agreed to build six American nuclear power plants in India, in a boost to bilateral civil nuclear energy

cooperation. The two countries said this in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the ninth round of India-US Strategic Security

Dialogue, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Andrea Thompson, the US under-secretary of state for arms control and

international security, in Washington on March 13, 2019.

India and the US signed a historic agreement to cooperate in civil nuclear energy sector in October 2008. A major aspect of the deal was the

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), that gave a special waiver to India enabling it to sign cooperation agreements with a dozen countries.

Post-waiver, India signed civil nuclear cooperation agreements with the US, France, Russia, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Sri Lanka, the UK,

Japan, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan and South Korea.

The US also reaffirmed its strong support to India’s early membership in the 48-member NSG. Notably, China has blocked India’s pending

membership to the elite grouping that seeks to prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on a wide range of global security and non-proliferation challenges and reaffirmed their

commitment to work together to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems and to deny access to

such weapons by terrorists and non-state actors.

On March 12, Indra Mani Pandey, India’s additional secretary for disarmament and international security affairs, and Yleem D S Poblete, US

assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification and compliance, co-chaired the third round of India-US Space Dialogue. The two

delegations discussed trends in space threats; respective national space priorities; and opportunities for cooperation bilaterally and in

multilateral fora.

India gets first TIR shipment via Chabahar Port from Afghanistan

The first shipment under the United Nations ‘Transports Internationaux Routiers’ (TIR) convention arrived in India from Afghanistan through

Iran’s Chabahar Port. The consignments arrived at port of Nhava Sheva, Mumbai and Mundra on March 13, 2019.

Welcoming the arrival of the maiden shipment, Pranab Kumar Das, Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC),

Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, said the TIR convention will help in fast and easy movement of goods across multiple countries

under a common customs document and guarantee.

TIR Carnets

India had joined the TIR Convention (the United Nations Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR

Carnets) on June 15, 2017.

The convention allows goods to be outlined in a TIR carnet and sealed in load compartments.

Customs officials verify the carnet and check the seals, with no need for physical checking of the contents, enabling shipments to pass

through countries without being opened at borders.

Impact

Reciprocal recognition of customs controls is at the heart of the Convention. This enables a facilitative and non-intrusive environment for

multi-modal transport of goods through several countries.

The convention will help boost India’s exports and enable greater participation in the global value chains.



40

TIR will play a pivotal role in improving ease of doing business and pave the way for smoother and safer transport of goods across

international borders and will help boost trade between India, Central Asia, Europe and Russia.

“It will act as a strong catalyst for moving goods using the multi-modal transportation route like Chabahar and International North-South

Transport (INSTC) Corridor.

The opening of Chabahar Port for TIR is hugely significant — offering connectivity for landlocked countries, seamless border crossing

facilitation and intermodal capabilities.

Enemy properties can be put to public use: Centre to states

The Centre has allowed state governments to put to public use some enemy properties that were left behind by people who migrated to

Pakistan since the Partition and to China after the 1962 Sino-Indian war.

According to an official notification, the guidelines for disposal of the Enemy Property Order, 2018, has been amended to facilitate usages

of Enemy Property by the state government exclusively for public use.

Enemy properties are those properties that were left behind by the people who took citizenship of Pakistan and China.

There are over nine thousand such properties left behind by Pakistani nationals and over one hundred by Chinese nationals. The estimated

value of all enemy properties is approximately one lakh crore rupees.

India awards 200 Golden Jubilee Scholarships to Nepali students

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on March 13, 2019 announced 200 scholarships to meritorious Nepali students for continuing various

undergraduate courses at colleges and universities. The Golden Jubilee Scholarship scheme was initiated by the Indian Government in 2002

to mark the completion of 50 years of India-Nepal Economic Cooperation. This year, the scholarships recipients cover 36 undergraduate

courses including MBBS, BDS, BE, BSc and BBA. The recipients of the scholarships represent 50 districts of Nepal. Under this scholarship

scheme, an MBBS/BDS student receives NRs. 4,000/- per month for five years, a BE student receives NRs. 4,000/- per month for four years

and a student studying in other under-graduate courses receives NRs. 3,000/- per month for three years.

PMs of Bangladesh and India inaugurate development projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on March 11, 2019 jointly unveiled e-plaques for

development projects in Bangladesh. The two leaders, through video conference, unveiled e-plaques for supply of buses and trucks,

inauguration of 36 community clinics, 11 water treatment plants and extension of National Knowledge Network to Bangladesh. The National

Knowledge Network will connect scholars and research institutes in Bangladesh with India, and the world. The buses and trucks would assist

the efforts towards affordable public transportation; water treatment plants will help supply clean water; and community clinics will benefit

about 2 lakh people, in Bangladesh.

Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs meets PM Modi

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir on March 11, 2019 met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. He

was on a day-long visit to India. Earlier, Adel al-Jubeir also met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

New Delhi, Islamabad agree to work on operationalizing Kartapur corridor

India and Pakistan have agreed to work expeditiously on operationalizing the Kartapur corridor. The corridor will facilitate Indian pilgrims

to visit the holy shrine of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan. The agreement was reached during the first meeting between the

representatives of the two countries held at Attari in Punjab on March 14, 2019. The External Affairs Ministry, in a release, said, the two sides

agreed to hold the next meeting at Wagah on April 2.



41

India-Africa joint field training exercise to kick off on March 18

A 10-day long Africa-India Joint Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX-19) between the Indian Army and 16 African nations will be conducted in

Pune from March 18 to 27. The aim of the exercise is to train the participating contingents in Humanitarian Mine Assistance (HMA) and

Peace Keeping Operations (PKO) under the United Nations Charter.

EAM Sushma Swaraj holds talks with her Maldivian counterpart in Male

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on March 17, 2019 held talks with her Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid in Male and reviewed

progress on important bilateral issues. Swaraj also held a joint ministerial meeting with nine other Maldivian ministers, including Defence

Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi and Finance Minister Ibrahim Ameer.

CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership held in New Delhi

India has proposed to Africa that both sides should work towards entering into a free trade agreement (FTA) or a preferential trade

agreement (PTA) to enhance and strengthen their economic relationship in a new global trading order. This suggestion came from Suresh

Prabhu, Minister for Commerce and Industry and Aviation, during his address at the 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project

Partnership in New Delhi on March 17, 2019.

BRICS Sherpa meeting held in Curitiba

BRICS ((Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) will discuss counter-terror cooperation as one of its priority areas during its annual summit

later this year. The External Affairs Ministry said the issue figured at a BRICS Sherpa meeting held in the Brazilian city of Curitiba on March

14-15, 2019. Brazil is the current chair of BRICS, which represents over 3.6 billion people, or half of the world population and they have a

combined nominal GDP of $16.6 trillion.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster unveils Blue Room at Roosevelt House

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on March 14, 2019 unveiled the iconic ‘Blue Room’ (dining hall) inspired by Indian motifs at the

Roosevelt House, the official residence of the US Ambassador to India in New Delhi. Funding for this restoration project was provided by

the American Chamber of Commerce in India, the US India Business Council and the US India Strategic Partnership forum.

NEWSMAKERS

Six new envoys present credentials to President

Ambassadors of Chile, Bulgaria, the Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal and Montenegro and the High Commissioner of Seychelles presented

credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on March 13, 2019. The envoys who presented their credentials were: Juan

Rolando Angulo Monsalve, Ambassador of Chile, Eleonora Dimitrova: Ambassador of Bulgaria, Asein Isaev: Ambassador of Kyrgyz Republic,

Nilambar Acharya, Ambassador of Nepal, Thomas Selby Pillay: High Commissioner Seychelles and Zoran Jankovic: Ambassador of

Montenegro.



42

Section C: WORLD

NEWS ROUND UP

UN unveils findings of Global Environment Outlook (GEO)

A quarter of all premature deaths and diseases worldwide are due to manmade pollution and environmental damage, the United Nations

said on March 13, 2019 in its Global Environment Outlook (GEO report on the planet’s parlous state. GEO was compiled by 250 scientists

from 70 nations in six years.

Findings

Deadly emissions, chemicals polluting drinking water, and the accelerating destruction of ecosystems crucial to the livelihoods of billions

of people are driving a worldwide epidemic that hampers the global economy.

The report depicts a growing chasm between rich and poor countries as rampant overconsumption, pollution and food waste in the

developed world leads to hunger, poverty and disease elsewhere.

As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise amid a preponderance of droughts, floods and superstorms made worse by climbing sea

levels, there is a growing political consensus that climate change poses a future risk to billions.

Health impacts of pollution, deforestation and the mechanised food-chain are less well understood. Nor is there any international

agreement for the environment close to covering what the 2015 Paris accord does for climate.

Health emergencies

The GEO has listed a number of pollution-related health emergencies. These are:

Poor environmental conditions “cause approximately 25% of global disease and mortality” — around 9 million deaths in 2015 alone.

Lacking access to clean drinking supplies, 1.4 million people die each year from preventable diseases such as diarrhoea and parasites

linked to pathogen-riddled water and poor sanitation.

Chemicals pumped into the seas cause “potentially multi-generational” adverse health effects, and land degradation through mega-

farming and deforestation occurs in areas of earth home to 3.2 billion people.

Air pollution causes 6-7 million early deaths annually.

Solutions

The report called for a root-and-branch detoxification of human behaviour while insisting that the situation is not unassailable.

Food waste, which accounts for 9% of global greenhouse gas emissions, could be slashed. The world currently throws away a third of all

food produced. In richer nations, 56% goes to waste.

It also called for a rapid drawdown in greenhouse gas emissions and pesticide use to improve air and water quality.

Women greatly outnumbered by men in political power: UN

When it comes to political power, women are totally outnumbered by men, accounting for less than 7 per cent of the world’s leaders and

only 24 per cent of lawmakers, according to the latest statistics.

UN General Assembly President Mara Fernanda Espinosa told delegates to the Commission on the Status of Women on March 12, 2019 that

there has been a “serious regression” in the political power of women across the world in recent years.

According to statistics from the Inter-Parliamentary Union released last week, the percentage of female elected heads of state dropped

from 7.2 per cent to 6.6 per cent (10 out of 153) from 2017 to 2018. The percentage of female heads of government dropped from 5.7 per

cent to 5.2 per cent (10 out of 193) in the same period. In parliaments, the global share of women increased by nearly one percentage point

from 2017 to 2018, to 24.3 per cent.

Among all countries, Rwanda had the highest percentage of women in Lower House of Parliament at 61.3% while Mexico had the highest

percentage of women in Upper House of Parliament at 49.2%.

“Despite some positive movement, the overwhelming majority of government leaders remain male,” said Gabriela Cuevas Barron, head of

the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the executive director of UN Women, called the current environment “not the

most enabling for women to rise.”



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SIPRI unveils report ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2018’

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) unveiled its annual report ‘Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2018’ on March

11, 2019. Findings of this report are as follows:

The five largest exporters in 2014-18 were the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China. The five largest importers were Saudi

Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia and Algeria.

The US was the top arms exporter in 2014-18 and 2009-13. Its exports of major arms grew by 29 per cent between the two periods and its

share of total global exports rose from 30 per cent to 36 per cent.

India was the world’s second largest importer of major arms in 2014-18 behind Saudi Arabia (12%) and accounted for 9.5 per cent of the

global total. Other countries in top-5 were Egypt (5.1%), Australia (4.6%) and Algeria (4.4%).

Russia’s arms export to India fell by a whopping 42 per cent between 2014-18 and 2009-2013.

Russia accounted for 58 per cent of total Indian arms imports in 2014-2018, compared with 76 per cent in 2009-2013.

India’s import of arms decreased by 24 per cent between 2009-2013 and 2014-2018.

The decline in India’s imports is also partly due to delays in deliveries of arms produced under license from foreign suppliers, such as

combat aircraft ordered from Russia in 2001 and submarines ordered from France in 2008.

One Planet Summit held in Nairobi

Responding to the invitation of President Kenyatta of Kenya, President Macron of France, UN Secretary-General Guterres and President Kim

of the World Bank Group, the coalitions of the “One Planet Summit” met in Nairobi, Kenya on March 14, 2019.

Building on previous One Planet events (Paris, December 2017 and New York, September 2018), this third edition of the One Planet Summit

saw participation from African leaders, entrepreneurs, donors and international organizations. The objective was to accelerate and step-up

climate action to deliver high-impact outcomes for African populations and to protect biodiversity in Africa.

While Africa is responsible for only 4% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, 65% of the African population is considered to be directly

impacted by climate change. This Summit highlighted the unique role of Africa as a global partner facing both challenges and

opportunities, in particular in the field of innovative solutions for adaptation and resilience.

Trump vetoes bill blocking emergency declaration

President Donald Trump on March 15, 2019 vetoed a bill from Congress revoking his declaration of a national emergency at the US-Mexico

border.

Lawmakers, including 12 Republicans, had passed the rejection resolution on March 14 in a rebuke of Trump’s pledge to build a border wall.

Congress will now need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to override his veto. This is the first veto of Trump’s presidency.

Trump repeated his claims that illegal immigrants from the southern border were mostly criminals, bringing drugs into the country. He had

promised a veto of the resolution ending his emergency declaration as soon as the measure was circulated on Capitol Hill.

The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives had passed the resolution to overturn the emergency 245-182 in February 2019, and

12 Republicans sided with Democratic Senators to clear the Senate in a 59-41 vote on March 14.

Trump had declared the emergency in February 2019 after Congress refused his requests for $5.7bn to construct a border wall - a campaign

promise. By doing so, he opened up access to billions in military funds that do not require approval from lawmakers.

Following the veto, the resolution will return to the House of Representatives on 26 March, Speaker for the House Nancy Pelosi said.

SCO to hold joint anti-terrorism exercise in 2019

Member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will take part in a joint anti-terrorism exercise to be held by the grouping

in 2019. The decision to hold the joint exercise ‘Sary-Arka-Antiterror 2019’ was announced during the 34th meeting of the SCO’s Regional

Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) council held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan on March 16, 2019. The SCO also has Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,

Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan. India and Pakistan were admitted into the bloc in 2017.



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Chaired by Russia, the meeting also declared plans to hold the first stage of the joint border operation “Solidarity 2019-2021,” the 7th

meeting of the heads of the border services, and training workshops on identifying and preventing the use of the Internet for terrorist,

separatist and extremist purposes.

RATS is a permanent organ of the SCO which serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism,

separatism and extremism. It is headquartered in Tashkent. The next meeting of the Council of the RATS SCO is scheduled to be held in

Russia in September 2019.

India ranks 11th in gold holding: World Gold Council

India, which is the world’s largest consumer of gold, has the 11th largest gold reserve, with the current holding pegged at 607 tonnes, as

per the latest report by the World Gold Council (WGC).

India’s overall position in terms of total gold holding would have been tenth had the list included only countries. Whereas, International

Monetary Fund (IMF) is included and is third on the list with total gold reserves of 2,814 tonnes.

The number one slot is occupied by the U.S., which boasts of gold reserves of 8,133.5 tonnes, followed by Germany with 3,369.7 tonnes.

Italy and France complete the top five list with reserves of a little over 2,400 tonnes each. Meanwhile, among Asian countries, China and

Japan have more reserves of the precious metal when compared to India. China – WGC takes into account only ‘Mainland China’ – has

reserves of 1,864.3 tonnes, while Japan has gold reserves of 765.2 tonnes.

Vienna tops Mercer’s index of most liveable cities

Global consulting firm Mercer has released its annual quality of living survey in which 231 cities across the globe were ranked based on

factors such as healthcare, education, public services, recreation, crime, housing and personal freedom. The ranking was based on data

analysed between September and November 2018. Austrian capital Vienna topped Mercer’s 2019 Quality of Living index of most liveable

cities for the tenth year in a row. Zurich was second while Auckland, Munich and Vancouver were joint third. The 10 cities at the bottom of

the 231-city table were unchanged, with Baghdad ranked last, followed by Bangui in the Central African Republic and Yemen’s capital

Sanaa. Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu is ranked at 105 in Mercer’s Quality Of Living Index and is the number one city from India.

UK issues new ‘black hole’ coin in honour of Stephen Hawking

The UK’s Royal Mint on March 12, 2019 unveiled a new commemorative 50 pence coin inspired by the late legendary British physicist

Stephen Hawking’s seminal work on black holes. Hawking, one of the world’s best-known theoretical physicists who died aged 76 on March

14, 2018, joins the ranks of other eminent scientists such Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin to have a commemorative coin in honour of one

of his greatest discoveries that black holes should not be all black. The coin, on sale in silver and gold forms for a price range between 55

and 795 pounds on the Royal Mint’s website, is a nod to Hawking’s research into black holes and his ability to make science accessible for

all. The cosmologist and author of ‘A Brief History of Time’ had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in his 20s and went on to defy

all predictions of his life-span as he made numerous discoveries as a wheelchair-bound scientist being able to speak only through a voice

synthesiser.

British Parliament rejects Theresa May’s Brexit deal for second time

British Parliament in London on March 13, 2019 rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal for a second time, plunging the UK into a

state of uncertainty just two weeks ahead of the country’s divorce from the European Union. The House of Commons voted against the deal

by 391 votes to 242. Seventy-five Conservative MPs rebelled against their party’s position by rejecting May’s deal. Three Labour

parliamentarians rebelled against their leader by voting in favour of the agreement. There will now be a debate on whether the UK should

leave the EU without a deal.



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EU adds 10 countries, including UAE, to tax blacklist

The Brussels-based European Union expanded its tax haven blacklist by 10 countries on March 12, 2019, adding the United Arab Emirates

and Bermuda. The list, now 15 countries long, was first drawn up in 2017 in the wake of several scandals, including Panama Papers and

LuxLeaks, that pushed the EU into doing more to fight tax evasion by multinationals and the rich.

World Consumer Rights Day observed on March 15

The World Consumer Rights Day was observed on March 15 with its theme as ‘Trusted Smart Products’. The day is observed to raise global

awareness about consumer rights and needs. The Day was inspired by President John F Kennedy, who sent a special message to the US

Congress on 15th March 1962, in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. The consumer movement first marked that date

in 1983 and now uses the day every year to mobilise action on important issues and campaigns.

World Kidney Day observed on March 14

The World Kidney Day was observed on March 14, 2019. The day is observed on second Thursday every year. Theme for 2019: ‘Kidney

Health for Everyone Everywhere’.

NEWSMAKERS

China blocks designation of JeM founder Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist” by UNSC

China on March 14, 2019 blocked the designation of Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Masood Azhar as a “global terrorist” by the United

Nations Security Council. India had pushed for Azhar to be included on the list of sanctioned individuals under Security Council resolution

1267, a motion backed by UNSC permanent members the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. JeM claimed responsibility for the

deadly terrorist attack on Indian security forces in Pulwama, Jammu & Kashmir, on February 14. India has tried to have Azhar listed before,

most notably in 2016. Then, as now, the proposal was motivated by a terrorist attack – at that time, in response to the attack on an Indian

Air Force base at Pathankot. China placed a technical hold on the request in 2016, and has now done so again, despite a heavy emphasis on

having Azhar given the global terrorist designation by New Delhi. In all, this marked the fourth time China has used its permanent member

status on the UNSC to place a hold on sanctioning Masood Azhar.

Noted American poet W.S. Merwin dies at 91

Noted American poet W.S. Merwin passed away on March 15, 2019 at the age of 91 in Hawaii. He was the U.S. poet laureate from 2010 to

2011; won two Pulitzer Prizes, a National Book Award and a spate of other honours.



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UNEA adopts India’s resolutions on single-use plastic, sustainable nitrogen management

The United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) has adopted two resolutions piloted by India on single-use plastics and sustainable

nitrogen management.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the resolutions were adopted at

the fourth session of UNEA which was held in Nairobi from March 11 to 15, 2019 on ‘Innovative Solutions for Environmental Challenges and

Sustainable Production and Consumption’.

The global nitrogen use efficiency is low, resulting in pollution by reactive nitrogen which threatens human health and eco system services,

and contributes to climate change and stratospheric ozone depletion.

Only a small proportion of plastics produced globally is recycled with most of it damaging the environment and aquatic bio-diversity. Both

these are global challenges and the resolutions piloted by India at the UNEA are vital first steps towards addressing these issues and

attracting focus of the global community.

India also hosted, in the High-Level Segment of UNEA, a session on ‘Global Partnerships: Key to Unlocking Resource Efficiency and Inclusive

Green Economies’ which was attended by representatives of member states, civil society organizations, private sector bodies, leading

financial institutions and countries like Germany, Brazil and South Africa.

Climate Finance

The Indian delegation also participated in the panel discussion on ‘Need for Additional Commitments of Public Finance and ways to

Maximize Mobilization of Climate Finance’.

The Indian delegation highlighted that climate finance is an important lever for climate action related to both mitigation and adaption in

developing countries. The contributions to climate finance need to be in consonance with the basic principles of common but differentiated

responsibility and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC).

Climate finance is more of an obligation of the developed countries based on their historical emissions. The availability of sufficient,

additional and predictable climate finance is a key for action. India has been initiating domestic climate actions, both related to climate

change mitigation and adaptation, primarily through its own financial resources. There is a sense of urgency for financial support to

developing countries, which have not been so responsible for these global environmental concerns.

Climate vulnerability maps developed for Himalayan states

Indian scientists have developed a common framework for assessment of climate change vulnerability in all the states in the Himalayan

region - Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and

Kashmir and hilly districts of West Bengal. They have developed an index based on socio-economic factors, demographic and health status,

sensitivity of agricultural production, forest-dependent livelihoods and access to information, services and infrastructure.

The assessment, formally launched on March 14, 2019, shows that the vulnerability index is the highest for Assam (0.72) and Mizoram (0.71),

followed by Jammu & Kashmir (0.62), Manipur (0.59), Meghalaya and West Bengal (both 0.58), Nagaland (0.57), Himachal Pradesh and

Tripura (0.51 both), Arunachal Pradesh (0.47) and Uttarakhand (0.45). Sikkim is the least vulnerable state with the index being 0.42. Districts

within a state, face different degrees of vulnerability based on difference in geographic, climatic, socioeconomic and demographic

conditions.

Assam is highly vulnerable to climate change because of factors like low per capita income, deforestation, large number of marginal

farmers, least area under irrigation, lack of alternative sources of income and high rates of poverty.

The assessment has been done jointly by experts from Indian Institutes of Technology at Guwahati and Mandi, in collaboration with Indian

Institute of Science, Bangalore with support from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Swiss Development Corporation

(SDC) which is implementing the Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Program (IHCAP).



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Ashutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), which is implementing the project with support from the Swiss

Agency for Development and Cooperation, said, “The adaptation to climate change is a collaborative effort between appropriate use of

technology, a vision that produces policies, a change at ground level and engaging the local communities. These vulnerability maps will play

a crucial role in this effort.”

Uses

Climate adaptation is a collaborative effort between appropriate use of technology, vision that produces policies, change at ground level

and engagement of local communities. These vulnerability maps will play a crucial role in this effort.

The vulnerability assessments will be useful for officials, decision makers, funding agencies and experts to have a common understanding

on vulnerability and enable them to plan for adaptation.

The framework for assessment of climate change vulnerability can be applied to states in the rest of the country as well, with suitable

modifications.

IIT KGP signs MoU with C-DAC for high performance computing

The IIT Kharagpur on March 12, 2019 signed an MoU with Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to set up a Petaflop

high performance computing facility and data center funded under the National Supercomputing Mission. PetaFlop is the measurement of

computing power based on the frequency of mathematical calculations that can be done per second.

With the growing importance of high-performance computing in newer research areas in cancer, data protection etc, such facilities as the

one being built at IIT KGP will become a core factor in various research domains.

The initiative will be undertaken at the Centre for Computational and Data Sciences, located at the campus of IIT-Kharagpur and large-scale

computational support will be given to the researchers, who are engaged in research activities in diverse areas of national importance. The

C-DAC is a premier R&D organisation of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

Russian-US crew arrives at International Space Station

A Russian-American crew arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) on March 15, 2019. The Russian Soyuz rocket carrying NASA

astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch along with Roscosmos’ Alexei Ovchinin had lifted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in

Kazakhstan on the same day. Six hours later, their capsule docked at the ISS. The trio will join NASA’s Anne McClain, Roscosmos’ Oleg

Kononenko and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency who are already on the space station. They will conduct work on

hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science. Since the 2011 retirement of the US shuttle fleet,

Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft have been the only vehicles that ferry crews to the space station.



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Section E: AWARDS

Businessline Changemaker Awards presented

The second edition of BusinessLine Changemaker Awards recognised various unsung heroes in different fields. The awards ceremony was

held in New Delhi on March 15, 2019. The awards were given in five categories: Social Transformation, Digital Transformation, Young

Changemaker, Iconic Changemaker and Changemaker of the Year.

Winners are as follows:

CHANGEMAKER OF THE YEAR

Petitioners against Section 377

In a historic verdict in September 2018, the Supreme Court repealed Section 377 of the IPC, thus quashing a law dating to the colonial era

that had cruelly meted out injustice to members of the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning and Intersex)

community on the basis of their sexual orientation. This landmark victory, followed from the efforts of a group of LGBTQI petitioners who

fought for years to overturn the Victorian-era law even as they endured social discrimination.

CHANGEMAKER OF THE YEAR

GST Council

As an example of the perfect coming together of cooperative federalism and an uncomplicated tax regime, the GST Council played a stellar

role in uniting multiple State governments with varying political obligations under a ‘one nation, one tax’ system called the Goods and

Services Tax. The most remarkable aspect of the functioning of the Council is that it has never had to vote to resolve differences.

ICONIC CHANGEMAKER

Bezwada Wilson

Being part of the manual scavengers (safai Karmachari) community did not deter the 52-year old Bezwada Wilson who is one of the

founders of National convenor of Safai Karmachari Andoloan (SKA), which campaigns for total eradication of the inhuman and indignified

practice of manual scavenging imposed on the community.

SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences

Started by Achyuta Samanta in 1993 to usher in a social change in the Maoist and Naxal affected hinterlands of Odisha, and to mentor

young indigenous peoples. As the world’s largest school for tribal children, KISS provides quality education — fully residential and free — to

over 25,000 students without compromising on their cultural roots and heritage, and placing social responsibility over commercial gains.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

eNAM

Disentangling farmers from the clutches of middlemen, the Electronic National Agriculture Market, an e-commerce platform, enables them

to sell their produce directly in the market at fair prices. Today, 585 mandis across 16 States and two Union Territories have enrolled into

eNAM, trading over 40.8 lakh tonnes of produce on the platform.

YOUNG CHANGEMAKER

Anju Verma

Using education as a tool to improve the social mobility of underprivileged children, 16-year-old Anju is a torchbearer of sorts who

convinced and even confronted parents to send their children to school and give them the chance to get educated. She personally rescued

46 children working as labourers and ensured that they were enrolled in the school.

YOUNG CHANGEMAKER

Kush and Arjun Pandey

Bridging the opportunity gap between urban and rural football talent, the Pandey brothers Kush (17) and Arjun (15) developed ScoutMe, an

app that serves as a football scouting platform to spot raw talent across the country. With 28,000 players and 3,000 registered scouts on the

platform already, ScoutMe is recognised as the official app of the All India Football Federation.



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Raghu Karnad among winners of $165,000 Windham-Campbell Prize

Delhi-based journalist and author Raghu Karnad was on March 13, 2019 announced as one of eight recipients of Yale University’s

Windham-Campbell Prize for 2019. One of the world’s most lucrative literary awards, the prize is open to English language writers from

across the world, with each winner receiving $165,000 to support their writing.

Karnad was named as a winner in the non-fiction category of the prize for his debut book, ‘Farthest Field: An Indian Story of the Second

World War’, published in 2015. American writer Rebecca Solnit was named as the other winner in this year’s non-fiction category.

The winners for fiction are Irish short story write Danielle McLaughlin and Canadian novelist David Chariandy. Ghanaian poet Kwame Dawes

and Ishion Hutchinson from Jamaica won for poetry and Australian playwright Patricia Cornelius and Korean-American director and

playwright Young Jean Lee won in the Drama category.

Established in 2013 after writer Donald Windham left his estate to Yale University, the Windham-Campbell Prize does not have a submission

process and is judged anonymously, with winners only finding out through a phone call from director of the prize. The literary award aims

to “call attention to literary achievements” and allow writers to “focus on their work independent of financial concerns”.

National Grassroots Innovation Awards presented

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the “Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) 2019” and presented the tenth Biennial

National Grassroots Innovation Awards in Gandhinagar March 15, 2019.

This year, NIF had received about 12500 ideas, innovations and traditional Knowledge practices from 428 districts of 34 States and Union

Territories. Altogether 59 awards were given away to 64 innovators at 10th National Biennial Award function, including a Lifetime

Achievement Award.

Winners include the following:

Prakash Singh Raghuvanshi from Uttar Pradesh was presented with a lifetime achievement award for ‘Kudrat Seeds: Improved Plant

Varieties’ in Agricultural (General) category.

Shyambir Singh and Ved Prakash from Haryana won the award in Engineering category for their Tractor Operated Paddy Transplanter

Sandip Vishram Ghole from Maharashtra won the award in ‘Agricultural (General)’ category for his ‘Sandip Pyaz: Improved Onion Variety’ Anang Tadar from Arunachal Pradesh won the award in Engineering category for his ‘Intelligent Goggles for Blind’ Gurtej Singh from Punjab won the award in Engineering category for his ‘Modified Combine for Maize Harvesting’ Periyasami Ramasami from Tamil Nadu won the award in Utility category for his ‘Herbal medication for coccidiosis’ Gurmeet Singh Bhupal from Rajasthan won the award in Engineering category for his ‘Tractor Powered Sprayer’ S. Saravanamuthu from Tamil Nadu won the award in Engineering category for his ‘cot with attached toilet pot having a remote operated

cleaning system’. Sanjeev Kumar from Bihar won the award in ‘Agricultural (General)’ category for his ‘Sanjeev Selection: Improved Cauliflower Variety’ Vilat Yadav from Bihar won the award in Utility category for ‘Herbal medication for anestrus’

Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) announced

Hindi adaptation of Dharamvir Bharati’s 1954 play “Andha Yug” won the Best Play award at this year’s Mahindra Excellence in Theatre

Awards (META) in New Delhi on March 12, 2019. “Andha Yug” (Hindi adaptation) by TAMM Manipur also won the awards for Best Stage

Design, Best Costume and Best Innovative Sound Design categories. Jabalpur Samagam Rangmandal’s “Agarbatti” bagged the award for

Best Director, Best Original Script, Best Light Design and Best Female Actor.

Malayalam production “Chillara Samaram” by Kerala-based Little Earth School Of Theatre took home the awards for Best Ensemble and Best

Choreography.

While Rukmini Sircar (Agarbatti) and Anjana Balaji (Chandala, Impure) shared the award for Best Female actor, the award for Best Innovative

Sound Design was a tie between Debarati Majumdar (Andha Yug) and Sumant Balakrishnan and Sudheer Rikhari (Loose Woman).

“Bhagi Hui Ladkiyan” by the Agaaz Theatre Trust received a special jury mention for “their spirited performance”.



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The annual META Lifetime Achievement Award this year was conferred upon eminent playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar for his contribution to

Indian theatre.

Film director and novelist Ved Rahi wins ‘Kusumagraj Rashtriya Sahitya Puraskar’

Film director and novelist Ved Rahi was on March 13, 2019 announced as winner of the ‘Kusumagraj Rashtriya Sahitya Puraskar’ of Nashik-

based Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU). The award carries cash prize of Rs one lakh, a memento and a citation.

The award is instituted after Jnanpith-laureate Marathi poet and playwright late V. V. Shirwadkar, popularly known as “Kusumagraj”. Born in

Jammu in 1933, Rahi has penned seven novels in Dogri language. He was given Sahitya Akademi award for his Dogri novel, “Aale” in 1983. A

prolific writer, he also wrote in Hindi and Urdu languages. Rahi also made the film Veer Savarkar (2001), a biopic on the life of revolutionary

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. He was director of 1991 Doordarshan television serial, “Gul Gulshan Gulfaam”.

Swati Shingade bags first prize of DD Mahila Kisan Award

Swati Shingade of Pune, Maharashtra has bagged the first prize of DD Mahila Kisan Award for 2018-19. She received the award from Prasar

Bharati Chairman A. Surya Prakash at a grand finale event organised by DD Kisan Channel in New Delhi on March 15, 2019. As many as 110

women farmers participated in the award competition, out which five were selected for the grand finale.

Tulika Publishers wins Translation award at London Book Fair

India’s Tulika Publishers got the International Excellence award for Literary Translation Initiative at London Book Fair. In March 2019. Judges

praised its inclusive publishing programme driven by the imperative to promote multilingualism and give children stories in the languages

they speak at home.



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RBI names SBI, ICICI and HDFC as systemically important banks

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on March 15, 2019 named State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank as Domestic Systemically

Important Banks (D-SIBs), which in other words mean banks that are too big to fail.

As per the norms, these banks will have to set aside more capital for their continued operation. RBI comes with the list every year since

2015. Inclusion in D-SIB indicates that failure of any of these banks would have a cascading effect on Indian financial system.

Inclusion in the list gives additional comfort to investors that these banks won’t be allowed to fail and therefore, borrowing costs of these

banks from the markets are cheaper than their peers.

SBI, being in the third bucket, was setting aside 0.45 per cent of its assets till 2018-19 as a surcharge. From next year, applicable from April

1, the bank will have to set aside 0.60 per cent of its risk-weighted assets. The increase in capital is in a phased manner, with the ultimate

aim of providing one full percentage point extra as capital buffer for D-SIBs.

ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank’s capital requirement rises to 0.20 per cent, from 0.15 per cent now. These two banks are in the fifth basket, and

are considered less important than SBI.

RBI to inject liquidity via forex swaps

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to inject rupee liquidity into the system through long-term foreign exchange buy/sell swap — a

first-of-its-kind instrument used for liquidity management.

The RBI would conduct dollar-rupee buy/sell swap auction of $5 billion for a three-year tenor on March 26. “In order to meet the durable

liquidity needs of the system, the Reserve Bank has decided to augment its liquidity management toolkit and inject rupee liquidity for

longer duration through long-term foreign exchange buy/sell swap,” the central bank said in a statement on March 13, 2019. “The U.S.

dollar amount mobilised through this auction would also reflect in RBI’s foreign exchange reserves for the tenor of the swap while also

reflecting in RBI’s forward liabilities,” it added.

The move could lower the dependence on open market operations which have been a significant amount of the overall borrowing. The

move would boost RBI’s foreign exchange reserves which were at $401.7 billion for the week ended March 1.

Market participants would be required to place their bids in terms of the premium that they were willing to pay to the RBI for the tenor of

the swap. RBI said the auction cut-off would be based on the premium and the auction would be a multiple-price based auction.

Trade credit limit up

RBI also has raised the trade credit limit under the automatic route to $150 million for oil/gas refining and marketing, airline and shipping

firms. For others, the limit is set at $50 million or equivalent per import transaction.

At the same time, the revised framework has reduced the all-inclusive cost (all-in-cost) for overseas loans to benchmark rate plus 250 basis

points from the earlier 350 bps.

First half of current fiscal shows some signs of capex recovery: RBI study

The projects sanctioned in the first half of 2018-19 show some recovery in the capital expenditure (capex) cycle, according to a Reserve

Bank of India study.

Going forward, investment activity is expected to gather pace, benefiting from the pipeline projects lined up by private corporates, said a

study ‘Private Corporate Investment in 2018-19: Slow Recovery Underway’ by S Sujeesh Kumar and RK Sinha of RBI’s Department of

Statistics and Information Management.



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The study said: “A revival in the investment cycle could be underway in the medium term, as revealed in these investment plans. Recent

efforts to strengthen balance sheets of both corporates and the banking sector should provide a conducive environment for a pick-up in

capital formation.

RBI categorises IDBI Bank as private sector lender after LIC acquisition

IDBI Bank has been categorised as a private sector lender following acquisition of majority stake by Life Insurance Corporation, RBI said. In

January, LIC completed the process of picking up a controlling 51 per cent stake in IDBI Bank. “IDBI Bank has been categorised as a ‘private

sector bank’ for regulatory purposes by Reserve Bank of India with effect from January 21, 2019 consequent upon LIC acquiring 51 per cent

of the total paid-up equity share capital of the bank,” RBI said in a statement. IDBI Bank has been under the prompt corrective action

framework of RBI that bans it from corporate lending and branch expansions, salary hikes and other regular activities. For December quarter

of this fiscal, IDBI Bank reported widening of loss to Rs 4,185.48 crore as bad loans surged. The bank’s gross non-performing assets (NPAs)

shot up to 29.67 per cent of gross advances as at December 31, 2018 against 24.72 per cent in the year-ago period.

SBI launches ‘YONO Cash’ for cardless withdrawal of cash at ATMs

State Bank of India on March 15, 2019 launched ‘YONO Cash’ for cardless withdrawal of cash at over 16,500 SBI ATMs across the country.

With this facility, customers can initiate the cash withdrawal process on the YONO app and set a six-digit YONO Cash PIN for the

transaction. They will also get a 6-digit reference number for the transaction on their registered mobile number via SMS. The withdrawal has

to be completed in the next 30 minutes at the nearest ATM. “The initiative will also address their concern of using debit card at the ATMs

for cash withdrawals by eliminating possible risk associated with it,” Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI said.

SBI launches doorstep banking service

State Bank of India (SBI) has launched doorstep banking service for senior citizens over 70 years of age and differently-abled customers.

Eligible customers can avail this service at a nominal fee of ₹100 per transaction for financial transactions and ₹60 for non-financial

transactions. Doorstep banking services are available to KYC- compliant account holders, with a valid mobile number registered with the

bank and residing within 5 kilometres radius from their home branch. This service will not be available for accounts operated jointly, minor

accounts, and accounts of non-personal nature.

NEWSMAKERS

Axis Bank names Rakesh Makhija as new Chairman

Private sector lender Axis Bank, on March 12, 2019, named Rakesh Makhija as its new Non-Executive Part-Time Chairman. Makhija, who is

the Chairman of SKF India, will take over from current Axis Bank Chairman Sanjiv Mishra, when his term comes to an end on July 17.

Bhargava is no more IDBI non-executive chairman

IDBI Bank on March 15, 2019 said Hemant Bhargava had ceased to be its non-executive chairman as he no longer heads the parent

company LIC. The Ministry of Personnel, on March 13, appointed M.R. Kumar as the Chairman of the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) for a

period of five years. IDBI Bank is now a private sector lender following acquisition of majority stake by LIC.



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Section G: ECONOMY

Cabinet approves proposal to align with global trademark system

The Cabinet on March 13, 2019 approved the proposal for India’s Accession to three agreements that would harmonise the classification

systems for examination of trademark and design applications, in line with the systems followed globally.

The three agreements are:

The Nice Agreement on the International classification of goods and services for the purposes of registration of marks

The Vienna Agreement for setting up an International classification of the figurative elements of marks

The Locarno Agreement for establishing an International classification for industrial designs

Impact

Accession to the Nice, Vienna and Locarno Agreements will help the Intellectual Property Office in India to harmonise the classification

systems for examinational of trademark and design applications, in line with the classification systems followed globally. It would give an

opportunity to include Indian designs, figurative elements and goods in the international classification systems. The accession is expected to

instill confidence in foreign investors in relation to protection of IPs in India. The accession would also facilitate in exercising rights in

decision making processes regarding review and revision of the classifications under the agreement.

NITI Aayog CEO to head transformative mobility panel

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant will head the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, which is being set up to

promote clean and sustainable mobility initiatives in the country.

The Union Cabinet on March 7 had approved setting up of the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage.

According to a notification by the NITI Aayog, other members of the panel include secretaries of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways,

Ministry of Power, Department of Heavy Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Department for Promotion of Industry and

Internal Trade, and Director General of Bureau of Industrial Standard.

The terms of reference of mission includes ensuring implementation and compliance of the decisions and recommendations of the steering

committee.

The panel will also propose and recommend policy guidelines and government interventions and possible strategies for holistic, sustainable

and transformative mobility and energy storage in India.

MCA releases national guidelines on business conduct

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has come up with national guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC), urging businesses

to actualise the principles in letter and spirit.

For this purpose, the National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental and Economic Responsibilities of Business, 2011 (NVGS) have

also been revised.

Some of the principles for NGRBC state businesses should conduct and govern themselves with integrity in a manner that is ethical,

transparent and accountable; provide goods and services in a manner that is sustainable and safe; respect and promote the well-being of all

employees and the interests of all their stakeholders; and the businesses should respect and promote human rights.

The MCA is also in the process of developing India’s National Action Plan on Business & Human Rights (NAP) in consultation with various

Ministries and State Governments by 2020. A Zero Draft of India’s NAP demonstrating implementation of the three pillars of UNGPs has

also been released and uploaded on the website of the Ministry, the release added.



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Retail inflation jumps to a 4-month high of 2.57% in February

Retail inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped to a 4-month high of 2.57% in February 2019, the data released by the Central

Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) showed on March 12, 2019. Retail inflation for

January 2019 was revised down to a 19-month low of 1.97% from earlier estimate of 2.05%. The retail inflation number for February 2019 is

the highest since October 2018 when it stood at 3.38%.

Wholesale inflation rises to 2.93% in February 2019

Inflation based on wholesale prices inched up to 2.93 per cent in February over the previous month on account of firming up of prices of

food items, including vegetables and cereals, according to government data released on March 14, 2019. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-

based inflation was 2.76 per cent in January 2019 and 2.74 per cent in February 2018. Meanwhile, the WPI for December 2018 has been

revised downwards at 3.46 per cent as compared to provisional estimate of 3.8 per cent.

Industrial production growth slows to 1.7% in January 2019

India’s industrial production (base year 2011-12=100) rose at slower pace of 1.7% in January 2019, compared with 2.6% growth recorded in

December 2018, government data showed on March 12, 2019. The industrial production growth for December 2018 has been revised

upwards from 2.4% increase reported provisionally.

India’s merchandise trade deficit narrows as exports rise 2.44% in February

Marginal 2.44 per cent increase in exports as well as lower imports in February significantly narrowed the country’s trade deficit to $9.6

billion, according to data released by the commerce ministry on March 15, 2019. India’s merchandise exports rose to $26.67 billion in

February from $26.03 per cent in the year-ago month. Imports declined by 5.4 per cent to $36.26 billion, narrowing the trade deficit to $9.6

billion. The gap between imports and exports was $12.3 billion in February 2018, and $14.73 billion in January 2019. As per the data, the

decline in imports was mainly on account of sharp decline in inward shipments of gold and petroleum products.

India’s services exports up 8.6% in January 2019

As per the data released by the Reserve Bank of India on March 15, 2019, India’s services exports increased 8.6% to US$ 17.75 billion in

January 2019 over January 2018. Meanwhile, India’s services imports jumped 12.0% to US$ 11.03 billion in January 2019. India’s services

trade surplus improved 3.5% to US$ 6.72 billion in January 2019 from US$ 6.49 billion in January 2018.



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Nifty rejig: Britannia Industries will replace HPCL in Nifty 50

Britannia Industries Ltd. will replace state-run oil retailer Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. to enter the Nifty 50 Index from March 29.

The indices are reconstituted twice every year based on data for six months ending January and July. The last change happened in August

2018 when Lupin Ltd. made way for JSW Steel Ltd.

One of the criteria the National Stock Exchange follows to select the Nifty 50 constituents is the free-float market capitalisation of the

company. This should be at least 1.5 times that of the smallest member of the index, according to the NSE methodology document. HPCL

had a free-float market cap of Rs 18,020 crore, the smallest market cap among Nifty 50 constituents. Britannia’s is more than twice of that.

The second is impact cost or the cost of executing a transaction in a given stock, for a specific predefined order size at any given point of

time. A stock needs to have enough liquidity where large orders can be executed without incurring an impact cost greater than 0.5 percent.

Monsanto, govt cuts cotton seed royalty by half

India has cut the royalties that local seed companies pay to German drugmaker Bayer AG’s Monsanto unit for the third time in four years.

The Central government has decided to reduce royalties paid by Indian seed companies to Monsanto for its genetically modified (GM)

cotton by 49 per cent to Rs.20 for a packet of 450 gm, according to a farm ministry order. Earlier, it was Rs.39. Other than cutting

Monsanto’s royalties, the government raised the prices of GM cotton seeds by 1.43 per cent to Rs.710 a packet. The Indian government had

approved Monsanto’s GM cotton seed trait, the only lab-altered crop allowed in India, in 2003 and an upgraded variety in 2006, helping

transform the country into the world’s top producer and second-largest exporter of the fibre. Monsanto’s GM cotton seed technology went

on to dominate 90 per cent of India’s cotton acreage.

IIT-Madras, Teertha sign pact to develop device to generate potable water from air

Indian Institute of Technology-Madras will collaborate with Teerthaa, a sustainable technology company, to develop a device that can

generate potable water from air. Called ‘NERO,’ the ‘optimised desiccant solar-still device’ will produce 4-5 litres of potable water daily. The

product will be cost-effective, as it is intended for the mass market, and will have negligible operating costs as its power source will be solar

energy. It will also have minimal maintenance cost as there are no moving parts. The MoU was signed on March 8, 2019 by Ravindra Gettu,

Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT-Madras, and Durga Das, CEO, Teerthaa.

BEL, Israel’s Elbit Systems in tech pact for helmet-mounted display system

Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Elbit Systems of Israel have signed technology collaboration agreement (TCA) for helmet mounted

display system for Indian Naval and other rotary wing platforms of the Armed Forces. The two companies signed TCA in Bengaluru for

licensed manufacturing of Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS)/Helmet Pointing System (HPS) Version 02.

ITC’s campaign ranked No 2 in Warc Effective 100 index

FMCG major ITC Ltd’s hygiene brand, Savlon’s “Healthy Hands Chalk Sticks” campaign, has been ranked number 2 in the ‘WARC Effective

100’ global index, released in March 2019. The ‘WARC Effective 100’ tracks the performance of campaigns, brands and agencies in

advertising effectiveness competitions around the world. The campaign is aimed at facilitating behavioural change among primary school

children by promoting hand hygiene.

Digital sector to overtake film entertainment area in 2019: FICCI report

The Indian Media and Entertainment (M&E) sector grew at 13.4 per cent, more than the nominal GDP of 10 per cent, to reach Rs 1.67 trillion

($23.9 billion) in 2018 as against 2017, according a report. It is expected to cross Rs.2.35 trillion ($33.6 billion) by 2021, growing at an annual

rate of 11.6%. In a report by EY-FICCI called ‘A billion screens of opportunity’ it been stated that, while television retained its position as the

largest segment, the growth is expected to come from digital in 2019 overtaking the film entertainment sector. The report was released at

20th edition of FICCI Frames.



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India closes its airspace to the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft

India has closed its airspace to the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and has grounded the planes, according to a government order that came

into effect at 4 pm on March 13, 2019. On March 12, the aviation watchdog DGCA had announced that the planes would be grounded

“immediately” for the sake of passenger safety, three days after an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed, killing 157 people including four

Indians. Since the crash on March 10, several countries have grounded the Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes, the latest and best-selling variant of

the US-based plane-maker.

Findings of CARE Ratings Survey on ‘Economic Perspective for 2019’ released

Findings of CARE Ratings Survey on ‘Economic Perspective for 2019’ were released on March 12, 2019. 285 participants from various sectors

such as agriculture and allied, manufacturing, financial services, banking, infrastructure, real estate and services, participated in the survey.

Nearly 47 per cent of the participants expect the existing NDA government to come back to power on its own, while 34 per cent feel they

may not get absolute majority. The survey said there is a divided opinion with respect to resolution of NPAs in the banking system, with 38

per cent opining that implementation of policies is satisfactory, with 36 per cent feeling it is unsatisfactory.

HCL Tech acquires US-based firm Strong-Bridge Envision

HCL Technologies (HCL) on March 13, 2019 said it has acquired Strong-Bridge Envision (SBE), a digital transformation consulting firm with

offices in Seattle, Denver, Atlanta, and New York City. “SBE will enhance our digital consulting offerings with their capabilities in digital

strategy development, agile programme management, business transformation and organisational change management,” HCL

Technologies, said.

Jubilant FoodWorks launches first homegrown eatery brand Hong’s Kitchen

Jubilant FoodWorks, which operates Domino’s Pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts in India, on March 13, 2019 launched its first homegrown eatery

brand Hong’s Kitchen. Jubilant FoodWorks, as on December 31, 2018, operated a network of 1,200 Domino’s Pizza restaurants across 271

cities 32 Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants across 10 cities in India.

Mars Wrigley Confectionery brings global brand Skittles to India

In a bid to strengthen its presence in the bite-sized confectionery segment in the country, Mars Wrigley Confectionery is expanding its

portfolio with the introduction of its global brand Skittles in India. The brand is known for its iconic “Taste the Rainbow” proposition and

quirky campaigns and positioning.

Titan seals strategic pact with FTS USA

Titan Company Limited, one of the world’s largest watch manufacturers, has entered into a strategic alliance with an American watch

manufacturing company FTS USA LLC located at Phoenix, Arizona. This alliance equips FTS USA by setting up a quartz movement assembly

unit in the U.S. to manufacture ‘Made in USA’ for American watch brands, said the company in a statement.

Google bids goodbye to instant messaging app ‘Allo’

After pausing investments in its “Allo” mobile messaging app, Google on March 12, 2019 finally bid goodbye to the platform that was

launched with much fanfare in 2016. In 2018, Google told the media that “Allo” as a product did not achieve the level of traction the

company had hoped for. Even though the app’s successor is not quite ready yet, Google has incorporated some of Allo’s features like smart

replies and desktop support into the Android Messaging app. “Allo” was launched as an instant messaging mobile app for the Android and

iOS mobile Operating Systems (OS), with a web client available on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Opera browsers. After Allo’s exit,

Google is going all in on Rich Communication Services (RCS) to give Android a successful messaging app.



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Huawei launches Watch GT in India starting at Rs 15,990

Giving fight to the likes of Apple Watch and Samsung Gear smartwatch, Chinese technology giant Huawei on March 12, 2019 launched

Watch GT with “ultra-high” battery life starting at Rs 15,990.

Facebook launches ‘Facebook Hubs’ to foster innovation, support startups

Social media platform Facebook on March 12, 2019 launched ‘Facebook Hubs’, an initiative to foster innovation and offer support for

budding entrepreneurs. Facebook Hubs will extend support for startup community by hosting mentor hours and conducting trainings,

workshops, discussions across 20 locations. The locations would be in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Navi

Mumbai and in Goa. The social media platform said it has partnered with 91springboard for a year-long programme to help startups and

entrepreneurs scale their businesses. The initiative includes co-working community hosting, planning and organising structured activities

like learning and skill development programmes for budding entrepreneurs.

YouTube music debuts in India

YouTube music platform will now be available in India to cash in on the rising data consumption and demand for Indian melodies across the

globe, a director of Google’s popular video service said on March 12, 2019. YouTube has launched both free and paid version of music

platforms that will offer all genre of Indian music as well as western charts. Started in November 2015, YouTube Music had been available in

around 29 countries.

Brookfield buys gas pipeline from Mukesh Ambani for Rs.13,000 crore

Canadian investor Brookfield has acquired the loss-making East West Pipeline Ltd from Mukesh Ambani for Rs.13,000 crore. East West

Pipeline (EWPL), earlier known as Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure Ltd, runs a 1,400-km pipeline from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh

to Bharuch in Gujarat to transport natural gas discovered in a KG basin block operated by his flagship firm Reliance Industries. However, the

pipeline that had a capacity to transport 80 million standard cubic metres per day of natural gas is currently operating at less than 5 per

cent of its capacity as output from the KG-D6 block of RIL plummeted rapidly.

Harley Davidson launches Forty-Eight Special motorcycle at Rs.10.98 lakh

American performance motorcycle maker Harley Davidson on March 14, 2019 launched the Forty-Eight Special motorcycle at Rs.10.98 lakh

(ex-showroom). The company also launched the 2019 model of its Street Glide Special cruiser, priced at Rs.30.53 lakh (ex-showroom). The

Forty-Eight Special is powered by a 1,200 cc V-Twin engine and comes with Tallboy handlebars. The Street Glide has 1,868 cc engine.

GoDaddy partners with ICC as official sponsor for Cricket World Cup 2019

Website hosting company GoDaddy on March 12, 2019 announced its partnership with International Cricket Council (ICC) as official sponsor

for the upcoming men’s cricket World Cup. The 2019 World Cup will be held in the UK from May 30 to July 14. GoDaddy has cricketer MS

Dhoni as brand ambassador.

NEWSMAKERS

M. Ravi Kanth gets extension for six months as HUDCO chief

Tenure of M Ravi Kanth as the Chairman and Managing Director of Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) Ltd was

extended on March 12, 2019 for six months with effect from April 11, 2019. Kanth, a 1986 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, joined as the

CMD of HUDCO on April 11, 2014.



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Six Indians in Young Global Leaders list of WEF

Six Indians feature in the list of 127 Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum (WEF) released on March 13, 2019. The list of 127

comprises world’s “most promising social activists, business leaders, public servants, artists and technologists under the age of 40”. Indians

in the list are: Manu Kumar Jain-Head of India, Xiaomi, India, Lokesh Nara-Minister of Information Technology, Electronics and

Communications, Panchayat Raj, and Rural Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh, Poonam Mahajan-Member of Parliament for

Lok Sabha from Mumbai North Central, Sucharita Mukherjee-Co-Founder, Kaleidofin, India, Phanindra Sama-Chief Innovation Officer,

Government of Telangana, Piyush Tewari-Chief Executive Officer, SaveLife, India

Wipro Chairman Premji allots profit from 34% of his shares for philanthropy

Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, who is also the chairman of Azim Premji Foundation, on March 13, 2019 earmarked economic benefits of

about 34% of his shares in Wipro, worth Rs 52,750 crore, for his foundation involved in philanthropy. With this, the total value of the

endowment corpus, which supports Azim Premji Foundation’s philanthropic activities, contributed by Premji has swelled to a staggering Rs

1.45 trillion, which includes 67 per cent of economic ownership of Wipro Ltd. The Azim Premji Foundation works in education in the country

and supports other not-for-profit organisations working in some specific areas through multi-year financial grants. The Foundation has also

established the Azim Premji University in Bengaluru.

M. R. Kumar appointed LIC chairman

M. R. Kumar was on March 13, 2019 appointed the Chairman of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). Kumar was Zonal Manager (in-

charge) of North Zone and will hold the post of the LIC Chairman for five years. T. C. Suseel Kumar and Vipin Anand have been appointed as

Managing Directors of the LIC for five years. Suseel Kumar is Zonal Manager (in-charge), LIC South Central Zone. Anand is Zonal Manager

(in-charge), Western Zone.

Lloyd ropes in Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh as brand ambassadors

Consumer durables brand Lloyd, a part of Havells India, has roped in Bollywood star-couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh as its

brand ambassadors, replacing Amitabh Bachchan. They will be promoting Lloyd’s range of consumer durables, including air conditioners,

washing machines and televisions.



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Section I: STATES

Over 3 lakh items of clothing donated, Guinness world record created in Udaipur

A campaign by a member of the erstwhile royal family of Udaipur has received over 3 lakh items of clothing, creating a Guinness world

record for the largest collection of clothes for donation. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, a descendant of Rajput ruler Maharana Pratap, received

the certificate from an official of the Guinness Book of World Records-UK at Udaipur on March 11, 2019. He started the ‘Vastradan’ campaign under which over 3,29,250 pieces of clothing from over 76,000 donors were collected and distributed to the needy.

Ayodhya land dispute: SC-appointed mediation panel holds first sitting In Faizabad

The Supreme Court-appointed mediation committee for resolution of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute, held its first sitting

in Faizabad on March 14, 2019 and heard all parties who attended the proceedings. The committee was headed by former apex court judge

F M Ibrahim Kalifulla. The other members of the committee are Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and senior Madras High Court advocate Sriram Panchu.

Arecanut gets ‘Sirsi supari’ geographical indication tag

Arecanut (also known as supari or betel nut) is the latest entrant in the list of agricultural produce with a GI (geographical indication) tag.

On March 4, 2019, the Registrar of Geographical Indications, Government of India, accorded a GI tag, ‘Sirsi Supari’, to arecanut grown in

Sirsi, Siddpaur and Yellapur taluks of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka. The Totagars’ Cooperative Sale Society (TSS) Ltd, a Sirsi-based

agri-cooperative, is the registered proprietor of the GI ‘Sirsi Supari’. The World Intellectual Property Organisation defines GI as a sign used

on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

Exclusion from draft Assam NRC will not affect voting rights for LS polls: ECI to SC

Allaying the fears of over 40 lakh persons whose names were not included in the draft Assam NRC, the Election Commission of India (ECI)

on March 12, 2019 told the Supreme Court that exclusion will not affect their voting rights in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls provided their

names feature in the electoral rolls. The top court had asked the ECI to clarify what action it will take if a person’s name is not included in

the final Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) to be published on July 31, but it features in the electoral rolls. The court asked the ECI

to provide it the data by March 28 about the addition and deletion of names from voters’ list as revised in January for 2017, 2018 and 2019.

NEWSMAKERS

SC stays contempt punishment against Shillong Times

The Supreme Court on March 15, 2019 put on hold a Meghalaya High Court order holding the Editor of The Shillong Times, Patricia

Mukhim, and publisher Shobha Chaudhuri guilty of contempt and fining them Rs 2 lakh each. The High Court had said that in the event of

failure to pay the fine, the two would undergo simple imprisonment of six months and the publication of the newspaper would be banned.

The contempt proceeding was initiated against the English daily on the basis of two reports published on December 6 and December 10,

2018 under the caption “When judges judge for themselves” and “High Court pursues retirement benefits to judges, family”.

Former IAS officer Shah Faesal launches new party in J&K

Former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Shah Faesal launched his party - the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement - on March

17, 2019. Faesal had quit government service in January 2019. The vision document of the party stated that the Jammu and Kashmir

People’s Movement “shall pursue a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem as per the will and aspirations of the people of Jammu and

Kashmir State.”

Goa CM and former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar dies in Panaji at 63

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar passed away in Panaji at the age of 63 on March 17, 2019. A six-time MLA and former Defence

Minister, Parrikar was born on 13th December, 1955. He graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai with a B. Tech degree in

metallurgical engineering. Parrikar was first elected to the Goa assembly in 1994. He served as Chief Minister of the state from October



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2000 to February 2005, March 2012 to November 2014 and from March 2017 to March 2019. He served as the Union Defence Minister from

November 2014 till March 2017. He served as a Rajya Sabha MP from November 2014 to September 2017.

Prominent Lingayat leader Mathe Mahadevi passes away at 74

Prominent Lingayat leader Mathe Mahadevi passed away at the age of 74 in Bengaluru on March 14, 2019. She was the head of the Basava

Dharma Peetha at Kudalasangama in Karnataka. A staunch advocate of Basava Tatwa (Basava philosophy), Mahadevi was one of the most

vocal leaders of the movement, demanding separate religion status for the Lingayat faith.

Section J: SPORTS

Kento Momota, Yufei Chen win Singles titles at All England Open Badminton Championships

Kento Momota of Japan and Yufei Chen of China won the Men’s and Women’s Singles titles respectively at the All England Open

Badminton Championships in Birmingham on March 10, 2019. Momota defeated Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen in the final 21-11, 15-21, 21-15.

Yufei defeated Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan 21-17, 21-17 in the final. Men’s Doubles title was won by Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan & Hendra

Setiawan who beat Malaysia’s Aaron Chia & Soh Wooi Yik in the final 11-21, 21-14, 21-12. Women’s Doubles title was won by China’s Chen

Qingchen & Jia Yifan who defeated Japan’s Mayu Matsumoto & Wakana Nagahara in the final 18-21, 22-20, 21-11 Mixed Doubles title was

won by China’s Zheng Siwei & Huang Yaqiong who defeated Japan’s Yuta Watanabe & Arisa Higashino in the final 21-17, 22-20

Shi Yuqi and Chen Yufei win singles titles at Swiss Open Badminton

China’s Shi Yuqi and Chen Yufei won men’s and women’s singles titles respectively at the Swiss Open Badminton in Basel on March 17,

2019. Yuqi beat India’s B. Sai Praneeth in final 19-21, 21-18, 21-12. Yufei defeated Japan’s Saena Kawakami in the final 21-9, 21-16. Men’s

Doubles title was won by Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian & Muhammad Rian Ardianto. Women’s Doubles title was won by South Korea’s Chang Ye-

na & Jung Kyung-eun. Mixed Doubles title was won by Denmark’s Mathias Bay-Smidt & Rikke Søby Hansen.

Australia win ODI series 3-2

Australia (272/9 in 50) beat India (237/10 in 50) by 35 runs in 5th ODI at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi on March 13, 2019 to win the 5-match series

3-2. Australia’s Usman Khawaja (383 runs) was the highest run-getter and Player of the series. Pat Cummins (14 wickets) took most wickets

in the series. During the match Rohit Sharma completed 8000 runs in ODI cricket in his 206th match in Delhi.

Australia (359/6 in 47.5) beat India (358/9 in 50) by 4 wickets in 4th ODI at Mohali on March 10 to level the 5-match series 2-2. Ashton

Turner (84* runs in 43 balls) was Player of the match.

On March 8, Australia (313/5 in 50 overs) defeated India (281 all out in 48.2 overs) by 32 runs in the third ODI in Ranchi on March 8, 2019.

Usman Khawaja (104 runs in 113 balls) was Player of the match.

On March 5, India (250/10 in 48.2) had beaten Australia (242/10 in 49.3) by 8 runs in 2nd ODI at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium,

Nagpur. Virat Kohli (116 in 120 balls) was Player of the match.

On March 2, India (240/4 in 48.2) had beaten Australia (236/7 in 50) by 6 wickets in first ODI at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium,

Hyderabad. Kedar Jadhav (81* runs in 87 balls) was Player of the match.

Karnataka win Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy

Karnataka (159-2 in 18.3) defeated Maharashtra (155-4 in 20) by 8 wickets in the final to win the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy at the Holkar

Stadium in Indore on March 14, 2019.

SC overturns BCCI’s life ban on Sreesanth in IPL spot-fixing case

The Supreme Court on March 15, 2019 set aside the BCCI disciplinary committee’s order imposing a life ban on former Indian cricketer S

Sreesanth for his alleged involvement in the 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal. A bench comprising justices Ashok Bhushan and K M Joseph said



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the disciplinary committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may reconsider within three months the quantum of

punishment to be given to Sreesanth.

SC appoints PS Narasimha as mediator to resolve disputes of cricket administration in BCCI

The Supreme Court on March 14, 2019 appointed senior advocate P. S. Narasimha, who is assisting the apex court as an amicus curia in the

BCCI matter, as mediator for resolving various disputes related to cricket administration in the country. The court also asked Narasimha to

look into the dispute relating to release of funds by the court appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) to various cricket associations.

D. Gukesh finishes second in HD Bank International chess tournament in Ho Chi Minh City

Indian GM D. Gukesh finished second in the HD Bank International chess tournament in Ho Chi Minh City on March 13, 2019 with 7 points.

Ukraine’s GM Stanislav Bogdanovich and China’s Wen Yang. GM Wang Ho of China were joint winners with 7.5 points.

Russia and China win World Team Chess Championship in Astana

Russia won gold in men’s event at the World Team Chess Championship in Astana (Kazakhstan) on March 14, 2019. England won silver

while the bronze went to China India’s men’s team comprising Aravindh Chithambaram, Surya Ganguly, B. Adhiban and S. P. Sethuraman

finished fourth. China won gold in women’s event while Russia won silver and Georgia got bronze. India’s women’s team comprising

Padmini Rout, Eesha Karavade Soumya Swaminathan and Bhakti Kulkarni finished sixth.

Indian Oil win Bombay Gold Cup Hockey tournament

Indian Oil beat Punjab and Sind Bank (PSB) 9-7 via the penalty shootout in final to retain the Bombay Gold Cup Hockey tournament on

March 13, 2019. Indian Oil captain and Olympian V R Raghunath equalised at the death through a penalty corner when his side trailed 4-5

to force the tie-break at the MHAL-Mahindra Stadium.

Ronnie O’Sullivan wins Players Championship title in Snooker

Snooker great Ronnie O’Sullivan became the first player to make 1,000 career century breaks after defending his Players Championship title

with a 10-4 victory over Australia’s Neil Robertson in the final in Preston (UK) on March 10, 2019.

India to host U-17 Women’s Football World Cup in 2020

India will host the Under-17 Women’s Football World Cup in 2020. This was announced by the President of International Football

Federation (FIFA) Gianni Infantino after the council meeting in Miami, USA on March 15, 2019. This will be the second FIFA tournament India

will be hosting, after the U-17 Men’s World Cup in 2017.

Olympic gold medallist Kelly Catlin dies at 23

Kelly Catlin, member of the U.S. women’s pursuit team that earned a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, died at age 23. Catlin earned

three consecutive World championship titles with the U.S. women’s pursuit team from 2016-2018.

India replaced by Thailand as host of Asian Junior Weightlifting Championship in July

The United World Wrestling (UWW) on March 17, 2019 replaced India with Thailand as host of Asian Junior Weightlifting Championship in

July. India had agreed to host the re-scheduled junior Championship in July after original hosts Lebanon withdrew. Earlier the UWW had

asked all its affiliated federations to stop dealing with the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). In the wake of Pulwama terror attack, India

had not issued visas to a three-member shooting contingent from Pakistan for the world cup in Delhi, prompting the IOC to censure IOA. It

was followed by UWW asking all its affiliated federations to suspend all communication with WFI.



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Annu Rani improves her women’s javelin throw national record

Annu Rani of Uttar Pradesh improved her women’s javelin throw national record to 62.34m from 61.86 at the Federation Cup National

Senior Athletics Championships in Patiala on March 17, 2019. On March 16, Dharun Ayyasamy improved his own national record in Men’s

400m hurdles to 48.80 from 48.96.

Cristiano Ronaldo tops ESPN World Fame 100 list, Virat Kohli 7th

This year’s ESPN World Fame 100 list, an annual list of the most famous athletes on the planet, placed the Portuguese footballer Cristiano

Ronaldo at the top spot, followed by basketball player LeBron James and FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi. Indian cricket team captain

Virat Kohli and former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni were among eight Indian cricketers who found a place in the list. Kohli bagged the

seventh position and is the only Indian athlete in the top 10, whereas Dhoni is placed in the 13th spot. Other Indians in the list are: Yuvraj

Singh (18), Suresh Raina (22), R Ashwin (42), Rohit Sharma (46), Harbhajan Singh (74) and Shikhar Dhawan (94). This list was prepared by

looking at three aspects, namely- Search Score, Endorsements and Social Following.

Valtteri Bottas wins Formula One Australian Grand Prix

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland won the season opening Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 17, 2019.

UK’s Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes finished second while Red Bull Racing-Honda driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands finished third.

Formula One’s race director Charlie Whiting dies in Melbourne at 66

Formula One’s long-serving race director Charlie Whiting passed away in Melbourne at the age of 66 on March 14, 2019.

Section A: INDIA

Indian Statistical institute submits report on VVPAT to EC

Social media platforms present voluntary code of ethics to EC

President administers oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as Lokpal chief

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh appointed as next Chief of Naval Staff

EC appoints Shailendra Handa & Madhu Mahajan as Special Expenditure Observers


Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) starts in Maharashtra

India, Sri Lanka joint exercise ‘Mitra Shakti-VI’ to commence from Mar 26

India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol commences at Port Blair

India-funded Siddheshwar Education Public Campus inaugurated in Nepal

7 Indians in ‘World’s 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy for 2019’ Indian-American lawyer Neomi Jehangir Rao sworn in as US Circuit Judge

Captain M.N. Samant, 1971 war hero who set up Bangladesh Navy dies

Section C: WORLD

Syrian Democratic Forces announce end of Islamic State group’s “caliphate” Finland ranked as the happiest country in UN’s World Happiness Report

Italy becomes first G7 nation to join China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI)

North Korea pulls out of liaison office with South Korea

Japan gives UN World Food Programme $69m

US accepts Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights


Current Affairs Magic March 5 to April 1st , 2019 www.globalias.in

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UAE launches programme to help overweight employers

New Zealand bans semi-automatic, assault rifles

Cyclone Idai kills at least 360 in southern Africa

World Tuberculosis Day observed on March 24

World Meteorological Day celebrated on March 23

World Water Day observed on March 22

International Day of Forests celebrated on March 21

International Day of Happiness celebrated on March 20

World Down Syndrome Day observed on March 21

World Poetry Day celebrated on March 21

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed on March 21

79th Pakistan Day celebrated on March 23, 2019

Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev steps down after nearly 30 years in power

Soviet-era film-maker Marlen Khutsiev dies in Moscow at 93

US economist Alan Krueger dies at 58


UN patent data show Asia innovation surge

NASA astronauts conduct spacewalk to change ISS batteries

Evidence of water, particle plumes discovered on asteroid Bennu: NASA

Section E: AWARDS

Lalit Kala Akademi announces 60th National Academy Award winners

‘Raazi’ is the Best Film at 64th Filmfare Awards

Karen Uhlenbeck becomes first woman recipient of Abel Prize for maths

Kenya’s Peter Tabichi wins $1m 2019 Global Teacher Prize

Brazilian physicist and astronomer Marcelo Gleiser awarded 2019 Templeton Prize


RBI says no to IDBI Bank name change proposal

RBI again defers Ind AS implementation by banks

SBI raises Rs 1,251 cr by issuing Basel III-compliant bonds

NITI Aayog organises FinTech Conclave in New Delhi

Section G: ECONOMY

Govt exceeds disinvestment target, proceeds touch Rs 85,000 cr in FY19

India’s foreign exchange reserves at $405.638 billion in the week to March 15

Fitch cuts India GDP growth forecast for FY20 to 6.8% from previous 7%

Ports get time till June 30 to install radiation monitors


Tata Power SED bags Rs 1,200 cr contract for supply of ship-borne 3D Air Surveillance Radars

Xiaomi launches Redmi Go, announces UPI-based digital payment app Mi Pay

T-Series overtakes PewDiePie to become the most subscribed YouTube channel

Infosys, Roland-Garros team up for digital innovation

Avan Motors launches electric scooter Trend E, price starts at Rs 56,900

GHCL launches innovative wellness products

Economist Intelligence Unit releases 2019 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey

WhatsApp, NASSCOM to impart digital literacy



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Pine Labs buys Bengaluru-based Qwikcilver for $110mn

EU fines Google 1.49 bn euros for anti-trust breach

Instagram moves into e-commerce with shopping button

IPRS, Google sign music licensing deal for India

SAIL comes out with smart bins for garbage collection

Belgian racing pigeon fetches a record 1.25 million euros in an online auction

Hotel Leela Venture to sell hotels, property to Brookfield for Rs 3,950 cr

MSTC IPO subscribed 1.46 times on closing day of bidding

Counterfeit and pirated goods represent 3.3% of global trade: report

Hinduja family top Asian Rich List 2019 with net worth of 25.2 billion pounds

K.M. Mammen elected chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA)

MG India signs Benedict Cumberbatch as brand ambassador

Section I: STATES

Madras HC sentences nine to life term for attack on office of Dinakaran daily in Madurai in 2007

RSDC launches Project Saamrath aims to train 10 lakh personnel in rubber sector

Karnataka lifts ban on Ola

Mizoram Assembly passes Bill to detect illegal foreigners

New Goa CM proves BJP-led govt’s majority in Assembly

Karnataka Municipal Administration Minister C. S. Shivalli dies at 56

Renowned artist Haku Shah passes away at 85

Kannada actress L.V. Sharada dies at 78

Amritanandamayi gets honorary doctorate from Mysore varsity

Speaker cancels membership of five BJD MLAs from Odisha Assembly

Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front banned by Centre

Section J: SPORTS

India return with 368 medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games

Tokyo unveils ‘cherry blossom’ Olympic torch

China win 2019 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships

BWF badminton rankings: Lakshya, Riya break into top 100

Thiem, Andreescu win Singles titles at BNP Paribas Open tennis

Aditya Mehta wins CCI All India Open Snooker Championship in Mumbai

India win South Asian Football Federation Women’s Championship

Elisha Barno, Askale Merachi win races at Los Angeles Marathon

ICC gives green light to name and jersey number in Tests

Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir joins BJP



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Section A: INDIA

NEWS ROUND UP

Indian Statistical institute submits report on VVPAT to EC

The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) on March 22, 2019 submitted the recommendations of an expert committee on the Voter Verifiable

Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slip verification to the Election Commission.

The report titled “Random Sampling For Testing of EVMs via VVPAT Slip Verification” was handed over to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil

Arora and Election Commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra. The Commission will examine the report to determine the course of

action.

In view of demands from various political parties to increase the percentage of the VVPAT slip counted during elections, the Commission

had engaged the ISI to examine the issue of matching the slips with the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) results.

The expert committee which carried out the exercise included Prof. Abhay G. Bhatt, Head ISI (Delhi Centre); Prof. Rajeeva L. Karandikar,

Director of the Chennai Mathematical Institute; and Onkar Prosad Ghosh, Deputy Director-General (Social Statistics Division) of the Central

Statistics Office, MOSPI, who was nominated by the National Sample Survey Office Director-General. “Before finalising its report, the

committee had wide-ranging consultations with other experts” said the EC in a statement.

Social media platforms present voluntary code of ethics to EC

The ‘Voluntary Code of Ethics for the General Election 2019’ was presented by social media platforms and the Internet and Mobile

Association of India (IAMAI) to the Election Commission (EC) and came into force on March 20, 2019.

Platforms like Facebook, Google and Twitter would act against paid advertisements that violate the Election Commission norms, the IAMAI

said.

The EC, in a statement, said the code of ethics was developed as a follow-up to the meeting with the IAMAI and representatives of

Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, Google, ShareChat, TikTok and others.

Based on the Sinha Committee’s recommendations, the social media platforms have agreed to process violations reported under Section

126 of the Representation of the People Act within three hours.

Section 126 of the Act prohibits advertising and campaigning on TV and other electronic media during the ‘silent period’, which is 48 hours

before the end of polling.

According to reports, the current EC guidelines are as follows:

Pre-certification is required for advertisements on social media platforms.

Social media organisations are required to monitor events during the days of polling and a 48-hour ‘silence period’ must be followed.

The Model Code of Conduct must be followed on social media platforms as well.

Political parties are required to share details of expenditure for creating and managing social media content.

The Media Certification and Monitoring Committees should include one intermediary or social media expert at the district and state level.

Citizens are allowed to report violations through the C-Vigil app.



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RECENT BOOKS

NON-FICTION

How to Get Published in India: Your go-to guide to write, publish and sell your book with tips and insights from industry experts by

Meghna Pant (Author)

Indian Environmental Law: Key Concepts and Principles by Shibani Ghosh

The Algebra of Warfare-Welfare: A Long View of India’s 2014 Election (Edited by) Irfan Ahmad & Pralay Kanungo

Caste as Social Capital: The Complex Place of Caste in Indian Society by R. Vaidyanathan

Stories of Storeys: Art, Architecture and the City by Gautam Bhatia

Camels in the Sky: Travels in Arabia by V. Muzafer Ahamed (translated from Malayalam by P.J. Mathew)

FICTION

Summer Holidays by Koral Dasgupta

King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo

Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz

There’s Gunpowder in the Air by Manorajan Byapari (translated by Arunava Sinha)

Hijabistan by Sabyn Javeri

NEWSMAKERS

President administers oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as Lokpal chief

President Ram Nath Kovind on March 23, 2019 administered the oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as the country’s first Lokpal.

The oath was administered at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Justice Ghose, a former Supreme Court judge, was on March 19, 2019 named the country’s first Lokpal, the anti-corruption ombudsman.

Former Chief Justices of different high courts -- Justices Dilip B Bhosale, Pradip Kumar Mohanty, Abhilasha Kumari -- besides sitting Chief

Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court Ajay Kumar Tripathi were appointed as judicial members in the Lokpal.

Former first woman chief of Sashastra Seema Bal Archana Ramasundaram, ex-Maharashtra chief secretary Dinesh Kumar Jain, former IRS

officer Mahender Singh and Gujarat cadre ex-IAS officer Indrajeet Prasad Gautam are the Lokpal’s non-judicial members.

Justice Ghose, 66, retired as a Supreme Court judge in May 2017. He was serving as the member of the National Human Rights Commission

when his name was announced for the post of Lokpal chairperson. The Lokpal and the Lokayukta Act, which envisages appointment of a

Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states to look into cases of corruption against certain categories of public servants, was passed on

2013.

The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, which envisages appointment of a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states to look into cases of

corruption against certain categories of public servants, was passed on 2013. The Appointments comes a fortnight after the Supreme Court

asked Attorney General K. K. Venugopal to inform it within 10 days about a possible date for meeting of the selection committee.

The Lokpal selection committee is headed by the prime minister and has as its members -- the Lok Sabha Speaker, leader of the opposition

in the lower house, the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the apex court nominated by him, and an eminent jurist who could be nominated

by the President or any other member. Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had been invited in the past meetings of the

selection panel as a “special invitee”. However, he had been refusing to attend the meetings since February last year arguing that there was

no provision for a special invitee to attend such a meet.

According to the rules, there is provision for a chairperson and a maximum of eight members in the Lokpal panel. Of these, four need to be

judicial members.



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Not less than 50 per cent of the members of the Lokpal shall be from amongst the persons belonging to the scheduled castes, scheduled

tribes, other backward classes, minorities and women, the rules say.

Upon selection, the chairperson and members shall hold office for a term of five years or till they attain 70 years of age. The salary and

allowances of the chairman will be same as that of the Chief Justice of India. The members will be paid salary and allowances same as that

of a judge of the Supreme Court.

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh appointed as next Chief of Naval Staff

Vice Admiral Karambir Singh was on March 23, 2019 appointed as next Chief of Naval Staff. He will succeed Admiral Sunil Lanba who retires

on May 30.

Vice Admiral Singh, who is at present serving as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command in

Visakhapatnam, will be the first helicopter pilot to become Chief of Naval Staff. He will take charge as Navy Chief on May 31.

Before taking over as FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command in October 2017, Singh also served as Deputy Chief as well as Vice Chief of Naval

Staff.

Born on November 3, 1959, Singh was commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 1, 1980. He earned his wings as a helicopter pilot in 1982

and has flown extensively on Chetak and Kamov helicopters.

Singh, who a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Naval Warfare, Mumbai, hails from Jalandhar and a

recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM).

In his career spanning over 37 years, the Admiral has commanded four ships -- Indian Coast Guard ship Chandbibi, missile corvette INS

Vijaydurg, guided missile destroyers INS Rana and INS Delhi.

Singh has also served as the Fleet Operations Officer of the Western Fleet.

His other important assignments include Chief of Staff of the Tri-Services Unified Command at Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Flag

Officer Commanding Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area (FOMAG).

In the rank of Vice Admiral, he was also the Director General of Project Seabird, looking after infrastructure development of the Navy’s

modern base at Karwar.

The Navy Chief retires after a three-year tenure or attaining 62 years of age, whichever is earlier.

EC appoints Shailendra Handa & Madhu Mahajan as Special Expenditure Observers

The Election Commission on march 20, 2019 appointed two eminent former Civil Servants Shailendra Handa and Ms. Madhu Mahajan as

Special Expenditure Observers for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. Shailendra Handa has been deployed in Maharashtra and Madhu

Mahajan has been deployed in Tamil Nadu. An official release said, both these officers have rich experience of working in Investigation

Wing of I.T Department and have supervised many successful search and seizure actions unearthing tax evasion in complicated cases. The

Special Observers will supervise and monitor the work being done by the electoral machinery. They will ensure that stringent and effective

enforcement action is undertaken based on intelligence inputs and complaints received through C-VIGIL and Voter Helpline 1950 against all

persons and entities trying to induce voters by distributing cash and liquor.



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NEWS ROUND UP

Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) starts in Maharashtra

The Indian Army on March 18, 2019 began a 10-day military exercise with armed forces of 17 African nations at Aundh in Maharashtra,

reflecting the growing strategic ties between India and the Africa continent. The countries participating in the inaugural edition of the

Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) include Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South

Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Benin and Botswana, the Army said here. “The exercise will focus on exchange of best

practices between the participating nations, team building and tactical level operations in conduct of the UN mandated tasks,” the Army

said.

India, Sri Lanka joint exercise ‘Mitra Shakti-VI’ to commence from Mar 26

Exercise ‘Mitra Shakti’ which is conducted annually as part of military diplomacy and interaction between armies of India and Sri Lanka will

be conducted from March 26 to April 8 for the year 2018-19, in Sri Lanka. Troops from 1st Battalion the Bihar Regiment of the Indian Army

and Gemunu Watch Battalion of Sri Lankan Army would be jointly undertaking the exercise.

India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol commences at Port Blair

The 33rd edition of the India-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (IND-INDO CORPAT) is being held from March 19 to April 4, 2019. The opening

ceremony was held at Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The ship and aircraft from both the countries would undertake patrolling on

the respective sides of 236 nautical miles long International Maritime Boundary line. The patrolling would be conducted in three phases

from 22-31 March 2019. This will be followed by a Closing Ceremony at Belawan, Indonesia, which is scheduled from 01-04 April 2019.

India-funded Siddheshwar Education Public Campus inaugurated in Nepal

The campus building for Siddheshwar Education Public Campus in Bamti Bhandar of Ramechhap district in Nepal was inaugurated in a

public function organised jointly by the District Coordination Committee and Campus Management Committee on March 22, 2019. The new

infrastructure constructed with the Indian Government’s grant assistance of NRs 35.50 million, is a three-storeyed campus building.

Established in 1963 and presently with 1000 students, Siddheshwar Education Public Campus is affiliated with Tribhuvan University and

offers Under Graduate programmes from 2006 onwards.

NEWSMAKERS

7 Indians in ‘World’s 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy for 2019’

Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Dr Harsh Vardhan are among the seven Indians who have been named in the ‘World’s 100 Most

Influential People in Climate Policy for 2019’ for taking steps in order to combat climate change.

The list, unveiled on March 20, 2019, came on the official site of Apolitical, a global network for government helping public servants find the

ideas, people and partners they need to solve the hardest challenges.

Union Minister for Railways and Coal Piyush Goyal has led the fast track electrification of nearly 18,000 unelectrified villages, and been

critical in the rollout of a drastic power sector reform and the world’s largest LED bulb distribution programme, according to his profile on

the website. Under his tenure, India saw a massive proliferation of renewable energy through the world’s largest renewable energy

expansion programme. He is a 2018 Carnot Prize Recipient for contributions to energy policy.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan has focused on motivating scientists to develop new

technologies that address social and environmental problems. He has also played an integral role in making India a leader in environmental



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preservation. In 2008, he launched the anti-plastic bag campaign in Deli and the “Green Shopper Campaign”, which promotes business

partnerships with manufacturing of environment-friendly products.

Mukta Tilak, who is Pune’s mayor, is the wife of renowned activist and freedom fighter Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s great-grandson

Shailesh Tilak. Under her leadership, Pune banned all dumping of solid waste and implemented measures to cut down on carbon and

improve air quality. On account of her work, Pune received the Award for Innovative Policy at the 2018 Climate and Clean Air Awards at the

Global Climate Action Summit, according to her profile on the website.

Jyoti Kirit Parikh is the executive director of Integrated Research and Action for Development, a research and policy analysis institute

focusing on sustainable development. She was a member of the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change in India and has served as

energy and environment consultant to the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program. In 2007, she was awarded the Nobel

Peace Prize as a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, it read.

Sunita Narain, a well-renowned environmentalist and political activist, is the director of the Centre for Science and the Environment and

the editor of the fortnightly magazine, Down To Earth. In 1985 and 2012, she played a key role in the creation of the State of India’s

Environment Reports and, in 2005, was awarded the Padma Shri prize by the Indian government. Narain is a strong advocate of the

importance of local democracy in climate issues. She is the recipient of the World Water Prize, on account of her work on rainwater

harvesting and its influence on community water management policy, and was listed in Time Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people

in 2016, her profile on the website stated.

Another environmental activist, Vandana Shiva, was among those mentioned in the list, whose work focuses on promoting fair and

sustainable agriculture. She is the founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology, and Natural Resource Policy, an

organisation designed to develop and promote sustainable agricultural methods, and Navdanya, a movement committed to biodiversity

and farmers’ rights. Shiva is the author of Making Peace With the Earth and an advisor to the Women’s Environment and Development

Organisation, as well as several government bodies. Among her many honours and awards is the Right Livelihood Award of 1993.

Upendra Tripathy is the director general of the International Solar Alliance, a coalition of over 100 countries dedicated to increasing the

use of solar power and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Tripathy joined the ISA in 2017, after serving as the secretary of the Ministry of New

and Renewable Energy in the Government of India. He has over 36 years’ experience in the public service, and in April 2009 received the

Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration.

Meanwhile, Varshini Prakash, a 25-year-old Indian-origin woman, whose parents are from India also made it to the list. Prakash was born

and raised outside of Boston by parents who originally hail from Hyderabad, India. She is the co-founder and executive director of Sunrise, a

youth-led movement advocating for political action against climate change in the United States.

Indian-American lawyer Neomi Jehangir Rao sworn in as US Circuit Judge

Neomi Jehangir Rao, a prominent Indian-American lawyer, was sworn in as US Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit Court of

Appeals on March 21, 2019. Rao, 45, was sworn in by US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the Roosevelt Room of the White

House in Washington. She will replace US Supreme Court Judge Justice Brett Kavanaugh who was nominated by President Donald Trump

for the top post.

Captain M.N. Samant, 1971 war hero who set up Bangladesh Navy dies

The 1971 India-Pakistan war hero, Captain M.N. Samant of the Indian Navy, who helped set up the foundation of the Bangladesh Navy,

passed away in Mumbai on March 20, 2019. After the 1971 war, which saw East Pakistan’s birth as a new country Bangladesh, Capt. Samant

helped the fledgling Bangladesh Navy to expand.



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Section C: WORLD

NEWS ROUND UP

Syrian Democratic Forces announce end of Islamic State group’s “caliphate”

Kurdish-led forces pronounced the death of the Islamic State group’s nearly five-year-old “caliphate” on March 23, 2019 after flushing out

diehard jihadists from their very last bastion in eastern Syria. Fighters of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces raised their yellow flag in

Baghouz, the remote riverside village where diehard jihadists of a variety of nationalities made a desperate, dramatic last stand.

The SDF’s victory capped a deadly six-month operation against the final remnants of the caliphate which once stretched across a vast

swathe of Iraq and Syria, and held seven million people in its sway. The nearly five years of fighting against the most brutal jihadist group in

modern history has left thousand-year-old cities in ruins and populations homeless.

The “caliphate’ proclaimed in mid-2014 by fugitive IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi started collapsing in 2017 when parallel offensives in

Iraq and Syria wrested back its main hubs Mosul and Raqa. But the territory administered by the remnants of IS continued to shrink month

and in September 2018 the SDF launched a final offensive on the last dregs of the “caliphate” in its Euphrates Valley strongholds.

Finland ranked as the happiest country in UN’s World Happiness Report

Indians are not as happy in 2019 as they were in 2018 and the country figures at 140th place, seven spots down from last year, on this year’s

UN World Happiness Report released on March 20, 2019 which is topped by Finland for the second year in a row. The report was released

by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations on March 20 which has was declared as World Happiness Day by

the UN General Assembly in 2012.

The report ranks 156 countries on six key variables that support well-being: income, freedom, trust, healthy life expectancy, social support

and generosity. The happiness study ranks the countries of the world on the basis of questions from the Gallup World Poll. The results are

then correlated with other factors, including GDP and social security.

Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world for the second year in succession. The Nordic nation is followed by Denmark,

Norway, Iceland and The Netherlands. People in war-torn South Sudan are the most unhappy with their lives, followed by Central African

Republic (155), Afghanistan (154), Tanzania (153) and Rwanda (152).

Italy becomes first G7 nation to join China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI)

Italy has signed a preliminary accord with China that makes it the first country of the Group of Seven (G7) industrialized nation to join the

Chinese Belt and Road infrastructure (BRI) project. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed trade

agreements in Rome on March 23, 2019. BRI is inspired by historic, centuries-old trade routes. Addressing a press conference in Rome,

Italian president Sergio Mattarella said, “Italy and China were at the two ends of the ancient Silk Road which had been a bond closely linking

the two countries. Italy supports Xi’s initiative on jointly building the Belt and Road and believes that it will be conducive to Eurasian

connectivity and common development, as well as to reviving the ancient Silk Road in modern times.” Already, China has signed BRI

cooperation agreements with over 40 countries.

North Korea pulls out of liaison office with South Korea

North Korea on March 22, 2019 pulled out of a liaison office with the South, in a major setback for Seoul, just hours after the United States

imposed the first new sanctions on the North since the second U.S.-North Korea summit broke down in February 2019. North Korea said it

was quitting the joint liaison office set up in September in the border city of Kaesong after a historic summit between leader Kim Jong-un

and South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in 2018.



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Japan gives UN World Food Programme $69m

Japan has donated 69 million dollars to the United Nations World Food Programme to provide vital aid to 28 countries in the Middle East,

Africa, and Asia, with the biggest shares of the money earmarked for Yemen and Iraq, WFP said in a statement. On March 22, 2019. The

Japanese funding will go towards food, nutrition and initiatives to build resilience in vulnerable populations, the statement said. $18 million

will be used to give continued support needy families in war-wracked Yemen where over 20 million people are struggling to get enough to

eat each day, the statement noted. Japan is one of WFP’s top donors and has contributed $$958 million to the UN agency since 2014, said

the statement.

US accepts Israeli sovereignty over Golan Heights

President Donald Trump on March 22, 2019 said the United States should acknowledge Israeli sovereignty over the hotly-contested Golan

Heights, in what amounted to a major pre-election gift for his ally Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “After 52 years it is time for

the United States to fully recognise Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights,” Trump said. Israel occupied the Golan Heights, West Bank,

East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Six-Day War. It later annexed the Golan Heights from Syria and East Jerusalem in moves never

recognized by the international community.

UAE launches programme to help overweight employers

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government has launched a programme to help overweight employers to shed extra kilos. The ‘Lose to

Win’ programme was launched by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP). Serving the employees of the Ministry of Infrastructure

Development in its current edition, the programme guides and encourages those struggling with weight issues to learn how to induce

positive changes in their lifestyles. It involves adopting a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity, helping employees lose excessive

weight within eight weeks. The programme team comprises nutritionists and health educators from the Health and Education Department

of the ministry. Apart from awareness sessions, the programme includes a workshop on healthy nutrition, where the participants are briefed

on essential topics, including how to read food labels, as well as about the make-up of balanced diets.

New Zealand bans semi-automatic, assault rifles

Military-style semi-automatics and assault rifles will be banned under stronger new gun laws announced by the New Zealand government

on March 21, 2019. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the gun law reforms at a press conference in Wellington. The government

announced the ban following after a shooter opened fire at two mosques in Christchurch, killing 50 people, and injuring 50 others on March

15.

Cyclone Idai kills at least 360 in southern Africa

Cyclone Idai may be one of the worst natural disasters to hit southern Africa in living memory. The storm has killed at least 360 people in

Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe till March 20, 2019.

World Tuberculosis Day observed on March 24

The World Tuberculosis (TB) Day was observed on March 24, 2019. The theme of World TB Day 2019 - ‘It’s time’ – puts the accent on the

urgency to act on the commitments made by global leaders to scale up access to prevention and treatment. The day is observed every year

to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global

TB epidemic. The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which

opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease. TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious killer. Each day, nearly 4500 people

lose their lives to TB and close to 30,000 people fall ill with this preventable and curable disease. Global efforts to combat TB have saved an

estimated 54 million lives since the year 2000 and reduced the TB mortality rate by 42%.

World Meteorological Day celebrated on March 23

World Meteorological Day was celebrated on March 23, 2019. The World Meteorological Organisation was founded on this day in 1950.

Headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland, WMO is a specialized agency of the UN for meteorology (weather and climate), operational



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hydrology and related geophysical sciences. This year, the theme is “The Sun, the Earth and the weather”. This recognises the critical role

that the Earth’s nearest star plays in what transpires on the planet. The energy that the Sun sends towards the Earth is taken up by all life

forms to perform their biological functions. It also regulates global climate, which, in turn, influences local weather conditions. The same

energy is also absorbed by the oceans which carry it around the planet, creating further conditions for diverse marine life to exist.

World Water Day observed on March 22

The World Water Day was observed on March 22, 2019 with its theme as ‘Leaving no one behind’. This theme is the central promise of the

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: as sustainable development progresses, everyone must benefit. Sustainable Development Goal

6 (SDG 6) aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water for all by 2030. By definition, this means leaving no one behind.

International Day of Forests celebrated on March 21

The International Day of Forests was celebrated on March 21, 2019 with its theme was ‘Forests and Education’. The Day celebrates and

raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake

local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.

International Day of Happiness celebrated on March 20

The International Day of Happiness was celebrated on March 20, 2019. Since 2013, the United Nations has celebrated the International Day

of Happiness as a way to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. In 2015, the UN launched the 17

Sustainable Development Goals that seek to end poverty, reduce inequality, and protect our planet – three key aspects that lead to well-

being and happiness.

World Poetry Day celebrated on March 21

The World Poetry Day was celebrated on March 21, 2019. A decision to proclaim 21 March as World Poetry Day was adopted during

UNESCO’s 30th session held in Paris in 1999. One of the main objectives of the Day is to support linguistic diversity through poetic

expression and to offer endangered languages the opportunity to be heard within their communities.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed on March 21

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was observed on March 21, 2019. Theme: Mitigating and countering rising

nationalist populism and extreme supremacist ideologies

World Down Syndrome Day observed on March 21

The World Down Syndrome Day was observed on March 21, 2019. Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that

has always been a part of the human condition, exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning

styles, physical characteristics or health. Adequate access to health care, to early intervention programmes and to inclusive education, as

well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of the individual. For WDSD 2019, Down Syndrome International

focuses on: Leave no one behind: All people with Down syndrome must have opportunities to live fulfilling lives, included on a full and

equal basis with others, in all aspects of society. The 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, a global plan of action for people,

planet and prosperity, pledges that “no one will be left behind”.

79th Pakistan Day celebrated on March 23, 2019

The 79th Pakistan Day was celebrated on March 23, 2019. The Pakistan Day marks the passing of Lahore Resolution on March 23, 1940,

when the All-India Muslim League demanded a separate nation for the Muslims of the British Indian Empire. The Pakistan Day military

parade was organised in Islamabad to mark the day. The parade was attended by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as the guest

of honour.



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NEWSMAKERS

Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev steps down after nearly 30 years in power

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the speaker of Kazakhstan’s parliament, was sworn in as interim president on March 20, 2019. Incumbent President

78-year old Nursultan Nazarbayev abruptly resigned on March 19 after nearly 30 years in power. The Kazakh capital Astana was renamed

Nursultan to honour the outgoing president. Nazarbayev took the helm in Kazakhstan as its Communist Party chief of the republic in 1989

when it was part of the Soviet Union, and he was first elected its president weeks before the 1991 Soviet collapse gave the country its

independence. He has been widely praised for maintaining stability and ethnic peace in Kazakhstan, a large, oil-rich nation south of Russia

and west of China.

Soviet-era film-maker Marlen Khutsiev dies in Moscow at 93

Renowned Soviet-era film-maker Marlen Khutsiev passed away in Moscow at the age of 93 on March 19, 2019. Georgian-born Khutsiev was

famous for cult films in the mid-1950s and 1960s that captured the mood in Soviet society. His works included “Spring on Zarechnaya

Street” (1956) and “I am Twenty”, known in the West as “Ilyich’s Gate” (1965). He was born on October 4, 1925 in Georgia’s Tbilisi, then

known as Tiflis, and studied at the Moscow-based Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, Russia’s best-known film school.

US economist Alan Krueger dies at 58

Alan Krueger, economic adviser to former US President Barack Obama and one of Americas most influential labour market experts, died at

the age of 58 on March 16, 2019. Krueger’s most famous work included a paper co-authored with the economist David Card in 1993 that

challenged orthodoxy around the effects of the minimum wage. Through a natural experiment comparing employment in fast food

restaurants across state lines after New Jersey raised its minimum wage, the pair found that the number of jobs did not decrease, as

classical economics would have assumed.



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UN patent data show Asia innovation surge

United Nations on March 19, 2019 said that more than half of all international patent applications filed last year came from Asia, a further

sign of innovation shifting from west to east.

In the latest annual breakdown of patent filings released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), US remained the leading

individual country for applications in 2018. However, on a regional basis, Asia’s surge continued.

Agency’s Director General Francis Gurry said, Asia is now the majority filer of international patent applications via WIPO. He said, it

underscores the historical geographical shift of innovative activity from west to east.

WIPO’s complex system of registering international patents involves multiple categories.

In the main category-the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the US led the way with 56,142 applications, followed by China (53,345) and Japan

(49,702).

India registered the largest innovation jump of any country last year. Patent applications jumped more than 27 per cent from 1,583 in 2017

up to 2,013.

NASA astronauts conduct spacewalk to change ISS batteries

Two NASA astronauts - Nick Hague and Anne McClain - successfully completed an over six-hour spacewalk and replaced the ageing

batteries on the International Space Station (ISS). During the spacewalk, Hague and McClain replaced nickel-hydrogen batteries with newer,

more powerful lithium-ion batteries for the power channel on one pair of the station’s solar arrays, NASA said in a statement on March 23,

2019. They also installed adapter plates and hooked up electrical connections for three of the six new lithium-ion batteries installed on the

station’s starboard truss. These new batteries provide an improved power capacity for operations with a lighter mass and a smaller volume

than the nickel-hydrogen batteries. The batteries store power generated by the station’s solar arrays to provide power to the station when

the station is not in the sunlight, as it orbits the Earth during orbital night.

Evidence of water, particle plumes discovered on asteroid Bennu: NASA

Bennu, a NASA spacecraft that will return a sample of a near-Earth asteroid named Bennu to Earth in 2023, has discovered plumes erupting

from the cosmic body’s surface -- among numerous other findings including evidence of water-bearing minerals. Bennu also revealed itself

to be more rugged than expected, challenging the mission team to alter its flight and sample collection plans, due to the rough terrain.

Bennu is the target of NASA’s Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission,

which began orbiting the asteroid on December 31, 2018.



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Section E: AWARDS

Lalit Kala Akademi announces 60th National Academy Award winners

The Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA) on March 22, 2019 announced 15 winners of the 60th Annual Academy Awards in Mumbai. All the awardees

will be honoured with a plaque, a shawl and prize money of Rs 1 lakh at the 60th National Exhibition of Art, scheduled from March 25 to

April 8 at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) and Sir JJ School of Art in Mumbai. The winners will also display their artworks at the

exhibition.

The awardees are: Chandan Kumar Samal (Odisha), Gouri Vemula (Telangana), Hemant Rao (Madhya Pradesh), Hiren Kumar Chotu Bhai

Patel (Gujarat), Jaya Jena (Odisha), Jayesh K.K (Kerala), Jitendra Suresh Sutar (Maharashtra), Douglas Maryan John (Maharashtra), Pratap

Chandra Chakraborty (West Bengal), Rashmi Singh (Uttar Pradesh), Sachin Kashinath Chaudhari (Maharashtra), Sunil Kumar Viswakarma

(Uttar Pradesh), Tabassum Khan (Bihar), Vasudeo Taranath Kamath (Maharashtra) and Veenita Sadguru Chendvankar (Goa).

This year, the Akademi received over 6,100 entries by 2,836 artists. The figures almost doubled from last year’s 1,433 applicant artists. The

60th National Exhibition of Art this year will exhibit artistic brilliance and provide a platform to give appreciation and recognition to

outstanding artists on a nationwide scale, LKA said. The works to be displayed have come to the forefront, both in terms of material

application and aesthetic appeal. The show will cover artworks from a broad range of mediums such as paintings, sculptures, graphics,

photographs, drawings, installation and mixed media.

‘Raazi’ is the Best Film at 64th Filmfare Awards

Winners of the 64th Filmfare Awards were announced in Mumbai on March 23, 2019.

Here’s the complete winners list of 64th Filmfare Awards 2019:

BEST FILM - RAAZI

CRITICS BEST FILM - ANDHADHUN

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (MALE) - RANBIR KAPOOR in ‘SANJU’ CRITICS BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (MALE) - AYUSHMANN KHURRANA in ‘ANDHADHUN’ CRITICS BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (MALE) - RANVEER SINGH in ‘PADMAAVAT’ BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE (FEMALE) - ALIA BHATT in ‘RAAZI’ CRITICS BEST ACTOR IN LEADING ROLE (FEMALE) - NEENA GUPTA in ‘BADHAAI HO’ BEST DIRECTOR - MEGHNA GULZAR for ‘RAAZI’ BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MALE) - GAJRAJ RAO in ‘BADHAAI HO’ BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (MALE) - VICKY KAUSHAL in ‘SANJU’ BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE (FEMALE) - SUREKHA SIKHRI in ‘BADHAAI HO’ BEST MUSIC ALBUM - SANJAY LEELA BHANSALI in ‘PADMAAVAT’ BEST LYRICS – GULZAR for song ‘AE WATAN’ in RAAZI

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (MALE) - ARIJIT SINGH for song ‘AE WATAN’ in RAAZI

BEST PLAYBACK SINGER (FEMALE) - SHREYA GHOSHAL for song ‘GHOOMAR’ in ‘PADMAAVAT’ PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM – ‘PLUS MINUS’ BEST SHORT FILM IN FICTION – ‘ROGAN JOSH’ BEST SHORT FILM IN NON-FICTION – ‘THE SOCCER CITY’ BEST ACTOR FEMALE SHORT FILM - KIRTI KULHARI in ‘MAYA’ BEST ACTOR MALE SHORT FILM - HUSSAIN DALAL in ‘SHAMELESS’ BEST ORIGINAL STORY - ANUBHAV SINHA for ‘MULK’ BEST SCREENPLAY - SRIRAM RAGHAVAN, ARIJIT BISWAS, POOJA LADHA SURTI, YOGESH CHANDEKAR, HEMANTH RAO for

‘ANDHADHUN’ BEST DIALOGUE - AKSHAT GHILDIAL for ‘BADHAAI HO’ BEST EDITING - POOJA LADHA SURTI for ‘ANDHADHUN’ BEST ACTION - VIKRAM DAHIYA AND SUNIL RODRIGUEZ in ‘MUKKABAAZ’ BEST BACKGROUND SCORE - DANIEL B. GEORGE in ‘ANDHADHUN’ BEST CHOREOGRAPHY - KRUTI MAHESH MIDYA AND JYOTHI D TOMMAAR for the song ‘GHOOMAR’ in ‘PADMAAVAT’ BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - PANKAJ KUMAR in ‘TUMBBAD’



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BEST COSTUME - SHEETAL SHARMA in ‘MANTO’ BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN - NITIN ZIHANI CHOUDHARY, RAKESH YADAV in ‘TUMBBAD’ BEST SOUND DESIGN - KUNAL SHARMA in ‘TUMBBAD’ BEST VFX - RED CHILLIES VFX in ‘ZERO’ Burman Award For Upcoming Talent In Film Music: Niladri Kumar (Laila Majnu)

50 Years of Outstanding Contribution to Cinema: Hema Malini

Best Debut Director: Amar Kaushik (Stree)

Best Debut Female: Sara Ali Khan (Kedarnath)

Best Debut Male: Ishaan Khattar (Beyond The Clouds)

Lifetime Achievement Award: Sridevi

Karen Uhlenbeck becomes first woman recipient of Abel Prize for maths

The Abel Prize in mathematics was awarded to Karen Uhlenbeck of the United States in Oslo on March 19, 2019 for her work on partial

differential equations, the first woman to win the award, the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters said. Uhlenbeck, 76, is a visiting

senior research scholar at Princeton University, as well as visiting associate at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), both in the US.

Uhlenbeck “developed tools and methods in global analysis, which are now in the toolbox of every geometer and analyst,” the Academy

said. She is also a role model and a strong advocate for gender equality in science and mathematics. She is the first woman to win the prize,

which comes with a cheque for six million kroner (620,000 euros, $703,000).

Named after the 19th century Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel, the prize was established by the Oslo government in 2002 and

first awarded a year later, to honour outstanding scientific work in the field of mathematics, a discipline not included among the Nobel

awards.

Kenya’s Peter Tabichi wins $1m 2019 Global Teacher Prize

A science teacher from rural Kenya, who gives away most of his salary to support poorer pupils, on March 24, 2019 won a $1m prize for the

world’s best teacher. Peter Tabichi won the 2019 Global Teacher Prize. The award, in a competition run by the Varkey Foundation, has seen

him beating 10,000 other nominations from 179 countries.

Peter has been praised for his achievements in a deprived school with crowded classes and few text books. The award, announced in a

ceremony in Dubai, recognises the “exceptional” teacher’s commitment to pupils in a remote part of Kenya’s Rift Valley. He gives away 80%

of his pay to support pupils, at the Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru, who otherwise could not afford uniforms

or books.

“The thousands of nominations and applications we received from every corner of the planet is testimony to the achievements of teachers

and the enormous impact they have on all of our lives,” founder of the prize, Sunny Varkey said.

Brazilian physicist and astronomer Marcelo Gleiser awarded 2019 Templeton Prize

Marcelo Gleiser, theoretical physicist, cosmologist, and a leading proponent of the view that science, philosophy, and spirituality are

complementary expressions of humanity’s need to embrace mystery and the unknown, was announced on March 19, 2019 as the 2019

Templeton Prize Laureate. The award was started by US-based Templeton Foundation and was first given in 1973.

Gleiser, 60, the Appleton Professor of Natural Philosophy and a professor of physics and astronomy at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New

Hampshire, has earned international acclaim through his books, essays, blogs, TV documentaries, and conferences that present science as a

spiritual quest to understand the origins of the universe and of life on Earth.

A native of Brazil, where his books are bestsellers and his television series draw audiences in the millions, Gleiser becomes the first Latin

American to be awarded the Templeton Prize.

For 35 years, his research has examined a wide array of topics, ranging from the behavior of quantum fields and elementary particles, to

early-universe cosmology, the dynamics of phase transitions, astrobiology, and new fundamental measures of entropy and complexity



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based on information theory, with more than 100 peer-reviewed articles published to date.


RBI says no to IDBI Bank name change proposal

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has turned down IDBI Bank’s proposal to change its name following the transfer of controlling 51 per cent

stake to insurance behemoth LIC from the government of India. The board of IDBI Bank had sought RBI’s approval for change in the name

of the lender to either LIC IDBI Bank or LIC Bank following the takeover by Life Insurance Corporation (LIC). “The board of directors has in its

meeting held on March 19, 2019, taken note of RBI’s communication conveying their inability to accede to bank’s request for change of

name of IDBI Bank Limited,” IDBI Bank said in a regulatory filing.

Earlier in March 2019, RBI changed the categorisation of IDBI Bank to a private sector lender from public sector lender following acquisition

of majority stake by LIC. Following the stake transfer, the government holding came down to 46.46 per cent from nearly 86 per cent in

September 2018, while LIC stake increased from about 8 per cent to 51 per cent earlier this year.

In January, the insurance behemoth completed the acquisition of 51 per cent controlling stake in IDBI Bank, marking the entry of the over

60 years’ old state-owned insurer into the banking space.

RBI again defers Ind AS implementation by banks

The Reserve Bank on March 22, 2019 again deferred the implementation of the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) by banks as the

requisite legislative amendments are still under consideration. Earlier in April 2018, the central bank had postponed the implementation of

the Indian Accounting Standards (Ind AS) by the banks by one year. The RBI in February 2016 had proposed implementation of new

accounting standards for banks for both standalone financial statements and consolidated financial statements with effect from April 1,

2018.

SBI raises Rs 1,251 cr by issuing Basel III-compliant bonds

State Bank of India (SBI) on March 22, 2019 said it has raised Rs 1,251.30 crore by issuing Basel III-compliant bonds. The bonds with a face

value of Rs 10 lakh each bears a coupon rate of 9.45 per cent per annum payable annually with call option after 5 years or any anniversary

date thereafter. State Bank of India (SBI) also said the central board of the bank has accorded its approval for extension of validity period for

raising equity capital of up to Rs 20,000 crore from market by way of follow-on public offer, qualified institutional placement, preferential

allotment, rights issue or any other mode or a combination of these till March 31, 2020.

NITI Aayog organises FinTech Conclave in New Delhi

NITI Aayog organised a day-long FinTech Conclave at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi on March 25, 2019. According to the

organisers, the objective of the conference was to shape India’s continued ascendancy in FinTech, build the narrative for future strategy and

policy efforts, and to deliberate steps for comprehensive financial inclusion. The Conclave saw participation from across the financial space -

central ministries, regulators, bankers, startups, service providers and entrepreneurs. The Conclave was inaugurated by RBI Governor

Shaktikanta Das. It hosted more than 300 representatives from the leading financial institutions.



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Section G: ECONOMY

Govt exceeds disinvestment target, proceeds touch Rs 85,000 cr in FY19

The government has exceeded its disinvestment target for the current fiscal by Rs 5,000 crore, taking the total proceeds to Rs 85,000 crore,

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on March 22, 2019. This is the second highest disinvestment proceeds in a financial year after the

government last fiscal mopped up a little over Rs 1 lakh crore in 2017-18. For the next fiscal, the government has set a disinvestment target

of Rs 90,000 crore.

The government has garnered Rs 700 crore through the first ever sale of ‘enemy shares’ after the Cabinet in November 2018 gave its go-

ahead to the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) to sell such shares held in companies. Enemy property

refers to the assets left behind by people who migrated to Pakistan or China and are no longer citizens of India.

Besides, over Rs 10,600 crore has come in from buyback of government shares by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs). The

companies which bought back the government stake include ONGC, IOC, Coal India, Oil India and NLC.

During the current fiscal, share sale through Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) has yielded the highest amount of Rs 45,729 crore, followed

by Rs 14,500 crore from acquisition of the government’s 52.63 per cent stake in REC by state-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC).

The government received Rs 1,929 crore via initial public offering (IPO) of five companies -- MSTC, RITES, Ircon, Garden Reach

Shipbuilders and Midhani.

The government received Rs 5,218 crore from offer for sale (OFS) of Coal India, and another Rs 5,379 crore from sale of SUUTI stake in

Axis Bank.

India’s foreign exchange reserves at $405.638 billion in the week to March 15

India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $3.602 billion to $405.638 billion in the week to March 15, driven by rise in foreign currency

assets, the Reserve Bank said on March 22, 2019. Foreign currency assets -- a major component of the overall reserves -- increased by a

healthy USD 3.546 billion to USD 377.773 billion as foreign funds pumped in billions of dollars into domestic equities in a pre-election

buying spree. Expressed in the greenbacks, foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation/depreciation of non-US units like the

euro, pound and the yen held in the reserves. Gold reserves rose by USD 38.9 million to USD 23.408 billion in the reporting week,

according to data from the central bank. The special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund rose by USD 5.9 million to

USD 1.461 billion. The country’s reserve position with the IMF, too, increased by USD 12.1 million to USD 2.995 billion.

Fitch cuts India GDP growth forecast for FY20 to 6.8% from previous 7%

Fitch Ratings on March 22, 2019 cut India’s economic growth forecast for the next financial year starting April 1, to 6.8 per cent from its

previous estimate of 7 per cent, on weaker than expected momentum in the economy.

“While we have cut our growth forecasts for the next fiscal year (FY20, ending in March 2020) on weaker-than-expected momentum, we still

see Indian GDP growth to hold up reasonably well, at 6.8 per cent, followed by 7.1 per cent in FY21,” Fitch said in its Global Economic

Outlook.

Fitch Ratings had cut India’s FY19 GDP growth forecast to 7.2 per cent from 7.8 per cent on December 6.

The rating agency has also cut growth forecasts for FY20 and FY21 to 7 per cent from 7.3 per cent and 7.1 per cent from 7.3 per cent,

respectively.



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Ports get time till June 30 to install radiation monitors

The Commerce Ministry has extended the deadline till June 30 for 14 sea ports, including JNPT, Kandla, Mumbai, Tuticorin and

Vishakhapatnam, to install radiation portal monitors and container scanners. This is the third time that the deadline has been extended. The

Ministry also said the ports which fail to meet the deadline will be derecognised for the purpose of import of un-shredded metallic scrap,

with effect from July 1.


Tata Power SED bags Rs 1,200 cr contract for supply of ship-borne 3D Air Surveillance Radars

Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division (SED) has bagged a Rs 1,200 crore contract from the defence ministry for supply of ship-borne 3D

Air Surveillance Radars. Tata Power SED has signed a deal with the Ministry of Defence to supply 23 ship-borne 3D Air Surveillance Radars

to the Indian Navy over the next 10 years, a Tata Power statement said on March 22, 2019.

The contract was signed under the Buy & Make (India) category of the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) 2013 that will be offering the

Indian Navy a proven solution, with a production arrangement in India under Transfer of Technology (ToT). The contract will be executed by

Tata Power SED as the prime contractor with foreign OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) partner Indra Sistemas, Spain.

Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) has entered into a share purchase agreement with Tata Power to buy Tata Power SED, subject to

regulatory and other approvals. In November 2017, Tata Power SED had signed a contract with the defence ministry for supply of Portable

Diver Detection Sonar (PDDS) for Indian Naval applications.

Tata Power is an integrated power company and together with its subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities, has an installed capacity of

10757 MW.

Xiaomi launches Redmi Go, announces UPI-based digital payment app Mi Pay

Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi on March 19 launched its first Android Oreo Go edition-based Redmi Go smartphone. Priced at

Rs 4,499, the entry-level budget smartphone will go on sale from March 22 through Flipkart, Mi stores and Mi online store. Aimed at first

time smartphone users, the phone comes bundled with a cashback offer worth Rs 2,200 from Reliance Jio. Along with the Redmi Go, the

company introduced its Unified Payment Interface-based digital payment app, Mi Pay.

T-Series overtakes PewDiePie to become the most subscribed YouTube channel

Indian film production house and music label T-Series is leading Swedish YouTuber PewDiePie’s channel by more than 33,000 subscribers

and has become the world’s No 1 YouTube Channel. Currently, T-series has over 90,528,290 subscribers, while PewDiePie has a subscriber

count of 90,494,295.

Infosys, Roland-Garros team up for digital innovation

Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, and Roland-Garros Grand Slam tennis tournament, also called the

French Open, on March 21, 2019 announced a three-year strategic technology partnership. The partnership aims to re-imagine the tennis

experience for the fans and the players globally, according to a statement.

Avan Motors launches electric scooter Trend E, price starts at Rs 56,900

Electric scooter maker Avan Motors India on March 22, 2019 launched its new model Trend E priced at Rs 56,900 and Rs 81,269 (ex-

showroom). The new model is powered by a lithium-ion battery with a top speed of 45 kmph and has a range of 60 km with single battery

and 110 km with double battery which can be fully charged in 2 to 4 hours.



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GHCL launches innovative wellness products

GHCL has launched Nile Harvest, a range of completely-traceable Egyptian-cotton bedding collection and Meditasi — a collection of health

and wellness bedding.

Economist Intelligence Unit releases 2019 Worldwide Cost of Living Survey

Paris, Singapore and Hong Kong are most expensive cities in the world, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2019 Worldwide Cost

of Living Survey. The three cities are tied at the top spot in the survey. Zurich, Switzerland, was placed at fourth position. Japan’s Osaka

shared the fifth place with Geneva, also in Switzerland. Seoul (South Korea) and Copenhagen (Denmark) and New York (US) were jointly

placed at the seventh spot. Los Angeles (US) was named the 10th most expensive city in the world, along with Israel’s Tel Aviv. The world’s

cheapest city is Caracas (Venezuela). The Worldwide Cost of Living Survey compares more than 400 individual prices across 160 products

and services in cities around the world. This data is used to produce the annual Worldwide Cost of Living Report which provides a ranking

of the world’s major cities.

WhatsApp, NASSCOM to impart digital literacy

In a bid to curb fake news during the general elections, WhatsApp and NASSCOM Foundation on March 18, 2019 came together to impart

digital literacy training. As part of the partnership, WhatsApp and NASSCOM Foundation will train nearly 1,00,000 Indians to spot false

information and provide tips and tricks to stay safe on WhatsApp. The co-created curriculum, which includes real-world anecdote tools that

can be used to verify a forwarded message and actions that users can take like reporting problematic content to fact checkers and other law

enforcement agencies, will be disseminated in multiple regional languages. The first training will be on March 27 in Delhi and will be

followed by more planned interventions like hosting training workshops for representatives from rural and urban areas along with

roadshows across numerous colleges. NASSCOM Foundation is the social arm of the industry body, National Association of Software and

Services Companies (NASSCOM).

Pine Labs buys Bengaluru-based Qwikcilver for $110mn

Singapore-based merchant platform firm Pine Labs on March 19, 2019 announced it has acquired Bengaluru-based gift card solutions

provider Qwikcilver for $110 million. Pine Labs processes annualised payments of $20 billion. Founded in 2006, Qwikcilver is a full-stack gift

card service provider, powering nine out of every 10 gift cards in the country and managing an annualised gross transaction value of $1.5

billion across India, Middle East and South East Asia. Kumar Sudarsan is Co-Founder and CEO of Qwikcilver. Pine Labs started its own gift

solutions business “Pine Perks” four years ago.

EU fines Google 1.49 bn euros for anti-trust breach

The EU’s anti-trust regulator has slapped tech giant Google with a new fine over unfair competition, in Europe’s latest salvo against Silicon

Valley. “Today the commission has fined Google 1.49 billion euros (USD 1.69 billion) for illegal misuse of its dominant position in the market

for the brokering of online search adverts,” EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said on March 20, 2019.

Instagram moves into e-commerce with shopping button

Facebook-owned Instagram on March 20, 2019 made a move into potentially lucrative e-commerce by adding an option to buy products

shown off in posts by selected brands. A new “checkout” button for instant purchasing launched in a beta version of the app in the US with

a limited number of businesses, according to the popular image-centric messaging service. Tapping the checkout button will allow

shoppers to select options such as size or colour and then pay for items without leaving the Instagram app. Previously, people inspired to

buy products featured in Instagram posts had to follow links to outside online shopping sites.

IPRS, Google sign music licensing deal for India

Mumbai-based Indian Performing Right Society Limited (IPRS) that represents composers, lyricists and music publishers on March 19, 2019

granted a license to Google to utilise the group members work in India across Google-owned YouTube and related services.



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SAIL comes out with smart bins for garbage collection

State-owned SAIL on March 18, 2019 said it has come out with smart steel garbage bins that can emit signals to the collection vehicles

about the fill-up position. “The smart garbage bins made up of stainless steel can not only collect unbridled garbage but also send signals

to the collection vehicles about the fill-up position,” Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) said in a statement. There will be separate bins for

recyclable wastes and non-recyclable wastes.

Belgian racing pigeon fetches a record 1.25 million euros in an online auction

A Belgian racing pigeon named Armando fetched a record 1.25 million euros in an online auction on March 18, 2019. The prized bird --

Belgian’s best long-distance racer of all time according to those in the know -- was snapped up by a Chinese buyer. Armando broke the

previous record of 376,000 euros ($425,000) paid for a pigeon called Nadine. Homing pigeons are raced by releasing them sometimes

hundreds of kilometres from home, with the first back home winning. Racing them is a tradition in Belgium, Britain, northern France and the

Netherlands, although it has been going into decline. But interest from Asian buyers in recent years has given the practice a new lease of

life.

Hotel Leela Venture to sell hotels, property to Brookfield for Rs 3,950 cr

Hotel Leela Venture Ltd on March 18, 2019 announced sale of its four hotels, including one in the national capital, and a property to

Canadian investment fund Brookfield for Rs 3,950 crore. It will sell hotels located in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Udaipur as well as 100

per cent sharing holder of the company in Leela Palace and Resorts Ltd, which owns property and holds licenses for the development of a

hotel in Agra. Proceeds of the sale “will be paid to the lenders of the company towards repayment of dues,” it said. “After completion of the

aforesaid transaction, all borrowings of the company from all the banks and financial institutions would stand repaid.”

MSTC IPO subscribed 1.46 times on closing day of bidding

State-owned MSTC’s initial share sale, which was extended till March 20, has been subscribed 1.46 times on March 20, 2019, the final day of

bidding. According to data on the NSE website available till 1700 hrs on Wednesday, the IPO has received bids for 2,58,29,100 shares

against the total issue size of 1,76,70,400 shares. Price band was Rs 120-128 per share. MSTC, a Kolkata-based firm, was incorporated in

1964 as a trading company to deal in the export of scrap. There are three main business verticals in the company -- e-commerce, trading

and recycling.

Counterfeit and pirated goods represent 3.3% of global trade: report

Global sales of counterfeit and pirated goods have soared to USD 522 billion a year, amounting to a whopping 3.3 per cent of world trade,

according to a report published in Paris on March 18, 2019. The latest assessment by the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the

OECD found the share of counterfeit goods had seen a “considerable” rise since its previous 2016 estimate of 2.5 per cent of global trade.

Such goods represented 121 billion euros worth of imports into the European Union alone - a massive 6.8 per cent of total imports into the

bloc, up from five per cent in 2016, EUIPO said in a statement. The report was based on data from almost half a million customs seizures by

international enforcement agencies.

NEWSMAKERS

Hinduja family top Asian Rich List 2019 with net worth of 25.2 billion pounds

Leading London-based NRI industrial tycoons, the Hinduja family, have topped the Asian Rich List 2019 for the sixth successive year with an

estimated net worth of 25.2 billion pounds, an increase of over three billion pounds over the previous year. The Asian Rich List 2019 was

released at the Asian Business Awards in London on March 23, 2019. India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) Ruchi

Ghanshyam released the list which is a compilation of the 101 wealthiest Asians in Britain, highlighting exceptional entrepreneurial



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achievement over the last 12 months. Steel magnates Lakshmi Mittal and his son Aditya Mittal remained in second place, with 11.2 billion

pounds- down 2.8 billion pounds. S P Lohia (Petrochemicals) took the third place with 5.8 billion pounds.

K.M. Mammen elected chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA)

K.M. Mammen, CMD, MRF and Anshuman Singhania, whole-time director of JK Tyre and Industries, have been unanimously elected as

chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA). ATMA acts as a key link between tyre

makers and the Centre, and assists in policy formulation on the sector. It regularly publishes industry data and brings out status notes on

industry issues.

MG India signs Benedict Cumberbatch as brand ambassador

MG (Morris Garages) India on March 20, 2019 said it has roped in British actor Benedict Cumberbatch as its brand ambassador. The

company, which is gearing up to launch sports utility vehicle ‘Hector’ in the middle of this year to kick off its journey in the country, said the

acclaimed actor will be the face of MG India.



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Section I: STATES

Madras HC sentences nine to life term for attack on office of Dinakaran daily in Madurai in 2007

Over nine years after a trial court acquitted those involved in the 2007 attack on the office of Tamil daily Dinakaran, which left three

employees dead, the Bench of the Madras High Court on March 21, 2019 sentenced nine persons, including key accused ‘Attack’ Pandi, to

life imprisonment. A Division Bench comprising Justices P.N. Prakash and B. Pugalendhi delivered the verdict on the appeal preferred by the

CBI and a revision petition filed by the mother of one of the victims. Holding the State vicariously liable, the court ordered a compensation

of Rs.5 lakh each to be paid to the families of the three deceased employees. The appeals were preferred against the verdict of the Principal

District and Sessions court, Madurai, acquitting all the 17 accused for want of sufficient evidence.

RSDC launches Project Saamrath aims to train 10 lakh personnel in rubber sector

The Rubber Skill Development Council (RSDC) has launched Project Saamrath, which is aimed at skilling, upskilling and reskilling 10 lakh

personnel involved in the rubber sector, by 2020. Over 10 lakh personnel are involved in NR (natural rubber) plantation work and the

requirement of skilling is huge for increasing production and productivity. The Council has joined hands with the Rubber Board in upskilling

the growers. The training is being provided under the Recognition of Prior Learning Scheme of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana across

natural rubber plantations, tyre services and rubber manufacturing. Skilling of the tapper is important as an unskilled tapper may adversely

impact the yield and damage the rubber tree. In Kerala many holdings are believed to have been left untapped owing to the shortage of

skilled tappers.

Karnataka lifts ban on Ola

The Karnataka government on March 24, 2019 lifted its six-month suspension order on cab aggregator Ola just two days after the State

Transport Department suspended its licence for allegedly running an illegal bike-taxi service. The suspension order was lifted after Priyank

Kharge, Karnataka Minister for Social Welfare, took the matter to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

Mizoram Assembly passes Bill to detect illegal foreigners

The Mizoram Assembly on March 18, 2019 unanimously passed a Bill that seeks to detect foreigners illegally residing in the north-eastern

State that shares over 700-km-long border with Bangladesh and Myanmar. Introducing ‘The Mizoram Maintenance of Household Registers

Bill, 2019’, Chief Minister Zoramthanga said the influx of foreigners into the State through its porous borders has remained a serious

concern for several decades.

NEWSMAKERS

New Goa CM proves BJP-led govt’s majority in Assembly

Newly appointed Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on March 20, 2019 proved the majority of his BJP-led government in the Assembly,

comfortably winning a floor test in the House in Panaji. 43-year-old Sawant represents Sanquelim assembly constituency.

Twenty MLAs voted for the motion of confidence in the two-day old government, while 15 opposed it. Besides 11 members from BJP, three

each from Goa Forward Party, MGP and Independents supported Sawant during the head count conducted in the House. All the 14 MLAs of

Congress and one from NCP stood up against the motion. Goa Assembly has a strength of 40 members with four seats lying vacant due to

deaths of two legislators, including Parrikar and resignation of two others.

The special session of the House was convened by Governor Mridula Sinha to conduct the floor test, after Sawant was sworn in as the CM

on March 19 after the demise of incumbent CM Manohar Parrikar. Sudhin Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and

Vijay Sardesai of the Goa Forward Party took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers.

Karnataka Municipal Administration Minister C. S. Shivalli dies at 56



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Karnataka Municipal Administration Minister C. S. Shivalli passed away in Bengaluru at the age of 56 on March 22, 2019. The three-time

MLA from Kundgol in Dharwad district, once as an independent and twice from the Congress, was inducted into the Kumaraswamy-led

coalition Cabinet in December 2019.

Renowned artist Haku Shah passes away at 85

Renowned artist Haku Shah, best known for his themes of tribal and folk art, passed away on March 21, 2019 in Ahmedabad at the age of

85. Shah was also a cultural anthropologist. He carried out extensive field research and documentation on rural and tribal arts and crafts,

traditions and folk lore, and established a tribal museum at Gujarat Vidyapith.

Kannada actress L.V. Sharada dies at 78

L.V. Sharada, veteran actor of parallel cinema in Kannada, passed away on March 21, 2019 in Bengaluru at the age of 78. She was best

known for her titular role in the 1983 Phaniyamma, directed by Prema Karanth. The film, a sensitive portrayal of a young widow, was based

on an eponymous novel by M.K. Indira published in 1977, which went on to win many awards. Sharada’s debut film was Vamsha Vriksha,

which won the national award.

Amritanandamayi gets honorary doctorate from Mysore varsity

Spiritualist Mata Amritanandamayi has been conferred with an honorary doctorate of letters by the Mysore University for her contribution

to spiritual education and social work. The D Litt was conferred on her by the university Vice-Chancellor G. Hemantha Kumar at a function in

Kollam (Kerala) on March 24, 2019.

Speaker cancels membership of five BJD MLAs from Odisha Assembly

Speaker of the Odisha Assembly Pradeep Kumar Amat on March 24, 2019 cancelled the membership of five Biju Janta Dal (BJD) MLA from

Assembly, following a complaint from the party. The members are Purna Chandra Naik from Dashapalla, Basanti Malick from Mohana,

Debaraj Mohanty from Aska, Sukanta Naik from Nilagiri and Trinath Gamang from Gunpur constituencies. Previously, these members

tendered their resignations to party President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and joined the BJP.

Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front banned by Centre

The Yasin Malik-led Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was banned on March 22, 2019 for a series of violent acts and being in the

forefront of separatist activities in the militancy-hit state since 1988. Listing out its subversive and violent activities, the centre said the JKLF

spearheaded the separatist ideology in Kashmir Valley and the action was taken following the “zero tolerance” policy of the central

government against terrorism.



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Section J: SPORTS

India return with 368 medals at the Special Olympics World Summer Games

India returned with 368 medals, including 85 gold, at the Special Olympics World Summer Games held at Abu Dhabi (UAE) from March 14

to 21, 2019. The Indian team of 284 athletes also clinched 154 silver and 129 bronze medals in its highly successful campaign at the

prestigious event. Indian powerlifters bagged the maximum number of medals -- 20 gold, 33 silver and 43 bronze. Roller Skating earned

India 49 medals -- 13 gold, 20 silver and 16 bronze. In cycling, the Indians won 11 gold, 14 silver and 20 bronze to total 45 medals, while the

country’s track and field athletes returned with 39 medals -- 5 gold, 24 silver and 10 bronze.

Tokyo unveils ‘cherry blossom’ Olympic torch

Organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on March 20, 2019 unveiled a torch whose top part is shaped in the traditional emblem of the

sakura. The rose-gold torch, which is 71 centimetres long and weighs 1.2 kilograms, uses aluminium construction waste from temporary

housing built for victims of the 2011 quake and tsunami.

China win 2019 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships

China beat Japan 3-2 in the final to win the 2019 Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships organised at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in

Hong Kong from March 19 to 24, 2019. It was organised by Badminton Asia and Hong Kong Badminton Association. In the first match

which was Mixed Doubles, China’s He Jiting & Du Yue beat Japan’s Yuta Watanabe & Arisa Higashino 21-17, 21-17. In the second match

which was Men’s Singles, Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama beat China’s Lu Guangzu 21-8, 21-7. In the third match which was Men’s Doubles,

Takuro Hoki & Yugo Kobayashi of Japan beat China’s Han Chengkai & Zhou Haodong 16-21, 21-18, 21-13. In the fourth match which was

Women’s Singles, Han Yue beat Sayaka Takahashi 17-21, 21-19, 21-17. In the fifth match which was Women’s Doubles, China’s Du Yue & Li

Yinhui beat Japan’s Ayako Sakuramoto & Yukiko Takahata 21-16, 21-19.

BWF badminton rankings: Lakshya, Riya break into top 100

Lakshya Sen and Riya Mookerjee on March 19, 2019 broke into the top-100 among Men’s and Women’s singles players in the latest World

Badminton Rankings. Making a massive jump of 28 places, Lakshya Sen is placed 76th. Riya Mookerjee climbed up 19 spots to be placed

94th. In the women’s singles rankings, P V Sindhu and Saina Nehwal are static with Sindhu at sixth and Saina at ninth position. Among men,

B Sai Praneeth also moved up three places to 19th. Kidambi Srikanth remains static and is the best placed Indian in the men’s rankings at

seventh. He is followed by Sameer Verma (14th), H S Prannoy (24th), Subhankar Dey (43rd), Parupalli Kashyap (48th), Ajay Jayram (52nd)

and Sourav Verma (53rd). Japan’s Kento Momota is leading the men’s chart while Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying is topping the women’s

singles list.

Thiem, Andreescu win Singles titles at BNP Paribas Open tennis

Austria’s Dominic Thiem beat Switzerland’s Roger Federer in final 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to win men’s singles title in BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells

(USA) on March 18, 2019. Canada’s Bianca Andreescu beat Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the final 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to win women’s singles

title.

Aditya Mehta wins CCI All India Open Snooker Championship in Mumbai

Aditya Mehta defeated Pankaj Advani 7-3 in the final to win CCI All India Open Snooker Championship in Mumbai on March 19, 2019.

Mehta cruised to a 62-60, 0-91, 38-63, 37-70, 74-39, 79-7, 62-59, 84-13, 72-13, 65-19 victory. Mehta received the ‘Champions’ trophy and a

cheque of Rs 2 lakh, while Advani got the runners-up prize of Rs 1.30 lakh. Advani also pocketed Rs 25,000 for the highest break of 131 he

had craftily constructed in the round of 64 match.



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India win South Asian Football Federation Women’s Championship

India beat hosts Nepal in the final 3-1 to win SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Women’s Championship at Biratnagar (Nepal) on

March 22, 2019. India scored through Dalima Chhibber, Grace Dangmei and substitute Anju Tamang at the Sahid Rangashala Stadium.

Nepal’s only goal came from Sabitra Bhandari.

Elisha Barno, Askale Merachi win races at Los Angeles Marathon

Elisha Barno of Kenya won the men’s race at Los Angeles Marathon on March 24, 2019 in 2: 11: 46. Kenya’s John Korir finished second

(2:11:52), and Juan Luis Barrios (2:11.59) of Mexico was third. The women’s race was won by Askale Merachi of Ethiopia in 2:24:12. Kenya’s

Cynthia Jerop finished second (2:25:54) and countrywoman Lucy Karimi (2:26:15) was third. Merachi and Barno both receive $23,000 for

winning their respective races

ICC gives green light to name and jersey number in Tests

Virat Kohli will soon be seen wearing No 18 on his white flannels as the ICC has allowed Test-playing nations to have the players sport their

names and numbers on their jerseys. This move is aimed at popularising the longest format of the game.

Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir joins BJP

Former Cricketer Gautam Gambhir joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on March 22, 2019. Gambhir, who was awarded Padma Shri, in 2019

was instrumental in India’s World Cup winning squads. The batsman played match-winning knocks in the T20 World Cup final in 2007 and

50 over World Cup in 2011. Gambhir announced his retirement in the year 2018 after completing 10,000 runs in List-A cricket.

Section A: INDIA

UGC bans distance learning degree programmes in agriculture

Navy nuclear, biological, chemical training facility launched

Uma Vasudev, the first editor of the ‘India Today’ magazine, dies


President Kovind visits Croatia, Bolivia and Chile

India in pact to ease U.S. firms’ compliance

India-African Union sign MoU on strengthening cooperation in healthcare sector

IAF inducts four Chinook heavy-lift helicopters

Australia, India to hold naval exercise focussing on anti-submarine warfare

Pakistan approves plan to open Sharda Peeth corridor for Hindu pilgrims in PoK

India’s carbon dioxide emissions up 5%: IEA

India to be guest country at Paris Book Fair in 2020

French ambassador releases Asterix comics series in Hindi

Section C: WORLD

Pentagon authorises USD 1 billion fund transfer to build US-Mexico border wall

U.S. House fails to override Trump’s veto on border wall funding

US Special Counsel unveils report on probe into alleged Russian meddling in 2016 US polls

North Korea returns to inter-Korean liaison office: Seoul

Britain’s parliament rejects PM Theresa May’s Brexit Withdrawal Agreement again



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EU parliament approves ban on single use plastics

Israelis unveil ‘world’s longest salt cave’ Earth Hour observed on March 30

World Piano Day celebrated on March 29

Horror film director Larry Cohen dies at the age of 77

Pioneering Russian cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky dies at age 84

French New Wave film director Agnes Varda dead at 90

New York City councilman named as world’s tallest politician

Maldivian High Court orders release of ex-President Abdulla Yameen

Zuzana Caputova elected first female President of Slovakia


India demonstrates anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down its satellite in space

Section E: AWARDS

2018 Turing Award goes to three AI pioneers

Delhi Sports Journalists Association awards conferred


Branches of Vijaya, Dena Bank to function as BoB outlets from April 1: RBI

Small savings schemes: Govt keeps interest rates unchanged for April-June quarter

RBI sets NBFC-MFIs’ average base rate at 9.21% for Apr-Jun

BoB to develop agri-digital platform ‘Baroda Kisan’, inks MoUs with 6 firms

SEBI exempts govt. from open offer for PNB

RBI imposes Rs 2-cr penalty on PNB for non-compliance of SWIFT operations

Karur Vysya Bank appoints N S Srinath as non-executive chairman

Section G: ECONOMY

High trade deficit pushes India’s Q3 CAD to $16.9 bn

April-Feb fiscal deficit up to 134% of target

Govt extends deadline for linking PAN with Aadhaar till Sep 30


Apple enters video streaming, unveils credit card & news app

Singapore airport named world’s best by Skytrax

Five varieties of Indian coffee awarded Geographical Indication (GI) tag

Govt. launches online marketplace for coffee

GRSE becomes ‘first’ Indian shipyard to deliver 100 warships

Infosys to acquire 75% stake in ABN AMRO Bank subsidiary

Tipu Sultan’s gun fetches £60,000 at U.K. auction

Wipro, IIT-Kharagpur partner for advanced research in 5G and AI

Uber to buy Mideast rival Careem for $3.1 bn

India ranks 76th on WEF’s global Energy Transition index; Sweden tops list

Indian Oil Corporation and BPRL acquire 100% stake in Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 Concession

ITC sells brand John Players to Reliance Retail



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Oberoi Hotels unveils new brand identity

Facebook launches tools to boost election engagement

Facebook bans white nationalism on its platforms

Larsen & Toubro announces new strategic initiative L&T Nxt

Adani Logistics to acquire Innovative B2B Logistics Solutions for Rs 331.5 cr

SAIL supplies first batch of LHB wheels to Railways

Coca-Cola to launch sparkling juice with Kashmiri apples

GoZero Mobility enters India, launches two e-bikes

Royal Enfield launches Bullet Trials 350 and 500

Bajaj launches quadricycle Qute

BMW unveils Chennai-made 530i M Sport, priced at Rs 59 lakh

Walmart Foundation to support IDEI irrigation project in AP

Auction of Nirav Modi’s art collection fetches Rs 54.84 crore

Naresh Goyal steps down as Jet Airways Chairman

Ranveer Singh turns entrepreneur, launches independent music label IncInk

Banks recover over Rs 1000 cr from sale of Mallya’s shares: ED

Chetan Bhagat announces new non-fiction “India Positive” Satish Magar takes over as new president of CREDAI

Diljit Dosanjh unveils his wax statue at Delhi’s Madame Tussauds

Section I: STATES

With 185 candidates in fray, Nizamabad to vote through ballot paper

3 BJP candidates win uncontested for Arunachal assembly

Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar appointed Deputy CM of Goa

Journalist Prafulla Rajguru dies at 82

EC appoints first transgender goodwill ambassador

Section J: SPORTS

Viktor Axelsen and Ratchanok Intanon win singles titles at India Open Badminton

Asian Airgun Championship being held in Taipei

South Korea win Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia

Former Australia cricketer Bruce Yardley dead

Breakdancing makes next move to Olympic status at Paris 2024

Hopman Cup to be replaced by ATP World Team Cup

Federer, Barty win Singles titles at Miami Open tennis

Lewis Hamilton wins Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix

IOC disqualifies Olympic weightlifting bronze medallist Hristov

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher wins Hero Indian Open golf tournament

Section A: INDIA

NEWS ROUND UP

UGC bans distance learning degree programmes in agriculture



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The University Grants Commission (UGC) has prohibited imparting distance degree programmes in agriculture. The decision was taken by

the higher education regulator at its last meeting on the ground that a degree programme in agriculture is technical in nature as it requires

practicals or laboratory courses. The Union agriculture ministry had referred the matter to the commission, requesting it to consider

prohibiting universities from offering Open and Distance Learning (ODL) degree programmes in agriculture. As per UGC Open and Distance

Learning Regulations, 2017, professional programmes such as medicine, engineering, architecture, nursing, dental, pharmacy and

physiotherapy, are not permitted to be offered in distance mode.

Navy nuclear, biological, chemical training facility launched

The Indian Navy’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Training Facility (NBCTF) was on March 25, 2019 inaugurated at INS Shivaji in Lonavala

by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba. The NBCTF, christened “Abhedya”, Sanskrit for impenetrable, will help train personnel of naval

ships fitted with nuclear, biological and chemical detection and protection systems. It will provide training to naval personnel in detection,

protection against and decontamination of nuclear, biological and chemical agents.

RECENT BOOKS

NON-FICTION

Tell Me No Lies: Investigative Journalism and its Triumphs by John Pilger

The Globotics Upheaval: Globalization, Robotics and the Future of Work by Richard Baldwin

The Poetics of Land: From Epic Times to Nandigram by Marc Hatzfeld

Maoism: A Global History by Julia Lovell

Re-forming India Edited by Niraja Gopal Jayal

A Social History of Christianity: North-west India since 1800 by John C.B. Webster

The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity by Amy Webb

Beyond the Boulevards by Aditi Sriram

FICTION

Once upon a Curfew by Shristi Chaudhary

Rewind and Play by Tarun Gautam

The Beauty of Moment by Tanaz Bhathena

Zara’s Witness by Shubhrangshu Roy

Outcaste by Matampu Kunhukuttan; trs Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan

The Fate of Butterflies by Nayantara Sahgal

NEWSMAKERS

Uma Vasudev, the first editor of the ‘India Today’ magazine, dies

Uma Vasudev, the first editor of the ‘India Today’ magazine, died at the age of 88 on March 27, 2019. She was also known for her two

biographies on former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi titled “Indira Gandhi Revolution in Restraint” (1971) and “Two Faces of Indira Gandhi” (1977). Her other books include “The Song of Anasuya”, “Shreya of Sonagarh”, “Satish Gurjal: Where the Silence Speaks, Paintings”, “Kranthijia” and “Hariprasad Chaurasia”.



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NEWS ROUND UP

President Kovind visits Croatia, Bolivia and Chile

President Ram Nath Kovind went on a three-nation tour of Croatia, Bolivia and Chile in March-April 2019.

On March 31, President Kovind walked the Red Carpet and reviewed Guard of Honour along with Chilean President Sebastian Pinera at the

Presidential Palace ‘La Moneda’ in Santiago. Kovind also paid his respects at Monumento Al Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins in

Santiago. O’ Higgins struggled for Chile’s independence from Spain. Chile had declared its independence from Spain in 1818. Kovind also

visited the Pablo Neruda Museum in Santiago. Neruda was a poet who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971. Parliament in Chile is

bicameral. Lower house is Chamber of Deputies while Senate is the upper house of parliament.

On March 30, Kovind inaugurated the plaque of the Mahatma Gandhi Hall at the Gabriel Rene Moreno University in Santa Cruz during his

visit to Bolivia. President also participated in the India-Bolivia Business Forum. He also received the highest state honour of Bolivia-Condor

de los Andes en el Grado de Gran Collar from President of Bolivia Evo Morales, in Sucre. On March 29, he met Bolivian President Evo

Morales in Santa Cruz. India and Bolivia signed 8 MoUs in diverse sectors including culture space and medicine during President Kovind’s

visit. Parliament in Bolivia is bicameral. Lower house is Chamber of Deputies while Senate is the upper house of parliament. The boliviano is

the currency of Bolivia. Bolivia declared its independence from Spain in 1825.

On March 28, Kovind met Latvian President Raimonds Vcjonis at Zagreb Croatia. Saeima is the unicameral parliament of Latvia. Riga is the

capital and euro is the currency.

On March 26, Kovind met Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic in capital Zagreb. He was

honoured with Croatia’s highest civilian award -- the Grand Order of the King of Tomislav. The two countries signed four MoUs in the fields

of culture, tourism and sports. An MoU was signed between the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Department of Kinesiology of the

University of Zagreb for capacity building in sports. Two agreements were signed to establish Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)

Chair for Sanskrit and Hindi language at the University of Zagreb. Sabor is the unicameral parliament of Croatia and euro is the currency.

India in pact to ease U.S. firms’ compliance

India and the U.S. have signed an inter-government agreement for the automatic exchange of country-by-country (CbC) reports, which will

reduce the compliance burden for Indian subsidiary companies of U.S. parent companies. This is a key step in making India compliant with

the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project, of which it is an active participant.

“This Agreement for Exchange of CbC Reports, along with the Bilateral Competent Authority Arrangement between the two competent

authorities, will enable both the countries to automatically exchange CbC reports filed by the ultimate parent entities of multinational

enterprises (MNE) in the respective jurisdictions, pertaining to the years commencing on or after January 1, 2016,” the government said in a

release.

Base erosion and profit shifting refers to the activities of multinational corporations to shift their profits from high tax jurisdictions to lower

tax jurisdiction, thereby eroding the tax base of the high tax jurisdictions and depriving them of tax revenue. In order to combat this, many

countries entered into agreements to share tax information with each other to enhance transparency and make such profit shifting that

much harder.

India-African Union sign MoU on strengthening cooperation in healthcare sector

An agreement has been signed between India and the African Union to initiate and strengthen the cooperation in health sector in a

structured and organised manner by establishing an India-Africa health sciences collaborative platform, the Ministry of External Affairs

(MEA) said.



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The MEA, in a statement, said that in order to carry forward the strategic vision of India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) III through a structured

and concrete partnership in the health sector, the MEA partnered with Indian Council of Medical Research and had jointly organised the first

India-Africa Health Sciences Meet in 2016 in New Delhi.

The MoU will pave the way for the cooperation in the areas of research and development, capacity building, health services, pharmaceutical

trade and manufacturing capabilities for drugs and diagnostics.

Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR, said that this MoU is a major step to help enrich global health research and stitch it to regional

needs of India and Africa.

IAF inducts four Chinook heavy-lift helicopters

Four Chinook heavy-lift helicopters made in the US were inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Chandigarh on March 25, 2019. The first

four of the 15 CH-47F (I) Chinook helicopters, which were ordered from Boeing in September 2015, were commissioned into the IAF’s 126

Helicopter Unit (HU). The Chinook, twin-engine, tandem rotor, is multi-role, vertical-lift platform, which is used for transporting troops,

artillery, equipment and fuel. The helicopter can carry out military operations not only during the day but at night too. Named after the

courageous American-Indian tribes, the aircraft outperforms in its mobility, agility, flexibility and endurance, the IAF chief said.

Australia, India to hold naval exercise focussing on anti-submarine warfare

Australia and India will hold a major naval exercise in April, focussing on anti-submarine warfare, as part of efforts to ramp up bilateral naval

cooperation in the strategic Indian Ocean region. The third instalment of the ‘AUSINDEX’ exercise will be held off the coast of

Vishakhapatnam from April 2 to 16 and will see the largest Australian defence forces group deployment in India.

Pakistan approves plan to open Sharda Peeth corridor for Hindu pilgrims in PoK

The Pakistan government on March 25, 2019 approved a proposal to establish a corridor that will allow Hindu pilgrims from India to visit

Sharda Peeth, an ancient Hindu temple and cultural site in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Established in 237 BC during the reign of Ashoka, the

5,000-year-old Sharada Peeth is an abandoned temple and ancient centre of learning dedicated to the Hindu goddess of learning. Between

the 6th and 12th centuries CE, Sharada Peeth was one of the foremost temple universities of the Indian subcontinent. It is also one of the

three famous holy sites for Kashmiri Pandits, the other two being the Martand Sun Temple in Anantnag and the Amarnath temple.

India’s carbon dioxide emissions up 5%: IEA

India emitted 2,299 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2018, a 4.8% rise from the previous year, according to a report by the International

Energy Agency (IEA) on March 26, 2019. India contributed 7% to the global carbon dioxide burden. The U.S., the largest emitter, was

responsible for 14%. As per its commitments to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, India has promised to

reduce the emissions intensity of its economy by 2030, compared to the 2005 levels. It has also committed to having 40% of its energy from

renewable sources by 2030 and, as part of this, install 100 GW of solar power by 2022.

India to be guest country at Paris Book Fair in 2020

India has been designated as the Guest of Honour at Paris Livre (Paris Book Fair) in 2020, the National Book Trust (NBT) said on March 29,

2019. The nodal agency, under the Ministry of HRD, said India being the guest country was declared in a joint statement by Prime Minister

Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron during the latter’s visit to New Delhi in March, 2018.



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French ambassador releases Asterix comics series in Hindi

The adventures and antics of fictional French heroes Asterix and Obelix will now be available in Hindi to comics lovers in the country. The

Ambassador of France to India, Alexandre Ziegler, on March 28, 2019 released the first four albums of the Asterix comics series in Hindi in

New Delhi. Talking about the comics book series published by Om Books International, the ambassador said that the characters embodying

the French spirit are timeless and a part of the French heritage. The comics series tell the story of a French village in 50 BC with two of the

main characters -- Asterix and Obelix -- using their brain and brawn to keep the Roman Republic from taking the village. The first four

albums - ‘Asterix: Gaulwasi Asterix’; ‘Asterix: Sone ki Darati’; ‘Asterix: Asterix aur Gawthwasi’; ‘Asterix: Asterix Talwarbaz’ have been co-

translated by Dipa Chaudhuri and Puneet Gupta.

Section C: WORLD

NEWS ROUND UP

Pentagon authorises USD 1 billion fund transfer to build US-Mexico border wall

The Pentagon on March 25, 2019 notified Congress that it has authorised the transfer of USD 1 billion to begin building a new wall along

the US-Mexico border, an election campaign promise of President Donald Trump.

The funds are the first under the national emergency declared by President Trump to bypass Congress and build the barrier he pledged

during his 2016 election campaign.

Trump had promised to build a “big beautiful wall”, which he said would prevent illegal migration and drug trafficking from Mexico. Though

Trump said Mexico would pay for the wall, the neighbouring country has made it clear that it would not foot the bill.

A Pentagon budget reprogramming notification sent to Capitol Hill on Monday indicates that up to USD 1 billion will go toward building

nearly 92km of fencing, improving roads and other measures on the southern border.

The Department of Defense authorised the Army Corp of Engineers to begin planning and construction for the project.

U.S. House fails to override Trump’s veto on border wall funding

The U.S. House of Representatives on March 26, 2019 failed to override President Donald Trump’s veto on an earlier House and Senate

measure to overturn Trump’s national emergency declaration to build a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico. The 248-181 vote in

favour of overriding Trump’s veto, failed to meet the two-third majority mark. Lawmakers had disagreed with Trump on the existence of a

crisis at the southwestern border of the U.S., and there was concern that the President’s emergency declaration would enable a diversion of

military construction and other funds away from areas where they were needed towards funding more wall.

US Special Counsel unveils report on probe into alleged Russian meddling in 2016 US polls

US Special Counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence of collusion between President Donald Trump’s election team and Russia in the 2016

election but left unresolved the question of whether Trump had tried to obstruct justice by undermining investigations that have dogged

his presidency. Even though Mueller’s findings were inconclusive over whether Trump had sought to influence the probes, US Attorney

General William Barr said in a summary released on March 24, 2019 that the special counsel had not found enough proof to warrant

bringing obstruction charges against Trump.

North Korea returns to inter-Korean liaison office: Seoul

North Korea has returned its staff to an inter-Korean liaison office, Seoul said on March 25, 2019, just days after unilaterally withdrawing

from the joint facility. The office in the Northern city of Kaesong was opened in September 2018 as the two Koreas knitted closer ties, but

the North pulled its staff out last week without explanation.



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Britain’s parliament rejects PM Theresa May’s Brexit Withdrawal Agreement again

Britain’s House of Commons rejected PM Theresa May’s Brexit Withdrawal Agreement for the third time in a 344-286 vote on March 29,

2019. May said the vote will have grave implications and the legal default was that the UK would leave on 12 April. She said it meant there

would not be enough time to get legislation through to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

Responding to the vote, European Council President Donald Tusk said he has decided to call a European Council on 10th April in view of the

rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement by the House of Commons.

Britain was due to leave the EU on March 29, but the deadline was extended to April 12 by EU on May’s request.

EU parliament approves ban on single use plastics

European Parliament in Strasbourg on March 28, 2019 voted overwhelmingly Wednesday for an EU-wide ban on single-use plastic products

such as the straws, cutlery and cotton buds that are clogging the world’s oceans. The ban comes into effect from 2021. The law passed by

560 votes to 35. The law sets a target that 90 per cent of plastic bottles will be gathered for recycling by 2029 and that they should be

produced with 25 percent recycled material by 2025, 30 per cent by 2030. Rules insisting that polluters pay the costs of a clean-up are

strengthened, particularly for cigarette manufacturers, who will have to support the recycling of discarded filters.

Israelis unveil ‘world’s longest salt cave’

Israeli cave explorers said on March 28, 2019 that a salt cave with striking stalactites near the Dead Sea is the world’s longest, beating the

previous record-holder in Iran. The cave named Malham, stretching over 10 kilometres, runs through Mount Sodom, Israel’s largest

mountain, and spills out to the southwest corner of the adjacent Dead Sea. Pale salt stalactites hang from the ceilings, and some of the walls

sparkle with salt crystals. Drops of salty water are visible at the tips of some of the stalactites.

Earth Hour observed on March 30

Cities around the world marked Earth Hour on March 30, 2019 by turning off lights at 8:30 p.m. local time in a call for global action on

climate change. Earth Hour, spearheaded by the World Wildlife Fund, calls for greater awareness and more sparing use of resources,

especially fossil fuels that produce carbon gases and lead to global warming. Beginning in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has spread to more

than 180 countries, with tens of millions of people joining in.

World Piano Day celebrated on March 29

World Piano Day was celebrated on March 29, 2019. In 2015, German pianist Nils Frahm declared the 88th day of a year as the World Piano

Day, as modern standard pianos have 88 keys. It has been celebrated in several cities around the world over the past years.

NEWSMAKERS

Horror film director Larry Cohen dies at the age of 77

Larry Cohen, best known for directing horror films such as ‘It’s Alive’, ‘Gold Told Me To’ and ‘The Stuff’ died at the age of 77 in Los Angeles

on March 25, 2019. Born on July 15, 1941 in Manhattan’s Washington Heights section, Cohen majored in film studies at the City College of

New York. He began his career in entertainment industry in the 1950s, working for NBC-TV. He created the TV series “The Invaders” and

“Branded” and also wrote episodes of “The Defenders” and “The Fugitive”. He switched to filmmaking in the 1970s, writing and directing

“It’s Alive” in 1974, which earned seven million and also had two sequels.

Pioneering Russian cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky dies at age 84

Pioneering Soviet-era cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky, who made the first of his three flights to space in 1963, died at age 84 on March 27,

2019. According to Russian space agency Roscosmos, He first flew to space in June 1963 as a member of the Vostok-5 crew. Bykovsky made

his second space flight in 1976 and his third in 1978. He spent nearly 21 days in orbit in all.



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French New Wave film director Agnes Varda dead at 90

French film legend Agnes Varda, the only woman director to emerge from the New Wave scene in the 1960s, died aged 90 on March 29,

2019. She won an honorary Oscar in November 2018 at 89 for her documentary “Faces Places”.

New York City councilman named as world’s tallest politician

A 6-foot-10 (208 centimetres) New York City councilman from Brooklyn has been named tallest politician in the world. Robert Cornegy Jr.

was honoured for that distinction at a City Hall ceremony in New York on March 28, 2019 after being officially certified by Guinness World

Records as world’s tallest male politician on January 14. The previous record holder was a British member of Parliament named Sir Louis

Gluckstein, who measured 6-foot-7-1/2 inches (202 centimetres). He died in 1979 and was succeeded by another British politician who

stood at 6-foot-6 inches (198 centimetres).

Maldivian High Court orders release of ex-President Abdulla Yameen

The Maldivian High Court has ordered the release of former President Abdulla Yameen from detention citing lack of evidence to hold him

on allegations of witness tampering. Yameen was detained in February after a criminal court ordered authorities to take him into custody

until a money-laundering case against him was concluded in court. The prosecution asked the court to take Yameen into custody to prevent

him from influencing the evidence against him. However, the Maldivian High Court on March 28, 2019 said Yameen could not be held in

detention for over a month and the prosecution had not provided any reason to extend his remand in custody.

Zuzana Caputova elected first female President of Slovakia

Zuzana Caputova was declared elected first female President of Slovakia in capital Bratislava on March 31, 2019. Environmental lawyer

Caputova got 58.01 percent of the ballot while EU energy commissioner Maros Sefcovic garnered 41.98.



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India demonstrates anti-satellite missile capability by shooting down its satellite in space

India on March 27, 2019 successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile test, named Mission Shakti, becoming the fourth country in

the world to demonstrate the capability to shoot down satellites in orbit. So far, only the United States, Russia and China have this prowess.

The live satellite that was shot down was orbiting in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at a height of 300 km.

According to DRDO, the satellite downed by the ASAT missile was Microsat-R, an imaging satellite which was launched into orbit on January

24, 2019 using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

India has built the broad capabilities and building blocks to develop ASAT missiles for some time as part of its Ballistic Missile Defence

(BMD) programme.

“A BMD interceptor missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in LEO in a ‘hit to kill’ mode’, the DRDO said in a

statement.

Anti-satellite weapons provide the capability to shoot down enemy satellites in orbit thereby disrupting critical communications and

surveillance capabilities. ASAT missiles also act as a space deterrent in dissuading adversaries from targeting the country’s satellite network.



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Section E: AWARDS

2018 Turing Award goes to three AI pioneers

Three researchers have won the 2018 Turing Award, known as the ‘Nobel Prize of computing’, for their work on conceptual and engineering

breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI).

Yoshua Bengio, Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun named winners by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) on March 26, 2019.

The award, which carries a $1 million prize, is named after late British mathematician Alan M. Turing

Bengio is Professor at the University of Montreal in Canada, Hinton is Vice-President and Engineering Fellow, Google and Professor Emeritus

at the University of Toronto, and LeCun is Professor at New York University and Vice-President and Chief AI Scientist at Facebook.

Working independently and together, Hinton, LeCun and Bengio developed conceptual foundations for AI, identified surprising phenomena

through experiments and contributed engineering advances that demonstrated the practical advantages of deep neural networks.

In recent years, deep learning methods have been responsible for astonishing breakthroughs in computer vision, speech recognition,

natural language processing, robotics and other applications.

While the use of artificial neural networks as a tool to help computers recognise patterns and simulate human intelligence had been

introduced in the 1980s, by the early 2000s, LeCun, Hinton and Bengio were among a small group who remained committed to this

approach.

Though their efforts to rekindle the AI community’s interest in neural networks were initially met with scepticism, their ideas recently

resulted in major technological advances, and their methodology is now the dominant paradigm in the field.

Delhi Sports Journalists Association awards conferred

Asian Games gold medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia, hockey player Rani Rampal, Test cricketer Rishabh Pant and pistol shooter Manu

Bhaker were presented the Delhi Sports Journalists Association (DSJA) ‘Best Sportspersons’ awards in New Delhi on March 28, 2019. Best

Sportsman award was won by Bajrang Punia (Wrestling) and Rishabh Pant (Cricket). Best Sportswoman award was won by Rani Rampal

(Hockey) and Manu Bhaker (Shooting). Lifetime achievement award was conferred on wrestlers Karnam Malleswari (women’s) and Raj Singh

(Men’s). Best Coach award was wonb y Jaspal Rana (Shooting) and Tarak Sinha (Cricket). Special Awards were given to Abhishek Verma

(Archery), Divij Sharan (Tennis), Diksha Dagar (Golf), Gaurav Gill (Motor Sports), Meenakshi Pahuja (Channel Swimming) and Seema Yadav

(Amateur marathon running).



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Branches of Vijaya, Dena Bank to function as BoB outlets from April 1: RBI

Branches of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank will function as Bank of Baroda outlets from April 1, following the amalgamation of the two lenders

with the latter, the RBI said on March 30, 2019. The merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda, will be effective from April 1,

2019. “Consequently, all branches of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank will function as branches of Bank of Baroda from April 1, 2019. Customers,

including depositors of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank will be treated as customers of Bank of Baroda with effect from April 1, 2019, “the

Reserve Bank of India said in a statement.

According to the Scheme of Amalgamation, shareholders of Vijaya Bank will get 402 equity shares of BoB for every 1,000 shares held. In the

case of Dena Bank, its shareholders will get 110 shares of BoB for every 1,000 shares they held.

The government in September 2018 had announced merger of Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank with Bank of Baroda, aiming to create the third-

largest lender after the SBI and ICICI Bank.

Small savings schemes: Govt keeps interest rates unchanged for April-June quarter

The government has kept the interest rates on small savings schemes, including NSC and PPF, unchanged for the April-June quarter.

Public Provident Fund (PPF) and National Savings Certificate (NSC) will continue to carry an annual interest rate of 8 per cent, while Kisan

Vikas Patra (KVP) will give a yield of 7.7 per cent and mature in 112 months.

Interest rates for small savings schemes are notified on a quarterly basis.

“The rates of interest on various small savings schemes for the first quarter of the financial year 2019-20 starting April 1, 2019, and ending

on June 30, 2019, shall remain unchanged from those notified for the fourth quarter of the financial year 2018-19,” the finance ministry said

in a notification issued on March 29, 2019.

The interest rate for the five-year Senior Citizens Savings Scheme has been retained at 8.7 per cent. The interest on the senior citizens’ scheme is paid quarterly. Interest on savings deposits has been retained at 4 per cent annually.

The girl child savings scheme Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana account will offer 8.5 per cent rate during the first quarter of the next fiscal.

Term deposits of 1-5 years will fetch interest rate in the range of 7-7.8 per cent, to be paid quarterly, while the five-year recurring deposit is

pegged at 7.3 per cent.

RBI sets NBFC-MFIs’ average base rate at 9.21% for Apr-Jun

The Reserve Bank on March 29, 2019 set the average base rate to be charged from borrowers by non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)

and micro-finance institutions (MFIs) at 9.21 per cent for the first quarter of the next fiscal.

The applicable average base rate to be charged by Non-Banking Financial Company Micro Finance Institutions (NBFC-MFIs) to their

borrowers for the quarter beginning April 01, 2019 will be 9.21 per cent.

The regulator in February 2014 had issued directions to NBFC-MFIs regarding pricing of credit.

The RBI, on the last working day of every quarter, comes out with the average of the base rates of the five largest commercial banks for the

purpose of arriving at the interest rates to be charged by NBFC-MFIs to its borrowers in the ensuing quarter.



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BoB to develop agri-digital platform ‘Baroda Kisan’, inks MoUs with 6 firms

Public sector lender Bank of Baroda on March 26, 2019 said it will develop an agri-digital platform called ‘Baroda Kisan’ in order to provide

solutions for all major agricultural requirements. Six companies -- Skymet Weather Services, Weather Risk Management Services, BigHaat,

Agrostar India, EM3 Agri Services and Poorti Agri Services -- have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the bank for this

project. The agri-digital platform will be executed by IT Centre of Excellence (ITCoE) of Bank of Baroda in partnership with IBM India.

SEBI exempts govt. from open offer for PNB

SEBI on March 27, 2019 exempted the government from making an open offer for the shareholders of Punjab National Bank (PNB) but

directed reduction in non-public shareholding in the lender post capital infusion. In February, PNB filed an application on behalf of the

Centre seeking exemption from open offer requirement under takeover regulations. After capital infusion, the government’s stake in PNB

would rise by 5.19% to 75.41%. Under SEBI norms, entities are required to make an open offer if their shareholding goes beyond a certain

threshold. Against this backdrop the bank sought SEBI’s exemption from the open offer requirement for the government. According to SEBI,

there would be no change in control of the bank pursuant to the proposed acquisition as the change would only be in the quantum of

shares held by the government.

RBI imposes Rs 2-cr penalty on PNB for non-compliance of SWIFT operations

The RBI has slapped a penalty of Rs 2 crore on Punjab National Bank (PNB) for non-compliance of regulatory directions with regard to

SWIFT operations, the state-run lender said on March 26, 2019. SWIFT is a global messaging software used for transactions by financial

entities. The massive Rs 14,000-crore fraud perpetrated by billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi at the PNB was a case

of misuse of this messaging software. In a regulatory filing, the PNB said the Reserve Bank in a letter dated March 25 has informed the bank

about the penalty.

NEWSMAKERS

Karur Vysya Bank appoints N S Srinath as non-executive chairman

Karur Vysya Bank on March 26, 2019 said it has appointed N S Srinath as non-executive chairman for a period of three years. Srinath, 66,

was the non-executive independent director on the board of the private sector lender. Srinath had earlier served as an executive director on

the board of Bank of Baroda and superannuated on May 31, 2012.



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Section G: ECONOMY

High trade deficit pushes India’s Q3 CAD to $16.9 bn

India’s current account deficit (CAD) widened to $16.9 billion during the third quarter of 2018-19 from $13.7 billion reported in the

corresponding period of 2017-18, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed on March 29, 2019.

However, on a sequential basis, the Q3 CAD moderated from a higher level of $19.1 billion reported in the previous July-September quarter

of FY19.

“India’s current account deficit at $16.9 billion (2.5 per cent of GDP) in Q3 of 2018-19 increased from $13.7 billion (2.1 per cent of GDP) in

Q3 of 2017-18, but moderated from $19.1 billion (2.9 per cent of GDP) in the preceding quarter,” the RBI said in its statement on

developments in India’s Q3 balance of payments (BoP).

The widening of the CAD on a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) basis was primarily on account of a higher trade deficit at $49.5 billion as compared

with $44 billion a year ago.

Net services receipts increased by 2.8 per cent on a Y-o-Y basis mainly on the back of a rise in net earnings from telecommunications,

computer and information services and financial services.

Private transfer receipts, mainly representing remittances by Indians employed overseas, amounted to $18.7 billion, increasing by 6.3 per

cent from their level a year ago.

In the financial account, net foreign direct investment at $7.5 billion in Q3 of 2018-19 increased from $4.3 billion in Q3 of 2017-18.

April-Feb fiscal deficit up to 134% of target

Lower tax collection pushed India’s budgetary fiscal deficit for April-February 2018-19 period to 134.2 per cent or Rs 8.51 lakh crore of the

Rs 6.34-lakh crore annual target, official data showed on March 29, 2019. The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) data showed the fiscal

deficit during the corresponding 11 months of the previous fiscal was 120.3 per cent of that year’s target.

Till February, the government’s total expenditure stood at Rs 21.88 lakh crore (89.1 per cent of the budget estimates) and total receipts were

Rs 13.37 lakh crore (73.4 per cent of the budget estimates). In the same period of 2017-18, it was 79.1 per cent of budgeted estimates

received. Of the total expenditure in this period, Rs 19.15 lakh crore was on revenue account and Rs 2.73 lakh crore on capital account.

Total receipts comprised Rs 10.93 lakh crore of net tax revenue, Rs 1.71 lakh crore of non-tax revenue and Rs 71,662 crore of non-debt

capital receipts.

Govt extends deadline for linking PAN with Aadhaar till Sep 30

The government on March 31, 2019 extended the deadline for linking PAN with biometric ID Aadhaar by 6 months till September 30. This is

the sixth time the government has extended the deadline for individuals to link their Permanent Account Number (PAN) to Aadhaar. In June

2018, the government had said that PAN has to be linked with the biometric ID by March 31. However, quoting of Aadhaar will be

mandatory while filing income tax returns (ITRs) with effect from April 1, 2019. The CBDT said there were reports that those PANs which are

not linked with Aadhaar number by March 31 may be invalidated, following which the matter was considered by the government and the

date extended till September 30.



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Apple enters video streaming, unveils credit card & news app

Apple laid out the details of its news subscription service, Apple News Plus, and a new credit card on March 25, 2019. It’s also expected to

launch a video service that could compete with Netflix, Amazon and cable TV itself.

The news service costs $10 a month and includes roughly 300 magazines and a handful of major newspapers. Apple says advertisers won’t track readers inside the app. That distinguishes it from Facebook and Google, the other major online news hubs.

The company also said it is launching a MasterCard credit card, called Apple Card. It will integrate Apple Maps to show users where they

spend money. The card will also work with new Apple Wallet features to help consumers track their spending and monthly purchasing

trends. It won’t have any late fees or annual fees and will offer 2% cash back. Other cards also offer cash-back rewards.

Apple lifted the curtain on a television and movie streaming service, called Apple TV+, that will allow users of its 1.4 billion gadgets

worldwide to stream television shows and movies, both Apple originals and those from other creators.

The company also launched Apple Arcade, the company’s game subscription service. The firm said it was working with Walt Disney Co, Sega

and Annapurna Interactive on the game service, which will feature over 100 new titles that can be accessed through a tab in the App Store.

Singapore airport named world’s best by Skytrax

Singapore’s Changi Airport has been crowned the world’s best aviation hub for the seventh time in a row according to the Skytrax World

Airport Awards in London on March 28, 2019. The list has been compiled by UK-based Skytrax, a consultancy firm which runs an airline and

airport review and ranking site, featuring 100 airports. The Skytrax World Airport Awards are voted for by customers in a global airport

customer satisfaction survey.

At number two on the list is Tokyo International Airport (Haneda), up one place from 2018. This hub also won World’s Best Domestic Airport

and World’s Cleanest Airport. Incheon International Airport is third, down one place from its second-place spot in 2018. Incheon also won

award for World’s Best Transit Airport.

New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport was eight points up this year after featuring at the 66th spot in 2018. The other Indian

airports in the list were Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 64, down one point from the previous year, the Rajiv

Gandhi Hyderabad International Airport at 66, up 10 points and Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport at 69, down five points.

Five varieties of Indian coffee awarded Geographical Indication (GI) tag

Five varieties of Indian coffee have been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, according to an official statement issued on March

29, 2019 by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade. Coorg Arabica coffee is grown specifically in Kodagu district of

Karnataka. Wayanaad Robusta coffee is from Wayanad district in Kerala. Chikmagalur Arabica coffee is from Chikmagalur district in the

Deccan plateau of Karnataka. Araku Valley Arabica coffee is from the hilly tracks of Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha

region. Baba Budangiri Arabica coffee from the central portion of Chikmagalur district. The Monsooned Malabar Robusta Coffee, a unique

coffee from India, was given the GI certification earlier. India is the only country where the entire coffee cultivation is grown under shade,

hand-picked and sun-dried. It is cultivated across 4.54 lakh hectares by 3.66 lakh farmers.

Govt. launches online marketplace for coffee

With a view to enabling growers find better price for their produce, the Coffee Board has launched Coffee Blockchain, a marketplace app,

developed in coordination with Eka Software Solutions. The pilot project has about 20 participants, including 14 coffee growers. Jose

Dauster Sette, executive director of the International Coffee Organisation from Nairobi, and Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan,

activated the app on March 28, 2019. Srivatsa Krishna, chairman of the Coffee Board, said the blockchain-enabled marketplace was aimed at

reducing growers’ dependency on intermediaries, bring in trust and efficiency in the chain, help farmers with market access, and ensure

traceability.



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GRSE becomes ‘first’ Indian shipyard to deliver 100 warships

Garden Reach Ship Builders and Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Kolkata on March 30, 2019 became the “first Indian shipyard” to build and deliver 100

warships. GRSE Chairman and Managing Director, Rear Admiral (Retd) V K Saxena, formally handed over the 100th warship -- ‘IN LCU L-56’ -- to the Indian Navy. The 100th warship, a Landing Craft Utility (LCU), is the sixth of an order of eight such vessels from the Navy. On March

27, GRSE had handed over its 99th warship, ‘ICGS Priyadarshini’ -- an advanced ‘Fast Patrol Vessel’ -- to the Indian Coast Guard. In the last

59 years, the company has built around 780 platforms, including 100 warships to the Navy, the Coast Guard, and the Mauritius Coast Guard.

Infosys to acquire 75% stake in ABN AMRO Bank subsidiary

India’s second largest IT services firm Infosys on March 28, 2019 said it will acquire 75 per cent stake in ABN AMRO Bank’s wholly-owned

subsidiary, Stater, for 127.5 million euros (about Rs 989 crore). Founded in 1997, Stater provides end-to-end mortgage administration

services in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. As part of the deal, Infosys will acquire 75 per cent of the shareholding in Stater, while

ABN AMRO will continue to hold the remaining 25 per cent.

Tipu Sultan’s gun fetches £60,000 at U.K. auction

A collection of rare artefacts from Tipu Sultan’s armoury, including one of his personal swords, has been auctioned for around £1,07,000.

The highlight of the lot was a silver-mounted 20-bore flintlock gun and bayonet that was auctioned for £60,000. The other highlight lot, a

gold-encrusted sword and suspension belt ensemble believed to be one of Tipu Sultan’s personal swords went for £18,500. The two

centrepieces formed part of a collection of eight items brought back by Major Thomas Hart of the East India Company after the Tiger of

Mysore’s defeat at Seringapatam in 1799. Tipu died in 1799 aged 48.

Wipro, IIT-Kharagpur partner for advanced research in 5G and AI

IT services major Wipro on March 28, 2019 said it has partnered with IIT Kharagpur to collaborate on industry-focused applied research in

the areas of 5G and artificial intelligence (AI). Research outcomes from this partnership will be leveraged by Wipro to develop solutions for

its customers, across industry verticals. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur on the other hand will benefit from the

commercialisation of the joint research insights and Wipro’s industry expertise.

Uber to buy Mideast rival Careem for $3.1 bn

Global ride-hailing service Uber will acquire its Middle East rival Careem for $3.1 billion, the two companies announced on March 26, 2019.

Under the deal, Careem will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Uber but will continue operating independently. Careem will retain its

branding, services and separate app.

India ranks 76th on WEF’s global Energy Transition index; Sweden tops list

India has moved up two places to rank 76th on a global energy transition index, which has ranked 115 economies on how well they are able

to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability. Sweden remains on the top on this annual list

compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) and is followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three, as per its latest

report released on March 25, 2019. The WEF said energy systems have globally become less affordable and less environmentally sustainable

than they were five years ago, though access to energy has improved with less than 1 billion now living without access to electricity.

Indian Oil Corporation and BPRL acquire 100% stake in Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 Concession

Indian Oil Corporation along with Bharat PetroResources, a subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corporation acting jointly as a consortium

through Urja Bharat (Indian Consortium) have been awarded 100% stake in the Abu Dhabi Onshore Block 1 Concession. The Concession has

been awarded by the Supreme Petroleum Council (SPC), on behalf of the Abu Dhabi government, where participation of the Indian

Consortium is through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), Urja Bharat, which comprises of Indian Oil: 50%, BPRL: 50%. The Indian Consortium

will make an investment of USD 170 million for the exploration activities. The Concession award is for a term of 35 years with the effective

date being 24 March, 2019, which was signed on 24 March 2019 between ADNOC and Indian Consortium.



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Infosys signs MoU with Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute

Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bhandarkar

Oriental Research Institute, Pune, for five years to strengthen research activities in Orientology, the study of Ancient cultures of the Asian

sub-continent. The proposed grant of Rs 9.13 crore will be utilized to train scholars in Orientology and prepare a bibliography of relevant

academic texts in the field. The grant will also help to create a centralized information cell through descriptive cataloguing of manuscripts,

collection and publishing of inscriptions, and outlining the history of the collected information, enabled by a team of specialists.

ITC sells brand John Players to Reliance Retail

Conglomerate ITC on March 26, 2019 said it has sold its menswear brand John Players to Reliance Retail for an undisclosed amount.

Besides, the Kolkata-based firm has also transferred the trademark as part of the deal. Established in 2002, John Players was a youth fashion

apparel brand from ITC.

Oberoi Hotels unveils new brand identity

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts on March 26, 2019 unveiled a new brand identity, Oberoi Sun, and added a tag line ‘Heart. Felt.’. The Oberoi Group

said the rebranding was based on extensive research that showed that “sincere care and personal attention” set it apart from others. Oberoi

Hotels & Resorts operates 22 hotels and resorts in six countries.

Facebook launches tools to boost election engagement

Social-networking site Facebook on March 26, 2019 launched two new India-specific tools -- “Candidate Connect” and “Share You Voted” --

to boost civic engagement on its platform during the general elections that commence in April. While “Candidate Connect” will help people

learn more about candidates, the “Share You Voted” will provide people with polling information and enable them to announce and

celebrate their vote. The company said that the questions included in “Candidate Connect” are outcomes of locally conducted consumer

research programmes. Both the new tools are being made available in 12 local languages across India.

Facebook bans white nationalism on its platforms

Facebook on March 28, 2019 said it has banned praise, support and representation of white nationalism and white separatism on its

platform and Instagram. The social networking giant came under pressure after a white man livestreamed a terror attack on Facebook Live

on two mosques in New Zealand. The Facebook Live video of the terror attack, which left 50 people dead, was viewed over 4,000 times

before it was removed. Facebook users searching for terms associated with white supremacy will be directed to Life After Hate, an

organisation founded by former violent extremists that provides crisis intervention, education, support groups and outreach.

Larsen & Toubro announces new strategic initiative L&T Nxt

Larsen & Toubro on March 29, 2019 announced a new strategic initiative, L&T Nxt, to define the future of the organization from a fresh

perspective. It has been identified as a select initiative in L&T’s five-year strategic plan. In consonance with the expectations of a new age

industry, L&T-Nxt will focus on the areas of Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Geo-spatial solutions and Cyber

Security and leverage the experience that L&T has garnered over the decades.

Adani Logistics to acquire Innovative B2B Logistics Solutions for Rs 331.5 cr

Adani Logistics Limited (ALL) on March 28, 2019 said it would acquire up to 100 per cent stake in Innovative B2B Logistics Solutions, an

entity controlled by private equity firm True North, for Rs 331.5 crore. The transaction will be an all-cash deal and is expected to be

completed by first quarter of the next fiscal, said ALL -- a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ) -- in a release.

Founded in 2006, Innovative B2B Logistics Solutions provides integrated logistics services for domestic cargo movement.



103

SAIL supplies first batch of LHB wheels to Railways

Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has supplied the first consignment of Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) wheels to the Indian Railways. These

wheels have been supplied from SAIL’s Durgapur Steel Plant. The Indian Railways has switched to LHB coaches from ICF coaches for

improved safety and higher speed. But the wheels for these LHB coaches are currently being imported.

Coca-Cola to launch sparkling juice with Kashmiri apples

In a bid to draw new consumers to the packaged juice category and strengthen its product portfolio, Coca-Cola India, this summer season,

is set to introduce an apple juice-based sparkling beverage called Minute Maid Apple Sparkle with 25 per cent apple juice content

GoZero Mobility enters India, launches two e-bikes

British electric bike and lifestyle brand GoZero Mobility forayed into Indian market on March 27, 2019 with the launch of two electric bikes,

One and Mile. One is priced at Rs 32,999 and Mile is tagged at Rs 29,999. GoZero One is powered with 400Wh lithium battery pack

optimised to provide 60 Km of range on a single charge, while GoZero Mile is powered by 300Wh lithium battery pack which provides a

range of 45 km. The Birmingham-based firm has tied-up with Kolkata-based Kirti Solar to develop and manufacture current range as well as

future products.

Royal Enfield launches Bullet Trials 350 and 500

Niche bike maker Royal Enfield on March 27, 2019 said it has launched all new Bullet Trials Works Replica range in India. The Bullet Trials

500 is priced at Rs 2.07 lakh, while Bullet Trials 350 is tagged at Rs 1.62 lakh (ex-showroom).

Bajaj launches quadricycle Qute

Automobile major Bajaj Auto launched quadricycle ‘Qute’ in Jaipur on March 26, 2019. Launched in petrol and CNG variants, the vehicle is

powered by a light weight 216-cc 4-valve water-cooled DTSi engine with fuel efficiency of 35 kmpl (petrol) and 43km/kg (CNG). It has been

priced at Rs 2,62,193 and Rs 2,82,239 (ex-showroom, Jaipur) for petrol and CNG variants, respectively, with commercial registration.

BMW unveils Chennai-made 530i M Sport, priced at Rs 59 lakh

German luxury carmaker BMW on March 28, 2019 launched 530i M Sport in India, priced at Rs 59.2 lakh (ex-showroom). The model now

comes with a petrol engine, is locally produced at Chennai and is BS-VI compliant. The company already sells diesel variant of the model in

the country.

Walmart Foundation to support IDEI irrigation project in AP

About 10,000 smallholder farmers in Andhra Pradesh are set to benefit from the introduction of sustainable irrigation products and

practices under a programme offered by International Development Enterprises-India (IDEI) and supported with funding from the Walmart

Foundation. Providing a grant of $750,000, the Walmart Foundation will help IDEI take its Integrating Smallholder Farmers Into Market

Systems programme to ten districts in the state.



104

NEWSMAKERS

Auction of Nirav Modi’s art collection fetches Rs 54.84 crore

The auction of paintings from fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi’s collection has raised an amount of Rs 54.84 crores. The money will be

handed over to the Income-Tax department. 55 out of a total of 68 paintings in Modi’s possession were sold on March 27, 2019. Untitled oil

on canvas by VS Gaitonde was sold for Rs 22 crore. The abstract artist painted the medium sized work in 1973. The great Raja Ravi Verma’s

work executed in 1881 depicting the Maharaja of Travancore and his younger brother welcoming Richard Temple-Grenville, the third Duke

of Buckingham got sold for Rs 14 crore. Earlier the fugitive diamantaire was arrested by the Scotland Yard in London in connection with a

loan default case in India on March 19, 2019.

Naresh Goyal steps down as Jet Airways Chairman

Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal stepped down on March 25, 2019, paving way for lenders to bail out the financially troubled airline he

set up 25 years ago. The board meeting held in Mumbai also decided on ways to procure interim funding. The airline has over one billion

dollars in debt and has to repay money to banks, lessors of planes and suppliers besides clearing pending salaries to its pilots.

Ranveer Singh turns entrepreneur, launches independent music label IncInk

Joining the plethora of actors who now have business interests in films and beyond, actor Ranveer Singh has teamed up with Navzar Eranee

to launch an independent music record label called IncInk. The label will look to unearth talent in the music scene in India and present them

to a global audience. The first three talents being launched by the new label are Kaam Bhari, SlowCheeta and Spitfire. The label intends to

sign and promote several more artists, across various genres of music. Eranee is the founder of WalkAbout Films.

Banks recover over Rs 1000 cr from sale of Mallya’s shares: ED

The Enforcement Directorate on March 27, 2019 said a consortium of banks led by the SBI, have recovered over one thousand crore rupees

from the sale of shares of fugitive offender Vijay Mallya. The amount was recovered by Bangalore-based Debt Recovery Tribunal by the sale

of over 74 lakh shares held by Mallya in the United Breweries Holdings Limited. The Enforcement Directorate said, the shares attached by

the agency is part of its money laundering probe against Mallya.

Chetan Bhagat announces new non-fiction “India Positive”

Best-selling author Chetan Bhagat on March 27, 2019 announced the launch of his new non-fiction book “India Positive”, which comprises

essays examining a gamut of subjects such as education, employment, Goods and Services Tax (GST), corruption and casteism. Published by

Westland Publications, Bhagat’s latest English title will be released in May. The new book also consists of tweets that highlight and touch

upon the current issues that need focus today.

Satish Magar takes over as new president of CREDAI

Satish Magar on March 31, 2019 took over as the new national president of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of

India (CREDAI), the apex body of private real estate developers in India. Magar is the managing director of Magarpatta City.

Diljit Dosanjh unveils his wax statue at Delhi’s Madame Tussauds

Diljit Dosanjh on March 28, 2019 unveiled his wax figure at Madame Tussauds Museum in New Delhi. The actor said it was a special

moment for him as this is the first wax statue of a personality sporting a turban.



105

Section I: STATES

With 185 candidates in fray, Nizamabad to vote through ballot paper

With 185 candidates contesting in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Nizamabad parliamentary constituency, the Election Commission has

decided to hold elections through ballot paper. The decision has been taken owing to the inability of present EVM models to be used for

such a large number of candidates. EVMs can only take 63 in addition to NOTA. All 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana will go to polls in a

single phase on April 11.

NEWSMAKERS

3 BJP candidates win uncontested for Arunachal assembly

Three BJP candidates contesting the forthcoming polls to the Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly were on March 28, 2019 declared

winner uncontested by the Chief Election Officer of the state. Phurpa Tsering (BJP) won uncontested from Dirang assembly constituency,

Taba Tedir (BJP) from Yachuli constituency and Kento Jini from the Along East Assembly constituency were also declared winner

uncontested. The polls to the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh Assembly and the two Lok Sabha seats are being held simultaneously on April

11. While the nomination filed by the second candidates in Alo East and Yachuli constituencies got rejected, the two other candidates who

filed nominations in Dirang constituency withdrew their nominations.

Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar appointed Deputy CM of Goa

Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, who switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party from Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) on

March 27, 2019, was appointed as the state’s new Deputy Chief Minister on March 28. Ajgaonkar has become the second deputy chief

minister after Vijai Sardesai of GFP in the Pramod Sawant government in Goa. The development comes a day after Sudin Dhavalikar of MGP

was dropped as the Deputy Chief Minister and two MLAs of MGP merged their party’s legislative wing with the BJP. The two MGP legislators

were Ajgaonkar and Deepak Pauskar. With the support of the two MLAs, the BJP’s numbers in the 36-seat Goa assembly has gone up to 14.

Journalist Prafulla Rajguru dies at 82

Veteran journalist and academician Prafulla Rajguru died in Jorhat (Assam) on March 27, 2019 at the age of 82. Rajguru had retired as the

head of the department of English from DCB Girls College in Jorhat in 1997. He had then joined leading Assamese daily ‘Amar Asom’ as

resident editor of the Jorhat edition, which he served till year 2000. He was also the founder president of Jorhat Press Club and was its

adviser till his death. Rajguru authored four books and was a member of several social organisations like the Asom Sahitya Sabha.

EC appoints first transgender goodwill ambassador

In a first for the transgender community, Shreegauri Sawant was appointed as one of the goodwill ambassadors of the Election Commission

in Maharashtra on March 27, 2019.



106

Section J: SPORTS

Viktor Axelsen and Ratchanok Intanon win singles titles at India Open Badminton

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen beat India’s Kidambi Srikanth in final 21-7, 22-20 to win the Men’s Singles title at the India Open Badminton

tournament at the K. D. Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi on March 31, 2019.

Women’s Singles title was won by Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon who defeated China’s He Bingjiao in final 21-15, 21-14.

Men’s Doubles title was won by Lee Yang & Wang Chi-Lin (Taipei) who beat Rickey Karandasuwardi & Angga Pratama of Indonesia in the

final 21-14, 21-14.

Women’s Doubles title was won by Greysia Polii & Apriyani Rahayu (Indonesia) who beat Chow Mei Kuan & Lee Meng Yean (Malaysia) in

the final 21-11, 25-23.

Mixed Doubles was won by Wang Yilyu & Huang Dongping (China) who beat Praveen Jordan & Melati Daeva Oktavianti (Indonesia) in the

final 21-13, 21-11.

Asian Airgun Championship being held in Taipei

The 12th Asian Airgun Championship is being held in Taipei.

On March 27, Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary won gold medal in 10m air pistol mixed team event.

On March 28, Ravi Kumar & Elavenil Valarivan won silver in 10m air rifle mixed team event.

On March 29, Manu Bhaker won gold in women’s 10m Air Pistol and India’s men’s team comprising Abhishek Verma, Ravinder Singh and

Saurabh Chaudhary won gold in 10 m Air Pistol.

On March 31, Divyansh Singh Panwar and Elavenil Valarivan won gold medals in 10m Air Rifle men and women’s events respectively. India

also won gold medal in women’s 10m Air Rifle team event through Elavenil Valarivan, Apurvi Chandela and Meghana Sajjanar.

South Korea win Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Malaysia

South Korea beat India 4-2 in penalty shootout in final to win Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament at Ipoh (Malaysia) on March 30, 2019.

Simranjeet Singh scored the first goal of the match in 9th minute. Jang Jong-hyun equalised for South Korea in 47th minute through a

penalty stroke.

In the shoot-out, the Indians missed their first, fourth and fifth attempts and converted just two, while the Koreans just missed their third

strike to win the thrilling contest 4-2 and lift the crown. For India, Mandeep Singh, Sumit Kumar Junior and Sumit missed from the one-on-

one penalty shoot-out situation, while Birendra Lakra and Varun Kumar, converted their chances. Indian goalkeeper was Kishan B. Pathak.

Hosts Malaysia finished third after beating Canada 4-2 in the third-fourth place classification match. India, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Poland,

and South Korea participated in this edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. India’s Mandeep Singh and South Korea’s Jang Jong-hyun were

top scorers in the tournament with 7 goals each.

Former Australia cricketer Bruce Yardley dead

Former Australian Test cricketer, coach and commentator Bruce Yardley passed away in Sydney on March 27, 2019 at the age of 71. Bruce,

who debuted for Australia at the age of 30, started his cricketing career as a medium-pacer but later turned to be an off-spinner. In his 33

Tests for the national team, Bruce picked 126 wickets at an average of 31.63. He also bagged 344 wickets in first class cricket.



107

Breakdancing makes next move to Olympic status at Paris 2024

Breakdancing and three other sports have made the next move toward becoming medal events at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The

International Olympic Committee’s executive board in Lausanne (Switzerland) on March 28, 2019 recommended adding breakdancing,

skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing to the Paris program when the full membership meets in June. A final decision must be made by

the board in December 2020 after further monitoring of the four.

Hopman Cup to be replaced by ATP World Team Cup

The unique mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth has been axed after 31 years and replaced by the ATP World Team Cup, officials said on

March 28, 2019 in a revamp of the season-opening tennis calendar. Two of the three cities to host the new men-only tournament — Sydney

and Brisbane — had already been announced with Perth now confirmed as the third. It means the popular Hopman Cup, won this year by

Swiss pair Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic, will not be held in 2020.

Federer, Barty win Singles titles at Miami Open tennis

Australia’s Ashleigh Barty beat Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7/1) 6-3 in final to win women’s singles title at WTA Miami Open

tennis on March 31, 2019. Swiss Roger Federer defeated American John Isner 6-1, 6-4 in final to win men’s singles title at ATP Miami Open

tennis

Lewis Hamilton wins Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of UK won the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Manama followed by Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) and

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari in second and third places respectively on March 31, 2019.

IOC disqualifies Olympic weightlifting bronze medallist Hristov

The Lausanne-based IOC said it has disqualified three athletes, including 56kg weightlifting bronze medallist Valentin Hristov of Azerbaijan,

for doping at the 2012 London Olympics. The other two were men’s 800m runner Anis Ananenka (Belarus) and women’s hammer thrower

Alena Matoshka.

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher wins Hero Indian Open golf tournament

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher won the Hero Indian Open golf tournament in Gurugram on March 31, 2019. Japan’s Masahiro Kawamura

finished second.

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