Home Min Amit Shah attends 84th raising day of CRPF in Chhattisgarh
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the 84th Raising Day event of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Chhattisgarh on 25 March 2023.
- He also paid tribute to CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur.
- Founded in 2006, CRPF is a federal police organisation in India under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India.
France, UK bans TikTok app from public employee work phones
- French government on 25 March 2023, announced a ban on the ‘recreational’ use of popular social media apps like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram on government employees owing to concerns surrounding data security.
- The United Kingdom Parliament has also announced to ban of the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok from all parliamentary devices and the wider parliamentary network.
PM Modi inaugurates 13.7 km Whitefield-KR Pura Metro Line in Bengaluru
- PM Narendra Modi on 25 March 2023 inaugurated the 13.71 km Whitefield -to-Krishnarajapuram Metro Line in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
- He also inaugurated the ‘Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SMSIMSR) & ‘Sri Sathya Sai Rajeswari Memorial Block’, a totally-free-of-cost medical college and hospital, at Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapura district, Karnataka.
Intel Co-Founder Gordon Moore passes away
- Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore, who revolutionized the manufacture of semiconductor chips and transformed computing, passed away on March 24, 2023.
- He gave Moore’s law, which defined the rate of the invention in semiconductors.
- In 2009, Moore was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
- He was awarded the 2010 Dan David Prize for his work in the area of Computers.
Centre extends AFSPA in parts of Nagaland, Arunachal for 6 months
- The Ministry of Home Affairs on 25 March 2023, extended the Armed Forces Special Powers (AFSPA) Act 1958 in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland for 6 months.
- The AFSPA empowers security forces to arrest a person without a warrant, or search premises without a warrant.
- In 2022, Union govt had declared Changlang, Tirap and Longding districts in Arunachal Pradesh as ‘disturbed areas’.
A book titled ‘War and Women’ on war crimes released at UNHRC Session
- A book titled ‘War and Women’ depicting war crimes during the Bangladesh Liberation War was released during the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 24 March 2023.
- The book written by Dr MA Hasan documents the magnitude of sexual harassment, torture and killings committed by the Pakistan Army during the 1971 Liberation War.
CCEA approves MSP for Raw Jute at 5,050 rupees per quintal for 2023-24
- Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Minimum Support Price for Raw Jute at 5050 rupees per quintal for the 2023-24 season.
- The approval is based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
- It was announced in line with the principle of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times all India’s weighted average cost of production.
NIUA organises first Urban Climate Film Festival in New Delhi
- The first Urban Climate Film Festival under Urban-20 engagement events is being organized in New Delhi by the National Institute of Urban Affairs from 24-26 March 2023.
- A curated selection of 11 films from nine countries is being showcased at the festival.
- The festival is being organized by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the French Development Agency, and the European Union.
AHF honours Hockey India for successfully hosting 2023 FIH World Cup
- Hockey India on 24 March 2023, was awarded the Best Organiser Award by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) for successfully hosting the Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023.
- The award was received by Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh during the AHF Congress held in Mungyeong, Korea.
- Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela is the largest-seated hockey stadium in the world.
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chairs 36th Board Meeting of Stop TB Partnership
- Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the 36th Board Meeting of the Stop Tuberculosis (TB) Partnership on 25 Mar’23.
- An “Accountability Report of TB-affected Communities & Civil Society: Priorities to Close the Deadly Divide” was also launched at the event.
- India identified 3 health priorities under the G20 Presidency, focused on universal health coverage.
Dr. Tapan Saikia conferred Assam’s highest civilian award
- Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on 24 March 2023 conferred state civilian awards – Assam Baibhav, Assam Saurav, and Assam Gaurav on 21 personalities.
- Assam’s highest civilian award ‘Assam Baibhav’ was presented to renowned oncologist Dr. Tapan Kumar Saikia for his contributions to cancer care.
- The second highest honor, the ‘Assam Saurav’ award was presented to five people.
North Korea tests underwater nuclear-capable attack drone
- North Korea tested a new underwater nuclear-capable attack drone on 24 March 2023.
- The North Korean military deployed and tested-fired the new weapons system during a military drill directed by Kim Jong Un.
- The drone was placed in the ocean near South Hamgyong province as part of the experiment, and it drifted there for 59 hours and 12 minutes.
International Day of Unborn Child: 25 March
- The International Day of the Unborn Child is observed annually on 25 March to commemorate the opposition to abortion.
- The day is associated with the late Pope John Paul II who opposed the medical procedure of abortion.
- The theme of International Day of the Unborn Child 2023 is “the dignity and value of children yet-to-be-born.”
RBI imposes monetary penalty of ₹30 lakh on Karur Vysya Bank
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 24 March 2023 imposed a penalty of ₹30 lakh on Karur Vysya Bank for violating rules.
- A Select Scope Inspection (SSI) of Karur Vysya Bank was conducted by the central bank.
- As per the report, the bank failed to report a few accounts as frauds to RBI within a week of the respective Joint Lenders’ Forum (JLF) decision to do so.
Renowned filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar passes away
- Renowned filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar, on 24 March 2023 passed away.
- He started his directing debut with Vidya Balan’s Parineeta in 2005. Other films directed by him are Mardaani (2014), Laga Chunari Mein Daag, and Lafangey Parindey (2010).
- In 2005, He was awarded Filmfare Award for Best Art Direction for Parineeta.
- In 2006, he won Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut Film of a Director.
Viacom18 to broadcast MotoGP in India
- Reliance Industries-owned Viacom18, on 24 March 2023 secured a rights deal for MotoGP to be streamed on its JioCinema and Sports18 platforms.
- The MotoGP World Championship is a motorcycle racing competition.
- The 2023 season will have 21 races across 18 countries, including its 14th round will be held first time in India.
- FairStreet Sports is organising the MotoGP championship in India.
HDFC Mutual Fund files for India’s first Sovereign Green Bond
- HDFC Mutual Fund, on 24 March 2023 filed for India’s first Target Maturity Funds tracking Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) – HDFC Nifty India Sovereign Green Bond Jan 2028 Index Fund & HDFC Nifty India SGrBs Jan 2033 Index Fund.
- SGrBs are bonds issued by the Govt of India, whose proceeds will be deployed in public sector projects which help in reducing the carbon intensity of the economy.
Govt to set up panel to improve national pension scheme
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 24 announced the constitution of a committee to propose changes to the National Pension System (NPS).
- It will be chaired by the finance secretary which will look into this issue of pension and evolve an approach that addresses the need of employees.
- NPS has been made available to every Indian citizen from May 1, 2009, on a voluntary basis.
India has most number of female pilots in the world: DGCA Report
- According to a report released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on 24 March 2023, 15% of the pilots in the country are women.
- As per the DGCA, it is three times the global average of 5%.
- However, there is no special program to encourage pilot training for women, SC, and ST communities.
- In 1989, Nivedita Bhasin became the youngest commercial airline captain in the world.
Nepal permits NHPC Ltd to carry out study of Seti River Hydro Project
- The Investment Board of Nepal (IBN) on 23 March 2023, permitted National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited to carry out a study of the 450 MW Seti River-6 Hydropower Project.
- The proposed project will be constructed in Doti and Achham districts.
- As per the agreement, Nepal will also get 21.9 percent free energy from the Seti Hydropower Project.
Union govt launches National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP)
- The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Ministry of Health, launched the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) for the prevention and control of Rabies in March 2023.
- The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has also requested the concerned authorities to take appropriate action and to effectively implement the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023 to control the dog population.
One Tigress each to be released to Kota’s Mukundra & Bundi’s Ramgarh
- One tigress each will be released to Kota’s Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve and Bundi’s Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.
- This decision was taken in a meeting attended by Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav and Loksabha speaker Om Birla in New Delhi on 24 March 2023.
- Gaurs and wild dogs and some other wild animals will also be released in the reserve area.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi disqualified as Lok Sabha MP
- Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Wayanad, Kerala, Rahul Gandhi, on 24 March 2023, was disqualified from Lok Sabha.
- He was convicted by a Surat court in the criminal defamation case on March 23 over his ‘Modi surname’ remark.
- The court of chief judicial magistrate HH Varma held Rahul Gandhi guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 499 and 500.
NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) discovers coronal hole on Sun
- NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) has discovered a massive coronal hole on the Sun, which is about 30 times the size of Earth.
- Coronal holes are imaginary holes that do not exist on the surface of the Sun.
- They appear dark on the solar surface and shine less brightly than their surroundings because they are cooler.
- Coronal holes enable a greater flow of the solar wind.