Daily Current Affairs

U.K. to unveil global focus in defence modernisation plans

The U.K. government will unveil much-anticipated military modernisation plans, vowing to bolster its defence of British interests across multiple domains and in all corners of the globe.The long-awaited proposals, detailed in a report entitled “Defence in a Competitive Age”, focus heavily on boosting the country’s Navy and global footprint. It promises more ships, submarines and sailors and the transformation of the Royal Marines into a new unit called the Future Commando Force. The force will be deployed on an enduring basis” to secure shipping lanes and uphold freedom of navigation.

Philippines claims 220 Chinese boats spotted at Manila’s controlled reef in South China Sea waters

The Philippines government has claimed that around 220 Chinese boats have been spotted at a reef in the South China Sea waters controlled by Manila. It urged China to recall the boats saying the presence of the vessels violated Manila's maritime rights by encroaching into the Philippines' sovereign territory. According to the Philippines coast guard, the boats are believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel.

Daily Current Affairs

Australian PM Scott Morrison announces disaster relief for flood hit New South Wales residents

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced disaster relief for flood-affected New South Wales (NSW) residents of Australia. Australia's federal government has activated disaster relief for those who are significantly injured, lost homes or had their homes damaged will be entitled to $1,000 AUD (roughly $770 USD) for adults or $400 AUD (roughly $310 USD) for children.

The Australian government has declared a natural disaster in large swaths of New South Wales (NSW) as heavy rains batter the State and forced thousands to evacuate.

World Water Day being observed on March 22

Every year March 22 is observed as World Water Day. This day focuses attention on the importance of freshwater and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. The objective of the day is to raise awareness of the global water crisis, and a core focus of the observance is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) which is to ensure water and sanitation for all by 2030. The theme of this year is 'valuing water' specifically recognizes the crucial role of healthy ecosystems in maintaining water supplies around the world.

Daily Current Affairs

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman conferred Gandhi Peace Prize 2020

The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020 is being conferred on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The prestigious prize for the year 2019 is being conferred on late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman in recognition of his vision to strengthen relations with India, and his efforts to promote peace and non-violence in the Gulf region. The jury for Gandhi Peace Prize is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprises two ex-officio members, the Chief Justice of India and leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha.

Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by the Government of India since 1995, the 125th Birth Anniversary commemoration year of Mahatma Gandhi. The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/ handloom item.

Bangladesh to open more border haats along Mizoram border with India to expand trade, connectivity

Bangladesh has taken initiative to open more border haats along the border with Mizoram, said the Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi. He said a few border haats will be inaugurated shortly. The Minister said that there are several opportunities of expanding trade and connectivity between Mizoram and Bangladesh. There was a big demand for Bangladeshi items like Ready Made Garments in Mizoram while the state can also supply items like bamboo, timber, ginger, sugar and stone to Bangladesh.

Daily Current Affairs

67th National Film Awards - 2019 were announced

Director Priyadarshan's Malayalam war epic Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, that is headlined by Mohanlal, won Best Feature Film. The film is yet to release in theatres, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Best Feature Film: Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (Malayalam) Best Hindi Film: Chhichhore Best Actor (shared): Manoj Bajpayee for Bhonsle (Hindi), and Dhanush for Asuran (Tamil) Best Actress: Kangana Ranaut for Panga (Hindi) and Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi (Hindi) Best Supporting Actress: Pallavi Joshi for The Tashkent Files (Hindi) Best Supporting Actor: Vijay Sethupathi for Super Deluxe (Tamil) Best Director: Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan for Bahattar Hoorain (Hindi) Best Debut Film of a Director: Mathukutty Xavier for Helen (Malayalam) Best Choreography: Maharishi (Telugu), Raju Sundaram Special Jury Award: Oththa Seruppu Size 7 (Tamil), Radhakrishnan Parthiban Best Lyrics: Prabha Varma for Kolaambi (Malayalam) Best Music Direction: D. Imman for Viswasam (Tamil) Best Cinematography: Jallikattu (Malayalam), Gireesh Gangadharan Best Editing: Jersey (Telugu), Navin Nooli Best Children’s Film: Kastoori (Hindi) Best Film on Environment Conservation: Water Burial (Monpa) Best Film on Social Issues: Anandi Gopal (Marathi) Best Film on National Integration: Tajmahal (Marathi) Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment: Maharishi (Telugu) Best Female Playback Singer: Savani Ravindra for Bardo (Marathi) Best Male Playback Singer: B Praak for Kesari (Hindi)

Daily Current Affairs

Defence Ministry inks contract with MDSL for supply of 1,300 Light Specialist Vehicles to Indian Army

Defence Ministry signed a contract with Mahindra Defence Systems Limited for supply of 1,300 Light Specialist Vehicles to the Indian Army at a cost of Rs. 1056 crore. The induction of vehicles is planned to be completed in four years. The Light Specialist Vehicle is a modern fighting vehicle and will be authorised to various fighting units for carriage of Medium Machine Guns, Automatic Grenade Launchers as well as Anti-tank Guided Missiles. The Vehicle is indigenously designed and developed by Mahindra Defence Systems Limited.

National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2021 passed by Lok Sabha

Lok Sabha has passed the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2021. The Bill amends the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 which provides a framework for the functioning of the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Bill amends certain powers and responsibilities of the Legislative Assembly and the Lieutenant Governor. It further seeks to ensure that the Lieutenant Governor is necessarily granted an opportunity to exercise the power in select category of cases, in emergency. The Bill also gives powers to LG to make rules in matters which fall outside the preview of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. It has a provision that all executive action will be expressed to be taken in the name of the Lieutenant Governor.

Daily Current Affairs

PM Modi launches Catch the rain campaign on the occasion of World Water Day; Calls for water security & effective water management

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India’s development and self-reliance is dependent on water security and water connectivity. Launching Jal Shakti Abhiyan : Catch the Rain campaign virtually on the occasion of World Water Day, Mr Modi said water security and water management is crucial for the future of coming generations. He noted that the challenge of the water crisis is increasing equally with India’s development.

Parliament passes Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The Parliament has passed the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with Rajya Sabha passing it. The Bill was earlier cleared in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to modify the list of Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu. The Bill replaces the entry for the Devendrakulathan community with Devendrakula Velalar which includes Devendrakulathan, Kalladi, Kudumban, Pallan, Pannadi and Vathiriyan.

Daily Current Affairs

NITI Aayog constitutes two task forces to lay emphasis on Enforcement of Contracts & Conciliation Mechanism

In order to lay emphasis on Enforcement of Contracts and Conciliation Mechanism, NITI Aayog has constituted two task forces. The Task Force for Enforcement of Contracts will give its recommendation for a policy framework for Enforcement of Contracts and the Task Force on Conciliation Mechanism will give its recommendation for an effective Conciliation Mechanism. The Task Force for Enforcement of Contracts has been constituted with the participation from key Ministries and Departments of the Government and certain State Chief Secretaries. The Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog will be the Chairman of the Task force and CEO, NITI Aayog will be the Member Secretary of the Task Force. The Task Force will submit its report within six months of its constitution.

U.P., M.P. sign deal on Ken-Betwa link work

The governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have signed an agreement that nudges forward a long-stalled multi-crore, controversial project to link the Ken and the Betwa rivers and irrigate the water-deficient Bundelkhand region, spread over both States, and provide electricity. The project involves transferring surplus water from the Ken river in Madhya Pradesh to the Betwa river in Uttar Pradesh and irrigating 3.64 lakh hectares in the Bundelkhand region of both States. The project involves building a 77-metre-tall and a 2-km-wide Dhaudhan dam and a 230-km canal.

Daily Current Affairs

Centre asks states, UTs to increase gap between two doses of Covishield between four & eight weeks

Centre has written to States and Union Territories to increase the interval between two doses of COVISHIELD to 4 to 8 weeks based on recommendation of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization, NTAGI and National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19, NEGVAC. This decision of revised time interval between two doses is applicable only to COVISHIELD and not to COVAXIN Vaccine. The recommendation has been revised to provide 2nd dose of COVISHIELD at 4 to 8 weeks’ interval after the 1st dose, instead of earlier practiced interval of 4 to 6 weeks

Noted writer & filmmaker Sagar Sarhadi passes away

Noted writer and filmmaker Sagar Sarhadi, known for films like "", "Silsila", and "Bazaar", passed away due to age related issues. He was 88 . The writer collaborated with Chopra to pen the screenplay in acclaimed films like "Silsila" and and starrer "Chandni", for which he wrote the dialogues. Sarhadi is also credited with writing dialogues for superstar Shah Rukh Khan''s debut "Deewana'' in 1992 and Hrithik Roshan's debut "Kaho Na Pyaar Hai".

Daily Current Affairs

Centre readies draft plan for district-wise export promotion

The Union government has readied a draft district-wise export promotion plan for 451 districts in the country after identifying products and services with export potential in 725 districts, Commerce Secretary Anoop Wadhawan said. In the initial phase, products and services with export potential in each district have been identified and an institutional mechanism of State and District Export Promotion Committees (SEPC) are being created, with an action plan to grow exports from each district. Aiming for double-digit export growth from 500 districts over 3-5 years, the Commerce Ministry has asked States to prepare an annual ‘export ranking index’ of districts on export competitiveness with the assistance of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).

While foreign trade constitutes 45% of India’s GDP, most export promotion efforts are driven by the Centre.

National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill, 2021 introduced in Lok Sabha

The National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill, 2021 was introduced in the Lok Sabha. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Bill. It provides for establishment of the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development to support the infrastructure financing in India.

This includes development of bonds and derivatives markets which are necessary for infrastructure financing.

Daily Current Affairs

Parliament passes Insurance Amendment Bill, 2021 to increase FDI limit from 49% to 74%

The Parliament has passed the Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2021 with the Lok Sabha approving it. The Rajya Sabha has already passed the legislation. The Bill seeks to amend the Insurance Act, 1938 which will increase the ceiling limit of foreign investment allowed in Indian insurance companies. The Bill provides to increase the foreign direct investment limit from existing 49 percent to 74 percent. It also has a provision for removal of restrictions on ownership and control of insurance companies.

RBI names panel for bank licences

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has named members of the Standing External Advisory Committee (SEAC) for evaluating applications for universal and small finance banks. Shyamala Gopinath, former Deputy Governor, RBI, has been appointed as the chairperson of the Committee. The members are Revathy Iyer, director, Central Board, RBI; B. Mahapatra, Chairman, NPCI; T.N. Manoharan, former chairman, Canara Bank; and Hemant G. Contractor, former MD, SBI and former Chairman, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority.

Daily Current Affairs

Govt. cancels plan to borrow Rs. 20,000 crore

The Union government has decided to cancel its Rs. 20,000 crore borrowing scheduled for March 26 on review of the cash balance position, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said. This means the government would be borrowing Rs. 20,000 crore less than its target of Rs. 12.8 lakh crore announced in the Budget on February 1.

The gross borrowing for the current fiscal was raised 64% to Rs. 12.8 lakh crore from the Budget Estimate of Rs. 7.8 lakh crore.

India Legends beat Sri Lanka Legends in Road Safety World Series T-20

India Legends defeated Sri Lanka Legends by 14 runs in the final of Road Safety World Series to clinch the title at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Yusuf Pathan who smashed an unbeaten 62 and picked up two wickets in his four-over spell was adjudged player of the match. India Legends, after being sent in to bat, put on a huge total of 181 for four from their allotted 20 overs, Sri Lanka Legends made 167 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs.

Daily Current Affairs

ISSF World Cup: India's Divyansh Singh Panwar & Elavenil Valarivan win gold medal

India's Divyansh Singh Panwar and Elavenil Valarivan won the gold medal in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup being held in Delhi. The Indian duo put on a brilliant display of shooting to beat the Hungarian team of Istvan Peni and Eszter Denes 16-10 to take home the top prize.