NATIONAL AFFAIRS
Aadhaar now needed for mobile connection:
The Department of Telecommunications issued a notification, directing all phone service providers to reverify details for all existing subscribers through Aadhaar-based e-KYC (Know Your Customer) process. This follows a Supreme Court order last month in which it had approved the government’s plan to record the identification details of mobile subscribers through an e-KYC mechanism linked to Aadhaar.
Navy gets three naval systems from DRDO:
Three naval systems, developed by premier defence research organisation DRDO, was handed over to the navy by
Defence Minister Arun Jaitley.
The naval systems, given to Indian Navy, are USHUS-II submarine sonar, directing gear for hull-mounted sonar array, and inertial navigation system for ship applications.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman: S Christopher
‘Will make Goa beggar-free’:
The State government will take steps to make Goa India’s first beggar-free State, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced in his Budget speech.
Mr. Parrikar said despite the Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Begging Act, 1972, “the number of beggars is increasing day-by-day”.
Five villages of Rajasthan declared child labour-free:
“Child rights for change” project, launched in five villages in Banswara district in Rajasthan which was earlier known as the “hub of child labour” has been declared “Child Labour Free” by “Zila Pramukh”(Panchayat Head) Resham Malviya. The objectives of the project stated child labour abolition, stopping child migration enforcement of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.
Manipur government sets anti-corruption cell through WhatsApp:
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, decided to set up an anti-corruption cell at the Secretariat here to ensure greater transparency and accountability in state. With this, the public can send audio/video evidence of corruption to a dedicated mobile number — 9402150000 — through WhatsApp. The identity of the sender shall not be revealed. Frivolous complaints, however, will invite strict action.
Odisha’s ‘20% of gram panchayats to be poverty-free by 2019:
The Odisha government adopts multi-pronged strategies to eradicate poverty from 20% of the gram panchayats within the next two years. State-Level Empowered Committee (SLEC) chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, discussed proposals for achieving a Poverty-Free Gram Panchayats (PFGP) by 2019. First phase The State would to take up 1,342 gram panchayats of the total of 6,234 in the first phase by October 2, 2019.
International Conference of ADRI celebrates Silver Jubilee:
President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the Silver Jubilee of International Conference of the Asian Development and Research Institute (ADRI) on ‘Bihar and Jharkhand. President stated ‘Shared History to Shared Vision’ – A logical requirement of alternative development strategy will be prioritizing investment on education.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
China and Australia signed deal worth $4.6 billion:
Chinese Prime Minister Premier Li Keqiang and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull signed a deal worth US $4.6 billion mining infrastructure project which will be undertaken by Chinese construction giant. The mine project is developed in resource-rich Northern Australia.
Six Indian-Americans wins US highest honour for immigrants:
Ellis Island Medal of Honour 2017, the highest civilian award in the US for immigrants was received by six Indian-Americans. The personalities include Indra Nooyi CEO of PepsiCo, Author Fareed Zakaria, Harman International Industries CEO Dinesh Pallawal, Dr Annapooma S Kini, Yashvant Patel and Mohan H Patel.
BANKING AND BUSINESS
SBI Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya among Fortune’s 50 greatest leaders of the world:
SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya and Indian-origin physician Raj Panjabi have been named by Fortune magazine among the
world’s 50 greatest leaders.
Bhattacharya, Chairman of
India’s largest bank (SBI) and the
first-ever woman to do so, has been ranked
26th on the list.
The list has been topped by president of Baseball Operations at Chicago Cubs Theo Epstein, followed by Alibaba Group executive chairman Jack Ma on the second spot, Pope Francis (3), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Cochair Melinda Gates (4) and Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos (5).
Nine FDI proposals approved by FIPB:
The central government announced the approval of nine Foreign Direct Investment proposals of Rs.659 crore worth in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The proposal includes five in telecom sector. The acceleration in telecom deals both in FDI investments and mergers acquisitions is based on the completion created against Jio against consolidating existing resources.
MoP&NG e-Seva A Grievance Redressal Platform Launched:
Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, launched MoP&NG e-Seva, dedicated grievance redressal platform on social media to deliver 24×7 support for consumer relating to the oil and gas sector. The portal is developed for the customers to reach out to the government for addressing their feedback or grievances related to oil and gas on social media.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
INS Vikramaditya fires surface-to-air missile:
INS Vikramaditya successfully carried out the maiden test of the newly installed Barak short range ‘surface-to-air missile’. The missile was fired against a live, low-flying, high-speed target. The 44,500 tonne carrier was commissioned into the Navy in November 2013 at Severodvinsk in Russia and was originally scheduled to have the long range surface-to-air missile system under joint development with Israel.
APPOINTMENTS
Environment Ministry official to chair animal welfare board:
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory advisory body under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF), will now be permanently chaired by a senior MoEF official.
In its 55-year history the organisation has always been chaired by somebody outside government, such as veterinarians, animal welfare activists or retired judges. A new Board of 18 members, chaired by Sharad Singh Negi, Special Secretary and Director-General (Forests), MoEF, came into effect.
Durgaprasad to be appointed as Senior Security Adviser:
Former CRPF Director-General K Durgaprasad to be appointed as Senior Security Adviser to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh Minister of Home Affairs. He also served as director of the Special Protection Group (SPG). At present the post in currently held by K Vijay Kumar who is also a Former CRPF Director-General.
M N Manjunatha appointed as new DVAC:
M N Manjunatha appointed as
Director of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC), after a period of five years. He has been appointed as the Director of the agency that deals with corruption. Previously he was ADGP of Vigilance,
Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation Ltd (TANGEDCO), Chennai.
HISTORICAL EVENTS OF THE DAY
March 25 – International Day Of Remembrance Of The Victims Of Slavery And The Transatlantic Slave Trade:
UN’s International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, to be marked on
25 March every year. The day honours and remembers “the worst violation of human rights in history”,
Theme; “Remember Slavery; Recognising the Legacy and Contributions of People of African descendant”.
SPORTS
Top seeds Sriram Balaji & Vishnu Vardhan clinch doubles title:
In the doubles final, top seeds Balaji and Vishnu scored a 6-3, 7-5 wins over JuiChen Hung and Hong Kit Wong in the Indian Oil-ITF Futures tennis tournament at the TTC courts.
