NATIONAL NEWS

First State in India to Have 100% Electrified Railway Network

• Indian Railways has successfully completed 100% electrification of railway network in the state of Haryana in March 2023.

• The electrification project covers the existing broad-gauge network of 1,701 route kilometres in Haryana.

• The completion of this project will reduce the dependence of Indian Railways on imported crude oil and also save foreign exchange.

• Electrification of Railways will help reduce carbon emissions and contribute towards the goal of a sustainable and environment-friendly transport system in India.
• Indian Railways is working towards achieving 100% electrification of its railway network in the country to increase efficiency, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and promote clean energy sources.

PAN and Aadhaar Card Linking Deadline Extended

• The Government has extended the last date for linking Permanent Account Number (PAN) and Aadhaar by 3 months to 30 June 2023, in order to provide some more time to the taxpayers.

• Earlier the last date was 31 March 2023.

• It must be noted that under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the ‘Act’) every person who has been allotted a PAN as on July 01, 2017 and is eligible to obtain Aadhaar Number, is required to intimate his Aadhaar to the prescribed authority on or before 31 March 2023, on payment of a prescribed fee.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Japan Commits Rs 7,084 Crore for 3 Infrastructure Projects in India

• Japan has committed Rs 7,084.5 crore to India for 3 infrastructure projects.
• The projects include Patna (Bihar) Metro Rail Construction Project, Rajasthan Water Sector Livelihood Improvement Project and Project for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation for Climate Change Response in West Bengal (WB).
• Japan would fund the Patna Metro Rail Construction Project (I) of JPY 98.612 billion (about Rs 5,509 crore).
• Japan will fund JPY 18.894 billion (about Rs 1,055.53 crore) for Rajasthan Water Sector Livelihood Improvement Project.
• Japan will fund JPY 9.308 billion (about Rs 520 crore) Biodiversity Conservation for Climate Change Response in West Bengal (WB).

BANKING

World Bank Loan for Clean Drinking Water in Rural Karnataka

• The World Bank has given a $363 million loan to the state of Karnataka in India, which will help provide clean drinking water to two million rural households.

• It aims to establish piped water connections to households across the state, including construction of drinking water distribution networks and installation of water metres, and the initiative is expected to benefit around 10 million people in all 31 districts of the state.

• The loan is part of the Karnataka Sustainable Rural Water Supply programme, which aims to improve the operational efficiency of rural water supply services.

• The World Bank loan has a special focus on promoting gender equality, as women typically bear the greatest burden of fetching water.
• The program aims to revive 500 rural water reservoirs in seven water-stressed districts, which will help increase water storage capacity and groundwater recharge.

World Bank Approves Loan for Assam

• The World Bank has approved a loan of USD 108 million (Rs 8,896,517,496) for Assam Integrated River Basin Management Project (AIRBMP) to improve its disaster preparedness and flood forecasting capabilities in Assam.

• The $108 million loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a maturity of 5 years and a grace period of 4 years.

• This loan is part of a larger USD 500 (Rs 40,890,925,000) million investment program for the state and is expected to benefit approximately 6 million people by reducing the risks of floods and river erosion.

• The Project will help the state reduce vulnerability to floods and river erosion by building green infrastructure in the Beki and Buridehing river basins, protecting around 100,000 people.
• The Project will support Assam tackle the immediate challenges of floods and erosion while also helping manage its complex river systems.
• The Project will also help strengthen the state’s response to disasters through improved flood forecasting and accurate early warning systems, including mobile alerts.

SPORTS

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

• Sri Lanka failed to qualify directly for the ICC ODI World Cup after defeat by New Zealand in Hamilton on 31 March.

• The New Zealand team had already qualified for the World Cup, but Sri Lanka had a special chance of making a direct entry to the World Cup by winning the last match of the three-match ODI series.

• A total of 10 teams will participate in the World Cup 2023, out of which a total of 7 teams have qualified so far.

• In the World Cup 2023, the top 8 teams in the points table were to get a chance to qualify.
• The Sri Lankan team finished 9th in the points table after their loss to New Zealand on 31 March.

AWARDS & PRIZES

ICOMOS Water and Heritage Shield

• A site Sípàapu located in Arizona, United States and sacred to the Hopi Native American Nation has been awarded a ‘Water and Heritage Shield’ by the International Committee On Monuments and Sites International Science Committee (ICOMOS)

• The Hopi are known as one of the oldest living cultures in documented history, having migrated north to Arizona in the 12th century.

• The purpose of the Shield is to help the public become aware of the significance of water and indigenous sacred sites all over the world and the right to cultural and historical memory.

• The Sípàapu is a rocky dome made of limestone as well as a spring located on the Little Colorado river, a tributary of Colorado.
• International Committee On Monuments and Sites is a global non-governmental organization associated with UNESCO
• Its mission is to promote the conservation, protection, use and enhancement of monuments, building complexes and sites.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

CEO of Hero MotoCorp

• Hero MotoCorp's board appointed Niranjan Gupta as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company.

• Niranjan Gupta has been instrumental in ensuring the financial stability of HeroCorp in a highly competitive and ever-subscribing landscape.

• Gupta has over 25 years of leadership experience in diverse sectors such as consumer goods, metals and mining, and miscellaneous sectors with expertise in finance, M&A, supply chain and strategy.

• It is an Indian multinational motorcycle and assembly manufacturer headquartered in New Delhi, India.

CEO and MD of TATA Power

• Tata Power approved the re-appointment of Praveer Sinha as the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the company.

• Sinha's reappointment is for a period of four years from 01 May 2023 to 30 April 2027, subject to the approval of the members of the company.

• Under Sinha's leadership, Tata Power is transforming itself into a sustainable, technology-oriented and customer-centric green energy solutions company.

• Sinha holds a PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and is a Visiting Research Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA.

DEFENCE

Defense Ministry Signs Contract with Brahmos Aerospace

• The Defense Ministry signed a Rs 1,700 crore contract with BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd (BAPL) for the procurement of next generation marine mobile coastal batteries and BrahMos missiles.

• The systems will be armed with supersonic BrahMos missiles, which are known for their speed and accuracy.

• The deliveries of these batteries are scheduled to begin in 2027, indicating that the Ministry of Defense is making long-term plans to strengthen its military capabilities.
• BAPL is a joint venture between India and Russia, highlighting the collaborative efforts of both countries in advancing defence technology.
• BrahMos missiles are medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missiles that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircrafts or land.
• These missiles are capable of travelling at a speed of Mach 2.8 and can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Drug Checking Day

• International Drug Checking Day is observed every year on 31 March.

• It is to promote harm reduction initiatives to reduce the risks associated with drug use and educate people about drugs and their effects.

• The primary purpose of the day is to raise public awareness of the availability of drug testing services and organisations around the world and to emphasise the importance of drug-related harm reduction actions to reduce drug-related risks.

• International Day of Drug Checking is an effort to collectively reduce drug abuse and create a drug free world.