NATIONAL NEWS

NCC and NPCIL Signed MoU for Peaceful Nuclear Power Awareness Programs

National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) signed MoU to enhance peaceful use of nuclear energy.

NCC and NPCIL together will organize various awareness programs across the country.

NPCIL will educate NCC cadets in this initiative.

Thereafter will provide resource persons for regional engagement with NCC during camps and various activities.

This MoU will provide an opportunity to the cadets to visit various NPCIL facilities across the country.

This will provide first-hand experience on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, its technical and technological aspects.

 

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ITU Names India Co-Chair of Digital Innovation Board

The meeting of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was held in Geneva.

India was represented by Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Indian Department of Telecommunications.

It was organized from March 18-20, 2024. In this meeting, ITU has elected India co-chairman of the Digital Innovation Board.

India has the opportunity to lead the Digital Innovation Board under the co-chairmanship of Dr. Neeraj Mittal.

Dr. Mittal invited the Japanese Government to participate in the World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 and India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2024.

 

SPORTS

WTT Feeder Beirut Table Tennis 2024 Title

Indian table tennis player G.Sathiyan beat fellow Indian Manav Vikash Thakkar in the final to win the men’s singles title at the WTT Feeder Beirut 2024 table tennis tournament at the Al Kawthar Secondary School in Lebanon on 21 March 2024.

Diya Chitale and Manush Shah won the second title for India by winning the mixed doubles title.

World Table Tennis (WTT) was created by the International Table Tennis Federation in 2019 to create and manage professional men’s and women’s Table Tennis events worldwide.

The WTT organises a series of events for professional table tennis players around the year.

Chef De Mission for the Paris Olympics

Six-time women's boxing World Champion Mary Kom was appointed Chef de Mission of Indian contingent for the Paris Olympics, while veteran table tennis player and CWG champion Sharath Kamal will be the country’s flag bearer at the Games.

The 41-year-old table tennis player symbolises “the unity and spirit of our contingent as they compete on the Olympic stage”, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said in a statement while making the announcement.

Mary Kom, bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, will be assisted by luger Shiva Keshavan, who has been appointed the Deputy Chef de Mission.

 

AWARDS & PRIZES

Bhutan's Order of the Druk Gyalpo Award

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Bhutan, was conferred’ Order of the Druk Gyalpo’ by the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on 22 March 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the first foreign leader to receive the highest Bhutanese civilian award, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo’.

Prime Minister Modi, along with the Bhutanese King, attended a cultural programme organised in his honour at the Tendrelthang Festival Ground.

The two leaders discussed various aspects of bilateral relations. They agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture, environment and forestry, renewable energy, youth exchange, and tourism.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate an Indian-funded state-of-the-art Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

President of Indian Steel Association

Noted industrialist and former member of Parliament Naveen Jindal was unanimously elected as the President of the Indian Steel Association (ISA) on 21 March 2024.

He replaced Mr Dilip Oommen.

Naveen Jindal is currently the chairman of Jindal Steel & Power (JSP), India’s leading Industrial conglomerate with interests in steel, mining and infrastructure sector.

He has also been elected as the Lok Sabha member from the Kurukshetra constituency of Haryana in 2004 and again in 2009.

The Indian Steel Association was set up in 2014 as an apex body of steel producing companies of India. According to the Indian Steel Association it represents 65% of India's crude steel production.

Chairman of Indian Bank Association

M.V. Rao, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the public sector bank, Central Bank of India, has been elected as the new chairman of the Indian Bank Association (IBA) for 2023-24.

M.V Rao will succeed Atul Kumar Goel.

According to the IBA, the Managing Committee of the IBA, in a meeting on 21 March 2024, also elected various office bearers of the IBA for 2023-24.

Three newly elected Deputy Chairman of IBA Dinesh Kumar Khara, Chairman of State Bank of India, Shanti Lal Jain, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Bank and Dr.N.Kamakodi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of City Union Bank.

Honorary Secretary of IBA is Madhav Nair, Country Head and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait.

Main Functions of the IBA is to promote and develop sound and progressive banking principles, practices, and conventions in India and to contribute to the development of creative banking.

 

DEFENCE

IMT TRILAT-2024 Exercise

The second edition of the India Mozambique Tanzania (IMT) Tri Lateral (TRILAT) Exercise, is being conducted from 21-29 March 2024.

It is being organized at the ports of Zanzibar in Tanzania and Maputo in Mozambique.

It is a joint maritime exercise to be held from 21-29 March 2024. The exercise's present version is designed with two phases.

In the first phase, the port phase scheduled for 21-24 March, naval ships will participate with the respective navies at the ports of Zanzibar and Maputo.

The sea phase of Exercise TRILAT will take place from 24-27 March 2024.

Objective of IMT Trilat Practic is to develop capacity to address common threats through training and sharing of best practices and strengthening maritime cooperation among IMT countries.

These exercises aim to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean region and cooperation with maritime neighbours.

It also reflects the commitment of India and the Indian Navy to promote SAGAR security and development in the region.

 

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Agnikul Cosmos Postpones Maiden Rocket Launch Due to 'Technical Issue'

Agnikul Cosmos, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Madras incubated startup, has postponed its maiden rocket launch due to a 'technical issue'.

The Chennai-headquartered company had initially scheduled the launch of the mission 'Agnibaan SOrTeD' (Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator) for March 22, 2024.

The launch was planned to take place from its private launch pad located within the campus of ISRO at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, approximately 100 km from Chennai.

The Agnibaan SOrTeD mission is described as an innovative, single-stage Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator.

Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited was incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology – Madras (IIT-Madras).

It builds dedicated, fully customizable & transportable launch vehicles for small satellites to Low Earth Orbits (LEO) called Agnibaan.

The launch vehicle- Agnibaan is powered by a single-piece 3D-printed engine that can be made in 72 hours without any human intervention.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

World Water Day

'World Water Day' is observed each and every year on 22 March.

On this occasion, people are reminded of the importance of freshwater and the need for sustainable water management techniques.

Currently water shortage remains a global concern. The theme of ‘World Water Day’ for this year 2024 is ‘Water for peace’.

The primary objective of World Water Day is to promote the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.

In which a target has been set to provide water and sanitation to all by 2030.

 

OBITUTARY

Former Pakistan Test captain Saeed Ahmed

Saeed Ahmed, the former Pakistan Test captain and a dashing batsman of his time, passed away at the age of 86.

Saeed Ahmed made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1958 at the age of 20.

His last Test match was during Pakistan's tour of Australia in 1972-73, played in Melbourne.

Throughout his Test career, he played 41 matches, accumulating 2,991 runs, including five centuries and 16 half-centuries.

He also contributed with his off-spin bowling, taking a total of 22 wickets.

He was Pakistan's sixth Test captain and replaced Muhammad as skipper of the side during England's tour of Pakistan in 1969.

He only led Pakistan for three Tests and all were drawn.