Current Affairs One - Liner : 14th March 2024

• National:
• The Maharashtra government has decided to rename Ahmednagar District as Ahilya Nagar and Velha Tehsil as Rajgad. This is in honor of Queen Ahilya Bai Holkar and reflects the region’s rich history and cultural heritage.

• The Union Cabinet of India approved an agreement with Bhutan’s Food and Drug Authority on March 13, 2024. This agreement aims to facilitate trade by reducing compliance costs and promoting ease of doing business. The Bhutanese authority will issue a Health Certificate for exports to India, ensuring compliance with India’s food safety standards.
• The Union Cabinet of India approved the Inter-Governmental Framework Agreement (IGFA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 13th February, 2024. The agreement aims to strengthen bilateral relations in the Ports, Maritime, and Logistics sectors. It also explores potential for future joint investment and collaboration for the development of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
• The Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) Programme was launched on March 12, 2024. It aims to identify young sports talent in India, targeting school children between nine and 18 years. The programme plans to conduct 20 lakh assessments throughout the year across the country. 
• On March 12, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first in-plant railway siding project at Maruti Suzuki India’s (MSIL) plant in Hansalpur, Gujarat. The project, developed under the PM Gati Shakti mission, can dispatch 300,000 cars annually, reducing road congestion and carbon emissions.
• International:
• On March 7, 2024, Panama ratified the International Solar Alliance (ISA), officially becoming its 97th member. This ratification signifies Panama’s commitment to the global effort of harnessing solar energy for a sustainable and greener future.
• Banking:
• Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya launched a credit assistance program for Jan Aushadhi Kendras on 12th March 2024. The program, in collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), offers project loans up to Rs. 2 lakhs at affordable interest rates for small entrepreneurs of Jan Aushadhi Kendras. The initiative aims to strengthen and modernise the network of Jan Aushadhi Kendras across the country.
• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) secured its first project, the Avaana Sustainability Fund (ASF), valued at USD 120 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) on March 5, 2024. The project aims to invest in early-stage companies for climate solutions and sustainability in India.
• Future Generali launched a unique health insurance plan for women called ‘Health PowHER’ on March 7, 2024. This plan offers comprehensive coverage for women-specific health issues, wellness programs, nutritional advice, and more. It also provides 24/7 support and has affordable premiums.
• Science & Technology:
• A new species of scorpion named Euscorpiops Krachan has been discovered in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand. This scorpion is very small, measuring just over an inch in length, with a brownish body covered in hairs and eight yellow legs. The females exhibit a darker hue than males, which is a common sexual dimorphism in the animal kingdom.
• Military Exercise:
• The ‘Bharat Shakti’ was a tri-service exercise held in Pokhran, Rajasthan on March 12, 2024. It showcased India’s indigenous defence capabilities. The ‘Bharat Shakti’ exercise was organized by the Indian Army. It was a tri-service war game, meaning it involved the coordination of all three branches of the Indian military - the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, witnessed the exercise. The event demonstrated the success of India’s Aatmanirbharata initiative in defence.
• Defence:
• On March 11, 2024, The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract worth over ₹200 Crores with an Indian start-up, Big Bang Boom Solutions Pvt. Ltd. (BBBS). The deal is for providing anti-drone technology, the Vajra Sentinel System, to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Army. This is the largest contract under the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative.
• Govt. Schemes:
• The Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024 was announced by the Ministry of Heavy Industries on March 13, 2024. The scheme, with an outlay of Rs. 500 crore, will be implemented from April 1 to July 31, 2024. It aims to support 3,72,215 EVs, including e-2Ws and e-3Ws. The benefits will be extended to vehicles fitted with advanced batteries.
• Sports:
• Max Verstappen of Red Bull won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix held on March 9th, 2024. This was his second win in 2024 and ninth consecutive victory. His teammate Sergio Perez came second, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came third.
• Important Days:
• World Rotaract Day, celebrated annually on 13th March, is a day dedicated to recognizing the services of Rotaractors worldwide. In the same week, from 11th to 17th March, World Rotaract Week is observed. This week-long celebration is a tribute to the efforts and contributions of Rotaract, an international organization of service clubs for young adults aged 18 to 30. The theme for the World Rotaract Week 2024 is “Celebrating Rotaract”.
• Pi Day, celebrated on March 14th, is a day dedicated to the mathematical constant π (Pi), which is approximately 3.14159. The date 3/14 represents the first three digits of Pi. The day is recognized worldwide to promote mathematics education and its applications. The theme for Pi Day 2024 is “Engineering Solutions for a Sustainable World”.
• The International Day of Action for Rivers is celebrated annually on March 14. It’s a day of solidarity to emphasize the importance of rivers. The 2024 theme was “Water for All”. This day advocates for the protection of rivers and addresses issues like pollution, habitat degradation, and over-exploitation. In India, the Ganga is a significant river, constituting 26% of the country’s landmass.
• Appointments:
• Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra’s service tenure has been extended by six months, from May 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024, by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This extension is in the public interest.
• Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh took the oath of office as the new Lokayukta of Madhya Pradesh on 11th March 2024. The ceremony was held at the Sandipani Auditorium of Raj Bhavan, where Governor Mangubhai Patel administered the oath. This appointment marks a significant event in the governance of the state.
• Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were appointed as Election Commissioners on March 14, 2024. They assumed their roles the next day. These are the first appointments under the new law on the appointment of Election Commissioners.
• Obituaries:
• Kapildev Prasad, a renowned artisan and Padma Shri awardee, known for his contributions to the handloom industry and the revival of Bababuti sarees, has passed away at the age of 71. His work over six decades earned him recognition and respect, and his death is a significant loss to the handloom industry.
• Paul Alexander, known as the ‘man in the iron lung’, passed away at 78. He contracted polio at six and spent over 70 years in an iron lung. Despite his condition, he earned a law degree and practiced law.

Questions:

Q.1 What is Panama’s member number in the ISA?
a. 57th
b. 67th
c. 77th
d. 97th
Q.2 Where is Maruti Suzuki India’s (MSIL) plant located where the in-plant railway siding project was inaugurated?
a. Delhi
b. Mumbai
c. Hansalpur, Gujarat
d. Kolkata