Current Affairs One - Liner : 16th March 2024

• National:
• On March 11, 2024, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated the “National Speed Breeding Crop Facility” at the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI) in Mohali. The facility aims to improve crop quality and quantity, thereby increasing farmers’ income. It will be particularly beneficial for north Indian states.

• The Government of India has declared September 17 as ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’ to honor the martyrs who helped liberate Hyderabad from the Nizam’s rule. This day marks the end of Nizam’s rule and the integration of Hyderabad into the Indian Union in 1948.
• On March 12, 2024, the Government of India approved the use of the ‘TG’ prefix for vehicle registration plates in Telangana. This replaced the previous ‘TS’ prefix. The new ‘TG’ prefix began to be issued to all new vehicles getting registered from March 15, 2024.
• On 15th March 2024, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri launched ‘ETHANOL 100’, a new automotive fuel, at the Indian Oil Retail Outlet in New Delhi. The fuel is now available at 183 retail outlets across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, and Tamil Nadu. This initiative is part of the government’s efforts to reduce import dependency, conserve foreign exchange, and boost the agriculture sector.
• The National Time Protocol (NTP) for the dissemination of Indian Standard Time (IST) was inaugurated by Union Minister Piyush Goyal on 15th March 2024. This protocol will provide precise time information, enhancing cybersecurity. The public can access it via time.nplindia.org or time.nplindia.in.
• The Government of India launched a pilot program on March 14, 2024, to provide cashless treatment to road accident victims. The program, initiated in Chandigarh, offers victims cashless treatment up to Rs. 1.5 lakhs per accident for a maximum of 7 days from the date of the accident.
• On March 15, 2024, the Indian Government approved a new Electric Vehicle (EV) policy to promote India as a manufacturing destination for EVs and attract investment from global EV manufacturers. The policy requires a minimum investment of $500 million or ₹4,150 crore and offers various duty concessions. This policy is expected to boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative, reduce imports of crude oil, lower trade deficit, and reduce air pollution.
• The Election Commission of India has made the data on electoral bonds public on its website, following the Supreme Court’s order. This includes details about the donors and the amounts donated. The move promotes transparency and accountability in political funding.
• Banking:
• L&T Finance Holdings Ltd (LFH) signed a loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on March 12, 2024. The agreement is for a loan of up to USD 125 million to improve financial access in rural and semi-urban areas of India, particularly for women borrowers. The project is expected to support economic development and address rural disparities
• Economy:
• On March 14, 2024, Fitch Ratings, a globally recognized credit rating agency, revised its GDP growth forecast for India for the fiscal year 2025 (FY25). The new estimate is 7%, up from the previous estimate of 6.5%. This upward revision was primarily driven by robust domestic demand and investment in the Indian economy.
• Mous:
• The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct joint research on Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This collaboration aims to solve complex technological and engineering problems in these areas.
• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 12, 2024, in Delhi. The partnership aims to use geospatial technology and artificial intelligence for monitoring and managing assets under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
• On 12th March, 2024, the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) of India and the Information Technology Institute (ITI) of Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Cairo, Egypt. This MoU is aimed at fostering mutual collaboration in the Information, Electronics, and Communication Technology (IECT) domain.
• Sports:
• Australian wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade announced his retirement from red-ball cricket on 15th March 2024. He will continue to play white-ball cricket for Australia, Tasmania, and the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League. His last first-class match will be the upcoming Sheffield Shield final.
• Defence:
• The ‘Nausena Bhawan’, the new headquarters of the Indian Navy in Delhi Cantonment, was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on March 15, 2024. The building is equipped with modern facilities and a comprehensive security system. It also promotes a paperless work environment with extensive IT infrastructure.
• Important Days:
• The International Day to Combat Islamophobia, observed on March 15, aims to address the fear, prejudice, and hostility faced by Muslims worldwide. It calls for measures to combat institutional discrimination and violations of the human rights and dignity of Muslims.
• Appointments:
• Mohammad Mustafa, a long-time economic adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. He has served in various roles including the national economy minister and the deputy prime minister for the Palestinian Authority. His appointment is seen as an attempt to appease U.S. demands for reform
• Shri B. Sairam, a graduate mining engineer from NIT Raipur and a PGDM holder in Energy Management, assumed charge as the new Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) on March 14, 2024. He has over 33 years of experience in the coal sector and has served in various capacities, including Director (Technical) in Central Coalfields Limited.
• Awards & Honours:
• The Chameli Devi Jain Award 2024 for Outstanding Woman Media Person was awarded to Greeshma Kuthar and Ritika Chopra on March 15, 2024. The award is named after Chameli Devi Jain, a freedom fighter and community reformer.
• Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Sons, was awarded the PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Award on March 15 for his significant contributions to philanthropy. His efforts have made a positive impact on numerous communities across India. He has donated more than half of his income to charity, both individually and through Tata Trusts.

Questions:

Q.1 Who was awarded the PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Award on March 15?
a. Mukesh Ambani
b. Ratan Tata
c. Anand Mahindra
d. Azim Premji
Q.2 Where was ‘ETHANOL 100’ launched?
a. Mumbai
b. Bangalore
c. New Delhi
d. Chennai