Current Affairs One - Liner : 27th March 2024

• National:
• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has amended the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) regulations to prevent fraudulent SIM swap activities. From July 1, 2024, users must wait for seven days to port from one network to another after a SIM swap or replacement. This rule doesn’t apply to SIM upgrades (like 3G to 4G/5G), which are authorized by a one-time password (OTP).

• The 4th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Startup Forum was held in New Delhi on 19th March 2024. The forum aimed to foster innovation and job creation among the SCO Member States. Over 15 SCO startups showcased their products and services. A workshop on ‘Establishing a Seed Fund’ was conducted by Startup India. A Special Working Group for Startups and Innovation (SWG) was created, to be permanently chaired by India in SCO.
• On March 27, 2024, the Supreme Court of India expressed concern over wealthy individuals obtaining pre-trial injunctions against the media and civil society. The court emphasized the importance of protecting journalistic expression and suggested that pre-trial injunctions should only be granted in exceptional cases.
• On March 25, 2024, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) connected the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road in Ladakh. This 298-km road provides a third connection to Ladakh, alongside the existing Manali-Leh and Srinagar-Leh routes. The new road is shorter and crosses only one pass, Shinkun La, where a tunnel is planned for all-weather connectivity.
• On World Kabaddi Day, March 24, 2024, India set a new Guinness World Record with 128 players participating in a single kabaddi match. The event took place in Panchkula, Haryana, and lasted for three hours. The previous record was 84 players. The certificate was received by the Governor of Haryana, Bandaru Dattatreya.
• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is delisting 18 monuments from its centrally protected list due to diminished national significance or being untraceable. This allows for regular construction and urban activities near these sites. The ASI’s total protected monuments will reduce from 3,693 to 3,675.
• The Allahabad High Court has declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrasa Education Act 2004 as ‘unconstitutional’. The act was found to violate the principle of secularism. The court has directed the state government to integrate current madrasa students into the formal schooling system.
• International:
• The Indian Coast Guard Ship Samudra Paheredar, a pollution control vessel, arrived at Manila Bay, Philippines on 25 March 2024. This is part of an overseas deployment to ASEAN countries. The ship is demonstrating its marine pollution response capabilities and strengthening bilateral relationships with key maritime agencies in the region. The ship is under the command of Deputy Inspector General Sudhir Ravindran.
• The UN Security Council has passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza for Ramadan. The resolution, known as Resolution 2728, was adopted with 14 votes in favor and the US abstaining. It also calls for the release of hostages and ensuring humanitarian access to Gaza.
• Banking:
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 6 lakh on The Mandi Cooperative Bank for breaching prudential inter-bank exposure limits during the financial year 2022. This violation led to a breach of the RBI’s directives on the placement of deposits with other banks by Primary Urban Co-operative Banks
• Tata Sons sold about 0.65% of its stake in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for approximately Rs 9,300 crore. The sale was executed through an open market route and the shares of TCS fell by over 3% following this divestment. The funds raised could be used for Tata Sons’ growth plans and to strengthen its balance sheet.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) directed the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) to stop inflows into overseas schemes of Mutual Funds from April 1, 2024. This decision was communicated to AMFI on March 20, 2024. The directive was issued as the inflows were nearing the overall limit of $1 billion set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The mutual fund industry and SEBI have requested the RBI to increase these limits.
• Apps & Portals:
• Aditya Birla Housing Finance launched a digital lending platform “ABHFL-Finverse” on March 21, 2024. The platform aims to simplify the home loan process, offering real-time updates, seamless navigation, and a completely paperless experience. The platform was co-created with Tata Consultancy Services.
• Sports:
• Sreeja Akula, the world No. 47, won the women’s singles title at the WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024 table tennis tournament. The tournament took place at the Al Kawthar Secondary School in Lebanon. She defeated Luxembourg’s Sarah De Nutte 3-1 (6-11, 12-10, 11-5, 11-9) to win what was her second WTT singles career title.
• The 3rd Sub Junior National Boxing Championship was held in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh from March 18 to 25, 2024. Haryana won the championship in both boys and girls categories with a total of 19 medals. Delhi and Maharashtra were the runners-up in the girls’ category, while Uttarakhand and UP secured the second and third positions in the boys’ category.
• Important Days:
• The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is observed annually on March 24. It honors victims of gross human rights violations and promotes the right to truth and justice.
• The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is observed annually on March 25. In 2024, the theme was “Stories of Courage: Resistance to Slavery and Unity against Racism”. The day honors the millions of Africans who were enslaved over 400 years and calls for reparatory justice frameworks to address the enduring disparities and inequalities that stem from this history.
• World Theatre Day is celebrated annually on March 27. Initiated by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in 1962, it’s marked by various theatre events worldwide. Each year, a global figure is invited to share a message on the theme of Theatre and a Culture of Peace. The theme for 2024 is ‘Theatre and a Culture of Peace’, and the message, ‘Art is Peace’, was written by Norwegian writer and playwright Jon Fosse.
• Appointments:
• Abhay Thakur, a senior diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service, was appointed as India’s ambassador to Myanmar on March 26, 2024. His appointment comes at a crucial time amid Myanmar’s ongoing political crisis.
• Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra was announced as the new brand ambassador for Eveready Industries India on March 21, 2024. This collaboration also marked the launch of the new Ultima Alkaline battery series.
• Hansha Mishra, an IA&AS officer of the 2010 batch, has been appointed as Director in the UPSC. This appointment is under the Central Staffing Scheme for a period of five years. She was recommended for the Central deputation by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
• Obituaries:
• Popular Tamil actor Lakshmi Narayanan Seshu, known for his work in films and the comedy show Lollu Sabha, passed away at the age of 60 on March 26, 2024. He was undergoing treatment after a heart attack.

Questions:

Q.1 Who won the women’s singles title at the WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024 table tennis tournament?
a. Sarah De Nutte
b. Sreeja Akula
c. Al Kawthar
d. None of the above
Q.2 Who was appointed as India’s ambassador to Myanmar on March 26, 2024?
a. Narendra Modi
b. Rajnath Singh
c. Sushma Swaraj
d. Abhay Thakur