Current Affairs March 2018 PDF Updated

CURRENT AFFAIRS MARCH 2018 PDF
AWARDS & HONOURS

Name of the Award Award Winner Additional Information
Laureus World Sportsman of Roger Federer Award ceremony was held in
the Year and Comeback of the Monaco
Year
Laureus World Sportswoman Serena Williams
of the Year
Laureus Best Sporting Moment Chapecoense - Brazilian In 2016 plane crash, they lost
of the Year football club the majority of their team.
Pride of Birmingham award Harry Athwal He risked his life to help a
fatally injured young boy in the
last years Barcelona terror
attack.
World’s best Airport Delhi and Mumbai airports Given by quality rating
company Airports Service
Quality
Pritzker Architecture Prize Balkrishna Doshi Previous winners - Zaha Hadid,
Frank Gehry, IM Pei, and
Shigeru Ban.
Brain Prize by The Lundbeck European researchers Bart De Awarded for their
Foundation Strooper, Michel Goedert, groundbreaking research on
Christian Haass, and John the genetic and molecular
Hardy basis of Alzheimer’s disease.
Godavari Gaurav Award Amol Palekar He is an Actor
Madame Tussauds wax Actor Sathyaraj - ‘Kattappa’ in All set to get a wax statue.
museum ‘Baahubali’
Cricketer of the Year by KL Rahul -
Wisden India Almanack
Most successful Indian and Virat Kohli -
international cricketer
World’s best teacher Andria Zafirakou She visiting pupils’ homes,
holding extra lessons and
organising sports clubs for girls
from conservative
communities.
Instagram’s ‘Most Engaged Virat Kohli -
Account’
Most Followed Account at Deepika Padukone -
Instagram India
2018 PRWeek US award ‘We Are Sikhs’ campaign Category - Public Cause
Most Improved Airport Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Awarded by the Airports
International Airport in Council International (ACI)
Ahmedabad
Nari Shakti Award Justice Gita Mittal India’s highest civilian honour
for women. A total of 30
women and organizations
were awarded.
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Abel Prize - Awarded annually Canadian Mathematician Awarded for his connecting
by Norwegian Academy of Robert P Langlands representation theory to
Science and Letters. number theory.
2017 Kochon Prize for TB Indian Council of Medical -
Research Research (ICMR)
G.K. Reddy Memorial National Karan Thapar Award presented by former
Award Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh
Chhattisgarh National Water Digest Award Awarded for Water
Conservation-Diversion and for
increasing the irrigation
capacity in the State.
Indian Film - Halkaa Grand Prix de Montreal Award Directed by Nila Madhab
at 21st Festival International Panda
du Film Pour Enfants de
Montreal Film (FIFEM)
India Best Exhibitor Award ITB- Berlin World Tourist Meet
Robert P. Langlands Abel Prize 2018 Canadian mathematician
Complete List of 90th Academy Award Winners
 Best Picture: “The Shape of Water”

 Director: Guillermo del Toro, “The Shape of Water”
 Actor: Gary Oldman, “Darkest Hour”
 Actress: Frances McDormand, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
 Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”
 Supporting Actress: Allison Janney, “I, Tonya”
 Original Screenplay: “Get Out”
 Adapted Screenplay: “Call Me by Your Name”
 Foreign Language Film: “A Fantastic Woman”
 Animated Feature: “Coco”
 Visual Effects: “Blade Runner 2049”
 Film Editing: “Dunkirk”
 Animated Short: “Dear Basketball”
 Live Action Short: “The Silent Child”
 Documentary Short: “Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405”
 Score: “The Shape of Water”
 Song: “Remember Me” from “Coco”
 Production Design: “The Shape of Water”
 Cinematography: “Blade Runner 2049”
 Costume Design: “Phantom Thread”
 Makeup and Hairstyling: “Darkest Hour”
 Documentary Feature: “Icarus”
 Sound Editing: “Dunkirk”
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 Sound Mixing: “Dunkirk”
PADMA AWARDS
PADMA VIBHUSAN AWARD WINNERS
Name Field State

Shri Illaiyaraja Art-Music Tamil Nadu
Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan Art-Music Maharashtra
Shri Parameswaran Parameswaran Literature and Education Kerala
PADMA BHUSHAN AWARD WINNERS
Name Field State

Shri Philipose Mar Chrysostom Others-Spiritualism Kerala
Dr. Ramachandran Nagaswamy Others-Archaeology Tamil Nadu
Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda (OCI) Literature and Education USA
Pandit Arvind Parikh Art-Music Maharashtra
PADMA SHRI AWARD WINNERS
Name Field State

Shri Anwar Jalalpuri (Posthumous) Literature and Education Uttar Pradesh
Ms. Nouf Almarwaai (Foreigner) Others- Yoga Saudi Arabia
Dr. Rani Bang Medicine Maharashtra
Dr. Abhay Bang Medicine Maharashtra
Shri Mohan Swaroop Bhatia Art-Folk Music Uttar Pradesh
Shri Narayan Das Maharaj Others-Spiritualism Rajasthan
Shri Somdev Devvarman Sports-Tennis Tripura
Dr. Yeshi Dhoden Medicine Himachal Pradesh
Shri Arup Kumar Dutta Literature and Education Assam
Shri Arvind Kumar Gupta Literature and Education Maharashtra
Shri Digamber Hansda Literature and Education Jharkhand
Shri Piyong Temjen Jamir Literature and Education Nagaland
Ms. Malti Joshi Literature and Education Madhya Pradesh
Shri Pran Kishore Kaul Art Jammu and Kashmir
Ms. Lakshmikutty Medicine-Traditional Kerala
Dr. Joyshree Goswami Mahanta Literature and Education Assam
Shri Pravakara Maharana Art-Sculpture Odisha
Shri Krishna Bihari Mishra Literature and Education West Bengal
Ms. Subhasini Mistry Social Work West Bengal
Ms. V Nanammal Others-Yoga Tamil Nadu
Ms. Sulagitti Narasamma Social Work Karnataka
Shri Gobaradhan Panika Art-Weaving Odisha
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Shri Murlikant Petkar Sports-Swimming Maharashtra
Shri Sampat Tukaram Ramteke Social Work Maharashtra
(Posthumous)
Shri S S Rathore Civil Service Gujarat
Shri Amitava Roy Science and Engineering West Bengal
Shri R Sathyanarayana Art-Music Karnataka
Shri Bhajju Shyam Art-Painting Madhya Pradesh
Shri Maharao Raghuveer Singh Literature and Education Rajasthan
Shri Kidambi Srikanth Sports-Badminton Andhra Pradesh
Ms. Lentina Ao Thakkar Social Work Nagaland
Shri Rudrapatnam Narayanaswamy Art-Music Karnataka
Tharanathan (Duo)
Shri Rajagopalan Vasudevan Science and Engineering Tamil Nadu
Shri Manas Bihari Verma Science and Engineering Bihar
Shri Baba Yogendra Art Madhya Pradesh
Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards
The President Ram Nath Kovind conferred three Kirti Chakras and 17 Shaurya Chakras to
Armed Forces Personnel for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and
extreme devotion to duty at a solemn ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. One Kirti Chakra
and five of the Shaurya Chakras were given posthumously.
The President also conferred fourteen Param Vishisht Seva Medals, one Uttam Yudh Seva
Medals and twenty two Ati Vishisht Seva Medals to senior officers of the Armed Forces for
distinguished service of an exceptional order.
SHAURYA CHAKRA
1. NK Chandra Singh
2. Major Satish Dahiya
3. Const Manzoor Ahmad Naik
4. Sergeant Khairnar Milind Kishor
5. CPL Nilesh Kumar Nayan
KIRTI CHAKRA
1. Chetan Kumar Cheeta

2. Major Vijayant Bist
3. Major David Manlun
UTTAM YUDDH SEVA MEDAL
Lieutenant General Ajae Kumar Sharma
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APPOINTMENTS
Name Department/Field Additional Information
Angela Merkel Germany’s Chancellor It’s her fourth term
Krishna Kumari Kohli Pakistan’s first Hindu Dalit Elected from Pak’s Sindh
woman Senator province
Sunil Gavaskar Commissioner of the inaugural -
edition of the T20 Mumbai
League
Mahendra Singh Dhoni Brand Ambassador of Snickers
Roelant Oltmans Chief coach of the Pakistan Previously Oltmans was India’s
men’s hockey team Chief coach.
Neiphiu Rio Nagaland’s Chief Minister Fourth time that Rio has taken
over as the CM of the state.
Sanjeev Gupta UK skills ambassador Appointed by Britain’s Prince
Charles
Suresh Prabhu Additional charge of the Civil -
Aviation Ministry
Virat Kohli Brand Ambassador for Uber -
India
Biplab Deb Chief Minister of Tripura First BJP Government in the
state.
Conrad Sangma Chief Minister of Meghalaya
Catherine De Bolle European Union Agency for First Woman to take over.
Law Enforcement Cooperation
(Europol)’s Executive Director
Chinese President Xi Jinping Unanimously re-elected to First leader to take oath on the
serve indefinitely. Constitution.
Vladimir Putin President of Russia Elected for fourth term.
Sunil Nayyar Managing Director of Sony First Indian to lead the role
India
Satya Pal Malik Additional charge as Governor Bihar Governor - Satya Pal
of Odisha Malik
Li Keqiang China’s Prime Minister Second Term
John Bolton US’ National Security Adviser Appointed by US President
Donald Trump
Balesh Sharma CEO of Vodafone-Idea India Kumar Mangalam Birla will be
merged entity the non-executive Chairman of
the merged company.
Praveer Sinha CEO and MD of Tata Power -
Bidya Devi Bhandari Nepal’s President Re-elected for second term
Neil Basu Chief of Scotland Yard's Indian origin UK Officer
Counter Terrorism Unit
Viswanathan Anand Run Adam’s Brand Run Adam - an analytics-based
Ambassador sporting platform.
Gina Haspel CIA’s first female Director CIA – Central Intelligence
Agency
Martin Vizcarra President of Peru Previously he was Peru's first
vice president and ambassador
to Canada.
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Professor J S Rajput India’s representative to the Former Director of NCERT
Executive Board (EXB) of
UNESCO
Yi Gang Governor of People’s Bank of He is an Economist
China
Sangeeta Bahadur India’s Ambassador to the She is currently an Additional
Republic of Belarus Secretary in Ministry of
External Affairs
Larry Kudlow Trump’s new Economic -
Adviser
Armen Sarkisian President of Armenia He was the Ambassador to UK
MS Dhoni Brand Ambassador of gaming -
platform Dream11
Prakriti First direct-entry combat -
officer in the Indo-Tibetan
Border Police.
Ranbir Kapoor Brand Ambassador of Yatra -
App
Praveen Sinha CEO and MD of Tata Powers He will succeed Anil Sardana
Rahul Dravid Election icon for Karnataka Karnataka Election Date – May
state Assembly 12
Sergio Buniac Motorolo’s President and Buniac will be replacing Aymar
Chairman de Lencquesaing
Win Myint President of Myanmar President Htin Kyaw resigned.
Krishnaswamy Vijay Raghavan Principal Scientific Adviser To He will succeed physicist
The Government Of India Rajagopala Chidambaram
Rosemary DiCarlo United Nations’ Political Affairs She is an American diplomat
chief
Kane Williamson Captain of IPL franchise He replaces Australian
SunRisers Hyderabad cricketer David Warner
Shekhar Kapur Chairman of the central panel Veteran director
of the 65th National Film
Awards.
Ashok Gehlot General Secretary In-Charge, Appointed by Rahul Gandhi
Organisation, Training of the
All India Congress Committee
(AICC)
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CURRENT AFFAIRS RELATED TOBANKING
No transaction fees on booking rail tickets with debit cards
The Indian Railways has announced that Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) charges won't be
levied on passengers for booking railway tickets through debit cards. These transactions
include those made at the railway ticketing counters as well as through IRCTC ticketing
website. However, the exemption has been granted only on the bookings made for an amount
of up to ₹1 lakh.
Deadline to link Aadhaar with PAN extended to June 30
The government has extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar with Permanent Account
Number (PAN) to June 30. This is the fourth time that the government has extended the
deadline. Earlier, the Supreme Court indefinitely extended the March 31 deadline for linking
Aadhaar with bank accounts and mobile numbers till a five-judge bench delivers a judgment
on the matter.
Core sector grows at 6.7% in January 2018
Growth in the country’s core sector accelerated to 6.7% in January, 2018 from 3.4% a year
ago thanks to a huge jump in the output of cement and petroleum refinery, and a robust
performance by the electricity sector. The growth in eight core sectors, which comprise
40.27% of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), was 4.2% in
December and 7.4% in November, 2017.
Indian economy grew at 7.2% in third quarter: Government
The Indian economy grew at five quarter high of 7.2 per cent in the October-December period
reflecting overall recovery due to good show by agriculture, manufacturing, construction and
certain services.
 The gross valued added for manufacturing in the quarter under review grew at 8.9 per
cent higher than 6.9 per cent in the previous quarter.
 Similarly, the farm sector GVA grew at 4.1 per cent compared to 2.7 per cent in the
previous quarter.
 The construction sector recorded a growth of 6.8 per cent, higher than 2.8 per cent in
previous quarter.
 The services segment including financial services grew at rate of 6.7 per cent up from
6.4 per cent in previous quarter.
Government sets up panel on Fintech to make regulations more flexible
The government has set up a panel to find ways to make it easier for financial technology
firms to do business and for authorities to deploy their services to further the goals of financial
inclusion. The eight-member panel, led by department of economic affairs secretary Subhash
Chandra Garg, will find ways of using fintech in “critical sectors of the economy”, including
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the financing of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), delivery of e-services to the
vulnerable sections of society, and management of land records and other government
services.
Paytm unveils 'Paytm for Business' mobile app for TN
Mobile wallet company Paytm has come out with an business application aimed at serving
merchants in Tamil Nadu who can track payments, navigate past collections and can also
make settlements instantly. The 'Paytm for Business' app, available on Android Play Store, for
merchants and business partners who accept Paytm at their offline stores in the state. The
new mobile application allows Paytm's three lakh strong merchant base in Tamil Nadu to
make payments instantly, navigate past collections and track settlements made to their bank
accounts.
RBI imposes ₹40 lakh penalty on SBI over counterfeit notes
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on 1 March imposed a Rs 40 lakh penalty on State Bank of India
(SBI) for not following the central bank’s rules on detection and impounding of counterfeit
currency notes. The currency chest inspection of two branches of the bank revealed, inter
alia, violation of the instructions issued by RBI on detection and impounding of counterfeit
notes.
Dearness Allowance hiked to 7% for central govt employees
The Union Cabinet has increased the dearness allowance (DA) for its 11 million employees
and pensioners to 7 per cent from 5 per cent, from January 1, 2018. According to the
statement, the hike will benefit about 48.41 lakh central government employees and 61.17
lakh pensioners.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approves India’s membership
India is all set to become the 69th member of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (EBRD) after shareholders of the international financial institution gave their
nod to the country’s candidature.
ABOUT EBRD:
 The London-headquartered EBRD is a multilateral development bank set up in 1991

after the fall of the Berlin wall to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in
emerging Europe.
 It invests in 38 emerging economies across three continents, according to a set of
criteria that aim to make its countries more competitive, better governed, greener,
more inclusive, more resilient and more integrated.
RBI stops issuance of LoUs for trade credits after PNB fraud
The RBI has discontinued the issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Letters of Comfort
(LoCs) for import trade credits. This comes after Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi's firms
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allegedly defrauded PNB of $2 billion by raising overseas credit using fraudulent LoUs. An LoU
is an assurance given by one bank to another to meet liabilities on a customer's behalf.
Cheque books of six banks that merged with SBI to be invalid
India's largest lender SBI has reminded its customers that cheque books of six banks that
merged with it will become invalid after March 31. Customers of erstwhile associate banks
and Bharatiya Mahila Bank have been asked to apply for new cheque books to avoid
inconvenience. Customers can apply through Internet banking, mobile banking, ATM or by
visiting their home branch.
PNB starts Mission Parivartan to curb repeat of another Nirav Modi scam
Hit hard by the Rs 130 billion scam, PNB has decided to tighten loan disbursement and set up
a monitoring mechanism to check loan slippages and fraud. A new monitoring group will be
set up to keep track of whether cash flow from projects is being used to repay bank loans and
that there are no slippages.
This will be tried out as a pilot in some branches before a roll out nationally in the next 6
months. These changes are being made as part of Mission Parivartan drive which the bank
has embarked recently.
SC extends Aadhaar linking deadline for mobile, bank account
In a major relief to those who still haven't linked their Aadhaar cards with bank accounts and
mobile numbers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the deadline from March 31
indefinitely till the final judgement in the controversial case. The apex court is hearing the
case on the constitutional validity of the government's biometrical identification
scheme. However, it is still mandatory to link your welfare schemes with Aadhaar to get
benefits under Article 7 before the deadline.
SBI lowers minimum balance charges from ₹50 to ₹15 per month
SBI has slashed charges for non-maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) for
customers in Metro and Urban centres from a maximum of ₹50 per month to ₹15 per month.
Similarly, for Semi-Urban and Rural centres, the charges have been reduced from ₹40 to ₹12
and ₹10 respectively. The changes, effective April 1, will benefit 25 crore savings account
customers.
India’s growth will touch 7.3% next fiscal: Fitch
Rating agency Fitch has projected India's economic growth to rise to 7.3% next fiscal and
further to 7.5% in 2019-20. The agency said the disruptions related to the Goods and Services
Tax (GST) rollout in July 2017 have gradually diminished. It added the currency in circulation
recovered to its pre-demonetisation level in mid-2017 and is now increasing steadily.
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India's GST rate second highest in the world: World Bank
Rating agency Fitch has projected India's economic growth to rise to 7.3% next fiscal and
further to 7.5% in 2019-20. The agency said the disruptions related to the Goods and Services
Tax (GST) rollout in July 2017 have gradually diminished. It added the currency in circulation
recovered to its pre-demonetisation level in mid-2017 and is now increasing steadily.
HDFC Bank blocks use of its cards for cryptocurrency trading
Private sector lender HDFC Bank has barred the use of its credit, debit and prepaid cards to
buy or trade in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. This comes after multiple warnings by the RBI
and the government regarding the potential economic, legal and security-related risks
associated with cryptocurrencies. Earlier, Citibank India also banned the use of its cards for
buying cryptocurrencies.
Amazon launches its first-ever debit card in Mexico
E-commerce major Amazon has launched its first-ever debit card called 'Amazon
Rechargeable' in Mexico. Customers who do not have a credit or debit card will be able to
convert cash into a payment method in an easy way through Amazon's debit card, the
company said. Last year, Amazon launched cash payments service in the country.
Aadhaar must for new bank account, tatkal passport: UIDAI
The UIDAI said the requirement of Aadhaar for opening new bank accounts or applying for
Tatkal passports will continue, while the deadline for linking it to existing bank accounts and
PAN has been extended by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has also extended the
March 31 deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail various services and welfare
schemes run by the government till its constitution bench delivered its verdict on the validity
of the 12-digit biometric number and its enabling law.
India's trade deficit narrows to $12 billion in February
India's trade deficit narrowed to $12 billion in February from $16.3 billion in the previous
month, government data showed on Thursday. Imports for the month of February stood at
$37.8 billion, up 10.4% whereas exports stood at $25.8 billion rising 4.5%. The rise in imports
was led by higher crude oil prices, the government added.
Climate change could create 14 crore migrants: World Bank
More than 14 crore people across south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America could be
forced to migrate by 2050 due to climate change, the World Bank has said. However, the
climate-driven migration crisis could be prevented if "we take action now and act boldly", it
added. The three regions account for 55% of the developing world's population.
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Government scraps 20% sugar export duty to boost sales
The government has scrapped the 20% sugar export tax to help boost overseas sales in a year
of surplus production. India is expected to produce a record 29.5 million tonnes of sugar in
the current 2017-18 marketing season, according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association. India
is notably the world's second-largest producer of sugar after Brazil.
Equitas Bank Ties Up With CSK
Equitas Small Finance Bank has launched a new ‘Yellow Army Savings Account’ to increase its
customer base through its association with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), a franchise of the
Indian Premium League (IPL). The yellow army savings account will offer an interest rate of
6% per annum for balance below Rs10 lakh and 6.5% per annum for balance above Rs10 lakh.
The average quarterly balance requirement will be Rs 10,000 per account.
Bandhan Bank becomes India's 8th most valued bank
Private sector lender Bandhan Bank has become India's eighth most valued bank with a
market capitalisation of over ₹56,000 crore, overtaking Bank of Baroda and PNB. This comes
after shares of Bandhan Bank surged 27.25% in its debut trade on the bourses. Notably, HDFC
Bank is India's most valued bank with a market value of ₹4.9 lakh crore.
SoftBank to create world's biggest solar power firm in Saudi
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank's CEO Masayoshi Son said he has signed a memorandum of
understanding with Saudi Arabia to create the world's biggest solar power generation
company. Son said he expects the solar project to have the
Fortis-Manipal merge biz to form India's top healthcare firm
Fortis Healthcare Limited has decided to sell its hospital business to TPG Capital-backed
Manipal Health Enterprises Private Limited to create India's largest healthcare service
provider by revenue. The combination of Fortis and Manipal will outrank Apollo Hospitals
Enterprise Limited and will have 41 hospitals in India, four hospitals overseas and over 11,000
installed beds.
Exim Bank Extends $500 Million Loan Facility To 15-Nation Group In Africa
The Export-Import Bank, Exim Bank announced that it will provide a USD 500 million credit
facility to Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to fund various
development projects in western-south Africa.
According to the Bank, with the signing of line of credit (LoC) agreement, the Bank till date
has extended four LoCs to the Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) of West African
States, taking the total value of LOCs to USD 1,000 million. The LoC of USD 500 million is an
umbrella limit for financing developmental projects in 15-member countries.
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NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission Signs SOI With SAP Global
NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission announced the signing of a Statement of Intent (SOI)
with SAP to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. As part of the SOI, SAP in
2018 will adopt 100 Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) for five years to nurture the science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning among secondary school children
across India.
RBI imposes ₹59 crore penalty on ICICI Bank
The RBI has penalised India's third-largest lender ICICI Bank with ₹58.9 crore for failing to
comply with held-to-maturity (HTM) guidelines. The penalty is for non-compliance with
directions issued on direct sale of securities from its HTM portfolio and specified disclosure in
this regard. This is the highest penalty imposed by the RBI on a bank for a single incident.
Oyo launches its own cryptocurrency 'Oyo Smart Coin'
Gurugram-based hotel aggregator Oyo has launched its own cryptocurrency called 'Oyo Smart
Coin'. Using the cryptocurrency, customers will be able to transact with reduced prices. It will
also enable Oyo's travel partners to directly offer benefits to the consumers and market to
them.
Banks to remain open till 8 pm on March 31: RBI
The RBI has said all banks that conduct government banking will remain open till 8 pm on
March 31 for greater convenience of taxpayers. The central bank allowed that electronic
transactions can be done till midnight on that day beyond the routine business hours.
However, the centralised payments services such as RTGS and NEFT will remain closed on
April 2.
Finmin asks RBI to help ease industry troubles post LoU ban
The finance ministry has asked RBI to look into the problems being faced by industry and
banks by the abrupt ban on LoUs, and provide some breathing space to them. Reserve Bank
of India this month banned issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Letters of Comfort
(LoC), used extensively for trade finance, following the unearthing of Nirav Modi fraud case.
INDIAN AFFAIRS
India ranks third on Hurun rich list with 131 billionaires
India replaced Germany to reclaim the third spot on the Hurun Global Rich List 2018 with 131
billionaires. India added 31 new billionaires over the last year while the combined wealth of
the Indian billionaires increased by 49% to $454 billion. The Hurun report added that there
are a total of 170 Indian-origin billionaires globally.
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India world's largest arms importer over last 5 yrs: Report
India was the largest weapons importer in the world over the last five years, accounting for
12% of the total global imports, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace
Research Institute. While Russia was India's largest supplier, accounting for 62% of the
imports, imports from the US rose by 557%, making it the second largest supplier.
85% pictorial warning on tobacco packs extended till Aug 31
The Health Ministry has extended the duration of existing rules for health warnings on
tobacco products, which require 85% of the display area to be covered in warnings, till August
31. The 85% rule was introduced in April 2016 and was due to be changed on March 31 after
a 24-month rotation period.
UP Assembly passes anti-organised crime bill
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly has passed the Uttar Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act
(UPCOCA) 2017 bill, which aims to tackle organised crime with strict punishment. The hearing
of those arrested under this bill will be done in special courts and the minimum punishment
is a 7-year jail term. The bill covers kidnapping, illegal mining, extortion, among others.
Ministry Of Power Joins Hands With Skill India To Support Saubhagya Scheme
Ministry of Power partnered with the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship to
train the manpower in six states (Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Uttar
Pradesh) for speedy implementation of its SAUBHAGYA scheme. SAUBHAGYA (Pradhan
Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna) aims to achieve universal household electrification in all
parts of the country in a time-bound manner. Around 4 crore households are expected to get
electricity connections under the scheme. A special project under the PMKVY has also been
launched in these Six States.
Around 3 lakh houses Affordable Houses Sanctioned For Urban Poor Under PMAY
Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs approved the construction of 3,21,567 more affordable
houses for the benefit of urban poor under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) with an
investment of Rs18,203 crore with central assistance of Rs4,752 crore.
The approval was given in the 32nd meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring
Committee (CSMC) held in New Delhi. The projects were sanctioned across 523 cities in the
states of Haryana, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Mizoram, Karnataka,
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab & Goa.
Govt seeks details from FB regarding data breach by April 7
The Indian government has given Facebook till April 7 to respond to a letter seeking details of
the data breach by Cambridge Analytica. This comes after the Election Commission of India
announced it will continue its partnership with Facebook. Earlier, the IT Ministry issued a
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notice to Facebook, asking whether personal data of users was exploited to influence Indian
elections.
Government to sell 76% stake in debt-ridden Air India
The government said it will sell 76% stake in state-run Air India and 100% stake in
international subsidiary Air India Express. The government has set the minimum net worth
criteria for companies or consortiums bidding for Air India at ₹5,000 crore. Professional
services firm Ernst & Young LLP India will be the sole transaction advisor for the
disinvestment.
Three Indian cities named among world's 10 cheapest cities
Bengaluru has been named as the 5th cheapest city in the world in Economist Intelligence
Unit's 2018 Cost of Living Index. While Chennai has been ranked as the 8th cheapest location,
New Delhi was listed on the 10th spot. The survey mentioned that within Asia, the best value
for money has traditionally been particularly offered by Indian and Pakistani cities.
Sukhad Yatra App and Toll-free Emergency number for Highway users launched
Sukhad Yatra mobile application has been prepared by National Highways Authority of India,
NHAI, to empower the Highway user.
 The key feature of the app includes provision for the user to enter road quality-related
information or to report any accident or pothole on the highway.
 It also provides users with real-time data related to waiting time expected at Plazas
and various facilities like points of interest, highway nest/nest mini, etc., available
across the highway.
 The app can also be used by the users to purchase the FASTag tag and further facilitate
the highway user experience.
India's Biggest M&E Services Market, enTTech 2018 inaugurated in Mumbai
India's biggest Media & Entertainment Services Market – enTTech 2018 was inaugurated in
Mumbai. The market, spread over two days (March 7 – 8, 2018) will see fast matchmaking
between 100 international delegates and their Indian counterparts. The aim of enTTech is to
be the one-source stop for service industry in the M&E market.
Delhi, Mumbai airports rated world's best in service quality
The Delhi and Mumbai airports have been rated the world's best, in the highest category of
handling over 40 million passengers per annum, by quality rating company Airports Service
Quality. With 63.5 million passengers flying through the Delhi airport in 2017, it has become
Asia's seventh busiest airport. It has also been ranked among the world's top 20 busiest
airports.
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Indian Railways plans provision of cheap bio-degradable pads at 8,000 stations
Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said he wants to run a campaign, ensuring that all
women are provided with the benefit of bio-degradable sanitary pads in rural areas. The
Railway Minister also said that he was exploring the possibility of facilitating manufacturing
units for cheap and bio-degradable sanitary pads at 8,000 railway stations of the country.
Union Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurates FICCI Frames 2018
Union Information and Broadcasting and Textiles Minister Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurated FICCI
Frames 2018,with the theme ‘Creative Future: Coronation of Digital Consumer’, in Mumbai.
The inauguration was followed by a conversation between Irani and Karan Johar, Filmmaker
and Chief Mentor, FICCI.
Amazon launches music streaming service in India
E-commerce giant Amazon has launched ads-free music streaming service called Amazon
Music in India as part of Amazon's Prime subscription. Users can access the service via apps
on Android, iOS, macOS, as well as the web browser. The music service, which supports 12
Indian languages, will compete with Tencent-backed rival Gaana and Apple's music service.
Govt approves ₹2,900cr Nirbhaya Fund to create 8 safe cities
The central government has approved ₹2,919 crore under Nirbhaya Fund to create eight 'safe
cities' with a special focus on women safety. The cities will have patrolled public spaces and
quicker response systems to curb crimes against women. The cities listed by the Centre are
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Lucknow.
ICG C-162: Bharati Defence delivers interceptor boat to Coast Guard
Bharati Defence and Infrastructure Ltd. (BDIL), Mangaluru, has delivered an interceptor boat,
C-162, to the Indian Coast Guard. Sixth in a series of 15 high speed interceptor boats being
procured by the ICG, C-162 was launched on January 31 at BDIL and within 28 days, the vessel
completed harbour and sea trials successfully achieving speeds more than the contractual
limit of 35 knots, said a release from BDIL.
BSNL to invest Rs 4,300 crore for network expansion in 2018-19
State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) will invest about Rs 4,300 crore to expand
network in 2018-19, and another Rs 5,000-6,000 crore is likely to be the utilised for
government telecom projects. The investment of Rs 4,300 crore earmarked for BSNL’s own
expansion will primarily go into strengthening the mobile network, upgrading broadband
infrastructure and strengthening the core network.
BSNL's Chairman and Managing Director - Anupam Shrivastava
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India ranks 67th in fixed broadband speed globally at 20Mbps
India ranked 67th in fixed broadband speeds globally at 20.72 Mbps in February this year, as
per internet testing and analysis platform Ookla. While India ranked 109th in mobile internet
download speed, average download speeds rose to 9.01 Mbps in February from 8.80 Mbps
last year. Also, India's upload speeds for mobile data stood at 3.66 Mbps.
Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar opens for visitors
Srinagar's Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden, Asia's largest tulip garden, was opened for
visitors. This year, 12.5 lakh tulip bulbs of 48 varieties were sown in the garden by the
floriculture department, state Floriculture Minister Javaid Mustafa Mir said, adding that 20%
bloom was recorded on Sunday. Apart from the tulips, 40,000 hyacinth bulbs have also been
planted.
India's oldest city to go wireless 86yrs after getting power
The overhead cables in India's oldest city, Varanasi, are being dismantled and replaced with
underground lines 86 years after the city first got electricity. As a part of the process, a ₹432-
crore project aiming to lay down 16 sq km of underground lines was started in December
2015. The project, which is expected to serve 50,000 people, lasted two years.
Commerce ministry terminates anti-dumping probe on solar cells
The Commerce Ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied
Duties (DGAD) terminated its anti-dumping probe on imports of solar cells from China, Taiwan
and Malaysia. The probe was initiated by the DGAD on July 21, 2017 following complaints of
dumping of the product by the association. The Indian Solar Manufacturers Association has
made a request to terminate the present investigation.
e-Tribes India to be launched by Tribal Affairs Ministry
The “e-Tribes India” would be launched soon by the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry. The Launch
of e-Tribes includes www.tribesindia.com, www.trifed.in and Retail Inventory Software and
M-commerce app. Besides, the occasion will also mark the launch of ‘Tribes India’ Banners at
Amazon, Snapdeal, Paytm & GeM.
First International Exhibition of Graphic Prints held in New Delhi
The first-ever International Print Biennale, an International Exhibition of Graphic Prints was
held in New Delhi. It was organised by Lalit Kala Akademi. The event displayed a total of 200
original prints created by Indian and international artists of impeccable competence. Total
988 entries at the national level were received of which 127 were chosen for display.
India Becomes Fourth Largest Auto Market In The World
India has overtaken Germany to become the fourth largest automobile market in the world,
According to the latest global data. Automobile sales, including passenger and commercial
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vehicles, in Asia’s third-largest economy, grew 9.5%. It is the fastest among major global
markets, last year to more than 4 million units, outpacing Germany’s 3.8-million vehicle sales,
which rose by a modest 2.8% in the same period.
India Becomes 3rd Largest Electricity Producer In The World
India become the 3rd largest electricity producer in the world as its electricity production
grew 34% over seven years to 2017. The country now produces more energy than Japan and
Russia, which had 27% and 8.77% more electricity generation capacity installed, respectively,
than India seven years ago.
Navy warship INS Ganga decommissioned in Mumbai
INS Ganga, an indigenously built frigate of the Indian Navy, was decommissioned, after over
three decades of service. Commissioned on December 30, 1985, the ship represented a big
step forward in the nation's warship building capability. The chief guest for the ceremony was
Vice Admiral A K Bhal, himself a former crew member of the ship from 1989 to 1991.
INS Ganga (F22) is a Godavari-class guided-missile frigate of the Indian Navy. Built in Mumbai
by Mazagon Dock Limited, she was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 30 December 1985.
Chandrababu Naidu flags off Naipunya Ratham for digital literacy
World on Wheels (WoW) Project is an innovative initiative of HP Inc. India deploying self-
contained internet-enabled digital lab aimed at driving digital literacy, education
programming, entrepreneurship training and other community services in underserved areas,
said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu while flagging off the Naipunya Ratham at
Secretariat.
India 12th largest overseas holder of US securities in 2017
India's exposure to US government securities rose sharply to a high of $144.7 billion at the
end of 2017, according to latest official data. The country remained the 12th largest overseas
holder of such securities, just behind oil rich Saudi Arabia, whose holding stood at $147.4
billion in December 2017. India has been raising its holding of American government
securities during last year except for a few months when the total exposure had declined.
NFAI to host Women’s Film Festival, pay tribute to Sridevi
To mark the International Women’s Day, a Women’s Film Festival is being organized from
during March 9 – 11, 2018 at National Film Archives of India (NFAI), Pune The festival is being
organized jointly by NFAI, Aashay Film Club and the AAYAM Group of Women in Media. This
will be the 9th edition of the festival. The theme of this year’s edition is Travelling Women.
Mukesh Ambai richest Indian; Jeff Bezos tops global rich list
Mukesh Ambani’s net worth has soared to $40.1 billion, making him the richest Indian for the
11th year in a row, while Amazon founder Jeff Bezos toppled Bill Gates as the world’s
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wealthiest person, says Forbes. Bezos, referred to as the “Centi-billionaire”, topped the list
with a net worth of $112 billion, becoming the only person to appear in the Forbes list with a
12-figure fortune.
Azim Premji is the second richest Indian and was ranked 58th on the overall list with a net
worth of $18.8 billion, followed by Lakshmi Mittal (62nd position, net worth of $18.5 billion),
Shiv Nadar (98th, $14.6 billion) and Dilip Shanghvi (115th, $12.8 billion).
Government launches #YesIBleed menstrual hygiene campaign
On the occasion of International Women's Day 2018, Union Minister of State for Health and
Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey will launch the #YesIBleed menstrual hygiene
campaign. The objective of the campaign called "#Yes I Bleed" is to create a holistic approach
to the issue of menstruation, which is an experience that transcends culture, class, and caste.
HRD Ministry allocates Rs.1000 crore for research in S&T under IMPRINT-II
The Union Minister for Human Resources and Development, Prakash Javadekar said that in a
major boost for research and innovation in the country, the Central Government has
sanctioned a sum of Rs. 1000 crore for the phase two of the Impacting Research Innovation
and Technology (IMPRINT) India programme.
ABOUT IMPRINT - I PROGRAMME
Under the IMPRINT-I Programme, 142 projects at a cost of Rs. 318.71 crore are already under
implementation. These projects cover crucial domains like security and defence, information
technology, energy, sustainable habitat, advance materials, health care, nano technology,
climate change, etc. All these projects are expected to result in publications and also patents.
Two day Global Digital Summit at Kochi
In an attempt to place Kerala in the digital world map, the state government will organize its
first global digital summit, #FUTURE, in Kochi. The summit will be attended by over 2,000
professionals, entrepreneurs, academicians, key influencers and other stakeholders from
across the globe.
NITI Aayog launches Women Entrepreneurship Platform
NITI Aayog launched the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), on the occasion of
International Women’s Day. The initiative is aimed at building an ecosystem for women across
India to realise their entrepreneurial aspirations, scale-up innovative initiatives and chalk-out
sustainable, long-term strategies for their businesses. WEP was envisaged by the CEO NITI
Aayog during Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) last year in Hyderabad. It aims to power
a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem through an enabling network of industry collaborations,
partnerships, mentors and peer-to-peer connect.
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GOI launches 100% Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkin under Janaushadhi Pariyojana
The government of India has launched biodegradable sanitary napkins, priced at Rs 2.50 per
pad, on the eve of International Women's Day, which will be available at Pradhan Mantri
Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendras. The sanitary napkins will be available in a pack of
four pads for Rs 10 across over 3,200 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
(PMBJP) Kendras by May 28, 2018
Government launches Udyam Sakhi Portal for Women Entrepreneurs
On the occasion of International Women's Day, March 8,the Ministry of Micro, Small and
Medium Enterprises (MSME) launched a portal for women entrepreneurs of India:
www.udyamsakhi.org. The portal was unveiled by the Minister of State (Independent Charge)
of MSME, Giriraj Singh. The portal is a network for nurturing entrepreneurship and creating
business models for low cost products and services in order to empower women and make
them self-reliant and self-sufficient.
Railways stops online booking of i-Tickets from March 1
The Railways has withdrawn the sale of i-Tickets through its IRCTC website reportedly from
March 1. Launched in 2002, i-Tickets were same as tickets booked at the counters and were
delivered to the address specified by the passengers. IRCTC charged additional ₹80 per ticket
for sleeper class and ₹120 per ticket for AC classes for i-Tickets.
Arunachal tribals to get land ownership rights for 1st time
Arunachal Pradesh Assembly has passed Arunachal Pradesh Land Settlement and Records
Amendment Bill, 2018, which will allow the state's tribal people to have ownership rights over
their land for the first time. The bill caters to indigenous people, including communities and
clans possessing land possession certificates. It will also allow them to use their land as
collateral for loans.
Lok Sabha passes Finance Bill amid protests by Opposition
The Lok Sabha has passed the Finance Bill and Appropriation Bill with a voice vote amid
protests by the Opposition. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan used the guillotine method to get the
Finance Bill passed, whereby a fixed time is allotted for discussion for each ministry. Once the
prescribed time is over, all the outstanding demands are put to voice vote.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurates Asia-Pacific Regional Conference of IACP
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has inaugurated the two-day Asia-Pacific Regional Conference
of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, IACP in New Delhi. The theme of the
conference is "Challenges to Policing in 2020 - How is Cyber Space shaping our approach to
Cybercrime and Terrorism, how do we perform within it and take advantage of it".
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The IACP is the world's largest organization of Police and law enforcement executives that is
highly regarded for its role in identifying and responding to changing needs of the law
enforcement community.
India ranks 78th on WEF Energy Transition Index
India has been ranked at 78th, lower than its emerging market peers like Brazil and China,
among 114 countries on the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) energy transition index that was
topped by Sweden. The report titled Fostering Effective Energy Transition, ranks countries on
how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental
sustainability and affordability.
The overall list was topped by Sweden, followed by Norway at the 2nd position and
Switzerland at the 3rd rank. Other countries on the top 10 include Finland (4th), Denmark
(5th), the Netherlands (6th), the UK (7th), Austria (8th), France (9th) and Iceland (10th).
BJP wins Tripura for 1st time, displaces CPI(M) after 25 yrs
The BJP has defeated the CPI(M) in Tripura to form the state government for the first-ever
time after winning 35 seats. The CPI(M), which ruled the state for 25 years, reportedly won
16 seats in the 60-member Assembly with 43% vote share. BJP-ally Indigenous People's Front
of Tripura (IPFT) won 8 seats after fielding candidates in 9 constituencies.
Lok Sabha passes Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017
The Lok Sabha has passed a bill that seeks to increase the maximum limit of gratuity of
employees in the private and public sector from the present Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh.
The bill seeks to increase the maximum limit of gratuity of employees in the private sector
and in public sector undertakings and autonomous organisations under the government, who
are not covered under Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules, at par with the central
government employees.
The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 was enacted to provide for a scheme for the payment of
gratuity to employees engaged in factories, mines, oilfields, plantations, ports, railway
companies, shops or other establishments who have rendered a minimum five years of
continuous service with an establishment employing ten or more persons. The present upper
ceiling on gratuity amount under the Act is Rs 10 lakh.
Lok Sabha passes Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2017
The Lok Sabha passed the Specific Relief (Amendment) Bill, 2018 by a voice vote. The Bill seeks
to remove conditions of specific performance is limited right, which may be given by court at
its discretion and permit specific performance by courts as general rule. It adds limited liability
partnership (LLP), a new entity formed from amalgamation of two existing LLPs, one of which
may have entered into a contract before the amalgamation.
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LaQshya program launched to improve quality of maternity care
The Union Health Ministry recently announced the launch of LaQshya, a programme aimed
at improving quality of care in labour room and maternity operation theatre. The programme,
the Ministry claimed, will improve the quality of care for pregnant women in labour rooms,
maternity operation theatres, and obstetrics Intensive Care Units and High Dependency Units.
India has improved maternal survival as Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) reduced from 301
maternal deaths in 2001-03 to 167 in 2011-13, an impressive decline of 45% in a decade.
Krishi Unnati Mela begins in Delhi
Doubling the income of farmers by 2022 is another goal that the government is pursuing with
gusto. A 3-day Krishi Unnati Mela began in the national capital with the aim of bringing the
latest farming technology to the fields.
The centre is putting in sincere efforts to ensure welfare and progress of the farmers as the
Modi govt aims to double their income by 2022.to achieve this the govt has to ensure that
allied sectors like animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy farming ring in more revenues which
eventually would bring in 'achhe din'. The government has ensured that the schemes are
implemented at ground level so that the real beneficiaries are covered.
India inks $120 Million Loan agreement with to improve Rail Infrastructure
The Centre and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a loan agreement to the tune of
USD 120 million for the completion of works for double-tracking and electrification of railway
tracks along high-density corridors to improve operational efficiency of Indian railways. The
tranche 3 loan is part of the USD 500 million multi-tranche financing facility for the Railway
Sector Investment Program approved by the ADB Board in 2011. The loan amount will be used
to complete the ongoing works commenced under earlier tranches.
Big relief to Farmers: Urea subsidy to continue till 2020
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approves continuation of Urea Subsidy scheme till
2020 at a cost of 1 lakh 65 thousand crore rupees; Cabinet nod also given for direct benefit
transfer for disbursement of fertiliser subsidy. For sustained agricultural growth, the
availability of fertilizers to farmers at affordable prices is an absolute must. With urea being
the only controlled fertilizer,it is sold at statutory notified uniform sale price. The
implementation of DBT in Fertilizer sector will reduce diversion and plug the leakages.
PM Modi receives German President at Rashtrapati Bhavan
PM Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind has received German President Frank-
Walter Steinmeier at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Steinmeier, who is on a 5-day visit to India, is
accompanied by his wife Elke Büdenbender and will hold talks with PM Modi in areas of trade
and investment.
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India welcomes UN launch of decade of action on water
India has welcomed the launch of an ambitious decade for action on water, expressing hope
that concerted action by the international community will help in meeting the challenges of
ensuring sustainable solutions to the requirement of clean water. The Decade, launched on
March 22 on World Water Day, calls for a greater focus on the sustainable development and
integrated management of water resources.
India's first sign language dictionary released
Country's first-of-its-kind dictionary, which aims to bring uniformity in sign languages used by
hearing and speech impaired people across the nation. The Indian Sign Language (ISL)
dictionary, which has been developed by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training
Centre (ISLRTC), comprises 3,000 Hindi and English words and their corresponding graphic
representation of the signs which are used in daily life. The dictionary is available both in print
and video format.
Prime Minister inaugurates 105th Indian Science Congress
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 105th Indian Science Congress which will take
place till 20 March 2018 at Imphal in Manipur. Themed “Reaching the Unreached Through
Science and Technology”, the conference will see social sciences and science coming
together.
PM Modi lays foundation stone for Navi Mumbai International airport
PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also attended the ceremony. The airport is being built at the cost
of ₹16,700 crore, more than five times the estimated cost when it was first proposed in 1998.
President Kovind inaugurates Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
President Ram Nath Kovind has inaugurated a Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
and presented the Gandhian Young Technological Innovation awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The five day festival is an initiative to recognise, respect, showcase, reward innovations and
to foster a supportive ecosystem for innovators. The innovations showcased can positively
impact fields such as agriculture, rural development, sanitation, health, women and child
development, biotechnology and medicine.
Two-day ministerial meeting of WTO begins in New Delhi
A 2-day informal World Trade Organisation Ministerial meet began in the national capital with
the intent to forge cooperation. Representatives from 50 countries are participating in the
meet.
The meet will will provide an opportunity for free and frank discussions to representatives
from several developed and developing countries.The meet is also expected to help resolve
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several complex issues.Addressing the meet. WTO Director General said discussion are on
with the US for reforming the institution.
President releases commemorative coins on Nabakalebar festival
President Ram Nath Kovind has released commemorative coins in denominations of ?10 and
?1000 on Lord Jagannath’s Nabakalebar festival. The President, who is visiting Odisha,
released the coins during the centenary celebration of Rastriya Sanskrit Sansthan in Puri.
Ptilomera nagalanda: New species of water strider found in Nagaland
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of water
strider from Nagaland. The species, named Ptilomera nagalanda Jehamalar and Chandra, was
found in the river Intanki, Peren district.
Water striders are a group of insects adapted to life on the surface of water, using surface
tension to their advantage. Scientists working on the water striders say that their presence
serves as an indicator water of water quality and they are found on water surface.
C-437: Indian Coast Guard commissions interceptor boat
The Coast Guard has commissioned an interceptor boat at Porbandar as part of its efforts to
strengthen the security umbrella of the West coast. Indian Coast Guard Ship C-437 would
strengthen the security umbrella of the West coast and also help augment patrolling to
prevent illicit activities such as infiltration, smuggling and illegal fishing.
NITI Aayog releases SATH-E Roadmaps
SATHE to introduce System-wide Governance Transformation in School Education
NITI Aayog will release comprehensive roadmaps and detailed timelines for its initiative
‘Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital in Education (SATH-E)’ project. These
roadmaps, which operate between 2018 to 2020, lay out detailed interventions which will
taken by the three participating States- Jharkand, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha – aiming to
become ‘Role Model States’ in school education.
Government imposes anti-dumping duty on Ofloxacin import from China
In order to protect domestic producers from below-cost shipments, India has imposed anti-
dumping duty on import of Chinese pharma products that are being used in the treatment of
certain infections.
In a notification issued by the revenue department in the Finance Ministry it has been
proposed that the duty on import of ‘Ofloxacin’ from china will be in the range of $2.58 to
$9.48 per kilogram for 3 years. The anti-dumping duty has been imposed following the
recommendations of the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD).
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CISF launches mobile app for lost items at airports
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has launched its lost and found mobile app for
passengers at 59 airports across India. The app, named UMANG (Unified Mobile Application
for New-age Governance), offers three facilities – lost and found items at airports, tracking
complaints or request status and technical consultancy in security, and fire services.
Union Government to set up Plastic Park in Deoghar
Union Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Parliamentary Affairs, Ananthkumar
announced that the Government of India has approved the setting up of a Plastic Park in
Deoghar District, Jharkhand. The project would be set up at a cost of Rs. 120 crores in an area
of 150 acres and a range of polymer products including woven sacks, moulded furniture,
water tanks, bottles, pipes mosquito nets, etc would be manufactured.
India Post releases special cover on Stephen Hawking
India Post has paid tribute to theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking by
issuing a special cover on him. Chief Post Master General (CPMG) of Maharashtra and Goa
Circle H C Agrawal and Director of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Dr Sandip
Trivedi jointly issued the special cover.
Kaziranga Park's rhino population rises by 12 in 3yrs
The population of one-horned rhinoceroses in Assam's Kaziranga National Park has increased
by 12 in the last three years, reaching a total of 2,413 rhinos, a census has revealed. While
the previous census held in 2015 had recorded an increase of 111 rhinos as compared to 2012
count, this year's disparity was attributed to the "incomplete" execution of the census.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Warren Buffett ahead of Bill Gates in Hurun Rich List 2018
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett has ranked ahead of Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates
on Hurun Global Rich List 2018. Buffett retained the second spot with a 31% increase in his
wealth and became the second person ever to break through the $100-billion barrier. For the
first time in five years, Bill Gates is not world's richest person on the list.
Philippines withdraws from International Criminal Court
President Rodrigo Duterte has called on countries that ratified the Rome Statute to follow his
example and withdraw from the treaty as he stressed that the International Criminal Court
would not have jurisdiction over him.
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EU and UK agree to finish Brexit transition by Dec 2020
The UK has reached a legal agreement with the European Union (EU) to end the Brexit
transition by December 31, 2020. The transitional period will begin from March 29, 2019. The
agreement also gives EU citizens arriving in the UK during the transition the same rights and
guarantees as those who arrive before Brexit.
Malaysia proposes 10 years' jail for 'fake news'
The Malaysian government has proposed a "fake news" law which would carry a maximum
10-year jail term, including for articles published abroad. Governments in several countries,
emboldened by US President Donald Trump's fulminations against "fake news", are
considering such legislation. The bill, which described fake news as a "global concern",
includes a maximum 10 years in jail or fine of up to 500,000 ringgit ($130,000) for anyone
guilty of creating or disseminating what authorities deem to be fake news.
UK conducts its first-ever virtual court case
A virtual court case was held in the UK for the first time with the claimant filing an appeal
against fines imposed by the Customs Department. While the claimant appeared from
Northern Ireland, judges were seated in London. This is a part of the government's
modernisation programme which aims to make the judiciary more accessible through the use
of technology.
World's largest jet engine completes first test flight
GE Aviation's GE9X, world's largest jet engine, has completed its first test flight in the US. The
GE9X features a front fan with 11.2 feet diameter and 16 fourth-generation carbon fiber
composite fan blades. The engine can push 100,000 pounds of thrust and is 10% more
efficient than the GE90 engine used on the current generation of passenger jets.
French President launches drive to boost French, 'language of liberty'
French president Emmanuel Macron unveiled his plan to boost French, the 'language of
liberty' around the world. Macron aims to spend hundreds of millions of euros boosting the
French language worldwide, in a push to overtake English in Africa, increase the use of French
online and teach French to more European officials to loosen the grip of the English language
on Brussels.
Li Keqiang re-elected as China's Prime Minister for his second term
Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang was re-elected for his second five-year term at the ongoing
parliament session. Li is the second ranking leader in China after President Xi Jinping who has
emerged as the most powerful leader after Mao Zedong.
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Israeli PM Netanyahu named in ₹1,800-crore bribery case
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been named as the beneficiary of a PR scheme worth "up
to a billion shekels". Netanyahu allegedly benefitted from a deal struck between his former
media adviser Nir Hefetz and communications giant Bezeq for positive coverage in return for
₹1,800 crore as bribe.
Uzbekistan frees world's longest-jailed journo after 19 yrs
Uzbekistan has released a journalist who was jailed for 19 years, the world's longest-known
prison term served by a journalist. Yusuf Ruzimuradov was sentenced to 15 years in prison in
1999 after being convicted of sedition for running a banned newspaper. His sentence was
extended for allegedly violating prison rules.
Sierra Leone 1st country to use blockchain tech in elections
The African nation of Sierra Leone has become the world's first country to use blockchain
technology in elections in a trial aimed at ensuring transparency. The technology was used in
last week's presidential elections, tracking the results and then relaying the data to the
Electoral Commission. Russia also plans to use Blockchain technology in its upcoming
presidential elections.
Xi Jinping re-elected as China President with no term limit
China's Parliament has unanimously re-elected Xi Jinping as the country's President after
removal of presidential term limits last week. Jinping, who is allowed to hold the post for life,
last year became China's most powerful leader since the country's founder Mao Zedong after
his political ideology was added to the ruling party's constitution.
Crimea votes for first time in Russian presidential election
Citizens of the Russia-occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea voted for the first time in Russia's
presidential elections. However, Ukraine has barred Russian citizens on its territory from
voting in the election in row over the annexation of Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin
recently said that Russia will never give back Crimea to Ukraine.
Sri Lanka lifts nationwide emergency after 12 days
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena announced that the nationwide state of emergency
has been lifted. The emergency was imposed to control communal violence after Buddhists
and Muslims clashed in the country's central district of Kandy. Two people were killed and
hundreds of Muslim-owned properties and over 20 mosques were damaged.
Pakistan pulls out of WTO meet in India amid diplomatic tension
Pakistan will not attend a World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting to be held in Delhi amid
the ongoing diplomatic tension between the two nations. Tensions escalated as both Pakistan
and India accused each other of harassing their diplomats.
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Mauritius President resigns amid financial scandal
Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim resigned amid a financial scandal over the use of
a credit card given by an NGO to buy personal luxury items. Gurib-Fakim's lawyer said that
she submitted her resignation in the "national interest".
Slovak PM Robert Fico resigns
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico has officially resigned, less than three weeks after the
murder of an investigative reporter and his fiancée shocked the nation. President Andrej Kiska
formally accepted the resignation of the 53-year-old social democrat-turned-populist, who
ran the Slovak government for 10 of the past 12 years. Kiska asked Deputy Prime Minister
Peter Pellegrini, a member of the outgoing premier’s Smer-SD party, to form a new
government.
Russia, China to create joint data centre for lunar projects
Russia and China have agreed to set up a joint data centre for lunar and deep space projects,
Russian space agency Roscosmos said. The Russian agency and China National Space
Administration will look into possibilities of providing assistance to each other's lunar
programmes. Last year, the two agencies had agreed on a bilateral cooperation programme,
including research on the moon.
Afghan Taliban accepts offer for peace talks to end 16yr war
The Taliban has accepted Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani's offer to join a peace dialogue
in order to end the over 16-year-long war, officials said. However, the militant group set pre-
conditions such as securing employment on the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas
pipeline project. The Taliban also said that it would ensure the project's security.
Marshall Islands to launch world-first digital legal tender
The Marshall Islands will launch the world's first legal tender cryptocurrency after a law
passed by parliament earlier this week went unopposed by an official council. The nuclear-
ravaged nation has partnered with Israeli company Neema to issue 24 million units of the
Sovereign (SOV) digital currency. It will cap the number to prevent inflation.
Washington becomes 1st US state to set net-neutrality rules
Washington became the first state to set up its own net-neutrality requirements after U.S.
regulators repealed Obama-era rules that banned internet providers from blocking content
or interfering with online traffic. The Federal Communications Commission voted in
December to gut U.S. rules that meant to prevent broadband companies such as Comcast,
AT&T and Verizon from exercising more control over what people watch and see on the
internet.
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Lanka declares state of emergency to quell communal tensions
Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency for 10 days to rein in the spread of communal
violence between majority Sinhala and minority Muslims in the country's scenic Kandy district
that left two persons dead and damaged several mosques and homes. The government sent
troops and elite police commandoes to Kandy to restore order and enforce the curfew.
Bolivia unfurls 'world's biggest flag' stretching 200 km
Bolivia claimed to have unfurled the world's biggest flag that stretched nearly 200 kilometres.
Tens of thousands of Bolivians held the flag in a show of support for the country amid a
maritime dispute with Chile. Bolivia has been demanding access to the Pacific Ocean, which
it lost to Chile during a war in the 19th Century.
China allows President Xi Jinping to rule for life
China's Xi Jinping has secured a path to rule indefinitely as parliament abolished presidential
term limits, handing him almost total authority to pursue a vision of transforming the nation
into an economic and military superpower. The move reverses the era of "collective"
leadership and orderly succession that was promoted by late paramount leader Deng
Xiaoping to ensure stability following the turbulent one-man rule of Communist China's
founder Mao Zedong.
WHO launches plan for cheaper TB drugs
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has invited pharmaceutical companies around the
world to submit proposals to manufacture affordable versions of newer medicines for
treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis. The aim was to replicate the success of addressing
the HIV epidemic. Competition among Indian drug producers had then brought down the
price of HIV medicines by 99% from $15,000 per patient per year to less than a dollar a day.
WHO has now requested drug makers to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) for Bedaquiline
and Delaminid, two new-generation drugs, recommended for drug resistant-TB.
5.3 mn women take part in Spain's first feminist strike
Over 5 million women across Spain observed a mass strike to protest pay inequality and
highlight continued discrimination and gender violence as the country marked International
Women's Day with huge demonstrations planned for most towns and cities, according to
major trade unions.
Saudi Arabia sets up department to probe corruption cases
King Salman has approved a plan to create legal departments, under the authority of the
attorney general’s office, specialized in curbing corruption. They will undertake investigations
and prosecutions in instances related to corruption lawsuits.
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Saudi Arabia’s position in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) has
continued to improve with the country jumping five places in the index. In total, 180 countries
were ranked on the basis of a number of best practice indicators, including international
standards linked to business ethics. Saudi Arabia jumped to 57 in 2017 from 62 in the previous
year.
Colombia votes with FARC as political party for the first time
Polls have closed in Colombia's congressional elections that saw former members of the Farc
guerilla group take part for the first time. The ex-rebels, now known as the Revolutionary
Alternative Common Force (also FARC), were given 10 congressional seats as part of a historic
peace deal signed in 2016.
Global carbon emissions hit record high in 2017: IAE
Global energy-related carbon emissions rose to a historic high of 32.5 gigatons last year, after
three years of being flat, due to higher energy demand and the slowing of energy efficiency
improvements. Global energy demand rose by 2.1 percent last year to 14,050 million tonnes
of oil equivalent, more than twice the previous year’s rate, boosted by strong economic
growth, according to preliminary estimates from the IEA.
China develops artificial heart with rocket technology
Chinese scientists have developed an artificial heart using rocket technology and it is currently
undergoing testing after thorough experiments on animals. The heart was developed jointly
by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) and the Teda International
Cardiovascular Hospital in North China's Tianjin.
The artificial heart uses magnetic and fluid levitation from a rocket system, and the
"aerospace heart" is expected to move to clinical trials during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-
20). The magnetic and fluid levitation technology can reduce the friction in the device to
increase the working efficiency and extend the life span of the power generator.
Greece establishes its first space agency
Greece has established the Hellenic Space Organisation, the country's first space agency in an
effort reportedly aimed at rebuilding the economy. With the establishment of the agency,
Greece aims to make gains in various sectors, including telecommunications, defence,
medical applications, agriculture, among others, Minister of Digital Policy Nikos Pappas said.
World's last surviving male northern white rhino euthanised
The world's last male northern white rhino, 45-year-old Sudan, was euthanised in Kenya after
his condition worsened and he was unable to stand. His muscles and bones had degenerated
and his skin had extensive wounds, researchers said.
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Bidya Devi Bhandari relected as Nepal president
Nepal's first woman president Bidya Devi Bhandari has been re-elected for a second term in
office with an overwhelming majority. Incumbent President Bhandari, the Left alliance's
candidate, was elected with more than a two-thirds majority as she defeated her Nepali
Congress (NC) rival Kumari Laxmi Rai in the presidential election.
Bhandari secured 39,275 votes while the NC's Rai garnered 11,730 votes. Bhandari became
Nepal's first woman president in 2015. She was elected twice in parliamentary elections in
1994 and 1999.
Finland named world's happiest country, India ranks 133rd
Finland has been named the happiest country, according to the UN Sustainable Development
Solutions Network's 2018 World Happiness Report. Finland was followed by Norway,
Denmark, Iceland and Switzerland, while India came in at 133rd, down from 122nd place last
year. The report ranked 156 countries on the basis of GDP per capita, life expectancy, social
freedom, and absence of corruption.
Oklahoma to become first US state to use nitrogen gas for executions
Oklahoma plans to start using nitrogen gas for executions. This would be the first such method
of capital punishment in the United States. The state is turning to nitrogen after it and other
states became unable to acquire drugs required for lethal injections because of opposition
from manufacturers to their products being used for capital punishment. Nitrogen is an
odorless and tasteless gas that makes up about 78 per cent of the air humans breathe but
causes death when inhaled without any oxygen.
Venezuelan city issues own currency amid cash shortage
Amid a shortage of banknotes in the country, Venezuelan city of Elorza has begun issuing its
own currency. The currency, which is available in two denominations, features the face of
local independence leader José Andrés Elorza. The new currency notes are being sold at
municipality offices via bank transfer and can only be used in the city.
Vladimir Putin elected as Russia's President for 4th term
Vladimir Putin has been elected as the President of Russia for his fourth term with over 76%
of the votes, and will now lead the country for another six years. Putin, who has ruled Russia
as either Prime Minister or President since 1999, was already the country's longest-serving
leader since Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
US bans transactions involving Venezuela's cryptocurrency
US President Donald Trump on Monday issued an executive order banning all US transactions
involving Venezuela's cryptocurrency 'Petro'. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had
announced the creation of the oil-backed cryptocurrency in a bid to bypass the US sanctions
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imposed on the country. Venezuela has been facing the worst economic crisis in recent
history.
Myanmar's first democratically elected President resigns
Htin Kyaw, who became Myanmar's first democratically elected President in 2016, has
resigned from the position with immediate effect to take rest from his current duties and
responsibilities. Kyaw is believed to have been holding the post only for ceremonial purposes,
with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi acting as the country's de facto leader.
China launches twin BeiDou-3 navigation satellites into space
China successfully sent pair of twin Beidou-3MEO satellites – Beidou-30 and Beidou-31 –into
space as part of its third and final stage of launching its domestic Beidou (Compass) satellite
navigation system. They were launched on board Long March-3B carrier rocket from Xichang
Satellite Launch Center in south-west China's Sichuan Province. It was a 269th mission for the
Long March rocket family.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Anti-Tank Guided Missile Nag tested successfully
The Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) Nag was successfully flight-tested in desert conditions
against two tank targets at different ranges and timings, Defence Ministry officials said. As
the developmental trials of the missile have been completed, it is now ready for induction in
the Army, the officials added. It is the third-generation fire-and-forget ATGM developed by
the DRDO.
Google launches app that lets users draw lines in air
Google has launched an augmented reality (AR) app called Just a Line that lets users draw
white lines in the air. The app is based on the company's previous app, Tilt Brush, which let
users paint in 3D space with virtual reality. Google has termed it an AR experiment and works
only on devices which support Google's ARCore technology.
NASA to launch new planet-hunting satellite in April
NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) is undergoing final preparations in Florida
for its launch scheduled on April 16. TESS is seen as a successor to the Kepler Space Telescope
which has discovered over 2,500 exoplanets and is currently running out of fuel. With a
gravitational assist from the Moon, TESS will settle into a 13.7-day orbit around Earth.
Moon to get 4G network soon!
The first 4G network on Moon is being planned by telecom company Vodafone to support a
mission by PT Scientists in 2019 and it has appointed Nokia as its technology partner. Berlin-
based company, PT Scientists is working with Vodafone Germany and Audi to achieve the first
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privately-funded Moon landing. Mission to the Moon is due to launch in 2019 from Cape
Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Vodafone’s network expertise will be used to set up
the Moon’s first 4G network, connecting two Audi lunar quattro rovers to a base station in
the Autonomous Landing and Navigation Module (ALINA).
NASA finds water on Saturn-mass planet outside Solar System
Using NASA's Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, astronomers have found evidence of
water in the atmosphere of a Saturn-mass exoplanet some 700 light-years away. The planet,
WASP-39b, has three times as much water as Saturn does, which suggests it developed far
away from its host star, where it was bombarded by a lot of icy material, said NASA.
Saposhi: Threat of new malware looms over cyberspace
A new threat looms large on the horizon of cyberspace. After Mirai and Reaper, cybersecurity
agencies have detected a new malware called Saposhi, which is capable of taking over
electronic devices and turning them into ‘bots’, which can be then used for any purpose,
including a Distributed Denial Of Service attack which, with enough firepower, can cripple
entire industries.
Malwares like Saposhi, Reaper and Mirai are primarily aimed at DDoS attacks, in which the
malware first creates a network of bots — called a botnet — and then uses the botnet to ping
a single server at the same time. As the number of pings are far beyond the server’s capacity,
the server crashes and denies service to its consumers.
Sach-Gaurav: India’s first cloned Assamese buffalo born
A cloned Assamese buffalo male calf was born for the first time, the Central Institute for
Research on Buffaloes claimed. The calf was born to a Murrah buffalo. Indian Council of
Agricultural Research-CIRB is a central institute and it has a mandate to conserve superior
animals of all buffalo breeds.
ISRO aims to launch Chandrayaan-2 by April
The ISRO said it is aiming for an April launch of the Chandrayaan-2 satellite to the moon, this
time it plans to send a rover to explore the lunar surface. If the April launch of the
Chandrayaan-2, the country's second mission to the Moon, is not possible, then the ISRO will
aim for a launch by October.
 The Chandrayaan-2 satellite would comprise an orbiter, lander and six-wheeled rover
which would move around the landing site and instruments on it would send back data
that would be useful in analysing the lunar soil.
 After reaching the lunar orbit, the Lander housing the rover will separate from the
orbiter.
 After a controlled descent, the lander will soft land on the lunar surface at a specified
site and deploy the rover.
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Microsoft opens innovation centre 'The Garage' in Hyderabad
Microsoft has inaugurated 'The Garage', an 8,000-sq-foot facility in Hyderabad for its
employees to support a culture of experimentation. The Garage is a platform for Microsoft
employees to help them work together across technology to explore ideas and build
prototypes, the company said. It has three dedicated lab sections, including a Reality Room
for working on Virtual Reality.
NASA to send first mission to study 'heart' of Mars
NASA is all set to send the first-ever mission dedicated to exploring the deep interior of Mars.
Scheduled to launch on May 5, InSight - a stationary lander - will also be the first NASA mission
since the Apollo moon landings to place a seismometer, a device that measures quakes, on
the soil of another planet.
InSight or the Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport
mission, carries a suite of sensitive instruments to gather data. Unlike a rover mission, these
instruments require a stationary lander from which they can carefully be placed on and below
the martian surface.c
ISRO successfully launches communications satellite GSAT-6A
ISRO has successfully launched communications satellite GSAT-6A from Sriharikota. The
2,140-kg satellite, with a planned mission life of 10 years, would provide mobile
communication to India through multi-beam coverage facility. The launch marks the 12th
flight of the 415-tonne Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle GSLV-F08 and sixth flight
with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage.
Russia tests new nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile Sarmat
The Russian military says it has successfully tested its latest intercontinental ballistic missile.
Sarmat is intended to replace the Soviet-designed Voyevoda, the world's heaviest ICBM
known as "Satan" in the West. President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that Sarmat
weighs 200 metric tons and has a higher range than Satan, allowing it to fly over the North or
the South Poles and strike targets anywhere in the world.
World's 1st rechargeable proton battery made, has no lithium
In a move towards environment-friendly energy storage, Australia-based researchers have

created the world's first rechargeable proton battery, which uses carbon and water instead
of lithium. Researchers hope the small-scale prototype with zero carbon emissions could be
made commercially available within 5-10 years to compete with existing lithium-ion batteries
including those of Tesla.
Reliance Jio ranked as no 1 innovator brand, beats Airtel, Flipkart, Paytm and Oyo
India Innovation Outlook 2018 has identified Reliance Jio as the no 1 innovator brand in India
ahead of Airtel, Flipkart, Paytm and Oyo. Google has been identified as the no 1 global
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innovator brand. The research was conducted among 135 heads of marketing, digital
marketing, communication and corporate affairs of leading global and Indian brands across
India.
India's 2nd mission to the Moon postponed to October
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said the launch of India's second lunar mission
'Chandrayaan-2' has been postponed to October. The decision was taken after experts
suggested running some tests. The launch, which was originally scheduled for April 23, will be
ISRO's first attempt to launch a rover on the south pole of the Moon.
SpaceX launches 10 satellites aboard used Falcon 9 rocket
Elon Musk-led space exploration startup SpaceX has launched a used Falcon 9 rocket loaded
with 10 satellites for American communications company Iridium. The launch was carried out
from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, United States. SpaceX did not attempt to
recover the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage after launch.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
12 agreements signed between India and Jordan
After the talks, India and Jordan inked 12 Agreements and MoUs. These include agreement
on Defence Co-operation, Visa waiver of Diplomatic & Official Passport holders, Cultural
Exchange Programme, Manpower Co-operation agreement, Co-operation in field of Health
and Medicine.
Setting up of Next Generation Centre of Excellence. MoU for long term supply of Rock
Phosphate and Fertilizer/NPK, Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement. Twining Agreement
between Agra and Petra, Cooperation between IIMC and Jordan Media Institute. Prasar
Bharati and Jordan Television. MoU between University of Jordan and ICCR for setting up of
Hindi Chair.
India for the first time starts importing LNG from US
India’s relationship with the US as a major consumer of the oil and gas produced in the latter,
advanced a step further with the first shipment of US-produced gas bound for India flagged
off from Louisiana. The shipment is being sent under a twenty-year agreement between
Indian gas utility major GAIL India and US-based Cheniere Energy’s Sabine Pass liquefaction
facility in Louisiana.
First India-Japan Workshop on Disaster Risk Reduction inaugurated
NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Dr. Rajiv Kumar inaugurated the First India-Japan Workshop on
Disaster Risk Reduction in New Delhi. The two-day workshop is being jointly organised by the
Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority and Government of Japan.
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India, Vietnam sign three agreements
India and Vietnam sign three agreements after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Modi
and visiting President Tran Dai Quang. One Economic and Trade Cooperation, another was a
Work Plan for the years 2018-2022 between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and last one on MoU on
Cooperation between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, India (GCNEP) and
the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM).
India, Russia, Bangladesh sign pact for Rooppur atomic plant
According to Russian atomic energy agency Rosatom, India, Bangladesh and Russia have
signed an agreement to allow Indian firms in construction and installation works in the “non-
critical” category for the Rooppur nuclear power plant project in northwest Bangladesh.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed in Moscow, sets a framework for interaction of

Russian contractor, and Indian and Bangladeshi experts in the implementation of works
related to the project. The Rooppur project is the first initiative under an Indo-Russian deal to
undertake atomic energy projects in third countries.
India announces $10 billion development aid for Africa
PM Narendra Modi has announced a $10-billion aid for the development of Africa. Addressing
an Indian diaspora in Kenya via video conferencing, PM Modi said Indians living abroad are
true "national ambassadors" as they play a vital role in strengthening India's ties with other
nations. As many as 18 new embassies and High Commissions will be opened in Africa.
Indian Navy sailboat INSV Tarini arrives in Cape Town, South Africa
An all-women crew leading the Indian Navy Sailing Vessel (INSV) Tarini has docked at a port
in Cape Town in South Africa, during the last phase of its maiden voyage to circumnavigate
the globe. The expedition is being covered in five legs, with stop-overs at Fremantle in
Australia, Lyttleton in New Zealand, Port Stanley in Falklands, and Cape Town in South Africa.
Iraq overtakes Saudi Arabia as India's biggest Oil Supplier
Iraq has overtaken Saudi Arabia by a wide margin to become India’s top crude oil supplier,
meeting more than a fifth of the country’s oil needs in the current financial year. Iraq is
followed by Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Venezuela in second, third, and fourth positions
respectively. India’s dependence on the Middle East for its crude oil needs has increased from
58% in 2014-15 to 63.7% in the April-January period of this fiscal.
WTO to set up compliance panel in solar dispute case between India, US
The WTO's dispute settlement body has agreed to set up a panel to determine whether India
has complied with its ruling in a case against the US regarding domestic content requirements
for solar cells and modules.
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In 2016, India had lost a case against the US at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) after the
global trade body stated that power purchase agreements signed by the Indian government
with solar firms for its National Solar Mission did not meet international trade norms.
India offers Madagascar USD 80 million LoC for agriculture & mechanisation
India has offered Madagascar 80 million US dollars Line of Credit for agriculture and
mechanization. President Ram Nath Kovind, who is in Madagascar said, India is keen to bring
in expertise, and replicate infrastructure success stories in other African countries through
India's LOC financing.
India and Madagascar have signed an umbrella agreement in the field of defence. Under the
agreement, both the countries will explore various ways of co-operation in the field of
defence. An amended air service agreement was also signed to support efforts towards
improving connectivity between the two countries. Both the countries will have co-sharing
agreement with Air Seychelles through Air India and Air Madagascar.
Indian, Chinese firms sign agri deals worth $2.36 billion
Indian and Chinese companies have signed commercial deals linked to agriculture worth
nearly $2.36 billion. This comes ahead of a proposed meeting between Commerce Minister
Suresh Prabhu and his Chinese counterpart Zhong Shan in New Delhi this week. The deals aim
to boost trade in castor oil, coco fiber, peppermint oil, green coffee bean, black tea and other
products.
Department Of Posts Launches Cool EMS Service Between India And Japan
Ministry of Communications launched the Cool EMS Service between India and Japan. Cool
EMS service is one-way service from Japan to India which allows customers in India to import
Japanese food items for personal use which is allowed under Indian regulations.
Initially, Cool EMS Service will be available in Delhi only. Food items will be carried by Japan
Post in special cool boxes containing refrigerant to preserve the quality of the food items. All
other features like track and trace, etc of Express Mail Service (EMS) will be available for Cool
EMS service as well.
Permanent Indus Commission meet begins in Delhi
The two-day meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) between India and Pakistan
began in New Delhi on March 29, 2018. The commission is expected to discuss various issues
under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). The Indian delegation for the annual meeting comprises
India's Indus Water Commissioner P K Saxena, a representative of the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) and technical experts. Pakistan's six-member delegation for the commission's
114th meeting is being led by Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah.
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India, Hong Kong sign double tax agreement
India and Hong Kong on Monday entered into a double taxation avoidance agreement, aiming
to facilitate investment flow between both countries and prevent tax evasion.
The agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to
HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) and vice versa, prevent double taxation
and provide for exchange of information between the two contracting parties. It will improve
transparency in tax matters and help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.
Varuna 2018: Indian Navy hosts bilateral naval exercise with French Navy
The Indian Navy and the French Navy have conducted bilateral maritime exercises since May
1993. Since 2001, the exercises have been named VARUNA and there have been fifteen
editions of the same till date. The last edition of VARUNA was conducted off the French Coast
in Apr 2017. In 2017, VARUNA was conducted in three sea areas in the European waters. This
year too VARUNA-18 would be conducted in three sea areas, namely, the Arabian Sea, the
Bay of Bengal and South Western Indian Ocean.
India, EU ink space cooperation agreement
In a boost to cooperation between India and Europe in the area of space, India's Department
of Space and the European Commission have signed a cooperation agreement related to
sharing of earth observation satellite data.
Under this arrangement, the European Commission intends to provide India with free, full
and open access to the data from the Copernicus Sentinel family of satellites using high
bandwidth connections from data hub to data hub.
Reciprocally the Indian Department of Space will provide the Copernicus programme and its
participating states with a free, full and open access to the data from ISRO's earth observation
satellites including historical data sets.
India gets first US LNG shipment at Dabhol
India today received its first LNG cargo from the US under a long-term supply deal when a
ship carrying super-cooled natural gas arrived at Dabhol in Maharashtra. A charter ship, MV
Meridian Spirit arrived at Dabhol after 25 days voyage from Louisiana.
GAIL India has contracted 3.5 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from
US energy firm Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass liquefaction facility in Louisiana. The first cargo
from the project arrived at Dabhol, the cite of India's biggest gas-fired power plant.
India-China trade hits record $84.4 billion in 2017
The India-China bilateral trade has reached $84.44 billion last year, a historic high,
notwithstanding bilateral tensions over a host of issues, including the Doklam standoff. The
bilateral trade in 2017 rose by 18.63% year-on-year to reach $84.44 billion. This is regarded
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as a landmark, as the volume of bilateral trade for the first time touched $80 billion, well
above the $71.18 billion registered last year.
India and France sign deals worth over ₹1 lakh crore
Companies from India and France signed contracts worth over ₹1 lakh crore on the first day
of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit. The deals include a contract for France's Safran
to supply airline SpiceJet with engines and a contract between gas company Air Liquide and
Sterlite. Moreover, the countries signed 14 agreements in strategic areas like security and
nuclear energy.
India and France exchange 14 agreements
India and France sign 14 pacts in various fields including solar energy, climate change and
defence.
The 14 agreements include:-
 Illicit Trafficking and Narcotics

 An agreement which will facilitate student and professional mobility between France
and India by simplifying the conditions for entry and long term stay in the two
countries
 One on Facilitating mutual recognition of academic qualifications
 Technical Co-operation in field of Railways
 Letter of intent on creation of a Permanent Indo-French Railway Forum
 Logistics Support between Armed forces
 Ecological and Inclusive Transition agreement
 Cooperation in Urban Development
 Exchange and reciprocal protection of Classified information
 Cooperation in Space Research
 An Industrial way forward agreement in the Nuclear Field for the Implementation of
six nuclear power reactor units at Jaitapur, Maharashtra, India
 Agreement Marine Hydrography and Cartography
 Credit Facility Agreement worth 100 Bn Euro For Smart Cities
 Solar Energy
The International solar alliance is an idea that has further cemented India-France ties.
Launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris on 30 November 2015 by PM
Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande, India is the Headquarter for this body
and the two countries are now co-hosts at the first International solar alliance Summit.
1st International Solar Alliance Summit: PM shares 10 action points on solar energy
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, along with several
heads of States and governments, symbolically launch International Solar Alliance; PM shares
10 action points on solar energy; says easy accessibility of better and cheaper solar technology
has to be ensured.
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Summit Venue : Rashtrapathi Bhavan, New Delhi.
The Prime Minister said that India is making fast progress in the field of renewable energy and
has set a target of producing 175 GW energy by year 2022 of which 100 GW will be solar
energy. Referring to the Atal Jyoti Yojana, the Prime Minister said that India is installing solar
based street lights under the scheme. He said that with the usage of LED bulbs in India about
2 Billion dollars have been saved.
India, France pledge to build world's largest nuclear plant
PM Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to begin work on
"the largest nuclear power plant in the world" in India by this year. Urging Electricite de France
SA and India's Nuclear Power Corporation to accelerate discussions on a contract and start
work at Maharashtra's Jaitapur, the leaders said the plant would have a 9.6-gigawatt capacity.
PM Modi, French President launch Solar Plant at Mirzapur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday
inaugurated 101 megawatt solar power plant at Dadar Kala village in Mirzapur district of Uttar
Pradesh. This is the largest solar projects in the country set up by French company ENGIE. The
company was awarded the project in 2016 with the cost of Rs. 680 crore.
This plant is spread over 328 acres and is connected to the Jigna power plant's grid. Currently,
75 mega watt electricity is being generated. India is generating 20 GW of energy from solar
power with an aim to scale this up to 100 GW by 2022.
STATE RELATED CURRENT AFFAIRS

Maharashtra govt ties up with Wikipedia to promote Marathi
In a first, the Maharashtra government has announced a collaboration with online

encyclopedia Wikipedia to promote Marathi globally and increase its online usage. The move
is aimed at providing Marathi-speaking people a single platform to interact and help reach
Maharashtrians who have settled abroad. They will be encouraged to write about their
profession in their native language.
World's largest solar park inaugurated in Karnataka
The Karnataka government has inaugurated the first phase of a 2,000 megawatts (MW) solar
park in the drought-prone Pavagada region of Tumkur district, about 180km from Bengaluru.
The first phase of the Rs16,500 crore park called “Shakti Sthala” will generate 600MW, while
the balance 1,400MW is expected to be commissioned by the end of this year, the
government said in a statement.
The solar project, touted as the largest in the world, is spread over 13,000 acres and five
villages. It is part of the “Karnataka Solar Policy 2014-2021” which aims to decrease
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dependence on traditional power sources and move to environmentally friendly ones to meet
the growing power needs of the state.
From 2022, 70 bullet trains daily from Mumbai to Ahmedabad
The wait for India's first high-speed bullet train which is slated to run between Mumbai and
Ahmedabad is coming to an end soon. The operations for this ambitious project will
commence as soon as 2022. The train will have 10 coaches, a seating capacity of 750
passengers and will leave Mumbai for Ahmedabad every 20 minutes.
The bullet train will stop at 12 stations - Mumbai BKC (Bandra-Kurla Complex), Thane, Virar,
Boisar, Vapu, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anad/Nadiad, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati.
Assam government extends AFSPA by six months
The Assam government has extended the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958 by
six more months in the state. AFSPA gives special rights to security forces to carry out
operations in "disturbed areas." This comes after Home Minister Rajnath Singh's remark that
the era of violence in the state was over and the law and order situation had improved.
Odisha Government launches Ama Gaon, Ama Vikas programme
In a new initiative, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched the ‘Ama Gaon, Ama Bikas’
(Our village, Our development) programme from the State Secretariat to reach out to people
in rural areas and involve them in the development process. The programme was launched
on the occasion of the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, which is
observed as Panchayati Raj Day in the State every year.
Delhi govt launches app to find singing, dancing talent
The Delhi government has launched a mobile app called "Delhi's Date with Democracy" with
an aim to allow applicants from all parts of the city to showcase their talent. "There is no age
limit and interested candidates can start sending their entries in both categories- singing and
dancing, from tomorrow onwards," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said.
World's longest sandstone cave found in Meghalaya
A 24,583-metre-long cave that was discovered in 2016 in Meghalaya has been found to be
the world's longest sandstone cave by the Meghalaya Adventurers' Association. Called Krem
Puri, it is also the second largest cave in India. It is over 6,000 metres longer than the current
world record-holder for the longest sandstone cave, the Cueva Del Saman in Zulia, Venezuela.
British-era Robertsganj station in UP renamed as Sonbhadra
The Union Home Ministry has given its approval to rename Robertsganj railway station in
Uttar Pradesh as Sonbhadra. This is the second railway station in the state to be renamed
within a year, with the first one being the Mughalsarai railway station that was renamed to
Deen Dayal Upadhyay station in August 2017.
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Madhya Pradesh wins GI tag for black chicken
Madhya Pradesh has been awarded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Kadaknath
chicken, a black-coloured variety bred in the state's Jhabua district. MP filed the GI application
in 2012 and Chhattisgarh filed its claim last year. While MP had set up the first poultry farm
for rearing the variety in 1978, Chhattisgarh's annual production of Kadaknath chicken
exceeds MP's production.
Thai Film Festival inaugurated at Films Division, Mumbai
“THE THAI FILM FESTIVAL IN MUMBAI” has been inaugurated. The three-day festival is being
held at Films Division Complex situated at Cumballa Hill, Mumbai. The Festival is organized by
the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Mumbai, in cooperation with the Films Division,
Government of India. Admission to all screenings is free of charge.
Telangana assembly passes Telangana Panchayat Raj Bill, 2018
The Telangana Legislative Assembly on March 29, 2018 passed the Telangana Panchayat Raj
Bill, 2018. The bill is comprehensive and envisages making villages self-reliant, clean and
green. The state’s Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao stated that the villages should have
facilities like garbage dump yards, crematorium and burial grounds.
Goa government revives controversial Regional Plan 2021
The state government of Goa revived the Goa Regional Plan 2021, nearly six years after it was
put on hold due to protests. Announcing the decision, Town and Country Planning Minister
Vijai Sardesai said the developmental activities would be allowed case-wise after following a
proper procedure on the lands notified as settlement, commercial, institutional and industrial
zones.
The order, however, prohibits development in eco-sensitive areas like low-lying paddy field,
water bodies, khazan land, flood-prone areas, lands having slopes with over 25 per cent
inclination, and forest lands, including private forests.
The land falling in the buffer zone of wildlife sanctuaries and those in the Coastal Regulation
Zone (CRZ) also cannot be developed without the prior permission of Forest department even
if they fall under the settlement or developable zones.
Assam launches toll-free helpline for women
The state government of Assam has launched a women's helpline to tackle the recent surge
in crime in the state. The toll-free helpline, 181-Sakhi, was launched by the state’s Chief
Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal at a programme held in Janata Bhawan. The service is
presently being launched for one shift and will be open from 9 am to 5 pm. It will soon be
made available for 24 hours. The service has been integrated with women police stations,
state commission for women, family counselling centres, NGOs, legal service centres, shelter
homes, medical and legal experts.
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Retirement age of Madhya Pradesh govt employees raised to 62 years
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced raising the retirement
age of state government employees to 62 years from the current 60 years. The CM did not
disclose details of this decision. There are about five lakh regular government employees in
the state. The state government had made a provision for reservation for SC/ST employees in
promotion, which was set aside by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Biplab Kumar Deb to be next Chief Minister of Tripura
The BJP's Biplab Kumar Deb has been named the new chief minister of Tripura. Deb was
unanimously elected leader of the BJP legislature party in the state, and will stake claim to
form government in Tripura before Governor Tathagata Roy. In Assembly election results, the
BJP routed the CPM, which had been in power in Tripura for as long as 25 years.
India's first HeliTaxi service launched in Bengaluru
IT capital Bengaluru became the first city in the country - mimicking Sao Paulo in Brazil - to
have a HeliTaxi when a privately owned helicopter service took to the skies, delivering its first
three passengers to Kempegowda International Airport from Electronic City in 15 minutes,
which otherwise would have taken nearly two hours by road. Bookings can be made by
downloading the Thumby mobile app (Heli Taxii) where seats can be booked online.
Delhi Cabinet clears home delivery of ration to beneficiaries
The Delhi Cabinet has approved a proposal to facilitate doorstep delivery of ration in sealed
packets to Public Distribution System (PDS) beneficiaries, Deputy Chief Minister Manish
Sisodia said. The scheme would help to tackle problems such as theft of ration and poor
quality of supplies, he added. According to officials, there are nearly 72 lakh PDS beneficiaries
in the city.
MP Govt announces pension for single women aged over 50 years
On the International Women's Day, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced
the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Kosh' scheme aimed at providing pension to unmarried women
aged over 50 years. Women shouldn't be celebrated only on a designated day, Chouhan said.
Earlier this week, Chouhan announced ₹4,000 monthly assistance to pregnant labourers from
the sixth month of pregnancy.
Passenger plane lands in Sikkim for the first time ever
A 78-seater SpiceJet plane became the first-ever commercial flight to land on Sikkim's soil.
The SpiceJet Bombardier Q400 plane took off from Kolkata at 10.30 am and successfully
landed at Pakyong Airport, 32 km away from Sikkim's capital Gangtok, at 11.45 am. Officials
from DGCA and Airports Authority of India (AAI) Board were onboard the flight.
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Telangana launches India's 1st state-led incubator for women
Three months after announcing an incubation center exclusively for women, Government of
Telangana launched Women Entrepreneurship Hub (WE- Hub) in Hyderabad. WE-Hub is
India’s first state-led incubator exclusively for women entrepreneurs. Unlike T-Hub, which is
meant for technology startups, WE Hub will be open for all kinds of startups led by women.
Diu becomes 1st Indian UT to run completely on solar power
Leading the way for the entire country, Diu becomes the first destination to be fully run by
solar power. The Union Territory has made such significant progress in the last three years
that now Diu produces more than 100 per cent solar power. Diu, which has a geographical
area of 42 sq km, has installed solar power plants across 50 acres of its land.
Bengaluru observes Less Traffic Day to combat pollution
Bengaluru has observed the second edition of Less Traffic Day, a campaign launched in
February 2018 to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion in the city. The Transport Ministry
has decided to observe it on the second Sunday of every month. The campaign aims to
encourage people to voluntarily opt for public transport services for combating pollution,
officials said.
Rajasthan passes bill for death penalty for child rape of girls below 12
Rajasthan Passes Bill For Death Penalty For Rape Of Girls Up To 12 Years. Those convicted of
raping girls under 12 years of age or below will be given death sentence, proposed a bill that
was unanimously passed in the Rajasthan Assembly on Friday. Once the bill becomes a law,
Rajasthan will be the second such state, after Madhya Pradesh, where the rapists will get a
death penalty.
The maximum punishment for the rape of a minor has also been extended from seven years
to 14 years and life imprisonment. If a minor is gang-raped and the child dies, the convict will
have to spend 20 years in jail.
Karnataka Government approves state flag proposal
The Siddaramaiah government has unveiled the State flag (nada dhwaja) for Karnataka. If
approved by the Centre, Karnataka will be the second State to have a flag after Jammu and
Kashmir. The yellow-white-red flag has the State emblem at the centre. The proposal will be
now sent to the Union Home Ministry for approval, since a State has no powers to announce
its own flag.
Govt approves Bengaluru's plan to get a garment university
A garment university will be established in Bengaluru's Bommanahalli and the Union Textile
Ministry has approved a proposal for the same. The minister further said that the
Bommanahalli constituency has several garment factories which provide employment to a
large number of women.
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Chandigarh to host two-day sports literature festival
Chandigarh is set to host a two-day sports literature festival, a first of its kind in the northern
region, on March 17 and 18. The 'Play Write 2018' will bring together sports personalities who
have either written books or have been the subject of one of more books themselves. The
sport literature festival will feature 10 sessions covering games like hockey, cricket, marathon,
soccer, boxing, women's rugby and kabaddi etc.
India's tallest National Flag unfurled in Karnataka
India's tallest National Flag was unfurled in Karnataka's Belgaum in the presence of several
schoolchildren and political leaders. The 9,600-square-foot-wide flag on an over 110-metre-
tall post was unfurled by Congress leader Ramesh Jarkiholi, who said, "BJP isn't the sole
custodian of nationalism." The flag is said to be a foot taller than the one installed along Attari
border.
Assam govt proposes insurance scheme for journalists
Assam Government has proposed an insurance scheme for journalists and their families in
the budget for 2018-19. The New Journalist Insurance Scheme would ensure security and
protection of the journalists and their families. The government has also extended one time
ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of 31 journalists of the state who have lost their
lives or have been declared missing while on duty.
Haryana approves death penalty for raping kids aged below 12
The Haryana Assembly has unanimously passed a bill which provides for death penalty to
those found guilty of raping girls aged 12 years or less. After Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan,
Haryana has become the third state where the assembly has approved the provision of capital
punishment for such sexual offenders.
The Criminal Law (Haryana Amendment) Bill, 2018, moved by the state's Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Ram Bilas Sharma, was passed on the last day of the budget session. The bill was
passed unanimously with INLD and Congress members also lending their support.
Chennai has fastest fixed broadband speed in India: Report
Among Indian cities, Chennai has the fastest fixed broadband speed at over 32.67 Mbps,
which is 57.7% faster than India's average speed, according to broadband speed tester Ookla.
Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam and Delhi also scored above the country's average
speed of 20.72 Mbps. Among states, Karnataka topped the list with 28.46 Mbps, followed by
Tamil Nadu with 27.94 Mbps.
Maharashtra produces most biomedical waste in India
The Union Health Ministry has revealed that Maharashtra generates the highest amount of
biomedical waste in India. The state produced over 70,000 kilograms of biomedical waste
such as used syringes, bandages, and amputated body parts daily in 2016. Officials said that
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advanced medical treatment facilities and better reporting network in the state contributed
to the high figures.
First Mumbai Edition of Women of India Organic festival in Mumbai inaugurated
The first Mumbai Edition of Women of India Organic Festival 2018, organised by Mahila Arthik
Vikas Mahamandal, Maharashtra and with the support of Women & Child Development
Ministry, Government of India is inaugurated in Mumbai today. This year’s theme of festival
is “Good for Women; Good for India; Good for You”.
“Women of India Festival” is celebrated since 2015. This is the third year, which is organised
in the Mumbai by Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal, Maharashtra. Around 500 women from
all over India are participating in these 5 days event from 16 th to 20th March 2018.
Odisha Government to collaborate with RIMES for disaster management
The Odisha government is set to collaborate with the Thailand-based Regional Integrated
Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) for strengthening its early warning services and
enhancing preparedness for management of hazards in the State.
At present, India is chairing RIMES. Under the drought monitoring system, both institutions
would work on a system to archive, analyse and visualise data, besides evaluating station
performance and validating forecast data.
Jaipur to witness 8th Theatre Olympics
Jaipur has geared up to grab the limelight as one of the co-hosts of the 8th Theatre Olympics,
the largest international theatre festival to be held for the first time in India.
The Jaipur chapter of the Theatre Olympics, 2018, will be organised by the National School of
Drama (NSD) under the aegis of Union ministry of culture in collaboration with the Ravindra
Manch Society and state art and culture department.
Maharashtra Government bans use of plastic
The Maharashtra government has taken the decision to ban the use of plastic in two phases,
a notification for which will be issued soon. The decision was taken at the cabinet meeting led
by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The government cited environmental and public health
concerns for taking the significant step which would be strictly enforced in a time-bound
manner.
 All the small and medium-scale industries and big industries which are involved in
plastic businesses would be provided an adequate time frame to switch over to
alternative modes of businesses.
 Various business models have been recommended by the government along with
employment to the people engaged in the plastic industries.
 The supply of milk in plastic bags will have to be replaced with environmental friendly
containers or bottles.
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 Gradually, all types of food supply which is packaged in plastic will have to be replaced
with environment friendly containers and boxes.
Telangana passes bill making Telugu compulsory in schools
The Telangana Assembly has passed a bill making the teaching of Telugu language in schools
compulsory. According to the Telangana (Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Telugu in
Schools) Act, the language will be a mandatory subject for Classes 1-10 from the upcoming
academic session. State Education Minister Kadiyam Srihari said the bill was aimed at
preserving the language.
Ahmedabad airport receives award for 'Most Improved Airport'
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad has received the award for
'Most Improved Airport' in the Asia-Pacific region by the Airports Council International (ACI).
The airport has over 200 flight movements per day and has been a busy city since the city is
home to many business houses and educational institutions.
National Anthem played for first time in Tripura Assembly
The National Anthem was played for the first time in the Tripura Assembly as the newly-
elected BJP government convened its first session. Assembly Secretary Bamdeb Majumder
said they will attempt to play the anthem on a daily basis in the Assembly. However,
opposition MLAs from the CPI(M) have said they were not consulted on the matter.
Surat first district with 100% solar-powered health centres
Gujarat's Surat has become the first Indian district to have 100% solar-powered Primary
Health Centres (PHCs). Other than PHCs, there are 572 gram panchayats in the Surat District,
out of which 150 are solar powered gram panchayats and soon the other 422 panchayats will
too be solar powered.
AAI signs MoU with Assam government to develop villages in Kamrup
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has signed an MoU with the Assam government under its
Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) initiative for sustainable development of human
settlements at villages in Kamrup district. The AAI would provide financial assistance under
its CSR initiative of Rs 4.58 crore for the Kamrup district as per the estimates prepared by the
UNDP to improve the resilience of communities around Guwahati Airport.
Ministry of Culture organises Madhavpur Mela in Gujarat
The famous Madhavpur Mela begins at Madhavpur Ghed of Porbandar district in Gujarat. In
a unique initiative, the four-day-long Mela will see its first-ever cultural integration with the
North-East with which it is said to share its roots. The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the
Arts- IGNCA, Ministry of Culture and states of Gujarat, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur
and others have joined hands to give a new dimension to the festival.
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Print Biennale India 2018: First International Exhibition of Graphic Prints held in New Delhi
The country’s National Academy of Art, the Lalit Kala Akademi hosted the first-ever
International Print Biennale in the country with a record number of 17 countries taking part
in it. The first-ever International Exhibition of Graphic Prints ‘Print Biennale India 2018’
opened, at the Rabindra Bhavan Galleries of the Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi. The eminent
Artist-Printmaker, Shakti Barman was the Chief Guest.
Punjab to impose permanent ban on hookah bars
The Punjab Cabinet has decided to amend the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act to
impose a permanent ban on hookah bars instead of issuing temporary orders every two
months. The proposed amendment is reportedly aimed at ending the culture of hookah and
consumption of tobacco among the Punjab youth and will be presented in the Punjab
Assembly.
Karnataka govt seeks separate religion status for Lingayats
The Karnataka government has accepted the suggestion of an expert panel and sought
separate religion status for the Lingayat community. The recommendation will now be
forwarded to the Centre, which will take the final call on the matter. The casteless sect was
founded by 12th-century social reformer Basavanna, who was opposed to Brahminical
practices.
Kerala CM launches mKeralam app for government services
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday launched the mKeralam app which will
offer government services through a unified interface. According to reports, the users will be
able to avail over 100 services initially, but the number of services offered will eventually
increase to around 1,000. Public Wi-Fi will also be set up so that people can use the app.
CABINET APPROVALS IN MARCH 2018

1. Cabinet approves Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of
the Ministry of Finance to introduce the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018 in
Parliament. The Bill would help in laying down measures to deter economic offenders from
evading the process of Indian law by remaining outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts.
The cases where the total value involved in such offences is Rs.100 crore or more, will come
under the purview of this Bill.
Features of the Bill:
a) Application before the Special Court for a declaration that an individual is a fugitive
economic offender.
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b) Attachment of the property of a fugitive economic offender
c) Issue of a notice by the Special Court to the individual alleged to be a fugitive economic
offender
d) Confiscation of the property of an individual declared as a fugitive economic offender

resulting from the proceeds of crime
e) Confiscation of other property belonging to such offender in India and abroad, including
benami property.
f) Disentitlement of the fugitive economic offender from defending any civil claim.
g) An Administrator will be appointed to manage and dispose of the confiscated property

under the Act.
2. Cabinet approves Establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposal
for establishment of National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) and creation of one post
of Chairperson, three posts of full-time Members and one post of Secretary for NFRA.
The decision aims at establishment of NFRA as an independent regulator for the auditing
profession which is one of the key changes brought in by the Companies Act, 2013.
3. Cabinet approves the proposals for promulgation of three UTs
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the
proposal for promulgation of:
(i) The Daman and Diu Municipalities (Amendment) Regulation, 2018;
(ii) The Dadra and Nagar Haveli Municipal Council (Amendment) Regulation, 2018; and
(iii) The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Municipal) Amendment Regulation 2018
It will help ensure better provisions for the constitution, administration and powers of the
Municipalities in the Union Territories of Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and
Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
4. Cabinet approves MoU between UPSC and Public Service Commission of Mauritius
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
and Public Service Commission of Mauritius.
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The MoU will strengthen the existing relationship between UPSC and Public Service
Commission of Mauritius. It will facilitate sharing of experience and expertise of both the
parties in the area of recruitment.
5. Cabinet approves a Memorandum of Cooperation between India and France in the field
of environment
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of
a Memorandum of Cooperation between India and France in the field of environment
The Memorandum of Cooperation will enable establishment and promotion of closer and
long-term cooperation between the countries in the field of environment protection and
management of natural resources on the basis of equity, reciprocity and mutual benefits,
taking into account the applicable laws and legal provisions in each country.
6. Cabinet approves continuation of Swatantra Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) during 2017-
2020
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the
continuation of Swatantra Sainik Samman Yojana (SSSY) during 2017-2020 beyond the 12th
Five Year Plan whichended on 31/03/2017.
The approval provides for a monthly Samman Pension to freedom fighters, as a token of
respect for their contribution in the national freedom struggle and on their demise, to their
eligible dependents viz. spouses and thereafter, unmarried and unemployed daughters and
dependent parents, as per prescribed eligibility norms and procedure.
7. Cabinet approves the Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Division
of High Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2018
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the
Commercial Courts, Commercial Division and Commercial Appellate Division of High Courts
(Amendment) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament.
The Bill seeks to achieve the following objectives:
a) The Bill brings down the specified value of a commercial dispute to 3 Lakhs from the present
one Crore.
b) The amendment provides for establishment of Commercial Courts at district Judge level
for the territories over which respective High Courts have ordinary original civil jurisdiction i.e
in the cities of Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and State of Himachal Pradesh.
c) Insertion of new section of 21A which enables the Central Government to make rules and
procedures for Pre-Institution Mediation.
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d) To give prospective effect to the amendment so as not to disturb the authority of the
judicial forum presently adjudicating the commercial disputes as per the extant provisions of
the Act.
8. Cabinet approves Recommendations of Inter-Ministerial Group on Stressed Assets in

Telecom Sector
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved two key measures
in telecom sector to facilitate investments, consolidation in the sector and enhancing ease of
doing business. These include restructuring the deferred payment liabilities of spectrum
auction of telecom service providers and revising the limit of the cap for spectrum holding for
telecom service providers.
9. Cabinet approves two percent Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to release
an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and
Dearness Relief (DR) to pensionersw.e.f. 01.01.2018 representing an increase of 2% over the
existing rate of 5% of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise. This will benefit
about 48.41 lakh Central Government employees and 61.17 lakh pensioners.
This increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the
recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
10. Cabinet approves the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the Arbitration
and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018 for introduction in the Parliament. It is a part of the
efforts of the Government to encourage institutional arbitration for settlement of disputes
and make India a centre of robust Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.
The Amendments in the Act of 1996 will facilitate achieving the goal of improving institutional
arbitration by establishing an independent body to lay down standards, make arbitration
process more party friendly, cost effective and ensure timely disposal of arbitration cases.
11. Cabinet approves an MoU between India and Hellenic on Renewable Energy
Cooperation
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been apprised of the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the field of Renewable Energy
between India and Hellenic. The MoU was signed by the External Affairs Minister, Smt.
Sushma Swaraj, Government of India and H.E. Nikos Kotzias, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Hellenic Republic during the latter's visit to New Delhi in November, 2017.
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12. Cabinet approves an agreement between India and France on Narcotic/Psychotropic
Substances
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved an Agreement
between India and France on the Prevention of the Illicit Consumption and Reduction of Illicit
Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Chemical Precursors, and related
offences.
The Agreement is aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation between the two countries in the
prevention of the illicit consumption of, and reduction of illicit traffic, in narcotic drugs,
psychotropic substances and chemical precursors and related offences through exchange of
information, expertise and capacity building.
13. Cabinet approves signing of an Agreement between India and France to facilitate
"Mutual Recognition of Academic Qualifications"
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for
signing of an Agreement between India and France to facilitate Mutual Recognition of
educationalqualifications and periods of study undertaken by students in duly approved,
recognized and/or accredited educational Institutions within the two countries. The signing
of the agreement will help in deepening the educational ties between India and France and
will go a long way in boosting the educational relationship between the two countries.
14. Cabinet approves signing of Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between
India and France
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the signing of
Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between India and France. The Agreement is
expected to be signed during the forthcoming State visit of the French President to India.
The Agreement represents a major milestone in enhancing people-to -people contacts,

fostering mobility of students, academics, researchers and skilled professionals and
strengthening cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking
between the two sides. The Agreement is initially valid for a period of seven years,
incorporates provision for automatic renewal and a monitoring mechanism through a Joint
Working Group.
15. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Iran on cooperation in the field of Health
and Medicine
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its ex-post-facto
approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Iran on
cooperation in the field of Health and Medicine. The MoU was signed on 17th February, 2018
during the visit of the President of Iran to India.
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The MoU will encourage cooperation between the two countries and strengthen bilateral ties
between them.
The MoU covers the following areas of cooperation:-
a) Exchange experience in training of medical doctors and other health professionals;
b) Assistance in development of human resources and setting up of health care facilities;
c) Regulation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and cosmetics and exchange of

information thereon;
d) Cooperation in the field of medical research, new technologies and knowledge based
initiatives;
e) Public health, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and cooperation in international

health; and
f) Any other area of cooperation as may be mutually decided upon.
16. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Iran for cooperation in the field of agriculture
and allied sectors
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its ex-post-facto
approval for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Iran for
cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.
The MoU provides for cooperation in the areas of agricultural crops, agricultural extension,
horticulture, machinery, post harvest technology, plant quarantine measures, credit and
cooperation. It also provides for cooperation in soil conservation and water management,
integrated nutrients management, seed technology and agricultural marketing. Livestock
improvement, dairy development, animal health and other fields as mutually agreed upon fall
within the scope of this MoU.
17. Cabinet apprised of an MoU signed between India and Sri Lanka on IT & Electronics
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been apprised of a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Sri Lanka for promoting
cooperation in the field of Information Technology and Electronics.
The MoU intends to promote closer co-operation in the areas of e-Governance, m-

Governance, e-Public Services Delivery, cyber security, software technology parks, start-ups
ecosystem etc. The MoU shall be implemented by establishing a Working Group on IT&E
composed of representatives of the two Parties. Bilateral Cooperation in ICT domain both B2B
and G2G will be enhanced.
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18. Cabinet approves Agreement for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of
Fiscal Evasion between India and Iran
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved an Agreement for
the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to taxes
on income between India and Iran.
The Agreement will stimulate flow of investment, technology and personnel from India to Iran
& vice versa, and will prevent double taxation. The Agreement will provide for exchange of
information between the two Contracting Parties as per latest international standards. It will
thus improve transparency in tax matters and will help curb tax evasion and tax avoidance.
19. Cabinet approves the MoU on Cooperation between India and Iran in the field of
Traditional Systems of Medicine
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between India and Iran in the field of Traditional
Systems of Medicine.
The MoU will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the areas of
Traditional Systems of Medicine. This will be of immense importance to both countries
considering their shared cultural heritage.
20. Cabinet approves moving official amendments in the "Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016"
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval
formovingofficial amendments in the "Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016".
The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 proposes to regulate surrogacy in India by establishing
National Surrogacy Board at the central level and, State Surrogacy Boards and Appropriate
Authorities in the States and Union Territories.
The proposed legislation ensures effective regulation of surrogacy, prohibit commercial

surrogacy and allow altruistic surrogacy to the needy Indian infertile couples.
21. Cabinet approves formation of 100% owned C Corporation of Telecommunications

Consultants India Ltd. (TCIL) in USA
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval
forformation of 100% owned C Corporation of Telecommunications Consultants India
Ltd.(TCIL) in USA.
C Corporation will be earning precious foreign exchange for the country and increasing
profitability of TCIL which is a Government PSU. C Corporation is formed in the state of Texas,
USA in connection with the execution of Projects in USA.
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The newly formed C Corporation shall earn an estimated profit of around 10% in the initial
years with turnover of USD 10 Million, which may get increased subsequently depending upon
the volume of work.
22. Cabinet approves the extension of the term of the Commission
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the second and
final extension of the term of the Commission constituted to examine the issue of Sub-
categorization of Other Backward Classes in the Central List, beyond 27th March 2018 for a
period of twelve weeks i.e. upto 20th June, 2018.
The Commission, headed by Justice (Retd.) Smt. G.Rohini commenced functioning on

11thOctober, 2017 and has since interacted with all the States/UTs which have
subcategorized OBCs and the State Backward Classes Commissions.
23. Cabinet approves closure of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for closure
of India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI)to enhance synergies in
channelizing Diaspora's contributions to Government of India's flagship programmes such as
National Mission for clean Ganga and Swachh Bharat Mission.
IDF-OI was set up by Government of India with the approval of Cabinet in 2008 as an
autonomous not-for-profit Trust, to facilitate Overseas Indian philanthropy into social and
development projects in India.
24. Cabinet apprised of an MoU between India and Guyana on cooperation in Renewable
Energy
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has been apprised of the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in Renewable Energy between India
and Guyana. Both sides aim to establish the basis for a cooperative institutional relationship
to encourage and promote technical bilateral cooperation on new and renewable energy
issues on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity.
25. Cabinet approves revision of the Agreement between India and Qatar for the avoidance
of double taxation
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval for
revision of the Agreement between India and Qatar for the avoidance of double taxation and
for the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.
The revised DTAA updates the provisions for exchange of information to latest standard,
includes Limitation of Benefits provision to prevent treaty shopping and aligns other
provisions with India's recent treaties. The revised DTAA meets the minimum standards on
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treaty abuse under Action 6 and Mutual Agreement Procedure under Action 14 of G-20 OECD
Base Erosion & Profit Shifting (BEPS) Project, in which India participated on an equal footing.
26. Cabinet approves Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Mission
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today has approved the
launch of a new Centrally Sponsored Ayushman Bharat -National Health Protection Mission
(AB-NHPM) having central sector component under Ayushman Bharat Mission anchored in
the MoHFW. The scheme has the benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year. The target
beneficiaries of the proposed scheme will be more than 10 crore families belonging to poor
and vulnerable population based on SECC database.
27. Cabinet approves continuation of National Health Mission (NHM)
In a major boost to health infrastructure the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of the National Health Mission – with effect
from 1st April 2017 to 31st March 2020 with a budgetary support of Rs. 85,217 crore as
Central Share over this period.
The Cabinet has also approved continuation of the Prime Minister’s Development Package for
Jammu & Kashmir 2015 – “Stepping up of support under creation of Infrastructure in District
Hospitals, Sub-district Hospitals and Primary Health Centers over 5 years” – with effect from
1st April 2017 to 31st March 2020 with a budgetary support of Rs. 625.20 crores as total
centrally-funded scheme.
28. Cabinet approves North-East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) 2017
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the North East
Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS), 2017 with financial outlay of Rs.3000 crores upto
March, 2020. Government will provide necessary allocations for remaining period of scheme
after assessment before March 2020. NEIDS is a combination of the incentives covered under
the earlier two schemes with a much larger outlay.
The newly introduced scheme shall promote industrialization in the States of the North
Eastern Region and will boost employment and income generation.
29. Cabinet approves Opening of Missions in Africa
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the
opening of 18 new Indian Missions in Africa over a four year period from 2018-2021. The 18
new Indian Missions in Africa will be opened in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad,
Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia,
Mauritania, Rwanda, Sao Tome& Principe, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Swaziland and Togo over a
four year period from 2018-2021 thereby increasing the number of Resident Indian Missions
in Africa from 29 to 47.
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30. Cabinet approves Inclusion of the communities 'Parivara and Talawara' as synonym of
"Nayaka' in the list of STs in Karnataka
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, in principle, approved the
inclusion of the communities, namely, 'Parivara and Talawara' as synonym of "Nayaka' at SI.
No. 38 in the list of STs of Karnataka.
This will fulfil the long term demand of 'Parivara' and Talawara' communities for granting
Scheduled Tribes status in the State of Karnataka. The persons belonging to "Parivara' and
Talawara' communities will be eligible to get the Scheduled Tribe certificate from the State of
Karnataka and will also be eligible for all benefits meant for the Scheduled Tribes in the State.
31. Cabinet nod to integrated scheme on school education
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved an integrated scheme on school

education by including the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan, and
Teacher Education from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2020. The scheme aims to support the
states in universalising access to school education from pre-nursery to Class 12 across the
country.
32. Cabinet approves enhancing the coverage of Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
has given its approval for enhancing the scope of Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana
(PMRPY). The Government of India will now contribute the Employer's full admissible
contribution for the first three years from the date of registration of the new employee for all
the sectors including existing beneficiaries for their remaining period of three years.
33. Cabinet approves continuation, strengthening and establishment of Krishi Vigyan

Kendras till 2019-20
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
has approved the proposal of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education for
continuation / strengthening, upto 2019-20, of 669 KrishiVigyanKendras(KVKs) established till
31.03.2017, 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs), support to
the Directorates of Extension Education (DEEs) of Agricultural Universities (AUs) and all
special programmes associated with the Scheme and establishment of 76 spill over KVKs as
already approved in the 12th Plan.
34. Cabinet approves continuation of Nutrient Based Subsidy and City Compost Scheme till
2019-20
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for continuation of Nutrient Based
Subsidy (NBS)and City Compost Scheme beyond 12th Five Year plan till 2019-20. The total
expenditure for continuation of both the schemes till 2019-20 will be Rs. 61,972 crore.
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The expenditure for the scheme will be on actual basis since national roll out of DBT entails
100% payment of subsidy to fertilizer companies on sale of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized
rates.
35. Cabinet approves Export of all edible oils in bulk (except mustard oil)
approved the proposal of Ministry of Commerce & Industry for removal of prohibition on
export of all varieties of edible oils except mustard oil. Mustard oil will continue to be
exported only in consumer packs upto 5 Kgs and with a minimum export price of US $ 900 per
tonne.
Removing of restrictions on export of all edible oils is likely to provide additional marketing
avenues for edible oils and oilseeds and will benefit the farmers by way of better realisation
for oilseeds.
36. Cabinet approves formulation of a new Integrated Scheme for School Education
approved the proposal of Department of School Education and Literacy to formulate a
Integrated Scheme on School Education by subsuming Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya
Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE) from 1st April, 2018 to 31st
March, 2020. An estimated allocation of Rs 75,000 crore over the period has been approved
which is a 20% increase over the current allocations.
The scheme comes in the backdrop of PM’s vision of Sabko Shiksha, Achhi Shiksha and aims
to support the States in universalizing access to school education from classes pre-nursery to
XII across the country. The main emphasis of the Integrated Scheme is on improving quality
of school education by focussing on the two T's - Teacher and Technology.
37. Cabinet approves continuation of the Credit Guarantee Fund for Education Loans
Scheme
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, has given its approval for continuation of Credit Guarantee Fund for
Education Loans Scheme and continuation and modification of Central Sector Interest Subsidy
Scheme with a financial outlay of Rs. 6,600 crore for period from 2017-18 to 2019-20. This
will provide education loans to 10 lakh students during this period.
Under the revised scheme, the number of loans per year are expected to be at least 3.3 lakhs,
showing a 20% increase over the previous scheme.
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SPORTS
Winner Title Additional Information
Navjot Kaur - Wrestler Won gold in the Senior First Indian woman wrestler to
Asian Championships win Gold.
Shahzar Rizvi – Shooter Clinched the 10m air pistol -
gold medal in ISSF World Cup.
Pankaj Advani and Manan IBSF Snooker Team World Cup Defeated Pakistan in the final
Chandra match
Manu Bhaker Won Gold at Women’s 10m Air She is just 16 year old
Pistol event in ISSF World Cup
Viswanathan Anand Tal Memorial rapid chess title Defeated Boris Gelfand of
Israel
Gora Ho Won Gold at Asia Cup Archery A teenager from the tribal belt
Stage 1. of Jharkhand
Akhil Sheoran Won the men’s 50m Rifle 3 ISSF Shooting World Cup in
Positions final Guadalajara, Mexico
Baskaran Adhiban 33rd Reykjavik Open Chess Player
Deepa Malik Won a gold medal in the F- Held in Dubai
53/54 category javelin event at
World Para Athletics Grand
Prix 2018.
Chennaiyin FC Indian Super League Title Defeated Bengaluru FC 3-2 in
the final match
Vidarbha Irani Cup – Associated with Played against Rest of India
Cricket
India Nidahas Trophy Defeated Bangladesh
Elavenil Valarivan Won gold medal in the 10- ISSF Junior Shooting World
metre air rifle women junior Cup in Australia
event
Sebastian Vettel Australian Grand Prix title He drives Ferrari
winner
Australia 2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup – Defeated England in the final
Associated with Hockey match. Venue : Ipoh, Malaysia.
th
India B Team 45 Edition of Deodhar Trophy Defeated Karnataka in the final
match
India U-16 team Jockey Cup International Youth Defeated Hong Kong U-17
Invitational Football Team
Tournament
Vinesh Phogat – Wrestler Won Silver Medal in the 50kg Venue : Kyrgyzstan
Freestyle competition at the
Asian Wrestling Championship.
Rashid Khan Youngest Captain in Leg spinner from Afghanistan
International Cricket History
Tejaswin Shankar Won gold at 22nd Federation High Jumper
Cup Senior National Athletics
Championships
Sebastian Vettel Australian Grand Prix Ferrari's German driver
Pankaj Advani Asian Billiards Championship -
Amee Kamani Asian Women’s Snooker Title -
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Manu Bhaker and Anmol Gold Medal - 10-meter air ISSF Junior World Cup in
pistol Sydney
Other Sports Related Current Affairs

All-female marathon held in Saudi Arabia for the first time
For the first time in the nation’s history, Saudi Arabia’s women participated in an all-female
marathon. The three-km-long marathon, held in the eastern province of al-Ahsa, reportedly
saw participation from 1,500 women across several categories. Earlier in January, Saudi
Arabia allowed its women, for the first time, to spectate at a football match.
PV Sindhu to be India’s flag-bearer at Commonwealth Games
India’s Rio Olympics silver medalist shuttler PV Sindhu is set to be the Indian contingent’s flag-
bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. She was
reportedly contending with Saina Nehwal and MC Mary Kom for the honour, but was chosen
following a better Olympic result. Sindhu won a bronze at the 2014 edition in Glasgow.
India re-enters Top 100 in FIFA rankings
Indian football team re-enters the top-100 of the FIFA world rankings and is now placed 99th
in the latest chart released by FIFA. It has 339 points now and shares the 99th spot with Libya.
The Indian team broke into the top 100 thrice last year, with the highest rank being 96. It’s
best record has been the 94th spot which it bagged in February 1996.
Rashid Khan fastest to 100 wickets in ODI history
Afghan spinner Rashid Khan has become the fastest-ever bowler to reach 100 wickets in ODI
cricket, achieving the feat in his 44th ODI in the ICC World Cup Qualifier final against Windies.
The 19-year-old spinner overtook Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who had reached the 100-
wicket mark in 52 ODIs in August 2016.
India pipped by Poland to host 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup
Poland pipped India in the race to host the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup after members of the world
governing body’s main decision-making panel – the FIFA Council – voted in favour of the European
nation in its meeting in Bogota, Colombia. Poland received nine votes as against India’s five.
Nepal gain ODI status with win over Papua New Guinea
Nepal gained One-Day International status after beating Papua New Guinea in the ICC World
Cup Qualifier tournament. Spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who was bought by IPL side Delhi
Daredevils registered figures of 4/29. Scotland and United Arab Emirates (UAE) retained their
One-Day International status until 2022 by reaching the Super Six of the qualifier tournament.
Rohit Sharma reaches 7,000 T20 runs, third Indian to do so
Indian opener Rohit Sharma has become the third Indian batsman to score 7,000 runs in T20
cricket, achieving the feat during his 56-run knock in the T20I series final against Bangladesh.
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Rohit joined Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli, who have scored 7,378 and 7,095 T20 runs
respectively.
Afghanistan in 2019 WC, Zim miss out for 1st time since 1983
Afghanistan registered a last-over win against Ireland in the World Cup Qualifier to book their
place in the 10-team 2019 Cricket World Cup. The 2019 edition will be Afghanistan’s second
successive World Cup. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe, who had featured in the last nine editions,
missed out on a World Cup place for the first time since 1983.
Broad youngest pacer to reach 400 Test wickets
England’s 31-year-old Stuart Broad became the youngest pacer to reach 400 wickets in Test
cricket after dismissing New Zealand’s Tom Latham in the first Test. Broad is the second
England bowler, after James Anderson, and the 15th overall to reach the milestone figure.
Notably, spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh reached 400 wickets at a
younger age.
Rashid Khan fastest to 100 wickets in ODI history
Afghan spinner Rashid Khan has become the fastest-ever bowler to reach 100 wickets in ODI
cricket, achieving the feat in his 44th ODI in the ICC World Cup Qualifier final against Windies.
The 19-year-old spinner overtook Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who had reached the 100-
wicket mark in 52 ODIs in August 2016.
Advani now holds Indian, Asian, World titles in billiards
Indian billiards player Pankaj Advani beat his training partner B Bhaskar 6-1 in the Asian
Billiards Championships' final to become the reigning Indian, Asian and world champion in
billiards for 2017-18. Advani, who registered his 11th title at the Asian level, was the
defending champion at the event. Meanwhile, India's Amee Kamani won the Asian Women's
Snooker title.
Steve Smith steps down as Rajasthan Royals captain, Rahane to lead
Steve Smith has stepped down as IPL side Rajasthan Royals' captain, with Indian cricketer
Ajinkya Rahane being named as the side's new skipper. This comes after Smith was handed a
one-match ban by the ICC for planning the ball-tampering act during the third South Africa
Test. Reportedly, Smith could be handed a lifetime ban by Cricket Australia.
Darren Lehmann announces his resignation as Australia’s coach
Australia’s head coach Darren Lehmann has announced his resignation from the position and
said that Australia’s fourth and the final Test in South Africa would be his last match.
The former cricketer made the announcement during the pre-match press conference ahead
of the fourth test that is scheduled to begin on March 30. Lehmann’s resignation follows the
ball-tampering scandal that jolted Australian cricket last week, even though he was cleared
of any wrongdoing by the investigation undertaken by Cricket Australia.
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OBITUARY
NAME OF THE PERSON DIED ASSOCIATED FIELD
Sir Roger Bannister First person to run a mile in under four minutes
Nargis Rabadi alice Shammi Actor - who acted in over 200 films and some
popular television serials
Hubert Taffin de Givenchy Founder of the luxury fashion label Givenchy
Ken Dodd Legendary Comedy Icon
Narendra Jha Actor
Stephen Hawking Renowned British theoretical physicist and
cosmologist
Kedarnath Singh Hindi poet
Peter Peterson Co-founder of world’s largest private equity
firm Blackstone Group
Charles Lazarus Founder and Chairman Emeritus of US toy store
chain Toys”R”Us
Les Payne Pulitzer Prize Winner
Ustad Pyarelal Wadali Singer
IMPORTANT DAYS OBSERVED IN MARCH 2018

DATE DAY OBSERVED THEME
March 1 Zero Discrimination Day “What if …”
March 1 National Defence Day
March 3 World Wildlife Day Big cats: predators under
threat
March 3 International Sex Workers -
Rights Day
March 4 National Safety Day -
World Day of Fight against -
Sexual Exploitation
March 8 International Women’s Day “Time is Now: Rural and
urban activists transforming
women’s lives”.
March 10 CISF Raising Day
March 13 World Kidney Day Kidneys & Women’s Health:
Include, Value, Empower
March 14 World Pi Day -
March 15 World Consumer Rights Day Making digital marketplaces
fairer'
March 20 International Day of -
Happiness
March 20 World Sparrow Day I Love Sparrows
March 20 World Day of Theatre for -
Children and Young People
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March 21 International Day for the Promoting tolerance,
Elimination of Racial inclusion, unity and respect
Discrimination for diversity in the context
of combating racial
discrimination
March 21 World Poetry Day -
March 21 World Down Syndrome Day What I bring to my
community
March 21 International Day of Forests Forests and Sustainable
Cities.
March 22 World Water Day Nature of Water
March 23 World Meteorological Day Weather-ready, climate-smart
March 24 World Tuberculosis Day Wanted: Leaders for a TB-
free world
March 24 International Day for the -
Right to the Truth
concerning Gross Human
Rights Violations and for the
Dignity of Victims
Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the
Transatlantic Slave Trade
Solidarity with Detained and
Missing Staff Members
March 27 World Theatre Day -
WhatsApp Group for Competitive Examinations
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AWARDS & HONOURS

Complete List of 90th Academy Award Winners

 Best Picture: “The Shape of Water”

Name Field State

PADMA BHUSHAN AWARD WINNERS

Name Field State

PADMA SHRI AWARD WINNERS

Name Field State

Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards

1. Chetan Kumar Cheeta

UTTAM YUDDH SEVA MEDAL

Lieutenant General Ajae Kumar Sharma

Deadline to link Aadhaar with PAN extended to June 30

Core sector grows at 6.7% in January 2018

Indian economy grew at 7.2% in third quarter: Government

Government sets up panel on Fintech to make regulations more flexible

Paytm unveils 'Paytm for Business' mobile app for TN

RBI imposes ₹40 lakh penalty on SBI over counterfeit notes

Dearness Allowance hiked to 7% for central govt employees

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approves India’s membership

 The London-headquartered EBRD is a multilateral development bank set up in 1991

Cheque books of six banks that merged with SBI to be invalid

SC extends Aadhaar linking deadline for mobile, bank account

India’s growth will touch 7.3% next fiscal: Fitch

HDFC Bank blocks use of its cards for cryptocurrency trading

Amazon launches its first-ever debit card in Mexico

Aadhaar must for new bank account, tatkal passport: UIDAI

India's trade deficit narrows to $12 billion in February

Climate change could create 14 crore migrants: World Bank

Equitas Bank Ties Up With CSK

Bandhan Bank becomes India's 8th most valued bank

SoftBank to create world's biggest solar power firm in Saudi

Fortis-Manipal merge biz to form India's top healthcare firm

RBI imposes ₹59 crore penalty on ICICI Bank

Oyo launches its own cryptocurrency 'Oyo Smart Coin'

Banks to remain open till 8 pm on March 31: RBI

85% pictorial warning on tobacco packs extended till Aug 31

UP Assembly passes anti-organised crime bill

Govt seeks details from FB regarding data breach by April 7

Government to sell 76% stake in debt-ridden Air India

Three Indian cities named among world's 10 cheapest cities

India's Biggest M&E Services Market, enTTech 2018 inaugurated in Mumbai

Delhi, Mumbai airports rated world's best in service quality

Amazon launches music streaming service in India

Govt approves ₹2,900cr Nirbhaya Fund to create 8 safe cities

ICG C-162: Bharati Defence delivers interceptor boat to Coast Guard

BSNL to invest Rs 4,300 crore for network expansion in 2018-19

BSNL's Chairman and Managing Director - Anupam Shrivastava

Asia’s largest tulip garden in Srinagar opens for visitors

India's oldest city to go wireless 86yrs after getting power

Commerce ministry terminates anti-dumping probe on solar cells

e-Tribes India to be launched by Tribal Affairs Ministry

First International Exhibition of Graphic Prints held in New Delhi

India Becomes Fourth Largest Auto Market In The World

India Becomes 3rd Largest Electricity Producer In The World

Navy warship INS Ganga decommissioned in Mumbai

Chandrababu Naidu flags off Naipunya Ratham for digital literacy

India 12th largest overseas holder of US securities in 2017

NFAI to host Women’s Film Festival, pay tribute to Sridevi

Government launches #YesIBleed menstrual hygiene campaign

ABOUT IMPRINT - I PROGRAMME

Two day Global Digital Summit at Kochi

NITI Aayog launches Women Entrepreneurship Platform