Table of Contents
National News
CP Radhakrishnan Gets Additional Charge as Telangana Governor
Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan has been given the additional responsibility as the in-charge governor of Telangana. This comes after Tamilisai Soundararajan resigned from her constitutional post as the Telangana Governor. A communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan stated that Tamilisai’s resignation was accepted with immediate effect, and Radhakrishnan was appointed to take additional charge of Telangana.
International News
Vaughan Gething Becomes First Black Leader of a European Country
Vaughan Gething, who currently serves as the Economic Minister of Wales, has been elected as the new leader of the Welsh Labour Party. His victory marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first ever Black person to lead a European country.
States News
Trinetra App 2.0 to Transform Policing in UP
The Uttar Pradesh police force is set to adopt the advanced Trinetra app 2.0, a cutting-edge digital platform that promises to revolutionize crime prevention and investigation in the state. With over 9.32 lakh criminal records digitized within the Trinetra database, frontline officers will now have the capability to swiftly identify suspects during security checks.
Tamil Nadu Makes History with India’s Second Privately Developed Rocket
Tamil Nadu is set to witness a historic event as one of its space startups, Agnikul Cosmos Private Limited, prepares to launch its first rocket, Agnibaan Sub Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD), from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This launch marks several significant milestones in India’s space exploration journey.
Appointments News
Vinay Kumar Appointed as New Indian Ambassador to Russia
Vinay Kumar, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 1992 batch, has been named as the next Ambassador of India to Russia. Kumar is currently serving as the Ambassador of India to Myanmar. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that Kumar is expected to take up the new assignment in Moscow shortly.
P&G India Announces Kumar Venkatasubramanian as its New CEO Appointment
Leading FMCG company P&G India has announced the appointment of Kumar Venkatasubramanian as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective from May 1, 2024. The current CEO, LV Vaidyanathan, will be leaving the company to pursue personal interests after serving P&G for 28 years.
Arvind Kapil Takes Over as Poonawalla Fincorp CEO
Poonawalla Fincorp, a leading non-banking financial company (NBFC), has appointed Arvind Kapil as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. He will be replacing the current MD and CEO Abhay Bhutada, who is taking early retirement.
Election Commission Replaces West Bengal DGP: Appointment of Sanjay Mukherjee
The Election Commission of India has made a significant decision regarding the leadership of the West Bengal police force. Vivek Sahay has been replaced by Sanjay Mukherjee as the new Director General of Police (DGP) for the state of West Bengal. This decision comes amidst a series of changes in key positions within the state administration, particularly in light of past incidents and the upcoming elections.
Bankings News
YES Bank Partners with Indian Olympic Association for Paris Olympics
YES Bank has forged a strategic partnership with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to become the Official Banking Partner for Team India at the Paris Olympics 2024. This collaboration aims to provide comprehensive support to India’s Olympic athletes and their families.
Economy News
FY 2023-24 Sees Notable Direct Tax Collection Surge
In FY 2023-24, Gross Direct Tax collections soared to Rs. 22,27,067 crore, marking an 18.74% increase from the previous year. Net collections rose by over 19.88%, with Advance Tax contributions hitting Rs. 9,11,534 crore, up 22.31%, showcasing robust economic growth.
India’s Outward FDI Surges in February 2024
In a notable increase, India’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments soared to $3.47 billion in February 2024, marking a significant rise from the $2.82 billion recorded in February 2023, and an increase from $2.18 billion in January 2024. This data, released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), highlights a growing trend in India’s financial commitments abroad.
Business News
Insurance Sector Attracts Massive Rs 54,000 Crore FDI in 9 Years
According to Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi, the insurance sector in India has received a massive Rs 53,900 crore as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the last 9 years (between December 2014 and January 2024). There are currently 70 insurance companies operating in the country.
Ranks and Reports News
WMO Report Highlights Record-breaking Climate Change Indicators in 2023
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its State of the Global Climate 2023 report, revealing unprecedented levels of climate change indicators. These indicators underscore the urgent need for global action to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Important Days News
World Sparrow Day 2024, Date, History and Significance
World Sparrow Day is an annual observance held every year on March 20th to raise global awareness about the household sparrow and its alarming population decline. This humble little bird was once a common sight everywhere but has now become an uncommon spectacle in many parts of the world.
Awards News
Prabha Varma Bags 33rd Saraswati Samman for ‘Roudra Sathwikam’
Noted Malayalam poet and author Prabha Varma has been selected for the prestigious 33rd Saraswati Samman for the year 2023. He won the award for his novel in verse ‘Roudra Sathwikam’ published in 2022.
The Saraswati Samman, instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation in 1991, is one of the highest literary honors in India. It recognizes outstanding literary works in any of the Indian languages published in the last 10 years.
Raksha Mantri Trophy for Best AFMS Hospitals 2022
The Raksha Mantri Trophy for the Best and Second Best Command Hospitals of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for the year 2022 was awarded on 19th March 2024 in New Delhi. The Command Hospital (Southern Command), Pune was judged as the Best Command Hospital, while the Command Hospital (Central Command), Lucknow was the Second Best for 2022.
Ranks and Reports News
Begusarai Tops Global List of Most Polluted Cities
The city of Begusarai in Bihar is the most polluted city in the world, according to the World Air Quality Report 2023 released by IQAir, a Switzerland-based organization. The report states that out of the top 100 most polluted places globally, 83 are from India. After Begusarai, Guwahati is the second most polluted, followed by Delhi at third place and Mullanpur (Punjab) at fourth.
Science and Technology News
Meta’s Plan to Combat Misinformation in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections
With the Lok Sabha elections approaching in India, Meta unveils its strategy to tackle the growing threat of AI-generated fake content that could influence the electoral process. In response to concerns raised by the Election Commission of India regarding the spread of misinformation, Meta announces its comprehensive plan to safeguard the integrity of the elections.
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