Daily Current Affairs 13 March 2024, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

1.Inauguration of Kochrab Ashram and Launch of Gandhi Ashram Memorial Master Plan by PM Modi

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Sabarmati Ashram to inaugurate Kochrab Ashram and launch the Master Plan of the Gandhi Ashram Memorial.
• Established by Gandhi on May 25, 1915, upon his return from South Africa. It was Gandhi’s first Ashram in India, emphasizing experiments in farming, cow breeding, Khadi, and constructive activities.
• Originally situated on barren land near the Sabarmati River, the Ashram was later relocated for practical and symbolic reasons.

2.Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates India’s First Automobile In-Plant Railway Siding

• In a historic moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the inaugural automobile in-plant railway siding at Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL).
• The ceremony, conducted via video conferencing, signifies a pivotal advancement in the execution of the Prime Minister’s flagship Gati Shakti programme.
• The primary objectives of this in-plant railway siding are to reduce the carbon footprint in logistics, decrease fossil fuel consumption, and alleviate road congestion.

State News

3.Odisha Extends Support to Women Employees with Extra Casual Leave

• In a move to empower and support women employees in the state, the Odisha government led by Naveen Patnaik has announced an additional 10 days of casual leave for women working in various government departments.
• This decision aims to recognize the multitude of responsibilities women shoulder and provide them with greater flexibility to strike a better work-life balance.
• Previously, all government employees in Odisha were entitled to 15 days of casual leave (CL) per year. However, with this latest announcement, women employees will now receive a total of 25 days of CL annually.

4.Union Minister Inaugurates India’s 1st FutureLABS At C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram

• Union Minister Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, responsible for Electronics and IT, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Jal Shakti, inaugurated India’s first FutureLABS center at C-DAC Thiruvananthapuram.
• Named the “Centre for Semiconductor Chips & Systems for Strategic Electronics,” this pioneering initiative aims to catalyze an ecosystem for next-generation chip design, manufacturing, and research.

Defence News

5.Indian Navy at Exercise Cutlass Express 2024

• The Indian Navy recently took part in a major maritime exercise called Exercise Cutlass Express – 24 (CE-24). This exercise was held in Port Victoria, Seychelles from 26 February to 08 March 2024.
• The Indian Navy was represented by the ship INS Tir, which is the lead ship of the First Training Squadron. INS Tir was led by Senior Officer, First Training Squadron, Capt Anshul Kishore.
• Exercise Cutlass Express is a multinational maritime exercise sponsored by the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) and led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. Sixth Fleet.

Economy News

6.Industrial Growth Slows to 3.8% in January 2024

• The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for January 2024 reflects a growth rate of 3.8%, indicating a slowdown compared to December 2023.
• The manufacturing sector, a significant contributor to industrial output, witnessed a deceleration in growth, dropping from 4.5% in December 2023 to 3.2% in January 2024.
• Manufacturing, constituting around 15% of Gross Value Added (GVA), holds a pivotal role in job creation and indirect tax revenue generation.

7.Retail Inflation Steadies at 5.09% in February 2024

• Retail inflation in February 2024 saw a decline to a four-month low of 5.09 per cent, remaining well within the Reserve Bank of India’s comfort zone of 6 per cent for the sixth consecutive month.
• The inflation rate within the food basket saw a marginal uptick, rising to 8.66 per cent in February from 8.3 per cent in the previous month.
• Notably, prices of specific items such as vegetables, fruits, oils and fats, and pulses and products witnessed a slight decrease on a month-on-month basis.

Banking News

8.CCI Approves Merger of Garagepreneurs Internet with North East Small Finance Bank

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the merger of a financial technology company, Garagepreneurs Internet Private Limited (GIPL), with the North East Small Finance Bank (NESFB).
• The proposed transaction involves the merger of GIPL, including its subsidiaries Quadrillion Finance Private Limited (QFPL) and Intergalactory Foundry Private Limited (IFPL), with NESFB and its subsidiary RGVN (North-East) Microfinance Limited (RGVN).

9.Sidbi gets $24.5 million from GCF for ‘Avaana’ fund

• The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has secured $24.5 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for its inaugural anchored project, the Avaana Sustainability Fund (ASF), valued at $120 million.
• The ASF project’s primary objective is to invest in early-stage companies leveraging technology-led innovation to drive climate solutions and sustainability in India.
• SIDBI projects significant contributions to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and the enhancement of resilience in vulnerable sectors of the Indian economy through the ASF project.

10.SBI partners with Aurionpro for its transaction banking platform

• Aurionpro Solutions has clinched a significant deal with the State Bank of India (SBI) for the license, implementation, and support of its cutting-edge cash management and transaction banking platform, iCashpro+.
• Valued at nearly Rs 100 crore, this prestigious contract entails phased delivery of license and implementation over 12 months, followed by a 6-year maintenance and support period.

Business News

11.Tata Power Solar Completes India’s Largest Solar And Battery Energy Storage Systems Project

• Tata Power Solar Systems Limited (TPSSL), a subsidiary of Tata Power Renewable Energy Limited, has completed the country’s largest Solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) project in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh.
• The project consists of a 100 MW Solar PV Project combined with a 120 MWh Utility Scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
• The project is poised to generate 243.53 million units of energy annually and reduce carbon emissions by 4.87 million tonnes over 25 years, making a substantial contribution to India’s renewable energy targets.

Important Days News

12.IREDA Celebrates 38th Foundation Day

• On March 11, 2024, the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) celebrated its 38th Foundation Day, marking a significant achievement in its journey towards promoting renewable energy development in India.
• One of the major accomplishments highlighted was IREDA achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating under the MoU 2022-23, signed with the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, for the third consecutive financial year.
• This recognition, with a score of 93.50 and a final rating of ‘Excellent’, reflects the company’s dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence.

13.National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Celebrates 19th Foundation Day

• On March 12, 2024, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) celebrated its 19th Foundation Day at the Jacaranda Hall, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
• To mark this special occasion, the Commission invited children from different parts of the country to acknowledge their efforts and participation in the Commission’s Pariksha Parv campaign.
• One of the primary activities planned under Pariksha Parv 6.0 was to encourage children to express their experiences, patterns, and go-to routines for dealing with exam stress and anxiety through short video messages.

Ranks & Reports News

14.India Tops Global Arms Imports, SIPRI Report

• According to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India was the world’s top arms importer for the period 2019-2023. India’s arms imports witnessed a 4.7% increase compared to the 2014-2018 period.
• Despite Russia remaining India’s main arms supplier, accounting for 36% of its imports, the report notes that this is the first five-year period since 1960-1964 when deliveries from Russia (or the Soviet Union before 1991) made up less than half of India’s arms imports.

Schemes News

15.Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launches Credit Assistance Program for Jan Aushadhi Kendras

• Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare, spearheaded the inauguration of a credit assistance program aimed at bolstering Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India.
• The program, initiated through a collaboration between SIDBI and PMBI, underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing accessibility and affordability of medicines, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Sanjeevani’ for the underprivileged.

Appointments News

16.ISMA Appoints Deepak Ballani as New Director General

• The Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has appointed Mr. Deepak Ballani as its new Director General.
• With over 25 years of extensive experience in public policy, government affairs, and organizational management, Mr. Ballani brings a wealth of expertise to this pivotal role.
• Prior to joining ISMA, Mr. Ballani served as the Director General at The All India Plastics Manufacturers Association, where he spearheaded policy advocacy, government affairs management, and international partner management.

17.Google Collaborates with ECI for Voter Information and Combats Misinformation Ahead of Elections

• Google has partnered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide authoritative information on voting processes for the upcoming general elections.
• Through Google Search and YouTube videos, voters will be able to access critical details on how to register and vote, as well as information about candidates.

Agreements News

18.Tripartite MoU signed among USOF, Prasar Bharati and ONDC

• The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has entered a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• The MoU encompasses USOF with Prasar Bharati, and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• This collaboration aims to expand affordable and accessible digital services across rural India, leveraging the BharatNet infrastructure under USOF.

19.NIELIT And ITI Egypt Sign MoU To Improve Skills, Jobs, And Global Collaboration

• On the 12th of March, 2024, an MoU was signed between the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) of India and the Information Technology Institute (ITI) of Egypt.
• This significant event took place in Cairo, Egypt. This collaboration seeks to bridge the gap in ICT skills, enhancing industry engagement and fostering meaningful international cooperation between India and Egypt.

20.MoRD Partners With IIT Delhi For Geospatial Tech & AI Applications

• MoRD (Ministry of Rural Development) and IIT Delhi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on geospatial technology and artificial intelligence (AI) for rural development.
• The partnership aims to leverage technology to enhance the effectiveness and transparency of rural development initiatives.
• The MoU signifies a collaborative effort to address rural challenges through technological solutions, setting a precedent for effective collaboration between academia and government.

Awards News

21.Smt. Droupadi Murmu Conferred Honorary Doctorate by University of Mauritius

• On March 12, 2024, President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law by the University of Mauritius.
• President Murmu is on a three-day state visit to Mauritius, during which she will be the chief guest at the country’s National Day celebrations on March 14th.
• The University of Mauritius conferred the Honoris Causa Degree of Doctor of Civil Law on President Droupadi Murmu, recognizing her contributions and the strong ties between India and Mauritius.

22.Mr. Srinivasan Swamy Receives 2024 IAA Golden Compass Award

• Mr. Srinivasan Swamy, currently serving as the chairman and managing director of RK Swamy Ltd, was honored at the 45th IAA World Congress in Penang, Malaysia.
• The IAA Golden Compass Award is a symbol of excellence and innovation in the industry. Swamy has played pivotal roles in shaping the landscape of the marketing services industry over two decades.
• Swamy is the first Indian industry leader to receive this prestigious honor. Previous recipients include renowned figures such as Shelly Lazarus, Paul Polman, and Andrew Robertson.

Science & Technology News

23.Union Minister Inaugurates “National Speed Breeding Crop Facility” At NABI

• Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of Science & Technology, inaugurated the “National Speed Breeding Crop Facility” at NABI (National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute), Mohali.
• This initiative aligns with PM Modi’s vision of increasing farmers’ income and promoting Agri StartUps. It speeds up crop improvement programs by developing advanced varieties resilient to climate change.
• NABI’s technology enables the development of climate-resistant crops, freeing farmers from seasonal constraints. Farmers can now farm year-round, improving food security and economic stability.

Miscellaneous News

24.New Scorpion Species with 8 Eyes and Legs Found in Thailand

• Researchers have made an exciting discovery – a previously unknown scorpion species with 8 eyes and 8 legs in Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan National Park.
• During a wildlife expedition in the park, located near the Tenasserim Mountain Range, a team of researchers stumbled upon this new scorpion species hidden under a rock while camping.
• This newly discovered species belongs to the subgenus Euscorpiops and has been named Euscorpiops Krachan, after the national park where it was found.

13 MARCH CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 | ALL EXAMS IMP. CURRENT AFFAIRS | ASHISH GAUTAM SIR

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