Daily Current Affairs 14 March 2024, Important News Headlines (Daily GK Update)

National News

1.Yoga Mahotsav 2024: IDY 100 Days Countdown begins with Women Empowerment Focus

• Yoga Mahotsav-2024 marked the 100-day countdown to the 10th edition of the International Day of Yoga (IDY) on June 21st, 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan.
• This year, the event focused on the theme “Yoga for Women Empowerment,” reflecting the Ministry of Ayush’s commitment to promote global health and peace through yoga, particularly emphasizing women’s well-being.

2.Anurag Thakur launches Prasar Bharti – Shared Audio Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination (PB-SHABD)

• Anurag Singh Thakur, inaugurated PB-SHABD, a news sharing service, alongside the revamped websites of DD News and Akashvani News, and an updated News on Air mobile app at the National Media Centre, New Delhi.
• PB-SHABD provides daily news feeds in video, audio, text, photo, and other formats sourced from Prasar Bharati’s extensive network.
• Revamped websites offer seamless user experience with diverse content sections including National, International, Education, Health, Business & Economy, Science & Tech, Sports, Environment, and Opinion.

International News

3.India And Dominican Republic Sign Protocol To Establish Joint Economic And Trade Committee

• On March 12, 2024, India and the Dominican Republic signed a protocol for the establishment of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) in Santo Domingo.
• The proposal for signing the protocol for the establishment of JETCO had received approval from the Union Cabinet of India on January 24, 2024.
• The protocol outlines a comprehensive framework aimed at strengthening and developing cooperation in various sectors including trade, services, and industrial technologies.

State News

4.Tata Motors To Establish Rs 9,000 Crore Manufacturing Unit In Tamil Nadu

• In a strategic move to bolster its production capacity in South India, automaker Tata Motors has announced plans to set up a new manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu.
• With an investment of Rs 9,000 crore over the next five years, the company aims to leverage the state’s conducive business environment to propel its growth trajectory.
• With existing manufacturing bases in Dharwad, Karnataka, and other parts of India, Tata Motors seeks to enhance its manufacturing capabilities to meet the rising demand for commercial and passenger vehicles in the region.

Defence News

5.China, Iran, and Russia Stage Joint Naval Drills in Gulf of Oman

• The naval forces of China, Iran, and Russia launched a joint exercise near the Gulf of Oman, aimed at safeguarding regional maritime security.
• The “Security Belt-2024” exercise marks the fourth time these countries have conducted such a drill since 2019. The  theme of the exercise is “Jointly Building Peace and Security.”
• The exercise is divided into three phases: harbor phase, sea phase, and summarize phase. The main focus is on anti-piracy and search and rescue operations.

6.Launch of ‘Agray’ and ‘Akshay’ Fifth and Sixth Ship of ASW SWC (GRSE) Project

• On 13th March 2024, a significant milestone was achieved in the Indian Navy’s shipbuilding program with the launch of ‘Agray’ and ‘Akshay’, the 5th and 6th ships of the 08 x ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) Shallow Water Craft (SWC) Project.
• These ships are being built by M/S Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in Kolkata for the Indian Navy. The Arnala class of ships, as they are known, will replace the in-service Abhay class ASW Corvettes of the Indian Navy and are designed for:

7.RPF Leads In Female Personnel Among Central Paramilitary Forces

• In a significant stride towards gender equality and inclusivity, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has emerged as a frontrunner among central paramilitary forces in terms of female representation.
• With women now constituting a remarkable 10 percent of its personnel, the RPF has set a new benchmark in gender diversity within central paramilitary forces.
• According to RPF Director General Arun Kumar, this milestone reflects the result of strategic recruitment drives and a concerted effort towards fostering inclusivity within the force.

Banking News

8.Private Banks’ Share in Deposits Rises to 34%

• The share of private sector banks in total deposits has risen significantly, reaching 34% as of December 2023, up from 25% at the end of the financial year 2017-18.
• This growth has been driven by aggressive interest rate offerings and improved customer relationship management strategies adopted by private banks.
• Conversely, the share of public sector banks in total deposits has declined to 59% from 66% at the end of the financial year 2017-18, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

9.RBI Directs Federal Bank and South Indian Bank to Stop Issuing New Co-Branded Credit Cards

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued notices to Federal Bank and South Indian Bank, directing them to halt the issuance of new co-branded credit cards.
• Both Federal Bank and South Indian Bank have assured that they will continue to offer credit cards to new and existing customers in the non-co-branded segment. Furthermore, they will continue to service existing co-branded cardholders.

10.Bank of Baroda Launches bob Earth Green Term Deposit Scheme

• Bank of Baroda has announced the launch of the bob Earth Green Term Deposit Scheme. The scheme provides interest upto 7.15% p.a. on deposits ranging from Rs. 5,000 to Below Rs. 2 Crore.
• The scheme aims to raise deposits that will be used to finance eligible environment-friendly projects and sectors, fostering India’s transition to a green and sustainable economy.

11.RBI Imposes Penalties on Bank of India and Bandhan Bank

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty of ₹1.40 crore on Bank of India for non-compliance with certain directions issued by the central bank.
• The RBI has also imposed a monetary penalty of ₹29.55 lakh on Bandhan Bank for non-compliance with certain directions relating to Interest Rate on Deposits.
• The RBI conducted Statutory Inspection for Supervisory Evaluation (ISE) of the bank with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2021, and March 31, 2022, and found instances of non-compliance.

Business News

12.PM Modi Lays Foundation Stone of three Semiconductor Facilities worth 1.25 Lakh Crore

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated three semiconductor projects virtually, with a combined investment of approximately Rs 1.25 Lakh Crore.
• The three facilities include a semiconductor fabrication unit in Dholera, Gujarat, an Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility in Morigaon, Assam, and another OSAT facility in Sanand, Gujarat.

13.Numaligarh Refinery Opens First Overseas Office In Bangladesh

• India’s Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) opens its first overseas office in Dhaka, Bangladesh, signaling its commitment to international expansion and stronger regional ties.
• The pipeline was designed to supply petroleum products to Bangladesh, with a capacity of 1 MMTPA of high-speed diesel.
• Bangladesh portion of the pipeline constructed at an estimated cost exceeding Rs 285 crore, funded by an Indian government grant.

Important Days News

14.World Kidney Day 2024

• World Kidney Day is an annual global health awareness campaign that aims to raise awareness about the importance of kidney health and the increasing burden of kidney diseases worldwide.
• It is observed on the second Thursday of March every year. This year World Kidney Day is observed on 14th March.
• The 2024 World Kidney Day campaign theme is Kidney Health for All – Advancing Equitable Access to Care and Optimal Medication Practice.

15.International Day of Action for Rivers 2024

• The International Day of Action for Rivers is observed annually on March 14th. This year, on Thursday, March 14, 2024, the theme is “Water for All,” emphasizing the fundamental right of every individual to access clean water.
• River experts from 20 nations declared March 14th as the “Day of Action for Rivers,” with the aim of forming a coalition against the degradation of ecologically sensitive water bodies, rivers, and watersheds.
• This day holds profound significance as a global forum to promote the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of rivers.

Schemes News

16.Prime Minister Modi Launches PM-SURAJ Portal to Empower Marginalized Communities

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Pradhan Mantri Samajik Utthan and Rozgar Adharit Jankalyan’ (PM-SURAJ) national portal during an event organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• The portal signifies the government’s commitment to extending credit support and empowering one lakh entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities.
• Under the National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem (NAMASTE) program, the Ministry distributed Ayushman health cards and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to sewer and septic tank workers (Safai Mitras).

17.NITI Aayog’s ‘Vocal for Local’ Initiative: Empowering Grassroots Entrepreneurship

• NITI Aayog launched the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative under its Aspirational Blocks Programme on March 13, 2024. This initiative aims to bolster local economies and promote grassroots entrepreneurship, ultimately fostering self-reliance and sustainable growth.
• Prof. Ramesh Chand, Member, NITI Aayog, unveiled the logo for ‘Aakanksha’ under the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative. The initiative aims to consolidate indigenous local products from 500 Aspirational Blocks under the brand ‘Aakanksha’.

18.Ministry of Heavy Industries announces Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024

• The Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, in collaboration with the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, introduces the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024 (EMPS 2024).
• This scheme aims to expedite the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) within the country, fostering a sustainable and eco-friendly transportation ecosystem while bolstering the EV manufacturing sector.

Rankings & Reports News

19.India Jumps 14 Ranks on UNDP Gender Inequality Index

• According to the Human Development Report 2023-2024 released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India has made significant progress in bridging the gender divide.
• The country has improved its ranking by 14 positions on the Gender Inequality Index (GII) 2022 compared to the previous year.
• In the GII 2022, India ranked 108 out of 193 countries, with a score of 0.437. This marks a significant improvement from the 2021 ranking of 122 out of 191 countries, with a score of 0.490.

Agreements News

20.Government of India, ADB sign $181 million loan to improve livability and mobility in Ahmedabad

• India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have collaboratively signed a $181 million loan agreement targeting the improvement of infrastructure and services in the peri-urban areas surrounding Ahmedabad city in Gujarat.
• Its objective is to improve physical and social infrastructure in peri-urban areas and fostering economic vibrancy and establishing them as attractive investment destinations.

Appointments News

21.Sanjay Kumar Singh Nominated As Next Director (Projects) Of NHPC Limited

• Sanjay Kumar Singh is poised to step into the role of Director (Projects) at NHPC Limited, following a commendation by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) panel on March 12.
• Currently serving as Chief General Manager at SJVN Limited, Singh emerges as the recommended candidate from a pool of twelve contenders.
• In his new capacity, Singh will join the Board of Directors at NHPC, reporting directly to the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD).

22.Gyanesh Kumar, Sukhbir Sandhu Appointed as New Election Commissioners

• The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led three-member committee has appointed Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as new Election Commissioners.
• This decision was conveyed to the media by Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury after the committee’s meeting on March 14, 2024.
•  With the retirement of Anup Pandey in February and Goel’s resignation, the three-member Election Commissionpanel was left with only the Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar.

Sports News

23.Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) Programme Launched

• The Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, has inaugurated a unique talent hunt event called KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification) in Chandigarh.
• This nationwide programme, under the Khelo India mission, aims to identify talented athletes between the ages of 9 and 18 years, currently enrolled in schools across the country.
• KIRTI will conduct 20 lakh assessments across the country throughout the year to identify talent through notified Talent Assessment Centres.

Obituaries News

24.Renowned Artisan and Padma Awardee Kapildev Prasad Passes Away

• Kapildev Prasad, a renowned artisan and Padma awardee for his contributions to the handloom industry and the revival of Bababuti sarees, passed away in Basavanbigha village, Bihar Sharif.
• Born in Basavan Bigha village, Kapildev Prasad dedicated his life to preserving and promoting the art of handloom and Bababuti sarees, a traditional weaving craft passed down from his ancestors.
• Bawan Booti, which literally translates to “52 motifs,” is a unique weaving technique that involves intricate hand embroidery on cotton or tasar cloth.

25.Paul Alexander, The Man In The Iron Lung, Passes Away At 78

• Paul Alexander, who spent much of his life in an iron lung after contracting polio as a child, has passed away at the age of 78.
• Paralyzed from the neck down by the disease, he spent over 70 years confined to an iron lung, a mechanical respirator that sustained his breathing.
• Despite his condition, Alexander pursued education, earned a law degree, and thrived as a writer and artist. His memoir, ‘Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life Inside an Iron Lung,‘ describes his journey.

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

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