NATIONAL NEWS

India’s 1st Marina to Promote Coastal Tourism

• Karnataka Chief Minister Shri Basavaraj Bommai has confirmed the construction of the India’s first Marina which will be constructed at Byndoor in the Udupi district, Karnataka

• The objective is to promote coastal tourism in Karnataka.

• After seeking permission from the Union government for the relaxation of Coastal Regulation Zone rules, it is proposed to take up beach tourism in coastal areas and pilgrim tourism.

• Also, to promote ‘yatra tourism’ in the state, the government proposed to build a corridor of ancient temples like Madhukeshwara in Banavasi and Dattatreya in Ganagapura.

Amazon to Join Government e-Comm Platform ONDC

• Amazon has announced that it will join the Indian government’s ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) platform.

• Amazon is planning to integrate its logistics network (from pickup to delivery) and SmartCommerce services with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

• SmartCommerce is an AWS-powered suite of SaaS products that enables MSMEs to build and scale their businesses across digital mediums.

• ONDC is an open e-commerce protocol set up by the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).

• Under ONDC, it is envisaged that a buyer registered on one participating e-commerce site may purchase goods from a seller on another participating e-commerce site.

Kerala Signs MoU with UN Women

• Kerala entered into an agreement with UN Women, boosting women-friendly activities in the State’s tourism sector by training stakeholders who include young representatives and civil organisations.
• A memorandum of understanding signed by Kerala Tourism Director P.B. Nooh and UN Women India representative Susan Ferguson agreed to work towards promoting gender-inclusive tourism sites in the State.
• The Responsible Tourism Mission will be the implementing agency for the MoU.
• As per the pact inked at the first-ever Global Responsible Tourism Summit in Kumarakom, both parties will promote women-friendly tourism in Kerala.

International Yoga Festival 2023

• The International Yoga Festival 2023, organised by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Council, was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on thebanks of the Ganges in Rishikesh.

• Renowned Yogacharya Padmashree Sivananda and Padmabhushan Rajinikanth were also present on the occasion.

• Sages and sages acquired many methods of yoga on the banks of the Ganges and presented yoga for the welfare of mankind.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Bangladesh Government Signs Agreement with ISA

• The government of Bangladesh signed an agreement with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) to increase the use of solar energy in Bangladesh.

• The agreement is to be implemented by December 2026.

• The government has set up a target of generating 40% of its total energy through renewable sources by 2041.

• Bangladesh aims to produce 4000 MW of solar power by the end of 2030 for which various projects have been taken up.

BANKING

India’s First International ETF Debt Fund

• IDFC Mutual Fund (MF) is set to launch India’s first international debt fund, the IDFC US Treasury Bond 0-1 Year FOF (fund of funds).

• With this international debt fund, Indian retail investors can now have access to diversify their investments and invest in ultra-safe, currently high-yield US treasury securities.

• They can also use this FOF as a hedge against their exposure to the US dollar (USD).

• The IDFC US Treasury Bond 0-1 Year FOF will invest in JPMorgan BetaBuilders US Treasury Bond 0-1 Year UCITS ETF, an exchange-traded fund (ETF) with exposure to 0-1-year US treasuries.

Bank of Maharashtra Partners with Experian India

• The Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) announced a strategic partnership with Experian India, to strengthen the digital security of the services.

• The aim is to provide a comprehensive suite of services such as credit risk, advanced analytics and fraud prevention.

• Experian is collaborating with BoM to provide innovative solutions throughout the customer lifecycle, enabling the bank to on-board New to Credit (NTC) and New to Bank customers (NTB) and service existing customers efficiently.

• BoM will avail the services for retail and non-retail clients, including SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) and corporates.

RBL Bank Partners with India Exim Bank

• RBL Bank and Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank), have entered into an agreement under the Trade Assistance Programme (TAP), to support cross-border trade transactions.
• Under the TAP, India Exim Bank aims to facilitate and enhance India’s exports globally by providing credit enhancement to trade instruments.
• Through the programme, India Exim Bank will extend trade lines to participating overseas banks/institutions in the emerging markets.
• The credit enhancements to trade instruments will help mobilise trade finance and would increase support to Indian exporters.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Sangeet Natak Akademi Felllowships and Akademi Awards

• President DroupadiMurmu has presented the SangeetNatakAkademi awards and fellowships for the years 2019, 2020 and 2021.

• On the occasion, eight eminent personalitie s were given SangeetNatakAkademi Fellowships in the field of performing arts

• A total of 128 artists from the field of music, dance, theatre, traditional, folk, and puppetry were given the Awards.

• The Akademi also honoured 86 artistes with special one-time awards commemorating 75 years of India’s Independence.

• The Akademi Awards carries purse money of Rs. 1.00 lakh, a Tamrapatra and an Angavastram.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Secretary General of FICCI

• Former bureaucrat Mr Shailesh Pathak has been appointed as the new Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) with effect from 01 March 2023.
• He Succeeds Mr Dilip Chenoy, who stepped down as Secretary General of FICCI in October 2022.
• The FICCI is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group based in India.

Vice Chief of Army Staff

• Lt. General. M.V. Suchindra Kumar took over as Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

• Prior to taking over, Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar was the Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy) at the Army Headquarters.

• In his recent responsibilities, he has experience in various departments like Intelligence, Operations, Force Structuring, Operational Logistics and Tech Infusion.

DEFENCE

Exercise Shinyuu Maitri

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) along with the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) participated in Exercise Shinyuu Maitri.

• It was organised from 01 March to 02 March 2023.

• This air exercise was organised along with the Indo-Japanese joint military exercise Dharma Guardian.
• An Indian Air Force contingent with a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft participated in Exercise SHINYU Maitri 23.
• The first phase of the exercise involved discussion on transport operations and tactical manoeuvres, followed by the second phase of flying exercises by C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force and C-2 transport aircraft of the Air Self-Defense Force of Japan.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IIT Madras Partners with GIC

• The IIT Madras partnered with the General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) to develop a urine-based tuberculosis diagnosis or screening.

• The envisaged product is anticipated to be faster and far more affordable than the existing point-of-care diagnostic kits available for various diseases such as blood glucose monitors.

• The know-how and the relevant technologies will be made available to start-ups or diagnostic kit manufacturers.

• IIT Madras has already developed and patented the technologies for fiber optic sensor probe fabrication and optoelectronic readout devices.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Zero Discrimination Day

• Zero discrimination day 2023 is celebrated every year on 01 March.

• On Zero Discrimination, under the theme ‘Save lives: Decriminalise’, UNAIDS is highlighting how the decriminalisation of key populations and people living with HIV saves lives and helps advance the end of the AIDS pandemic.

• Zero Discrimination Day was first celebrated and observed on 01 March 2014.

• Zero Discrimination Day was launched by UNAIDS UNAIDS is the organization that conducts programs on HIV/AIDS awareness and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.