NATIONAL NEWS

Himachal Pradesh with NIPER

• Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram signed agreement with the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Mohali as the knowledge partner for the upcoming Medical Devices Park in Nalagarh,Solan district.

• Board members of the Indian government's Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers approved the MoU.
• The HP government sanctioned Rs. 74.95 crore to the HPSIDC for the development of the Medical Park.
• The first instalment amounting Rs 30 crores of grant-in aid will be released by the government of India's Department of Pharmaceuticals.

AAI and BEL tie up to develop Air Traffic Management system

• Navratna Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and Airports Authority of India (AAI), under its R&D initiative at Wings India- 2022, has entered into an agreement for the joint, indigenous development of systems for air traffic management and surface movement of aircraft at airports in the country.

• It is a major boost to its own diversification drive into non-defence and the Government’s ‘Make in India’ programme.

• BEL and AAI will jointly develop Civil Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) with Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (ASMGCS), a complex ground surveillance system that manages air traffic at airports and in Indian Civil Airspace for safe operation of flights from take-off to landing.

Yak Dairy Enterprise

• A tripartite agreement was signed between the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Surketham Dairy Cooperative Limited (SDCL) and Nepal Dairy Pvt. Ltd (NDPL).
• It will promote yak dairy enterprise to sustain the age-old yak herding culture in the highlands of Eastern Nepal.
• They will collaborate in processing, product diversification and market linkage for yak products.
• To save yaks and yak farming culture from extinction, the Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative under ICIMOD approached NDPL for this partnership.

President’s Colour to INS Valsura

• On March 25 March 2022, President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the prestigious President’s colour to Indian Naval Ship (INS) Valsura in Jamnagar, Gujarat.

• INS Valsura is a premier training establishment of the Indian Navy that came into force on 1942.

• The President colour is bestowed on a military unit in recognition of exceptional service rendered to the nation both in peace and in war.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Hwasong-17 North Korea Monster missile

• Hwasong-17 Is an Intercontinental ballistic missile being test fired by North Korea.
• It was launched directly from a Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) vehicle, with 11 Axles.
• The missile flew 1, 090 km at a maximum altitude of 6, 248.5 km and hit a target in the Sea of Japan after travelling 67.5 minites in air.
• The Hwasong-17 is the biggest ICBM has ever developed and is potentially able to deliver a nuclear warhead to anywhere.

BANKING

Max Life Insurance Partners with PhonePe

• Max Life Insurance Co. Ltd has announced the launch of Max Life Smart Secure Plus Plan, on the PhonePe app to enhance financial protection for digitally-savvy customers.

• It is a non-linked non-participating individual pure risk premium life insurance plan.

• Customers have the flexibility to choose a sum assured up to ₹10 crore and can have their policies renewed on the PhonePe app.
• PhonePe, a digital payments platform has been granted a direct broking licence by IRDAI that allows the selling of insurance on their app.

SBI Signs Co-Lending Pact with 5 HFCs for affordable Housing

• SBI has signed a co-lending pact with five Housing Finance Companies to further its reach to underserved sectors.

• SBI has signed a co-lending pact with PNB Housing Finance Ltd, IIFL Home Finance Ltd, Shriram Housing Finance Ltd, Edelweiss Housing Finance Ltd, and Capri Global Housing Finance Ltd.

• It is to sanction loans to unserved and underserved sectors and accelerate effective and affordable credit to small home buyers in India and contribute to the vision of “Housing for All by 2024.
• Th bank’s overall home loan portfolio is estimated to be around Rs. 5.5 trillion with a goal of reaching Rs. 7 trillion by 2024.

Digital Financial Inclusion for Women

• The Federal Bank, Bank of Baroda, Axis Bank and Avanti Finance teamed up with Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to promote financial Inclusion of womem through technology.

• They work together to scale up for the 2nd phase of Swanari TechSprint programme.

• Swanari is ‘Swanirbhar Nari’ meaning self-reliant lady.
• It would focus on developing digital solutions to help women achieve financial security and independence.

SPORTS

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

• BYJU’S, a world-leading EdTech company, has been announced as an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

• As an Official FIFA World Cup 2022 Sponsor, BYJU’S will gain access to a global platform to further champion the integration of learning and sport.

• Through this partnership, BYJU’S will leverage its rights to the FIFA World Cup 2022 marks, emblem and assets and run unique promotions to connect with passionate football fans around the world.
•  It will also create engaging and creative content with educational messages as part of a multifaceted activation plan.

AWARDS & PRIZES

Governor of the Year Award 2022

• Mario Marcel, the Governor of the Central bank of Chile won the Governor of the year award 2022.

• Banco Central de Chile is the central bank of Chile.

• After he was named as Governor of the bank in October 2016, he took over the leadership of an institution that had secured a reption as one of the most independent banks in Latin America.
• He changed its Internal Management Structure.
• He also improved its Quality of Communication both in English and Spanish.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

MD & CEO of Maruti Suzuki

• Maruti Suzuki India Limited's board members have appointed Hisashi Takeuchi as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
• He will take charge from 01 April. He was appointed for a period of three-year term.
• He will succeed Kenichi Ayukawa, who is now designated as Executive Vice-Chairman for a period of six months.
• Takeuchi joined Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) in 1986 and has vast experience in international operations at SMC.
• He has also been on the Board of Maruti Suzuki since July 2019 and as Joint Managing Director (Commercial) since April 2021.

Interim MD & CEO of CSB Bank

• Pralay Mondal has been appointed interim Managing Director and CEO of CSB Bank by the Reserve Bank of India for a period of three months from 01 April.

• He is currently working as the Managing Director of CSB Bank.

• The position of MD and CEO at CSB Bank was left vacant, after C V R Rajendran announced his early retirement due to health reasons.

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh

• Yogi Adityanath took oath as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh for the second term in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and top BJP leaders at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana stadium, Lucknow.

• The BJP-led NDA secured 274 seats of 403, becoming the first party in three decades to form a government for a second consecutive time in the state.

• Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak also sworn in as deputy Chief Ministers.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing staff Members

• International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing staff Members is observed every year on 25 March.

• It is celebrated by United Nations to mobilize action, demand justice and strengthen our resolve to protect UN staff in the non-governmental community and press.

• It is observed every year to commemorate the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist who was working for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2022

• International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is celebrated every year 25 March.

• It is marked to raise awareness about dangers of racism and prejudice.
• The theme for the day 2022 is ‘Stories of Courage: Resistance to Slavery and Unity against Racism’.
• The day was first observed in 2008. The day is celebrated with ceremonies and activities at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

OBITUARY

Creator of the GIF Format Stephen Wilhite

• Stephen Wilhite, the creator of the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) or the moving image file format that transformed the way people communicate on the web died. He was at the age 74.

• He devised the GIF in 1987 while working at Compuserve.

• GIF was named word of the year in 2012 by the Oxford American Dictionary.
• He was recipient of a Webby Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

Bengali Actor Abhishek Chatterjee

• Bengali actor Abhishek Chatterjee passed away. He was at the age of 57.

• Abhishek was talented and versatile in his performances. He was one of the leading figures of the Bengali film industry in the late 1980s and 1990s.

• He started his career with the film ‘Path Bhola’ directed by Tarun Majumdar.