Daily News

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Govt to use sensor-based Internet of Things (IoT)devices to effectively monitor Jal Jeevan Mission(JJM) implementation

For this,JJM with Tata Community Initiatives Trust and Tata Trusts recently completed pilot projects in remote villages of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan,Gujarat,Maharashtra & Himachal Pradesh.

A key feature of these pilots has been the use of frugal yet sturdy sensors,which provides near real-time information without manual intervention.It makes the solution scalable & sustainable

Did you Know

Jal Jeevan Mission aims to provide tap water connection to every rural household by 2024.

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First-of-its-kind Cruise Service starts between Surat and Diu

Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways (I/C) Mansukh Mandaviya flagged off the Cruise service from Hazira Port of Surat to Diu.

One side voyage time of the cruise service is approximately 13 to 14 hours.Cruise has the capacity of 300 passengers and has 16 cabins. This cruise will sail two round trips in a week. The Cruise has Gaming Lounge, VIP Lounge etc.

Did you Know

In November,2020,‘Hazira-Ghogha’ RoPAX service was inaugurated.

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Cabinet approves investment of Rs 10,900 crore in food processing industry under PLI scheme

Objective of the scheme is to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support Indian brands of food products in the international markets.

Scheme will facilitate expansion of processing capacity to generate processed food output of Rs 33,494 crore & create employment for nearly 2.5 lakh persons by the year 2026-27.

Did you Know

Scheme will be implemented over a 6 year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27.

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Odisha celebrates 86th statehood day | April 1

Odisha Day,also known as Odisha Divas and Utkala Dibasa,is celebrated on April 1 in the state in memory of its formation as a separate state out of Bihar and Orissa Province with the addition of Koraput and Ganjam from the Madras Presidency on 1 April 1936.

Odisha became the first independent state on language basis in India on this day 85 years ago.

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Special forces of India and US carry out military drill 'Vajra Prahar'' in Himachal Pradesh

The 11th edition of Indo-US joint special forces exercise Vajra Prahar 2021 was conducted at Special Forces training school located at Bakloh,in Himachal Pradesh.

It is aimed at sharing best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics.

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Govt to infuse Rs 14,500 crore in 4 PSU banks through recapitalisation bonds

The four lenders in which government will infuse capital include Central Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, Bank of India and UCO Bank.Central Bank of India will receive highest capital infusion of Rs 4,800 crore,followed by Rs 4,100 crore by Indian Overseas Bank. Similarly, government will infuse Rs 3,000 crore in Bank of India and Rs 2,600 crore in UCO Bank.

Did you Know

The recapitalisation bonds will be issued with six different maturities.

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ICICI Bank, Axis Bank to co-lead New Umbrella Entity (NUE) with Amazon,Visa as partners

ICICI Bank & Axis Bank have tied up with Amazon and Visa to launch a retail payments entity, which will be a rival to state-owned NPCI,which currently delivers services like UPI-based payments.

ICICI Bank and Axis Bank will be co-leading the consortium with a 20% stake each.Other partners, including Amazon, Billdesk, Pine Labs and Visa will be holding a stake of 15% each.

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Noted Marathi writer Dr Sharankumar Limbale to receive Saraswati Samman 2020

Noted Marathi writer Dr.Sharankumar Limbale will receive Saraswati Samman, 2020 for his book Sanatan.

Saraswati Samman, instituted by K K Birla Foundation in 1991,is recognised as the most prestigious and highest literary award in the country.The award carries fifteen lakh rupees,a citation and a plaque.

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SBI signs $1 billion with Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

The loan is intended to promote smooth flow of funds for the whole range of business operations of Japanese automobile manufacturers in India.

JBIC is a policy-based financial institution, wholly-owned by the Japanese government.

Did you Know

SBI had signed a similar deal with JBIC in October last year.

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Govt sets gross market borrowing target at Rs 7.24 lakh crore for first half of FY22

Centre will borrow Rs 7.24 lakh crore from the market in the first half of FY22, or just over 60% of the budgeted full-year target,continuing with the trend of front-loading the borrowing when the liquidity is high and private demand for funds low.

Centre has also raised its gross market borrowing in FY21 to Rs.13.71 lakh cr,against the revised estimate of 12.80 lakh cr.

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World Bank(WB) raises India's FY22 GDP forecast to 10.1% from 5.4% earlier.

However,according to its South Asia Economic Focus Spring update report,WB chose to provide a range for its FY22 prediction of 7.5-12.5% due to “significant uncertainty at this stage about both epidemiological and policy developments”.

In report 'South Asia Vaccinates',WB says India could gain $356.5 bn upon achieving herd immunity after vaccinating 70% of population.

Did you Know

WB also tempered its estimate of India’s FY21 GDP contraction to 8.5% from -9.6% earlier.

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104-feet tall flag mast inaugurated by Sikkim Governor Ganga Prasad

A 104 feet tall flag mast hoisting the National Flag was inaugurated at the Mahatma Gandhi Marg in Sikkim.The flag mast will be a permanent structure there and the national flag will remain hoisted throughout.

The flag mast has been set up by the state Roads and Bridges Department and is located in front of the Tourist Information Centre at the entrance of MG Marg.

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India’s FY22 GDP may grow 7%, K-shaped recovery likely in APAC region: UNESCAP

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)said it expects Indian economy to grow 7% in FY22 despite roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine and against a contraction of 7.7% in the preceding year.

The Asia Pacific region, including India, is staring at a “K-shaped recovery” of their economies, as per the UN agency.

Did you Know

The National Statistical Office (NSO) has projected an 8% contraction in India’s FY21 GDP

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WEF's gender gap index: India slips 28 places, ranks 140 among 156 nations

India has slipped 28 places to rank 140th among 156 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2021, becoming the third-worst performer in South Asia.India has closed 62.5% of its gender gap till date.In South Asia, only Pakistan and Afghanistan ranked below India.

For the 12th time, Iceland is the most gender-equal country in the world.

Did you Know

India ranked 112th among 153 countries in the Global Gender Gap Index 2020.

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New Zealand passes miscarriages bereavement leave law becoming only the second country in the world to do so after India.

New Zealand’s parliament passed legislation giving mothers and their partners the right to paid leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth.

The bereavement allowance gives employees three days leave when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth without having to tap into sick leave.

One in four New Zealand women have had a miscarriage.

Did you Know

New Zealand was the first country in the world to give voting rights to women.

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New sub-species of six-line blue butterfly discovered from south Western Ghats

Discovery of the species Nacaduba sinhala ramaswamii Sadasivan in the Agasthyamalais in the Western Ghats a decade ago has now found place in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.

It is the first time that a butterfly species was discovered by an all-Indian research team from the Western Ghats.

Did you Know

Their distribution ranges from India,Sri Lanka, whole of southeast Asia,Australia & Samoa

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Indian Army Formally Closes Down Military Farms After 132 Years Of Service

The Indian Army has formally closed down the Military Farms after 132 years of service in a formal closing ceremony on 31 March.

The farms were set up with the sole requirement of supplying hygienic cow milk to troops in garrisons across British India. The first military farm was raised on 1 February 1889 at Allahabad.

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Former President of Madagascar Didier Ratsiraka, a champion of India-Madagascar ties, passes away

Didier Ratsiraka who was President of Madagascar from 1975 to 1993 and from 1997 to 2002 passed away.

He had visited India in 1980 on a bilateral state visit and in 1983 to participate in the NAM Summit. He admired Indira Gandhi and Mahatma Gandhi and had contributed in advancing India-Madagascar ties.

Did you Know

Madagascar:
Capital:Antananarivo;
President:Andry Rajoelina.

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NSE Academy, GIFT SEZ sign pact to launch certification in international financial services

NSE Academy Limited (NAL),a wholly owned subsidiary of NSE has signed an MoU with GIFT SEZ Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Co. Ltd.).

MoU lays down foundation for NAL & GIFT City to assist in capacity building of trained manpower by developing,launching & conducting training programs related to International Financial Services.

Did you Know

Tapan Ray is MD & Group CEO,GIFT City and Vikram Limaye is MD & CEO,NSE.

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Tokyo Olympics 2020: 121-day torch relay kicks off countdown to delayed Summer Games

The Tokyo Olympics torch relay kicked off on March 25,2021, a year late & without spectators.The Games are to begin on July 23.

The rose-gold,cherry blossom-shaped Olympic torch was lit at the J-Village sports complex in Fukushima.First runner with the Olympic torch was Azusa Iwashimizu,a key player in the Japan team that won the Women’s World Cup in 2011.

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Facebook and Google to build new cables under the sea called 'Echo' and 'Bifrost' to connect the US to Singapore and Indonesia.

The projects will be done in collaboration with local partners including XL Axiata Tbk PT and Singapore-based Keppel Corp.

The Echo subsea cable will be the first to link Singapore directly to the US,with stops at Indonesia and Guam en route to Eureka, California.That fiber link is expected to be operational in 2023.

Google is only investing in Echo unlike Facebook.

Did you Know

Bifrost is expected to be completed in 2024.

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Union Minister Prakash Javadekar Flags Off DEMU Train Services Connecting Phaltan To Pune via Lonand.

The regular service of this DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) train commences from March 31.

Phaltan,110 kms south-east of Pune is known for agriculture produce & agro-based industries.Sugar cane,pomegranate,capsicum, okra etc are produced here.Owing to above products and companies,there is much movement of traders and aggregators from Phaltan to Pune & other cities.

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Punjab cabinet okays free travel for women in state government buses from April 1

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had announced the free travel scheme in the Vidhan Sabha on March 5.The scheme will benefit over 1.31 crore women/girls across the state.

Under this,women residents of Punjab can avail free bus travel in Government-owned buses,including PEPSU Road Transport Corporation,Punjab Roadways Buses and City Bus Services operated by Local Bodies

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Atal Innovation Mission(AIM)launches 'AIM-PRIME', in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) & Venture Center.

AIM,NITI Aayog launched AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations, Market-Readiness & Entrepreneurship),an initiative to promote and support science-based deep-tech startups & ventures across India.

First cohort of the program is open to tech developers(early-stage deep tech start-ups,and scientists/ engineers/ clinicians) with strong science-based deep tech ideas.

Did you Know

Venture Center is a Pune based non-profit technology business incubator.

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Suez Canal reopens after giant container ship 'Ever Given' is freed.

Suez Canal was blocked for six days in March 2021 after the accidental grounding of Ever Given,a Golden-class container ship longer than the Eiffel Tower.

The 193-kilometer-long (120 miles) Suez Canal is among the most trafficked waterways in the world, used by oil tankers shipping crude from the Middle East to Europe and North America.

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