March 2024 Current Affairs MCQ Questions and Answers

Tamil Nadu government recently launched the ‘Neengal Nalama’ scheme to ensure the well-being of its citizens.

Assam launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Krishi Yojana’ to promote self-reliance in agriculture.

The Rajasthan government issued a notification to classify “orans”, “Dev-vans”, and “Rundhs” as deemed forests.

El Salvador became the first country to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has given a
clean chit to Independent Sugar Corporation (INSCO), a
Madhvani Group company based in Africa, for green
channel approval for the proposed acquisition of
Hindusthan National Glass & Industries Limited (HNGIL).
The Commission had initiated an investigation following
a complaint filed by AGI Greenpac.

State-run power giant, NTPC said it has signed a land
lease agreement with Andhra Pradesh Industrial
Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) for development of an
integrated green hydrogen hub on 1,200 acres of land
near Pudimadaka village of Atchutapuram Mandal,
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Tata Motors signed an MoU with Tamil Nadu to invest ₹9,000 crore in a vehicle manufacturing facility.

India’s first undersea metro tunnel is being constructed in Kolkata.

The United States launched the first-ever “Global Climate Change Fund” to support climate action in developing countries.

The New Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) project by ISRO is named Project Soorya.

The United Kingdom became the first country to introduce a law requiring EV chargers in all new homes.

India’s mineral output increased by 5.1 percent in
December as compared to the year-ago period, the
government said. The index of mineral production of
mining and quarrying sector for the month of December,
2023 at 139.4 is 5.1 percent higher as compared to the
level witnessed in the corresponding month of 2022, the
mines ministry said in a statement.

The primary objective of establishing 1,000 Farmers’ Produce Organizations (FPOs) is to enhance farmers’ income.

Private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank announced
major changes in its senior management team. Kotak
Mahindra Bank has re-designated KVS Manian as the
Joint Managing Director and a key managerial personnel
of the bank, with effect from March 1, 2024.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal
Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry in
collaboration with the World Bank Group organised a
National Workshop on Logistics Efficiency Enhancement,
on February 27, 2024, in New Delhi that brought
together the logistics sector community to brainstorm
and identify factors affecting logistics performance and
areas of improvement.

Uber, one of India’s leading ridesharing platforms, signed
a Memorandum of Understanding with Open Network
for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to explore integration with
the network to expand the range of mobility offerings on
the Uber app.

The bronze statue of Lachit Borphukan named ‘Statue of Valour’ in Jorhat, Assam, is 125 Feet tall.

The finance ministry’s Financial Intelligence Unit-India
(FIU-IND) has imposed a fine of Rs 5.49 crore on Paytm
Payments Bank for “violating its obligations” under the
Prevention of Money Laundering Act. On January 31, the
RBI directed Paytm Payments Bank to stop accepting
deposits or top-ups in any customer accounts, wallets,
FASTags, and other instruments after February 29.

The establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) was approved with a budget of Rs 150 crore.

ICICI Bank has acquired an additional 1.4% stake in ICICI
Lombard General Insurance Company through the open
market for Rs 1,164 crore. The lender bought 69,82,852
shares through multiple block deals on the stock
exchanges at Rs 1,666.35 a share.

The ‘PM-PRANAM’ scheme promotes the use of organic fertilizers.

The NSSO signed an MoU with the National Remote Sensing Centre to facilitate the Urban Frame Survey (UFS) in digital mode.

The Reserve Bank of India has reconstituted the threemember Committee of Advisors of Abhyudaya Cooperative Bank Ltd, inducting Devendra Kumar (former Chief General Manager, State Bank of India) in place of Mahendra Chhajed (Chartered Accountant),who resigned.

The T 0 trading settlement cycle introduced by BSE and
NSE facilitates same-day settlement of trades in the equity segment. This means that investors can now execute and settle trades on the same day, potentially increasing liquidity and efficiency in the market.

Microsoft India, iCreate, and the Ministry of Electronics
and Information Technology (MeitY) have announced
the launch of a joint artificial intelligence innovation
programme ‘Impel-AI’. The Impel-AI programme will
select and scale 100 startups across India to build with
Azure OpenAI, and the top 25 will receive go-to-market
support from Microsoft’s Global Network to develop
advanced products.

On February 26, 2024, India’s third aircraft museum,
showcasing the Indian Navy (IN)’s decommissioned TU142M aircraft, was launched at Kakinada Beach Park in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district. Geetha Viswanath Vanga, Member of Parliament (MP) of the Lok Sabha (Kakinada, AP), opened the aviation museum.

The ‘World Investment Report 2024’ was launched by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024 has a total outlay of Rs. 500 crore.

The National Payments Corporation of India’s (NPCI) has
granted approval of One97 Communications Limited
(OCL) to engage as a Third-Party Application Provider.
Under this arrangement, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, State
Bank of India, and YES Bank are designated as Payment
System Provider (PSP) banks to OCL.

Reliance Consumer Products has entered into a
partnership with Sri Lanka-based beverage maker
Elephant House, to manufacture, market, distribute and
sell beverages under the Elephant House brand across
India. Elephant House is owned by Ceylon Cold Stores
PLC, a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC, Sri Lanka’s
largest listed conglomerate.

Haryana launched the “Mukhyamantri Krishi Ayushman Yojana” to provide health insurance to farmers.

IIFL Finance said stakeholder Fairfax India Holdings
Corporation has agreed to give it liquidity support of $200 million after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) barred the non-banking financial company from giving gold loans. Fairfax India has a 15.1 per cent stake in IIFL Finance.

Under the ‘Soil Health Card Scheme,’ soil health cards are issued to farmers every two years.

Madhya Pradesh launched the “Mukhyamantri Vridhjan Pension Yojana” to provide financial support to senior citizens.

Gujarat became the first Indian state to introduce a ‘Green Hydrogen Policy’ to promote green hydrogen production.

The ‘Santushti Portal’ was launched to monitor and resolve grievances related to the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESIC).

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Ltd. (IREDA) and Punjab National Bank (PNB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing renewable energy initiatives across the nation. The agreement, signed at IREDA’s registered office in New Delhi, paves the way for joint efforts in colending and loan syndication for a diverse spectrum of renewable energy projects.

The World Bank approved $108 million for the Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development (GRID) of Uttarakhand.

‘Mission AMRIT’ stands for Accelerated Mission for Research and Innovation in Technology.

The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) launched the ‘Matsya Sampada Yojana’ to enhance fish production and create employment opportunities in the fisheries sector.

The ‘India Water Pitch-Pilot-Scale Start-Up Challenge’ was launched under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme.

Assert AI announced the launch of Pratham, a
groundbreaking platform that is patented for its
innovative approach to democratizing computer vision
and artificial intelligence. With Pratham, users can
unlock the potential of Vision AI technology without the
need for coding or AI expertise, marking a significant
milestone in the field of computer vision technology.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has
inaugurated the I-Hub Foundation, an incubation centre,
at IIM Sambalpur. The foundation will play a pivotal role
in nurturing and supporting innovative ventures across
diverse sectors, including textiles, art and culture,
agriculture, healthcare, financial and digital inclusivity,
tribal entrepreneurship, and sustainability.

 The Dibang Multipurpose Hydropower Project in Arunachal Pradesh has a total capacity of 2880 MW.

The services sector Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)
moderated to 60.6 in February, down from 61.8 in
January, according to the seasonally adjusted HSBC India
Services Business Activity Index. The moderation in
growth comes on the back of softer expansions in
business activity, sales and jobs.

The Reserve Bank of India and the Bank Indonesia has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a
framework to promote the use of local currencies for
cross-border transactions. The framework will enable
exporters and importers to invoice and pay in their
respective domestic currencies – the Indian rupee and
the Indonesian rupiah.

The Assam state government approved the formation of a development council for the Kiran Sheikh community.

The President of India appointed Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as new Election Commissioners.

National Safety Day in India is observed every year on
March 4. This day focuses on making safety and
precautionary measures a top priority of any sector.
Every year, National Safety Day is observed to highlight
safety measures and explore ways to make the office a
safer place for people.

The FutureLABS center named “Centre for Semiconductor Chips & Systems for Strategic Electronics” was inaugurated at C-DAC, Thiruvananthapuram.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Smart Gram Yojana’ to provide modern facilities in rural areas.

The first-ever ‘Global Youth Forum’ was held in Geneva.

The first oil mill under the National Mission for Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) was inaugurated in Arunachal Pradesh.

The finance ministry has recognised Akasa Air as a
‘designated Indian carrier’, bolstering the airline’s
international flight ambition. This makes the budget
carrier the first Indian airline to take to global skies within
19 months of commencing its operations. The carrier
operated its first flight on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route
on August 7, 2022.

With Sweden’s inclusion, NATO will have a total of 32 members.

The IPEF partners announced an initial grant funding of $33 million for the IPEF Catalytic Capital Fund.

Riken Yamamoto, a Japanese architect, was recently
named the winner of the renowned 2024 Pritzker
Architecture Prize, sometimes known as the “Architecture Nobel”. This is the most prestigious international prize in the field. Yamamoto is Japan’s eighth laureate.

The US Chamber of Commerce has released the 12th
edition of its International Intellectual Property (IP)
Index. India ranked at 42 out of the 55 countries in the
index with an overall score of 38.64 per cent. The United
States emerged at the top of the list followed by the
United Kingdom and France.

Fintech-focussed software-as-a-service firm Perfios said
it has secured $80 million in funding from Teachers’
Venture Growth (TVG), a late-stage venture and growth
investment arm of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. With
the fresh investment, the company’s new valuation will
cross the $1 billion mark, said sources, which makes
Perfios the second unicorn of 2024.

India’s economic growth is likely to slow to 6.5 per cent
in 2024-25 from the projected expansion of 7.3 per cent
in the current financial year dragged by slowdown in
industrial sector growth amid muted consumption
demand, India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) said.

RBI signed an MoU with Bank Indonesia to promote the use of local currencies for bilateral transactions.

India’s GDP is expected to grow by 6.5 percent in 2024-
25, according to India Ratings and Research. For 2024-25
as a whole, India Ratings’ forecast for headline retail
inflation is 4.8 percent, 30 basis points higher than the
Indian central bank’s projection of 4.5 percent.

Japan launched the world’s first dual-mode vehicle (DMV) that can operate on both roads and rail tracks.

Rating agency Fitch has revised India’s FY25 growth
forecast upward to 7% from the 6.5% projected earlier.
The rating agency also expects the RBI to go for a 50 bps
rate cut from July to September, adding that it sees the
country’s CPI declining by 4% by end of 2024.

In February 2024 the Asian Development Bank (ADB)
priced a $3.5 billion 5-year global bond, proceeds of
which will become part of ADB’s ordinary capital resources. The largest orderbook was achieved in 2021
for a $5 billion global benchmark bond.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has launched the
‘Asha Kirana – Eye Care at Your Doorstep’ scheme to
provide eye care accessibility for families across
Karnataka free of cost. Under the Asha Kirana program,
comprehensive eye care services, including doorstep eye
check-ups, diagnosis, and treatment including
distribution of spectacles, and cataracts surgeries will be
provided to families free of cost.

Union Minister of Education and Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan, inaugurated
the first Skill India Centre (SIC) of the country in
Sambalpur, Odisha. The centre aims to provide quality
education and skills training, empower the youth, and
create a competent workforce for the 21st century.
Similar centres will be inaugurated in other locations in
Odisha.

 Maharashtra has the highest number of cooperative societies according to the “National Cooperative Database 2023.”

India’s ranked improved to 113 out of 190 countries in
the World Bank’s Women, Business and Law index,
according to the 10th edition of the report. The index
indicates the gap between legal rights enjoyed by men
and women. Indian women enjoyed 60% of the legal
rights given to men, lower than the global average of
64.2%, as per the 2024 index report.

Jana Small Finance Bank has got approval from the
Reserve Bank of India to re-appoint Ajay Kanwal as its
managing director and chief executive officer for three
years from March 21, 2024. His tenure will be till March
20, 2027.

Russia has launched into space Pars 1, an Iranian imaging
satellite, which has the capability of sending highresolution images of surface locations from its orbit 500 km above Earth, Russian state media reported. The rocket also carried a Russian weather satellite and 17 Russian small satellites.

Bharti Enterprises founder and chairman, Sunil Bharti
Mittal has become the first Indian citizen to receive an
Honorary Knighthood from United Kingdom’s King Charles III. The award grants Mr. Mittal the title of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, recognising his contributions to fostering stronger business ties between India and the UK.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is organizing Poshan Pakhwada, a 15-day national celebration that raises awareness about nutrition, dietary practices, and women’s health from 09 March till 23 March, 2024. So far, through 5 Poshan Pakhwada and 6 Poshan Maah, more than 90 crore sensitization activities have been reported by the States/ UTs, and partner Ministries/ Departments.

Fintech startup Paymart said that it has partnered with
five Indian banks to offer its innovative virtual, cardless,
and hardware-less cash withdrawal service. Paymart has
partnered with five prominent banks, including IDBI
Bank, Indian Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, and Karur
Vyasa Bank, to roll out this service nationwide.

The government said it has launched a platform, Bharat
Startup Ecosystem Registry, to create a comprehensive
database with details about all the startup ecosystem
stakeholders under one roof across different categories.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal became
the first person to register on the platform, signifying the
government’s commitment to nurturing India’s
burgeoning startup ecosystem.

Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority
(IEPFA) and Singapore-headquartered DBS Bank signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to spread
awareness on investment and fraudulent schemes.
Under the MoU, DBS Bank aims to support IEPFA’s
investor awareness activities by disseminating safety
messages via its various digital platforms.

Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation has
unveiled Vantara, an initiative for animal welfare in
Gujarat. This project focuses on the rescue, treatment,
and rehabilitation of injured and abused animals across
India and abroad.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the
appointment of S Ravindran as the part-time chairman of
Tuticorin-based Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB). The
approval is subject to Ravindran, stepping down from his
directorships in Shriram Finance and Bandhan AMC, before assuming charge as the part-time chairman of the
bank.

The United Kingdom became the first country to introduce a law requiring EV chargers in all new homes.

 PM Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata.

 India launched the “National Hydrogen Mission” to become a global leader in the production of green hydrogen.

The National Institute of One Health will be located in Nagpur.

The United Kingdom became the first country to approve the COVID-19 pill Molnupiravir for public use.

The US Consulate, in collaboration with the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture (MCCIA), launched the first-ever US-India Cyber Security Initiative to strengthen IT connections between the two countries. The initiative will lead the Pune into a mentorship model in cyberspace and will also foster people-to-people ties in cyberspace.

The comprehensive maritime security exercise ‘Sea Defenders-2024’ between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) successfully concluded at Port Blair on March 9. The exercise aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two forces, showcasing their expertise in various scenarios.

Fair trade regulator CCI said it has granted approval to
Ring Plus Aqua Ltd’s proposed acquisition of a 59.25 percent stake in Maini Precision Products Ltd. Maini Precision Products Ltd (MPPL) is engaged in the manufacturing of precision products for different industries and manufacturers.

The rural development ministry has joined hands with
IIT-Delhi for leveraging the use of geospatial technology
and artificial intelligence to monitor assets under the
MGNREGA. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
was signed by Amit Kataria, Joint Secretary, Ministry of
Rural Development (MoRD) and Manabendra Saharia of
IIT Delhi.

Madhya Pradesh announced the launch of the ‘Mukhyamantri Ration Aapke Dwar Yojana’ to deliver ration directly to beneficiaries’ doorsteps.

The Indian economy is set to witness significant growth,
with projections indicating a GDP expansion of 6.8 per
cent in the next fiscal year. This growth trajectory
positions India to attain upper middle-income status by
2031, with the economy expected to double to USD 7
trillion, said ratings agency Crisil.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-SE).

Rajendra Prasad Goyal has assumed the additional
charge of Chairman and Managing Director of NHPC
Limited. Goyal, who has been serving NHPC since
November 18, 1988, brings over three decades of
experience within the organization to his new role.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched the ‘Mission Solar Charkha’ to promote the production of solar charkhas across India.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said it has imposed
penalties amounting to almost Rs 3 crore on State Bank
of India, Canara Bank, Ocean Capital Market Ltd and City
Union Bank for violation of regulatory norms. In a statement, the RBI said a penalty of Rs 2 crore has been imposed on the State Bank of India (SBI) for contravention of certain norms related to the Depositor Education Awareness Fund Scheme, 2014.

Bhakti Sharma became the first Indian woman to cross the English Channel solo.

The semiconductor fab will be established in Dholera, Gujarat, by Tata Electronics Private Limited in partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (PSMC), Taiwan.

The Ministry of Ayush and Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi. The Ministry said that the MoU will bring forth the overview of Ayush Service sector and will serve the continuation of academic cooperation and collaboration with RIS, which is a Policy Research autonomous institute of Ministry of External Affairs.

The main objective of the “Setu Bharatam” program is to eliminate railway level crossings.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Swasthya Yojana’ to provide free healthcare services to all residents.

Rajasthan launched the ‘CM’s Gramin Bicycle Scheme’ to promote cycling in rural areas.

The ‘Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2023’ focus on banning single-use plastics, implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and promoting the recycling of plastic waste.

 India hosted the 9th International Yoga Day celebrations with the theme ‘Yoga for Humanity.’

 Ranveer Allahbadia, also known as BeerBiceps, won the “Disruptor of the Year award” at the first-ever National Creators Awards 2024.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has conducted its weeklong financial awareness campaign from February 26 to
Match 1, 2024. This year’s theme is “Make a Right Start–
Become Financially Smart”, primarily targeting young
adults. One of the campaign’s highlights this year is the
“Financial Literacy Ideathon” contest, with a prize of up
to Rs 1 lakh for students.

Panama recently became the 97th member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

 Karnataka became the first Indian state to introduce “Gender Budgeting” in the state budget.

The Centre of Gurumukhi Script was approved at Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College and Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College.

The United States launched the first-ever ‘Global Climate Change Fund’ to support climate action in developing countries.

Mundkur Shyamprasad Kamath took charge as the
Managing Director (MD) of Mangalore Refinery and
Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL). A media statement said
Kamath has a professional career spanning over 30 years
in the downstream hydrocarbon industry.

The ‘Global Wage Report 2024’ was released by the International Labour Organization (ILO)

Bhakti Sharma became the first Indian woman to cross the English Channel solo.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Solar Pump Yojana’ to provide solar pumps to farmers.

India has signed a 181 million dollars loan with the Asian
Development Bank (ADB) to improve urban livability and
mobility in Ahmedabad. The loan will fund development
in areas transitioning from rural to urban, called Periurban areas.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) to promote the use of solar energy in agriculture.

The Maharashtra state cabinet approved the renaming of Ahmednagar as “Ahilyanagar.”

Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora became the first Sikh community member to take oath as a minister in Punjab province, Pakistan.

Defence PSU Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) said it
entered into a contract valued at Rs 847.7 crore with
Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) for the supply of 14
cutting-edge communication and electronic warfare
(EW) sensors and systems for the Navy.

“Project ODISERV” was launched by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in collaboration with Bajaj Finserv Limited.

The “Global Investment Report 2024” was launched by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) has
launched an “Automated Search Portal” to help public
sector banks (PSBs) with antecedent verification of
prospective borrowers and non-performing assets
(NPAs). The portal, which has been developed by the
Bureau in collaboration with the State Bank of India (SBI),
will help PSBs obtain mandatory intelligence clearance
from CEIB in a prompt manner, which in turn will
facilitate timely disbursement of funds.

The National Health Authority (NHA) is responsible for implementing the ‘Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).’

India has contributed $1 million to IBSA Fund which
undertake projects aimed at alleviating poverty and
hunger. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN
Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj handed over the cheque of
$1 million as a contribution towards the India, Brazil and
South Africa Facility for Poverty and Hunger Alleviation
Fund (IBSA Fund) to the Director of the UN Office for
South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Dima Al-Khatib.

The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) was launched to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in urban areas.

The joint maritime exercise “Sea Defenders-2024” commenced between India and the USA.

In a first in the private sector, two facilities for the manufacture of ammunition and missiles were opened by Adani Defence and Aerospace in Kanpur on February 26. The twin-facility complex, spread over 500 acres, was inaugurated by Army Chief Gen. Manoj Pande and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Credit growth in India is expected to moderate to 14 per
cent in FY25 from the existing 16 per cent as deposit
growth is unable to keep pace with loans, S&P Global
Ratings said in a report. As per the report, system-level
credit growth to moderate to 14 per cent in 2024-25
from about 16 per cent year-on-year growth in the first
three quarters of FY24.

The 12th edition of the Multilateral Naval Exercise-2024
“MILAN24”, hosted by India, was organised in
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The exercise was
conducted from 19th to 27th February 2024 by the
Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy.

Odisha launched the ‘CM’s Air Ambulance Scheme’ to provide emergency medical assistance.

Two-time Paralympics gold medallist Devendra Jhajharia
was elected unopposed as the Paralympic Committee of
India (PCI) president, succeeding another celebrated
para-athlete Deepa Malik. The 42-year-old javelin
thrower, who had won a gold medal each in the 2004
Athens and 2016 Rio Paralympics in the F46 disability
category, was the only candidate in the fray for the top post.

Madhya Pradesh has the largest population of leopards according to the “Status of Leopards in India 2022” report.

RBL Bank and Innoviti Technologies Pvt. Ltd. have set up
a truly state-of-the-art omnichannel payments platform,
called Omnium, for progressive merchants. The platform
aims to unlock value lying hidden in a retailer’s data and
business processes, helping them grow faster and with
lesser efforts than possible otherwise.

The “Global Wage Report 2024” was released by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month, observed annually
in March, aims to raise awareness about multiple
myeloma, a rare type of blood cancer that affects the
bones and other parts of the body. The initiative aims to
educate the public about the symptoms, risk factors, and
treatment options for this disease.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Smart Gram Yojana’ to develop model villages.

Walmart-owned payments company PhonePe formally
launched its mobile app marketplace, Indus Appstore, in
an attempt to rival the Google Play store and Apple’s App
Store. The Indus Appstore looks to differentiate itself
from the Google and Apple platforms by not charging
developers any platform fee or commission for in-app
payments.

The Indian Railways has revealed that the Railway Protection Force (RPF) boasts the highest proportion of female personnel, standing at 9%, surpassing other Central Paramilitary Forces in India. The RPF has implemented several initiatives to empower women and address the needs of women personnel while performing their duties.

The National Highways Authority of India has entered into a five-year agreement with HLL Lifecare to strengthen its incident management systems and assist accident victims on the national highways, a move aimed at reducing the number of fatalities from road accidents on highways.

Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora became the first Sikh community member to take oath as a minister in Pakistan’s Punjab province.

India launched the “National Hydrogen Mission” to become a global leader in green hydrogen production.

Infibeam Avenues has received final authorisation from
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a Payment
Aggregator under the Payment Settlements Act, 2007 for
its payment gateway brand – CCAvenue. In October
2022, Infibeam Avenues received “in-principle” approval
from the RBI to operate as a Payment Aggregator (PA).

Union Minister Piyush Goyal of the Ministry of Consumer
Affairs, Food & Public Distribution has launched ‘e-Kisan
Upaj Nidhi’, an online portal created by the Warehousing
Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) to help
farmers finance post-harvest activities. Farmers can get
collateral-free loans from banks against their farm
produce held in the WDRA-registered warehouse.

 Paraguay was declared malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), making it the first country in the Americas to achieve this status in over 45 years.

The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft for the Indian Navy.

The enrollment of farmers under the Pradhan Mantri
Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has crossed a record 40
million in 2023-24, an increase of 27% from the 31.5
million enrolled in FY23, an agriculture ministry official
said. The official said that 42% of farmers who would
enroll under the crop insurance are those who had not
availed loans from the banks.

Gross GST collection in February 2024 jumped 12.5 per
cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 1.68 lakh crore. GST
revenue net of refunds for February 2024 stood at Rs
1.51 lakh crore, which is a 13.6 per cent growth over that
for the same period last year.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) introduced the new ‘Holistic Progress Card’ (HPC) for students.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has inaugurated India’s first
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) powered bus, which will be
operated by Maharashtra State Road Transport
Corporation. MSRTC, which ferries around 60 lakh
passengers every day, will set up LNG distribution
facilities at 90 depots across the state.

INS Jatayu was commissioned by Admiral R Hari Kumar,
the Chief of Naval Staff at Minicoy, the southernmost
island in Lakshadweep, strengthening the Indian Navy’s
foothold and extending operational reach in the region
needed, with China increasingly exercising influence over
Maldives.

The Ministry of Defence signed a contract with Big Bang Boom Solutions for the anti-drone system “Vajra Sentinel System.”

In Seychelles, Indian Army contingent participated in the
Tenth edition of Joint Military Exercise “LAMITIYE-2024”
between the Indian Army and Seychelles Defence Forces
(SDF). The Joint Exercise was conducted at Seychelles
from 18-27 March 2024.

The coal industry registered a growth rate of 10.2% in
January 2024, the highest among the eight core sectors,
according to the index of eight core industries (ICI) data
released by the ministry of commerce & industries. With
a base year of 2011-12, the ICI for coal reached 218.9
points in January, up from 198.6 points during the same
month in the previous year.

The ‘World Energy Outlook 2024’ was released by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first municipal corporation in Asia to raise Rs 100 crore through certified green municipal bonds. This landmark initiative underscores Gujarat’s commitment to sustainable urban development and environmental stewardship.

Rajasthan launched the “Mukhyamantri Anuprati Coaching Yojana” to offer free coaching to underprivileged students.

The Goa government announced setting up of a blended
finance facility in partnership with the World Bank that
will enable the coastal state to access and mobilise
concessional finance to implement low-carbon and
climate-resilient investments. Chief Minister Pramod
Sawant in presence of the World Bank officials and other
institutions announced the setting up of the facility.

Haryana launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Krishi Ayushman Yojana’ to provide health insurance to farmers.

Union Minister for Communications Ashwini Vaishnaw
has launched ‘Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP)’ of the
Department of Telecommunications (DoT) for coordination among the stakeholders to curb misuse of telecom resources in cyber-crime and financial frauds, and ‘Chakshu’ facility on Sanchar Saathi portal, a pioneering initiative empowering citizens to proactively report suspected fraud communication.

The Board of Directors of Aditya Birla Capital Limited on March 11 approved amalgamation of Aditya Birla Finance Ltd., its wholly-owned subsidiary with itself to “create a large unified operating NBFC”. The amalgamation is subject to regulatory approvals, the company said in an exchange notification.

Madhya Pradesh launched the “Mukhyamantri Vidya Niketan Yojana” to provide quality education to students from economically weaker sections.

The first ever global forum towards combating cervical
cancer saw donors pledging nearly $600 million in
funding on March 5, 2024. The funding includes $400
million from the World Bank over three years, $180
million from American Charitable organisation Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation and $10 million from UNICEF.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) released the “Global Methane Tracker 2024” report.

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana’ to provide financial assistance to women.

Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo, the Defence
Minister of the Republic of Indonesia, will be sworn in as the 8th President of Indonesia on October 20, 2024. He
will succeed Joko Widodo (Jokowi), a member of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) who has
held the position since 2014 for two consecutive terms
(2014-19 and 2019-24).

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched
CoViNet, a global network of laboratories specializing in
human, animal, and environmental coronavirus
surveillance. This initiative aims to detect and monitor
emerging coronaviruses, including potential novel
strains, to enhance risk assessment and inform WHO
policies, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

India ranked 134th in the Human Development Index (HDI) for 2022 according to the report.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched the ‘Global Investment Report 2024.’

The United States became the first country to launch a satellite using a reusable rocket booster.

Hyderabad hosted the ‘National Women’s Parliament 2024.’

Madhya Pradesh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Vidya Niketan Yojana’ to provide quality education to students from economically weaker sections.

The “Global Forest Resources Assessment 2024” was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

On February 26, 2024, the Comoros and the Democratic
Republic of Timor-Leste formally joined the World Trade
Organization (WTO). The signing ceremony took place at
the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), arranged
by the UAE in Abu Dhabi.

Saurabh Garg recently took charge as the CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

 New Delhi hosted the “National Street Food Festival 2024.”

The World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the “Global Gender Gap Report 2024.”

Sweden has formally joined NATO as the 32nd member
of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of
post-World War II neutrality and centuries of broader
non-alignment with major powers as security concerns in
Europe have spiked following Russia’s 2022 invasion of
Ukraine.

The government has increased the authorised capital of
state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) from Rs 10,000
crore to Rs 21,000 crore to enhance the operational
capabilities and fulfill its mandate effectively, the Food
Ministry said. The increase in the authorised capital will
reduce the interest burden, decrease the economic cost
and ultimately affecting the government subsidy
positively.

Madhya Pradesh launched the “Mukhyamantri Swasthya Yojana” to provide free healthcare services to all residents.

The priority corridor from Taj East Gate to Mankameshwar in the first phase of the Agra Metro is 6 Km long.

China launched the first-ever “Artificial Sun” to explore nuclear fusion technology.

The United States became the first country to launch a satellite using a reusable rocket booster.

Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a government funded research institution focused on telecom technology, announced its plans to collaborate with Qualcomm Technologies Inc. to establish a strategic partnership that will foster innovation in India and support indigenous developers and start-ups working on innovative products and use cases.

The “PM-PRANAM” scheme promotes the use of organic fertilizers.

The President’s Standard was awarded to the 45 Squadron of the Indian Air Force by the President of India.

The brand launched by NITI Aayog under the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative is named Aakanksha.

 Rajasthan launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Anuprati Coaching Yojana’ to provide free coaching to underprivileged students.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it has approved
a USD 23 million loan to enhance access to quality fintech
education, research, and innovation at the Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in India. GIFT is a
state-owned enterprise established to promote and
cultivate fintech ecosystems and financial services in
India.

Raghu Vamsi Machine Tools Private Limited launched its fully indigenous Micro Turbojet Engine “INDRA RV25: 240N.”

 ‘Mission Vatsalya’ is an initiative under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

State-wise, Madhya Pradesh houses the largest population (3907) of leopards in the country followed by Maharashtra (1985), Karnataka (1,879), Tamil Nadu (1,070) and Chhattisgarh (722). Uttarakhand, on the other hand, reported the highest decline – from 839 in 2018 to 652 in 2022.

The National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) aims to create digital health records for every citizen.

Christopher Nolan won the Best Director award at the 96th Academy Awards for “Oppenheimer.”

Rajasthan launched the “CM’s Gramin Bicycle Scheme” to promote cycling in rural areas.

The Maharashtra government has become the owner of iconic Air India building, Mumbai of AI Assets Holding Company Ltd (AIAHL) with the Union government approving transfer of the asset. The Maharashtra government bought the Air India building at Nariman Point in Mumbai for Rs 1,601 crore.

The indelible ink was developed by CSIR-National Physical Laboratory of India, Delhi.

State-owned Punjab National Bank (PNB) has announced
a partnership with online travel tech platform EaseMyTrip to launch a co-branded credit card. This power-packed co-branded travel credit card is aimed at mass to premium customer segments and has been meticulously designed to offer a variety of rewards for Indian travellers, a joint statement said.

Chameli Devi Jain Award 2024 for Outstanding Woman Media Person of the Year has been given jointly to independent journalist Greeshma Kuthar, and Ritika Chopra of the Indian Express. Ms. Kuthar is an independent multimedia journalist who has been engaged in deeply-researched long-form investigative reporting from conflict areas such as Manipur. Her
reports have appeared in The Caravan, Al Jazeera, etc.

 The dataset of the ‘10,000 Genomes Project’ will be stored at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) in Faridabad.

NLC India Green Energy Limited (NIGEL), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) NLC
India Ltd (NLCIL), has signed a power purchase agreement with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL) for the supply of 600 MW of power from the Khavda Solar Park in Bhuj district in Gujarat.

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. GIPL operates under the
brand name “slice” and focuses on facilitating payments
and credit products through digital means in India.

Madhya Pradesh launched the “Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana” to provide financial support to women.

Mumbai-based tech company Aurionpro Solutions has
secured a Rs 100-crore contract from State Bank of India
for the licence, implementation and support of its transaction banking platform, iCashpro . The company will have to deliver the licence and implementation in phases over 12 months, along with maintenance and support for six years.

REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited
(RECPDCL), a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Limited,
has signed an MoU with Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited
(BHEL), for joint development of utility scale Renewable
Energy Projects across the country. The MoU thus aims
to contribute to the clean energy targets of the nation,
through a dedicated Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).

 The first-ever ‘National Investigative Workshop 2024’ by the NIA was held in New Delhi.

 India secured the 42nd position in the 2024 International IP Index released by the US Chamber of Commerce.

The European Union launched the ‘Global Methane Pledge’ to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.

Bihar introduced the ‘Mukhyamantri Old Age Pension Scheme’ to provide financial support to senior citizens.

REC Limited has successfully listed two bonds worth Rs
5375 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay
Stock Exchange (BSE). One bond is worth Rs 2,500 crores
of 10-year maturity, with a redemption date of February
28, 2034 and yield of 7.47%. The other one is worth Rs
2,875 crores with a maturity period of 3 years, 2 months,
with a redemption date of April 30, 2027 and a yield of
7.64%.

Mumbai won the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season.

The keel-laying ceremony of the first Cadet Training Ship (Yard-18003) was held at Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard in Kattupalli.

Chhattisgarh launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Vriksha Sampada Yojana’ to increase green cover by planting trees on non-forest land.

Skyroot Aerospace successfully test-fired the ‘Kalam-250’
at ISRO’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This rocket motor,
part of the second stage of the Vikram-1 space launch vehicle, features a carbon composite structure, EPDM thermal protection, and precision thrust vector control. Developed by Skyroot Aerospace, it plays a crucial role in propelling the launch vehicle from the atmosphere into outer space.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius Prime
Minister Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated an airstrip
and a jetty in Agalega Island. Apart from the airstrip and
St James Jetty at Agalega Island, six other projects,
implemented with financial assistance from India, were
also inaugurated by both leaders virtually.

Himachal Pradesh inaugurated its first “Mushroom ATM” to promote mushroom cultivation.

France became the first country to introduce a law banning the use of plastic in packaging.

Agalega Island, where new development projects were inaugurated, is located in Mauritius.

The High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections was chaired by Ram Nath Kovind.

Xiaomi, a Chinese consumer tech giant, has ventured into
the electric vehicle market with the launch of its first electric vehicle, the SU7. This move marks Xiaomi’s entry into the competitive electric vehicle sector in China.

India joined an elite club of nations on March 11 with the
first successful flight test of an Agni-5 ballistic missile
armed with multiple independently targetable re-entry
vehicles (MIRVs). Named Mission Divyastra, the flight
test of India’s MIRV technology was carried out by the
Defence Research and Development Organisation
(DRDO) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the
French Open 2024 badminton men’s doubles title with a
win over Chinese Taipei’s Lee Jhe-Huei and Yang PoHsuan in the final. This was the first title of the 2024 badminton season for Chirag-Satwik and the duo’s second French Open title. The Indian pair won the French Open in 2022 and were runners-up in 2019.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said it has approved
a USD 23 million loan to enhance access to quality fintech
education, research, and innovation at the Gujarat
International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in India. GIFT is a
state-owned enterprise established to promote and
cultivate fintech ecosystems and financial services in
India.

Kerala declared man-animal conflict as a ‘state-specific disaster.’

The ‘Global Forest Resources Assessment 2024’ was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Odisha launched the “CM’s Air Ambulance Scheme” to provide emergency medical assistance.

India-born media executive Dr Samir Shah was confirmed
as the new BBC chairman. Mr Shah, who has worked in
UK broadcasting for over 40 years, was picked as the
government’s preferred candidate in December last year
and went on to be quizzed by cross-party MPs of the
House of Commons Media Culture, Media and Sport
Select Committee for his pre-appointment scrutiny.

INS Tir, the lead ship of First Training Squadron (1TS)
participated in Exercise Cutlass Express – 24 (CE – 24) held
at Port Victoria, Seychelles from 26 Feb – 08 Mar 24. The
exercise was inaugurated by the President of Seychelles in attendance of dignitaries from India, USA and African
countries.

The Vikramaditya Vedic Clock, based on the Indian ‘panchang,’ was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ujjain.

China launched the first-ever “Artificial Sun” to explore nuclear fusion technology.

New Delhi hosted the ‘National Street Food Festival 2024.’

France became the first country to introduce a law banning the use of plastic in packaging.

IndusInd Bank on March 11 announced the launch of its
contactless payments wearable ‘Indus PayWear’, touted
to be India’s first all-in-one tokenizable wearable for both
debit and credit cards. The offering will be exclusively
available for Mastercard holders now, but will soon be
extended to other card networks as well, the private
sector lender said.

The report “Global Report on Food Crises 2024” was launched by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced the formation of an expert committee to review the implementation of Ayushman BharatPradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). The 16- member committee, chaired by Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health) at NITI Aayog, will oversee the progress of ABPMJAY in terms of beneficiary identification,hospitalisation, and modes of implementation.

1. Vidyavathi was appointed as the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill (DPDPB) includes key features such as the right to be forgotten, data portability, and rectification.

P.D. Vaghela was appointed as the new Chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).

Bihar introduced the “Mukhyamantri Old Age Pension Scheme” to support senior citizens financially.