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MANTHAN
A General Awareness Weekly
4th March to 10th March, 2024
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A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 1

PREFACE
Dear Students,
The ‘Current Affairs’ section is an integral part of any examination. This edition of Manthan has been developed by our
team to help you cover all the important events of the Week. This comprehensive bulletin will help you prepare the
section in a vivid manner. We hope that our sincere efforts will serve you in a better way to fulfill aspirations.
Happy Reading
Team CL

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
National
Cuttack city’s silver filigree receives geographical indication tag

 The famous silver filigree (Rupa Tarakasi) of the millennium Cuttack city in Odisha has received the
geographical indication (GI) tag from the Chennai-based Geographical Indications Registry, giving an occasion
for the people of the state to celebrate. Rupa Tarakasi is one of the most exquisite silver crafts. In this work of
craft, silver bricks are transformed into thin fine wires (tara) or foils, from which silver filigree is made with all
designs (kasi). In Odia, ‘Tarakasi’ is a combination of two words — ‘Tara’ (wire) and ‘Kasi’ (design).
During Durga Puja, artisans of Cuttack also create ‘medhas’ (tableaus) with intricate filigree patterns.
A geographical indication (GI) is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific
geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country). India, as a member of the World Trade
Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
has come into force with effect from 15 September 2003. GIs have been defined under Article 22 (1) of the WTO
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement as: “Indications which
identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or a locality in that territory, where a given
quality, reputation or characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin.” The GI tag
ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users (or at least those residing inside the
geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name. Darjeeling tea became the first GI tagged
product in India, in 2004–2005. The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years. It
can be renewed from time to time for further period of 10 years each.
Sudha Murty nominated to Rajya Sabha

 President Droupadi Murmu nominated author and philanthropist Sudha Murty to Rajya Sabha. Sudha
Murty is an Indian educator, author, philanthropist, and the former chairperson of the Infosys Foundation.
She is also a member of the public healthcare initiatives of the Gates Foundation. Murty has established the Murty
Classical Library of India at Harvard University. Sudha Murthy is also known for her novel - ‘Dollar Bahu’ -
which was originally authored by her in Kannada and later translated into English. The novel was also televised
into a dramatic series by Zee TV in 2001. She also wrote a story ‘Runa’ which was adapted as a Marathi film.
The Rajya Sabha, constitutionally the Council of States (informally known as the House of Elders), is the upper
house of the bicameral Parliament of India. As of March 2022 it has a maximum membership of 245, of which
233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories using single transferable votes through
Open Ballot while the President can appoint 12 members for their contributions to art, literature, science, and
social services. The potential seating capacity of the Rajya Sabha is 250 (238 elected, 12 appointed), according to
article 80 of the Indian Constitution. Members sit for staggered terms lasting six years, with about a third of
the 233 designates up for election every two years, in even-numbered years. The Rajya Sabha meets in
continuous sessions, and unlike the Lok Sabha, being the lower house of the Parliament, the Rajya Sabha is not
subjected to dissolution. However, the Rajya Sabha, like the Lok Sabha can be prorogued by the President.

Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigns as Lok Sabha polls approach
 Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned, days before the expected announcement of the schedule for the
2024 Lok Sabha elections. His tenure was till December 2027. According to a notification by the Law Ministry,
his resignation has been accepted by President Droupadi Murmu with effect from March 9. Mr. Goel’s tenure
was till 2027. With his resignation, the Election Commission has been rendered with just one member —
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey retired.
The Chief Election Commissioner of India heads the Election Commission of India, a body constitutionally
empowered to conduct free and fair elections to the national and state legislatures and of President and Vice-
President. This power of the Election Commission of India is derived from the Article 324 of the Constitution
of India. Chief Election Commissioner of India is usually a member of the Indian Civil Service and mostly
from the Indian Administrative Service. It is very difficult to remove the authority of the Chief Election
Commissioner once appointed by the president, as two-thirds of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha need to
present and vote against him for disorderly conduct or improper actions. Today, the Election Commission has
been functioning as a multi-member body consisting of three election commissioners. The chief election
commissioner and the two other election commissioners have equal powers and receive equal salary,
allowances and other perquisites, which are similar to those of a judge of the Supreme Court. In case of
difference of opinion amongst the Chief Election Commissioner and/or two other selection commissioners, the
matter is decided by the Commission by majority.
Uttar Pradesh emerges as the first State in country to issue five crore Ayushman cards under
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY
 Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the first State in the country to issue five crore Ayushman cards under the
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Uttar Pradesh government, the State has issued
50,017,920 Ayushman cards and benefited 74,382,304 individuals. A total of 3,716 hospitals in the State are
impaneled under this scheme. Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, a total of 3,481,252 health claims have been
filed, with 3,275,737 claims settled, representing a settlement rate of 92.48 percent in the State.
 Sangeeta Singh said that the achievement is significant and is the result of continuous support from the
National Health Authority, and the dedication of ground workers, panchayat assistants, ANMs, medical
officers, ASHAs, and other workers. Along with this achievement, there has been a noticeable increase in the
number of patients receiving free treatment under this scheme daily. Previously, the average daily admission of
patients under this scheme was 2,000, which has now increased to approximately 8,000 per day.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) (PM-JAY lit. ’Prime Minister’s People’s
Health Scheme’, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY lit. ’Persevering India Prime Minister’s People’s Health
Scheme’; also referred to as Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Scheme or NHPS) is a national
public health insurance fund of the Government of India that aims to provide free access to health insurance
coverage for low income earners in the country. People using the program access their own primary care
services from a family doctor. When anyone needs additional care, then PM-JAY provides free secondary health
care for those needing specialist treatment and tertiary health care for those requiring hospitalization. It was
launched in September 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. That ministry later established
the National Health Authority as an organization to administer the program. It is a centrally sponsored
scheme and is jointly funded by both the union government and the states. By offering services to 50 crore
(500 million) people it is the world’s largest government sponsored healthcare program. It is providing a
cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for medical treatment in empaneled hospitals, both public and
private, offering cashless payment and paperless recordkeeping through the hospital or doctor’s office; using
criteria from the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 to determine eligibility for benefits.
PM Narendra Modi launches projects worth Rs. 7,200 crore in Arambagh area in West Bengal
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs. 7,200
crore in Arambagh area of Hooghly district in West Bengal. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone and
dedicated to the nation multiple developmental projects related to sectors like rail, ports, oil pipelines, LPG supply
and wastewater treatment.

 “India of the 21st century is progressing at a fast pace and together we all have set the goal of making a
developed India by 2047”. Modi said the Centre has taken steps for the welfare of the poor and that is why in the
last 10 years, about 25 crore people of the country have come out of poverty.
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India along the Bay of Bengal. Part of the Bengal region of the
Indian subcontinent, it borders Bangladesh in the east, and Nepal and Bhutan in the north. The state capital is
Kolkata. Under the East India Company rule and later under the British Raj, Calcutta served as the capital of
British-held territories in India until 1911, when its perceived geographical disadvantages, combined with
growing nationalism in Bengal, led to a shift of the capital to New Delhi. Mamata Banerjee is serving as the
current Chief Minister of West Bengal since 2011, the first woman to hold the office. C. V. Ananda Bose is
serving as the current Governor of West Bengal.
India to build new naval base close to Maldives amid tensions over China ties
 India announced plans for a new naval base off the country’s south-west coast and close to Maldives, as
tensions are running high between Delhi and the island nation. The Indian Navy said it plans to build a base
called INS Jatayu on Minicoy, the southernmost island in the Lakshadweep archipelago. India’s
Lakshadweep islands lie about 130 kilometres (80 miles) north of the Maldives.
 “The base will enhance operational reach and facilitate the Indian Navy’s operational effort towards anti-
piracy and anti-narcotics operations in Western Arabian Sea. It will also augment Indian Navy’s capability as
the first responder in the region and augment connectivity with the mainland. India already has a base in the
Lakshadweeps, INS Dweeprakshak on Kavaratti. Tensions between India and Maldives have grown since
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu came to power last year.
Lakshadweep is a union territory of India. It is an archipelago of 36 islands divided into three island subgroups:
the Laccadive Islands in the middle with the Amindivi Islands in the north separated roughly by the 11th
parallel north and the atoll of Minicoy to the south separated by the Nine Degree Channel along the 9th parallel
north. The islands are sandwiched between the Arabian Sea to the west and the Laccadive Sea to the east with the
islands located about 220–440 km (140–270 mi) off the Malabar Coast of mainland India. Kavaratti is the capital of
the Union Territory of Lakshadweep in India.
Nagpur takes lead with India’s first city-specific Zero Carbon plan for buildings
 The Nagpur (Known as the “Orange City”) city, considered the geographical centre of India, has embarked
on an ambitious journey towards sustainable development by launching the Zero Carbon Buildings Action
Plan (ZCBAP). It sets a precedent for the state of Maharashtra, and is also a pioneering effort to boost building
sector decarbonisation, contributing to India’s net zero by 2070 target.
 The plan includes a holistic roadmap covering public buildings, government-led affordable housing,
commercial buildings as well as homes, and an implementation strategy to achieve net-zero buildings city-
wide by 2050. The roadmap further includes actions to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the
context of choice of building materials, and how buildings are designed, built, managed and deconstructed.
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan launches Project ODISERV
 Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, launched
Project ODISERV in Sambalpur to prepare young graduates of Odisha for employment opportunities in
the financial services sector.
 While speaking at the event, Shri Pradhan said that the Project ODISERV will empower the youth of the
country, make them more employable and fulfil their aspirations. He also mentioned how NEP 2020 is
bridging the gap between education and skilling, creating more synergies and allowing students to acquire
job-ready skills along with academic knowledge. Project Odiserv envisages launching the CPBFI
programme in 60 colleges of Odisha across 11 cities and 10 districts including Sambalpur, Dhenkanal, Angul,
Cuttack, Khordha, Balasore and Puri. Some of the colleges covered include Bhuban Women’s Degree College,
Mathakaragola Degree College, Sambalpur University and SCS College. Of this, CPBFI has already been
launched in 30 colleges, enrolling 1100 students and delivering 25,000 hours of training in a short span of two
months.

The Ministry of Education (MoE), previously the Ministry of Human Resource Development (1985-2020), is
responsible for the implementation and formulation of the National Policy on Education approved by Union
cabinet of India and to ensure that it is implemented in letter and spirit. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is the First
Minister of Education in the Indian. He is commonly remembered as Maulana Azad; the word Maulana is an
honorific meaning ‘Our Master’ and he had adopted Azad (Free) as his pen name. The current Union Minister
for Education is Dharmendra Pradhan since 7 July 2021. Shri Pradhan represents Madhya Pradesh in the
Rajya Sabha as Member of Parliament.
Indian government launched the Chakshu portal and under the Sanchar Sathi initiative
 The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) introduced two initiatives, Chakshu and the Digital
Intelligence Platform (DIP), to combat spam and fraud calls through the Sanchar Saathi portal. Chakshu
(meaning eyes) is accessible at sancharsaathi.gov.in/sfc, facilitating citizens to report suspicious communications.
The portal aims to empower subscribers to report suspected fraud calls and messages, as well as instances of
leaked phone numbers by businesses. The platform allows users to report various types of fraud, including
those related to bank accounts, payment wallets, SIM cards, gas and electricity connections, KYC updates,
impersonation, and sextortion. The primary objective of Chakshu is to enable proactive reporting of suspicious
activities, contributing to the prevention and mitigation of telecom-related fraud and spam calls. Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is working on developing an app for the Chakshu platform, further
streamlining the reporting process for users.
 The new platforms, ‘Chakshu’ and ‘Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP)’, will integrate with the Sanchar
Saathi portal, enabling prompt sharing of intelligence among various stakeholders. Ashwini Vaishnaw, the
Union IT and Communications Minister, emphasized the effectiveness of digital measures in fighting fraud and
crime. Over the past nine months, these measures have resulted in citizens saving approximately Rs. 1,000 crore
and freezing Rs. 1,008 crore in bank accounts linked to fraudulent transactions. Subscribers can utilize the
Chakshu portal to report incidents of leaked mobile numbers, with appropriate action promised against wrongdoers.
The Chakshu portal, part of the Sanchar Saathi initiative, allows citizens to report suspected fraud
communications aimed at defrauding telecom service users. Examples include fraudulent communication related
to bank accounts, payment wallets, SIM cards, and impersonation as government officials or relatives.
‘Dharma Guardian’: India-Japan armies perform mock drills in joint exercise at Mahajan Field
Firing Ranges
 The 5th edition of the India-Japan joint exercise ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ is being held in Rajasthan. Both
armies demonstrated how troops work in synergy and bring down the target. India-Japan armies performed a kill
house exercise and used specially trained dogs, an eagle for the task. Exercise aimed to strengthen the
capabilities of both armies in counter-terrorism, disaster response scenarios. ‘Dharma Guardian’ is an
annual exercise conducted alternatively in India and Japan. The Japanese contingent is represented by troops
from the 34th Infantry Regiment. The battalion from the Rajputana Rifles is representing the Indian Army
contingent.
Naruhito is the Emperor of Japan. He acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 1 May 2019, beginning the
Reiwa era, following the abdication of his father, Emperor Akihito, on 30 April 2019. He is the 126th monarch
according to Japan’s traditional order of succession. Tokyo is the capital city of Japan and yen is the official
currency of Japan and it is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United
States dollar and the euro. Fumio Kishida is the current Prime Minister of Japan since 4 October 2021. He has
also served as President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since 29 September 2021.
India’s first centre for research on conserving the endangered Gangetic river dolphin
 India’s first centre for research on conserving the endangered Gangetic river dolphin, National Dolphin
Research Centre (NDRC), has finally become a reality. The institute, located close to Ganga River in Patna,
was inaugurated by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The NDRC, spanning a 4,400 square metre plot on
the premises of Patna University near the Ganga, offers a strategic location for researchers to closely observe
dolphins in their natural habitat.

The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind. They hunt by emitting ultrasonic
sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to “see” an image in their mind. They are
frequently found alone or in small groups, and generally a mother and calf travel together. Females are larger than
males and give birth once every two to three years to only one calf. Being a mammal, the Ganges river dolphin cannot
breathe in water and must surface every 30-120 seconds. Because of the sound it produces when breathing, the
animal is popularly referred to as ‘Susu’. They have significant importance because it is a reliable indicator of
the health of the entire river ecosystem. The Ganges River Dolphin or also called ‘Susu,’ is the National
Aquatic Animal of India. Gangetic Dolphins are found in the river systems of Ganga, Brahmaputra, Meghna,
and Karnaphuli- Sangu in Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
Rajnath Singh inaugurates Naval War College ‘Chola’ in Goa

 Raksha mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Naval War College building named ‘Chola’ at INS Mandvi
at Verem in Goa. On the occasion he said that the Indian Navy’s capabilities in the Indian Ocean as well as the
Pacific region are growing. The process of building fighter aircraft as well as boats using indigenous technology
has begun. The Chola Bhavan, which is the Naval War College, is also a monument belonging to the Chola
Empire. Chief Minister of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant, Union minister of state for shipping Shripad Naik and naval
officer were present on the occasion.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the
government relating directly to national security and the Indian armed forces. The President of India is the
ceremonial commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the country. The Indian Armed Forces (including
Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy) and Indian Coast Guard under the Ministry of Defences are
primarily responsible for ensuring the territorial integrity of the nation. A military department was created by the
supreme government of the British East India Company at Kolkata in the year 1776. Rajnath Singh is currently
serving as the Defence Minister of India. He has been Member of parliament, Lok Sabha two times from
Lucknow (Lok Sabha constituency) and once from Ghaziabad (Lok Sabha constituency).
Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma inaugurates Chitmnag Chaiwat Multi-Purpose Water

Reservoir at Badri
 The Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma inaugurated the Chitmnag Chaiwat Multi-Purpose
Water Reservoir at Badri Rongdong South Garo Hills District. Inaugurating the reservoir, Conrad Sangma
accepted the suggestion of the soil Conservation minister to name it after his late father P A Sangma to
commemorate his 8th death anniversary that fell on the day of the inauguration.
Meghalaya meaning “abode of clouds”; is a state in northeast India. Meghalaya was formed on 21 January
1972 by carving out two districts from the state of Assam: the United Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills and (b) the Garo
Hills. Shillong is a hill station and the capital of Meghalaya. Shillong remained the capital of undivided Assam
until the creation of the new state of Meghalaya on 21 January 1972, when Shillong became the capital of
Meghalaya, and Assam moved its capital to Dispur in Guwahati.
Govt announces names of 18 cities to receive funds under CITIIS 2.0 scheme
 To promote the reuse and recycling of waste generated in urban areas, Union minister of housing and urban
affairs Hardeep Singh Puri announced the names of 18 cities that will get Rs.1,496 crore as part of the
CITIIS (city investments to innovate, integrate and sustain) 2.0 challenge. The cities are Agartala, Agra,
Bareilly, Belagavi, Bilaspur, Guwahati, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Madurai, Muzzafarpur, New Town Kolkata, Panaji,
Rajkot,Srinagar, T’thapuram, Thanjavur, Udaipur, & Ujjain. Under CITIIS 2.0, cities will implement projects
promoting a circular solid waste management economy for the next four years. CITIIS 2.0 was launched in
November 2023 and is funded by multilateral agencies through loans and grants. All 100 cities under the
Smart Cities Mission were eligible for the challenge, and the deadline for submission was January 15.
Recently, the Government has approved the ‘City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain 2.0 (CITIIS
2.0)’. It is a part of the Smart Cities Mission and aims to promote integrated waste management and climate-
oriented reform actions. CITIIS will consider Smart City Projects in the following four themes: 1. Sustainable

Mobility, 2. Public Open Spaces, 3. Urban E-governance and ICT and 4. Social and Organisational Innovation
for Low-Income Settlements. The program will run for a period of four years, i.e., from 2023 till 2027. The
program envisages to support competitively selected projects promoting circular economy with focus on integrated
waste management at the city level, climate-oriented reform actions at the State level, and institutional strengthening
and knowledge dissemination at the National level. CITIIS 2.0 aims to leverage and scale up the learnings and
successes of CITIIS 1.0. CITIIS 1.0 was launched jointly in 2018 and consisted of three components: 1. 12 city-
level projects selected through a competitive process. 2. Capacity-development activities in the State of Odisha. 3.
Promoting integrated urban management at the national level through activities undertaken by, National Institute of
Urban Affairs (NIUA), which was the Program Management Unit (PMU) for CITIIS 1.0.
Kerala launched India’s first government-backed OTT platform

 Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched Kerela’s OTT platform at Kairali Theatre. The state is
poised to make waves in the digital entertainment realm with the launch of CSpace. The CSpace OTT
platform is poised to debut tomorrow and aims to deliver a unique blend of informative and entertaining
content especially tailored for the masses. This marks India’s first government-backed OTT platform.
CSpace is managed by Kerala State Film Development Corporation (KSFDC) which is a state-owned company
entrusted with the promotion of Malayalam cinema and industry.
Kerala School Makes History With India’s First AI Teacher “Iris”
 A school in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is taking a revolutionary step in education with the introduction of
AI teacher, Iris. Developed in collaboration with Makerlabs Edutech, Iris is the first humanoid robot
teacher in the state and possibly the entire country.
 This innovation comes from KTCT Higher Secondary School, an initiative by the Kaduvayil Thangal Charitable
Trust. Iris is part of the Atal Tinkering Lab (ATL) project, a 2021 NITI Aayog initiative designed to boost
extracurricular activities in schools. While the long-term impact remains to be seen, Iris certainly presents a
glimpse into the future of education, where AI plays a supportive role in the classroom.
Kerala is a state on the southwestern, Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956 following the
States Reorganisation Act by combining Malayalam-speaking regions. Kerala has the highest literacy rate
93.91% in the 2011 census; the highest life expectancy, 77 years; and the highest sex ratio, 1,084 women per 1,000
men. Arif Mohammad Khan is the current Governor of Kerala. Kerala is known as “God’s own country” and is
one of the popular tourist destinations in India. Pinarayi Vijayan is the current Chief Minister of Kerala, in
office since 25 May 2016. As per the census 2011, Haryana has the lowest child sex ratio i.e.834 per thousand
males. Kerala is the largest producer of the rubber in the India.
Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman Campaign Event held in Bikaner, Rajasthan

 To commemorate the 75th Year of India as a Republic, Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman Campaign
Event was held in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The key attraction of the event was the ‘Jan Sewa Janta ke Dwar’
which encapsulates the essence of the commitment to the delivery of citizen-centric services to the citizens and
inclusive development and empowerment. The event also witnessed the official launch of the program ‘Nyaya
Sahayak’ in 500 Aspirational blocks in India. They act as Community-based messengers for generating door-to-
door awareness of legal services and solutions of the Department of Justice in Aspirational Blocks and Districts.
 Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurated a year-long campaign in January titled ‘Hamara Samvidhan,
Hamara Samman’ aimed at empowering every citizen with awareness about the Constitution and their
legal rights and duties. The event aims to reaffirm the collective commitment to the principles enshrined in the
Constitution of India and celebrate the shared values that bind other nations.
 Reaffirming Department of Justice’s commitment to imbibe the principles of Constitution of India, the event
witnessed the official release of different innovations to spearhead legal services at the grassroot by the Chief
Justice of India. The “Nyaya Sahayak” programme was rolled out for 500 Aspirational blocks of India who
are to act as community-based messengers and facilitate door step delivery of legal services and conduct
legal awareness and legal literacy “Vidhi Baithak” was explained through the release of video and brochure. Field
functionaries of Tele-Law who have contributed voluntarily and proactively to the advancement of the reading of
Panch Pran pledge among citizens and registration of cases at the village level were felicitated.

Preamble of the Indian Constitution: WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute
India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political; LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; EQUALITY
of status and of opportunity; and to promote among them all, FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual
and the unity and integrity of the Nation; IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of
November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.
Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launches National Cooperative Database

 Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched the National Cooperative Database which will help in the
expansion and development of cooperatives in the country. There are more than 8 lakh registered societies
in the country, with over 30 crore people connected with them. National Cooperative Database is a web-based
digital dashboard wherein data of cooperative societies, including national/state federations, have been
captured. It has collected or mapped information about 8 lakh cooperatives.
PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of “Experience of Spirituality at Chitrakoot Ghat”
project in Chitrakoot under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed Bhoomi Pujan and inaugurated projects worth 118 crore 72
lakh rupees in Madhya Pradesh through video conferencing. These include various projects in Gwalior and
Chitrakoot under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme and development work of Amarkantak and Pitambara Peeth
Temple Datia under Prasad scheme.
 Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of the “Experience of Spirituality at Chitrakoot Ghat” project in
Chitrakoot. The Prime Minister performed the Bhoomi Pujan of the upgradation and development works of
Ganga Ghats at a cost of about 26 crore 55 lakh rupees. The Prime Minister also inaugurated various development
works worth 50 crore rupees under the Prasad Scheme in Amarkantak. Which includes development around
Narmada Temple, and expansion of tourist and public facilities in Amarkantak.
Swadesh Darshan Scheme was launched in 2014-15 for integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits —
Buddhist Circuit, Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Eco Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Northeast Circuit, Himalayan
Circuit, Sufi Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit,
Wildlife Circuit and Tribal Circuit. It is 100% centrally funded and efforts are made to achieve convergence with
other schemes of Central and State Governments and also to leverage the voluntary funding available for Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of Central Public Sector Undertakings and Corporate Sector.
PM Narendra Modi launched multiple development projects worth about 55,600 crore rupees in
Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, & Arunachal Pradesh
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, unveiled
multiple projects for the North East worth over 55,000 crore rupees. He also virtually inaugurated several
projects of different States in the region. Mr. Modi also virtually inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of
multiple development projects for Tripura worth more than 8,500 crore rupees.
 Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, Finance Minister Pranajit Singh Roy, Union Minister of State Pratima Bhoumik,
Member of Parliament Rebati Tripura, Member of Parliament from Rajya Sabha Biplab Kumar Deb and several
state Ministers of the State will be present in the main programme to be organised at Sabroom, Tripura. The
important projects, for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone, include the
construction of the Agartala Western Bypass. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Land Port at the
Integrated Check Post at Sabroom in South Tripura constructed at a cost of about 230 crore rupees.
 The newly developed Sabroom Land Port is located along the international border between India and
Bangladesh and facilitates cargo and passenger movement up to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh. The
foundation stone of the Sabroom Land Port was laid by the Prime Minister in March 2021.
 During his visit to Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone and do
the groundbreaking of Projects worth 41 thousand crore rupees under Viksit Bharat, Viksit Arunachal
Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the much-awaited strategically important Sela

Tunnel in Tawang District from Itanagar. This project includes two tunnels and 8.780 km of approach road.
The tunnel, stretching through the Sela-Charbela ridge, will be the world’s longest bilane tunnel at 13,000
feet elevation. It will provide all-weather connectivity and reduce the travel time to Tawang by an hour.
 The foundation of the project was laid by Mr. Modi in February 2019. Along with this, the Prime Minister
inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 38 other infrastructure projects. He will also do the
groundbreaking ceremony of two projects, including the Dibang Multipurpose Hydropower Project worth over 31
thousand 8 hundred crore.
Northeast India (officially the North Eastern Region (NER)) is the easternmost region of India representing
both a geographic and political administrative division of the country. It comprises eight states—Arunachal
Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura (commonly known as the “Seven
Sisters”), and the “brother” state Sikkim. The Siliguri Corridor connects the region to the rest of mainland
India. The states of North Eastern Region are officially recognised under the North Eastern Council (NEC),
constituted in 1971 as the acting agency for the development of the north eastern states. Long after induction of
NEC, Sikkim formed part of the North Eastern Region as the eighth state in 2002. Guwahati city in Assam is
called the Gateway to the North East and is the largest metropolis in North East India. The Ministry of
Development of North Eastern Region is a Government of India ministry, established in September 2001,
which functions as the nodal Department of the Central Government to deal with matters related to the socio-
economic development of the eight States of Northeast India. The current, Minister of Development of North
Eastern Region is G. Kishan Reddy.
WCD Ministry organises Poshan Pakhwada 2024 from 9th March to 23rd March
 The Ministry of Women and Child Development organised Poshan Pakhwada 2024. During the Pakhwada,
mass sensitisation and community activities was held around the themes including Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi, dietary
practices focused on sensitisation around nutrition and health of pregnant women. The Ministry said that in
addition to these themes, States and partner Ministries and Departments can also organise additional sensitisation
activities around other important areas. They include improving nutrition through Mission LiFE and
adopting Sustainable Food Systems by promoting Millet and Poshan Vatikas at Anganwadi Centres.
 Besides, Diarrhea management; Tests, Treat, Talk Anemia; and Swasth Balak Spardha can also be organised to
promote regular growth measurement of enrolled children at Anganwadi Centres. In the last Poshan Pakhwada
held in March to April 2023, more than four crore sensitisation activities were reported which focused on
themes of promotion and popularization of Millets for nutritional wellbeing, celebration of Swasth Balak Spardha,
and popularizing Saksham Anganwadis. The Ministry added that one of the key objectives of Saksham
Anganwadi and Mission Poshan 2.0 is to achieve nutrition-linked behavioural change at individual and
community levels through Jan Bhagidari. To inculcate healthy eating habits and mass sensitisation, Jan
Andolans are being celebrated annually in the form of Poshan Pakhwada and Poshan Maah since the launch of
POSHAN Abhiyaan in 2018.
India’s first museum dedicated to cooperatives is coming up in Kozhikode
 Amul, Indian Coffee House, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO), Kerala Dinesh Beedi: these
are brands from diverse sectors with one uniting factor — they are all cooperatives. These and many others
will be showcased at the almost-ready 14-storey International Cooperative Museum (ICM) in the heart of
Kozhikode, Kerala. It will be a destination to learn about India’s cooperative movement that has a history of more
than a century. A ₹150 crore project of Karassery Service Co-operative Bank that began operations in 1994,
the museum will be the second of its kind in the world (the first is in Toad Lane, U.K., set up in 1844). There
are more than 8 lakh cooperatives in India, with a collective membership of 29 crore. Maharashtra has the
maximum number of cooperative societies, at 2.3 lakh, with 5 crore members.
Tamil Nadu launches India’s ‘first’ marine force to protect Gulf of Mannar & Palk Bay
 The Tamil Nadu government has launched the country’s ‘first’ marine force to protect marine resources
and biodiversity in the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay. A government announcement on the initiative was
made during the Budget session 2022.

 The force will combat marine wildlife crimes, including smuggling, prevention, and poaching of marine
animals, particularly in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere and Palk Bay. Twelve marine watchers have been
engaged in the force from the local fishermen community. They have been given extensive training related to
marine patrolling, including scuba diving, snorkeling.
Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian subcontinent and is bordered by the union territory of
Puducherry and the South Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Its capital and largest city
is Chennai. Its official language is Tamil, which is one of the longest-surviving classical languages in the world.
Ravindra Narayana Ravi is the current Governor of Tamil Nadu. M.K. Stalin is the current Chief Minister of
Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari (also known as Cape Comorin) is a town in Kanyakumari District in the state of
Tamil Nadu in India. Cape Comorin is the southern tip of Indian subcontinent. The southernmost town in
mainland India, it is sometimes referred to as ‘The Land’s End’.
World’s largest literary festival-’Sahityotsav’ held from March 11-16

 World’s largest literary festival-’Sahityotsav’ by Sahitya Akademi was held from the 11th to 16th of March in
New Delhi. The festival commemorating 70 years of Sahitya Akademi witnessed the participation of more than a
hundred renowned writers and scholars. The highlight of the festival was the presentation ceremony of the Sahitya
Akademi Awards 2023, which was held on the 12th of March in New Delhi’s Kamani Auditorium. The Chief
Guest of the Awards Presentation Ceremony was Pratibha Rai, the distinguished Odia writer. The Samvatsar
lecture was delivered by renowned Urdu writer and lyricist Gulzar on the 13th of March at the Meghdoot
open theatre.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched nationwide ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the
Rain-2024’ campaign
 Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the nationwide ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch
the Rain-2024’ campaign at a function in New Delhi. The fifth edition of the campaign will be on the theme
‘Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti’ to recognise and appreciate the crucial role played by women in water
management, conservation and sustainability.
 It will establish a powerful connection between the ‘Nari Shakti’ and the sustainable management of water
resources. The Union Minister also launched two books namely, “Jal Shakti Abhiyan: 2019 to 2023” and
“101 Water Champions of Jal Jeevan Mission”. The ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain-2024’ campaign
will be implemented till the 30th of November, 2024 encompassing both urban and rural areas across all
districts in the nation.
 Focused interventions of the campaign will include water conservation and rainwater harvesting,
enumerating, geo-tagging and making an inventory of all water bodies and preparation of scientific plans for
water conservation, setting up of Jal Shakti Kendras in all districts; intensive afforestation; and awareness
generation among the masses.
Ministry of Jal Shakti (‘water power/strength/capabilities’) is a ministry under Government of India which was
formed in May 2019 under the second Modi ministry. This was formed by merging of two ministries; Ministry of
Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation and Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is an Indian politician from Rajasthan who is currently serving as Union Cabinet
Minister in Ministry of Jal Shakti. He is a member of parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
representing Jodhpur in the Lok Sabha.
--------------

International
France poised to become first country in world to enshrine right to abortion in its Constitution
 France is poised to become the first country in the world to enshrine the right to abortion in its
Constitution. Parliamentarians from the upper and lower chambers will meet in a special session summoned by
President Emmanuel Macron. The country’s 1958 Constitution will be revised to enshrine women’s
guaranteed freedom to abort. It will be the 25th amendment to the Fifth Republic’s founding document, and
the first since 2008.
France is a unitary semi-presidential republic with its capital in Paris. Emmanuel Macron is serving as
President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017. Gabriel Attal is serving as Prime
Minister of France. The euro is the official currency of France. The euro is the second largest reserve currency
as well as the second most traded currency in the world after the United States dollar.
Pilots turn ‘Iron-Man’ as they compete in world’s first jet suit race in Dubai
 People competing to win a race while wearing jetpacks may sound like a scene right out of the Marvel World.
However, it happened in real life in Dubai. A first of its kind jet suit race was organised by the Dubai Sports
Council and the Gravity company. Written in Arabic, the caption of the post when translated into English reads,
“His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai witnesses part of
the competitions of the ‘Dubai Jet Suit Championship’, the first tournament of its kind in the world, which
was held in Dubai Harbour”. In this 90-second race, Issa Kalfon grabbed first place. Kalfon is a former
professional gymnast and Gravity’s deputy head of flight training. British pilots Paul Jones and Freddie Hay
bagged the second and the third place, respectively.
Shehbaz Sharif becomes Pakistan’s prime minister for a second time after controversial election
 Shehbaz Sharif secured his second term as Pakistan’s Prime Minister as lawmakers elected him with 201
votes amid protests in parliament. Shehbaz’s party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) will lead a
coalition government with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as a key partner. The
development comes despite former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed
independents emerging as the largest number of winners, followed by PML-N and PPP.
Pakistan is a country in South Asia. It is the world’s fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost
227 million, and has the world’s second-largest Muslim population after Indonesia. It has a 1,046-kilometre
(650-mile) coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman in the south, and is bordered by India to the east,
Afghanistan to the west, Iran to the southwest, and China to the northeast. It is separated narrowly from
Tajikistan by Afghanistan’s Wakhan Corridor in the north, and also shares a maritime border with Oman.
Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan. Asif Ali Zardari is serving as the current President of Pakistan. The
Pakistani rupee has been the official currency of Pakistan.
The Rig – world’s first floating theme park

 Saudi Arabia is set to welcome the world’s first floating theme park, aptly named The Rig. Spearheaded by
the Oil Park Development Company (OPDC), this groundbreaking project promises to redefine the concept of
entertainment and leisure in the region. The Rig extends across an impressive expanse of 1.6 million square feet,
establishing itself as one of the most expansive floating structures ever constructed. Situated 40 kilometers from

the shoreline, in proximity to Al Juraid Island and the Berri Oil Field, it stands as a symbol of Saudi
Arabia’s dedication to advancing the frontiers of architectural and engineering prowess.
Saudi Arabia is a country on the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by the Red Sea to the west;
Jordan, Iraq, and Kuwait to the north; the Persian Gulf, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to the east; Oman to
the southeast; and Yemen to the south. Bahrain is an island country off the east coast. Its capital and largest city is
Riyadh. The Saudi riyal is the currency of Saudi Arabia. Mohammed bin Salman is the Crown Prince and
Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia. Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is King of Saudi Arabia, reigning since 2015.
Petroleum was discovered in 1938 and followed up by several other finds in the Eastern Province. Saudi Arabia
has since become the world’s second-largest oil producer (behind the US) and the world’s largest oil exporter,
controlling the world’s second-largest oil reserves and the fourth-largest gas reserves.
Albania turns an old Soviet-era air base into a regional hub of NATO air operations
 NATO member Albania inaugurated a refurbished Soviet-era air base, the alliance’s first in the Western
Balkan region. The air base is named after the small town of Kucove, 85 kilometers (52 miles) south of the capital
Tirana. The new air base will serve as a modern hub of operations, for training and hosting an array of fighter jets.
NATO funded the base upgrade with around 50 million euros. It included renovations to the control tower, runways,
hangars and storage facilities. Albania joined NATO in 2009 and is a candidate for EU membership.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance between 32 member
states, 30 of which are in Europe and the other 2 being part of North America. Established in the aftermath of
World War II, the organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty, signed 4 April 1949. NATO constitutes
a system of collective security, whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defense in response to
an attack by any external party. It was established during the Cold War in response to the threat posed by the
Soviet Union. The NATO headquarters is located in Brussels, Belgium, while the headquarters of Allied
Command Operations is near Mons, Belgium. Since its founding, the admission of new member states has
increased the alliance from the original 12 countries to 32. NATO formed with twelve founding members and has
added new members ten times, most recently when Sweden joined the alliance on 7 March 2024.The most recent
member state to be added to NATO was Sweden on 7 March 2024. NATO currently recognizes Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine as aspiring members.
Newly enlarged NATO starts drill in Finland, Norway, Sweden in defence of its Nordic turf
 North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), kicked off an exercise to defend its newly expanded Nordic
territory when more than 20,000 soldiers from 13 nations take part in drills lasting for nearly two weeks in the
northern regions of Finland, Norway and Sweden.
 “With more than 4,000 Finnish soldiers taking part, the Norway-led Nordic Response 2024 represents the NATO
newcomer’s largest ever participation in a foreign exercise,”. “For the first time, Finland participateD as a
NATO member nation in exercising collective defence of the alliance’s regions,”.
 Finland, which shares a 1,340 km (830-mile) border with Russia, joined NATO in April 2023 in a historic
move following decades of military non-alignment. With its bid now ratified by all NATO members,
neighbouring Sweden is currently finalised formalities to enter the military alliance as its 32nd member. For
years, the biannual NATO drill, which has been conducted in the Arctic extremes of northern Norway, was called
“Cold Response.” This year, the drill is hosted equally by Finland, Norway and Sweden.
 The participating nations in the exercise that runs through March 15 are Belgium, Britain, Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United
States. Roughly half of the participating troops will drill on land. The rest will train at sea, with more than 50
participating submarines, frigates, corvettes, aircraft carriers, and various amphibious vessels, and in the air with
more than 100 fighter jets, transport aircraft, maritime surveillance aircraft and helicopters.
Australia unveiled plans to ramp up investment in Southeast Asia
 Australia unveiled plans to ramp up investment in Southeast Asia setting aside US$1.3 billion to bolster
trade in a region of rising economic might. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the funding as leaders
from the 10-nation ASEAN forum met in Melbourne for a three-day summit.

Australia is the largest country in Oceania and the world’s sixth-largest country by total area. Australia’s
capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George) is King of the
United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. He acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022 upon the
death of his mother, Elizabeth II: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan,
and Ceylon. The Australian dollar is the currency of Australia. Anthony Albanese is the current Prime Minister
of Australia.
Singapore gives nod for Vistara-AI merger

 The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has granted conditional approval for
the merger of Vistara with Air India along with Singapore International Airline’s 25.1% stake in the latter.
The approval was granted following commitments from all three airlines that the merged entity will “maintain”
capacity, or passenger seats, at pre Covid-19 level (calendar year 2019) for flights between Singapore and
Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Thiruvananthpuram.
Singapore is a sovereign city-state and island country in Southeast Asia. Singapore dollar is the official currency
of Singapore. Lee Hsien Loong is the current Prime Minister of Singapore. Halimah binti Yacob served as the
first female President in the country’s history. Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been serving as the current
President of Singapore since 2023.
Rili.ai: World’s first AI-powered social network aims to combat loneliness

 Rili.ai: World’s first AI-powered social network aims to combat loneliness. At its core, the application
essentially aims to foster genuine connections by allowing its users to train their digital representations of
themselves. “We are trying to build bonds between the people and to make them share their knowledge with the
world.
 In a sea of AI-powered social apps, Rili.ai stands out owing to its emphasis on personalised context-aware
digital twins. These twins are known as ‘Rilis’. According to the duo, users start by giving a general overview
to define their digital twin’s personality and traits. Later, they can train and improve their Rilis brain in two ways
– directly interacting and conversing with it and allowing it to learn the user’s communication style, knowledge,
and opinions over time; or connecting Rili to the user’s existing social media accounts such as YouTube, Twitch,
etc., to let it analyse the user’s posted content to build its knowledge base. The app is available in 100 languages.
Panama becomes 97th member to ratify the International Solar Alliance
 Panama has become the 97th member to ratify the International Solar Alliance. Panama handed over the
Instrument of ISA Ratification, during the meeting of the Ambassador of Panama to India, Yasiel Burillo.
The International Solar Alliance is a common platform for cooperation among sun-rich countries lying fully or
partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. The initiative was launched at the UN Climate Change
Conference in Paris at the end of 2015 by the then, President of France and the Prime Minister of India. In
January 2016, Narendra Modi, and the then, French President François Hollande jointly laid the foundation
stone of the International Solar Alliance headquarters and inaugurated the interim Secretariat at the National
Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gwalpahari, Gurugram, India. Ajay Mathuri is the current Director
General of ISA.
Sweden officially becomes 32nd member of NATO

 Sweden has officially become the 32nd member of NATO after it completed the accession process in
Washington. The handover of documents took place at a ceremony two years after Sweden applied to join the
military alliance following the full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022. Swedish Prime
Minister Ulf Kristersson said that unity and solidarity would be Sweden’s guiding lights. US President Joe
Biden said that Nato is stronger than ever.
 Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Sweden brings with it capable armed forces and a first-class
defence industry and the alliance has become stronger and safer.

Sweden is a Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the
west and north, Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge–tunnel across the
Öresund. The capital and largest city is Stockholm. The krona is the official currency of the Kingdom of Sweden.
Ulf Hjalmar Ed Kristersson has been serving as Prime Minister of Sweden since 2022. Carl XVI Gustaf is King
of Sweden.
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) day at the iconic Galle Face green in Colombo
 Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry celebrated the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) day at the iconic Galle
Face green in Colombo. Sri Lanka’s Minister for Foreign Affairs M.U.M. Ali Sabry emphasised the challenges
posed by climate change and the need to address them in order to have a sustainable future for Indian Ocean
region. The celebrations included skydiving and parachute jumping display and equestrian display by Sri
Lankan tri forces. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry celebrated Indian Ocean Rim Association day at iconic
Galle Face Green in Colombo.
 Member states of IORA put up stalls providing an insight into the country and relations to Indian Ocean.
The Indian High Commission set up a stall showcasing the vibrant culture of India. The stall also featured
interactive activities for schoolchildren like face painting, wall art, Word Puzzles and live demonstration of
sailing knots. Sri Lanka holds the chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association until 2025 while India holds
the vice chair. India will assume chairmanship of the association in 2025. The Indian Ocean Rim
Association is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1997, comprises 23 member states and 11
dialogue partners hailing from regions surrounding the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), formerly known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative (IORI) and the
Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), is an international organisation consisting of
23 states bordering the Indian Ocean. The IORA is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together
representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among
them. It is based on the principles of for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and
Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region. The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is
located at Ebene, Mauritius.
Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora becomes Pakistani Punjab’s first Sikh minister
 Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, made history as Pakistani Punjab’s first Sikh minister. He is a legislator from
Narowal district in Pakistan.
Asif Ali Zardari elected Pakistan’s 14th President
 Pakistan People’s Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari was elected as Pakistan’s 14th President, becoming
the head of state for a second time. Mr. Zardari,was the joint candidate of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and
the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) while his rival Mahmood Khan Achakzai, was the candidate of the
Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC).
Asif Ali Zardari is a Pakistani politician serving as the 14th president of Pakistan since 10 March 2024. He is the
president of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians and was the co-chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party.
He earlier served as the 11th president of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013, the first president born after
Independence. He is the widower of twice-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto. He was a member
of the National Assembly of Pakistan from 2018 to 2023, and in 2024. Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistani politician
and stateswoman who served as the 11th and 13th prime minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from
1993 to 1996. She was the first woman elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country.
Ideologically a liberal and a secularist, she chaired or co-chaired the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) from the early
1980s until her assassination in 2007.
---------------

ECONOMY AND FINANCE
L&T commissions India’s first indigenously built green hydrogen electrolyser in Gujarat
 Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has commissioned its first indigenously manufactured electrolyser at the Green
Hydrogen Plant located at the A M Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat. This step marks
L&T Electrolysers Limited’s entrance into the domestic manufacturing of electrolysers, aligning with the
company’s focus on enhancing sustainable energy solutions.
 The electrolyser, with a rated power capacity of 1 MW, expandable to 2 MW, is capable of producing 200
Nm3/Hr of hydrogen. It features two stacks and an Electrolyser Processing Unit (EPU) ML-400, both developed
and assembled in India, conforming to international standards. The focus now shifts to extensive testing over the
upcoming weeks to refine its performance and enable large-scale manufacturing capabilities.
Larsen & Toubro Limited, abbreviated as L&T, is an Indian multinational conglomerate, with interests in
engineering, construction, manufacturing, technology, information technology, military and financial services. It is
headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. L&T was founded in 1938 in Bombay by Danish engineers Henning
Holck-Larsen and Søren Kristian Toubro. On October 1, 2023, Shri. S N Subrahmanyan took charge as
Chairman and Managing Director of L&T.
Axis Bank set to tap infrastructure bond route after 2 years

 India’s Axis Bank is set to tap the infrastructure bond market to raise funds for the first time in more than
two years. “The private lender will raise around 40 billion rupees ($482.70 million) through 10-year bonds and
will invite bids for the bond issue before the end of this week,”.
 Axis Bank did not immediately reply to Reuters’ request for comment and is yet to announce the bond sale.
Infrastructure bonds are issued to finance long-term development projects. Axis Bank will join the likes of Kotak
Mahindra Bank and Bank of Baroda, who raised funds via infrastructure bonds. Banks, excluding financial
institutions, have raised over 544 billion rupees through the sale of infrastructure bonds in this financial year,
nearly double of 296 billion rupees raised in the previous fiscal.
Axis Bank Limited, formerly known as UTI Bank (1993–2007), is an Indian multinational banking and
financial services company headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is India’s third largest private sector
bank by assets and Fourth largest by Market capitalisation. It sells financial services to large and mid-size
companies, SMEs and retail businesses. Amitabh Chaudhry is an Indian banker, and the managing director
(MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Axis Bank, the third largest private sector bank in India. He joined Axis
in January 2019, after heading HDFC Life Insurance for nine years
Patanjali institute gets second project under clean Ganga mission

 The Centre has awarded the Haridwar-based Patanjali Organic Research Institute (PORI) a project for
conducting a study to prepare standard operating procedures for transforming sludge generated from
Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) into bio-solids for natural farming. The project proposal titled “Study for
Management of Sludge and Transformation into Biosolids” has been approved by the National Mission for
Clean Ganga (NMCG) that comes under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and implements the Centre’s ambitious
Namami Gange programme.

 The NMCG’s executive committee (EC), which met under the chairmanship of NMCG Director General G Asok
Kumar, approved the proposal shows the records of the meeting. This is the second project the NMCG has
awarded to PORI under the Namami Gange scheme. In December 2022, the NMCG had awarded a project
worth Rs. 4.32 crore to Haridwar-based Patanjali Research Institute (PRI) and PORI for “scientific exploration”
of floral diversity near the banks of Ganga.
Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the
Union Government of India in June 2014 with budget outlay of Rs.20,000 crore. The program had aims of
controlling pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga. It aimed at engaging with the UK
community which will connect various interest groups including Scientists, Technology companies, Investors and
community members. NMCG (National Mission For Clean Ganga) has decided to declare Chacha Chaudhary
the popular comic book character, as the mascot of the Namami Gange Programme a statement issued by the
Ministry of Jal Shakti.
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal dedicates first-ever Made-in-India ASTDS tug

 Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of MoPSW & AYUSH inaugurated the 60T bollard pull tug named
‘Ocean Grace’ and the Medical Mobile Unit (MMU), virtually. The Ocean Grace is the first make in India
ASTDS Tug developed by the Cochin Shipyard Limited under MoPSW. The Medical Mobile Unit (MMU) is
part of port’s commitment to corporate social responsibility. This initiative highlights ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’
initiative of PM Modi. The first ASTDS tug is powered by NIGATA main engines and a Power Z-Peller ZP
Propulsion engine, this tug is meticulously designed for optimal efficiency and reliability, guaranteeing seamless
navigation and proficient vessel assistance, especially for large vessels like VLCCs and ULCCs.
 Under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, in the coming years’ the Decarbonisation Cell is set to
pioneer the development of cutting-edge technology vessels, initiating pilot runs across various categories.
This ambitious initiative includes the introduction of five electric water taxis, two hybrid electric Ro-Ro ferries,
and two hybrid LNG electric cargo carriers.
Kawasaki unveils world’s first hydrogen motorcycle
 The Kawasaki Ninja H2 HySE is the first motorcycle to be powered by hydrogen from the big four
Japanese manufacturers (Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, as well as Kawasaki), which are all collaborators on
the HySE project. HySE will head to the Dakar Rally next month with its Belgian-built, hydrogen-fuelled
buggy. Dubbed the Ninja H2 HySE, this innovative motorcycle marks a pivotal moment for Japan’s
automotive industry. Following its preview at the end of 2023, Kawasaki proudly presents this prototype,
signaling a new era of eco-friendly transportation options.
NPCI ties up with IISc for joint research on blockchain and AI technology
 National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced the signing of a multi-year Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, for conducting joint research
on Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. The association is expected to propel further
innovation through the establishment of the “NPCI–IISc Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Deep Tech Research
& Development”.
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and
settlement systems in India. Founded in 2008, the NPCI is a not-for-profit organisation registered under section 8
of the Companies Act 2013. It is headquartered in Mumbai. The organization is an initiative of the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement
Systems Act, 2007, for creating a robust Payment & Settlement Infrastructure in India.
Bajaj Auto launched world’s first CNG bike

 Bajaj Auto launched the world’s first CNG bike, ahead of the firm’s launch timeline. Bajaj said there was a
50-65% reduction in fuel cost and operating costs. The emission levels were lower compared to ICE vehicles. The
CNG prototype had seen a 50% reduction in CO2, 75% in Carbon Monoxide and a reduction of almost
90% in non-methane hydrocabon emissions.

Jeff Bezos dethrones Musk to reclaim title of world’s richest man
 Amazon founder Jeff Bezos took back his spot as the world’s richest man dethroning Elon Musk on the
Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Mr. Bezos’ net worth stands at $200 billion, according to the tracker, surpassing
the Tesla chief’s $198 billion. Mr. Bezos, who no longer runs Amazon, has meanwhile benefited from the e-
commerce giant’s rising stock price. Even after recently selling off $8.5 billion in stocks he remains the
company’s largest shareholder.
Jeffrey Preston Bezos is an American businessman, media proprietor and investor. He is the founder, executive
chairman, and former president and CEO of Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce and cloud computing
company. It is the world’s largest online sales company, the largest Internet company by revenue, and the largest
provider of virtual assistants and cloud infrastructure services through its Amazon Web Services branch. Bezos
founded the aerospace manufacturer and sub-orbital spaceflight services company Blue Origin in 2000. Blue
Origin’s New Shepard vehicle reached space in 2015 and afterwards successfully landed back on Earth; he flew
into space on Blue Origin NS-16 in 2021. He is the wealthiest person in the world, with a net worth of about
US$199.1 billion as of March 2, 2024.
India to launch interoperability of digital payment systems for internet banking in 2024
 India’s central bank expects to launch interoperability of digital payment systems for internet banking in
2024, governor Shaktikanta Das said.
Bloomberg announces India’s bonds inclusion in Emerging Market Index
 Bloomberg has announced the inclusion of Indian G-Securities in its Emerging Market (EM) Local
Currency Government Index and related indices from January 31 next year, a move that will bring down
borrowing costs for the government. Indian Fully Accessible Route (FAR) bonds will be included in the
Bloomberg EM Local Currency Government indices with an initial weight of 10 per cent of their full market
value on January 31, 2025.
UPI payments now accessible for Indians in Nepal
 NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of NPCI and Fonepay Payment Service
Ltd, Nepal’s largest payment network, announced that Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for cross-border
transactions between India and Nepal is live now. This will increase the convenience and efficiency in
transaction for tourists traveling to Nepal. Both entities are now fully operational and ready to facilitate QR-code-
based person-to-merchant (P2M) UPI transactions between the two countries.
 Nepal has 30% of its tourists as Indians, not taking into account religious tourists from India whose footfall
cannot be accounted due to free visit to religious places and free cross-border movement between the two
neighbours. UPI transactions will aid in the ease of travel for Indian tourists headed to Nepal as well as boost the
economy of Nepal.
 In its first phase, this partnership will enable Indian consumers to make instant, secure and convenient UPI
payments across various business stores in Nepal by using UPI-enabled Apps. Merchants acquired by the
participating members of Fonepay Network can seamlessly accept UPI payments from Indian customers. This
digital connection serves to reinforce the deep-rooted people-to-people ties between the neighbouring nations.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is an advanced version of Immediate Payment Service (IMPS)- round–the-
clock funds transfer service to make cashless payments faster, easier and smoother. UPI is a system that powers
multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking
features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood. UPI is currently the biggest among the
National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) operated systems including National Automated Clearing
House (NACH), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS), Bharat Bill
Payment System (BBPS), RuPay etc. The top UPI apps today include PhonePe, Paytm, Google Pay, Amazon
Pay and BHIM, the latter being the Government offering. As part of an agreement, India’s UPI will be linked to
Singapore’s PayNow. NPCI launched UPI with 21 member banks in 2016.

MSME Minister Narayan Rane laid foundation stone of MSME-Technology Centre in
Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg
 Micro, small and medium enterprises Minister Narayan Rane laid the foundation stone of the MSME-
Technology Centre in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg. On this occasion, the Sindhudurg Audyogik Mahotsav and Self
Employment Conclave will also be inaugurated.
 The government is establishing twenty new technology centres and one hundred extension centres across
the country to expand the access to technology by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. He said this
technology centre will focus on sectors like general engineering and food processing. The centre will create new
opportunities for growth for MSMEs in the nearby areas by providing access to new technology, skills and
consultancy.
As per the latest classification of MSME: 1. Micro enterprises would be those with investments not exceeding
Rs. one crore and turnover of Rs. 5 crore. 2. Small enterprises would be those with investment up to Rs. 10
crore and turnover of up to Rs. 50 crore. 3. Medium enterprises – as those with investments not exceeding Rs.
50 crore and turnover of Rs. 250 crore.
CoinSwitch becomes first Indian cryptocurrency trading platform with 2 crore registered users
 CoinSwitch, a leading cryptocurrency trading platform in India, has reached a significant milestone by
surpassing 2 crore registered users, becoming the first platform in the country. This development coincides
with a surge in user activity within India, driven by increased investor optimism. Recent developments like the
launch of Bitcoin ETFs in the US, the possibility of Ethereum ETF approval, and the upcoming Bitcoin Halving
event have all contributed to this positive sentiment.
RBI, Bank Indonesia sign MoU to promote use of local currencies for cross-border transactions
 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank Indonesia (BI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) in Mumbai for establishing a framework to promote the use of local currencies viz. the Indian
Rupee (INR) and the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) for cross-border transactions. The MoU was signed by the
Governor of Reserve Bank of India Mr. Shaktikanta Das and the Governor of Bank Indonesia Mr. Perry Warjiyo.
This collaboration marks a key milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation between RBI and BI. In a press
release issued, the RBI said the MoU on establishing a framework for cooperation in the area of cross-border
transactions in local currencies between India and Indonesia, aims to promote the use of INR and IDR bilaterally.
 It said this will eventually contribute to promoting trade between India and Indonesia as well as deepen
financial integration and strengthen the long historical, cultural and economic relations between India and
Indonesia. The RBI said the MoU covers all current account transactions, permissible capital account
transactions and any other economic and financial transactions as agreed upon by both countries.
 It added that this framework would enable exporters and importers to invoice and pay in their respective
domestic currencies, which in turn would enable the development of an INR-IDR foreign exchange market.
The use of local currencies would optimise costs and settlement time for transactions.
The Reserve Bank of India was founded on 1 April 1935 to respond to economic troubles after the First World
War. RBI was conceptualised as per the guidelines, working style and outlook presented by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
in his book titled “The Problem of the Rupee – Its origin and its solution” and presented to the Hilton Young
Commission. The bank was set up based on the recommendations of the 1926 Royal Commission on Indian
Currency and Finance, also known as the Hilton–Young Commission. In 1969, the Indira Gandhi-headed
government nationalised 14 major commercial banks. Upon Indira Gandhi’s return to power in 1980, a further
six banks were nationalised. The first Governor of the RBI was British banker Osborn Smith and C.D.
Deshmukh was the first Indian Governor of RBI. Shaktikanta Das is the current Governor of RBI.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Inventions/Discoveries
Earliest-known ‘dead’ galaxy spotted by Webb telescope
 The James Webb Space Telescope since becoming operational in 2022 has uncovered numerous surprises
about what things were like in the universe’s early stages. We now add one more - observations of a galaxy
that was already “dead” when the universe was only 5% of its current age.
 Scientists said that Webb has spotted a galaxy where star formation had already ceased by roughly 13.1
billion years ago, 700 million years after the Big Bang event that gave rise to the universe. Many dead
galaxies have been detected over the years, but this is the earliest by about 500 million years.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope developed by NASA with the European Space
Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The telescope is named after James E. Webb, who was
the administrator of NASA from 1961 to 1968 and played an integral role in the Apollo program. It is intended to
succeed the Hubble Space Telescope as NASA’s flagship mission in astrophysics. JWST was launched on 25
December 2021 on Ariane flight VA256. It is designed to provide improved infrared resolution and sensitivity
over Hubble, and will enable a broad range of investigations across the fields of astronomy and cosmology,
including observations of some of the most distant events and objects in the Universe such as the formation of the
first galaxies, and allowing detailed atmospheric characterization of potentially habitable exoplanets.
ZSI names a newly discovered head-shield sea slug after President Droupadi Murmu
 The Zoological Survey of India named a new marine species of head-shield sea slug with ruby red spot
which was discovered from West Bengal and Odisha coast after President of India Droupadi Murmu. This
species belonging to Melanochlamys genus was discovered from Digha of West Bengal coast and Udaipur of
Odisha coast. The new species of head-shield sea slug, which is found nowhere in the world, is named as
Melanochlamys droupadi.
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), founded on 1 July 1916 in Kolkata by the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change of the Government of India as a premier Indian organization in zoological research and
studies to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the country.
India’s first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed commencement of “core loading” at India’s first indigenous Fast
Breeder Reactor (500 MWe) at Kalpakkam. India has developed comprehensive capabilities spanning the
entire spectrum of the nuclear fuel cycle.
 The government had approved in 2003, the creation of Bhartiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd., (BHAVINI)
to construct and operate India’s most advanced nuclear reactor-Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).
The PFBR has been fully designed and constructed indigenously by BHAVINI with significant contributions
from more than 200 Indian industries including MSMEs. Once commissioned, India will only be the second
country after Russia to have commercial operating Fast Breeder Reactor.

Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) located at Kalpakkam about 80 kilometres (50 mi) south of Chennai,
India, is a comprehensive nuclear power production, fuel reprocessing, and waste treatment facility that includes
plutonium fuel fabrication for fast breeder reactors (FBRs). It is also India’s first fully indigenously constructed
nuclear power station, with two units each generating 220 MW of electricity. The first and second units of the
station went critical in 1983 and 1985, respectively. The station has reactors housed in a reactor building with
double shell containment improving protection also in the case of a loss-of-coolant accident. An Interim Storage
Facility (ISF) is also located in Kalpakkam. The facility is also home to India’s first large scale fast breeder
reactor of 500 MWe called the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor operated by BHAVINI and will also be the site
of first two FBR-600 commercial fast breeder reactors.
New link between water and planet formation revealed

 Astronomers found water vapour in a disc around a young star, where planets could be forming, said the
European Southern Observatory. The study revealed at least three times as much water as in all oceans on
our planet in the inner disc of the young Sun-like star HL Tauri, which is located about 450 light-years
away from Earth. Water is a key ingredient for life on Earth and it could also play an important role in planet
formation.
IIT-Mandi developing indigenous quantum computer, will use photons for faster calculations
 The Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, is developing a first-of-its-kind indigenous room-temperature
quantum computer that will use photons for faster calculations. The computer, being developed as part of the
National Quantum Mission, will be unique in its ability to analyse data and suggest solutions with 86 per cent
accuracy without traditional algorithms. Quantum computing is a rapidly emerging technology that harnesses the
laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for classical computers.
In a first, ISRO to launch 2 vehicles for Chandrayaan-4 mission; spacecraft to bring lunar rocks
to India
 In a first, ISRO will launch two rockets to complete a single mission, the country’s fourth moon mission
Chandrayaan-4 that will bring moon rocks and soil (regolith) back to Earth. Two separate rockets — heavy-
lifter LVM-3 and Isro’s workhorse PSLV — will carry different payloads for the same moon mission and will be
launched on different days.
 If successful, Chandrayaan-4, which is slated to be launched not before 2028, will make India fourth nation
with capability to bring back samples from the lunar surface. “Aim of the mission is to collect samples from
the lunar surface and return the samples safely to Earth for scientific studies,” according to a recent presentation
by ISRO chairman S Somanath at National Space Science Symposium.
Indian Navy’s new BrahMos deal and missile indigenisation
 Strengthening the Indian Navy’s defence arsenal, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared the Rs.
19,000-crore acquisition of 200 BrahMos Extended Range (ER) supersonic cruise missiles for warships.
Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said that the BrahMos will be the Navy’s primary surface-to-surface missile as
it has “enhanced range, capabilities, range and so on.”
The BrahMos (also designated as PJ-10) is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be
launched from submarines, ships, fighter aircraft or TEL. It is a joint venture between the Indian Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Russian Federation’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya, who
together have formed BrahMos Aerospace. The missile is based on P-800 Oniks. The name BrahMos is a
portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia. In
2016, as India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), India and Russia are
now planning to jointly develop a new generation of BrahMos missiles with an 800-kilometer range and an
ability to hit protected targets with pinpoint accuracy. Plans are to eventually upgrade all Missiles to a range of
1,500 km.
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SPORTS
Sports Personalities in News

Tiger Woods wins Bob Jones Award, highest USGA honor
 Tiger Woods has been selected to receive the Bob Jones Award, the highest honor from the USGA that
recognizes his commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s traditions. Woods typically is honored for
his performances on the course, where he has won 15 majors among his 82 career victories on the PGA Tour.
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik releases Sportstar’s coffee table book on Hockey World Cup
 Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released a coffee table book titled ‘FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s
World Cup 2023’ brought out by Sportstar. Sportstar meticulously captured every on-field and off-field
moment of the 15th chapter of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023, showcasing the grand celebration
of the sport in Odisha. The captivating coffee table book has preserved the memories of the World Cup for
eternity.
Pro Kabaddi League 10 Final: Puneri Paltan Win First Ever PKL Title
 Puneri Paltan defeated Haryana Steelers to win their first ever Pro Kabaddi League title, as they managed
to see off a spirited Haryana side in a nail-biting low scoring thriller. With this win, the Paltan avenged their last
year’s heartbreak at the hands of Jaipur Pink Panthers in PKL Season 9.
WPL 2024: Deepti Sharma takes hat-trick; becomes first Indian to do so in Women’s Premier
League
 Deepti Sharma became the first Indian to get a hat-trick in the Women’s Premier League, when she forced
Delhi Capitals on the backfoot, with three consecutive wickets over two overs, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
James Anderson Becomes First Pacer, Third Overall to Take 700 International Test Wickets
 England’s James Anderson became the first pacer and third overall to reach 700 Test wickets during the
fifth Test match against India in Dharamsala. The only two other bowlers who have gone past the coveted mark
are Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and Australian late Shane Warne.
SAFF U16 Women’s Championship | India go down to Bangladesh in penalties
 India fell short of a title conquest, losing to Bangladesh 3-2 in the penalty shootout during the SAFF U16
Women’s Championship final.
Bhubaneswar gets India’s first indoor athletics centre
 Chief minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated India’s first indoor athletics centre along with the state-of-art
indoor aquatic center at Kalinga Stadium. This world class facility will be a training ground for the Odisha
Reliance Foundation Athletics High Performance Centre (HPC), which was established in association with
Reliance Foundation, and has been producing young athletics champions.
--------------

MISCELLANEOUS
Nicaragua becomes first Spanish-speaking nation to recognise Indian pharma standards
 Nicaragua has become the first nation in the Spanish-speaking world to recognise Indian Pharmacopeia, as
India and Nicaragua signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Pharmacopoeia on cooperation in the
field of the regulation of medicines.
 Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an autonomous institution under the Union Ministry of Health
and Family Welfare, created to set standards for drugs in the country. IP is the official book of standards for
drugs defining the specified limits and testing methods for crude drugs and finished formulations.
 IP has a legal status within the Second Schedule of the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. All the drugs imported,
manufactured and distributed in India must conform to the standards codified in the IP. The IP has been
recognised as a book of standard by five nations - Afghanistan, Ghana, Nepal, Mauritius and Suriname.
Patagonia cave paintings are earliest found in South America
 Archaeologists have discovered the earliest dated cave paintings in South America in Argentine Patagonia,
dating back 8,200 years. The 895 paintings were found by Argentine and Chilean archaeologists in the Huenul 1
cave, a 630 square meter rock shelter located in the province of Neuquen, some 1,100 kilometers (684 miles)
southwest of the capital Buenos Aires.
UP to soon become first state to have fire stations at tehsil level
 Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Uttar Pradesh will soon become the first state in the country to have
fire stations at the tehsil level. He added that over 70 fire stations have been set up across the state in the last
seven years. He virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 38 fire stations.
PM Modi unveils multiple metro projects, including Kolkata underwater corridor
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled multiple metro projects across the country, including Ithe underwater
metro line in Kolkata. The ₹4,965-crore Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro’s East-West
Corridor, which has the first transportation tunnel “under any mighty river in India”, was inaugurated by the PM.
The stretch also has the deepest metro station in the country – the Howrah metro station.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launches multiple initiatives to strengthen School and
Teacher Education
 Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has launched multiple initiatives to strengthen School and
Teacher Education in New Delhi. The Minister said that equal workforce participation by both men and
women is required to make Viksit Bharat possible.
 The country needs to build a work structure considering the needs of the world. The Minister also emphasised the
need for the inclusion of Indian languages in the education system. The country’s workforce now comprises 37
per cent women. He added that around 57 per cent of the country’s working-age population is employed.
The Minister also said that there is a need to achieve a 70 per cent workforce participation rate in the country. The
country can achieve it only when it understands this subject in its language.
Central India’s first construction waste recycling plant ready to roll
 The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has completed trial runs of its first plant for recycling
construction and demolition (C&D) waste at Bhandewadi dumping yard. The plant, the only one in central
India till date, has capacity to process 150 metric tonne waste daily. The plant will become operational in the
next few days and cater to requirement of government agencies as well as individuals and private organizations.
---------------

PERSONS IN NEWS
PM Narendra Modi most powerful Indian, Adani, CJI Chandrachud in top 10
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to be the most powerful Indian, followed by Union home
minister Amit Shah and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. Notable exceptions
include Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and business magnate Gautam Adani, whose resurgence
from the Hindenburg controversy elevated him to prominence. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, Amit
Shah, Union home minister, Mohan Bhagwat, RSS chief, DY Chandrachud, Chief Justice of India, S Jaishankar,
External Affairs Minister, Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh CM, Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister, Nirmala
Sitharaman, Finance Minister, JP Nadda, BJP national president and Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group.
 Noteworthy are regional leaders like Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu counterpart MK
Stalin, orchestrating a formidable Southern front against the BJP juggernaut. This curated list spotlight the
movers and shakers whose decisions reverberate across the nation and beyond, wielding power and influence in
diverse spheres. From political titans to visionary entrepreneurs, from cultural icons to thought leaders, these
individuals embody the dynamism and complexity of India’s contemporary power structure:
Sailor Cole Brauer makes history as the first American woman to race solo around the world
 Aboard her 40-foot racing boat First Light, Cole Brauer just became the first American woman to race
nonstop around the world by herself. The New York native pulled into A Coruña, Spain, after a treacherous
30,000-mile journey that took 130 days.
Suman Kumari has become the first woman sniper of the Border Security Force
 A sub-inspector named Suman Kumari has become the first woman sniper of the Border Security Force.
She recently completed eight-week sniper course at Central School of Weapons and Tactics (CSWT) in Indore
and achieved ‘instructor grade’.
 Suman volunteered for the sniper course after witnessing the threat of sniper attacks from across the
border while commanding a platoon in Punjab. Her superiors approved Suman’s participation in the course after
seeing her determination. Interestingly, Suman was the only female among 56 male counterparts who took the
sniper course. With her achievement, she is expected to inspire other female recruits to take up similar military
roles.
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AWARDS
Dr Pradeep Mahajan receives Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2024
 In a remarkable recognition of his contributions to the field of regenerative medicine, Dr. Pradeep Mahajan, the
Founder and Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of StemRx Hospital and Research Centre, along
with StemRx Bioscience Solutions, has been awarded the prestigious Maharashtra Bhushan Award 2024.
This accolade is a testament to his pioneering efforts and substantial impact in advancing regenerative medicine,
offering new hope and innovative treatments to patients worldwide.
Zoya Akhtar, Asma Khan Honored at ‘India-UK Achievers’ Awards in London

 Renowned filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and British Indian chef Asma Khan were honored at the annual ‘India-
UK Achievers’ awards in London. The event celebrated Akhtar’s acclaimed work in cinema and Khan’s
contributions to culinary arts.
 Zoya Akhtar was honored with the Living Legend Award for her work in furthering the understanding of
India. Akhtar is acclaimed for box-office successes such as ‘Luck By Chance’ and ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’,
as well as her recent work ‘The Archies’. The 51-year-old daughter of writers Javed Akhtar and Honey Irani
participated in a session focused on creative economies at the conference.
Yatin Bhaskar Duggal Wins First Prize in National Youth Parliament Festival 2024
 Yatin Bhaskar Duggal, a promising talent from Haryana, has emerged triumphant as the winner of the
esteemed National Youth Parliament Festival, 2024. The announcement came during the conclusive session
held in New Delhi, where Duggal was awarded the first prize for his exceptional performance.
 Top Honors for Youth Excellence
 First Prize: Yatin Bhaskar Duggal (Haryana)
 Second Prize: Vaishna Pitchai (Tamil Nadu)
 Third Prize: Kanishka Sharma (Rajasthan)
 The recognition of these talented individuals reflects the diversity and talent spread across the nation, with
participants hailing from various states. Addressing the gathering, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla underscored
the pivotal role of youth in realizing the vision of a developed India by 2047, coined as ‘Viksit Bharat.’ He
emphasized the importance of youth’s innovative thinking and unwavering dedication towards nation-building.
India Receives ‘Measles and Rubella Champion’ Award
 India has been awarded the prestigious ‘Measles and Rubella Champion’ Award by The Measles and
Rubella Partnership. This award recognizes India’s exemplary efforts in preventing measles and rubella
diseases.
 The award was presented on March 6th, 2024, at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington
D.C., USA. Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, received the award
on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. The Measles and Rubella
Partnership includes agencies like American Red Cross, BMGF, GAVI, US CDC, UNF, UNICEF, and
WHO. Their goal is to reduce global measles deaths and prevent rubella illness.
PM Narendra Modi presents first-ever National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam
 Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the first-ever National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam in
New Delhi. The ‘National Creators Award recognises the talent of the country’s creator community. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi said, the country has witnessed a data revolution in the last ten years.
 The Digital India Mission has created a new world of content creators. The National Creators Award is an
effort to recognise excellence and impact across domains, including storytelling, social change advocacy,
environmental sustainability, education, and gaming, among others.

 The award is envisioned as a launchpad for using creativity to drive positive change. The National Creator
Award has witnessed exemplary public engagement. In the first round, more than 1.5 lakh nominations across 20
different categories were received.
 In the voting round, about 10 lakh votes were cast for digital creators in various award categories. Following this,
23 winners, including three international creators, were decided. The award will be provided across twenty
categories including the Best Storyteller Award, the Disruptor of the Year, Celebrity Creator of the Year,
Green Champion Award, and Best Creator For Social Change, Most Impactful Agri Creator; Cultural
Ambassador of The Year; International Creator award.
 The categories also include the Best Travel Creator Award; Swachhta Ambassador Award; The New India
Champion Award; Tech Creator Award; Heritage Fashion Icon Award; Most Creative Creator (Male and
Female); Best Creator in Food Category; Best Creator in Education Category; Best Creator in Gaming Category;
Best Micro Creator; Best Nano Creator; Best Health and Fitness Creator.
 Here is the list of winners:
Winner Award
Jaya Kishori Best Creator for Social Change
Kabita Singh (Kabita’s Kitchen) Best Creator in Food Category
Drew Hicks Best International Creator
Kamiya Jani Favourite Travel Creator
Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps) Disruptor of the Year
RJ Raunac (Bauaa) Most Creative Creator-Male
Shraddha Jain Most Creative Creator (Female)
Aridaman Best Micro Creator
Nishchay Best Creator in Gaming Category
Ankit Baiyanpuria Best Health and Fitness Creator
Naman Deshmukh Best Creator in Education Category
Jahnvi Singh Heritage Fashion Icon
Malhar Kalambe Swachhta Ambassador
Gaurav Chaudhary Best Creator in Tech Category
Maithili Thakur Cultural Ambassador of The Year
Pankhti Pandey Favourite Green Champion
Keerthika Govindasamy Best Storyteller
Aman Gupta Celebrity Creator
---------------

IMPORTANT DAYS
International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness 5 March
 The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness seeks to promote better
awareness and understanding of disarmament issues among the public, especially young people. Since the
founding of the United Nations, the goals of multilateral disarmament and arms limitation have been central to the
Organization’s efforts to maintain international peace and security.
 Observed on 5 March, the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness plays a
role in deepening the global public’s understanding about how disarmament efforts contribute to enhancing
peace and security, preventing and ending armed conflicts, and curbing human suffering caused by weapons.
International Women’s Day 2024
 International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year. The campaign theme for International
Women’s Day 2024 is “Invest in women: Accelerating progress”. This year’s theme highlights the importance
of funding women’s leadership development, health, education and economic empowerment to accelerate
progress towards gender equality.
National Safety Day
 National Safety Day 2024 is observed every year on March 4. The day also marks the beginning of National
Safety Week. This year’s theme is ‘Focus on Safety Leadership for Environmental, Social, and Governance
(ESG) Excellence.’
 The Ministry of Labour and Employment of the Indian government established the National Safety
Council on March 4, 1996. It is a self-supporting, non-governing organization. In 2000, the Bombay Public Trust
Act of 1950 was used to create the National Safety Council as a public trust. In 1972, National Safety Day was
announced to celebrate the establishment of National Safety Day. Since its founding, the National Safety Council
has led the National Safety Day/Safety Week Campaign on March 4, which has greatly aided in raising awareness
of safety in all spheres of society.
No Smoking Day
 No Smoking Day is celebrated on 13 March every year. This day is dedicated to spreading awareness about the
destructive impacts of smoking and to inspire individuals to stop smoking. It is likewise a chance to feature the
significance of establishing a smoke-free environment.
 The theme of No Smoking Day for this year 2024 is, ‘Protecting children from tobacco industry
interference’. This topic underlines the importance of protecting the younger generation from the cunning tactics
employed by the tobacco industry.
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QUESTIONS
1. Which of the following countries is unveiled the world’s first floating theme park, aptly named “The Rig”?
(a) USA (b) Russia (c) Australia (d) Saudi Arabia
2. Which of the following parties secured the second term for Shehbaz Sharif as Pakistan’s Prime Minister?
(a) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) (b) Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
(c) Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) (d) Independents backed by PTI
3. Which of the following countries recently became the first Spanish-speaking nation to recognize the Indian
Pharmacopeia?
(a) Mexico (b) Argentina (c) Nicaragua (d) Chile
4. Which of the following states has become the first state in India to issue five crore Ayushman cards under the
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana?
(a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Rajasthan (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Maharshtra
5. Which of the following countries is poised to become the first in the world to enshrine the right to abortion in its
Constitution?
(a) Germany (b) France (c) United States (d) Canada
6. Which of the following has recently commissioned India’s first indigenously built green hydrogen electrolyser in
Gujarat?
(a) Tata Power (b) Larsen & Toubro (c) Suzlon Energy (d) Adani Green Energy
7. Recently, India’s first underwater metro connecting Howrah to Kolkata via a tunnel underneath the _________ is
set to start operations in June 2024.
(a) Ganga River (b) Son River (c) Hooghly River (d) Ringgit River
8. What is the name of the new marine species of head-shield sea slug discovered by the Zoological Survey of India?
(a) Melanochlamys droupadi (b) Melanochlamys bengalensis
(c) Melanochlamys odishensis (d) Melanochlamys indiana
9. What prestigious award has Tiger Woods been selected recently to receive?
(a) The Masters Trophy (b) The PGA Championship
(c) The Bob Jones Award (d) The Ryder Cup
10. Recently, Pilots turn ‘Iron-Man’ compete in world’s first jet suit race in _________.
(a) Abu Dhabi (b) Dubai (c) Male (d) Sydney
11. India’s first city-specific Zero Carbon plan for buildings is _________.
(a) Indore (b) Kochi (c) Nagpur (d) Pune
12. Recently, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan,
launched _________ in Sambalpur to prepare young graduates of Odisha for employment opportunities in the
financial services sector.
(a) Project ODINATION (b) Project ODISHI (c) Project ODISERV (d) Project ODISHA
13. Which of the following NATO countries inaugurated a refurbished Soviet-era air base, the alliance’s first in the
Western Balkan region?
(a) Albania (b) Ukraine (c) Latvia (d) Uzbekistan
14. Which of the following banks is set to tap the infrastructure bond market to raise funds for the first time in more
than two years?
(a) HDFC Bank (b) ICICI Bank (c) Axis Bank (d) State Bank of India

15. The International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness is celebrated on _________.
(a) 1 March (b) 3 March (c) 5 March (d) 7 March
16. The Indian Navy said it plans to build a base called INS Jatayu on Minicoy, the southernmost island in the
_________ archipelago.
(a) Andaman & Nicobar Islands (b) Sunderbans
(c) Puducherry (d) Lakshadweep
17. Who has become the first woman sniper of the Border Security Force in India?
(a) Deepika Rathi (b) Jhumka Jha (c) Manisha Tiwari (d) Suman Kumari
18. The biannual _________ drill, which has been conducted in the Arctic extremes of northern Norway, was called
“Cold Response.”
(a) NORDIC (b) NATO (c) ASEAN (d) Greenland
19. Which of the following approved the project proposal titled “Study for Management of Sludge and Transformation
into Biosolids”?
(a) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(b) National Mission for Clean Ganga
(c) Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
(d) Ministry of Urban Development
20. Who among the following recently released a coffee table book titled ‘FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup
2023’ brought out by Sportstar?
(a) Yogi Adityanath (b) Eknath Shinde
(c) Mohan Yadav (d) Naveen Patnaik
21. In an important measure to combat cyber fraud, name the portal launched by Indian government under the Sanchar
Sathi initiative?
(a) Nain portal (b) Nigaah portal (c) Chakshu portal (d) Rakshak portal
22. Where is India’s first National Dolphin Research Centre (NDRC) located?
(a) Haridwar (b) Prayagraj (c) Patna (d) Kolkata
23. Which of the following International automobile companies recently unveiled world’s first hydrogen motorcycle?
(a) Honda (b) Kawasaki (c) Hero (d) Yamaha
24. Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Naval War College building named ‘Chola’ in
_________.
(a) Goa (b) Karnataka (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Kerala
25. Recently, the 5th edition of the _________ joint exercise ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ is held in Rajasthan.
(a) India-Singapore (b) India-South Korea (c) India-Japan (d) India-Malaysia
26. Which of the following countries besides India, is one of the nations with a commercial operating Fast Breeder
Reactor?
(a) China (b) Japan (c) Russia (d) United States
27. Which of the following states will become the first state in India to have fire stations at the tehsil level?
(a) Maharashtra (b) Rajasthan (c) Uttar Pradesh (d) Madhya Pradesh
28. Recently, The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has granted conditional approval for
the merger of _________ with Air India along with Singapore International Airline’s 25.1% stake in the latter.
(a) Vistara (b) Go Air (c) Indigo Airlines (d) Jet Airways

29. Recently, the Chitmnag Chaiwat Multi-Purpose Water Reservoir was inaugurated in _________.
(a) Nagaland (b) Manipur (c) Mizoram (d) Meghalaya
30. Which of the following teams recently won their first ever Pro Kabaddi League title?
(a) Haryana Steelers (b) Jaipur Pink Panthers (c) U Mumba (d) Puneri Paltan
31. Which of the following states launched India’s first government-backed OTT platform?
(a) Kerala (b) Karnataka (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Tamil Nadu
32. The deepest metro station in the country at present is the _________.
(a) Green Park metro station, New Delhi (b) Charbagh metro station, Lucknow
(c) Howrah metro station, Kolkata (d) Nariman Point metro station, Mumbai
33. What is name of the recently introduced first humanoid AI teacher in the country?
(a) Iris (b) Retina (c) Cornea (d) Pupil
34. The World’s first AI-powered social network aims to combat loneliness is _________.
(a) Nature.ai (b) Will.ai (c) Rili.ai (d) Jili.ai
35. Which of the following has recently announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, for conducting joint research on Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence
(AI) technology?
(a) Reserve Bank of India (b) Unified Payment Interface
(c) Visa and Rupay (d) National Payments Corporation of India
36. Which of the following companies launched the world’s first CNG bike?
(a) Bajaj Auto (b) Hero Moto corps (c) TVS (d) Revolt E Bike
37. Which of the following cities is NOT among the recipients of funding under the CITIIS 2.0 challenge?
(a) Muzzafarpur (b) Bhopal (c) Madurai (d) Srinagar
38. Which of the following has recently announced the inclusion of Indian G-Securities in its Emerging Market (EM)
Local Currency Government Index and related indices, a move that will bring down borrowing costs for the
government?
(a) Bloomberg (b) World Bank (c) IMF (d) Fortune
39. Which of the following IIT’s is developing a first-of-its-kind indigenous room-temperature quantum computer that
will use photons for faster calculations?
(a) Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (b) Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
(c) Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi (d) Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
40. Central India’s first construction waste recycling plant is ready to roll in _________.
(a) Indore (b) Bhopal (c) Lucknow (d) Nagpur
41. How many registered societies are there at present in India?

(a) 5.5 lakh (b) 7 lakh (c) 8 lakh (d) 10 lakh
42. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the first-ever _________ Award at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
(a) National Heroes (b) Nation Builders (c) National Developers (d) National Creators
43. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stone of “Experience of Spirituality at Chitrakoot Ghat”
project in Chitrakoot under _________ scheme.
(a) Swadesh Darshan 1.0 (b) Swadesh Darshan 2.0
(c) Swadesh Darshan 4.0 (d) Swadesh Darshan 6.0

44. Which of the following countries recently became the 97th member to ratify the International Solar Alliance?
(a) Mexico (b) Panama (c) Brazil (d) Colombia
45. Recently, Sweden has officially become the _________ member of NATO after it completed the accession process
in Washington.
(a) 23rd (b) 26th (c) 29th (d) 32nd
46. Recently, NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of NPCI and Fonepay Payment Service
Ltd, _________ largest payment network, announced that Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for cross-border
transactions.
(a) Bhutan’s (b) Malaysia’s (c) Mauritius’s (d) Nepal’s
47. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched in year _________.
(a) 2015 (b) 2017 (c) 2019 (d) 2021
48. Who among the following recently became the first Indian to get a hat-trick in the Women’s Premier League?
(a) Radha Yadav (b) Sneh Rana (c) Deepti Sharma (d) Renuka Thakur
49. World’s largest literary festival-_________ by Sahitya Akademi was held from the 11th to 16th of March.
(a) ‘Sahityotsav’ (b) ‘Sahityasamagam’ (c) ‘Sahityamahatam’ (d) ‘Sahityasewa’
50. When is International Women’s Day celebrated annually?

(a) March 1 (b) March 8 (c) March 15 (d) March 22
51. Recently, Indian Prime Minister inaugurated the Land Port at the Integrated Check Post at Sabroom in _________.
(a) Tripura (b) Meghalaya (c) Manipur (d) Mizoram
52. Indian author and philanthropist recently nominated to Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu is ________.
(a) Chetan Bhagat (b) Aravind Adiga (c) Sudha Murty (d) Amish Tripathi
53. Name the Indian Election Commissioner who recently resigned.

(a) Arun Goel (b) Deepak Mathur (c) Vipul Kumar (d) Mahesh Meena
54. Which of the following countries currently holds the chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association until 2025?
(a) India (b) Sri Lanka (c) Australia (d) Indonesia
55. Who among the following recently became the first American woman to race solo around the world?
(a) Cole Brauer (b) Miranda Grauff (c) Steffanie Tylor (d) Antonia Marie
56. Recently, Micro, small and medium enterprises Minister Narayan Rane laid the foundation stone of the MSME-
Technology Centre in Maharashtra’s _________.
(a) Thane (b) Sindhudurg (c) Panvel (d) Mumbai
57. Recently, The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the _________ signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in
Mumbai for establishing a framework to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions.
(a) Bank of Singapore (b) Bhutan National Bank
(c) Bank Indonesia (d) Bank of Sri Lanka
58. Recently, Archaeologists have discovered the earliest dated cave paintings of South America in _________, dating
back 8,200 years.
(a) Chile (b) Peru (c) Brazil (d) Argentina
59. National Safety Day is observed every year on _________.

(a) March 1 (b) March 2 (c) March 4 (d) March 6

60. Who among the following recently became the first pace bowler in world to reach 700 Test wickets in cricket?
(a) Stuart Broad (b) James Anderson (c) Tim Southee (d) Pat Cummins
61. India’s first museum dedicated to cooperatives is coming up in _________.

(a) Chennai (b) Guntur (c) Prayagraj (d) Kozhikode
62. Recently, the famous silver filigree (Rupa Tarakasi) of the millennium _________ has received the geographical
indication (GI) tag.
(a) Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh (b) Cuttack in Odisha
(c) Gaya in Bihar (d) Nellore in Andhra Pradesh
63. According to Indian Education Minister India’s workforce now comprises _________ per cent women.
(a) 21 (b) 29 (c) 37 (d) 42
64. Which of the following Indian states has launched the India’s ‘first’ marine force to protect marine resources and
biodiversity?
(a) Kerala (b) Tamil Nadu (c) Andhra Pradesh (d) Gujarat
65. Recently, Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched the nationwide ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan:
Catch the Rain-2024’ campaign at a function in _________.
(a) Kolkata (b) Jodhpur (c) New Delhi (d) Jaipur
66. Who among the following was recently elected as Pakistan’s 14th President?
(a) Asif Ali Zardari (b) Mahmood Khan Achakzai
(c) Imran Khan (d) Nawaz Sharif
67. Who among the following recently made history as Pakistani Punjab’s first Sikh minister?
(a) Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora (b) Arjan Singh
(c) Sardar Udham Singh (d) Sardar Uttam Singh Ahuja
68. Name the leading cryptocurrency trading platform in India, that has reached a significant milestone by surpassing 2
crore registered users, becoming the first platform in the country.
(a) CoinSwitch (b) Suncrypto (c) WazirX (d) Coin Market Cap
69. In a first, ISRO will launch two rockets to complete a single mission, the country’s moon mission _________ that
will bring moon rocks and soil (regolith) back to Earth.
(a) Chandrayaan-2 (b) Chandrayaan-3 (c) Chandrayaan-4 (d) Chandrayaan-7
70. Which of the following states recently inaugurated India’s first indoor athletics centre along with the state-of-art
indoor aquatic center?
(a) Jharkhand (b) Odisha (c) Chhattisgarh (d) Madhya Pradesh

ANSWER KEY AND EXPLANATION
1. d Saudi Arabia is set to welcome the world’s first floating theme park, aptly named The Rig.
2. b Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured his second term as Pakistan’s prime minister
with 201 votes amid protests in parliament.
3. c Nicaragua has become the first Spanish-speaking nation to recognize the Indian Pharmacopeia through a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and Nicaragua.
4. c Uttar Pradesh has become the first state in India to issue five crore Ayushman cards under the Ayushman Bharat
Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
5. b France is on the verge of making history by enshrining the right to abortion in its Constitution, a move that would
mark a significant step forward in women’s reproductive rights globally.
6. b Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has commissioned its first indigenously manufactured electrolyser at the Green Hydrogen
Plant located at the A M Naik Heavy Engineering Complex in Hazira, Gujarat.
7. c India’s first underwater metro connecting Howrah to Kolkata via a tunnel underneath the Hooghly River is set to
start operations in June 2024.
8. a The Zoological Survey of India named the new marine species of head-shield sea slug Melanochlamys droupadi
after the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.
9. c The Bob Jones Award is the highest honor from the USGA (United States Golf Association), recognizing Tiger
Woods for his commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s traditions.
10. b Pilots turn ‘Iron-Man’ as they compete in world’s first jet suit race in Dubai.
11. c Nagpur takes lead with India’s first city-specific Zero Carbon plan for buildings.
12. c Union Minister of Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, launched
Project ODISERV in Sambalpur to prepare young graduates of Odisha for employment opportunities in the
financial services sector.
13. a NATO member Albania inaugurated a refurbished Soviet-era air base, the alliance’s first in the Western Balkan
region. The air base is named after the small town of Kucove, 85 kilometers (52 miles) south of the capital Tirana.
14. c India’s Axis Bank is set to tap the infrastructure bond market for fundraising.
15. c Observed on 5 March, the International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness plays a role in
deepening the global public’s understanding about how disarmament efforts contribute to enhancing peace and
security, preventing and ending armed conflicts, and curbing human suffering caused by weapons.
16. d The Indian Navy said it plans to build a base called INS Jatayu on Minicoy, the southernmost island in the
Lakshadweep archipelago.
17. d A sub-inspector named Suman Kumari has become the first woman sniper of the Border Security Force. She
recently completed eight-week sniper course at Central School of Weapons and Tactics (CSWT) in Indore and
achieved ‘instructor grade’.
18. b For years, the biannual NATO drill, which has been conducted in the Arctic extremes of northern Norway, was
called “Cold Response.”

19. b The project proposal titled “Study for Management of Sludge and Transformation into Biosolids” was approved by
the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), which operates under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and implements
the Centre’s Namami Gange programme.
20. d Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik released a coffee table book titled ‘FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup
2023’ brought out by Sportstar.
21. c In an important measure to combat cyber fraud, the government has launched the Chakshu portal and under the
Sanchar Sathi initiative.
22. c The NDRC is located close to the Ganga river in Patna, Bihar. It spans a 4,400 square metre plot on the premises of
Patna University near the Ganga river.
23. b Kawasaki unveils world’s first hydrogen motorcycle.
24. a Raksha mantri Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Naval War College building named ‘Chola’ at INS Mandvi at Verem
in Goa.
25. c The 5th edition of the India-Japan joint exercise ‘DHARMA GUARDIAN’ is being held in Rajasthan.
26. c Once India’s Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is commissioned, India will only be the second country after
Russia to have a commercial operating Fast Breeder Reactor. This underscores the significance of India’s
achievement in developing indigenous nuclear technology and capabilities.
27. c Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that Uttar Pradesh will soon become the first state in India to have fire
stations at the tehsil level, indicating an initiative to improve fire safety infrastructure.
28. a The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) has granted conditional approval for the merger
of Vistara with Air India along with Singapore International Airline’s 25.1% stake in the latter.
29. d The Chief Minister of Meghalaya Conrad K Sangma inaugurated the Chitmnag Chaiwat Multi-Purpose Water
Reservoir at Badri Rongdong South Garo Hills District in the presence of Education Minister Shri R.A.Sangma and
Shri Marcuise N Marak Minister incharge of Soil and Water Conservation.
30. d Puneri Paltan defeated Haryana Steelers to win their first ever Pro Kabaddi League title, as they managed to see off
a spirited Haryana side in a nail-biting low scoring thriller.
31. a Kerala launched India’s first government-backed OTT platform.
32. c The deepest metro station in the country is the Howrah metro station.
33. a A school in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is taking a revolutionary step in education with the introduction of AI
teacher, Iris. Developed in collaboration with Makerlabs Edutech, Iris is the first humanoid robot teacher in the
state and possibly the entire country.
34. c World’s first AI-powered social network aims to combat loneliness is Rili.ai.
35. d National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced the signing of a multi-year Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, for conducting joint research on
Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.
36. a Bajaj Auto will launch the world’s first CNG bike, ahead of the firm’s launch timeline.
37. b The cities mentioned in the announcement are Agartala, Agra, Bareilly, Belagavi, Bilaspur, Guwahati, Jabalpur,
Jaipur, Madurai, Muzzafarpur, New Town Kolkata, Panaji, Rajkot, Srinagar, T’thapuram, Thanjavur, Udaipur, &
Ujjain. Bhopal is not included in this list of cities receiving funding under the CITIIS 2.0 challenge.

38. a Bloomberg has announced the inclusion of Indian G-Securities in its Emerging Market (EM) Local Currency
Government Index and related indices from January 31 next year, a move that will bring down borrowing costs for
the government.
39. c The Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, is developing a first-of-its-kind indigenous room-temperature quantum
computer that will use photons for faster calculations.
40. d Central India’s first construction waste recycling plant ready to roll in Nagpur.
41. c There are more than 8 lakh registered societies in the country, with over 30 crore people connected with them.
42. d Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented the first-ever National Creators Award at Bharat Mandapam in New
Delhi. The ‘National Creators Award recognises the talent of the country’s creator community.
43. b PM Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of “Experience of Spirituality at Chitrakoot Ghat” project
in Chitrakoot under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme.
44. b Panama became the 97th member to ratify the International Solar Alliance, indicating its commitment to solar
energy initiatives globally.
45. d Sweden has officially become the 32nd member of NATO after it completed the accession process in Washington.
46. d NPCI International Payments Ltd (NIPL), the international arm of NPCI and Fonepay Payment Service Ltd,
Nepal’s largest payment network, announced that Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for cross-border transactions
between India and Nepal is live now.
47. d The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy. Its high-
resolution and high-sensitivity instruments allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Space
Telescope This enables investigations across many fields of astronomy and cosmology, such as observation of the
first stars and the formation of the first galaxies, and detailed atmospheric characterization of potentially habitable
exoplanets The Webb was launched on 25 December 2021 on an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana.
48. c Deepti Sharma became the first Indian to get a hat-trick in the Women’s Premier League, when she forced Delhi
Capitals on the backfoot, with three consecutive wickets over two overs, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
49. a World’s largest literary festival-’Sahityotsav’ by Sahitya Akademi was held from the 11th to 16th of March.
50. b International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8 every year to commemorate the social, economic, cultural,
and political achievements of women worldwide and to advocate for gender equality.
51. a The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Land Port at the Integrated Check Post at Sabroom in South Tripura
constructed at a cost of about 230 crore rupees.
52. c President Droupadi Murmu nominated author and philanthropist Sudha Murty to Rajya Sabha.
53. a Election Commissioner Arun Goel resigned, days before the expected announcement of the schedule for the 2024
Lok Sabha elections.
54. b Sri Lanka holds the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association until 2025. It also mentions that India holds
the vice-chair and will assume the chairmanship in 2025. Therefore, Sri Lanka is the current chair until 2025.
55. a Sailor Cole Brauer makes history as the first American woman to race solo around the world.
56. b Micro, small and medium enterprises Minister Narayan Rane will lay the foundation stone of the MSME-
Technology Centre in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg.

57. c The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Bank Indonesia (BI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in
Mumbai for establishing a framework to promote the use of local currencies viz. the Indian Rupee (INR) and the
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) for cross-border transactions.
58. d Archaeologists have discovered the earliest dated cave paintings in South America in Argentine Patagonia, dating
back 8,200 years.
59. c National Safety Day 2024 is observed every year on March 4.
60. b James Anderson was achieved this milestone during the fifth Test match against India in Dharamsala. While
Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne are renowned bowlers who have crossed the 700 Test wickets mark, James
Anderson stands out as the first pace bowler to achieve this feat.
61. d India’s first museum dedicated to cooperatives is coming up in Kozhikode.
62. b The famous silver filigree (Rupa Tarakasi) of the millennium Cuttack city in Odisha has received the geographical
indication (GI) tag
63. c According to Indian Education minister India’s workforce now comprises 37 per cent women.
64. b The Tamil Nadu government has launched the country’s ‘first’ marine force to protect marine resources and
biodiversity in the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay.
65. c Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will launch the nationwide ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the
Rain-2024’ campaign at a function in New Delhi.
66. a Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), secured the presidency for the second
time. He was the joint candidate of the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) during the election.
67. a Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, made history as Pakistani Punjab’s first Sikh minister.
68. a CoinSwitch, a leading cryptocurrency trading platform in India, has reached a significant milestone by surpassing 2
crore registered users, becoming the first platform in the country.
69. c In a first, ISRO will launch two rockets to complete a single mission, the country’s fourth moon mission
Chandrayaan-4 that will bring moon rocks and soil (regolith) back to Earth.
70. b Chief minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated India’s first indoor athletics centre along with the state-of-art indoor
aquatic center at Kalinga Stadium.

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1

4th March to 10th March, 2024

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 1

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 2

Cuttack city’s silver filigree receives geographical indication tag

Sudha Murty nominated to Rajya Sabha

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 3

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 4

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 5

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 6

Rajnath Singh inaugurates Naval War College ‘Chola’ in Goa

Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma inaugurates Chitmnag Chaiwat Multi-Purpose Water

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 7

Kerala launched India’s first government-backed OTT platform

Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman Campaign Event held in Bikaner, Rajasthan

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 8

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launches National Cooperative Database

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 9

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 10

World’s largest literary festival-’Sahityotsav’ held from March 11-16

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 11

The Rig – world’s first floating theme park

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 12

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 13

Singapore gives nod for Vistara-AI merger

Rili.ai: World’s first AI-powered social network aims to combat loneliness

Sweden officially becomes 32nd member of NATO

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 14

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 15

Axis Bank set to tap infrastructure bond route after 2 years

Patanjali institute gets second project under clean Ganga mission

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 16

Shri Sarbananda Sonowal dedicates first-ever Made-in-India ASTDS tug

Bajaj Auto launched world’s first CNG bike

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 17

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 18

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 19

India’s first indigenous Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 20

New link between water and planet formation revealed

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 21

Sports Personalities in News

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 22

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 23

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 24

Zoya Akhtar, Asma Khan Honored at ‘India-UK Achievers’ Awards in London

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 25

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 26

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 27

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 28

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 29

41. How many registered societies are there at present in India?

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 30

50. When is International Women’s Day celebrated annually?

53. Name the Indian Election Commissioner who recently resigned.

59. National Safety Day is observed every year on _________.

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 31

61. India’s first museum dedicated to cooperatives is coming up in _________.

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 32

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 33

23. b Kawasaki unveils world’s first hydrogen motorcycle.

31. a Kerala launched India’s first government-backed OTT platform.

A General Awareness Weekly, 2024 Page : 34