Current Affairs 19 March 2024

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 19 March 2024, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2024 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

MHI Approves Scheme to Promote the Manufacturing of E-Vehicles in India The Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI), Government of India(GoI) has approved a new E-Vehicle (Electric-Vehicle)scheme to promote the manufacturing of electric passenger cars in India.

• Under the scheme, the automobile company should set up manufacturing facilities in India with a minimum investment of Rs. 4,150 crore (USD 500 million), for manufacturing of e-4W(Electric four-wheelers).

Click here to view official notification
Key Highlights of Scheme:
i.Under the new scheme, foreign automobile companies will be allowed to import up to 8,000 EV passenger cars (e-4W) every year at a reduced import duty of 15% for a period of 5 years from approval of MHI, if they are subject to conditions of the scheme.
ii.The EVs imported to India should have a minimum CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight) price of USD 35,000.
Note:
As of 16th March 2024, customs duty ranging from 70 % to 100 % will be levied on the cars imported as completely built units (CBUs). It depends on engine size and Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value less or above USD 40,000.
About the Scheme: 
i.The manufacturing facility should be made operational within 3 years from the date of the approval by MHI.
ii.They should also achieve a minimum domestic value addition (DVA) of 25% in the vehicles manufactured within a 3-year period, and a minimum of 50% by the end of the 5th year.
iii.The total amount of import duty cut will be limited to the investment made or Rs 6,484 crore (equal to the incentive under the PLI scheme), whichever is lower.
iv.The company’s investment commitment must be backed up by a bank guarantee for the value of the reduced customs duty.
v.The Bank guarantee will be invoked in case of non-achievement of DVA and minimum investment criteria defined under the scheme guidelines.
Additional Info:
i.MHI has launched two electric vehicle manufacturers related Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemes such as the PLI Scheme for Automobile and Automotive Components (PLI-Auto) and the PLI Scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cell (PLI-ACC).
ii.PLI-Auto launched in 2021 provides incentives to industries for the promotion of domestic manufacturing and draws investments into the value chain of the automotive manufacturing industry.
iii.PLI-ACC incentivise manufacturers of advanced chemistry cells.

GoI Approves Transfer of Air India Building to Govt of Maharashtra for Rs 1,601 CroreGovernment of India has approved the transfer of the Air India building at Nariman Point in Mumbai (Maharashtra) from AI Assets Holding Company Ltd (AIAHL) to the Government of Maharashtra (GoM) for a cash consideration of Rs 1,601 crore.

• The Maharashtra govt has agreed to waive Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) dues amounting to Rs 298.42 crore. This would have been payable by AI Assets Holding Company Ltd to GoM.

Points to note:
i.The Maharashtra Cabinet approved the acquisition of  the 23-storey Air India building in November 2023.
ii.The building was constructed in 1974 on the land owned by the GoM. The building was designed by renowned American architect John Burgee.
iii.AIAHL is a state-owned entity overseeing Air India’s debt and assets following its acquisition by the Tata Group in January 2022.
iv.The acquisition offers GoM approximately 46,470 square meters of space near the state secretariat, established in 1955.
Additional info:
i.In 2018, Air India shifted its headquarters to New Delhi (Delhi) and decided to dispose of the Air India building as part of its asset monetisation plan.
ii.This transfer of air india building is a part fo Air India Divestment plan, where the government assumed the airline’s debt of around Rs 45,000 crore and non-core assets.

• The non-core assets encompassed around 111 properties including office buildings and house colonies.

iii.These assets were valued at Rs 14,718 crore as per a government statement released in 2021.

BEL Receives Orders Worth Rs 1,940.35 CroreBharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Navratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Defence(MoD) has secured orders totalling Rs 1940.35 crore.

• With this, BEL has secured cumulative orders worth Rs 32,716.33 crore in the fiscal year 2023-2024(FY24).

Details of the contract:
i.BEL has bagged a Rs 847 Crore contract with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to supply 14 cutting-edge Communication and Electronic Warfare (EW) sensors and systems. These state of the art systems will be installed on three Cadet Training Ships of the Indian Navy.

• This partnership will will involve the participation of several Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
• This is in line with the efforts towards achieving the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

ii.BEL has secured Rs 1,092.65 Crore worth orders which encompasses, supply of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) for T-70 & T-90 Tanks, Communication Systems for the Indian Navy, as well as other Spares and Services.
About Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL):
Chairman & Managing Director(Additional Charge)– Bhanu Prakash Srivastava
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established in– 1954

MoHFW launches National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming in Indiai.The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) launched a National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Snakebite Envenoming (NAP-SE) during a ceremony in New Delhi, Delhi envisaging a reduction in snakebite deaths by halve by 2030.
ii.It was launched by Apurva Chandra, Secretary, MoHFW.
iii.The Snakebite Helpline no (15400) was launched.
iv.The National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) Website was also launched.
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Union Minister– Mansukh Mandaviya (Rajya Sabha Gujarat)
Minister of State– Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar (Constituency- Dindori, Maharashtra) & S. P. Singh Baghel (Constituency- Agra, Uttar Pradesh)
>> Read Full News

UCPMP 2024: Department of Pharmaceuticals releases Guidelines to Curb Unethical Pharma Sector PracticesOn March 12, 2024, the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers (MoCF), notified Uniform Code for Pharmaceuticals Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024 to curb unethical pharmaceutical sector practices.

• It prohibits pharmaceutical companies from offering gifts and travel facilities to healthcare professionals or their family members.
• It also bans supply of free samples to those who are not qualified to prescribe such a product.
• The previous version was notified in December 2014.

All associations are requested to constitute an Ethics Committee for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (ECPMP), set up a dedicated UCPMP portal on their website, and take necessary steps towards implementation of this Code.
Highlights:
i.UCPMP-2024 will be applicable to medical device manufacturers too.
ii.It covers critical areas such as the conduct of Medical Representatives (MRs), the provision of brand reminders and free samples, Continuing Medical Education (‘CME’), and relationships with Healthcare Professionals (‘HCPs’).
iii.Information about drugs must be balanced, up-to-date, verifiable, must not mislead either directly or by implication.
iv.MR must not offer inducements or payments to gain interviews with healthcare professionals.
v.No pecuniary (relating to or consisting of money) advantage or benefit in kind may be offered, supplied, or promised to any person qualified to prescribe or supply drugs, by any pharmaceutical company or its agents.
vi.Companies cannot provide travel facilities to healthcare professionals for conferences unless they are speakers.
vii.Industry can fund research approved by bodies like Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) or Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), with healthcare professionals engaged as consultants, subject to tax regulations, and all expenses must adhere to tax laws.
viii.Free drug samples should only be given to qualified prescribers, with distribution details recorded.

• Samples are limited to three patients’ prescribed dosages for the required treatment course, not exceeding 12 packs per drug annually per healthcare practitioner.

ix.Pharmaceutical companies are prohibited from supplying samples of hypnotic, sedative, or tranquilizer drugs.
x.The word “new” cannot describe drugs available or promoted in India for over a year.
Brand names of other companies’ products cannot be used in comparisons without prior consent.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated ‘Nausena Bhawan’ the new Headquarters of Indian Navy
On 15th March 2024, Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD), has inaugurated ‘Nausena Bhawan’, the first independent headquarters building of the Indian Navy (IN), at Delhi Cantonment in New Delhi, Delhi.
Key People:
The event was attended by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).
About Nausena Bhawan:
i.Nausena Bhawan has three wings across four stories .The complex is equipped with a state-of-the-art integrated building management system and has achieved Green Rating IV under the integrated habitability assessment.
ii.Through an all-India competition, Nausena Bhawan’s architectural design was chosen.

MoD signed Rs 2,890 Cr Contract with HAL to Upgrade 25 Dornier Aircraft of Indian Navy
On 15th March 2024, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed a contract worth over Rs 2,890 crore with Bengaluru(Karnataka) headquartered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) of 25 Dornier Aircraft belonging to the Indian Navy (IN).

• The MLU for Dornier Aircraft includes an upgrade to incorporate state-of-the-art Avionics Systems and Primary Role sensors to enhance the operational capabilities of the Dornier fleet for missions like maritime surveillance, coastal patrol, electronic intelligence gathering, and maritime domain awareness.
• In addition, this upgrade will also enable Dorniers to carry out Secondary Roles of Search and Rescue, Medical/Casualty Evacuation and Communication Link.

Note: HAL is a Navratna Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSE) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Highlights of President Droupadi Murmu’s state visit to Mauritius from 11th to 13th March 2024Droupadi Murmu, President of India, was on a 3-day state visit to the Republic of Mauritius from 11th to 13th March 2024. This was her first state visit to Mauritius.

• Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister (PM) of Mauritius, received her at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Port Louis, Mauritius.

i.President Droupadi Murmu attended the 56th National Day celebrations of Mauritius as Chief Guest on 12th March 2024.  She became the 6th Indian President to attend the Mauritius National Day as Chief Guest since 2000.
ii.President of India Droupadi Murmu was conferred with the prestigious Honoris Causa Degree of Doctor of Civil Law by the University of Mauritius.
iii.President of India Droupadi Murmu and Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, PM of Mauritius, jointly e-inaugurated 14 Small Development India-Assisted Projects.
About Republic of Mauritius:
President– Prithvirajsing Roopun
Prime Minister– Pravind Jugnauth
Capital– Port Louis
Currency– Maurition Rupee
>> Read Full News

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

MoH&FW formed 16 Member Committee headed by V K Paul to Review AB-PMJAYThe Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has constituted a 16-member expert committee to review the implementation of the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

• The committee is headed by Vinod Kumar Paul, Member (Health) at the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog.

Committee Members:
The members of the committee include Apurva Chandra, Secretary, MoH&FW; Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Health Authority (NHA), Indu Bhushan, former CEO, NHA; Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, president of Nathealth and representatives from private entities such as Apollo Hospitals, and Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals, among others.
Note: The committee is required to submit its report within 45 days from the issue of the order of its constitution.
Committee’s Tasks:
i.The committee will be reviewing the roles of central and state governments in the implementation of AB-PMJAY.
ii.It will analyze the progress of the scheme in beneficiary identification, hospitalisation, equity in access to healthcare services, scheme awareness, cost savings, and private sector participation.
iii.The committee will examine different implementation models (trust, insurance, hybrid) to execute the programme.
iv.The group will assess the potential expansion and convergence of beneficiary-based and will figure out how the scheme can be combined with other health programs.
v.The team will evaluate package pricing, potential inclusion of diagnostics and drugs, and reducing out-of-pocket expenses.
vi.It will also review payment mechanisms, hospital grading, and incentives for quality care.
vii.Others: 

• To recommend measures to prevent misuse of the scheme.
• To link the AB-PMJAY scheme with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs).

About AB-PMJAY: 
i.PMJAY, the world’s largest health assurance scheme, aims to provide poor and vulnerable families with a health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.
ii.It was launched by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on  September 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
iii.Ayushman Bharat has two components, Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and PM-JAY.

ECI named Sheetal Devi as National Icon in PwD category
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has chosen Sheetal Devi, an Indian para-archer and 2023 Arjuna Awardee, as the National Icon in Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category.

• The announcement was made at an Exhibition Cricket which was organised by ECI in association with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in New Delhi, Delhi.
• The event was attended by Rajiv Kumar, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC); Gyanesh Kumar, Election Commissioner and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, Election Commissioner.
• On the occasion, ECI launched a dedicated Voter’s Guide for PwDs and Senior Citizen Electors.

KMBL appointed Jaideep Hansraj as Group President of One Kotak
Mumbai (Maharashtra) headquartered Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (KMBL) has appointed Jaideep Hansraj as Group President of One Kotak, with effect from 1st April 2024.

• Prior to the appointment, he had been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of Kotak Securities since 2019.
• Shripal Shah, President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Kotak Securities, will take over from Hansraj as the head of Kotak Securities.
• ‘One Kotak’ is the term used by KMBL for its internal framework for inter-group synergies and cross-selling opportunities.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

RIL acquires Paramount Global’s 13.01% stake in Viacom for Rs 4,286 croreReliance Industries Limited (RIL) acquired 13.01% of Paramount Global’s stake in Viacom18 Media Private Ltd for Rs 4,286 crore on a fully diluted basis.

• This acquisition has increased RIL’s share in the Paramount Global from 57.48% to 70.49%.
• Viacom18 is a material subsidiary of TV18 Broadcast Limited. Thus with this transaction, RIL has entered into a binding agreement with two subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
• Before this, RIL holds Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares of Viacom18.

Key Points:
i.Paramount pledges to keep licensing its content to Viacom18 post-deal, with its content already streamable on Reliance’s JioCinema platform.
ii.RIL’s stake consolidation in Viacom18 follows USD 8.5-billion media merger with Disney, positioning Reliance as the largest player in the media industry.

• This Joint venture (JV) to command approximately 85% of India’s on-demand streaming service audience and half of TV viewership.
• Note: In February 2024, Disney and Reliance merged their media operations in India, creating Rs 70,000 crore entity with Reliance holding 63.16%, committing Rs 11,500 crore upon closure. This JV will be led by Nita Ambani.

iii.The RIL-Disney Merger slated for completion by March 2025, securing exclusive digital and broadcast rights to major sporting events including Indian Premier League (IPL), International Cricket Council (ICC) events, domestic cricket, Fédération Internationale De Football Association (FIFA) World Cup, Premier League, and Wimbledon.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Agray and Akshay, 5th and 6th ships of ASW SWC Project LaunchedOn March 13, 2024, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) launched ‘Agray’ and ‘Akshay’, the 5th and 6th ships of 8 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Shallow Water Craft (SWC) Project for Indian Navy (IN) in Kolkata, West Bengal.

• The launch ceremony was presided over by Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari , Chief of the Air staff (CAS) while the ships were launched by the Mrs Neeta Chaudhari, President Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA).

Background:
i.The contract for the eight ASW SWC ships were signed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and GRSE, Kolkata (WB) on 29th April 2019.
ii.These Arnala class ships will replace the in-service Abhay class ASW Corvettes of the Indian Navy.
About ‘Agray’ and ‘Akshay’:
i.They are designed to undertake anti-submarine operations in coastal waters, Low Intensity Maritime Operations (LIMO) and Mine Laying Operations.
ii.The ASW SWC ships are 77.6 meter long & 105 m wide with a displacement of 900 tons and endurance of over 1800 Nautical Miles(NM).
iii.Arnala, Androth, Anjadip and Amini were the four ships of eight ASW SWC.
iv.These ships have over 80% indigenous content, boosting domestic defence production and employment, and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ in shipbuilding.
Additional info:
During the past year, 3 indigenously built warships/ submarine for Indian Navy have been delivered and a total of 9 warships were launched.

SpaceX’s Falcon9 Launches MethaneSAT to Track Methane Emissions GloballySpace Exploration Technologies Corporation’s (SpaceX) launched the MethaneSAT satellite into orbit aboard a Falcon9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, The United States of America(USA) on 3rd March 2024.

• This will monitor the methane emissions from oil and gas companies across the world.

Note: MethaneSAT was launched as a part of  Transporter-10, SpaceX’s 10th dedicated smallsat rideshare program mission. The mission carried 53 spacecraft, including CubeSats, MicroSats, and a hosted payload.
About MethaneSAT: 
i.MethaneSAT is an imaging satellite operated by MethaneSAT LLC,  a subsidiary of the Environmental Defense Fund(EDF) and New Zealand Space Agency.  This is the first satellite by a nonprofit environmental group.
ii.The satellite will circle Earth 15 times a day from its orbit 580 kilometres above ground and monitor the methane leaks from 300 targets across the globe.
Partnership:
MethaneSAT was developed at a cost of around USD 88 million by EDF in partnership with the New Zealand Space Agency, Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, BAE Systems (formerly Ball Aerospace), IO Aerospace, Blue Canyon Technologies, and Google.
Features: 
i.The satellite is equipped with a high-resolution infrared sensor and a spectrometer.
ii.The 200 km by 200 km wide camera view of MethaneSAT will allow it to identify larger emitters so-called “super emitters”.
iii.The data collected using the satellite will be analysed using cloud-computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology developed by Google.
Note: 
i.MethaneSAT will help countries and industries meet their methane emission reduction targets.
ii.More than 150 countries have signed the Global Methane Pledge, a voluntary framework that aims to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030, compared to 2020 levels.
iii.The pledge was launched in 2021 by the USA and the European Union (EU) at  26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26).
About Methane:
i.Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas (GHG), and its presence in the atmosphere affects the earth’s temperature and climate system.
ii.Methane emissions come from oil and natural gas production, agricultural waste, and landfills.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Vaccination Day 2024 – March 16National Vaccination Day or National Immunisation Day is annually observed across India on 16 March to raise awareness of the significance and value of vaccination in human health and highlight the crucial role vaccines play in preventing diseases and protecting public health.

• The Day recognises the hard work of doctors and frontline healthcare workers to ensure the vaccination of every child.
• The Day also highlights the important role of full vaccination in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).

The 2024 theme of National Vaccination Day is, “Vaccines Work for All.”
Note: The theme underscores the crucial role vaccinations play in safeguarding lives from preventable diseases.
>> Read Full News

Ordnance Factories Day 2024 – March 18Ordnance Factory Day is annually observed across India by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) on 18 March to commemorate the establishment of the 1st Ordnance Factory in India at Cossipore near Kolkata, West Bengal in 1801.

• This Day is dedicated to recognise and honour the contribution of the Indian Ordnance Factories (IOFs) in strengthening India’s defence capabilities.

i.IOFs is a giant industrial setup functioning under the Department of Defence Production(DDP) of the Ministry of Defence(MoD). It is the oldest and largest industrial setup under the DDP.
ii.IOFs is a conglomerate of 41 Factories, 9 Training Institutes, 3 Regional Marketing Centres and 4 Regional Controller of Safety.
About Ordnance Factory Board (OFB):
Director General Ordnance– Sudhir Srivastava
Headquarters– Kolkata, West Bengal
Established in- 1979
>> Read Full News

Global Recycling Day 2024 – March 18Global Recycling Day is annually observed across the globe on 18th March to raise awareness of the importance of recycling and encourage people to take action to reduce waste and protect the environment.

• 18th March 2024 marks the observance of the 7th Global Recycling Day.
• The theme of Global Recycling Day 2024 is “RecyclingHeroes”. 

Background:
i.The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), the international trade association for the recycling sector, established Global Recycling Day to promote the sustainable growth of recycling.
ii.The day is promoted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Recycling Foundation.
iii.The 1st ever Global Recycling Day was observed on 18th March 2018, which marked the 70th anniversary of BIR.  BIR was founded on 18th March 1948
About the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR): 
President- Susie Burrage
Headquarters- Brussels, Belgium
Establishment- 1948
>> Read Full News

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