Current Affairs 20 March 2024

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 20 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.

Our Current Affairs March 2024 events will help you to get more marks in Banking, Insurance, SSC, Railways, UPSC, CLAT and all State Government Exams. Also, try our Latest Current Affairs Quiz and Monthly Current Affairs 2023 PDF which will be a pedestrian to crack your exams.

Read Current Affairs in CareersCloud APP, Course Name – Learn Current Affairs – Free Course – Click Here to Download the APP

We are Hiring – Subject Matter Expert | CA Video Creator | Content Developers(Pondicherry)

Click here for Current Affairs 19 March 2024

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

PM Addressed ‘India’s Techade: Chips for Viksit Bharat’; laid Foundation Stones for 3 Semiconductor Facilities On 13th March 2024, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually addressed ‘India’s Techade: Chips for Viksit Bharat’ and laid the foundation stone for setting up 3 semiconductor projects worth about Rs 1.25 lakh crore.
The 3 projects are,

• Semiconductor fabrication facility at the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR), Dholera, Gujarat;
• Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility in Sanand, Gujarat; and
• OSAT facility in Morigaon, Assam.

Note: Dholera Semiconductor Fabrication Facility will be the 1st Artificial Intelligence (AI)- enabled commercial semiconductor fab in India.
>> Read Full News

PM Narendra Modi unveils ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice 2024: Launches Projects over Rs 6,400 cr in KashmirThe Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi visited Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) to address the Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir program at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar.

• He unveiled Dekho Apna Desh, People’s Choice 2024, the first-ever nationwide tourist destination poll by the  Ministry of Tourism to identify the pulse of the nation on tourism.
• He also launched the Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore.

About Jammu & Kashmir (J&K):
Lieutenant Governor– Manoj Sinha
Wildlife Sanctuaries– Limber Wildlife Sanctuary, Nandini Wildlife Sanctuary
Airports– Srinagar International Airport (Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport), Jammu airport Satwari Airport
>> Read Full News

Integrated Tri-Service Firepower and Manoeuvre Exercise ‘Bharat Shakti’ held in RajasthanA 50-minute-long synergised demonstration of indigenous defence capabilities in the form of a Tri-Services Live Fire and Manoeuvre Exercise ‘Bharat Shakti’ was held at Pokhran during PM Modi’s visit to Rajasthan on 12th March 2024.
Key People:
i.The event was witnessed by Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi; Union Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministry of Defence (MoD); Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma; General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS); Admiral Radhakrishnan Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), and Vivek Ram Chaudhari, Chief of the Air Staff.
ii.Delegates from around 30 nations were present at the event.
About Bharat Shakti:
i.‘Bharat Shakti’ exercise displayed an array of indigenous weapon systems and platforms to showcase India’s unprecedented excellence in global military equipment production.
ii.The exercise demonstrated the firepower capabilities of indigenous weapons and the operational readiness of all three defence forces namely Indian Army (IA), Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF).
iii.The exercise also simulated realistic, synergised, multi-domain operations displaying integrated operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces to counter threats across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains.
Showcased weapons:
IA:
IA was represented by T-90 (IM) Tanks, Main Battle Tank Arjun, K-9 Vajra, Dhanush (howitzer) and Sarang Gun Systems, Akash Weapons System, Logistics Drones, Robotic Mules, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) and an array of unmanned aerial vehicles along with Pinaka rocket system.
IN:
IN showcased Naval Anti-Ship Missiles, Autonomous Cargo Carrying Aerial Vehicles, and Expendable Aerial Target to highlight maritime strength and technological sophistication.
IAF:
Indian Air Force showcased the indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Light Utility Helicopters, Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) Mk-IV Dhruv and Prachand helicopters. demonstrating air superiority and versatility in air operations.

PM Modi Inaugurates Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur , Maharashtra; Launched Various Projects Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur, Maharashtra. He also dedicated to the nation 506 railway projects including  a wagon repair workshop at Badnera and Vande Bharat chair car maintenance-cum-workshop depot in Pune.

• The projects were launched during PM Modi’s Gujarat visit on 12th March 2024.

About Marathwada Rail coach Factory: 
i.The Marathwada Rail Coach Factory will be pivotal in supplying Vande Bharat Train sets, comprising a 16-car formation, to the Indian Railways in coordination with its technology partners.
ii.Equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and plants, the factory is poised to revolutionise rail manufacturing in the region.
iii.The factory will provide direct employment to around 1,300 persons and indirect employment to more than 10,000 persons in terms of various outsourced activities.
iv.The first phase of the project has come up at a cost of ₹ 675.79 crore and is spread across 110 acres. In Phase 1, 120 coaches of Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured at the factory.
Points to note: 
The wagon repair workshop at Badnera will cater to two major freight depots of the Central Railway in Bhusaval and Nagpur and enhance the availability of wagons.
Others Highlgihts: 
i.The PM also inaugurated 5 Jan Aushadi Kendras (JAKs), offering affordable and quality generic medicines.

• These Kendras are located at strategic points including the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) (Mumbai), Manmad (Nashik), Pimpri, Solapur, and Nagbhir (Chandrapur).

ii.PM Modi inaugurated 4 rail coach restaurants at Nashik Road, Akola, and Mumbai’s Andheri and Borivali stations.
iii.He also dedicated to the nation, 150 One Station One Product (OSOP) stalls; 170 Electronic Interlocking Systems; 130 solar panels; 18 new lines/ doubling of lines/gauge conversion across Maharashtra; 12 goods sheds; 7 automatic signalling systems; 4 Gati Shakti cargo terminals; and 3 electrification projects.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Launched ‘ETHANOL 100’, an automotive fuelOn 15th March 2024, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas(MoPNG), launched Ethanol 100 (E100 Fuel), a cleaner greener automotive fuel alternative to gasoline.

• E100 was launched at Indian Oil Corporation Limited(IOCL)’s Retail Outlet Irwin Road Service Station, New Delhi, Delhi.

Key People: Pankaj Jain, Secretary, MoPNG and Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman of IOCL along with senior officials from MoPNG were present during the event.
Key Points:
i.Following the launch, E100 will be made available at selected 183 retail outlets across five states – Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh(UP), Delhi and Tamil Nadu(TN).
ii.E100 fuel is expected to transform the transportation sector and reduce fossil fuel dependency.
iii.This is in line with the efforts of the government to reduce import dependency, conserve foreign exchange, and boost the agriculture sector.
About Ethanol 100: 
i.Ethanol 100 is a cleaner alternative fuel to gasoline emitting fewer greenhouse gases and pollutants, which helps to battle climate change and improve air quality.
ii.The high-octane rating (between 100-105) of ethanol 100 makes it an ideal fuel for high-performance engines. This ensure improved efficiency and power output with minimum impact on the environment.
iii.This can be used in a range of vehicles, including flex-fuel vehicles (FFVs) designed to run on gasoline, ethanol, or any blend of ethanol and petrol.
Ethanol blended fuel:
i.Indian government rolled out 20% ethanol blended fuel(E20) in 2023 and increased the availability to around 12000 outlets.
ii.The government is ambitious of attaining 20% ethanol-blended petrol by 2024-25 and 30% ethanol blended petrol by 2029-30.
iii.The ethanol lending initiatives have cut down carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions equivalent to planting 1.75 crore trees and saved Rs 85,000 crore worth of foreign exchange in the past 10 years.
Note:  Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have introduced various blends of Ethanol with petrol across India. OMCs have signed long-term offtake agreements with 131 dedicated ethanol plants which will add an annual production design capacity of 745 crore litres.
About Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas(MoPNG): 
Union Minister– Hardeep Singh Puri (Rajya Sabha- Uttar Pradesh)
Minister of State (MoS)– Rameswar Teli (Constituency- Dibrugarh, Assam)

MIB Notifies Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 to Improve Film Certification ProcessThe Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has notified the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024 to improve the process of certification of films for public exhibition. This replaces the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules of 1983

• The rules were notified following the introduction of the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act, 2023, which amended the Cinematograph Act, 1952.

Note: The rules were notified in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952 (37 of 1952).
About Cinematograph (Certification) Rules, 2024:
i.Aim: To streamline and modernise the film certification process and to keep up with the new technologies and advancements in the film industry.
ii.The new rules were drafted by MIB and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) following extensive consultations with filmmakers, cinema owners, disability rights organisations, non-government organisations(NGOs), film industry bodies, the general public, and other stakeholders.

• This will ensure an all-encompassing and all-inclusive approach.

iii.The new rule was drafted in line with the adoption of an online certification process, which will ensure transparency, efficiency and ease of doing business for the film sector.
Key Aspects:
i.The new rules have reduced the processing time for the certification of a film and adopted a complete digital process to eliminate all transactional time.
ii.The new rules also provide perpetual validity of CBFC certificates, instead of the previous 10-year period
iii.Only Unrestricted Public Exhibition category films can be shown on television. Therefore film edited for Television broadcast will be recertified.
iv.The new rules have sub-divided the existing UA category into three age-based categories: 7 years (UA 7+), 13 years (UA 13+), and 16 years (UA 16+), instead of 12 years.
v.It is stated that the Movies/feature films should have accessibility features for certification to make it inclusive for disabled persons.
Representation of women in the board:
To ensure representation for women, it is stipulated that one-third of the members of the CBFC Board & CBFC’s Advisory Panels shall be women and preferably half shall be women.

Department of Fisheries Inaugurates Integration of KCC Fisheries Scheme onto JanSamarth Portal The Department of Fisheries successfully inaugurated the integration of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Fisheries scheme onto the JanSamarth Portal, to transform access to credit facilities for fishers, fish farmers, and stakeholders nationwide.
Note: The Department of Fisheries is one of the 2 Departments under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D).
About the integration of the KCC Fisheries Scheme:
i.Integrating the KCC Fisheries scheme onto the JanSamarth Portal facilitates seamless access to institutional credit facilities.
ii.This initiative promotes the inclusive growth of the fisheries industry by breaking down obstacles to financial access.
iii.It also signifies a monumental leap for fish farmers and stakeholders in the fisheries sector.

• Objective: Streamline processes, digitise workflows, and provide efficient loan management services, enhancing transparency and accessibility.

Impact of Integration:
i.Marks a new era of efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity in the fisheries sector.
ii.Enables easy application and management of KCC loans online.
iii.Facilitates greater financial inclusion for sustainable fisheries development.
About Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying:
Union Minister– Parshottam Rupala (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Ministers of State– Sanjeev Kumar Balyan (Constituency: Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh); L. Murugan (Rajya Sabha – Madhya Pradesh)

DoF&PD Signed MoUs with NIESBUD & SIDBI to Transform Fair Price Shops Across India The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoF&PD) have signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to revolutionise Fair Price Shops (FPSs) across India.

• This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s (GoI) vision of Kaushal Bharat (Skill India), Viksit Bharat (Developed India), and digitally empowered India.

Note: The DoF&PD is under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Details of MoU with NIESBUD:
On 14th March 2024, DoF&PD signed a MoU with NIESBUD to address the  skill development challenges faced by FPS dealers.

• The partnership will focus on digital literacy, financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills and explore new business opportunities.

Signatories: The MoU was signed by Ravi Shankar, Director of DoFPD; and Dr. Poonam Sinha, Director of NIESBUD in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, MSDE at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
Benefits:
i.Improving digital and entrepreneurial capabilities enables FPS owners to expand their services, enhance customer satisfaction, and pursue additional sources of income.
ii.It also enables effective use of technology, streamlining operations, and strengthening customer orientation practices.
Details of MoU with SIDBI:
On 15th March 2024, DoF&PD signed a MoU with SIDBI to offer simple-to-use digital solutions for working capital assistance to FPSs through SIDBI’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) Sahay application.

• This will also enable FPSs to operate on a credit model for Non-Public Distribution System (PDS) commodities.

Signatories: the MoU was signed by Rajendra Kumar, Joint Secretary, DoF&PD and Ravi Tyagi, Chief General Manager, SIDBI in the presence of Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary, DoF&PD at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, Delhi.
Key Points:
i.These MoUs will play a major role in the capacity building and investment opportunities for FPSs.
ii.These will also elevate the employability and enhance the livelihoods of FPS dealers.
iii.The Government of India aims to introduce a pilot programs to transform FPSs into nutrition hubs which will leverage technology and offer a diverse range of nutrient-rich non-PDS commodities to the public.
About Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution:
Union Minister– Piyush Goyal (Rajya Sabha- Maharashtra)
Ministers of State– Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Constituency: Buxar, Bihar); Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti (Constituency: Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh)

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

INS Tir participates in Exercise Cutlass Express 24 in SeychellesThe Indian Naval Ship (INS) Tir representing the First Training Squadron (1TS), joined Exercise Cutlass Express – 24 (CE – 24) at Port Victoria, Seychelles from February 26 to March 08, 2024. This multinational exercise aimed to enhance maritime cooperation and security.

• Apart from Indian Navy (IN), it saw participation from 16 friendly foreign nations.
• IN has been participating in the exercise since 2019.

Key Points:
i.The exercise commenced with the President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan, along with officials from India, the United States (US), and African countries.
ii.The exercise focused on Maritime Interdiction Operations, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS )procedures, and joint diving operations.
iii.INS Tir’s VBSS team demonstrated boarding procedures on the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) ship LE Vigilant. Joint diving operations were conducted with US and Seychelles divers.
iv.INSTir conducted joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance with SCGfrom March 1 to March 3, 2024.

• It also engaged in professional exchanges, cross-deck visits, and friendly sports events with Seychelles Defence Forces. Additionally, the Indian Naval band’s performance at the National Museum in Port Victoria.

v.Courtesy calls were made by Senior Officer, 1TS, Capt Anshul Kishore to Designated Minister Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Brig Michael Rosette, Chief of Defence Forces – Seychelles Defence Force and Shri Kartik Pande, High Commissioner of India to Seychelles.
vi.INS Tir’s deployment underscores India’s commitment to regional maritime security and cooperation through joint training initiatives.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI Reconstitutes Committee of Advisors of the Abhyudaya Cooperative Bank The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has reconstituted a three-member Committee of Advisors of Abhyudaya Cooperative Bank Limited by inducting Devendara Kumar in place of Mahendra Chhajed after his resignation.
Committee of Advisors:
The ‘Committee of Advisors’ comprises of Devendra Kumar (former Chief-General Manager, State Bank of India (SBI)), Venkatesh Hegde (former General Manager, SBI), and Suhas Gokhale (former Managing Director, COSMOS Co-operative Bank).
Background:
i.On November 2023, RBI replaced the Board of Directors of Abhyudaya Cooperative Bank Limited for a period of 12 months and appointed Satya Prakash Pathak (former Chief General Manager of SBI) as ‘Administrator’ to manage the bank.
ii.A ‘Committee of Advisors’ was also constituted to assist the Administrator to discharge his duties.
iii.The action against the cooperative bank was demanded due to certain material concerns, emanating from poor governance standards observed in the bank.
iv.Though it had not placed any business limitations, the lender was allowed to continue to carry on its normal banking activities under the guidance of Administrator.
About Abhyudaya Cooperative Bank  
Chief Executive Officer –  Premnath S. Salian
Headquarters –  Mumbai, Maharashtra
Establishment –  1965
Tagline –  ‘Prosperity through Co-operation’

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Fintech startup Perfios Became India’s Second Unicorn of 2024
Fintech-focussed Software as a Service (SaaS) firm Perfios has become the second unicorn of 2024 after it secured a USD 80 million fund from Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG).

• Perfios’s software products and platforms help its Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) clients simplify and scale up various processes like underwriting, monitoring, and onboarding.
• TVG is a late-stage venture and growth investment arm of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
• AI startup Krutrim was India’s first Unicorn of 2024.

Points to Note:
i.SaaS allows users to connect to and use cloud-based apps over the Internet.
ii.A unicorn is a term used to describe privately owned startups or companies worth more than USD 1 billion.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Journalists Greeshma and Ritika were Awarded the Chameli Devi Jain Award for 2024 On March 15, 2024, the Media Foundation jointly awarded the Chameli Devi Jain Award 2024 for Outstanding Woman MediaPerson of the Year to the journalists Greeshma Kuthar and Ritika Chopra. The award presentation took place at CD Deshmukh Hall in the India International Centre, New Delhi, Delhi.
Jury Members:
The award winners were selected by the jury members comprising of :
The senior journalist and columnist Radhika Ramaseshan (Chair), award winning journalist and author Mariyam Malvi, and Richard Mahapatra (Managing Editor at Down to Earth).
About the winners
i.Greeshma Kuthar:

• Greeshma Kuthar is an Independent journalist
• She was awarded for engaging in a deeply researched, long-form investigation reporting from conflict areas like Manipur.
• Her coverage has a strong focus on social and cultural impact of national political narratives on Indian marginalised communities.

ii.Ritika Chopra:

• Chief of National Bureau (Govt) and National Education Editor at the Indian Express, Delhi.
• Awarded for her in-depth investigative stories in the field of education and government policy.

About the award
i.The award was named after Chameli Devi Jain, a freedom fighter and community reformer, prisoned during Indian Independence movement.
ii.The award was set up by the Media Foundation in 1980. And the first award was presented in 1982.
iii.The award is presented annually to those practicing journalism in fields like social development, politics, gender, justice, human rights, health, conflict and consumer values.
Note: In 2023 the Chameli Devi Jain Award  for Outstanding Woman MediaPerson was received by Dhanya Rajendran, co-founder and Editor-in-chief of the News Minute.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Ashwani Kumar Elected as New President of the Federation of Indian Export OrganisationsOn 11th March 2024, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) under the Ministry of Commerce has unanimously elected Ashwani Kumar, as its New President.

• Ashwani Kumar is a Partner at Jalandhar (Punjab) based Victor Forging, a manufacturers of Hand tools.
• He will succeed Dr A Sakthivel, who successfully completed his tenure as President of FIEO.

About Ashwani Kumar:
i.Ashwani Kumar is an entrepreneur in the engineering sector.
ii.He has previously served as the Regional Chairman (Northern Region) of FIEO and Member of the Managing Committee of FIEO.
iii.He has also served as the Member of the Governing Body of National Institute of Technology(NIT), Jalandhar; Convenor of Hand Tools Panel (Pan India) and Deputy Regional Chairman (Northern Region), Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) India.
About Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO):
FIEO is an apex body of Government of India recognised as a Export Promotion Councils, Commodity Boards and Development Authorities in India.
It was established in 1965 by the Ministry of Commerce.
President– Ashwani Kumar
Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi

Kishor Makwana Assumes Charge as Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes
Kishor Makwana assumed the charge of Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) in New Delhi, Delhi. Luv Kush Kumar and Vaddepalli Ramchander also assumed charge as members of the NCSC.
The post of NCSC Chairman was vacant after Vijay Sampla resigned on 18th July 2023

• Arun Halder was vice chairman during the resignation and he later assumed charge as acting chairman and held the position till February 18 2024.
• The tenure of the Commission is three years and this is the 7th Commission.
• Kishor Makwana, a journalist and columnist, has authored more than 33 books, including ‘Samajik Kranti na Mahanayak Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’ (great hero of the social revolution – Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar), his notable works include ‘Common Man Narendra Modi’.
• The NCSC is a constitutional body set up under Article 338 of the Constitution of India.

ENVIRONMENT

Indopria Angulata: New Species of Parasitoid Wasp Discovered
‘Indopria Angulata’, a new species of parasitoid wasp, was discovered by a group of scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, West Bengal.

• The discovery of the species was published in the scientific journal ‘Biologia’.
• Indopria is distinguished by its distinct characteristics, which include prolonged marginal fringes, paddle-shaped forewings with angular frenal gutters, and a semi-abrupt 3-segmented clava.
• The new genus ‘Indopria’ is classified as a member of the tribe Diapriini of the subfamily ‘Diapriinae’.
• In the name Indopria, ‘Indo’ represents India, and ‘pria’ from Latin means ‘little wasp.’
• The species name ‘angulata’ (Latin) refers to the specialised characteristic of its wings.
• The species was identified through an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological data and high genetic divergence within the tribe.

SPORTS

Royal Challengers Bangalore Defeats Delhi Capitals in WPL 2024 FinalRoyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), led by Smriti Mandhana, won the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 title by defeating Delhi Capitals (DC), led by Meghann(Meg) Lanning (Australia), in the final held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Delhi.

• The second edition of the WPL was held from 23rd February to 17th March 2024.
• It marks RCB’s first WPL title.

Venues: 
i.M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
ii.Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, Delhi.
Awards & Prize Money:
RCB won Rs 6 crore, while DC was awarded Rs 3 crore as the runner-up.

Player of the Final: Sophie Molineux (RCB) (Australia)
Teams: 
Tata WPL 2024 witnessed the participation of five teams including Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Gujarat Giants, UP Warriorz, and Delhi Capitals.
WPL 2024 Player Auction:

• Kashvee Gautam (India) became the most expensive uncapped player in the WPL Auction 2024 as the Gujarat Giants bought her for Rs 2 crore, later she was ruled out of the tournament due to injury reasons.
• Australian allrounder Annabel Sutherland was the most expensive overseas player with the highest bid at Rs 2 crore by Delhi Capitals.

About TATA WPL:
i.The Women’s Premier League (WPL) is a women’s Twenty20 cricket franchise league in India.
ii.The first edition of the WPL was held in 2023 and it was won by Mumbai Indians by defeating Delhi Capitals in the finals.
Note: From 2008 (1st edition) till 2023 (16th edition), the men’s squad of RCB has not won the Indian Premier League (IPL).

OBITUARY

Former Navy Chief Admiral L Ramdas Passes Away Former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Laxminarayana Ramdas, passed away at the age of 90 in Secunderabad Military Hospital, Telangana. He was born on 5th September 1933 in Matunga, Bombay(now Mumbai, Maharashtra).
About L Ramdas:
Indian Navy Career: 
i.He joined the Indian Navy in 1953. He played a major role in the 1971 India-Pakistan war as the commander of the Indian Naval Ship (INS) Beas, a part of the Eastern Fleet.
ii.He served as the Indian Naval Attache in Bonn, West Germany from 1973 to 1976.
iii.He also served as the Fleet Commander of the Eastern Naval Command and commanded both the Southern and Eastern Naval Commands.
iv.He served as the 13th CNS of the Indian Navy from December 1990 to September 1993.
v.Prior to his retirement in 1993, he served as the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee.
Retirement life: 
i.In 1994, He partnered with 24 like-minded Indians and Pakistanis in Lahore to open a public dialogue for reconciliation and peace. This led to the formation of Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy(PIPPFD).

• He served as the vice-chair of the India branch of PIPPFD and became chair in 1996.

ii.He was also actively involved in the Indo-Pakistan Soldiers Initiative for Peace (IPSI), and the anti-nuclear peace movement Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace (CNDP).
Awards:
i.He was honoured with Vir Chakra (1971), the third-highest gallantry award, for his role in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war
ii.He received the Ramon Magsasay Award for Peace and International Understanding in 2004 for his efforts to build peace between Pakistan and India. He shared the award with Ibn Abdur Rehman, founding chair of the Pakistan branch of PIPPFD.

STATE NEWS

REC signs MoU with Rajasthan to Finance Power & Infrastructure Projects Worth Rs.20,000 Cr
REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Rajasthan to finance power & infrastructure projects worth Rs. 20,000 crore per annum for a period of six years, extending up to 2030.

• Under the MoU, REC provides loans to various projects in Rajasthan, including power projects, metros, roads & highways, airports, IT infrastructure, oil refineries, ports & waterways, health sector, tourism infrastructure, agriculture, and other infrastructure projects.
• The MoU was signed in the presence of Bhajan Lal Sharma, Rajasthan Chief Minister; Amrit Lal Meena, Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Government of India; Vivek Kumar Dewangan, Chief Managing Director (CMD), REC, and others.
• In addition to the MoU with REC, the Rajasthan government also signed several agreements worth Rs 1.6 lakh crore with a number of central public sector Undertakings (CPSUs) under the power ministry and the coal ministry.

*******

List of Less Important News – Click Here

Current Affairs Today (AffairsCloud Today)