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Current Affairs Today – 26th March 2021

NEWS AT A GLANCE

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Education Minister unveiled more than one hundred comic books

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has launched more than one hundred comic books created by teachers and students of CBSE schools and curated by NCERT.
The comics are aligned with topics of NCERT textbooks and have specific storyline and characters.
It has been created in a linear progression which will help to understand basic concepts and decrease the learning gaps.
These comics can be accessed online on DIKSHA web portal and DIKSHA app.
Mr Pokhriyal noted that this innovative initiative will help in increasing the cultural and social sensitivity in our children while imparting knowledge.

Govt to roll out GPS based toll collection system

The government is working to roll out a GPS based toll collection system and introducing E-Highway from Delhi to Mumbai in the upcoming months.
This was stated by the Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadakari in the Lok Sabha.
Gadkari said that toll collection through the fast tag has reached to 93 per cent across the country which has resulted in 10 thousand crore more toll collection in comparison to previous year.
He said use of fast tag has also reduced the waiting time on the toll booths.
He added that introduction of GPS based toll collection system will facilitate smooth movement of traffic, bring transparency and remove the old mechanism of toll collection system.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the thrust in road building will provide jobs and sustainable growth of the economy.
Addressing a National Conference on Road Infrastructure in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari said that around 5 per cent of the goods and nearly 90 percent of passenger traffic use the road network to commute.
He said, the road infrastructure has a direct and indirect effect on sustainability of growth and overall development of the country.
The Minister also stressed on the need to move towards public transport on electricity and exhorted the industry to come forward in this direction.

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Director General of UNESCO holds virtual meeting

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank held a virtual meeting with Director General UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay in New Delhi.
They discussed key issues of mutual importance including National Education Policy, India’s response to COVID Pandemic especially in the education sector.
Mr Pokhriyal said, Government has ensured that education reaches even the last child in the remotest part of the country.
He also spoke about Manodarpan, the government’s initiative to provide online psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
The Minister also mentioned that competitive entrance exams for almost 23 lakh students, the largest entrance examinations in the world were conducted successfully and safely during the covid pandemic.

More than 68 lakh 33 thousand beneficiaries benefited maternity benefits in 2020AIR

More than 68 lakh 33 thousand beneficiaries were provided maternity benefits in 2020 under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, PMMVY.
Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The government implements the scheme with the objectives of providing partial compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentive so that the woman can take adequate rest before and after delivery of the first child.
Under the scheme, the government also provides cash incentive to improve health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.

Pradhan Mantri Matri Vandana Yojana:

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is a maternity benefit program run by the government of India.
It was introduced in 2017 and is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
It is a conditional cash transfer scheme for pregnant and lactating women of 19 years of age or above for the first live birth.
Launch year: 2010
Status: Merged into National Food Security Act, 2013
Launched by (prime minister):Manmohan Singh
Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WWII codebreaker Alan Turing honoured on new UK bank note

The Bank of England unveiled the design of the new GBP 50 banknote, which features British scientist and World War II codebreaker Alan Turing.
The polymer note, which includes an image of Turing and other related imagery, will be issued for the first time on June 23, coinciding with what would have been the mathematician’s 109th birthday.
“There’s something of the character of a nation in its money, and we are right to consider and celebrate the people on our banknotes.
So I’m delighted that our new GBP 50 features one of Britain’s most important scientists, Alan Turing,” said Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATE NEWS

Andhra Pradesh CM unveiled Kurnool Airport

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has inaugurated the Kurnool Airport located at Orvakal and named it after the first ever freedom fighter of the country, Uyyalavada Narasimha Reddy, as a tribute to him.
While addressing the gathering at Kurnool, the CM has said that the flight operations from the airport will commence from March, 28th servicing to Bengaluru,Visakhapatnam, and Chennai routes.
He stated that the Airport is equipped with all the latest technology, fine infrastructure which can facilitate parking for four aircrafts at the same time.
Stating that this will be the sixth civilian airport in the State after Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Kadapa.
Jagan Mohan Reddy also said that the airport has been set up in the judicial Capital of Andhra Pradesh, connecting to other States.
He later said that the airport will make the judicial capital stand on par with other States.

About Andhra Pradesh:

Capital:

Visakhapatnam – executive capital
Amaravati – legislative capital
Kurnool – judicial capital

Governor: Biswabhusan Harichandan
Chief minister: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy

Bihar: 10 croreth Ayushman card handed over to a beneficiary

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has registered a landmark achievement with the issuing of ten crore cards to a resident of Bihar.
A 25 year old Irfan Ali from Gopalganj district has received this card.
This landmark achievement is a result of the Aapke Dwar Ayushman campaign which was launched to spread awareness among the beneficiaries.
Under the scheme, any family can avail free medical benefits upto 5 lakh rupees per year.
CEO of Ayushman Bharat, Dr. Ram Sewak Sharma termed this a great achievement saying that 10th crore Ayushman card has been issued to a beneficiary in Gopalganj district in Bihar.
He expressed happiness over the adding of lakhs of new beneficiaries under AapkeDwarAyushman
He said targets have been set to take the number of identified beneficiaries to at least 20 crore next financial year.

About Bihar:

Governor: Phagu Chauhan
Capital: Patna
Chief minister: Nitish Kumar

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS

Chitra Nayak appointed as Independent Director of Infosys

IT services major Infosys announced the appointment of former Salesforce executiveChitra Nayak as an independent director.
Her appointment, effective March 25, 2021, is based on recommendation of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee of the Infosys Board, a regulatory filing said.
The appointment is for a period of three years, subject to the approval of shareholders, it added.
Nayak has over 25 years of professional experience in go-to-market, general management, and operations leadership roles at various organisations.
She currently serves as a member of the board at Invitae, a medical genetics company; at Morneau Shepell, a tech-enabled HR services company; at Forward Air, a freight and logistics company; and at Intercom, a messaging platform company, the filing said.

Ex-JLR CEO Ralf Speth appointed in TVS Motor board

To give wings to its global ambitions, TVS MotorCompany has brought on board Ralf Speth, former CEO of Jaguar Land Rover.
Speth, who built Jaguar Land Roverinto a global brand, will become Chairman of TVS Motor Company effective January 2023, when the present chairman, Venu Srinivasan, will become Chairman-Emeritus.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS and HONOURS

Harsh Mariwala honoured as ‘EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020’

HarshC. Mariwala, chairman of Marico, was named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020.
He will now represent India at the EYWorld Entrepreneur of the Year Award on June 10.

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award:

The EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards previously Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards is an award sponsored by Ernst & Young in recognition of entrepreneurship.
Awarded for: Entrepreneurship
Presented by: Ernst & Young

Andhra Guv lauds DGP Sawang conferred for SKOCH Award

Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan has commended DGP Gautam Sawang for receiving the SKOCH Award as the best DGP in the country for outstanding performance in policing, public safety and taking up technical reforms in AP Police.
The DGP called on the Governor at the Raj Bhavan.
Harichandan also praised the DGP and his team for winning the FICCI Best State Award for Smart Innovative Policing and for being adjudged as the best in the country for connecting with Interoperable Criminal Justice System of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

‘Nomadland’ bags top award at 2021 Producers Guild Awards

Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” received a major boost ahead of the Oscars as the movie bagged the top prize at the 2021 Producers Guild Awards.
The winners for the awards were announced during a virtual ceremony.
“Nomadland”, a frontrunner for the best picture Oscar, took home the trophy for Darryl F Zanuck award for outstanding producer of theatrical motion pictures.
The movie edged out fellow nominees “Promising Young Woman”, “Minari”, “Mank”, “Judas and the Black Messiah”, “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7”.
“Nomadland” features Academy Award winner Frances McDormand as a woman who leaves home to travel around the American West after losing her job.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPS & SERVICES

Nirmala Sitharaman launches Central Scrutiny Centre and IEPFA’s Mobile App to leverage digital solutions

On March 25, 2021, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman here virtually launched Central Scrutiny Centre (CSC) and Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s (IEPFA) Mobile App.
The two tech-enabled initiatives have been launched by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs
This will leverage digital solutions to achieve the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Digitally empowered India.
These two initiatives would create a new corporate and investor friendly ecosystem.

About the Mobile App :

The mobile app aims at achieving the goal of financial literacy, spreading investor awareness, education, and protection among investors.
The Mobile App has been developed for citizen engagement and information dissemination to promote awareness among investors.
The app will have the facility of tracking the status and progress of IEPF claim refund process.
It will also provide a mechanism for investors and common citizens to report on suspected fraudulent schemes.
Currently, the app is available on Android based devices and can be downloaded from PlayStore.

About CSC :

The Central Scrutiny Centre will scrutinize certain Straight Through Process (STP) Forms filed by the corporates on the MCA21 registry and flag the companies for more in-depth scrutiny.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : RANKING & INDEX

GIPC : India Ranks 40th On International Intellectual Property Index

India ranked 40 among 53 global economies on the latest annual edition of the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index.
India ranked 40th in 2020 also, scoring 38.4 out of 100 on a set of 50 intellectual property-related indicators.
The United States, Japan and Europe remained at the top of the global intellectual property rankings 2021, while emerging markets such as the UAE, China and Mexico continued to improve their scores.

About the Index :

The annual IP Index 2021 was released on March 23, 2021 by the US Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation Policy Centre (GIPC).
The Index evaluates Intellectual Property rights in 53 global economies based on 50 intellectual property-related indicators, grouped in 9 categories.
This is the ninth IP index released by the GIPC.
In that Categories include: Patent, Copyrights, Trademarks, Design Rights, Trade Secrets and Market Access, Commercialization of IP Assets, Enforcement, Systematic Efficiency, and International Treaties.
The 2021 Index showed improvement in the overall global IP environment despite the pandemic. The report also underscored the importance that strong IP economies have played in combating COVID-19.

About Global Innovation Policy Centre :

President and CEO : David Hirschmann

CURRENT AFFAIRS : BOOKS & AUTHORS

My Experiments With Silence : authored by Actor Samir Soni

Actor Samir Soni will release his debut book, My Experiments With Silence, later this year.
This book will be published by OM Books International in 2021.

About the book :

My Experiments With Silence book highlights anxiety and self-discovery.
The book Soni will present personal accounts of his dialogues with himself during his growing-up years in Delhi, his stint at Wall Street and his time in Bollywood.
The actor will document in prose and poetry some of his ‘darkest, intense and introspective thoughts’.

About OM Books International :

Editor-in Chief : Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri

CURRENT AFFAIRS : SPORTS NEWS

India finish para shooting WC with 7 medals

India ended the 2021 World Shooting Para Sport competitions with seven medals.
It was held at Al Ain in UAE from 15 to 25 March 2021.
India finished in third place with two gold medals, one silver and four bronze medals.
Ukraine topped with 11 medals (five gold, five silver and one bronze) ahead of hosts UAE which won five medals (three gold and two silver).
A total of 120 athletes from 24 nations competed at Al Ain 2021.
This was the first world shooting para sport competition in more than one year as the 2020 season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Gold medal winners for India :

Manish Narwal (P4 mixed 50m air pistol SH2)
Singhraj (P1 men’s 10m air pistol SH1)

Silver Medal Winner for India :

Avani Lekhara – R2 women’s 10m air rifle SH1

Bronze Medal Winners for India :

Rahul Jakhar – P3 Mixed 25m Pistol SH1
Singhraj – P4 Mixed 50m Pistol SH1
Sriharsha DEVARADDI RAMAKRISHNA – R4 Mixed 10m Air Rifle Standing SH2
Sidhartha BABU – R6 Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1

Daily CA On Mar 25 :

Parliament has passed the Finance Bill, 2021 with the Rajya Sabha returning it to Lok Sabha.
In a major move to improve commuters’ experience on National Highways for both passengers and truckers, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will develop world class ‘Wayside Amenities’ at more than 600 locations across 22 states in the next five years.
Civil Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri introduced the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Lok Sabha.
The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh starting on 26 March will be of very special significance in reinforcing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Union Minister of State (I/C) for Power & New and Renewable Energy, RK Singh, launched the GRAM UJALA programme in Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh.
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Asia’s largest Tulip Garden in Srinagar is scheduled to be opened for the general public and tourists.
Ladakh Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur has inaugurated the first Solar Lift Irrigation Scheme of Kargil Renewable Energy Development Agency (KREDA) at Latoo Village.
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with the aim of promoting good health and expanding the outreach of comprehensive primary healthcare services to the people of J&K, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha e-inaugurated as many as 73 AYUSH Health & Wellness Centres under Ayushman Bharat across the UT.
In Jammu and Kashmir, Principal Secretary Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department, Naveen Kumar Chaudhary has inaugurated ‘Pashudhan Mela’ in Kathua.
The Regional SARAS Fair 2021, an initiative of Ministry of Rural Development, to promote rural products and build capacities of Self Help Groups, SHGs got underway at Kohima Local Ground Launching the SARAS fair
The Competition Commission of India ordered a probe into the new privacy policy of WhatsApp.
In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, NABARD organized a credit camp in Samba district for the members of Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) to provide collateral free institutional credit support to landless farmers, sharecroppers, oral lessees, small & marginal farmers and other rural poor to take up farm, off-farm and non-farm activities.
Chief Justice of India Justice S A Bobde has recommended Union Government to appoint the senior most Supreme Court Judge Justice N V Ramanna as the next Chief Justice of India.
Levine is a co-founder, Chairman or board member for several other start-ups, including FeeX, FairFly, Seetree, and Refundit.
Leading Private Sector lender Karnataka Bank has appointedDr. D S Ravindran as Additional Director (Non-Executive, Independent) on 24th March, 2021 and the appointment will be effective from 1st April, 2021. Dr D S Ravindran (PhD), aged 61 years, is a Retd.
Intelhas announced that it will be establishing a new standalone business unit, Intel Foundry Services (IFS) which will be led by the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra alumni Randhir Thakur as part of the company’s new IDM 2.0 strategy for its integrated device manufacturing model.
Seagate Technology plc, a worldwide knowledge storage and infrastructure options firm introduced the appointment of Shankar Arumugavelu to the corporation’s Board of Directors and to serve on the Audit and Finance Committee of the Board, effective March 19.
Kerala Agricultural Universityhas been selected for the Chancellor’s Award 2020 in the category of specialised universities.
There has been yet another ‘recusal’ from Magsaysay Award recipient Indian Forest Services officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi’s petition by a member of the bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal, making it the seventh such instance since 2013.
State-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has signed a memorandum of understanding with CNB Logitech to monitor, track and optimize the movement of 5 million containers through the port located near Mumbai.
Pakistan will hold Pabbi-Antiterror-2021, under the aegis of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation later this year.
For the first time in the country, The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully demonstrated free-space Quantum Communication over a distance of 300 metres.
On March 22, 2021, Russian space agency ‘Roscosmos’ successfully launched 38 foreign satellites into orbit, onboard Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The study led by researchers from Pune-based Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) named the new species found in the Mula river as Epithemia agharkarii, in honour of the institute’s founder-director SP Agharka.
India captain Virat Kohli and vice-captain Rohit Sharma are among the India batsmen to progress in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings after clinching the home series against England 3-2 in Ahmedabad.

Daily CA On March 26 :

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has launched more than one hundred comic books created by teachers and students of CBSE schools and curated by NCERT.
The government is working to roll out a GPS based toll collection system and introducing E-Highway from Delhi to Mumbai in the upcoming months.
Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank held a virtual meeting with Director General UNESCO, Ms Audrey Azoulay in New Delhi.
More than 68 lakh 33 thousand beneficiaries were provided maternity benefits in 2020 under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, PMMVY.
The Bank of England unveiled the design of the new GBP 50 banknote, which features British scientist and World War II codebreaker Alan Turing.
The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has inaugurated the Kurnool Airport located at Orvakal and named it after the first ever freedom fighter of the country, Uyyalavada Narasimha Reddy, as a tribute to him.
Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has registered a landmark achievement with the issuing of ten crore cards to a resident of Bihar.
IT services major Infosys announced the appointment of former Salesforce executiveChitra Nayak as an independent director.
To give wings to its global ambitions, TVS MotorCompany has brought on board Ralf Speth, former CEO of Jaguar Land Rover.
HarshC. Mariwala, chairman of Marico, was named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020.
Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan has commended DGP Gautam Sawang for receiving the SKOCH Award as the best DGP in the country for outstanding performance in policing, public safety and taking up technical reforms in AP Police.
Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” received a major boost ahead of the Oscars as the movie bagged the top prize at the 2021 Producers Guild Awards.
On March 25, 2021, Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman here virtually launched Central Scrutiny Centre (CSC) and Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s (IEPFA) Mobile App.
India ranked 40 among 53 global economies on the latest annual edition of the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index.
Actor Samir Soni will release his debut book, My Experiments With Silence, later this year.
India ended the 2021 World Shooting Para Sport competitions with seven medals.