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March 2021 Daily News Current Affairs

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  1. Mar 31, 2021
    1. Cabinet Approvals (Mar 31, 2021) -
      1. General -
        1. Approved Central Sector Scheme Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI), with outlay of 10900 crores.
          1. It aims to support creation of global food manufacturing champions commensurate with India's natural resources and support Indian brands of food products in the international markets.
    2. Visits to India (March 2021) -
      1. Mohammad Haneef Atmar, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Visited India.
      2. South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook Visited India.
        1. India’s First Indo-Korean Friendship Park jointly inaugurated by Indian Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh and Visiting South Korean Defence Minister Suh Wook, at Delhi Cantonment. It commemorates India’s contributions as part of 21 countries which participated in Korean War of 1950-53.
      3. National Security Adviser of Nigeria Babagana Monguno visited India for First Strategic and Counter-Terrorism Dialogue between India and Nigeria.
      4. Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah Visited India.
        1. India and Kuwait will establish a Joint Ministerial Commission, to formulate framework for strengthening ties in Various sectors.
      5. US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin Visited India.
      6. Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) President Duarte Pacheco visited India.
    3. Visits from India (March 2021) -
      1. PM Narendra Modi Visited Bangladesh -
        1. He attened twin celebrations of Bangladeshi Founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary and golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. He attended National Day programme of Bangladesh (March 26), as guest of honour.
        2. He also inaugurated Digital exhibition on Bapu and Bangabandhu, two exemplary personalities from South Asia.
        3. PM Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina virtually inaugurated -
          1. Mitali Express passenger train between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri (Wert Bengal).
          2. Construction of five transmission lines at a cost of $442.11 million.
            1. Notably, Indian companies Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and Transrail Lighting are among those awarded contracts for construction of power infrastructure related to Rooppur nuclear power project in Bangladesh.
            2. 1200 MW Rooppur power plant is being constructed by Russia and Bangladesh, with help from India.
        4. India and Bangladesh  signed 5 MoUs -
          1. Co-operatoion in Disaster Management, Resilience and Mitigation
          2. MOU Between National Cadet Corps Organizations in India and Bangladesh.
          3. Suppy of ICT Equipment and Courseware for Bangladesh-Bharat Digital Service and Employment Training Centre.
          4. Establishment of Sports Facilities at Rajshahi College Field and Surroundign Areas (Bangladesh).
          5. Cooperation in Trade Remedial Measures.
      2. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Visited Bahgladesh. He inaugurated new Cultural Centre of High Commission of India in Dhaka.
      3. Air Force Chief RKS Bhadauria Visited Sri Lanka.
      4. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Tajikistan, to attend Heart of Asia Conference.
    4. General Events / Conferences (Mar 21 - 31, 2021) -
      1. Odisha Govt released a Commemorative Postage Stamp on 100 Years of First Visit of M K Gandhi to Odisha.
      2. Minister of State (IC) for Civil Aviation, Hardeep Singh Puri inaugurated Kurnool Airport in Andhra Pradesh, developed under Regional Connectivity Scheme, Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN).
      3. Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal inaugurated Anandam: The Center for Happiness at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu.
      4. Uttar Pradesh government organised Banana Festival in Kushinagar, to promote Banana Farming.
      5. Arunachal Government launched Dekho Apna Pradesh campaign, to encourage people of state to visit tourist places within it.
        1. CM Pema Khandu also inaugurated state's first formal indigenous language and knowledge system school in East Kameng district, called 'Nyubu Nyvgam Yerko'.
      6. A giant container ship named ‘Ever Given’ ran aground in Suez Canal in Egypt, blocking off one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes that’s vital for movement of everything from oil to consumer goods.
      7. Sri Lanka signed a 10 billion-yuan (about USD 1,5 billion) currency swap deal with China for a three-year period to be used for promoting bilateral trade and investment.
      8. UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution against Sri Lanka’s human rights record, titled Promotion of Reconciliation Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka. India was among 14 countries which abstained from voting.
      9. Uttar Pradesh government approved Affordable Rental Housing and Complexes (ARHC) scheme, as affordable rental housing scheme for students, migrants and poor people in cities.
      10. NITI Aayog released report outlining range of investment opportunities in various segments of India’s healthcare sector. India’s healthcare industry has been growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of around 22% since 2016, expected to reach USD 372 billion in 2022.
      11. New Zealand’s parliament passed legislation giving mothers and their partners the right to paid leave following a miscarriage or stillbirth, becoming only second country in world to do so, after India.
      12. Telecom Minsiter of State Sanjay Dhotre Represented India at Virtually held World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2021.
      13. Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman virtually launched Central Scrutiny Centre (CSC) and Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority’s (IEPFA) Mobile App, two tech-enabled initiatives by Ministry of Corporate Affairs. 
      14. Bihar will become country’s first state to have two green energy efficient towns in Rajgir and Bodh Gaya, with these cities projected to start getting solar energy through first of its kind renewable energy project from 2023.
      15. Asia’s largest Tulip Garden in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, has been opened for general public and tourists.
      16. Andaman and Nicobar Islands became 3rd State/UT in country to achieve 100% coverage of rural households with tap water supply under Jal Jeevan Mission, after Goa and Telangana.
      17. Maithri Aquatech has set up World's First Mobile Water from Air Kiosk and Water Knowledge Centre in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).
    5. Mar 31 is observed as International Transgender Day of Visibility.
  2. Mar 30, 2021
    1. ISSF World Cup 2021 (New Delhi) -
      1. Indian Gold Medalists -
        1. 50 metre rifle three positions - Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar
        2. 25 Metre Pistol - Chinki Yadav
        3. 10 Metre Air Pistol - Yashaswini Singh Deswal
      2. Medal Table (As of Now) -
        1. Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
          1  India  15 9 7 31
          2 USA 6 6 3 15
          3  Russia 5 5 1 11
          4  Italy  4 2 3 9
          5  Spain  2 2 4 8
          6  Slovakia  2 2 2 6
          7  Denmark  2 2 1 5
          8  Great Britain  2 1 0 3
          9  Croatia  2 0 1 3
          10  Poland  1 4 3 8
    2. Mar 30 is statehood day of State of Rajasthan, established on Mar 30, 1949.
    3. Mercedes' British F1 Racer Lewis Hamilton won Season Opening Bahrain Grand Prix.
      1. F1 Season 2021 -
        1. Grand Prix Winner Race date
          Bahrain Grand Prix Lewis Hamilton (UK) 28 March
          Emilia Romagna Grand Prix   18 April
          Portuguese Grand Prix   2 May
          Spanish Grand Prix   9 May
          Monaco Grand Prix   23 May
          Azerbaijan Grand Prix   6 June
          French Grand Prix   20 June
          Styrian Grand Prix   27 June
          Austrian Grand Prix 4 July
          British Grand Prix   18 July
          Hungarian Grand Prix   1 August
          Belgian Grand Prix   29 August
          Dutch Grand Prix   5 September
          Italian Grand Prix   12 September
          Russian Grand Prix   26 September
          Japanese Grand Prix   10 October
          United States Grand Prix   24 October
          Mexico City Grand Prix   31 October
          São Paulo Grand Prix   7 November
          Australian Grand Prix   21 November
          Saudi Arabian Grand Prix   5 December
          Abu Dhabi Grand Prix   12 December
    4. Maldives Launched Fiyavathi Renovation Project, for young Maldivians, which is funded by India as part of India’s total grant assistance of MVR 200 million to Maldives.
    5. Fintech Firm Niyo launched NiyoX, in partnership with Equitas Small Finance Bank, along with 007 banking bundle. It comprises 0% commission on mutual funds investment, 0 account maintenance charges, and upto 7% interest on account balances.
    6. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed loan agreement for JPY 10 billion with Tata Cleantech Capital Limited (TCCL), to support TCCL to offer loans to businesses across India that focus on renewable energy generation, e-mobility solutions and energy efficiency.
      1. Japan also finalised loans and a grant totalling around 233 billion yen ($2.11 billion) for several key infrastructure projects in India, including 4th phase of Delhi Metro and Japan's first ever official development assistance to a project in Andaman and Nicobar islands.
    7. Ministry of Ayush has set up an interdisciplinary team of experts to explore potential of Yoga as a productivity enhancing tool for the population, chaired by H R Nagendra.
    8. African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) is now listed as Critically Endangered and African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) as Endangered on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, after decades of unchecked poaching and hunting.
      1. Upto now, African elephants were treated as a single species, listed as Vulnerable. This is first time the two species have been assessed separately for IUCN Red List.
    9. Book Indians: A Brief History of a Civilization Authored by Namit Arora has been released.
  3. Mar 29, 2021
    1. SAIL Chairperson Soma Mondal has been elected the new chairperson of Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE).
    2. 2 Indians, Sathish Sundaram (Tamil Nadu) and Mahindra Giri (Uttarakhand's Rajaji Tiger Reserve) are named among 10 winners of International Ranger Awards 2021, for their contribution towards wildlife conservation.
      1. 10 professionals globally are honored annually by this award, by International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN and World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA).
    3. As per 16th Global Wind Report 2021 by Global Wind Energy Council -
      1. 2020 was best year in history for the global wind industry, as this sector installed 93GW of new capacity in 2020. This represents a 53% year-on-year increase.
      2. As of now, 743 GW wind power capacity has been installed worldwide, helping to avoid over 1.1 billion tonnes of CO2 annually.
      3. However, report shows that current rate of wind power installed will not be enough to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. World needs to install a minimum of 180 GW of new wind energy every year, to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
      4. As of now, total installed wind power capacity in India is approx 39 GW, fourth largest in world (after China, US and Germany).
      5. Report says that Due to several constraints, India may miss its 2022 Renewable Energy Targets of 175 Gigawatt green energy capacity by December 2022. India has pledged an NDC of 33-35 % reduction in carbon emissions intensity of its economy by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, apart from 40 % non fossil fuel-based power generation by 2030.
    4. 66th Filmfare Awards 2021 Winners -
      1. Best Film: Thappad
      2. Best Director: Om Raut (Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior)
      3. Best Actor (MALE): Irrfan Khan (Angrezi Medium)
      4. Best Actress : Taapsee Pannu (Thappad)
      5. Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Male): Saif Ali Khan (Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior)
      6. Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Female): Farrokh Jaffar (Gulabo Sitabo)
      7. Best Music Album: Pritam (Ludo)
      8. Best Lyrics: Gulzar (Chhappak)
      9. Best Playback Singer (male): Raghav Chaitanya – Ek Tukda Dhoop (Thappad)
      10. Best Playback Singer (Female): Asees Kaur (Malang)
      11. Lifetime Achievement : Irrfan Khan.
    5. National Book Critics Circle Awards -
      1. Fiction - Maggie O’Farrell (for Hamnet)
      2. Non-fiction - Tom Zoellner (for Island on Fire: The Revolt That Ended Slavery in the British Empire)
      3. Autobiography - Cathy Park Hong ( for Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning)
      4. Biography - Amy Stanley (for Stranger in the Shogun’s City: A Japanese Woman and Her World)
      5. Criticism - Nicole Fleetwood (for Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration)
      6. Poetry - Francine J. Harris (for Here Is The Sweet Hand)
      7. About -
        1. Annual American literary awards by National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) to promote finest books and reviews published in English, presented since 1976.
    6. Noted Marathi writer Sharankumar Limbale will receive Saraswati Samman 2020 for his book Sanatan. It carries monetary grant of 15 lakh rupees.
      1. The award is one of the three literary awards instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation in 1991.
      2. Awards Institited by K K Birla Foundation in 1991 -
        1. Saraswati Samman - For literary work in any Indian language
        2. Vyas Samman - For prose/poetry work in Hindi
        3. Bihari Puraskar - For prose/poetry work in Hindi/Rajasthani, only authors from Rajasthan are eligible
        4. Shankar Puraskar - For a work in Hindi concerning Indian philosophy, culture and/or art.
        5. Vachaspati Puraskar - For any work in Sanskrit.
        6. G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research
  4. Mar 28, 2021
    1. NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) launched AIM-PRIME (Program for Researchers on Innovations, Market-Readiness & Entrepreneurship), an initiative to promote and support science-based deep-tech startups & ventures across India, in association with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
    2. In The Dream House: A Memoir by Carmen Maria Machado won Rathbones Folio Prize 2021. It carries grant of 30000 Euros, being given since 2014.
    3. Union Bank of India has launched UNI – CARBON CARD, an HPCL co-branded credit card on Rupay platform of NPCI.
    4. Tourism and Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel inaugurated Maharaja Chhatrasal Convention Centre at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), developed under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
  5. Mar 27, 2021
    1. 11th edition of Indo-US Joint Special Forces Exercise VAJRA PRAHAR 2021 conducted at Special Forces Training School located at Bakloh (Himachal Pradesh).
    2. Indian Army Formally Closed Down Military Farms, which were set up for supplying hygienic cow's milk to troops billeted in various garrisons across British India. First Military farm was raised on 01 Feb 1889 at Allahabad.
    3. Mar 27 is observed as World Theatre Day, proclaimed in 1961 by International Theatre Institute.
      1. Also, on Mar 27, Earth Hour was observed, as a worldwide movement organized by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
        1. Event is held annually by encouraging turning off non-essential electric lights for one hour (8:30 to 9:30 p.m.), on a specific day towards end of March, as a symbol of commitment to the planet.
    4. World Bank published World Development Report 2021: Data for Better Lives, with focus on how data can improve lives of poor people and advance development objectives.
    5. Supreme Court-appointed 4-member committee to study three new controversial agricultural laws, submitted its report.
      1. Committee comprised of three agricultural economists-Ashok Gulati, Pramod Joshi and Anil Ghanvat. Bharatiya Kisan Union President Bhupinder Singh Mann was initially a part, but resigned later.
  6. Mar 26, 2021
    1. Niti Aayog constituted two task forces that will recommend a policy framework for the enforcement of contracts as well as effective conciliation mechanism.
      1. One task force, which will suggest facilitation of speedy resolution of contractual disputes between private entities and government, will be headed by Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.
      2. Other task force, which will recommend a policy framework for enforcement of contracts, will be led by Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar.
    2. Nagaland Govt launched i-Learn, a capacity building and performance tracking application for Community Health Officers (CHOs) in state, in partnership with USAID-NISHTHA/Jgpiego.
    3. New Book Names of the Women, by Jeet Thayil has been released.
  7. Mar 25, 2021
    1. Mar 25 is observed as -
      1. International Day of Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade
      2. International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members.
    2. Budget Session 2021 -
      1. Held in 2 Parts (Feb 1 to 13, 2021 and Mar 8 to 25, 2021) -
        1. Part 2 (Mar 8 to 25, 2021) -
          1. Notable Info Disseminated During Question Hour -
            1. Commerce Ministry announced that Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) will be assisting the states and union territories in order to prepare “Annual Export Ranking Index” of different districts.
            2. Sports Ministry extend Khelo India scheme from 2021-22 to 2025-26, with amount 8750 crores estimated as financial implication of new Khelo India Scheme (2021-22 to 2025-26). Also, Yogasana has been included in Khelo India Youth Games 2021.
            3. India has developed its first indigenously developed App Store called “Mobile Seva Appstore”, with over 965 live apps of several domains and categories of public services.
            4. Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced Vehicle Scrapping Policy, aimed at creating an Eco-System for phasing out of Unfit and Polluting Vehicles.
          2. Bills Summary -
            1. 20 Bills (17 in Lok Sabha and 03 in Rajya Sabha) were introduced. 18 Bills were passed by Lok Sabha and 19 were passed by Rajya Sabha.
            2. Total number of Bills passed by both Houses of Parliament is 18.
          3. Bills Passed by Parliament (Passed by Both Houses Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) -
            1. National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill 2020 -
              1. It seeks to regulate and standardise education and practice of allied healthcare professionals.
              2. An Allied health professional should have obtained a diploma or degree under this Bill, of over 2000 Hours duration.
              3. A Healthcare professional should have obtained a degree under this Bill, of minimum 3600 hours duration.
              4. Bill sets up National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions, to perform related following functions with regard to Allied and Healthcare professionals.
              5. Commission will constitute a Professional Council for every recognised category of allied and healthcare professions.
              6. Within six months from passage of Bill, states will constitute State Allied and Healthcare Councils.
              7. Prior permission of State Council will be required to establish a new institution, open new courses, increase admission capacity.
              8. Bo person is allowed to practice as a qualified allied / healthcare practitioner other than those enrolled in a State / National Register.  Any person who contravenes this, will be punished with fine of 50000. 
            2. National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development Bill 2021 -
              1. Bill seeks to establish National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NBFID), as principal development financial institution (DFIs) for infrastructure financing.
              2. About DFIs -
                1. DFIs are set up for providing long-term finance for such segments of economy where risks involved are beyond acceptable limits of commercial banks and other financial institutions.
                2. Unlike banks, DFIs do not accept deposits from people. They source funds from several sources and are often supported through government guarantees.
              3. NBFID will be set up as a corporate body with authorised share capital of 1 lakh crore rupees. Initially, central government will own 100% shares of NBFID, which may subsequently be reduced up to 26%.
              4. NBFID may borrow money from central government, RBI, scheduled commercial banks, mutual funds, and multilateral institutions such as World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
              5. Central government will provide grants worth 5000 crores to NBFID by end of first financial year.   The government will also provide guarantee at a concessional rate of up to 0.1% for borrowing from multilateral institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and other foreign funds.  
              6. Bill also provides for any person to set up a DFI by applying to RBI.
            3. The Finance Bill, 2021
            4. The Puducherry Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2021
            5. The Puducherry Appropriation Bill, 2021
            6. The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2021
            7. The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill, 2021
            8. The Appropriation Bill, 2021
            9. The Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2021
            10. The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2021 -
              1. Bill amends Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order 1950.
              2. Statement of Objects and Reasons of Bill states that Bill has been introduced to give effect to modifications proposed by state of Tamil Nadu.
              3. Bill replaces entry for Devendrakulathan community with DevendrakulaVelalar, which includes communities that are currently listed separately within Act.  These are Devendrakulathan, Kalladi, Kudumban, Pallan, Pannadi, and Vathiriyan.
            11. Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2021 -
              1. Bill amends Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957, which regulates mining sector.
              2. Act empowers central government to reserve any mine (other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals) to be leased through an auction for a particular end-use, known as captive mines. Bill provides that no mine will be reserved for particular end-use.
              3. Bill provides that captive mines (other than atomic minerals) may sell up to 50% of their annual mineral production in open market after meeting their needs.  
              4. Under the Act, states conduct auction of mineral concessions (other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals). Bill empowers central govt to specify time period for completion of auction.  If state govt can not complete auction within this period, auctions may be conducted by central government.
              5. Act provides for a non-exclusive reconnaissance permit (for minerals other than coal, lignite, and atomic minerals). Bill removes the provision for this permit.
            12.  Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021 -
              1. Bill amends Insurance Act 1938, which provides framework for functioning of insurance businesses.  Bill seeks to increase maximum foreign investment allowed in an Indian insurance company.
              2. Act allows foreign investors to hold up to 49% of capital in an Indian insurance company.  Bill increases limit on foreign investment in an Indian insurance company from 49% to 74%, and removes restrictions on ownership and control.
            13. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill 2020 -
              1. It amends Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971, which provides for the termination of certain pregnancies by registered medical practitioners.  
              2. Termination of pregnancy -
                1. Under the Act, pregnancy may be terminated within 12 weeks, subject to certain conditions. For termination of a pregnancy between 12 to 20 weeks, two medical practitioners are required to give their opinion.
                2. Bill amends this provision to state that a pregnancy may be terminated within 20 weeks, with opinion of a registered medical practitioner.  Approval of two registered medical practitioners will be required for termination of pregnancies between 20 to 24 weeks.
                3. Bill states that upper limit of termination of pregnancy will not apply in cases where such termination is necessary due to diagnosis of substantial foetal abnormalities.  
              3. Protection of privacy of a woman -
                1. Bill states that no registered medical practitioner will be allowed to reveal the name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated, except to a person authorised by law.
            14. Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 -
              1. It seeks to amend Arbitration and Conciliation Act 1996, which contains provisions to deal with domestic and international arbitration and defines law for conducting conciliation proceedings.
              2. Act allowed a party to file an application to set aside an arbitral award. Courts interpreted this to mean that an automatic stay on an arbitral award was granted the moment an application for setting aside an arbitral award was made before a court. In 2015, Act was amended to state that an arbitral award would not be automatically stayed merely because an application is made to a court to set aside the arbitral award.
              3. Bill specifies that a stay on arbitral award can be provided, if court is satisfied on some mentioned conditions.
              4. Act specified certain norms for arbitrators in a separate schedule. Bill removes Schedule for arbitrators and states that norms for arbitrations will be specified under regulations.
          4. Bills passed by Rajya Sabha (Pending in lok Sabha) -
            1. National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill 2019 -
              1. Bill declares certain institutes of food technology, entrepreneurship, and management as institutions of national importance.
              2. These institutes are the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management Kundli, and Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Thanjavur. Bill declares these institutes as National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management.
              3. Bill provides for structure of board of governors of the said institutes.
        2. Budest Seeion 2021 Phase 1 -
          1. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Presented Union Budget 2021-22 in Parliament, as her 3rd Union Budget and 2nd Full Budget of newly elected NDA Government forming 17th Lok Sabha, led by PM Narendra Modi. Details can be seen here.
          2. Info -
            1. Govt. will close two pharma PSUs and disinvest other three. Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (IDPL) and Rajasthan Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd (RDPL) will be shut down.
            2. Preliminary surveys by Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), have shown presence of Lithium resources of 1600 tonnes (inferred category) in pegmatites of Marlagalla – Allapatna area, Mandya district (Karnataka).
              1. Lithium is a key element for new technologies and finds its use in ceramics, glass, telecommunication and aerospace industries.
            3. Archaeological Survey of India has established 6 new Circles by bifurcation of its existing Circles - Rajkot Circle, Jabalpur Circle, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) Circle, Meerut Circle, Jhansi Circle and Raiganj Circle.
            4. Govt has included Specialty Steel under Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, to help improve availability of specialty steel in country.
            5. Ministry of Agriculture recently launched a new Central Sector Scheme titled 'Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs). Budgetary provision of Rs 6865 crores has been made for the same.
          3. Bills Passed -
            1. Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 -
              1. It seeks to provide for regulation, operation and planning of major ports in India and provide greater autonomy to these ports.  It seeks to replace Major Port Trusts Act 1963.  
              2. Application - Bill will apply to the major ports of Chennai, Cochin, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Mormugao, Paradip, V.O. Chidambaranar, and Vishakhapatnam.
              3. Major Port Authorities Board - Under Act, all major ports are managed by respective Board of Port Trusts.  Bill provides for creation of a Board of Major Port Authority for each major port.  
                1. Board will comprise of a Chairperson and a deputy Chairperson, appointed by government. It will have other designated prominent members.
              4. Powers of the Board - Bill allows the Board to use its property, assets and funds as deemed fit for the development of major port.
              5. Fixing of rates - Currently, Tariff Authority for Major Ports fixes scale of rates for assets and services available at ports.  Under Bill, the Board or committees appointed by Board will determine these rates.  
              6. Financial powers of Board - Under Act, Board has to seek prior sanction of government to raise any loan.  Under Bill, to meet its capital and working expenditure requirements, the Board may raise loans from any bank / financial institution, within or outside India that is compliant with laws.  For loans above 50% of its capital reserves, Board will require government approval.  
              7. Corporate Social Responsibility - Bill provides that the Board may use its funds for providing social benefits.
              8. Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects - Bill defines PPP projects as projects taken up through a concession contract by Board. For such projects, the Board may fix the tariff for the initial bidding purposes. 
              9. Adjudicatory Board - Bill provides for constitution of an Adjudicatory Board by government, to replace existing Tariff Authority for Major Ports constituted under 1963 Act.  
              10. Penalties - Under Act, there are various penalties for contravening provisions of the Act, up to 10000 or penalty for evading rates may extend up to 10 times the rates.  Under Bill, any person contravening any provision of the Bill or any rules or regulations will be punished with a fine of up to 1 lakh rupees.
            2. Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2021 -
              1. It amends Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, which provided for bifurcation of state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) into UT of J&K and UT of Ladakh.   Bill repeals Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Ordinance 2021.
              2. Act provides that Article 239A of Constitution, which is applicable to the UT of Puducherry, shall also apply to UT of J&K. Bill states that in addition to Article 239A, any other provision of the Constitution which refers to elected members of a legislative assembly of a state and is also applicable to UT of Puducherry, will apply to UT of J&K.
              3. Act specifies that members of IAS, IPS and IFS serving in state of J&K would continue to serve in 2 New UTs. Further, in future, postings of officers in New UTs would be from Arunachal Goa Mizoram Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre.
              4. Bill amends these clauses to provide for the merger of the officers in the existing cadre of J&K with AGMUT cadre.
            3. National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill 2021 -
              1. It repeals NCT of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Ordinance 2020, promulgated in December 2020.
              2. Bill amends NCT of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second Act 2011.
              3. 2011 Act provides for relocating slum dwellers and Jhuggi-Jhompri clusters, regularising unauthorised colonies, village abadi areas (and their extensions), creating policy or plan for farm houses constructed beyond permissible building limits, and for all other areas of NCT of Delhi. Master Plan for Delhi 2021 was notified by central government in February 2007.
              4. 2011 Act was valid till December 31, 2020.   Bill seeks to extend this to December 31, 2023.
              5. Bill amends Act to provide that unauthorised colonies will be identified for regularisation as per NCT of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Act 2019, and NCT of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Regulations 2019.
    3. Noted Hindi writer Sharad Pagare has been selected for coveted literary award Vyas Samman 2020 for his novel ‘Patliputra ki Samragi’.
    4. Atish Chandra has been appointed as CMD of PSU Food Corporation of India.
    5. Sanjeev Kumar has been appointed as Chairman of Airports Authority of India (AAI).
    6. Book My Experiments with Silence authored by actor Samir Soni has been released.
    7. MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated Chhatrasal Convention Centre at Khajuraho, developed under Swadesh Darshan Scheme of Ministry of Tourism.
  8. Mar 24, 2021
    1. Mar 24 - World Tuberculosis Day. 2021 Theme is The clock is ticking.
      1. On this occasion, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan launched Tribal TB Initiative, as a step towards achieving 'TB Mukt Bharat' by 2025.
      2. Mar 24 is also observed as International Day for Achievers.
    2. India launched 2nd Tranche of auction for commercial coal mining, offering 67 mines for sale of coal.
      1. This is highest number of mines on offer in a particular tranche of auction after commencement of the auction regime since 2014.
      2. Out of 67 mines, 23 are under CM(SP) Act and 44 under MMDR Act, spread across Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
    3. World’s first ship tunnel will be constructed in Norway, to be completed by 2025-2026, underneath mountains in Stadhavet peninsula.
      1. The 37 meters high and 1700 metres long Tunnel will be built with cost $315 million.
      2. Stadlandet peninsula is considered as dividing point between Norwegian Sea and North Sea.
    4. Offshore Patrol Vessel ICGS Vajra has been commissioned into Indian Coast Guard, as 6th vessel in series of 7 OPVs being built by L&T.
    5. India and US re-established US-India Homeland Security Dialogue, which was earlier called-off by Earlier US Prez Donald Trump. It aims at discussing important issues such as cybersecurity, emerging technology and violent extremism.
    6. As per Annual International Intellectual Property Index released by US Chamber of Commerce Global Innovation Policy Centre (GIPC) -
      1. India ranked 40 among 53 ranked economies.
      2. Top - US (1), UK (2), Germany (3), France (4)
    7. Maharashtra Government Named Singer Asha Bhosle as winner of Maharashtra Bhushan award 2020, the state government's highest honour.
      1. The award was instituted in 1996, to recognise distinguished work and eminent persons from state, with cash prize of 10 lakh.
    8. Saurabh Garg has been appointed as chief executive officer (CEO) of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
    9. Russia's lower house of parliament (State Duma) approved a bill to enable incumbent President Vladimir Putin to run for two more terms starting 2024, until 2036.
  9. Mar 23, 2021
    1. Cabinet Approvals (Mar 23, 2021) -
      1. MOUs -
        1. Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Japan in field of Water Resources.
        2. MOU Between UPSC (India) and Independent Administrative Reforms and Civil Services Commission (IARCSC) of Afghanistan.
    2. Mar 23 is observed as World Meteorological Day, to mark establishment of World Meteorological Organization on Mar 23, 1950.
    3. Mar 23 is Obvserved As Martyr's Day (Shaheedi Diwas) in India. It marks death anniversary of Great Freedom Fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on 23 March 1931, in Lahore (Pakistan).
      1. On this occasion, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Smarak was inaugurated in New Delhi by Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
      2. Also, On this occasion, A Commemorative Postage Stamp was released, to mark 100 Years of First Visit of M K Gandhi to Odisha (On 23rd March, 1921.
      3. In India, apart from Mar 23, there are 5 otherd days declared as Martyrs' Day-
        1. Jan 30 - Date of Assasination of M K Gandhi by Shri Nathuram Godse, is Observed as Martyr's Day.
        2. May 19 - Bengali Language Movement of Barak Valley in Assam was a protest against decision of Government of Assam to make Assamese only official language of state, even though significant proportion of population were Bengali. Main incident, in which 15 people were killed by state police, took place on 19 May 1961. 19 May is thus designated Bhasha Shahid Divas ("Language Martyrs Day").
        3. 21 October is Police Martyrs' Day. On this date in 1959, a CPRF patrol at Indo-Tibetan border in Ladakh was ambushed by Chinese forces.
        4. Odisha observes 17 November, death anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai as Martyr's Day.
        5. Birthday of Rani Lakshmibai, 19 November is observed as Martyrs' Day in Maharashtra.
      4. Mar 23 is also Birth Anniversary of Noted Freedom Activist Ram Manohar Lohia.
    4. Govt has set up an empowered committee for manufacturing in high technology areas to facilitate investments in technology-intensive sectors and promote manufacturing, headed by Minister of Commerce and Industry (Piyush Goyal Currently).
    5. Bihar Govt launched Ethanol Production Promotion Policy 2021, becoming first India state to have an ethanol promotion policy under the National Policy of Biofuels 2018.
      1. The policy will allow extraction of ethanol, which was earlier restricted to sugarcane, from surplus quantities of the maze as well.
  10. Mar 22, 2021
    1. Mar 22 is observed as Bihar Diwas, marking formation of state of Bihar. On Mar 22 i 1912, British had carved out Bihar from Bengal.
    2. Mar 22 is observed Globally as World Water Day, Being Observed by UN since 1993. 2021 Theme is Valuing water. On this occasion -
      1. PM Narendra Modi launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain campaign, for Promoting water conservation. This campaign will be implemented across country from March 22 to November 30, 2021.
      2. Uttar Pradesh Govt signed agreement to implement Ken Betwa Link Project (KBLP), the first project of the National Perspective Plan for interlinking of rivers.
        1. It will mark beginning of inter-state cooperation to implement vision of carrying water from areas that have surplus water to drought prone and water deficit areas through interlinking of rivers.
        2. KBLP involves transfer of water from Ken to Betwa River through construction of Daudhan Dam and a canal linking the two rivers. It will provide annual irrigation of 10.62 lakh ha, drinking water supply to about 62 lakhs people and generate 103 MW power.
        3. It will immensely benefit water starved region of Bundelkhand, spread across MP and UP.
      3. United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) partnered with Denmark Government, to support India’s flagship programme, Jal Jeevan Mission, to provide strategic technical support to Jal Jeevan Mission. UNOPS shall focus on scalable delivery models in focused 11 water-scare districts of Uttar Pradesh in Bundelkhand and Vindhya regions.
      4. UNESCO felicitated winners of water conservation awareness programme H2Ooooh! – Waterwise program for children of India, along with screening of their winning animation short films.
        1. UNESCO launched this programme in 2020, in partnership with National Mission for Clean Ganga, United Schools Organization (USO), Water Digest and India based global animation major Toonz Media Group.
    3. Government announced 67th National Film Awards, honoring best work In Indian Cinema in 2019.
      1. Note that National Film awards were not announced in 2020, due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
      2. Jury Heads -
        1. N Chandra - Feature Film Category (Central panel)
        2. N. Karun - Best Film Friendly State
        3. Arun Chaddha (Non-Feature Film Category)
        4. Utpal Borpujari (Best Writing on Cinema).
      3. Dadasaheb Phalke Award (INR 10 Lakh) -
        1. Rajinikanth.
      4. Best Film Friendly State - Sikkim.
      5. Feature Films -
        1. Golden Lotus -
          1. Best Feature Film - Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea (Malayalam)
          2. Best Direction - Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan for Bahattar Hoorain (Hindi)
          3. Best Debut Film of a Director Helen Malayalam - Mathukutty Xavier for Helen (Malayalam)
          4. Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment - Maharshi (Telugu)
          5. Best Children's Film - Kastoori (Hindi)
        2. Silver Lotus -
          1. Best Feature Film on National Integration - Taj Mahal (Marathi)
          2. Best Film on Environment Conservation/Preservation - Water (Burial Monpa)
          3. Best Actor - Manoj Bajpayee for Bhonsle (Hindi) and Dhanush for Asuran (Tamil)
          4. Best Actress - Kangana Ranaut for Manikarnika and Panga
          5. Best Supporting Actor - Vijay Sethupathi for Super Deluxe (Tamil)
          6. Best Supporting Actress - Pallavi Joshi for (The Tashkent Files)
          7. Best Child Artist - Naga Vishal for KD (Tamil)
          8. Best Male Playback Singer - B Praak for Teri Mitti (Kesari)
          9. Best Female Playback Singer - Savani Ravindra for Marathi Song Raan Petala (Bardo)
          10. Best Cinematography - Girish Gangadharan for Jallikattu (Malayalam)
          11. Music Direction -
            1. Songs - D. Imman for Tamil (Viswasam)
            2. Background Score - Prabuddha Banerjee for Jyeshthoputro (Bengali)
          12. Regional Movies -
            1. Assamese - Ronuwa - Who Never Surrender
            2. Bengali - Gumnaami
            3. Hindi - Chhichhore
            4. Kannada - Akshi
            5. Konkani - Kaajro
            6. Malayalam - Kalla Nottam
            7. Manipuri - Eigi Kona
            8. Odia - Sala Budhar Badla and Kalira Atita
            9. Marathi - Bardo
            10. Punjabi - Rabb Da Radio 2
            11. Tamil - Asuran
            12. Telugu - Jersey
          13. Special Jury Award - R. Parthiban for Oththa Seruppu Size 7 (Tamil)
      6. Non-Feature Films -
        1. Golden Lotus -
          1. Best Non-Feature Film - An Engineered Dream (Hindi)
          2. Best Director in Non-Feature Film - Sudhanshu Saria for Knock Knock Knock (English & Bengali)
      7. Best Writing on Cinema -
        1. Golden Lotus -
          1. Best Book on Cinema - Sanjay Suri for A Gandhian Affair: India's Curios Portrayal of Love in Cinema (Malayalam)
          2. Best Film Critic - Sohini Chattopadhyay
    4. RBI Formed Standing External Advisory Committee for evaluating applications for Universal Banks and Small Finance Banks. It will be headed by Former RBI Deputy Governor Shyamala Gopinath.
    5. Danish Red Cross launched first of its kind catastrophe bond for volcano-related disasters, which will enable quick financial aid to those who are suffering because of eruption of 10 volcanoes in Chile, Ecuador, Cameroon, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala and Indonesia. Aim is to raise $3 million with launch of this bond.
    6. Andhra Pradesh government will set up India’s first government-run ambulance network for animals, to further boost animal husbandry and veterinary sector.
    7. Central PSU Power Grid Corporation of India (POWERGRID) established an e-Tendering Portal called PRANIT, to enable paperwork and promote ease of operation.
    8. ISRO successfully demonstrated its free-space Quantum Communication for a distance of 300 metres for the first time in India. It was demonstrated at the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad.
      1. This space quantum communication includes use of indigenously developed NAVIC receiver for the time synchronisation in between the transmitter and receiver modules.
      2. It included live video conferencing using quantum-key-encrypted signals, as a major milestone to achieve unconditionally secured satellite data communication using quantum technologies.
    9. 2021 Yonex All England Badminton Championships (Birmingham) -
      1. Men's singles - Lee Zii Jia (Malaysia). He defeated Viktor Axelsen (Denmark).
      2. Women's singles - Nozomi Okuhara (Japan). She defeated Pornpawee Chochuwong (Thailand).
      3. Men's doubles - Japan's Hiroyuki Endo AND Yuta Watanabe
      4. Women's doubles - Japan's Mayu Matsumoto AND Wakana Nagahara
      5. Mixed doubles - Japan's Yuta Watanabe AND Arisa Higashino
    10. India, Pakistan and other members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will hold a joint anti-terrorism in 2021, called Pabbi-Antiterror-2021.
  11. Mar 21, 2021
    1. India Joined Nations that possess nuclear missile tracking vessels, with Indian Navy commissioning its secretive Ocean Surveillance Ship Named INS Dhruv, earlier codenamed VC-11184.
      1. It will boost India’s ballistic missile defense capability and electronic maritime warfare.
      2. Other nations with this capability are US, France, Russia and China.
    2. French architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, founders of French studio Lacaton & Vassal, have been named 2021 winners of Pritzker Architecture Prize.
      1. Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually to exceptional architect(s), Founded in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and sponsored by Hyatt Foundation. It is often referred to as Nobel Prize of architecture.
      2. It carries monetary grant of US$100000.
    3. Gandhi Peace Prize for 2019 and 2020 -
      1. 2019 - (Late) Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman.
      2. 2020 - Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
      3. About -
        1. It is an annual award instituted by Government of India since 1995, on 125th Birth Anniversary commemoration year of M K Gandhi.
        2. Jury is chaired by PM Narendra Modi. Two eminent members are also part of Jury - Om Birla (Speaker of Lok Sabha), and Bindeshwar Pathak (Founder of Sulabh International).
        3. Award carries amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/ handloom item.
    4. Mar 21 is observed as -
      1. UN International Day of Forests, proclaimed in 2012. 2021 Theme is Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being.
      2. World Down Syndrome Day, Observed since 2006.
      3. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Proclaimed in 1966. 2021 Theme is Youth standing up against racism.
      4. World Poetry Day, Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999.
      5. World Puppetry Day.
  12. Mar 20, 2021
    1. Mar 20 is observed as International Day of Happiness, with 2021 Theme Happiness For All, Forever. It has been observed by UN since 2013.
      1. UN released World Happiness Report 2021 (149 Nations Analyzed for 6 Variables) -
        1. India is named among most unhappy nations, ranked 139th, compared to 144th last year.
        2. Top 5 - Finland (1), Denmark (2), Switzerland (3), Iceland (4), Netherlands (5)
        3. Bottom 3 - Afghanistan (149), Zimbabwe (148), Rwanda (147)
      2. Mar 20 is also observed as UN French Language Day.
      3. Mar 20 is also observed as World Sparrow Day. 2021 Theme is I Love Sparrows.
      4. Mar 20 is also Observed as World day of theatre for children and Young People.
      5. Mar 20 is also observed as World Oral Health Day. Theme for 2021-2023 is Be Proud Of Your Mouth.
    2. India-Finland Virtual Summit attended by PM Narendra Modi and Finland PM Sanna Marin. Notably -
      1. Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia partnered with Microsoft, Amazon web services and Google so as to develop a new cloud-based 5G radio solution, with its radio access network (RNA) technology.
    3. Noted Indian Actor Amitabh Bachchan has been with 2021 Film Archive Award by International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF), at a virtual ceremony.
    4. General Events / Conferences (Mar 11-20, 2021)
      1. Karnataka launched Xcelerator Bengaluru Initiative, to provide support to the women-owned micro-businesses.
      2. J&K UT Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha initiated project Awaam Ki Baat Radio program, to be aired every 3rd Sunday of month.
      3. A Joint Japanese-Australian venture started producing hydrogen from brown coal, under a $500 million pilot project to show that liquefied hydrogen can be produced commercially and can be safely exported overseas.
      4. Labour and Employment Ministry converged ESI Scheme with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) in 113 districts of Chhatisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
      5. Swarnim International Shivratri Fair held historic Paddal ground in Himachal Pradesh.
      6. Govt will launch Atmanirbhar Niveshak Mitra Portal, for information dissemination, hand-holding, and facilitation of domestic investors.
      7. Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda Inaugurated First of its Kind “Tribes India GI Mahotsav” at LBSNAA, Mussoorie.
      8. India opened first-of-its-kind ‘Energy Office’ in Moscow (Russia), to boost energy ties.
      9. Transport Ministry announced a new scheme, under which any tourist vehicle operator may apply for an “All India Tourist Authorization/Permit” through online mode, known as All India Tourist Vehicles Authorization and Permit Rules 2021.
      10. World Bank approved USD 200 million Loan to help Bangladesh support its low-income urban youths impacted by COVID 19 pandemic. International Development Association (IDA) over a 30-year term with the grace period of 5 years.
      11. Italy signed framework agreement with India to join International Solar Alliance (ISA), an alliance of over 121 nations that has been initiated by India.
      12. Samsung inaugurated an Innovation Lab at Delhi Technological University (DTU) to focus on collaborative research and training.
      13. India and Japan agreed to recognize each other’s offices to act mutually as competent International Searching and International Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) for any international patent application filed with them.
      14. BRICS Contact Group on Economic and Trade Issues (CGETI) held its first meeting under India’s Chairship. Theme of BRICS this year is -"BRICS@15: Intra BRICS Cooperation for Continuity, Consolidation, and Consensus”.
    5. Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan’s Children’s book Prince with a Paintbrush: The Story of Raja Ravi Varma, has been released.
    6. Bollywood actress and author Tisca Chopra's second book What's up with me, will be released soon.
    7. Deepak Ravindran's Book The Pain-Free Mindset has been released.
    8. Sanjaya Baru's New Book India's Power elite: Caste, class and cultural revolution, has been released.
    9. Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi 's memoir My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our Future will be published in September 2021.
    10. Govt reconstituted advisory committee to form plan for studying mythical Sarasvati river, after earlier panel’s 2 year term ended in 2019. Committee will continue to be chaired by Culture Minister (Prahlad Singh Patel currently).
    11. Kempegowda International Airport (Bengaluru) launched India’s first ever dedicated Express Cargo Terminal, exclusively for export and import of international couriers.
    12. AutHer Awards 2021 -
      1. Fiction - Jahnavi Barua for ‘Undertow’.
      2. Non Fiction - Shylashri Shankar for ‘Turmeric Nation’.
      3. Debut -  Shared by Lavanya Lakshminarayan for ‘Analog Virtual’ and Deepa Anappara for ‘Djinn Patrol in Purple Line’.
      4. Children - Rasil Ahuja for ‘Unfair’.
      5. Lifetime Achievement - Romila Thapar.
    13. Deutsche Bank and Continuum Green Energy subsidiary Continuum Energy Levanter executed world’s first green hedging transaction with a second party opinion based on a specially designed green hedge framework.
      1. The FX hedge solution is for 6 years tenor in USD/INR on notional of US$185 million.
    14. Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised 307 million USD from its first panda bond issue in more than a decade, representing its largest-ever borrowing in an Asian local currency. It pays 3.2 % annual coupon and features a 5 year bullet maturity redeeming in March 2026.
  13. Mar 19, 2021
    1. India – Uzbekistan joint military exercise DUSTLIK II commenced in Foreign Training Node Chaubatia at Ranikhet (Uttarakhand). 1st edition was held at Uzbekistan in Nov 2019.
    2. Netherlands PM Mark Rutte won 2021 parliamentary elections, winning his fourth straight term as PM.
      1. Earlier, Rutte and his Cabinet offered resignation in January 2021, in response to a scandal relating to child welfare fraud.
    3. Jammu and Kashmir UT administration approved incorporation of a joint venture company (JVC) under name Ratle Hydro-electric Power Corporation, To implement 850 MW Ratle Hydro-Electric Project (HEP) on river Chenab in Kishtwar district.
      1. JV has been incorporated between Government of Jammu and Kashmir, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and J&K State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC).
      2. 850 MW Ratle HEP will be developed at estimated cost of 5282 crores.
    4. e-book Dawn Under The Dome, written by Post Master General of Mumbai Swati Pandey, in collaboration with Orchida Mukherjee has been released. It depicts history of Mumbai General Post Office building.
    5. Indian renewable energy company ReNew Power has been included in World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Lighthouse Network, which recognises companies using new technologies to achieve environmentally sustainable and profitable growth.
    6. Hurun India Wealth Report 2020 identified a novel household category in India called New Middle Class, which accounts for an average savings of Rs 20-lakh per annum. As per report, number of such cumulative households in India stands at 633,000.
      1. Report states that there are around 4,12,000 dollar-millionaire households across India, with net worth over 7 crores.
      2. There are over 3000 households with wealth over 1000 crores.
      3. Indian middle class, with earnings over 2.5-lakh per annum, are approx 5.64 Crores.
    7. RBI asked banks to implement image-based Cheque Truncation System (CTS) in all branches by September 30, 2021. It is aimed at faster settlement of cheques, resulting in better customer service.
    8. Persons Resigned / Retired (Mar 2021) -
      1. PK Sinha resigned as Principal Advisor in Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
    9. El Salvador became first Central American country be certified malaria-free, by World Health Organization, with no indigenous transmission of Malaria for previous three consecutive years.
  14. Mar 18, 2021
    1. Mar 18 is observed as Ordnance Factory Day in India. First Ordnance Factory was established in Kolkata in 1801, which are 41 now.
      1. Mar 18 is also observed as Global Recycling Day, created in 2018.
    2. Samia Suluhu Hassan is named as East Africa nation Tanzania’s first female president, after recent demise of incumbent John Magufuli.
    3. Indian Navy undertook Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with Royal Bahrain Naval Force, in Persian Gulf under Operation Sankalp.
      1. PASSEXs are conducted regularly by the Indian Navy with units of friendly foreign navies.
      2. Indian Navy's Operation Sankalp in Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman is aimed as a measure to assure safety and security of Indian vessels.
    4. Punjab National Bank incorporated wholly-owned subsidiary PNB Cards & Services Limited, with authorised capital 25 Crores, which will deal with banks' non-financial support services related to its credit card business.
    5. As per World Air Quality Report 2020 by IQAir, 22 of world's 30 most polluted cities are in India, with Delhi being ranked as the most polluted capital city globally.
    6. M. A. Ganapathy has been appointed as Director General of National Security Guard (NSG).
    7. As per report by UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)  -
      1. India’s economy will contract by 6.9 % in FY 21 (2020-21) and will grow by 5 % in FY 22 (2021-22).
      2. Also, UNCTAD estimates global economy to grow by 4.7 % in FY 22 (2021-22).
    8. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) launched campaign named Sahi Disha, to celebrate women’s livelihoods and entrepreneurship in rural India.
  15. Mar 17, 2021
    1. Railways Completed arch bottom of World’s highest Bridge, The Chenab Bridge in J&K.
      1. Chenab Bridge, between Bakkal and Kauri in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, will span Chenab River at a height of 359 metres, making it world's highest rail bridge. Bridge length will be 1315 metres.
    2. Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) member countries accepted Sinatra Doctrine, to deal with increasing Chinese influence.
      1. Sinatra Doctrine will be based on two pillars - Continuing cooperation with China, to address global challenges and Strengthening strategic sovereignty of European Union by protecting technological sectors of its economy.
      2. Sinatra doctrine was name used by Soviet government of Mikhail Gorbachev to describe their policy to allow neighbouring Warsaw Pact states to determine their internal affairs. The name was taken from the song “My Way” which was popularized by Frank Sinatra.
    3. State Bank of India (SBI) Signed first deal in external commercial borrowing (ECB) market using new Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), with SBI and Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) signing $100 million deal for five years.
      1. SOFR is new alternative benchmark rate which will replace existing LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate).
      2. This has been triggered by decision of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in UK not to compel contributing banks for LIBOR calculation after December 2021.
    4. National Green Tribunal (NGT) formed a 12-member Oversight Committee to oversee prevention of unscientific and unregulated mining and restoring environment in Meghalaya.
    5. Jharkhand government launched SAAMAR (Strategic Action for Alleviation of Malnutrition and Anaemia Reduction) Campaign, to tackle malnutrition, by identifying anaemic women and malnourished children.
    6. Haryana Assembly passed Haryana Recovery of damages to property during disturbance to public Bill 2021, to recover compensation from protesters if they cause damage to property.
      1. State Assembly also passed Haryana Yog Aayog Bill 2021, to establish State Yog Aayog for the promotion and management of Yoga.
    7. UNESCO teamed up with USO India and Toonz Media Group for a creative water conservation awareness programme for students, to be unveiled on March 22, 2021 (World Water Day), as part of H2Ooooh! – Waterwise Program for school students.
    8. 27 Nations grouping European Union (EU) joined Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) initiative of India, which aims to promote disaster-resilient infrastructure.
      1. It was launched by India in 2019, to promote research in areas of infrastructure risk management, financing, and recovery mechanisms.
    9. Rajasthan Govt will launch Universal Health Scheme called Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Yojana, on May 1, 2021, as announced in State budget 2021-22.
      1. It will have budget outlay of 3500 crores, to provide cashless health services to all families in Rajasthan,  up to 5 lakh.
    10. Govt has set up 11 committees in different areas, to expedite transition from a linear to a circular economy across 11 focus areas.
      1. Areas include Municipal Solid Waste & Liquid Waste, Electronic Waste, Scrap Metal (Ferrous & Non-Ferrous), Solar Panels, Gypsum, Lithium-Ion Batteries, Agriculture Waste, Toxic Hazardous Industrial Waste, Used Oil Waste, Tyre and Rubber Recycling and End-of-life Vehicles (ELVs).
    11. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced USD 41 million-loan guarantee program to finance investment in renewable energy solutions by Indian SMEs.
    12. Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research designed an integrated catalytic system based on a metal-organic framework (MOF-808) comprising of a photosensitizer, that can harness solar power and a catalytic centre that can reduce CO2.
      1. This can mimic nature’s own process of reducing CO2 in atmosphere, namely photosynthesis.
      2. This artificial photosynthesis (AP) harnesses solar energy and converts captured CO2 to carbon monoxide (CO), which can be used as a fuel for internal combustion engines.
    13. Gram Ujala programme has been launched by Power & New and Renewable Energy Minister R K Singh in Bihar. It will be admnistered by EESL subsidiary Convergence Energy Services Ltd (CESL).
      1. Under it, high quality energy efficient LED bulbs will be given for Rs 10 per piece in certain villages of five states in first phase.
      2. In first phase, 15 million LED bulbs will be distributed across villages of Aarah (Bihar), Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh), Nagpur (Maharashtra), and villages in western Gujarat.
  16. Mar 16, 2021
    1. Cabinet Approvals (Mar 16, 2021) -
      1. MOUs -
        1. Maldives - Sports and Youth Affairs.
      2. General -
        1. Approved closure of Ministry of Textiles PSU Handicrafts and Handlooms Export Corporation of India Limited (HHEC), which has been incurring losses since FY 16.
        2. Approved presenting a Bill in parliament, which aims to set up a government-owned development finance institution (DFI) with initial paid-up capital of 20000 crores, to provide long-term funds to infrastructure projects.
          1. Government will give Rs 5,000 crore as grant to the proposed institution.
          2. It aims to leverage around 3 Lakh Crores from markets in few years.
            1. Notably, India aims to spend 111 Lakh Crores on infrastructure projects by 2025.
      3. CCEA -
        1. Approved Revised Cost Estimate (RCE) of Comprehensive Scheme for Strengthening of Transmission & Distribution in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, at estimated cost 9129 crores.
          1. It has been implemented through POWERGRID, to be commissioned in phased manner by December 2021.
    2. Mar 16 is observed annually as National Vaccination Day, (also National Immunization Day), observed since 1995. In 1995, India had started Pulse Polio Programme and first dose of Oral Polio Vaccine was given.
    3. Capital market regulator SEBI formed group of experts to examine feasibility of introducing Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) like structures in India, under Primary Market Advisory Committee (PMAC).
      1. SPACs are formed to raise capital in an initial public offering (IPO) with the purpose of using the proceeds to identify and merge with a target company.
    4. Book Battle Ready for 21st Century, co-edited by AK Singh Brig Narender Kumar, has been released.
    5. Indo-Israel Joint Venture (IOC Phinergy Private Limited) between Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Indian Oil) and Israeli Firm Phinergy, has been launched. It plans to manufacture Aluminum-Air systems in India and develop fuel cells and indigenous hydrogen storage solutions for promoting green mobility.
    6. Indian Naval Landing Craft Utility (LCU) L58, 8th and last ship of Landing Craft Utility (LCU) Mark IV Class, has been commissioned into Indian Navy at Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands). It has been Indigenously built by GRSE Kolkata.
    7. US India Artificial Intelligence Initiative has been launched by Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), to focus on AI cooperation in critical areas that are priorities for both nations.
    8. Manipur emerged as top state in implementation of Van Dhan programme, making it a major source of employment for local tribals.
      1. Since its launch in October 2019, 100 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras have been established, constituting 1500 SHGs and are benefitting 30000 tribal entrepreneurs.
      2. Van Dhan Vikas Yojana aims at branding & marketing of Minor Forest Produces by establishing Van Dhan Kendras to facilitate creation of sustainable livelihoods for forest-based tribes.
    9. Competition Commission of India Approvals (March 2021) -
      1. Approved acquisition of 51% of the equity share capital of North Eastern Electricity Supply Company of Odisha (NESCO) by Tata Power Company Limited, from Grid Corporation of Odisha Limited (GRIDCO).
    10. JP Morgan successfully tested a blockchain transaction in space using Danish space firm GomSpace’s satellites, as world’s first bank-led tokenised value transfer in space, executed via smart contracts on a blockchain network, established between two GOMX-4 satellites.
      1. This opens door to a potential peer-to-peer satellite marketplace in the long term, allowing data transfers between satellites against payment, as private companies prepare to launch their own constellations.
  17. Mar 15, 2021
    1. Mar 15 is observed as World Consumer Rights Day. 2021 Theme is Tackling Plastic Pollution.
    2. Department of Science and Technology's Science and Engineering Board (SERB) has set up a portal that offers real time information on various research projects supported by it, Called ‘SERB – PRoject Information System & Management (SERB – PRISM)’.
    3. Maharashtra government Launched Mahasamruddhi Mahila Sashaktikaran scheme, aimed at empowering women in rural Maharashtra.
      1. Under this, self-help groups will organise exhibitions to display rural women’s work and encourage greater participation across fields.
    4. A New new species of wētā – a giant flightless cricket that is endemic to New Zealand, has been named Hemiandrus jacinda, in name of New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
  18. Mar 14, 2021
    1. Mar 14 is observed as International Pi (π) Day, observed since 1988.
      1. Also, UNESCO Observes Mar 14 as International Day of Mathematics, Proclaimed in 2019.
      2. Mar 14 is also observed as International Day of Action for Rivers.
    2. India's biggest floating solar power plant, with capacity of 100 MW, will be set up by NTPC at Ramagundam in Telangana. It will be opened by May 2021, at Ramagundam thermal power plant reservoir. The solar panels will cover 450-acre area of reservoir, and can be expanded.
      1. Notably, World's largest floating solar power plant with 600 MW capacity is being set up on Omkareshwar Dam on Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh. It will start power generation by 2022-23, with cost 3000 crore rupees.
    3. PSUs REC Ltd and Power Finance Corporation (PFC) signed pact with Bhutan-based Kholongchhu Hydro Energy Ltd (KHEL), to finance a 600-megawatt hydroelectric project at Trashiyangtse (Bhutan).
      1. KHEL is a 50:50 joint venture between SJVN India and Druk Green Power Corporation (Bhutan).
    4. Book Baanjh: Incomplete Lives of Complete Women, written by Susmita Mukherjee has been released.
    5. Book Karunanidhi: A Life, authored by AS Panneerselvan has been released. It is biography of M Karunanidhi, Former chief minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms.
    6. WE Hub, India’s first and only state-led (Telangana) incubator to promote women entrepreneurship, announced a collaboration named UPSurg, with Australian government.
      1. UPSurge aims to be a pre-incubation programme to aid women entrepreneurs from across India to achieve financial independence.
  19. Mar 13, 2021
    1. India’s foreign-exchange reserves surpassed Russia’s to become world’s fourth-largest reserve, Reaching $580 billion. China has largest reserves, followed by Japan and Switzerland.
    2. Uttar Pradesh Govt Announced to soon Launch Arjuna Sahayak Irrigation Project worth 2600 crores, aimed to help farmers of Hamirpur, Mahoba, and Banda in the Bundelkhand region.
    3. Govt announced to develop a portal called Atmanirbhar Niveshak Mitra Portal, for information dissemination, hand-holding, and facilitation of domestic investors.
    4. Patrick Achi has been named Prime Minister of Ivory Coast (West Africa), after earlier PM Hamed Bakayoko had passed away.
    5. IBM collaborated with Samagra Sikhsha Uttarakhand Mission of Uttarakhand govt, to introduce STEM for Girls program in 130 schools across 5 districts.
    6. Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou won 2020 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, worth $5 million. 
      1. Mahamadou Issoufou is 6th winner of the Ibrahim Prize, which began in 2007, by Sudanese billionaire Mo Ibrahim’s foundation to promote good governance in Africa.
      2. With US$5 million payment, this prize is world's largest, exceeding $1.3m Nobel Peace Prize.
    7. National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) will launch first-of-its-kind project of Genome Mapping in Indian Ocean, to be completed in 3 years.
    8. US Consulate honoured Tamil Nadu-based anti-caste activist and human rights defender Gowsalya Shankar with nomination for International Woman of Courage (IWOC) Award.
  20. Mar 12, 2021
    1. PM Narendra Modi attended first QUAD (Quadrilateral Framework) Leaders' Summit, attended by India, US, Australia and Japan.
      1. UUAD grouping of India, USA, Australia and Japan, aims to safeguard interests of democratic nations in Indo-Pacific region and address global challenges and Chinese aggression.
    2. Jharkhand cabinet approved mandating private sector units to reserve 75 % of jobs, with salary up to Rs 30,000 per month, for local people. Before Jharkhand, Haryana government had also approved a similar policy.
    3. Govt launched Mera Ration Mobile App, to facilitate One Nation-One Ration Card system related services among National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries.
    4. Japanese Supercomputer Fugaku, developed by scientific research institute RIKEN and Fujitsu, is ready for deployment.
      1. It is said to be world’s most powerful supercomputer, named after an alternative name for Mount Fuji.
    5. PM Narendra Modi Govt Launched Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (India@75) from Ahmedabad (Gujarat), to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence, which falls on 15th August 2022, as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
      1. PM flagged off 91st anniversary of Dandi March, which took place from March to April in 1930, led by M K Gandhi.
      2. Also, Govt had earlier formed a 259 member Implementation Committee under chairmanship of Home Minister Amit Shah, to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence.
    6. 63rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremony  -
      1. Grammy Awards (originally called Gramophone Award) are presented by US Based The Recording Academy to recognize achievements in music industry. Notable Winners in 2021 Edition -
      2. Category Winner
        Album of the Year Folklore – Taylor Swift
        Record of the Year "Everything I Wanted" – Billie Eilish
        Song of The Year I Can't Breathe
        Best New Artist Megan Thee Stallion
        Albums
        R&B Bigger Love – John Legend
        Rap King's Disease – Nas
        Country Wildcard – Miranda Lambert
        Rock The New Abnormal – The Strokes
        Dance/Electronic Bubba – Kaytranada
        Pop Future Nostalgia – Dua Lipa
        Children's All the Ladies – Joanie Leeds
        Historical It's Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers
        Others
        Best Music Video "Brown Skin Girl" – Beyoncé, Saint Jhn & Wizkid featuring Blue Ivy Carter
        Best Music Film Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice – Linda Ronstadt
    7. Sahitya Akademi Awards 2020 announced for 20 languages. It contains prize money of 1 Lakh INR. Awardees -
      1. S.No Language Title (Genre) Author
         1 Assamese  Bengsata (Short stories) Apurba Kumar Saikia
         2 Bengali Eka Eka Ekashi (Memoirs) Mani Shankar Mukhopadhyay
         3
        		 Bodo Gwthenay Lamayao Gwdan Agan (Short stories) Dharanidhar Owari
         4 Dogri Baba Jitmal (Play) Gian Singh
         5 English When God Is a Traveller (Poetry) Arundhathi Subramaniam
          6 Gujarati Banaras Diary (Poetry) Harish Meenakshru
         7 Hindi Tokeri Mein Digant ‘ Their Gatha” (Poetry)  Anamika
         8 Kannada Sri Bahubali Ahimsadigvijayam (EPIC POETRY) M. Veerappa Moily
         9 Kashmiri Tilasm-e-Khanabadosh (Short stories) Hiday Koul Bharti
        10
        		 Konkani Yugaparivarathanancho Yatri  (Poetry) RS Bhaskar
        11 Maithili Gachh Roosal Achhi (Short Stories) Kamalkant Jha
        12 Manipuri Malangbana Kari Hai (Poetry) Irungbam Deven
        13 Marathi Udya (Novel)  Nanda Khare
        14 Punjabi Aam Khass (Short stories) Gurdev Singh Rupana
        15 Sanskrit Vaishali (Novel) Mahesh Chandra Sharma Gautam
         16 Santali  Gur Dak Kasa Dak(Poetry) Rupchand Hansdah
         17 Sindhi Jehad (Plays) Jetho Lalwani
         18 Tamil Sellaatha Panam (Novel) Imaiyam
        19 Telugu Agniswaasa(2015-17) Poetry Nikhileswar
         20 Urdu Amawas Mein Khwab (Novel) Hussain-ul-Haque
      2. Awards for Malayalam, Nepali, Odia and Rajasthani Languages will be announced later.
    8. World Bank economist Deepak Mishra has been appointed as the next Director and Chief Executive of leading think-tank Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER).
    9. Govt appointed G P Samanta has been appointed as new (4th) Chief Statistician of India (CSI), for 2 years term.
    10. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated Rasin Dam and Chillimal Dam in Chitrakoot, to resolve water shortage issues.
  21. Mar 11, 2021
    1. India’s first World Skill Centre inaugurated in Bhubaneswar by Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, modelled around leading Global Institutes.
    2. A centre of excellence for the dairy sector will be set up in Rajasthan in collaboration with Denmark, to promote growth in the sector.
    3. Jammu and Kashmir Administration launched application Named ANMOL, for identification and tracking of beneficiaries of scheme for distribution of tablets to Frontline health workers, under under national health mission.
      1. J & K Administration also approved Housing and Urban development department to provide interest-free loans up to Rs 2 lakh, under Construction- BLC component of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) scheme.
    4. New Book Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Power: 5 Battlegrounds authored by Rajiv Malhotra has been released.
    5. Niti Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission partnered with Aster DM Health care to support proactively the mission’s innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives across country, to change and improve health care innovations and outcomes.
    6. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched a unique project of creating “bee-fences” to mitigate human – elephant conflicts in the country, titled Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant – Human Attacks using Bees).
    7. Mar 11, 2021 is observed Globally as World Kidney Day, observed on 2nd Thursday in March.
  22. Mar 10, 2021
    1. Cabinet Approvals (Mar 10, 2021) -
      1. General -
        1. Approved Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN), as a single non-lapsable reserve fund for share of Health from proceeds of Health and Education Cess, levied under Section 136-b of Finance Act 2007.
          1. Accruals into PMSSN will be utilized for flagship schemes (Ayushman Bhara (AB-PMJAY), Ayushman Bharat - Health and Wellness Centres, National Health Mission, PM Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) etc).
          2. Administration of PMSSN is entrusted to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and In any financial year, expenditure on such schemes of MoHFW would be initially incurred from PMSSN and thereafter, from Gross Budgetary Support (GBS).
        2. Approved amendments in Insurance Act 1938, paving way for 74 % FDI in Insurance sector, up from 49 % currently.
    2. Indian Naval Ships visited Mongla (Bangladesh), to attend Swarnim Vijay Varsh celebrations of Bangladesh, which commemorates 50 years of Bangladesh's liberation war against Pakistan in 1971.
    3. Mar 10 is foundation day of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which was set up on Mar 10, 1969.
    4. General Events / Conferences (Mar 1 - 10, 2021) -
      1. Western Railways introduced mobile train radio communication (MTRC) system to facilitate direct and continuous communication between train crew and control centre, to help averting train accidents.
      2. World’s first refuge for the platypus will be built in Australia, to promote breeding and rehabilitation of this endangered species.
      3. TEPC (Telecom Equipment Export Promotion Council) organized India Telecom 2021, under Market Access Initiative Scheme (MAI) of Department of Commerce.
      4. Uttarakhand Govt launched Gharoki Paachan, Chelik Naam campaign, to promote girl child welfare.
      5. Indian PM Narendra Modi and Sweden PM Stefan Löfven held Virtual Summit, to discuss Bilateral issues.
      6. 2nd edition of Global Bio-India-2021 held in New Delhi in virtual mode, with theme Transforming lives.
      7. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot launched Sugamya Bharat App, and a handbook Access-The Photo Digest, to enhance accessibility.
      8. Cyberabad Police (Telangana) launched India’s first-ever Transgender Community Desk’ at Gachibowli Police Station in Hyderabad, as first-of-its-kind gender-inclusive community policing initiatives in country.
      9. First Forest Healing centre in India inaugurated at Ranikhet in Kalika (Uttarakhand).
      10. India’s first dolphin research centre will be developed in Patna University (Bihar).
      11. President Ram Nath Kovind laid foundation stone for conservation works of Singorgarh Fort in Singrampur village of Damoh district (Madhya Pradesh). He also inaugurated newly carved Jabalpur Circle of Archaeological Survey of India.
      12. Switzerland Residents voted in favour of banning full facial coverings including burqa and niqab in public places.
      13. Tripura Govt. launches ‘Jagrut Tripura’ Digital platform to boost e-Governance.
      14. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Institute of Medical Sciences and Research at IIT Kharagpur.
      15. New Delhi World Book Fair 2021 held Virtually, with theme National Education Policy-2020.
    5. India Finished 7th in Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series Wrestling 2021 (Italy), with 8 medals Inclduing 2 Gold (Bajrang Punia (65 kg), Vinesh Phogat (Women's Freestyle 53 kg).
  23. Mar 09, 2021
    1. PM Narendra Modi Virtually inaugurated Maitri Setu between India and Bangladesh, along with with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina.
      1. Maitri Setu has been built over Feni river, which flows between Indian boundary in Tripura and Bangladesh. 1.9-km-long bridge joins Sabroom in India with Ramgarh in Bangladesh, built at 133 Crores.
      2. With this, Tripura became ‘Gateway of North East’ with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is 80 Kms from Sabroom.
      3. PM also laid foundation stone for setting up an Integrated Check Post at Sabroom.
    2. France launched its first military exercises in space, amid growing competition between world powers in Earth’s orbit. The exercise codenamed AsterX, was organized by France’s newly created Space Command.
      1. It commenorates Astérix or A-1, the first French satellite, which was launched in 1965.
    3. English translation of Anant Vijay’s book Amethi Sangram: Aitihasik Jeet Ankahi Dastan, Titled Dynasty to Democracy: The Untold Story of Smriti Irani’s Triumph, has been released.
    4. Autobiography of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Frontier Gandhi, titled The Frontier Gandhi: My Life and Struggle has been released.
    5. NABARD chairman G R Chintala has been appointed as chairman of APRACA (Asia Pacific Rural and Agricultural Credit Association).
      1. Established in 1977, APRACA is association of institutions involved in agricultural and microfinance development, representing 21 countries in Asia-Pacific region.
    6. Alliance Insurance launched insurance portal SMEInsure, to provide financial security to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), small shop and business owners Alliance.
    7. K.K. Birla Foundation's 30th Bihari Puraskar for 2020 will be given to Mohankrishna Bohara for his Hindi book of Criticism, titled Taslima: Sangharsh aur Sahitya.
      1. The award is one of the three literary awards instituted by the K.K. Birla Foundation in 1991. Named after famous Hindi poet Bihari.
      2. Awards Institited by K K Birla Foundation in 1991 -
        1. Saraswati Samman - For literary work in any Indian language
        2. Vyas Samman - For prose/poetry work in Hindi
        3. Bihari Puraskar - For prose/poetry work in Hindi/Rajasthani, only authors from Rajasthan are eligible
        4. Shankar Puraskar - For a work in Hindi concerning Indian philosophy, culture and/or art.
        5. Vachaspati Puraskar - For any work in Sanskrit.
        6. G.D. Birla Award for Scientific Research
    8. Indian-origin Person Naureen Hassan has been appointed as first Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Federal Reserve, the Central Bank of USA.
  24. Mar 08, 2021
    1. Mar 8 is observed as International Women's Day. 2021 Theme is choose to challenge. United Nations began celebrating the day in 1977. On this occasion -
      1. Google announced to support 1 million rural women entrepreneurs in India during its virtual event called Women Will. It also launched a global Google.org Impact Challenge for Women, under which Google will provide $25 million in grants to enterprises that are doing important work to help women and girls reach their full potential.
      2. HDFC Bank launched SmartUp Unnati mentoring Programm, to support women entrepreneurs. It will initially target over 3000 women entrepreneurs, who will be assisted by Bank's senior women executive leaders.
      3. Environment Minister Prakash Javedkar launchesd e-book The Green Queens of India – A nation’s pride.
      4. Ministry of Women and Child Development informed that, all major schemes of Ministry have been classified under 3 umbrella schemes viz. Mission Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti.
      5. Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha launched Super-75 scholarship scheme to support education of meritorious girls in UT.
      6. Ujjivan Small Finance Bank launched Savings Account catering to financial needs of women, called Garima Savings Account.
      7. Yes Bank launchd women-centric 'Yes Essence' services that will offer preferentially-priced loans and healthcare benefits, among other services.
      8. Odisha government will set up a new department namely Mission Shakti, to work towards strengthening self help groups, by bringing them all under one platform to ensure greater focus and synergy and to avoid duplication in activities.
      9. Firs first flight landed at Trishul airport of Bareilly, with an all-women crew, Making Bareilly 8th Airport in Uttar Pradesh.
    2. Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill 2021 has been passed by state Assembly, whichwas earlier approved by Cabinet. It criminalizes Forced conversions with provision of jail term up to 10 yrs and over Rs 50000 fine.
    3. Pallav Mohapatra has been appointed as chief of Asset Reconstruction Co India Ltd (Arcil). He is Former CEO of Central Bank of India.
    4. Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Girish Chandra Murmu has been re-appointed as Chairman of the Panel of External Auditors of UN for year 2021.
    5. Bharatiya Janata Party's Tirath Singh Rawat has been appointed as new (9th) Chief Minister (CM) of Uttarakhand.
      1. He replaced Trivendra Singh Rawat, who resigned recently.
    6. Indian won 10 Medals at 35th Boxam International Boxing Tournament in Castellon (Spain). It includes 1 Gold (Manish Kaushik (63 KG), 8 Silver and One Bronze (Mary Kom).
    7. 2021 Swiss Open Badminton -
      1. Men's singles - Viktor Axelsen (Denmark)
      2. Women's singles - Carolina Marín (Spain). She defeated P. V. Sindhu of India.
      3. Men's doubles - Denmark's Kim Astrup AND Anders Skaarup Rasmussen
      4. Women's doubles - Malaysia's Pearly Tan Koong Le AND Thinaah Muralitharan
    8. UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice 2021 Held in Japanese city of Kyoto.
  25. Mar 07, 2021
    1. Mar 7 is observed as Janaushadhi Diwas, with Mar 1 - 7 observed as Janaushadhi Week. Theme is Jan Aushadhi - Seva bhi, Rozgar bhi. 2021 is 3rd observerance of Janaushadhi Diwas.
      1. On this occasion, PM Narendra Modi launched 7500th Jan Aushadhi Kendra at North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) Shillong.
    2. Delhi Govt approved constituting Delhi Board of School Education, to provide in-house affiliation to Govt and Private Schools in Delhi.
    3. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and SBI Payments launched RuPay SoftPoS for merchants, which will be helpful in transforming NFC enabled smartphones into merchant Point of Sale (PoS) terminals for retailers.
      1. Merchants will be able to accept contactless payments of up to 5000 by simple tap and pay mechanism using their smartphones.
    4. Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs decreased threshold for mandatory e-invoicing from rupees 100 crores to rupees 50 crores, effective April 2021.
    5. Telecom Service Providers began implementing second phase of SMS regulations, as notified by TRAI, which mandated every SMS content to be verified before it is delivered to users.
      1. This process of verifying the SMS content is known as SMS scrubbing. Unverified and unregistered SMS messages will now be blocked by telecom operators.
    6. European Union released 2030 Digital Compass Plan, to counter EU's reliance on key technologies owned by Chinese and US companies, as exposed by Covid-19 pandemic.
      1. Plan will be presented to EU Parliament for final approval, aiming to enable EU to produce fifth of global output of cutting-edge semiconductors by 2030. EU also seeks to make its first quantum computer in five years.
    7. Economic Freedom Index 2021 released by Heritage Foundation (US) -
      1. Top 3 - Singapore (1) , New Zealand (2), Australia (3)
      2. Bottom 3 - Suriname (169), Iran (168), Turkmenistan (167)
      3. India ranked 121.
      4. Neighbors - Bangladesh (121), Sri Lanka (131), China (107), Pakistan (152)
    8. Odisha will set up dedicated District Investment Promotion Agencies (DIPA) in 30 districts, to help promote investment.
    9. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) completed development of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capable of producing extremely high-resolution images for a joint earth observation satellite mission with U.S. space agency NASA.
      1. NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) is a joint collaboration for a dual-frequency L and S-band SAR for earth observation.
      2. NISAR is first satellite mission to use two different radar frequencies (L-band and S-band) to measure changes in Earth’s surface less than a centimetre across. It is targeted to be launched in early 2022.
    10. Central Silk Board (Ministry of Textiles) and Agriculture Ministry signed MoU for a convergence model in order to implement Agro-forestry in silk sector under Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme, which was launched in FY 2017 (2016-17).
    11. A United Nations report called to scale up Carbon Capture, Use and Storage (CCUS) Technology, to boost efforts under Paris Agreement on Climate change which aims for net-zero emissions goal in order to limit global warming.
      1. CCUS is a significant carbon emissions reduction technology, comprising capturing CO2 from fuel combustion or industrial processes, transporting it through ship / pipeline, and using it to create valuable products / services or store it permanently underground in geological formations.
  26. Mar 06, 2021
    1. Department of Science and Technology launched India Science Research Fellowship (ISRF) Programme for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand researchers to work in Indian Universities and Research Institutions.
      1. It has been implemented since 2015, to engage with neighbouring countries to develop S&T partnerships.
      2. In 2021, 40 scholars from 6 countries have been awarded under ISRF Programme.
    2. NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) released report Mobilising Electric Vehicle Financing in India, which states that capital investment of USD 266 billion will be required in EVs, charging infrastructure, and batteries , by 2030.
      1. Report also identifies a market size of USD 50 billion for financing of EVs in 2030, about 80% of current size of India’s retail vehicle finance industry, worth USD 60 billion.
    3. Railways Launched Integrated Rail Madad Helpline at Number 139, for quick grievance redressal and enquiry during the journey. It will take over all existing helpline numbers.
  27. Mar 05, 2021
    1. Odisha government and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India signed MoU for setting up an Integrated Steel Complex in Kendrapara District, with an investment of over 50000 crores.
      1. It was signed on occasion of Biju Patnaik's Birth Anniversary (Former Chief minister of Odisha).
    2. PM Narendra Modi has been awarded CERAWeek Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award, at CERAWeek 2021, held virtually.
      1. Instituted in 2016. It recognizes the commitment of leadership on the future of global energy & environment and for offering solutions and policies for energy access, affordability & environmental stewardship.
    3. Karnataka Govt launched Engineering Research & Development (Engineering R&D) Policy 2021, as a measure to leverage sector’s potential, create jobs and improve state’s contribution by bridging gap between academia and industry.
    4. Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) signed USD 10.40 million loan deal with Southern African Nation Eswatini (Swaziland) on behalf of Indian government, as per an agreement reached earlier.
    5. Axis Securities launched YIELD platform, to buy and sell bonds as well as debentures in secondary market.
    6. UAE's National Central Cooling Company Tabreed and International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced to invest USD 400 Million in India and South-East Asian countries to build cooling service infrastructure.
    7. Cabinet approved appointment of Tarun Bajaj as new revenue secretary, under Ministry of Finance. Also, Ajay Seth has been appointed as New Economic Affairs Secretary.
    8. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) announced to sell its entire 61.65 % Stake in Numaligarh refinery (Assam), to Oil India, Engineers India Ltd and Assam Govt for 9876 crores. This will clear way for for privatisation of BPCL.
      1. In keeping with Assam Peace Accord, Govt will keep Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL) in public sector. Therefore, BPCL had to sell its entire stake to PSUs.
    9. Author Shrabani Basu’s New Book The Mystery of the Parsee Lawyer has been Released.
    10. Evan Osnos’s New Book Joe Biden: American Dreamer, a Biography of Joe Biden, has been released.
    11. Arun Kumar Singh has been Appointed as New Chief Secretary of Bihar.
  28. Mar 04, 2021
    1. PM Narendra Modi inaugurated 2nd edition of Maritime India Summit 2021, held Virtually.
      1. On this occasion, Real-time Vessel Tracking System was launched, to help seafarers and fishermen. This system has been named as “Sagar-Manthan: Mercantile Marine Domain Awareness Centre (MMDAC)”.
      2. The summit ended with March 4 observed as Chabahar Day, marking importantce of Chabahar Port in Iran.
    2. Mar 4 is observed as National Security / Safety Day in India, as a tribute to all security forces of country. It was observed with theme Road Safety. National Safety Council was set up on 4 March 1966.
    3. Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma launched Chief Minister’s Mobilisation Support for Producers’ program, to ensure that farmer and producer groups get timely availability of better marketing infrastructure and transportation facilities. It has been given allocation of 200 crores for 2 years.
    4. Misc. Science News /Events (March 2021) -
      1. Dinosaur fossils been found in Argentina belonging to oldest-known member of dinosaur group known as titanosaurs, that includes largest land animals in Earth's history.
      2. Russia and China signed agreement to develop a joint lunar space station.
      3. ISRO launched sounding rocket (RH-560) to study attitudinal variations in the neutral winds and plasma dynamics.
      4. Indian and Japanese space agencies reviewed cooperation in earth observation, lunar cooperation and satellite navigation, which includes ongoing Joint Lunar Polar exploration (LUPEX) mission, which aims to send a lander and rover to Moon’s south pole around 2024.
      5. Russian scientists launched one of world's biggest underwater space telescopes, named Baikal-GVD, to peer deep into universe from pristine waters of Lake Baikal. The deep underwater telescope is designed to observe neutrinos, the smallest particles currently known.
        1. Baikal telescope will rival Ice Cube which is a giant neutrino observatory under Antarctic ice at US research station at South Pole.
      6. Three ISRO Space TechnologyIncubation Centres (S-TIC) inaugurated at National Institute of Technology (NIT) at Nagpur, Bhopal and Rourkela, to encourage students to explore their entrepreneurship skills in space domain.
      7. Botanists discovered new rattlepod species in Sadasivakona grove area of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh, Named as Crotalaria lamelliformis.
      8. Russia launched 38 foreign satellites onboard Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle, as First fully commercial launch of Soyuz-2 launch vehicle.
      9. Astrome, a women-led IISC Incubated startup,  developed an innovative wireless product that gives fibre like bandwidth at fraction of cost of fibre to help telecom operators deliver reliable low-cost internet services to suburban and rural areas.
    5. Industrial / Misc. Awards (March 2021) -
      1. The Hindu Group won two golds and two silvers at South Asian Digital Media Awards given by WAN IFRA (World Association of News Publishers), named ‘Champion Publisher of the Year’.
      2. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has been conferred with Top-20 Global Women of Excellence-2021 award by US.
      3. Indian female forest officer from Odisha, Sasmita Lanka has been felicitated with United Nation's Asia Environmental Enforcement Award.
      4. Actress Deepika Padukone has been named in list of Young Global Leaders (YGLs) compiled by the World Economic Forum, a part of 2021 class of YGLs.
      5. Team from IIT Kharagpur won CoreNet Global Academic Challenge 6.0, sponsored by Cushman and Wakefield, KI and IA. This is first time that a squad from India has emerged as winners in CoreNet Global Academic Challenge, since its inception in 2015.
        1. CoreNet Global is a non-profit association, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia (US).
      6. Antara Banerjee, scientist at National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, received SERB Women Excellence Award 2021 for her contribution in understanding endocrinology in female reproduction that could help in assisted reproductive technologiesfemales.
      7. Marico Chairman Harsh Mariwala has been named EY Entrepreneur for 2020.
      8. HDFC Bank has been named India’s Best Bank for SMEs at Asiamoney Best Bank Awards 2021.
    6. UT of Jammu and Kashmir topped medal tally in 2nd edition of Khelo India Winter National Games, winning 11 gold, 18 silver and 5 bronze medals. The five-day event held at Gulmarg in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
    7. US Based Space Exploration Firm SpaceX tested its Starship prototype rocket SN10, after launching it to altitude of 10000 kilometres and landing back on ground.
      1. SN10 is an early prototype of Starship Mars rocket of SpaceX, which aims to get people and payloads to moon, Mars and other distant destinations.
    8. 10th Edition of Hurun Global Rich List 2021 -
      1. It ranked 3228 billionaires from 2,402 companies and 68 countries.
      2. Top 5 - Elon Musk (197 Billion USD), Jeff Bezos (189 Billion USD), Brnard Arnault (114 Billion USD), Bill Gates (110 Billion USD), Mark Zuckerberg (101 Billion USD)
      3. India's Mukesh Ambani is ranked 8th Globally, with net worth 83 Billion USD.
    9. World Bank announced to introduce a $100-million credit guarantee scheme to boost India’s rooftop solar programme, allowing MSMEs to avail concessional debt financing for setting up rooftop solar units. It will be in association with State Bank of India.
    10. UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) recommended graduation (Upgradation) of Bangladesh from category of Least Developed Country (LDC), after Bangladesh fulfilled eligibility criteria in terms of per capita income, human assets and economic and environmental vulnerability.
      1. Bangladesh will get time up to 2026 to prepare for transition to status of a developing country.
      2. Usually, countries are given 3 years for transition but this year due to the pandemic, Bangladesh has been given 5 years.
  29. Mar 03, 2021
    1. Mar 3 is observed as UN World Wildlife Day. 2021 Theme is Forests and Livelihoods: sustaining people and planet. It was proclaimed in 1973.
    2. Mar 3 is observed as World Hearing Day. 2021 theme is  Hearing Care for All. On this occasion -
      1. World Health Organization (WHO) published first world report on hearing on World Hearing Day 2021. It states that 25 % People will be experiencing mild-to-profound hearing loss by 2050.
      2. Heath Minister Harsh Vardhan inaugurated six new ‘Outreach Service Centers for Communication Disorders’ across country byAll India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) Mysuru. They are IGIMS Patna, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and Karnataka's Bidar IMS, Belagavi IMS, Karnataka IMS, and Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research.
    3. Indian Air Force for the first time Participated in Ex Desert Flag VI, an annual multi-national warfare exercise hosted by United Arab Emirates Air Force. Nations incolved are UAE, India, USA, France, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Bahrain.
    4. Cabinet Approvals (Mar 03, 2021) -
      1. MOUs -
        1. France - Renewable Energy
        2. Fiji - Agriculture and Allied Sectors
    5. Noted Boxer Mary Kom has been appointed as chairperson of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) champions and veterans committee.
      1. This committee was established in December 2020, comprising of most respected boxing veterans and champions from across world.
    6. Govt launched Swachhta Saarthi Fellowship under Waste to Wealth Mission, with objective of recognizing students, self-help groups, community workers, sanitary workers and municipal workers who are engaged in tackling enormous challenge of waste management.
    7. Indian Firm Wipro joined an initiative by World Economic Forum (WEF) called Partnering for Racial Justice in Business initiative, to help promote culture of inclusion, diversity, justice and equity for the people coming from different racial backgrounds at workplace.
    8. QS World University Rankings 2021 -
      1. Top 5 -
        1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
        2. Stanford University (USA)
        3. Harvard University (USA)
        4. California Institute of Technology (USA)
        5. University of Oxford (UK)
      2. Indian Universities in list -
        1. IIT Bombay ranked at top among 29 Indian Universities in overall List, ranked 172nd globally, followed by IISC Bangalore (185) and IIT Delhi (193).
    9. US NGO Freedom House's report Freedom in the World 2021 – Democracy under Siege, has downgraded status of India as a democracy and free society from Free to partly free.
    10. Govt formed a 259 member Implementation Committee under chairmanship of Home Minister Amit Shah, to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence, which falls on 15th August 2022, as Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
    11. UN General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by India, declaring 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’.
    12. Indian IT Firm Wipro acquired $1.45 billion to acquire Capco, a British IT consultancy.
    13. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan launched CSIR Floriculture Mission, for implementation in 21 states / UTs wherein available knowledge base in CSIR Institutes will be utilised to help farmers and industry re-position themselves to meet import requirements.
      1. It encourages CSIR laboratories to develop land available at each of its institutes across country as a model under CSIR Floriculture Mission.
    14. Sri Lanka announced to develop West Container Terminal (WCT) at Colombo Port along with India and Japan.
      1. This is notable as recently Sri Lamka government ejected India and Japan as partners from a 2019 tripartite agreement to jointly develop East Container Terminal (ECT), citing resistance to “foreign involvement”.
    15. India’s Varun Kapur and Malvika Bansod won men’s and women’s singles titles at 2021 Uganda International Badminton tournament.
    16. Obituaries (March 2021) -
      1. Vernon Jordan Jr. - Noted American civil rights activist.
      2. Anshuman Singh- former Governor of Rajasthan & Gujarat.
      3. Ishar Singh Deol - Dhyan Chand National Sports Award winning Noted Athlete.
      4. NS Lakshminarayana Bhatta - Noted Kannada poet and translator.
      5. Dadi Hriday Mohini - Noted Social Worker and Brahma Kumaris' chief.
      6. Chemancheri Kunhiraman Nair - Noted Kathakali actor and Padma Shri Awardee.
      7. Laxman Pai - Noted Padma Bhushan awardee artist and Painter from Goa.
      8. Marvelous Marvin Hagler - Noted American professional boxer and actor.
      9. Shrikant Moghe - Noted Marathi Actor.
      10. Moudud Ahmed - Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and Vice President.
      11. Lou Ottens - Dutch inventor, known for his invention of audio cassette tapes. In 1963, he presented first cassette tape at Berlin Radio Show electronics fair.
      12. Sagar Sarhadi - Noted Indian writer and director.
      13. G.V. Ramakrishna - Former SEBI Chairman. He was first chairman of SEBI, after it became a statutorily empowered markets regulator.
      14. Nawal Saadawi - Noted Egyptian feminist and novelist, who has been a fierce advocate of women rights in Egypt and Arab world.
      15. Adam Zagajewski - Noted Polish poet.
      16. Laxmipriya Mohapatra - Noted Odissi dancer, and wife of Noted classical dancer Kelucharan Mohapatra.
      17. Beverly Cleary - Noted American children's author.
      18. KC Chakrabarty - Former RBI Deputy Governor.
      19. Anil Dharker - Noted journalist and author.
  30. Mar 02, 2021
    1. Nag River Pollution Abatement Project has been approved, with cost 2117 crores. Project will be implemented under National River Conservation Plan, to reduce pollution level in terms of untreated sewage, flowing solid waste and other impurities.
    2. NITI Aayog's Atal Innovation Mission partnered with mathematical computing software developer MathWorks, to strengthen Deep-tech startup ecosystem of India.
      1. Under this, startups supported by AIM, will get access to various MathWorks tools (including MATLAB and Simulink).
      2. MathWorks supports over 3,000 startups and 300 Accelerators worldwide.
    3. Central Sector Scheme Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs) completed 1 year of implementation. It was launched by PM Modi on 29-02-2020 at Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh), with budgetary provision of 6865 crores. During 1s year, 2200 FPO produce clusters were allocated for formation of FPOs.
      1. FPOs will be provided financial assistance upto Rs 18 lakh per FPO for a period of 03 years.
      2. 9 selected Implementing Agencies (IAs) are engaging Cluster-Based Business Organizations (CBBOs) to aggregate, register & provide professional handholding support to each FPO for a period of 5 years.
    4. As per Govt Data, India received FDI inflow of US$ 67.54 billion during April to December 2020.
      1. It is highest ever for first ninth months of a financial year and 22% higher as compared to first ninth months of earlier FY 20 (2019-20).
      2. Also, Singapore has been topmost source of FDI in India during concerned period, with Inflow of $15.7 billion, followed by US ($12.82 billion) and Mauritius ($3.47 billion).
    5. Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri released final rankings of Ease of Living Index (EoLI)2020 and Municipal Performance Index (MPI) 2020 -
      1. In Ease of Living Index -
        1. Over 10 Lakhs - Bengaluru, Pune and Ahmedabad.
        2. Under 10 Lakhs - Shimla, Bhubaneshwar and Silvassa.
      2. Municipal Performance Index -
        1. Over 10 Lakhs - Indore, Surat, Bhopal
        2. Under 10 Lakhs - New Delhi MC, Tirupati, Gandhinagar
    6. Indigenously developed optical spectrograph Aries-Devasthal Faint Object Spectrograph & Camera (ADFOSC), developed by Nainital based Aryabhatta Research Institute of observational sciences (ARIES) has been commissioned.
      1. The spectroscope has been commissioned on 3.6-m Devasthal Optical Telescope (DOT), as largest reflecting telescope in Asia.
      2. It can locate sources of faint light from distant quasars and galaxies in a very young universe, regions around supermassive black-holes around the galaxies, and cosmic explosions.
    7. India’s First Grade Separated Urban Expressway, the 29 KM long Dwarka Expressway is being built under Bharatmala Project with cost 8662 crores.
      1. It will be named Northern Peripheral Road or NH 248-BB, commonly known as Dwarka Expressway, connecting Dwarka in Delhi to Gurugram in Haryana. It will have longest (3.6 kilometre) and widest (8 lane) Urban Road Tunnel in India.
    8. Misc. Sports News / Events (March 2021) -
      1. All-India Football Federation announced Odisha as host of Indian Women’s League (IWL) Football, for which dates to be announced later.
      2. Mumbai City FC defeated ATK Mohun Bagan in Goa, to win ISL League Winners Shield and AFC Champions League spot that comes with it.
      3. Indian Boxers won 2 medals at Strandja Memorial tournament in Sofia (Bulgaria) - Deepak Kumar (Silver in 52kg) and Naveen Boora (Bronze in 69kg).
      4. Windies Cricketer Kieron Pollard became 3rd Player to hit six sixes in an over in International Cricket, doing the same against Sri Lanka. Earlier Batsmen are Yuvraj Singh (India) and Herschelle Gibbs (South Africa).
      5. Koneru Humpy (Chess player from Andhra Pradesh) won BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year award for 2020.
      6. Bhavani Devi became first Indian fencer to qualify for Olympics in Women’s individual Sabre.
      7. Indian Female cricketer Mithali Raj became first Indian to complete 10000 international runs in all formats.
      8. Haryana men and Kerala women won 69th National volleyball championships in Bhubaneswar.
      9. Delhi Govt Announced that Delhi will bid to host 2048 Olympics.
      10. Hashmatullah Shahidi became first batsman from Afghanistan to score double hundred in Test cricket, scoring it against Zimbabwe.
      11. International Cricket Council imposed eight years ban on former UAE players Mohammad Naveed and Shaiman Anwar Butt.
      12. Indian Cricketer Virat Kohli became first batsman to make 3000 runs in men's T20I cricket.
      13. In 2021 Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Patiala (Punjab) -
        1. Avinash Sable has set new national record in men’s 3000m steeplechase event, with timing of 8:20.20. He broke his own record of 8:21.37.
      14. India won 7 medals (2 Gold, 1 Silver & 4 Bronze) and finished at 3rd Position in 2021 World Shooting Para Sport World Cup at Al Ain, UAE. Ukraine topped with 11 Medals. For India, Gold were won by Singhraj and Manish Narwal.
      15. India defeated Sri Lanka to win Road Safety World Cricket Series, hosted at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur (Chhattisgarh).
      16. Girl Gang track by New Zealand singer Gin Wigmore has been announced as official song of 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup, to be hosted in New Zealand.
      17. India finished 3rd with 7 medals (Including 1 gold) at Al Ain 2021 Para Shooting World Cup (UAE). Manish Narwal and Singhraj were gold winners for India.
    9. Misc. Defence News / Events (March 2021) -
      1. India Air Force attended Sri Lankan Air Force's 70th anniversary Celebrations. Also, India described Sri Lanka as 'Priority One' partner in defence sphere.
      2. DRDO conducted successful flight test of Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology, enabling DRDO to develop a long-range air-to-air missile.
      3. India and Philippines signed agreement to facilitate deals on military hardware, including supply of BrahMos cruise missiles.
      4. Govt sanctioned 12 new SSB battalions, comprising over 13000 personnel for Guarding Nepal and Bhutan borders.
      5. DRDO's Sindhu Netra Satellite was Launched along with Brazil's Amazonia-1 and 17 other co-passenger satellites, onboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C51.
      6. DRDO conducted final development test of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP), aimed at making Indian submarines more lethal.
        1. AIP marine propulsion technology allows non-nuclear submarine to operate without providing access to atmospheric oxygen by surfacing or by using snorkel. This can replace diesel-electric propulsion system used in non-nuclear vessels.
      7. Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems (KRAS),  joint venture between Kalyani Group of India and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems of Israel,  released first batch of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) kits for Indian Army and Air Force.
      8. Defence ministry signed deal worth 1188 crores with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), for supply of 4960 Milan-2T Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs) for Indian Army.
      9. As per report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI, India’s arms imports came down by 33 %, between 2011-2015 and 2016-2020. India still remains the second highest importer though, only behind Saudi Arabia.
        1. Top 5 global arms exporters were US, Russia, France, Germany and China in 2016-2020.
      10. Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 310, The Cobras, a maritime reconnaissance squadron of the Indian Navy based at Goa observed its Diamond Jubilee. It was Commissioned at Hyéres, France on 21 Mar 1961.
      11. US Navy announced to hold Group Arabian Sea Warfare Exercise, as major naval exercise alongside Belgium, France and Japan in Mideast.
      12. India and Madagascar Navies undertook 1st joint patrolling of Madagascar’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and also conducted a Passage Exercise (PASSEX).
    10. Misc. MOUs (March 2021) -
      1. Govt signed MOU with IIT Bombay, to establish a Centre of Excellence in gaming ad other related areas.
      2. Goa State Govt collaborated with IBM to provide free skills training to youth, to upskill 10000 learners across 10 institutions in an year.
      3. Odisha Govt signed MOU with International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to strengthen management of natural resources that benefits Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups(PVTGs) in 12 districts.
      4. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed MoU with Central Silk Board under Ministry of Textiles, for implementation of Agroforestry in silk sector under Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme.
      5. Indian Oil Corporation and Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation signed MOU to developParadip Plastic Park.
      6. National Health Authority (NHA) signed MOU with UTI Infrastructure Technology and Services Limited (UTIITSL) to issue free PVC Ayushman cards to beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in 11 states / UTs.
      7. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed MoU with National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) for cooperation in harnessing exports potential of agricultural and processed food products manufactured by MSMEs.
      8. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) of NITI Aayog and Amazon Web Services (AWS) collaborated to promote ed-tech entrepreneurship through incubation centres and build ed-tech solutions using cloud computing.
      9. TRIFED and Government of Arunachal Pradesh signed MoU, for implementation of the MSP for MFP Scheme and the Van Dhan Yojana in state, to improve livelihoods of tribals.
      10. MOU signed Between India and Japan for 3rd phase of Indian beamline project, a facility for materials research set up under India-Japan Scientific and Technological Cooperation, with special focus on industrial application research.
    11. Russian Space agency Roscosmos launched its first ever Arctic-monitoring satellite, to monitor Arctic’s climate and environment, named Arktika-M.
      1. Arktika-M satellite is one among series of planned Russian remote-sensing and emergency communications satellites. Constellation of 2 Arktika-M satellites has also been designed to monitor high-latitude areas of Earth.
    12. 78th Golden Globe Awards -
      1. Best Motion Picture - 
        1. Drama - Nomadland
        2. Musical / Comedy - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
      2. Best Performance in a Motion Picture (Drama) -
        1. Actor - Chadwick Boseman (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom)
        2. Actress - Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday)
      3. Best Performance in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) -
        1. Actor - Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat Subsequent Moviefilm)
        2. Actress - Rosamund Pike (I Care a Lot)
      4. Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture -
        1. Supporting Actor - Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah)
        2. Supporting Actress - Jodie Foster (The Mauritanian)
      5. Best Director - Chloé Zhao (Nomadland)
      6. Best Foreign Language Film - Minari
      7. Best Animated Feature Film - Soul
      8. Best Television Series -
        1. Drama - The Crown (Netflix)
        2. Musical or Comedy - Schitt's Creek (Pop TV)
    13. Parliament merged two of the TV channels namely Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV into an integrated channel “Sansad TV”.
    14. Haryana governor Satyadeo Narain Arya gave his nod to bill providing 75% reservation to local candidates applying to private-sector jobs in state, which was passed by Haryana assembly in 2020.
    15. National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) launched AI Gamechangers program, to promote AI led innovation in India, with Microsoft as Innovation Partner for program.
  31. Mar 01, 2021
    1. Mar 01 is observed as Zero Discrimination Day annually by UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS). It has been observed since 2014.
      1. Also, Mar 1 is observed as Civil Accounts Day in India, since 1976.
    2. Gross GST revenue collected in of February 2021 remained 113143 crores (CGST 21092 crores, SGST 27273 crores, IGST 55253 crores andCess 9525 crores).
    3. Misc. Appointments (March 2021) -
      1. Jaideep Bhatnagar has been appointed as Principal Director General in Press Information Bureau.
      2. Manpreet Vohra has been appointed as India’s next High Commissioner to Australia.
      3. Kuldiep Singh has been assigned additional charge as CRPF director general, after incumbent A P Maheshwari retired.
      4. International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has been re-elected for an additional four-year term.
      5. Union Minister Anurag Thakur (Minister of State for Finance, Corporate Affairs) became first serving MP to be appointed as Captain in Territorial Army.
      6. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has been appointed as chairman of Globla TB Awareness Body Stop TB Partnership Board, to recognise his contribution towards movement of eradicating Tuberculosis (TB) from India by 2025.
      7. Arindam Bagchi has been named as new spokesperson of external affairs ministry.
      8. US Senate confirmed Katherine Tai as first woman of Color (non-white) to serve as US Trade Representative.
      9. Indian-American physician Vivek Murthy has been confirmed by US Senate as US surgeon general. He will occupy the position of America’s Surgeon General for 2nd time, after his election in 2011 by President Barack Obama.
      10. Govt extended term of Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) K. VijayRaghavan by a year.
      11. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Republic of Congo has been Re-elected for his 5th term.
      12. Anish Shah has been appointed as CEO & MD of Mahindra and Mahindra Group.
    4. New Delhi based Central Revenues Control Laboratory (CRCL) under Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, has been recognized as a Regional Customs Laboratory (RCL) of World Customs Organisation (WCO) for Asia-Pacific Region.
    5. Udaipur Science Centre, at Udaipur (Tripura) has been launched by Tripura Governor Ramesh Bais, as 22nd Science Centre developed by National Council of Science Museums of Ministry of Culture under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science.
    6. Misc. Corporate News /Events (March 2021)
      1. Government amended Insurance Ombudsman Rules 2017, to improve working of Insurance Ombudsman mechanism to facilitate resolution of complaints regarding deficiencies in insurance services in a timely and cost-effective manner. Amended rules have enlarged scope of complaints to Ombudsmen, also including insurance brokers.
      2. EPFO recommended 8.50% annual rate of interest to be credited on EPF accumulations in members’ accounts for FY 21 (2020-21).
        1. Also, EPFO extended its provident fund, pension and insurance benefits to all employees of existing establishments covered under erstwhile J&K PF Act and employees of newly covered establishments.
      3. HDFC ERGO General Insurance launched Business Kisht Suraksha cover, with aim of protecting balance sheet of lending Institutions in case of a catastrophe / natural disaster.
      4. SBI Mutual Funds launched its first overseas offering, titled SBI International Access — US Equity FOF, as an open-ended fund of funds scheme investing in a mutual fund scheme/ETFs that invest in US markets, which are domiciled overseas.
      5. Siemens Closed acquiring 99.22 % stake in C&S Electric, for 2100 crores.
      6. Anil Ambani-led Reliance Power achieved financial closure for its 745 MW Unit in Bangladesh, along with partner JERA of Japan, by tying up funds with a group of lenders that includes Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
      7. India will levy a customs duty of 40% on solar modules and 25% on solar cells from April 2022, to cut imports and boost local manufacturing.
      8. Tata Motors launched ‘Wheels of Love’ holistic programme to support new parents in its workforce.
      9. Axis Bank launched wearable contactless payment devices under brand Wear ‘N’ Pay.
      10. As per Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology’s (MeitY) Digital Payment Scorecard, SBI topped the list of Banks’ performance on various digital parameters, for 3 consecutive months.
      11. Samsung Electronics’ System LSI Business and Mastercard signed MOU to develop a biometric card that features a built-in fingerprint scanner to authorize transactions securely at in-store payment terminals.
      12. RBI imposed penalty of 2 Crore on State Bank of India, for contravention of certain RBI provisions.
      13. Power Grid Corporation signed Share Purchase Agreement with Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited (JPVL) to acquire 74% stake in Jaypee Powergrid Limited-JV (JPL), in which POWERGRID holds 26% equity. JPL-JV has developed a 214 Km long EHV power transmission project to evacuate power from Karcham-Wangtoo project in Himachal Pradesh.
      14. Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) launched ‘IOB Trendy’, savings account customised for growing millennial population in country by considering their banking preferences.
      15. ICICI Bank launched instant EMI facility on its internet banking platform, Called EMI @ Internet Banking, to offer increased affordability to pre-approved customers.
      16. Yes Bank launched Yes Essence Plus accelerator program to support women-led startups in partnership with SHEROES, the women-only social network.
    7. India and Norway will work in area of marine spatial planning in the oceanic space for next five years, under Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative MOU signed in 2019.
      1. Both countries will extend support for sustainable ocean resources utilisation to advance economic and social development in coastal areas, known as Marine Spatial Planning (MSP).
      2. In primary state, National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) will develop a marine spatial planning framework for Puducherry and Lakshadweep.
    8. State Govt Budgets FY 22 (2021-22) -
      1. Arunachal Pradesh -
        1. Total expenditure for FY 22 (2021-22) estimated at 21680 crores, with Revenue Deficit 580 crores.
        2. State Govt will develop 3 model villages along Indo-Tibet border area as a pilot project, with allocation of 30 crores.
      2. Andhra Pradesh -
        1. In a first-of-its-kind initiative, AP State government Included a Gender Budget and Child Budget in State's Budget for FY 22.
      3. Bihar -
        1. Total expenditure for FY 22 (2021-22) estimated at 2.18 Lakh crores, with Revenue surplus 9196 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. State will begin implementation of Saat Nishchay Yojana-2 in 2021-22, with 4671 crores allocation. Key schemes under Saat
          2. Nishchay-2 include creating centres of excellence in polytechnic and ITIs, establishing mega-skill development centres, providing grants up to 5 lakh to youth for setting up businesses, providing cash incentive to female students (25000 to 50000) and housing for homeless and landless poor in urban areas.
      4. Delhi -
        1. Total expenditure for FY 22 (2021-22) is estimated to be 69000 crores. Budget is themed Deshbhakti.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Health card will be issued to all citizens of Delhi, to be used through an online Health Information Management System.
          2. School curriculum for classes nursery to 8 will be revised, with focus on personality development, along with a class daily on patriotism.  100 schools of excellence will be opened for grades 9 to 12 in different parts of Delhi.
          3. Proposed two new schemes - Delhi Heritage Promotion and Delhi Tourism Circuit.  
      5. Gujarat -
        1. Total expenditure for FY 22 (2021-22) estimated to be 2.23 Lakh crores, with Revenue surplus 1209 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Unproductive land will be utilised for horticulture and herbal crops under Mukhyamantri Bagayat Vikas Mission. Agriculture Organic Market Scheme will allow farmers to directly sell organic farm produce in urban areas. Kisan Suryodaya Yojanahas been introduced to provide day-time power supply to farmers.
          2. International Mediation and Arbitration Centre will be established at GIFT city.
          3. Bulk Drug Industrial Park will be established at Jambusar and Medical Device Industrial Park will be established at Rajkot.
      6. Haryana -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 is estimated to be 1.56 Lakh crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. 8585 crores allocated towards Medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) reserve fund, to be spent on special projects in health, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
          2. Kisan Mitra Yojana will be launched to facilitate financial services for farmers.  Har Khet Swasth Khet Abhiyan will be launched to focus on soil quality.  
      7. Himachal Pradesh -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to 50192 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. State government will formulate Swaran Jayanti Energy Policy in 2021-22 for the promotion of energy sector. New policy will also be formed for increasing survival percentage of new plantations.
          2. Swaran Jayanti Paramparagat Beej Suraksha Samvardhan Yojana will be started for the conservation and propagation of traditional seeds.
          3. Integrated beneficiary database management system will be developed for the proper selection of beneficiaries under various schemes.
          4. Honorarium for ASHA / Anganwadi workers and Helpers will be increased by 300 to 750 per month.
      8. Jharkhand -
        1. Expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 91277 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Padhna Likhna Abhiyaan will be launched to achieve 100% literacy in state.  Jharkhand Tribal University and Jharkhand Open University will be established to ensure reach of higher education among students in remote rural regions.
          2. Community solar irrigation facilities will be provided under the Kisan Samriddhi Yojana in various blocks of state.  1200 crores allocated Kisan Karj Mafi Yojana.
      9. Karnataka -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 246207 crores, framed as First Outcome-Based Budget. In this budget, all the departments were given specific targets and responsibilities that are required to be completed in a specified time.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Chief Minister Mega Integrated Industrial Townships will be developed in Bengaluru-Mumbai and Bengaluru-Chennai industrial corridors through public-private partnership.
          2. Additional subsidy of 15% will be provided for post-harvest management and processing plants, construction of cold storage.
          3. Women entrepreneurs in health sector will be provided loans up to two crore rupees at subsidised interest rate of 4%. Women’s self-help groups will be supported to start 6,000 micro-enterprises in sectors such as catering, solid-waste management.
      10. Uttarakhand -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 57400 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Song Drinking Water project will be launched in 2021-22, with 150 crores allocation.
          2. Rural Development and Migration Commission will be established to curb reverse migration from state.
      11. Kerala -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 211873 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Tax Proposals -
            1. Kerala flood cess (1% of GST) will not be levied after July 2021.  
            2. Tax on liquid and compressed natural gas (LNG and CNG) will be reduced from 14.5% to 5%
            3. Tax on Newly registered electric vehicles will be reduced by 50% for next five years.  
            4. For property transactions, stamp duty will be reduced from 8% to 4% and registration fee reduced from 2% to 1%. 
          2. Policy to encourage eco-friendly construction of buildings will be formulated.  
          3. Construction of 3 industrial corridors (Kochi-Palakkad, Kochi-Mangalore, and Capital City Regional Development) involving investment of about Rs 50,000 crore will begin in 2021-22.
      12. Madhya Pradesh -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 234918 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Mukhya Mantri Krishak Fasal Uparjan Sahayata Yojana will be introduced to provide financial aid to farmers through Department for Civil Food Supplies and state cooperative marketing federation, with allocation 2000 crores. 
          2. CM Rise scheme will be launched to upgrade 9,200 schools with modern infrastructure.
          3. Mukhya Mantri Swa-Rozgar Yojanawill be launched to provide loans at low interest rates to encourage self-employment among youth, with 112 crores allocation.
      13. Maharashtra -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 484091 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. A concession of 1% on stamp duty proposed for properties registered in name of women.
          2. Post COVID counselling and treatment centres will be set up in every district hospital and government medical college.
          3. Scheme to strengthen Agricultural Produce Market Committee will be launched with capital outlay of 2000 crores.  
          4. Sharad Pawar Gram Samrudhi Yojana will be implemented to provide grants for permanent cow sheds, goat rearing sheds and poultry sheds and composting.
      14. Odisha -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 170000 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Budget has been introduced to map various schemes and programmes of state government to the respective UN SDG goals and targets (set of 17 goals in various areas).  
          2. Urban Wage Employment Initiative-MUKTA has been introduced to provide wage employment opportunities to urban poors.
      15. Punjab -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 168015 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Govt will launch a new umbrella scheme ‘Kamyaab Kisan Khushaal Punjab’ by converging various development schemes for providing end-to-end support to farmers, with outlay 3780 crores for 3 years.
          2. Govt will double amount of pension provided to sections from 750 to 1500, such as elderlies, widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities.
      16. Rajasthan -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 250747 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Health -Universal Health Care scheme will be implemented to provide health insurance of five lakh rupees to each family.  A Bill will be introduced to provide healthcare as a right. 25 Nursing colleges will be constructed, in addition to 8 that currently exist.  
          2. Separate budget for agriculture will be presented from next year onwards.  Chief Minister’s Krishak Sathi Yojana will be implemented, with outlay of 2,000 crore over three years. 
          3. Industry -
            1. New MSME policy will be released.
            2. New industrial cluster will be developed at Marwar with investment of Rs 750 crore
            3. Greater Bhiwadi Industrial Township will be constructed with investment of 1000 crore. 
      17. Telangana -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 230826 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. New scheme will be started for the upgradation of infrastructure in government schools, with Allocation 4000 crores.
          2. CM Dalit Empowerment Programme will be started to provide for the all-round development of persons belonging to scheduled castes, with 1000 crores Allocation.
          3. Constituency Development Fund of MLAs and MLCs will be increased from 3 to 5 crore rupees.
          4. To encourage farmers to take up the cultivation of oil palm, subsidy of Rs 30,000 per acre will be provided. 
      18.  Uttar Pradesh -
        1. Total expenditure for 2021-22 estimated to be 550271 crores.
        2. Policy Highlights -
          1. Atmanirbhar Krishak Samanvit Vikas Yojana will be introduced to achieve doubling of farmers’ income by 2022., with 100 crores allocation.
          2. Mukhyamantri Saksham Suposhan Yojana will be launched to combat issue of malnutrition of women and children.
          3. Mukhamantri Pravasi Shramik Udyamita Vikas Yojana will be introduced to provide employment and self-employment to workers who returned back to state due to COVID-19.

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