1 President Draupadi Murmu presented Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards to 94 artistes in New Delhi.
President Draupadi Murmu presented Sangeet Natak Awards for the years 2022 and 2023 to 94 eminent artistes at a ceremony . These awards were given in the fields of music, drama, dance, folk and tribal arts, puppetry and allied theater art forms. Apart from the Academy Awards, President Draupadi Murmu also gave Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship – Akademi Ratna to seven eminent artists. also presentedThose honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship include Vinayak Khedekar and R Visvesvaran for their contribution to Indian music, while Neetu Kumari Nutan and Shailesh Srivastava for the year 2022 and Maddali Usha Gayatri are among those honored for the year 2023.
2 Navy has commissioned the strategically important I.N.S. Jatayu was immersed in Minicoy of Lashwadeep.
The Indian Navy commissioned Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu at a ceremony held at Minicoy . This is a milestone in enhancing the security infrastructure on the strategically important islands of Lakshadweep . Navy Chief Admiral R Harikumar was present on the occasion. It is the second naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak at Kavaratti . Minicoy is the southernmost island of Lakshadweep and is important from the point of view of naval communications. The operation of this naval base will facilitate conducting anti-piracy and anti-narcotics operations in the Arabian Sea. INS Jatayu will strengthen the Navy’s footprint in the Lakshadweep Islands and usher in a new era of capacity building and comprehensive development of the island territories.
3 Launch of e-Farmer Produce Fund
Recently the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution launched the ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ (e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi) of the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority to leverage technology towards simplifying the storage logistics of farmers and ensuring fair prices for their produce . Digital Gateway) launched. The ‘e-Kisan Upaj Nidhi’ platform simplifies the digital process, allowing farmers to store their produce in any registered WDRA warehouse for up to six months at 7% per annum interest. Featuring an additional security deposit policy without mortgaging any property, the initiative is aimed at farmers who often have to sell their entire crop at cheaper rates in times of distress due to lack of good post-harvest storage facilities for their produce. The purpose is to prevent the sale of tha, and to enable better storage opportunities after harvest.
4 Reserve Bank has issued new guidelines for card issuing banks and non-banking institutions.
The Reserve Bank has issued new guidelines for card issuing banks and non-banking institutions . The Reserve Bank has said that card issuers should not enter into any arrangement or agreement with card networks that prevents customers from availing the services of other card networks. RBI said it has been observed that some of the arrangements between card networks and card issuers do not provide choice to customers. The card issuing bank or non-banking institution cannot force the customer to take a card of a particular network. Card issuers will provide their customers with the option to choose the card network at the time of card issuance. For existing cardholders this option is required to be provided at the time of next renewal.
5 Sub-Inspector Suman Kumari becomes the first female sniper of BSF
Sub-Inspector Suman Kumari has etched her name in history as the first woman sniper of the Border Security Force (BSF) . His recent completion of an eight-week intensive sniper course at the Central School of Weapons and Tactics (CSWT) in Indore not only reflects his exceptional abilities but also reflects his pioneering spirit. Suman has achieved the coveted ‘ Instructor Grade ‘ which is a testament to his proficiency and expertise.
6 Yogi government will start ‘MYUV’ scheme
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ‘s ambitious scheme ‘ Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (MayYuva) ‘ is going to be started in the state soon. For this, the Chief Minister has instructed the officials of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department to prepare and present a complete action plan soon. Through this scheme, one lakh young entrepreneurs will be prepared every year. The government will provide interest-free loans for projects up to Rs 5 lakh . Yogi government had made a provision of Rs 1000 crore for this scheme in the budget of 2024-25.
7 Cuttack’s silver Tarkashi gets GI tag
Cuttack ‘s famous silver tarkashi has been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag . Odisha State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation Limited (Utkalika) has applied on July 1, 2021 requesting GI tag for the famous silver tarkashi. If Cuttack’s silver Tarkashi gets GI tag, its importance will increase significantly. GI tag is given only to those products which are made only at a particular place and are associated with regional specialties.
8 World first jet suit race organized in Dubai
The first jet suit race was held in Dubai . Pilots equipped with jet engines on their arms and backs performed like real-life ‘IRON MAN ‘ in this unprecedented competition organized by Gravity Industries in collaboration with Dubai Sports Council . Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Dubai Marina’s iconic skyscrapers, the futuristic display featured pilots deftly navigating the course with their powerful jet suits. The event took place on the runway at Dubai Marina, used by Skydive Dubai, a company linked to Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum known for providing exhilarating experiences.
9 RBI approves merger of AU Small Finance Bank and Fincare SFB
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved the all-stock merger of AU Small Finance Bank and Fincare Small Finance Bank . This merger will involve an all-stock merger worth US$530 million. The merger has been approved under Section 44A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. This merger will come into effect from April 1, 2024. This means that all branches of Fincare SFB will function as branches of AU SFB from April 1.
10 International Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness Day 2024
The first International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness was observed on March 5, 2023 , following the UNGA resolution adopted on December 7, 2022 . Disarmament, as defined by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), involves the balanced reduction of armed forces and conventional weapons as well as the elimination of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Its objective is to increase stability at the lower military level while ensuring the security of all parties involved.