Current Affairs March 24th 2023| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

RBI allows India & Tanzania to use national currencies for trading                            

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved for India and Tanzania to use their national currencies Ie, Indian Rupee (INR) & Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh) for bilateral trade settlement.
• Under this mechanism, authorised banks in India will open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts (SRVAs) of correspondent banks of Tanzania.

Significance : 

• The use of national currencies in bilateral trade settlements is expected to reduce the cost of transactions and enhance the efficiency of cross-border trade.
• This will lead to increased trade volumes and greater economic cooperation between India and Tanzania.

Key Highlights : 

• Tanzanian banks will have to open SRVAs in India by approaching authorised Indian banks, who will in turn approach RBI for their approval with details of the arrangement.
• Bank of Baroda (BoB) has received RBI’s approval for opening SRVAs for its foreign branches and subsidiaries situated in various countries including Tanzania.
• The Indian high commission in Tanzania is organising a Stakeholders Consultation Meeting on 24th March 2023 where details about the bilateral trade mechanism using local currency and its benefits would be discussed.

Difference between Vostro & Special Vostro accounts :

Vostro account : 

• A Vostro account (Vostro means ‘yours’ in Latin) is an account that a domestic bank holds for a foreign bank in the domestic bank’s currency.

Special Vostro Accounts : 

• Normal Vostro accounts act only as transit accounts whereas in Special Vostro Accounts INR (Indian Rupee) balances can be held.

About RBI :

• Established : 1 April 1935
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Governor : Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy governors : Mahesh Kumar Jain,M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael Patra and T. Rabi Shankar

IndiaFirst Life Insurance gets SEBI’s approval to launch IPO                                          

• IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company (IndiaFirst Life) has received an approval from capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO).
• The company filed preliminary IPO papers with SEBI on 21 October,2022.
• The IPO will comprise a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 500 crore and an offer-for-sale (OFS) up to 14.1 crore equity shares from promoters and stakeholders.
• Bank of Baroda (BoB), the country’s third largest PSU bank holds a 65% stake in the firm followed by Warburg Pincus affiliate Carmel Point Investments India which holds 26% and Union Bank of India which holds a 9% stake.

About IndiaFirst Life : 

• Founded : 16 November 2009
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• MD & CEO : Ms.R.M.Vishakha Chairman and Non-Executive Director (nominee of Bank of Baroda) : Sanjiv Chadha

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL NEWS

Ashwini Vaishnaw releases ‘Go Green, Go Organic’ cover for Sikkim

• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and four Sikkim ministers released a unique cover of the Department of Posts, ‘Go Green, Go Organic’ for Sikkim.
• The special cover is a testament to the state’s achievements in organic farming and progress and a reminder of the importance of sustainable development for the entire country.
• The union minister thanked Department of Posts for this release and congratulated Sikkim State for its achievements of becoming the first state of the world to get recognized as an Organic state by the World Book of Records (London).
• Meanwhile, the state has also won the prestigious Future Policy Gold Award from the UN Food and Agriculture.
• Sikkim has the title of the ‘first 100% organic state’ in the world.

Power Minister launches SADUN to modernise power distribution utilities in South Asia

• RK Singh, the minister of power and new and renewable energy, has launched the South Asia Distribution Utility Network (SADUN), which aims to modernise distribution of utilities in South Asia via knowledge sharing among the region’s discoms.
• SADUN is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Power, USAID and PFC.
• Singh said that all the member nations would benefit from the synergy, exchange of experiences and the sharing of vision-enabled by the network.
• USAID had conceptualised SADUN in January 2020 based on a consensus among the participants over a need for an initiative which focused on distribution network in the region.
• USAID has already shared a white paper on SADUN with member nations to “get their concurrence on the blueprint of the network” and move ahead in “the process of implementation.”
• Representatives from the power sectors of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka welcomed the initiative while they spoke about the opportunities, challenges and expectations from the forum.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS NEWS

GSTN empanels EY, IRIS, 2 other firms to provide e-invoice registration

• GST Network has empanelled four private companies, including EY and IRIS Business, for providing e-invoice registration services to businesses.
• Businesses with turnover of Rs 10 crore and above are required to generate electronic or e-invoice for all B2B transactions.
• So far, taxpayers under Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime could use only government portal NIC to register their e-invoices.
• “Four private companies ClearTax, Cygnet, E&Y and IRIS Business Ltd were empanelled by GSTN for providing these e-invoice registration services to all GST taxpayers of the country,” GSTN said in an advisory to taxpayers.
• GSTN, which provides technology backbone for GST, also said empanelment of private firms would add significant capacity and redundancy to the single e-invoice registration portal which existed earlier.
• Under Goods and Services Tax (GST) law, e-invoicing for business-to-business (B2B) transactions was made mandatory for companies with turnover of over Rs 500 crore from October 1, 2020, which was then extended to those with turnover of over Rs 100 crore effective January 1, 2021.
• From April 1, 2021, companies with turnover of over Rs 50 crore were generating B2B e-invoices, and the threshold was brought down to Rs 20 crore beginning April 1, 2022.
• From October 1, 2022, the threshold was further lowered to Rs 10 crore.
• Indirect tax reform GST was rolled out on July 1, 2017.

Jindal Steel gets India’s first BIS licence to manufacture Fire-resistant steel

• Jindal Steel & Power has received BIS certification to manufacture India’s First Fire Resistant Steel Structures at its rail mill and special profile mill in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.
• The Hot Rolled Structural S teel, manufactured to IS 15103 standards, will be able to withstand temperatures up to 600 degrees Celsius for a maximum duration of three hours, and it can be used in high-temperature or fire-prone areas.
• Fire protection has been a challenge in the design of steel structures.
• The availability of Fire Resistant Steel will result in more efficient design of structures.
• The new BIS 15103 grade will be used to manufacture steel structures for infrastructure projects such as industrial structures, refineries, bridges, metro projects, hospitals, and commercial and residential buildings, besides steel and power plants.
• Bimlendra Jha, Managing Director, Jindal Steel and Power.

Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 2022-23

• In terms of Government of India Notification Sovereign Gold Bonds 2022-23 (Series IV) will be opened for subscription during t he period March 06-10, 2023 with Settlement date March 14, 2023.
• The issue price of the Bond during the subscription period shall be ₹5,611 (Rupees Five Thousand Six Hundred Eleven only) per gram.
• Government of India in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India has decided to allow discount of ₹50 (Rupees Fifty only) per gram from the issue price to those investors who apply online and the payment is made through digital mode.
• For such investors the issue price of Gold Bond will be ₹5,561 (Rupees Five Thousand Five Hundred Sixty One only) per gram of gold.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

International Monetary Fund approves USD 3 billion in financial assistance for debt-ridden Sri Lanka

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $3 billion bailout programme that will be available over 4 years, to help debt-ridden Sri Lanka overcome its economic crisis and catalyse financial support from other development partners.
• The Executive Board’s decision will enable an immediate disbursement equivalent to Special Drawing Rights (SDR) 254 million (about $ 333 million) and catalyse financial support from other development partners.
• This is Sri Lanka’s 17th credit programme with the IMF.
• Sri Lanka is going through its worst-ever economic crisis since its independence in 1948.
• India had provided assistance of 4 billion dollars to Sri Lanka.
• Under Extended Fund Facility, financial assistance is provided to countries facing medium-term balance of payments problems due to structural weaknesses.
• SDR are supplementary foreign exchange reserve assets defined and maintained by the IMF.

About IMF : 

• Established : 1945
• Headquarters : Washington DC, United States
• Managing Director : Kristalina Georgieva
• Membership : 190 countries (189 UN countries and Kosovo)
• IMF is an international organisation.
• It is designed to promote global monetary cooperation.

About Sri Lanka : 

• President : Ranil Wickremesinghe
• Prime Minister : Dinesh Gunawardena
• Capital : Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative), Colombo (executive and judicial) 
• Currency : Sri Lankan rupee

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Tamil Nadu’s 18th wildlife sanctuary to come up in Erode                               

• The Government of Tamil Nadu (TN) will notify Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 80,567 hectares in the forest areas of Anthiyur and Gobichettipalayam taluks in Erode district, as the 18th wildlife sanctuary in TN.
• It will include 4 reserve forest areas in Anthiyur, Bargur, Thattakarai and Chennampatti.

About the Sanctuary : 

• The sanctuary is located on the western side of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve.
• It is located on the northern side of Kollegal forest division.
• It lies on the eastern side of Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka.
• It is adjacent to Cauvery North and South Wildlife Sanctuaries in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri.
• Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary would form a tiger corridor connecting Bandipur Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary and Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The sanctuary is home to 21 species of mammals, 136 species of birds and 118 species of butterflies.
• 10 tigers, elephants, leopards, wild boars, gaurs and deer are found in these reserve forest areas.
• Tamil Nadu’s 17th Wildlife Sanctuary : Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary 

About Tamil Nadu :

• Governor: R. N. Ravi
• Chief minister: M. K. Stalin
• Capital: Chennai
• Dance : Bharatnatyam, Karakattam
• National Park : Mudumalai National Park, Mukurthi National Park, Guindy National Park, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries : Kalakad Wildlife sanctuary, Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
• Tiger Reserve : Anamalai Tiger Reserve
• Biosphere Reserve : Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve

Odisha named Gandhamardan Hill as biodiversity heritage site                                 

• The Odisha government has declared the Gandhamardan hill (Gandhamardan Reserve Forest), spanning 18,963.898 hectare over  6,532.098 ha (Balangir) and 12,431.8 ha Bargarh districts, as the 3rd biodiversity heritage site (BHS) of Odisha by giving it the status of a unique, ecologically fragile ecosystem having rich biodiversity.
• A notification issued by the state forest and environment department stated the status was accorded as per section 37 of the Biodiversity Act and Rule 20(2) of the Odisha Biodiversity Rules, 2012.
• The Mandasaru gorge in Kandhamal district was notified as the first such site in Odisha in 2019, followed by Mahendragiri hills in Gajapati district in 2022.

Key Highlights : 

• Gandhamardan hill range is considered as ‘Ayurvedic paradise’ of Odisha’ where traditional knowledge holders have been collecting wild medicinal plants to treat different diseases and ailments.
• The hills also have 2 historical monuments – Nrusinghanath temple on the northern slope of the hill and Harishankar temple on the southern slope of the hill have immense cultural significance

What is a biodiversity heritage site? 

• Biodiversity heritage sites are well-defined areas under the National Biodiversity Authority that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems – terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having a rich ecosystem.

About Odisha : 

• Governor : Ganeshi Lal
• Chief Minister : Naveen Patnaik
• Capital : Bhubaneswar
• National Park : Bhitarkanika National Park, Simlipal National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary : Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Tikarpada Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS : DEFENCE NEWS

2nd ship of Anti-Submarine Warfare Craft INS Androth launched In Kolkata

• Indian Navy’s second anti-submarine warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) warship named Indian Naval Ship (INS) Androth has been launched in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• Vice admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, commanding-in-chief, Western Naval Command was the chief guest at the occasion.
• Former Indian cricketer Arun Lal was the guest of honour at the ceremony.

About INS Androth : 

• INS Androth  was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, West Bengal for the Indian Navy.
• The ship has been named Androth to signify the strategic maritime importance accorded to the island of Androth, located about 170 Nm north-west of Kochi, in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
• It is about 77.6 metres long and 10.5 metres wide and requires a draught of only 2.7 metres.
• The ASW SWC ships will have over 80% indigenous content and have a displacement of 900 tons with a maximum speed of 25 knots.
• These are designed to undertake anti-submarine, low-intensity maritime operations (LIMO) and mine-laying operations.
• It will be fitted with weapons, machinery and sensors before it can be commissioned next year.
• The contract for building 8 ASW warships was signed between the Ministry of Defence and the GRSE in April 2019.
• The 1st ship of the series, INS Arnala was launched in Dec 2022.
• The Arnala class of ships will replace the Abhay class ASW Corvettes of the Indian Navy.

About MoD : 

• Defence Minister : Rajnath Singh
• Minister of State : Ajay Bhatt
• Defence Secretary : Giridhar Aramane

2nd edition of Africa-India joint military exercise AFINDEX-2023 begins in Pune                                   

• The Second (2nd) edition of the Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX), a nine-day mega military exercise between India & 23 African nations began in Pune, Maharashtra, India.
• The theme of the exercise is “humanitarian mine action and peacekeeping operations,”.

Participating Countries

• Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles, Senegal, Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Aim : 

• To expand the participant’s overall military cooperation

Key Highlights : 

• The Joint exercise was commenced in 2008 through the India- Africa Summit and after that held in 2015 and 2019.
• The exercise has been hosted by the Indian Army in keeping with India’s outreach to Africa.
• The objectives of the exercise are to continue to build upon the initiatives taken to strengthen India-Africa relations, with a focus on enhancing peace and security.
• A day before the military exercise comes to an end, chief of Army Staff General Manoj Pande will also host an ‘India-Africa Chiefs Conclave’ on March 28, 2023.

Bangladesh commissions its first submarine base                        

• Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the first submarine base of Bangladesh ‘BNS Sheikh Hasina’ at Pekua in Cox’s Bazar. 
• It is an ‘ultra-modern submarine base’.

Key Highlights : 

• The newly commissioned submarine base will increase the operational capacity of the Navy of Bangladesh to secure vast marine resources.
• The ships passing through the Bay of Bengal can take help from the base.
• The Bangladesh government is working on the vision of ‘Forces Goal 2030’ to transform its military force into a modern organisation.
• In the last 14 years, a total of 31 warships, including 4 frigates, 6 corvettes, 4 large patrol crafts, 5 patrol crafts and 2 training ships were added to Bangladesh Navy fleet.
• In 2019, the Governments of Bangladesh and China signed an agreement to construct this submarine base.

• The government established the Bangladesh Navy as a full-fledged three-dimensional force with the induction of two submarines (“BNS Navagatra” and “BNS Joyjatra“) into the naval fleet on 12 March 2017.
• The Bangladesh Navy was formed in 1971 as part of the Bangladesh Forces.

About Bangladesh : 

• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wazed
• President: Abdul Hamid
• Capital: Dhaka
• Currency: Taka

CURRENT AFFAIRS : ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Govt Plans To Sell 3.5% Stake Of Hindustan Aeronautics Via OFS                                 

• The government plans to sell up to 3.5% of its stake in aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) through an offer for sale (OFS).
• The stake sale, valued at Rs 2,867 crore, will help the government achieve the minimum public shareholding of the company in compliance with Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (SEBI) listing obligations.
• The offer will open on March 23, 2023 & will continue till March 24th, 2023.
• The 3.5% stake sale comprised 1.75% as the base offer and 1.75% as an additional option.
• The face value of equity shares is ₹10 each of the company.

About HAL : 

• Established : 23 December 1940
• Headquarters : Bangalore, Karnataka, India
• Chairperson & MD : CB Ananthakrishnan
• HAL is an Indian public sector aerospace and defence company.

The government holds a 75.15% stake in the company.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Sir David Chipperfield Selected as the 2023 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize

• British architect and urban planner Sir David Chipperfield has won the 2023 Pritzker Architecture Prize.
• The Pritzker Architecture Prize is the highest international honour for architects.
• The prize was designed to honour architects for their comp lete body of built work.
• The Prize was founded in 1979 by Jay A. Pritzker and is funded by the Pritzker family and sponsored by the Hyatt Foundation.
• Sir David Chipperfield was involved in famous projects like the 2012 Architecture Venice Biennale,The Neues Museum in Berlin and Procuratie Vecchie in Venice’s iconic St Mark’s Square.

Music Academy to confer Bombay Jayashri with Sangita Kalanidhi award

• Renowned Carnatic vocalist and Padma Shri awardee Bombay Jayashri has been selected for the Sangita Kalanidhi award for 2023 by the Music Academy.
• She is known for her melodic and meditative style of singing.
• She has also been training underprivileged children in music and contributing through her art to social causes.
• The Nritiya Kalanidhi award for dance will be conferred on Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari.
• Narasimhachari is an exquisite dancer and acharya par excellence of both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi .
• The Sangita Kala Acharya award goes to Carnatic vocalist Palkulangara Ambika Devi from Kerala and mridhangam player KS Kalidas, a senior disciple of mridangam maestro Palani M Subramania Pillai.
• Noted that thavil player Thirunageswaram TR Subramaniam has been chosen for the TTK award.
• Sargunanatha Odhuvar, an Odhuvar at Chennai’s Kapaleeswarar temple since 1998, will be the other recipient of the TTK Award.
• Dr Arimalam S Padmanabhan, a researcher for over 20 years in the field of Classical music, dance, theatre, folk arts and classical Tamil literature, will be conferred with Musicologist Award.
• The Sangita Kalanidhi award nominee would preside over the academic sessions of the 97th annual conference and concerts of the Music Academy between December 15, 2023, and January 1, 2024.
• The awards will be presented to the nominees on January 1, 2024.
• The Nritya Kalanidhi recipient will receive the award at the inauguration of the 17th annual dance festival on January 3.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

MHA Nod for MoU between Indian & Nigerian drug control agencies

• The Union home ministry has cleared a proposal for signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on preve ntion of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals.
• The move comes after a meeting between the heads of the NCB and NDLEA following the ‘No Money for Terror Conference’ in Delhi in November last year.
• In 2021, 798 Nigerian nationals were arrested across India for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking, cheating, forgery and foreigners Act, among other crimes.
• The highest number of cases (245) pertained to drug trafficking, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.

About Nigeria:

• Capital – Abuja
• Currency – naira.

GAIL signs MoU with Shell to explore ethane sourcing

• GAIL has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shell India on liquefied natural gas (LNG) for road transport, regasification of imported LNG and renewables, among others.
• The MoU is to explore opportunities in different facets of the energy value chain.
• The MoU envisages to explore prospects in import and handling of different hydrocarbons which are important chemical and petrochemical precursors, LNG for road transport, regasification of imported LNG, renewables, etc.

About GAIL:

• GAIL Limited is a central public sector undertaking under the ownership of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.
• It is headquartered in GAIL Bhawan, New Delhi.
• GAIL Chairman – Sandeep Kumar Gupta.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day 2023: March 24

• World Tuberculosis Day, observed on 24 March each year all over the world is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease.
• The World TB Day 2023 theme is ‘Yes! We can end TB!’ This theme emphasises on encouraging high-level leadership, faster uptake of new WHO recommendations, increased investments and adoption of innovations to combat the Tuberculosis epidemic.
• On March 24, 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB).
• During this time, TB killed one out of every seven people living in the United States and Europe.
• Koch’s discovery was the most important step taken toward the control and elimination of this deadly disease.
• A century later, March 24 was designated World TB Day: a day to educate the public about the impact of TB around the world.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Ms Manmeet K Nanda appointed new managing director & CEO of Invest India

• In the 32nd Board Meeting of Invest India the Board appointed Ms. Manmeet K Nanda, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the West Bengal Cadre, as the Managing Director (MD)& Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (Additional charge) of Invest India until a full time regular appointment.
• Ms. Nanda takes over after the resignation of Mr. Deepak Bagla.
• She is joint secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• The Board of Invest India is Chaired by Mr. Anurag Jain, Secretary, DPIIT, Government of India.

About: 

• Invest India was formed in 2009 as a non-profit venture under the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• It is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of India.
• Currently 51% shareholding of Invest India is with industry bodies (17% each with Ficci, CII, and Nasscom), and the remaining 49% with the central and 19 state governments
• Invest India has received the Great Place To Work Certification, which is a rare achievement for any government funded organization.

About Ministry of Commerce and Industry : 

• Cabinet Minister : Piyush Goyal
• Minister of State : Anupriya Patel, Som Parkash

CURRENT AFFAIRS : OBITUARIES

Air Force Veteran Wing Commander Jag Mohan Nath Passed away                     

• Wing Commander Jag Mohan Nath (retd), the Indian Air Force veteran who flew numerous reconnaissance sorties over Tibet and Pakistan in his Canberra aircraft in the 1962 and 1965 wars, passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

About Jag Mohan Nath : 

• Jag Mohan Nath was born in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
• He was fondly called “Jaggi” by his colleagues and friends.
• He was part of the No. 106 Strategic Recce Squadron, whose primary aim was to provide aerial photography and surveillance.
• Wing Commander Nath retired in 1970 and later joined Air India as a commercial pilot. 

Awards & Honors : 

• He was first awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) for his role in reconnaissance missions in Aksai Chin and Tibet, before and during the 1962 war.
• He received his 2nd MVC in September 1965, for his participation in the Indo-Pak war.

About Maha Vir Chakra : 

• The Maha Vir Chakra is the second highest military decoration in India, after the Param Vir Chakra, and is awarded for acts of gallantry.
• If someone receives a Maha Vir Chakra award twice, it is recorded by a Bar that is attached to the riband by which the chakra is suspended.

Daily CA One- Liner: March 24

• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and four Sikkim ministers released a unique cover of the Department of Posts, ‘Go Green, Go Organic’ for Sikkim
• RK Singh, the minister of power and new and renewable energy, has launched the South Asia Distribution Utility Network (SADUN), which aims to modernise distribution of utilities in South Asia via knowledge sharing among the region’s discoms
• GST Network has empanelled four private companies, including EY and IRIS Business, for providing e-invoice registration services to businesses
• Jindal Steel & Power has received BIS certification to manufacture India’s First Fire Resistant Steel Structures at its rail mill and special profile mill in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh.
• In terms of Government of India Notification Sovereign Gold Bonds 2022-23 (Series IV) will be opened for subscription during t he period March 06-10, 2023 with Settlement date March 14, 2023
• British architect and urban planner Sir David Chipperfield has won the 2023 Pritzker Architecture Prize
• Renowned Carnatic vocalist and Padma Shri awardee Bombay Jayashri has been selected for the Sangita Kalanidhi award for 2023 by the Music Academy
• The Union home ministry has cleared a proposal for signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) between India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on preve ntion of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals
• GAIL has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shell India on liquefied natural gas (LNG) for road transport, regasification of imported LNG and renewables, among others.
• World Tuberculosis Day, observed on 24 March each year all over the world is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis and efforts to eliminate the disease.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved for India and Tanzania to use their national currencies Ie, Indian Rupee (INR) & Tanzanian Shilling (Tsh) for bilateral trade settlement.
• IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company (IndiaFirst Life) has received an approval from capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to raise funds through an initial public offering (IPO).
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $3 billion bailout programme that will be available over 4 years, to help debt-ridden Sri Lanka overcome its economic crisis and catalyse financial support from other development partners.
• The Government of Tamil Nadu (TN) will notify Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 80,567 hectares in the forest areas of Anthiyur and Gobichettipalayam taluks in Erode district, as the 18th wildlife sanctuary in TN.
• The Odisha government has declared the Gandhamardan hill (Gandhamardan Reserve Forest), spanning 18,963.898 hectare over  6,532.098 ha (Balangir) and 12,431.8 ha Bargarh districts, as the 3rd biodiversity heritage site (BHS) of Odisha by giving it the status of a unique, ecologically fragile ecosystem having rich biodiversity.
• Indian Navy’s second anti-submarine warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) warship named Indian Naval Ship (INS) Androth has been launched in Kolkata, West Bengal.
• The Second (2nd) edition of the Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX), a nine-day mega military exercise between India & 23 African nations began in Pune, Maharashtra, India.
• Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the first submarine base of Bangladesh ‘BNS Sheikh Hasina’ at Pekua in Cox’s Bazar. 
• The government plans to sell up to 3.5% of its stake in aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) through an offer for sale (OFS).
• In the 32nd Board Meeting of Invest India the Board appointed Ms. Manmeet K Nanda, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the West Bengal Cadre, as the Managing Director (MD)& Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (Additional charge) of Invest India until a full time regular appointment.
• Wing Commander Jag Mohan Nath (retd), the Indian Air Force veteran who flew numerous reconnaissance sorties over Tibet and Pakistan in his Canberra aircraft in the 1962 and 1965 wars, passed away in Mumbai, Maharashtra.