The 12th edition of the India-Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting took place in New Delhi on March 12–13, 2024.
The two-day meeting focused on new initiatives to enhance defense cooperation and military-to-military exchange between the two countries. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the proposed new initiatives.
2. With whom has the Ministry of Rural Development signed an agreement with the aim of making women self-reliant? – J-Pal
The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India has signed an MoU with Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), South Asia.
J-PAL will act as a knowledge partner on inclusive development to bring rural poor women on the path to self-reliance. J-PAL is a global research center that works on poverty issues.
3. With whom has the Government of India signed a loan agreement to strengthen the Fintech eco system in India? – ADB
Government of India and ADB have signed a $23 million loan agreement to strengthen the fintech ecosystem in India. Under this, an International Fintech Institute (IFI) will be established to strengthen fintech education, boost start-up success rate and promote fintech research and innovation.
Government Schemes
4.Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024, recently seen in the news, is introduced by which ministry? – Ministry of Heavy Industries
The Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, announced the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024 (EMPS 2024) in March 2024 to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country.
The scheme will run from April 2024 to July 2024, with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore.
The scheme will support purchase of two-wheelers and three-wheelers.
The scheme will provide a subsidy of Rs 10,000 for two-wheelers, and Rs 25,000 for small three-wheelers.
The subsidies will be eligible for electric two, three, and four wheelers sold until March 31, 2024, or until the time funds are available, whichever is earlier.
Polity & Governance
5. By which article of the constitution have Gyanesh Kumar and Balwinder Sandhu been appointed as Election Commissioners? – Article 324
The post of Election Commissioner in the Election Commission of India fell vacant after Arun Goel resigned and Anup Chandra Pandey ceased to hold office.
Under the Election Commissioners (Conditions of Service and Conduct of Business) Act, 2023, the Election Commissioner is appointed by the President on the recommendation of a three- member committee comprising the Prime Minister, a Union Minister, a Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
Economic Affairs
6. What is the rank of India in the recently released Global Human Development Index? – 134
According to the latest report of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on human development, India is ranked 134th in the global Human Development Index (HDI).
Whereas India, its neighbor China and Sri Lanka are ranked 75th and 78th respectively in the high human development category.
India is classified under ‘medium human development’. Bhutan is at 125th and Bangladesh at 129th.
Sports
7. Which team won the Ranji Trophy 2024 title? – Mumbai
B Sairam has been appointed as the new Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL), the Singrauli-based major subsidiary of Coal India Limited.
Sairam has 33 years of service experience in the coal sector.
9. Who has been appointed as the Chairman of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)? – Rahul Singh
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has appointed Rahul Singh, a 1996 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Bihar cadre, as the chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Important Days & Weeks
10. What is the theme of ‘International Day of Action for Rivers 2024’? – Water for All
Annually on March 14th, the International Day of Action for Rivers is observed, with the 2024 theme “Water for All” highlighting universal access to clean water.
Originating from the 1997 First International Meeting of People Impacted by Dams in Curitiba, Brazil, experts from 20 nations declared March 14th as the “Day of Action for Rivers.”
Its aim is to combat the degradation of ecologically sensitive water bodies, rivers, and watersheds.
11. When is World Consumer Rights Day celebrated every year? – 15 March
World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated every year on 15 March to create more awareness about consumer rights. On this day, people discuss measures to create awareness about consumer rights.
This is different from National Consumer Rights Day.
State Current Affairs
12. Surendra Yadav has been appointed as the Director General of Police (DGP) of which state or union territory?
– Chandigarh
In the ‘Democracy Report 2024’ report released by V-Dem Institute, India has been downgraded on several metrics related to democratic freedom. The Dame Institute tracks democratic freedoms around the world. The V-Dem Institute (Varieties of Democracy) was founded in 2014 by Staffan Lindberg. Staffan Lindberg is a Swedish political expert.
