1. MT Vasudevan Nair honored with Kerala’s highest civilian honor
Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan has presented the first ‘ Kerala Puraskarangal ‘ state awards to eminent personalities who have made outstanding contributions in various fields of social life. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presided over the function at the Raj Bhavan. The awards were given in three categories namely “ Kerala Jyoti ”, “ Kerala Prabha ” and “ Kerala Shree ”. Writer M T Vasudevan Nair has been awarded the Kerala Jyoti, Kerala’s highest civilian honour. Second highest award “Kerala Prabha” actor Mammootty , former civil service officer T Madhava Menon and writer Omcheri NN Pillai was shared by. Writer and activist MP Parameswaran, magician Gopinath Muthukad, sculptor Kanai Kuniraman, businessman and social worker Kochousef Chittilappilly, musician Vaikom Vijayalakshmi and biologist Satyabhama Das Biju have been honored with the “Kerala Sree” award. In 2021, the Government of Kerala instituted a civilian award “Kerala Puraskarangal” on the model of the Padma Awards.
2. Transgender Ms. Manjamma Jogti made poll icon by Election Commission in Karnataka
For the first time in Karnataka , the Election Commission has appointed a transgender Ms. Manjamma Jogathi as the poll icon . Its purpose is to motivate the transgender community to participate and vote in the elections. Ms. Jogti is a transgender folk dancer. She is also the former president of Karnataka Janapada Academy, a Padma Shri awardee who has been selected as the poll ambassador for the Karnataka elections.
3. Germany’s Defense Ministry has said that the first batch of third generation Leopard-2 tanks was sent to Ukraine
Germany ‘s Defense Ministry has said that the first batch of third generation Leopard-2 tanks has been sent to Ukraine . 18 state-of-the-art main battle tanks have been handed over to Ukraine. Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that these tanks will play a decisive role on the war front. Meanwhile, the local media of Ukraine has reported that Challenger-2 tanks have also reached Ukraine from Britain . Ukraine has been demanding state-of-the-art weapons for a long time.
4. On April 1, the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu will jointly launch the centenary celebrations of the great Vaikom Satyagraha
The centenary celebrations of the Vaikom Satyagraha will begin on April 1, 2023 , and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will inaugurate the program in Kottayam . Periyar , the father of the Dravidian movement , participated in the Vaikom Satyagraha and was at the forefront of the struggle in all its phases till its end. Recognizing his contribution, he also came to be known as ‘ Vaikom Veer ‘, the hero of Vaikom. The Vaikom Satyagraha was a non-violent protest that took place from 30 March 1924 to 23 November 1925 in the Kingdom of Travancore , now in Kerala , India. is part of. The protest was against the rigid and oppressive caste system prevailing in the region, which prevented lower castes, or untouchables, from not only entering the Vaikom temple, but also walking the surrounding streets. Congress leaders T.K. Madhavan, K. Kelappan, and K. The protest, led by P. Keshav Menon, was notable for the active support and participation by various communities and various activists.
5. First General Body meeting of NCSCM held
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the first meeting of the National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management-NCSCM in New Delhi . National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) established in 2011 for conservation, restoration and management of Indian coasts was formed as a research institute to support Its vision is to promote sustainable coasts through enhanced partnerships, conservation practices, scientific research and knowledge management for the benefit and well-being of present and future generations. Recently, the first general body meeting of NCSCM was held to review its progress and future plans. The mission of NCSCM is to provide integrated coastal zone management solutions to address challenges facing coastal ecosystems, habitats and communities. NCSCM collaborates with national and international organizations to develop and implement research-based solutions that promote sustainable coastal management practices.
6. Vayu Prahar exercise conducted
Amid the ongoing standoff between India and China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) , the Indian Army and Air Force have conducted a 96-hour multi-domain air and land exercise named ‘ Vayu Prahar ‘ in the eastern sector . The exercise was conducted in the second week of March with the main objective of planning to coordinate multi-domain operations. Multi-domain operations are used to coordinate activities across the various branches of the military to achieve convergent results. It is a mechanism to ensure that all branches of the armed forces work together seamlessly to achieve a common goal.
7. State of School Feeding Worldwide 2022
According to the World Food Program (WFP) report State of School Feeding Worldwide 2022 , the number of children eating school meals in low-income countries has declined by almost 4% with the most severe declines observed in Africa. The analysis is based on survey data from 176 countries as compared to 163 countries in the year 2020. According to the study, high-income, upper-middle-income and lower-middle-income countries have shown sustained modest growth of 4%, 4% and 12%, respectively. The report highlighted the need for external development partners to specifically target support in low-income countries. Low-income countries have increased their domestic funding for school meals from 30% in 2020 to 45% in 2022, despite other post-pandemic demands and cash crunches. Five countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – contributed 19 million of the 30 million increase in the number of children receiving school meals between 2020 and 2022.
8. Country’s first cable rail bridge being built in Jammu
India’s first cable-stayed railway bridge over Anji River (a tributary of Chenab River) in Jammu and Kashmir is expected to be ready by May 2023 . The Anji bridge between Katra and Reasi stations falls in the Reasi district of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. It is part of the ambitious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla-Rail Link (USBRL) project . The project was declared a project of national importance in March 2002. It is also the biggest mountain railway project after independence. The bridge will also have an integrated monitoring system in which multiple sensors will be installed at different locations.
9. Sacred Hopi Site in Arizona Awarded ICOMOS Water & Heritage Shield
A site located in Arizona, United States, and a sacred monument and site for the Hopi Native American Nation, has been designated a ‘ Water and Heritage Shield’ by the International Council on Monuments and Sites International Science Committee (ICOMOS ISC)‘ has been awarded. The shield was awarded to the Black Mesa Trust (BMT), an organization of people of Hopi descent. The purpose of SHIELD is to help raise public awareness around the world about the importance of water and indigenous sacred sites and the right to cultural and historical memory. The Hopi are known for their unique reverence for the environment. The Hopi consider Sipapu to be the place where their ancestors passed from the other world to this world. Sipapu is a rocky dome made of limestone as well as a waterfall located on the Little Colorado River, a tributary of the Colorado River. The Little Colorado joins the Main River in the Grand Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ICOMOS ISC is a non-governmental international organization dedicated to the conservation of the world’s monuments and sites. It helps the United Nations to identify heritage globally.
10. 2nd meeting of Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group begins in Gandhinagar
The second Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group meeting under India’s G20 Presidency began with the presentation of best practices on water resource management by G20 member countries. The three-day meeting is being held at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Center in Gandhinagar, Gujarat . The meeting is being attended by 11 invited countries and 14 international organizations with around 130 delegates from G20 member states. The meeting is focusing on thematic areas such as combating land degradation, accelerating ecological recovery and enriching biodiversity, and building a sustainable and climate resilient blue economy.
11. Five planets will align on March 28, 2023
Five planets – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Uranus will align in the sky/space , which is often called parade of planets or alignment , this phenomenon can be seen with naked eyes. it March 28, 2023 The optimal time for viewing would be just after the sun sets below the horizon. Venus will be the most visible planet, followed by Mars, which has a characteristic orange color. Uranus will be close to Venus but impossible to see without special equipment, while Mercury and Jupiter will be farther down. The last time the alignment of these five planets took place in the year 2004. The alignment is often referred to as a parade of planets that can be seen in the night sky. A similar alignment took place in June 2022, where five planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—were aligned. However this alignment will not occur again until the year 2040.
12. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launches National Rabies Control Program
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the National Rabies Control Program (NRCP) for the prevention and control of rabies . Provision of Rabies Vaccine and Rabies Immune Globulin through National Free Medicine Initiative. Prevention and control of rabies, management of biting animals, surveillance and training for inter-sectoral cooperation. Strengthen monitoring of reporting of animal bites and rabies deaths. To generate awareness about prevention of rabies. Rabies is a vaccine-preventable zoonotic viral disease. It is caused by ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus which is present in the saliva of rabid animal (dog, cat, monkey etc.).
13. A new species of moray eel discovered off the Cuddalore coast (Tamil Nadu)
Researchers have recently discovered a new species of moray eel off the Cuddalore coast (Tamil Nadu) and named it Gymnothorax tamilnaduensis after the state. This is the first record of the genus, Gymnothorax, collected through an exploratory survey conducted along the coastal waters of Cuddalore. Four specimens (total length 272–487 mm) were collected, and this species is notably different from other species in the genus Gymnothorax. It is identified by a series of lines of small black spots on its head and a single line of black spots on the midline of the body. The names of these species are registered in ZooBank, the online registration system for the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
14. Nepal allows NHPC Ltd to conduct feasibility study of proposed 450 MW Seti River-6 hydroelectric project
Invest Board Nepal has permitted NHPC Limited , an Indian company, to conduct a feasibility study of the proposed 450 MW Seti River-6 hydroelectric project . The project will be built in Doti and Achham districts of Nepal and aims to provide electricity to the country. NHPC Limited is not new to hydropower projects in Nepal. The company was earlier assigned the task of preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the 750 MW West Seti Hydroelectric Project. The estimated cost of both the projects is around 300 billion Nepali rupees, NHPC is committed to invest 288 billion rupees.
15. ICICI Lombard General Insurance launches ‘Anywhere Cashless’ for its health insurance holders
ICICI Lombard General Insurance has introduced an industry-first feature called ‘ Anywhere Cashless ‘ for health insurance holders . This feature allows them to avail cashless facility at any hospital, whether it is currently a part of ICICI Lombard’s hospital network or not. However, to use this feature, the hospital has to agree to accept the cashless facility.
16. Yes Bank issues first Electronic Bank Guarantee with NESL
YES Bank has collaborated with National e-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) to issue its first Electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG) . The integration of their Digital Document Execution (DDE) platform has made it possible to completely digitize the existing paper process prior to issuance and maintenance of bank guarantees. It involves digital stamping and signing, thereby significantly reducing the time taken for issuance of bank guarantees. The NeSL platform will handle the entire life cycle of a bank guarantee, including its issuance, modification, invocation and cancellation. This enables trade finance stakeholders to securely access documents from a single repository.
17. World Athletics bans transgender women
The governing body for athletics , World Athletics, has banned transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in elite women ‘s competitions. announced the installation. The affiliated council has imposed even stricter regulations on athletes with differences in sex development (DSD) by halving the maximum plasma testosterone concentration from 5 to 2.5 nanomoles per liter. According to World Athletics, the decision to ban transgender women from participating in top women’s competitions is based on the need to protect the women’s category. The stricter rules will affect DSD athletes such as Caster Semenya, Christine Mboma and Francine Niyonsaba. Both Semenya and Niyonsaba were banned from the 800 meters at the 2020 Olympics, although they competed in the 5,000 meters, with Christine Mboma winning a silver medal in the 200 meters. Swimming’s world governing body, World Aquatics, also allows transgender women, if they have experienced any part of male puberty, to
18. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been included in the elite grade ‘A+’ of the BCCI central contract.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been included in the elite grade ‘ A+ ‘ of the BCCI central contract , while Akshar Patel has found a place in the ‘ A ‘ grade. Jadeja, who was joint player-of-the-series in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with Australia, is one of four players in the ‘A+’ category, which includes skipper Rohit Sharma, former skipper Virat Kohli and pacer Jasprit Bumrah. BCCI announced its annual contract. Top-order batsman KL Rahul has been relegated to ‘ Grade B ‘ due to a string of poor performances . BCCI (Indian Cricket Board) handed over retainerships to 26 cricketers in four groups – ‘A+’ (Rs 7 crore), ‘A’ (Rs 5 crore), ‘B’ (Rs 3 crore) and ‘C’ (Rs 1 crore). Fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma did not get contracts.
19. Franchise based Indian Taekwondo Premier League – TPL launched in New Delhi
The franchise- based Indian Taekwondo Premier League – TPL was launched in New Delhi , with 12 teams fighting for the title. The franchise-based league, to be held in Delhi in June this year, has found takers from Hyderabad, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Assam, Delhi, Bengaluru, Dehradun, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Chennai and Gujarat.
20. Sathiyan Gnanasekaran won the men’s singles title and Akula Sreeja won the women’s singles title at the 84th Senior National and Inter-State Table Tennis Championship in Jammu
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran won the men’s singles title and Akula Sreeja won the women’s singles title in the 84th Senior National and Inter-State Table Tennis Championship at Jammu . In the final, Sathiyan defeated Harmeet Rajul, while in the women’s section, Akula Sreeja defeated Suthirtha Mukherjee.
21. Earth Hour Day: March 25, 2023
Earth Hour Day 2023 is celebrated every year in the world . Earth Hour Day is organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature / World Wide Fund every year on the last Saturday in the month of March . On this day, from 8:30 to 9:30 pm, crores of people around the world voluntarily turn off the lights for one hour. Its purpose is to give a message of solidarity to improve the earth. Earth Hour was first observed on March 31, 2007 in Sydney, Australia. This year Earth Hour was observed on March 25, 2023.
22. World Theater Day: 27 March
Every year on 27 March , World Theater Day is celebrated all over the world to promote the importance of theatrical forms. Theater not only provides entertainment but is also an art form that educates and inspires individuals. Many plays are performed on a variety of subjects, including social issues, entertainment and comedy. The theme of World Theater Day is ” Theatre and the Culture of Peace ” as decided by the International Theater Institute.
23. Purple Day of Epilepsy: March 26
Purple Day of Epilepsy is an international awareness day dedicated to reducing the social stigma and increasing understanding associated with the neurological condition epilepsy . It is observed every year on 26 March and aims to educate people about epilepsy and provide support to those affected by it.
24. PM condoles the passing away of actor and former MP Innocent Varid Thekkethala
Former MP and veteran Malayalam actor Innocent Vareed Thekkethala has passed away. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Innocent contested as an LDF-backed independent candidate from the Chalakudy constituency in Kerala , in which he won and became the Member of Parliament. Then he defeated PC Chacko of Congress by more than 13 thousand votes. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he lost from the same seat to Benny Behanan of the Congress. Please tell that Innocent was also the former president of ‘Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes’.
