1 India becomes the world’s largest arms importing country: SIPRI
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in its report on March 11, 2024 that India has become the world’s top arms importer . India’s arms imports have registered a growth of 4.7 percent between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023. According to SIPRI report, Russia still remains India’s main arms supplier. However, this is the first time since 1960-64 that Russia’s share in India’s arms imports has been less than 50 percent. India has received 36 percent of its total arms imports from Russia. According to the SIPRI report, the US supplied about 55% of the total weapons imported by European countries in 2019-23. Japan’s arms imports have increased by 155 percent. Whereas South Korea’s arms imports have increased by 6.5 percent. However, arms imports by China have decreased by 44 percent.
2 PM inaugurates Kochrab Ashram in Sabarmati, Gujarat
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Sabarmati Ashram and inaugurated Kochrab Ashram . This was the first ashram established by Mahatma Gandhi after his arrival in India from South Africa in 1915 . It is still preserved by Gujarat Vidyapeeth as a memorial and tourist destination. The Prime Minister also launched the master plan of the Gandhi Ashram Memorial . Under this master plan, the existing five acre area of the ashram will be expanded to 55 acres. 36 existing buildings will be renovated, including Gandhiji’s residence. 36 existing buildings will be renovated, of which 20 buildings including ‘ Hriday Kunj , will be conserved, 13 will be renovated and 3 will be renovated.
3 PM observes tri-services firing and quick action exercise ‘Bharat Shakti’ in Pokhran, Rajasthan
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi observed a coordinated display of indigenous defense capabilities in the form of live fire and quick action exercise of the three services in Pokhran , Rajasthan . , Bharat Shakti ‘ will showcase a range of indigenous weapon systems and platforms as a showcase of the country’s might, based on the country’s Atmanirbharat initiative. Bharat Shakti will integrate realistic, coordinated, multi-domain operations showcasing the integrated operational capabilities of the Indian Armed Forces to counter threats in the domains of land, air, sea, cyber and space. Major equipment and weapon systems participating in the exercise include T-90 (IM) tanks, Dhanush and Sarang gun systems, Akash weapon systems, logistics drones, robotic mules, advanced light helicopters (ALHs) and a range of unmanned aircraft. .
4. University of Mauritius confers Honorary Degree of Doctor of Civil Law on President
The University of Mauritius conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Civil Law on President Smt. Draupadi Murmu . President Murmu is on a three-day visit to Mauritius.
5 Nayab Saini takes oath as the 11th Chief Minister of Haryana
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nayab Saini was sworn in as the 11th Chief Minister of Haryana on 12 March 2024. At a public ceremony, Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Naib Saini in Chandigarh. He replaced Manohar Lal Khattar. Manohar Lal Khattar was the first Chief Minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Haryana.
6 Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia flags off the inaugural flight of new airline Fly91
Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia inaugurated Fly91, a regional airline service and flagged off the first flight service between Manohar International Airport (MOPA) in Goa and Agatti Islands of Lakshadweep . Airlines have informed that in a phased manner, scheduled flights between Goa’s Manohar International Airport and Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jalgaon, Agatti, Pune, Nanded and from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune to Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Nanded and Goa from March 18, 2024. Will be operated. On this occasion , Fly91 Chairman Shri Harsh Raghavan , Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation Shri Asangba Chuba and many officials of Airports Authority of India and Ministry of Civil Aviation were also present.
7 World’s first 3D-printed mosque built in Saudi Arabia
In an unprecedented achievement, Jeddah recently celebrated the opening of the world’s first mosque built using 3D printing technology . The mosque, located in Jeddah’s Al-Jawahra suburb , is named after the late Abdulaziz Abdullah Sharbatli . The innovative mosque is part of the National Housing Company’s portfolio and was unveiled in the presence of senior government officials and business leaders. Abdulwahed, head of Fursan Real Estate, led the construction of the 5,600 square meter mosque, using state-of-the-art 3D printers from Guanli, a renowned Chinese manufacturer in the field of 3D printing technology.
8 Dwarka Expressway
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway , an important milestone in India’s infrastructure development. The 19-km stretch, built at a cost of ₹4,100 crore , is part of the country’s first 8-lane expressway project , which aims to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion between Delhi and Gurugram on National Highway (NH)-48 . The Dwarka Expressway, which has a total construction cost of ₹9,000 crore, is divided into four segments:
- The first two sections, totaling 10 kilometres, are located in Delhi
- The third and fourth sections, which extend for about 19 kilometres, are in Gurugram.
The expressway starts from Shiv Murti near Mahipalpur on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and passes through Dwarka Sector 21, Gurugram Border, Basai before terminating near Kherki Daula on the National Highway.
9 Sikkim’s first railway station will be built in Rangpo.
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Sikkim ‘s first railway station at Rangpo . The Prime Minister emphasized that the design of the station will take inspiration from the rich culture, heritage and architecture of the Himalayan state. Rangpo railway station is one of the over 2,000 rail infrastructure projects worth about Rs 41,000 crore that were unveiled by the Prime Minister.
10 Argentina withdraws from BRICS plan
Recently, Argentina , under the leadership of President Javier Mili , has decided not to join the BRICS group of developing economies, which was previously scheduled to join. Argentina was set to join on January 1, 2024. Argentina was one of six countries invited in August to join the BRICS bloc, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa . These points highlight Argentina’s decision under Miley’s leadership to distance itself from the BRICS and engage more closely with the United States and Israel, reflecting a shift in its foreign policy toward right-wing populism. . The initial phase of expansion involves inviting countries such as Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to join BRICS. More than 40 countries have shown keen interest in becoming members of BRICS.
11 Yaounde Declaration
The recent Yaoundé declaration marked an important milestone in the fight against malaria , as 11 African countries pledged to end malaria deaths. The total number of malaria cases globally is projected to increase from 233 million in 2019 to 249 million in 2022. Africa saw a significant increase in malaria cases during this period, reaching 233 million cases. 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of malaria-related deaths occur in Africa. While progress against malaria has stalled in the WHO Africa Region, the 11 African countries attending the Yaoundé conference account for more than 70% of the global malaria burden. The objective of the declaration is to strengthen health infrastructure, expand capacity of personnel and enhance program implementation. They also want to promote partnerships for funding, research and innovation. Despite the announcement, experts stress the need for concrete action at the ground level. The African Union’s target to control and eliminate malaria by 2030 faces significant funding gaps, with US$1.5 billion needed to sustain basic malaria services and additional funding for climate adaptation in the health sector. Is.
12 IREDA celebrates 38th Foundation Day
Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) celebrated its 38th Foundation Day on March 11, 2024 , which is significant towards promoting renewable energy development in India. The Foundation Day function organized provided an opportunity to showcase the 37 years of IREDA’s work journey and achievements. He expressed his gratitude to its dedicated employees, stakeholders and business partners, whose tireless support has been instrumental in making IREDA the largest pure play green finance – non-banking financial companies (NBFC) in the country.
