1 India launches Operation Indravati to evacuate its citizens from Haiti
India has launched Operation Indravati to evacuate its citizens from Haiti . Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has said in a social media post that 12 Indians were evacuated today. He said that the Government of India is fully committed to the safety and well-being of Indians abroad.
2 ISRO to test its reusable launch vehicle Pushpak at the Aeronautical Test Range
Indian Space Research Organization – ISRO Aeronautical Test Range will test its reusable launch vehicle Pushpak at the Aeronautical Test Range. ISRO Chairman S. during the test being conducted at Challakere near Chitradurga in Karnataka . Somnath and other senior officers will be present. A smaller version of the launch vehicle was test-fired from the Challakere runway during the first test conducted in April last year. This time too the smaller version of Pushpak will be carried by an Indian Air Force helicopter to a height of about four and a half kilometers and will be released after achieving the predetermined pillbox parameters. The aircraft must land exactly on the runway taking into account wind speed, velocity and other obstacles. The onboard navigation system will help the vehicle overcome obstacles around the runway and land at a high velocity of 350 kilometers per hour. The test will help determine approach and landing maneuvers using integrated navigation, guidance and control systems. The reusable launch vehicle will cut launch expenses and help India in its space research missions.
3 2024 Democracy Summit held in South Korea
The third Summit for Democracy , an initiative launched by US President Joe Biden in 2021 , began in Seoul, South Korea on March 18, 2024 . The event has been criticized for promoting American exceptionalism and double standards, drawing public opposition in the host city. Held outside the United States for the first time, the purpose of this summit was to promote and spread the idea of democracy globally. The first Summit for Democracy was held in 2021, with nearly 100 participating governments committed to advancing technology for democracy, media freedom, combating technology abuse, and financial transparency, gender equality, and the rule of law. Made more than 750 commitments on a range of deliverables, including reforms.
4 India – Mozambique – Tanzania Trilateral Exercise IMT TRILAT – 2024
INS Tir and INS Sujata will participate in the upcoming second edition of the India – Mozambique – Tanzania (IMT) Tri Lateral (TRILAT) exercise . It is a joint maritime exercise taking place from 21-29 Mar 24 . The first exercise of IMT TRILAT took place on 22 October, in which INS Tarkash participated with the navies of Tanzania and Mozambique. The current edition of the exercise is planned in two phases. As part of the port phase scheduled from 21-24 Mar 24, Naval Ships Tir and Sujata will engage with the respective navies at the ports of Zanzibar in Tanzania and Maputo in Mozambique . This phase will begin with a planning conference followed by joint port training activities such as damage control, fire fighting, visit board search and seizure procedures, medical lectures, disaster evacuation and diving operations. The sea phase of the exercise will take place from 24-27 Mar 24, which will include practical aspects of countering asymmetric threats, visit board search and seizure procedures, boat operations, maneuvers and firing exercises. A joint EEZ monitoring is also planned during the sea phase. The exercise will conclude with a joint debriefing in Nacala (Mozambique).
5 US plans to deliver aid to Gaza through Project JLOTS
America The plans to deliver aid to Gaza from a floating dock in the sea through the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore Project (JLOTS) . Its goal is to deliver food aid worth up to Rs 20 lakh per day to Gaza . JLOTS capabilities are used to transport cargo by sea when one or more ports cannot be operated or are not available for loading or unloading. Overall, JLOTS integrates infrastructure, logistics, security as well as environmental considerations to facilitate effective disaster response and humanitarian aid delivery. The project will consist of two main components, a floating dock and a long quay with a causeway. The floating dock will be constructed using steel components delivered to the site by roll-on, roll-off ship, a type of cargo ship that is an important platform for loading and unloading heavy cargo. It will connect to the shore, while docks can be established up to a kilometer away. This setup ensures that ships carrying aid avoid the risk of running aground in shallow waters near the shore.
6 Famous Indian dancer Dr. Uma Rele received Maharashtra Gaurav Award
Dr. Uma Rele, the distinguished Principal of Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya, Mumbai has been honored with the prestigious Maharashtra Gaurav Award . This honor was presented to her by Maharashtra Industrial Minister Uday Sawant and Minister Deepak Vasant Kesarkar for her invaluable contribution in the field of Indian classical dance, especially Bharat Natyam.
7 ED arrests Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in alleged liquor scam case
Enforcement Directorate- ED has arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the alleged liquor scam case . The agency arrested Mr Kejriwal from his Delhi residence and took him to its office. Earlier last evening, the ED team reached the residence of Chief Minister Kejriwal and also searched his residence. Mr Kejriwal has been arrested after the Delhi High Court refused to grant him any protection in this case. The ED has included Mr Kejriwal in a money laundering case related to Delhi Excise Policy and had sent him nine summons to appear before the agency. However, Mr Kejriwal termed all the summons as illegal and politically motivated and he did not appear before the agency.
8 IMF will give loan of 1.1 billion dollars to Pakistan
Pakistan has signed a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release $1.1 billion from the $ 3 billion bailout package . These funds, which are crucial for Pakistan to avoid sovereign default , will be disbursed after approval by the IMF Executive Board before the current deal expires on April 11, 2023. The announcement came after five days of talks in Islamabad between the IMF and the newly elected government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
9 helicopter unit inducted at Air Force Station Thanjavur
Southern Air Command (SAC) was established in Jul 84 in response to certain geopolitical developments . The objective of which was to ensure effective command and control over Indian Air Force assets and to facilitate immediate deployment of combat forces in case of threats arising in the Indian Ocean region. The most recent redeployment of IAF assets has included the induction of a helicopter unit to Air Force Station Thanjavur on 19 Mar 24 . Air Marshal B Manikantan AVSM VM, AOC-in-C SAC was present during the induction ceremony. The induction of the helicopter unit at Thanjavur will enhance operational capabilities as well as ensure availability of adequate resources at Headquarters SAC to carry out peacetime operations of Search and Rescue, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and casualty evacuation.
10 Mighty Notifies Fact Check Unit of PIB as Fact Checker of Central Government
The Central Government has notified the Fact Check Unit constituted under the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as the official fact checking unit . According to the notification issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Fact Check Unit under the Press Information Bureau of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting will serve as the official fact-checking unit of the Central Government. It is noteworthy that the Central Government has officially set up a Fact-Checking Unit (FCU) to monitor the content on social media platforms related to their operations. The move is in line with the recently amended information technology rules. It is noteworthy that the Press Information Bureau Fact Check Unit started its work in November 2019.
11 Players from Russia and Belarus cannot participate in the opening ceremony of Paris Games: International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee has announced that athletes from Russia and Belarus cannot take part in the opening ceremony and parade of the Paris Games . Committee director James McLeod said that no player would be able to participate in the parade without his country’s flag as he would be an individual player. He said that no decision has been taken yet regarding the participation of such players in the closing ceremony. Meanwhile, Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that such a decision would destroy the basic spirit of the Olympic Games. After Russia’s attack on Ukraine, players from Russia and Belarus were banned from participating in many international competitions. However, athletes from Russia and Belarus, who have qualified for the Olympics, can participate in the Games without their national flags and national anthems.
12 In Table Tennis, India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran won the men’s singles title at the WTT Feeder Beirut event in Lebanon yesterday.
In table tennis, India’s Sathiyan Gnanasekaran won the men’s singles title at the WTT Feeder Beirut event in Lebanon . World number 103 Sathiyan defeated world number 74 compatriot Manav Vikas Thakkar 3-1, 6-11, 11-7, 11-7, 11-4 in the title match. Earlier, Sathiyan had defeated world number 39 Chinese Taipei player Chuang Chi-Yuan in the semi-finals.
13 Indian Olympic Association announced the name of tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal as the Indian flag bearer in the upcoming Paris Olympics
Indian Olympic Association-IOA has announced the name of veteran tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal as the Indian flag bearer in the upcoming Paris Olympics . The flag bearer is a symbolic representative of the Olympic Games. He is the first person in the march of the country’s delegation during the grand opening ceremony parade. The IOA announced the appointment of Olympic bronze medalist and multiple-time boxing world champion Mary Kom as the chef de mission for the Indian athletes in Paris . The Chef de Mission is the head of the sports delegation in an international competition. Former Winter Olympian Shiva Keshavan will be the vice-chef de mission. Gagan Narang will be in charge of the Indian shooting team. Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala has been appointed as the Chief Medical Officer. India has already secured 19 quotas in shooting for the Paris Olympics 2024.
