”Ropax” ferry service launched between Mumbai and Mandwa

1.PM Modi proposes Covid-19 emergency fund, other measures

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a video-conference meet of leaders of all SAARC member nations.PM Modi also proposed a COVID-19 emergency fund, which will be based on voluntary contributions from all SAARC members.

India can start with an initial offer of 10 million US dollars for this fund.

The PM also proposed the creation of a common research platform to carry out research to control epidemic diseases in the region.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia.

Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

SAARC Headquarters: Kathmandu

Secretary-General: Esala Weerakoon

2.Phool Dei festival begins in Uttarakhand

“Phool Dei” festival is being celebrated in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand.The festival also showcases the inner bonding between the communities who all are residing in the hills.

Phool Dei is celebrated on the first day of Chaitra or in mid-March (according to the Gregorian calendar).

People, especially the children, enjoy the Phool Dei festival; they delight in the festivity and wake up early to bring the flowers from the forests to celebrate the festival.

3.NMCG concludes ‘Ganga Amantran Abhiyan’ in New Delhi

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) recently organised a grand event in the national capital to mark the conclusion of its flagship programme ‘Ganga Amantran Abhiyan’.Union Home Minister Amit Shah was invited as the chief guest at the event to confer the awards to various achievers who contributed towards the successful completion of the programme.

“Ganga Amantran Abhiyan” was a pioneering exploratory open-water rafting and kayaking expedition on the Ganga river from Devprayag to Ganga Sagar.

4.”Ropax” ferry service launched between Mumbai and Mandwa  

A roll-on-roll off cum passenger ferry service, also called ”Ropax”, between Mumbai and Mandwa near Alibaug, was launched.The vessel, built in Greece, can carry 200 cars and 1000 passengers, and is capable of plying even during monsoon.

It can reach speeds of 14 knots and will complete the 18-kilometre sea journey in 45 minutes to one hour.

The road distance between Mumbai and Mandwa is 110 kilometres.

5.Manipur CM announces scheme for welfare of sportspersons and artists

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has announced the biggest ever scheme for the welfare of sports persons and artists of the State.‘Chief Minister’s Akhannaba Sanaroising gi Tengbang (CMAST)’ and Chief Minister Artist Sing gi Tengbang (CMAT)’ would provide benefits to thousands of sportspersons and artistes of the State who have brought laurels to the State and Country.

Under the CMAST Scheme, a suitable employment in government services will be provided to sports persons, who have won medals in notified disciplines in selected International Sports events.

In scheme for artists, CMAT is designed with a view to encourage the artists in different fields and targeted to cover 4000 artistes in a year.

6.RBI revises exposure limits for urban cooperative banks to single, group borrowers

The Reserve Bank of India on revised exposure limits for urban cooperative banks (UCBs) to a single borrower and a group of borrowers to 15 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, of tier-1 capital.The RBI had earlier permitted UCBs to have exposures up to 15 per cent and 40 per cent of their capital funds to a single borrower and a group of borrowers

The revised exposure limits shall be applicable to all types of fresh exposures taken by UCBs.

The RBI also increased the overall priority sector lending (PSL) target for UCBs to 75 percent of adjusted net bank credit (ANBC) or credit equivalent amount of off-balance sheet exposure (CEOBSE), whichever is higher from 40 per cent earlier.

7.Prashant Kumar appointed MD, CEO; Sunil Mehta Non-Executive Chairman of Yes Bank

The central government appointed former SBI banker Prashant Kumar as the new Chief Executive Officer of the financially troubled Yes Bank.All members of the board, except additional directors, will be appointed for a period of one year or until an alternate board is reconstituted.

The lead investor in the bank, State Bank of India, has already announced to infuse Rs 7,250 crore in it, while other private lenders including ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Kotak Mahindra Bank have also been roped in to revive the cash-strapped lender.

8.Taiwan’s Tai Tzu Ying clinches her third women’s singles title of All England Championships

In Badminton, Taiwan’s shuttler Tai Tzu Ying clinched her third women’s singles title of the All England Championships at Birmingham in the United Kingdom.Ying beat China’s Chen Yufei in two straight games 21-19, 21-15 in 44 minutes.

Earlier in the men’s singles, Denmark’s Victor Axelsen outclassed Taiwan’s Chou Tien-Chen.

Indian representation in the competition ended as ace shuttler PV Sindhu lost in the quarterfinal match by Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-12, 15-21, 13-21.

9.Achanta Sharath Kamal clinches men’s singles title of Oman Open

Ace Indian paddler Achanta Sharath Kamal wins the ITTF Challenger Plus Oman Open.The 37-year-old Indian veteran beat top-seeded Marcos Freitas of Portugal 4-2 in the final played in Muscat.

Earlier, in the semi-final, fourth-seeded Achanta pulled off a stunning seven-set victory against Russia’s Kirill Skachkov.

10.Viktor Axelsen lifts men’s singles title at All England Open

Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen clinched the men’s singles title of the All England Open at Birmingham Arena.Axelsen outclassed Taiwan’s Chou Tien-Chen in two straight games 21-13, 21-14.

This was Axelsen’s maiden All England Open title.