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Current Affairs Daily Digest – March 18 2024
1. Senior Bureaucrat Rahul Singh Appointed New CBSE Chief
As part of a high-level bureaucratic shakeup at the federal level, Rahul Singh, a senior official, has been appointed chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).
Nick Chhibber’s Successors
- The appointment of Nidhi Chhibber as Advisor in the Niti Aayog has made Rahul Singh the natural successor to her.
- Singh, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Bihar cadre appointed in 1996, has been appointed head of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC).
- Serving as the Additional Secretary for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is Rahul Singh’s current role.
Extra Scheduled Visits
As a result of a temporary promotion and an extension of her central deputation tenure of one year beyond March 24, 2024, Nidhi Chhibber will serve as advisor to the NITI Aayog with the rank and salary of an additional secretary.
Singh will be replaced as Additional Secretary, DoPT by A P Das Joshi, an IAS officer from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre who was commissioned in 1994.
Under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Rajeev Kumar Mital has been appointed as Director General of, the National Mission for Clean Ganga. Mital formerly served as Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor in the Department of Atomic Energy.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has appointed Gyanesh Bharti to the position of Additional Secretary.
Deepak Narain is now serving as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s Additional Secretary and Financial Advisor.
2. Kotak Bank appoints Jaideep Hansraj as President of ‘One Kotak’
Jaideep Hansraj, who is currently the MD and CEO of Kotak Securities, has been appointed Group President – One Kotak by Kotak Mahindra Bank. His tenure will begin on April 1, 2024. The Group’s financial conglomerate model is being optimized and client offers are being enhanced through joint efforts across subsidiaries. This strategy shift is indicated by this action.
Reasoning for the Appointment:
- The bank’s nomination of Hansraj shows its dedication to promoting a cohesive strategy across its several companies under the ‘One Kotak’ framework, which is a strategic alignment.
- The decision’s stated goal is to improve client value by providing all-encompassing solutions and making the most of cross-selling opportunities.
- Hansraj is responsible for spearheading an organizational-wide cultural shift that will increase teamwork and productivity by releasing latent synergies.
3. Prominent Tribal Leader Lama Lobzang Passes Away at 94
This morning at his residence in New Delhi, the renowned Buddhist monk from Ladakh, Lama Lobzang, who was a former member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, passed away. He lived to be ninety-four.
Assisting the United States Commission
- For nineteen years, beginning in 1984, the illustrious Lama Lobzang worked as an advisor to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- He was reappointed to the National Commission for two terms, from 1995 to 1998 and 1998 to 2001, when it became constitutional through an amendment of Article 338 of the constitution.
- After serving on the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes for a second term (2004–2007), he stepped down from public office.
4. Navneet Sehgal Appointed as Prasar Bharati Board Chairman
The Prasar Bharati Board has elected Navneet Kumar Sehgal, a retired bureaucrat, as its new head. The seat remained unfilled for four years following A Surya Prakash’s retirement in February 2020, when he reached the upper age requirement for the job of 70.
Scheduling an Appointment
The appointment of the head of the country’s official broadcaster was headed by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday. Sanjay Jaju, secretary of information and broadcasting, and retired justice Ranjana Desai, chairwoman of the Press Council of India, were present at the meeting.
Navneet Sehgal‘s Background
- Sehgal served as an IAS officer for the Uttar Pradesh cadre and retired in 1988.
- Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, and he have been very close.
- While serving as the additional chief secretary of sports and youth in the UP government, Sehgal had a major impact on the state’s global investor summit and was the host of MotoGP in Noida last year.
5. India’s Ranking on the DHL Connectedness Index
As a result of its growing influence on the international economy, India has risen significantly in the DHL Global Connectedness Index. As a result of its growing importance in the world of globalization, India has risen from the 67th spot in 2022 to the 62nd spot in 2023.
Notable Findings from the DHL Global Connectedness Report 2024 Regarding India’s Position and Patterns:
- A substantial increase from its 2022 ranking of 67th, India rose to the 62nd spot in the DHL Connectedness Index for 2023.
- Indicative of India’s growing role in international trade, investment, information sharing, and travel, this upward trend remains.
Worldwide Positions:
- As a result of their active involvement in international trade and commerce, the most linked countries in the world are Ireland, Singapore, and the Netherlands.
- A rise in global connection was seen by 143 nations, indicating a larger tendency towards expanded globalization.
- On the flip side, just 38 nations saw a decrease in their levels of connectivity.
6. Indian Army contingent departing for the joint military exercise “Exercise Lamitiye – 2024”
The tenth annual Joint Military Exercise “LAMITIYE-2024” between the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and the Indian Army is underway, and a group of Indian soldiers have left for Seychelles today to take part. The Seychelles will play host to the exercise from March 18th to the 27th, 2024.
Exercise Lamitiye: What Is It?
- A friend is “LAMITIYE” in Creole.
- This training exercise brings together the Seychelles Defense Forces and the Indian Army every two years.
- The Seychelles have hosted the exercise every year since 2001.
- In the drill, 45 soldiers from the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and the GORKHA RIFLES (Indian Army) would take part.
Exercise Purpose
Under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter on Peace Keeping Operations, the primary objective of the Exercise is to improve interoperability, or the capacity to cooperate, in Sub-conventional Operations, which are defined as operations other than traditional combat, in a semi-urban setting.
7. Arjuna Awardee Sheetal Devi Named ECI’s National PwD Icon at Inclusive Cricket Match
To increase voter turnout and foster more diversity, the BCCI and the Election Commission of India (ECI) collaborated to host an exhibition cricket match.
Teams from the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) and the Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) met on March 16, 2024, in New Delhi’s Karnail Singh Stadium, for a cricket match.
Unveiling the National PwD Icon
Ms. Sheetal Devi, a famous para-archer and recipient of the Arjuna Award, was named the PwD category’s National Icon during the ceremony.
Notable Attendees and Officials
Shri Rajiv Kumar, the chief election commissioner, as well as Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Shri Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, the election commissioners, were present at the ceremony. The victorious squad was congratulated. Along with representatives from the DDCA and IDCA, the special guest was the renowned former Indian cricketer Nikhil Chopra.
8. Ordnance Factories Day 2024 is observed on March 18
Ordnance Factories Day is observed every year on March 18th. This year, it falls on a Monday. Ordnance Factories Day is a special day celebrated in India to honor the Indian Ordnance Factories that provide arms and ammunition to the Indian Armed Forces.
These factories play a vital role in keeping our country and its people safe.
Ordnance Factories Day 2024-History
During the British rule in India, the British East India Company realized the growing need for arms and ammunition for the British army.
In 1775, the Board of Ordnance was formed in Fort William, Kolkata. Later, in 1787, a gunpowder factory was established in Ishapore, and a gun carriage factory was set up in Cossipore, Kolkata (now known as the Gun and Shell Factory).
After India gained independence in 1947, the Ordnance Factories came under the control of the Indian Government. Ordnance Factories Day is celebrated on March 18th to commemorate the day when the Ordnance Factory in Cossipore, Kolkata, was established.
9. Ratan Tata Awarded PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Award for Philanthropy Work
Former Tata Sons chairman Ratan Tata has won the esteemed PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Award. His exceptional charitable contributions were recognized with the award. On March 15, 2024, the awards event was held in Mumbai.
Acknowledgment for Generosity
- A man of extraordinary and dogged generosity, Ratan Tata has received much acclaim for his charitable work.
- Many communities around the nation have been positively affected by his contributions.
Regarding the Prize
- The former Indian prime minister is commemorated with the PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Award.
- It is a way to honor those who have gone above and beyond in their commitment to helping others and social justice.
- The Charitable Work of Tata Trusts and Individual Ratan Tata Over half of Tata’s income has been given to charity.
- Health, education, rural development, and ecological preservation are just few of the many areas that have benefited from his charitable work.
- Tata has gained immense acclaim and appreciation on a global scale for his charitable work.
10. B Sairam is the New Chairman and Managing Director of NCL
Managing Director (CMD) and Chairman (NCL) of Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) B Sairam has been appointed. NCL is the principal subsidiary of Coal India Limited, which is headquartered in Singrauli. This position is now being filled by Sairam.
Proficiency and Background
- Sairam has been an integral part of the coal industry for three decades.
- When it comes to the coal sector, his knowledge and experience are extensive.
- After graduating from NIT Raipur, Sairam achieved great success as a mining engineer.
- He has experience in a wide range of fields, including regulatory affairs, logistics, planning, and mine operations.
Pursuing Education
- Sairam attended NTPC School of Business Delhi and earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Energy Management.
- To comprehend the dynamics of energy on a worldwide scale, he participated in a 15-day immersion program in Singapore at Nanyang Business School.
- Sairam has shown his dedication to sustainable energy methods by researching the Just Energy Transition initiatives in Poland and Germany.
11. Adani Green Energy operationalizes 126 MW wind power plant in Gujarat
The 300 MW wind power facility in Gujarat, owned by Adani Green Energy, has seen an extra 126 MW of capacity go live. This is a major achievement for the corporation, following the previous operationalization of 174 MW.
Important Aspects:
Deepening Our Investment in Renewable Energy:
- An AGEL subsidiary, Adani Wind Energy Kutchh Four Limited (AWEK4L), has put 126 MW of wind power production in Gujarat into service.
- The project’s total capacity is currently 300 MW, including the previously operationalized 174 MW.
- A major contribution to the renewable energy industry, the project is anticipated to produce 1,091 million units of power per year, which will have an impact on the environment.
- As a bonus, it will help reduce yearly CO₂ emissions by about 0.8 million tonnes, further demonstrating AGEL’s dedication to environmental responsibility.
- By managing India’s biggest portfolio of renewable energy, with a total of 9,604 MW, AEL is further solidifying its position as a market leader.
- By bringing this wind power plant online, AGEL demonstrates its commitment to increasing its use of renewable energy sources.
