National
• The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has ordered Tamil Nadu government to enact a law with prohibitory and penal clauses to eradicate Seemai Karuvelam (prosopis juliflora) trees within two months.
• Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala has topped in city governance ranking of the Annual Survey of India’s City Systems (ASICS) 2016 conducted by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy.
• India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted above normal temperature in most parts of the country during 2017 summer season. The predictions were given by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune.
• Indigenously developed supersonic Prithvi interceptor missile was successfully test-fired from launch complex III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Abdul Kalam Island in Balasore, Odisha.
• Government appointed ‘Working Group on Migration’ headed by Partha Mukhopadhay has recommended necessary legal and policy framework to protect the interests of the migrants in the country.
• The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) formally handed over an indigenously developed Weapon Locating Radar (WLR) system dubbed as ‘SWATHI’ to Indian Army.
• The Union Government has announced that half of the 4,096-km long border India shares with Bangladesh has been fenced.
• India has accepted an invitation to attend the next meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), to be held in Lahore in March 2017. The last round of the PIC was held in July 2016.
• Indian Navy successfully test-fired an anti-ship missile for the first time from an indigenously built INS Kalvari submarine.
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has successfully coordinated Operation Thunder Bird from January 30 to February 19, 2017 in its fight to end poaching of India’s wildlife animals.
• West Bengal Government has given official language status to endangered tribal language Kurukh, mother tongue belonging to the Dravidian family.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has prohibited all camping activity on beaches which fall within 100 meters along the River Ganga from Shivpuri to Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.
• For the first time in 16 years, Odisha has achieved highest decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR). This decline is far better than the national average.
• The State Legislative Assembly has passed the West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2017, by a voice vote.
• Haryana Government has announced Tirtha Darshan Scheme under which senior citizens above 60 years of age in the state will be able to go on a pilgrimage within the country at government expense Announcement in this regard was made by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar while replying to the discussion on the Governor’s address during the budget session of the Haryana Assembly.
• The Union Government has launched the first ever across-the-river survey in River Ganga to determine the population of aquatic life, including that of the endangered Gangetic doplhin.
• India has got the dubious distinction of having the highest bribery rate in the Asia Pacific, with a survey showing that more than two-thirds of Indians had to pay ‘tea money’ or fork out other forms of bribe to get public services.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Arab Emirates (UAE) to provide various services in the field of energy management and conservation.
• The world’s longest serving warship INS Viraat was decommissioned by the Indian Navy at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, Maharashtra after nearly six decades of service.
• Union Cabinet has approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and the United Nations Entity of Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women).
• The Union Cabinet has given its approval for India’s accession to the Customs Convention on International Transport of Goods under cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention) and necessary procedures for ratification.
• India’s longest surface tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district is complete.
• According to recent report tabled in the Lok Sabha, West Bengal has the highest number of arsenic-affected people in the country.
• The Union Government will soon launch country’s first-of-its-kind Indian Sign Language (ISL) dictionary which aims to bring uniformity in sign languages used by hearing and speech impaired people.
• The Uttarakhand High Court has recognized the Ganga and Yamuna Rivers as so-called living entities.
• India ranked at 122 out of 155 countries in the World Happiness Report 2017 published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network on the eve of International Day of Happiness (20 March).
• India was ranked 131 in the 2016 Human Development Index (HDI) among the 188 countries.
• India ranked 87th among the surveyed 127 countries on a Global Energy Architecture Performance Index (EAPI) released as part of report of Geneva- based World Economic Forum (WEF).
• Kumar Mangalam Birla-led telecommunications major Idea Cellular has agreed to merge with the Vodafone India, Indian unit of the UK headquartered Vodafone Plc.
• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the four Goods and Services Tax (GST) related bills.
• The Union Cabinet approved setting up of National Commission for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (NSEBC) as a constitutional body.
• Assam Government launched Sustainable Action for Climate Resilient Development (SaCReD) Initiative to develop Majuli, the world’s largest river island, as the country’s first carbon neutral district.
• The Union Cabinet has approved the amendment to Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
• The Rajya Sabha has passed HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Bill, 2014
• The Union Cabinet has approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-ln) and the US Homeland Security Department on cooperation in the field of Cyber Security.
• The Union Water Resources Ministry has drafted new dam safety bill to contemplate an institutional mechanism to improve safety of around 5300-odd dams across in India. The new law has been vetted by the Union Law Ministry.
• The Lok Sabha has approved amendments to The Finance Bill, 2017 proposed by the Union Government to wind up eight tribunals.
• The Parliament has passed The Employees Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2016. The Bill amends the Employee’s Compensation Act, 1923.
• Indian Navy successfully conducted maiden test of short range surface-to-air Barak missile from country’s sole aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya.
• The Indian Navy has de-inducted TU142M Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft after 29 years of dedicated service to the nation and 30,000 hours of accident-free flying.
• The INLCU L51 was commissioned into the Indian Navy. The ship was commissioned by Vice Admiral Bimal Verma, AVSM, Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command at Port Blair.
• Government has notified that Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory advisory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF) will now be permanently chaired by a senior MoEF official.
• Union Government is going to launch Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY) scheme for providing physical aids and assisted-living devices for senior citizens belonging to BPL category.
• The Law Commission of India (LCI) in its 267th Report has laid out that bare the danger of hate speech to the Union Government and called for action from the government and Parliament.
• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has handed over three naval systems to the Indian Navy.
• The Union Defence Ministry has approved most of the proposals of a committee of experts, headed by Lt. Gen. D.B. Shekatkar (Retd) to bring host of reforms in the military and improve financial management.
• The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (FPI) has sanctioned 101 new integrated cold chain projects across the country.
• Indian Air force has formally launched web based e-billing system Aviation Turbine Fuel Digital Issue and Payment (ATF DIP) .
• The Uttarakhand High Court has ordered a complete ban on all mining activities in the state for four months.
• Delhi’s iconic theatre, Regal cinema hall has decided to bring its curtain down after a golden run of 85 years. The hall will close its doors today, on 30 March 2017.
• The Supreme Court (SC) banned the sale and registration of vehicles which are not compliant with Bharat Stage-IV (BS-IV) emission norms.
• Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on 29 March 2017 directed chief secretary MM Kutty to recover Rs 97 crore from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The AAP government will have to reimburse the money in 30 days.
• Kanha in Madhya Pradesh became first tiger reserve in India to officially introduce a mascot named Bhoorsingh the Barasingha, to create a better connect with its visitors, especially the younger generation.
• The Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry has launched the e-Cinepramaan, an online film certification system of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
• The Parliament has passed the Mental Healthcare Bill, 2016 that decriminalises suicide attempt by mentally ill people and guarantees the right to better healthcare for people with mental illness.
• The below poverty line households in the urban and rural areas of Uttar Pradesh will henceforth get free power connection and those above the poverty line will get the 100 per cent financing option with easy EMIs.
International
• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged governments, scientists and pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs to tackle 12 antibiotics-resistant super-germs threatening an explosion of incurable diseases.
• The Union Cabinet has approved signing of the Definitive Agreement on Oil Storage and Management between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Ltd (ISPRL) and UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).
• According to recently released World Health Organisation (WHO) report titled “Inheriting a sustainable world: Atlas on children’s health and the environment”, polluted environment kills around 1.7 million children a year.
• India and Nepal have signed an agreement to renew supply of petroleum to Nepal for a period of five years i.e. till 2022.
Business and Economy
•The Union Government has shifted the responsibility of promoting digital transactions in the country to the Union Ministry of IT and Electronics (MEITY) from NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog.
•The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into 10 more Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) pertaining to various sectors of economy like Telecom, Banking & Finance, Pharmaceutical, Steel, Retail and IT etc It includes 7 Unilateral APAs, 2 Bilateral APAs with the United Kingdom and Japan.
•The Union Government has signed a Financing Agreement with World Bank for IDA credit of $63 million for the Tejaswini Socio-Economic Empowerment of Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) Project.
•The fourth edition of India &ndash CLMV (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam) Business Conclave was held in Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan.
•The Union Government has notified the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017 to prohibit the holding, transferring or receiving of scrapped old Rs.500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes from 31 December, 2016.
•The Kerala State budget 2017-18 was presented by the State Finance Minister Dr Thomas Isaac.
•The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved proposal for revival of 50 under-served/un-served airports or airstrips of the State Governments, Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Civil enclaves.
•The Trade Mark Rules, 2017 have come into effect, streamlining and simplifying the processing of Trade Mark applications.
•The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved North East Road Network Connectivity Project (NERNCP) Phase I for development of 403 kms of National Highways in Meghalaya and Mizoram.
•Union Cabinet has approved proposal for amending National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Act, 1981.
•The Union Cabinet has approved amendments to the Customs and Excise Acts related to abolition of cesses and surcharges on various goods and services to facilitate implementation of GST Regime Decision in this regard was taken by Union Cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
•The Union Cabinet has approved proposals to tweak Fund of Funds of Start-ups (FFS) rules to enable greater flow of resources. FFS was established in June 2016 with a corpus of Rs. 1,000 crores.
•The Union Finance Ministry has notified third Protocol amending India-Singapore Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) .
•he Union Finance Minister has approved re-organisation of field formations of the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) for the implementation of Goods & Services Tax (GST).
•India and World Bank have singed Signs Financing Agreement for IDA credit of $100 million for the “Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project.
•The Lok Sabha passed four Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bills.
•According to Central Electricity Authority (CEA), under Union Power Ministry, India for the first time has become a net exporter of electricity during the April-February period in fiscal 2016-17.
•SBI Card launched the Unnati Credit Card to spread credit inclusion among masses. The card was launched by the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal at a programe in New Delhi.
•Odisha became the first state in the country to adopt Self Help Groups (SHG) based model for financial exclusion model to extend banking services in the unbanked areas through SGHs.
•The third meeting of the G20 Framework Working Group concluded Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
•Stockholm-based Truecaller tied-up with Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank and Google in India and also launched the latest version of its application with new features.
Science and Technology
•Scientists have claimed that they have discovered oldest fossils on Earth in rocks from Quebec, Canada.
•Scientists from Eindhoven University of Technology in Netherlands have developed a new wireless Internet network based on infrared rays that is reportedly 100 times faster than existing Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) networks. It has a huge capacity, more than 40 Gigabits per second (Gbit/s).
•The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) suspended the Environmental Clearance (EC) granted to the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO). It has asked the project proponent to make a fresh application.
•The GRAPES-3 experiment at TIFR’s (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research) Cosmic Ray Laboratory in Ootacamund in Tamil Nadu is getting upgraded to detect solar storms.
•The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) created history by commissioning the world’s third-largest hypersonic wind tunnel at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
•According to US and European scientists, the extent of sea ice at both poles has hit new record lows for this time of the year.
•Researchers including Indian origin from University of Glasgow have developed new prototype prosthetic limbs having solar-powered skin.
•Scientists from the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) have switched on world’s largest artificial sun &ndash a device developed to help shed light on new ways of making climate-friendly fuels.
•The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has joined the 36th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (36-ISEA) organised by the National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR).
Sports
•The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and Government of Odisha on 27 March 2017 announced that the Men’s Hockey World League Final 2017 and Hockey Men’s World Cup 2018 will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
•Ravichandran Ashwin on 28 March 2017 was awarded the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy in Dharamsala.
•Tamil Nadu won the 2017 Vijay Hazare Trophy of cricket for record fifth time defeating Bengal.
•West Bengal won the 2017 Santosh Trophy of football by defeating Goa by 1-0 goals. It was 71st edition of Santosh Trophy and overall record 32nd win of West Bengal.
•Tamil Nadu defeated India 'B' by 42 runs in the final to clinch the Deodhar Trophy.
•The FIFA Disciplinary Committee on 28 March 2017 suspended Argentina football player Lionel Messi for four matches. The committee reached the decision in application of articles 77 (a) and 108 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC).
•Indian forward S V Sunil was named the Asian Player of the Year 2016 by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
•Pakistani pacer Mohammad Irfan was slapped with a one-year ban and a fine of $ 1000 after he admitted to his fault of failing to report a spot-fixing approach by bookmakers during the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
New Appointments
•United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres has appointed David Beasley as head of the Rome-based World Food Programme (WFP).
Awards
•French mathematician Yves Meyer has won the prestigious 2017 Abel Prize for his pivotal role in the development of the mathematical theory of wavelets (small waves or ripples).
•The Chief of the Army Staff General Bipin Rawat conferred with the title of Honorary General of the Nepalese Army during his official visit to Nepal and Bangladesh from 28 March 2017 to 2 April 2017. This was his first foreign visit after assuming the office.
Death
•Gurdev Singh Badal, former Punjab minister and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader passed away at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana on March 28, 2017, following prolonged illness. He was 85.
Special Days
•Every year 3rd March is being observed as World Wildlife Day (WWD) to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.
•The International Women's Day is observed 8 March ever year since 1900s to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all across the globe.
• World Wildlife Day : 3rd March
• International Women's Day : 8th March
• World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) : 15th March
• World sparrow day : 20th March
• International Day of Forests : 21st March
• World Water Day (WWD) : 22nd March
•World Meteorological Day (WMD) : 23rd March
• World Tuberculosis (TB) : 24th March
• Earth Hour was observed : 25th March, 2017
•Every year World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) is being observed on 15 March for celebration and solidarity within the international consumer movement.
•The world sparrow day is being observed every year on March 20 to raise awareness of the house sparrow and other common birds to urban environments and threats to their populations.
•Every year 21st March is being observed as International Day of Forests to raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and of trees outside forests.
•Every year World Water Day (WWD) is observed globally on 22 March to preserve and ration consumption of water.
•Every year 23rd March is being observed as World Meteorological Day (WMD).
•Every year March 24 is being observed as World Tuberculosis (TB) Day to o build public awareness about the global epidemic of TB and efforts to eliminate the disease.
•The eleventh edition of the Earth Hour was observed across the world on 25 March 2017 to take a global call on climate change.
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