06th March, 2024

1. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav has released the report on Status of Leopards in India, in New Delhi.
2. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the 1st tanker – Swarna Sindhu – carrying crude oil produced in state-owned ONGC’s Krishna Godavari deepwater block.
3. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated the 60T bollard pull tug named ‘Ocean Grace‘ and the Medical Mobile Unit (MMU).
4. Keyi Panyor has become the 26th district of Arunachal Pradesh.
5. Reserve Bank of India has approved NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) to launch an interoperable payment system for Internet banking to facilitate quicker settlement of funds for merchants.
6. Infibeam Avenues has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregator for its payment gateway brand, CCAvenue.
7. Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has celebrated the 22nd Foundation Day.
8. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme at DefConnect 2024 in New Delhi.
9. Ministry of Defence has signed a tripartite MoU with BEML Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI).
10. Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with an Indian firm to upgrade the simulators of the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
11. World Obesity Day
12. National Safety Day
13. World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation

National News

1. Report on Status of Leopards in India.
   • What ? Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav has released the report on Status of Leopards in India, in New Delhi.
   • Key findings of the report:
     • India’s leopard numbers rose by 8% from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022.
     • Madhya Pradesh has reported the highest number of leopards, with 3,907 leopards.
     • Other states with significant leopard populations include Maharashtra (1,985), Karnataka (1,879), and Tamil Nadu (1,070).
     • Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and West Bengal collectively saw a 150% rise in leopard numbers to 349 animals.
     • Uttarakhand reported a 22% decline in leopard numbers due to poaching and man-animal conflicts in the region.
     • Survey covered 20 states of India focusing on about 70% of the animals’ expected habitat, including India’s tiger reserves and protected forest areas.
       Source: The Hindu
2. PM Narendra Modi flags off first crude oil tanker from ONGC’s KG project.
   • What ? Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off the 1st tanker – Swarna Sindhu – carrying crude oil produced in state-owned ONGC’s Krishna Godavari deepwater block.
   • Key points:
     • KG-DWN 98/2 Deepwater Oil Field M is located in the Krishna Godavari Basin.
     • It is developed with an investment of over Rs 41,000 crore.
       Source: BS
3. 1st-ever Made-in-India ASTDS tug.
   • What ? Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated the 60T bollard pull tug named ‘Ocean Grace‘ and the Medical Mobile Unit (MMU).
   • About Ocean Grace:
     • Developed by: Cochin Shipyard Limited
     • ASTDS Tug is powered by NIGATA main engines and a Power Z-Peller ZP Propulsion engine.
     • The goal of the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) is to convert at least 50% of all tugs into Green Tugs by 2030.The program aims to have Green Tugs operating at all major ports.
     • aim is to achieve a remarkable reduction of 50% in emissions by 2030 and 70% by 2047.
   • Medical Mobile Unit (MMU):
     • It is part of port’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.
       Source: PIB

State News

1. Keyi Panyor becomes 26th district of Arunachal Pradesh.
   • What ? Keyi Panyor has became the 26th district of Arunachal Pradesh.
   • Key points:
     • It has been carved out of Lower Subansiri district.
     • New district will have its headquarters at Ter Gapin-Sam Sarth.
       Source: Indian Express

Banking and Economy

1. NPCI to launch interoperable payment system for internet banking.
   • What ? Reserve Bank of India has given approval to NPCI Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL) to launch an interoperable payment system for Internet banking to facilitate quicker settlement of funds for merchants.
   • What is interoperability?
     • Interoperability is the technical compatibility that enables a payment system to be used in conjunction with other payment systems.
     • For example, interoperability allows card / Prepaid Payment Instrument (PPI) Issuers, Payment System Providers and Payment System Participants in different systems to undertake, clear and settle payment transactions across systems without participating in multiple systems.
     • It creates a scenario where regardless of who issues the e-wallet or card, the user can be sure that payments made through these instruments will be valid across payment networks.
       Source: moneycontrol, HBL

2. RBI’s authorization for payment aggregator license
   • What ? Infibeam Avenues has received the final authorization from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate as a payment aggregator for its payment gateway brand, CCAvenue.
     Source: BS
   
   
   
   
3. 22nd Foundation Day of Bureau of Energy Efficiency Celebrated.
   • What ? Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has celebrated the 22nd Foundation Day.
   • Key points:
     • Theme: Energy Transition through Electrification and Decarbonization in India
     • Ministry of Power launched the 5th edition of State Energy Efficiency Index(SEEI 2023)
     • Key observation of State Energy Efficiency Index:
       • SEEI 2023 evaluates 36 states and Union Territories (UTs) using 65 qualitative, quantitative, and outcome-based indicators.
       • These indicators are distributed across seven demand sectors: Buildings, Industry, Municipal Services, Transport, Agriculture, Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOMs), and Cross-Sector Initiatives.
       • Classification: States and UTs are classified into different categories based on their total scores:
         • Front runner (>=60)
         • Achiever (50-59.75)
         • Contender (30-49.75)
         • Aspirant (<30)
       • Energy Consumption Groups:
       • States and UTs are categorized into four groups based on their Total Final Energy Consumption (TFEC) measured in Million Tonnes of Oil Equivalent (MTOE):
         • Group 1 (>15 MTOE)
         • Group 2 (5-15 MTOE)
         • Group 3 (1-5 MTOE)
         • Group 4 (<1 MTOE)

• Release of 1st Edition of India EV Digest:
  • India EV Digest has been released by BEE to address the growing significance of electric vehicles (EVs) in India and the necessity to accelerate EV adoption.
  • It aims to support India’s goal of achieving a 30% share of EVs in overall vehicle sales by 2030.
    Source: PIB

Defence News

1. Launch of ADITI scheme to promote innovations in defence technologies.
   • What ? Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) scheme at DefConnect 2024 in New Delhi.
   • Objectives:
     • To nurture the innovation of youth.
     • To help the country leap forward in the field of technology, particularly in critical and strategic defence technologies.

   • Key points:
     • Total budget: 750 crore
     • Duration of scheme: 2023-24 to 2025-26
     • Start-ups can receive a grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for their research, development, and innovation endeavors in defence technology.
     • It will develop about 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies within its proposed timeframe.
     • ADITI envisages creating a ‘Technology Watch Tool.’
     • This tool aims to bridge the gap between the expectations and requirements of the modern Armed Forces and the capabilities of the defence innovation ecosystem.
       Source: PIB
     
     

Memorandum of Understanding

1. MoD inks MoU with BEML Limited, BEL & MIDHANI.
   • What ? Ministry of Defence has signed a tripartite MoU with BEML Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), and Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited (MIDHANI).
   • Objective:
     • To develop an Advanced Fuelling and Control System for Engines for heavy-duty applications.
       Source: PIB
2. Defence Ministry signs deal with Indian firm to upgrade Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft simulator.
   • What ? Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with an Indian firm to upgrade the simulators of the Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
     Source: ET

Important Days

1. March 4– World Obesity Day; Theme- Let’s Talk About Obesity And…
   Source: wod
2. March 4– National Safety Day; Theme- Focus on Safety Leadership for ESG Excellence
   Source: BS
3. March 4– World Day of Fight Against Sexual Exploitation
   Source: IAW

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