13TH MARCH REVIEW IN ENGLISH FOR TNPSC, SSC, IPPB & INSURANCE

New Appointments

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has been given the additional charge of the Defence Ministry after President Pranab Mukherjee accepted Manohar Parrikar's resignation. 

Note : Jaitley had headed the Defence Ministry from May 2014 to November 2014 before Parrikar was appointed to the post.

World

Today (2nd Monday of March) is Commonwealth Day.

The 52 countries of the Commonwealth celebrate Commonwealth Day.

The year 2017 marks 40 years since Commonwealth Day became a global celebration marked on the same day every year: on the second Monday in March

Theme of Commonwealth Day 2017 - 'A Peace-building Commonwealth'

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has today announced that the 2016 was worst year yet for Syria's children.

UNICEF's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Geert Cappelaere said in Homs that millions of children come under attack on a daily basis and six million are now relying on humanitarian aid.

Japan is planning to dispatch its largest warship on a three-month tour through the South China Sea starting from May to test its capability. 

It is Japan's biggest show of naval force in the region since the second World War. 

This comes amid rising tensions between the US and China over freedom of navigation in the sea.

India

The Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly is set to have 38 women MLAs.

This is the highest number for the state since Independence. 

Thirty-two female candidates from BJP won, while two each from BSP and Congress, and one each from Apna Dal and the Samajwadi Party were elected.

Banking & Economic Affairs

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has removed the cash withdrawal limits for the savings bank accounts starting today. 

Important Points to Note : 

The limit was increased to ₹50,000 per week from February 20. 

The RBI had ended cash withdrawal limits for current account holders from February 1. 

The limits on bank withdrawals were placed after the demonetisation of old ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes.

Science & Technology

Africa has got its own domain name '.africa' for the continent 32 years after the world's first domain name was registered. 

The domain name '.africa' will be used to reflect a company's interest in the whole of Africa. 

Note : According to the World Bank, sub-Saharan Africa has one of the lowest rates of internet penetration in the world.