World
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France was officially inaugurated to the public on this day (31st March) in the year 1889 to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution.
It was designed by engineer and architect Gustave Eiffel.
Note : At the time of its inauguration, the 984 feet tall tower became the tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years.
Central America's smallest nation, El Salvador, has become the first country in the world to ban metal mining nationwide.
The new law bans all exploration, extraction, and processing of metals both in open pits and mines.
Note : According to a UN report, the level of environmental pollution in El Salvador is among the highest in the region.
3rd edition of G20 Framework Working Group (FWG) meeting was held at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
The 2-day meeting took place under the G20 German presidency, and was co-hosted by the Union Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Inaugurated by : Shaktikanta Das (Economic Affairs Secretary)
Headed by : Dinesh Sharma (Special secretary in the Finance ministry)
India
The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has launched 2 mobile applications titled e-challan and m-parivahan to provide a comprehensive digital solution for enforcement of traffic rules.
These applications will provide access to various services and information, and enable citizens to report any traffic violation or road accident.
The stamping of hand baggage will be stopped at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Cochin airports from 1st April 2017.
Before this, all hand baggage had to be rubber-stamped by security personnel after it was put through security scanners at airports.
Note : This plan had been implemented earlier but was stopped due to the lack of required security equipment.
Gujarat Assembly has passed the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to amend Gujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954.
The amendment bill makes the existing law stricter and provides for harsher punishment and higher penalties to prevent cow slaughter in the state.
People in News
South Korea's former President Park Geun-hye was arrested today over a corruption scandal that led to her official dismissal earlier this month.
Science & Technology
Elon Musk-led space exploration startup SpaceX today successfully launched its pre-used Falcon 9 rocket, marking the first time an orbital class rocket has been relaunched.
US astronaut Peggy Whitson today broke the record for the most spacewalks by a woman after performing her eighth career spacewalk from the International Space Station.
The 57-year-old astronaut surpassed the record of seven spacewalks previously held by Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams.
Note : Whitson is also the oldest woman ever to fly in space.
India's third largest Internet Service Provider ACT Fibernet today announced the launch of 1 Gbps wired broadband internet service for Hyderabad, making it the first Indian city to offer such a service.
Business & Economic Affairs
The government has lowered the interest rates on small savings schemes like PPF, Kisan Vikas Patra and Sukanya Samriddhi scheme by 0.1 per cent for the April-June quarter, a move that would prompt banks to cut their deposit rates.
This move brings the interest rate on PPF down to 7.9%.
The interest rates cut also affects savings in government schemes namely National Savings Certificate, Sukanya Samriddhi Account Scheme and Kisan Vikas Patra among others.
The deadline to deposit and exchange demonetised ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes at RBI for Indian citizens who were abroad during the demonetisation period, ends today.
This facility is available at RBI offices in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Nagpur.
There's no limit for exchange for eligible resident Indians.
Note : NRIs are allowed to deposit such notes till June 30.
The deadline to declare black money under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna is today (31 March).
All offices of the I-T Department, which can accept declarations under PMGKY, will remain open until midnight.
Earlier, the department had warned that tax and penalty against those who hide black money and fail to avail the scheme could go up to 137%.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a notification announcing that payment systems will remain closed on April 1.
This comes after an earlier directive asking banks to remain open on April 1, the first day of the next fiscal.
While debit and credit card transactions will not be affected, electronic fund transfers using RTGS and NEFT will remain closed.
MOUs & Agreements
India has signed loan agreement with the New Development Bank (NDB)/BRICS Bank for $350 million.
This loan to be used in the development and upgradation of district roads in Madhya Pradesh.
Note : This is India's first loan agreement with NDB.
The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM) and Indian Army have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to identify the critical technological areas that can be enhanced in the armed forces.
The MoU was signed by IITM Director Bhaskar Ramamurthi and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (P&S) Lt. Gen. Subrata Saha in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Awards & Honors
Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli was conferred with the Padma Shri Award by President Pranab Mukherjee at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will receive his Nobel Prize for Literature in person at Stockholm this weekend.
Sports Current Affairs
Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar launched his own app titled '100MB' in Mumbai today.
The app, available both on Android and Apple devices, also includes a networking platform for fans.
International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Dave Richardson today announced that ICC will submit an application this year for including cricket in the 2024 Olympics.
Richardson revealed that Twenty20 tournament between six to eight teams will be the most likely format for the Olympics.
Note : Cricket last appeared at the Olympics in 1900 with only two teams participating.
No comments:
Post a Comment