India
Lok Sabha TV & Rajya Sabha TV merged into one single entity
Parliament has merged the Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV channels into one single entity called “Sansad TV”. Ravi Capoor, IAS, will be the CEO of the new joint entity for a period of one year. The services of Manoj Kumar Pandey, the CEO of Rajya Sabha TV, have been terminated.”
Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan, BJP Lok Sabha member from Khandwa (MP), dies
Nand Kumar Singh Chauhan, the BJP Lok Sabha member from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh, died on March 2, 2021 at the age of 69. He was an MLA from 1985 to 1996. He was elected as the Lok Sabha member for the first time in 1996 and got re-elected in 1998, 1999, 2004, 2014 and 2019.
Union Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot launches ‘Sugamya Bharat’ App
Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot launched the ‘Sugamya Bharat’ App to ease accessibility issues faced by differently-abled in buildings and transport system. He also released a handbook titled ‘Access – The Photo Digest’ on March 2, 2021. The App and the handbook have been developed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The app will enable people with disabilities and even the elderly to register accessibility-related problems in buildings, in modes of transport or any infrastructure by uploading pictures on it.
Pokhriyal releases study material of Indian Knowledge Tradition courses of NIOS
Union Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ released the study material of Indian Knowledge Tradition courses of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in Noida, Uttar Pradesh on March 2, 2021. NIOS imparts school education through Open and Distance Education in the field of Secondary, Senior secondary level and vocational training. NIOS has prepared 15 courses of Indian knowledge tradition such as Veda, Yoga, Science, Vocational Skills and Sanskrit language subjects in Sanskrit, Hindi and English medium at all three levels of Open Basic Education Program. These courses are equivalent to classes 3rd, 5th and 8th.
Udaipur Science Centre inaugurated at Udaipur in Tripura
The Udaipur Science Centre, at Udaipur, Tripura was dedicated to the people by the Governor of Tripura, Ramesh Bais on February 28, 2021. Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism, Govt. of India Prahlad Singh Patel, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. A. D. Choudhury, DG, NCSM informed that Udaipur Science Centre is the 22nd Science Centre which has been developed by NCSM (National Council of Science Museums).
Sri Lanka to develop West Container Terminal at Colombo Port with India, Japan
Sri Lanka on March 2, 2021 said it will develop the West Container Terminal (WCT) at the Colombo Port along with India and Japan. Approval has been granted to develop the WCT with investors nominated by India and Japan. While India has named Adani Ports, Japan is yet to respond. India and Japan will be accorded 85% stakes in WCT.
IAF participating in Exercise Desert Flag being hosted by UAE in March
The Indian Air Force will participate for the first time in Exercise Desert Flag which is beginning in Al-Dhafra air base in UAE from March 3, 2021. Exercise Desert Flag is an annual multinational large force employment warfare exercise hosted by the United Arab Emirates Air Force. The large-scale exercise ending on March 27 will provide the participating forces, including IAF, a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge, experience, enhance operational capabilities and interoperability.
Passenger train service between Dhaka & New Jalpaiguri to start from March 26
A new passenger train service between Dhaka and New Jalpaiguri is set to start from 26th of March marking the 50th Anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh. The d train will run through the Chilahati-Haldibari cross border rail route. There are two passenger trains currently running between Bangladesh and India. The Maitree Express runs between Dhaka and Kolkata and Bandhan Express links Khulna with Kolkata.
Economy & Corporate
Cheque dishonour cases can’t be filed or continued against firms facing insolvency
The Supreme Court on March 1, 2021 held the cheque bounce cases can neither be instituted nor be continued against companies which are facing insolvency proceedings and are protected under a provision of Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) putting a moratorium on legal proceedings against them.
PM inaugurates ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the three-day ‘Maritime India Summit 2021’ on March 2, 2021. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Maritime India Summit 2021 is being organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on a virtual platform www.maritimeindiasummit.in. The summit will visualise a roadmap for India’s Maritime sector for next decade and will work to propel India to the forefront of the Global Maritime Sector. Denmark is the partner country for the three-day summit.
World
Japan dismisses Chinese claims over Senkaku Islands
Japan on March 2, 2021 dismissed China’s claim over disputed Senkaku islands in the East China Sea, and criticized China saying the claim breaks international law. Japan’s Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo said that the Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of Japanese territory, in terms of history and international law. He said the islands are also under Japan’s control. China and Taiwan claim the Senkaku islands.
Vernon Jordan, U.S. civil rights activist and lawyer, dies aged 85
Vernon Jordan, who grew up in the segregated South to become an influential leader in the American civil rights movement, Washington politics and Wall Street, died at age of 85 on March 1, 2021.
Sports
Virat Kohli becomes first cricketer to have 100 million followers on Instagram
India captain Virat Kohli became the first cricketer in the world to have 100 million followers on social media platform Instagram. The 32-year-old Kohli is also the fourth most followed sportsperson on Instagram. Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo tops the chart with 265 million followers, ahead of Argentina football captain and FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and Brazil’s Neymar, who are second and third in the list with 186 million and 147 million followers respectively.
