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By admin: March 23, 2023

Interpol withdraws Red Notice against Mehul Choksi

Tags: International News

Interpol has withdrawn the Red Corner Notice (RCN)

Interpol has withdrawn the Red Corner Notice (RCN) issued against Mehul Choksi, the main accused in the Rs 13,500 crore PNB loan scam case.

An overview of the news

  • Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought the restoration of the notice.

Case against Mehul Choksi

  • Mehul Choksi is the owner of Gitanjali Group, a jewelery firm with 4,000 stores in India.

  • He along with his nephew Nirav Modi is a culprit in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.

  • Choksi and Modi are accused of issuing fake Letters of Undertaking (LoU) and foreign letters of credit to companies owned by them in connivance with bank officials.

  • In this case, PNB did not keep any security before issuing the LoU.

  • The matter came to light in January 2018, when PNB submitted a fraud report to the Reserve Bank of India.

  • The CBI registered an FIR in the matter a week later. By this time Choksi had fled the country.

  • Choksi is wanted in India on charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal conspiracy, cheating and financial embezzlement.

What is an Interpol Red Notice?

  • Criminals or suspects often flee to other countries to escape justice.

  • A Red Corner Notice, or Red Notice (RN), alerts police forces around the world to fugitives who are wanted internationally.

  • A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement around the world to locate and temporarily arrest a person wanted for extradition, surrender or legal action.

  • A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant.

About Interpol 

  • The full name of INTERPOL is the International Criminal Police Organisation and is an intergovernmental organisation.

  • It was set up in 1923.

  • Member countries - 195   

  • India became its member on 15 October 1949.

  • It  helps police in all of them to work together to make the world a safer place.

  • Headquarter - Lyon, France.

  • Different Notices of Interpol - Red Notice, Green Notice, Yellow Notice, Orange Notice, Blue Notice, Purple Notice, Black Notice, and an INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice.

  • Its work focuses on public safety and combating terrorism, crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes, environmental crimes, etc.


Manmeet K. Nanda appointed new managing director & CEO of Invest India

Tags: Person in news

Theboard of Invest India has appointed Manmeet K Nanda as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the investment promotion and facilitation body under the Ministry of Commerce.

An overview of the news

  • Nanda replaces Deepak Bagla, who resigned from the post last week.

  • According to the commerce ministry, the board in its meeting approved the appointment of Nanda, a 2000 batch IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, as the new MD and CEO.

About Invest India

  • It was established in 2009.

  • It is a non-profit enterprise under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

  • It is the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency.

  • Invest India focuses on developing new partnerships to enablesustainable investments in India.

  • Invest India also partners with investment promotion agencies and multilateral organizations.

Gujarat court sentences Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail

Tags: National Person in news National News

A court in Surat in Gujarat has convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a criminal defamation case filed in 2019 over his remarks on Modi's surname.

An overview of the news

  • The court also sentenced him to two years in jail.

  • The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate HH Verma convicted Rahul Gandhi under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code.

  • The court granted bail to Rahul Gandhi and stayed the sentence for 30 days so that he can appeal in a higher court during this period.

  • After this decision, Rahul Gandhi's membership of Parliament can also go from Wayanad parliamentary constituency.

  • Before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi made an objectionable comment on the Modi surname while addressing a public meeting in Kollar, Karnataka.

What will be the effect of this decision?

  • The disqualification of an MP convicted of an offense can be in two cases.

  • If the offense for which he is convicted is listed in section 8(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. This includes offenses such as section 153A (offence of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) or section 171E (offence of bribery). Are.

  • Section 171F (offence of undue influence or impersonation at election) and certain others.

  • Second, Section 8(3) of the RPA states that an MP can be disqualified if convicted and sentenced to a minimum of 2 years' imprisonment.

  • However, the section also states that disqualification takes effect only "after the lapse of three months" from the date of conviction.

  • Within that period, Gandhi can file an appeal against the conviction before the High Court.

Pankaj Advani won the Asian Billiards Championship title

Tags: Sports Sports News

Pankaj Advani has won the Asian Billiards Championship title held in Doha, Qatar.

Pankaj Advani has won the Asian Billiards Championship title held in Doha, Qatar.

An overview of the news

  • On 19 March, Pankaj defeated the defending national champion Brijesh Damani (India) 5–1 to win the title for the second time in a row and ninth overall.

  • After a 5–1 win over Thailand's Praput Chaithanasakun in the quarter-finals, Pankaj defeated Myanmar's Pauk Sa in the semi-finals.

  • In the women's section, China's Bai Yulu won the title beating Panchaya Channoi of Thailand 3-0 in the final.

  • Advani has won gold medals in English Billiards singles in the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games.


Asia's largest 4-meter telescope inaugurated in Uttarakhand

Tags: Science and Technology National News

Asia's largest 4-meter telescope inaugurated in Uttarakhand

Asia's largest 4-meter International Liquid Mirror Telescope was launched in Devasthal in Uttarakhand on 21 March.

An overview of the news

  • The telescope was officially inaugurated by Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh.

  • It has been established at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) located in Nainital, Uttarakhand.

  • The observatory will explore the deep sky, collecting an assortment of objects ranging from asteroids to supernovae and space debris.

About the International Liquid Mirror Telescope

  • It consists of a 4-metre-diameter rotating mirror made of a thin layer of liquid mercury to collect light.

  • It mainly consists of three components.

  • The first bowl contains a reflective liquid metal (mercury).

  • The second air pressure driven motor on which the liquid mirror rests.

  • Third is a system to run the motor. The surface of liquid mirror binoculars naturally takes on a parabolic shape as it rotates, which is ideal for focusing light.

  • A thin transparent film of micellar liquid protects the mercury from wind abrasion, which can create ripples on the surface of the mercury.

  • The reflected light passes through a sophisticated multi lens optical corrector which produces clear images over a wide field of view.

Why was the telescope made?

  • It is designed to survey the night sky and detect variable and transient objects such as supernovae, space debris and gravitational lenses.

  • Through its data, the telescope can analyze objects in the sky using machine learning and artificial intelligence.


Union Health Ministry organises 2-day technical symposium for Dengue control in India

Tags: National National News

Union Health Ministry organises 2-day technical symposium for Dengue control in India

Union Health Ministry on 22 March organised a two-day technical symposium to develop a strategic framework and roadmap for Dengue control in India.

An overview of the news 

  • The objective of this symposium is to bring the identified Ministries, States, Government Institutions and development partners on a common platform to develop a strategic framework for dengue control.

  • Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan stressed the importance of timely detection and reporting of dengue cases for effective management and control.

  • He also suggested inclusion of dengue under the Integrated Health Information Platform of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, where 33 diseases are already covered.

What is Dengue?

  • Commonly known as break bone fever, it is a flu-like illness caused by the dengue virus.

  • It occurs when an Aedes mosquito carrying the virus bites a healthy person.

  • The disease is mainly found in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world.

Causes of Dengue

  • It is caused due to four viruses, namely - DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4.

  • The virus enters the mosquito when it bites an already infected person.

  • The disease is transmitted when it bites a healthy person, and the virus is spread through the person's bloodstream.

Symptoms of Dengue

  • Headache, Muscle, bone and joint pain, Nausea, Vomiting, swollen glands, Rash.

Treatment

  • There is no specific treatment for dengue.

  • Early detection of severe dengue-associated illness and access to appropriate medical care reduce deaths from severe dengue.

  • Diagnosis of dengue infection is done with a blood test.

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chairs 1st General Body Meeting of NCSCM

Tags: Summits National News

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chairs 1st General Body Meeting of NCSCM

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav chaired the 1st General Body Meeting of National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) on 22 March in New Delhi.

An overview of the news

  • He emphasized the Blue Economy which focuses on sustainable and climate-resilient coastal infrastructure and livelihoods of coastal communities.

  • The Government is moving forward with a Marine Spatial Plan for area-based management with multiple management objectives.

  • The minister also directed the NCSCM to contribute to Mission Mishti (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Income) for mangrove conservation with a focus on generating income for coastal communities.

Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)

  • It is an institute under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

  • It was established in February 2011, as a research institution to support the protection, conservation, restoration, management, and policy advice on coasts.

  • Its vision is to promote sustainable coasts through increased partnerships, conservation practices, scientific research, and knowledge management for the benefit and well-being of current and future generations.

QS World University Rankings : IIT Bombay ranks first in country in Engineering and Technology

Tags: Reports INDEX

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has been ranked 1st in India and 47th globally in engineering and technology by the QS World University Rankings for 2023.

India in Ranking

  • IIT Bombay scored 80.4 out of 100.

  • The institute is ranked in 4 out of 5 broad subject areas, which include Engineering & Technology, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences & Management and Arts & Humanities.

  • The institute has been ranked (51-100) for Art and Design, 66th for Computer Science & Information Technology, 51-100 for Civil & Structural Engineering, 77th for Chemical Engineering, 54th for Electrical & Electronics Engineering, 68th for Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering, and 37th for Minerals & Mining.

Global Ranking

  • Globally, US institutions lead in 32 disciplines.

  • Harvard Universityis the best-performing institution, ranking first in 14 subjects, two more than last year.

Income tax dept launches mobile app AIS for Taxpayers

Tags: Economy/Finance National News

The Income Tax Department has launched a free mobile app named 'AIS for Taxpayers'.

An overview of the news

  • Taxpayers can use the app to view their information related to Tax deducted at Source (TDS), interest, dividends, share transactions, tax payments, Income Tax refunds and other Information. 

  • They can also view GST Data and foreign Remittances as available in Annual Information Statement (AIS).

  • Taxpayers will also have the option and facility to provide feedback on the information displayed in the app.

  • Taxpayers can access the information by registering on the app through PAN number, OTP sent to the mobile number and authenticating with the e-mail registered on the e-filing portal.

  • The app is available on Google Play and App Store.


World Meteorological Day-2023

Tags: Important Days

World Meteorological Day is observed every year on March 23 to commemorate the formal establishment of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in 1950.

An overview of the news

  • The day symbolizes how human behavior and the planet's climate are intertwined.

  • "The day highlights the essential role played by the 'National Meteorological and Hydrological Service' (NMHS) in the safety and well-being of society".

  • The day highlights past achievements, present progress and future potential from the late 19th century. 

  • The Theme for WMD 2023 is 'The Future of Weather, Climate and Water across Generations.' 

  • This theme emphasizes the effects of climate change and actions to protect the environment for future generations.

World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)

  • It was founded in 1873 by the International Meteorological Organization. 

  • Headquarter - Geneva, Switzerland

  • On March 23, 1950, the World Meteorological Organization became a specialized organization of the United Nations.

  • This organization uses the latest information on meteorology, climatology, hydrology and related geophysical research to contribute to the safety and welfare of society.

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