1. Ram Chandra Paudel elected as the new President of Nepal
Tags: Person in news International News
On 9 March 2023, senior Nepali Congress leader Ram Chandra Paudel has been elected as the new President of Nepal.
News Overview
Ram Chandra Paudel got votes by 214 MPs of Parliament and 352 Members of Provincial Assemblies.
The President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of the provincial assemblies and the federal parliament.
The total number of electors for the presidential election in Nepal is 882, including 332 members of the parliament as well as 550 members of the provincial assemblies of the 7 provinces.
He will succeed Bidya Devi Bhandari as the head of state of Nepal.
About Ram Chandra Paudel
He also served as the Deputy Prime Minister, Cabinet Minister and President of Nepal.
He served as the Vice President of Nepali Congress Tanhu District Committee in 1980, General Secretary in 2005, Vice President in 2007 and Acting President of the party in 2015.
Ram Chandra Paudel served as Minister of Local Development in May 1991, Minister of Agriculture in 1992 and Speaker from December 1994 to March 1999.
About Nepal
The kingdom of Nepal was established by the Shah dynasty.
It is a landlocked country in South Asia.
Prime Minister: Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Capital: Kathmandu
Currency: Nepalese Rupee
2. Former Malaysian PM Muhyiddin Yassin arrested on corruption charges
Tags: Person in news International News
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on 9 March arrested former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on the charges of corruption.
An overview of the news
Muhyiddin, who was Malaysia's prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, has been charged under laws related to abuse of power and money laundering.
He and his party have faced a corruption investigation after losing the November election to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Prime Minister Ibrahim last year ordered a review of billions of dollars of government projects approved by Muhyiddin, including Covid-19 relief programmes, alleging that he did not follow proper procedures.
Muhyiddin, who is also chairman of Barsatu, a major opposition party in Malaysia's ruling coalition, would be the second former prime minister to be indicted.
Another former Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, is also serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption.
About Malaysia
Prime Minister - Anwar Ibrahim
Capital - Kuala Lumpur
Currency - Malaysian ringgit
Official Language - Malay
Official Religion - Islam
3. 3rd session of National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction begins in New Delhi
Tags: Environment National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the third session of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) in New Delhi on 10 March.
An overview of the news
The main theme of the 3rd session of this Platform is “Building Local Resilience in a Changing Climate”.
The theme of the session is in line with the 10-point agenda announced by the Prime Minister for building local capacities, especially in the context of the rapidly changing disaster risk landscape in the wake of climate change.
The session will identify gaps, recommendations and partnerships to further accelerate disaster risk reduction efforts.
During the event, the Prime Minister presented awards to the winners of the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar.
The winners of the 2023 award are Odisha State Disaster Management Authority and Lunglei Fire Station of Mizoram.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the exhibition to showcase innovative ideas and initiatives and technologies in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction.
More than a thousand dignitaries will participate in this two-day, third session.
Home Minister Amit Shah chaired the ministerial session in which wide-ranging consultations were held with ministers from states and union territories.
About NPDRR
NPDRR is a multi-stakeholder forum constituted by the Government to facilitate dialogue and share experiences, ideas, action oriented research and explore opportunities in the area of disaster risk reduction.
4. President of India confers Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023
Tags: Awards National News
The “Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman 2023”, organized by the Ministry of Jal Shakti to honour the women champions of rural water and sanitation sector, was graced by the President Droupadi Murmu.
An overview of the news
The President launched the Jal Shakti Abhiyan - Catch the Rain 2023 campaign in New Delhi.
About Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman
The Swachh Sujal Shakti Samman is to highlight and acknowledge the leadership and contribution of women at the grassroots level in the journey of creating a 'Swachh Sujal Bharat'.
Women who have made significant contributions in ODF Plus Model Villages, Har Ghar Jal Villages, Water Conservation etc. under the National Flagship Mission were felicitated.
This year's event was organized by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to honor women champions of the rural water and sanitation sector.
About Catch the Rain campaign
It is a mass movement campaign that encourages all stakeholders to build Rain Water Harvesting Structures (RWHS).
Tag Line: Catch the rain where it falls, when it falls.
The campaign is implemented by the National Water Mission (NWM) under Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The campaign is run across the country in both rural and urban areas.
5. UN inks first ‘High Seas Treaty’ in a bid to protect ocean bodies of the world
Tags: Environment International News
For the first time in history, the United Nations signed the 'High Seas Treaty' to protect the world's oceans located outside national boundaries.
An overview of the news
The treaty is the result of nearly a decade of negotiations on environmental concerns.
The treaty was agreed upon on 4 March after 38 hours of negotiations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The last international agreement on ocean conservation was signed 40 years ago in 1982.
What is the UN High Seas Treaty?
The treaty will create a new body to manage the conservation of marine life and establish marine protected areas in the high seas.
The treaty brings 30 percent of the world's oceans into a protected area, spends more on marine conservation, and sets new rules for ocean mining.
The treaty aims to protect against potential impacts such as deep-sea mining.
The treaty would put restrictions on how much fish could be caught in the high seas.
What are High Seas?
International water bodies that cross the boundaries of nations are considered high seas.
They cover about two-thirds of the world's oceans.
These are water bodies where all countries have the right to fish, sail and conduct research.
But so far only about 1% of this water – known as the high seas – has been protected.
These are also important areas for exploration of valuable minerals, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas reserves.
Vulnerable marine species
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), about 10% of marine species are at risk of extinction.
In addition, 41% of threatened species are affected by climate change.
Shellfish, sharks and whales are under particular pressure due to their use as seafood and medicines.
6. Government approves nano liquid DAP fertilizer for benefits of farmers
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on 5 March said the government has approved the launch of nano liquid DAP (di-ammonium phosphate) fertilizer for the benefits of farmers and making the country self-reliant.
An overview of the news
Fertilizer cooperative IFFCO, which is set to launch Nano Liquid Urea in 2021, also announced that the government has approved the launch of its Nano DAP fertilizer.
One bottle will be equivalent to one bag of DAP, which costs Rs 1,350.
IFFCO is also planning to launch Nano-Potash, Nano-Zinc and Nano-Copper fertilizers.
In June 2021, IFFCO launched Nano Urea in liquid form as an alternative to conventional urea.
It has set up several manufacturing plants in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh to produce Nano Urea.
There is no government subsidy on Nano Urea and it is being sold at Rs 240 per bottle.
What is Liquid Nano Urea (LNU)?
Nano urea is a liquid form of nitrogen providing plant nutrient as a conventional alternative to urea.
It has been developed in place of conventional urea and has the potential to reduce the requirement of conventional urea by at least 50 percent.
One 500 ml bottle contains 40,000 mg/l nitrogen, which can provide nitrogen nutrients equivalent to one bag/sack of normal urea.
The effectiveness of Nano Urea Liquid is more than 80%.
Its use has been found to increase the yield by about 8%.
Its aim is to reduce farmers’ dependence on packaged urea.
7. Belarus court jails Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski for 10 years
Tags: Person in news International News
A court in Belarus on March 3 sentenced 2022 Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in prison for financing protests and other crimes.
An overview of the news
He has been given this sentence in the case of activities disturbing public order, financing and smuggling.
A fine of 65 thousand US dollars has also been imposed on 60-year-old Bialiatsky.
He is co-founder of the Viasna human rights group.
In October 2022, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on human rights and democracy.
Along with Bialyatsky, representatives of the Vesna Human Rights Center, Valentin Stefanovich and Vladimir Labkovich, were also sentenced to 9 years and 7 years, respectively.
Investigation revealed that Ales Bialiatsky and other members received funds from various organizations in Lithuania during April 2016 to July 2021.
After this these funds were sent outside the Eurasian Economic Union with the help of many people.
According to the law of Belarus, this is a crime and the maximum punishment for this crime is 12 years.
Baliatsky, a Belarusian litterateur, school teacher and museum director, has been involved in pro-democracy protests since the 1980s.
He was an avid supporter of Belarus' independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1980s, organizing anti-Soviet protests across the country.
8. NADA and NCERT tie up to strengthen value based sports education
Tags: Sports Sports News National News
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) signed an MoU on 3 March 2023 to strengthen value-based sports education among school children and teachers.
News Overview
The MoU will help in developing an accessible format on sports values and ethics in e-content.
The MoU will also help in creating awareness at the grass root level.
About NADA
The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) was established on 24 November 2005 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act 1860 with a mandate for dope free sports in India.
Its objectives are to promote education and research, enforce anti-doping rules, regulate dope control programs, promote education and research, and create public awareness about doping and its ill-effects.
Headquarters -New Delhi
Director General - Ritu San
About NCERT
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) was established by the Government of India for the purpose of advising the Central Government and the Provincial Governments on matters related to school education.
Objective - To bring quality in education
Headquarters - New Delhi
Director - Hrishikesh Senapati
9. Jan Aushadhi Train flagged off by Mansukh Mandaviya and Ashwini Vaishnaw
Tags: National International News
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav flagged off the Jan Aushadhi train (Chhattisgarh Sampark Kranti Express) in New Delhi on 3 March.
An overview of the news
The train is dedicated to the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
The train has been wrapped with branding of Jan Aushadhi scheme to spread the awareness among public about generic medicines available at Jan Aushadhi centers.
Medicines are available at affordable prices in more than nine thousand Jan Aushadhi Kendras in India.
This train will travel through 184 stations covering more than four states in two months.
Jan Aushadhi Kendras provide quality and affordable medicines.
Indian Railways is also running a special campaign for promotion of affordable generic medicines to create awareness among the public.
The Ministry of Railways has decided to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras at some major railway stations which will prove beneficial for the passengers.
This train will travel to more than 4 states in 2 months.
About Jan Aushadhi Scheme
The Jan aushadhi scheme was launched in 2008 by the UPA government.
This scheme was relaunched in the year 2015, by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.
This campaign was started across the country by selling generic medicines through “Jan Aushadhi Medical Stores”.
In 2015, the name of 'Jan Aushadhi Yojana' was changed to 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Yojana' (PMJAY), but it was changed to "Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Yojana" in November 2016.
Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) scheme was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India with the objective of providing quality generic medicines available at affordable prices to all.
10. RBI imposes Rs 3.06 Crore penalty on Amazon Pay (India)
Tags: Economy/Finance National News
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Reserve Bank of India has imposed a penalty of Rs 3.06 crore on Amazon Pay (India) Private Limited for non-compliance of certain directions related to Prepaid Payment Instruments and Know Your Customer.
An overview of the news
The penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI under section 30 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
It was found that Amazon Pay (India) was not complying with the directions issued by RBI on KYC requirements.
Accordingly, notice was issued to the unit advising it to show cause why penalty should not be imposed for non-compliance of the directions.
Amazon Pay (India) Pvt Ltd is the online payments service owned by US-based Amazon.
