Current Affairs | National | International | SSC | UPSC 30th March 2024

National News 

1. Govt. extends validity of FCRA registration of NGOs till June 30 

• The Union Home Ministry on Thursday extended the validity of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) registration of non-government organisations (NGOs) and associations till June 30. 
• Registrations of many NGOs are up for renewal from September 29, 2020. The registration, mandatory to receive foreign funds, is renewed every five years. 
• The Ministry has extended the validity of NGOs at least nine times since 2020 as the tions could not be processed within the stipulated time frame. 
• On Thursday, the Ministry, in an order, said the registration certificates of entities whose validity was extended till March 31 and "whose renewal application is pending will stand extended till June 30, 2024, or till the date of disposal of renewal application, whichever is earlier". 
• The Ministry said all FCRA-registered associations should note that in case of refusal of the application for renewal of registration, the validity of the certificate shall be deemed to have expired on the date of refusal of the application and the association or the NGO shall not be eligible either to receive the foreign contribution or utilise the foreign contribution received. The order said that the registration of FCRA enti-applicaties whose five-year validity period is expiring between April 1 and June 30 this year and the NGOs that have applied for renewal before the expiry of the registration will also stand extended till June 30 "or till the date of disposal of renewal application, whichever is earlier.” 

2. Moment law takes its course, they take to the streets, says Dhankhar 

• In an apparent swipe at the Opposition for rallying behind beleaguered Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday pointed out how one breaking the law was playing the victim card. 
• Mr. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to Delhi's scrapped excise policy. 
• Addressing an event at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, the Vice-President said the law was holding them accountable. 
• "Some people think they are above law, immune from the law. That has been demolished... those who think are beyond law, the law is after them," Mr. Dhankhar said, though he refrained from naming any person. 
• But leaving no doubt that his remarks were aimed at the Opposition, who have organised a public meeting at the Ramlila Maidan on Sunday to protest against Mr. Kejriwal's arrest, he said, "But what do we see the moment law takes its course, they take to the streets, high decibel debates, camouflaging culpability of the worst nature by human rights. This is happening under our nose." 
• He asked as to what was the justification for persons or organisations to take to the streets when law was set in motion. 

International News

3. China successfully launched the second Meteorological satellite 'Yunhai-3' from Long March 6A 

• China has successfully launched the meteorological satellite 'Yunhai-3 (02)' from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center successfully in space with a long March 6A rocket.
• According to China, this satellite will work for atmospheric and marine environmental survey, space environment monitoring, disaster prevention and shortage and scientific experiments. 
• However, the Yunhai series is considered a military meteorological satellite by some Western analysts. It is believed that these include Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Outkation (GNSS-RO) satellite to collect atmospheric data. China also operates a civilian Fengun weather satellite. 
• The first Yunhai satellite, which was launched at the first long March 6A in November 2022, is listed in the polar near a circular orbit of 849 km height by the 18th space defense squadron (SDS) of the US space force. 
• Long March 6A 50m long, 530 MT rocket has two kerosene-facial oxygen phase and four solid propellant side boosters. It is the first Chinese rocket to use liquid and solid stages and a combination of boosters. 
• China has been introducing new, kerosene and liquid oxygen long march rockets since 2015. It is expected that these will eventually replace the old hypergonic and poisonous long March 2, 3 and 4 series rockets. 

4. Discussed 'peace formula' with India, says Ukraine Foreign Minister 

• India and Ukraine on Friday discussed a 'peace formula' for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, visiting Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said at the conclusion of official exchanges. 
• Mr. Kuleba, who was on a two-day visit to India, met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described the Russian campaign against Ukraine as a "full-scale war", while arguing for energising In- dia-Ukraine relations with new projects. "In New Delhi, I had sincere and comprehensive talks with Mr. Jaishankar about Ukraine-India bilateral relations, the situation in our regions, and global security. We paid specific attention to the peace formula and next steps on the path of its implementation," Mr. Kuleba said, after the official interaction that was also attended by Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor and J.P. Singh, Joint Secretary of the External Affairs Minister's Office, and others. 
• In comments to The Hindu on Thursday, Mr. Kuleba had urged India to play a "more proactive role" in the upcoming peace process in Switzerland. 
• "We have been looking forward to this visit. In recent months, we have had interactions at various levels. This has created a certain momentum in our bilateral relations. Your visit gives us an opportunity to understand the situation in your region," said Mr. Jaishankar in his opening remarks at the delegation- level meeting 

5. Israel Aerospace Industries launched 'Aerospace Services India' in Gurugram under Makein-India initiative 

• According to the Make-in-India initiative of the Government of India, Israel Aerospace Industries has launched its Indian subsidiary, aerospace services India in Gurugram, in which maintenance of defense, repair and establishing large-scale centers for overhal (MRO) Is the plan. 
• Initially, the MRO hub will cover the maintenance and repair aspect of the entire medium -distance surface to the air -to -air missile (MRSAM) system. 
• MRSAM, also known as 'Abhra', is a state -of -the -art air defense weapon system and a joint venture of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Israeli Aerospace Industries. 
• The missile system is produced at Bharat Dynamics Limited (headquartered in Hyderabad), with active participation of Indian public and private defense industry partners including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). 
• According to India Dynamics, MRSAM is a supersonic missile that can be launched vertically over time and its objective is to prevent various aerial threats such as directed bombs, aircraft, missiles and helicopters.

Israel aerospace industries 

• Established in 1953, Israel Aerospace Industries is Israel's leading aerospace and aviation manufacturer, producing aerial and astronaut system for both military and civil use. 
• In 2022, it signed an MoU with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to convert civil (passenger) aircraft in India into multi-mmtt (MMTT) aircraft. In 2023, it signed another MoU with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) to take advantage of opportunities in short distance air defense systems. 
• Earlier this month, Israel Aerospace Industries also signed its first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agreement with Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi to collaborate on practical research. 

6. BBL to manufacture battery pack systems 

• Bimetal Bearings Ltd. (BBL), in association with a Scotland based firm, has decided to manufacture and sell battery pack systems and associated technologies for the e-mobility and energy sector. 
• Battery maker MEP Technologies Ltd., which entered into a pact with BBL in 2021, has agreed to provide the required technology for energy storage and management solutions, manufacturing and assembling of the battery packs and other technologies, said the company in a regulatory filing. The new business is expected to commence production in the last quarter of FY25 or the first quarter of FY26. 
• BBL is into the manufacturing of engine bearings, bushings, thrust washers, alloy powder and bimetallic strip. It reported a net revenue of ₹229 crore for FY23 against 197 crore in the earlier period. 

State News 

7. Adani Group launches world's largest single-site copper manufacturing plant in Mundra, Gujarat 

• Adani Group has announced the commencement of the first phase of the world's largest singlelocation copper manufacturing plant in Mundra, Gujarat. The facility, owned by Kutch Copper (a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Limited), will help reduce India's dependence on copper imports and support the energy transition. 
• An investment of about $1.2 billion has been made to set up a copper smelter with a capacity of 0.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in the first phase. It is expected to have a full scale capacity of 1 million tonnes by FY29 (March 2029). 
• India has joined countries like China in rapidly expanding production of copper, a key metal in the transition away from fossil fuels. 
• Per capita copper consumption in India is about 0.6 kg, while the global average is 3.2 kg. Domestic copper demand is expected to double by 2030 due to clean energy systems, electric vehicles and related applications. 
• The plant uses innovative green technology and has implemented measures such as zero-liquid discharge and desalinated water for operations. In FY23, India imported a record 1,81,000 tonnes of copper, while exports declined to 30,000 tonnes. 
• The plant will produce valuable byproducts such as gold, silver, selenium, platinum, sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, thereby reducing imports. The mega plant aims to boost India's self-reliance and support the country's goal of carbon neutrality by 2070. 
• Kutch Copper is working towards setting up Kutch Copper Tubes Limited as part of its forward integration strategy to add copper tubes to its portfolio. The tubes will cater to applications in air conditioning and refrigeration. 

8. World's first Om shaped temple inaugurated in Pali, Rajasthan 

• The world's first Om shaped temple was inaugurated in Jadan village of Pali district of Rajasthan. This temple became the first temple in the world designed in this iconic form. 
• This architectural masterpiece will not only attract tourists but will also boast of an impressive visual presence that will be visible even from space. 'Om Aakar' temple is spread over a vast expanse of 250 acres in Jadan village. 
• The shape of this temple resembles the Om symbol and it follows the Nagara style commonly seen in North India. It has a wide layout covering an area of about half a kilometre. The intricate design pays homage to the rich cultural and architectural heritage of the region. 
• A remarkable aspect of this temple is that it can house 1,008 idols of Lord Mahadev and 12 Jyotirlingas within its sacred boundaries. This temple stands at a height of 135 feet and rests on 2,000 pillars. It also has 108 rooms in its complex, with the Samadhi of Guru Madhavananda Ji being the central feature of the temple complex. 
• There is a sanctum at the top of the temple which houses a Shivalinga made of crystal obtained from Bansi Hill of Dholpur. Additionally, there is a huge tank beneath the temple complex with a capacity of 2 lakh tonnes, which adds to the grandeur of the temple. 
• The Nagara style of temple architecture began in the 5th century AD. Its influence is in parts of Northern India, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Nagara style is not limited to any specific time period and has evolved and adapted over the centuries. 
• The Nagara style gained prominence from the Gupta dynasty and continued to flourish through the various regional kingdoms and empires that ruled the northern parts of India. 

9. Adani Ports acquires Gopalpur Port of Odisha for ₹3,350 crore 

• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 56% stake of Shapoorji Pallonji Group in Gopalpur Port Limited (GPL) and 39% stake of Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL). According to Shapoorji Pallonji Group, the acquisition is being done at an enterprise value of ₹3,350 crore. Gopalpur Port is located on the east coast of India and has a capacity to handle 20 MMTPA. 
• This is Adani Port's sixth acquisition of a multi-purpose facility on the east coast, where it already has a capacity of about 247 MMTPA (million metric tonnes per annum). Gopalpur port will add another 20 MMPTA. 
• The Government of Odisha granted a 30-year concession to GPL in 2006, with a provision for two extensions of 10 years each. As a deep draft, multi-cargo port, Gopalpur handles a diverse mix of dry bulk cargo including iron ore, coal, limestone, ilmenite and alumina. 
• This is the second port disinvestment from the diversified construction and infrastructure, real estate and energy conglomerate in the last few months. Earlier, it had sold its Dharamtar Port to JSW Infrastructure Limited at an enterprise value of ₹710 crore. 
• Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited, or Adani Ports, India's largest port operator, develops and operates about 12 ports and terminals on India's western and eastern coasts, a chain of pearls on India's entire coast from Gujarat to West Bengal. 
• Mundra remains its largest port. It is of Mundra, Tuna, Dahej and Hazira in Gujarat, Dighi in Maharashtra; Mormugao in Goa; Vizhinjam in Kerala; Karaikal, Kattupalli and Ennore in Tamil Nadu; Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Dhamra in Odisha. 
• Its ports in Haifa in Israel and Colombo in Sri Lanka indicate Adani's plans to expand internationally. 

Ambani and Adani - a joint power project in Madhya Pradesh 

• Two of India's richest businessmen, Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, have come together for the first time. Ambani-owned Reliance Industries has acquired 26% stake in a power project owned by Adani's company in Madhya Pradesh. 
• Reliance Industries will buy 5 crore equity shares (worth ₹50 crore) in Mahan Energen Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Power Ltd. The face value of each share is ₹10 and it is being purchased at par. 
• Mahan Energen Limited operates a thermal power plant in Madhya Pradesh with a total capacity of 2800 MW. 
• Adani Power said in its company filing, “Mahan Energen Limited (MEL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Adani Power Limited (APL), has entered into a 20-year long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for 500 MW with Reliance Industries. 

10. Assam district goes pink to encourage Women voters 

• A district in western Assam has gone pink to make its women vote as much as or more than men. 
• Nalbari is among very few districts where almost all officers are women. Apart from District Commissioner and District Election Officer Varnali nd Deka and Superintendent of Police Supriya Das, they include the Deputy DEO, Finance and Accounts Officer, Treasury Officer, District Information and Public Relations Officer, and District Social Welfare Officer. The majority of the Additional Deputy Commissioners, Circle Officers, and Block Development Officers are women too. So are some 300 polling personnel covering three Assembly segments of the Barpeta Lok Sabha constituency. Women in the district, however, have lagged in exercising their franchise. 
• "In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, our district registered a turnout of 83.5%, higher than the State average of 81.5% and the national average of 67.18%. But the gap between men 94, and women voters in Nalbari was wider than that at the national and State levels,” Ms. Deka said. 
• Women in Nalbari are being encouraged to vote in large numbers. 
• In Nalbari, 84.4% of men voted compared with 82.4% of women, a gap of 2%. 
• The district officers and polling personnel have been taking up various Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities to encourage all sections to come and cast their votes. 
• The campaign entailed more than 300 women polling personnel and women officers turning up in mekhela chador, the traditional Assamese attire, in various hues of pink. 
• They held pink placards with various SVEEP messages urging unregistered people to apply for a voter card and others to assert their rights by casting their votes. This campaign will culminate with the "manning" of 50% of the district's urban polling stations by women. 

11. 900 year old Chalukya inscription discovered in Gangapuram, Telangana 

• A 900-year-old Kannada inscription from the Kalyana Chalukya dynasty has been discovered in a state of complete neglect at Gangapuram, a temple town in Jadcherla mandal of Mahabubnagar district of Telangana. This rare inscription was found lying neglected on a tank dam near the Choudamma temple. 
• The inscription was issued on 8 June, 1134 AD (Friday) by the customs authorities of Tailapa-III, son of the Kalyana Chalukya emperor ‘Bhoolokamalla’ Someshvara-III. It records the exemption of income earned through toll taxes called Vaddaravula and Hejunka for a perpetual lamp and incense for Lord Somnath. 
• E Shivanagi Reddy, archaeologist and CEO of Pleach India Foundation, noticed the inscription during a visit to the Chaudamma temple as part of the 'Preserve Heritage for Future Generations' campaign. 
• After carefully studying the inscription, Dr. Reddy made the Choudamma Temple Committee members aware of its historical importance and the need for immediate conservation. 
• The temple committee members Mallikarjuna, Giriprasad, Chennayya, Seenu, Shankar, Srinivas and Satteyya have responded positively to shift it to the premises of the Choudamma temple and erect it on a pedestal with details. Retired engineer Gangapuram Keshav Prasad also participated in the program. 
• Although the inscription was first copied and published by the Archeology Department, the discovery highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage and raising awareness among local communities. 
• The collaborative efforts of archaeologists, foundations, and community members ensure that such rare archaeological discoveries are preserved for future generations. 

Defence News 

12. Indian Navy seizes hijacked Iranian vessel, rescues crew 

• Zodiac Navy ships Samed tha and mishul intercepted and freed a hijacked hanian fishing vessel (FV), Al-Kambar, after forcing the pirates to surrender, the Navy said late on Friday 
• "After more than 12 hours of intense coercive tactical measures as per the Standard Operating Procedures, the pirates on board [the] hijacked FV were forced to surrender. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, have been safely rescued," a Navy spokesperson said. "Indian Naval specialist teams are presently undertaking thorough sanitisation and seaworthiness checks of the FV in order to escort her to a safe area for resuming normal fishing activities." 
• Al-Kambar was approximately 90 nautical miles southwest of Socotra when it was reportedly boarded by nine armed pirates. The Navy spokesperson said that based on inputs of a potential piracy incident on Thursday, two Indian Navy ships deployed in Arabian Sea for maritime security operations were diverted. INS Sumedha intercepted Al-Kambar during early hours of Friday and was joined subsequently by guided missile frigate INS Trishul. 
• This is the latest in a series of incidents of piracy in the Arabian Sea and off Somalia in the past few months. 
• As reported by The Hindu earlier this week, the pirate mother vessel that was used to hijack Malta-flagged merchant vessel MV Ruen on December 14 was itself an Iranian fishing vessel. Al Ashkaan with 24 Pakistan crew members was hijacked earlier by seven Somali pirates on November 29 near Socotra Island off the coast of Yemen. 
• It was taken to Somalia and later used to hijack Ruen. 

Schemes & Committees News 

13. IMA releases charter of demands - from doctors 

• The Indian Medical Association (IMA) will engage with political leaders to put across its communities' demands for the upcoming election, with the doctors demanding that the Centre help them maintain the "purity of modern medicine, to bring in strict measures to protect medical staff while on duty, reduce GST burden on healthcare products, and insurance, and exempt small and medium hospitals up to 50 beds and clinics from the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, 2010." 
• The association has released its charter of demands and has asked local branches to engage with political leaders to "educate them about the needs of the community," said its national president R.V. Asokan. 

14. Delaying new duty norms hampers air safety: pilots' body

• The aviation safety regulator's decision to defer the implementation of new pilot rest and duty norms indefinitely "endangers pilot safety and safety of passengers", a nationwide body of pilots has said in its letter to the government. 
• The new rules were framed following concerns over mounting fatigue among pilots. 
• They provided enhanced rest by raising the weekly rest from 36 hours to 48 hours and curtailing night-time flying, which is known to impact alertness levels and crew performance, among other measures. other Safety of passengers 
• "The action of the DGCA not only endangers pilot safety but also undermines the safety of passengers which the implementation of revised CAR (Civil Aviation Requirement or rules) could prevent," the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has said in its letter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Thursday. 
• The FIP underlines that the commercial interests of airlines should not surpass the health and safety of pilots. 
• The pilots' body was referring to the amendment of March 26 to the new pilot duty and rest norms notified in January, following which the regulator removed the June 1 deadline for implementing the rules. The modification allows airlines to follow the old 2019 duty and rest norms for pilots "till approval of their respective scheme" in conformity with the new rules, and does not provide a specific time frame implementation. 

15. Flight from fatigue The DGCA must ensure regulatory norms are enforced for safety 

• The move by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DCCA) in January this year to introduce changes to flight duty time limitations (FDTL) would have been a much-needed regulatory step to address the industry issue of fatigue in a professional and scientific manner, or manage what crew call the burden of the red-eye flight. By dictating more rest time for pilots, redefiring night duty and even directing airlines to file regular fatigue reports, the rules were to have been implemented no later than June 1. Instead, a large section of the management of India's air- limes, most in private hands, only saw red. 
• In a discordant development this week, the DGCA quietly inked a copy of the revised Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) which said that scheduled air transport operators 'may continue to operate in compliance with CAR Section 7 Series J Part III dated 24th April 2019 till approval of their respective scheme in compliance with this CAR'. Read in perspective, it meant this: airline economics had blanketed out safety. As highlighted in the media, a federation of Indian airlines had sought a postponement of the rules by pushing the line that the new norms would necessitate the hiring of between 15% to 25% more pilots over a 10-month period and could even result in a nearly 20% cancellation of flights during the peak summer season. But, as a number of aviation experts point out, with the DGCA now willingly lowering a safety net, pilots will continue to face fatigue-related issues. 
• In the early 1950s, recognising the need to limit flight and duty hours for the purpose of safety, the International Civil Aviation Organization established guidelines, under its Standards and Recommended Practices, which required the operator to ensure that fatigue did not endanger operations. 
• Since then, the management of fatigue in the industry, especially in international operations, has evolved to include the adoption of Fatigue Risk Management Systems which the DGCA is also planning by tapping into scientific principles of fatigue management and aviation scheduling principles. 
• The Indian aviation market, in the backdrop of a pilot shortage, is in high growth mode, and with increased flying flowing from an expanding route map, domestically and internationally, there are cases of the well-being of flight crew facing much stress. Ultra-long haul flying, with its own ecosystem of issues, is on the rise too with more widebody aircraft being inducted in India. Instead of taxiing back to holding point, the DGCA needs to demonstrate an independence where it will still ensure that regulatory norms are enforced and also aligned with the highest standards of safety, for flight crew and passengers deserve safer flying. 

Appointment News 

16. Indian expert Kamal Kishore appointed Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction 

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed India's Kamal Kishore as the new Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral for Disaster Risk Reduction. He will lead the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). 
• Mr Kishore will replace Mami Mizutori of Japan. Kamal Kishore has nearly 30 years of experience in disaster risk reduction, climate action and sustainable development at the global, regional, national and local levels. He has worked in government, the United Nations and civil society organizations. 
• Currently, Mr. Kishore heads the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in India, a post he has held since 2015. During India's Chairmanship of the Group of 20 (G20), he led the G20 Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction. 
• He also contributed to the development of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure launched by the Indian Prime Minister in 2019. Before joining NDMA, Shri Kishore spent nearly 13 years with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Geneva, New Delhi and New York. 

P R Sreejesh – Co-Chairman of the FIH Athletes Panel 

• Former Indian men's hockey team captain and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and Camilla Carrom have been appointed co-chairs of the FIH Athlete Committee by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). It was announced by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) on 27 March 2024. 
• PR Sreejesh, 35, was first elected as a member of the FIH Athletes Committee in 2017. He has been appointed co-chairman of the committee for the first time. 
• PR Sreejesh was born in a farming family in Kizhakkambalam village in Ernakulam district of Kerala. He made his Indian cricket debut in the 2006 South Asian Games in Sri Lanka. 
• He was part of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games, ending a 16-year drought. He was also part of the Indian team that won the bronze medal at the 2015 FIH Hockey World League Final. 
• ]PR Sreejesh was also part of the Indian team that won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. PR Sreejesh received the sports Arjuna Award in 2015 and the civilian award Padma Shri in 2017. In 2016, he was made the captain of the Indian hockey team. 

Important day 

17. Foundation Day celebration will be organized in Rajasthan today 

• Rajasthan Day is celebrated every year on 30 March as the Foundation Day as it commemorates the day the state came into existence as a federal unit from 19 princely states. 
• The 'Land of Kings' celebrates Rajasthan Day with colorful and energetic events across the state. The state was earlier known as Rajputana and Rajasthan came into existence and was recognized on 30 March 1949. 
• Therefore, every year March 30 is celebrated as its foundation day. Foundation Day also pays tribute to the bravery, strong will and sacrifice of the people of Rajasthan. 
• The integration of Rajasthan started on 18 March 1948 and was completed on 1 November 1956 in 7 phases i.e. it took 8 years, 7 months and 14 days to complete. Full credit for this is given to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 

Key steps 

• First phase – Name – Matsya Sangh, Establishment – March 18, 1948, Prime Minister – Shobharam Kumawat. 
• Second phase - Name - East Rajasthan, Prime Minister - Gokul Lal Osawa 
• Third phase – Name – United Rajasthan, Establishment – April 18, 1948, Prime Minister – Manikya Lal Verma (UK) 
• Fourth phase – Name – Greater Rajasthan, Establishment – March 30, 1949, Prime Minister – Hiralal Shastri (Jaipur) 
• Fifth phase - Name - United Greater (Greater) Rajasthan, Established - May 15, 1949 First Chief Minister - Hiralal Shastri (Nominated) 
• Sixth phase - Name - Rajasthan Union, Establishment - January 26, 1950, Chief Minister - Hiralal Shastri 
• Seventh phase – Name – Rajasthan (present), Establishment – March 1, 1956, First Governor – Guru Mukh Nihal Singh 

Ranks & Reports News 

18. According to the report of United Nations Environment Program, 19% foods in the world are wasted 

• The data of food waste worldwide was released in 2024, the third food waste index report prepared by the United Nations Environment Program published by the United Nations on 27 March 2024. 
• The Food Waste Index Report is the United Nations effort to raise awareness about food. Getting wastage and sustainable development target (SDG) 12.3, which aims to halve the world food waste by 2030. 
• According to a United Nations report, the estimated 1,05 billion metric tonnes or 19 percent of food available to consumers worldwide was destroyed in 2022. According to the report, this waste occurs when 783 million people in the world are hungry, and one third of humanity is facing food insecurity. 
• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) released the first food waste index report in 2011. The United Nations Environment Program was established in 1972. The decision to establish the program was taken in 1972 at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm, Sweden. Its headquarters is in Nairobi, Kenya. 

Main characteristics

• By 2022, only 21 countries, including Kabo Varde, China, Namibia, Sierra Leone and the United Arab Emirates, have included food loss and/or reduction in their national climate schemes (NDCs). 
• In 2022, 1.05 billion tonnes of food or 19 percent of food available to consumers was ruined at retail, food service and domestically. This was in addition to the 13% loss estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization during the post -crop supply chain. 
• The main sources of food wastage were home and family. Of the total food waste, the house was responsible for 631 million tonnes, which is equivalent to 60 percent, was responsible for the food service sector 290 and the retail area 131. 
• The per capita annual food wastage in the world is 79 kg and about one billion food per day is wasted by houses. 
• Greenhouse gases produced by food loss and waste are estimated to be 8–10 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions. This is about five times the total emissions generated by the aviation sector. 
• In hot regions countries, per capita food waste is high in domestic areas. According to the report, this may be due to a deficiency of cold chains and an increase in consumption of fresh foods with sufficient inherited parts. 

Obituary News 

19. Israeli-American psychologist 'Daniel Kahneman', pioneer of behavioral economics and Nobel Prize winner, passes away 

• Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman, pioneer of behavioral economics, died on March 27, 2024, at the age of 90. Kahneman was born on March 5, 1934 in Tel Aviv, Israel. 
• Daniel Kahneman was a famous Israeli-American psychologist and Nobel laureate. Kahneman's groundbreaking work in the fields of behavioral economics and cognitive psychology has greatly improved the understanding of human decision making.
•  In 2002, he won the Nobel Prize in Economics for "integrating insights from psychological research into economic science". Kahneman published his bestseller 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' in 2011, which offered an exploration of the human brain. 
• Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky reshaped economics through collaboration. Tversky died in 1996. Economists say that if Tversky had not died in 1996 he would certainly have shared the prize. 
• His 2011 book "Thinking, Fast and Slow", which summarized much of his research, sold over one million copies worldwide. He was sought as a guru on everything from hiring decisions to insurance risk to the justice system. 
• The Kahneman–Tversky partnership was explored in Michael Lewis's 2016 book, "The Undoing Project", which featured Tversky, who began studying cognitive and mathematical psychology.