MoU signed between Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Dhanuka Agritech Limited

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Dhanuka Agritech Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
• The objective of this agreement is to utilize the efficiency of both the institutions to deliver new technology to the farmers.
• There are more than 14.5 crore farmers across the country, out of which most of the farmers are having small land holdings.
• Dhanuka Agritech will provide training related to agricultural production to these small farmers by associating with the central institutes, ATARis and KVKs.
• The aim of this MoU is to promote natural farming in the changing environment.

Leo Varadkar: Irish Prime Minister unexpectedly quits

• Leo Varadkar has stepping down as Ireland’s prime minister in a surprise move, saying the country’s coalition government would stand a better chance of reelection under another leader.
• Varadkar’s Fine Gael party will open nominations for a new leader with the results to be announced on April 5.
• Parliament would then vote on that person succeeding Varadkar as prime minister after it returns from Easter recess on April 9.
• The shock departure of Varadkar, who became the first gay prime minister of the once-staunchly Catholic country in 2017 and returned to the premiership just 15 months ago, does not trigger a general election. A vote must be held by March 2025.
• His successor will have 12 months to try to claw back the wide opinion poll.
• Bookmaker Paddy Power made 3 7-year-old Higher Education Minister Simon Harris is the clear favourite to take over from Varadkar.

Former Pakistan Test captain Saeed Ahmed passes away aged 86

• Saeed Ahmed, the former Pakistan Test captain and a dashing batsman of his time, passed away. He was 86.
• Ahmed played 41 Test matches, scoring 2,991 runs with five centuries and 16 half-centuries.
• He also took 22 wickets with his off-spin bowling.
• Ahmed made his Test debut against the West Indies during the famous drawn Bridgetown Test in 1958 when he was 20 and played his last Test for Pakistan in Melbourne against Australia during the 1972-73 tour.
• In his debut Test against the Windies, Saeed featured in a 150-plus runs partnership with Hanif Muhammad, who made his historic 337 in the second innings to help Pakistan walk away with a draw.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Gives Additional Charge Of Ministry Of Food Processing Industries

• Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has been given an additional charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries after Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party Chie Pashupati Kumar Paras resigned from the Union Cabinet.
• The President Droupadi Murmu has accepted the resignation of Mr. Paras with immediate effect.
• Pashupati Kumar joined the Cabinet as minister of food processing industries in July 2021 after a mid-term reshuffle of the Cabinet.
• Mr Rijiju is currently holding the charge o Ministry of Earth Sciences.

CSIR-NIIST and VSSC join hands for research on new materials for space programme

• The CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST) has entered into a collaborative Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MoU) with the ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) to scale up research and delivery of strategically-advanced materials for India’s space programllle.
• The agreement facilitates VSSC and CSIR-NIIST to identify the broad areas of collaboration, leading to delivery of advanced materials like engineered alloys, coatings and functional materials, which have critical applications in space programmes.
• CSIR-NIIST, a premier interdisciplinary research laboratory under the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) has a long record of pioneering work in research and development (R&D) in the area, which would benefit VSSC.

Defense chiefs of South Korea, Iraq agree to bolster defense industry cooperation

• The defense chiefs of South Korea and Iraq agreed to strengthen arms industry cooperation amid signs of Baghdad’s interest in a South Korean-built helicopter.
• In 2013, Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI) signed a deal to supply 24 T-50IQs, a variant of the T-50 supersonic trainer, to the Middle Eastern country.
• The Iraqi minister expressed expectations that if advanced South Korean weapons are introduced to Iraq, it would help strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.

South Korea:

• Capital: Seoul
• President: Yoon Suk Yeol
• Prime Minister: Han Duck-soo
• Currency: Korean Republic won

UltraTech Cement receives CCl's approval to acquire Kesoram Cement

• Fair trade regulator CCI granted approval to UltraTech Cement’s proposed acquisition of Kesoram Cement Business from Kesoram Industries.
• Kesoram Industries is engaged in the manufacture of grey cement through the Kesoram Cement Business.
• The proposed combination relates to the acquisition of the grey cement business of Kesoram Industries Limited by UltraTech Cement Ltd pursuant to a composite scheme of arrangement dated November 30, 2023.
• UltraTech is a public-listed company in and is engaged in the business of the manufacture and sale of grey cement, white cement, ready-mix concrete, clinker, and building products in India.
• The company is also engaged in the provision of building solutions in India. It is a subsidiary of Grasim Industries Ltd.
• In November last year, UltraTech Cement announced it was set to acquire the cement business of BK Birla Group’s flagship company Kesoram Industries in an all­share deal, with a business valuation of approximately Rs 7,600 crore, including debt.

RBI imposes Rs 1.31 er fine on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for non-compliance

• The Reserve Bank of India on has imposed penalties on DCB Bank and Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for non-compliance with certain directions related to ‘interest rate on advances’.
• A monetary penalty of Rs 63.6 lakh has been imposed on DCB Bank.
• The central bank informed that a penalty of Rs 1.31 crore has been imposed on Tamilnad Mercantile Bank for non-compliance with certain directions issued by it on ‘Interest Rate on Advances’ and ‘Central Repository of Information on Large Credits (C&ILC) – Revision in Reporting’.
• In both cases, the penalties were based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transactions or agreements entered into by them with their customers.

Sharath Kamal is highest-ranked Indian player in latest ITTF rankings

• Achanta Sharath Kamal, the seasoned table tennis maestro, reclaimed the India No. 1 spot with a staggering leap in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) rankings following a dream run at the recent Singapore Smash.
• Consequently, the current Commonwealth Games men’s singles gold medallist has shot up to 34th place in the men’s singles rankings from 88th place. Harmeet Desai (65th) and Manav Thakkar (74th) are the other two Indian men in the top 100.
• In women’s singles, Manika Batra continues to reign supreme as the highest-ranked Indian paddler, retaining her distinguished status despite a minor setback of slipping down two spots to 3 8th in the list.
• Meanwhile, Sreeja Akula’s stellar performance has seen her ascend three places to secure the 47th position, further solidifying India’s prowess in the international table tennis arena. Yashaswini Ghorpade is ranked World No. 100 in the latest rankings.

Pakistan batter J averia Khan announces retirement from international cricket

• Former Pakistan captain and senior batter Javeria Khan announced her retirement from international cricket.
• Javeria Khan would be available to play league cricket across the globe.
• Javeria, who led Pakistan in 17 ODis, last played for Pakistan in a T20I match in March 2023.
• Javeria went on to represent the Pakistan women’s team in 228 international matches and scored 4,903 runs, which included two centuries and 25 half-centuries.
• She also bagged 28 international wickets.
• Javeria is currently listed as the second leading run scorer in ODis and T20Is for the Pakistan women’s team and is the only women’s cricketer from Pakistan to have scored over 2,000 runs in each format besides Bismah Maroof.