Veteran Odisha leader Damodar Rout passes away

• Former Odisha lllinister and veteran Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Dalllodar Rout passed away while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. He was 82.
• Rout, a seven-time MLA, was actively involved in electoral politics from the 70s to 2019 and had served in the Cabinet of Naveen Patnaik and his father Biju Patnaik.
• Elected to the state Assembly five times from Ersama and twice from Paradeep, both in J agatsinghpur district.
• A veterinary doctor by profession, Rout joined politics in the 70s.
• He was first elected to the Odisha Assembly in 1977 on a Janata Party ticket, then in 1980 as a Janata Party (Secular) nominee, and later in 1990 as a J anata Dal candidate before being elected as a BJD legislator in 2000.

'Pushpak', ISRO's Reusable Launch Rocket Achieves Test Landing at the Aeronautical Test Range in Karnataka

• India progressed further in its attempt to realise a reusable launch vehicle (RLV)/ rocket named ‘Pushpak’ by successfully test landing RLV LEX-2 at the Aeronautical Test Range (ATR) in Kamataka’s Chitradurga.
• According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the RLV LEX-2 demonstrated the autonomous landing capability from off-nominal initial conditions at the release from a helicopter.
• The ‘Indian space shuttle’ the winged Pushpak was lifted by an Indian Air Force helicopter and was released from 4.5 km altitude.
• For the second time ISRO successfully completed a test landing of its RL V.
• The mission successfully simulated the approach and high speed landing conditions of RLV returning from space.

India elected as co-chair of Digital Innovation Board at International Telecommunication Union

• DoT Secretary, Dr Neeraj Mittal, was unanimously elected as co-chair of the Digital Innovation Board of ITU, formed under the aegis of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development.
• It comprises Ministers and Vice Ministers of Telecom/ICT of 23 member countries of ITU, spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, and North and South America.
• The Telecom Secretary had led a high-level delegation to Geneva for a series of crucial meetings at the ITU headquarters from March 18-20.
• The visit focused on fostering collaboration and exploring innovative initiatives in the telecommunications and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors.

Mahindra inks pact with Adani Total Energies for expanding EV charging infra

• Leading SUV maker Mahindra & Mahindra anounced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Adani Total Energies E-Mobility Limited (ATEL) for expanding the EV charging infrastructure in the country.
• With this association, the XUV 400 customers will now have access to more than 1, 100 chargers on the Bluesense+ App, significantly enhancing the convenience and reach of electric vehicle charging for Mahindra EV owners.
• The collaboration signifies a giant leap towards building a greener, more sustainable future, aligning with India’s ambitious climate action goals.

Adani Group:

• Subsidiaries: Adani Enterprises, Adani Power, Adani Ports & SEZ,
• Founder: Gautam Adani
• Headquarters: Ahmedabad
• Founded: 1988

Vaughan Gething Becomes First Black Leader of a European Country

• A Zambian-born lawyer Vaughan Gething has become the first Black head of government in Wales, in the United Kingdom – and in all of Europe.
• Vaughan Gething’s first full day on the job as Welsh first minister, after being elected by the Welsh parliament in Cardiff a day earlier, and approved by King Charles III.
• At 50, Gething said he is the first Welsh leader to come of age after the devolution of powers from the U.K.’s central government in London to national governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• That process began with public votes in the late 1990s.
• Wales, with a population of about 3 million, is one of four countries in the U.K., along with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Jupiter Wagons announces acquisition of Bona trans India for Rs 271 crore

• Railway wagon and passenger coach major Jupiter Wagons Limited (JWL) announced the acquisition of Bona trans India Private Limited (BIPL) for a sum of Rs 271 crore.
• This strategic move marks a significant milestone for JWL, as it became the first rolling stock manufacturing company to have its own wheel plant.
• Situated at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar ( formerly Aurangabad) in Maharashtra, BIPL rolls out wheelsets.
• With a production capacity of 20,000 wheels and 10,000 axles annually, the acquisition reduces JWL’s dependency on imported wheels.
• BIPL’s clients include JWL, BEML Ltd, Alstom Rail Transportation India Pvt Ltd, Plasser India Pvt Ltd, and Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd.
• According to Vivek Lohia, Managing Director at JWL, the acquisition of BIPL enables the company to become a comprehensive rolling stock manufacturer.
• As part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, JWL is poised to invest an additional Rs 1,000 crore over the next two years.

India and Bhutan exchanged several MoUs to strengthen partnership

• India and Bhutan exchanged several agreements of mutual interest to further strengthen their partnership.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan will give new boost to bilateral relationship by focusing on developmental partnership.
• India is currently engaged in capacity development of Bhutan and assisting several projects in the sectors including Hydroelectric, digitization, financial inclusion, health and education.
• India is providing support to various digital programmes like E-Business National Single Window, Bhutan Integrated Taxation System, Integrated Citizen Services, and Digital School to enable Bhutan becoming a smart, connected and inclusive society.
• Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Perna Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu tomorrow.
• The state-of-the-art hospital has been built with the assistance of India in Thimphu.

'Operation Indravati' to evacuate stranded Indians in Haiti launched

• India launched ‘Operation Indravati’ to evacuate its citizens stranded in war-tom Haiti amid the intense fighting between the armed groups and the government.
• Jaishankar informed that 12 citizens have been successfully rescued to the Caribbean nation Dominican Republic.

What’s happening in Haiti?

• The Caribbean nation of Haiti has been plagued by widespread gang violence for over two years since the July 2021 assassination of President J ovenel Moise.
• In the power vacuum that followed the assassination, the country’s de facto leader, Prime Minister Ariel Henry, assumed power, with the support of several nations.
• Meanwhile, attempts to chart a political transition for Haiti have failed, and various armed groups launched coordinated attacks on key installations in Haiti in an attempt to force the resignation of the country’s embattled PM Henry as Haiti has not held functional elections since 2019.

CBI, Europol sign working arrangement to establish cooperative relations

• The Working Arrangement was signed by Europol Executive Director Catherine De Balle and CBI Director Praveen Sood.
• This arrangement promotes direct cooperation between both organisations to build on their respective mandates, strategies and to explore the potential for synergies.
• The Working Arrangement that Europol has signed with the CBI underscores the interconnected nature of security threats and the necessity of international cooperation to effectively address them.
• By joining forces with India, Europol further solidifies the EU’s commitment to proactive and comprehensive security measures, recognising that safeguarding our citizens requires a coordinated effort on a global scale.
• This working arrangement not only brings together CBI and Europol but also enables wide cooperation between all law enforcement agencies in India and and all law enforcement agencies of 27 European countries that Europol represents as well as third countries and organizations associated with Europol.

NCC And NPCIL Ink A Deal To Raise Awareness On Peaceful Use Of Nuclear Power Through Various Programmes Pan India

• National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) signed a Mo Us in New Delhi to conduct various awareness programs throughout the country to enhance public perceptions on the peaceful use of nuclear power and disseminate scientific & authentic information.
• The NPCIL will be providing resource persons in this initiative for field engagements with the NCC during the camps and various activities by educating the cadets.
• The MoU also facilitates a unique opportunity to the cadets to visit various facilities of NPCIL across the country, thereby giving a first-hand experience on peaceful use of nuclear energy, its technical and technological aspects.
• The DG NCC described the MoU as one of the initiatives by the NCC to broaden the horizon of cadets, which will lead to a more aware and responsible youth. He asserted that 1.5 million NCC cadets have the ability to influence the thinking of youth across the world.