PM Modi Becomes 1st Foreign Head To Be Bestowed With Bhutan's Highest Civilian Award Order Of The Druk Gyalpo

• King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck conferred Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the Order of the Druk Gyalpo, on Prime Minister N arendra Modi in Thimpu.
• Prime Minister Modi is the first foreign leader to be given this prestigious award.
• The citation of the Order states that the award recognises Prime Minister Modi’s personal accomplishments and leadership, and his contributions to strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Bhutan. It also honours India’s rise as a global power under his leadership, and celebrates Bhutan’s special bond with India.
• The King of Bhutan had announced the conferment of the award during Bhutan’s 114th National Day celebrations in December 2021.

DGCA Imposes Rs 80 Lakh Penalty On Air India For Violating FDTL Rules

• Directorate General of Civil Aviation has imposed a financial penalty of eighty lakh rupees on Air India Limited for violation of regulations about Flight Duty Time Limitations, FDTL and Fatigue Management System, FMS of the flight crew.
• DGCA said in a release that the analysis of reports and evidences revealed that Air India Limited operated flights with both flight crew aged above 60 years flying together in a few instances, which is a violation of Aircraft Rules.
• The operator was also found deficient in providing adequate weekly rest, adequate rest before and after ultra-long range, ULR flights and adequate rest on layover to flight crew, which violates the extant provisions of the Civil Aviation Requirements pertaining to FDTL.
• A show cause notice was issued to Air India Limited on 1st March for submitting a response to the observed violations.
• The operator submitted its response to the show cause notice which was not found satisfactory.

UN General Assembly Approves First Resolution On Artificial Intelligence

• The UN General Assembly has approved the first resolution on Artificial Intelligence, AI.
• The resolution gives global support to an international effort to ensure the powerful new technology benefits all nations, respects human rights and is safe, secure and trustworthy.
• The resolution, sponsored by the United States and co­sponsored by 123 countries was adopted by consensus with a bang of the gavel and without a vote.
• It means the resolution has the support of all 193 U.N. member nations.
• Over the past few months, the United States worked with more than 120 countries at the United Nations including Russia, China and Cuba to negotiate the text of the resolution that was adopted yesterday.
• The resolution aims to close the digital divide between developed rich countries and poorer developing countries and make sure they are all at the table in discussions on AI.
• It also aims to make sure that developing countries have the technology and capabilities to take advantage of Al’s benefits, including detecting diseases, predicting floods, helping farmers and training the next generation of workers.

C.P. Radhakrishnan Assumes Charge Of Lt. Governor Of Puducherry

• Honourable Governor of Jharkhand and Telangana C. P. Radhakrishnan has assumed the charge of Lt. Governor of Puducherry.
• Chief Justice of Madras High Court Justice Shri S. V. Gangapurwala has administered Oath of Office and Oath of Secrecy.
• Tamilisai Soundararajan resigned from the posts of Governor of Telangana and Puducherry Lt Governor last to contest the April 19 Lok Sabha polls from Chennai (South) constituency.
• Formation: 1 July 1963
• Capital: Pondicherry
• Lieutenant governor: C. P. Radhakrishnan
• Chief minister: N. Rangaswamy
• Chief secretary: Ashwani Kumar

India's Sathiyan Gnanasekaran Clinches Men's Singles Title At World Table Tennis Feeder Beirut Tournament

• World no.103 ranked G.Sathiyan became the first Indian to win a singles title at the WTT Feeder Series event. He beat world no. 74 ranked player Manav Thakkar in the final. G.Sathiyan, a two-time Commonwealth gold medalist, lost the first game to Manav but returned strongly to win the title.
• In the mixed doubles event, the Indian pair Diya Chitale and Manush Shah defeated the fell ow Indian pair Manav Thakkar and Archana Karnath.
• Xia Lian Ni of Luxembourg defeated Suh Hyo Won of South Korea to win the women’s single title. It was the second WTT Feeder Series title for Xia Lian Ni .

World Table Tennis:

• World Table Tennis, stylized as WTT, is an organization created by the ITTF in 2019 that runs commercialized table tennis tournaments.
• The head of its council is Liu Guoliang, a former Olympic gold medalist and former head coach of China.

India-US successfully resolve all seven pending WTO disputes bilaterally

• India and the United States (US) have informed the World Trade Organization (WTO) that both countries have been able to arrive at a mutually agreed solution regarding the dispute over poultry imports from Washington.
• The resolution of all the disputes is not only a sign of strengthening economic ties between both nations, but also showcases India’s new approach to trade issues.
• Besides, the US is also India’s largest trading partner.
• Goods trade between the two countries increased to$128.8 billion in 2022-23, from $119.5 billion in the previous financial year.

Background:

• The US had moved the WTO against India in the poultry case in 2012.
• The WTO had then ruled that India’s ban on poultry imports-mainly chicken legs-from the US was inconsistent with the global trade norms.
• The US demanded compensation because India was not able to implement the decision in time.
• As part of the settlement, India agreed to cut import duty to 5-10 per cent on some fresh and processed food items, such as fresh, frozen, dried and preserved cranberries and blueberries, as well as frozen turkey. The duty cut came into effect last month.

IRDAI approves setting up insurance e­marketplace Bima Sugam, goes for big regulatory revamp

• The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has given its approval for the setting up of insurance e-marketplace Bima Sugam for buying, selling, and servicing insurance policies as well as settling claims.
• This marketplace will serve as a one-stop solution for all insurance stakeholders, including customers, insurers, intermediaries, and agents, thereby, promoting transparency, efficiency, and collaboration across the entire insurance value chain.
• It marks a significant milestone in regulatory governance which has replaced 34 regulations with six regulations, and introduction of two new regulations enhancing clarity and coherence in the regulatory landscape.

IRDAI

• Chairperson: Debasish Panda
• Founded: 1999
• Headquarters: Hyderabad

Former PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan passes away aged 89

• Shaharyar Khan, the influential former PCB chairman, has passed away in Lahore. He was 89 years old.
• Cousin of former India captain and great Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Shaharyar Khan, had served as Pakistan’s foreign secretary from 1990 to 1994 and as a High Commissioner in New Delhi and the United Kingdom.
• Khan, a career diplomat, had two stints as chairman, between 2003 and 2006 and then 2014 to 2017.
• He was also a manager of the Pakistan team on two occasions, including on the path-breaking tour of India in 1999.
• During his first assignment as PCB’s boss, India toured Pakistan twice in 2004 and 2006, while Pakistan travelled to India in 2005.

US, UK & Australia entered agreement to build Australia's SSN-AUKUS submarines

• The United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have signed the new agreement to build Australia’s SSN­AUKUS submarines.
• The agreement has been signed between Australia’s ASC Pty Ltd and UK-based BAE Systems, with the former being selected as Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine sustainment partner, according to a trilateral statement by Australian Defence Minister Richard Marl es, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and UK Defence Grant Shapps.
• AUKUS is a trilateral security partnership for the Indo­Pacific region between Australia, the UK and the US.
• One year ago, on 13 March 2023 in San Diego, the leaders of Australia, the UK, and the US announced the Optimal Pathway.
• Under the new partnership, ASC and BAE Systems will build the SSN-AUKUS submarines for the Royal Australian Navy. The SSN-AUKUS will also be equipped for intelligence, surveillance, undersea warfare and strike missions, and will provide maximum interoperability among AUKUS partners.

Shyamala Madhav nominated for Shree Guru Narayan Award 2023

• Renowned translator and writer Shyamala Madhav of the country has been selected for the Shree Gurunarayan Sahitya Award 2023.
• Sponsored by Late M B Kuckian, former honorary editor-in-chief of Akshaya Magazine.
• The decision was announced at the awarding decision committee held recently at Billava Bhavan.
• The award includes a cash prize of Rs 25000 along with a memento and certificate.
• Shyamala has been selected for her long service in the field of literature, translation and organization.
• The award ceremony will be held at Billava Bhawan, Santacruz East, March 29 at 4 pm under the presidentship of Harish G Amin, president of Billawar Association Mumbai.
• Famous writer Mitra Venkatraj will present the award as a guest of honour.