Today's Current Affairs 13th March 2024

NATIONAL

Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launches Credit Assistance Program for Jan Aushadhi Kendras

• Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare, spearheaded the inauguration of a credit assistance program aimed at bolstering Jan Aushadhi Kendras across India.
• The program, initiated through a collaboration between SIDBI and PMBI. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Inaugurates India’s First Automobile In-Plant Railway Siding

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the inaugural automobile in-plant railway siding at Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL).
• Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited: Mr. Hisashi Takeuchi 

Union Minister Inaugurates “National Speed Breeding Crop Facility” At NABI

• Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of Science & Technology, inaugurated the “National Speed Breeding Crop Facility” at NABI (National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute), Mohali.
• The facility serves all Indian states, with a focus on North Indian states like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Jammu & Kashmir. 

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

ISMA Appoints Deepak Ballani as New Director General

• The Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has appointed Mr. Deepak Ballani as its new Director General.
• ISMA HQ located in New Delhi.
• ISMA Established in 1932. 

Nayab Singh Saini is the 11th Chief Minister of Haryana

• The Current Cabinet Ministers of Haryana 2024 consist of 10 Cabinet Ministers and 4 Ministers of State including the Chief Ministers of Haryana.
• Nayab Singh Saini is the 11th and current Chief Minister of Haryana and this is his first term as the Chief Minister of Haryana. 

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights Celebrates 19th Foundation Day

• On March 12, 2024, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) celebrated its 19th Foundation Day at the Jacaranda Hall, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights:

Founded: 2007;

Headquarters: New Delhi, India;

Chairman: Priyank Kanoongo. 

NIELIT & ITI Egypt Sign MoU to Improve Skills, Jobs, & Global Collaboration

• On the 12th of March, 2024, an MoU was signed between the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT) of India and the Information Technology Institute (ITI) of Egypt.
• This significant event took place in Cairo, Egypt. 

SUMMITS AND MOU’S

Tripartite MoU signed among USOF, Prasar Bharati and ONDC

• The Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has entered a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prasar Bharati, under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). 

Google Collaborates with ECI for Voter Information and Combats Misinformation Ahead of Elections

• Google has partnered with the Election Commission of India (ECI) to provide authoritative information on voting processes for the upcoming general elections.

About Google:

Founders: Larry Page, Sergey Brin;

Parent organization: Alphabet Inc.;

CEO: Sundar Pichai (2 Oct 2015–);

Founded: 4 September 1998, Menlo Park, California, United States. 

RANKING

India Tops Global Arms Imports, SIPRI Report

• According to the latest data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India was the world’s top arms importer for the period 2019-2023. India’s arms imports witnessed a 4.7% increase compared to the 2014-2018 period.
• The United States, the world’s largest arms supplier, saw a 17% growth in arms exports between 2014-2018 and 2019-2023.