Today's Current Affairs 18th March 2024

NATIONAL

Kashmir Hosts First Formula-4 Car Racing Event along Dal Lake

• The beautiful Dal Lake in Kashmir witnessed an exciting event on March 18. Formula-4 car racing was held for the first time in the region.

About Jammu & Kashmir:

Capitals: Srinagar (May–October); Jammu (November–April)

Districts: 20

Union territory: 31 October 2019 

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Inaugurates India’s First Indoor Athletics and Aquatic Centres

• Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated India’s first indoor athletics stadium and indoor aquatic centre at the Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneshwar.

About Odisha:

Capital: Bhubaneswar

Governor: Raghubar Das 

SPORTS

RCB conquer Delhi Capitals by 8 wickets, clinch maiden title

• Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in the Women's Premier League 2024 final, on Sunday in New Delhi.
• Deepti Sharma won the MVP award for her outstanding all-round performance, scoring 295 runs at an average of 98.33 and taking 10 wickets at an average of 21.70. 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

NASA to Carry ‘Message in Bottle’ To Europa, One of Jupiter’s Moon in October

• In October 2024, NASA will embark on its Europa Clipper mission, aiming to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa in search of signs of life.

About NASA:

Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States

Founded: 29 July 1958, United States 

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

Kotak Bank appoints Jaideep Hansraj as President of ‘One Kotak

• Kotak Mahindra Bank has appointed Jaideep Hansraj, the current MD and CEO of Kotak Securities, as the Group President – One Kotak, effective from April 1, 2024.

About Kotak Mahindra Bank:

CEO: Ashok Vaswani (1 Jan 2024)

Founder: Uday Kotak

Founded: 21 November 1985

Headquarters: Mumbai 

Senior Bureaucrat Rahul Singh Appointed New CBSE Chief

• Senior bureaucrat Rahul Singh has been appointed as the chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), as part of a senior-level bureaucratic reshuffle effected by the Centre.
• Rahul Singh will succeed Nidhi Chhibber, who has been named Advisor in the Niti Aayog. 

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan Resigns

• Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Governor of Telangana, has resigned from her position on Monday, March 18, 2024. According to sources, she is likely to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the state of Tamil Nadu.
• She has also resigned from her role as the Lieutenant Governor of the UT of Puducherry. She has sent her resignation letter to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.

 SUMMITS AND MOU’S

SANY India signs MoU with J&K Bank to give finance solution to their customers

• SANY India, a top construction equipment manufacturer, has forged a strategic partnership with J&K Bank to fuel growth and development opportunities in the region.

 AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Indian Youth Uday Bhatia and Manasi Gupta Receive ‘Diana Memorial Award’

• Uday Bhatia and Manasi Gupta from India were honored with the prestigious ‘Diana Memorial Award’ on 14 March 2024.
• This award is given every two years in memory of Princess Diana.

 BANKING AND ECONOMY

India’s forex reserves jump to over two-year high of $636.1 bn

• India’s foreign exchange reserves witnessed a significant surge, marking a third consecutive increase in the week ended March 8, 2024. This surge propelled the reserves to reach a two-year high of $636.1 billion.