300 million rupee Uridashi Masala Bonds signed in Japan by IFC

International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, on 1 March 2016 launched its first Uridashi Masala Bond. 
•    The bonds are worth 300 million rupees and will be utilised to promote private sector development in India.
•    The three-year Uridashi Masala Bond is Japan-specific and builds on IFC’s Masala bond Program.
•    While Masala bonds are rupee-denominated instruments sold only to offshore investors, Uridashi bonds are sold to Japanese household investors.
•    Earlier, in November 2014, the IFC issued first-ever Masala Bonds in London. 
•    The bonds were worth 10 billion rupee and listed in the London Stock Exchange.
•    So far, the IFC raised 1.7 billion US dollars from international investors under the Masala Bond Program.
•    This is going to be huge for Indian market as it is supposed to bring a huge money inflow in the country. 
•    Indian economy is going through slow down and this is intended to bring foreign currency to the country.
International Hockey Federation promoted Napoleon Singh as international Umpire
On 3 March 2016 The International Hockey Federation (FIH) promoted Hockey India national-level umpire Napoleon Singh as the International Outdoor Umpire.
•    The FIH took the decision after seeing his performance in the recently-concluded