State :
Tamilnadu :
Govt. reduces procurement under Amma Cement scheme
ED attaches properties of IAS officer
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached several properties including 35 land parcels in Tamil Nadu’s Ariyalur district in connection with a money-laundering case against K. Senthil Kumar, a 1996-batch IAS officer of Bihar cadre.
Qualification criteria framed for Tamil University V-C
- “We have recently notified the educational qualifications and experience [required] for candidates to be considered for the post of the Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil University. The Selection Committee will choose the V-C through the laid down procedure,” Tamil Development Minister and the university’s Pro-Chancellor, R. Pandiarajan, told
Collector recommends closure of leather company
- Leather company in Periyavarigam near Ambur, Collector S.A. Raman has recommended to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to disconnect electricity supply and seal the tannery for violation of norm.
Kerala :
Road safety target for 2020 is quite far off
- Compared to the 4,171 fatalities, 30,225 grievous injuries and 14,025 injuries sustained in 39,455 road accidents in the State during 2016, in 2017, the fatalities were 3,996, grievous injured 29,783 and injured 12,902 in 38,481 road accidents. “The reduction is not as per the expectations to achieve the goal set for 2020,” a road safety expert told
Safety at peril on Mannuthy-Karukutty stretch of NH
- Frequent accidents and lack of safety measures have made the Mannuthy-Karukutty stretch of the National Highway a nightmare for motorists and pedestrians.
Water scarcity forces wild animals to stray out of habitats
- Forest Department is supplying water to thirsty wild animals in the interiors of Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Telangana :
Bill on new ULBs introduced
- A Bill to amend the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act, Telangana Municipalities act and Telangana Municipal Corporations Act was introduced in the Assembly in view of merger of gram panchayats with adjoining urban local bodies.
CS wants railway projects to be expedited
- The government would take all necessary steps to clear the hurdles in the way of taking up the proposed ₹380-crore Overhauling Wagon Shed by the South Central Railway (SCR) at Kazipet by acquiring the necessary land, said Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi on March 29.
Andhra Pradesh :
A new window opens to weavers
- “For the first time, the Department of Handlooms and Textiles is planning to arrange display of handloom products abroad. The expos will enhance sales and give exposure for weavers in the international market,” said Handlooms and Textiles Additional Director K. Srikanth Prabhakar.
‘IISER making steady progress’
India :
India and Japan commit to Indo-Pacific strategy
- India is Japan’s “most important” partner in its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy,” said Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono, as both countries agreed to step up cooperation in their “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” during annual consultations and exchanged yen loan agreements for $1.4 billion.
Anna Hazare ends fast after Centre’s assurance
- Six days after he began an indefinite hunger strike at the Ramlila Maidan, social activist Anna Hazare on March 29 called it off after the Centre gave assurance on fair crop prices for farmers, appointment of Lokpal and electoral reforms.
- “If the government fails to comply with the assurance, I will be back again in September and continue the protest. It should be done within the time-frame,” Mr. Hazare stated.
After leak, CBSE proposes electronically coded papers
- There will be a meeting between MHRD and CBSE officials to put in place a stronger system to preserve examination sanctity, official sources said.
Full 12% EPF contribution of new employees in informal sector to be borne by Centre
- The entire 12% contribution to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) by new employees in the informal sector would be borne by the government, Minister of State for Finance Santosh Kumar Gangwar said on March 29.
Govt. to file review plea in Supreme Court against ruling on SC/ST Act
- Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on March 29 said the government is “preparing” to file a review petition against the top court’s ruling on the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 that puts a stop to immediate arrests in complaints filed under its provisions
Cabinet approves school education reforms
- Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar on March 29 announced that the Cabinet has approved a slew of reforms for school education in the country, in what could be considered as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan-2 project.
World :
GSAT-6A Launch
- ISRO’s big launch of a home-made communications satellite – the GSAT-6A – twin of the GSAT- 6 launched in 2015 – lifted off from Sriharikota . The two rockets in tandem will provide signals that that would permit two-way exchange of data even from very remote locations where mobile connectivity is still limited — which makes it very useful for the armed forces
Pakistani, U.S. officials discuss peace efforts in Afghanistan
- Pakistan and the U.S. discussed on March 29 regional issues including peace efforts in Afghanistan and the situation along the Line of Control (LoC).
Sri Lanka prison chief held for 2012 massacre
- Sri Lankan police on March 29 arrested a top prison official over a massacre of 27 inmates that became an icon of grave rights abuses under former president Mahinda Rajapakse.
China hails Nepal’s independent foreign policy
- China, Nepal and India are important neighbours to each other. We hope the three sides can work together, have some sound interactions and achieve common development,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here.
Russia facing global revulsion’
- Moscow is facing a “global wave of revulsion” in response to the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy, Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said.
Malala returns to Pakistan after nearly six years
- Nobel Peace Prize laureate and social activist Malala Yousafzai returned to Pakistan on March 29, for the first in nearly six years after she was shot by the Taliban for advocating girls rights to education.
Business :
‘A third of top 500 firms lack a woman director’
- India’s listed corporates will have to initiate quick action to get on board more directors, including a woman, if they to ensure compliance with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)’s new corporate governance norms.
Public issues raise a record ₹1.77 lakh crore in 2017-18
- The financial year 2017-18 saw a record mobilisation of ₹1.77 lakh crore through public issues, which was much higher than the all-time high of ₹86,710 crore in 2009-10.
Karnataka Bank discloses ₹86 crore fraud
- Karnataka Bank Ltd. has reported a fraud to the tune of ₹86.47 crore. The fraud relates to extension of fund-based working capital facilities to Gitanjali Gems Ltd., the bank said in an stock exchange announcement.
Sports :
T20 tri-series: India women prove catches win matches
- India finally had to something cheer about as they defeated England by eight wickets to record a consolation win in the women’s T20 tri-series, in Mumbai, on March 29.
Williamson replaces Warner as Sunrisers captain
- New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has replaced the disgraced David Warner as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad, a day after the Australian was barred from the IPL for his role in the ball-tampering controversy in South Africa.
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