BhashaNet Portal

• The National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology jointly launched the BhashaNet portal, on March 21, 2024.
• With this launch, language diversity and digital inclusivity in India will be furthered.
•  The BhashaNet portal is made to assist developers, companies, and organizations in making their systems and applications UA-compliant.
•  It does this by offering resources, tools, and information in support of the Universal Acceptance movement.
• The portal wants to ensure that everyone can access and benefit from digital services, regardless of language or script, by encouraging the adoption of Universal Access (UA).

Operation Indravati to Rescue Indian Nationals from Haiti

• The Indian government began Operation Indravati on March 21, 2024, as rescuing its citizens from Haiti, a Caribbean country beset by political unrest and rampant gang violence.
• The initiative, which takes its name from India's Indravati River, is intended to protect Indian nationals in the middle of Haiti's worsening crisis.
•  The Indravati River, which passes through the Indian states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, is the source of the moniker "Operation Indravati."
• India has successfully carried out a number of evacuation operations in the past, such as Operation Sankat Mochan (2016) in South Sudan and Operation Raahat (2015) in Yemen.

Guidelines Issued for Betting and Gambling Platforms

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued guidelines for online gambling and betting platforms on March 21, 2024, along with a warning to social media influencers.
• Given the substantial financial and socioeconomic effects that internet betting and gaming have on consumers, especially young people, the ministry issued the advice.
• It is recommended that internet ad middlemen avoid targeting such content to Indian audiences.
• Additionally, social media intermediaries should work to sensitize their users against publishing such content.
• According to the Ministry, the Central Consumer Protection Authority has voiced concerns about celebrities and influencers endorsing and promoting these betting and gambling services.

Pakistan will get $1.1 billion from the IMF

• Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reached a staff-level agreement on March 21, 2024, for the release of $1.1 billion from a $3 billion rescue package.
• The funds that are necessary for the indebted country to avoid a sovereign default will be disbursed prior to the current agreement's expiration on April 11, 2023.
•  The declaration follows 5 days of discussions in Islamabad between the IMF and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's freshly elected administration.
•  For the past 2 years, Pakistan's $350 billion economy has been severely strained, and the nation is frantically looking for financial support from bilateral and international allies.

A Working Arrangement for Cooperative Relations Signed by Europol and CBI

• The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Europol sign a major Working Arrangement on March 21, 2024, strengthening their collaboration to fight transnational crime.
• This cooperative endeavor highlights the need of international collaborations in tackling contemporary issues presented by transnational criminal organizations.
• The Working Arrangement was signed virtually by CBI Director Praveen Sood and Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle.
•  Both parties committed to improving cooperation, as evidenced by the signing ceremony that was held concurrently in The Hague and New Delhi.
• In order to take advantage of their different missions and approaches, the agreement encourages direct collaboration between the CBI and Europol.

Electric Standing Wheelchair by IIT Madras

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• The NeoStand, an electric standing wheelchair created in India by IIT Madras, was unveiled on March 21, 2024.
• It is marketed as the most adjustable wheelchair in India for the benefit of wheelchair users.
•  In the presence of Professor V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras the wheelchair was unveiled on campus.
• The NeoStand is a small standing wheelchair with motorized standing that uses navigation. Pressing a button makes it simple for users to transition from sitting to standing.
• NeoStand's voyage was supported by Tata Elxsi as part of their corporate social responsibility program.
• NeoMotion and the TTK Center for Rehabilitation Research and Device Development (R2D2) at IIT Madras led the development and design.

3rd Edition of the North East Games 2024

• The 3rd edition of the North East Games 2024 opened in Nagaland on March 21, 2024, with a spectacular opening ceremony held at the Regional Centre for Sporting Excellence, Sovima.
• The games were formally opened by Neiphiu Rio, the chief minister of Nagaland.
• Over 3000 competitors representing 8 states in the Northeast are participating in 15 different disciplines at 12 different locations in the districts of Chumoukedima, Dimapur, and Kohima.
• The games' high points include:

1. Archery Sports
2. Basketball, Badminton
3. Football, Boxing, Lawn Tennis
4. Table Tennis, Pencak Silat, Sepaktakraw
5. Volleyball, Taekwondo
6. Wushu

• The inaugural football game was held at the Nagaland Armed Police Training Centre in Chumukedima, and the host state, Nagaland, opened their campaign on a positive note, defeating Tripura 1-0.

Sharath Kamal

• Sharath Kamal, a table tennis ace, will represent India as the flag bearer for the next Olympics in Paris in 2024 on March 21, 2024.
• Kamal, who is ranked 88th in the world, has won the National Table Tennis Championship a Record 10 times.
•  In addition, he won 2 medals in the Asian Games and 13 medals overall, including 7 golds, at the Commonwealth Games.
• The renowned athlete has won bronze in the World Championships 3 times.
•  MC Mary Kom, the chef de mission for the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, will be showcasing alongside Sharath Kamal.
• The first female boxer in history to win 6 world titles is Mary Kom. Gagan Narang has been named the director of the Paris Olympics shooting village operations.

Leo Varadkar

• Leo Varadkar, the Prime Minister of Ireland of Indian descent, resigned on March 21, 2024, after his country lost a twin referendum on family issues.
• Proposals to extend the legal definition of family beyond married couples were rejected by the electorate.
•  They also refused to have some sexist language about women's domestic responsibilities removed from the Irish Constitution.
• Leo Varadkar declared that he believed a new leader would be better suited than him to help the Fine Gael party win more seats in the general election in the following year.

Naveen Jindal 

• The Indian Steel Association unanimously elected Naveen Jindal, Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power, to the position of President on March 21, 2024.
• He succeeded ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India CEO Dilip Oommen.
•  Naveen Jindal will be essential in determining the rules and tactics that will govern the Indian steel sector in his capacity as President of the ISA.
•  The highest authority defending the interests of Indian steel makers is the ISA.
• It is essential for tackling the problems the Indian steel industry faces and for fostering the industry's expansion and development.

Hansha Mishra

• Hansha Mishra, an officer of the 2010 batch of the Indian Audit and Accounts Service, was appointed as a director at the Union Public Service Commission, Delhi, on March 21, 2024.
•  The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India proposed her for central deputation, which led to his appointment.
• Hansha Mishra's nomination to the position under the central staffing system has been accepted by the central government, per an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on March 21, 2024.
• His term as a director of the UPSC will run for five years, or until further directions are issued, whichever comes first.

Maharashtra Gaurav Award

• The coveted Maharashtra Gaurav Award was given to Uma Rele, the principal of Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya in Mumbai, on March 21, 2024.
•  She received the award from Ministers Deepak Vasant Kesarkar and Uday Sawant of Maharashtra Industries for her significant.
• The Maharashtra Gaurav Award recognizes her remarkable feats, vast knowledge, and steadfast dedication to the preservation and growth of the tradition of Indian classical dance.
• Generations of scholars, fans, and dancers alike are inspired by her work.

Tamil Nadu Secured a Contract with Keltron

• The Tamil Nadu government has granted the state-owned company Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (Kelton) 3 major work orders for ₹1076 crore as of March 21, 2024.
•  The orders, which were given out through competitive bidding, are for the construction of smart classrooms, tablet computers for elementary school instructors in Tamil Nadu, and high-tech IT labs.
• These significant contracts have been secured thanks in large part to Keltron's IT Business Group, which highlights the company's proficiency in the field of educational technology.
• The Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Service Corporation issued the competitive tenders, and Keltron was the winning bidder.

World Poetry Day 2024

• People all throughout the world observed World Poetry Day on March 21, 2024, in honor of a linguistic term that they can all relate to.
• The subject for the 2024 World Poetry Day celebration, which falls on March 21st every year, is "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants."
• The theme pays homage to famous authors from the past whose groundbreaking works expanded poetry's cultural reach.
• It also highlights the new generation of poets who are now laying that foundation.
• Poetry is a special and elegant technique to communicate thoughts and feelings. It has existed for an extremely long period.