LEGAL NEWS

Parliament Passes Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 to Strengthen Railway Board

• The Railways (Amendment) Bill 2024 has been approved by Parliament for improved Railway Board functioning and independence.

• The Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha via a voice vote.

• The legislation seeks to amend the Railways Act of 1989 to empower the Railway Board further.

• Its primary goal is to enhance the autonomy and efficiency of the Railway Board.

• The Bill aims to simplify the legal structure by merging provisions from the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905, and the Railways Act, 1989.

• It will streamline the legal process, requiring reference to only one law instead of two.

• The new law will not alter the operations of the Railway Board, Zones, or Divisions.

APPOINTMENTS

Justice Joymalya Bagchi Appointed as Supreme Court Judge

• Justice Joymalya Bagchi has been elevated to the Supreme Court.

• The Centre announced the President's approval of his appointment from the Calcutta High Court.

• On March 6, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his name for the appointment.

• He is expected to serve for over six years before becoming Chief Justice of India.

• Based on seniority, Justice Bagchi will assume the office of CJI in May 2031.

• He was appointed as a judge of the Calcutta High Court on June 27, 2011.

• The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of India and up to 33 other judges.

• The President appoints the Chief Justice and judges of the Supreme Court under Article 124 of the Constitution.

• Supreme Court judges retire upon reaching the age of 65.

NATIONAL NEWS

54th National Safety Week

• The 54th National Safety Week was observed from March 4th to 10th.

• The celebrations kicked off with a safety awareness march from NTR Stadium to Pentakota Convention Center.

• This year's theme for National Safety Week was "Safety and Well-being Crucial for Viksit Bharat."

• The National Safety Council of India spearheads the National Safety Week campaign.

• National Safety Day was first formally observed in 1972, and the event has since been celebrated as a week-long initiative.

• The focus of the week is to highlight the importance of safety in the pursuit of a developed India.

STATE NEWS

Assam to Launch its Own Satellite ‘ASSAMSAT’

• The Assam government is set to launch its own satellite, named 'ASSAMSAT.'

• Assam will be the first state in India to develop and operate its own satellite.

• The satellite will be developed in collaboration with IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center) under the Department of Space.

• 'ASSAMSAT' aims to enhance data access for socio-economic initiatives and improve border surveillance.

• It will offer specialized services in areas such as agriculture, disaster management, infrastructure development, border security, and law enforcement.

• The satellite project will inspire students in the state, who will have the opportunity to work on experimental satellites with support from IN-SPACe and ISRO.

PM Modi Launches Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign.

• The campaign aims to identify eligible underprivileged families for food security benefits.

• Special focus will be on widowed women, the elderly, differently-abled individuals, and marginalized daily wage workers.

• PM Modi distributed benefits to nearly 2 lakh eligible beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).

• The initiative's primary goal is to ensure complete food security coverage for all.

• It supports the government's efforts to provide essential food grains to those in need.

• Launched in 2020, PMGKAY aims to deliver free, high-quality food grains to poor families.

Launch of Welfare Schemes for Girls in Tripura by Union Health Minister

• Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda launched two welfare schemes for girls in Tripura: Mukhyamantri Balika Samriddhi Yojana and Mukhyamantri Kanya Atmanirbhar Yojana.

• The launch coincided with the two-year anniversary of the BJP government's formation in Tripura.

• The BJP took power in Tripura in 2018, ending 25 years of Left Front rule led by CPI(M).

• Biplab Deb initially served as Chief Minister, but Dr. Manik Saha replaced him ahead of the 2022 elections.

• In the 2023 legislative assembly elections, the BJP, under Manik Saha's leadership, secured a second term.

• Dr. Manik Saha was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time on 8th March 2023.

• To commemorate the BJP's return to power, a large rally was organized at Swami Vivekananda Maidan in Agartala on 9th March 2023.

• The event was attended by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha and other prominent BJP leaders.

BANKING, ECONOMY AND FINANCE

India's Agricultural Production Hits Record High in 2024-25

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare released the Second Advance Estimates for 2024-25 agricultural production.

• Kharif food grain production is projected to reach around 664 lakh metric tonnes, while Rabi food grain production is estimated at over 645 lakh metric tonnes.

• Kharif rice production is expected to exceed 1,206 lakh metric tonnes, up from 1,132 LMT in 2023-24.

• Rabi rice production is estimated at 157.58 lakh metric tonnes.

• The production of tur and gram is estimated at 35.11 lakh metric tonnes and 115.35 lakh metric tonnes, respectively.

• Wheat production is expected to rise to 1,154.30 lakh metric tonnes, a 21.38 lakh metric tonne increase from last year's 1,132.92 lakh metric tonnes.

• Kharif millet production is estimated at 137.52 lakh metric tonnes, while Rabi millet production is estimated at 30.81 lakh metric tonnes.

• Cotton production is expected to be 294.25 lakh bales (170 kg each), and sugarcane production is projected at 4,350.79 lakh metric tonnes.

India Imposes Anti-Dumping Duty on Water Treatment Chemical Imports from China and Japan

• India has implemented an anti-dumping duty of up to $986 per tonne on Trichloro isocyanuric acid from China and Japan for five years.

• The move aims to protect the domestic industry from unfairly priced imports.

• The Ministry of Finance's decision follows recommendations from the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR).

• DGTR’s investigation found that the domestic market was negatively affected by low-priced imports.

• The duty is intended to encourage fair competition and support the growth of India’s domestic sector.