Roadmap for Banking of the Future
Daily Current Affairs – 24 March 2023
This post contains the current affairs for 24 March 2023. These current affairs are important for banking exams, insurance exams and other competitive exams like IBPS PO and Clerk, SBI PO and Clerk, RBI Assistant and Grade B, etc. You can also attempt our Current Affairs Quiz after reading our daily current affairs.
National
PM Modi lays foundation stone for India’s first public ropeway in Varanasi
- Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the India’s first urban transport ropeway on March 24, 2023, in Varanasi.
- This is the first urban ropeway project in the country.
- Key Features
- The total cost incurred for this ropeway project is around Rs 645 crore.
- Once the project becomes functional, India will become the third country in the world to use a ropeway for public transportation. Till date such facility is operational only in Bolivia and Mexico City,
- The project will be constructed by Vishwa Samudra, National Highways Logistics Private Limited (NHLML) in collaboration with Switzerland-based firm Bartholet.
- The 3.75-km long ropeway system will have five stations and will function between Varanasi Cantonment and Godowlia Chowk.
Report
UN Report states India as severely affected by water scarcity by 2050
- As per the flagship report of UN titled, ‘United Nations World Water Development Report 2023: partnerships and cooperation for water’, India is expected to be the most severely water-hit nation due to water scarcity by 2050.
- The report states that the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from 933 million in 2016 to 1.7-2.4 billion people in 2050.
- While 933 million in 2016 represents one third of global urban population and 1.7-2.4 billion in 2050 will be one third to nearly half of global urban population.
- The report also states that around 80% of people living under water stress lived in Asia; and particularly in northeast China, India and Pakistan.
- Two billion people globally do not have safe drinking water, while 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation as per the report.
Banking & Economy
Finance Bill 2023 passed in Lok Sabha with key amendments
- The Finance Bill, 2023 was passed in the Lok Sabha with some amendments, on March 24, 2023.
- Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled ‘The Finance Bill, 2023’ in the lower house.
- Total 64 official amendments have been proposed to the Finance Bill which was tabled in Parliament on February 1, 2023.
- Click here to view the list of some amendments in the Finance Bill 2023
Canara Bank sells entire stake in Russian joint venture ‘CIBL’ to SBI for Rs 121.29 crore
- The Commercial Indo Bank LLC (CIBL) is a joint venture in Russia between SBI (60 per cent) and Canara Bank (40 per cent).
- CIBL was incorporated in 2003.
- Now Canara Bank has announced that it has sold its entire stake in this Russian joint venture to the State Bank of India (SBI) for about Rs 121.29 crore.
- With the consent of Central Bank of Russia, the entire shares held by Canara Bank have been transferred to SBI on November 11, 2022.
Egypt Becomes Official Member of BRICS New Development Bank (NDB)
- Egypt has officially become a member of BRICS’ New Development Bank (NDB) on March 22, 2023.
- Cairo completed all the necessary procedures to become an eligible member of BRICS Bank on February 20, 2023.
- It is the fourth new country to become the member of NDB apart from BRICS nations.
- Earlier in September 2021, NDB admitted Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uruguay as its new members.
Apps
Income Tax Department launches ‘AIS for Taxpayers’ mobile app
- The Income Tax Department of India has launched a new mobile app called ‘AIS for Taxpayers’, to provide a comprehensive view of the Annual Information Statement (AIS) / Taxpayer Information Summary (TIS) to the taxpayers.
- Benefits of AIS for Taxpayers
- taxpayers can easily view information related to their TDS/TCS, interest, dividends, share transactions, tax payments, and Income Tax refunds.
- users can view other information such as GST data and foreign remittances.
- users can provide feedback regarding the information displayed
- this app will help to provide enhanced taxpayer services, thus facilitating ease of compliance.
Ashneer Grover launches cricket fantasy sports app CrickPe
- BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover has launched a cricket-focused fantasy sports app called CrickPe, through his twitter handle on March 23, 2023.
- CrickPe is a product by the ‘Third Unicorn’, the new tech-startup venture of BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover, along with his wife Madhuri Jain and Aseem Ghavri.
- The CrickPe is first-of-its-kind fantasy cricket app, where with every match, the actual playing cricketers, cricketing bodies and real team owners win cash rewards, along with the fantasy game winners.
- It may turn big rival for already existing Dream11, Mobile Premier League (MPL) and Games24x7’s My11Circle.
Obituary
Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar Passes Away at 67
- Renowned Bollywood Filmmaker Pradeep Sarkar has passed away. He was 67.
- Pradeep Sarkar made his directorial debut with the film Parineeta in 2005.
- He was also best-known for directing films like Laaga Chunari Mein Daag, Lafangey Parindey and Mardaani.
- His last directed film was the 2018 film Helicopter Eela.
Important Days
World Tuberculosis Day 2023: 24 March
- World Tuberculosis Day is observed every year on 24 March to create awareness among the public about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease.
- The theme of World Tuberculosis Day 2023 is “Yes, We can end TB!“.
- It was on this day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.
International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims: 24 March
- United Nations has recognised March 24 to be observed as the International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims every year.
- The day aims to pay tribute to those who have devoted their lives or lost their lives in, the struggle to promote and protect human rights for all
- The day proclaimed by the United Nations in December 2010, to say no to all forms of violence, injustice and oppression against humanity.
- 24 March was chosen in memory of Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero, who was murdered on 24 March 1980. Monsignor Romero was actively engaged in denouncing violations of the human rights of the most vulnerable individuals in El Salvador.
