• National

IRCTC launches IRCTC iPay

• The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) launched its own payment aggregator system, iPay.
• It will provide an improved online digital payment convenience and ease of doing business to passengers availing online travel services through the IRCTC website.
• This will help reduce the gap between IRCTC and banks which will lead to a substantial reduction in payment failures.

• International

United States slaps new sanctions on Venezuela

• The United States has imposed new sanctions on Venezuela.
• The sanctions were imposed a day after Russia and China vetoed a US and European resolution at the UN Security Council.
• The US imposed sanctions on the members of President Nicolas Maduro’s security forces.
• The US also revoked the visas of 49 Venezuelan officials and their family members.

• International

UNSC designates Hamza under its sanctions list

• The United Nations Security Council has designated Hamza bin Laden under its sanctions list.
• He is the son of Osama bin Laden and is now subject to a travel ban, assets freeze, and an arms embargo.
• A reward of a US$ 1 million was announced for information leading to his capture.
• Saudi Arabia revoked the citizenship of Hamza bin Laden via a royal decree in November 2018.

• International

US, N Korea fail to strike a deal at Hanoi Summit

• The United States and North Korea have failed to reach a formal deal at two-day North Korea– United States Hanoi Summit 2019 held at the Metropole Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam.
• The talk has ended with no agreement after the US refused North Korean demand to lift all international sanctions.
• This was the second meeting between North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump following the first meeting in June 2018 in Singapore.

• Economy and Business

Usha Thorat-led task force to ensure stability of external value of rupee

• The Reserve Bank of India has constituted an eight-member task force on offshore rupee markets, headed by Usha Thorat former Deputy Governor, to look into issues related to the markets and recommend appropriate policy measures to ensure the stability of the external value of the rupee.
• The terms of reference of the task force include assessing the causes behind the development of the offshore rupee market; study the effects of the offshore markets on the rupee exchange rate and market liquidity in the domestic market; and recommend measures to address concerns, if any, that may arise out of offshore rupee trading.

• Appointments

Gill takes over as MD & CEO of Yes Bank

• Former Indian Chief of Deutsche Bank, Ravneet Gill took charge as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of private sector lender Yes Bank on 1 March 2019.
• He will have a three-year term and it has been approved by the Reserve Bank of India.
• He succeeded Rana Kapoor, the co-founder of the bank, whose term ended on 31 January 2019.

• Appointments

Hasmukh Adhia appointed as BoB’s Chairman

• On 1 March 2019, former Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia was appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of Bank of Baroda (BoB) for three years.
• Adhia superannuated as Finance Secretary in November 2017.
• Bank of Baroda is set to become the third largest lender of the country after amalgamation with Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank effective 1 April 2019.

• Defence

India-Bangladesh joint military exercise 'Sampriti 2019' in Tangail

• According to the Defence Ministry, Joint military exercise ‘Sampriti 2019’ between India and Bangladesh has been conducted at Tangail in Bangladesh (2nd-15th March 2019.)
• This will be the eighth edition of the exercise which is hosted alternately by both countries.
• The objective of the exercise to strengthen and broaden the aspects of interoperability and co-operation between the Armies of both countries.
• The exercise will involve tactical-level operations in a counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism environment under the UN mandate

• Miscellaneous

Book on ‘Mann Ki Baat’ released

• A book titled, ‘Mann Ki Baat – A Social Revolution on Radio’ was released by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on 2 March 2019.
• The book is a compendium encompassing 50 editions of the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on All India Radio.
• The book is published by Rupa, in collaboration with BlueKraft Digital Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.

• Miscellaneous

Guiness Book of World Record created by DEPwD

• A National Conference on “Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)” was inaugurated in Gujarat on 1 March 2019.
• ‘7th Guinness Book of World Record’ was created by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) on 28 February 2019 at Bharuch, Gujarat.
• The record was created for implanting ‘Modern Artificial Limbs (Legs)’ on 260 Divyangjans within eight hours.

• Agreements

Inland Waterways Authority of India and Indian Oil Sign MoU

• Inland Waterways Authority of India and Indian Oil Sign MoU on Fuel Needs for National Waterways.
• The MoU includes jointly developing infrastructure for fuels, lubricating oil, LPG, Natural Gas and any other related fuel and gas for meeting the requirement of National Waterways.
• IWAI and IOCL have agreed to conduct techno-economic feasibility studies for preparation of detailed land requirement, storage facilities and other supporting infrastructure with details of the cost.
• As per the National Waterways Act 2016, 106 new National waterways have been declared in addition to existing 5 National Waterways.