• National

Cabinet approves investment for Kiru Hydro Electric Project in J&K

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the investment sanction for construction of 624 Mega-watt Kiru Hydro Electric Project in Jammu and Kashmir.
• The CCEA also approved the investment for Khurja Super Thermal Power Plant (1320 Mega Watt) at Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh and Buxar thermal Power Project (1320 Mega Watt) in Bihar.
• The project will provide much-needed power to the northern grid.
• The CCEA has approved the construction of a 3rd railway line (155 kilometres length) between Narayangarh in West Bengal and Bhadrak in Odisha.

• National

Govt. to celebrate ‘Poshan Pakhwada’ from 8th to 22nd March 2019 across the Country

• Today, ‘Poshan Pakhwada’ has been launched across the Country on International Women’s Day (8th March).
• The Minister for Women & Child Development has been celebrating the first anniversary of POSHAN Abhiyaan (from 8th-22nd March 2019).
• The Poshan Pakhwada will be celebrated on lines of ‘Poshan Maah’ held in the month of September 2018.
• During the Poshan Pakhwada, it is also planned to organise a workshop on Agri-Nutrition on 15th March 2019.
• The Ministry of Women & Child Development is the nodal ministry for coordinating activities during the month.

• Economy and Business

World Bank to provide 250 Million USD for NRETP to boost Rural incomes in India

• World Bank to provide 250 Million USD for the National Rural Economic Transformation Project (NRETP) to boost Rural incomes across 13 States in India.
• The loan will help women in rural households develop viable enterprises for farm and non-farm products.

• Awards

Nari Shakti Puraskar 2018 awarded

• President of India, Ram Nath Kovind presented the Nari Shakti Puraskar 2018, in New Delhi, on International Women’s Day, i.e. 8 March 2019.
• Nari Shakti Puraskar is the highest civilian honor for women in India held in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• This year, 44 awardees were selected out of around a thousand nominations received by the Ministry.

• Resignation

Kummanam Rajasekharan Resigns as Mizoram Governor

• Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan has stepped down from his post.
• Governor of Assam, Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, has been given temporary charge of the Aizawl Raj Bhavan.
• Rajasekharan, who was former State president of the BJP in Kerala, had been sworn in as Governor of Mizoram in May 2018.

• Appointments

UNDP appoints Padma Lakshmi as Goodwill Ambassador

• Indian-American television personality and food expert Padma Lakshmi has been appointed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as its newest Goodwill Ambassador, supporting the agency’s fight against inequality and discrimination around the world.
• UNDP announced Lakshmi’s appointment on the eve of International Women’s Day.

• Appointments

Ausaf Sayeed: new ambassador to Saudi Arabia

• Ausaf Sayeed was been appointed as the next ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia.
• He is currently the High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Seychelles.
• He will succeed Ahmad Javed, who had been serving as envoy to Saudi Arabia since December 2015.

• Important Days

International Women's Day being observed today

• International Women’s Day (IWD) is being celebrated every year on 8th March to highlight the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.
• It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.
• The UN Women’s theme for 2019 is “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change”.
• International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe.
• Women’s Day was first observed on 28th February 1909 in New York, USA.

• Miscellaneous

Suresh Prabhu released a coffee table book

• Minister for Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu released a Coffee Table Book- Cruising New Heights- Flying for All on 7 March 2019.
• The Publication throws light on the outstanding achievements made in the civil aviation sector during 2018.
• It brings out various innovative policy initiatives like drone ecosystem roadmap, green aviation policy, Rupee Raftar for financing and leasing of aircrafts.

• Miscellaneous

Advanced braking systems mandatory

• Ministry of Road Transport & Highways mandated advanced braking systems and technologies for improved road safety and reducing accidents.
• The provision will be binding on all vehicles with 9 seats and above as per a notification issued on 7 March,19.
• The existing vehicles will be required to adopt new provisions from April 2021, while new vehicles, from April 2022 will have these pre-fitted.