• National

DGCA decides to ground Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft with immediate effect

• The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to ground Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft with immediate effect.
• The decision comes in the wake of Ethiopian Airlines crash (killed all 157 people) in Addis Ababa.
• The planes will be grounded until appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations.
• Spice Jet has around 12 Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, Jet Airways (5) in its fleet in the country.
• Earlier, China, Ethiopia, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and UK had decided to suspend the Aircraft.

• Appointments

Axis Bank names Rakesh Makhija as new Chairman

• Private sector lender Axis Bank has named ‘Rakesh Makhija’ (67-years) as its new Non-Executive (Part-Time) Chairman for a period of three years.
• Makhija (Chairman of SKF India) will take over from Sanjiv Mishra (current Axis Bank Chairman), when his term comes to an end on 17th July 2019.
• He has been an Independent Director on the board of Axis since October 2015.
• The appointment is subject to the approval of the Reserve Bank of India and the bank’s shareholders.

• Economy and Business

Retail inflation rises to a four-month high in Feb

• According to the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Retail inflation rose to a four-month high of 2.57% in February this year.
• The retail inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 1.97% in January this year (4.44% in February last year).
• Earlier lowest inflation was 2.33% in November last year.
• The latest print is higher than minus 2.24 per cent in January this year.

• Sports

Dipa Karmakar selected as Barbie Role Model

• Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar (25-year) has been selected as Barbie role model, as the company celebrates its 60th anniversary.
• Karmakar has been chosen along with 19 other successful women (from 17 countries), included in the collection of Barbie dolls inspired by real-life heroes.
• She was part of the ‘Shero’ program launched in 2015 by the company.
• Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy company.

• Obituaries

U.S Olympic gold medallist Kelly Catlin passes away

• America’s finest and most remarkable cyclists ‘Kelly Catlin’(23-year) passed away in the USA.
• Catlin helped a dominant US team to three consecutive world titles in the pursuit between 2016 and 2018.
• She also won a silver medal in the team pursuit at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
• She also raced with the Rally UHC Pro Cycling team on the road.

• Awards

Megha Engineering enters Limca records

• Megha Engineering Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) has found a place in the Limca Book of National Records and Asia Book of Records for completing a power sub-station in seven months (normally it takes 15-18 months).
• NP Kunta sub-station was taken up to connect Ultra Mega Solar Power Plant built in Ananthapur with Power Grid, to facilitate the supply of 1500 MW of electricity.
• Earlier, MEIL made its way into Limca Book for completing Pattiseema Lift Irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh in record time.

• Science and Tech

India's internet base crosses 500 million mark

• According to a newly released Kantar IMRB ICUBE report, Internet user base in India has exceeded 500 million marks.
• It is likely to reach 627 million by the end of 2019.
• The number of internet users is estimated to be 566 million as of December 2018 (annual growth -18%).
• The report finds 493 million Indians (total user base-87%) are defined as regular users, having accessed the internet in the last 30 days.
• Around 293 million active internet users reside in urban India, while there are 200 million active users in rural India.

• Science and Tech

4th Internet of things India Congress to be held in Bengaluru

• The 4th IoT India Congress will be held in Bengaluru in August 2019.
• IoT India Congress is an event which will see digital technology leaders converge to discuss and explore business opportunities in mainstreaming Internet of Things (IoT),
• The IoT India Congress 2019 will include tracks on segments such as healthcare, manufacturing, telecom, smart cities, energy, retail, cybersecurity, skills and development, IoT Standards, legal and regulatory, and agriculture.

• Obituaries

Veteran Hindi Newsreader Vinod Kashyap passes away

• Veteran Hindi Newsreader Vinod Kashyap (88-years) passed away following a prolonged illness.
• She served All India Radio for about 30 years.
• The veteran newsreader started her career in Radio as a drama artist.

• States

Mizoram Cabinet approves Liquor Prohibition Bill

• The Mizoram state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Zoramthanga has approved the proposed liquor prohibition bill, 2019 in the state.
• The bill would be introduced in the state Assembly during the Budget session.
• There was total prohibition in Mizoram from 1997 till January 2015 with the Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act in force in the state.
• Earlier, Lal Thanhawla government allowed opening of wine shops in the state from March 2015.

• States

Delhi Government sets-up a high-level committee to reform higher education

• The Delhi government’s Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) has set up a 17-member high-level committee chaired by DDC vice-chairperson ‘Jasmine Shah’ to “reform higher education” in the capital.
• Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) is the think-tank that advises the government on key issues.
• The committee will recommend goals, metrics, policies, and actionable plans for reforming Delhi’s higher education system within a year”.