• National

Former SC Judge Justice PC Ghose to be India's first Lokpal

• Former Supreme Court Judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose is set to be India’s first anti-corruption ombudsman of India.
• His name was finalised and recommended by the Selection Committee comprising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and eminent jurist Mukul Rohatgi.
• Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who is part of the committee, did not attend the meeting.
• His was among the top 10 names shortlisted by the Lokpal Search Committee.

• National

Expert panel to review OBC ‘creamy layer’ criteria after 26 years

• The Centre has constituted an expert committee to “revisit the criteria” for determining the “creamy layer” for OBCs which was laid down in 1993.
• After 26 years, ministry of social justice, on March 8, set up a panel headed by retired GOI secretary BP Sharma, with “terms of reference” which sound radical in their breadth and scope.
• The committee will “revisit the criteria evolved by the Prasad committee” and give recommendations for “redefining, simplifying and streamlining the concept of creamy layer” while keeping in view the SC’s observations in Indira Sawhney case.

• International

Cyclone Idai Hits Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe

• Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi have been hit by a vicious cyclone ‘IDAI’ that has killed nearly 150 people, left hundreds more missing and stranded tens of thousands who are cut off from roads and telephones in mainly poor, rural areas.
• Cyclone Idai has affected more than 1.5 million people in the three southern African countries, according to the UN and government officials.
• Hardest hit is Mozambique’s central port city of Beira where the airport is closed, electricity is out and many homes have been destroyed.

• International

‘Vijit’ Becomes 1st Indian Coast Guard Ship to Visit Indonesia

• Highlighting the close maritime proximity between India and Indonesia, Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Vijit’ became the first-ever Coast Guard ship to visit Sabang, Indonesia.
• During its maiden voyage, officers and crew of Vijit will hold interaction with officials of Bakamla (Indonesian Coast Guard), Indonesian Armed Forces and the civil administration at Sabang, read a press release from Indian embassy in Jakarta.

• Sports

Dominic Thiem beats Roger Federer to win Indian Wells title

• Australia’s Dominic Thiem defeated Switzerland’s Roger Federer in the men’s singles final of the BNP Paribas Open in California.
• He defeated Federer 3-6,6-3,7-5 in the final.
• With this win he claim his first ATP Masters 1000 crown.
• With this win, Thiem is set to become fourth in the world rankings on Monday. It was his first win since September 2018.

• Sports

Valtteri Bottas Wins Australian F1 Grand Prix 2019

• Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas beat his world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton to clinch the season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix.
• Bottas, who claimed his first race win since Abu Dhabi in 2017, also claimed the extra point for the fastest lap in the race.
• Hamilton finished the race in the second spot, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished third.

• Appointments

Pramod Sawant Sworn in As Goa Chief Minister

• Pramod Sawant (45), former Speaker of Goa legislative Assembly and MLA from Sankhelim in North Goa was sworn-in as 11th Chief Minister of Goa, succeeding Manohar Parrikar, who died after a prolonged battle with advanced pancreatic cancer.
• He was given the oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhavan by Goa Governor Mridula Sinha.
• The entire Cabinet of Manohar Parikkar has been retained.

• Important Days

Global Recycling Day is being celebrated on 18th March 2019

• Global Recycling Day is held on March 18 every year.
• Global Recycling Day was created in 2018 to help recognise, and celebrate, the importance recycling plays in preserving our precious primary resources and securing the future of our planet.
• It is a day for the world to come together and put the planet first.
• the theme of 2019 as ‘Recycling into the Future’.

• Defence

Africa-India Field Training Exercise AFINDEX-19 Begins

• The inaugural Africa-India Field Training Exercise-2019 for India and African nations called AFINDEX-19 started with a grand opening ceremony at Aundh Military Station, Pune.
• Contingents of the 17 African Nations came together for the opening ceremony along with a contingent of Maratha Light Infantry representing India.
• The aim of the exercise is to practice the participating nations in planning and conduct of Humanitarian Mine Assistance and Peace Keeping Operations.

• Obituaries

Veteran Comedian Chinmoy Roy passes away

• Veteran Bengali actor Chinmoy Roy (79-years) passed away last night.
• He was born on January 16, 1940, in Kumilla district in now in Bangladesh.
• He was famous for his comic roles in Bengali movies, though his versatility has allowed him to play a variety of roles.
• He was equally noticed along with big names like Soumitra Chatterjee and Rabi Ghosh in a classic comedy like ‘Basanta Bilap’ or in ‘Dhonni Meye’.

• Miscellaneous

India’s first REIT

• India’s first real estate investment trust (REIT) is going to come up.
• It is backed by Embassy Office Parks, a Bangalore-based real estate developer.
• The first REIT initial public offering (IPO) is open for investment between March 18 and 20, 2019.
• The Embassy Office Parks REIT plans to raise ₹4,570 crore through the IPO.