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• On [latex]16^{th}[/latex] March every year National Vaccination Day is observed in India which is also known as National Immunisation Day (IMD).


• It was first observed on [latex]16^{th}[/latex] March, 1995 when first dose of Oral Polio Vaccine was given. It is an attempt to increase awareness for the eradication of polio from the planet earth.

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• North Korea is considering suspending talks with the United States and may rethink a ban on missile and nuclear tests unless Washington makes concessions.


• Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui blamed top U.S. officials for the breakdown of last month's summit in Hanoi between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

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• The United States, in coordination with the European Union and Canada, slapped new sanctions on more than a dozen officials and businesses in response to Russia's "continued aggression in Ukraine."


• Six Russian officials, six defense firms and two energy and construction firms were targeted, either over the seizure of Ukrainian vessels in the Kerch Straight, or for their activities in Russian-annexed Crimea or separatist eastern Ukraine.

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• German journalist Billy Six, detained by Venezuelan intelligence services four months ago, was freed in Caracas but must report to the court every 15 days, an NGO confirmed.


• Billy Six was arrested in northern Falcon state for allegedly photographing President Nicolas Maduro "very closely.

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• World leaders expressed condolences and condemnation following the deadly attacks on mosques in New Zealand, while Muslim leaders said the mass shooting was evidence of a rising tide of violent Islamophobia.


• US President Donald Trump sent "warmest sympathy and best wishes" to the people of New Zealand. He wrote that "49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured.

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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written a letter to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, condemning the terror attack on mosques in Christchurch that killed at least 49.


• In the letter, PM Modi stressed that hatred and violence have no place in diverse and democratic societies. He also expressed his deepest condolences to the families bereaved in this dastardly attack.

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• The Election Commission announced that the vehicles carrying reserved EVMs and VVPATs during the Lok Sabha election 2019 will be equipped with GPS to track their movement.


• The decision came after the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were found in hotels, roads and even at the residence of an MLA in 2018.


• It will carefully monitor the ‘end-to-end’ movement of all reserved EVMs and paper trail machines.


• The commission will set up around 10.35 lakh polling stations in the country.


• Lok Sabha elections will begin on April 11 and continue May 19 in seven phases.


• The counting of votes will be held on [latex]23^{rd}[/latex] May.

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• The Supreme Court of India on [latex]15^{th}[/latex] March, 2019 set aside the life ban imposed by the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) on cricketer S Sreesanth for indulging in spot-fixing during 2013 Indian Premier League.


• The judgment was delivered by a two-judge bench, comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and KM Joseph. The bench, while partly allowing Sreesanth's appeal to lift the ban, directed the disciplinary committee of the BCCI to take a decision on his quantum of punishment within the next 3 months.


• Significantly, the apex court has not disturbed the findings of guilt made by the disciplinary committee against the Kerala-based cricketer.

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• Prime Minister Narendra Modi started 'Main Bhi Chowkidar hoon' narrative, naming an event after the new political slogan of the BJP, squarely countering opposition's repeated attacks of the "Chowkidar chor hai" jibe.


• PM Modi said that he is not the only person serving the nation and every person who does serve the nation is a 'chowkidar'.

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• The Madras High Court has ordered Tamil Nadu government to pay a compensation of ₹25 lakh to a survivor of Pollachi sexual assault case.


• This comes after Coimbatore Superintendent of Police R Pandiyarajan revealed the survivor's identity. The Tamil Nadu government had also revealed the identity of the survivor in its order while handing over the probe to the CBI.

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• The President of India Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the Festival of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (FINE) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. 10th Biennial National Grassroots Innovation awards were also distributed by the President on the occasion.


• The event will provide platform to the innovators for building the linkages with potential stakeholders whose support can improve the prospects in coming years for the betterment of the society.


• FINE is a unique initiative of the Office of the President of India to recognize, respect and reward grassroots innovations and foster a supportive ecosystem.


• President Kovind awards National Grassroots Innovators. For innovations in new varieties of agriculture crops, Prakash Singh Raghuvanshi from Uttar Pradesh has been awarded lifetime achievement award.


• First prize in Veterinary, Herbal medication for coccidiosis was presented to Periyasami Ramasami of Salem, Tamil Nadu. The festival is organised by the National Innovation Foundation in association with the Department of Science and Technology.

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• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) categorised the IDBI Bank Limited as a ‘Private Sector Bank’ for regulatory purposes with effect from [latex]21^{st}[/latex] January, 2019.


• The move came following the acquisition of the 51 percent of the total paid-up equity share capital of the IDBI bank by Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC).


• The IDBI Bank was categorised in the sub-group ‘other public sector banks’ by the RBI in April 2005.

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• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) offered a $5-billion swap facility to banks to aid liquidity before the end of the financial year. The auction will happen on [latex]26^{th}[/latex] March and the buy/sell swap will run up to [latex]28^{th}[/latex] March, 2022, or for a three-year duration.


• The swap facility is part of its “liquidity management toolkit” and would be to meet the durable liquidity needs of the system. The swap is in the nature of a simple buy/sell foreign exchange swap from the Reserve Bank’s side. A bank shall sell US dollars to the RBI and simultaneously agree to buy the same amount of US dollars at the end of the swap period.

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• The Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) announced the sports gaming platform Dream11 as the official partner for VIVO Indian Premier League (IPL) to boost the digital gaming.


• The 4-year partnership will begin with the upcoming IPL 2019 and Dream11 will also power the official Fantasy Gaming League of IPL.

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• South African all-rounder JP Duminy has announced his retirement from ODIs, after the 2019 World Cup which shall start on May 30 in England.


• This would be his third World Cup after 2011 and 2015.


• His last home ODI would be South Africa’s fifth and final ODI against Sri Lanka at Newlands.


• He had earlier retired from Test and first-class cricket in 2017.

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• Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli and former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni are among the 8 Indian cricketers in the 2019’s ESPN World Fame 100 list, an annual list of the most famous athletes on the planet.


• Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is at the top spot, followed by basketball player LeBron James and FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi. These top 3 positions have not changed from the previous year.


• Virat Kohli jumped to the 7th position from last year’s 11th position and is now the only Indian athlete in the top 10, whereas Dhoni is placed in the 13th spot.


• All the Indian men mentioned in this list were from the cricketing fraternity, including Yuvraj Singh (18), Suresh Raina (22), R Ashwin (42), Rohit Sharma (46), Harbhajan Singh (74) and Shikhar Dhawan (94).


• There are only 3 women in the list- Serena Williams (17), Maria Sharapova (37) and Sania Mirza (93), making the latter the only Indian woman athlete to feature in the list.


• The list was prepared by looking at three aspects, namely- Search Score, Endorsements and Social Following.

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• Kent RO Systems Pvt. Ltd. has received the Best Domestic Water Purifier Award 2018-19 for its RO+UV+UF technology at the Water Digest Water Awards function that was held at The Lalit, New Delhi.


• The Water Digest Water Awards are given jointly by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and UNESCO.


• Kent had also earlier received awards like Organization of the Year Awards 2017, Best Domestic Water Purifier Award 2016-17, Asia’s Most Promising Brand 2016 etc.

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• The Supreme Court appointed senior advocate P. S. Narasimha, as mediator for resolving various disputes related to cricket administration in the country.


• A bench of Justices S. A. Bobde and A. M. Spare was informed by P. S. Narasimha that former apex court judge Justice (retd) D. K. Jain has assumed charge as the ombudsman of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).


• The bench also asked P. S. Narasimha to look into the dispute relating to release of funds by the court appointed committee of administrators to various cricket associations.


• It has restrained all other courts in India from entertaining for proceeding with any matter pertaining to BCCI and state cricket associations.

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• Arvind Laddha was appointed as the CEO of Mercer for its India operations. He currently occupies the post of Deputy CEO in JLT Independent, an insurance broking firm.


• His work will mainly involve enhancing Mercer’s growth in India, looking out for emerging market opportunities and expanding relationships with the present clients.


• Mercer stated that the appointment will become effective after closing of the transaction between Mercer’s parent company, Marsh & McLennan Companies and JLT, due to anti-trust and financial regulatory approvals.

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• The death sparked a major political row with Jagan accusing Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh of being behind the killing.


• Viveka was expected to get an YSRC ticket for Pulivendula assembly segment.


• Post mortem examination showed seven injuries on his body caused by a sharp weapon. He was 69.

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• Prominent Lingayat pontiff and Basava Dharma Peetha President Maate Mahadevi passed away at the Manipal hospital in Bengaluru at the age of 74 years.


• She was born on [latex]13^{th}[/latex] March 1946 in Sasalahatti, Chitradurga in Karnataka.


• She was an influential leader from the Lingayat community, took part in the protests held for separate religion and grant of minority status for Lingayats in Karnataka.


• In 1966, she received her Jangama initiation as an ascetic in the Lingayat order of wandering mendicants. In 1970, she was installed as a jagadguru in the Lingayat community and became the first woman to be placed in that position.