1) India launches second stage of HCFCs phaseout plan
•Environment minister Anil Madhav Dave, on Monday released the second stage of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) phase-out management plan (HPMP), greenhouse gases that damage the earth’s ozone layer.
•It is estimated that with this plan, there would be a net direct CO2-equivalent emission reductions of about 8.5 million metric tonnes annually from 2023.
•India has already successfully implemented HPMP stage-I.
2) Maritime Admiralty Bill passed by Lok Sabha
•The Lok Sabha on 10 March 2017 passed the Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill,2016.
•The Bill aims to establish a legal framework to consolidate the existing laws relating to admiralty jurisdiction of courts, admiralty proceedings on maritime claims, arrest of vessels and related issues.
•It also aims to replace archaic laws which are hindering efficient governance.
3) Thai contestant wins transgender beauty pageant
•Thai contestant Jiratchaya Sirimongkolnawin was crowned Miss International Queen 2016 on Friday at a contest billed as the world's largest and most popular transgender pageant.
•The 25-year-old beat 24 other contestants for the crown, with the second and third place going to contestants from Brazil and Venezuela, respectively.
•The contest was held at the Tiffany's nightclub in the Thai seaside town of Pattaya.
4) 'Dangal' won the Viewer's Choice Best Film award at Zee Cine Awards 2017
•'Dangal' won the Viewer's Choice Best Film award at Zee Cine Awards 2017 on 11th March 2017.
- Salman Khan won the Best Actor and Anushka Sharma was named the Best Actress for their film 'Sultan' based on votes by viewers.
- Further, the song 'Channa Mereya' from the film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' was named the Viewer's Choice Song of the Year.
5) Reliance Capital’s CEO Sam Ghosh to quit after 9 years
•Reliance Capital’s long serving CEO Sam Ghosh will leave the company on 31 March, after spending nine years at the financial services arm of Anil Ambani-led business conglomerate.
•Ghosh, a Chartered Accountant from England had joined the company in April 2008 as group chief executive officer of Reliance Capital, while he was elevated to the board in May 2015.
6) India’s 1st AC rail ambulance launched at Mumbai
- The four-coach air conditioned ambulance has been unveiled by the Central Railway (CR). This is India’s first air conditioned rail ambulance. CR is the life line of Mumbai and other nearby areas as a large number of patients travel in local train. But due to lack of emergency medical care, the critically injured patients succumb to death. It is hoped that this rail ambulance would provide timely treatment and save lives.
- The rail ambulance, which will be stationed at Kalyan, was made by modifying an AC coach used for passenger service. Narendra Patil, PRO, CR, has told the media that this rail ambulance of CR is the first fully air conditioned medical recovery van of the Indian Railways. Apart from accidents, this ambulance will also be used for medical facilities in large congregations.
- There have been many serious train accidents in the past. Around 19 passengers died and 145 were injured when the Diva-Sawantwadi train derailed between Nagothane and Roha stations in Raigad district in May 2014.
- Taking serious note of this accident, the former general manager of CR expressed the view that such an ambulance was the need of the hour for quick response to emergency situations. A rail ambulance would be able to ferry more patients and travel faster, compared to regular ambulances.
