1) Suresh Prabhu Gets Additional Charge Of Civil Aviation Ministry
•Commerce and Industries minister Suresh Prabhu was given additional charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry,a day after the resignation of TDP's Ashok Gajapathi Raju was accepted by President Ram Nath Kovind.
•The President, as advised by the Prime Minister, has directed that Suresh Prabhu, Cabinet Minister, shall be assigned the charge of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in addition to his existing portfolio.
2) GST Council Approves Rollout Of E-Way Bill From April
•For intra-State movement, the e-way bill will be rolled out in a phased manner beginning April 15 and will cover all the States by June 1. Businesses will continue to file summary sales return GSTR-3B until June as the GST (Goods and Services Tax) Council has extended the present system of return-filing by three months. Electronic way or e-way bill for movement of goods between States would be implemented from April 1.
•However, for intra-State movement, the e-way bill would be rolled out in a phased manner beginning April 15 and would cover all the States by June 1.
3) Rajasthan Passes Bill To Award Death Penalty For Those Who Rape Girls Under 12 Years Of Age
•Rajasthan assembly has passed an amendment bill awarding death penalty for convicts involved in the rape of girls below 12 years of age. State Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria introduced 'The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill, 2018' in the assembly, which was passed in the House by a voice vote following a debate.
•The new amendment added sections 376-AA and 376-DD to the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The amendment says that a person who is convicted of raping/gang-raping a girl up to twelve years of age will be given a death sentence or rigorous imprisonment, which shall not be less than fourteen years and 20 years, respectively.
4) India, France Ink 14 Pacts; Major Boost To Defence, Nuclear Energy Cooperation
•In a major expansion of strategic ties, India and France have inked 14 pacts in key areas of defense, security, nuclear energy and protection of classified information besides resolving to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and step up joint efforts to contain terrorism.
•The agreements were signed after extensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, including on the changing security dynamics in the Indian Ocean and Pacific.
5) India Wins Best Exhibitor Award At ITB- Berlin
•India has won the "Best Exhibitor Award " at ITB – Berlin on its last day. ‘ITB- Berlin World Tourist Meet’ was convened at Berlin, Germany from 7th March to 10th March 2018. India was represented by the Minister of State (Independent charge) for Tourism Mr. K. J. Alphons along with a couple of Tourism Ministry officials.
•More than 100 countries participated in the ITB- Berlin meet with their respective Tourism Ministers. India's Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism) presented a short film named "Yogi of the Racetrack " in the meet. The said the short film has got 3.2 million hits in 60 hours.
6) Floating Lab Set Up To Monitor Manipur's Loktak Lake
•The Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Laboratory (IBSD), Imphal, set up a floating laboratory in northeast India's largest freshwater lake, Loktak to constantly monitor its water quality and eventually improve it.
•The laboratory was inaugurated by Manipur's Forest and Environment Minister, Thounaojam Shyamkumar Singh in Imphal.
