Notes:
Annually on March 14th, the International Day of Action for Rivers is observed, with the 2024 theme “Water for All” highlighting universal access to clean water. Originating from the 1997 First International Meeting of People Impacted by Dams in Curitiba, Brazil, experts from 20 nations declared March 14th as the “Day of Action for Rivers.” Its aim is to combat the degradation of ecologically sensitive water bodies, rivers, and watersheds.

Notes:
The Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, announced the Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme 2024 (EMPS 2024) in March 2024 to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the country. The scheme will run from April 2024 to July 2024, with a total outlay of Rs 500 crore. The scheme will support purchase of two-wheelers and three-wheelers. The scheme will provide a subsidy of Rs 10,000 for two-wheelers, and Rs 25,000 for small three-wheelers. The subsidies will be eligible for electric two, three, and four wheelers sold until March 31, 2024, or until the time funds are available, whichever is earlier.

Notes:
The 12th edition of the India-Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting took place in New Delhi on March 12–13, 2024. The two-day meeting focused on new initiatives to enhance defense cooperation and military-to-military exchange between the two countries. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the proposed new initiatives.

Notes:
The naval forces of China, Iran, and Russia recently launched a joint exercise called the “Maritime Security Belt-2024” near the Gulf of Oman. The exercise, which began on March 11 and lasted until 15, is the fifth common military exercise between the three countries in recent years. The exercise aims to safeguard regional maritime security and strengthen maritime cooperation. The exercise is organized in three phases: harbor, sea, and summarize. The exercise focuses on anti-piracy and search and rescue training courses, and includes the participation of Russian warships and aviation.

Notes:
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting introduced Prasar Bharti – Shared Audio Visuals for Broadcast and Dissemination (PB-SHABD) along with revamped websites for DD News and Akashvani News, alongside an updated News on Air mobile app. PB-SHABD, a news sharing service by Prasar Bharati, offers daily news feeds in video, audio, text, photo, and more formats across fifty categories. The service, free for the first year, aims to provide news stories in major Indian languages, enhancing access to diverse media content.