KERALA
- Kerala HC stays ‘cinema tax’
- The Kerala high court ordered for maintaining status quo in the matter of collection of entertainment tax from theatre owners, distributors, and movie goers.
- The court had sought information on whether a government order on the matter issued on 2017 is subsisting or not.
- The court ordered by referring to the proposed amendments to Section 3 of the Act through Kerala Finance Bill, 2019, the demand or collection of entertainment tax appears to be illegal or arbitrary.
INTERNATIONAL
- Norway to put world’s 1st wireless e-cab charging stations
- Norway’s capital Oslo will become the world’s first city to install wireless induction-based fast-charging systems for electric taxis,
- The Charging plates will be installed in the ground where taxis are parked, which will connect with receivers in taxis and allow them to charge for up to 75 kilowatts.
- Finland’s Fortum is working on the project with America’s Momentum Dynamics.
- The project aims to install wireless charging using induction technology.
- Charging plates are installed in the ground where the taxi is parked and a receiver is installed in the taxi.
- This allows for charging up to 75 kilowatts.
- India ranks 76th on WEF’s global Energy Transition index
- India has moved up two places to rank 76th on a global energy transition index.
- The index has ranked 115 economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.
- Sweden remains on the top on this annual list compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF).
- Sweden is followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three.
- It said India is amongst the countries with high pollution levels and has a relatively high CO2 intensity in its energy system.
- World Purple day Observed on March 26
- Epilepsy Awareness Day which is commonly known as World Purple Day is observed on March 26 in order to encourage the people to wear the colour to increase the awareness of Epilepsy.
- Nearly 50 million people in the world are having Epilepsy as per the World Health Organization (WHO)which does not have a known cause.
- The day was first observed in 2008 in Nova Scotia, Canada to encourage awareness and cast away the myths on the general public about the decease.
- The mission of the day is to share stories and start conversations about epilepsy and to raise funds.
NATIONAL
- IAF inducts first four heavy-lift Chinook helicopters
- Indian Air Force (IAF) formally inducted the four heavy-lift Chinook helicopters.
- Chinook helicopters will be deployed at Chandigarh’s Air Force Station 12 Wing.
- These helicopters are capable of vertical lift and heavy lifting in hilly areas.
- Chinook has been procured with India-specific enhancements and can carry out military operations even at night.
- Chinook will be used to move troops, artillery, ammunition, supplies and equipment on the battlefield.
- Apart from military operations, they can also be used for medical evacuation, disaster relief, search and recovery, fire-fighting and civil development.
- Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is the next Chief of Indian Navy
- The government of India appointed Vice-Admiral Karambir Singh, presently Flag Officer Commander-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Eastern Naval Command as next Chief of the Naval Staff with effect from May 31, 2019.
- The present Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba retires on the same day.
- Born on November 03, 1959, Vice Admiral Karambir Singh was commissioned on July 01, 1980 into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy.
- Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
- INS Kadmatt to participate in maritime and aerospace exhibition in Malaysia
- Indian Navy’s frontline corvette INS Kadmatt reached Malaysian archipelago Langkawi.
- It will participate in the 15th edition of Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, LIMA-19.
- INS Kadmatt is an indigenous stealth anti-submarine warfare corvette and was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 2016.
- The ship is fitted with state-of-the-art weapons, sensors and machinery.
- NBCTF was inaugurated at INS Shivaji
- The Indian Navy’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Training Facility (NBCTF) was inaugurated at INS Shivajiby Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba in Lonavala, Maharashtra.
- The NBCTF, christened‘Abhedya’, Sanskrit for impenetrable, will help train personnel of naval ships fitted with nuclear, biological and chemical detection and protection systems.
- Admiral Lanba also launched the INS Shivaji’s websiteon the Indian Navy portal and released the platinum jubilee logo, with the theme ‘Propelling the Indian Navy since 1945’. INS Shivaji is celebrating its platinum jubilee in 2019-20.
- CBSE plan to add AI and yoga as new subjects
- The CBSE will introduceartificial intelligence (AI), early childhood care education and yoga as new subjects in school curriculums from the upcoming academic session. The CBSE is to introduce AI and yoga as an optional 6th subject at Class IX from the session 2019-2020 onwards.
- This move aims toenhance the multidisciplinary approach in teaching learning and also to sensitise the new generation, it was decided that schools may start AI “inspire module” of 12 hours in Class VIII itself.