9 PM Current Affairs Brief – March 28, 2019

Successful anti­-satellite missile test puts India in an elite club Prime Minister announced that India has successfully completed Mission Shakti. Mission Shakti is an anti-Satellite(ASAT) missile test. ASAT are missile-based systems to attack moving satellites. The mission has been carried out by bringing down one of the Indian satellites in the low earth orbit. The… Continue reading Successful anti­-satellite missile test puts India in an elite club

Iranian drug smugglers nabbed in operation off Gujarat coast Nine Iranian drug smugglers have been arrested off Gujarat’s Porbandar coast in a joint operation by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, Marine Task Force and Indian Coast Guard. 100 kg heroin worth Rs 500 crore has been seized. The smugglers had picked up the consignment of drugs… Continue reading Iranian drug smugglers nabbed in operation off Gujarat coast

Kerala records 46% rainfall deficit in March India Meteorological Department (IMD) has reported that overall rainfall deficiency in Kerala in March stands at 46%. Further, 8 districts in Kerala has been reeling under large rainfall deficiency. Kasaragod district has received no rainfall in March, while Paathanmthitta district recorded normal rainfall. Kollam is the only district… Continue reading Kerala records 46% rainfall deficit in March

EC to check for code violation The Election Commission (EC) has set up a committee to examine whether Prime Minister’s address to the nation is in violation with the Model Code of Conduct. In a special address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that India has successfully completed Mission Shakti, an anti-Satellite… Continue reading EC to check for code violation

66% employers looking for different skills than three years ago’ A new study released by the International Labour Organisation in collaboration with the International Organisation of Employers has revealed recruiting people with relevant skills is a major challenge for businesses in India. The report has revealed that 66% of Indian businesses look for quite different… Continue reading 66% employers looking for different skills than three years ago’

India reassures global community after test In a special address to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that India has successfully completed Mission Shakti, led by Defence Research and development Organization (DRDO). A low-orbit satellite was shot down using anti-satellite (ASAT) missile. After the ASAT missile testing, India assured the world that the… Continue reading India reassures global community after test

Vedanta finds oil in Krishna Godavari basin Vedanta Limited has notified the Management Committee, Directorate General of Hydrocarbons and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas of an oil discovery in the Krishna Godavari basin. Oil has been discovered in the second exploratory well H2, located in the offshore block KG-OSN-2009/3, Krishna-Godavari basin. The Krishna Godavari… Continue reading Vedanta finds oil in Krishna Godavari basin

‘Deposits ordinance does not cover gold schemes’ Tax experts have said that the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019 does not cover gold schemes. There has been a lack of clarity on whether deposits taken by jewellers from customers falls under the ambit of the ordinance. Several gold jewellers across India run monthly deposit… Continue reading ‘Deposits ordinance does not cover gold schemes’

First Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Makalu flags off Director General of Military Training has flagged off the first Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mount Makalu. Mount Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world at 8,485 meters (27,838 ft), whose shape is a four-sided pyramid. It is located in the Mahalangur Himalayas… Continue reading First Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Makalu flags off

After FATF,Asia-Pacific group may also grey-list Pakistan Pakistan is facing the risk of being greylisted by the Asia Pacific Group (APG). Pakistan has a high non-compliant rate of nearly 70% on 40 recommendations against money laundering and terrorist financing. Earlier, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had decided to keep Pakistan on its grey list. It… Continue reading After FATF,Asia-Pacific group may also grey-list Pakistan

In 2018, Official Secrets Act invoked in 5 cases The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued five prosecution sanction orders in 2018 under the Official Secrets Act (OSA),1923. Official Secrets Act(OSA) is India’s anti espionage (Spy and Secret agent) act enacted in 1923 during the British Rule. It extends to all matters of secrecy… Continue reading In 2018, Official Secrets Act invoked in 5 cases

Electoral bonds hit transparency in political funding, says Election Commission The Election Commission of India has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court. It said that the introduction of electoral bonds and the removal of the cap on corporate funding by the government will have a serious impact on the transparency of political funding. EC… Continue reading Electoral bonds hit transparency in political funding, says Election Commission

Pakistan acts to defuse tensions with Afghanistan Pakistan’s foreign ministry has clarified that the remarks made by Pakistan PM had been taken out of context and misinterpreted. It said that Pakistan has no other interest in Afghanistan but to promote peace through an Afghan owned and Afghan led political process. Recently, Afghanistan had recalled its… Continue reading Pakistan acts to defuse tensions with Afghanistan

SC sentences lawyer to 3 months in jail for contempt, suspends term on apology The Supreme Court had sentenced an advocate to three months jail for committing contempt of court by browbeating the judges. However the apex court suspended the sentence with a condition that he would abide by his own undertaking that he won’t… Continue reading SC sentences lawyer to 3 months in jail for contempt, suspends term on apology