India’s foreign exchange reserves increased by 140 million dollars to touch its all-time high of 642.631 billion dollars during the week ended on the 22nd of March. The data released by the Reserve Bank of India said, this is the fifth consecutive week of a jump in the overall reserves. The kitty had increased by 6.396 billion dollars to 642.492 billion dollars in the previous reporting week.

 Gold reserves increased by 347 million dollars to 51.487 billion dollars during the week.

Sita Ram Meena, currently a director in the Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as India's next ambassador to Niger, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

He is expected to take up the assignment shortly, the MEA said.

"Sita Ram Meena (YOA: 2008), presently Director in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Niger," the statement said. PTI KND NB

Arnab Banerjee, the Managing Director & CEO of Ceat, has been elected as the new Chairman of Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA), the national industry body for the automotive tyre sector in India.

He will succeed Anshuman Singhania, MD, JK Tyre & Industries, who was elected Chairman last year.

Banerjee joined CEAT in 2005 as VP – Sales and Marketing, and has held several responsibilities including Chief Operating Officer at CEAT since 2018 prior to taking over his current role. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, IIM Kolkata and IIT Kharagpur. He also holds an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Certification.

Vinay has secured victory at the Para Powerlifting World Cup held in Egypt. The 18-year-old athlete showcased his prowess by claiming the gold medal in the 59kg youth category, lifting an impressive 120kg weight on the third day of the competition.

Hailing from Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, Vinay has etched his name in history as the first para powerlifter from the state to achieve such a feat on the international stage, a release said. His dedication and talent have not only brought glory to his hometown and the country.

In a fiercely competitive event, Ahmed Abdelkadar of Egypt secured the silver medal, while Mohammed Abdelkadar, also representing Egypt, faced disqualification due to technical reasons.

Simon Harris, set to become Ireland’s youngest ever taoiseach (Prime Minister), will hope his social media skills and fresh face can save his party’s flagging fortunes as elections loom.

Already dubbed by media the “TikTok Taoiseach” (pronounced “Tee-shock”), the 37-year-old beats the previous record holder, predecessor Leo Varadkar, who was 38 when he took the top job in 2017.

After Mr. Varadkar’s shock resignation on Wednesday, Mr. Harris leapt from the blocks in the race for leader of the centre-right Fine Gael party and by default Prime Minister.

The only Mizo Top Grade Artist of Akashvani Vanhlupuii breathed her last in the wee hours on Saturday. She was 77.

 Born on July 2, 1946 at Dawrpui in Aizawl, Vanhlupuii started singing at an early age. She started recording for AIR in 1957. In 1969, she achieved Grade ‘A’ and subsequently the Top Grade Artist of AIR. Vanhlupuii has recorded many songs in her career.

 Chief Minister Lalduhoma expressed deep condolences on her demise. In his Facebook post, the Chief Minister said that the demise of Vanhlupuii is a great loss for the “Zo” people. He prayed for her soul to rest in eternal peace.

The market watchdog Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a circular for launching the beta version of T+0, or same-day settlement, on an optional basis.

"Pursuant to deliberations and the approval of the board, it has been decided to put in place a framework for the introduction of the beta version of the T+0 settlement cycle on an optional basis in addition to the existing T+1 settlement cycle in the equity cash market, for a limited set of 25 scrips and with a limited number of brokers,” read SEBI’s circular.

The market watchdog Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued a circular for launching the beta version of T+0, or same-day settlement, on an optional basis.

"Pursuant to deliberations and the approval of the board, it has been decided to put in place a framework for the introduction of the beta version of the T+0 settlement cycle on an optional basis in addition to the existing T+1 settlement cycle in the equity cash market, for a limited set of 25 scrips and with a limited number of brokers,” read SEBI’s circular.

President Droupadi Murmu will present the Bharat Ratna Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. Former Prime Ministers Chaudhary Charan Singh and P V Narasimha Rao, Former Bihar Chief Minister Karpoori Thakur and Eminent Scientist M. S. Swaminathan will be awarded the Award posthumously. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Veteran BJP leader L K Advani will also be given top civilian award of the country. 

The Ministry of Finance on March 27, appointed Nidhu Saxena as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Maharashtra.

Saxena is currently Executive Director of Union Bank of India, he will be replacing AS Rajeev upon his selection as Vigilance Commissioner in CVC.

"This is to inform that the Department of Financial Services vide notification no. 13/8/2016-BOI dated February 22, 2024, has notified the appointment of A S Rajeev, MD and CEO of the bank as Vigilance Commissioner in Central Vigilance Commission," BoM said in a regulatory filing.