The Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary today informed Rajya Sabha that Reserve Bank of India is currently working towards a phased implementation strategy for introduction of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). He also said that it is examining cases which could be implemented with little or no disruption. In a written reply, he said introduction of CBDC has the potential to provide significant benefits such as, reduced dependency on cash, higher seignior age due to lower transaction costs.

Border Roads Organisation today signed an MoU with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited for construction of 27 double-lane class 70 modular bridges in border areas. The MoU includes fabrication, supply, erection and launching of 27 double-lane bridges of carriageway 7.5 meters of load class 70 along the Northern and North Eastern border states. It reinforces the commitment of BRO for greater self-reliance on indigenous equipment and achieving overall aim of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. It will also ensure better infrastructure development in border areas keeping in view the nation’s security needs.

Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi has said NDA government has taken various steps to ensure empowerment of women through schematic interventions like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. She was virtually addressing a function organised by Permanent Mission of India in UN, Geneva yesterday in celebration of International Women's Day.

Ms Lekhi said women have always been held in high esteem since time immemorial in India.  She added that women had participated actively in India's freedom struggle and Independent India went on to enshrine the principle of gender equality in its Constitution in 1950.

AIR correspondent reports that International Women's Day is celebrated on the 8th of March every year. The theme this year was Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow. 

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the unemployment rate has come down in Jammu and Kashmir. Quoting Centre for Monitoring  Indian Economy (CMIE) she added that in 2016 it was 20 per cent and by late February this year it was 13.2 per cent. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, the minister said this country cannot have two symbols, two Prime Ministers and Constitutions, when there is a Constitution which all respect. She asserted that With the removal of Article 370, discriminatory laws were removed from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Mrs Sitharaman said that the budget 2022-23 for Jammu and Kashmir is more than one lakh crore rupees mark again, which is an indicator of government commitment to make J&K a model of development. She said, this is an inclusive budget and all the sectors will get focussed attention. The Government of J&K shall endeavour to double the farmer’s income. The investment proposal under new industrial policy shall be cleared on fast track basis. She said, the power generation capacity is being doubled in next three years.  The Minister said, Tourism sector has huge potential in J&K. In this regard 75 off beat destinations have been identified across J&K and shall be developed with proper infrastructure and requisite facilities for tourists.

N Chandrasekaran, the chairman of Tata Sons, has been officially appointed as the chairman of Air India, ANI reported on Monday.

Chandrasekaran, Tata Sons chief, was appointed as Air India chairman following a board meeting on Monday (March 14), reports said.

Former CMD of General Insurance Corporation Alice GeeVarghese Vaidyan, will also be inducted as an independent director on board, sources close to the development said.

N Chandrasekaran reappointment as the chairman of Tata Sons - the holding company of the salt-to-software Tata Group - for a second five-year term in February this year.

His reappointment was backed by Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, the majority owners of Tata Sons.

THE INDIAN Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Monday successfully completed the ground test of the solid-fuel based booster stage (SS1) of its new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), completing the ground testing of all three stages of the launch vehicle. The new launch vehicle is now ready for its first development flight, which is scheduled for May this year.

“The successful test of solid booster stage has given sufficient confidence to proceed with the first developmental flight of SSLV (SSLV-D1), which is scheduled in May 2022. The remaining stages of SSLV i.e. SS2 & SS3 stages have successfully undergone necessary ground tests and are ready for integration,” the space agency said in a statement.

The space agency usually declares a launch vehicle operational after two successful development flights.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with French firm Safran Helicopter Engines to extend their cooperation and explore opportunities for new helicopter engines in civil and military markets.

The MoU was signed during the ground-breaking ceremony for a new facility of Helicopter Engines MRO Pvt Ltd (HE-MRO), a joint venture of HAL and Safran at Sattari, 40 km from Panaji, in Goa.

Today is World Consumer Rights Day and the theme for this year is Fair Digital Finance. Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is organizing an event in New Delhi, as part of Consumer Empowerment Week, which will be inaugurated by Minister for Consumer Affairs Piyush Goyal. Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Ashwini Kumar Choubey, President of National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission Justice R K Agarwal, Non-Executive Chairman of Infosys Nandan Nilekani and other dignitaries are expected to grace the occasion. Dedicated sessions have been earmarked to discuss issues facing consumers. The Department is also launching a virtual exhibition on 75 years of scientific and organisational journey of BIS, RRSL and NTH.

The Department is celebrating Consumer Empowerment Week from yesterday till 20th of this month. This will commemorate 75 years of progressive India and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements as a part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

As part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, the Department of Consumer Affairs is organising “Consumer Empowerment Week” from March 14 to March 20, 2022 to celebrate and honour 75 years of progressive India and the wonderful history of its people, culture, and achievements.

The celebrations coincide with World Consumer Rights Day to be celebrated on 15th March 2022. Under Consumer Empowerment Week, the Department of Consumer Affairs will host a number of events across the country.

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Indian Institute of Legal Metrology (IILM) Ranchi, National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India Limited (NCCF), National Test House (NTH), and Regional Reference Standards Laboratories (RRSLs) will conduct rural outreach programmes in 75 villages on the first day of the celebration.

Flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on Sunday broke the legendary Kapil Dev’s 40-year-old record of fastest Test fifty by an Indian on the second day of the Day/Night match against Sri Lanka here.

The dashing left-hander cruised to his fifty in 28 balls (7×4, 2×6) in the 42nd over of Indian second innings when he hit a Praveen Jayawickrama delivery through the extra cover boundary.

India’s first World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev had cracked a 30-ball half-century against Pakistan in the Karachi Test in 1982.