India National Update

National News

1. PM Modi Addresses The Nation: India Becomes Elite Space Power

i. PM Narendra Modi addressed the nation. PM Modi announced that India has entered its name as an elite space power. An Anti-Satellite Weapon (A-SAT) successfully targeted a live satellite on a low earth orbit. The name of this mission was 'Mission Shakti'. 
ii. After the US, Russia, and China, India is the fourth country to acquire this space capability.
iii. Anti-satellite is a milestone for the country's security and technological achievement. India is a space superpower now.

2. 1st Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition To Mt Makalu Flagged Off

i. First Indian Army Mountaineering Expedition to Mt Makalu (8485m) comprising five Officers, two JCOs and eleven OR was flagged off by Director General Military Training. 
ii. In furtherance of the objective of summiting all challenging peaks above 8000M, Indian Army is launching its maiden expedition to Mt Makalu in Mar-May 2019.

Static/Current Takeaways Important For LIC AAO Mains Exam:

Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world at 8,485 metres.It is located in the Mahalangur Himalayas 19 km southeast of Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and Tibet, China.

3. Important Cabinet Approvals: 27th March 2019

i. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the following set of approvals.  The important Cabinet Approvals are given as follows:
ii. The Cabinet:

Apprised about MoU for cooperation on youth matters between India and Morocco. Apprised about MoU on Antarctic cooperation between India and Argentine.Apprised about MoU between India and Morocco to promote exchange of information and technical cooperation in the field of Housing and Human Settlement.Apprised about MoU between India and Saudi Arabia for cooperation in the field of Housing.Approves MoU between India and Republic of Korea on Startup Cooperation.Approves MoU between India and Indonesia on combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and its precursors.Approves acquiring land of Central Water Commission at Nallagandla, Hyderabad by Telangana State Government for road widening.Approves creation of additional posts of three Judicial Members and three Technical Members in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal.

International News

4. World’s Largest e-waste Recycling Hub Opened At The Dubai Industrial Park

i. The world’s largest e-waste recycling plant has been opened in Dubai Industrial Park, Dubai by ‘Enviroserve’ company with a total cost of $5 million. It will recycle Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), IT asset disposition (ITAD), refrigerant gas and specialized waste.
ii. The processing capacity of this recycling hub is 100,000 tonnes of total integrated waste (per year), of which 39,000 tonnes is e-waste. The project is supported by the Swiss Government Export Finance Agency.