Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel inaugurated the India Innovation Summit – Pioneering Solutions to End TB at Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre.

• The event, jointly organised by the Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) and the Central TB Division (CTD) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, aims to accelerate India’s efforts to eliminate TB by 2025.
• Anupriya Patel highlighted India’s significant progress in TB control and the critical role of innovation in achieving this goal.
• Patel outlined the achievements of the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), noting that the number of missing TB cases had reduced from 15 lakh in 2015 to 2.5 lakh in 2023.
• The programme recorded 25.5 lakh TB cases in 2023 and 26.07 lakh in 2024, the highest number of notified cases ever.
• Citing the World Health Organization’s Global TB Report 2024, she stated that TB incidence in India has declined by 17.7 per cent, from 237 per lakh population in 2015 to 195 per lakh in 2023, while TB-related deaths have fallen by 21.4 per cent, from 28 per lakh in 2015 to 22 per lakh in 2023.
• TB treatment coverage has increased significantly, rising from 53 per cent in 2015 to 85 per cent in 2023.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday (March 17) inaugurated the state’s first-ever temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Thane district’s Bhiwandi taluka.

Key Points

• This is the first temple dedicated to the great Maratha warrior in Maharashtra, but the second in India.
• Inspired by the architecture of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s forts, the temple is spread over an area of 2,500 sq feet, with a fort-like boundary wall covering an additional 5,000 square feet.
• The Shivkranti Pratishthan, which built the temple, was founded by a local construction magnate and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj devotee named Raju Chaudhary. It was Chaudhury who gifted this land to the trust.
• The first temple dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is in Srisailam, Telangana.
• The temple was inaugurated by Fadnavis on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's birth anniversary, as per the Hindu calendar.
• Its foundation was laid in 2017, and actual construction began in March 2018.
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Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE) has appointed Dr. Lakshmi Venu as its Vice Chairman. Dr. Lakshmi, who has been serving as a Director at TAFE, brings experience in the farm mechanisation and auto component sectors.  

• Dr. Lakshmi has been recognised as one of Business Today’s “Most Powerful Women in Business” in 2023 and received the Economic Times “Young Leaders - 40 under 40” recognition.
• She is also the Managing Director of Sundaram-Clayton Ltd., an automotive component manufacturer.
• She holds a degree from Yale University and a Doctorate in Engineering Management from the University of Warwick, UK.

Renowned poet and Padma Bhushan awardee Ramakanta Rath, who was also a former bureaucrat, passed away at his residence in Kharavela Nagar, Bhubaneswar on Sunday( 16 March 2025), marking the end of an era in Odia literature.

He was 91.

Rath’s contributions left an indelible mark on Indian literature.

About Ramakanta Rath 

Born on December 13, 1934, in Cuttack, Rath pursued his master’s degree in English Literature from Ravenshaw University. Despite a distinguished career in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), which he joined in 1957, his passion for literature remained undeterred. Before retiring in 1992, he held several key positions, including Chief Secretary of Odisha.

Dr. Shivkumar assumes charge of the CEO of Anusandhan National Research Foundation(ANRF) which aims to seed, grow and promote research and development (R&D) and foster a culture of research and innovation throughout India’s universities, colleges, research institutions, and R&D laboratories.

• He took charge from the Secretary Department of Science and Technology (DST) Professor Abhay Karandikar who was acting as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF).
• Dr. Shivkumar who earlier held the post of Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Energy Industry, Asia at Microsoft is a Distinguished Alumnus Awardee of IIT Madras & Ohio State University (2021).
• He is also a Fellow of the IEEE (2010), Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering (2015), ACM Distinguished Scientist (2010), Microsoft Gold Club (2024) and Technology Review TR100 young innovator (1999).

Stuart Young was sworn in as the new prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago at the President's House, succeeding Keith Rowley, who had previously resigned.

• Young took the oath of office in the presence of President Christine Kangaloo. He pledged to work toward building a safer nation and called on all citizens to unite in facing challenges.
• His first initiative after assuming office will be a Cabinet reshuffle.
• Young, 50, previously served as minister of energy and energy industries, and minister in the Office of the Prime Minister. Like Rowley, he is a member of the People's National Movement (PNM).

The Kanger Valley National Park (KVNP) in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, has been included in UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites under the Natural Heritage category.

• This marks the first time a site from Chhattisgarh has achieved such recognition.
• Located in the Bastar district, the 200-square-kilometer park is renowned for its lush green valleys, deep ravines, and enchanting waterfalls like the 150-foot-high Tirathgarh Falls.
• The Kanger River, with its pristine waters and unique rocky formations, adds to the park’s allure.
• The park’s rich biodiversity includes over 15 limestone caves such as Kotamsar, Kailash, and Dandak, which are geological wonders with archaeological significance.
• It is home to rare species like otters, mouse deer, giant squirrels, and the Lethis softshell turtle, alongside wild wolves. Bird enthusiasts can observe over 200 bird species, and the park boasts a diverse flora with more than 900 plant species.

Intel Corporation announced that its board of directors has appointed Lip-Bu Tan, an accomplished technology leader with deep semiconductor industry experience, as chief executive officer, effective March 18. 

• He succeeds Interim Co-CEOs David Zinsner and Michelle (MJ) Johnston Holthaus.
• Tan will also rejoin the Intel board of directors after stepping down from the board in August 2024.
• Zinsner will remain executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Johnston Holthaus will remain CEO of Intel Products. Frank D.
• Yeary, who took on the role of interim executive chair of the board during the search for a new CEO, will revert to being the independent chair of the board upon Tan becoming CEO.

Dr. V. Narayanan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched a new research centre at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) today (17th March 2025).

• The ‘Shri S. Ramakrishnan Centre of Excellence in Fluid and Thermal Science Research’ will Support ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ Initiatives, promoting self-reliance in advanced space technologies and attract Global Talent and Research Funding.
• This will position India as a leader in thermal sciences research for space applications.
• This state-of-the-art research facility, housed at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, will focus on critical advancements in spacecraft and launch vehicle thermal management-a key area for India's expanding space ambitions.

Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday formally launched the ‘Rajiv Yuva Vikasam' scheme with a budget of 6,000 crore, aimed at providing self-employment opportunities to 5 lakh unemployed youth across the state.

• The scheme is mainly expected to benefit the youth from SC, ST, BC, and minority communities. Under the scheme, financial assistance between 50,000 and 4 lakh will be provided.
• The beneficiaries list will be announced on June 2, coinciding with Telangana Formation Day celebrations. 
• The scheme is expected to generate employment opportunities for 4,000 to 5,000 people in each of the 119 assembly constituencies.
• The govt allocated 6,000 crore for the initiative.

Veteran Tamil actor Bindu Ghosh died on Sunday (16  at a Chennai hospital. Her family members confirmed to India Today that her funeral will take place on Monday( 17 March).

• She was 76. She was known for her comic roles in many films.
• She was undergoing treatment at the hospital.

About Bindu Ghosh 

Bindu is known for her comedy roles. She has appeared in several films alongside Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Prabhu, Vijayakanth, Goundamani, Senthil, and many others. Bindu made her debut with Kalathur Kannamma, which was also Kamal Haasan's first film. Her well-known films include Kozhi Koovuthu, Komberi Mookan, Mangamma Sabatham, Soorakottai Singakutti, Osai, and Dowry Kalyanam.