18th March Daily Current Affairs – English

India’s first hydrogen train: Chennai ICF

• The central government allocated Rs 2,300 crore last year to manufacture 35 hydrogen trains, each with 10 coaches, that will run on hydrogen fuel in a way that does not harm the environment.
• The work of manufacturing the engine and coaches for this train began last year at the Railway Coach Factory (ICF) in Perambur, Chennai.
• Unlike conventional trains, trains running on hydrogen fuel do not pollute the environment.
• Hydrogen trains are being operated in only a few countries worldwide, including Germany, England, and China.
• Unlike trains running on other fuels like petrol and diesel, trains running on hydrogen fuel will not emit smoke, but will emit only water.
• This will result in no carbon emissions.
• India’s first hydrogen train will run for a distance of 89 km between Jind-Sonipat in Haryana.

Justice Joyamalya Bagchi sworn in as Supreme Court judge:

• Joyamalya Bagchi, who was a judge of the Calcutta High Court, was sworn in as a Supreme Court judge.
• He was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.
• With the swearing-in of Justice Joyamalya Bagchi, the number of judges in the Supreme Court has increased to 33.
• It is noteworthy that the sanctioned strength of judges in the Supreme Court is 34.

‘UDAN’ Scheme:

• This is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• The full form of the UDAN scheme is ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagarik’, which is a regional connectivity scheme to connect the rural areas of the country through air at low cost.
• ‘UDAN’ Scheme is one of the most successful schemes in the country.
• The aim of the scheme is to connect all the airports together.
• The plan aims to add 120 new airports in the next 10 years, providing air connectivity to 4 crore more people.
• By connecting different airports in the country, congestion at major airports can be reduced.

March 18: Ordnance Factories Day

• Ordnance Factories Day is observed every year on March 18 across India.

Important Facts:

1. India’s first hydrogen train will run between Jind-Sonipat in Haryana for a distance of 89 km.
2. The central government has launched a mobile app for the Prime Minister’s Vocational Training Scheme to improve the skills of the youth.
3. Joyamalya Bagchi, who was a judge of the Calcutta High Court, took oath as a judge of the Supreme Court.
4. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan inaugurated the center.
5. The center has been set up under the name of the Center of Excellence for Fluid and Thermal Sciences Research.
6. To benefit from the Prime Minister’s Honorary Financial Assistance Scheme, it has been made mandatory for farmers to register on the “Agri Stake” website.
7. The Dragon spacecraft has started its journey towards Earth to bring Sunita Williams and 3 astronauts from the International Space Station.
8. British player Jack Draper won the championship title in the Indian Wells Open Masters tennis tournament held in the United States.