Current affairs 17 March 2024

Yoho launched India's first ever fully "Hands-Free" Sneakers - Blinc.

• Yoho has launched Blinc, India's first hands-free sneakers with SpringEaseTM mechanism, at a special price of ₹2,899.
• Blinc has merged the trendsetting style and easy wearability with lightweight comfort for students, professionals, and travelers.
• The sneakers have featured elastic quick-wear laces and a lightweight EVA sole, aimed at providing comfort without sacrificing style.

India ranked 104 in V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) report.

• V-Dem report has ranked India 104th among 179 countries.
• India is listed as a top ten autocratiser, affecting half the population in autocratising nations.
• Since 2018 India shifted from democracy to electoral autocracy, maintaining this status till date.
• Such reports highlight the miopic opinion of a few organizations that intend to organise information warfare against targeted countries.

Ratan Tata received PV Narsimha Rao Memorial Award.

• Former Tata Sons chairman Ratan Tata received the prestigious PV Narsimha Rao Memorial Award for his philanthropy work in Mumbai.
• The PV Narasimha Rao Memorial Award, named after the former Prime Minister of India, is an award of recognition for individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to social welfare and humanitarian causes.

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Pandavula Gutta designated exclusive Geo-heritage site in Telangana.

• Pandavula Gutta is older than the Himalayan hills and is identified as the one and only Geo-heritage site at Pandavula Gutta in Telangana.
• These cave paintings offer a rare glimpse into the prehistoric man’s rock art identified on walls and ceilings of caves, rock shelters, and isolated boulders.
• The rock art paintings depict wildlife like Bison, Antelope, Tiger, Leopard, etc.

GoI's new E-Vehicle policy amis to boost domestic EV manufacturing.

• India's new e-vehicle policy promotes domestic manufacturing, aiming to reduce oil imports, trade deficit, and air pollution.
• It requires a minimum investment of ₹4,150 Crore, with a 3-year timeline for setting up manufacturing and starting production.
• The new policy caps EV imports at 8,000 units/year, with investment backed by bank guarantees against customs duty forgone.