Today in History (Mar 17th, 1992)
On 17th March 1992, the South African voters supported the reforms of F.W. de Klerk to end the apartheid rule, which was a system of racial segregation that existed from 1948 to 1994.
President’s Colour awarded to INS Dronacharya
The President’s Colour or Nishan, the highest honour bestowed on a military unit, was awarded to the INS Dronacharya for rendering exceptional service to the nation, both in peace and in war. INS Dronacharya is the Indian Navy’s gunnery and missile warfare school in Kochi, Kerala.
India welcomes the confirmation of Eric Garcetti as U.S. Ambassador
India has welcomed the confirmation of U.S. Ambassador-designate Eric Garcetti by the U.S. Senate. He is the former Governor of Los Angeles, and U.S. President Joe Biden nominated him to be the U.S. Ambassador to India in July 2021.
Patrick French, historian and author, passed away in London
(L) Patrick French, world-renowned historian and biographer, with a deep India connect, passed away in London. He was the first Dean of the School of Arts and Science at Ahmedabad University. He was the author of “Younghusband: The Last Great Imperial Adventurer” which gave the account of the British expedition to Tibet in 1904.
BRO opens strategic Zojila Pass in a record 68 days
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) opened the strategic Zojila Pass located at an altitude of 11,650 feet in the Greater Himalayan Range, which acts as a gateway between the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and, Ladakh. It remained closed for 68 days this year, compared to 73 days last year.
Deepak Mohanty appointed as the Chairperson of PFRDA
The Union Government appointed Deepak Mohanty as the Chairperson of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA), a regulatory body under the Union Ministry of Finance to supervise and regulate pensions in India. Ms. Mamta Shankar was appointed as a whole-time member (economics) of PFRDA.
The U.K. bans TikTok on government phones over security concerns
Due to security concerns, the United Kingdom banned TikTok, a Chinese video-sharing app, on work phones and other electronic devices used by Ministers and civil servants. Earlier, the United States and the European Union also banned TikTok on security grounds. India banned TikTok in June 2020.
