PM to Participate in Sashakt Nari - Viksit Bharat Programme in Delhi

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will join the Sashakt Nari - Viksit Bharat program and observe demonstrations of agricultural drones organized by Namo Drone Didis.
• It will be held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, New Delhi on 11^th March 2024.
• Namo Drone Didis from 10 different locations across the nation will also take part in the drone demonstrations.
• The initiatives of Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi are central to the Prime Minister's vision of promoting economic empowerment and financial independence among women, particularly in rural areas.
• To advance this vision, the Prime Minister will honour Lakhpati Didis who have achieved success with the support of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission and are assisting and inspiring other Self-Help Group members for their progress.

Shri Nitin Gadkari Inaugurates and Lays Foundation Stone for National Highway Projects

• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 22 National Highway Projects, spanning 268 Km and valued at over ₹4,000 Crore in Mysuru, Karnataka.
• The initiatives like the Huliyar-KB cross-Chunchanahalli-Nelligere road aim to enhance connectivity between Mysuru and North Karnataka.
• The 4-lane expansion of Belur-Hassan and Yedegowdanahalli-Bilikere road, coupled with the installation of ROBs at Hangarahalli and Holenarasipur Bypass.
• The construction of a major bridge over Lakshmanathirtha River seeks to decongest Hunsur Town, echoing the commitment to streamlined urban planning.
• The strategic inclusion of major and minor bridges and Road over Bridges (ROBs) on railway level crossings underscores a concerted effort to facilitate unhindered traffic movement.

Catch the Rain 2024 Campaign

• On March 9^th, 2024, at the NDMC Convention Centre in New Delhi, the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, inaugurated the fifth edition of the "Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain" campaign.
• With the theme "Nari Shakti se Jal Shakti," the campaign highlights the pivotal role of women in water conservation and management.
• This initiative falls under the National Water Mission, overseen by the Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation.
• Additionally, the Union Minister virtually unveiled two books: "Jal Shakti Abhiyan 2019 to 2023- The Journey for Sustainable Water Future" and "101 Glimpses of Women Power: Through the Prism of Jal Jeevan Mission."

PM to visit Haryana on 11^th March

• On March 11^th, 2024, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Gurugram, Haryana.
• He will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for 112 National Highway projects worth around Rs. One lakh crore, spanning various parts of the country.
• To alleviate traffic congestion and enhance traffic flow between Delhi and Gurugram on NH-48, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Haryana section of the significant Dwarka Expressway.

India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement

• On 10^th March 2024, India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) finalized a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).
• India has been engaged in negotiations for a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with EFTA member countries, including Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein.
• The Union Cabinet has endorsed the signing of the TEPA with the EFTA States. EFTA, established in 1960, is an inter-governmental organization dedicated to fostering free trade and economic integration to benefit its four member states.