Today News Diary on 18 March 2021

1.Rajya Sabha passes Insurance Amendment Bill to increase FDI limit to 74%
2.Envoys of four nations present credentials to President of India through video conference
3. Madras High Court upholds ECI's facility of Postal Ballot for absentee voters
4. Sexual assault | Supreme Court sets aside M.P. High Court’s ‘rakhi’ order

News in Detail

1. Rajya Sabha passes Insurance Amendment Bill to increase FDI limit to 74%

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Insurance Amendment Bill 2021 that increases the maximum foreign investment allowed in an insurance company from 49% to 74%, amid criticism from the Opposition parties on the clause enabling “control and ownership” by foreign investors.

The Opposition parties unsuccessfully tried to stall the house demanding that the bill not be moved in a haste and instead be sent to a standing committee. They marched into the well of the House after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Bill. The House was adjourned four times, between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., as the impasse continued.

The debate started at 3:30 p.m., when the Opposition relented reluctantly to have a debate instead of continuing with the protests slamming the government for its obduracy.

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma opened the debate questioning the very justification and intent for such a bill. He said when the government has majority in both Houses why is it in a hurry to pass the bill ducking due parliamentary scrutiny that the Opposition is demanding. He said the insurance companies hold the people’s money in trust and that this Bill breaks it. He also accused the government of violating the assurance given in 2015 that “Indian ownership and control” will remain. The Bill, he said, has been brought with urgency, to divert attention from the high fiscal deficit and is in line with the government’s recent measures to privatise national assets.

Replying to the debate, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman assured the House that the policy holder’s money will not leave Indian shores and have to be compulsorily invested here. She argued that more FDI would mean greater competition and thus better negotiated premiums for the end user.

Many of the members had flagged that greater control of foreign firms would also mean that the policy of reservation will be undermined. Answering this query, Ms. Sitharaman pointed out that the public sector insurance firms employ only over seven lakh persons while the private sectors have more than 23 lakh employees and agents.

The reservation policy will continue in the public sector firms, she said. She also said since the sector was opened up in 2000 by allowing 26% FDI, there has been a growth in the number of companies, insurance penetration and jobs. In 2015, the Narendra Modi government had brought another amendment hiking the FDI limit to 49%. “From 2015 onwards, in the last five years, ₹26,000 crore foreign investment has come in and 12 new insurance firms have opened up,” she said.

2. Envoys of four nations present credentials to President of India through video conference

President Ram Nath Kovind, accepted credentials from Ambassador/High Commissioner from the Republic of Fiji, Dominican Republic, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana today (March 18, 2021) in a virtual ceremony.

Those who presented their credentials were:

1.   H.E. Mr. Kamlesh Shashi Prakash, High Commissioner of the Republic of Fiji
2.   H.E. Mr. David Emmanuel Puig Buchel, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic
3.   H.E. Mr. Farid Mamundzay, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
4.   H.E. Mr. Charrandass Persaud, High Commissioner of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana

Speaking on the occasion, the President conveyed his good wishes to the envoys on their appointment. He said that India enjoys warm and friendly relations with all these four countries and that our ties were deeply rooted in a common vision of peace and prosperity. He also thanked their Governments for supporting India’s candidature for the non-permanent seat of  UN Security Council for the term 2021-22.

President Kovind noted that India has been at the forefront in the global efforts to forge a decisive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 to ensure our collective health and economic well-being. He further stated that under Government of India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative, highly affordable vaccines made in India have already reached several countries, re-enforcing our reputation as "Pharmacy of the World”.

In their remarks, the Ambassadors/High Commissioners highlighted the excellent relations their countries share with India and conveyed the resolve of their leaderships to take them further.  Ambassadors/High Commissioners also thanked the Government of India for their continued development assistance and support in capacity-building across diverse areas.

They also expressed their gratitude to India for its humanitarian gesture of supplying COVID-19 vaccines to their countries.

3. Madras High Court upholds ECI's facility of Postal Ballot for absentee voters

Hon’ble High Court, Madras on 17.03.2021 dismissed a petition (W.P. No. 20027 of 2020) challenging the vires of Section 60 (c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the corresponding rules to facilitate postal ballots for absentee voters including senior citizens of above 80 years, persons with disabilities, COVID-19 affected/ suspected and persons employed in essential services.

4. Sexual assault | Supreme Court sets aside M.P. High Court’s ‘rakhi’ order

Issues directions to sensitise judiciary in offences committed against women.

The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside a Madhya Pradesh High Court order asking a suspected sex offender to visit his victim at her home and allow her to tie a ‘rakhi’ on him as a condition for his bail.

A Bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar issued a slew of directions meant to sensitise the judiciary in cases concerning offences committed against women.

The court had earlier sought the views of Attorney General K.K. Venugopal on the issue of courts imposing bail conditions for sex crime offenders which end up further harassing their victims.

The judgment was based on a petition filed by nine women lawyers challenging the High Court bail order.

The nine lawyers, led by advocate Aparna Bhat and represented by senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, had said the High Court order was a “trivialisation of her [victim’s] trauma”.

Mr. Parikh had argued that there were many such instances of court orders which objectify women already traumatised by the crimes committed against them.

The law prescribes the victim to be kept far away from the accused. Instead, the High Court had ordered the accused to visit the home of the woman — the very place where the crime was alleged to have occurred.

The petition said the High Court had also ordered the accused to gift the woman ₹11,000 “as a customary ritual usually offered by brothers to sisters on such occasion and shall also seek her blessings”.

The High Court had also ordered the accused to offer ₹5,000 to the woman’s son for the “purchase of clothes and sweets”.

Mr. Parikh had argued that such orders only succeeded in further victimising women and retard the years of work done to sensitise the courts about how damaging it would be to attempt a compromise “by way of marriage or mediation between the accused and the survivor”.

Important G.K. for Coming exams

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

India commissions ‘INS Dhruv’ Nuclear Missile Tracking Vessel; Becomes 5th Country in the World

India commissioned its Ocean Surveillance & Nuclear Missile Tracking Vessel called ‘INS Dhruv’ (codenamed as VC 11184), with this it became the 5th Country after USA, France, Russia & China to possess such a Tracking vessel. It was constructed at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam under the Make in India initiative at an ~ cost of INR 725 Crore.

• It is one of the Largest Warships to be built at an Indian Yard.
• It was originally commissioned into the Indian Navy in a secret manner in October 2020.

Developed by

• Joint Crew of National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy.
• It will also be operated by NTRO, DRDO and the Indian Navy.

Purpose

• To monitor missile launches at long distances
• To monitor the telemetry data of Strategic missile launched by India during Trials
• Detecting the launch of missiles by adversary countries
• It will monitor the Indian Ocean bed

Key Points

• It has a displacement of 15, 000 Tonnes.
• It will also help in increasing the effectiveness of the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
• Apart from tracking missiles & satellites, it can also gather electronic intelligence.
• The vessel will have a crew of 300 personnel & a single helicopter. It will also have a special team from NTRO on board.

National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO)

• It is a technical intelligence agency under the National Security Advisor in the Prime Minister’s Office, India.
• It is responsible for Geospatial-Intelligence & Satellite Imagery
• It has the same ‘norms of conduct’ as the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).

About the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO):
Chief – Anil Dhasmana
Head Office – New Delhi
Established – 2004

Indian Railways connects 2 ends of arch of ‘Chenab Bridge’ – World’s Highest Railway Bridge

Indian Railway has successfully connected the 2 ends of the main arch of ‘Chenab Bridge’ – World’s Highest Railway Bridge. It is being built by Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) at a cost of INR 12, 000 Crores.

• The bridge is 1.315 Kms long and is to be completed by the end of 2021.

• It is being constructed over the River Chenab which is 35 Metres higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

• The bridge will connect Bakkal (katra) and Kauri (Srinagar) in the Reasi district of Jammu & Kashmir UT.

• The Chenab bridge is part of the 111-Km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project.

• Three agencies; IRCON, KRCL and Northern Railway with extensive experience in the construction of rail lines are involved in this project.

About Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL):
Chairman & Managing Director (CMD)– Sanjay Gupta
Headquarters – Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

India 3rd Most Polluted Country, Delhi Most Polluted Capital City : IQAir Report

According to the ‘2020 World Air Quality Report’ released by IQAir (Swiss Air Technology Company), India was the 3rd Most Polluted Country in the World in 2020 after Bangladesh & Pakistan. Delhi was the most polluted Capital City for the 3rd consecutive time it was followed by Dhaka (Bangladesh) & Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).

• In the case of World’s most polluted cities, Hotan of China came first followed by India’s Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) & Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh).
• The rankings are based on annual average PM 2.5 (Particulate Matter) of the year 2020. It covered 106 Countries.

Most Polluted Countries in 2020

Rank/Country/PM

3/India/52

1/Bangladesh/77

2/Pakistan/59

South & East Asia – Major Point of Air Pollution

• According to the report, South and East Asian countries continue to be the most polluted locations in the world.

• 37 out of 40 most polluted cities in 2020 are in South Asia.

• Only 1.6% of cities in South Asia met WHO’s (World Health Organization) PM 2.5 target in 2020.

• Air pollution causes a loss of 7.4% of South Asia’s GDP.

Global Air Pollution

• In 2020, 84% of all monitored countries observed air quality improvements.

• Bangladesh, China (11th in most polluted), India, and Pakistan contributed 49 out of 50 most polluted cities worldwide.

• Least Polluted Countries – Puerto Rico, New Caledonia & U.S. Virgin Islands

Regarding India

• India was home to 35 of World’s 50 most polluted cities

• Compared to 2019 levels, India recorded an 11% reduction in annual average of PM 2.5 levels due to Coronavirus lockdown.

• Major sources of India’s air pollution – Transportation, stubble burning, construction.

Socio-Economic Impact of Air Pollution

• Air Pollution is estimated to cost the global economy around 2.9 Trillion per year (equal to 3.3% of Global GDP).
• Air Pollution remains the cause of 7 million premature deaths annually.

About IQAir:
President – Frank Hammes
Headquarters – Goldach, Switzerland

5th Volume Of UN’s Report “State Of The World’s Indigenous Peoples”: Suggest Measures To Protect Rights of Indigenous People

On 15th and 16th March 2021, the United Nations(UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs(DESA) released the State of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (SOWIP) volume V entitled “Rights to Lands, Territories and Resources”. The report examines challenges faced by the indigenous people in asserting their rights to lands, in the context of agribusiness, extractive industries, development, conservation and tourism.

• The preparation of the report was overseen by the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

SOWPI V: Rights to Lands, Territories and Resources:

i.The report offers a wide range of perspective on the rights of indigenous peoples on lands, territories and resources through analysis of legislation and agreements at the national and international level and through customary law.
ii.The report analyses the successful practice and obstacles to realise the indigenous people rights to land and territories and suggest ways for their development.

Importance of protecting the land and territory rights of Indigenous people:

i.The Indigenous people face challenges to get recognition of their rights to land and endure the land grabbing, dispossession and displacement.
ii.The territories of the indigenous people hold the world’s most non commercially exploited land, minerals and forest resources, rivers, fossil fuels and other renewable energies.
iii.The protection of their rights to land and territory is significant for the whole planet.

SDG on indigenous people’s rights to land:
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the UN provides an opportunity to promote the rights of indigenous people to land, territory and resources due to its integrated approach to economic, environment and social development within a human rights framework.

The SDG 15: Life on Land focuses to Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

Recent Related News:

According to the ‘International Migration 2020-Highlights’ report released by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), In 2020, 18 Million persons from India were living outside of their country of birth thus making it the World’s Largest Transnational Community. India is followed by Mexico & Russia (11 Million each), China (10 Million) & the Syrian Arab Republic (8 Million).

About UN-DESA:
Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs– Liu Zhenmin
Headquarters– New York, United States

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI imposes Rs 2 crore penalty on SBI for regulatory violations

On March 16, 2021, RBI has imposed a monetary penalty of Rs.2 crore on the State Bank of India over “deficiencies in regulatory compliance”.

• SBI was penalized for “contravention of provisions of section 10 (1) (b) (ii) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and specific directions of RBI issued to the bank on payment of remuneration to employees in the form of commission”.

• This penalty has been imposed in exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of section 47A (1) (c) read with sections 46 (4) (i) and 51 (1) of the Act.

• SBI was fined Rs 7 crore by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2019 for violating norms related to non-performing assets (NPAs) and fraud risk management, among other items.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Gautam Adani Becomes World’s Biggest Wealth Gainer in 2021; Beats Jeff Bezos & Elon Musk

On March 16,2021 , Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani become the World’s Biggest Wealth Gainer in 2021, ahead of Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, and Tesla CEO, Elon Musk as per the recent Bloomberg Billionaires Index.Gautam Adani gained USD 16.2 billion & was followed by Google Co-founder Larry Page, who gained 14.3 billion USD.

• As per Bloomberg Billionaires Index, now he became the 26th richest person in the world.

• Adani, a first-generation entrepreneur added a total of USD 16.2 billion to his net worth which has now jumped to USD 50 billion.

• Adani has been rapidly expanding his conglomerate, adding ports, airports, data centers and coal mines in India, and also proceeding with his Carmichael coal project in Australia.

• The shares of some of Adani’s group including Adani Total Gas have almost doubled while Adani Enterprises increased 90%, Adani Transmission Ltd gained 79%. Adani Power and Adani Ports and Special Economic Zones Ltd gained more than 50%.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Paris-based duo of Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal Wins the Pritzker Architecture Prize 2021

On 16th March 2021, French architects and educators Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal were selected as the laureates of the Pritzker Architecture Prize 2021, the highest honour in the field of architecture. The award was announced by Tom Pritzker, Chairman of The Hyatt Foundation. The Paris based duo won the award for their various social housing projects undertaken by their Paris based studio Lacaton & Vassal.

• The selected works of Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal includes Latapie House, Cap Ferret House, House in Bordeaux, 53 Units of Low-Rise Apartments, Social Housing, Transformation of 100 Units, Tour Bois le Prêtre, Social Housing (with Frédéric Druot), Site for Contemporary Creation, Phase 2, Palais de Tokyo and 129 Units, Ourcq-Jaurès Student and Social Housing.

Key Points:

i.Anne Lacaton became the first French female architect to win the prize and the 6th woman to receive the prize since it was established in 1979.

ii.Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal became the first French recipient of the award since 2008 when Jean Nouvel won the award.

iii.The first French person to win the award was Christian de Portzamparc, who won the award in 1994.

About the Pritzker Architecture Prize:

i.The Pritzker Architecture Prize, an annual award presented to the living architect or architects to recognise their talent, vision and commitment towards significant contributions to humanity and build the environment through the art of architecture.

ii.The Prize was established by the Pritzker family of Chicago through their Hyatt Foundation in 1979.

Prizes:

The Pritzker Architecture Prize consists of 100,000 USD and a bronze medallion.

Ceremony:
i.The award is annually presented to the laureates at a ceremony held at an architecturally significant site throughout the world.

ii.The award ceremony of 2020 and 2021 was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Note:
Architect Balkrishna Doshi from India won the Pritzker Architecture Prize 2018 and became the first Indian to win the Prize.

Recent Related News:

On September 18, 2020 Krushi Bhavan, a facility developed for the State’s Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha won 10th annual AZ Awards 2020 as People’s Choice Winner under the category social good. The awards were revealed at its first-ever virtual AZ Awards Gala. The 12,077-square-metre Krushi Bhavan is one among 20 winners and the only winner from India.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Kapil Dev Inducted into PGTI As A Board Member On 15th March 2021, Former Indian Cricketer

Kapil Dev was inducted into the Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) as a board member. Kapil Dev, the captain of the Indian Cricket team that won the 1983 World Cup, will be working towards the development of Golf in the country. The official inclusion of Kapil Dev into the board was made while announcing the Prometheus School Delhi-NCR

Open Golf Championship 2021, which will be held from 16th to 19th March 2021 in Gurugram, Haryana. Roles of Kapil Dev as PGTI Board member:

• As a member of the PGTI board, he will be convincing the corporates to associate and invest in Indian golf.

• He will work towards getting more attention from sponsors and investors and making golf more popular in India.

Golf in India:
In India, around 500 corporate golf events are taking place in India. Presently around 200 scratch golfers, a player who can play to a course handicap of zero on any and all rated golf courses, in India are below the age of 22.

Delhi-NCR Open Golf Championship 2021:
The Delhi-NCR Open Golf Championship 2021 organised by TATA Steel PGTI and Prometheus School, Noida at the Golden Greens Golf Club in Gurugram. This is the 10th event of the 2020-2021 PGTI season with a prize purse of Rs.30 lakhs.
In this event, the golfers can earn official World Golf Ranking(OWGR) points which will improve their chances to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

Note: Rashid Khan (306), Udayan Mane (317), Karandeep Kochhar (348) and Chikkarangappa (349) are the four highest-ranked Indians in the world.

About Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI):
PGTI is the controlling body for professional golf in India.
CEO– Uttam Singh Mundy
President– Gautam Thapar
Head office– Gurugram, Haryana (Formed in 2006)

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Tech Mahindra Planned To Purchase 70% Stake From Perigord Asset Holdings Ltd

On March 15, 2021, Tech Mahindra announced its plan to acquire a 70 % stake in Ireland-based Perigord Asset Holdings Ltd for around Rs 182 crore and plans to buy the remaining 30% shareholding over a period of 4 years at a valuation of its financial performance. The objective of the Acquisition:

• It is intended to help in augmenting its expertise in the domains of global pharmaceutical, and HLS (Healthcare and Lifesciences).
• It is a part of Tech Mahindra’s long-term growth plan which is to make a presence across key markets in Ireland, Germany, the USA, and India with enhanced global delivery.

About Perigord Asset Holdings Ltd:
• For the financial year ended December 31, 2020, Perigord had reported revenues of around Rs 170 crore.
• It is a platform with expertise in the artwork space and life sciences industry that desires to digitally transform the world of Pharmaceutical packaging services

About Tech Mahindra:
Establishment – 1986
Chairman – Anand G. Mahindra
MD&CEO – CP Gurnani

Indian Army decommissions 2 Artillery: 130mm Self-propelled Guns & 160mm Mortars

On 16th March 2021, Indian Army decommissioned 2 of its longest serving Artillery – 130mm Self Propelled M-46 Catapult Guns and the 160mm Tampella Mortars, after making a customary firing of their last salvos in Mahajan Field Firing Range. The decommissioning event saw the presence of Director General Artillery, Lieutenant General K Ravi Prasad.

130mm Catapult:

i.It is a hybrid Self-propelled gun developed by DRDO, by merging 2 existing weapons systems – India’s Vijayanta tank & Russian 130mm M-46 field gun.

ii.Fire Range – 27 Km
iii.Year of Induction – 1981.
iv.It was deployed in the India-Pakistan border to cater the urgent need of a Mobile Artillery gun system, after 1965 & 1971 wars.

160mm Tampella Mortars:

• Developed by Israel.
• Fire Range – 9.6 Km
• Inducted into the Army after the 1962 Indo-China War.
• Served in Line of Control – Leepa valley and the Hajipir Bowl

Recent Related News:

i.DRDO & Indian Army Developed India’s 1st Indigenous Machine Pistol ASMI; RLG systems handed over to Indian Navy.
ii.Indian Army to get Indigenous Carbines, Anti Air Systems; MoD cancels Import.

India’s Land Boundary:
India shares land boundaries with 7 countries – Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan & Afghanistan.

Line of Control – India & Pakistan (at Jammu & Kashmir)
Line of Actual Control – India & China
Radcliffe Line – India & Pakistan (at Punjab)

About Indian Army:

The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Force.
Chief of Defence Staff – Bipin Rawat
Chief of Indian Army – Manoj Mukund Naravane
Motto – “Service Before Self”

BOOKS & AUTHORS

A book titled “Gandhi in Bombay’’ by the authors Usha Thakkar and Sandhya Mehta

On 15th March 2021,The Indiatourism Mumbai, Regional Office of Ministry of Tourism in the Western Region organized an online book reading session of “Gandhi in Bombay’’ by the authors Dr.Usha Thakkar and Sandhya Mehta , as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations.

• Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (India @ 75) is a series of events to be organised by the Government of India to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence.

Sanjaya Baru’s “India’s Power Elite: Caste, Class, and Cultural Revolution”, to be released in April

Sanjaya Baru’s book named “India’s Power Elite: Caste, Class, and Cultural Revolution” to be released in April by Penguin Random House India. The book says about the inside story of India’s power elite. About the Book:

• Through this book, the author unveils the emerging dynamics of political, economic, and cultural power in contemporary India.

• It mainly analyzes the fault lines and power struggles dominating our political, economic, and social institutions.

About Sanjaya Baru:

• He is a former media advisor to Manmohan Singh (May 2004 to August 2008) and currently teaches at the Indian School of Public Policy.

• Served as Secretary-General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) (September 2017 – April 2018)

Sanjaya Baru’s Books:

• The Political Economy of Indian Sugar: State Intervention and Structural Change (1990)
• Strategic consequences of India’s economic performance (2006)
• One of his famous books “The Accidental Prime Minister”, a detailed chronicle of his experience of serving the Prime Minister which is released in April 2014 and published by Penguin India
• 1991: How P.V. Narasimha Rao Made History by Sanjaya Baru (2016)
• India and the World: Essays on Geoeconomics and Foreign Policy (2016)

J&K approves Rs. 2 lakhs worth Interest-free Housing loans under PMAY-U

On 14th March, 2021 Jammu & Kashmir’s (J&K) Administrative Council under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, approved to provide additional interest-free loan up to Rs. 2 lakhs for construction of houses. The loan will be provided to the economically weaker section to the beneficiaries under Beneficiary Led Construction (BLC) component of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U).

Note- India is targeting to provide “Housing for all” through PMAY-U by 2022.
i.All beneficiaries of BLC can avail the additional interest free loan.
ii.At present, a financial assistance of Rs. 1.66 lakh is provided as a housing loan under PMAY-U.
iii.With this extension, the interest-free loan can be availed up to Rs. 3.66 lakhs.
iv.Loans under BLC have a tenure of 10 years with 6-months moratorium period.

About Jammu & Kashmir (J&K):
World’s highest Railway Bridge, an arch bridge is constructed in J&K across Chenab river. Srinagar, Anantnag and Baramulla cities are located on the banks of Jhelum river. Kishtwar city is located on the banks of Chenab river. Gandhi Sagar Dam is constructed on Chambal River.