1. Rs 1,000 minimum monthly pension scheme suspended by EPFO

i. Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation, EPFO has suspended the 1,000 rupees minimum monthly pension scheme from this month.

ii. The scheme was launched with effect from September 2014, hiking the pension amount to a flat 1,000 rupees per month for those who were getting lower amount earlier.

iii. With the suspension of the scheme, the beneficiaries will get pension at earlier rates. iv. In a circular to its field offices, the EPFO said it has decided to suspend the scheme in the absence of any direction from the government to continue this benefit beyond March 31.

v. According to the government notification issued on August 19th last year, the benefit of minimum pension was made effective from 1st September 2014 to 31st March 2015.

2. 9th IRENA meet to be held in Abu Dhabi

i. The 9th meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Council is scheduled to be held in June in Abu Dhabi.

ii. India has been designated to chair the ninth meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Council.

iii. The body is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future.

IRENA has two main governing structures:

i. IRENA Assembly takes decisions at Macro level and gives policy guidance to IRENA.

ii. IRENA Council which is the main governing body of the agency responsible for implementing various decisions of the assembly.

3. Richie Benaud, Former Australia captain passed away

i. Former Australia captain and legendary cricket commentator Richie Benaud has died at the age of 84.

ii. A pioneering leg-spin bowler, Benaud played in 63 Tests, 28 as captain, before retiring in 1964 to pursue a career in journalism and broadcasting.

iii. Benaud took 945 wickets in 259 first-class matches and made 11,719 first-class runs, scoring 23 centuries at an average of 36.50.

4. Oklahoma set to become first US state to allow nitrogen gas executions

i. Oklahoma is set to become the first state in the United States to allow the use of nitrogen gas as a method of execution.

ii. The State Legislature has passed a bill, which now awaits the Governor’s signature to become law. Several US states are considering alternative execution methods as they struggle to obtain lethal injection drugs amid a nationwide shortage.

iii. Later this month, the US Supreme Court will review the use of midazolam, a drug used in Oklahoma executions. Electrocution and firing squad are the backup methods currently available to Oklahama.

5. Former Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgaonkar passed away

i. Former Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgaonkar passed away after a prolonged illness.

ii. He had the honour of leading the fly-past on Independence Day in 1947.

iii. An exceptionally skilled pilot, Moolgaonkar, who took over as the Air Chief in 1976, retired in 1978 after a distinguished service of 38 years.

iv. Moolgaonkar had led the fly-past on August 15, 1947, and also on January 26, 1951, the Republic Day, when he was a Squadron Leader, a Defence release said.

6. WWF named Thane  as National Earth Hour Capital 2015

i. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has named Thane (Mumbai) as the National Earth Hour Capital 2015.

ii. It was named so after it emerged as winner among the three finalists from India viz., Thane, Rajkot and Pune, in the Earth Hour City Challenge (EHCC) 2015 conducted by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

iii. For its city mobility plan and solar and
waste-to-energy initiatives, Pune received a special mention from the jury.
Rajkot was felicitated for the city’s performance in the field of renewable
energy.

iv. The 2015 Earth Hour Challenge saw the
participation of thirteen Indian cities. In 2014, Coimbatore was
selected as the National Earth Hour Capital.

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