Current Affairs - March 9, 2020 Current Affairs

On March 6, 2020, the Comptroller and Auditor General tabled the report for the year that ended on 31st March 2018 (2017-18). The report was tabled in the assembly. According to the report, between 2014 and 2016, 40% of environmental crimes in India were from Rajasthan.

Lieutenant General Milind Hemant Thakur, Director-General of Supply and Transport Corps of the Indian Army, unveiled the renovated Animal Memorial at Agram Grounds in ASC Centre and College on March 7. The animal memorial signifies the contributions of mules and horses of the Indian Army.

On March 7, 2020, Jan Aushadi Diwas is to be celebrated. The day is being celebrated to commemorate the achievements of Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadi Pariyojana. PM Modi is to interact with seven Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Pariyojana Kendras as a part of celebration of the day.

The government has reconstituted the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR) with Union Home Minister Amit Shah as its chairperson and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, among others, as its members. The NPDRR is a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral decision-making body on disaster management.

Fourth International Diabetes Summit 2020 inaugurated at JW Marriot Hotel Pune. Lt Gen Dr. Madhuri Kanitkar (Deputy Chief of Integrated Defense Staff under the Chief of Defense Staff) was the Chief Guest, and Dr. Bhushan Patwardhan (Vice-Chairman, University Grants Commission, New Delhi) was the Guest of Honour.

K Anbazhagan, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) General Secretary for 43 years, passed awayon March 7 at the age of 97.He breathed his last at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai, following a prolonged illness.

SBI to pick up a 49% stake in Yes Bank for Rs 2,450 crore and clarified that all the deposits and liabilities of the reconstructed bank will continue in the "same manner". The crisis-hit Yes Bank was on March 5 superseded by RBI appointed administrator Prashant Kumar. Customers have been restricted with a withdrawal cap of Rs 50,000 only till April 3.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the first-ever five-day Khelo India Winter Games at Gulmarg. Jammu and Kashmir's Gulmarg hosting Khelo India Winter Games 2020 from March 7th to 11th.The sports shall be organized every year at Gulmarg.

Veteran theatre director and teacher Barry John has been chosen for Lifetime Achievement honour for 2020 at the upcoming Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META).The 76-year-old, mentor to who's who of Bollywood including Shahrukh Khan, Manoj Bajpayi, Mira Nair and Lillete Dubey, will be conferred upon with the award on March 19 along with the winners of the 15th META festival.

Assam government started surveillance at land customs stations near international borders to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Minister of State for Health Pijush Hazarika and Commissioner- Secretary (Health) passengers have been screened at various airports in the state.

SBI to pick up a 49% stake in Yes Bank for Rs 2,450 crore and clarified that all the deposits and liabilities of the reconstructed bank will continuein the "same manner". The crisis-hit Yes Bank was on March 5 superseded by RBI appointed administrator Prashant Kumar.

The three-day conference has been organised by Ministry of MSME in collaboration with various industry associations like FICCI-flo, CII and India SME Forum. The government has recently reconstituted the 'National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (NPDRR)' with Union Home Minister Amit Shah as its chairperson. NPDRR's vice-chairpersons include the minister of state in-charge of disaster management in the Home Ministry and the vice-chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharama, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar are some of its members.

During India's Smart Utility Week, India and European Union called upon Integrated Local Energy System. The countries are to work upon clean energy and climate. The collaboration will help to improvise clean energy supply.

Titled 'I am also digital,' the campaign is being powered by the Kerala State IT Mission under the Department of Information Technology, and the Kerala Literacy Mission. It will be rolled out in the people's participatory model by roping in resource persons and instructors from within the society.

The Union Cabinet recently approved the proposal to set up major port at Vadhvan in Maharashtra. The GoI has sanctioned Rs 65,545 crores for the project.

On March 6, 2020, the Ministry of AYUSH released digital platform called AYUSH GRID. The grid provides facilities associated with AYUSH hospitals andlaboratories and promote traditional health care.The Ministry of AYUSH has developed National Ayurveda Morbidity Codes. These codes classify diseases described in Ayurveda.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has released a comic book on the life and works of legendary leader and his father Biju Patnaik.The book, ''Adventures of a Daredevil Democrat'' published by the Kalinga Foundation Trust and the Creative Warehouse, is a first of its kind comic book on the life and works of Biju Patnaik.

International Women's Day is observed every year on March 8 to celebrate the women's movement and struggle for equality. Theme: I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women's Rights Aim: To bring together people of every gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion, and country in a bid to drive actions that will lead to a gender-equal world we all deserve.

Economic Times Global Business Summit is being organised in New Delhi.

On March 6, 2020, India joined the Indian Ocean Commission as the 5th observer. The other four observers in the grouping are Malta, China, EuropeanUnion and OIF (International Organization of La Francophonie).