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Current Affairs Today – 14th March 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- World Sleep Day is observed on 13 March.
- International Pi (π) day is observed on 14 March.
- International Day of Action for Rivers is observed on 14 March.
- Government of India brings masks and hand sanitizers under the Essential Commodities Act.
- A Flag-in ceremony of the Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan was organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in New Delhi on 13 March 2020.
- The Minister of State (I/C) for Shipping and Chemical & Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya is to inaugurate five projects completed under Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) at JNPT, Mumbai on 14 March.
- Union Cabinet approved a proposal for the construction of 780 kilometer of green highways on 13 March 2020.
- Indian census is the largest single source of a range of statistical data on different characteristics of the people of the country.
- Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA) of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) entered the Limca Book of Records (LBR) for establishing “India’s First Living Culinary Arts Museum” at WGSHA, Manipal, Karnataka.
- Uttar Pradesh government has launched three ambitious schemes for skill development and employment generation for youths in the state.
- Microsoft founder Bill Gates stepping down from Microsoft’s board of directors.
- Saurashtra won their maiden Ranji Trophy title after earning a 44-run lead in the first innings against Bengal which eventually ended in a draw in the final in Rajkot, Gujarat. Jaydev Unadkat led the Saurashtra Team.
- Former Czechoslovak Olympic javelin champion Dana Zatopkova passed away.
NEWS IN DETAILS
IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES
World Sleep Day is observed on 13 March
- World Sleep Day is observed on 13 March.
- The day focuses on the issues related to sleep, sleep medicine, education about sleep.
- The day raises awareness about the social effects that sleep deprivation can have on everyday life.
- World Sleep day was organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of World Sleep Society.
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World Sleep Society:
- World Sleep Society was established in 2016. The Society was jointly founded by the World Sleep Federation (WSF) and the World Association of Sleep Medicine (WASM). World Sleep Society currently represents individual members and societies from around the world.
International Pi Day is observed on 14 March
- International Pi (π) day is observed on 14 March.
- The day was chosen as 3, 1, and 4, which are the first three significant digits of π.
- Pi is one of the most well-known mathematical constants. It is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. It is represented by the lower-case Greek letter π.
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History:
- Pi has been known for almost 4000 years. Mathematicians started to use the Greek letter π in the 1700s. It was introduced by William Jones in 1706. The use of the symbol was popularized by Leonhard Euler, who adopted it in 1737. An 18th-century French mathematician, Georges Buffon, devised a way to calculate π based on probability.
International Day of Action for Rivers is observed on 14 March
- International Day of Action for Rivers is observed on 14 March.
- This year, the 22nd annual International Day of Action for Rivers is observed.
- The day aims to stress the importance of rivers and how it affects the lives of the people.
- The theme of 2020 International Day of Action for Rivers is Women, Water, and Climate Change.
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
GoI brought masks, hand sanitizers under Essential Commodities Act
- Government of India brings masks and hand sanitizers under the Essential Commodities Act.
- Under the act, 2 ply & 3 ply surgical masks, N95 masks, and hand sanitizer has been declared as Essential Commodities up to 30 June 2020 by amending the Schedule of the Essential Commodities (EC) Act, 1955.
- The moves come as a measure of COVID-19 (CoronaVirus) and concern of the logistics for COVID-19 management.
Provision of EC Act:
- States/UT can discuss with the manufacturers and can ask them to enhance the production capacity of these items to make the supply chain smooth.
- Also, under the Legal Metrology Act, the States/UT can ensure the sale of both the items at MRP.
- Under the EC Act, powers of the Central Government have been delegated to the States. The states can now take action against the offenders under the EC Act and Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act, 1980 (PBMMSEC Act).
- It will enhance the availability of both the items to the general people at reasonable prices or under the maximum retail price (MRP).
Minister Amit Shah presided over the flag-in ceremony of the Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan
- A Flag-in ceremony of the Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan was organized by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) in New Delhi on 13 March 2020.
- It was chaired by the Union Minister for Home Affairs Shri Amit Shah.
- It focused on implementing various approaches and acting decisively in the direction to revive and rejuvenate Ganga.
- Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan is a massive river rafting expedition. The campaign was launched on 10 October 2019.
Measures to revive Ganga:
- In order to revive and rejuvenate Ganga, GoI has allocated Rs.20,000 crore since 2014.
- Government of India and the respective State governments together are implementing over 300 projects in the Ganga basin under Namami Gange for Ganga rejuvenation and Swachhata Abhiyan. So far, 116 projects have been completed.
- Apart from this, Rs.30,700 crores have been allocated for Jal Shakti Ministry in General Budget 2020-21.
Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to inaugurate 5 projects completed under JNPT
- The Minister of State (I/C) for Shipping and Chemical & Fertilizers Shri Mansukh Mandaviya is to inaugurate five projects completed under Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) at JNPT, Mumbai on 14 March.
- The projects include Flyover at Y junction near PUB at JNPT, Scanning X-Ray, Augmentation of 220/33KV Master Unit Sub Station, Centralised Parking Plaza, and Shiva Samarth Smarak Museum.
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Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT):
- Location: Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Operated by: Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust
- Owned by: Government of India
Cabinet approved construction of 780 Km of green highways in four states
- Union Cabinet approved a proposal for the construction of 780 kilometer of green highways on 13 March 2020.
- It was announced by the Union Minister Prakash Javadekar.
Highlights:
- The project aims to rehabilitate and upgrade various National Highways in four states, namely Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
- A total sum of Rs.7,660 crore has been allotted for the purpose.
The Census India 2021 has been decided to be conducted in two phases.
- Indian census is the largest single source of a range of statistical data on different characteristics of the people of the country.
- The reliable and time-tested exercise has resulted in the comprehensive collection of data that is related to the people of India every 10 years.
Census 2021:
- The Census India 2021 will be conducted in two phases, namely house listing and House Census and Population Enumeration.
- The first phase will begin from 1 April 2020. Census will continue until 30 September 2020.
- The second phase is Population Enumeration, which will be conducted from 9 February to 28 February 2021 throughout the country simultaneously.
- Census India 2021 has been decided to be conducted in two phases
India’s 1st Living Culinary Arts Museum enters Limca Book of Records
- Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA) of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) entered the Limca Book of Records (LBR) for establishing “India’s First Living Culinary Arts Museum” at WGSHA, Manipal, Karnataka.
- The museum was opened in the year April 2018, spread approximately over 25,000 square feet & the structure of the museum is shaped in the form of a giant pot.
- Chef Vikas Khanna, the founder and curator of this museum, who had this idea of establishing a culinary museum and donated thousands of kitchen tools and equipment worth millions of dollars to this museum for preserving the history of India’s rich tradition of culinary arts and to educate the future generations.
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Maharashtra:
- Capital: Mumbai
- Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
- Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
- National Parks: Chandoli National Park, Nawegaon National Park, Gugamal National Park, Pench National Park, Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park, Tadoba National Park
- Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amba Barwa WLS, Bor WLS, Great Indian Bustard WLS,
- Lonar WLS, Melghat WLS, Gangewadi New Great Indian Bustard WLS, etc..
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
UP govt launches three schemes for skill development in the state
- Uttar Pradesh government has launched three ambitious schemes for skill development and employment generation for youths in the state.
- The three schemes are Kaushal Satrang, Yuva Hub and apprenticeship scheme in Lucknow.
- UP government also announced to depute ”Arogya Mitras” at all primary health centres to inform people about govt health schemes.
Kaushal Satrang Scheme
- Kaushal Satrang will have seven components which will provide opportunities to the youth.
- In this regard, UP govt has inked MoU with IIT (Indian Institutes of Technology)-Kanpur and other placement agencies for the employment of 2 Lakh youth and to train the state’s youth for world level competitions.
Yuva Hub’ Scheme
- Yuva Hub’ scheme was allocated Rs 1,200 crore in the state budget and it aims at providing employment to thousands of skilled youth by assisting in project concept and financial help for one year of operation.
- It will also facilitate setting up of 30,000 startups in the state. IIM (Indian Institutes of Management) Lucknow is the knowledge partner of this scheme.
CM apprenticeship scheme
- CM apprenticeship scheme will provide a stipend of Rs 2500 to the youth of the state.
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Uttar Pradesh:
- Capital: Lucknow
- Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
- Governor: Anandiben Patel
- State formed in: 24 January 1950
- Literacy Rate: 67.68%
- Nation Park: Dudhwa National Park
APPOINTMENT
Bill Gates resigns from Microsoft’s board
- Microsoft founder Bill Gates stepping down from Microsoft’s board of directors.
- He wants to dedicate more time to his philanthropic priorities including global health, development, education, and his increasing engagement in tackling climate change.
- He also stepped down from the board of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc, where he had served since 2004.
- However, he will continue to serve as a tech adviser to CEO Satya Nadella and other company leaders.
- Gates had stepped down from his role in Microsoft in 2008.
Extra Shots:
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. It develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.
- Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States
- Founders: Bill Gates, Paul Allen
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Saurashtra lift their 1st-ever Ranji Trophy title
- Saurashtra won their maiden Ranji Trophy title after earning a 44-run lead in the first innings against Bengal which eventually ended in a draw in the final in Rajkot, Gujarat. Jaydev Unadkat led the Saurashtra Team.
- Saurashtra’s first-innings total of 425, Bengal fell short by 44 runs on the 5th and final day handing the hosts a firm grip on the title.
OBITUARIES
Former Olympic javelin champion Dana Zatopkova passes away
- Former Czechoslovak Olympic javelin champion Dana Zatopkova passed away.
- She was an Olympic javelin champion won gold in the Helsinki Olympics in 1952 and won the Olympic silver in Rome in 1960.
- In 1958, she set the world record of 55.73 meters at the age of 35.
- She became the European champion in 1954 and 1958.
- Helsinki Organizing Committee declared her “the happiest gold medalist”.
- She served as a coach in 1960 and retired from the role in 1980.
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