Current Affairs Current Affairs March 2020

  The Union Minister of State PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Jitendra Singh inaugurated the ‘Pension Adalat’ and National Pension System (NPS) Awareness and Grievance Redressal Programme in Jammu. This is the first time that Pension Adalat is being conducted outside Delhi as the government wants to reach out to every part of society and every part of the country to get the grievances redressed in the real-time as aspired by the Prime Minister. The Pension Adalats will help in on-the-spot redressal of pensioners’ grievances which has given the right of ‘Ease of Living’ to the pensioners. The Minister also launched ‘Do You Know’ Twitter Series on Family Pension, along with a booklet highlighting case studies with the interpretation of Pension Rules.

  Pekka Lundmark has been announced as the new Chief Executive Officer & President of Nokia. Pekka Lundmark will succeed Rajeev Suri who will serve as the President & CEO of Nokia till August 31, 2020. Pekka Lundmark is presently serving as the President and CEO of an energy company “Fortum” which is based in Espoo, Finland.

  The National Workshop on Explosive Detection (NWED-2020) was held at Pune, Maharashtra. The NWED workshop was organised by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune. During the workshop, a new explosive detection device known as “RaIDer-X” was also unveiled. The workshop featured the participation of delegates from different DRDO laboratories, Army, CRPF, CISF, State Police, academic Institutes, industries and other security agencies.
  • About “RaIDer–X“:
RaIDer-X has been jointly developed by Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL), Pune. HEMRL Pune is a premier laboratory of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO). The explosive detection device “RaIDer-X” is capable of detecting the explosives from a stand-off distance. The capability of the device can be enhanced by building a data library, to detect a number of explosives in pure form as well as with the contaminants. The device has also the capability of detecting bulk explosives in concealed conditions.

  Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has launched “Suposhit Maa Abhiyan” in his constituency Kota, Rajasthan. This Abhiyan is to provide nutritional support to pregnant women and adolescent girls. Om Birla appealed to every section of the society to cooperate in the malnutrition-free India campaign. Under this Abhiyan, 1,000 pregnant women would be given food items for one month. At the same time, the health of the child, including medical examination, blood tests, medicines, delivery, would be covered. It is a campaign to preserve and maintain the health of our future generations.

Zero Discrimination Day is observed globally on March 1st. On Zero Discrimination Day this year, United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is challenging the discrimination faced by women and girls in all their diversity and raising awareness and mobilizing action to promote equality and empowerment for women and girls. The day also aims to protect human’s rights, remove discriminatory laws to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and ensure equity and equality for all.
  • Theme 2020: ZERO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
A butterfly is the symbol of the Zero Discrimination Day and it is widely used by people to share their stories and photos as a way to end discrimination and work towards positive transformation. Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated to promote and celebrate everyone’s right, regardless of age, gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, skin colour, etc. Zero Discrimination Day aims to raise the voice for the right to live life with dignity, despite one’s choices, beliefs, profession, education, disability or even illness. Zero Discrimination Day was first celebrated on March 1, 2014, and was launched by UNAIDS Executive Director at Beijing after UNAIDS launched its Zero Discrimination Campaign on World AIDS Day in December 2013.

 Former India hockey player Balbir Singh Kullar passed away. He was a part of the 1968 Olympics bronze-winning team. He was born at Sansarpur village of Jalandhar district in Punjab. He made his India debut in 1963 in Lyon, France. He was also a member of the Indian team that won the Asian Games gold in 1966 at Bangkok and the Olympic Bronze in 1968 in Mexico. He also served as an Indian national team selector.

  Veteran athletics coach and Dronacharya awardee Joginder Singh Saini passed away. He was born on January 1, 1930, in Hoshiarpur district in Punjab, Saini was a science graduate and became an athletics coach in 1954. He became the chief coach of the then Amateur Athletics Federation of India in 1970. He received the Dronacharya Award in 1997 for his contribution to Indian athletics. He was the chief coach of the Indian athletics team which won 18 medals, including eight golds, at the 1978 Asian Games.

  Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers has organized “ACREX India 2020” at India Expo Mart Limited, Greater Noida. “ACREX India 2020” is largest exhibition of South Asia on Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) Industry. This was the 21st edition of the exhibition which was witnessed by visitors from over 25 countries. The 21st edition of the exhibition focuses on indoor air quality, sustainable buildings and HVAC technology. The exhibition also acted as a valuable stage for all players which are connected to the HVAC industry. A live exhibit titled “Shudh Vaayu Deergh Aayu” (Trans: Clean air, Long life) was also exhibited with regard to indoor air quality and clean air. ISHRAE has also instituted “ACREX Hall of Fame” which will act as a benchmark for industry to honour iconic projects in India. It has also framed “ACREX Awards of Excellence” to award products and services across disciplines like innovation, green buildings, energy saving, green products, building automation etc.

  Indian Railways has launched its first ”Restaurant on Wheels” at the circulating area of Asansol railway station, West Bengal. This restaurant is for the use of passengers as well as the general public. The Restaurant on Wheels was developed by refurbishing two over-aged MEMU coaches. This unique effort will not only improve the facilities at Asansol station but will also generate non-fare revenue earnings approximately Rs 50 lakh in the next five years. Union Minister and Asansol MP Babul Supriyo inaugurated the restaurant. He also inaugurated two new air-conditioned Retiring Rooms and Electronic Reservation Chart Display System and a battery-operated car at Asansol station.


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