Canada becomes first country to withdraw from 2020 Tokyo Olympic

1.World Tuberculosis Day: 24 March

Every year, World Tuberculosis Day is celebrated on March 24.World Tuberculosis Day is observed all around the world to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of Tuberculosis.

The day is observed on March 24 to mark the day when Dr. Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB in 1882.

The World TB Day 2020 theme is ‘It’s Time’.

2.Singapore tops economic freedom index, India at 120th place

Singapore overtook Hong Kong as the world’s freest economy for the first time in the latest Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom.India has been ranked in 120th position in the study, it has been slowly but steadily making progress.

The World Index of Economic Freedom covers 12 freedoms including property rights, financial freedom, government integrity, labour freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom and business freedom.

The Index was first published in 1995 and Hong Kong has topped the charts ever since.

3.Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan jointly contribute $3.5 mn to SAARC corona emergency fund

Bangladesh and Nepal pledged to contribute $1.5 million and $1 million respectively to the SAARC Corona Emergency Fund proposed by PM Narendra Modi with an initial offer of $10 million from India to help combat the fast-spreading COVID-19 pandemic in the region.India first announced to provide $10 million to the fund and subsequently Nepal and Afghanistan promised $1 million each and the Maldives and Bhutan committed $200,000 and 100,000 respectively.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are yet to declare their contribution for the fund.

4.National Forensic Sciences University bill introduced in Lok Sabha

A bill seeking to establish a National Forensic Sciences University as an institution of national importance by upgrading the Gujarat Forensic Sciences University in Gandhinagar was introduced in Lok Sabha.The National Forensic Sciences University Bill, 2020 was introduced by Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy.

Forensic sciences, criminology and applied behavioural sciences play a critical role in criminal investigations and prevention of crimes.

The proposed National Forensic Sciences University will promote studies and research in forensic science in conjunction with applied behavioural science studies, law, criminology and other allied areas for strengthening the criminal justice system in the country.

5.Satyarup Siddhanta becomes first Indian to complete volcanic Seven Summit, enters ‘Limca Book of Records’

An Indian mountaineer, Satyarup Siddhanta has been nominated for the coveted Limca Book of World Records for his extraordinary achievement to be the first Indian to climb the highest volcanoes of each of the 7 continents.After Guinness Book of World Records, the Bengaluru-based 37-years-old techie mountaineer is now shining on the prestigious index of ‘Limca Book of records’.

It is to be noted that he achieved this feat last year in Jan 2019 but received the official acknowledgement and certificate recently.

He climbed the highest volcano of Antarctica – Mt Sidley to complete his 7 summits and Volcanic 7 summits.

Satyarup holds a world record for being the youngest in the world to summit the highest mountains (7 Summits) of each continent, including the Mt Everest in Nepal, and highest Volcanoes (Volcanic 7 summits) of each continent.

6.Punjab become 1st State to impose curfew amid Lockdown

The Punjab government imposed a curfew to stop the spread of coronavirus, making it the first state to take the drastic measure.Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced the curfew as people were defying the lockdown imposed in the state.

Curfew was imposed as people were still coming out in large numbers. So the idea is to keep them inside.

Anybody seeking relaxation to the restrictions will get them for a given period and purpose.

7.Gujarat Police first in India to introduce taser guns

The Gujarat Police is now equipped with taser guns as a part of their modernization drive to ensure public safety and security.According to Gujarat Police officials, taser guns have been introduced to find an alternative between “ineffective lathis” and “deadly guns”.

By introducing these as part of the police arsenal, Gujarat becomes the first state in India to do so.

In cases of unruly mob indulging in violence, at present, police exercise lathi strikes and use tear gas shells.

These electricity signals temporarily overwhelm communications to muscles, rendering the subject temporarily incapacitated and allowing officers to safely restrain and handle the situation.

8.IOC becomes 1st company to begin supply of BS-VI fuel across country

Indian Oil Corp, the nation’s biggest oil firm, has begun the supply of the world’s cleanest petrol and diesel across the country with all its 28,000 petrol pumps dispensing ultra-low sulphur fuel a good two weeks before the April 1 deadline.Other fuel retailers, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL), are also progressively supplying BS-VI grade fuel and the entire country will switch to the cleanest fuel within this week.

The government had set April 1 as the deadline for starting supply of Euro-VI emission compliant fuels.

With this India joins the select league of nations using petrol and diesel containing just 10 parts per million of sulphur.

9.Shivraj Singh Chauhan takes oath as CM of Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chauhan has become Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time.Governor Lalji Tandon administered him the oath of office and secrecy at a simple ceremony held at Raj Bhavan.

Mr Shivraj Singh took oath alone due to the outbreak of Coronavirus.

After the Assembly elections, senior Congress leader Kamal Nath was sworn in as Chief Minister on 17th of December.

10.Canada becomes first country to withdraw from 2020 Tokyo Olympic

The 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo have been thrown into further doubt after Canada became the first major country to withdraw.Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has admitted for the first time that the games could be postponed.

The International Olympic Committee is expected to decide the fate of the games in four weeks’ time.

The games are currently due to begin on 24th July.