1.20th March is observed as World Sparrow Day
.PNG)
World Sparrow Day is observed every year on March 20.The day aims to raise awareness about the Sparrow.
The need for marking this day was felt due to the tremendous decrease in its population.
The house sparrow is on the verge of extinction.
The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010 in different parts of the world.
Increased use of pesticides, change in the pattern of buildings and gardens missing from the houses have become the main factors why the number of sparrows has declined sharply in the past few years.
2.Services rendered by Parliamentarians, doctors, and paramedics fall under Essential Services category
.PNG)
Union Minister Piyush Goyal in Rajya Sabha said that the functioning of Parliament after invoking the Epidemics Act and notification restricting the movement of people above sixty-five years in the wake of Coronavirus does not violate any provision of the law.His remarks came in the wake of a query raised by Anand Sharma of the Congress who said, most of the Parliamentarians above the age of sixty-five fall under the ambit of the notification.
He clarified that the services rendered by Parliamentarians, doctors, and paramedics fall under the Essential Services category.
3.As per ‘World Population Prospects 2019’ report, India’s population reached 1.36 billion in mid 2019
.PNG)
‘World Population Prospects 2019’ report, India’s population reached 1.36 billion (136 crore) in mid 2019, which makes it the second most populous country in the world.Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, also said that, as per the Census of India, India’s population was 121.02 crore in 2011.
He also informed the house that 9,040 Crore 45 lakh rupees have been allocated to States/ UTs to promote family planning during the last three years.
4.Defence Ministry signs contract with Israeli firm IWI to acquire 16,479 light machine guns
.PNG)
The Defence Ministry has signed a capital acquisition contract with Israel Weapons Industries, IWI for procurement of 16,479 light machine guns, LMGs at a cost of 880 crore rupees.IWI, which is based out of Ramat HaSharon city in Israel, would be providing Negev 7.62X51 mm LMGs to the Indian armed forces under the contract.
The contracted Negev 7.62X51 mm LMG is a combat proven weapon and currently used by several countries around the globe.
The LMG will greatly enhance the lethality and range of a soldier vis-a-vis the presently used weapon.
5.Himachal govt launches Police Station Visitor Survey System and e-Night Beat Checking System
.PNG)
Himachal Pradesh State government launched Police Station Visitor Survey System and e-Night Beat Checking System for Himachal police in Shimla.These systems would help the Police Department in doing self-evaluation and improve the working of Police.
This system would be used for the surveillance of visitors visiting the Police Stations, Police Posts and all other police units and would help in creating a database of visitors.
All the visitors/complainants visiting the Police Stations, Police Posts or traffic units would be requested to fill the survey link.
Jai Ram Thakur also launched the Night Beat Checking system for the Police Department would help the State Police to keep a track of the suspected vehicles and criminals who move in the night.
6.Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath resigns ahead of floor test in the state assembly
.PNG)
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has resigned ahead of the floor test in the state assembly.In a press conference in Bhopal, he announced his resignation as Chief Minister of the state.
He said that he is going to Raj Bhawan to submit his resignation to Governor Lal ji Tandon.
The Supreme Court had directed the floor test in the Madhya Pradesh assembly.
7.Cannes film festival not to take place as planned in May
.PNG)
The Cannes film festival will not take place as planned in May because of the coronavirus.The world’s biggest film festival was due to take place between May 12 and 23 in Cannes, France.
But its board said in light of the pandemic they are now looking at rescheduling it to the end of June-beginning of July.
Several other film festivals, including Tribeca, SXSW and Edinburgh have already been cancelled or rescheduled.
8.Greece handed over Olympic flame to Tokyo 2020 organisers
.PNG)
Greece has handed over the Olympic flame to Tokyo 2020 organisers at an event which was ‘significantly scaled-down’ due to a coronavirus pandemic.The ceremony, which took place at Athens’ iconic Panathenaic stadium, did not include the planned cultural ceremonies from Greece or Japan.
Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos handed the torch over to the Tokyo Organising committee represented by Naoko Imoto, who lit the lantern and left with it.
The Tokyo Olympic games are slated to be held from July 24 to August 9.
9.Indian football Legend P K Banerjee passes away at 83
.PNG)
Legendary Indian footballer P K Banerjee died in Kolkata after battling prolonged illness.The 1962 Asian Games gold-medallist was conferred with Arjuna award and Padma Shri.
He scored 65 international goals in 84 appearances for the national team.
Besides winning the gold medal at the Jakarta Asian Games in 1992, Banerjee led India in the 1960 Rome Olympics, where he scored the equalizer against a formidable French team in a 1-1 draw.
10.Former Vice-President Hamid Ansari releases “My Encounters in Parliament” book
.PNG)
Hamid Ansari launched Bhalchandra Mungekar’s book “My Encounters in Parliament”.The book has been written by Bhalchandra Mungekar
Bhalchandra Mungekar is an Indian economist, Social worker and a former Rajya Sabha member.
He specialises in agricultural economics and is an expert on B. R. Ambedkar.
