Current Affairs : March 2020

26^th March

1. Indian Football Captain Sunil Chhetri was selected among 28 members for FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) video campaign against Coronavirus.
2. A team of Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune, Maharashtra, have developed ‘MACS 4028’, a bio fortified wheat variety, which shows high-protein content of around 14.7% good nutritional quality having zinc 40.3 ppm, and iron content of 40.3ppm and 46.1ppm (parts per million) respectively.
3. Nawab Banoo, famous Bollywood actress passed away at the age of 87 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. She was also known as Nimmi.

27^Th March

1. FinMin provided Rs 1.70 Lakh Cr relief package under PMGaribKalyanYojana for the poor to tackle Corona Virus.
2. On March 27, 2020, Amid the growing coronavirus pandemic, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 26B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 (23 of 1940), has declared hydroxychloroquine (HCQS) drug as a schedule H1 drug– which means it can’t be sold without the prescription of a registered medical practitioner.
3. EMIs on hold for three months,RBI said in an statement.
4. Renowned artist and architect Satish Gujral passed away at the age of 94 in New Delhi, India.Gujral wrote his autobiography “A Brush with Life”.
5. World Theatre Day (WTD) is celebrated every year on 27th March by ITI (International Theatre Institute).

28thMarch

1. On March 27, 2020, The Republic of North Macedonia has inducted officially as the 30th and newest member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
2. On March 27, 2020, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) declared an infusion of Rs 3.74 lakh crore into the banking system through three measures viz. targeted long-term repo operation (TLTRO), Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) and marginal standing facility (MSF). The decision has been taken to tackle financial system stress raised due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
3. Domestic rating agency ICRA notified that India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to contract by 4.5% in the April-June 2020 quarter & will rise 2% in 2020-21 due to the impact of coronavirus.
4. Raj yogini Dadi Janki, the chief of Brahmakumaris Sans than (world’s largest spiritual organization run by women) passed away at the age of 104 in Mount Abu, Rajasthan

29^th March

1. EPF (Amendment) scheme, 2020 comes into force; withdrawal of non-refundable advance allowed. This amendment allows the withdrawal of                 non-refundable advance by EPF members in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
2. This non-refundable withdrawal should not exceed the basic wages and dearness allowance (DA) for three months or up to 75% of the amounts standing to the credit of their EPF account, whichever is less

30^th March.

1. Asian Development Bank (ADB), a regional development bank will invest $100 million into the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) of India.
2. Merger of 10 state-run banks into 4 to come into force from April1.As per the scheme, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will be merged into Punjab National Bank; Syndicate Bank into Canara Bank; Allahabad Bank into Indian Bank; and Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank into Union Bank of India.
3. CRISIL has reduced the India’s GDP Growth forecast to 3.5% for FY2021.

31^st March

1. The Book titled ‘the death of Jesus ‘written by Nobel laureate J m Coetzee. Released
2. Mirza Waheed and Santanu Das win The Hindu Prize 2019.
3. IIT Bombay develops two apps “Corontine” and “Safe” to track violations by those in quarantine
4. Tamil folk singer, actress Paravai Muniyamma passed away at 83.