Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2020

Notes:
The two-day International Conference on Standardisation of Diagnosis and Terminologies in Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha Systems of Medicine-ICoSDiTAUS-2020 recently concluded in New Delhi.
The “New Delhi Declaration on Collection and Classification of Traditional Medicine (TM) Diagnostic Data” was adopted in the conference. As many as 16 countries participated in the conference. This is the biggest ever international event dedicated to standardisation of diagnosis and terminologies.

Notes:
Bengaluru-based Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) recently offered an indigenous multirole chopper to the Indian armed forces.
This new chopper is to replace its medium lift choppers such as MI-17s, Kamovs and Seakings. The company also announced that its Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) are ready for operational induction in the services.

Notes:
Purvodaya is a scheme to develop the steel sector in eastern India by creating an integrated steel hub in the eastern region.
Recently Union Minister of Steel Dharmendra Pradhan attended the workshop on “Enabling Procedures for Increase of Steel Usage for the Growth of Economy” at Bhubaneswar in partnership with Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Government of Japan. He announced that Japan is the Partner country to make Odisha an important centre of Purvodaya scheme.

Notes:
The ‘Zero Discrimination Day’ is observed annually across the world on March 1, by UNAIDS. UNAIDS is the leading global forum which aims to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
On this day, the UNAIDS is calling to end the discrimination against women and girls and for equal rights, opportunities and treatment. This year, the focus is on ‘Zero Discrimination against Women and Girls’.

Notes:
Veteran Konkani writer and dramatist Richard John Pais recently passed away at the age of 51. He has written several short stories, satirical writings and poems in Konkani language.
Pais was presented the T M A Pai award for his literary work ‘Fathor’. Many of his plays have been presented in Konkani theatres. He had also served as the editorial head of a news portal called Daijiworld.

Notes:
Tech Giant Facebook has recently launched its first grand advertising campaign ‘More Together’ in India. India is the biggest market with the largest user base and it is also the first country in the Asia Pacific region, in which the campaign is being launched.
The aim of the campaign is to reveal the potential of the users about how they can perform more things together by using their contacts on the platform. The series of campaigns will be tele-casted in eight languages over the next few weeks.

Notes:
‘World Hearing Day’ is observed on 3 March each year, to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss.
Every year, World Health Organisation decides the theme and develops advocacy materials such as posters and presentations. ‘WHO’ organizes an annual World Hearing Day seminar at its headquarters in Geneva. The theme of this year’s day is ‘Don’t let hearing loss limit you’.

Notes:
A 7-day Exhibition and fair named “EKAM Fest” organized by National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC) under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment recently began in New Delhi.
The EKAM Fest is open for public from 2nd March to 9th March, 2020. More than 82 Differently-abled men and women from 17 States/ UTs have showcased their products at the EKAM Fest event. NHFDC has launched several initiatives in the fest including: NHFDC Swavalamban Kendra, Safe Cabs in Delhi and Indore Safe Drinking Water E Carts.

Notes:
International agency OECD recently lowered India’s GDP growth forecast to 5.1 per cent from the earlier projection of 6.2 per cent for 2020-21. For the financial year ending March 2019, OECD has projected a growth rate of 4.9%.
The main reason for the cut in rates was the concerns about the impact of coronavirus on the domestic and the global economy. However, the economy of India is to improve to 5.6 per cent in the following year (2021-22).

Notes:
The Punjab government recently scrapped the policy of granting optional extension in service to the state government employees after retirement.
This decision is taken with an aim to generate employment for the youth of the state. The state government had earlier allowed service extension to all employees up to the age of 60 or 62. Recently, the state made the retiring age of the employees to 58 from 60.