Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2020

Notes:
The state government in Karnataka recently stopped the Shaadi Bhagya Scheme that was launched by the previous government in the state in 2013.
Under the scheme, a financial assistance of Rs 50,000 was given to Muslim brides for marriage expenses when they submit their Aadhar and BPL cards. The previous coalition government had allocated Rs 60 crore budget for the scheme.

Notes:
Andhra Pradesh government has recently launched a mobile application which aims at curbing the malpractices occurring during the election.
Through the application, any person can file complaints about the corruption or malpractices during the campaign in the upcoming civil polls. With the photos, audio or video files sent by the people, suitable actions will be taken by the government.

Notes:
The High Court of Bangladesh has recently ruled that ‘Joy Bangla’ will be the national slogan of Bangladesh. The Court also asked the authorities to take appropriate steps to make all the people in constitutional posts, state officials, teachers and students use ‘Joy Bangla’.
The Court has asked the government to submit the compliance report within three months. ‘Joy Bangla’ was the main slogan during the liberation war of Bangladesh fought against Pakistan in 1971.

Notes:
The Largest lender of India, State Bank of India (SBI) recently announced that the penalty charges for non-maintenance of average monthly balance (AMB) for all its savings bank accounts are to be waived.
At present, the customers shall have to maintain average monthly balance of ₹3000, ₹2000 and ₹1000 in metro, semi urban and rural areas respectively. The Bank levies a penalty of ₹5 to ₹15 plus taxes when average monthly balance is not maintained. Now the penalty has been waived for all its 44.51 Crore savings bank account holders. The bank also lowered interest rate on all SB accounts to 3%.

Notes:
The Government of India, state government of Himachal Pradesh and the World Bank recently signed an $80 million loan agreement to improve water management practices and increase agricultural productivity in certain Gram Panchayats in Himachal Pradesh.
‘The Integrated project for source sustainability and climate resilient rain-Fed Agriculture’ project in Himachal Pradesh will be implemented in 428 Gram Panchayats, which is expected to benefit over 4 lakh smallholder farmers.

Notes:
The Department of Posts has introduced a free digital parcel locker service for the first time in India in Kolkata in the New Town and Nabadiganta IT Post Offices.
Under the service, customers collect their consignment from specified post offices at their convenience. People who cannot receive the parcel during the working hours can collect the parcel within seven days by using the OTP number sent to them through an SMS.

Notes:
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) celebrated its 35th Inception Day on March 12, 2020. The Chief Guest of the occasion, Union Minister of State for Home Shri Nityanand Rai launched Crime Multi Agency Centre (Cri-MAC).
It is a centre for sharing information on dreadful crime and other issues related to inter-state coordination. The Minister also launched National Cybercrime Training Centre (NCTC) for professional e-Learning services on cybercrime investigation.

Notes:
Union Consumer Affairs Ministry announced that the government has declared face masks and hand sanitizers as essential commodities up to June 30, 2020, by amending the schedule of the Essential Commodities Act 1955.
This decision will enable the government and States/Union Territories to regulate the production, quality and distribution of masks and hand sanitizers. Hence these commodities would be made available to all common citizens in affordable prices without hoarding and black-marketing.

Notes:
The ‘BhoomiRashi’ Portal is a land acquisition portal launched in March 2018 by the Ministry of the Road Transport and Highways.
It was seen in news as the Ministry announced that the portal has significantly accelerated the process of land acquisition for National Highways, by reducing the processing time to less than two weeks in a majority of cases. The acquisition process is made error-free and more transparent as it has been integrated with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS).

Notes:
The Union Government has sanctioned Rs 365 crore for constructing a new Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Sabroom along the India-Bangladesh border. It is the southernmost town in the north-eastern state of Tripura. This is the second ICP after Akhaura check post set up in 2013.
The state government of Tripura had sent the Sabroom ICP proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2016 for linking the bridge on river Feni with Chittagong port city of Bangladesh.