Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2020

Notes:
Chief Minister of Manipur N Biren Singh recently launched two new schemes named “Chief Ministers Akhannaba Sanaroisingi Tengbang (CMAST)” and “Chief Ministergi Artiste Singgi Tengbang (CMAT)” with an outlay of Rs 7.36 crore and Rs.5.7 crore respectively.
The CMAST scheme aims to provide suitable government job to sportspersons who win medals in international events. Incentive to local clubs, cash awards to medal winners, assistance for purchasing sports items are also included. CMAT scheme aims to support artistes in performing arts, literary arts and visual arts.

Notes:
The famous annual Chaitra Jatra festival is celebrated in the state of Odisha. The festival which was scheduled to be held on March 17 at the Tara Tarini hill shrine of the state was cancelled as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 outbreak.
According to the state officials, more than 1.5 lakh visitors usually arrive for the festival and some out of them reach the hill-top to offer prayers, as a part of the festival.

Notes:
The Reserve Bank of India recently announced that it will regulate the entire activities of Payment Aggregators (PAs). Payment Aggregators enable the e-commerce sites and merchants to accept various payment instruments from the customers.
As per the guidelines on regulation of PAs and Payment gateways (PGs), the existing PAs should attain a net-worth of Rs 15 crore by March 31, 2021 and a net-worth of Rs 25 crore on or before March 31, 2023. Thereafter the net-worth of Rs 25 crore shall be maintained at all times.

Notes:
Microsoft India and NASSCOM Foundation partnered to launch the ‘Innovate for Accessible India’ campaign. The campaign aims at empowering people with disabilities with the technology required for better access to equal opportunities.
The campaign invites applications from students, citizens and social organisations to build customised solutions that address challenges faced by people with disabilities. The ten best solutions will be provided mentoring support by Microsoft and NASSCOM Foundation, along with financial grants.

Notes:
Former Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Ashwani Lohani has been recently appointed as the Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC).
This was announced in the order released by the Chief Secretary of the state and the appointment has been made for one year. He had earlier served in several similar positions including the Chairman of the Railway Board and CMD of the India Tourism Development Corporation.

Notes:
Centre for Media Studies (CMS) in partnership with World Health Organization (WHO) is implementing a media fellowship programme on road safety, called WHO Road Safety Media Fellowship.
Recently it was offered to 12 journalists based in Delhi and Karnataka from print, broadcast and online media of Hindi, English and Kannada languages. The fellowship is aimed at improving the capacities of journalists in coverage of news related to road safety.

Notes:
Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of 83 Tejas fighter aircrafts, which are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
The Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is indigenously designed by Aircraft Development Agency (ADA) under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This order of 83 air-crafts is in addition to the previous order of 43 air-crafts approved earlier.

Notes:
In a ceremony at iconic Panathenaic stadium of Athens, Greece has handed over the Olympic flame to Tokyo 2020 organisers.
The ceremony did not include the planned cultural ceremonies from Greece or Japan, due to COVID-19 pandemic. The Governing Olympic body of Greece, Hellenic Olympic Committee’s President Spyros Capralos handed the torch over to the Tokyo Organising Committee. The Hellenic Olympic Committee organises the lighting ceremony of Olympic Torch and its relay in Greece.

Notes:
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu K Palaniswami announced in the Assembly that 64,583 sanitary personnel employed by urban and rural civic bodies in the State shall be called ‘cleanliness workers’.
This announcement was made to honour their work in maintaining public health. The state government is already implementing several welfare measures for the workers including building residences, periodic health check-ups, employment camps and skill development for their children.

Notes:
World Down Syndrome Day is celebrated on March 21 every year, across the world. The United Nations General Assembly declared the day in the year 2011.
Down syndrome occurs when a person has an extra partial or whole copy of chromosome 21. The day is celebrated to raise public awareness of Down syndrome. On World Down Syndrome Day 2020, the forum-Down Syndrome International focuses on the theme “We Decide”.