Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2020

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.

Notes:
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet recently passed the ‘Recovery of Damage to Public Properties Ordinance 2020’ for recovery of losses caused by damage to public property during violent protests.
The decision which was taken in a cabinet meeting headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath aims to prevent loss of public property in the state. The damages in the violence shall be recovered from the rioters, as per the ordinance. This comes at the backdrop of several violent protests in the state against Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Notes:
As per the recent announcement from Minister for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh, there shall be a common eligibility test (CET) from 2021 for applicants for jobs in railways, banks and lower levels of Central government jobs.
The Centre is to set up an autonomous National Recruitment Agency (NRA) to conduct this online test. The CET is expected to replace the first level tests conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).

Notes:
A passenger ferry service called ‘Ropax’ was launched between Mumbai and Mandwa of Maharashtra by the Union Minister of State for Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya.
The vessel which can carry as many as 200 cars and 1,000 passengers was built in Greece. The Ropax jetty and terminal at Mandwa has been built by Maharashtra Maritime Board while the jetty facilities at Mumbai were set up by Mumbai Port Trust.

Notes:
Veteran journalist Patil Puttappa who was fondly known as Papu, passed away recently at the age of 99. He was an ardent follower of Gandhian principles and a Khadi activist.
Patil Puttappa had also served as a former Rajya Sabha member. He remained as a strong representative of Kannada and had received several prestigious awards including the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, T.S.R. Award, and “Nadoja’. He had recently been presented the ‘Basava Award’ by the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Notes:
An awareness programme called ‘Poshan Pakhwara or Nutritional Fortnight’ is being held in the UT of Goa from March 8 to 22.
The programme is aimed at creating awareness about nutrition among the general public. Several activities are being organised with special focus on the health of women, children and people who are suffering from malnutrition. Guidance by nutrition experts and Paediatricians is also provided to the people.

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:
India recently committed to provide a grant of Nepalese Rupees 107 million (equivalent to INR 68 million) to Nepal for the construction of three school buildings.
The Embassy of India and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration of Nepal signed two Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) for the construction of two new school buildings. These two school buildings shall be constructed under the India-Nepal Development Partnership programme.

Notes:
Manila-based Asian Development Bank recently announced an initial package of $6.5 billion (equivalent to ₹48,230 crore) to cater the immediate needs of its developing member countries in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
As per the announcement of the Development bank, out of the total package, 3.6 billion will be made available to governments for addressing health and economic consequences of the pandemic and 1.6 billion for micro, small and medium enterprises, domestic and regional trade.

Notes:
Roger Mayweather, who passed away recently at the age of 58, was a two-time world champion turned trainer in boxing.
He was also the uncle of the boxing star Floyd Mayweather, and trained him for most of the latter’s boxing career. Roger Mayweather had won world titles at super featherweight and super lightweight categories. During his 20-year boxing career, he gained a total of 59 triumphs.