Current Affairs Quiz - March, 2020

Notes:
The Punjab government on Saturday granted permission to distilleries to manufacture and supply sanitisers in wake of the rise in coronavirus cases in the state.
Punjab Food and Drug administration Commissioner recently announced that the permission for a period of 10 days and has been granted purely on a temporary basis. The manufacturers shall supply the sanitisers to government institutions in the state of Punjab only.

Notes:
The Government of India has recently constituted a high-level committee of medical experts for prevention & control of COVID-19. The committee is headed by Dr V K Paul, a member of the India think-tank NITI Aayog.
The 21-member high level technical committee comprises of noted public health experts to suggest measures on the prevention and control actions. Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan and Director General of Indian Council of Medical Research are the Co-Chairpersons of the committee.

Notes:
World Water Day is observed every year on March 22, across the world since the year 1993. The theme of the World Water Day this year is ‘Water and Climate Change’.
In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by which 22 March of each year was declared World Water Day from 1993. The Day focuses on the importance of freshwater and creates awareness of the people who still live without access to safe water.

Notes:
The national task force for COVID-19 constituted by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended hydroxy-chloroquine as a preventive drug for high-risk cases, who are infected by coronavirus.
The medication should be given to the asymptomatic healthcare workers, who are under high risk by serving the infected patients. It is also recommended to asymptomatic household contacts of laboratory confirmed cases. The protocol recommended by the National Task Force is approved by the Drug Controller General of India (DGCI) for use in emergency situations.

Notes:
Bollywood film-maker Zoya Akhter was presented the IIFTC Tourism Impact Award 2020, at the Asia’s largest film tourism event, 8th India International Film Tourism Conclave (IIFTC), held recently in Mumbai.
The Director was selected for her outstanding contribution to the world tourism through her films which were shot in Spain and Turkey.

Notes:
Invest India is India’s national Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency, which comes under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
It was seen in news recently as Invest India has launched the ‘Invest India Business Immunity Platform’. This platform is hosted on the Invest India website and it provides real-time updates on the latest initiatives of the government of India to tackle Covid-19.

Notes:
The International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims is observed every year on 24 March, by the United Nations.
This day pays tribute to Monsignor Óscar Arnulfo Romero of El-Salvador, who was murdered on 24 March 1980. Óscar Romero was actively involved in criticising violations of the human rights. He also condemned the practices of social injustice and assassinations. He was declared ‘Saint’ by Pope Francis in 2018.

Notes:
During the International Olympic Committee’s session in Peru, Paris was selected as the host of 2024 Summer Olympics. It also simultaneously selected Los Angeles to host the games in 2028.
Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which was scheduled for July 24-August 9, has been postponed and would be held before the summer of 2021, as per the recent announcement from the International Olympic Committee. Paris Olympics organisers notified that this delay will not affect the 2024 games.

Notes:
The companies in the digital industry have decide to temporarily offer SD (Standard Definition) content instead of HD (High Definition) and ultra-HD streaming.
By Standard Definition, the bitrates of the streaming will not be higher than 480p on cellular networks until 14th April. As a higher number of people are staying at home during the nation-wide lockdown, there is an extra-ordinary surge in the consumption of mobile internet. This step would ensure that the cellular network remains robust.

Notes:
Under the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, those drugs classified under Schedule H1 should not be sold over the counter. The schedule was introduced in the year 2013.
Earlier, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommended the drug for front line medical workers and high risk-people who were in contact with the coronavirus infected patient. As common people rushed to buy this medicine in large numbers, there were reports of hoarding and shortage of this medicine.