Important Day
- Theme of World Kidney Day (12 March 2020) - "Kidney Health for Everyone Everywhere–from Prevention to Detection and Equitable Access to Care”.
Economy
- This organisation will provide USD 200 million (about Rs 1,480 crore) to companies for manufacturing and distributing medicines, and other items needed to combat COVID-19 - Asian Development Bank (through ADB's Supply Chain Finance Program).
Environment
- According to the findings by researchers from the University of London, once the "point of no return" is reached, the iconic Amazon rainforest could shift to a savannah-type ecosystem with a mix of trees and grass within - 50 years.
International
- According to KPMG, India’s (and China) rank globally as hubs for technology innovation – second (US has topped).
- According to list made by KPMG, this Indian city included in the top 10 rankings for the cities which are doing well in the areas of modern infrastructure, attracting skilled talent, investment fundings etc – Bengaluru.
- This organisation launched a new 'COVID Action Platform' with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to convene the global business community for a collective action on the COVID-19 response - World Economic Forum (WEF).
- India’s rank in the Animal Protection Index (API) instituted by World Animal Protection – second (with 'C' ranking).
- On 11 March, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 virus - a "pandemic".
- World's first Digital Solutions Exchange in the cloud "GOKADDAL" has been launched in - India.
National
- In order to limit the spread of the outbreak of COVID-19, the Central government has declared that all the states and Union Territories (UTs) should invoke provisions of Section 2 of the - Epidemic Diseases Act 1897.
- For the first time in India, the Department of Posts is introducing a free digital parcel locker service in this city from 12 March to enable customers collect their consignment from specified post offices at their convenience - Kolkata.
- After successful campaigns at Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata, India’s Multi-Venue, Mega-Science Exhibition Vigyan Samagam is now open for public at - Delhi (till March 20).
- Winner of "Best AI Application for Societal Impact" award in the partner category in the Microsoft AI Awards 2.0 - Talview.
- India's First Living Culinary Arts Museum that has been listed in Limca Book of Records as - Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA), Karnataka.
- Host city of the main national event for the sixth International Day of Yoga (IDY) on 21 June 2020 – Leh.
Persons in News
- A Non-Resident Indian (NRI) businessman who was honoured with "Golden Jubilee Medal-Civilians" of Uganda - Rajesh Chaplot.
Sports
- US champion that will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021 - Tiger Woods (US).
- Winner of the National 6-Red Snooker Championship 2020 in Ahmedabad - Pankaj Advani.
State Current Affairs
- This state government declared the contagious coronavirus infection an epidemic - Haryana.
- The World Bank will provide USD 80 million (about Rs 600 crore) loan to the Integrated Project for Source Sustainability and Climate Resilient Rain-Fed Agriculture in - Himachal Pradesh.
General Knowledge
- World Golf Hall of Fame is located in - St. Augustine, Florida, USA.
- The Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 was invoked earlier during the bubonic plague in the then - Bombay state.
- World Bank - Founded: 1944; Headquarters: Washington D.C., USA.
- World Health Organization (WHO) - Founded: 07 April 1948; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
- World Economic Forum (WEF) - Founded: 01 January 1971; Headquarters: Cologny, Switzerland.
