Current Affairs : 29-03-2020 in English

Defence

• Operation that launched by the Indian Army to restrain the spread of COVID19 - “Operation Namaste”.

International

• 30th member of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - North Macedonia.
• This organisation launched solidarity trial for developing potential drugs for COVID-19 - World Health Organization (WHO).

National

• To engage students in creative projects and enhance skills, a project named as “Project Isaac” has been launched by - IIT Gandhinagar.
• Location-based tracking app that launched by the Government of India - “Corona Kavach”.
• Rs. 15,295 crore agreement signed by the Government of India for the construction of 3 Mega Railway Infrastructure projects in Mumbai with - Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
• A public charitable trust / Fund that set up by Prime Minister, Government of India - ‘Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund’ (PM CARES Fund).
• Indian Railways has decided that the period from 22 March 2020 to 14 April 2020 shall be treated under - “Force Majeure”.
• This government department has set up a “Covid19 Task Force” for mapping of technologies from R&D labs, academic institutions, startups and MSMEs - Department of Science & Technology (DST).
• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has declared the Antimalarial Drug Hydroxychloroquine as a Schedule - H1 Drug.

Persons in News

• Winner of the Lifetime Achievement award 2020 of the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards - Barry John (British-born Indian theatre director).

State Current Affairs

• 38th district of Tamil Nadu – Mayiladuthurai (bifurcated from Nagapattinam district).
• Concession in stamp duty that announced in the Maharashtra budget - one percentage (from April 1).

Science

• India is set to begin antibody tests for the coronavirus which named as -"serological test".

General Knowledge

• Indian Banks' Association (IBA) – Formed: 26 September 1946; Location: Mumbai.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Founded: 16 July 1929; Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Geological Survey of India (GSI) - Founded: 1851; Founder: Thomas Oldham; Headquarters: Kolkata.
• World Health Organization (WHO) - Founded: 07 April 1948; Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland; Founder: Brock Chisholm.
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - Founded: 04 April 1949; Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.