Title Title Daily Current Affairs Capsule 22nd March 2020

Daily CurrentTitle
              Affairs Capsule
             Title 2020
       22nd March

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination : 21 March

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March.

      On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville,
       South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws.
      International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2020 is focused on the midterm review of
       the International Decade for People of African Descent.

Navroz, the Iranian New Year

Navroz, the Iranian New Year, Persian New Year or the Parsi New Year was observed on March 20 in India.

      While the festival is a holy festival for the Zorastian, some Muslim and Iranian communities, it is
       celebrated by several faiths across the world.

   Navroz marks the first day of spring, and while it usually takes place on March 21, the date may vary by
       a day before or after depending on where it is celebrated.
      Navroz marks the first day of the month of Farvardin on the Iranian calendar.
      Navroz comes from the Persian words ‘Nav’ meaning new and ‘roz’ meaning day, so it literally translates
       to New Day.

World Poetry Day: 21 March

The World Poetry Day is observed every year on 21 March.

      The initiative is organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization
       (UNESCO).
      Poetry Day can be aptly called as a time to appreciate and support poets and poetry around the world.
      UNESCO designated March 21 as the World Poetry Day in its 30th session held in Paris in November
       1999.
      The first World Poetry Day was held on March 21, 2000.

World Down Syndrome Day : 21 March

World Down Syndrome Day is observed every year on March 21.

      It is observed in order to raise awareness among people about Down Syndrome and educate people about
       this disorder.

   According to the United Nations, every year 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this chromosome
       disorder called Down syndrome.
      Down Syndrome occurs when an individual is born with an extra partial copy of chromosome 21.
      Down syndrome commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, health, and even physical
       characteristics.
      World Down Syndrome day 2020 theme is "We Decide".

US FDA approves first rapid ‘point-of-care’ test for coronavirus

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a coronavirus diagnostic test that can be conducted entirely
at the point-of-care and can deliver results in 45 minutes.

      US Health and Human Services Secretary, Alex Azar said the test will be able to provide results within
       hours, rather than days like the existing tests.
      The company will roll it out by March 30.
      Developed by California-based company Cephid, the test would help fast identification of infected people
       and quickly start treating them and their quarantine.
      Point-of-care testing means results are delivered to patients in the patient care settings, like hospitals,
       urgent care centres and emergency rooms, instead of samples being sent to a laboratory.

World Happiness Report 2020

India was at a dismal 144 rank of a total 156 nations surveyed on the World Happiness Report 2020.

   Finland was once again crowned as the world's happiest country, extending its lead over Denmark and
       Switzerland.
      The World Happiness Report is an annual survey by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for
       the United Nations.
      The data used to compile this ranking was collected in the years 2018 and 2019
      Afghanistan ranked lowest among 153 countries, with South Sudan and Zimbabwe just above it.

Govt has fixed prices for face masks & sanitizers in light of COVID - 19 outbreak

Government is keeping a close watch on the prices of every essential commodity.

      The government has fixed the prices for face masks and sanitizers in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
      Under the essential commodities act no extra charges can be levied on the fabric used for manufacturing
       of face masks.
      He informed that the two and three layered mask would cost 8 and 10 rupees respectively while a two
       hundred milli-litre bottle of hand sanitiser is priced at 100 rupees.
      The prices would remain the same till 30th June this year.

RBI to inject additional Rs 30,000 cr to maintain financial stability in wake of COVID-19 outbreak

The Reserve Bank of India decided to infuse additional liquidity with a second tranche of bond purchase worth
₹30,000 crores amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

      In the backdrop of the Coronavirus outbreak, the Apex Bank has decided to ensure that all market
       segments function normally with adequate liquidity and turnover.
      The central bank will conduct purchase of government securities under open market operations (OMOs)
       for an aggregate amount of Rs 30,000 crore in two tranches of Rs 15,000 crore each in March.
      The auctions would be conducted on March 24 and March 30.