1.  US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates to 0%  in attempt to prop up US economy

• The US Federal Reserve cut interest rates to zero. The Fed’s hugely surprising move comes as the world fights to prevent further damage from the rapidly-spreading coronavirus.
• The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decided to lower the target range for the federal funds rate to 0 to ¼%.This is the second time in as many weeks the US Fed has cut interest rates as the deadly virus threatens to cause massive disruption to the world economy.
• The first and last time interest rate were zero in the US was in December 2008 at the peak of the global financial crisis.

Foot Notes:
About United States
Capital: Washington, D.C.
President: Donald Trump
Currency: United States Dollar

About United States Federal Reserve
Chairperson: Jerome Powell
Founded: 23 December 1913
Headquarters location: Washington, D.C., United States

2. Bangladesh celebrates birth Centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

• Bangladesh is celebrating the birth centenary of its founder President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina marked the day by paying floral tributes to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The day marks the beginning of the year long celebration of the birth centenary named ‘Mujib Barsho’ in Bangladesh and across the world.
• Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was born on 17th March 1920 in the town of Tungipara in Gopalganj district of the then undivided India. He led the movement against the oppressive Pakistani rulers in the then East Pakistan leading to its liberation in 1971.
• Known as Bangabandhu, he became the first President of the independent nation of Bangladesh.

Foot Notes:
About Bangladesh
Capital: Dhaka
Currency: Bangladeshi taka
Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina

3. President Kovind nominates former CJI Ranjan Gogoi to Rajya Sabha

• President Ram Nath Kovind has nominated Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to the Rajya Sabha.
• Mr Gogoi served as the 46th Chief Justice of India from 3rd October 2018 till 17th November last year.
• The President of India nominates twelve persons to the Rajya Sabha.
• In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 80 of the Constitution of India, and on the advice of the Prime Minister, the President of India can nominate 12 members to the Rajya Sabha.

Foot Notes:
About Rajya Sabha
Deputy Leader of the House: Piyush Goyal
Deputy Chairman: Harivansh Narayan Singh
Chairperson: Venkaiah Naidu
Seats: 245 (233 Elected + 12 Nominated)
Leader of the Opposition: Ghulam Nabi Azad

4. Oil India Ltd signed an agreement with Numaligarh Refinery for sale and purchase of crude oil.

• The Crude Oil Sales Agreement (COSA) will come into effect from 1 April, 2020 to 31 March 2025, that is, for a term of five years.
• The agreement is expected to streamline sale and purchase transactions of crude oil produced from fields in the North East India.
• The Numaligarh Refinery is in Golaghat district, Assam. It is a joint venture between Bharat Petroleum, Oil India and Govt of Assam.

Foot Notes:
About Assam
Capital: Dispur
Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
Governor : Jagdish Mukhi

About OIL:
Headquarters– Noida, India
Chairman & Managing Director– Sushil Chandra Mishra

About Numaligarh Refinery:
Location: Morangi, Assam
Numaligarh Refinery is a joint venture (JV) between Bharat Petroleum (61.65%), Oil India (26%), and Government of Assam (12.35%).

5. Amjad Khan’s brother and Bollywood actor Imtiaz Khan passed away.

• Amjad Khan’s brother and Bollywood actor Imtiaz Khan passed away. Imtiaz Khan starred in movies like Yaadon Ki Baraat, Dharmatama, Dayavan and Noor Jahan among more.
• He was an actor and director, and associated with popular films such as Hulchul, Pyaara Dost, Procession of Memories and Noor Jahan.

6. “An Extraordinary Life: A biography of Manohar Parrikar” to be released in April 2020

• A book on the life and times of bureaucrat-turned-politician Manohar Parrikar, who served as the defence minister and Goa chief minister, will hit the stands in April.
• The book titled 'An Extraordinary Life: A biography of Manohar Parrikar' is written by veteran journalists Sadguru Patil and Mayabhushan Nagvenkar. 17 March marks the first death anniversary of Parrikar who died after battling pancreatic cancer for over a year. He was 63.
• Parrikar was among the few from Goa who made it to the national level. He held the defence portfolio in the Modi government from 2014 till 2017 before returning to his first love, Goa, to take over the Chief Minister's post.

7. India to provide 107.01 million Nepali Rupees for three new school buildings in Nepal

• The Government of India will provide 107.01 million Nepali Rupees for three new school buildings in Nepal.
• The schools will be constructed in Darchula, Dhanusha and Kapilvastu districts. These schools will be built under the India-Nepal Development Partnership program.
• The Government of India is happy to be associated with these projects which complement the efforts of the Government of Nepal in augmenting infrastructure in the field of education.

Foot Notes:
About Nepal
Capital: Kathmandu
Currency: Nepalese rupee
Prime Minister: KP Sharma Oli

8. Dr. Paramananda Majumder selected for the Moghai Ojah award

• Eminent researcher and writer Dr.Paramananda Majumder was presented the 10th Moghai Ojah Award at a function held at the auditorium of Jorhat Science Centre and Planetarium. He was awarded for his significant role in raising issues of public interest and society's betterment.
• Majumder compiled the first book on the life and works of folk musician Moghai Ojah. The award recognized his invaluable contribution in bringing dhol maestro Moghai Ojah and his magnificent skill of playing the dhol back to the public domain by compiling a book on him.
• The Moghai Ojah award was instituted in 2011 by the Jorhat district unit of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP). The award is annually presented on 15 March, on the death anniversary of Ojah. The award carries a cash prize of Rs.21,000, a citation, a gamosa, a seleng chadar, and a memento.

9. Civil Aviation ministry flags of  first-ever Indore-Kishangarh flight under UDAN scheme

• The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) flagged off the first-ever thrice-weekly flight from Indore (Madhya Pradesh) to Kishangarh (Ajmer, Rajasthan) on 16 March Under the UDAN scheme of Government of India.
• The tender for the Indore-Kishangarh route during the UDAN 3 bidding process was awarded to Star Air. The aim is to connect the unconnected regions.
• Under RCS(Regional connectivity scheme)-UDAN, Star Air already operates direct flights from Belagavi to Indore.

Foot Notes:
Minister of Civil Aviation: Hardeep Singh Puri

10. Indian Govt launched Indian Culture Portal to showcase rich cultural heritage of India

The portal aims to create awareness about the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of India.Indian Culture Portal to showcase rich cultural heritage of India Indian Culture Portal, an online portal of the Ministry of Culture, showcases the information about the rich cultural heritage of India across the globe.

Indian Culture Portal was launched on 10 December 2019.  The portal is available in 2 languages, namely Hindi and English. The portal aims to create awareness about the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of India.

The portal holds various contents comprising mainly of artefacts from museums, rare books, manuscripts, virtual galleries, e-books, archives, photo archives, gazetteers, write-ups and beautiful pictures on cuisines, Indian National Bibliography, videos, detailed accounts of Indian UNESCO World Heritage site, Musical Instruments of India, festivals, paintings, folk art and classical art from the different states of India, etc.

Foot notes:
About Ministry of culture
Headquarters: C Wing, Shastri Bhawan, New Delhi
Minister : Prahlad Singh Patel

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