Current Affairs 21st March 2016

Important Points : 

• Which day is observed on 20th March - World Sparrow Day
• Which day is observed on 21st March - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
• Who has became the first Indian to win Gold Medal in Asian 20 Kilometer Race Walk - Gurmeet Singh
• Who has been appointed as advisor to Khadi and Village Industries Commission - Ritu Beri
• National Krishi Karman Awards 2014-15 conferred
• Who has won Hero Indian Open title of Golf - SSP Chawrasia 
• Who has won 2016 Swiss Open men's singles title - HS Prannoy
• Who has won gold medal in Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament - Yogeshwar Dutt 
• Who has been suspended from bowling in international cricket by ICC - Bangladesh’s Arafat Sunny and Taskin 
• Which day is observed on 21st March - International Day of Forests 
• Name the exercise Indian Air Force conducted in Pokhran - Exercise Iron Fist 

Details : 

Which day is observed on 20th March - World Sparrow Day

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 20th March 2016, the World Sparrow Day was observed across the world with the theme Rise for the SPARROW-Experience the power of one. 

World Sparrow Day

• The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010 in different parts of the world.
• The motive of the day is to raise awareness of the house sparrow and other birds.
• The sparrow is one of the most universal birds on earth and is also one of the oldest companions of man.
• The day is an international initiative by the Nature Forever Society of India in association with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France).

Which day is observed on 21st March - International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 21st March 2016, The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2016 was observed with the theme Challenges and Achievements of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

The day is marked by the fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action at the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

About Durban Declaration and Programme of Action

In the year 2001, at World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in South Africa, the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was adopted.

Who has became the first Indian to win Gold Medal in Asian 20 Kilometer Race Walk - Gurmeet Singh

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 20th March 2016, the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in the Asian 20 Kilometer (km) Race Walk Championships. was Gurmeet Singh.

In the past 34 years, this was the first time that an Indian won a gold in either an Asian Championships or Asian Games.

In the year 1978 and 1982, Hakam Singh and Chand Ram won a Gold medal each in 20-km road walk respectively.

On the other hand, Sapna stood at fourth position in the women's 20-km walk race event.

Who has been appointed as advisor to Khadi and Village Industries Commission - Ritu Beri

Among the important appointments, On 17th March 2016, Fashion designer Ritu Beri was appointed advisor to the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) for promotion of khadi around the globe.

About Khadi and Village Industries Commission

• The commission is formed under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956 by the government of India.
• It is an summit organisation under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• Sardar KA Venkataramaiya, was the First Director of KVIC.

National Krishi Karman Awards 2014-15 conferred

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 19th March 2016, National Krishi Karman Awards was conferred by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the year 2014-15. 

Winner States of Krishi Karman Awards 2014-15

Total foodgrain production

• Category I (greater than 10 million tonnes) : Madhya Pradesh 
• Category II (between 1 and 10 million tonnes) : Himachal Pradesh and Odisha
• Category III (less than 1 million tonnes) : Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya

Each award winning state received a trophy, a citation and a cash award of 5 crore rupees

Individual Crops

• Wheat- Rajasthan
• Rice - Haryana, Assam
• Pulses - Chhattisgarh
• Oil Seeds-West Bengal

Who has won Hero Indian Open title of Golf - SSP Chawrasia 

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 20th March 2016, the Hero Indian Open title of golf was won by Shiv Shankar Prasad Chawrasia after defeating Anirban Lahiri.

With this win, he moved to the fourth place in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

About Hero Indian Open

It is a golf tournament on the Asian Tour held at the Delhi Golf Club and became a European Tour co-sanctioned event in the year 2015.

Who has won 2016 Swiss Open men's singles title - HS Prannoy

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 20th March 2016, the men's singles title at the 2016 Swiss Open was won by India's fourth highest ranked men's badminton player HS Prannoy after defeating Marc Zwiebler of Germany.

After his 2014 Indonesian Masters, it is his second title at a Grand Prix Gold tournament.

About HS Prannoy

• He is supported by the GoSports Foundation, Bangalore.
• At 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, after winning the silver medal in Boys' singles he came to prominence.

Who has won gold medal in Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament - Yogeshwar Dutt 

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 19th March 2016, gold medal in the Asian Olympic Qualification tournament was won by Wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt at Astana in Kazakhstan.

After Narsingh Yadav, Dutt became the second Indian wrestler to qualify for the Rio Games, to be held this year in August.

About Yogeshwar Dutt

• He is an Indian wrestler from Haryana.
• At the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Men's 60kg Freestyle wrestling, he won the bronze medal.
• In the year 2013, he was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
• In 2014, he won Gold Medal at Commonwealth Games at Glasgow.

Who has been suspended from bowling in international cricket by ICC - Bangladesh’s Arafat Sunny and Taskin 

Among the important Sports Current Affairs, On 16th March 2016, Bangladesh’s Arafat Sunny and Taskin were suspended from bowling in international cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The bowling actions of the two bowlers were found to be illegal after the assessment. 

Which day is observed on 21st March - International Day of Forests 

Among the important International Current Affairs, On 21st March 2016, International Day of Forests was observed across the globe with the theme Forest and Water which focuses on the importance of forests in sustaining planet’s supply of freshwater, which is essential for life.

On the occasion, a joint celebration of the International Day of Forests and World Water Day was held in New York. The UN-Water and UNFF Secretariat in association with the Sweden Government are organizing the event.

The event entitled Forests and Water|Sustain Life and Livelihoods will raise awareness of the interconnections between forests and water, and their contributions to implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Name the exercise Indian Air Force conducted in Pokhran - Exercise Iron Fist 

Among the important National Current Affairs, On 18th March 2016, The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully conducted Exercise Iron Fist in Pokhran, Rajasthan.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of India Pranab Mukherjee attended the event.

The exercise demonstrated the IAF’s combat and fire power and encourage the nation about its commitment and capabilities in safeguarding the national interests.

It also presented more than 22 types of platforms and Weapons Systems including Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA), Jaguar, Sukhoi-30, MiG-29, Attack helicopters, Mirage-2000 etc.

The event comprised following six packages depicting six themes in which more than 180 aircraft, including fighters, transport and helicopters participated.

• Combat Support Operations
• All Weather Operations
• Flying Displays
• Fly Past
• Air Defence Operations
• Net Enabled Operations