- Scientists have discovered evidence of abundant water-bearing minerals on the surface of the asteroid Bennu. Data from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft that is currently orbiting the asteroid confirm presence of aqueously altered, hydrated minerals on its surface.
- Work is in progress to make Ganjam the first sparrow-friendly district of Odisha.
- Indians are not as happy in 2019 as they were in 2018 and the country figures at 140th place, seven spots down from last year, on UN World Happiness Report- 2019. The list is topped by Finland for the second year in a row. The report was released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the United Nations on March 20, which has been designated as the World Happiness Day by the UN General Assembly. The report ranks countries on six key variables that support well-being: income, freedom, trust, healthy life expectancy, social support and generosity. The happiness study ranks the countries of the world on the basis of questions from the Gallup World Poll. The results are then correlated with other factors, including GDP and social security.
- Gond, Koya and Naikpod communities belong to Telengana; The Gond paintings stand out for use of bright colours and intricate lines. The Gond art mostly represents a tree emerging out of birds (peacocks) and animals (ox, horse, deer, elephant and tiger). The Koya artists draw on the surface motifs of their sacred ‘Hariveni’ posts, sacred flags and big bottle gourds. The paintings of Naikpod tribals are reflections of face masks of their kings, Pandavas like Bheema, and traditional village temple deities.
- Gatimaan Express is India’s first semi-high speed train that runs between Delhi and Jhansi. It operates at a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) and is currently the second fastest train in India after Train 18 (Vande Bharat Express).
- Vice Admiral Karambir Singh will take over as the 24th Navy chief from incumbent CNS Admiral Sunil Lanba, who is set to retire on May 31 on completing three years in office. With the announcement, the government has for the second time overlooked the seniority principle in service chief appointments. He will be the first helicopter pilot of the Navy to become CNS.
- Kazakhstan renamed its capital Astana as Nur-Sultan on Saturday in honour of veteran leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, who unexpectedly resigned this week after almost 30 years in power.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has deferred the implementation of the new accounting norms, Ind AS, indefinitely, as necessary amendments to the relevant law are yet to be made. Ind AS for non-banking financial companies came into effect last year.
- For the first time in the world, researchers at the GRAPES-3 muon telescope facility in Ooty have measured the electrical potential, size and height of a thundercloud that passed overhead on December 1, 2014. Clouds have negative charges along their lower side and positive charges on top and can be several kilometres thick. Muons and other particles are produced when cosmic rays bombard air particles surrounding the earth. The muons produced can have positive or negative charge. When a positively charged muon falls through a cloud, it loses energy.
- Chenchu tribals are found in Andhra Pradesh.
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