• Atul Kumar Goel appointed as Chief Executive of Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
• Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) is an apex body representing banks in India, established in 1946.

• Mayank Sharma took charge as Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA).
• Service Background: A 1989-batch officer of the Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS).

• World Oral Health Day is observed annually on March 20 to promote good oral hygiene practices and encourage regular dental check-ups.
• Organized by the FDI World Dental Federation, it involves government, educational, and healthcare organizations conducting awareness events and free dental check-ups.
• Theme for 2025: “A Happy Mouth is A Happy Mind,” emphasizing the link between oral health and overall well-being.

• World Sparrow Day is observed annually on March 20 to raise awareness about the declining sparrow population and their conservation.
• Theme for 2025: “A Tribute to Nature’s Tiny Messengers,” highlighting sparrows’ ecological significance and the urgent need for their protection.
• Initiated in 2010 by the Nature Forever Society, it aims to address threats like urbanization, pollution, and habitat loss.

• International Day of Happiness is celebrated annually on March 20 to promote global happiness, well-being, and a more inclusive world.
• It is organized by the United Nations in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

• India emerged as the dominant force at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025 in New Delhi, securing the top position in the medal tally with a total of 134 medals – 45 gold, 40 silver, and 49 bronze.
• This marked India’s first time hosting an international para-athletics event, which will now be an annual event until 2028.

Notable Indian Performances

• Preethi Pal won bronze in the women’s 200m T35–T38 event.
• Bhavani Munniyandi secured bronze in women’s long jump T38, T44, T61 category.
• Vinay (silver) & Abhishek Jadhav (bronze) in men’s 200m T35.
• Sagar, Janka Singh & Balaji Rajendran completed an Indian clean sweep in men’s shot put F11–F20.
• Bhuvi Agarwal won bronze in women’s long jump T20–T37.
• Pranav Prashant (silver) & Naresh (bronze) in men’s 200m T61–T64.
• Fatima, Suman Bala & Asha Jalandar secured an Indian podium sweep in women’s discus throw F56–F57.
• Sharath, Saurabh & Ankur completed another clean sweep in men’s 5000m T11–T12.

• Recent studies have highlighted a rise in melioidosis cases in Odisha, emphasizing South Asia’s significant share of global cases. A collaborative effort between microbiologists and climate scientists is underway to analyze the environmental factors influencing disease transmission.

About Melioidosis

• Melioidosis is a bacterial infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei.
• It spreads through contact with contaminated soil or water.
• Symptoms range from mild skin infections to severe pneumonia.
• In severe cases, fatality rates can reach up to 50%, making early detection crucial.
• Environmental Factors & Disease Spread
• The bacteria’s survival is influenced by rainfall, temperature, and monsoon patterns.
• The disease peaks during and after monsoons, linking climatic changes to infection rates.

Key Research Findings

• AIIMS Bhubaneswar and IIT Bhubaneswar conducted a study analyzing nine years of meteorological data alongside reported cases.
• A risk map was created, identifying high-risk districts like Cuttack, Balasore, Khordha, and Jajpur, where human exposure is significant.

• The Government has approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) & Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) Extension till 2025-26 .

About PMFBY & RWBCIS

• PMFBY launched in Kharif 2016 to provide comprehensive risk coverage against crop loss due to natural calamities.
• RWBCIS covers weather-related crop losses based on predefined weather triggers.
• Voluntary for States/UTs & farmers, currently implemented in 23 States/UTs.
• ₹69,515.71 crore allocated for 2021-26 for both schemes.

Premium Rates (PMFBY)

• Kharif Crops: 2% premium
• Rabi Crops: 1.5% premium
• Annual Commercial & Horticultural Crops: 5% premium
• Implementation & Monitoring
• State governments handle selection of insurance companies, farmer enrollment, and claim processing.

Grievance Redressal Mechanism:

• District Level Grievance Redressal Committee(DGRC) & State-Level Redressal Committee(SGRC) Committees address complaints.
• Krishi Rakshak Portal & Helpline (14447) for farmer grievances.
• Regular monitoring through weekly video conferences, reviews, and National Review Conferences.

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has inaugurated the Shri S Ramakrishnan Centre of Excellence in Fluid and Thermal Science Research at IIT Madras to advance space-related thermal and fluid research.

About the Research Centre

• Named after S Ramakrishnan, an IIT Madras alumnus and distinguished aerospace engineer.
• Established in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Madras.
• Aims to develop cutting-edge thermal and fluid science solutions for space applications.

Objectives

• Develop advanced cooling solutions to tackle heat dissipation challenges in satellites and launch vehicles.
• Establish high-fidelity simulation and testing facilities for improved thermal control systems.
• Enhance India’s self-reliance in space technologies and support future deep-space missions through industry-academia collaboration.

• ISRO has developed two advanced 32-bit microprocessors, Vikram 3201 and Kalpana 3201, for space applications in collaboration with the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), Chandigarh.

Background

• ISRO has a legacy of microprocessor development for its launch vehicles.
• Vikram 1601 (16-bit), operational since 2009, was an earlier milestone.
• The new 32-bit processors mark a step towards self-reliance under Make in India.

Vikram 3201: Features & Applications

• India’s first fully indigenous 32-bit microprocessor.
• Built using 180-nanometer Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) technology at SCL.
• Supports floating-point computations and Ada language compatibility.
• Designed to withstand extreme space conditions.

Kalpana 3201: Features & Applications

• Based on Scalable Processor Architecture (SPARC) Version 8 Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) architecture.
• Compatible with open-source software and diverse development tools.
• Offers high efficiency and adaptability for space applications.
• Testing & Validation: Vikram 3201 successfully tested in the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-4) mission.