• World Forestry Day, also known as International Day of Forests, is celebrated on March 21 each year.
• The theme for World Forestry Day 2024 is “Forests and innovation: new solutions for a better world.”
• It was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to raise awareness about the importance of forests and trees.
• The day aims to promote the sustainable management, conservation, and development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.
• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Forum on Forests are the coordinators of the International Day of Forests.

• India’s great billiards player Pankaj Advani has been inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame of the World Billiards Museum’.
• The World Billiards Museum is located in Shangrao, China.
• In November 2023, the 38-year-old Indian star won his 26th IBSF (the International Billiards and Snooker Federation) title after beating compatriot Sourav Kothari.

ABOUT PANKAJ ADVANI:

• Pankaj Advani became a snooker professional in the year 2012-2013.
• Pankaj made his debut in billiards in the year 1999.
• Pankaj won the first world title of billiards in the year 2005.
• Pankaj Advani has won 26 world titles in snooker and billiards combined. In which Pankaj has 18 billiards and 8 snooker world titles.
• Pankaj Advani has received many honors for his sports achievements in the country and abroad.
  • Arjuna Award in 2004
  • Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2006
  • Padma Shri in 2009
  • Padma Bhushan in 2018

• Every year on March 21, World Down Syndrome Day is observed across the globe.
• The Theme of World Down Syndrome Day 2024 is ‘End The Stereotypes’.
• The day is designated to promote awareness about Down syndrome and to assist those who live with the condition.
• The United Nations (UN) chose March 21 to represent the uniqueness of Down syndrome caused by triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome.
• According to the United Nations, the global prevalence of Down Syndrome is estimated to be between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 1,100 live births.
• This chromosomal defect affects between 3,000 and 5,000 infants born each year around the world. It is unknown why this sickness develops, but it has long been a part of the human experience.

HISTORY:

• World Down Syndrome Day was first marked in 2006, following its establishment by Down Syndrome International (DSI) during its 2005 World Congress.
• Later, the Brazilian Federation of Down Syndrome Associations collaborated with DSI and its members to launch a large-scale effort to attract international support.

ABOUT DOWN SYNDROME:

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), A person with Down Syndrome possesses an extra chromosome.
• Chromosomes are lengthy DNA strands that hold all of the body’s genes. A baby is born with an average of 46 chromosomes (23 pairs).
• “Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21,”.
• As a result, the extra chromosome alters the way the newborn grows (both body and brain), causing physical and cognitive issues for the child.

• World Water Day is observed every year on 22nd March all over the world. It focuses attention on the importance of water and how to preserve it.
• The day aims to inspire people to sustainably manage freshwater resources, address water-related issues and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and Sanitation for All by 2030.
• The theme for World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace’.

HISTORY OF WORLD WATER DAY

• In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe World Water Day on March 22 every year.
• The first World Water Day was observed in 1993, and since then, the day has been celebrated globally to highlight the importance of water.

ABOUT JAL JEEVAN MISSION (JJM)

• It is the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s main programme, with the goal of connecting every rural family to tap water by 2024.
• The Prime Minister made the announcement in
• It will take a community-based approach to water, with comprehensive information, education, and communication as a fundamental component of the goal.
• Source sustainability measures, such as recharge and reuse through greywater management, water conservation, and rainfall collecting, will be obligatory parts of the programme.

• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) manufacturer – GoodEnough Energy is set to inaugurate the country’s largest BESS Gigafactory for grid stability in Jammu & Kashmir.
• The main goal of the factory is to ensure stability of the power grid. Initially, the factory will have a capacity of 7GWh, which will increase to 20 GWh by 2027.

Importance of GigaFactory

• GoodEnough Energy aims to support India’s goal of achieving Net-Zero emissions.
• It plans on achieving this by providing their services to various industries that have high CO2 emissions, such as Molding Industries, automation, mining, hospitals, refineries, Malls, and shopping complexes.
• With their technology, they can store 7GWH of annual storage capacity, leading to a reduction of over 5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in a year.
• GoodEnough Energy’s Gigafactory is India’s largest Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) It will create job opportunities for over 100 SMEs as vendors and suppliers and will boost job generation in the J&K region.
• The factory has an initial capacity of 7GWH annual storage, which aims to reduce over 5 million tonnes of CO2 in a year, with 2 cycles every day. This is equivalent to the Indian Railway’s annual carbon reduction target of 4 million tonnes.

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Startup Forum’s fourth edition took place in New Delhi on March 19th, 2024.
• The initiative focused on broadening startup interactions among the SCO Member States, fostering an environment conducive to innovation, promoting job creation, and inspiring young talent to develop innovative solutions.
• India will host the second meeting of the SWG in November 2024 and the SCO Startup Forum 5.0 in January 2025.

HISTORY:

• In 2020, India proposed an initiative to create a new pillar of cooperation between the SCO Member States, recognizing the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship in driving and diversifying an economy.
• During the SCO Heads of State Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16th, 2022, all Member States agreed to establish a Special Working Group for Startups and Innovation (SWG).
• The Startup Working Group (SWG) was established to promote collaboration among SCO Member States, not only to benefit the startup ecosystem but also to accelerate regional economic development.
• After several rounds of meetings chaired by DPIIT, the Member States approved and adopted the Regulations of the SWG, making it a permanent entity to be chaired by India in SCO starting from 2023.

SPECIAL WORKING GROUP:

• The first Meeting of the SCO Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation (SWG), permanently chaired by India, was organised on the theme ‘Growing from Roots’ in 2023.
• 25 representatives from the 9 SCO Member States participated in the meeting and presented their respective startup ecosystems and prospective areas of collaboration related to the agriculture and animal husbandry sectors covered in the theme.

ABOUT SCO:

• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a eight-member multilateral organisation, established on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China. Its members are China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, India, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has notified the category of electors mentioned for the purpose of facility of voting through postal ballot as absentee voters in the category of persons employed on essential services.

Key Highlights:

• This category specifically includes individuals employed in essential services, ensuring their participation in the democratic process even while fulfilling vital duties on polling day.
• The list of eligible voters encompasses a diverse range of professionals whose roles are indispensable for the smooth functioning of society.
• Those included in the list are employees from critical sectors such as public transportation (Metro), Railways, telecommunications (BSNL), power (Electricity) and healthcare (Health Departments), Fire Services, Postal Services, Aviation, Disaster Management, state-run broadcasting services (Doordarshan and All India Radio), as well as media personnel authorized by the Commission to cover the polling day proceedings, among others.
• This decision, made in accordance with the provisions outlined in the Representation of the People Act, 1951, underscores the ECI’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility in the electoral process.
• Acknowledging the difficulties essential service workers encounter on election day, the Commission’s objective is to safeguard their fundamental right to vote without any hindrances or interruptions.
• The notification is specifically applicable to the ongoing General Elections and Legislative Assembly elections in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim. Furthermore, it encompasses bye-elections scheduled to be held in 26 Assembly Constituencies across 13 different states.

ABOUT POSTAL VOTING

• Postal voting, also referred to as absentee voting, is a convenient method of voting where voters can cast their ballots via mail instead of physically visiting a polling station.
• This method is especially beneficial for individuals who are unable to vote in person due to certain circumstances, including being away from their home constituency, having a disability, or being engaged in essential services on election day.

ABOUT ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA:

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a permanent and independent established by the Constitution of India to ensure free and fair elections in the country.
• Article 324 of the Constitution of India deals with the provisions related to the Election Commission of India (ECI).
• It shall consist of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and such number of other Election Commissioners (ECs) as the President may from time to time fix.
• The appointment of CEC and other ECs shall be made by the
• According to the Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991, the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Commissioners hold office for a term of 6 years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.

• Samuel Lalbiakhlua, an 11-year-old from the Saitual hamlet in Mizoram, has become one of India’s youngest paragliding pilots.
• He successfully completed a paragliding session at the world’s second-highest paragliding institute, Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh, on March 16.
• His achievement becomes all the more significant as none from Samuel’s family has ever flown a paraglider. Presently, he is learning paragliding in the Kangra Valley under the guidance of the Bir-Billing Paragliding Association.

• President Droupadi Murmuhas given the additional charge of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.
• He also has the charge of Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• He replaced the Pashupati Kumar Paras, who resigned from the post.
• Pashupati Kumar resigned after the BJP-led NDA announced its seat-sharing pact and gave five seats to the Chirag Paswan-led LJP (Ram Vilas), ignoring his faction’s claims.

• Indian Navy and Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), at Naval Headquarters, New Delhi, symbolising their commitment to promote technology development, innovative solutions and joint R&D.
• The strategic collaboration focuses on joint research and development initiatives involving teams from Indian Navy and IIT Kharagpur.
• The MoU will be co-ordinated by INS Shivaji, Lonavala.
• This alignment signifies a move towards a symbolic relationship between the Academia and the Military, fostering an environment conducive to innovation and knowledge exchange.