24th March 2015 - Important Current Affairs updates

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International Affairs

• Today (24th March) is World Tuberculosis Day (TB Day).
• This day is designed to build public awareness about the global epidemic of tuberculosis (TB) and efforts to eliminate the disease. 
• This day is one of eight official global public health campaigns marked by the World Health Organization (WHO). The remaining 7 are, 
1. World Health Day
2. World Blood Donor Day
3. World Immunization Week
4. World Malaria Day
5. World No Tobacco Day
6. World Hepatitis Day 
7. World AIDS Day.
• 4U 9525, a Germanwings Flight carrying 150 people crashed today in a mountain range in Southern France.
• India and China today agreed to take steps needed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border areas, emphasizing it was a pre-requisite for continued growth of bilateral relations. 
• It was decided to increase contact between the forces on the two sides of the border.
• Special Representative of India : Ajit Doval
• Special Representative of China : Yang Jeichi

National Affairs

• The Supreme Court today struck down Section 66 A of the Information and Technology Act.
• This section allows police to arrest people for posting “offensive content” on the internet.
• The court said the public's right to know is directly affected by Section 66 A and the Section clearly affects the right to freedom of speech and expression enshrined under the Constitution of India.
• Maharashtra government has said that those involved in the sale of gutka would be booked under non-bailable sections regarding the offence.
• The manufacture and sale of gutka is banned in Maharashtra, but it is not implemented effectively as there are no such restrictions in neighbouring states due to which the tobacco-laced chewing products are smuggled in. 
• The State Food and Drug Minister Girish Bapat told the Legislative Assembly yesterday that the government is taking steps to enforce the ban strictly. 

People in News

• A 2-year old Dolly Shivani Cherukuri (from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh) enters into the India Book of Records, as an youngest archer.
• Nine days before her third birthday, she became the youngest Indian to score 200 points over five and seven-metre distances.
• This was the first time a two-year old archer scored 388 points in 5 meter and 7 meter event.

Awards & Honors

• 62nd National Film Awards announced.  
• Kannada actor Vijay bagged Best Actor for ‘Nanu Avanalla Avalu’ (Kannada). 
• Kangana Ranaut wins the Best Actress Award for her performance in "Queen".
• Chaitanya Tamhane's Marathi film Court has been named the Best Feature Film.
• Check complete winners list of 62nd National Film Awards 2015 from here. 

Science & Technology

• The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Mission was extended for another six months to further explore the Red Planet and its atmosphere.
• “As the 1,340 kg Mars Orbiter has sufficient fuel (37 kg) to last longer than it was intended earlier, its mission has been extended for another six months,” ISRO announced today.
• The historic mission has completed six months of orbiting the Red Planet.
• Important Note : India became the first country to have entered the Mars Sphere of Influence in its maiden attempt.

Sports

• World Cup
• New Zealand enters World Cup Cricket final for the first time beating South Africa in a thrilling encounter.

Read more Daily Current Affairs updates from here

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