India has been ranked 140 out of 156 in the World Happiness Report 2019. Finland topped the list & South Sudan was at the bottom. The report is produced by UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network in partnership with the Ernesto Illy Foundation.
India was ranked 133 in World Happiness Report 2018.
India won 368 medals, including 85 gold, at the Special Olympics World Summer Games, which was held at UAE's Abu Dhabi from March 14 to 21. The Indian team of 284 athletes also clinched 154 silver and 129 bronze medals at the event.
Indian powerlifters bagged the maximum number of medals (96).
Xiaomi launched Mi Pay, a UPI based payments app in India in collaboration with ICICI bank & PayU. Mi Pay app has been approved by the National Payments Council of India (NPCI).
Xiaomi is the market leader of smartphones in India.
International World Water Day is a UN observation day held annually on 22 March. The theme for World Water Day 2019 is ‘Leaving no one behind,’ which is the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
India uses largest amount of groundwater (24% of global total)
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has inked an agreement to invest $50 mil in solar energy project developer Avaada Energy. The investment will come equally from ADB's Ordinary Capital Resources & Leading Asia's Private Infrastructure Fund(LEAP)
LEAP is a funding facility provided by JICA, administered by ADB
Bihar Diwas or Bihar Day is celebrated every year on 22 March to commemorate the state’s separation from Bengal presidency in 1912. This day is a public holiday in Bihar. This day marks the 107th foundation day of Bihar.
Governor of Bihar- Lalji Tandon. Chief Minister- Nitish Kumar
Fitch Ratings cut India's economic growth forecast for the next financial year starting April 1, to 6.8% from its previous estimate of 7% and Fitch also estimated for FY21 to be 7.1%. Earlier on December 6, Fitch Ratings cut India's FY19 forecast to 7.2%.
Fitch Rating HQ- New York, USA CEO- Paul Taylor.
SBI has signed MoU with Bank of China (BoC), the 3rd largest bank in the world by capital size to enhance business synergies between both the banks. SBI has a branch in Shanghai and BOC is opening its branch in Mumbai.
SBI Anywhere changed its name to YONO Lite.
A Brazilian physicist and astronomer Marcelo Gleiser have won the 2019 Templeton Prize for his work blending science and spirituality.
Templeton prize is often referred to as “Nobel Prize of Spirituality”.
Brazil Capital- Brasilia Currency- Real
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) launched a new podcast app 'Shiksha Vani' that will disseminate crucial information to students and parents in a timely manner.
CBSE Chairperson- Anita Karwal HQ- New Delhi