Daily Current Affairs, 25th March 2019

1) World Tuberculosis Day: 24th March

•Each year, World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is commemorated on March 24 to raise public awareness about the devastating health, social and economic consequences of TB, and to step up efforts to end the global TB epidemic. The theme of World TB Day 2019 – ‘It’s time’. 

•The date marks the day in 1882 when Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB, which opened the way towards diagnosing and curing this disease.

2) NITI Aayog’s FinTech Conclave Held In New Delhi

•NITI Aayog has organized a day-long FinTech Conclave at Dr. Ambedkar International Center, New Delhi. The Conclave was inaugurated by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.

•The objective of the conference is to shape India’s continued ascendancy in FinTech, build the narrative for future strategy and policy efforts, and to deliberate steps for comprehensive financial inclusion.

3) Vice Admiral Karambir Singh To Take Over As Next Chief of Naval Staff

•The Government of India has appointed Vice Admiral Karambir Singh, presently Flag Officer Commander-in-Chief (FOC-in-C) Eastern Naval Command as next Chief of the Naval Staff with effect from May 31, 2019. The present Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba retires on the same day.

•Born on November 03, 1959, Vice Admiral Karambir Singh was commissioned on July 01, 1980 into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy. Vice Admiral Karambir Singh is a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. Vice Admiral Karambir Singh has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM). 

4) Book Titled ‘Every Vote Counts’ of Navin Chawla Launched

•Former Vice-President Hamid Ansari launched the book titled ‘Every Vote Counts-The Story of India’s Elections’. The author of this book is former Chief Election Commissioner Navin Chawla. 

5) IGI Airport Delhi Becomes The 12th Busiest Airport In The World

•In accordance with the preliminary world airport traffic rankings for 2018 released by Airports Council International (ACI), Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) of New Delhi has elevated 4 ranks to reach at 12th spot in terms of the busiest airport as compared to 2017’s 16th spot.

•The list of world’s busiest airports by passenger traffic ranking has been topped by Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (US) followed by Beijing Capital International Airport (China) and Dubai International Airport (UAE).

6) India Ranks 76th On WEF Global Energy Transition Index

•India has moved up 2 places to rank 76th on a global energy transition index. The annual list, compiled by Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF), has ranked 115economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability.

•The report stated that India is amongst the countries with high pollution levels and has a relatively high CO2 intensity in its energy system. Sweden remains on the top and is followed by Switzerland and Norway in the top three.