Relevance IN - Prelims ( about World water day ) + Mains ( GS III environment conservation)

What's the NEWS

• World Water Day is an annual UN observance day (always on 22 March) that highlights the importance of freshwater.

• The day is used to advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

Know! about World Water Day

• World Water Day is celebrated around the world with a variety of events. These can be educational, theatrical, musical or lobbying in nature.

• The day can also include campaigns to raise money for water projects. The first World Water Day, designated by the United Nations, was commemorated in 1993.Each year many countries celebrate World Water Day.

• UN-Water is the convener for World Water Day and selects a theme for each year in consultation with UN organizations that share an interest in that year's focus.

• The theme for 2019 is "Leaving no one behind" and encourages people to consider marginalized groups as these are often overlooked and discriminated against when they try to access safe water.

• The focus on universal access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is in line with the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6.

• The UN World Water Development Report (WWDR) is released each year around World Water Day.

Know! more about World Water Day

• Sustainable Development Goal 6 is crystal clear: water for all by 2030. By definition, this means leaving no one behind. But today, billions of people are still living without safe water - their households, schools, workplaces, farms and factories struggling to survive and thrive.

• Marginalized groups - women, children, refugees, indigenous peoples, disabled people and many others - are often overlooked, and sometimes face discrimination, as they try to access and manage the safe water they need.

• This World Water Day, 22nd March, is about tackling the water crisis by addressing the reasons why so many people are being left behind.

Defence
Indian Air Force to participate in Langkawi International Maritime Aero Expo (LIMA) 2019
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about LIMA 2019 )

What's the NEWS

• Langkawi International Maritime Aero Expo (LIMA-2019) is planned in Langkawi, Malaysia from 26 March 2019 to 30 March 2019.

• Indian Air Force is participating in the Maritime Aero Expo for the first time, during which it will showcase its indigenously developed LCA fighter aircraft.

• Participation of IAF in LIMA-2019 will provide an opportunity to air-warriors to interact with their Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) counterparts and foster close relationship between the two services.

• This will serve as a foundation for any future interaction with the Malaysian Air Force. It will also provide an opportunity to RMAF to assess the capabilities of LCA.

Know! more about LIMA
• The Langkawi International Maritime & Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) is the largest show of its kind within the Asia Pacific region.

• Its impressive list of international exhibitors and suppliers is more than matched by the supportive presence of industry elites, which range from senior Government officials, and military and civil delegates, to industry movers and shakers and more.
• Held biennially since its debut in 1991, LIMA is an ideal platform where industry stakeholders could engage and expand their networks towards forging new partnerships and business agreements.

• Its insightful round tables and conferences, as well as business forums offer access to invaluable information that enables businesses to stay ahead of the competition and seize new opportunities in the dynamic market of Asia Pacific.

Culture
Navroz Festival
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about the Navroz fest )

What's the NEWS
• Navroz is a 3,000-year-old Zoroastrian tradition, a ritual celebration that signals the start of Spring and the Persian new year.
Know! all about Navroz
• In more modern times, in A.D. 1079, a king of Iran named Jalaluddin Malekshah started observing it on March 21.

• In the 18th century, a rich tradesman from Surat, Nusservanji Kohyaji, who often travelled to Iran, came to know about Navroz and began celebrating the day back home; that brought the festival to India.

• Over a period of time, the festival was introduced in India on a wide scale by members of the Parsi community who eventually connected it to Jamshed, the illustrious king of Iran. Thus, the day came to be known as Jamshedi Navroz.

• King Jamshed, like other ancient kings of Iran, was known for his truthfulness and righteousness. For Parsis, celebrating Navroz in its true sense means living truthfully and walking on the righteous path.

• Navroz is the Iranian New Year celebrated by several ethnolinguistic communities around the world irrespective of their religious background.

• In India Parsis who follow Zoroastrianism celebrate Navroz. Navroz was celebrated on March 21st.
• Navroz is also the day of the Spring equinox and the rituals are performed based on the movements of the sun during the course of the day

Social Issues
World Down Syndrome Day
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about World Down Syndrome)

What's the NEWS
• World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is on March 21. On this day, people with Down syndrome and those who live and work with them throughout the world organize and participate in activities and events to raise public awareness and create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome.

Know! all about Down syndrome
• Down syndrome is a naturally occurring chromosomal arrangement that has always been a part of the human condition, exists in all regions across the globe and commonly results in variable effects on learning styles, physical characteristics or health.

• Adequate access to health care, to early intervention programmes and to inclusive education, as well as appropriate research, are vital to the growth and development of the individual.

• In December 2011, the General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day

• The General Assembly decided, with effect from 2012, to observe World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March each year, and Invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome.

For WDSD 2019, Down Syndrome International focuses on:
• Leave no one behind: All people with Down syndrome must have opportunities to live fulfilling lives, included on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society.

• The 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development, a global plan of action for people, planet and prosperity, pledges that "no one will be left behind".

Know! more about Down Syndrome
• Down Syndrome is a genetic disorder which results in delayed physical and mental growth in individuals.

• The genetic disorder has been named after British doctor John Langdon Down who fully described the syndrome in 1866.

• In normal conditions, people have only two copies of Chromosome 21 whereas those with Down's syndrome there is a presence of a part or full of the third copy of chromosome 21.

• Even though Down's Syndrome is incurable, the quality of life of those suffering could be considerably improved by giving proper medical support and education.

• World Down Syndrome Day 21 March is observed as World Syndrome Day to increase global awareness about the syndrome by the United Nations since 2012

• March 21st was chosen to signify uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome

Environment Conservation
International Day of Forests 2019
Relevance IN - Prelims ( about IDF 2019)
What's the NEWS
• The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests (IDF) in 2012.

• The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.

• The theme for each International Day of Forests is chosen by the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. The theme for 2019 is Forests and Education.

Know! more about forest day
• Every 21 March the United Nations raises awareness of the importance of all types of forests. This year the International Day of Forests promotes education to Learn to Love Forests.
• It underscores the importance of education at all levels in achieving sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation. Healthy forests mean healthy, resilient communities and prosperous economies.

• The theme ‘Forests and Education' underscores the importance of education at all levels in achieving sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation.

Space Awareness
Evidence of water, particle plumes discovered on asteroid Bennu: NASA

Relevance IN - Prelims ( about Bennu and OSIRIS-Rex )

What's the NEWS
• Shortly after the discovery of the particle plumes on January 6, the mission science team increased the frequency of observations, and subsequently detected additional particle plumes during the following two months.

Know! more about the recent observations
• A NASA spacecraft, that will return a sample of a near-Earth asteroid named Bennu to Earth in 2023, has discovered plumes erupting from the cosmic body's surface - among a numerous other findings including evidence of water-bearing minerals.

• Bennu also revealed itself to be more rugged than expected, challenging the mission team to alter its flight and sample collection plans, due to the rough terrain.

Know! about NASA'S OSIRIS-Rex mission
• OSIRIS-REx launched in 2016 to explore Bennu, which is the smallest body ever orbited by spacecraft.

• Studying Bennu will allow researchers to learn more about the origins of our solar system, the sources of water and organic molecules on Earth, the resources in near-Earth space, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth.

• Bennu is the target of NASA's Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission, which began orbiting the asteroid on December 31 last year.

• Bennu, which is only slightly wider than the height of the Empire State Building, may contain unaltered material from the very beginning of our solar system.

• Scientists have also discovered evidence of abundant water-bearing minerals on the surface of Bennu. Using early spectral data from NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft orbiting the asteroid, the team identified infrared properties similar to those in a type of meteorite called carbonaceous chondrites.

• Scientists are interested in the composition of Bennu because similar objects may have seeded the Earth with water and organic materials

Prelims Practise Question

Consider the following statement

1. Langkawi International Maritime Aero Expo (LIMA-2019) is planned in Langkawi, Singapore from 26 March 2019 to 30 March 2019.

2. Indian Air Force is participating in the Maritime Aero Expo for the third time, and in this edition India will showcase its indigenously developed LCA fighter aircraft.

3. World Down Syndrome Day 21 March is observed as World Syndrome Day to increase global awareness about the syndrome by the United Nations since 2012

4. March 21st was chosen to signify uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome

Find the correct statement from the option given below

a. 1 and 2
b. 2 and 3
c. 3 and 4
d. 1 and 4

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