* Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched Mo Jeeban programme and urged people to take a pledge to stay indoors.

* The “Mo Jeeban” programme was launched for the containment of COVID-19 pandemic.

* Through Mo Jeeban programme, the chief minister of Odisha urged the people of the state to take a pledge to stay indoors.

* He also stated that if people will go outside their home, they may bring the coronavirus at home which will affect their family.

* He also urged the people of Odisha to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds before entering their house.

* Indian Football Captain Sunil Chhetri was selected among 28 members for FIFA video campaign against Coronavirus.

* FIFA and WHO (World Health Organization) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus by launching ‘Pass the message to kick out coronavirus’ (awareness campaign) led by world-renowned footballers.

* The ‘Pass the message to kick out Coronavirus’ campaign promotes 5 key steps such as hand washing, coughing etiquette, not touching your face, physical distance and staying home if feeling unwell and these steps protect the people’s health according to WHO guidance.

* The 28 players will be involved in the video campaign to be published in 13 languages, which includes some of the best-known players like Argentina Superstar Lionel Messi and World Cup Winners like Philip Lahm, Iker Casillas and Carles Puyol.

* Indian Bank has launched five special emergency loans for large corporates, medium enterprises, MSMEs, salaried and pensioners as a support to its customers effecting through economic slump and lockdown because of COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier, State Bank of India (SBI), Union Bank of India (UBI), Bank of India (BOI) initiated schemes to provide liquidity relief to borrowers.

* International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI), Hyderabad (Telangana) has developed ‘ultrafast laser surface texturing technology’, which can enhance the efficiency of fuel in internal combustion (IC) engines by reducing friction.

* By using this technology, the friction of the engines has been reduced by controlling the size, density and shape of the micro-surface texture features, which are created by using a pulsating laser beam.

* Its functions as a grants-in-aid institution of the Government of India’s Department of Science & Technology (DST).

• US Marines and UAE Emirati forces conducted the biennial exercise, named Native Fury at Abu Dhabi.

• The biennial exercise, called Native Fury, shows the close ties between American forces and the United Arab Emirates, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula home to Abu Dhabi.

* The International Olympic Committee and Tokyo Olympic organizers agreed to move the Tokyo Games to 2021. Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the head of the International Olympic Committee agreed to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Games by a year in an extraordinary move, unprecedented in peacetime, as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic.

* Telugu New Year day ‘Ugadi (Gudi Padwa) is celebrated across the two Telugu states, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh to mark the beginning of the Hindu Lunar calendar.

* Though the nation-wide lockdown due to coronavirus dampens the traditional fervour and gaiety, people are observing the customary festivities.

* The date of Ugadi is based on calculations of the position of the moon dating back to 12th century. Ugadi begins on the first new moon after the Spring Equinox.

* Ugadi is celebrated the next morning as an Indian day starts from sunrise. This date usually falls in late March or early April in the western calendar and this date moon signifies a change in the seasons and essentially means Ugadi is a spring festival.

* In Maharashtra, it is known as Gudipadawa and may be called Gudi Padava in other parts of India.

* IndusInd Bank has appointed Sumant Kathpalia as the Managing Director and CEO.

* The appointment was announced as Romesh Sobti retired as the MD & CEO of the Bank after a 12 year stint.

* Kathpalia is a career banker with over 33 years of experience in large multinational banks such as Citibank, Bank of America, ABN AMRO and IndusInd bank.

* United Nations released the World Happiness Report on the International Day of Happiness, 2020.

* Finland is ranked first in the report and India ranked 144.

* DBS Bank India has entered into a partnership with Bharti AXA to offer a complimentary insurance plan for its DBS Treasures customers in India.

* The complimentary insurance plan covers all medical conditions, including COVID-19 and up to 10 days of hospitalisation, with a cover of INR5000 ($70) per day, for a period of 30 days.