? President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) to Bimal Julka. Bimal Julka is a 1979 batch retired IAS officer of Madhya Pradesh cadre.

? The Indian Army’s International Seminar “Pragyan Conclave 2020” has begin at Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi. The seminar has been organised by Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS).

? Ajay Bhushan Pandey, a 1984 batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Finance Secretary of India. He will succeed Rajiv Kumar, who retired from the position in February 2020.

? Luxembourg, the 7th smallest country in Europe, has been made public transport free to reduce traffic pressure on the road. It becomes the 1st country in the world to make public transport free.

? The Reserve Bank of India has capped the withdrawal limit of Yes Bank account holders to Rs 50,000. The bank will not be allowed to pay more than this amount to any account holder- savings, current or others.

? The 35th edition of AAHAR – the Food and Hospitality fair began in New Delhi. This fair is being organized by India Trade Promotion Organisation, ITPO, with support of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Agriculture and Processed Food Products Development Authority and several apex industry associations.

? The Union Government has ordered closure of all primary schools, including both private and government till March 31, 2020. The primary schools are till Class V.

? Multan Sultans’ 30-year-old South African batsman Rilee Rossouw smashed the fastest ever hundred in the history of Pakistan Super League.

? President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the 61st annual awards of the National Lalit Kala Akademi to 15 artists at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

? India was among the highest growing country in the Asia Pacific, Japan and China (APJC) region during the last fiscal year for global networking major Cisco.

? US President Donald Trump is expected to sign a new bill worth $8.3 billion to combat the spread of coronavirus in the nation and outside. The will provide funds to the federal public health agencies to conduct tests, potential treatment, get vaccines and help the local units to respond to the virus outbreak.

? The government has launched a special campaign to take forward the momentum of empowerment of girls and women through education.

? Seventeen planets were discovered recently by astronomers at the University of British Columbia. These planets have been discovered by the Kepler space telescope of the National Aeronautical and Space Administration. NASA’s four-year Kepler mission studied about two million stars by using the transit method.

? Former India hockey player Balbir Singh Kullar, who was a part of the 1968 Olympics bronze-winning team, has died. He was 77.

? The TIME Magazine has included former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi and freedom fighter Amrit Kaur in the list of 100 powerful women of the world of the last century.

? The country”s premier agri-research body ICAR signed an agreement with Hardiwar-based Patanjali Bio Research Institute to undertake research work as well as training and education.

? NASA has named the rover made for its Mars mission as ‘Perseverance’. NASA has scheduled a flight to Mars in July 2020.

? Indian Railways has launched its first ”Restaurant on Wheels” at the circulating area of West Bengal’s Asansol railway station.

? The International Women’s Day is observed across the world on 8th March. The day is observed to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide.

? In Tennis, World Number 2 Rafael Nadal captured his first title of the year, defeating unseeded Taylor Fritz in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in the final of the ATP Mexico Open.

? India will no longer provide passport to government employees under suspension or who have been granted sanction of prosecution over corruption charges. The decision came after the Personnel Ministry in consultation with the Central Vigilance Commission reviewed the existing guidelines.

? World number one Novak Djokovic has won 79th career title after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 to claim his fifth Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title.