World’s happiest countries ranking:
- India is ranked 118th in the world’s happiest countries ranking.
- It has been revealed that India is behind Pakistan, Palestine, Ukraine and Nepal.
- Finland is the happiest country in the world.
- Finland has topped the ranking for the 8th consecutive year.
- Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands are next in line.
- The list is published every year on March 20, the International Day of Happiness.
- The Centre for Population Research at Oxford University in London, in collaboration with the UN Sustainable Development Goals’ Gallup Research Institute, released the ‘World Happiness Report 2025’ for this annual ranking list.
- The ranking is based on factors including concern for people’s happiness, sharing food, the impact of sharing, individual contribution to gross domestic product, freedom, social support, and health expectations.
March 21: World Forestry Day
- World Forestry Day or International Forestry Day is celebrated every year on March 21 to raise public awareness about the values, importance, and contributions of forests to balancing the life cycle of the Earth.
- World Forestry Day was established in 1971 at the 23rd General Assembly of the European Agricultural Conference.
March 21: World Down Syndrome Day
- World Down Syndrome Day is observed every year on March 21.
- It causes different effects on learning styles, physical characteristics, or health.
- The General Assembly declared March 21 as World Down Syndrome Day in December 2011.
March 21: World Poetry Day
- World Poetry Day is celebrated every year on March 21.
- It was adopted during the 30th session of UNESCO held in Paris in 1999 to celebrate this day on March 21.
Important Facts:
- The Defence Acquisition Council has approved the procurement of military equipment worth Rs 54,000 crore.
- The Ministry of Defence has declared 2025 as the year of reforms.
- The Madras Medical College has been given the Excellence Award by the Central Government for its outstanding performance in research activities.
- Public Health Minister M. Subramanian inaugurated a modern gymnasium built at a cost of Rs 35 lakh in Andal Nagar, near Velachery.
- US President Trump dissolved the US Department of Education.
- The country’s parliament passed a controversial bill to increase the role of the army in Indonesia.
- BCCI has approved the use of saliva in cricket balls.
- Zimbabwean Sports Minister Christy Coventry has been elected as the new president of the International Olympic Committee.
- Christy Coventry was elected as the 10th president of the International Olympic Committee at the 144th session of the International Olympic Committee held in Costa Navarino, Greece.