25th march 2016

A.Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruyff passes away

1.The Dutch football legend and coach Johan Cruyff passed away after a long battle with lung cancer in Barcelona, Spain. He was 68. 

2.Cruyff was one of the most famous exponents of the football philosophy known as Total Football. 

3.He is widely regarded to be one of the greatest players in football history. About Johan Cruyff Born as Hendrik Johannes Cruijff on 25 April 1947 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. 

4.Club Career: He has started his career at Ajax FC where he won eight Eredivisie titles and three European Cups in a row from 1971-73. In 1973, he had moved to Barcelona FC for a then-world record transfer fee of $2 million. 

5.With Barcelona FC, he had won La Liga in his first season and was named European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d’Ors) 1971, 1973 and 1974. 

B.US comedian Garry Shandling passes away

1.Legendary US writer, actor, and comedian Garry Shandling passed away in Los Angeles due to heart attack. He was 66. 

2.He has influenced a generation of comedians with his Emmy Award winning TV series, ‘It’s Garry Shandling’s Show’. 

About Garry Shandling 

1.Shandling’s had started his career as a writer in the 1970’s television show Sanford and Son. 

2.He was known for breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to the audience in his show which was aired from 1986 to 1990.

3. From 1992 to 1998, he starred in the critically acclaimed Larry Sanders Show. He had served as host of the Grammy Awards for 4 times and as host of the Emmy Awards for 3 times. 

4.He also had acted in movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Iron Man 2, Dr Dolittle, Over the Hedge and Zoolander. 

5.Awards and Honours: He was nominated for 19 Primetime Emmy Awards and 2 Golden Globe Awards, along with many other awards and nominations.

C.Union Cabinet gives nod to implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin

1.The Union Cabinet has given its approval for the implementation of the rural housing scheme of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana- Gramin. 

2.Under the scheme, financial assistance will be provided for construction of pucca houses to all houseless and households living in dilapidated houses. 

Key facts 

1.The expenditure involved in implementing the project is Rs.81975 crore in a span of 3 years from 2016-17 to 2018-19. 

2.Under the scheme, it is proposed to provide assistance to one crore households for construction of pucca house. 

3.It will be implemented in rural areas throughout the country except in Delhi and Chandigarh. 

4.The beneficiaries will be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC)-2011 data ensuring total transparency and objectivity. 

5.The cost of houses would be shared between Centre and States Governments in the ratio 60:40 in plain areas and 90:10 for North Eastern and hilly states. 

6.Under this scheme, annual list of beneficiaries will be identified from the total list through participatory process by the Gram Sabha. 

7.Funds will be transferred electronically directly to the account of the beneficiary. He will be able to track the progress of his payments through the app. Inspection will be done though a mobile app. 

D.March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

1.Every year 25th March is being observed as International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. 

2.Significance of the day: 
It honours and remembers those who suffered and died as a consequence of the transatlantic slave trade. 

3.It also aims at raising awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice Transatlantic slave trade which had taken place over the span 400 years is considered as the worst violation of human rights in history in which more than 15 million men, women and children were the victims. 

4.2016 Theme: “Remember Slavery: Celebrating the Heritage and Culture of the African Diaspora and its Roots”. 

5.It draws attention to the rich African traditions and culture that have impacted life in countries which were involved in the slave trade. 

6.It also marks the major contributions African diaspora in all aspects of life in these countries. 

7.It also highlights the cultural linkages that exist among people of African descent throughout the world.