NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Government Sets up special emergency fund ‘PM CARES Fund’ to Fight Against
COVID-19: The
Government of India has set up a public charitable trust under the name of ‘Prime
Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund’ (PM
CARES Fund)’. The primary objective of this dedicated national fund is to deal
with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19
pandemic. Prime Minister is the Chairman of this trust while Defence Minister,
Home Minister and Finance Minister are its other members. The fund has been set
up to enable micro-donations, allowing a large number of people to be able to
contribute with smallest of denominations. Donations to this fund will be
exempted from income tax under section 80(G) of the IT Act. Citizens and
organisations can go to the website pmindia.gov.in and donate to PM CARES Fund.
The country’s largest lender, State Bank of India (SBI) will be hold the
account of the PM Cares Fund.
2.
DRDO develops casualty evacuation bags: The Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) has designed a casualty evacuation bag to transport or
isolate persons infected with COVID-19. The bag is water and air-proof and
treated to deal with biological agents. It is made of non-woven,
water-repellant fabric with air and waterproof zippers as well as a ventilator
with a film to cater Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)
environment with requisite protection against blood and viral penetration. DRDO
will be procuring an initial lot of 500 such bags. DRDO’s Defence
Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), which carries out
research in aero-medical engineering and life support equipment and Nuclear
Chemical and Biological (NBC) protection systems, has developed this bag.
Note: DRDO Chairman: G Satheesh Reddy;
Established: 1958; Headquarters: New Delhi.
3.
Jharkhand govt launches ‘PRAGYAAM’ App to issue e-passes to everyone associated
with delivery of essential services amid lockdown: The Jharkhand
Government has launched a mobile app named PRAGYAAM to issue e-passes to those
associated with delivery of essential services such as regular supply services,
medical, banking and other necessary services, during the national lockdown to
combat COVID-19. The District Transport Officers have been given authority to
issue e-passes to vehicles through online mode after verification of the
documents uploaded through the app. Officials can also verify the status of the
e-passes on the app and other details, including mobile number and identity
card of the person engaged in such duties to curb the chances of fake e-passes.
Note: Governor of Jharkhand: Droupadi
Murmu; Capital: Ranchi
4.
Rajasthan Police launches a mobile app “RajCop citizens app”: Rajasthan police
launched a mobile app named ‘RajCop citizen app’ to enable individuals and
company employees in the state take permission for venturing out in necessary
conditions. It will deliver an advance lockdown pass system to ease the life of
people involved in essential services. It has been launched on Android Play
Store in English. The app has been developed by Data Ingenious GLobal Limited.
Note: CM of Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot;
Capital of Rajasthan: Jaipur; Governor of Rajasthan: Kalraj Mishra.
5.
Andhra Pradesh government set up Mobile Hand-wash facilities: Andhra Pradesh
State government has set up Mobile Hand-wash facilities for the benefit of Slum
Dwellers amidst lockdown. This facility has become handy for both the state
authorities and slum dwellers to access facility of hands cleaning as
sanitization and social distancing is the only way of protection for COVID-19.
A water tanker is fitted to a vehicle with four tap connections, four wash basins,
2 soap dispensers for better health access and sanitation facilities.
Note: Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh: Y.
S. Jaganmohan Reddy; Governor of Andhra Pradesh: Biswa Bhushan Harichandan;
Capital of Andhra Pradesh: Amaravati.
6.
IIT Guwahati team develops drone to sanitise large areas: Indian Institute of
Technology, Guwahati has developed a drone to sanitize large areas such as
roads, parks and footpaths. The drone comprises of automated sprayer which will
help the authorities to sanitize large areas in order to prevent the spread of
COVID-19. The drone has a signal range of 3 km and can cover more than 1.2
hectare in one flight and more than 60 hectares in a day.
7.
IIT Bombay develops two apps to track quarantine violations: IIT Bombay develops
two smartphone apps ““Corontine” and “Safe” to track quarantine violations.
CORONTINE uses GPS-enabled geofencing to create a virtual geographic boundary
and alerts authorities when boundaries are breached. SAFE was used by IIT-B for
attendance. It records the time and location data of the place and uses facial
recognition software to verify the person uploading the data.
8.
‘Modi Kitchen’ set up in Tamil Nadu: A
‘Modi Kitchen’ has been set up in the Kovai (Coimbatore), Tamil Nadu. The
kitchen which has a capacity to serve 500 meals per day will remain operational
till 14th April 2020. The kitchen has decided to deliver food parcels within a
radius of 10 kms till April 14th. The meal includes a main dish, two kinds of
side dishes and a sweet and is prepared under advice from nutrition experts.
Note: Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu: Thiru
Edappadi K. Palaniswami; Governor of Tamil Nadu: Banwarilal Purohit.
9.
New Technology To disinfect Maharashtra hospitals in Covid 19 fight: Pune based startup
company has developed a new air-purifying technology named as ‘scitech airon’
which offers an effective solution for India’s fight against Covid 19 by
reducing the viral load of infected areas within a room significantly within an
hour. The technology has been developed under the NIDHI PRAYAS program
initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) that has release Rs
1 crore to scale up the product.
10.
GoI extended crop loan interest benefits to farmer till 31 May: Government has
extended the benefit of 2% Interest Subvention to Banks and 3% Prompt Repayment
Incentive to all farmers till 31st of May 2020 due to national lockdown in the
wake of COVID-19. The interest subsidy has been extended to all crop loans upto
3 lakh rupees given by banks. This will help farmers to repay such loans at the
extended period at 4% per annum interest without attracting any penalty.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
ADB to invest USD 100 million in Indian infrastructure sector via NIIF: Asian Development
Bank (ADB) will invest USD 100 million funding for the Indian infrastructure
sector through the government-promoted National Investment and Infrastructure
Fund’s (NIIF). ADB will be investing in the National Investment and
Infrastructure Fund’s (NIIF) fund of funds which will ensure that the actual
money invested will be a few times more than the USD 100 million. The total
size of NIIF’s fund of funds has now grown to USD 700 million, with ADB’s
commitment. This will help NIIF commit money to private equity fund managers
who may be struggling to raise money from overseas sources. NIIF is India’s
first sovereign wealth fund that was set up by the Government of India in
February 2015.
Note: President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa;
Formation of ADB: 19 December 1966; Headquarters of ADB: Manila, Philippines;
Membership of ADB: 68 countries.
2.
Tata Power’s JV Commences Commercial Operations of 178MW Shuakhevi Hydro Power
Project in Georgia: Adjaristsqali
Georgia LLC (AGL), a Joint Venture between Tata Power, Norway’s Clean Energy
Invest (CEI), and International Financial Corporation (IFC) started its
commercial operation of the 178 MW Shuakhevi Hydro Power Project (HPP) on 30
March 2020 in southwest Georgia. The Shuakhevi HPP is the only project in
Georgia’s energy sector which has been funded by three of the largest financial
institutes comprising of European Bank of Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and IFC, a member of the World Bank Group.
It is also the largest energy project built in Georgia in the last seven
decades. The overall cost of the project is approximated at USD 500 million.
The project will generate around 450 GWh of clean energy to reduce the emission
of greenhouse gases by more than 200,000 tonnes a year.
Note: TATA Power CEO: Praveer Sinha; TATA
Power headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra.
3.
Apple launches COVID-19 information app: Apple has launched a new dedicated
app and website for users across the US. The app provides accurate and credible
information to users about the COVID-19 pandemic. The new COVID-19 app and
website provide the needed guidance and latest information from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Note: Apple Inc. CEO: Tim Cook;
Headquarters of Apple Inc: California, USA.
4.
International Transgender Day of Visibility: 31 March: The International
Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) occurs annually on March 31 to raise
awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a
celebrate their contributions to society. The day was founded by US-based
transgender activist Rachel Crandall of Michigan in 2009.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 rescheduled to year 2021: The Olympic Games
Tokyo 2020 have been postponed by one year and will be held from 23 July to 8
August, 2021. The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 was earlier scheduled to be held
from 24 July to 9 August 2020. The decision to postpone the 32nd edition of the
tournament was taken by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) along with
the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the
Government of Japan. The decision has been taken by the IOC amid the COVID-19
pandemic.
Note: Prime Minister of Japan: Shinzo Abe;
Capital: Tokyo; Currency: Japanese yen.
President of International Olympic
Committee (IOC): Thomas Bach; Tokyo 2020 President: Mori Yoshiro.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
MCA introduces ‘Companies Fresh Start’ Scheme: Ministry of
Corporate Affairs (MCA) has introduced the “Companies Fresh Start Scheme, 2020”
and modified “LLP Settlement Scheme, 2020”. The new scheme has been introduced
to provide relief to law abiding companies and the Limited Liability
Partnerships (LLPs) amid COVID-19 pandemic. MCA has also revised “LLP
Settlement Scheme, 2020”. The scheme also provides immunity from penal
proceedings against delayed filings. Substantive violation of law will not be
exempted.
Note: Union Minister of Corporate Affairs:
Nirmala Sitharaman.
2.
IBBI amended CIRP regulation: Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India
(IBBI) amends CIRP Regulations on to provide relief in corporate insolvency
resolution process due to COVID-19 outbreak. According to it lockdown period
shall not be counted in relation to a corporate insolvency resolution process.
The amended regulations are effective from 29th March 2020. These are available
at www.mca.gov.in and www.ibbi.gov.in.
3.
Ind-Ra cuts GDP growth forecast for India to 3.6 pc for FY21: Credit rating
agency India Ratings (Ind-Ra) has cut its FY21 growth forecast for India to
3.6% due to coronavirus lockdown. It has assumed that a full or partial
lockdown will continue till end of April and economic activities will be
gradually restored only after May.
OBITUARIES
1.
Tamil folk singer and actress Paravai Muniyamma passes away: Tamil folk singer
and actress Paravai Muniyamma passed away suffering from age-related ailments.
She was born on June 26, 1937, in Paravai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu (TN). The acting
career of Muniyamma began in the year 2003 in the film Dhool. Her song “Madurai
Veeran” became a huge hit. She had appeared in over 50 films, usually playing
grandmother roles. In March 2019, Muniyamma was honoured with the Kalaimamani
title by the Tamil Nadu government.
2.
Japanese comedian Ken Shimura passes away due to coronavirus: Veteran Japanese
comedian Ken Shimura (70 years) passed away due to coronavirus. The actor was
set to star in his first feature film “God of Cinema”, directed by Yoji Yamada.
Shimura grew up in the west Tokyo neighbourhood of Higashimurayama and he
started his career in showbiz when he joined the Japanese rock band and comedy
group The Drifters, famous for an opening for The Beatles during their early
tours of Japan. Shimura tested positive for COVID-19 on March 23.
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