Daily GK Updates - 11th April, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Govt extends 7th Economic Census data collection period by six months till Sept 30, 2020: The government has extended the data collection period for the Seventh Economic Census by six months till 30th September 2020. Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation made this announcement. The ministry had put on hold various economic surveys including those to measure unemployment and domestic tourism besides a multiple indicator survey, till March 31 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

2. National Safe Motherhood Day: April 11: National Safe Motherhood Day is observed on April 11 every year. National Safe Motherhood Day is an initiative of the White Ribbon Alliance India (WRAI), to enforce that women must have the availability and adequate access to care during pregnancy childbirth and postnatal services. At the request of WRAI, an alliance of 1800 organizations, in 2003, the Government of India declared April 11th, the anniversary of Kasturba Gandhi’s birth, as National Safe Motherhood Day. India is the 1st country in the world to have socially declared a National Safe Motherhood Day.

3. Indian railways designs mobile doctor booth called ‘CHARAK’ for zero-contact check-ups: The West Central Railway’s Coach Rehabilitation Workshop (CRWS) in Madhya Pradesh’s (MP) Bhopal city, has created a  mobile doctor booth called “CHARAK” to eliminate the possibility of physical contact between the doctor and the coronavirus (COVID-19) infected patient. A viral barrier chamber has been built in the railway compartment itself, through which doctors will be able to examine patients without direct physical contact. This system will prove to be very helpful as there is a shortage of PPE (Personal protective equipment) and medical staff at this time. The mobile booth can go to remote villages & can also be taken up to 500 meters by hand.

4. NIPER-Guwahati designs innovative 3D products to fight COVID-19: The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research - Guwahati designed two products that will help in the fight against the outbreak of COVID-19.  The first one is a 3D-printed hands-free object that could be used to help open or close doors, windows, drawers. The second product is a 3D-printed antimicrobial face-shield to control the spread of coronavirus. The face shield is also easy to design and it is possible to have rapid development of prototypes.

5. Flipkart, Tata Consumer tie up to distribute, deliver essentials: E-commerce firm Flipkart and Tata Consumer Products Ltd have partnered to distribute essential food and beverage products to Indians. This will be made through a system where the latter’s distributors will list as marketplace sellers on the former’s platform. Consumers can use the Flipkart platform to buy different combo packs of essential products such as beverages (Tata Tea and Coffee) and food (Tata Sampann Spices, pulses and others) offered by Tata Consumer Products.

6. CSIR-NCL & BEL ink partnership to developed IR Thermometer and OEU: CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory (NCL) Pune, Maharashtra has designed and developed Digital IR Thermometer and Oxygen Enrichment Unit (OEU) to assist within the mitigation of the Coronavirus outbreak. To speed-up, the project NCL has partnered with Bharat Electronics Ltd, Pune (BEL).

Note: National Chemical Laboratory established: 1950; National Chemical Laboratory location: Pune, Maharashtra.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. African Development Bank Group Launches $10 billion Response Facility to curb COVID-19: The African Development Bank has announced the creation of a COVID-19 Response Facility of upto USD 10 billion, to assist Continent’s member countries in fighting against the coronavirus pandemic. The fund includes:

$5.5 billion for operations in African Development Bank countries

$3.1 billion for sovereign and regional operations for countries under the African Development Fund, the bank’s arm that caters to fragile countries

$1.35 billion for private sector operations.

Earlier, in March 2020, the Bank launched a record-breaking $3 billion Fight COVID-19 Social Bond, the world’s largest US dollar-denominated social bond ever on the international capital market. Besides this, the Board of Directors had also approved a $2 million grant for the World Health Organization (WHO) for its efforts on the continent.

Note: African Development Bank headquarter- Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

2. Raghuram Rajan appointed to the 12-member advisory group to IMF MD: Former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has been appointed to a 12-member advisory group to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Mr Rajan is currently working as a professor at the prestigious University of Chicago. The External Advisory Group will provide its perspectives from around the world on developments and policy issues to the exceptional challenges surrounding the global coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact.

3. Apple, Google join hands on 'contact tracing' technology to curb Covid-19: Apple and Google are joining hands to create technology that leverages smartphones for contact tracing activities for Covid-19. This will use the Bluetooth low energy technology built into modern-day smartphones. BY these governments and health agencies will be able to better identify individuals via a voluntary contract tracking mechanism. This announcement comes at a time when the world is struggling to contain the Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic.

4. Bharat Biotech, University of Wisconsin, FluGen tie up for COVID-19 vaccine: The University of Wisconsin Madison, vaccine companies FluGen and Bharat Biotech tie-up develop a vaccine against COVID-19 called CoroFlu. CoroFlu will build on the backbone of FluGen''s flu vaccine candidate known as M2SR. Based on an invention by UW-Madison virologists and FluGen co-founders Yoshihiro Kawaoka and Gabriele Neumann, M2SR is a self-limiting version of the influenza virus that induces an immune response against the flu.

Note: Headquarters of Bharat Biotech: Hyderabad,Telangana; Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech: Krishna M Ella.

5. India ranks high on “Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker”: The “Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker” has identified India’s response to Covid-19 as one of the most stringent in the world. This data are based on tracking 73 countries. This tracker is created by researchers from Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. The tracker is designed to systematically record government responses worldwide and aggregate the scores into a common ‘Stringency Index’.

Note: Oxford University Headquarters: Oxford, United Kingdom.

The Oxford English Dictionary is the principal historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. India retains 108th slot at FIFA’s latest ranking: India football team retained its 108th spot in the latest FIFA rankings. Belgium and France retained their first and second positions respectively in the latest rankings. Brazil is on the third place followed by England. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the whole raft of international fixtures including qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments has been postponed.

Note: Headquarters of FIFA: Zürich, Switzerland; President of FIFA Gianni Infantino.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SIDBI Enhances Limit of SAFE Loans from Rs 50 Lakh to Rs 2 Crore: The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) had launched the initiative Sidbi Assistance to Facilitate Emergency (SAFE) in March 2020 to provide loans up to Rs 50 lakh to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) that are manufacturing medical supplies for fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). SIDBI announced that it has raised the limit of SAFE loans from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 2 crore. Apart from this, SIDBI has launched a new product named SAFE Plus under which it will provide emergency working capital of up to Rs 1 crore (Rs 100 lakh) to small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) against their confirmed government orders. This loan will also be offered collateral free and disbursed within 48 hours at an interest rate of 5 percent.

2. RBI launches Twitter campaign to promote digital modes of payment: The Reserve Bank of India launched a twitter campaign urging bank customers to adopt digital modes of payment that are convenient and safe. RBI emphasised on transacting digitally as it gives the convenience of making payments anytime and anywhere. Through the campaign, RBI reiterated the multiple digital payment options such as NEFT, IMPS, UPI and BBPS that are available 24*7. The face of the campaign is Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.

3. Flipkart inks partnership with ICICI Lombard to offer health plan for Covid-19: Flipkart Private Limited inks partnership with ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Limited & Go Digit General Insurance to launched two health insurance policies.

1. ‘Covid-19 Protection Cover’ by ICICI Lombard : It is priced at an annual premium of Rs 159. The product provides an instant Rs 25,000 benefit plan paid to the customer if he tests positive for Covid-19.

2. ‘Digit Illness Group Insurance’ offered by Digit Insurance: It allows consumers to avail a hospitalization cover up to a sum assured of Rs 1 lakh with an annual premium of Rs 511. Further, there is no limit on room rent or ICU. The policy covers 30-day pre and 60 days post hospitalization fee. Policyholders can also avail 1 per cent of the sum assured for ambulance services.

Note: Headquarters of ICICI Lombard: Mumbai, Maharashtra; MD & CEO of ICICI Lombard: Bhargav Dasgupta; Digit general insurance Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka.

4. Jana Small Finance Bank rolls out digital banking platform- DigiGen: Jana Small Finance Bank has launched 'DigiGen', a digital banking platform where customers can digitally open a savings account and fixed deposit instantly; anytime, anywhere. DigiGen onboarding is a three-step process to open an account. True to its brand promise ‘paise ki kadar’, customers are eligible for 4.5 per cent interest rates on savings account and up to 7.5 per cent interest on fixed deposits.

Note: D and CEO of Jana Small Finance Bank: Ajay Kanwal.

5. Axis Bank receives govt approval to collect funds for PM CARES Fund: Axis Bank has received the mandate to collect donations for the PM CARES Fund. All contributions from individuals and corporates can be made to the account opened by Axis Bank.  All contributions to the fund are exempt under Section 80 (G). Contributions can be made to the PM Care Fund through State Bank of India (SBI), and ICICI Bank.

6. ACC approves extension of Bank Board Bureau members’ tenure by 2 years: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the extension of tenure of all members and the current part-time chairman of the Bank Board Bureau(BBB) by 2 years, which is coming to an end on April 11,2020. The former Secretary in the Department of Personnel and Training, Bhanu Pratap Sharma, will continue to hold the post of part-time member of the board.

Note: Headquarters of Banks Board Bureau: Mumbai, Maharashtra.

In February 2016, the government formed the Banks Board Bureau and was given the responsibility of deciding candidates for the top positions in public sector banks and financial institutions.

OBITUARIES

1. Padma Shri classical singer Shanti Hiranand Chawla passes away: Renowned Hindustani classical singer and Padma Shri awardee Shanti Hiranand Chawla passed away. The singer was trained in thumri, Dadra and ghazal singing by Begum Akhtar, and was world-renowned for keeping the legendary ghazal singer’s style alive in her performances, which she staged all across the world, including Lahore, Islamabad, Toronto, Boston, New York, and Washington. She has received numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri, which was awarded to her in 2007.

2. Former Zimbabwean cricketer Jackie du Preez passes away: The former Zimbabwean cricketer Jackie du Preez passed away. The leg-spinner played for South Africa in Zimbabwe’s pre-independence days. He played two Tests for South Africa in 1967. After he retired in 1979, he served his nation, Zimbabwe as a national selector in cricket.