NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Centre formed IMCTs to make on-spot assessment of
Covid-19 situation: The government of India has constituted
Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs), to make an on-spot assessment of
Covid-19 situation. The condition is especially serious in major hotspot
districts or emerging hotspots like: Ahmedabad and Surat (Gujarat); Thane
(Maharashtra); Hyderabad (Telangana); Chennai (Tamil Nadu).
The IMCTs would be
focusing on a range of issues including compliance and implementation of
lockdown measures as per guidelines issued under the Disaster Management Act
2005, the supply of essential commodities, social distancing in the movement of
people outside their homes, the preparedness of health infrastructure, hospital
facilities and sample statistics in the district.
2. AP
govt relaunches ‘YSR Zero Interest Loan’ Scheme for SHG women: Andhra Pradesh
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy re-launched the ‘YSR Zero Interest Loan’
Scheme for women self-help groups (SHGs) in the state. He released a sum of Rs
1,400 crore to 8.78 lakh SHGs. Under this, each SHG will receive an amount
between Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 towards the interest component on their loans.
The zero interest scheme was first launched in 2011 by the then Chief Minister
N Kiran Kumar Reddy in Andhra Pradesh, under which the state government bore
the interest burden on loans extended to the women SHGs. The scheme was
disbanded in 2016-17.
3.
IIITM-K develops AI search engine ‘Vilokana’ for COVID-19 studies: The Indian
Institute of Information Technology and Management – Kerala (IIITM-K) has
developed a search engine based on artificial intelligence (AI) named
‘Vilokana’ to enable researchers in getting deeper insights into scientific
studies on Covid-19. The search engine accessed through the website www.vilokana.in. Vilokana in
Sanskrit means ‘finding out’. The user can enter keyword-based queries, the
meaning of which the search engine will be able to understand, and find the
relevant text from the scientific papers.
4.
Assam Government Launches ‘Dhanwantari’ Scheme for home delivery of Medicines: Assam government
has launched a new scheme named Dhanwantari. Under this scheme, the locally
unavailable medicines due to the lockdown shall be delivered to patients at
home, if these are not available within their radius of 10 km. Medicines below
Rs 200 will be provided to free of cost to patients, but if it is more than
that, it will be charged. The patients can send their prescriptions over the
telephone or inform the health workers and the health department will ensure
that it is delivered to them even if it is not in the list of available free
medicines. Regional News Unit of AIR Guwahati will broadcast a special Covid-19
phone in program on Assam Cares initiative of the state government.
5.
BIAL to convert its premises into Devanahalli 'Chakota' orchard: Bangalore
International Airport Ltd (BIAL) has initiated the rejuvenation and
conservation of Devanahalli Pomelo by cultivating it within the campus, under
its flagship CSR Programme 'Namma Ooru'. ‘Devanahalli Pomelo’ is an endangered
citrus fruit with unique, sweet taste, unlike other varieties and has received
Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This will not only help conserve the rare
indigenous fruit, but also contribute towards carbon reduction.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
First digital geological map of moon released by US Geological Survey: The first ever
digital, unified, global, geological map of the moon was released virtually by
United States Geological Survey (USGS), National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (Nasa) and Lunar Planetary Institute. The map is a ‘seamless,
globally consistent, 1:5,000,000-scale geologic map’. It will serve as a
blueprint for future human missions and a source of research-analysis in lunar
geology. It is only available in GIS and PDF formats.
2.
World Bank organises virtual workshop on Contract Management: A virtual workshop
on “Contract Management during Emergency situations” was organized by World
Bank in collaboration with AIMA for Project Management Unit of Jhelum Tawi
Flood Recovery Project. The project is implementing USD 250 Million Flood
Recovery Project funded by World Bank. The objective was to educate
participants about adverse impact of COVID-19 on the implementation, contract
management and various mitigation measures.
3.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope Completes 30 Years in Orbit: The Hubble Space
Telescope, built by the United States space agency NASA with contributions from
the European Space Agency (ESA), has completed 30th year in orbit on 25 April
2020. The Hubble Space Telescope was deployed on 25 April 1990. This space
telescope was named after American astronomer Edwin P Hubble, who confirmed
that our universe was constantly expanding. Hubble has been placed in space to
observe the most distant stars and galaxies, as well as planets in our solar
system.
Note: The administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Jim Bridenstine; Headquarters of
NASA: Washington D.C., United States.
4.
World Intellectual Property Day: 26 April: The World Intellectual Property Day
is observed annually on 26 April to raise awareness of how patents, copyright,
trademarks and designs impact on daily life and to celebrate creativity, and
the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies
across the globe. The theme of World Intellectual Property Day 2020 is
“Innovate for a Green Future”. The event was established by the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2000. 26 April coincides with the
date on which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property
Organization entered into force in 1970.
Note: Headquarters of the World
Intellectual Property Organization: Geneva, Switzerland; CEO of World
Intellectual Property Organization: Francis Gurry.
5.
International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day: 26 April: The
International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day is observed every year on
April 26 to raise awareness of the consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster
and the risks of nuclear energy in general. The United Nations (UN) proclaimed
the day on April 26, 2016 that marked 30th anniversary of the 1986 nuclear
disaster. On this day in 1986, a reactor exploded at the Chernobyl nuclear
power plant in Ukraine with devastating consequences.
6.
World Immunization Week 2020 observed globally: World Immunization
Week 2020 will be observed from 24th April to 30th April 2020. World
Immunization Week is observed every year in the last week of April to encourage
the use of vaccines in order to protect the people of all ages against disease.
Immunization is being recognized as one of the world’s most successful and
cost-effective health interventions but still there are around 20 million
children in the world today who are not getting the vaccines as per their
needs. The theme of World Immunization Week 2020 is #VaccinesWork for All.
Note: Director-General of World Health
Organization: Tedros Adhanom.
OTHER UPDATES:
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
Banking Industry declared as Public Utility Service for 6 months: Under the provisions
of the Industrial Disputes Act, the Banking Industry has been declared by the
Government of India as a “Public Utility Service”. This step has been taken by
the government in purview of the coronavirus pandemic which has deeply impacted
the economic activities. As per the notification issued by the Labour Ministry,
the Banking Industry has been declared as a “Public Utility Service” for a
period of 6 months i.e. till 21st October 2020. Inclusion of the Banking
Industry under this provision of the Industrial Disputes Act prohibits any
banking sector employees and officer to go on strike. The notification was
issued by the labour ministry against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic
which has significantly impacted economic activities.
Note: Minister of State (I/C) for Labour
and Employment: Santosh Kumar Gangwar.
2.
Transcorp gets RBI nod to issue co-branded prepaid cards, wallets: The Reserve Bank of
India has given its approval to Transcorp International Ltd to issue co-branded
prepaid cards. With the approval, the RBI has allowed Transcorp to enter into
co-branding arrangements for Prepaid Instruments that can be utilized in over
35 lakh stores and online gateways. After receiving approval from the RBI, the
Transcorp International Ltd has become one of the first non-bank companies to
receive approval to enter into co-branding arrangements for Prepaid
Instruments. Transcorp will be launching API based co-branded partnerships for
Digital, Physical and Contactless cards with select marquee clients on its own
BINs. Transcorp has also launched Multi-Wallet Prepaid cards becoming the gold
standard for expenses, incentives and reimbursements across business houses.
Note: Chief Executive Officer of Transcorp
International Ltd: Amitava Ghosh.
3.
RBI brings back bond swapping program ‘Operation Twist’: The Reserve bank of
India is all set to bring back its bond swapping programmed billed as India’s
Operation Twist with an aim to help monetary transmission. RBI will conduct
purchase and sale of government securities under open market operations (OMO)
for Rs 10,000 crore each. RBI conducts
OMO sales to absorb excess liquidity in the financial system, or OMO purchases
to infuse liquidity in a single day.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
World Bank released Commodity Market Outlook: World Bank’s April
2020 Commodity Markets Outlook has been released. The report forecasts prices
for 46 key commodities, including oil. As per the report, most commodity prices
are expected to decrease substantially in 2020 due to coronavirus. Commodity
Markets Outlook provides market analysis for major commodity groups like
energy, metals, agriculture, precious metals, and fertilizers which is
published in April and October.
2.
CARE Ratings predicts India’s GDP growth rate for FY21 at 1.1 to 1.2%: CARE Ratings has
predicted India’s GDP growth for FY21 (2020-21) to be between 1.1% to 1.2%.
CARE Ratings said that the estimate has a “downward bias”. The decline in GDP
forecast is due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
OBITUARIES
1.
Veteran photojournalist Ronny Roy passes away: Veteran sports
photojournalist Ronojoy ‘Ronny’ Roy passed away at the age of 57 years. He was
popularly known as ‘Ronny’ and was associated with Bengali daily Aajkaal since
1990s and covered the ICC World Cup in England last year.
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