Daily GK Updates - 8th April, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. “Swasth ke Sipahi” delivers essential medicines under PMBJP: During the 21 days nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19, pharmacists, popularly known as “Swasth ke Sipahi” of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendra are delivering essential services and medicines at doorstep of patients and elderly, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) of the Government of India. Working as part of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMJAK), they are extending essential services by making available quality generic medicines at affordable prices to the common People of the country and the elderly persons at their doorstep to fight Corona pandemic.

2. Ministry of Human Resources Development launches “Samadhan” a challenge to fight against covid19 and future challenges: Ministry of Human Resources Development in collaboration with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched a mega online challenge – SAMADHAN – to test the ability of students to innovate in relation to COVID-19. The students participating in this challenge will search and develop such measures that can be made available to the government agencies, health services, hospitals and other services for quick solutions to the Coronavirus epidemic and other such calamities. Applications to participate in this competition will start from 7 April 2020. The last date for submission of applications is 14 April 2020.

Note: Chairman of AICTE: Anil Sahasrabudhe.

Union Minister of Human Resource Development: Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.

3. HRD Ministry has designated DigiLocker as National Academic Depository (NAD): The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has designated DigiLocker as the sole National Academic Depository (NAD) and has also directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to implement NAD as a permanent scheme within DigiLocker. DigiLocker is primarily a cloud-based safe, which allows users to store electronic versions of important documents like Aadhaar card, birth certificates, voters ID cards, PAN cards, driving license, property documents and provides access to these on the go. NAD will be implemented as a permanent scheme without the levy of any user charges by DigiLocker through the Ministry of Electronics and IT.

Note: Minister of Human Resource Development: Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.

4. Chhattisgarh’s Janjgir-Champa District Police Creates App ‘Rakhsa Sarv’ to keep an eye on home quarantined people: The district police of Janjgir-Champa in Chhattisgarh has created a mobile application named ‘Rakhsa Sarv’ to keep a tab on those violating the home quarantine order, in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus. The app has been developed with the help of Noida-based startup Mobcoder. With the help of the Google Map, the district police will be able to track the people kept under home quarantine, after returning from foreign travel. The purpose of launching the app is that a large number of people are kept in home quarantine, and so it is not possible to keep each one under surveillance on a regular basis. A similar mobile app has been developed by the Mohali Police in Punjab named ‘Covid Control’ to keep an eye on home quarantined people to ensure quarantine protocols are being followed properly.

Note: CM of Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel; Governor of Chhattisgarh: Anusuiya Uikey.

5. Delhi Govt. launches 5T plan to contain COVID-19 crisis: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a five-point plan to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. The “5Ts” stands for testing, tracing, treatment, teamwork and tracking & monitoring of the virus.

About the 5Ts: (1) First “T” of the 5T plan stands for “Testing”: Under this “T”, the Delhi government will conduct one lakh rapid tests in hotspot areas like Dilshad Garden and Nizamuddin to contain the spread of the new coronavirus; (2) Second “T” of the 5T plan stands for “Tracing”: Testing process is followed by another key step i.e. tracing under which people are identified who have come in contact with a positive patient and are asked to self-quarantine; (3) Third “T” of the 5T plan stands for “Treatment”: After tracing, there comes the next step i.e. Treatment under which 2,950 beds have been reserved for coronavirus patients and 12,000 hotel rooms will be taken over by the Delhi government. Under this step, serious patients and elderly will be kept in hospitals while those patients with milder symptoms will be kept in hotels and dharamshalas; (4) Fourth “T” of the 5T plan stands for “Teamwork”: In order to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, role of “teamwork” is very important; (5) Fifth “T” of the 5T plan stands for “Tracking & Monitoring“: The developments and the actions taken to stop the spread of the Covid-19 will actively tracked by the the Delhi government.

6. Three permanent judges appointed for J&K High Court: Three newly-appointed judges took oath of office, raising the strength of judges in Jammu and Kashmir High Court to 12 against 17 available positions. Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul, Justice Sanjay Dhar and Justice Puneet Gupta were sworn in as a permanent Judges of the common High Court for the Union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. They were administered oath of office by Chief Justice J&K High Court, Justice Gita Mittal in Jammu wing of the High Court. There are 17 positions in the High Court, including Chief Justice. Of those, 12 are permanent judges and five additional judges.

7. Surat Municipal Corporation takes unique initiatives to fight COVID-19: Surat Municipal Corporation (Gujarat) is using the Integrated Command and Control Centre set up under Smart City Mission as a war room to fight COVID-19. SMC has published an online dashboard having statistics on tested, confirmed, active, recovered and death cases on its website for regular updates of COVID-19 to the citizens. SMC is using this COVID-19 war room to carry out CCTV surveillance of public spaces, and containment clusters.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. USAID announces $2.9 million aid to India to fight Covid19: The Washington, DC based United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has announced a grant of $2.9 million to India to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic. The funds will help the Government of India to further support India’s response to COVID-19, slow the spread, provide care for the affected, and support local communities with the tools needed to contain the disease.

Note: Headquarters of USAID: Washington, D.C., United States; Founded of USAID: 3 November 1961; USAID Administrator: Mark Green.

2. Twitter CEO pledges $1 billion to combat COVID-19 pandemic: Chief Executive Officer of Twitter, Jack Dorsey has pledged to donate $1 billion to charities working towards combatting the global COVID-19 pandemic. The donation seems to be the largest donation pledged by a private individual in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Jack Dorsey will move $1 billion of his digital payments group “Square” equity i.e. 28% of his wealth, to #startsmall LLC to fund global COVID-19 relief.

OTHER UPDATES:

SPORTS

1. Englands Ben Stokes named 2020 Wisden’s Leading Cricketer in the World: England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes has been named as the leading cricketer in the world by Wisden for the year 2019. He is the first player from England since 2005 to be named for this award. In Women’s category, Australia’s Ellyse Perry has been named the Wisden’s Leading Female Cricketer in the World. The other Five Cricketers of the Year by Wisden’s are: Jofra Archer (England), Pat Cummins (Australia), Simon Harmer (South Africa), Marnus Labuschagne (Australia) and Ellyse Perry (Australia- female).

2. Test spinner Stephen O'Keefe retires from 1st class cricket: Former Australia Test spinner Stephen O'Keefe (35 years) has retired from first class cricket after being omitted from New South Wales' list of contracted players for the next domestic season. The left armer took 35 wickets in nine tests including 12 in a match against India at Pune in 2017. Nathan Lyon remains New South Wales main spin option.

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. SIDBI to provide emergency working capital to MSMEs: The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will facilitate Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with emergency working capital of up to Rs 1 crore against their confirmed government orders. The SIDBI’s new loan product i.e. SIDBI Assistance to Facilitate Emergency response against Coronavirus (SAFE) plus will be provided collateral free and disbursed within 48 hours at an interest rate of 5%. Under its flagship scheme called SIDBI Make in India Soft Loan Fund for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (Smile), SEBI has opened an additional financial window for the healthcare sector. The scheme will be applicable to MSMEs engaged in hand sanitizers, masks, gloves, head gear, bodysuits, shoe-covers, ventilators and goggles. SIDBI further said it has enhanced the loan limit for MSMEs to Rs 2 crore under its SAFE initiative.

Note: Chairman & Managing Director of SIDBI: Mohammad Mustafa.

2. RBI increases the number of days for which a State/ UT can be in overdraft: The Reserve Bank of India allows State Government to tide over their cashflow mismatches (consider it as a loan) in form of Special Drawing Facility (SDF) and Normal Ways and Means Advances. Now RBI has increased the number of days or which a State/ UT can be in overdraft continuously as under: The number of days for which States/UTs can be in overdraft continuously has been increased to 21 working days from the previous 14 days. The number of days for which a State/ UT can be in overdraft in a quarter has been increased to 50 working days from the previous 36 days. The new arrangement will remain valid till September 30, 2020.

OBITUARIES

1. Kannada actor Bullet Prakash passes away: Kannada actor Bullet Prakash passed away at the age of 44 year. He was suffering from kidney-related ailment. He is known for his comic roles and he was named ‘Bullet’ because of his love for Royal Enfield Bullet motorbikes which he used to ride. He was also a member of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). He was a member of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2015.

2. Malayalam actor Sasi Kalinga passes away: Veteran Malayalam actor Sasi Kalinga (59 years) who has acted in more than 250 films, passed away. He was diagnosed with liver disease and had been undergoing treatment for a long time now. Sasi Kalinga started off his career as a theatre actor and later shot to fame with films like Pranchiyettan, The Saint, Amen, and Vellimoonga.

3. Veteran Indian-American Journalist Brahm Kanchibotla Passes Away: An Indian-American journalist, Brahm Kanchibotla, passed away after being tested positive of Coronavirus in America. He was 66. Kanchibotla was a former contributor to the United News of India news agency and was working as New York and UN correspondent of the United News of India. He got infected with the disease while he was busy doing ground reports for his news agency United News of India (UNI).