Daily GK Updates - 9th April, 2020

NATIONAL UPDATES:

1. Tamil Nadu Tops in micro-irrigation coverage under PMKSY in 2019-20: The Tamil Nadu state has finished on top at the all-India level for micro-irrigation coverage in the financial year 2019-20, as part of implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). PMKSY is a programme aimed at promoting the “more crop per drop” concept by focussing on water-saving technologies. During 2019-20, the overall coverage of the state under micro-irrigation stood at 2,06,853.25 hectares (ha). Karnataka is at second place with 1,41,103.56 ha area under micro-irrigation while Gujarat is at third spot with 1,08,322.00 ha under micro-irrigation. The total area brought under micro irrigation at the all-India level in 2019-20 stands at 7,72,350.63 ha.

Coverage under the PMKSY during 2015-2020: However, speaking about the cumulative total coverage under the PMKSY during 2015-2020, the first place goes to Karnataka (8.16 lakh ha) followed by Andhra Pradesh (7.17 lakh ha) and Gujarat (7 lakh ha). Tamil Nadu occupies the fourth spot with about 5.62 lakh ha.

2. TRIFED Collaborates with UNICEF to launch a Digital Communication Campaign for SHGs: The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) has collaborated with UNICEF for developing a digital communication strategy for promoting a digital campaign for Self Help Groups (SHGs) to ensure that tribal gatherers carry on their work safely, while highlighting the importance of Social Distancing amid COVID-19 crisis. UNICEF will provide the necessary support to be circulated to the SHG centers in the form of Digital Multimedia content, Webinars for Virtual trainings (basic orientation on COVID response, key preventive behaviours), Social Media campaigns (on social distancing, home quarantine, etc.) and Vanya Radio. The webinar, for the promotion of the campaign was held on 9th April, 2020 covering tribal regions across all the 27 States, reaching more than 18,000 participants. TRIFED has also reached out to the Art of Living Foundation’s #iStandWithHumanity Initiative with a Stand with Tribal Families component.

Note: UNICEF Formation: 1946; Headquarters: New York City, U.S.; President of UNICEF: H.E. Ms Rabab Fatima.

3. DoPT Launches first of its kind iGOT e-learning Platform to empower Front Line COVID-19 Warriors: The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has announced the launch of a learning platform iGOT- Integrated Government Online Training (https://igot.gov.in). The e-learning platform has been launched for all front-line workers to equip them with the training and updates in coping with COVID 19. The target group is Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Hygiene Workers, Technicians, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs), Central & State Govt. Officers, Civil Defence Officials, various Police Organisations, National Cadet Corps (NCC), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme (NSS), Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), Bharat Scouts & Guides (BSG) and other volunteers. Appropriate training will also prepare them for the subsequent stages of the pandemic to better deal with the emergent situations. Nine courses have been launched on topics like basics of COVID-19, ICU care and ventilation management, clinical management, infection prevention through PPE, infection control and prevention, quarantine and isolation, laboratory sample collection and testing, management of COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 Training.

4. DRDO Laboratory VRDE Develops full-body Disinfection Chamber ‘PSE’: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Laboratory at Vehicle Research Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, in Maharashtra has designed a full body disinfection chamber called as Personnel Sanitisation Enclosure (PSE). This walk through enclosure is designed for personnel decontamination, one person at a time. It is a portable system equipped with sanitiser and soap dispenser.

5. Odisha extends 21-days lockdown till 30 April: Odisha government has extended the 21-day lockdown till 30th April 2020 and hence Odisha has become the first state to do so. The 21-day nation-wide lockdown is scheduled to end on 14th April 2020. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has requested the Central government not to start train and air services till April 30.

Note: Chief Minister of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik; Governor: Ganeshi Lal.

6. SCTIMST scientists designed super absorbent material: The scientists of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST) have designed and developed a superabsorbent material titled “Chitra Acrylosorb Secretion Solidification System”. It is a highly efficient superabsorbent material for liquid respiratory and other body fluid solidification and disinfection for the safe management of infected respiratory secretions. The superabsorbent material has the ability to absorb liquids at least 20 times more than its dry weight and also contains a decontaminant for in situ disinfection.

7. DST funds Genrich Membranes to develop membrane oxygenator equipment: Department of Science and Technology (DST) is to support and provide funding to the Genrich Membranes, a spin-off company, based on proprietary technology licensed from CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune to increase the membrane oxygenator equipment (MOE). MOE is developed to treat COVID-19 patients. The device treats breathlessness which is one of the critical symptoms of COVID-19. The device is based on innovative & indigenous hollow-fiber membrane technology and can enrich oxygen in the air up to 35%. The device is very easy to use and do not require trained manpower for its operation.

INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:

1. SAARC Development Fund allocates $5 million for Covid-19 projects: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Development Fund (SDF) has allocated $5 million for Covid-19 related projects in its member states. The objective of the US$ 5 million allocation is to provide fund support to the Member States in their efforts and to protect the people of the SAARC Member States by mitigating the financial losses and severe socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The projects will be funded by the SDF under its Social Window thematic areas which primarily funds projects on poverty alleviation, social development focusing on education, health, and human resource development, among others.

Note: Headquarters of SAARC: Kathmandu, Nepal; Secretary-General of SAARC: Esala Ruwan Weerakoon; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SDF: Sunil Motiwal.

2. China Overtakes US as World’s Top Patent Filer for First Time in Over 4 Decades: As per the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) annual report, China was the world leader in international patent filings in the year 2019, surpassing the United States, which had held the top spot for more than four decades. The UN agency WIPO informed that a record 265,800 international patent applications were filed in 2019, which was 5.2% more from 2018. The WIPO’s complex system of registering international patents involves multiple categories. But the main category is the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This is for the first time that China topped the PCT ranking, by filing 58,990 applications. It overtook the United States, which filed 57,840 applications, and which has topped the PCT ranking since the system took effect in 1978.

3. India gets request from 30 countries for hydroxychloroquine: India has got requests from 30 countries for hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug to fight COVID-19. Several world leaders have personally raised the request with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the recent conversation they had with him. From the US to Latin America to Europe, the request has come from several places which shows India’s importance in the global pharma sector. PM Modi has spoken to 15 world leaders since the outbreak which includes German German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Donald Trump, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al Thani, Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez Perez-Castejon, Saudi Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. One of the main aims of the conversation is to chalk out a global strategy to deal with the crisis.

4. Jeff Bezos Tops Forbes’ Billionaire List 2020; Mukesh Ambani at 21st Spot in the List: Amazon Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has maintained the top spot as world’s richest man for the third consecutive year, according to the Forbes 34th annual world’s billionaires list for the year 2020 titled “The Richest in 2020”. Bezos topped the list with a total net worth of $113 billion, which is $18 billion less than previous year. Bill Gates is at second spot with net worth of $98 billion. The world’s richest woman continues to be Walmart (WMT) heir Alice Walton. She is at ninth place with a net worth of $54.4 billion. From India, Mukesh Ambani continues to be the richest Indian, and is placed at 21st position in this list with a total net worth of $36.8 billion.

The total combined net worth in Forbes Billionaires 2020 list is $8 trillion which is down from $8.7 trillion in 2019. There are 2,095 billionaires on the 2020 ranking, down from 2,153 in 2019. There are 241 women on the 2020 list, including seven women who share their fortunes with their husband, child or sibling. List of Top 10 Billionaires:

Name	Company	Net Worth
Jeff Bezos	Amazon	$113 bn
Bill Gates	Microsoft	$98 bn
Bernard Arnault	LVMH	$76 bn
Warren Buffett	Berkshire Hathaway	$67.5 bn
Larry Ellison	Software	$59 bn
Amancio Ortega	Zara	$55.1 bn
Mark Zuckerberg	Facebook	$54.7 bn
Jim Walton	Walmart	$54.6 bn
Alice Walton	Walmart	$54.4 bn
Rob Walton	Walmart	$54.1 bn

OTHER UPDATES:

BANKING AND FINANCE

1. Govt. to release all pending income tax refunds upto 5 lakh: The Centre has announced that it is to issue all the pending income-tax refunds up to Rs.5 lakh immediately. The move by the Centre is to provide immediate relief to the business entities and individuals. I-T refunds will benefit around 14 lakh taxpayers across India. I-T department of the Ministry of Finance will also release all Goods and Service Tax (GST) and custom refunds to around 1 lakh business entities, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME). A total refund grant of approximately Rs.18,000 crore will be released to the business entities.

Note: Income Tax Department Formed: 1860; Headquarters: New Delhi; Minister responsible: Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister; Chairman: Pramod Chandra Modi

2. Parag Raja appointed as the new MD & CEO of Bharti AXA Life Insurance: Parag Raja has been appointed by the Bharti AXA Life Insurance as its new managing director and chief executive officer. Parag Raja will be succeeding Vikas Seth, who is leading the insurance company for the past two-and-a-half years and is set to retire after April 30, 2020. He was the Chief Distribution Officer at Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSLI). Parag was one of the founding members of Max Life Insurance.

DEFENCE

1. L&T signs pact with Indian Army for advanced IT-enabled network: Engineering and construction giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has signed an agreement with the Indian Army to set up an advanced IT-enabled system to operate the Armed Forces network under the Network of Spectrum (NFS). The project will creat a centralised network monitoring, management and control system for all the 7 layers under NFS which interconnects 414 Defence stations.

Note: Headquarters of L&T Technology Services (LTTS): Vadodara, Gujarat; CEO of L&T Technology Services (LTTS): Dr Keshab Panda.

OBITUARIES

1. Former Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico coach Radomir Antic passes away: Former Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid coach Radomir Antic has passed away at age 71. Antic is a legendary Spanish football manager as well as a player. He is the only man to ever coach the top 3 teams in Spanish football. As a player, Antic started his career with the team Sloboda Titovo Užice in 1967 and had a varied playing career as a defender spanning 17 years in which he played most of the matches for team Partizan.

2. James Bond film actress Honor Blackman passes away: The legendary Bond girl and Avengers actress Honor Blackman passed away of natural death. She was 94. The English star was best known for her iconic role as Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger (1964) opposite Sean Connery (James Bond). Blackman became a household name in the 1960s as Cathy Gale, because of her role as Cathy Gale in The Avengers. She had a career spanning eight decades.