NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Bamboo Conclave held via Video Conferencing: Union Minister for the Development
of the North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jitendra Singh, addressed a Bamboo
Conclave through video conference on 03 May 2020 to discuss how country’s
bamboo reserve can help strengthen its economy. It featured the participation
of representatives of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER),
Union Ministry of Agriculture and various stakeholders from different sectors.
The minister informed that northeast has 60 percent of India’s bamboo reserves.
In the post-COVID-19 era, it is an opportunity for the Northeastern region to
help India become world competitive and self-sufficient in this sector. For
this, DoNER will work out a time bound plan for promotion of bamboo
manufacturing and trade, and also work out feasibility of Public Private
Partnership (PPP). Bamboo can be processed into multiple products such as
bio-diesel and green fuel, wooden lumbers and plywood, which can change the
entire face of the economy and create employment opportunities in multiple
sectors.
2.
DRDO Develops UV disinfection tower ‘UV Blaster’ To Sanitize High Risk Prone
Areas: The
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed an Ultra
Violet (UV) disinfection tower named ‘UV Blaster’ for rapid and chemical-free
sanitization of high-risk areas where the flow of people is heavy and chances
of infection is large. The equipment has been designed and developed by Laser
Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC), the Delhi-based premier laboratory of
DRDO, with the help of New Age Instruments and Materials Private Limited,
Gurugram.
Features of UV Blaster: The disinfection
tower can be used remotely through laptop or mobile phone using a WIFI link.
The device is effective for disinfecting areas having large flow of people such
as airports, shopping malls, metros, hotels, factories, offices, etc. It is
also useful for high tech surfaces like electronic equipment, computers and
other gadgets in laboratories and offices that are not suitable for
disinfection with chemical methods. UV Blaster has six lamps each with 43 watts
of UVC power at 254 nanometre wavelength for 360 degree illumination. The disinfection
time for a room of about 12×12 feet dimension will be about 10 minutes. A
400-square-foot area can be sanitized within 30 minutes if the device is
positioned at different places within the room.
3.
Jharkhand Government Announces Three New Employment Schemes to Boost Rural
Economy: The
Jharkhand Government has launched three mega employment schemes for its people,
especially the migrant labourers who are returning home from various states, in
order to boost the rural economy of the state. The three new schemes are:
”Birsa Harit Gram Yojana”, ”Nilamber-Pitamber Jal Samridhi Yojana” and ”Veer
Shahid Poto Ho Khel Vikas Yojana. These schemes will be run by state’s rural
development department under MGNREGA mission, and aims to create about 300
million (30 crore) person days for MGNREGA. These schemes will enable the
workers earn wages, and also help to bring in a long-term plan to provide
steady income to the poor households.
(1) Birsa Harit Yojna: The aim of this
scheme is to increase the forest cover. Around 5 lakh families will be given
nearly 100 fruit bearing sapling on a lease for five years to preserve them,
and MGNREGA will help in initial plantation, maintenance, land work etc. It
would create 25 crore man-days for the key rural employment project.
(2) Nilamabar Pitambar Jal Samridhi Yojna:
This is a water conservation scheme, in which government has envisaged to
conserve 5 lakh crore litre water. This scheme would generate 10 crore man-days
(3) Poto Ho Khel Vikas Yojana: This schemes
aims to make Jharkhand a sports powerhouse. The sportsmen and sportswomen would
be given skill training by a skilled coach and there are plans to absorb them
after completion of their skill programme. It aims at creating one crore man-
days for MGNREGA
4.
“NGMA KE SANGRAH SE” presented by National Gallery of Modern Art: National Gallery of
Modern Art, New Delhi has presented a virtual program “NGMA KE SANGRAH SE”.
This virtual program will showcase the rarely seen or unseen jewels from its
repository for art lovers, artists, art connoisseurs, etc. This program is
based on various weekly/daily themes from NGMA’s prestigious collections. The
theme for the current week of the virtual program is “ARTIST BY ARTISTS” and
has been dedicated to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore due to his 159th birth
anniversary on 7th May 2020. Various other exciting and thought-provoking
themes are planned for the coming days and will provide art lovers, artists,
art connoisseurs, students, teachers, an opportunity to see the rarely
presented artworks from their homes.
5.
CSIR-IGIB signs MoU with TATA Sons for licensing of COVID rapid diagnosis: Institute of
Genomics and Integrative Biology (CSIR-IGIB) has partnered with TATA Sons for
licensing of KNOWHOW for FNCAS9 EDITOR LINKED UNIFORM DETECTION ASSAY (FELUDA)
for rapid diagnosis of COVID-19. The partnership aims to provide license which
will enable transfer of the knowledge for scaling up the KNOWHOW in the form of
a kit in order to employ it for COVID-19 testing on ground as soon as possible.
The main advantage of FELUDA is its affordability, relative ease of use as well
as non-dependency on expensive Q-PCR machines. FELUDA has been designed for
mitigating COVID-19 by mass testing with affordability & ease.
6.
MCA constituted committee to enhance audit independence and accountability: The Corporate
Affairs Ministry (MCA) has constituted a 7 member committee to examine the
comments on the consultation paper floated by it for enhancing audit
independence and accountability in the country. It will make recommendations
for amendments in law, rules and standards. The panel has been asked to submit
its report by June 30. It will address 5 “threats” for auditor independence:
self-interest, self-review, advocacy, familiarity, and intimidation.
7. UP
Government Launches Ayush Kavach App for Tips to Boost Immunity through
Ayurveda: Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a mobile app named ‘Ayush
Kavach’ in order to provide health-related tips and information about ayurvedic
medicines to the people amid the coronavirus pandemic. Ayush Kavach has been
developed by the Ayush Department of Uttar Pradesh. The ‘Ayush Kavach’ App will
provide measures to boost immunity based on natural resources such as tulsi,
clove and cinnamon to fight COVID-19. It also offers users the opportunity to
seek advice from experts.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
Ashok Michael Pinto nominated as US representative to IBRD: Indian-American
lawyer Ashok Michael Pinto has been nominated by the United States President,
Donald Trump as US representative to World Bank’s lending arm International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). He has been nominated as US
Alternate Executive Director of IBRD for the duration of 2 years. Pinto is
currently serving as Counsellor to the Under Secretary for International
Affairs at the United States (US) Department of the Treasury.
Note: World Bank Headquarters: Washington
D.C., US; World Bank President: David Robert Malpass.
2.
50.37 lakh people internally displaced in India in 2019: UNICEF: More than five
million people (50,37,000) were internally displaced in India due to natural
disasters, conflict and violence in 2019 as per “The Lost at Home’ report”,
published by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). India has the highest number of
new internal displacements in the world in 2019. Philippines, Bangladesh and
China are on 2nd, 3rd and 4th spot respectively. The report is about the risks
and challenges for internally displaced children and the urgent actions needed
to protect them.
3. Amazon
tops the BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Global Retail Brands 2020 Ranking: Amazon has topped
the BrandZ Top 75 Most Valuable Global Retail Brands 2020 ranking. BrandZ
ranking was unveiled by WPP and Kantar. It has a brand value of $ 415.855
billion Alibaba is on the second rank followed by McDonald’s on the third spot.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
Badminton World Championships 2020 postponed: The Badminton World
Championships 2020 has been postponed to November 2021. The tournament will be
held at the Carolina Marin Stadium in Huelva, Spain. The Championship would be
organised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and Spanish Badminton
Federation (FESBA).
Note: Badminton World Federation
Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Badminton World Federation Founded: 5
July 1934; Badminton World Federation President: Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
SIDBI to launch digital platform for SMEs: Small Industries Development Bank of
India (SIDBI) is all set to launch a digital platform that will educate
stakeholders in the small and medium enterprises (SME) ecosystem. 'India SME
Services Platform' will give MSMEs information of operations, finance, credit
and other services. It's webpage will show all schemes implemented by the govt,
banks, and associations. It will give an opportunity to look for marketplace,
documentation support and loan management.
2.
IRDAI sets up panel to frame standard professional indemnity policy: The Insurance
Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has set up a panel to
frame standard professional indemnity policy for insurance intermediaries that
can be issued by all the insurers.
It is headed by Yegnapriya Bharat.
Professional indemnity policy offers protection to professionals against
potential claims for injury or loss. Other members of the panel are Umesh
Rathod, Kasturi Sengupta, Surbhi Goel, and Najim B.
Note: HQ of IRDAI: Hyderabad, Telangana.
3.
Krishnan Ramachandran appointed as new MD & CEO of Max Bupa: Krishnan
Ramachandran has been appointed as the new managing director (MD) and chief
executive officer (CEO) of Max Bupa Health Insurance. He succeeds Ashish
Mehrotra. Prior to this, he has served as the CEO of Apollo Munich Health
Insurance. He has over 23 years of experience in health insurance, healthcare
and life sciences segments.
Note: Max Bupa Health insurance
established: 2008; Max Bupa Health insurance Headquarters: New Delhi, India.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1.
DST Awards IIT Bombay Professor Saurabh Lodha with 2020 Young Career Award In
Nano Science And Technology: Professor Saurabh Lodha, from Indian
Institute of Technolgy (IIT) Bombay has been conferred with the 2020 Young
Career Award in Nano Science and Technology. The award is presented by the
Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Lodha has
received the award for his contributions in the development of logic transistor
technologies, beyond silicon and nanoelectronic devices, based on
two-dimensional Van der Waals materials. Using this technology, the electronic
devices can perform faster by consuming less power and last longer that too
with low failure rates. It can be used for any device including mobile phone,
laptop, serves etc.
2.
Joseph J. Landsberg, Richard H. Waring and Nicholas C. Coops Jointly Wins 2020
Marcus Wallenberg Prize: Three researchers Joseph J Landsberg (Australia),
Richard H Waring (USA) and Nicholas C Coops (Canada), has won the 2020 Marcus
Wallenberg Prize, presented annually for contribution in the field of forestry
and forest industries. The trio have been awarded for their Physiological
Principles Predicting Growth (3PG) model, developed to predict forest growth
under changing environmental conditions. The purpose of the Marcus Wallenberg
Prize is to recognize, encourage and stimulate path-breaking scientific
achievements which contribute significantly to broadening knowledge and to
technical development within the fields of importance to forestry and forest
industries. The prize 2020 will be presented by King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden
during a ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden & the prize money is 2 million
Kronor.
3.
Russian Prez Vladimir Putin Awards Commemorative WWII Medal to North Korean
Leader Kim Jong Un: Russian
President Vladimir Putin has awarded a Commemorative World War II medal to
North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un on 5 May 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of
the 1945 victory over Nazi Germany. The medal has been conferred upon Kim Jong
Un for his role in preserving the memory of Soviet soldiers who died on North
Korean territory, fighting for its liberation. The award was presented by
Russia’s ambassador in North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, to the country’s
Foreign Minister Ri Son-gwon.
Note: Russia Capital: Moscow; Russia
Currency: Russian ruble;
North Korean capital: Pyongyang; North
Korea currency: North Korean won.
DEFENCE
1.
Indian Navy launches Operation Samudra Setu: On 5th May 2020, the Indian Navy
announced the launch of Operation ‘Samudra Setu’ (Sea Bridge), to repatriate
(bring back) Indian citizens who are stranded abroad, amid the COVID-19
pandemic, and are not able to return due to global grounding of airlines. This
Operation will be carried out in phased manner. As part of Phase-1 of operation
“Samudra Setu”, Indian Naval Ships Jalashwa and Magar are presently proceeding
to the port of Malè, Republic of Maldives to start evacuation operations from
08 May 2020. This operation is being progressed in close coordination with
Ministries of Defence, External Affairs, Health, MHA and various other
Government agencies and State governments.
Note: Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral
Karambir Singh.
OBITUARIES
1.
Former Union Minister of India, Dalit Ezhilmalai Passes Away: Former Army Officer
and Union Minister Dalit Ezhilmalai has passed away. He was 74. Dalit
Ezhilmalai had served as Union Minister of State, Health and Family Welfare
(Independent Charge) in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998–99. As an
army officer he took part in the 1971 Indo-Pak war. He was also awarded with
the K Sainik Seva Medal from the president for meritorious service in the Army
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