NATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
DST sets up rapid response centre CAWACH to combat COVID-19: The Department of
Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has approved setting up of
a Centre for Augmenting WAR with COVID-19 Health Crisis (CAWACH), to support
startups that address COVID-19 challenges. CAWACH will be set up at a total
cost of Rs 56 Crore. The Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE), a
technology business incubator at IIT Bombay, supported by DST, has been
identified as the Implementing Agency of the CAWACH.
The CAWACH programme of DST will scout,
evaluate and support the innovations and start-ups that are in the area of
novel, low cost, safe and effective ventilators, respiratory aids, protective
gears, novel solutions for sanitizers, disinfectants, diagnostics,
therapeutics, informatics and any effective interventions to control COVID-19.
It will leverage the youthful energy, intelligence and extraordinary innovative
potential of our technology incubators and startups and empower them for
scale-up to speedily address the multi-dimensional challenges of COVID-19.
Requisite financial assistance and fund deployment will be made available for
innovations that are deployable in the market within next 6 months. They will
be provided access to pan-India networks for testing, trial and market
deployment of these products and solutions in the identified areas of priority
COVID-19 solutions.
2.
Uber will provide transportation service to public healthcare workers: The National Health
Authority (NHA) has inked pact with ride hailing app “Uber” to provide
transportation service to public healthcare workers who are involved in
treatment of COVID-19 patients. Uber will initially facilitate the provision of
150 cars free of cost to support medical facilities in certain cities including
New Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj and Patna through its
UberMedic service.
Note: Chief Executive Officer of UBER: Dara
Khosrowshahi.
3.
Indian Railways’ Chittaranjan Locomotive creates world record of producing
highest number of locos in FY’20: The Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) of
Indian Railways’ has sets new world record of making the highest number of
locomotives in the financial year 2019-20. The Asansol, West Bengal based CLW
locomotive factory produced a total of 431 locomotives in the financial year
2019-20, to be recognized by Limca Book of Records as World Record. It
surpassed its own record of manufacturing a number of 402 locomotives in the
financial year 2018-19, which itself was a world record. The production of
locomotives by CLW has witnessed a jump of 75 percent over the last six years
from 250 locomotives in 2014-15 to 431 locomotives in 2019-20, under the ‘Make
in India’ initiative.
4.
Government Extends Tenure of Acting President of NCLT, BSV Prakash Kumar, for 3
Months: The
Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has extended the tenure of BSV Prakash
Kumar as the Acting President of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for
another three months with effect from 5 April 2020, or till the joining of new
President, whichever is earlier. Kumar was appointed as acting President for a
period of three months on January 5 after the retirement of Justice MM Kumar as
the NCLT President.
5.
AICTE launches “MHRD AICTE COVID-19 Student Helpline Portal”: All India Council
for Technical Education (AICTE) has launched “MHRD AICTE COVID-19 Student
Helpline Portal” to address the issues faced by students due to closure of
colleges and hostels amid national lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak. The
portal has been developed within a day and will provide help students regarding
the issue of Accommodation, Food, online Classes, Attendance, Examinations,
Scholarships, Health, Transport, Harassment etc. The portal link is here:
https://helpline.aicte-india.org
Note: Chairman of AICTE: Anil Sahasrabudhe.
Union Minister of Human Resource
Development: Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’.
6.
Online Hackathon “Hack the Crisis-India” launched: Online Hackathon
“Hack the Crisis-India”, a part of a global initiative has been launched to
find the working solutions to overcome the COVID 19 pandemic. The hackathon was
launched by Minister of State Electronics & Information Technology,
Communications and Human Resource Development, Sanjay Dhotre. The “Hack the
Crisis-India” hackathon will be organised by ‘Hack A Cause-India’ and ‘Ficci
Ladies Organization Pune’ along with the support of Ministry of Electronics
& Information Technology, Government of India (MEITY). Over 2000 teams and
over 15000 participants will be participated in 48 hour hackathon with expert
from India, Estonia and Finland.
Note: Union Minister of Electronics &
Information Technology: Ravi Shankar Prasad.
7.
Book Titled ‘Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess’ Authored by Satyarth Nayak: Noted Indian author
and screenwriter Satyarth Nayak has penned his first non-fiction book titled
‘Sridevi: The Eternal Screen Goddess’. The book reveals the journey of
pan-Indian female superstar Sridevi, from child star to one of our greatest
movie luminaries who forever changed the narrative of Indian cinema. The author
is known for his bestselling debut novel The Emperor’s Riddles.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1.
ADB warns global cost of virus could top $4 trillion: The coronavirus
pandemic could cost the global economy $4.1 trillion as it ravages United
States, Europe and other major economies, the Asian Development Bank warned.
The estimated impact is equivalent to nearly five percent of worldwide output
based on a range of scenarios, but the lender said losses from “the worst
pandemic in a century” could be higher. The Manila-based bank said a shorter
containment period could pare the losses to $2 trillion.
2.
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action: 4 April: International Mine
Awareness Day is commemorated every year on 4 April to spread awareness about
the threat caused by landmines to the safety, health and lives of civilian
populations and encourages state Governments to develop mine clearing
programmes. “Mine action” refers to a range of efforts to clear landmines and
explosive remnants of war and to mark and fence off dangerous areas. The theme
for 2020 is “Advancing Protection, Peace and Development.”
Note: On 8 December 2005, the UN General
Assembly declared 4 April to be observed as the International Day for Mine
Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action every year and it was first observed in
2006.
Daniel Craig is the first UN Global
Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards.
OTHER UPDATES:
SPORTS
1.
‘Smart Triplets’ Launched As Official Mascots of 19th Asian Games, Hangzhou: The Olympic Council
of Asia (OCA) digitally unveiled the official mascots, of the 19th Asian Games
in Hangzhou, China on 3rd April 2020. The official mascot comprise of three
sporty robots named Congcong, Lianlian and Chenchen, collectively named as the
‘smart triplets’. Mascots: They represents the UNESCO World Heritage sites of
Hangzhou in eastern China. The first mascot is yellow colored robot ‘Congcong’
which represents the archaeological ruins of Liangzhu city. The second mascot,
Green ‘Lianlian’ represents the West Lake and the name signifies a lake full of
lush lotus leaves. The third mascot is ‘Chenchen’, which represents the
Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, where Blue represents science and technology.
Asian Games 2020: The 19th Asian Games will
be held in Hangzhou, China from September 10 to 25, 2022. It will be the third
Asian Games to be hosted by China following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in
2010.
2.
FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup postponed: The FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup
scheduled to be played in India in November (2nd to 21st) has been postponed
due to the Coronavirus pandemic by FIFA-Confederations working group. FIFA
Under-20 Women’s World Cup has also been postponed which was about to be held
in Panama and Costa Rica. Under-17 Women's World Cup was scheduled to be played
in India across five host cities - Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Kolkata
and Bhubaneswar.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1.
Pravin Jadhav resigns as MD and CEO of Paytm Money: Paytm Money
managing director and CEO Pravin Jadhav has resigned over rumoured differences
with the company. Jadhav, who built Paytm’s wealth management arm into India’s
leading mutual fund platform, reportedly quit over issues related to employee
stock options (ESOPs) and remuneration.
2.
After SBI, Govt nominates IOB for collecting donations for PM Cares Fund: Indian Overseas
Bank (IOB), has been nominated by the government for the collection of funds of
PM-Cares Fund. Till now only State Bank of India was the nominated bank for the
same. PM Cares stands for Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in
Emergency Situations Fund (PM-Cares Fund). The contributions can be made by
ECS, RTGS, NEFT, IMPS, cheques and demand drafts drawn in favour of PM-Cares
Fund. All such contributions will be entitled to 100 per cent income tax
exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
1.
IIM-B & ICICI Securities teams up to launch program for fintech startups: As a part of its
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, ICICI Securities (I-Sec) has
partnered with IIM Bangalore’s startup hub N S Raghavan Centre of
Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) to launch program for fintech startups having
the duration of 15 months. The startups working in the fields of insurance,
personal finance, banking, trading, wealth advisory, payments, lending and
taxation can avail the benefits of the program.
Note: MD & CEO of ICICI Securities:
Vijay Chandok.
2.
ADB Estimates India’s GDP for FY’21 at 4 Percent; 6.2% for FY’22: The Asian
Development Bank (ADB) released its latest Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2020
for financial year 2020-21 on 3rd April 2020. As per ADB, the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) growth in India is likely to slow down to 4 percent in FY21
(2020-21) on the back of the current global health emergency. However, ADB
expects the Indian economy to further strengthen to 6.2 percent in the FY22 fiscal
(2021-22).
Note: President of ADB: Masatsugu Asakawa;
Headquarters: Manila, Philippines.
OBITUARIES
1.
Veteran Indian-origin virologist Gita Ramjee Passes Away: Gita Ramjee, a
world-renowned Indian-origin South African virologist has passed away due to
coronavirus complications. She was 63. She was a “Vaccine” scientist, an HIV
prevention research leader and unit director of the Clinical Trial Unit of the
HIV Prevention Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council
(SAMRC) in Durban. In 2018, she was awarded with the Outstanding Female
Scientist Award in Lisbon for her lifetime commitment towards finding new HIV
prevention methods.
