Current Affairs Today 24th April 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 24th April 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

1. International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is observed on 24th April.
2. The National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on 24 April in India.
3. The World Bank has stated that remittances to India are likely to drop down by 23% due to COVID-19 which has led to the global recession.
4. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed a new permanent bridge on the river Ravi connecting Kasowal enclave in Punjab to the rest of the country.
5. Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has taken initiative to manufacture nutrient-rich foods for COVID-19 patients at a time when the need for healthy and immunity-boosting foods is indispensable.
6. Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ released the alternative academic calendars at the upper primary stage (Classes VI to VIII) on 23 April.
7. Union Minister of Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the #MyBookMyFriendcampaign on social media on 23 April on the occasion of World Book Day.
8. The Government of India on April 23, 2020, put on hold to the hike in dearness allowance.
9. PM Narendra Modi launched E-Gram Swaraj application and 2 portals to accelerate pace of development in villages.
10. Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority (JKSLSA) has launched a helpline under ‘Serve-the-Seniors Initiative’.
11. Sri Lanka is set to enter into an agreement with the Reserve Bank of India for a currency swap worth USD 400 million to boost the foreign reserves and ensure the financial stability of the country which is badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
12. China named its first Mars exploration mission as Tianwen-1 as it celebrated Space Day on 24 April.
13. India provided medical supplies including hydroxychloroquine tablets to many countries and India approved the 1 million USD to Antigua as a project outlay with 150K USD for medical equipment as immediate assistance from the United States to fight against coronavirus pandemic.
14. Lebanon became the 1st Arab nation to legalise cannabis (also known as marijuana) farming for medicinal & industrial use with the aim to boost the exports & to beat the economic crisis created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
15. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) published satellite data that shows decreased air pollution in north India.
16. Tech Mahindra Limited, an Indian multinational subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, has entered into the partnership with US (United States) based IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) to establish innovation centres with the aim to boost digital transformation & encourage adoption of more hybrid cloud-based technologies among its global customers.
17. NIIT (National Institute of Information Technology) Limited announced that its US (United States) subsidiary has signed a managed service agreement with a US-based education technology (EdTech) company to provide virtual services to education providers.
18. The Federal Bank’s board has approved its purchase to acquire an additional stake of up to 4% in the equity capital of IDBI Federal Life Insurance Company Limited (IFLIC) from Industrial Development Bank of India(IDBI) Bank, increasing the total shareholding in the life insurance joint venture to 30% from 26%.
19. The 11th edition of World Games which is to be held in Birmingham, Alabama, US (United States) has unveiled an updated logo and title after being delayed a year because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
20. 16-year-old Iranian refugee, Alireza Firouzja beats World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in the final of the Banter Blitz Cup 2020 and to claim the $14,000 prize.
21. Researchers from Faridabad-based Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) has initiated a study to engineer virucidal coatings to prevent the COVID-19 Transmission.
22. Researchers at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) Nainital, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) found that SN 2010kd, a super-luminous supernova stands out with the amount of mass and Nickel ejected during explosion.
23. Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology has approved support for upscaling antiviral nano-coatings as part of Nano Mission program.
24. Raksha Mantri, Rajnath Singh has launched India’s 1st COVID-19 sample collection mobile Lab launched through video conference.
25. An IIT-Roorkee professor, Kamal Jain, has claimed to have developed a software that can help detect COVID-19 within five seconds using an X-ray scan of the suspected patient.
26. Shilpa Medicare launched its generic version of cancer drug Dasatinib.
27. Eminent theatre director, actor and activist, Usha Ganguly passed away
28. Former Rajya Sabha member from Odisha Basanta Das passed away.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is observed on 24 April

• International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is observed on 24th April.
• The day aims to disseminate the advantages of multilateralism and diplomacy for peace through educational and public awareness-raising activities.
• To commemorate and promote the day, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convenes a one-day high-level plenary meeting.

History

• UNGA officially proclaimed the observation of the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace on 24 April. It passed a resolution A/RES/73/127 and designated the observation of the day.

Extra Shots:

UN: The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations.

• Headquarters: New York, New York, United States
• Founded: 24 October 1945, San Francisco, California, United States
• Official languages: Arabic; Chinese; English; French; Russian; Spanish;
• Secretary general: António Guterres

National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on 24 April

• The National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on 24 April in India.
• The day is observed every year in the country.
• On this day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed village Panchayats across the country to mark the National Panchayati Raj Day.

Significance:

• On this day, the Constitution of India recognized Panchayats as ‘Institutions of self-government’. It marks the passing of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 with effect from 24 April 1993. As per the amendment, the states are empowered to carry out steps to organize village panchayats. The states can provide them with the necessary powers and authority necessary to facilitate them to function as units of self-government.

History:

• National Panchayati Raj Day was celebrated for the first time in 2010. The enactment of the 73rd Amendment Act helped in the decentralization of political power to the grassroots level. The act also led to the institutionalization of Panchayati Raj through the village, Intermediate and District level Panchayats.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Remittances to India likely to fall by 23%: World Bank

• The World Bank has stated that remittances to India are likely to drop down by 23% due to COVID-19 which has led to the global recession.
• The drop will be from USD 83 billion last year to USD 64 billion this year.
• Globally remittances will see a sharp decline by about 20 percent in 2020 due to the economic crisis started by the pandemic and shutdowns, as per the World Bank’s report on the impact of COVID-19 on migration and remittances which was released on April 22.
• World Bank’s President David Malpass stated that remittances are a vital source of income, specifically for the developing countries.

Reason for the projected fall:

• The fall which will be the sharpest decline in recent history will be largely due to the fall in employment and wages of the migrant workers. They tend to be more vulnerable to the loss of employment and wages at the time of an economic crisis in the host country.
• President David Malpass also added that an ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is impacting the ability to send money home which makes it more important that the time to recovery must be shortened for the advanced economies.

Extra Shots:

World Bank: The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of poorer countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. It comprises two institutions: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the International Development Association.

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• Parent organization: World Bank Group
• Membership: 189 countries (IBRD); 173 countries (IDA)
• Founded: 1944
• Founders: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

BRO constructs Permanent bridge on river Ravi

• Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed a new permanent bridge on the river Ravi connecting Kasowal enclave in Punjab to the rest of the country.
• The bridge was opened on 22 April. The bridge was completed ahead of the schedule and opened to farmers.

Highlights:

• The 484-meter bridge was built by 141 Drain Maintenance Coy of 49 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) of Project Chetak.
• The cost for the construction of the bridge is Rs.17.89 crore, excluding various approaches.
• The bridge consists of 16 cells of 30.25 m length each.
• The enclave is around 35 square kilometers. It had been connected via a pontoon bridge of limited load capacity.
• The pontoon bridge used to be dismantled every year prior to the Monsoon so that it does not get washed away in the strong currents of the river. Because of this issue, thousands of acres of fertile land across the river could not be tilled by farmers during the Monsoon.
• To avoid this, a Class 70 permanent bridge with all-weather connectivity was planned and built by the BRO.
• The bridge will ensure that the locals will not suffer during the harvest season. The bridge has been built in a way that it does get damaged because of the heavy discharge of water and the tendency of the river to change course in the monsoons.

Extra Shots:

BRO: The Border Roads Organisation develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighboring countries. Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Service and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force form the parent cadre of the Border Roads Organisation. Headquarters: New Delhi

• Director General: Lt. Gen.Harpal Singh
• Motto: everything is achievable through hardwork…, ‘Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam’
• Founder: Jawaharlal Nehru
• Founded: 7 May 1960
• Budget: 73.2 crores USD

IIFPT manufactures nutrient-rich foods to COVID-19 patients

• Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology (IIFPT), under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has taken initiative to manufacture nutrient-rich foods for COVID-19 patients at a time when the need for healthy and immunity-boosting foods is indispensable.

Highlights:

• IIFPT has been manufacturing such nutrient-rich foods for COVID-19 patients under medical examination.
• The aim is to focus on nutrition to improve immunity in the wake of COVID-19.
• The scientists from the IIFPT have developed novel food product formulations that have been packed with a range of indigenous foods.
• Bread, cookies, rusks, and millet pops are being prepared on a daily basis at IIFPT’s Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) and ISO Certified Food Processing Business Incubation Center (FPBIC).
• All products are being prepared and packed carefully by the IIFPT staff. No synthetic additives are being added to these products.
• They are supplied to the Medical College and Hospital to be served to the COVID-19 patients.

Union HRD Minister launched Alternative Academic Calendar for the upper primary stage

• Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ released the alternative academic calendars at the upper primary stage (Classes VI to VIII) on 23 April.
• The calendars were developed by the NCERT under the guidance of the MHRD.

Aim:

• The move by the government is to engage students meaningfully during their stay at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic through educational activities at home with the help of their parents and teacher.
• The Calendar will empower the students, teachers, school principals, and parents to find out positive ways to deal with COVID-19 using on-line teaching-learning resources and also improving their learning outcomes by getting school education at home.

New Academic Calendar:

• The Calendar will provide guidelines to the teachers on the use of various technological tools and social media tools available for imparting education in fun-filled, interesting ways, which can be used by learners, parents, and teachers even while at home.
• The varying levels of access to such tools like Mobile, Radio, Television, SMS, and various social media were taken into account.
• The calendar guides teachers to further guide parents and students through SMS on mobile phones or through voice calls.
• The calendar holds a week-wise plan. It consists of interesting and challenging activities including various themes or chapters taken from syllabus or textbook. The themes and the learning outcomes are mapped to facilitate teachers/parents to assess the progress in the learning of children and also to go beyond textbooks.
• It will cover experiential learning activities such as Arts Education, Physical Exercises, yoga, pre-vocational skills, etc.
• The Calendar contains class-wise and subject-wise activities related to four languages as subject areas namely Hindi English, Urdu, and Sanskrit in tabular forms.
• The calendar includes a link for Chapter wise e-content available on the e-pathshala, NROER, and DIKSHA portal of GoI.
• The calendar also reduces stress and anxiety among teachers, students, and parents.
• The Alternative Academic Calendar for the primary stage has been released by the Union HRD Minister on 16th April 2020.
• The remaining classes, that is, IX to XII and subject areas, will be covered under this calendar.

Extra Shots:

Ministry of HRD: The Ministry of Human Resource Development, formerly Ministry of Education, is responsible for the development of human resources in India.

• Ministry executives: R. Subrahmanyam, (IAS Officer); Rina Ray, (IAS Officer)
• Founded: 26 September 1985
• Officeholder: Ramesh Pokhriyal (Union Minister)
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Jurisdiction: India
• Departments: Department of Higher Education, Department of School Education and Literacy

Minister of HRD launched the #MyBookMyFriendcampaign

• Union Minister of Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the #MyBookMyFriendcampaign on social media on 23 April on the occasion of World Book Day.
• World Book Day was celebrated amid the lockdown in India.

#MyBookMyFriendcampaign:

• The campaign aims to support the students at the time of lock down.
• The students must read some books of interest in addition to course books so that they will be given the opportunity to learn something new.
• Various Union Ministers and prominent personalities from various parts of India were suggested to join the campaign.
• The campaign is expected to inspire all the countrymen.
• #MyBookMyFriend campaign will run for the next 7 days.
• People across India can join the campaign and gain benefits.

Extra Shots:

Ministry of HRD: The Ministry of Human Resource Development, formerly Ministry of Education, is responsible for the development of human resources in India.

• Ministry executives: R. Subrahmanyam, (IAS Officer); Rina Ray, (IAS Officer)
• Founded: 26 September 1985
• Officeholder: Ramesh Pokhriyal (Union Minister)
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Jurisdiction: India
• Departments: Department of Higher Education, Department of School Education and Literacy

COVID-19: Hike in Dearness Allowance for the year 2021 put on hold

• The Government of India on April 23, 2020, put on hold to the hike in dearness allowance.
• This is being done by the union government to save Rs 1 lakh crore.
• The hold in the hike of dearness allowance applies only to central government employees and pensioners.
• Currently, the central government employees are receiving Dearness Allowance at 17% of their salary.
• The Government had planned to increase the allowance by 4%.

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DA:

• Dearness Allowance is received by pensioners and government employees.
• The DA is revised twice every year in the month of July and January.
• The allowance is provided to the employees and pensioners to compensate inflation.
• Around 8.5% of the Union Budget is used as salaries to the central government employees.

E-Gram Swaraj Application and Portal launched

• PM Narendra Modi launched E-Gram Swaraj application and 2 portals to accelerate pace of development in villages.

Highlights

• The application will help panchayats to complete development projects in villages.
• It will accelerate project in villages starting from planning to completion.
• The Swamitva Yojana will use drones to map properties in villages.
• This will help to reduce disputes over property.
• The portals will help the villagers to obtain their loans easily from banks.

Benefits

• The portal will act as a single platform to implement Gram Panchayat Development Plan.
• Every information related to the rural areas will be found in E-Swaraj website and also on mobile application.

Swamitva Scheme

• The scheme aims to provide an integrated property validation solution to rural India.
• In order the demarcate the lands, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is to use drone technology.
• The ministry is to be joined by State Revenue Department, Panchayati Raj Department and Survey of India.
• The scheme is to be initially launched in six states namely Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.

Background

• The initiatives have been launched by the Prime Minister to celebrate Panchayati Raj Day.

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

‘Serve-the-Seniors Initiative’ helpline launches by JKSLSA

• Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority (JKSLSA) has launched a helpline under ‘Serve-the-Seniors Initiative’.

Highlights:

• The objective of starting this helpline, comprising is to help and facilitate the senior citizens who live alone and are unable to step out to get medicines, groceries and other essentials in this hour of crisis.
• This initiative working under the guidance of Justice Gita Mittal, Patron-in-Chief and Justice Rajesh Bindal Executive Chairman of State Legal Services Authority.
• The helpline numbers of the Nodal Officers who could be contacted in the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
• The initiative has been taken realizing the fact that the elderly are doubly affected by the COVID lockdown and are not only vulnerable to contracting the virus in view of their old age but are in tremendous difficulty to manage their day to day needs like groceries and medicines.

Extra Shots:

Jammu & Kashmir:

• Capitals- Jammu (Winter), Srinagar (Summer)
• Lt Governor- Girish Chandra Murmu
• National Parks: City Forest (Salim Ali) National Park, Dachigam National Park, Hemis National Park, Kishtwar National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Baltal-Thajwas WLS, Changthang Cold Desert WLS, Gulmarg WLS, Jasrota WLS, Karakoram (Nubra Shyok) WLS etc

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Sri Lanka to seek currency swap worth USD 400 million from RBI to meet short term financial needs

• Sri Lanka is set to enter into an agreement with the Reserve Bank of India for a currency swap worth USD 400 million to boost the foreign reserves and ensure the financial stability of the country which is badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Sri Lanka will enter into the agreement with the RBI for a Bilateral Currency Swap Arrangement worth USD 400 million.
• Sri Lanka has placed critical economic measures to save the resources hit badly by the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected 373 persons in the country and the death toll reached 7.

Extra Shots:

Sri Lanka(Capital/Currency): Colombo, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte/ Sri Lankan rupee

• President: Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Tianwen-1 – Chinas Mars exploration mission

• China named its first Mars exploration mission as Tianwen-1 as it celebrated Space Day on 24 April.
• The observation marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the country’s first satellite Dong Fang Hong-I in 1970.
• China’s first Mars mission has been scheduled to launch in 2020.

China’s Mars Mission:

• China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) Mars mission as “Tianwen.” It means Heavenly Questions or Questions to Heaven, a poem written by China’s well-known poet Qu Yuan (340-278 BC).
• CNSA stated that China’s future planetary exploration missions will be named the Tianwen series. It signifies the Chinese nation’s perseverance in pursuing truth and science and exploring nature and the universe.
• China’s Mars mission includes complete orbiting, landing, and roving in one mission.
• With this mission, the country aims to catch up with India, the US, Russia, and the European Union who is already executing their Mars Mission.

Extra Shots:

CNSA:  China National Space Administration is the national space agency of China. It is responsible for the national space program and for planning and development of space activities.

• Budget: ~ US$ 11 Billion
• Administrator: Zhang Kejian
• Headquarters: Haidian District, Beijing, China
• Parent organisation: Chinese Government
• Founded: 22 April 1993
• Jurisdiction: China

India approves US$ 1 million to Antigua as project outlay

• India provided medical supplies including hydroxychloroquine tablets to many countries and India approved the 1 million USD to Antigua as a project outlay with 150K USD for medical equipment as immediate assistance from the United States to fight against coronavirus pandemic.

Highlights:

• On 13th March the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19 positive in Antigua and no cases have been reported in Barbuda.
• Earlier in April, India promised to provide hydroxychloroquine with a deemed medicine for the treatment of patients of coronavirus infection to 55 nations including Kazakhstan to combat the COVID-19 situation.
• The hydroxychloroquine belongs to the antimalarials drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus by decreasing the immune system’s activity.

Lebanon becomes 1st Arab nation to legalise cannabis farming

• Lebanon became the 1st Arab nation to legalise cannabis (also known as marijuana) farming for medicinal & industrial use with the aim to boost the exports & to beat the economic crisis created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
• Lebanon faces the worst economic crisis due to lockdown since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Highlights:

• Along with the above decision, the Parliament of Lebanon has also approved the re-allocation of $40 million from a World Bank (WB) loan to help fight COVID-19.
• Earlier the Lebanon banned growing, selling and consuming cannabis.However the illicit production in the country’s east fertile Bekaa Valley has developed over decades into a multi-million-dollar industry.
• As per the United Nations (UN), Lebanon is the 3rd largest supplier of cannabis resin in the world after Morocco and Afghanistan.

Extra Shots:

Lebanon (Capital/Currency): Beirut/Lebanese pound

• President: Michel Aoun
• Prime Minister:Hassan Diab

RANKS AND INDICES

Lockdown results in lower air pollution levels in north India: NASA

• National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) published satellite data that shows decreased air pollution in north India.
• The pollution has dropped down to a 20 year low for this time of the year due to the lockdown.
• The US agency’s satellite observed aerosol levels at a 20-year low post the nationwide lockdown which was implemented to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
• The data published by NASA with maps shows aerosol optical depth (AOD) in 2020.
• It is compared to the average for 2016-2019.

Extra Shots:

NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Wikipedia

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• Preceding agency: NACA (1915–1958);
• Founder: Dwight D. Eisenhower
• Founded: 29 July 1958, United States

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

IT firm Tech Mahindra joins hands with IBM to set up innovation centres

• Tech Mahindra Limited, an Indian multinational subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, has entered into the partnership with US (United States) based IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) to establish innovation centres with the aim to boost digital transformation & encourage adoption of more hybrid cloud-based technologies among its global customers.

Highlights:

• Both the firms have decided to open a 1st such centre in Bengaluru (Karnataka) later in 2020, which showcases transformation solutions built with IBM Cloud Paks, enterprise-ready containerized software solutions running on Red Hat OpenShift.
• More such centres will be opened throughout North America and the United Kingdom(UK) sometime in 2020.
• The tie-up is in line with Tech Mahindra’s TechMNxt charter, which aims on providing solutions that enable digital transformation and meet the customer’s evolving and dynamic needs.

Extra Shots:

Tech Mahindra Limited:

• Headquarter: Pune, Maharashtra.
• Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer: Chander Prakash Gurnani

 IBM

• Headquarters: New York, U.S.
• President:Jim Whitehurst

NIIT’s US arm signs agreement with US-based EdTech company

• NIIT (National Institute of Information Technology) Limited announced that its US (United States) subsidiary has signed a managed service agreement with a US-based education technology (EdTech) company to provide virtual services to education providers.
• The term of the agreement is 5 years.

Highlights:

• The demand for online courses has seen a quantum jump globally after the outbreak of COVID-19 and consequent of lockdowns.
• Both companies can provide innovative solutions in the testing and certification marketplace, through this significant partnership.
• About NIIT: NIIT is a leading skills and talent development corporation building manpower pool for global industry requirements.
• It has a footprint in over 30 countries offering training and development solutions to individuals, enterprises and institutions.

Extra Shots:

NIIT Limited:

• Headquarters:Gurugram, Haryana.
• CEO: Sapnesh Lalla

Federal Bank to acquire additional stake of up to 4% in IDBI Federal Life Insurance

• The Federal Bank’s board has approved its purchase to acquire an additional stake of up to 4% in the equity capital of IDBI Federal Life Insurance Company Limited (IFLIC) from Industrial Development Bank of India(IDBI) Bank, increasing the total shareholding in the life insurance joint venture to 30% from 26%.

Highlights:

• The IDBI Bank board has also approved a proposal to sell a 23-27% stake in its insurance arm IFLIC on April 3.
• IDBI Bank has 48% stake in IFLIC. Since Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has 51% majority stake in IDBI Bank, & looks to sell its entire stake in IFLIC.
• Current insurance regulations do not allow LIC to hold more than 10% stake in another insurer, either directly or indirectly.

Extra Shots:

Federal Bank:

• Headquarters: Aluva, Kerala
• Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Shyam Srinivasan

IFLIC:

• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD & CEO:Vighnesh Shahane

IDBI:

• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Chairman: M R Kumar

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

World Games unveil new logo for 2022 edition

• The 11th edition of World Games which is to be held in Birmingham, Alabama, US (United States) has unveiled an updated logo and title after being delayed a year because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
• The World Games was initially scheduled for July 2021, but it will now be held from July 7 to 17, 2022.
• The World Games 2021 Birmingham has been renamed to World Games 2022 Birmingham.
• The first event of World Games was held in 1981 in Santa Clara, California, United States (US).

Extra Shots:

USA (Capital/Currency): Washington, D.C./ United States Dollar

• President: Donald Trump
• Official languages: English

Iran’s Alireza Firouzja beats Magnus Carlsen in Banter Blitz Cup final

• 16-year-old Iranian refugee, Alireza Firouzja beats World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen in the final of the Banter Blitz Cup 2020 and to claim the $14,000 prize.
• Firouzja, an Iranian now living in Paris, is the second-youngest player to reach a rating of 2700 from Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), the body that governs international chess competition.
• He is ranked 21st in the world.

Extra Shots:

Iran (Capital/Currency): Tehran/Iranian rial

• President: Hassan Rouhani

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Scientist to develop virucidal coating to prevent COVID transmission

• Researchers from Faridabad-based Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) has initiated a study to engineer virucidal coatings to prevent the COVID-19 Transmission.
• The study is carried out in collaboration with the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) and Department of Textile Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Highlights:

• The study includes antimicrobial molecules that can target the membranes of microorganisms selectively.
• The molecules that will target the membranes of COVID-19 viral particles selectively will be developed.
• These molecules will be used to develop different surfaces including glass, plastic, and textiles including cotton, nylon, and polyester to provide a virucidal coating that can potentially inhibit the viral transmission.

Other measures:

• The researchers also initiated efforts to purify the Nonstructural protein 12 (nsp12) protein to develop high throughput plate assays. It can be used to identify different inhibitors of the protein. These inhibitors are serving as lead molecules for the development of drugs against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• Researchers are to identify possible inhibitors of two other proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 virus using computational tools. These include Nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14), which has a methyltransferase and exoribonuclease activity, and nsp13 which has an RNA helicase activity.
• The group of researchers is also analyzing the available genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 to identify regions in the genome that may be structured and can be targeted using a small molecule to perturb translation or replication of the genome.

Extra Shots:

Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB):

• RCB is an Institution established by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, under the aegis of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

ARIES Scientists say Superluminous supernovae exploded rapidly and decayed slowly

• Researchers at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) Nainital, under the Department of Science and Technology (DST) found that SN 2010kd, a super-luminous supernova stands out with the amount of mass and Nickel ejected during explosion.
• It is much more than seen in the case of normal core-collapse supernovae.

Supernovae

• Supernovae are a kind of energetic explosions where the core of massive stars goes to a catastrophic phase of explosion liberating huge amounts of energy. These massive stars are a few times to that of the mass of the Sun. The events are visible through very far away distances much beyond the solar system. Superluminous supernovae are a special type of stellar explosions having energy output 10 or more times higher than that of standard supernovae.

SN 2010kd:

• SN 2010kd is approximately located at a distance of 1.5 Giga light-years. It was discovered by the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE-IIIb) telescope as a part of the ROTSE supernova verification project in the USA on 14 November 2010. It was embedded in a dwarf host galaxy towards the Leo constellation.
• The larger ejected mass of Superluminous supernovae SN 2010kd indicates that the related star evolution might be different from other possible progenitors of normal core-collapse supernovae with a different possible underlying physical mechanism responsible for producing such energetic supernovae with large ejected mass and Nickel.

Observations by the scientist:

• The observations showed that various parameters like rotation and metallicity play a crucial role in stellar explosions. There are also many more types of possible progenitors existing in diverse environments in their host galaxies than previously known.
• Comparing the line velocities as obtained using spectral modeling, the scientists showed that SN 2010kd exploded with a larger velocity but decayed shower than other similar supernovae. The elected mass of the Oxygen and estimated values of the luminosity of other spectral lines were also found to be higher for SN 2010kd.

DST develops antiviral nano-coatings for making triple layer medical masks and N-95 respirator

• Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology has approved support for upscaling antiviral nano-coatings as part of Nano Mission program.
• The antiviral nano-coating was developed by Professor Ashwini Kumar Agrawal of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.

Antiviral nano-coatings:

• Antiviral nano-coatings will be used as an appropriate material for producing anti-COVID-19 Triple Layer Medical masks and N-95 respirators in large quantities.
• Under the nano mission project, N9 blue nanosilver was developed at SMITA Research Lab, IIT Delhi. Silver has a strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, fungus, and so on.
• The N9 blue nanosilver is a highly potent antimicrobial agent. It will be further modified to form nanocomplexes with Zinc compounds to achieve a synergistic effect.
• Also, these newly developed nanomaterials will be applied as coatings on facemasks and other Personal protective equipment (PPEs) to improve their ability to protect the wearer from accidental contamination from COVID-19 virus droplets.
• The upscaling work of the project will be held in association with 2 industrial partners Resil Chemicals Pvt Ltd. Bangalore and Nanoclean Global Pvt Ltd., New Delhi.
• Resil chemicals will provide N9 blue nanosilver. Nanoclean Global will provide face masks and PPE materials for the application of nanocoating and will help in the design and fabrication of samples at their facilities.
• The use of highly effective antimicrobial nanoparticles on PPEs, masks, etc is the need of the hour.
• The Antiviral nano-coatings will provide an extra layer of protection for the high-risk settings, such as for the medical workers.
• The antiviral properties of this compound against COVID-19 in association with AIIMS, New Delhi, and ILBS, New Delhi will be evaluated. The shelf life of the coatings will be evaluated and their efficacy with different storage conditions such as temperature, humidity, and time and prepare facemasks and PPEs and provide these for field trials.

Extra Shots:

DST: The Department of Science and Technology is a department within the Ministry of Science and Technology in India.

• Headquarters location: New Delhi
• Founded: May 1971
• Subsidiary: National Innovation Foundation – India

India’s 1st COVID-19 sample collection mobile Lab launched

• Raksha Mantri, Rajnath Singh has launched India’s 1st COVID-19 sample collection mobile Lab launched through video conference.
• India’s 1st COVID-19 sample collection mobile Lab launched has been named as “Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab”.

“Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab”:

• Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab is India’s 1st COVID-19 sample collection mobile Lab. The 1st COVID-19 sample collection mobile Lab is jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization and ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Hyderabad. This mobile lab hae the capability of processing more than 1,000 samples in a day and hence, can enhance India’s capabilities in fighting COVID-19.

IIT-Roorkee professor develops software to detect COVID-19 within 5 seconds

• An IIT-Roorkee professor, Kamal Jain, has claimed to have developed a software that can help detect COVID-19 within five seconds using an X-ray scan of the suspected patient.
• The professor claims that the software will not only reduce testing costs but also reduce the risk of coronavirus exposure to the health workers.
• The professor teaches at IIT-Roorkee’s civil engineering department.
• However, there is no official verification for the claim.

Shilpa Medicare launched the anti-cancer drug Dasashil

• Shilpa Medicare launched its generic version of cancer drug Dasatinib.
• The monthly therapy cost of Rs.6,440.
• The company launched the Indian branded generic of Dasatinib, an anti-cancer drug with a brand name “Dasashil.”

Dasashil:

• Dasashil, the branded generic anti-cancer drug, will be available in all dosage strengths of 20 mg, 50 mg, 70 mg, and 100 mg tablets.
• The drug is used for the treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML).
• Dasashil will revolutionize the treatment by ensuring to make therapy available for more Indian patients due to increased affordability.
• The products are being manufactured and supplied from the company’s US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved manufacturing facility.
• The drug can benefit around 10,000 to 15,000 new patients of CML in India.

OBITUARIES

Renowned thespian Usha Ganguly passes away

• Eminent theatre director, actor and activist, Usha Ganguly passed away.
• She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for direction in 1998.
• She has also been honoured by the West Bengal Government as the best actress for the play Gudia Ghar.
• She was credited for introducing an alternative Hindi theatre in West Bengal, in the 1970s and 1980s.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Basanta Das passes away

• Former Rajya Sabha member from Odisha Basanta Das passed away.
• He was Rajya Sabha member from 1990 to 1996 as Janata Dal nominee.
• He was also chairman of Bhawanipatna Municipality from 1985 to 1990.

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