Hello and welcome to exampundit. Here are the important Current Affairs Today 28th March 2020. These are important for the upcoming Exams. Candidates who were preparing for the examination can use these current affairs and also you can download the same as PDF.
Current Affairs Today – 28th March 2020
NEWS AT A GLANCE
- Jana Small Finance Bank has rolled out a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) QR-based loan installment payment facility along with National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) for its customers.
- Moody’s Investors Service reduced India’s GDP growth in 2020 to 2.5 per cent from the earlier estimate of 5.3 per cent.
- Government of India approved an additional Rs.5,751.27 crore as an aid to 8 states that were hit by floods, landslides, cyclone ‘Bulbul’ and drought in 2019.
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a directive that restricts the sale and distribution of hydroxychloroquine.
- India is set to begin antibody tests for the coronavirus to confirm whether a person had previously been infected with the virus.
- Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has developed a health app named “COVID-19”, after the virus itself, under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe.
- The Indian Railways have prepared a prototype of train coaches that can be used as isolation units for COVID-19 patients.
- Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has introduced a number of initiatives in the fight against COVID-19 Pandemic.
- Government has set up a control room in Bihar Bhawan, New Delhi. The information was passed by the Resident Commissioner of Bihar, Vipin Kumar.
- China is planning to launch a Long March-5B carrier rocket, an experimental spacecraft, without a crew in April 2020.
- Japanese government funding agency JICA signed Rs.15,295 crore agreement with the Indian government for three mega rail infrastructure projects.
- The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of two Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers Krishan Mohan Prasad and Satish Kumar Gupta as members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Board.
- Savita Chhabra, Chairperson of HRIPL (Hygienic Research Institute Private Limited) and an award-winning businesswoman, has authored & launched her first book titled “Legacy Of Learning” (selected verses from Srimad Bhagavad Gita).
- Indian Army has launched an initiative christened ‘Operation Namaste’ to extend all possible assistance to the government in containing the spread of coronavirus.
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has prepared four different items ready to be deployed in the war against Corona as a result of a focused approach.
- The Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGN) has launched ‘Project Isaac’ to engage students in creative projects during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- Former India midfielder Abdul Latif, who was also a key member of bronze medal winning team at the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games died in Guwahati on Monday.
NEWS IN DETAILS
BANKING AND FINANCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Jana SFB rolls out UPI QR-based loan instalment payment facility
- Jana Small Finance Bank has rolled out a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) QR-based loan installment payment facility along with National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) for its customers.
- Initially the UPI QR-based loan installment payment facility will be only available to over 40 lakh customers of the Jana Small Finance Bank.
- The UPI QR-based loan installment payment facility will enable the customers of the small finance bank to generate UPI QR code for their loan account as well as to make instalment payments instantly with the help of any of the UPI applications.
Extra Shots:
Jana Small Finance Bank is a small finance bank that commenced operations on March 28, 2018. The Reserve Bank of India issued a licence to the bank under Section 22 (1) of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.Prior to becoming a bank, the company was India’s largest microfinance institution, Janalakshmi Financial Services, founded July 24, 2006.
- Headquarter: Bengaluru
- Founded: 2006
- CEO: Ajay Kanwal
- Tagline: ‘Paise ki Kadar’ (value for money)
BUSINESS AND ECONOMY
Moody’s cuts India’s GDP growth to 2.5% in 2020
- Moody’s Investors Service reduced India’s GDP growth in 2020 to 2.5 per cent from the earlier estimate of 5.3 per cent.
- The Coronavirus pandemic will cause unprecedented shock to the global economy.
- Moody’s Global Macro Outlook 2020-21, India will see a sharp fall in incomes at an estimated 2.5 per cent growth rate.
- Moody’s now expects real GDP in the global economy to contract by 0.5 per cent in 2020, followed by a pickup to 3.2 per cent in 2021.
Extra Shots:
Moody’s:
- Headquarters: NewYork, United States
- President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Raymond W. McDaniel, Jr.
NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
Centre approved more than Rs.5 crore to 8 states
- Government of India approved an additional Rs.5,751.27 crore as an aid to 8 states that were hit by floods, landslides, cyclone ‘Bulbul’ and drought in 2019.
- The approval was decided by a high-level committee under the Chairmanship of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
- The eight states which will be given the financial assistance are Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.
Highlights:
- The fund will be released from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) which is subject to the adjustment of 50% of balances available in the SDRF account as on 1 April of the current financial year.
- The Centre has already released: Rs.953.17 crore to Bihar, Rs.1758.18 crore to Maharashtra, Rs.1119.98 crore to Rajasthan, Rs.1090.68 crore to West Bengal, Rs.11.48 crore to Karnataka
GoI declared Hydroxychloroquine as Schedule H1 Drug
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a directive that restricts the sale and distribution of hydroxychloroquine.
- The drug has been declared an essential drug to treat the COVID-19 patients.
Highlights:
- The Central government has specified the sale of the drug in “Schedule H1 to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.”
- Under this, the sale by retail of any preparation containing the drug Hydroxychloroquine should be in accordance with the conditions for the sale of drugs specified in Schedule H1.
- The drug must possess a warning label of “only prescription sale” and against self-medication.
- Also, the chemists should maintain records for the name and address of the prescriber, the name of the patient, the name of the drug and the quantity supplied.
- These records must be maintained for three years and be open for inspection.
- Previously, the National Task Force for COVID-19 constituted by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) recommended the usage of hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients.
India to begin antibody tests on coronavirus
- India is set to begin antibody tests for the coronavirus to confirm whether a person had previously been infected with the virus.
- The move is expected to help understand the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the country.
Highlights:
- The antibody test is named as “serological test”.
- The test looks for antibodies in the blood, it is different from the current, diagnostic tests that determine active infection through nasal or throat swabs.
- Serological tests will help the scientists and doctors to determine if a person has previously had a viral infection, based on the presence of antibodies in the blood, possibly even if they were asymptotic.
- It is not a confirmatory test. It will be used for the purpose of surveillance to generate data and understand whether people got exposed to the virus.
MNMC launched a health app to provide guidance for people under isolation due to coronavirus infection
- Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has developed a health app named “COVID-19”, after the virus itself, under the guidance of Municipal Commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe.
COVID-19 health app:
- The app is aimed to hold the citizens who are under isolation and experiencing symptoms like dry cough, respiratory disorders, and fever.
- The app was launched with the support of HLL Life Care GOL.
- A person should download the app.
- He/She should fill out personal details and the symptoms they have been going through and then press the submit button.
- After the successful submission of the query, the doctors and medic will contact the person and guide according to the health issue.
- The app is made only for those who have symptoms of novel coronavirus and should not be used by those who have other symptoms than the mentioned ones.
Extra Shots:
NMC: Nagpur Municipal Corporation is the municipal body administering Nagpur, in Maharashtra state in Central India.
- Founded: 1864, Nagpur
- Seats: 151
- Jurisdiction: Nagpur
- Deputy Mayor: Mrs. Manisha Kothe (BJP)
- Subsidiary: Nagpur Mahanagar Parivahan Limited
- Type of business: Nagpur, Municipal Corporation
Indian Railways prepares train coaches for isolation units for COVID-19 patients
- The Indian Railways have prepared a prototype of train coaches that can be used as isolation units for COVID-19 patients.
- The move is to face challenges that might be caused due to the outbreak of Coronavirus.
Highlights:
- Initially, 10 coaches will be converted into isolation units for those affected by COVID- 19. There are 17 zones in Indian Railways.
- The isolation coaches will be used all across the country and will remain in railway premises.
- The prototype has been developed by Northern Railway.
- It is expected that other zones will give their outputs in 3-4 days. Indian Railways is yet to finalize a particular design in this regard.
- For the isolation cabin, middle berth from one side and all the three berths have been removed in front of the patient berth.
- Air curtains in each compartment has been provided.
- Each compartment is provided with four bottle holders and a 220-volt electric point for medical instruments.
Extra Shots:
Indian Railways is India’s national railway system operated by the Ministry of Railways. It is one of the public facilities given by the government and manages the fourth largest railway network in the world by size, with a route length of 67,368-kilometre as of March 2017.
- Customer service: 139
- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Founded: 16 April 1853, India
GeM introduce initiative to procure goods by Govt department
- Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has introduced a number of initiatives in the fight against COVID-19 Pandemic.
- The portal has introduced many steps to enable quick, efficient, transparent and cost-effective purchases during the coronavirus lockdown.
Measures:
- Currently, more than 7400 products in about 150 product categories and hiring of transport services have been made available on the GeM portal.
- A dedicated page for COVID 19 related categories has been created on the GeM website .
- Categories namely Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Sample Collection Kit, Reusable vinyl/rubber gloves (cleaning), Eye protection (visor/goggles), Disposable thermometers, Single-use towels, UV tube light for sterilization, Surgical Isolation Face Shield, and Medical waste incinerator have been created for medical supplies. These are live on GeM.
- All categories recommended by NITI Ayog in medical and auxiliary supplies are now available on GeM.
- All OEMs, resellers, and suppliers for the above newly created categories are being identified for onboarding on GeM.
- A total of 173, out of which 120 are Medical Related and 53 are Auxiliary, COVID-19 related categories are available on GeM.
STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Control Room set up in Bihar Bhawan to assist Migrant Labourers
- Government has set up a control room in Bihar Bhawan, New Delhi. The information was passed by the Resident Commissioner of Bihar, Vipin Kumar.
- The control room will facilitate and provide holistic assistance to the migrant labourers of Bihar.
- It will work 24X7.
- It will provide all possible support and assistance to the people.
- The helpline numbers to reach the control room are 011-23792009 and 011-23014326.
INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS
China to launch Long March-5B carrier rocket in April
- China is planning to launch a Long March-5B carrier rocket, an experimental spacecraft, without a crew in April 2020.
- The mission is a part of a broader spaceflight program to shuttle astronauts to its future space station.
Highlights:
- The new-generation spacecraft has been scheduled to launch China’s largest carrier rocket from the southern island province of Hainan.
- The launch has been set for mid to late April.
- The spacecraft was developed for the operation of China’s space station and manned space exploration.
- The spacecraft will be reusable.
- China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) will be larger than China’s current Shenzhou spacecraft.
Extra Shots:
China (Capital/Currency): Beijing/Renminbi
- President: Xi Jinping
AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED
India, Japan signed major rail projects for public, freight transport
- Japanese government funding agency JICA signed Rs.15,295 crore agreement with the Indian government for three mega rail infrastructure projects.
Aim:
- The agreement aims to cope up with the increase in freight transport demand in India by constructing new dedicated freight railway system between Delhi and Mumbai.
- Agreement Highlights:
- As per the agreement, JICA has granted Rs.8,553 crore for phase-1 of the Dedicated Freight Corridor; Rs.4,262 crore for Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Project-II and Rs.2,480 crore for the Mumbai Metro Line 3 Project-III.
- The project has been scheduled to be completed by
- The project will promote comprehensive regional economic development along the freight corridor. Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) initiative is part of the Japanese-Indian collaborative project aimed at comprehensive regional development.
- The agreement will provide long-term low-cost loans for development projects to various countries.
APPOINTMENT
SK Gupta and KM Prasad becomes new members of CBDT board
- The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet approved the appointment of two Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers Krishan Mohan Prasad and Satish Kumar Gupta as members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) Board.
- Krishan Mohan Prasad is a 1984 batch IRS officer, serves as the head of Faceless e-Assessment scheme as first Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax, National e-assessment centre in Delhi.
- Satish Kumar Gupta is a 1984 batch IRS officer, serves as the Principal Chief Commissioner (PCCIT) of I-T (Income Tax) in Mumbai, Maharashtra & also served as Director-General of Investigation of Bhopal and Jaipur.
Extra Shots:
CBDT: The Chairperson, Central Board of Direct Taxes is the senior-most IRS civil servant in the Government of India. The Chairperson of CBDT is the ex officio Special Secretary to the Government of India and also cadre controlling authority of the Indian Revenue Service.
- Formation: 1944
- Residence: North Block, Secretariat Building, New Delhi
- Inaugural holder: Jamuna Prasad Singh
SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS
Savita Chhabra authored her first book titled “Legacy Of Learning”
- Savita Chhabra, Chairperson of HRIPL (Hygienic Research Institute Private Limited) and an award-winning businesswoman, has authored & launched her first book titled “Legacy Of Learning” (selected verses from Srimad Bhagavad Gita).
- About the book Legacy of Learning: The book offers simplistic and relatable interpretations of the Bhagavad Gita.
- The book explains the importance of performing good karma & nudges them to be conscious about the purpose of their lives in every decision they make.
DEFENCE CURRENT AFFAIRS
Indian Army launched Operation Namaste
- Indian Army has launched an initiative christened ‘Operation Namaste’ to extend all possible assistance to the government in containing the spread of coronavirus.
- The operation was launched by Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane on 27 March.
Operation Namaste:
- Under the operation, the Indian Army has issued several directives to all its bases to insulate the force from the coronavirus.
- The army has set up a command-wise helpline as part of measures to deal with any possible eventualities arising out of the pandemic.
- The army has set up 28 service hospitals to deal with coronavirus cases including civilian patients.
- Isolation wards are being established at hospitals in formations along the border areas besides launching communication campaigns for the soldiers and officials.
DRDO prepared four different items ready to be deployed in War against Corona
- Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has prepared four different items ready to be deployed in the war against Corona as a result of a focused approach.
DRDO’s efforts Highlights:
- The four different items prepared by DRDO are Hand sanitizer, Ventilators, N99 masks, Body Suits.
- Hand sanitizers, the basic instrument against the spread of COVID-19, have been developed in-house at DRDO. DRDO has distributed hand sanitizers to Indian Armed forces, Armed Forces Medical Corps, Defence Security Corps, Ministry of Defence, Delhi Police and 40 nakas so far. Sanitizers were produced in the DRDO lab, Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior.
- As COVID-19 affects pulmonary functions, DRDO is on to create a ‘Multi patient-ventilator’ wherein several patients can be supported by a single ventilator. DRDO announced around 5,000 ventilators will be produced in the first month and 10,000 subsequently.
- N99 masks have developed five-layer N99 masks with two layers of nanomesh that are very advanced. DRDO assured to prepare 10,000 N99 masks per day.
- Body Suits were manufactured for medical and paramedical staff to manage and evacuate the causalities in the event of radiological emergencies.
Extra Shots:
DRDO: The Defence Research and Development Organisation is an agency of the Government of India, charged with the military’s research and development, headquartered in Delhi India.
- Headquarters location: New Delhi
- Motto: बलस्य मूलं विज्ञानम्; “Strength’s Origin is in Science” (Sanskrit)
- Founded: 1958
- Minister responsible: Rajnath Singh, Minister of Defence
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
IIT-Gandhinagar launches “Project Isaac” for students during Corona lockdown
- The Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGN) has launched ‘Project Isaac’ to engage students in creative projects during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- The project aims to enhance the student’s skills while they are confined in their homes.
- The project is inspired by Sir Isaac Newton, who was similarly sent home by Trinity College, Cambridge, because of the Great Plague of London in 1665.
- During this year, Newton, then a 22-year-old college student developed some of his most profound discoveries, including early calculus, as well as his theories of optics and gravity.
- As part of the project, four different competitions are being organized by IIT, Gandhinagar to cultivate new skills among students regarding writing, painting, coding, music, creative expression, and so on. Students can take part in competitions online.
- Nearly 40 per cent of IITGN students are already participating in various activities, which are entirely voluntary.
OBITUARIES
Former footballer Abdul Latif passes away
- Former India midfielder Abdul Latif, who was also a key member of bronze medal winning team at the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games died in Guwahati on Monday.
- He was also represented India in Asia Cup Qualifier in 1968 in Myanmar and Merdeka Cup in 1969 in Kuala Lumpur.
- Latif represented Mohammedan Sporting from 1963-1967 and later took over as coach.
