Current Affairs Today 30th April 2020-Download in PDF

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Current Affairs Today – 30th April 2020

NEWS AT A GLANCE

1. The World Veterinary Day is observed on the last Saturday in the month of April.
2. International Guide Dog Day is celebrated on 29 April 2020.
3. Ayushman Bharat Diwas is celebrated on 30 April.
4. International Jazz Day is celebrated on 30 April
5. State-owned Indian Bank announced a cut in its marginal cost of fund-based lending rate (MCLR) by 30 basis points across various tenors in line with market competition.
6. UBS has predicted India’s GDP growth rate for FY21 (2020-21) at -0.4%. Earlier it had predicted the same at 2.5%.
7. Rating agency CRISIL has cut the GDP growth rate forecast for India for 2020-21 (FY21) to 1.8% from the previous prediction of 3.5%.
8. The Task Force on National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) submitted its Final Report on the NIP for 2019-25 to the Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman.
9. US government, through its aid agency USAID, has announced an additional grant of USD 3 million to help India combat the coronavirus pandemic.
10. During COVID-19 crisis Janaushadhi Sugam Mobile App is helping people in a big way to locate their nearest Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendra (PMJAK) and availability of affordable generic medicine with its price.
11. 411 flights have been operated under Lifeline Udan by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private carriers. 237 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air.
12. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) released a new list with the names of 169 tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) including Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.
13. AIR Guwahati is broadcasting radio classes for 9th and 10th Standard students in association with Secondary Education Board of Assam.
14. In Madhya Pradesh, the state government has decided to set up Deendayal committees at the ward and Panchayat levels to ensure benefits of welfare schemes reach people during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
15. The West Bengal Government has announced more relaxations in 8 Green zone Districts during the ongoing lockdown.
16. Pratirodhi Bondhu are working as volunteers in creating awareness including social distancing across Assam.
17. Maharashtra’s Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has recently launched a dashboard about the COVID-19 situation in the KDMC area.
18. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 346 million (around Rs 2,616 crore) loan to Maharashtra state government to provide reliable power connections in rural areas of Maharashtra.
19. In Uttar Pradesh, Agra Smart City has created a GIS dashboard which will show various hotspots, heat map, positive cases, and recovered cases.
20. In Gujarat, the government today appointed nodal officers for various states to bring back stranded students, travellers, pilgrims and working professionals.
21. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) converted one of its buses into a Mobile Fever Clinic in Mangaluru amid COVID-19 pandemic.
22. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that state government offices, including the secretariat, will resume work with 30% staff from Thursday.
23. The World Bank approved today a US$20 million project to help Jordan face the health impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.
24. The World Bank approved additional financing of $10.4 million from the International Development Association (IDA)* to support Benin’s efforts to fight COVID-19 (coronavirus) and help the country respond to public health emergencies.
25. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today announced a $400,000 (about 900,000 Fijian dollars) grant to the Government of Fiji to help fund priority recovery activities following Tropical Cyclone Harold, which hit Fiji’s western, central, and eastern divisions on 8 and 9 April.
26. The World Bank will provide $80 million in financial support to Georgia to help the government’s efforts to mitigate and address the health and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
27. Professor Wang Rong, director of China Institute for Educational Finance Research of Peking University, was elected director of IIEP Council of UNESCO, with the tenure of four years.
28. The United States Navy has said that it will host the world’s largest maritime exercises in Hawaii again this year, but the drills will only be held at sea because of the Corona virus.
29. India has extended $ 150 million foreign currency swap support to Maldives to help reduce the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID 19).
30. UNESCO has published its most recent figures for out-of-school children, as schools reopen progressively across the globe.
31. According to a CRISIL Research report, Karnataka retained its 1st position in terms of total installed renewable capacity in FY20 followed by Tamil Nadu(2nd) & Gujarat(3rd).
32. Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) released its Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID) 2020 on 29 April.
33. Nutanix , a leader in enterprise cloud computing, and Wipro Limited , a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company announced the launch of Wipro’s Digital Database Services (DDS) powered by Nutanix Era and Nutanix HCI software.
34. TS Tirumurti, now Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador/ Permanent Representative to the UN.
35. Jsimple LLC, a US-based company in Artificial Intelligence HR space, announces the appointment of Karnika Bansal as its Business Head for its global operations.
36. Former finance secretary Rajiv Kumar was appointed as the chairperson of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) on 29 April.
37. Suresh N. Patel took oath as Vigilance Commissioner on 19 April.
38. The Punjab National Bank (PNB) Housing Finance Limited appointed independent director Neeraj Vyas as the Interim Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) for the period of eight months effective from 28th April
39. Former Karnataka cricketer J. Arunkumar, 45 years old, was appointed as the head coach of the USA (United States of America)men’s national team.
40. Deepak Agarwal has been banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from all cricket for a period of 2 years.
41. Uma Balasubramaniam has authored a biography on “Sayajirao Gaekwad III” titled ‘Sayajirao Gaekwad III: The Maharaja of Baroda’.
42. IIT Jammu has developed a face-shield that will be handed over to the police for trial amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
43. New academic session for freshers to begin in universities from September and for already enrolled students in August informed University Grants Commission.
44. Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have modified the structure of Berberine into Ber-D to use as an Alzheimer’s inhibitor.
45. CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO), Chandigarh, has designed and developed Electrostatic Disinfection Machine, an innovative technology for effective disinfection and sanitization to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
46. Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away in Mumbai on 30 April.

NEWS IN DETAILS

IMPORTANT DAYS AND THEMES

World Veterinary Day 2020: 25 April

• The World Veterinary Day is observed on the last Saturday in the month of April.
• In the year 2020, the day is being celebrated on 25th April 2020.
• It is observed to mark the importance of Veterinary doctors who serve to protect animals to improve their animal lives and thus human lives.
• The theme of World Veterinary Day 2020 is Environment Protection for Improving Animal and Human Health.

International Guide Dog Day was celebrated on 29 April

• International Guide Dog Day is celebrated on 29 April 2020.
• The day is celebrated every year on the last Wednesday of April.
• This day aims to honour the importance of a guide dog that is in the life of a person who is blind or visually impaired.
• The dog enables people with impaired vision to get around safely by being independent.

Aim:

• The day aims to raise awareness about Guide Dogs in society.
• The day honours the guide dogs and the hard-working people who dedicate their time to train and match them to their owners.

Ayushman Bharat Diwas 2020 is celebrated on 30 April

• Ayushman Bharat Diwas is celebrated on 30 April.
• The day aims to promote affordable medical facilities in remote areas of the country based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census database.
• It will also promote health and wellness and provide insurance benefits to the poor.

Ayushman Bharat:

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY), also known as the National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM), was launched by PM Narendra Modi on 14 April 2018, at Bijapur, Chhattisgarh.
• The scheme will enable the beneficiaries to take cashless benefits from public and private hospitals across the country.
• The scheme aims to cover 50 crore beneficiaries in India and it covers secondary and tertiary healthcare. So far, the scheme has benefitted 10 crore families in India, of which 8 crore families in rural areas and 2.33 crore families from urban areas.
• The Scheme includes various benefits with a cover of Rs.5 lakh per family to be given per year.

International Jazz Day is celebrated on 30 April

• International Jazz Day is celebrated on 30 April.
• The day aims to create awareness around the world of the virtues of jazz as a force of peace, unity, dialogue, and enhanced cooperation among people, and an educational tool.
• International Jazz Day 2020 is the ninth year celebration of International Jazz Day.

Jazz:

• The musical form of Jazz was developed by African Americans.
• It was influenced by both European harmonic structure and African rhythms.
• It originated in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Event:

• Amid COVID-19 pandemic, the day has been decided to be celebrated virtually.
• The online celebration of International Jazz Day 2020 will be hosted by Herbie Hancock.
• The virtual Global Concert featuring artists from different parts of the world will Livestream on jazzday.com.

BANKING AND FINANCE

Indian Bank cuts fund-based lending rate by 30 basis points

• State-owned Indian Bank announced a cut in its marginal cost of fund-based lending rate (MCLR) by 30 basis points across various tenors in line with market competition.
• The new interest rates will be effective from May 3.
• Overnight and one-month MCLRs have been reduced by 30 basis points to 7.50 per cent and 7.55 respectively.
• Three-month MCLR has been revised to 7.70 per cent from 8 per cent while six-month rate has come down to 7.75 per cent as compared to 8.05 per cent.
• The rate cut is in line with easing of interest rate in the market following moderation in interest rates by the RBI last month.
• The RBI reduced benchmark repo rate by 75 basis points to 4.40 per cent in the bi-monthly Monetary Policy Committee meeting on March 27.

Extra Shots:

Indian Bank:

• Founded: 1907
• Headquarters: Chennai
• CEO: Padmaja Chunduru

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

UBS predicts India GDP growth for FY21 at -0.4%

• UBS has predicted India’s GDP growth rate for FY21 (2020-21) at -0.4%. Earlier it had predicted the same at 2.5%.
• For FY22, UBS has predicted India’s GDP to grow at 7.0%.

CRISIL cuts India’s GDP growth at 1.8% from 3.5% for FY21

• Rating agency CRISIL has cut the GDP growth rate forecast for India for 2020-21 (FY21) to 1.8% from the previous prediction of 3.5%.
• CRISIL has projected a total loss of Rs 10 lakh crore or Rs 7,000 per person due to the impact of lockdowns to control COVID-19 pandemic.

Extra Shots:

CRISIL:

• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• CEO: Ashu Suyash
• Chairman:John Berisford
• President & Business Head: Gurpreet Chhatwal

Task Force on NIP submits final report to Finance Minister

• The Task Force on National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) submitted its Final Report on the NIP for 2019-25 to the Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman.
• The report holds several recommendations on general and sectoral reforms relating to Infrastructure for implementation by Centre and States in India.

Aim:

• The taskforce of NIP aims to provide world-class infrastructure across the country and improve the quality of life for all citizens.
• The main objective is to improve the project preparation, attract investments both domestic and foreign into infrastructure which will be crucial for the target of becoming a $5 trillion economy by FY 2025.

Highlights:

• The report contained infrastructure trends in India along with global trends in all sectors of infrastructure.
• The report identified a set of reforms to scale up and propel infrastructure investments in various sectors throughout the country.
• It suggested methods and means of financing the NIP through deepening Corporate Bond markets, including the Municipal Bonds, setting up Development Financial Institutions for the infrastructure sector, accelerating Monetisation of Infrastructure Assets, Land monetization, etc.
• The report forecasts a total infrastructure investment of Rs.111 lakh crore during the period FY 2020-25 with the additional/amended data provided by Central Ministries/State Governments.
• The Task Force has recommended setting up of 3 Committees namely:

1. Committee to monitor NIP progress and eliminate delays
2. Steering Committee in each Infrastructure ministry level for following-up implementation
3. Steering Committee in DEA for raising financial resources for the NIR

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Taskforce:

• The task force was set up by the Ministry of Finance. It was headed by the Economic Affairs Secretary to draw up the NIP for each of the years from FY 2019-20 to FY 2024-25. The members of the task force also include the CEO of NITI Aayog, Secretary (Expenditure), Secretary of the Administrative Ministries, and Additional Secretary (Investments), DEA as members, and Joint Secretary (IPF), DEA as Member Secretary.

USAID announces USD 3 million to support India’s COVID-19 efforts

• US government, through its aid agency USAID, has announced an additional grant of USD 3 million to help India combat the coronavirus pandemic.
• US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said the additional funding will further support India’s response to COVID-19.
• The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is one of the leading aid agencies globally.
• The USAID is providing these funds to the Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity (PAHAL) project, an innovative financing platform, the release said.
• To date, USAID has provided USD 5.9 million to assist India in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• This assistance will help India slow the spread of COVID-19, provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, and strengthen case finding and surveillance.

Extra Shots:

USAID: The United States Agency for International Development is an independent agency of the United States federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. Wikipedia

• Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
• Agency executives: John Barsa, Acting Administrator; Bonnie Glick, Deputy Administrator;
• Founder: John F. Kennedy
• Founded: 3 November 1961
• Motto: “From the American people”

NATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

Over 325000 people are using “Janaushadhi Sugam” Mobile App to access Janaushadhi kendras

• During COVID-19 crisis Janaushadhi Sugam Mobile App is helping people in a big way to locate their nearest Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendra (PMJAK) and availability of affordable generic medicine with its price.
• Over 325000 people are using Janaushadhi Sugam Mobile App to avail the host of benefits provided by it.
• Aim: to make use of digital technology for easing the life of consumers.
• This mobile application for Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) has been developed by Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) under Department of Pharmaceuticals , Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers,Government of India.
• Purpose: for facilitating the general public by providing a digital platform at the tip of their fingers, by the virtue of which they can avail a host of user-friendly options like locate nearby Janaushadhi kendra, direction guided through Google Map for location of the Janaushadhi kendra, search Janaushadhi generic medicines, analyze product comparison of Generic and Branded medicine in form of MRP & overall Savings, etc.
• Janaushadhi Sugam Mobile App is available on both Android & I-phone
• It can be downloaded free of cost by the user from Google Play Store and Apple Store.

411 Lifeline Udan flights operated to strengthen the fight against Covid-19 by delivering essential and medical supplies

• 411 flights have been operated under Lifeline Udan by Air India, Alliance Air, IAF and private carriers. 237 of these flights have been operated by Air India and Alliance Air.
• Cargo transported by Lifeline Udan flights till date is around 776.73 tons covering over 4,04,224 km.
• ‘Lifeline Udan’ flights are being operated by MoCA in domestic Sector to transport essential medical cargo to remote parts of the country to support India’s war against COVID-19.
• Special focus has been on the North East Region, island territories and the hill states.
• Air India and IAF collaborated primarily for J&K, Ladakh, North-East and other island regions.

IMD releases list of 169 new names of Tropical Cyclones

• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) released a new list with the names of 169 tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) including Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

Highlights:

• The tropical cyclones forming over different Ocean basins are named by the concerned Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs).
• For the North Indian Ocean including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, the RSMC, New Delhi assigns the name to tropical cyclones following a standard procedure.
• IMD has issued advisories regarding upcoming tropical cyclones to 13 member nations. The countries are Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UAE, and Yemen.

Extra Shots:

IMD: The India Meteorological Department is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. It is the principal organization responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology.

• Headquarters location: New Delhi
• Founder: Government of India
• Founded: 1875
• Agency executive: Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director General of Meteorology
• Jurisdiction: India
• Parent organization: Ministry of Earth Sciences

STATE CURRENT AFFAIRS

AIR Guwahati is broadcasting radio classes for 9th and 10th Standard students in association with Secondary Education Board of Assam

• AIR Guwahati is broadcasting radio classes for 9th and 10th Standard students in association with Secondary Education Board of Assam.
• The hour-long programme is being aired at 12.30 noon from Monday to Friday.

Extra Shots:

Assam

• Capital: Dispur
• Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
• Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
• National Park: Dibru-Saikhowa NP, Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Nameri NP, Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP

MP govt to set up Deendayal committees to ensure benefits of welfare schemes reach people during coronavirus crisis

• In Madhya Pradesh, the state government has decided to set up Deendayal committees at the ward and Panchayat levels to ensure benefits of welfare schemes reach people during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
• Purpose of the Committee: the committees will monitor and ensure various welfare schemes reach people, and their help would also be taken in distribution of government assistance.

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Madhya Pradesh:

• Capital: Bhopal
• Chief Minister: Kamal Nath
• Governor: Lalji Tandon
• National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

West Bengal govt announces more relaxations in 8 Green zone Districts during lockdown

• The West Bengal Government has announced more relaxations in 8 Green zone Districts during the ongoing lockdown.
• The relaxations will apply from next Monday.
• All standalone shops like book, laundry, mobile recharging, tea shops will be allowed to open in these areas. Private buses will also be permitted to run with in the district with maximum 20 passengers.
• However restrictions in Orange and Red zones districts will continue
• restrictions will continue in the State till end of next month to check the spread of Corona virus
• She announced a 1 lakh 56 thousand Crore rupees financial package for post Corona relief and restoration work.

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West Bengal:

• Established on: 26 January 1950
• Capital: Kolkata
• Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
• Chief Minister: Mamata Banerjee

Assam SDMA engages 14,000 citizens as ‘Pratirodhi Bondhu’ to fight against COVID-19

• Pratirodhi Bondhu are working as volunteers in creating awareness including social distancing across Assam.
• One such volunteer has been assigned to reach out to 100 families in his or her locality.
• The volunteers are also extending online support to the people.
• Official sources said that citizen between 18 to 50 years have been deployed as Pratirodhi Bondhu.

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Assam

• Capital: Dispur
• Chief Minister: Sarbananda Sonowal
• Governor: Jagdish Mukhi
• National Park: Dibru-Saikhowa NP, Kaziranga NP, Manas NP, Nameri NP, Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP

Smart city Kalyan-Dombivli COVID-19 dashboard now opens for public

• Maharashtra’s Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has recently launched a dashboard about the COVID-19 situation in the KDMC area.
• It is now available in the public domain.
• The page has been linked with the website of the municipal corporation, and other social media handles of city government including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and is open for viewing by the public.

KDMC dashboard:

• KDMC dashboard can be accessed at https://kdmc-coronavirus-response-skdcl.hub.arcgis.com/
• The dashboard uses the drop menu, citizens can get to know the status of COVID-19 situation in any of the electoral ward and related graphs.
• Citizens can also get the status by clicking on the respective wards on a spatial map of the city.
• The dashboard also provides multiple options to view the maps by changing the background base map from the options such as satellite view, road map, etc.

ADB to support Maharashtra with $346 mn loan for power sector

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 346 million (around Rs 2,616 crore) loan to Maharashtra state government to provide reliable power connections in rural areas of Maharashtra.
• The loan will support the state government’s high voltage distribution system (HVDS) program for new grid-connected rural agricultural customers in Maharashtra.
• Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India, and about half of the state’s labour force is engaged in agriculture and related activities in the rural areas.
• Providing efficient, reliable, and good quality power to rural agriculture customers in Maharashtra will improve agricultural productivity and efficiency in the electricity value chain

Extra Shots:

Maharashtra:

• Capital: Mumbai
• Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray
• Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari
• National Parks: Chandoli National Park, Nawegaon National Park, Gugamal National Park, Pench National Park, Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park, Tadoba National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Amba Barwa WLS, Bor WLS, Great Indian Bustard WLS,Lonar WLS, Melghat WLS, Gangewadi New Great Indian Bustard WLS, etc.

UP: Agra Smart City creates GIS dashboard

• In Uttar Pradesh, Agra Smart City has created a GIS dashboard which will show various hotspots, heat map, positive cases, and recovered cases.
• GIS stands for Geographic Information System.
• The dashboard will be d on daily basis. Some of the features of the dashboard include heat mapping, date wise and zone wise alanysis, infection and recovery trends.

Extra Shots:

Uttar Pradesh:

• Capital: Lucknow
• Chief Minister: Yogi Adityanath
• Governor: Anandiben Patel
• State formed in: 24 January 1950
• Literacy Rate: 67.68%
• Nation Park: Dudhwa National Park

Gujarat govt appoints nodal officers for various states to bring back stranded people

• In Gujarat, the government today appointed nodal officers for various states to bring back stranded students, travellers, pilgrims and working professionals.
• The nodal officers will also ensure the smooth movement of people from other states who are currently stranded in Gujarat during the lockdown.
• The order has been issued as per the guidelines from Ministry of Home to facilitate the movement of people between states.
• A total of 16 senior-level officers have been appointed in different states or group of states who will coordinate with their counterparts and other departments including port and transport.
• The stranded people would be assessed by the local health authorities on arrival at their destination and kept in home quarantine or institutional quarantine.

Extra Shots:

Gujarat:

• Capital: Gandhinagar
• Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani
• Governor: Acharya Devvrat
• State formed on: 1 May 1960
• Literacy Rate: 79.31%
• National Park: Vansda NP, Blackbuck NP, Gir Forest NP, Marine NP, Gulf of Kutch

Karnataka converts state transport bus into Mobile Fever Clinic

• Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) converted one of its buses into a Mobile Fever Clinic in Mangaluru amid COVID-19 pandemic.
• The move has been taken to ensure sufficient availability of basic medical facilities for people across the state.
• The facilities in the bus include a bed, seating facility, medicine box, washbasin, sanitizer, separate water facility, among other things.

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Karnataka:

• Capital: Bengaluru
• Chief Minister: B. S. Yediyurappa
• Governor: Vajubhai Vala
• National Park: Anshi NP, Bandipur NP, Bannerghatta NP, Kudremukh NP, Rajiv Gandhi (Nagarahole) NP.

MP government offices resume work with 30% staff

• Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that state government offices, including the secretariat, will resume work with 30% staff from Thursday.
• Stating that the Madhya Pradesh government has started normal economic activities in green zone districts, Chouhan added, “We are gradually controlling the situation with people’s cooperation.”

Extra Shots:

Madhya Pradesh:

• Capital: Bhopal
• Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Governor: Lalji Tandon
• National Park: Bandhavgarh NP, Fossil NP, Kanha NP, Madhav NP, Panna NP, Pench NP, Sanjay NP, Satpura NP

INTERNATIONAL CURRENT AFFAIRS

US$20 million in Emergency Response to Help Jordan Respond to the Corona Virus Pandemic

• The World Bank approved today a US$20 million project to help Jordan face the health impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• The new COVID-19 Emergency Response project will support the Ministry of Health’s efforts in preventing, detecting and responding to the threat posed by the pandemic and strengthen public health preparedness.
• This fast-track assistance package falls under the US$ 6 billion COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Program approved by the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors on April 2, to strengthen the responses of developing countries to the pandemic.

Extra Shots:

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

• President: Donald Trump

Benin: An Additional $10.4 million to Fight Coronavirus

• The World Bank approved additional financing of $10.4 million from the International Development Association (IDA)* to support Benin’s efforts to fight COVID-19 (coronavirus) and help the country respond to public health emergencies.
• These funds bring the total sum allocated by the World Bank for Benin’s emergency measures to some $40 million.
• The Regional Disease Surveillance Systems Enhancement Project (REDISSE ) has earmarked $20 million, while $10 million is being funded by the Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) of the Benin Early Years Nutrition and Child Development Project (EYNCDP).

Extra Shots:

Benin(Capital/Currency): Porto-Novo/ West African CFA franc

• President: Patrice Talon

ADB Provides Fiji $400,000 Relief Grant After Cyclone Harold

• The Asian Development Bank (ADB) today announced a $400,000 (about 900,000 Fijian dollars) grant to the Government of Fiji to help fund priority recovery activities following Tropical Cyclone Harold, which hit Fiji’s western, central, and eastern divisions on 8 and 9 April.
• The emergency funds may be used to provide support for the restoration of basic social services to communities affected by the cyclone.”
• Tropical Cyclone Harold affected parts of the main island of Viti Levu and the islands of Kadavu, Vatulele, and the Lau group, causing widespread damage—felling trees, blocking roads, causing flash floods, and cutting water supplies, power, and telecommunications.
• This is ADB’s second grant to the Pacific to help recover from Tropical Cyclone Harold, after Vanuatu received $1 million in assistance last week.

Extra Shots:

Fiji (Capital/Currency): Suva/ Fijian dollar

• President: Jioji Konrote

ADB: The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 19 December 1966, which is headquartered in the Ortigas Center located in the city of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines. The company also maintains 31 field offices around the world to promote social and economic development in Asia.

• Headquarters: Mandaluyong, Philippines
• President: Masatsugu Asakawa
• Membership: 68 countries
• Founded: 19 December 1966
• Purpose: Economic development

World Bank Pledges $80 Million to Support Georgia’s Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

• The World Bank will provide $80 million in financial support to Georgia to help the government’s efforts to mitigate and address the health and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• This support is being provided under the World Bank’s Fast Track Covid-19 Facility.
• The World Bank is also collaborating with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to provide an additional $100 million under a joint co-finance arrangement.
• The goal is to finance measures that help prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide immediate social protection support to the most vulnerable.
• In addition, the project will provide income support to poor and vulnerable households by scaling-up of the Targeted Social Assistance program and providing temporary cash transfers to workers who lost jobs due to the pandemic.

Extra Shots:

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. Wikipedia

• 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

Georgia (Capital/Currency): Tbilisi/ Georgian lari

• President:Salome Zourabichvili

Professor Wang Rong elected Director of IIEP Council of UNESCO

• Professor Wang Rong, director of China Institute for Educational Finance Research of Peking University, was elected director of IIEP Council of UNESCO, with the tenure of four years.
• Founded in 1963, the International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) is one of the six permanent organizations of UNESCO.
• As the only specialized organization that supports education policy, planning and management tasks, it mainly carries out training in education planning and administration, and conducts cooperative research on education planning, evaluation methods of education reform, education and employment.

Extra Shots:

IIEP: The International Institute for Educational Planning is an arm of UNESCO created in 1963 in Paris, France. It develops the capacities of education actors to plan and manage their education systems through its programmes of training, technical assistance, policy research and knowledge sharing.

• Founder: Philip H. Coombs
• Founded: 1963
• Headquarters location: Paris, France

US Navy to host world’s largest maritime exercises in Hawaii again this year

• The United States Navy has said that it will host the world’s largest maritime exercises in Hawaii again this year, but the drills will only be held at sea because of the Corona virus.
• The Navy has held the Rim of the Pacific exercises in Hawaii every two years since the early 1970s.
• Hawaii Governor David Ige earlier this month asked the military to postpone the drills until the COVID-19 situation in the islands subsides.
• Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam will host a minimal footprint of staff for logistics and support functions.
• The modified exercise was a way to conduct a meaningful exercise with maximum training value and minimum risk to the force, allies and partners, and the people of Hawaii.
• The drills will also be held over two weeks, from 17th to 31st August , instead of the usual five weeks of events from late June to early August.

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

• President: Donald Trump

India facilitates $ 150 million foreign currency swap facility to Maldives

• India has extended $ 150 million foreign currency swap support to Maldives to help reduce the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID 19).

Highlights:

• On behalf of India, this facility has been extended under the $ 400 million currency swap agreement between the two countries signed in July 2019. Maldives is the only country other than Bhutan to have been given this facility.
• Also, this currency swap facility is part of the $ 1.4 billion economic package announced by India for the Maldives during the visit of Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to India in December 2018.
• The above decision comes after Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi interacted with President Solih on April 20, 2020 on the “health and economic challenges” the COVID-19.
• Earlier On April 2, 2020,Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched ‘Operation Sanjeevani’ and air-lifted 6.2 tonnes of essential medical supplies to Maldives via transport aircraft C-130J.

Extra Shots:

Maldives (Capital/Currency): Male/ Maldivian rufiyaa

• President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih

Foreign Currency Swap:

• It is an agreement to exchange currency between 2 foreign parties, in which swapping principal and interest payments on a loan made in one currency for principal and interest payments of a loan of equal value in another currency.
• One party borrows currency from a second party as it simultaneously lends another currency to that party.

RANKS AND INDICES

1.3 billion learners are still affected by school or university closures, as educational institutions start reopening around the world: UNESCO

• UNESCO has published its most recent figures for out-of-school children, as schools reopen progressively across the globe.
• As of mid-April, 1.5 billion children and youth were affected by school closures in 195 countries, from pre-primary to higher education.
• While this figure is dropping, 1.3 billion learners in 186 countries are still unable to attend school.
• Of the 195 countries that had closed schools in April, 128 have yet to announce plans for their reopening.
• Preparing for the return to school is of increasing priority for the Global Education Coalition, along with support to the provision of distance education.
• A well-organized strategy for reopening schools is essential to help prevent dropouts and the widening of inequalities due to COVID-19-related school closures.
• UNESCO is placing special emphasis on the education of girls and women.
• On 29 April, UNESCO convened an online meeting of 13 education ministers from countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to discuss the reopening of schools.

Extra Shots:

UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations aimed at contributing “to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.

• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Head: Audrey Azoulay
• Founded: 16 November 1945, London, United Kingdom
• Formation: 4 November 1946; 73 years ago
• Parent organization: United Nations Economic and Social Council

Karnataka tops in total installed renewable capacity:  CRISIL

• According to a CRISIL Research report, Karnataka retained its 1st position in terms of total installed renewable capacity in FY20 followed by Tamil Nadu(2nd) & Gujarat(3rd).
• The top 3 states in overall solar energy capacity addition are Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka & in wind energy- Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
• Karnataka’s total renewable energy installed capacity stood at 15,232 MegaWatt(MW) as on March 31, 2020, against 13,845 MW as on March 31, 2019. It has the highest installed capacity for solar at 7,278 MW, up from 6,096 MW a year ago. Its wind energy capacity is at 4,791 MW.
• Tamil Nadu has retained the position with its cumulative installed capacity of 14,347 MW, up from 13,457 MW as on March 31, 2019. It continues to be the leader in wind energy with a total installed capacity of 9,304 MW, up from 8,969 MW a year ago & its solar power capacity rose to 3,916 MW (includes both rooftop and ground-mounted), from 2,575 MW a year ago.
• Gujarat’s total installed clean energy capacity stood at 10,586 MW (8,652 MW last year), where its capacity crossed 10,000 MW and has more than 10 GW of installed capacity after Karnataka & Tamil Nadu.
• Maharashtra capacity during FY20 increased by 378 MW to 9,710 MW & secured the 4th position and Rajasthan came 5th with a total installed capacity of 9,583 MW.

Extra Shots:

CRISIL:

• Headquarters: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• CEO: Ashu Suyash
• Chairman:John Berisford
• President & Business Head: Gurpreet Chhatwal

Over 5 million people were displaced in India in 2019 reports 2020 GRID

• Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) released its Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID) 2020 on 29 April.
• The reports stated that 5 million people were displaced in India in 2019, the highest in the world, due to disasters, including cyclones and monsoon floods.

Highlights:

• The report highlighted that the displacements were caused due to a combination of increasing hazard intensity, high population exposure, and high levels of social and economic vulnerability.
• India reported 50,37,000 displacements in 2019.
• As per the report Political and electoral violence, primarily in Tripura and West Bengal in the first half of the year, accounting for more than 7,600. Conflict and violence triggered about 19,000 new displacements and 2,89,000 people were evacuated in Gujarat in June ahead of cyclone Vayu in 2019. Also, Cyclone Bulbul in Odisha and West Bengal triggered 1,86,000 displacements.
• India’s neighbouring countries Bangladesh recorded 40,86,520 displacements, Afghanistan recorded 40,86,520 displacements, Pakistan recorded 1,16,000 displacements, Nepal recorded 1,21,000 displacements.
• South Asia recorded a total of 9.5 million new displacements associated with disasters in 2019.

Extra Shots:

GRID:

• GRID 2020 is the global reference for internal displacement data and analysis. The report is widely used by policy-makers, national governments, UN agencies, international NGOs, journalists, and academics.

IDMC:

• Founded: 1995
• Parent organization: National Dairy Development Board

AGREEMENTS AND MOU SIGNED

Wipro and Nutanix Partner to Launch Digital Database Services (DDS)

• Nutanix , a leader in enterprise cloud computing, and Wipro Limited , a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company announced the launch of Wipro’s Digital Database Services (DDS) powered by Nutanix Era and Nutanix HCI software.
• This offering will enable enterprises to efficiently manage databases, optimizing time and effort of IT teams.
• Wipro’s Digital Database Services (DDS), built on Nutanix solutions for Databases including Nutanix HCI software and Nutanix Era, allows enterprises and users to provision and manage databases just-in-time, without prior knowledge of hardware, database software and associated configurations.
• The result is accelerated application release time, allowing database administrators to focus on new innovation instead.

Extra Shots:

Wipro:

• CEO: Abidali Neemuchwala
• Owner: Azim Premji
• Founders: M.H. Hasham Premji, Sudipto Halder

Natanix

• Founded: September 2009, Delaware, United States
• Headquarters: San Jose, California, United States
• Subsidiaries: FRAME, Inc., Netsil Inc., PernixData, Minjar, Inc., Idea Device Technologies Pvt Ltd., Nutanix Netherlands B. V.
• Founders: Dheeraj Pandey, Ajeet Singh, Mohit Aron

APPOINTMENT

TS Tirumurti, currently Secy MEA, to be India’s new Permanent Representative to the United Nations

• TS Tirumurti, now Secretary (ER), Ministry of External Affairs, has been appointed as India’s new Ambassador/ Permanent Representative to the UN.
• A 1985-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Tirumurti will succeed Syed Akbaruddin.
• Tirumurti is serving as Secretary, Economic Relations at the ministry’s headquarters in Delhi.

Other Appointments:

Indian Ambassador to	Person Appointed
Slovenia	Namrata S Kumar
Austria	Jaideep Mazumdar
Qatar	Deepak Mittal
Bahrain	Piyush Srivastava
UN	TS Tirumurti

Jsimple appoints Karnika Bansal as the Business Head

• Jsimple LLC, a US-based company in Artificial Intelligence HR space, announces the appointment of Karnika Bansal as its Business Head for its global operations.
• JSIMPLE envisions expanding the rollout of attrition prediction add-ons to the Human Resources Management System (HRMS) in India and internationally.
• Karnika will be responsible for overseeing operations of the company, building strategic partnerships and relationships to drive growth & profitability, cultivating a high-performing and agile team culture and branding of the company in India and the US.
• She brings positive energy and unique experience to the company with sound decision-making, marketing & communication skills, operational effectiveness, and acumen for driving swift business growth.
• Karnika will be working directly with the CEO, Jag Singh, and will have offices in North Haven, Connecticut, US, and Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Rajiv Kumar appointed as chairperson of Public Enterprises Selection Board

• Former finance secretary Rajiv Kumar was appointed as the chairperson of the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) on 29 April.
• The appointment of Rajiv Kumar is approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• He will serve as the PESB chairperson for a period of three years.

Rajiv Kumar:

• Rajiv Kumar is a 1984-batch IAS officer of Jharkhand cadre. He retired as the finance secretary in February 2020. Previously, he has steered the banking and financial sector through the severest crisis. Kumar took over as the Secretary, Department of Financial Services in September 2017. At the time most of the public sector banks including the State Bank of India were in losses.

Suresh N. Patel took oath as Vigilance Commissioner

• Suresh N. Patel took oath as Vigilance Commissioner on 19 April.
• He was administered the oath of office by Sanjay Kothari, Central Vigilance Commissioner on the video link, due to the social distancing norms.
• The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Shri Sharad Kumar, Vigilance Commissioner, Secretary, and other senior officers of the Commission.
• The tenure of Vigilance Commissioner is of four years or till the incumbent attains the age of 65 years.
• The Central Vigilance Commission can have a Central Vigilance Commissioner and two Vigilance Commissioners.

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CVC: Central Vigilance Commission is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption. In 2003, the Parliament enacted a law conferring statutory status on the CVC.

• Formed: February 1964
• Objectives: To address governmental corruption
• Jurisdiction: Government of India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• First executive: Nittoor Srinivasa Rau
• Current executive: K. V. Chowdary

PNB housing appoints Neeraj Vyas as interim MD & CEO as incumbent Sanjaya Gupta steps down

• The Punjab National Bank (PNB) Housing Finance Limited appointed independent director Neeraj Vyas as the Interim Managing Director(MD) and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) for the period of eight months effective from 28th April
• Sanjay Gupta stepped down from his active duties as the MD and CEO effective from the close of business hours on 28th April and Neeraj Vyas resigned as the Independent director from the board of the company and took charge as the interim MD and CEO effective from 28th April 2020.

Extra Shots:

PNB Housing Finance:

• Interim MD & CEO:Neeraj Vyas
• Founded: November 11, 1988
• Corporate Office: New Delhi

Former Karnataka batsman J Arunkumar named as USA national team coach

• Former Karnataka cricketer J. Arunkumar, 45 years old, was appointed as the head coach of the USA (United States of America)men’s national team.
• He was the successor of interim coach James Pamment.

Highlights:

• About Arunkumar: He is also known as ‘Jak’ in the cricketing circles, has worked with the Karnataka team for several years and as batting coach for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. This is the first international role for Jak.
• Arunkumar scored over 7,200 runs in first-class cricket and over 3,000 runs in List ‘A’ games, had guided Karnataka to a treble for two successive seasons — Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Irani Cup in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
• In 2019, Arun Kumar was appointed as the head coach of Puducherry, however, he quit the job in the middle of the season owing to differences with the officials of the Cricket Association of Puducherry.

Extra Shots:

USA cricket:

• Headquarters: Colorado, United States (US).
• Chairman: ParaagMarathe.
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Iain Higgins.

SPORTS CURRENT AFFAIRS

Deepak Agarwal banned by ICC from all cricket for 2 years

• Deepak Agarwal has been banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) from all cricket for a period of 2 years.
• He has been banned by the ICC after he accepted one charge of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.
• Deepak will be free to continue his involvement in cricket from 27 October 2021.
• Deepak Agarwal was one of the team owners of the Sindhi’s franchise in the 2018 T10 Cricket League.
• He has been charged by ICC under the Article 2.4.7 which states “obstructing or delaying an investigation, including concealing, tampering with or destroying any documentation or other information that may be relevant to that investigation and or that may be evidence of or may lead to the discovery of evidence of corrupt conduct under the ICC Anti-Corruption Code”.

Extra Shots:

ICC: The International Cricket Council is the world governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from Australia, England and South Africa. It was renamed as the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.

• Chairperson: Shashank Manohar
• Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• CEO: Manu Sawhney
• Founded: 15 June 1909
• Motto: Cricket for good.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Uma Balasubramaniam authors book titled ‘Sayajirao Gaekwad III: The Maharaja of Baroda’

• Uma Balasubramaniam has authored a biography on “Sayajirao Gaekwad III” titled ‘Sayajirao Gaekwad III: The Maharaja of Baroda’.
• The book captures the life of Sayajirao Gaekwad III the Maharaja of Baroda State from 1875 to 1939, and is remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

IIT Jammu develops face-shield for police on trial basis

• IIT Jammu has developed a face-shield that will be handed over to the police for trial amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Stating that 3D printers were used for the production of prototypes, IIT Jammu Director Dr MS Gaur said, “This design can also be produced on a mass scale.
• ” Earlier, IIT Delhi’s COVID-19 testing method was approved by the ICMR.

Extra Shots:

IIT Jammu: The Indian Institute of Technology Jammu is a public research university located in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

• Director: Prof. Manoj Singh Gaur
• Campus: Urban
• Chairman: R. Subrahmanyam
• Founded: 2016
• Motto: विद्याधनं सर्वधन प्रधानम् (Sanskrit, Knowledge is Supreme of all Wealth)

New academic session for freshers to begin in universities from September and for already enrolled students in August: UGC

• New academic session for freshers to begin in universities from September and for already enrolled students in August informed University Grants Commission.
• Intermediate Semester Students will be graded based on the internal assessment of the present and previous semester.
• In states where the COVID-19 situation has normalized, there will be exams in the month of July informed University Grants Commission.
• For terminal semester students exams will be held in the month of July.
• A COVID19 cell will be constituted in every university which will be empowered to solve the issues of students related to academic calendar and examinations informed UGC.

Extra Shots:

UGC: The University Grants Commission of India is a statutory body set up by the Government of India in accordance to the UGC Act 1956 under Ministry of Human Resource Development, and is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education. Wikipedia

• Founded: 1956
• Objectives: Coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education. It provides recognition to universities in India, and disburses funds to such recognized universities and college
• Sector: Higher Education
• Jurisdiction: India
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• First executive: Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar

JNCASR scientists develop Ber-D, a natural product based Alzheimer inhibitor

• Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) have modified the structure of Berberine into Ber-D to use as an Alzheimer’s inhibitor.
• Berberine is a natural and cheap product similar to curcumin, available commercially.

Ber-D:

• The scientist selected isoquinoline natural product berberine found in India and China and used in traditional medicine and other applications.
• Because of berberine’s poor solubility and toxicity to cells, it was modified into Ber-D.
• Ber-D is soluble (aqueous), antioxidant.
• It is a multifunctional inhibitor of multifaceted amyloid toxicity of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Ber-D prevents the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and rescues biomacromolecules from oxidative damage.
• Ber-D inhibits aggregations of metal-dependent and independent Amyloid beta (Aβ). These are the peptides of amino acids crucially involved in Alzheimer’s disease as the main component of the amyloid plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Extra Shots:

JNCASR: The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research is a multidisciplinary research institute located at Jakkur, Bangalore, India.

• Founder: C. N. R. Rao
• Founded: 1989

CSIR transferred Electrostatic Disinfection Technology for Commercialization

• CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIR-CSIO), Chandigarh, has designed and developed Electrostatic Disinfection Machine, an innovative technology for effective disinfection and sanitization to fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

Electrostatic Disinfection Technology:

• Electrostatic Disinfection Machine will be very efficient and effective to stop the spread of coronavirus and pathogens.
• CSIR-CSIO has transferred this technology to a Nagpur-based company, Rite Water Solutions Pvt. Ltd., for commercialization and large-scale production.
• The machine is developed based on the electrostatic principle.
• It produces a uniform and fine spray droplets of disinfectants in the size range of 10-20 micrometer to kill microorganisms and viruses.
• Due to the small size of droplets, the surface area of spray droplets increases thereby enhancing the interaction with harmful microorganisms and coronavirus.
• The machine uses very less disinfection material as compared to conventional methods. This will help to save natural resources with a negligible increase of chemical waste in the environment.
• The innovative concept of electrostatic spraying for disinfection and sanitization of public places especially hospitals, poultry, trains and buses, airports and airplanes, offices, classrooms, and hotels.
• It will contribute to a healthy lifestyle and healthcare for the masses and is directly linked to the Swasth Bharat Mission of the Government of India.

Extra Shots:

CSIO: Central Scientific Instruments Organisation is a Chandigarh, India-based national laboratory dedicated to research, design and development of scientific and industrial instruments.

• Director: Ravindra Kumar Sinha
• Founded: October 1959

OBITUARIES

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away

• Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor passed away in Mumbai on 30 April.
• He died at the age of 67.
• He died due to ill health.
• The actor was admitted to the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital.
• Rishi was diagnosed with cancer in 2018.

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