Current Affairs Daily Digest – April 04 2020
1. Corona Kavach: Application launched by GoI to locate a COVID-19 positive patient
The Government of India launched Corona Kavach application to map the location of a COVID-19 positive patient through GPS.The application has been launched by India after learning about its success in the countries such as South Korea and Singapore. The “Corona Kavach” application tracks the data of the user every hour. It then alerts him if he has crossed a Corona Positive patient.
2. Ex-Service Men rise to “Service Before Self” to fight COVID-19
The Indian Army serves under the motto “Service Before Self”. Continuing to live with the motto even after retirement, the department of Ex-service men operating under Ministry of Defence took the initiative to mobilize ex-servicemen to assist state and district administration.
3. Odisha government launches on line cultural competition to engage child renduring lockdown
Odisha government, in collaboration with the UNICEF, launched an online cultural competition among children to keep them engaged at home during the lockdown period. Children can participate in competitions of painting, writing of slogans, short stories and poems, and poster making, winning entries will get certificates, said Odisha government’s COVID spokesman Subroto Bagchi.
Mo Prativa
The Mo Prativa (My talent) program is for children in the age group of 5 to 18 years.The entries are being invited on two themes: Being at home during lockdown” and “My responsibility as a young citizen during COVID-19”.
4. Arogya Sanjeevani Policy Cigna launched with IRDAI guidelines
Manipal Cigna Health Insurance company has announced the launch of its Arogya Sanjeevani Policy, ManipalCigna. This standard health cover policy in line with IRDAI from one of the 29 insurers who have received the go-ahead to launch such policies in the industry. Every general insurance company has to launch a standard health plan and has to have an official name Arogya Sanjeevani Policy (name of insurer) for easy comparison by the buyers.
5. Tony Lewis, co-inventor of Duckworth- Lewis Method dies at 78
Tony Lewis, who was a co-inventor of the Duckworth-Lewis method passed away at the age of 78 years. The England and Wales Cricket Board made the announcement on April 1, 2020.
Lewis was a former University professor who along with mathematician Frank Duckworth devised the Duckworth-Lewis method to settle weather-affected cricket matches. The formula was first used in the match between Zimbabwe and England in 1997 and the method was later adopted by International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1999.
6. Government Slashes Interest Rates on Small Saving Schemes
The interest rates on small saving schemes have been slashed by the central government for the April-June quarter of the financial year 2020-2021. The decision has come after the Reserve Bank of India’s recent 75 bps cut in the interest rates at the time of economic fallout due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
Key Highlights
- The interest rate on Public Provident Fund (PPF) for the April-June quarter is now 7.1 percent. It has been brought down by 80 bps (basic points).
- The interest rate on Kisan Vikas Patra has been slashed down to 6.9 percent.
- For Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme, the interest rate for the quarter is now 7.6 percent.
- For National Saving Certificate Scheme, the interest rate by the government has been brought down to 6.8 percent.
- For five-year recurring deposits, the interest rate has been lower down to 5.8 percent.
- For a five-year time deposit, the quarterly interest rate has been brought down to 6.7 percent.
7. FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup postponed “in the best interest” of everyone
The postponement of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to be played in November in India, will not derail preparations for the tournament as the country is still committed to “delivering a memorable” meet whenever it is possible, Roma Khanna, the tournament director of the Local Organising Committee, said.
8. Official mascots of 19th Asian Games unveiled in Hangzhou, China
The official mascots of the 19th Asian Games were unveiled at a digital launch ceremony in Hangzhou, China on Friday. The three robots, which are going to be the mascots for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games are collectively known as the smart triplets.
9. Former deputy speaker Pasang Wangchuk Sona passes away
Former deputy speaker and minister, Pasang Wangchuk Sona, passed away on Friday morning at his residence in Mechuka, in Shi-Yomi district. He was 69.
Born in 1951 in Mechuka, Sona graduated from St Edmund’s College, Shillong. He began his political career as a student leader, and later got elected to the second legislative assembly of Arunachal in 1980, and became the deputy speaker.
10. “Lean On Me” Singer Bill Withers Has Died Of Heart Complications At 81
Bill Withers, the celebrated artist whose hits include “Lean on Me” and “Lovely Day,” has died of heart complications. He was 81. Withers died Monday in Los Angeles, his family said in a statement to the Associated Press.
11. MoS HRD and IT, Sanjay Dhotre launches ‘Hack the Crisis-India’ hackathon
Minister of State Human Resource Development and IT Sanjay Dhotre today launched Hack the Crisis – India, an Online Hackathon to find working solutions for overcoming COVID-19 pandemic. This hackathon is part of a global initiative and is being organised by ‘Hack A Cause – India’ and ‘FICCI Ladies Organization Pune’ and supported by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The aim of this hackathon is to strengthen fight against COVID-19.
