Current Affairs Daily Digest – April 06 2020
1. Union HRD Minister launched MHRD AICTE COVID-19 Student Helpline Portal
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) launched a unique MHRD AICTE COVID-19 Student Helpline Portal to address the issues faced by students. The students are facing difficulties due to the closure of colleges and hostels in the view of the COVID-19 outbreak. It was launched by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD) Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank.”
2. Pravin Rao is appointed as the new chairman of Nasscom
Vice-Chairperson Infosys’ chief operating officer, UB Pravin Rao, has been appointed as the new chairman of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) for the year 2020-21. He was appointed Rekha Menon of Accenture.
Rekha M Menon is the Chairman and Senior Managing Director, Accenture in India. Menon will be the Vice-Chairperson for Nasscom. Pravin Rao, along with President Debjani Ghosh, will help Nasscom to achieve its 2025 vision for the industry.
3. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated on 6 April
Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated on 6 April every year. It is one of the most auspicious festivals in the Jain community. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated on the 13th day of the bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra.
4. C-MET develops a low-cost indigenous prototype of polymer swab
A scientist from the Pune-based Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) has developed a low-cost indigenous prototype of polymer swab. It can be used to collect the samples for coronavirus testing. If the product gets approved for production, the country will not need to depend on imported swabs.
5. International Day of Sport for Development and Peace is observed on April 06
The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) is an annual celebration of the power of sport to drive social change, community development and to foster peace and understanding.
Created by the United Nations General Assembly in 23 August 2013, supported by the International Olympic Committee since 6 April 2014. This date commemorates the inauguration, in 1896, of the first Olympic games of the modern era, in Athens, (Greece).
6. Indian NGO ARMMAN wins prestigious USD 1.5 million Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship
ARMMAN, an India-based non-profit organization, has been awarded the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship 2020 for its exceptional work in the maternal and child health space in India.
The Skoll Awards are presented annually to select organizations with the ability to drive sustained change on the world’s most pressing problems and carries a monetary investment of USD 1.5 million, along with other support.
7. IndusInd Bank taps CPPIB, GIC to raise $500 million
IndusInd Bank and its promoter the Hinduja Group have initiated talks with sovereign wealth funds and pension funds, including Canada’s CPPIB and Singapore’s GIC Pte Ltd, to raise as much as $500 million. This is aimed at bolstering investor confidence amid deterioration of the private lender’s balance sheet and flight of deposits after the Yes Bank Ltd fiasco.
8. Bione unveils home screening test kit for COVID-19
Bengaluru based start-up Bione has recently launched a rapid COVID-19 at-home Screening test kit. The easy-to-use kit displays accurate results within minutes, instrumental in the timely screening of the deadly virus.
The at-home screening kit is available for sale on company’s platform after approval from the requisite medical regulatory authorities.
9. FCI sets new record in single day transportation of food grains
Food Corporation of India (FCI) has set a new record in single day movement by moving 70 rakes carrying one lakh 93 thousand Metric Tonnes food grains continuously for two days. Consumer Affairs Ministry said, FCI is ensuring that enough food grain stocks are made available in every part of the country during countrywide lockdown.
10. Anurag Srivastava replaces Raveesh Kumar as MEA spokesperson
Diplomat Anurag Srivastava on Monday took charge as spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, succeeding Raveesh Kumar. Srivastava, a 1999-batch IFS officer, was serving as India’s Ambassador to Ethiopia. “Honoured and privileged to take over as Official Spokesperson of @MEAIndia. I look forward to working closely with all to fulfil my responsibilities in this new role,” Srivastava tweeted.
11. ‘Jaws’ actress Lee Fierro, 91, passes away due to COVID-19
Actress Lee Fierro, who played Mrs Kintner in Steven Spielberg-directed film ‘Jaws’, has passed away due to complications from coronavirus. She is survived by her five children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The 91-year-old had worked at Island Theatre Workshop, a theatre company, for 25 years and directed over 100 live productions during her time as an artistic director.
