Current Affairs Daily Digest – April 09 2020
1. Bio Fortified Carrots developed by farmer scientist
A farmer scientist of Junagadh district, Gujarat Shri Vallabhai Vastambhai Marvaniya developed biofortified carrots. The carrots are locally called “Madhuban Gajar”. It is rich in β-carotene and iron.
The biofortified carrot variety is benefiting more than 150 local farmers. The yield of the variety is 40 to 50 tonnes per hectare. The variety has been cultivated in over 1000 hectares of land this season.
2. Three types of Health Care Facilities to be set up to manage COVID-19 cases
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced that the hospitals and health facilities have been classified to deal with COVID-19 cases in the country. There are three types of COVID-19 health centres to be set up in the country.
3. SAFE Scheme: SIDBI provides working capital of Rs 1 crore to MSME
The Small Industries Development Bank of India announced that it will provide emergency working capital of Rs 1 crore to small and medium enterprises.The SIDBI launched SAFE scheme on March 26, 2020. The SAFE scheme is SIDBI Assistance to Facilitate Emergency Response against Corona Virus.
4. Imports of Edible Oil decline in India by 32.44%
The Solvent Extractors Association of India reported that edible oil imports in India has declined by 32.44% in March 2020. This is because, India, the largest importer if vegetable oil in the world has reduced its imports due to the threats of COVID-19.
5. Government of India launches a training module for management of COVID-19 named ‘Integrated Government Online training’ (iGOT)
Accordingly, to take care of the training needs of the frontline workers, the Government of India has launched a training module for management of COVID-19 named ‘Integrated Govt. Online training’ (iGOT) portal on Ministry of HRD’s DIKSHA platform for the capacity building of frontline workers to handle the pandemic efficiently.
Courses on iGOT have been launched for Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Hygiene Workers, Technicians, Auxiliary Nursing Midwives (ANMs), State Government Officers, Civil Defence Officers, Various Police Organisations, National Cadet Corps(NCC), NehruYuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), National Service Scheme, Indian Red Cross Society, Bharat Scouts and Guides and other volunteers at the stage.
6. BoB launches four schemes for agri sector
To help borrowers in the agriculture sector tide over the distress created by the Covid-19 pandemic, Bank of Baroda (BoB) has announced schemes where it will offer additional loans of up to ₹1 lakh to existing self-help group (SHG) borrowers and up to ₹50,000 to existing crop loan borrowers, among others.
India’s third-largest public sector bank, in a statement, said it will provide existing SHGs facilities in the form of cash credit/over draft/term loan/demand loan. The minimum and maximum loan amount is ₹30,000 and ₹1 lakh per SHG, repayable in 24 months.
7. Maha Prasad Adhikari appointed governor of Nepal central bank
The Nepal government on Monday appointed Maha Prasad Adhikari as the governor of its central bank.
India-educated Adhikari along with Keshav Prasad Bhattarai and Chintamani Siwakoti were chosen as candidates for the position of the Nepal Rastra Bank governor by the recommendation committee coordinated by Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada.
Monday”s Cabinet meeting decided to appoint Adhikari, 57, for the top position that remained vacant for the past three weeks following the retirement of incumbent governor Chiranjibi Nepal.
8. Parag Raja to take over as MD & CEO of Bharti AXA Life Insurance
Bharti AXA Life Insurance announced the appointment of Parag Raja as Managing Director and CEO of the company. This is subject to regulatory approval.
The insurance company is a joint venture between Bharti Enterprises and multinational insurance firm AXA. From the April 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020, the life insurer collected first year premium of Rs 750.73 crore, a year-on-year decline of 2.1 percent.
9. Veteran music composer MK Arjunan dies at 84 in Kochi
Veteran music composer MK Arjunan, popularly known as Arjunan Master, passed away on Monday at his home in Palluruthy, Kochi. He was 84. With more than 700 songs under his belt, he was a much-celebrated composer in the Malayalam music industry.
In 1968, the music maestro debuted in Malayalam cinema with the movie Karuthapournami.
10. World trade to decline 13-32% in 2020, says WTO
The decline in world trade due to Covid-19 will likely exceed the trade slump brought by the global financial crisis of 2008‑09, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Wednesday, with merchandise trade expected to decline 13-32% in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“These numbers are ugly – there is no getting around that,” said WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo.
11. Wisden Almanack 2020 honours: Ben Stokes ends Virat Kohli’s 3-year reign
India captain Virat Kohli’s three-year run as the Wisden Almanack’s leading cricketer of the year has ended as England all-rounder is the new recipient of the award which was announced.
12. Covid lockdown: HDFC Bank deploys Mobile ATMs across India
HDFC Bank on deployed Mobile ATMs to assist customers during the lockdown and eliminate the need to move out of their locality to withdraw cash. The mobile van carrying the ATM piloted in Mumbai & Noida, with plans to extend the service to the rest of the country shortly.
The locations for deployment are being identified in consultation with local municipal authorities in respective cities, the bank said.
