Current Affairs Daily Digest – April 13 & 14 2020
1. “Bharat Padhe Online Campaign” launched by Ministry of HRD
The Ministry of Human Resources Development has launched a week long campaign called “Bharat Padhe Online Campaign”. The campaign aims to improve online education in India. The main aim of the campaign is to invite experts in the country to share their knowledge and solutions in order to overcome the constraints in promoting digital education.
2. COVID-19: What are Red, Orange and Green Zones?
PM Modi interacted with the Chief Ministers of the states through video conferencing. During the meet, most of them favored extending the lock down. It has now been concluded that India will enter into “smart Lockdown”. Under the smart lock down, India is to be demarcated into red, orange and green zones.
The red zones are regions that were declared as hotspots. Here no economic activity if to be allowed. The orange zones are regions where limited public transport is to be allowed. In these regions harvesting of farm products will also be allowed.
In the green zones, along with farm activities, MSME industries will also begin to function. These industries will provide in-house lodging facilities for employees along with social distancing facilities.
3. Wormivet: Herbal Medication developed by NIF to treat worms
The National Innovation foundation India has developed an indigenous herbal medicine called Wormivet. It is an alternative to chemical methods that are currently being used to treat worms.
The Wormivet is used to treat endoparasite worms in livestock. A patent has been filed on the invention. The patent has been given in the name of Grassroots knowledge.
4. Karnataka Bank re-appointed Mahabaleshwara MS as MD and CEO
Karnataka Bank’s board has re-appointed Mahabaleshwara MS as its MD & CEO for a further period of three years. The Private lender has also appointed P. Jayarama Bhat as a non-executive chairman till 13 November 2021.
The appointments were approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). They are expected to take the bank to new heights in corporate governance and business standards.
5. MHRD launched YUKTI web-portal in New Delhi
Centre launched a web-portal “Young India Combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology and Innovation” (YUKTI) in New Delhi. The web-portal was launched by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank.”
YUKTI portal:
YUKTI portal is a unique portal and dashboard to monitor and record the efforts and initiatives of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
6. April 13, 2020 marked the 101st anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
13 April 2020 marked the 101st anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. On this day, the martyrs who were killed mercilessly in Jallianwala Bagh are remembered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the innocent martyrs who showed great courage and sacrifice. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, or the Amritsar slaughter, happened on 13 April 1919.
7. World Bank forecasts FY21 India growth at 1.5-2.8 percent
The World Bank in its “South Asia Economic Focus report” said that India’s economy is expected to grow 1.5% to 2.8% in the 2020-21 fiscal year which started on 1 April 2020. It stated that India might record its worst growth performance since the 1991 liberalization in the current fiscal year 2020-21 due to the coronavirus outbreak which severely disrupted the economy .
8. Birupaksha Mishra assumes charge as ED of Union Bank of India
Shri Birupaksha Mishra took charge as the Executive Director (ED) of Union Bank of India (UBI), after its amalgamation with Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank. Prior to this, he was the ED at Corporation Bank.
Shri Birupaksha Mishra: Shri Birupaksha Mishra holds a Postgraduate degree and a CAIIB (Certified Associate of Indian Institute of Bankers). In 1984, he started his banking career as a Probationary Officer.
9. First remote health monitoring system has been set up in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
The has been set up in India by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh along with Bharat Heavy Electronics Limited (BHEL), a Government of India Navratna company in the defense sector. The system is expected to be used in Uttarakhand state to monitor COVID-19 patients.
The digital medical system has been developed so that the doctor sitting in AIIMS can monitor the patient’s body temperature and the amount of oxygen in the blood and the speed of his breath while at home. The therapeutic system will not unnecessarily hospitalize the patient. For this purpose, a website and mobile application have been created.
10. World Chagas Disease Day is observed on 14 April
World Chagas Disease Day is observed on 14 April every year. The day aims to raise the visibility and public awareness of people with Chagas Disease and the resources needed for the prevention, control or elimination of the disease. Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis. The disease is common in places where the triatomine bug transmits the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi.
11. e-NAM completes four years of implementation
The pan-India Agriculture trading portal e-NAM completes four years of implementation. On this occasion, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that e-NAM helped in realising the vision of One Nation One Market for agri produce.
He also said that e-NAM is being expanded to cover additional 415 mandis which will take the total number of e-NAM mandis to 1000 soon. He also added that this online platform will prove to be a giant leap in reforming the agriculture market in India. AIR correspondent reports e-NAM was launched by Prime Minster Narendra Modi in 21 mandis on 14th April in 2016.
12. Indo-US IUSSTF to address COVID-19 challenges
The IUSSTF, Indo-US Science and Technology Forum has invited proposals from Indian and American scientists. The proposals will demonstrate value and benefits of Indo-US partnership in COVID-19 research.
The global partnerships and collaborations are bringing together scientists and engineers from different parts of the world to find solutions for COVID-19. The IUSSTF is now encouraging such collaborations to catalyze both India and United States.
13. What is Helicopter Money being suggested by World Experts?
With the increasing economic crisis, Helicopter Money is a solution being suggested by economic specialists all over the world.
HELICOPTER MONEY –
Helicopter Money was the term framed by an American Economist Milton Friedman. Helicopter Money is the monetary policy tool used for Quantitative Easing. It aims to dump money into a struggling economy.
Helicopter Money in simple terms is extension of non-repayable money towards state and central governments from central bank. The policy intends to make more money available for the people to nudge them to spend more.
14. Govt notifies Mauritius as eligible country for Category-I FPIs
The government notified Mauritius as an “eligible country”, enabling its investment entities to register as Category-I foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) with lower KYC requirements.
Category-I FPIs include government and government-related investors such as central banks, sovereign wealth funds, international or multilateral organizations or agencies, including entities controlled or at least 75 per cent directly or indirectly owned by such government and government related investor, pension and university funds.
15. Yes Bank Extends Bancassurance Tie-Up With Max Life Insurance For 5 Years
Private sector life insurer Max Life Insurance said Yes Bank Ltd. has extended the bancassurance partnership for next 5 years. Under the partnership, the products of the life insurer would be sold through the branches of Yes Bank.
Building on the 15-year partnership, the two firms will continue to offer their customers need-based products and services, deploying technology across the customer value chain to enhance efficiencies, the insurer said in a statement. To commemorate the extension of the partnership for another 5 years, the companies will dedicate the current financial year as the Year of the Customer’, Max Life CEO Prashant Tripathy said.
16. Doug Sanders, the ‘Peacock of the Fairways’, dies aged 86
Doug Sanders, a four-time runner-up in major championship, has died from natural causes aged 86, the PGA Tour has announced.
Sanders, known for his colourful wardrobe on the circuit, won on 20 occasions between 1956 and 1972 but missed out on major glory, with his near miss at The Open 50 years ago the closest he came.
17. Legendary Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Bonetti dies fighting long-term illness
Peter Bonetti, the former Chelsea and England goalkeeper nicknamed “The Cat” for his outstanding reflexes and agility, has died. He was 78. Bonetti died after suffering from long-term illness. He kept 208 clean sheets in 729 appearances for the London club over two spells from 1960-75 and 1977-79.
