Current Affairs Daily Digest – June 19 & 20 2020
1. Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched DBTAMTZ Mobile Diagnostic Unit for COVID Testing I-Lab
Union Minister for Science & Technology Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurated and flagged off India’s first Infectious disease diagnostic lab (I-Lab) for COVID-19 testing in rural and inaccessible areas of India.
The infectious disease diagnostic laboratory is a mobile testing facility that was dedicated to providing COVID-19 testing access to rural India.
2. KVIC taps with Indian Palm Industry to boost employment opportunities
The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched a unique project at Dahanu in Palghar district of Maharashtra, a state with more than 50 lakh palm trees. Under the project, Neera and Palmgur will be produced in India. Neera and Palmgur have huge potential to create employment in the country.
3. Indian economist Amartya Sen wins Peace Prize of the German Book Trade
Professor Amartya Sen, 2020 winner of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. The board of the German book trade on Wednesday announced it had awarded its prestigious peace prize to Indian economist and philosopher Amartya Sen.
The 86-year-old Harvard professor and past Nobel prize winner was granted the 2020 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for his “decades-long work on the question “as a questions of global justice,” the board said in a statement on Twitter.
4. International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, 19 June
International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.
5. RBI approves re-appointment of Kaizad Bharucha as Executive Director of HDFC Bank
The Reserve Bank of India has approved the re-appointment of Kaizad Bharucha as Executive Director of HDFC Bank for a period of three years with effect from June 13, 2020, the private sector lender said in a regulatory filing.
6. IM Vijayan recommended for Padma Shri by AIFF
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has recommended IM Vijayan for India’s fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Shri to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. IM Vijayan was previously awarded the Arjuna Award by the Government of India back in 2003. He has won the AIFF Player of the Year awards in 1993, 1997, and 1999.
7. 20th June: World Refugee Day
To honor refugees across the globe, the United Nations designated 20th June to be observed as World Refugee Day in its Resolution 55/76 on 4th December 2000. The first World Refugee Day was observed on 20th June 2001. The theme of 2020 World Refugee Day: Every Action Counts
8. RIL becomes first Indian Company to be valued at USD 150 Billion
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) on 19th June 2020 was valued at USD 150 billion following a rise in the share market, this also made RIL the first-ever Indian company to achieve a market value of above Rs 11 lakh crore.
The positive growth in the shares of the company was registered after it announced that the company has become net debt-free well ahead of its target of March 2021.
9. UP becomes top state in country to provide employment to workers under MGNREGA
Uttar Pradesh has become the top state in the country to provide employment to the workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme MGNREGA. Yesterday Uttar Pradesh provided employment to more than 57 lakh workers under MGNREGA.
10. Former RBI Governor Urjit Patel named NIPFP chairman
Former Reserve Bank governor Urjit Patel will take charge as chairman of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) from June 22, the economic think tank said.
Patel will replace Vijay Kelkar, who assumed office on November 1, 2014 “National Institute of Public Finance and Policy is privileged to have Dr. Urjit Patel, former Reserve Bank Governor, as its Chairperson for a four-year term commencing June 22, 2020,” the economic think tank said in a statement.
11. JSW Cement ropes in Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Chhetri as brand ambassadors
Cement brand, JSW Cement has roped in former cricketer and current president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Sourav Ganguly as well as captain of the Indian national football team and Bengaluru FC, Sunil Chhetri as its brand ambassadors.
The company is also rolling out its new multi-media marketing campaign ‘Leader’s Choice’ featuring both these sports icons on June 20th across West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha.
12. Mukesh Ambani joins club of world’s top 10 richest people
Mukesh Ambani with a recent soar in net worth has jumped into the exclusive club of the world’s top 10 richest people, as per Forbes Real-Time Billionaire list.
The Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director with a net worth of USD 64.5 billion is currently ranked 9th on the list of World’s top billionaires. His net worth has increased by almost 12 times from USD 5.3 billion to USD 64.6 billion within just two months.
13. AIIB approves $750 million dollar loan to India to fight COVID-19
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has approved the loan of $750 million dollars (about Rs. 5,688 crore) to India. The loan has been sanctioned to assist the Indian government to strengthen its response to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on millions of people.
14. Harsh Vardhan launches India’s first mobile laboratory for Covid-19 testing
Union minister Harsh Vardhan launched a mobile laboratory for coronavirus testing which can be deployed in rural areas and help in promoting last-mile testing. The mobile lab, also called I-Lab or Infectious Diseases Diagnostics Lab, can run 50 RT-PCR and about 200 ELISA tests in a day.
