Current Affairs Daily Digest – March 30 2020
1. Tokyo Olympics might be held in 2021 July
Tokyo Olympics organizers are planning to host the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics in July 2021. The event was delayed due to the coronavirus. The Tokyo Organising Committee is planning to begin the events from 23 July 2021. The day was suggested by Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike.
The plan to host it in July 2021 comes as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had decided to move the games to be held in northern Sapporo city, Japan instead of Tokyo.
2. UP govt transferred Rs.611 crore to the beneficiaries under MNREGA
On 30 March, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath transferred Rs.611 crore in the accounts of 27.15 lakh Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) labourers of the state. The move comes in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
3. The 49th edition of IHGF-Delhi Fair Spring has been postponed
The Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) has postponed the 49th edition of Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF)-Delhi Fair Spring 2020. The fair was scheduled to held from 15-19 April 2020. The cancellation was in view of the COVID-19 outbreak. The announcement was made by the Director-General of EPCH. The fair could is expected to be organized in June or July.
4. Saudi Arabia to provide uninterrupted LPG supply to India
The Union Minister of Oil Dharmendra Pradhan said that Saudi Arabia has announced to provide uninterrupted liquid petroleum gas (LPG) supplies to India. On 29 March, he discussed global oil market developments with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and Aramco’s Chief Executive Amin Nasser.
5. 500 officials of TRIFED Van Dhan India unleash power of Webinars to Work from Home
Around 500 officials of TRIFED (The Tribal cooperative Marketing Development federation of India) operating under Ministry of Tribal Affairs unleashed the power of Webinars.
The Trifed Social Media team has reached 2.5 million people in three days. TRIFED Van Dhan GIS based website gathered more than 50 lakh tribal gatherers spread across 27 different states. Through “Tech for Tribals” scheme that was recently launched in March 2020, around 3.5 lakh tribal entrepreneurs were gathered.
6. RBI approves Mega Bank Consolidation Plan
The Reserve Bank of India is to implement a merger plan of 10 state-run banks into 4 larger banks from April 1, 2020. The Amalgamation of the banks had been notified by the GoI earlier of March 2020.
According to the plan, the United Bank of India and Oriental Bank of Commerce are to be merged with Punjab National Bank. The Syndicate Bank is to be amalgamated with Canara Bank. The Allahabad Bank is to be amalgamated with Indian Bank. Also, Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank are to be amalgamated with Union Bank of India.
7. North Macedonia Officially Joins NATO alliance as 30th Ally
North Macedonia (formerly the Republic of Macedonia) officially became NATO’s 30th member upon depositing its instrument of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO) with the US State Department in Washington DC. An official statement was released by NATO headquarters in Brussels.
8. Covid-19 impact: Govt relaxes rules for withdrawal from EPFO accounts
The labour ministry on Sunday issued a notification allowing millions of subscribers of the employees’ provident fund organization (EPFO) to withdraw a portion of their retirement savings with immediate effect amid the Covid-19 lockdown.
As per the gazette notification, EPFO subscribers can withdraw 75% of their savings or up to a maximum of three months’ basic pay and dearness allowance from their PF account – whichever is lower. Once a subscriber withdraws the amount, it cannot be replenished after the situation improves.
9. UP CM Yogi Adityanath sets up ‘Team-11’ to beat Coronavirus
Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath has set up “Team-11” consisting of inter-departmental committees with over 2 dozen senior officials to fight the coronavirus spread. Each of the committees will be headed by a senior bureaucrat of the state while the CM will be the head of the Team-11.
10. Fish on a click: Bengal’s fish market starts home delivery
The traditional fish market is shifting to digital space with online order of fish and doorstep delivery slowly becoming the norm in Kolkata.
Besides the West Bengal government’s ‘Smartfish’ app for online shopping of fish, six engineering students from different premier institutions have launched an online retail shop where one can get fresh fish and meat along with groceries and some other food stuff.
11. Rajasthan foundation Day on march 30
Rajasthan Day is celebrated every year on March 30 to commemorate the day on which the state of Rajasthan came into existence. Rajasthan Day commemorates the valor, strong willpower and sacrifice of the people of Rajasthan. Rajasthan earlier known as Rajputana came into existence on March 30, 1949.
The state mostly comprises lands of Rajputs including the erstwhile nineteen princely states, two chief ships, and the British district of Ajmer-Merwara. Rajasthan, which is the largest state of India in terms of the area, also shares borders with Pakistan’s Punjab province.
12. State Bank of India raises $100 million in green bonds
India’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) on Saturday said it has raised $100 million in green bonds through private placement.
“Continuing its commitment towards sustainable development, the bank raised $100 million floating rate notes at a coupon rate of 80 basis points (bps) above the three-month Libor,” SBI said, adding that these bonds will be issued through SBI’s London branch and shall be listed on Singapore Exchange (SGX).
13. Joseph Lowery, civil rights leader, dies at 98
The Rev. Joseph Lowery, a leader in America’s civil rights movement, died Friday. He was 98. Lowery’s death was confirmed by family representative Imara Canady, who said he died of natural causes. Often called the “dean” of the civil rights movement, he worked hand in hand in the movement’s formative years with the Revs. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson.
14. Rajya Sabha MP Beni Prasad Verma Dies In Lucknow At 79
Former Union Minister and Samajwadi Party founding member Beni Prasad Verma died in Lucknow on Friday. He was 79. The Rajya Sabha member was unwell for past few days and was admitted to a private hospital in Lucknow, where he died around 7 pm, his son Rakesh Verma told PTI.
