Current Affairs Daily Digest – May 16 2020
1. Investment Capacity of India in renewable sector reached 500-700 billion USD
The Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis published a study according to which India has increased its potential of renewable energy investments to 500-700 billion USD. This is mainly because of improvements in solar power in the country.
2. PepsiCo India ties up with Swiggy
In a bid to strengthen availability of its snack brands at a time when the country is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, PepsiCo India has entered into a distribution partnership with Swiggy to launch Lay’s and Kurkure e-stores on the app. Consumers can also order Quaker Oats through the app.
Currently, the partnership is in the pilot stage, and delivery of these brands is being done by Swiggy in Mumbai and Gurugram. This partnership will be expanded to enable the delivery of Lay’s, Kurkure and Quaker Oats products to consumers in over 20 cities in the coming days, according to sources.
3. What is Event Bolt Malware in news recently?
The Computer Emergency Response of Team (CERT) of India has issued warning against a new malware called “EventBot”. The malware according to CERT steals personal financial information from Android phone users.
The Eventbolt malware that is spreading is a Trojan. It cheats victims secretly attacking computer or phone operating system. Currently, the malware is capable of targeting more than 200 different financial applications.
4. World celebrates International Day of Living Together in Peace
Today is International Day of Living Together in Peace. In 2017, the United Nations declared this Day to promote peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding, and solidarity across the world.
President of General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande in a message said that today the world is facing the most challenging crisis since the Second World War. COVID-19 poses a serious threat to maintenance of international peace and security – potentially leading to an increase in social unrest and violence. He has called for an immediate global ceasefire to work together on the actual fight – defeating the pandemic.
5. Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal account for highest number of street vendors in India: SBI economists
Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are home to the highest number of street vendors, collectively accounting for over one-fourth of the country’s tally, economists at State Bank of India said.
According to a note released a day after the government announced a Rs 5,000-crore special credit facility for street vendors, ten states accounted for 35 lakh of the 50 lakh beneficiary street vendors who will be given a loan of Rs 10,000 each to restart businesses impacted ..
6. Aatmanirbhar package: DISCOMs to get ₹90,000-crore liquidity support
Power Distribution Companies (Discoms) will be offered ₹90,000 crore liquidity support under the ‘Aatmanirbhar package’ announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Under the package, Power Finance Corporation and Rural Electrification Corporation will infuse liquidity in the Discoms to the extent of ₹90,000 crores in two equal instalments, an official statement said.
7. Israel Names Street After Rabindranath Tagore On The Poet’s 159th Birthday, Tweets Photo
Israel has named a street in Tel Aviv after celebrated Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore as a tribute on his 159th birthday. On May 7, the Israeli Embassy in India tweeted a photo of a signboard where the street was named Rehov Tagore; ‘rehov’ means street.
8. Rajnath Singh commissions Indian Coast Guard Ship ‘Sachet’, two interceptor boats
The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on May 15 commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) sachet and two interceptor boats C-451 and (IBs) C-450 in Goa. The event took place via video conferencing from Delhi.
An ICG spokesperson informed that the ship ‘Sachet’ has been first in the series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) and has been designed and built indigenously by Goa Shipyard (Ltd). The ship is fitted with communication equipment, navigation, sensor, and machinery.
9. World Bank clears $1 billion loan for the social protection
The World Bank has cleared a $1billion assistance for the social protection on May 15 and has been in talks with the government for the funding the initiatives to assist micro, medium and small enterprises (MSME).
The Director of World Bank, Junaid Ahmad, did not elaborate the size of the loans for MSME but stated that it is being negotiated. He appreciated the government’s approach that focuses on social protection, healthcare, and economic healthcare.
10. Gujarat launches Atmanirbhar Gujarat Sahay Yojna
The Gujarat government on May 14, 2020 launched the Atmanirbhar Gujarat Sahay Yojna (AGSY). Under the scheme, people in the lower middle income group can avail guarantee-free loan of Rs 1 lakh from banks at 2 per cent annual interest.
The Atmanirbhar Gujarat Sahay Yojna (AGSY) aims to help them get back to their normal life, which was disrupted by the COVID-19 lockdown.
11. Nirmala Sitharaman hikes FDI limit in defence production from 49 pct to 74 pct
In a very big move announced by FM Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government’s decision to raise the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit under the automatic route from existing 49 per cent to 74 per cent in the defence production. She said that the decision was an important one as it would make an ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’ in the field of defense.
12. Former Lok Sabha MP Raja Rangappa Naik passes away
Former Lok Sabha MP and senior Janta Dal(S) leader Raja Rangappa Naik passed away. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996. He had represented the Raichur Lok Sabha constituency in the Indian state of Karnataka.
