Current Affairs Daily Digest – May 20 2020
1. Cabinet approves Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
Union Cabinet has approved Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. The scheme aims to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries section in the country. It will be implemented at a total investment over Rs. 20 thousand crore .
2. Cabinet approves additional funding of up to Rs. three lakh crore through introduction of ECLGS
Union Cabinet has approved additional funding of up to Rs. three lakh crore through introduction of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS). Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) facility to help eligible Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) borrowers, including interested MUDRA borrowers.
3. India’s Chief Hydrographer Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar wins UK award
Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar, the National Hydrographer to the government of India, has been honoured with the 2019 Alexander Dalrymple Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Indian hydrography and across the wider Indian Ocean region, the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) said in a statement.
4. GoI: Star Rating of Garbage Free Cities Released
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs released star rating of garbage free cities for the year 2019-20. Around 5 cities were given 5-star rating. This includes Ambikapur, Surat, Rajkot, Mysuru, Indore and Navi Mumbai. The ministry had given 3-star rating to 65 cities and 1-star rating to 70 cities.
5. World Metrology Day observed on May 20
World Metrology Day is an event occurring on 20 May celebrating the International System of Units. The date is the anniversary of the signing of the Metre Convention in 1875. Metrology is the study of measurement. The World Metrology Day project is currently realized jointly by the BIPM and the OIML.
6. World Bee Day observed on May 20
World Bee Day is celebrated on May 20. On this day Anton Janša, the pioneer of beekeeping, was born in 1734. The purpose of the international day is to acknowledge the role of bees and other pollinators for the ecosystem. The UN Member States approved Slovenia’s proposal to proclaim 20 May as World Bee Day in December 2017.
Theme – Save the Bees
7. Accenture acquires Ahmedabad-based big data analytics company Byte Prophecy
Global technology firm Accenture said that it has acquired Ahmedabad-based Byte Prophecy, an automated insights and big data analytics company. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
The acquisition will add nearly 50 data science and data engineering experts, with a particular focus on insight automation, to Accenture Applied Intelligence. The move will deepen existing consulting and technology capabilities that help clients in areas such as data foundations and advanced analytics.
8. Indian Steel Association names Dilip Oommen as next President
Indian Steel Association (ISA) appointed Dilip Oommen as its new President with immediate effect.
“Dilip Oommen, CEO, Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India has taken over as President of ISA. This was decided in the Extra Ordinary Board Meeting of ISA, May 19, 2020,” the body said in a statement.
9. Marathi writer, playwright Ratnakar Matkari passes away in Mumbai
Veteran Marathi writer and playwright Ratnakar Matkari has died, family sources said. Matkari, 81, considered a pioneer of the children’s drama movement in Marathi, died at a hospital in suburban Marol here late Sunday night, a BMC official said.
10. Japan’s Economy Officially Enters Recession for First Time Since 2015
Japan’s economy has officially entered a recession — defined as two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth — according to new economic data released Monday. According to the Japanese Cabinet Office, seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product contracted by 3.4 percent for the period between January and March 2020. The figure was short of median expectations of a 4.6 percent contraction. \
11. Kevin Mayer, Disney’s head of streaming, named TikTok CEO
Kevin Mayer, a high-ranking Disney executive who was recently passed over for the company’s CEO position, will join the social media platform TikTok as its chief executive, Disney.
Mayer was the head of Disney’s direct-to-consumer unit and oversaw Disney+, the company’s new streaming service. He was thought to be in contention for CEO, but he was passed over this year when Bob Iger named Bob Chapek as his successor.
