CURRENT AFFAIRS
13 APRIL 2020
BY:GAZAL BHATNAGAR, VIDHYARTHI DARPAN
NATIONAL AFFAIRS:
1) CCMB check against flare-up of COVID-19:
CSIR-Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) situated in Hyderabad is right now utilizing a few apparatuses and approaches in the nations to battle against COVID-19 that incorporate Testing patient samples, Training on COVID-19 Testing, Sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 genome, Culturing SARS-CoV-2 Virus for Testing Repurposed and New Drugs.
2) ICMR reported that more than 40 vaccines are currently under production:
The Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR) reported that more than 40 antibodies are under different developmental stages yet no immunizations have arrived at the last stage and furthermore guaranteed that starting at now there is no antibody and vaccine and there are 219 labs, 151 government offices and 68 private COVID-19 test offices in India.
3) BRO has opened the Srinagar-Leh highway in order to allow critical goods:
On 11 April Border Roads Organization (BRO) opened the vital Srinagar-Leh highway linking Ladakh with the rest of the world. Prior, as the 425 km Srinagar-Leh expressway was shut since December 2019 because of substantial snowfall at the Zojila pass, a couple of oil tankers and other significant wares were permitted to move towards Leh/Ladakh from Zojila.
4) ICMR certified DBT-THSTI as COVID-19 Faridabad testing facility:
The Bioassay Laboratory of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Faridabad-based Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) has been authorized by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) as an augmentation of the diagnostic office of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College.
5) The 101st commemoration of the Jallianwala Bagh slaughter was praised on 13 April 2020:
13 April 2020 denoted the 101st commemoration of the Jallianwala Bagh slaughter, as on that day martyrs who were pitilessly killed in Jallianwala Bagh are remembered and Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the honest martyrs who displayed extraordinary boldness and penance.
6) Initiatives to avoid agricultural production being interrupted during lockdown:
A few activities have been initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare to encourage horticulture during lockdown.
-Virtual Private Network (VPN) received the Certificate of Registration for Indigenous Manufacturing, crude materials for modern units engaged with synthetic compounds that are utilized in farming.
-The Kharif Crops-2020 National Conference is to be held on April 16, 2020, by means of video gathering.
– As these routes are to be utilized to supply indispensable wares, for example, agrarian information sources, plant items and dairy items, the Indian Railways lunched 67 new routes for package administrations and services.
7) Rs 5,000 crores transferred for free distribution of LPG under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana:
Up to now, India’s administration has allocated Rs 5,000 crores to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), which is planned to give free LPG cylinders to recipients of PMUY.
8) 6,300 Kendras Janaushadhi running during Lock Down:
Right now, India’s legislature is ensuring that Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendras has satisfactory medicines accessible. There are more than 6,300 Pradhan Mantri Janaushadhi Kendras working in the nation to guarantee reasonable medications as the Indian government ensures that moderate medications are accessible in these kendras that the stockrooms will be running 24/7 to manage the present circumstance.
9) Directions from the Supreme Court on Migrant Worker Protection:
The Home Affairs Ministry has advised the states and association regions to make government assistance strides for vagrants (migrants) in the nation based on Supreme Court directions.
10) National Rural Living Project of Women SHGs under the PPEs:
The COVID-19 epidemic has brought an overall unparalleled well-being crisis that has produced tremendous interest for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and face masks and so as to meet these issues, Self-Help Groups spread across India have now joined the manufacture of PPEs and other vital clinical products.
11) Committee of Experts established by UGC:
The University Grants Commission set up a specialist board of trustees on April 12, 2020 to suggest the utilization of e-assets and strengthen the nation’s online instruction framework to support students and instructors invest quality energy building up their aptitudes, skills, tracking innovative work on COVID-19 related arrangements.
12) YUKTI Portal introduced by HRD Ministry:
The Ministry of Human Resources and Development has propelled the YUKTI portal to track activities that are Young India Combating COVID with Information, Technology and Innovation, and the entryway will document, spread and track HRD Ministry activities and other educational foundations in the nation.
WORLD AFFAIRS:
1) UNIDO is signing MoU with Consumer Unity Trust Society to address the monetary EFFECT of COVD-19:
On April 10, 2020 United Nations Industrial Development Organization, a particular office of the United Nations has inked a MoU with Consumer Unity and Trust Society, a non-benefit association situated in Jaipur, Rajasthan, to elevate purchasers to add to the worldwide improvement plan as well as help their separate governments in the midst of worldwide emergency like coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
2) NASA scientists are testing wind velocity on a brown dwarf for the first time:
On April 9, 2020 Wind speed was estimated by the U.S. Space Agency at NASA on a brown dwarf named 2MASS J10475385 + 2124234, 32 light-years from Earth, utilizing Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) of the National Science Foundation and NASA’s as of late resigned infrared observatory and the Spitzer Space Telescope.
3) Google and Apple teams up to build mobile apps for coronavirus touch tracing:
On April 11, 2020, the American worldwide innovation firm Apple Incorporation has collaborated with Google LLC to mutually make a Bluetooth signals coronavirus touch tracing system.
4) The biggest oil cuts are agreed by OPEC and Russia:
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia have collaborated to cut COVID-19 oil production by 10 percent, which is being done to manage the dropping oil costs amidst lock-down around the world.
CURRENT AFFAIRS
14 APRIL 2020
BY:GAZAL BHATNAGAR, VIDHYARTHI DARPAN
NATIONAL AFFAIRS:
1) PM Modi encourages the use of handmade masks:
On April 14, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi encouraged everybody to utilize natively constructed masks and remain healthy during the lockdown, which was extended until May 3, 2020 with the goal of increasing mindfulness about the significance of covering the face, regardless of whether with homemade covers or fabric.
2) 7 Main mantras to defeat Covid-19 as PM Modi launches ‘Saptapadi’ to resolve pandemic coronavirus:
On April 14, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broadened across the country lockdown until May 3, 2020 in the wake of considering the ongoing coronavirus epidemic in India and starting at now, the cumulative number of positive instances of coronavirus in India has crossed 10,000. Starting with his discourse by expressing gratitude toward individuals for their disciplined and unified methodology during the lockdown, PM Modi finished up by giving out ‘Saptapadi,’ 7 Mantras or key rules for managing the COVID-19 pandemic effect.
The Seven Mantras or Saptapadi are:
– Take care of senior residents and old people at home particularly those with previous illnesses.
– Follow the rules on lockdown and social distance and use masks that are handmade.
– Strengthen your protection with guidance provided by the AYUSH Ministry.
– Download the Mobile App ‘Aarogya Setu.’
– Support poor and vulnerable families by offering shelter and food.
– Be respectful for your colleagues in our industries and avoid job and salary cuts.
– Display respect for the warriors of the corona like physicians, health practitioners, military officers, police and others.
3) Lockdown extension declared to 3 May and tight surveillance until 20 April:
PM Narendra Modi declared an expansion of the lockdown until 3 May during his address to the country on 14 April 2020 and started his speech by saying that India was largely able to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and furthermore featured the numerous challenges and troubles looked by the residents following the lockdown and valued their endeavors to comply with the lockdown orders.
4) Center passes legislation to provide freedom to States to increase employee working hours:
The Center is to pass a law that will enable the state governments to expand representative working hours across institutions to 12 hours every day from eight hours, planned for settling the issue of labor shortages and empowering organizations to retain social distance.
5) Center to put Rs.1 lakh crore to rural:
The Indian Government intends to infuse Rs.1 lakh crore into towns to improve the rustic economy and has likewise reported a significant buying of grain by legitimate organizations and direct money transfers that will likewise profit ranchers if the lockdown further delays the harvest.
6) Center makes 20 control rooms to manage workers’ pay related complaints:
The Ministry of Labor and Employment has developed 20 control rooms throughout India under the Chief Labor Commissioner’s Office so as to resolve the issues that emerge in the context of COVID-19.
7) CovidGyan, a science-based site, was propelled on COVID-19:
CovidGyan, a site focused on science, was propelled with the objective of bringing the measurable and verifiable parts of the COVID-19 pandemic flare-up to the multi-institutional, multi-lingual science communication public domain.
8) On 14 April Ambedkar Jayanti is being praised:
Dr. B R Ambedkar’s birthday is commended on April fourteenth and is praised in memory of his various commitments to make India free. Ambedkar Jayanti is also called Bhim Jayanti and India, having praised the birthday of Dr. BR Ambedkar carefully in the midst of the lockdown because of the COVID-19 flare-up.
9) Birupaksha Mishra accepts responsibility as ED of Union Bank of India:
Upon merger with Corporation Bank and Andhra Bank, Shri Birupaksha Mishra took over as Executive Director (ED) of Union Bank of India, and before that he was the ED at Corporation Bank.
10) E-NAM is completing four years of introduction:
On 14 April 2020, the National Agriculture Market Portal, e-NAM, finished four years of implementation planned for accomplishing the “One Country, One Market” Agri-Production dream.
11) The 14th of April is Baisakhi, Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsha, Vaisakhadi, Puthandu:
On the event of Baisakhi on 14 April, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed individuals celebrating Vaisakhi, Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsha, Vaisakhadi, Puthandu, Pirappu in various parts of the nation which is a religious celebration celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus.
12) First remote wellbeing checking system has been set up in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand:
It was developed in India by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh alongside Bharat Heavy Electronics Limited, a defence segment organization of India Navratna, and the device is required to be utilized in Uttarakhand state to track COVID-19 patients.
13) Siachen Day Celebrated on 13 April:
The Indian Army celebrated Siachen Day on April 13, 2020 and is seen in recognition of the Indian Army’s valiance under “Operation Meghdoot,” as well as honoring Siachen Warriors who effectively guarded country from the foe.
14) At ICMR, Remdesvir is successful in halting COVID-19 replication process:
The Indian Medical Research Council declared on 13 April 2020 that the antiviral drug Remdesvir is highly successful in halting COVID-19 replication.
15) Curbs tightened on imported palm oil:
India fixed its controls on palm oil imports on April 13, 2020 and the approval for palm oil imports ought to be followed by pre-buy understanding under the new conditions.
16) Crude Oil’s First Ship load enters India:
On April 13, 2020, the initial 1 million barrel raw petroleum from the UAE entered India as oil costs have declined by 60% since January 2020 and costs are relied upon to increment as OPEC and Russia having settled to cut their stock by 10%, so now is the opportune time to fill in oil stockpiling.
17) Core Strategy Group founded in the CSIR:
A center system group was established at CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) on April 13, 2020 as the gathering will progress in the direction of fast and practical diagnosis, advanced and atomic monitoring, and medication re-use.
WORLD AFFAIRS:
1) US permits sales of weapons to India:
On April 14, 2020, the United States endorsed deals of missiles to India which are lightweight Torpedoes rockets and air-propelled Harpoon rockets priced at USD 155 million.
2) In the midst of the Coronavirus crisis, OPEC and Russia agreed to slash crude oil production:
On April 13, 2020, In perspective on the breakdown in oil costs because of the spread of coronavirus, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), an intergovernmental association of 13 countries, and partners like Russia, an alliance known as OPEC+ has consented to cut oil creation by 9.7 million barrels for each day from May 12020 and will proceed through the finish of June 2020.
