1 volume: 10 · 2.3.3 “Saiyam App” to tracks Home Quarantined itizens 41 2.3.4 SAHYO app to help area-specific strategies, decisions in COVID-19 outbreak 42 2.3.5 IAS IPS officers

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I would like to thank my outstanding and brilliant team

members who have given their valuable support,

cooperation, suggestions and expert advice from time to

time in successfully completing this magazine and

encourage me throughout this work.

DATE: 01/MAY/2020 A. SIDHARTH

M.A., PH.D IN GEOGRAPHY





April 2020 www.iasupsc.com

Sr. No. TOPICS Pg.

No.

1. National and International events

1.1 Jallianwala Bagh Massacre 7

1.2 IESA sought ISRO type commission for electronics 11

1.3 ASEAN Summit 12

1.4 Talks on Oil Cut Deal at G-20 16

1.5 India Moved to WTO on US Tariffs 22

2. Key Knowledge About COVID-19

2.1 SPREAD OF COVID-19

2.1.1 Animals and Covid-19 23

2.1.2 Coronavirus: Humans to blame for pandemic 24

2.2 DETECTION OF COVID-19

2.2.1 Covid-19 Community Mobility Report: Google 26

2.2.2 AI-based Voice Tool to Detect Covid-19 27

2.2.3 “COVID-19 worst crisis since World War II“ 29

2.2.4 India’s First Mobile Testing Lab for COVID-19 detection 30

2.2.5 India plans to deploy antibody tests for COVID-19 31

2.2.6 Naval Dockyard develops low-cost device to screen people 32

2.2.7 ICMR approves antibody tests for COVID-19 patients 33

2.2.8 Mobile app to help people track spread of coronavirus 36

2.3 STEPS TAKEN BY INDIAN GOVT. AND WORLD ORGANIZATION TO FIGHT AGAINST CORONA VIRUS





2.3.1 Novel blood plasma therapy for COVID-19 37

2.3.2 COVID India Seva 40

2.3.3 “Saiyam App” to tracks Home Quarantined Citizens 41

2.3.4 SAHYO app to help area-specific strategies, decisions in COVID-19 outbreak 42

2.3.5 IAS IPS officers associations form Caruna an initiative to fight Coronavirus 43

2.3.6 ICMR approves use of diagnostic machine used for drug-resistant TB for COVID-19 44

2.3.7 WHO Funding and Advisories 45

2.3.8 Rs. 15000 Crore Sanctioned to States 47

2.4 TESTING AND TREATMENT

2.4.1 Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) 49

2.4.2 Colour coding to help manage COVID-19 pandemic 50

2.4.3 Covid-19 and the Orphan Drug Act 52

2.4.4 Coating developed by JNCASR may prevent transmission of infection 53

2.4.5 DRDO develops bio-suit for medical practitioners who treat COVID-19 patients 54

2.4.6 Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination 55

2.4.7 Free Testing and Treatment for Covid-19 57

2.4.8 Complete Export Ban on Hydroxychloroquine 58

2.4.9 India supplied 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines to Maldives 60

3. Global Trends/Index/Reports on Various Issues

3.1 Global Press Freedom Index 60

3.2 Global Report on Food Crises 61

4. The days have national and international importance 4.1 Civil Services Day 63

4.2 World Book Day 64

4.3 World earth Day 65

4.4 National Panchayati Raj Day 66

4.5 International Mine Awareness Day observed on 4 April 67

4.6 International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace 68

4.7 World heritage day 70

4.8 World Haemophilia Day 71

4.9 World Chagas Disease Day 72

4.10 World homeopathy day 73





4.11 World Autism Awareness Day 75

5. Indian Defence

5.1 Indian Defence 76

6. Indian Polity, Governance, Constitution, Security and Justice

6.1 Centre defines J&K domicile rules 77

7. Public Policies

7.1 Parliamentary Committee On Industrial Relations Code Bill, 2019 78

7.2 Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) 80

8. Social Welfare Schemes: Tourism and Agriculture

8.1 Kisan Rath Mobile App 83

8.2 Measures for Farmers’ Welfare 84

8.3 Bio fortified crops 85

8.4 Measures to ensure smooth harvesting of Rabi Crop 87

8.5 New E-NAM Features launched by the Agricultural Ministry 88

9. Social Justice: Human Rights/Women Empowerment /Child Rights

9.1 Revoke Order Weakening PCPNDT Act: AIDWA 89

10. Social Life: Art, Culture, Languages, Heritages And Religion

10.1 Islamophobia is rising in India : Organisation of Islamic Cooperation 91

11. Social Development: Health Sector/Education Reforms

11.1 Bharat Padhe Online campaign 92

12. Indian Economy

12.1 Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme 93





12.2 Liquidity Boost to NBFCs 94

12.3 Special Drawing Rights: IMF 96

12.4 MSP for MFP 97

12.5 Fall in IHS Market India Services Business Activity Index 99

12.6 Jobless rate in India rose to 23 percent due to Lockdown said CIME 100

12.7 Ordinance to make PM CARES donations tax free 101

12.8 Merger of Banks 102

13. General Science/Technology

13.1 Scientists develop electrocatalysts for rechargeable metal-air battery from Fish gills 105

14. Biodiversity and Climate Change

14.1 NASA reported significant 20-years-low air pollution in Indo-Gangetic Plain amid lockdown

106

14.2 New viper species Discovered 108

14.3 National Wildlife Board 108

14.4 Thailand beaches lure Leatherback sea turtles 110

15. Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social and Economic

15.1 Seismic Noise 113

16. 50 Sample UPSC Prelims Questions

116

17. Answer key

133





Context:

13 April 2020 marked the 101st anniversary of the Jallianwala

Bagh Massacre. On this day, the martyrs who were killed

mercilessly in Jallianwala Bagh are remembered. Prime

Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the innocent martyrs

who showed great courage and sacrifice.

ROWLATT ACT AND JALLIANWALA BAGH

MASSACRE

PEDAGOGY

As has been repeated many times in the pedagogy section of history, events which have a centenary

have taken centre stage in both prelims and mains, The year 1919 is very prominent in the History of

India for the Rowlatt Act, Jallian Wala Bagh massacre, Government of India act 1919, Non-co-

operation movement, Khilafat movement.

CONTENT

Rowlatt act provisions

Rowlatt satyagraha – course

Jallianwala Bagh massacre

British response – Hunter commission report

Indian response – Khilafath and Non-Cooperation Movement

ROWLATT ACT PROVISIONS

The ‘ Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act of 1919, ‘ popularly referred to as the ‘ Rowlatt

Act, ‘ was enacted by the British to discourage Indians from rising against them by suppressing

revolutionary groups and depriving Indians of their right to personal expression and liberty.





On basis of the report of the S.A.T. Rowlatt committee, it replaced the Defence of India Act

(1915) instituted during the First World War with a permanent law that gave the British more

power over Indians. Following are the main provisions of the act:

The ‘Rowlatt Act’ envisaged the arrest and deportation of any person on mere suspicion of

sedition and revolt.

It allowed the declaration of possession of treasonable literature as a punishable offence.

Allowed the British to imprison protestors without a trial of those arrested.

It also provided for the press to be controlled even more strictly.

ARREST WITHOUT WARRANT:

It gave sweeping powers to the police to search premises and arrest anyone merely on suspicion

without needing a warrant.

It also gave the police the right to indefinitely detain suspects without trying them and to

conduct in-camera trials for forbidden political acts without any jury.

Denied right to information to the undertrials regarding the identity of their accusers as well as

the nature of the evidence presented against them for their alleged crimes.

It mentioned the trial of those arrested by special tribunals established for that purpose

It made the convicts to deposit securities and prohibited them from participating in political,

religious, or educational activities.

ROWLATT SATYAGRAHA

The ‘Rowlatt Act’ was strongly opposed by all the Indian leaders who felt that it was extremely

repressive and the Indian public too was extremely angry and resentful.

Mahatma Gandhi, in particular, was a very strong critic of the proposed legislation as he felt that

punishing a group of people for a crime committed by just one or a few was morally incorrect.

Instead of the constitutional opposition to the Act, Gandhi organized for the first time a ‘ hartal

‘ for the masses to suspend all business and instead gather in public spaces to fast and pray to

demonstrate peacefully their opposition to the law with civil disobedience.

However, as the movement came to be known, the ‘ Rowlatt Satyagraha ‘ it left the British

totally unmoved as they did not see the peaceful ‘ hartal ‘ as a threat.

JALLIANWALA BAGH MASSACRE

BACKGROUND:

As the Rowlatt Act became law in March 1919, the protests became more vocal and aggressive,

especially in Punjab, where rail, telegraph and communication systems were disrupted.

Two of the most visible faces of the protests and champions of the ‘Satyagraha’ movement; Dr.

Satya Pal and Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew were taken into custody by the police and secretly





transported away. Protesters against the arrests who gathered at the residence of the Deputy

Commissioner of Amritsar to demand their release were fired upon by the police.

The leaders of the ‘hartal’ in Amritsar met on 12 April 1919 to pass resolutions against the

Rowlatt Act and to protest the arrests of Satya Pal and Kitchlew. They also decided that a public

protest meeting would be held the following day at Jallianwala Bagh.

THE MASSACRE

In the morning of 13 April 1919, the day of the traditional festival of ‘Baisakhi’, the acting

military commander, Colonel Reginald Dyer, anticipating further agitation and violence

announced several restrictions on the movement and assembly of people. As expected people

gathered there to celebrate the festival.

Colonel Dyer arrived with his troops at Jallianwala Bagh, sealed off the sole exit, and ordered

indiscriminate firing on the peaceful and unarmed crowd without any warning. It led to the

death of around a thousand people.

BRITISH RESPONSE – HUNTER COMMISSION REPORT

The massacre of Jallianwala Bagh was followed by the setting up of a non – official committee of

inquiry by Congress. Until Congress set up such a committee, the British government did not

initiate such an inquiry.

The government later set up a Disorders Inquiry Committee led by Lord William Hunter, Senator

of the Scottish College of Justice.

The Hunter Commission, although it condemned most of the decisions taken by General Dyer, it

agreed with the imposition of the martial law in Punjab.

It also criticized Gandhi’s method of Satyagraha and held Gandhi partially responsible for the

situation of “deteriorated” law and order.

The result was the Dyer, relieved of his command, was sent to England.

INDIAN RESPONSE – KHILAFATH AND NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT

The Hunter commission hurt Gandhi and he returned the Kaiser-I-Hind Gold medal. Even he

came to the conclusion that the blatant action of inhumanity cannot be remedied through

conventional political methods. This also resulted in Indian National Congress and Gandhiji

joining hands with Kilafath leaders which revied Hindu-Muslim unity. Further, Gandhi launched

the nationwide campaign for Non-cooperation with the aim of achieving full swaraj.

Gandhi withdrew the nations co-operation from the British Government and thereby shook the

countries administrative setup.

Launching of the Non-Cooperation Movement marked new awakening in the Indian

Independence Movement. This movement was a great success as it gave millions of Indians

massive encouragement.





Figure 1 The Amritsar Massacre Memorial

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: Modern Indian History: Jallianwala Bagh, Rowlatt Act, HUNTER

COMMISSION, and KHILAFATH AND NON-COOPERATION MOVEMENT Modern Indian History

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

The Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA)

asked the Government of India to set up a National Electronics

Mission in lines with India’s space agency, Indian Space

Research Organisation (ISRO).

HIGHLIGHTS

With this, IESA aims to build a homegrown electronics ecosystem that would help the country

reduce imports of semiconductor chips and sensors. With that, it aims to spearhead all the

activities and for making India a design-led manufacturing hub for the world.

IESA also sought the Central government to allocate $1 billion for an Indian electronics system

design and manufacturing (ESDM) Innovation fund. It aims to help startups design and build

local electronics products.

IESA:

IESA is responsible for the development of a vibrant Indian Electronics and Semiconductor

ecosystem. Its main objective is to establish “Brand India” that is recognized worldwide as a go-

to destination for electronic products.

It also aims to bring the Indian government, industry, and academia on a common platform and

jointly work to develop and promote Made-in-India products for the global markets.

The Chairman of IESA is Jitendra Chaddah, Senior Director, Operations and Strategic Relations,

Intel India. The Vice-Chairman of IESA is Dr.Satya Gupta, CEO, Seedeyas Innovation.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: National Electronics Mission

Sources: THE HINDU





*****************************

Context:

Vietnam chaired the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

(ASEAN) summit held online. The discussions pertained to the

impact of Covid-19 on Southeast Asia.

HIGHLIGHT:

Leaders from China, Japan and South Korea joined the summit.

KEY POINTS:

ASEAN leaders have warned of the crippling economic cost of Covid-19 and called for trade

routes to reopen to protect jobs and food supplies, as well as the stockpiling of medical

equipment.

The Covid-19 has ruined the region’s tourism and export-reliant economies.

Vietnam has urged Southeast Asian leaders to set up an emergency fund to tackle the

coronavirus.

EXISTING FEARS ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE REGION:

Limited testing in Indonesia has resulted in the lower number of cases — and under 400 deaths

— for a country of 260 million.

Health systems from Myanmar to Laos are widely believed to be missing the true scale of

infections.

A recent surge in cases in Singapore has raised fears the pandemic could rebound in places

which had batted back the initial outbreak.

The Thai economy, the second largest in ASEAN, is expected to shrink by 5.3% in 2020 — a 22-

year low — with millions left jobless.





ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (more commonly known as ASEAN) is an

intergovernmental organization aimed primarily at promoting economic growth and regional

stability among its members.

There are currently 10 member states: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,

Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Figure 2 10 member states of ASEAN

WHY WAS IT SET UP?

ASEAN was founded half a century ago in 1967 by the five Southeast Asian nations of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. This was during the polarized atmosphere of the





Cold War, and the alliance aimed to promote stability in the region. Over time, the group expanded to include its current 10 members.

Regional cooperation was further extended with the creation of the ASEAN Plus Three forum in 1997, which included China, South Korea and Japan. And then the East Asia Summit, which began taking place in 2005 and has expanded to include India, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

WHAT DOES IT DO NOW?

ASEAN aims to promote collaboration and cooperation among member states, as well as to advance the interests of the region as a whole, including economic and trade growth. It has negotiated a free trade agreement among member states and with other countries such as China, as well as eased travel in the region for citizens of member countries.

In 2015, it established the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), a major milestone in the organization’s regional economic integration agenda. The AEC envisions the bloc as a single market with free flow of goods, services, investments and skilled labour, and freer movement of capital across the region.

True to its original mission, the organization strives towards peace and stability in the region: members have signed a treaty pledging not to develop nuclear weapons, and most have agreed to a counter-terrorism pact, which includes sharing intelligence and easing the extradition process of terror suspects.

HOW DO MEMBERS COOPERATE?

One of the organization’s aims is to promote technical and research cooperation among its members. The ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award is presented every three years to recognize nationally and internationally acclaimed achievements in the field.

Areas of research include safeguarding the region’s environment and wildlife. The association’s Center for Biodiversity was established to promote cooperation on conservation and sustainability throughout the region and serves as secretariat of ASEAN Heritage Parks, which oversees 37 protected sites.

In the field of education, the ASEAN University Network was founded in 1995 to promote academic and youth cooperation between member states. As part of this initiative, the University Games have been held every two years since 1981.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE REGION ECONOMICALLY?

If ASEAN were a country, it would be the seventh-largest economy in the world, with a combined GDP of $2.6 trillion in 2014. By 2050 it's projected to rank as the fourth-largest economy.

Home to more than 622 million people, the region has a larger population than the European Union or North America. It also has the third-largest labour force in the world, behind China and India.





HOW ARE RELATIONS BETWEEN ASEAN AND CHINA?

The Southeast Asian region is now China’s third-largest trading partner, with annual bilateral trade valued at $443.6 billion.

The South China Sea territorial dispute has emerged as a challenge to the unity of the organization. ASEAN has discussed drawing up a code of conduct to be signed with China governing disputes in the South China Sea, but Beijing is reluctant to sign on to a multilateral agreement.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?

Despite their distinct cultures, histories and languages, the 10 member states of ASEAN share a focus on jobs and prosperity. Household purchasing power is rising, propelling the region into the next frontier of consumer growth.





The region must now meet the challenges of providing enormous investment in infrastructure and human-capital development to ensure it realizes its full potential.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: KEY POINTS OF THE SUMMIT, ROLE OF ASEAN COUNTRIES

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Recently, at G20 talks, top oil nations pushed to finalize a deal

on oil cuts to lift prices slashed by the coronavirus crisis.

KEY POINTS:

Measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus have destroyed demand for fuel and driven

down oil prices.

It strained the budgets of oil producers and also affected the U.S. shale industry which is more

vulnerable to low prices due to its higher costs.

Saudi Arabia and Russia and its allies (OPEC + group), had forged a pact to curb crude production

by the equivalent of 10% of global supplies.

They also want other producers including the United States and Canada to cut a further 5%.

The crisis in the oil market has pushed Russia and Saudi Arabia to patch up differences after

their hostile meeting in March, 2020.

The dispute over how best to tackle falling prices led them to scrap their existing pact on

production restraint that had helped balance the oil market for three years.

Russia and Saudi Arabia agreed that their cuts would both be calculated from an October 2018

baseline.

But efforts to conclude the deal hit the buffers when Mexico said it would only cut output by a

quarter of the amount demanded by OPEC +.

Mexico also said that the US had offered to make extra U.S. cuts on Mexico’s behalf.





Mexico also cares less about low oil prices because of its hedging programme, which protects it

against price falls.

The demand for oil has plunged by 30% and even an unprecedented cut of 15% made by the

deal in global supplies would have little effect on prices.

The head of the International Energy Agency said importing countries could offer some support

to the market by making extra purchases of crude for strategic reserves.

The United States has said that it would help demand by opening its strategic reserve to store as

much oil as possible.

OPEC +

The non-OPEC countries which export crude oil are termed as OPEC + countries.

OPEC + countries include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman,

Russia, South Sudan and Sudan.

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) :

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent,

intergovernmental organization, created at the Baghdad Conference in 1960, by Iran, Iraq,

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.

It aims to manage the supply of oil in an effort to set the price of oil in the world market, in

order to avoid fluctuations that might affect the economies of both producing and purchasing

countries.

It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

OPEC membership is open to any country that is a substantial exporter of oil and which shares

the ideals of the organization.

As of April 2020, OPEC has a total of 13 Member Countries viz. Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab

Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of

Congo, Angola, and Venezuela are members of OPEC.

WHAT IS THE GROUP OF SEVEN (G-7)?

The Group of Seven (G-7) is a forum of the seven countries with the world's largest developed

economies—France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and

Canada—whose government leaders meet annually on international economic and monetary

issues. The Presidency of the G-7 is held by each of the member countries in turn.

The European Union is sometimes considered an eighth member of the G-7, since it holds all the

rights and responsibilities of full members except to chair or host the meeting.

ROLE OF THE GROUP OF SEVEN (G-7)

The major purpose of the G-7 is to discuss and sometimes act in concert to help resolve, global

problems, with a special focus on economic issues. The group has discussed financial crises,

monetary systems, and major world crises such as oil shortages.





The G-7 has also launched initiatives to fund issues and relieve crises where it sees an

opportunity for joint action. Those efforts include several aimed at debt relief for developing

nations. In 1996, working with the World Bank, the G-7 launched an initiative for the 42 heavily

indebted poor countries (HIPC), along with a Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI), a 2005

pledge to cancel the International Development Association debt of countries that have gone

through the MDRI program.

In 1997, the G-7 provided $300 million to the effort to build the containment of the reactor

meltdown at Chernobyl. In 1999, the G7 decided to get more directly involved in "managing the

international monetary system" by creating the Financial Stability Forum of major national

financial authorities such as finance ministries, central bankers, and international financial

bodies.

BIRTH OF THE GROUP OF SEVEN (G-7)

The G-7 has its roots in an informal meeting of the finance ministers of France, Germany, the

U.S., Great Britain, and Japan (the Group of Five) in the wake of the 1973 oil crisis.

That, in turn, inspired French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing to invite the leaders of those

countries, plus Italy, to Rambouillet in 1975 for further discussions on global oil, this time with

the country's leaders joining the finance ministers, an attendance roster that has endured.

The next year, Canada was invited to join the group and the first meeting with all G-7 nations,

hosted by the United States, was held in Puerto Rico in 1976.

EXPANSION TO G-8 (THE GROUP OF EIGHT)

The G-7 has responded as the global economy has evolved, including as the Soviet Union

pledged to create an economy with freer markets and held its first direct presidential election in

1991. Following the 1994 G-7 meeting in Naples, President Boris Yeltsin held meetings with G-7

member countries, in what became known as the P-8 (Political 8). In 1998, after urging from

leaders including U.S. President Bill Clinton, Russia was added to the G-7 as a full member,

creating a formal G-8.

However, in 2014, Russia was suspended from the group after the annexation of Crimea and

tensions in Ukraine. It remains out of the G-7, despite the 2018 call by President Donald Trump

to re-admit Russia to the organization, saying "[t]hey threw Russia out. They should let Russia

come back in, should have Russia at the negotiating table.”

CREATION OF THE G-20

As developing nations began to represent a larger part of the global economy, the absence of a

forum about international financial matters that included those emerging economies became

more glaring.

In response, the G-20 was created in 1999, comprising all the members of the G-7 plus 12

additional countries and the European Union. As the economies and trade activity of markets





such as China, Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa—G-20 members all—surge, many

observers now see the G-20 as usurping much of the role and eminence once held by the G-7.

WHAT IS THE GROUP OF 20 (G-20)?

The Group of 20, also called the G-20, is a group of finance ministers and central bank governors

from 19 of the world's largest economies, including those of many developing nations, along

with the European Union. Formed in 1999, the G-20 has a mandate to promote global economic

growth, international trade, and regulation of financial markets.

Because the G-20 is a forum, not a legislative body, its agreements and decisions have no legal

impact, but they do influence countries' policies and global cooperation. Together, the

economies of the G-20 countries represent about 90% of the gross world product (GWP), 80% of

world trade, and two-thirds of the world population. After its inaugural leaders' summit in 2008,

the leaders of the G-20 announced that the group would replace the G-8 as the main economic

council of nations.

KEY FACTS

The G-20 is a leading forum for global financial issues whose members include major developed

and developing economies.

Although not a legislative body, its discussions help shape financial policy within each of its

member countries.

Recent agenda items at G-20 meetings have included cryptocurrency, food security, and trade

wars.

POLICY FOCUS OF THE GROUP OF 20 (G-20)

The topics discussed by G-20 evolve in concert with the main global financial concerns of its

membership. Initially, the group's discussion had a focus on the sustainability of sovereign debt

and global financial stability.

Those themes have continued as frequent topics at the G-20's summits, along with discussions

about global economic growth, international trade, and the regulation of financial markets.

The agenda priorities for the 2019 G-20 Osaka summit illustrate how the G-20's topics reflect

changing concerns.

As host, Japan has proposed a focus on the global economy, trade, and investment, innovation,

the environment and energy, employment, women's empowerment, development and health.

The previous year, Argentina proposed a focus on the future of work, infrastructure for

development, and a sustainable food future.

That meeting also included talks on the regulation of cryptocurrencies and the U.S.-China trade

war—both topics that seem likely to be discussed again at the 2019 summit in Osaka (June 28-





29, 2019), and perhaps even at the 2020 (Riyadh), 2021 (Italy), and 2022 (New Delhi) gatherings

as well.

THE GROUP OF 20 (G-20) VS. THE GROUP OF SEVEN

(G-7)

The G-20's ranks include all members of the Group of Seven (G-7), a forum of the seven

countries with the world's largest developed economies: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the

United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Formed in 1975, the G-7 meets annually on

international issues, including economic and monetary matters.

Apart from being older than the G-20, the G-7 has sometimes been described as a more political

body, since all of its meetings have long included not only finance ministers but chief ministers,

including presidents and prime ministers. However, the G-20, since the global financial crisis of

2008, has increasingly held summits that include political leaders as well as finance ministers

and bank governors.

And where the G-7 exclusively comprises developed countries, many of the additional 12

nations that make up the G-20 are drawn from those with developing economies. Indeed,

having a forum at which developed and emerging nations could confer was part of the impetus

for creating the G-20.

RUSSIA AND THE GROUP OF 20 (G-20)

In 2014, the G-7 and G-20 took different approaches to membership by Russia after the country

made military incursions into the Ukraine and eventually annexed the Ukrainian territory of

Crimea. G-7, which Russia had formally joined in 1998 to create the G-8, suspended the

country's membership in the group; Russia subsequently decided to formally leave the G-8 in

2017.

While Australia, host of the 2014 G-20 summit in Brisbane, proposed to ban Russia from the

summit over its role, Russia has remained a member of the larger group, in part because of

strong support from Brazil, India, and China, who together with Russia are collectively known as

BRIC.

MEMBERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP OF THE GROUP OF 20

(G-20)

Along with the members of the G-7, 12 other nations currently comprise the G-20: Argentina,

Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea,

and Turkey.

In addition, the G-20 invites guest countries to attend their events. Spain is invited permanently

as is the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); two African

countries (the chair of the African Union and a representative of the New Partnership for

Africa's Development) and at least one country invited by the presidency, usually from its own





region. Countries invited to the 2019 G-20 Osaka Summit, for example, included the

Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, and Vietnam.

International organizations such as the IMF, the World Bank, the United Nations, the Financial

Stability Board and the World Trade Organization also attend the summits.

The chairmanship of the G-20 leaders' summit rotates among four groups of countries. As each

group's turn comes up, its members negotiate among themselves to decide who chairs the

meeting.

The G-20 has been criticized for lack of transparency, encouraging trade agreements that

strengthen large corporations, being slow to combat climate change, and failing to address

social inequality and global threats to democracy.

CRITICISM OF THE GROUP OF 20 (G-20)

Since its inception, some of the G-20's operations have drawn controversy. Concerns include

transparency and accountability, with critics calling attention to the absence of a formal charter

for the group and the fact that some of the most important G-20 meetings are held behind

closed doors.

Some of the group's policy prescriptions have also been unpopular, especially with liberal

groups. Protests at the group's summits have, among other criticisms, accused the G-20 of

encouraging trade agreements that strengthen large corporations, of being delinquent in

combating climate change, and in failing to address social inequality and global threats to

democracy.

The G-20's membership policies have come under fire, too. Critics say the group is overly

restrictive, and its practice of adding guests, such as those from African countries, is little more

than a token effort to make the G-20 reflective of the world's economic diversity. Former US

President Barack Obama noted the challenge of determining who can join such a powerful

group: "Everybody wants the smallest possible group that includes them. So, if they're the 21st

largest nation in the world, they want the G-21, and think it's highly unfair if they have been cut

out."

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: OPEC+, deal on oil cuts to lift prices slashed, G-20, G-7, G-8

Sources: economics times

*****************************





Context:

Under the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) safeguard

agreement, India has sought consultations with the US.

The consultation has been sought on American authorities’ decision to increase import duties on

derivatives of steel and aluminium products.

WTO’S SAFEGUARD AGREEMENT

The Agreement on Safeguards (“SG Agreement”) sets forth the rules for application of safeguard

measures pursuant to Article XIX of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994.

Safeguard measures are defined as “emergency” actions with respect to increased imports of

particular products, where such imports have caused or threaten to cause serious injury to the

importing Member’s domestic industry.

As per a provision of the Agreement on Safeguards, a WTO member country proposing to apply

a safeguard measures shall provide adequate opportunity for prior consultations with those

members having a substantial interest as exporters of the product concerned.

This is with a view to exchanging views on the measure.

INDIA’S STAND

India considers this measure of the US to be a safeguard measure within a provision of the

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, and the Agreement on Safeguards.

Therefore, India has sought consultations with the US, under the WTO’s safeguard agreement.

India has sought to exercise its right to consult on the specifics of the measures and its right to

determine appropriate trade compensation with the US.

ACCORDING TO THE WTO:

India reserves the right to raise additional issues and make further factual and legal arguments.

This should be without prejudice to any other remedies provided for under the understanding of

rules and procedures governing the settlement of disputes and the covered agreements during

the course of consultations.





India looks forward to receiving a prompt reply to its request from the US for a mutually

convenient date and venue for the consultations.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WTO’S SAFEGUARD AGREEMENT

Sources: Business standard

*****************************

Context:

Owing to a recent news report on a Tiger being infected with

Covid-19 in New York (Bronx Zoo), the Ministry of

Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued an

advisory regarding the containing and management of Covid-19

in National Parks/Sanctuaries/Tiger Reserves.

HIGHLIGHTS

Also, a tiger in Pench Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) has died due to respiratory illness. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is investigating whether the tiger should be tested for the novel coronavirus disease.

However, swabs from the throat and nose to test for rhinotracheitis, a viral infection that afflicts cats and causes respiratory illness were collected.

SPREAD OF INFECTION FROM HUMANS TO ANIMALS

THE Bronx Zoo case suggests that a zoo employee spread the virus to the tiger. The virus came from an animal source and mutated; humans have since been infecting humans. Thus, it is theoretically possible for the virus to mutate again to survive in certain species after

being transmitted by humans.





ADVISORY BY THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT,

FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

It has asked all Chief Wildlife Wardens (CWLWs) of all States/UTs to take immediate preventive measures to stop the transmission and spread of the virus from humans to animals and vice versa, in National Parks/Sanctuaries and Tiger Reserves.

The CWLW is the statutory authority under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 who heads the Wildlife Wing of a State Forest Department and exercises complete administrative control over Protected Areas (PAs) within a state.

GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE NTCA AND CZA

Both the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and the NTCA have issued guidelines that require zoos to be on the “highest alert” and monitor animals on closed-circuit cameras 24/7 for “abnormal behaviour and symptoms.”

The CZA has also directed zookeepers to approach sick animals wearing personal protective equipment and isolate and quarantine them.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: SPREAD OF COVID-19 FROM HUMANS TO ANIMALS

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), 60% of

human infectious diseases originate from animals.

ZOONOSES





It is the name given to diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

It is based on the Greek words for “animal” and “sickness”.

Examples: Rabies (rabid dogs), Ebola (fruit bats), West Nile virus (infected mosquitoes), the Zika virus

(infected Aedes species mosquito) and the most recent – the novel coronavirus Covid-19

(bat/pangolin).

CHANGED ECOSYSTEMS

Zoonoses are opportunistic and thrive where there are changes in the environment, changes in

animal or human populations that serve as hosts for certain pathogens, or changes in the

pathogen (disease causing microorganisms), itself.

In the last century, a combination of population growth and reduction in ecosystems and

biodiversity has culminated in unprecedented opportunities for pathogens to pass between

animals and people.

HUMANS-LED CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT

BY ALTERING LAND USE:

For settlement, agriculture, logging, extractive or other industries and their associated infrastructure–

humans fragment and encroach into animal habitats.

DESTRUCTION OF NATURAL BUFFER ZONES:

That would normally separate humans from animals, thus creating opportunities for pathogens to spill

over from wild animals to people.

CLIMATE CHANGE:

Primarily the result of greenhouse gas emissions–exacerbates the situation. Changes in temperature,

humidity and seasonality directly affect the survival of microbes in the environment.

LIVE ANIMAL MARKET:

Proximity to different species through wet markets (live animal market) or consumption of wild animals

can also facilitate animal to human transmission.

RESISTANCE TO DRUGS:

One example of this is the emerging resistance of pathogens to antimicrobial drugs–such as antibiotics,

antifungals, antiretrovirals and antimalarials–often resulting from the misuse of the drugs, either by

people or in veterinary medicine. Domesticated animals are often a “bridge” between pathogens from

the wild and humans.





WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WHAT HUMAN LED CHANGES IN ECO-SYSTEM ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC?

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Google has released ‘COVID-19 Community Mobility

Reports’. These reports aim to provide insights into what has

changed in response to policies aimed at combating COVID-19.

KEY POINTS OF THE REPORT

The reports cover 131 countries and chart movement trends over time by geography, across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

The report comes at a time when communities across the globe are looking at measures such as social distancing as a key action to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The company said it adopted technical measures to ensure that no individual could be identified through the new reports. The reports have been developed according to the company’s stringent privacy protocols and policies.

Google is an American search engine company founded in 1998 by Serge Brin and Larry Page. It is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc.

FINDING RELATED TO INDIA:

In the wake of the March 22 ‘Janata Curfew’ and the subsequent ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown, public movement in India at areas with restaurants, pharmacies, parks and workplaces had declined while movement in residential areas had increased.





The data is based on the 5-week period Jan 3–Feb 6, 2020 and the first few days of the lockdown period.

There has been a dip of 77% in mobility trends for places like restaurants, cafes, shopping centres and movie theaters and a 65% drop at grocery markets, food warehouses, farmers’ markets and pharmacies.

A 57% fall for places like public beaches and gardens, a 71% decline at public transport hubs and a 47% drop for places of work.

However, the mobility trends in the places of residence category showed an increase of 22%. These reports will help support decisions about how to manage the COVID-19 pandemic. For

example, the information could help officials understand changes in essential trips that can shape recommendations on business hours or inform delivery service offerings.

MOVEMENT ACROSS OTHER COUNTRIES:

Reports compared traffic from Feb 16 to March 29 to retail and recreational venues, train and bus stations, grocery stores and workplaces with a five-week period (Jan 3- Feb 6).

Italy and Spain, two of the hardest-hit countries, both saw visits to retail and recreation locations such as restaurants and movie theaters fall 94%.

The United Kingdom, France and Philippines had declines of more than 80%. In Japan and Sweden, where authorities have not imposed harsh restrictions, visits to retail and

recreation sites fell by roughly only a quarter. While in South Korea, which has successfully contained a large outbreak through aggressive

testing and contact tracing, the decline was just 19%. There were no reports for China and Iran, where Google services are blocked.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: about the report

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:





A University in Rome (Italy) is conducting a pilot run for a

patented Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based tool developed by

students and a professor from Mumbai, which they claim can

test Covid-19 through voice-based diagnosis using a

smartphone.

KEY POINTS:

The tool has already been tested on 300 individuals and has detected Covid-19 patients with

98% accuracy.

The tool is based on a voice-based diagnosis through an app. It can find coronavirus from the

tone of the voice.

As someone speaks to the microphone on the app, the tool breaks down the voice in multiple

parameters such as frequency and noise distortion.

These values are then compared to a normal person’s values and the patented technique then

determines if the patient is positive or not.

Each human voice has 6,300 parameters, and only a few units, less than a dozen, specifically

characterise individuals. The human ear, apart from colds, is not able to distinguish them, but

artificial intelligence does.

Each one of an individual’s internal organs is sort of a resonator, so if anyone has a problem

with lungs or heart, this will be reflected in his/her voice.

The current novel coronavirus cases could be detected this way.

BENEFITS OF THE VOICE-BASED DIAGNOSIS TOOL:

This tool can be of great impact in doing the first level of screening to identify positives and

only those who tested positive can go for the lab tests.

This can reduce the current bottleneck on the medical infrastructure, and help the government

to identify hotspot regions in advance.

It is possibly the best way to reach out to the remotest part of India by testing through a

smartphone, without the risk of exposure, both to the patient and the lab personnel.

This voice-based diagnosis will fetch zero cost testing to the patient and no wait time.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: DETECTION OF COVID-19

Sources: THE HINDU





*****************************

Context:

The United Nations warned that the world countries face the

most challenging crisis since World War II. The pandemic is

expected to cause a recession that probably has no parallel in

the recent past. The announcement was made by the UN

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the launch of the

“Report on the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19” on 31

March.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT

UN stated that there is also a high risk that the combination of the disease and economic impact

will contribute to enhanced instability, unrest, and conflict.

The report also highlighted that International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates for the year

2020 which stated 5-25 million jobs will be lost, with a corresponding loss of between $860

million and $3.4 trillion in labor income.

It pointed to the UN trade and development organization UNCTAD’s estimate of a 30-40%

downward pressure on global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows in 2020.

It also recommended establishing a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to support efforts in

low- and middle-income countries, with the aim of swiftly enabling governments to tackle the

crisis and promote recovery.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE REPORT

Sources: THE HINDU





*****************************

Context:

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launches country’s First

Mobile Testing Lab for COVID-19 detection, can process over

1000 samples per day.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Lab has been developed by Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry

of Defence, Govt. of India in collaboration with ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Sanathnagar

(Hyderabad) with due permission of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Govt. of

Telangana.

DRDO and ESIC in setting up of this Bio-Safety Level 2 and Level 3 lab in a record time of 15 days

which usually takes about six months’ time.

ABOUT “MOBILE BSL-3 VRDL LAB”

COVID-19 testing centreat ESIC Medical & Hospital, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad will utilize this new

innovative mobile diagnostic and research facility called “Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab”.

It will be first of its kind facility in the country for Covid-19 and other related testing and

research purposes.

The design of Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab has been developed by DRDO scientists whereas

specification of the lab has been given by ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Sanathnagar, and

Hyderabad.

The project has been executed and constructed by three industry partners of DRDO.

ESIC MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL, SANATHNAGAR,

HYDERABAD:

ESIC Medical Collage and hospital, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad is a 500 bedded hospital. In addition to that

150 beds are also available in the hospital for super-speciality treatment like oncology, nephrology,





neuro surgery, cardiology, pediatric surgery etc. so that ESI beneficiaries get the best of treatment under

one roof.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: DETECTION OF COVID-19

Sources: pib

*****************************

Context:

The Union government okayed antibody tests for the novel

coronavirus (covid-19) April 4, 2020.

WHAT IS ANTIBODY TEST?

Antibody tests mean analyzing a patient’s sample, generally blood sample, for the

presence/absence of a particular antibody or for the amount of antibody that is present.

Antibodies are part of the body’s immune system.

These antibodies are immunoglobulin proteins that protect people against such as viruses,

bacteria, chemicals, or toxins. Antibodies are created to recognize a specific structure on an

invading foreign cell or particle.

HOW IT WORKS?

The Antibody test reveals if the antibodies were released in response to infection by the

coronavirus in individuals who may not have shown symptoms of the disease.

The positive cases of the antibodies test will be made to do RT-PCR tests, which can reveal the

presence of the virus. Once confirmed, the people will be quarantined at home.





Testing negative will mean the persons don’t house the virus — either they haven’t been

infected or are yet to develop antibodies after being infected.

It’s possible those negative in the antibody test need a PCR test, but may not get it. They will be

given another antibody test at home after 10 days. If that comes positive, it will mean mean

they have developed antibodies and will be quarantined at home.

Not everybody will be given these tests. Patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) with symptoms

like cough, cold, low-grade fever or sore throat and living in one of the clusters of the novel

coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will be included.

Companies that have CE-In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) approved kits can use them after proper

approval from the Drug Controller General of India and an intimation to ICMR.

NEED:

Experts believe rapid antibody tests will help to enhance screening and identifying capabilities.

The new tests are most suitable to detect whether the disease is spreading in the hotspots.

The new testing kits are priced between Rs 2,000-3,000 depending on their availability.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: NEED OF ANTIBODY TESTS FOR COVID-19

Sources: down to earth

*****************************

Context:

Naval Dockyard (ND), Mumbai has designed and developed its

own handheld Infrared radiation (IR)-based temperature

sensor to screen people at gates.





The sense will screen a large number of naval personnel at the entry gates of the yard reducing the load

on the security sentries at the gate.

IR-BASED TEMPERATURE SENSOR:

The instrument was manufactured under Rs.1000 through in-house resources.

The accuracy of the instrument is 0.02 deg Celsius.

The non-contact thermometer has an IR and an LED display integrated with a microcontroller

that runs on a 9V battery.

The instrument will screen a large number of naval personnel at the entry gates of the yard

thereby reducing the load on the security sentries at the gate.

The low-cost instrument has the capability to scale up production of these if required towards

which sourcing of the components is in progress.

REASON:

Over 20,000 personnel enter the premises of the Naval Dockyard of Western Naval Command

(WNC) every day. Inorder to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the yard and the Western

Fleet, initial screening of the Navy personnel who enter the dockyard was very important.

The primary method to screen a probable COVID-19 infected person/patient is to check the

body temperature by a non-contact thermometer. In the view of the COVID-19 outbreak, the

non-contact thermometers and temperature guns have become scarce and are being sold at a

very high cost in the country. In order to overcome the scarcity and requirement of large

numbers, ND has designed and developed its own handheld IR based temperature sensor.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: LOW-COST DEVICE TO SCREEN PEOPLE FOR COVID-19

Sources: PIB

*****************************





Context :

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) provided

interim approval on the use of rapid antibody tests for COVID-

19 patients in the Country.

ANTIBODY TESTS:

The Antibody test reveals if the antibodies were released in response to infection by the

coronavirus in individuals who may not have shown symptoms of the disease.

As per the approval, antibody tests can be carried out in hotspots zones suspected to have a

widespread prevalence of the disease.

The positive cases of the antibodies test will be made to do RT-PCR tests, which can reveal the

presence of the virus. Once confirmed, the people will be quarantined at home.

Companies that have CE-In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) approved kits can use them after proper

approval from the Drug Controller General of India and an intimation to ICMR.

WHAT IS ANTIBODY TEST?

Antibody tests mean analyzing a patient’s sample, generally blood sample, for the

presence/absence of a particular antibody or for the amount of antibody that is present.

Antibodies are part of the body’s immune system.

These antibodies are immunoglobulin proteins that protect people against such as viruses,

bacteria, chemicals, or toxins.

Antibodies are created to recognize a specific structure on an invading foreign cell or particle.

ICMR

ICMR stands for Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). It is an apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research. It is funded by the Govt. of India through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and is one of the oldest medical research bodies in the world. It is headquartered in New Delhi, India.

VISION:

Translating research into action for improving the health of the population

MISSION:

To generate, manage and disseminate knowledge





To give emphasis on research on the health issues of the vulnerable and disadvantaged sections of the society

To adopt and encourage the use of advanced biology tools in addressing health problems of the country

To encourage innovation regarding diagnostics, treatment, vaccines and other methods for prevention of diseases

In 1911, the Govt. of India established the Indian Research Fund Association (IRFA) in order to sponsor and coordinate medical research in the country. After independences, many important changes were made in the organization and it was renamed the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in 1949.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS:

1. The council has 26 Research Institutes/Centres to carry out Intramural research. These research institutes include 21 mission-oriented national institutes, established in different parts of the country, and 5 regional medical research centers. The mission-oriented national institutes address research on specific health issues like cholera, leprosy, tuberculosis, diarrhea, viral diseases, malaria, nutrition, reproduction, oncology, medical statistics etc.

2. For promoting extramural research, ICMR took the following initiatives:

Establishes Centers for Advanced Research in different areas of research Task force studies, which are national projects, are formulated taking into consideration the

national priority areas of research. Its task forces and other committees help scientists collaborate with expertise and infrastructure available to undertake research.

Open-ended research is conducted on the basis of applications, for grants-in-aid, received from scientists of medical colleges, universities and non-ICMR research institutes.

3. ICMR promotes human resource development in biomedical research through Research Fellowships, Short-term Research Studentships, and Short-Term Visiting Fellowships and various other training programmes and workshops.

Furthermore, the council offers the designation of Emeritus Scientist to the retired scientist and teachers to enable them continue their research work or start a new research. It also awards prizes to scientists for their contribution to biomedical research. At present, it is offering 38 awards, 11 out of which are exclusively for the young scientists.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: FUNCTIONS OF ICMR

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context :

The Government of India launched “AarogyaSetu”, a mobile app

developed in public-private partnership (PPP). The app is a

part of the efforts taken by GoI to contain the spread of

coronavirus.

AAROGYASETU:

AarogyaSetu will enable people to assess themselves the risk for their catching the coronavirus

infection.

The app will calculate the risk based on their interaction with others, using cutting edge

Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI).

The app can be installed in a smartphone through an easy and user-friendly process and ensures

privacy.

The app can detect other devices with AarogyaSetu installed that come in the proximity of that

phone. It can then calculate the risk of infection based on sophisticated parameters.

The app will help the government take necessary timely steps to assess the risk of the spread of

COVID-19 infection and ensure isolation if needed.

The personal data that are collected by the app is encrypted using state-of-the-art technology

and stays secure on the phone until it is needed for facilitating medical intervention.

The app is available in 11 languages and has highly scalable architecture.

The app has a unique example of the nation’s young talent coming together and pooling

resources and efforts to respond to a global crisis.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: GOVT. INITIATIVES TO FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

Sources: PIB





*****************************

Context:

India has taken a bold step to provide innovative treatment to

patients suffering from COVID-19 disease- plasma therapy.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Technically called “convalescent-plasma therapy”, the treatment aims at using the immune

power gained by a recovered person to treat a sick person.

But, before understanding more about the therapy, let’s see how our immune system works?

When a pathogen like novel coronavirus infects, our immune systems produce antibodies.

Like the police dogs, the antibodies span out to identify and mark the invading virus.

White blood cells attach the identified intruders, and the body gets rid of the infection.

BUT, WHAT ARE ANTIBODIES?

Antibodies are one of the front-line immune response to an infection by a microbe. They are a

particular type of proteins secreted by immune cells called B lymphocytes when they encounter

an invader, such as a novel coronavirus.

The immune system designs antibodies that are highly specific to each invading pathogen. A

particular antibody and its partner virus are made for each other.

HOW PLASMA THERAPY WORKS?

Blood is drawn from a person who has recovered from COVID-19 sickness.

The serum is separated and screened for virus-neutralizing antibodies.

Convalescent serum, that is the blood serum obtained from one who has recovered from an

infectious disease and especially rich in antibodies for that pathogen, is then administered to a

COVID-19 patient.

The sick acquires passive immunisation.





WHEN WAS IT PREVIOUSLY USED? HOW EFFECTIVE

HAS IT BEEN?

We have effective antibiotics against bacterial infection. However, we do not have effective antivirals.

Whenever a new viral outbreak takes places, there are no drugs to treat it. Hence, the convalescent

serum has been used during past viral epidemics.

1. 2009–2010 H1N1 influenza virus pandemic.

2. The Ebola outbreak in 2018.

HOW LONG THE ANTIBODIES WILL REMAIN IN THE RECIPIENT?

After the antibody serum is given, it will stay on the recipient for at least three to four days. During this

period, the sick person will recover. Various studies have confirmed this.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS THERAPY AND

VACCINATION

This therapy is akin to passive immunization. When a vaccine is administrated, the immune

system produces the antibodies.

Here, the effect lasts only up to the time the antibodies injected remain the bloodstream. The

protection given is temporary.

Whereas, Vaccination provides lifelong immunity. For example, the mother transfers antibodies

through breast milk to an infant before the child could build her own immunity.

RELATED FACT:

In 1890, Emil von Behring, a German physiologist, discovered that the serum obtained from a rabbit

infected with diphtheria was effective in preventing the diphtheria infection. Behring was awarded the

first-ever Nobel prize for medicine in 1901.

KERALA GETS NOD FOR TRIAL OF PLASMA THERAPY

A proposal was submitted to ICMR saying that the Transfusion Medicine Department of the Sree

Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Kerala would help the Health

Department in exploring the possibility of Convalescent Plasma (CP) therapy for Covid-19

treatment.





The move was taken as a precautionary step to be prepared for the more severe second and

third waves of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Kerala had also sought ICMR’s early clearance for using HIV antivirals (lopinavir/ritonavir) for

treating Covid-19 after reports on their potential use surfaced.

Kerala might need to submit an expanded access protocol to ICMR and Drugs Controller

General’s approval and Institutional Ethics Committee approval would be necessary before the

administration of the treatment.

One major challenge is the non-availability of the kit for checking the antibody level in the

plasma of a recovered person.

It is not available in India and has to be brought from Germany.

The cancellation of international flights would lead to delay in importing the desired number of

kits.

CONVALESCENT PLASMA THERAPY:

Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy is not a new therapy and banks on the age-old concept of passive

immunity.

BASIS OF THE THERAPY:

The convalescent plasma therapy seeks to make use of the antibodies developed in the

recovered patient against the coronavirus.

The whole blood or plasma from such people is taken, and the plasma is then injected in

critically ill patients so that the antibodies are transferred and boost their fight against the virus.

TIME PERIOD FOR INFUSION:

A study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases stated that a Covid patient usually develops primary

immunity against the virus in 10-14 days.

Therefore, if the plasma is injected at an early stage, it can possibly help fight the virus and

prevent severe illness.

INFUSION INTO COVID-19 PATIENTS:

The plasma can be infused into two kinds of Covid-19 patients, those with a severe illness or

individuals at a higher risk of getting the virus.

However, while plasma transfers immunity from one person to another, it is not known if it can

save lives in Covid-19 infection.

The treatment could be effective for patients in the age group 40-60, but may be less effective

for people aged beyond 60 years.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: PLASMA THERAPY

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan

launched the COVID India Seva on 21 April. The interactive

platform aims to establish a direct channel of communication

with millions of Indians amid the pandemic.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The initiative is aimed at enabling transparent e-governance delivery in real-time and answering

citizen queries swiftly, at scale, especially in crisis situations like the ongoing COVID-19

pandemic.

Through this platform, people can pose queries @CovidIndiaSeva and get them responded to in

almost real-time.

@CovidIndiaSeva works off a dashboard at the backend that helps process large volumes of

tweets, converts them into resolvable tickets, and assigns them to the relevant authority for

real-time resolution.

Everyone can benefit from the responses received around common queries because of its

transparency.

It is important to note that the Ministry will respond to broader queries and public health

information.

This does not require the public to share personal contact details or health record details.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: GOVT. INITIATIVE TO FIGHT AGAINST CORONA VIRUS





Sources: pib

*****************************

Context:

Pune Municipal Corporation under Smart Cities Mission (SCM)

has launched a mobile application named “Saiyam”. The app

aims to effectively track home-quarantines citizens and ensure

they are actually staying in the home.

SAIYAM APP:

The app has been developed to monitor home quarantined citizens.

The city administration has appointed dedicated teams for five zones to conduct a follow-up

with people under home quarantine on a daily basis.

The teams will check on people who have recently returned from international trips and those

discharged after treatment for COVID-19.

The teams will seek updates from quarantined people on their health status and details of

persons in contact with them.

For persons sporting the home quarantine stamp, the teams will check if separate food, bed,

utensils, clothes, and washrooms are provided to them.

They will check if those under home quarantine have downloaded the Saiyam Mobile

Application. The Mobile Application has GPS tracking so that whenever quarantined citizens

leave their homes, City Administration gets alerted and the local ward or the local police station

gets informed, who then visit the family.

Movements of the citizens can be monitored centrally in real-time from the monitoring cell and

are marked as Red, Amber or Green. Red signifies that the person has ventured out for longer

duration; Yellow signifies that the person has limited movements and Green signifies that the

person is confined to house limits.





WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


Sources: pib

*****************************

Context:

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government

of India, developed mobile application SAHYO, an Integrated

Geospatial Platform out of available geospatial datasets,

standards-based services, and analytic tools. The mobile

application and the website prepared and managed by the

Survey of India (SoI)

SAHYO APP:

The SAHYO aims to help decision making during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will aid devising area-specific strategies to handle the socio-economic impact in the recovery

phase.

The platform will strengthen the public health delivery system of the Central and State

Governments.

It will provide the necessary geospatial information support to citizens and agencies dealing with

the challenges related to socio-economic distress, health, and livelihood challenges.

SAHYO is also available as a web portal in https://indiamaps.gov.in/soiapp/





The app has been customized to collect COVID-19 specific geospatial datasets through

community engagement to augment the response activities by the Government of India to the

pandemic.

Information parameters required as per the strategy of the Government of India strategy and

containment plan for large outbreaks have been incorporated in the SAHYOG application.

This integrated geospatial platform will strengthen India’s health emergency management due to

the COVID-19 outbreak and support the socio-economic recovery process through the seamless

provision of spatial data, information, and linkage between human, medical, technological,

infrastructural and natural resources.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


Sources: THE HINDU

****************************

Context:

Associations representing officers of Central Civil Services,

including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and the

Indian Police Service (IPS), formed an initiative called Caruna

to support and supplement the government’s efforts in fighting

coronavirus.

CARUNA:





‘Caruna’ stands for Civil Services Associations Reach to Support in Natural Disasters and represents a

collaborative platform on which civil servants, industry leaders, NGO professionals, and IT professionals,

among others, have come together to contribute their time and abilities.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: INITIATIVES TO FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved the

use of diagnostic machines used for testing drug-resistant

tuberculosis for conducting coronavirus tests.

The ICMR has validated ‘TruenatTM beta CoV test on TruelabTM workstation’ and has recommended it

as a screening test.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Issuing a guidance on the use of Truenat beta CoV, the ICMR said throat/nasal swabs will be

collected in the viral transport medium (VTM) with virus lysis buffer provided along with the kit.

“Earlier studies have shown that virus lysis buffer neutralizes Nipah and H1N1 viruses.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: TESTING AND TREATMENT OF COVID-19

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

The President of the United States has threatened to freeze US

funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) for not taking

necessary steps to combat Covid-19.

KEY POINTS:

The President of the United States has raised allegations that the WHO has praised China for its

transparency on the virus even though there has been reason to believe that more people died

of Covid19 than the country’s official tally.

The United States is currently the WHO’s biggest contributor, making up 14.67% of total funding

by providing $553.1 million.

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for

international public health. It was founded in 1948 and is headquartered at Geneva,

Switzerland.

In recent years, assessed contributions to the WHO have declined, and now account for less

than one-fourth of its funding.These funds is important for the WHO, because they provide a

level of predictability and minimise dependence on a narrow donor base.

Four kinds of contributions that make up funding for

the WHO

1. Assessed contributions: These are the dues countries pay in order to be a member of the

Organization. The amount each Member State must pay is calculated relative to the country’s

wealth and population.

2. Specified voluntary contributions: They come from Member States (in addition to their assessed

contribution) or from other partners.





3. Core voluntary contributions: They allow less well-funded activities to benefit from a better flow

of resources and ease implementation bottlenecks that arise when immediate financing is

lacking.

4. Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) contributions: They were started in 2011 to improve and

strengthen the sharing of influenza viruses with human pandemic potential, and to increase the

access of developing countries to vaccines and other pandemic related supplies.

INDIA AND THE WHO:

WHO has been working closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and various state

governments on preparedness and response measures for Covid-19, including

Surveillance and contact tracing.

Laboratory and research protocols.

Risk communications.

Hospital preparedness.

Training on infection prevention

Control and cluster containment plan

However, on March 26,2020 addressing the virtual G-20 summit to deal with Covid-19, the

Prime Minister of India underscored the need to strengthen and reform intergovernmental

organisations like WHO.

The government of India has also been seen sidestepping the periodic advisories from the WHO

in key aspects of COVID-19 management.

It has leaned on the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the experience of several

state governments — from Kerala and Uttar Pradesh to Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: SCONTRIBUTION OF WHO TO FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19, FUNDING

FOR THE WHO

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

Recently, the Central Government has sanctioned ₹15,000

crore to States under the India Covid-19 Emergency Response

and Health System Preparedness Package.

KEY POINTS:

The package is a 100% centrally-funded scheme and the funds will be provided under a mission

mode approach.

Amount of ₹7774 crore will be utilised for immediate Covid-19 Emergency Response and rest

will be used for medium-term support (1-4 years).

The amount of ₹4113 crore has already been disbursed to all the States and Union Territories

(UTs) dealing with the emergency response to the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE:

Mounting emergency response through development of diagnostics and dedicated treatment

facilities.

Strengthening pandemic research, community engagement, risk communication and

implementation

MANAGEMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING, MONITORING

AND EVALUATION

As per the evolving conditions, the government is authorised to re-appropriate resources among various

components of the package and among various implementation agencies like the National Health

Mission, Central Procurement, Railways, Department of Health Research/Indian Council for Medical

Research (ICMR), and National Centre for Disease Control.

THE STATES CAN USE THE FUNDS FOR:





Centralised procurement of essential medical equipment and drugs required for treatment of

infected patients (Personal Protective Equipment, isolation beds, ICU beds, ventilators, etc.)

Strengthen and build health systems to support prevention and preparedness for future disease

outbreaks.

Setting up of laboratories and bolstering surveillance activities, biosecurity preparedness,

pandemic research and proactively engage communities.

Conducting risk communication activities.

REASONS FOR STRAINED STATE FINANCES

Fall in the revenues due to the lockdown and higher spending due to the coping measures

against novel coronavirus pandemic.

There are no buyers for state bonds, and goods and services tax collections are down, revenues

from fuel, liquor, stamp duty and registration charges are also down.

At the same time, the states are incurring bulk of the on-the-ground expenditures on containing

Covid-19.

States are currently mandated to keep their fiscal deficits within 3% of Gross Domestic Product

(GDP).

A one percentage point relaxation will give them latitude to borrow an extra ₹200,000 crore or

so, but this will not really work in a “broken” bond market as investors demand higher interest

rates.

Simply put, the borrowing costs for states have gone up by almost one percentage point in less

than a month’s time.

Few states wanted to borrow around ₹37,500 crore through sale of bonds, with tenures ranging

from two to 15 years, conducted on the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) auction platform.

However, they were able to mobilise only ₹32,560 crore.

Since 1st April, the central bank has increased the existing ways and means advances limits (for

states to borrow at the repo rate) by 30%, apart from allowing them to be in overdraft for 21

continuous working days, from the earlier 14 days.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: OBJECTIVES OF INDIA COVID-19 EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND HEALTH

SYSTEM PREPAREDNESS PACKAGE

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

So far, India has shared nine whole genome sequences of the

novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with the Global Initiative on

Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID). All these have been shared

by the Pune-based National Institute of Virology.

BACKGROUND:

Early in March, India became the fifth country in the world to sequence the genome of the

novel Coronavirus, or Covid-19, and share its data with the international community.

WHAT IS GENOMIC SEQUENCING?

Genomic sequencing is a technique that allows us to read and interpret genetic information found

within DNA or RNA.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE

GENOMIC SEQUENCE OF COVID-19?

The SARS-CoV2 genome, as it is formally known, has about 30,000 base pairs, somewhat like a

long string with 30,000 places where each one of these occupy one of four chemicals called

nucleotides.

This long string, with its unique combination of nucleotides, is what uniquely identifies the virus

and is called its genomic sequence.

A look at virus genome sequences from patient samples that test positive for COVID-19 helps

researchers to understand how the virus is evolving as it spreads. So far, there are over 1,000

COVID-19 genomes that have been published worldwide.

THEREFORE, SEQUENCING IS NECESSARY BECAUSE:

1. It helps track the transmission route of the virus globally.

2. It can determine how quickly the virus is adapting as it spreads.





3. It identifies targets to therapies.

4. It is required to understand the role of co-infection.

WHAT IS GISAID?

It is a public platform started by the WHO in 2008 for countries to share genome sequences.

Created as an alternative to the public domain sharing model, GISAID’s sharing mechanism took

into account the concerns of Member States by providing a publicly accessible database designed

by scientist for scientist, to improve the sharing of influenza data.

In 2010 the Federal Republic of Germany became the official host of the GISAID platform.

In 2013 the European Commission recognized GISAID as a research organization and partner in the

PREDEMICS consortium, a project on the Preparedness, Prediction and the Prevention of Emerging

Zoonotic Viruses with Pandemic Potential using multidisciplinary approaches.

GISAID’s database access agreement ensures that contributors of genetic sequence data do not forfeit

their intellectual property rights to the data.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: GENOMIC SEQUENCING

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

The government has decided to divide all districts across the

country into hotspots, non-hotspots and green zones.

HIGHLIGHTS:





The health and family welfare ministry has identified 170 hotspot districts, 207 non-hotspot

districts reporting cases and 359 green zone districts not reporting any cases across the country.

These numbers will increase or decrease based on fresh cases of novel coronavirus infection.

Why this classification was necessary? What are its implications?

This will help in managing the Covid-19 pandemic as well as partial opening up of economic

activities during the extended period of the nationwide lockdown. This would help in

management of hotspots and spread of pandemic.

HOW ARE THE DISTRICTS DIVIDED?

The health ministry used two criteria to classify the districts as hotspots — the absolute number

of cases and the speed of growth in cases.

The technical definition followed to classify the districts is any district reporting more than six

cases would be classified as hotspot district or red zone.

Any hotspot district with more than 15 cases would be treated as a district witnessing outbreak.

WHICH DISTRICTS ARE UNDER RED ZONE?

Delhi and NCR, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Thane, Yavatmal, Sangli, Buldhana, Ahmednagar, and Latur in

Maharashtra, and Chennai, Chengalpattu, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Erode, Dindigul, Karur, Madurai,

Namakkal, Ranipet, Tiruchirapalli, Tiruppur and Theni in Tamil Nadu.

DEMARCATION OF EPICENTRE AND CONTAINMENT

ZONES:

A house with positive cases or a cluster with positive cases is marked as the epicentre of the

containment zone. A radius of 0.5 km is taken and the area around it is cordoned off with only

essential services available.

Also, a buffer zone is marked where people with severe and acute respiratory illnesses (SARI)

are checked and monitored.

Containment zones are created to map the local transmission of the disease and prevent the

contagion from spreading.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Covid-19

outbreak a pandemic. However, the United States Food and

Drug Administration (FDA) declared Covid-19 an orphan

disease, or a rare disease.

KEY POINTS:

The FDA granted Gilead Sciences orphan drug status for its antiviral drug, Remdesivir, on March

23, 2020.

Originally developed to treat Ebola, the drug is now being tested for treating COVID-19. Clinical

trials are already in Phase III.

But on March 25 Gilead announced that it had submitted a request to the FDA to remove its

orphan drug designation for Remdesivir.

Earlier, Gilead had sought the orphan status to the Remdesivir drug to expedite approval of the

drug. However, advocates for global access to medicines, rejected the company’s argument.

Gilead’s exorbitant pricing of its drug to treat hepatitis C and its drug to treat HIV also attracted

attention in the past.

In recent years, drug companies have been accused of exploiting the law to reap profits, in sales.

ORPHAN DRUG ACT, 1983:

Rare diseases became known as orphan diseases because drug companies were not interested

in adopting them to develop treatments.

In the U.S., under the Orphan Drug Act, companies are provided incentives to develop therapies,

or orphan drugs, for rare diseases.

The Act allows seven years of market exclusivity and financial incentives to innovators of these

drugs. As a result, orphan drugs are often exorbitantly priced.





Privileges under the Act may be conferred to companies for drugs to treat a disease that affect

less than 200,000 people in the U.S., or for a disease that affects more than 200,000 people but

for which there is no hope of recovering R & D costs.

The idea is that without these incentives, companies would find it difficult to recover their R&D

costs given the small number of people suffering from the rare disease.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ORPHAN DISEASE

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research

(JNCASR), an autonomous institution under the Department of

Science and Technology, has developed a one-step curable anti-

microbial coating which, when coated on different surfaces

such as textile, plastic and so on could kill a range of virus types

including COVID 19.

MICROBIAL COATING:





The covalent microbial coating has been found to completely kill the influenza virus and

resistant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

and fluconazole-resistant C. Albicans spp.

Until now, there is no covalent coating strategy has been developed to. kill all viruses, bacteria,

and fungi.

The coating can be fabricated on a variety of surfaces, and its ease and robustness eliminate the

necessity of skilled personnel for the procurement of the coating.

Coronavirus, like influenza, is also an enveloped virus. Hence, it is anticipated that the coating

may inactivate SARS-CoV-2 upon contact and can help prevent contamination if coated on

various surfaces.

The molecules developed have an ability to chemically cross-link with different surfaces upon

UV irradiation. Upon the formation of the coating, it showed to permeabilize the membranes of

pathogens leading to their inactivation.

The microbial coating on the surfaces was evaluated for their antibacterial, antifungal, and

antiviral activity successfully.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: PREVENTION OF COVID 19

Sources: PIB

*****************************

Context:

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

developed a bio-suit for the safety of the paramedical, medical,





and other personnel engaged in combating COVID-19 safe from

the deadly virus.

DRDO’S BIO-SUIT:

DRDO Scientists have used textile, coating, and nanotechnology to develop the Personal

Protective Equipment (PPE) having a specific type of fabric with coating.

The suit was prepared with the help of the industry and subjected to rigorous testing for textile

parameters and protection against synthetic blood. The protection against synthetic blood

exceeded the criteria defined for body suits by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

(MoHFW).

The DRDO is to ensure that enough number of bio-suits are produced to serve the medics,

paramedics and other personnel in the front line combating COVID-19.

M/s Kusumgarh Industries is producing the raw material, coating material, for the production of

the special bio-suit in large quantities. The complete bio-suit is manufactured with the help of

another vendor.

At present, the production capacity is 7,000 suits per day.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: PREVENTION OF COVID 19

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

According to a US-based research, a combination of reduced

morbidity and mortality could make the Bacillus Calmette-





Guerin (BCG) vaccination a “game-changer” in the fight against

novel coronavirus.

WHAT IS BCG VACCINE?

Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis (TB).

In countries where TB or leprosy is common, one dose is recommended in healthy babies as

close to the time of birth as possible.

In areas where tuberculosis is not common, only children at high risk are typically immunized,

while suspected cases of tuberculosis are individually tested for and treated.

HOW CAN TB VACCINE HELP FIGHT COVID-19?

The BCG vaccine contains a live but weakened strain of tuberculosis bacteria that provokes the

body to develop antibodies to attack TB bacteria.

This is called an adaptive immune response, because the body develops a defense against a

specific disease-causing microorganism, or pathogen, after encountering it.

Most vaccines create an adaptive immune response to a single pathogen.

Unlike other vaccines, the BCG vaccine may also boost the innate immune system, first-line

defenses that keep a variety of pathogens from entering the body or from establishing an

infection.

BUT, WHAT’S THE CONCERN NOW?

Doctors and scientists in India have expressed caution on this study, which argues that countries

that have deployed the BCG-tuberculosis vaccine in their immunisation programmes have seen

fewer deaths from COVID-19.

They say, it is premature for India that has had a consistent TB vaccination policy since 1968, to

take comfort from the study.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: VACCINATION TO DEVELOP ANTIBODIES AGAINST CORONA VIRUS

BACTERIA

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

Recently, the Central government has decided to provide free

testing and treatment of coronavirus under the Ayushman

Bharat Scheme or the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana

(PMJAY).

OBJECTIVES:

To increase the supply of testing and treatment facilities.

To increase access by roping in the private sector through AB-PMJAY as per the Indian Council

for Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.

KEY POINTS:

It will help more than 50 crore Ayushman beneficiaries to avail free testing and timely and

standard treatment in designated private hospitals across India.

It will significantly expand government’s capacities and mitigate the adverse impact of this

pandemic on the poor.

States have already enlisted private sector hospitals to convert them into Covid-19 only

hospitals.

Hospitals can use their own authorised testing facilities or tie up with an authorised testing

facility for the scheme.

These tests would be carried out as per the protocol set by ICMR and by private labs

approved/registered by the ICMR.

Information on symptoms, testing and treatment for the disease can be accessed from the

website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and by calling the national Covid-19

helpline 1075.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: TESTING AND TREATMENT FOR COVID-19





Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

India has banned all exports of hydroxychloroquine – an anti-

malaria drug that is being used in the treatment of Covid-19.

HIGHLIGHTS:

This implies that the exceptions (export obligation and humanitarian grounds) mentioned in the

previous order have come to an end.

The Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) had prohibited the export of the drug on 25th

March, 2020. But it left the option of export open to fulfil “export obligation” and on

“humanitarian grounds”.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) organisation is an attached office of the

Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This Directorate, with headquarters at New Delhi, is

responsible for formulating and implementing the Foreign Trade Policy with the main objective of

promoting India’s exports.

KEY POINTS:

The export of hydroxychloroquine and formulations made from hydroxychloroquine is not even allowed

from Special Economic Zones/ Export -Oriented Units (SEZs/EOUs) or against Advance Authorisation

(AA) or against full advance payment.

SEZs are treated as foreign territory in terms of customs laws. Normally, export ban or

restrictions imposed by the government does not apply on these zones as well as EOUs, which

are specially meant to promote outbound shipments from the country.





Under the Advance Authorisation (AA) scheme, firms are allowed to import raw material at zero

duty but with the condition of export obligation within a certified time frame.

REASONS

India has banned exports of a host of medical devices, including sanitiser, all types of ventilators

and surgical masks.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recommended the use of

hydroxychloroquine for treating healthcare workers handling suspected or confirmed

coronavirus cases and also the asymptomatic household contacts (showing no symptoms) of the

lab-confirmed cases. It needs to be noted that the drug is yet to be proven as a cure for the

novel coronavirus.

All this has been done to deal with the number of rising cases in the country.

USA’S REQUEST

India is considering the request by the USA to release the ordered amount of

hydroxychloroquine drug.

USA has been using the drug along with a combination of other drugs to treat COVID-19

patients. It is being said that the drug is yielding positive results.

This can be viewed as an opportunity for India’s pharmaceutical industry to gain access to the

USA markets, but a call should be taken only after considering domestic requirements.

This may provide India and the US with an opportunity to sort out issues related to India’s

capping of prices of drugs and medical equipment like stents that have figured prominently in

trade disputes between the two countries.

This can also be seen as India, despite a complete ban on exports, may give priority to the USA’s

request. This highlights the importance of India-US relationship.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: TREATMENT FOR COVID-19

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

India supplied 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines to Maldives,

under Operation Sanjeevani as assistance in the fight against

COVID 19.

KEY POINTS:

The medicines were delivered by an Hercules C-130J-30 aircraft of Indian Air Force.

The medicines include influenza vaccines, antiviral drugs such as lopinavir and ritonavir among

others as well as consumables such as catheters, nebulisers, urine bags and infant feeding tubes.

Lopinavir and ritonavir have been used to treat patients with COVID-19 in some countries.

In March India also dispatched a 14-member Army medical team to Maldives to set up a viral

testing lab there and gifted 5.5 tonne of essential medicines.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: TESTING AND TREATMENT FOR COVID-19

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:





India has dropped two places on a global press freedom index

to be ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the annual

Reporters without Borders analysis released.

INDIA:

World Press Freedom Index 2020 murders of journalists in India in 2019, as against six in the

year 2018 and the security situation for the country’s media might seem on the face.

India dropped two places on a global press freedom index to be ranked 142nd out of 180

countries in the annual Reporters without Borders analysis.

REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS:

Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF), or Reporters without Borders, is a non-profit

organization that works to document and combat attacks on journalists around the world.

Norway is ranked first in the Index for the fourth year running. China in the 177th position is just

three places above North Korea, which is on 180th.

South Asia features poorly on the Index, with Pakistan dropping three places to 145, and

Bangladesh dropping one place to 151.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


Sources: economic times

*****************************

Context:

Global Network against Food Crises report officially released by

the UN World Food program

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:





The report indicates around 135 million people across 55 countries and territories experienced

acute food insecurity. Around 55 food-crisis countries covered by the report and 75 million

children were stunted. 183 million people were classified in Stressed (IPC/CH Phase 2)

conditions.

Among 43 million live in the Middle East and Asia and 18.5 million live in Latin America and the

Caribbean.

Acute food insecurity when a person’s inability to consume adequate food puts their lives or

livelihoods in immediate danger. Each year by the UN’s annual State of Food Security and

Nutrition in the World report are released.

This report is the result of a consensus-based and multi-partner analytical process

involving 16 international humanitarian and development partners

1. United Nations World Food Programme (WFP)

2. the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),

3. the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR),

4. Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS),

5. the European Union (EU),

6. Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET),

7. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),

8. Global Food Security Cluster, Global Nutrition Cluster,

9. Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)

10. Global Support Unit,

11. Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD),

12. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI),

13. Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA),

14. Southern Africa Development Community (SADC),

15. the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF),

16. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


Sources: economic times

*****************************





Context:

Civil Services Day is observed on 21 April in India. The day

celebrates the civil servants in order to rededicate themselves

to the cause of citizens. On this day, the civil servants renew

their commitments to public service and excellence in work.

AIM:

The Civil Services Day celebrates all the civil servants who dedicated their lives to the cause of citizens. It

also aims to renew their commitments to public service and excellence in work.

EVENTS:

On this day, the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration will be awarded to the

Districts and Implementing Units for implementation of Priority program and innovation categories.

These awards are presented every year. The day connects the civil servants with each other and learns

the good practices being implemented across the nation in the field of public grievance.

HISTORY:

Civil Services Day is celebrated to commemorate the day when the first Home Minister of Independent

India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers in 1947 at

Metcalf House, Delhi. In his address, he referred to civil servants as the ‘steel frame of India’. The day

was first celebrated on 21 April 2006 in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: IMPORTANCE OF THE DAY

Sources: The Hindu

*****************************





Context:

World Book Day is observed on 23 April. The day is celebrated

by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization) and other related organizations. The global

celebration of books and reading material is observed in more

than 100 countries. This day is also known as World Copyright

day.

AIM:

The World Book is celebrated to recognize the scope of books as a link between the past and the future.

UNESCO and organizations representing publishers, booksellers, and libraries select the World Book

Capital for a year to maintain the celebrations of books and reading.

EVENTS:

On this day many authors, publishers, teachers, librarians, public and private institutions,

humanitarian NGOs, and the mass media gather to promote literacy and help everyone get

access to educational resources as the books are the cultural and generational bridge.

Kuala Lumpur was officially recognized as the 2020 UNESCO’s World Book Capital (KLWBC 2020).

In 2019, Sharjah, UAE was declared as the World Book Capital.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the day is celebrated online.

IN INDIA:

In India, publishing houses including HarperCollins India, Penguin Random House, Hachette

India, and Roli Books, launched online interactive sessions with authors. They launched it in

digital and audio formats, and bookish games to cover unveiling, publishers.

The online event will have sessions where the authors talk on different relatable themes, drawn

from their areas of expertise. The audiences can post questions and interact further with their

favourite authors

Authors including Sanjay Dixit, Gautam Chintamani, Ziya Us Salam, Vijay, and Akshay Lokapally

and Rituparna Chatterjee will participate in the event.

HISTORY:





The observation of the World Book Day was first initiated by Valencian writer Vicente Clavel

Andres. The aim was to honour the renowned author, Miguel de Cervantes. The day was first

celebrated on 7 October, Miguel de Cervantes’ birth anniversary. The observation of the day

was finalized to be observed on April 23, his death anniversary.

The day was first designated by UNESCO in 1995 at UNESCO’s General Conference held in Paris,

France. The day honours the world-famous author William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes,

and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega and all the authors.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


Sources: The Hindu

*****************************

Context:

Earth Day was celebrated on 22 April 2020. The day marks the

anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental

movement in 1970. The year 2020 marked the 50th

anniversary of Earth Day. The day reminds all to take care of

the planet Earth.

EVENTS:

The day raises awareness about the environment and its advocacy. On this day, schoolchildren

take part in awareness rallies, environmentalists organize several events and symposium to

educate people about every individual’s role in saving the environment.

This year, the public programs have been called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

People can do activities like starting an organic vegetable garden, plant more trees, teach

children about the significance of saving nature, among others.

HISTORY:





The Earth day was initiated by Senator Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from Wisconsin, US.

Nelson had long been concerned about the deteriorating environment in the United States.

In 1969, Nelson and the others who were worried about the environment chose 22 April and

organized the campus teach-ins for the students.

The event became a huge hit and the name of the event was changed to Earth Day. The day

reminds us to fight against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, pesticides, freeways,

the loss of wilderness, raw sewage, toxic dumps, and the extinction of wildlife united on Earth

Day around the shared common values.

The first Earth Day was celebrated on 22 April 1970. Later, Senator Nelson received the

Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor given to civilians in the United States, for his

role as Earth Day founder.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: IMPORTANCE OF THE DAY, CONSERVATION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT

Sources: The Hindu

*****************************

Context:

The National Panchayati Raj Day is observed on 24 April in

India. The day is observed every year in the country. On this

day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed village

Panchayats across the country to mark the National Panchayati

Raj Day.

SIGNIFICANCE:

On this day, the Constitution of India recognized Panchayats as ‘Institutions of self-government’.

It marks the passing of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 with effect from 24 April

1993.





As per the amendment, the states are empowered to carry out steps to organize village

panchayats.

The states can provide them with the necessary powers and authority necessary to facilitate

them to function as units of self-government.

WHAT IS CONSTITUTION (73RD AMENDMENT) ACT,

1992?

The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992 came into force with effect from 24 April 1993.

The Act vested “Constitutional status” on Panchayati Raj institutions.

The 73rd Amendment added the “Part IX” titled “The Panchayats” to the Constitution of India. It

covers provisions from Article 243 to 243(O).

Also, a new XI Schedule that covers 29 subjects within the functions of the Panchayats was

added. It implemented Article 40 of Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) which says that

the State shall take steps to organize village panchayats and endow them with such powers and

authority.

It is necessary to enable them to function as units of self-government.

HISTORY:

National Panchayati Raj Day was celebrated for the first time in 2010. The enactment of the

73rd Amendment Act helped in the decentralization of political power to the grassroots level.

The act also led to the institutionalization of Panchayati Raj through the village, Intermediate

and District level Panchayats.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: IMPORTANCE OF THE DAY, THE SYSTEM OF PANCHAYATI RAJ IN INDIA

Sources: The Hindu

*****************************





Context:

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance is

observed on April 4 each year.

AIM: To raise awareness about landmines and progress toward their eradication

HISTORY:

United Nations (UN) General Assembly declared that April 4 of each year would be officially proclaimed and observed as International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. It was first observed on April 4, 2006.

According to the Landmine Monitor Report 2005, 84 countries were affected by landmines and unexploded ordnance, which together kill or maim between 15,000 and 20,000 adults and children annually. The UN works together with countries to find and destroy these devices.

It also helps to provide various mine-action services in many countries.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: EFFECTS OF LANDMINES ON OUR ENVIRONMENT

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:





International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace is

observed on 24th April.

AIM:

The day aims to disseminate the advantages of multilateralism and diplomacy for peace through

educational and public awareness-raising activities. To commemorate and promote the day, the United

Nations General Assembly (UNGA) convenes a one-day high-level plenary meeting.

HISTORY-INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MULTILATERALISM

AND DIPLOMACY FOR PEACE:

UNGA officially proclaimed the observation of the International Day of Multilateralism and

Diplomacy for Peace on 24 April. It passed a resolution A/RES/73/127 and designated the

observation of the day.

The move by the UN aims to preserve values of multilateralism and international cooperation as

it is fundamental to promote and support the three pillars of the UN namely Peace and Security,

Development, and Human Rights.

These values highlight the principles of the UN Charter and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs). It also acknowledges the use of multilateral decision-making and

diplomacy in achieving peaceful resolutions to conflicts among nations.

The first official International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace was observed on

24 April 2019.

The world is facing the biggest international challenge since the Second World War the COVID-

19 pandemic.

The UN urged its member countries across the world to draw the appropriate lessons about the

vulnerabilities and inequalities and mobilize investments in education, health systems, social

protection, and resilience.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

Every year, 18th April is celebrated Worldwide as World

Heritage Day to create awareness about Heritage among

communities.

THEME OF WORLD HERITAGE DAY 2020:

“Shared Culture’, ‘Shared heritage’ and ‘Shared responsibility”

BACKGROUND:

In 1982, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) announced, 18 April as the “World

Heritage Day”, approved by the General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983, with the aim of enhancing

awareness of the importance of the cultural heritage of humankind, and redouble efforts to protect and

conserve the human heritage.

WHAT IS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE?

A World Heritage site is classified as a natural or man-made area or a structure that is of

international importance, and a space which requires special protection.

These sites are officially recognised by the UN and the United Nations Educational Scientific and

Cultural Organisation, also known as UNESCO. UNESCO believes that the sites classified as World

Heritage are important for humanity, and they hold cultural and physical significance.

KEY FACTS:

There are a total of 38 heritage sites in India.

India ranks sixth in the largest number of heritage sites in the world.

The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the

UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected

by the General Assembly.

Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is

located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each

site.





To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already classified landmark, unique in some

respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical

significance.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: WORLD HERITAGE SITES

Sources: PIB

*****************************

Context:

World Haemophilia Day is observed on 17 April. The day aims

to increase awareness of haemophilia, von Willebrand disease,

and other inherited bleeding disorders. The increased

awareness will increase better diagnosis and access to care for

the millions who remain without treatment.

THEME:

The theme of 2020 World Haemophilia Day is “Get+involved”. The theme aims to help increase the

awareness of inherited bleeding disorders and the need to make access to adequate care possible

everywhere in the world.

HISTORY:

World Haemophilia Day was initiated by the World Federation of Haemophilia. The day has been

observed since 1989 by worldwide patient groups. The date was chosen to honour the birth anniversary

of the World Federation of Haemophilia founder Frank Schnabel.

HAEMOPHILIA:

BLOOD DOESN’T CLOT NORMALLY





Haemophilia is a disorder in which the blood doesn’t clot normally. This disease will cause excessive

bleeding after injury damage. The symptoms of the disease include deep bruises, joint pain, and

swelling, unexplained bleeding and blood in urine or stool.

A ROYAL DISEASE

Heamophilia is called a “royal disease”. The haemophilia gene was transmitted from Queen Victoria

(who became Queen of England in 1837), to the ruling families of Russia, Spain, and Germany. The gene

for haemophilia in Queen Victoria was caused by spontaneous mutation.

RESEARCH BEGAN AROUND 1900

Haemophilia research began around 1900. The scientists found that human blood could be divided into

groups or types. This discovery made blood transfusions much more successful. Scientists learned to

separate blood into its major parts, plasma and red cells in 1930. In 1960s Dr. Judith Graham Pool

discovered the cryoprecipitate process, which is the best way of stopping hemophilia bleeds ever seen.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: HAEMOPHILIA: “A ROYAL DISEASE”

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

On April 14, 2020, World Chagas Disease Day is being observed

for the first time. The day is observed to spread awareness

about this “silent and silenced disease”. The 72nd World Health

Assembly approved the designation of Chagas Disease Day on

May 24, 2019.

WHY IT IS CALLED THE “SILENT AND SILENCED

DISEASE”?





The Chagas disease is called silent because it progresses slowly, and silenced because it mainly affects

the poor people who often lack political voice and proper health care.

ABOUT THE DISEASE:

The disease got its name from Dr Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, who diagnosed the first

patient with the disease in Brazil on April 14, 1909.

It is classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), meaning it affects the low-income

populations in developing countries across the globe.

Also called the American trypanosomiasis, this vector-borne disease hits the most poverty-

stricken communities, especially in Latin America.

HOW IS IT TRANSMITTED?

A parasitic protozoan called Trypanosoma cruzi that causes this vector-borne disease is usually

transmitted by faeces and urine of triatomine bugs or kissing bugs, which belongs to the family

of assassin bugs.

The disease can also be transmitted by contaminated food, organ transplantations, blood or

blood products transfusion, and infected mothers to newborn.

Lack of awareness and neglecting the symptoms, especially among poor households, results in

much severe symptoms and even death.

THE SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE COME IN TWO PHASES:

Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, headache, difficulty in breathing, abdominal or chest pain and

enlarged lymph glands.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: CHAGAS DISEASE: “SILENT AND SILENCED DISEASE”, TRANSMISSION

AND SYMPTOMS

Sources: PIB

*****************************





Context:

The World homeopathy day is celebrated on 10 April. The day

is celebrated to honor the birth of the father of the

Homoeopathic system of medicines Dr. Samuel Hahnemann.

The year 2020, commemorates the 265th birth anniversary of

the founder of Homoeopathy. The theme of the 2020 World

homeopathy day is “Enhancing the scope of Homoeopathy in

Public Health”.

SAMUEL HAHNEMANN:

Samuel Hahnemann was born on 10 April 1755 in Paris, France. He was a German physician, a

great scholar, a linguist, and an acclaimed scientist.

He was famously known as the Father of Homeopathy, Father of Human Pharmacology, Father

of NanoMedicine and the Father of Infinite Dilution concept in Chemistry.

He invented the term “Homeopathy”. He discovered the way to heal through the use of

homeopathy. He died on 2 July 1843.

HOMEOPATHY:

Homeopathy is a system of medicine that follows a natural approach to the treatment of the

sick. This type of medical system is based on the belief that the body can cure itself.

Homeopathy uses animal, plant, mineral, and synthetic substances in its preparations and labels

them in Latin or faux-Latin vocabulary. It is the world’s second most widely used system of

treatment.

HISTORY:

World Homoeopathy Day (WHD) is celebrated in India by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India in

New Delhi. The week following 10 April, that is 10-16 April is observed as the World Homeopathy

Awareness Week.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: SAMUEL HAHNEMANN: THE FATHER OF HOMEOPATHY

Sources: THE HINDU





*****************************

Context:

World Autism Awareness Day is observed on 2 April. The day

aims to recognize and celebrate the rights of persons with

autism. The day makes people understand, recognize, and

accept people with autism. This year the day is commemorated

by the Department of Community Development, Abu Dhabi, the

UAE.

THEME:

The theme of the 2020 World Autism Awareness Day is “The transition of adulthood.”

HISTORY:

The United Nations held the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in

2006.

It came into effect in 2008. It aimed to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal rights of

all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities.

It assured the fundamental principles of universal human rights for all.

In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed the resolution and designated 2

April as the day of World Autism Awareness Day.

DO YOU KNOW?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition and developmental disorder that

leads to the impairment of communication and social interaction skills in an individual.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?






Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

US approved sale of missiles worth USD 155 million to

strengthen India

The US reaffirmed its determination to sell Harpoon air-launched anti-ship missiles and Mark 54

lightweight torpedoes worth $155 million to India. The aim is to enhance India’s deterrent capabilities

against regional threats and to strengthen its homeland.

HIGHLIGHTS:

In 2016, the US recognized India as its “Major Defence Partner”. This designation allows India

to buy more advanced and sensitive technologies from the United States.

The cost of 10 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II air-launched missiles is estimated to be $92 million.

The estimated cost of 16 MK 54 All Up Round Lightweight Torpedoes and 3 MK 54 Exercise

Torpedoes are $63 million.

The Harpoon missile system will be integrated into the P-8I anti-submarine warfare aircraft to

carry out anti-surface warfare missions in defence of critical sea lanes and enhance

interoperability with the US and other allied forces.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: INDIA’S DETERRENT CAPABILITIES AND STRENGHT AGAINST

REGIONAL THREATS

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

The two constitutional provisions that were withdrawn —

Article 370 and Article 35A — let the legislature decide the

“permanent residents”, prohibiting a non-J&K resident from

buying property there and ensuring job reservation for its

residents.

HIGHLIGHTS:

MHA issued the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of State Laws) Order, 2020,

through which it amended 109 laws and repealed 29 laws of the erstwhile State and inserted

the “domicile” clause in the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services Decentralisation and Recruitment

Act, 2010.

The domicile status applies to “children of such residents of J&K who reside outside J&K in

connection with their employment or business or other professional or vocational reasons but

their parents should fulfil any of the conditions provided.

All posts that are up to the rank of junior assistant and below are open only to domiciles, the

entire non-gazetted services has been reserved.

CHANGES IN PSA:

The MHA order has also made amendments to the PSA, 1978.

It changes the criteria for appointing the PSA advisory board on the recommendation of a search

committee headed by the Chief Secretary instead of the Chief Justice of the J&K High Court.

It also bars sitting High Court judges to be made part of the board without the Chief justice’s

consultation. The board has a crucial role to play in release of detenus.

The order scraps a clause that dealt with the power to regulate place and conditions of

detention.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: “DOMICILE” CLAUSE

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Recently, the Parliamentary Committee on Labour submitted

its report on the Industrial Relations Code, 2019.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT?

The Industrial Relations Code 2019 (IR Code) is the third bill in a series of four being framed to

amalgamate and rationalise more than 40 central laws governing labour affairs.

Two other bills were:

(a) Code on Wages, 2019 and

(b) Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019.

KEY POINTS:

Payment of wages unjustifiable: The Committee in its report said that in case of natural

calamities, payment of wages to the workers until the re-establishment of the industry may be

unjustifiable.

The idea behind the recommendations is that the industry should not be forced when the

situation is beyond their control.

The law has to be reasonable, in such cases it is for the government to step in and extend a

helping hand for the industries.





According to the Committee Covid-19 would be counted as natural calamity.

50% wages: The Industrial Code makes it incumbent upon the employer to pay 50% wages to

the workers/employees who are laid off due to shortage of power, coal, raw material etc. for 45

days.

The Industrial Relations Code, 2019 was introduced in the Lok Sabha and referred to the

Standing Committee on Labour in December, 2019.

With the ongoing lockdown, the draft report was circulated to the members via email on April

15 and later the final adopted report was accepted by the Speaker.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CODE BILL, 2019:

The Industrial Relations Code, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha. It seeks to replace three labour laws:

4. The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

5. The Trade Unions Act, 1926

6. The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946

KEY FEATURES OF THE BILL

TRADE UNIONS:

Under the Code, seven or more members of a trade union can apply to register it.

Trade unions that have a membership of at least 10% of the workers or 100 workers, whichever

is less, will be registered.

Further, the central or state government may recognise a trade union or a federation of trade

unions as Central or State Trade Unions respectively.

NEGOTIATING UNIONS:

The Code provides for a negotiation union in an industrial establishment for negotiating with the

employer.

If there is only one trade union in an industrial establishment, then the employer is required to

recognise such trade union as the sole negotiating union of the workers.

In case of multiple trade unions, the trade union with the support of at least 75% of workers will

be recognised as the negotiating union by the government.

LAY-OFF AND RETRENCHMENT:

The Code defines lay-off as the inability of an employer, due to shortage of coal, power, or

breakdown of machinery, from giving employment to a worker. It also provides for employers to

terminate the services of a worker, i.e., retrenchment.

Employers of industrial establishments with at least 100 workers are required to take prior

permission of the central or state government before lay-off, retrenchment or closure of an

establishment.





The central or state government can modify this threshold number of workers by notification.

Any person who contravenes this provision is punishable with a fine between Rs 1 lakh and Rs

10 lakh.

RESOLUTION OF INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES:

The central or state governments may appoint conciliation officers to mediate and promote

settlement of industrial disputes.

These officers will investigate the dispute and hold conciliation proceedings to arrive at a fair

and amicable settlement of the dispute.

If no settlement is arrived at, then any party to the dispute can make an application to an

Industrial Tribunal set up under the Code.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS CODE 2019 (IR CODE)

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

As a part of Government’s continued efforts to contain spread

of COVID 19, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister,

Shri Narendra Modihas decided not to operate Members of

Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) for two

years (2020-21 and 2021-22). These funds will be used to





strengthen Government’s efforts in managing the challenges

and adverse impact of COVID19 in the country.

WHAT IS “MPLADS“?

The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme known as MPLADS is a

government scheme launched on 23rd December 1993.

This central sector scheme was developed as an initiative to enable the parliament members to

recommend developmental work in their constituencies based on locally felt needs.

These developmental works mainly focused on the areas of national priorities such as drinking

water, education, public health, sanitation, roads, etc.

KEY FEATURES OF THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT LOCAL AREA DEVELOPMENT SCHEME (MPLADS):

It is a government-funded scheme where the annual fund provided to each MP constituency is

Rs. 5 crores.

Recommendation by the MPs should be done annually with works costing at least 15 per cent

of the MPLADS entitlement for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent

for areas inhabited by S.T. population.

A sum of Rs. 75 lakhs is provided for building assets by trusts and societies as per the scheme

guidelines to encourage the trusts and societies for the betterment of tribal people.

Lok Sabha Members can recommend works within their Constituencies and Elected Members

of Rajya Sabha can recommend works within the State of Election. Nominated Members of

both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the country.

SPECIAL FOCUS:

MPs are to recommend every year, works costing at least 15 per cent of the MPLADS

entitlement for the year for areas inhabited by Scheduled Caste population and 7.5 per cent for

areas inhabited by S.T. population.

In order to encourage trusts and societies for the betterment of tribal people, a ceiling of Rs. 75

lakh is stipulated for building assets by trusts and societies subject to conditions prescribed in

the scheme guidelines.

WORKS UNDER THE SCHEME:

Works, developmental in nature, based on locally felt needs and always available for the use of

the public at large, are eligible under the scheme.

Preference under the scheme is given to works relating to national priorities, such as provision

of drinking water, public health, education, sanitation, roads, etc.





RELEASE OF FUNDS:

Funds are released in the form of grants in-aid directly to the district authorities.

The funds released under the scheme are non-lapsable.

The liability of funds not released in a particular year is carried forward to the subsequent years,

subject to eligibility.

EXECUTION OF WORKS:

The MPs have a recommendatory role under the scheme.

They recommend their choice of works to the concerned district authorities who implement

these works by following the established procedures of the concerned state government.

The district authority is empowered to examine the eligibility of works sanction funds and select

the implementing agencies, prioritise works, supervise overall execution, and monitor the

scheme at the ground level.

RECOMMENDATION OF WORKS:

1. The Lok Sabha Members can recommend works in their respective constituencies.

2. The elected members of the Rajya Sabha can recommend works anywhere in the state from

which they are elected.

3. Nominated members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha may select works for implementation

anywhere in the country.

IMPLEMENTATION OF MPLADS:

An MP is required to provide his/her choice of the nodal district to the Ministry of Statistics and

Programme Implementation in a prescribed format. A copy of the same should be given to the

State Government and the District Magistrate of the chosen district.

The Government of India releases an annual entitlement of Rs. 5 crores in two equal

instalments. This amount is given to the District Authority of the Nodal District selected by the

concerned MP.

The Implementing Agency should be identified by the District Authority. The Implementing

Agency should have the capability to execute the eligible work qualitatively, timely and

satisfactorily.

All the recommended works must be sanctioned within 75 days from the date of receipt of the

recommendation after the completion of all formalities. If any work is not sanctioned within the

prescribed time period, the District Authority shall, however, may inform the MPs regarding the

rejection of the work within 45 days from the date of receipt of recommendations.

This scheme can also be converted into individual/stand-alone projects under the Central and

State Government schemes provided they meet the eligibility conditions of MPLADS.





Funds from local bodies can be similarly pooled with MPLADS works but the funds provided by

other scheme sources should be used first. MPLADS funds should be released later for the

successful completion of the project. As soon as a work under the Scheme is completed, it

should be put to public use.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: IMPLEMENTATION OF MPLADS

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Agriculture Ministry launched Kisan Rath Mobile App. The

main aim of the app is to facilitate transportation of food

grains, and the National Informatics Centre develops it. The

central government to ensure farmers and traders can find

transport for Agriculture and Horticulture produce.

KISAN RATH APP:

The Kisan Rath App will greatly facilitate farmers’ FPOs and Cooperatives in the country to find a

suitable transport facility to transfer their agriculture produce from the farm gate to markets.

The Government has exempted random selection of test samples, subsequent batch testing

after the expiry validity of test reports, updating of CMVR, COP & Type approval applicable to

Tractors, Power Tillers, Combine Harvesters and other self-propelled agricultural machinery till

31.12.2020.

Testing of tractors as per revised BIS Standard IS 12207-2019 and Implementation of new

technical critical specifications of 51 agricultural machineries has also been deferred till

31.12.2020.

During lockdown period, the Government has agreed to extend the validity of the license of

Seed dealers which are expired or going to be expired till 30.09.2020.





The validity of import permissions till September 2020 after consideration of the requirement of

seed/planting material of the importing parties. They extend the validity of all pack-houses,

processing units and treatment facilities whose validity is expiring up to 30th June 2020 for a

period of one year without a physical inspection of such facility through a simplified procedure

to facilitate the export of agriculture products.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: FACILITIES PROVIDED BY INDIAN GOVT. TO FARMERS AND TRADERS

TO EXPORT OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS.

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

The Government has taken up measures to protect farmers

facing obstacles during the lockdown due to Covid-19.

MEASURES FOR FRUIT AND VEGETABLE FARMERS

Fruit and Vegetable Farmers have been among the hardest hit by the lockdown. They are facing

major losses due to obstacles in harvesting and marketing their perishable produce.

The Central Government has directed all the States and Union Territories to implement the

Market Intervention Scheme to ensure remunerative prices to farmers for perishable crops.

It has also begun a train service to transport perishable agricultural and horticultural

commodities to markets due to the obstacles in road transport.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare 50 trains have been deployed for

this purpose.

MEASURES FOR PULSES AND OILSEEDS FARMERS:

Farmers, mostly in dry-land areas, have been complaining that market prices for toor and urad

dal, chickpeas and soybean are far below the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) in many mandis,

with trading disrupted by the lockdown.





The MSP is the rate at which the government buys grains from farmers.

It is fixed on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

The Centre has extended the procurement window for its Price Support Scheme (PSS) up to 90

days from the date of commencement of the scheme in each State.

The PSS is operationalised on the State governments’ request when the prices fall below the

minimum support price (MSP).

The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED) and other

agencies procure pulses and oilseeds under the scheme at the MSP.

The procurement of pulses will also aid in the implementation of the Centre’s promise to provide one kg

of pulses per month to all families with ration cards for the three months as part of a Covid-19 relief

package (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana).

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


TO EXPORT OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS.

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Biofortified carrot variety developed by farmer scientist

benefits local farmers

DETAILS:

The bio fortified crop- Madhuban Gajar was developed by Shri Vallabhhai Vasrambhai

Marvaniya, a farmer scientist from Junagadh district, Gujarat.

It contains high β-carotene and iron content.





It is being planted in an area of over 200 hectares in Junagadh, and the average yield, which is

40-50 t/ha, has become the main source of income to the local farmers.

The variety is being cultivated in more than 1000 hectares of land in Gujarat, Maharashtra,

Rajasthan, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh during the last three years.

Madhuban Gajar carrot variety possesses a significantly higher root yield (74.2 t/ha) and plant

biomass (275 gm per plant) as compared to check variety.

WHAT IS BIOFORTIFICATION?

Biofortification is the process of increasing nutritional value of food crops by increasing the density of

vitamins and minerals in a crop through either conventional plant breeding; agronomic practices or

biotechnology. Examples of these vitamins and minerals that can be increased through biofortification

include provitamin A Carotenoids, zinc and iron.

HOW ARE CROPS FORTIFIED?

Conventional crop breeding techniques are used to identify varieties with particularly high

concentration of desired nutrients.

These are cross-bred with varieties with other desirable traits from the target areas (such a virus

resistance, drought tolerance, high yielding, taste) to develop biofortified varieties that have

high levels of micronutrients (for example, vitamin A, iron or zinc), in addition to other traits

desired by farmers and consumers.

Agronomic biofortification entails application of minerals such as zinc or iron as foliar or soil

applications, drawing on plant management, soil factors, and plant characteristics to get

enhanced content of key micronutrients into the edible portion of the plant.

WHY BIOFORTIFICATION?

Biofortification is one solution among many interventions that are needed to solve the complex

problem of micronutrient malnutrition. It is considered one of the most cost-effective

interventions for countries to employ in combating micronutrient malnutrition.

Biofortification reaches rural consumers who have limited access to industrially fortified foods,

supplementation interventions, and diverse diets.

Biofortification combines increased micronutrient content with preferred agronomic, quality,

and market traits and therefore biofortified varieties will typically match or outperform the

usual varieties that farmers grow and consume.

HOW DOES BIOFORTIFICATION DIFFER FROM FOOD

FORTIFICATION?





Biofortification has the increased nutritional micronutrient content imbedded in the crop being grown.

Food fortification increases the nutritional value of foods by adding trace amounts of micronutrients to

foods during processing.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: BIOFORTIFICATION AND FOOD FORTIFICATION

Sources: PIB

*****************************

context :

Central government taking several measures (regarding covid-

19, pandemic) to ensure the smooth harvesting of Rabi Crop

and the sowing of the summer crop

HIGHLIGHTS:

Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare conducted a video conference

with all States and Insurance companies to review the payment of claims and also the status of

Conduct of Crop Cutting Experiments, CCEs for Rabi crops.

The implementation of Smart Sampling Technique ensures that the farmers do not suffer from

any adverse fall out during the lockdown period.

The letters issued to all States for co-witnessing Crop Cutting Experiments.

PHYTO-SANITARY CERTIFICATION:

Phyto-Sanitary Certification export consignments and Import releases of plant and plant

products are continuing.





Around of 3,776 PSCs have been issued for export consignments and 1,074 import

consignments.

Kisan Call Centres at all 21 locations are being operated by diverting calls to personal mobile

numbers of Farm Tele Advisors who are now operating from homes.

All 454 KCC seats are being operated daily between 6 A.M. to 10 P.M. Call flow is about 15

thousand to 20 thousand per day.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


TO EXPORT OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Government of India (GoI) allowed farmers to directly sell

produce from premises of farmers producer organizations

(FPO) and selected warehouses through electronic marketing

platform Electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM).

BENEFITS:

The aim of the move is to introduce a major agriculture reform that will decongest market place.

The move by GOI will help farmers to sell produce at remunerative prices near to their farm gate

without coming to the market place (mandis).

The Centre launched the required software facilities to create a direct marketing channel

alternative to mandis.

FPOs and farmers can now use online facilities for transportation that can be tracked.





It is being planned that eNAM will soon be expanded to 1,000 mandis from the existing 585

mandis across 16 states and two UTs.

For this purpose following 3 modules, namely Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWRs) module

in eNAM software, FPO trading module, Logistic Module has been launched to enhance the

effectiveness of eNAM.

3 MODULES:

1. Under the Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWRs) module, the farmers can sell the products

across the Nation to get better Price and at the same time can save themselves from the hassle

of mandi. It will help the depositor to save the Logistics expenses and will have a better income.

2. FPO trading module will help FPOs by reducing transaction costs (Transportation) and enhancing

their bargaining power. It will also facilitate FPOs to avail online payment facility with ease of

doing business.

3. Logistic Module will help in seamless transportation of Agri produce. It will also promote inter-

State trade under e-NAM by providing online transport facilities for distant buyers.

E-NAM:

Founded on: 14 April 2016

eNAM is an online trading platform for agricultural products in India. It functions under the

Ministry of Agriculture, GoI.

The Minister responsible for the Agriculture Ministry is Narendra Singh Tomar. The platform

aims to facilitate the smooth marketing of their produce.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?


TO EXPORT OF AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS

Sources: PIB

*****************************





Context:

The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has

asked the government to withdraw an order that could weaken

the implementation of the law banning pre-natal sex

determination.

KEY POINTS:

AIDWA referred to the gazette notification issued by the Health Ministry on 4th April 2020, which

suspended Rule 8, Rule 9(8) and Rule 18A(6) of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques

(PCPNDT) Act, 1994.

THE SUSPENDED CLAUSES DEAL WITH:

Process for renewal of registration of genetic and ultrasound clinics.

Responsibilities of labs and clinics in maintaining and preserving records of all tests, techniques

and procedures and sending a report to the concerned appropriate authority.

Duties of district authorities in sharing a quarterly progress report.

After seeing the resistance, the Health Ministry clarified that the move only allowed an

extension of the deadline for submitting the progress reports until 30th June 2020.

The AIDWA has rejected the government’s explanation and has asked the government to revoke

the notification.

It has highlighted that the suspension of these rules throughout the country would mean that

clinics and genetic labs can carry on functioning without any scrutiny.

This is the only scrutiny that these labs are subjected to, to assess their adherence to the basic

rules and to ensure that sex selection is not being carried out by them.

It has suggested that the government can issue an administrative order to delay the submission

of the reports under Rule 9(8) and 18A(6) till 30th June while making it clear that the relevant

records must be maintained as mandated by the PCPNDT Act.

However, the application for re-registration should not be allowed to be postponed since this

can be done online.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA)

Sources: THE HINDU





*****************************

Context:

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has criticised the

Indian government for what it called “growing Islamophobia”

in India.

KEY POINTS:

OIC asked the government to take steps to protect Muslim minorities who are being “negatively

profiled,” facing “discrimination and violence” amidst the Covid-19 crisis.

OIC urged the government to protect the rights of its minority as per its obligations under

international Human Rights law.

It also asked the government to take urgent steps to stop the growing tide of Islamophobia

(dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims) in India.

A religious gathering of muslims (Tablighi Jamaat) was held in Delhi in March. The event was

linked to many of the Covid-19 positive cases in India.

After this most sections of the media, people on social media blamed the Tablighi jamaat and

muslims for deliberately spreading the Covid-19 in India.

Earlier, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has also criticised

India of “increased stigmatisation” of its muslim minorities.

It criticized the government for the reports that Covid-19 patients were religiously segregated at

a hospital in Ahmedabad.

According to USCIRF, India continues to remain a “tier 2 country of particular concern” since

2009.

Tier 2 countries are those in which “violations engaged in or tolerated by the government are

serious and characterized by at least one of the elements of the ‘systematic, ongoing, and





egregious” Country of Particular Concern (CPC) standard. CPCs are designated by the US State

Department.

The Indian government has denied all the allegations levelled by the USCIRF and accused the

USCIRF for spreading misguided reports on the professional medical protocols followed to deal

with spread of Covid-19 in India.

ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION:

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest intergovernmental

organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states.

It is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests

of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various

people of the world.

It was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom

of Morocco on the 25th of September 1969.

Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ORGANISATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC)

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri Ramesh

Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has launched the ‘Bharat Padhe Online’

campaign on 10 April in New Delhi. The campaign aimed for

crowdsourcing of Ideas for Improving the Online Education

ecosystem of India.

AIM:





A week-long campaign aims to invite all the best brains in India to share suggestions and solutions

directly with the Ministry of Human Resource Development to overcome constraints of online education

while promoting the available digital education platforms.

BHARAT PADHE ONLINE:

Ideas can be shared on [email protected] and on twitter by using #

BharatPadheOnline up to 16 April 2020.

While using Twitter one must tag @HRDMinistry and @DrRPNishank so that the ideas can be

notified to them.

Students and teachers are the main target audience of the campaign.

It aims to improve existing online education methods.

The teachers and students can suggest their ideas and queries about what is lacking in the

existing online platforms and how can it be made more engaging.

Educators across the country have been asked to contribute with their expertise and experience

in the field of education.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: STEPS TAKEN BY INDIAN GOVT. FOR IMPROVING THE ONLINE

EDUCATION SYSTEM OF INDIA

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of

India, has decided to issue Sovereign Gold Bonds.

ABOUT THE SOVEREIGN GOLD BOND SCHEME:

• The sovereign gold bond was introduced by the Government in 2015.

• Government introduced these bonds to help reduce India’s over dependence on gold imports.





• The move was also aimed at changing the habits of Indians from saving in physical form of gold

to a paper form with Sovereign backing.

ELIGIBILITY:

The bonds will be restricted for sale to resident Indian entities, including individuals, HUFs, trusts,

universities and charitable institutions.

DENOMINATION AND TENOR:

The bonds will be denominated in multiples of gram(s) of gold with a basic unit of 1 gram. The tenor will

be for a period of 8 years with exit option from the 5th year to be exercised on the interest payment

dates.

MINIMUM AND MAXIMUM LIMIT:

The minimum permissible investment limit will be 1 gram of gold, while the maximum limit will be 4 kg

for individual, 4 kg for HUF and 20 kg for trusts and similar entities per fiscal (April-March) notified by

the government from time to time.

JOINT HOLDER:

In case of joint holding, the investment limit of 4 kg will be applied to the first applicant only.

COLLATERAL:

Bonds can be used as collateral for loans. The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is to be set equal to ordinary gold

loan mandated by the Reserve Bank from time to time.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: SOVEREIGN GOLD BOND SCHEME

Sources: PIB

*****************************





Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a host of

measures to provide liquidity support to Non-Banking

Financial Companies (NBFCs), apart from giving them certain

benefits for loans extended to the commercial real estate

sector.

TLTRO 2.0

The RBI would conduct Targeted Long-term Repo Operations (TLTRO 2.0) for an aggregate

amount of Rs 50,000 crore, in installments of appropriate sizes.

The banks have to invest the funds availed under TLTRO 2.0, in investment grade bonds,

commercial paper, and non-convertible debentures of NBFCs.

RBI stipulated that small and mid-sized NBFCs and Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) should

receive at least 50% of these funds.

The investments made by banks under this facility would be classified as ‘Held-to-Maturity’

(HTM), even in excess of 25% of the total investment permitted to be included in the HTM

portfolio.

KEY POINTS:

Held to Maturity securities are securities that companies purchase and intend to hold until they

mature. This will help in easing the liquidity problem faced by NBFCs and MFIs to some extent.

NBFCs are facing liquidity pressure since banks have not extended any repayment moratorium

to these entities even if NBFCs have to provide the same for their borrowers.

REFINANCE FACILITY:

The RBI has also decided to provide a special refinance facility of ₹50,000 crore to National Bank for

Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and

National Housing Bank (NHB) to enable them to meet sectoral credit needs. This would comprise:

₹25,000 crore to NABARD for refinancing Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), cooperative banks and

Microfinance Institutions (MFIs).

₹15,000 crore to SIDBI for on-lending/refinancing.

₹10,000 crore to NHB for supporting Housing Finance Companies (HFCs).

EXTENSION OF LOANS TO THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR:





The RBI has allowed extension of the loans by NBFCs to delayed commercial real estate projects by a

year without restructuring.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: TLTRO 2.0

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Recently, the Finance Minister of India opposed a general

allocation of new Special Drawing Rights (SDR) by the

International Monetary Fund (IMF) because it might not be

effective in easing Covid-19 driven financial pressures.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Finance Minister was concerned that such a major liquidity injection could produce

potentially costly side-effects if countries used the funds for irrelevant purposes.

The new SDR allocation will provide all 189 members with new foreign exchange reserves with

no conditions.

KEY POINTS:

The SDR is neither a currency nor a claim on the IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely

usable currencies of IMF members. SDRs can be exchanged for these currencies.

The SDR serves as the unit of account of the IMF and some other international organizations.

The currency value of the SDR is determined by summing the values in U.S. dollars, based on

market exchange rates, of a SDR basket of currencies.

The SDR basket of currencies includes the U.S. dollar, Euro, Japanese yen, pound sterling and

the Chinese renminbi (included in 2016).





The SDR currency value is calculated daily (except on IMF holidays or whenever the IMF is

closed for business) and the valuation basket is reviewed and adjusted every five years.

Quota (the amount contributed to the IMF) of a country is denominated (expressed) in SDRs.

Members’ voting power is related directly to their quotas.

India’s Foreign exchange reserves also incorporate SDR.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND (IMF)

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

TRIFED asks State Nodal Departments & Implementing

Agencies to initiate procurement from available funds under

‘MSP for MFP scheme’.

SIGNIFICANCE:

Such measures are necessary for mitigating the impact of lockdown on tribal communities.

This will provide much required livelihood support to the tribal gatherers and obviate the

movement of middlemen from urban areas to tribal habitations, thus checking any eventuality

of spread of corona virus among tribal communities.

WHAT IS THIS SCHEME ALL ABOUT?

The Union Cabinet, in 2013, approved a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for marketing of non-

nationalized / non monopolized Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and development of a value chain

for MFP through Minimum Support Price (MSP).

This was a measure towards social safety for MFP gatherers, who are primarily members of the

Scheduled Tribes (STs) most of them in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas.





The scheme had Rs. 967.28 crore as Central Government share and Rs. 249.50 crore as the

States share for the current Plan period.

KEY FEATURES OF THE SCHEME:

Ensure that the tribal population gets a remunerative price for the produce they collect from the

forest and provide alternative employment avenues to them.

Establish a system to ensure fair monetary returns for forest dweller’s efforts in collection,

primary processing, storage, packaging, transportation etc, while ensuring sustainability of the

resource base.

Get them a share of revenue from the sales proceeds with costs deducted.

COVERAGE:

Earlier, the scheme was extended only to Scheduled Areas in eight states and fixed MSPs for 12 MFPs.

Later expanded to all states and UTs, Total number of MFPs covered under the list include more than 40

items.

IMPLEMENTATION:

The responsibility of purchasing MFP on MSP will be with State designated agencies.

1. To ascertain market price, services of market correspondents would be availed by the

designated agencies particularly for major markets trading in MFP.

2. The scheme supports primary value addition as well as provides for supply chain infrastructure

like cold storage, warehouses etc.

3. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will be the nodal Ministry for implementation and monitoring of

the scheme. The Minimum Support Price would be determined by the Ministry with technical

help of TRIFED.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SCHEME:

The Minor Forest Produce (MFP), also known as Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), is a major

source of livelihood and provides essential food, nutrition, medicinal needs and cash income to

a large number of STs who live in and around forests.

An estimated 100 million forest dwellers depend on the Minor Forest Produce for food, shelter,

medicines, cash income, etc.

However, MFP production is highly dispersed spatially because of the poor accessibility of these

areas and competitive market not having evolved.

Consequently, MFP gatherers who are mostly poor are unable to bargain for fair prices.

This package of intervention can help in organizing unstructured MFP markets.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?





For prelims and mains: KEY FEATURES OF THE SCHEME

Sources: PIB

*****************************

Context:

The IHS Market India Services Business Activity Index (i.e

Service Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI)) was at 49.3 in

March, down from February’s 85-month high of 57.5.

KEY POINTS:

The Index is compiled by IHS Markit for more than 40 economies worldwide. IHS Markit is a

global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that

drive economies worldwide.

The fall implies contraction in India’s services sector activity during March basically due to

COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced demand, particularly in overseas markets. Nationwide

store closures and prohibition to leave the house weighed heavily on the services economy.

In PMI parlance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes

contraction.

The Composite PMI Output Index that maps both the manufacturing and services sector also fell

to 50.6 in March, down 7 points from February’s 57.6.

This signals a sharp slowdown in private sector output growth and brought an abrupt end to the

recent strong upward-moving expansion trend.

PURCHASING MANAGERS’ INDEX:





PMI is an index of the prevailing direction of economic trends in the manufacturing and service

sectors.

It consists of a diffusion index that summarizes whether market conditions, as viewed by

purchasing managers, are expanding, staying the same, or contracting.

The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about current and future business conditions to

company decision makers, analysts, and investors.

It is different from the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which also gauges the level of activity

in the economy.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: KEY POINTS OF THE REPORT

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

A survey released by the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy

Pvt. Ltd. (CMIE) stated that the unemployment rate in India has

climbed to more than 20%. The decline has occurred as the

people lost jobs after the nationwide lockdown due to the

Coronavirus pandemic.

HIGHLIGHTS:





The report stated that the jobless rate based on a sample size of 9,429 observations was 23.4%

as of 5 April 2020.

CMIE estimated the jobless rate for the month of March 2020 as 8.7% compared with 7.8% in

February.

Labor statistics for March 2020 was declined.

It also stated that an estimated 100 million workers in mining, construction, manufacturing, and

services sectors have been rendered jobless due to the lockdown.

CMIE:

CMIE was established in 1976. It is headquartered in Mumbai, India. It is a leading business

information company.

It provides services to the entire spectrum of business information consumers including

governments, academia, financial markets, business enterprises, professionals and media.

It conducts the largest survey to estimate household incomes, the pattern of spending and

savings.

The company analyses the data to decipher trends in the economy.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SURVEY

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

The government of India passed “Taxation and Other Laws

(Relaxation of Certain Provisions) Ordinance, 2020” on 31

March.





The Ordinance will give relief in compliance in filing income tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST), customs

and central excise returns, to help taxpayers tide over the coronavirus (Covid-19)crisis.

ORDINANCE HIGHLIGHTS:

The ordinance provides relaxation in several compliances including the extension in deadline to

30 June to make investments in instruments such as National Savings Certificates, Public

Provident Fund for claiming income tax benefits.

The Ordinance seeks amendment to the Income-tax (IT) Act, Benami Act.

It aims to amend the IT Act to enable a 100% deduction for donations made to the PM’s Citizen

Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund. It was set up to enable citizens

to contribute to the government’s effort to curb the spread of the Coronavirus outbreak.

It will also provide an extension of various time limits for making various investments or

payments including for claiming deduction under 80C, 80D, and 80G to 30 June 2020.

Contribution towards PM CARES Fund was eligible for a 50% deduction as it was notified under

section 80G(5). Also, contributions to PM National Relief Fund and to CM’s Relief

Fund/Lieutenant Governor’s Relief Fund in respect of any State/Union Territory (UT), were

eligible for 100% deduction under Section 80G(1) read with clause (iii a) of section 80G(2).

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: TAXATION AND OTHER LAWS (RELAXATION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS)

ORDINANCE, 2020

Sources: PIB

*****************************

Context:

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced that the merger of

10 state-run banks into four lenders came into effect on 1 April

amid the lockdown triggered by coronavirus outbreak. The





branches of merging banks will operate as of the banks in

which the banks have been amalgamated.

MERGERS INCLUDE:

Punjab National Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and United Bank of India will combine to

form the nation’s second-largest lender.

Canara Bank and Syndicate Bank will merge.

Union Bank of India will amalgamate with Andhra Bank and Corporation Bank.

Indian Bank will merge with Allahabad Bank.

BENEFITS FOR VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS:

FOR BANKS:

Small banks can gear up to international standards with innovative products and services with

the accepted level of efficiency.

PSBs, which are geographically concentrated, can expand their coverage beyond their outreach.

A better and optimum size of the organization would help PSBs offer more and more products

and services and help in integrated growth of the sector.

Consolidation also helps in improving the professional standards.

This will also end the unhealthy and intense competition going on even among public sector

banks as of now.

In the global market, the Indian banks will gain greater recognition and higher rating.

The volume of inter-bank transactions will come down, resulting in saving of considerable time

in clearing and reconciliation of accounts.

This will also reduce unnecessary interference by board members in day to day affairs of the

banks.

After mergers, bargaining strength of bank staff will become more and visible.

Bank staff may look forward to better wages and service conditions in future.

The wide disparities between the staff of various banks in their service conditions and monetary

benefits will narrow down.

FOR ECONOMY:

Reduction in the cost of doing business.

Technical inefficiency reduces.

The size of each business entity after merger is expected to add strength to the Indian Banking

System in general and Public Sector Banks in particular.

After merger, Indian Banks can manage their liquidity – short term as well as long term –

position comfortably.





Synergy of operations and scale of economy in the new entity will result in savings and higher

profits.

A great number of posts of CMD, ED, GM and Zonal Managers will be abolished, resulting in

savings of crores of Rupee.

Customers will have access to fewer banks offering them wider range of products at a lower

cost.

Mergers can diversify risk management.

FOR GOVERNMENT:

The burden on the central government to recapitalize the public sector banks again and again

will come down substantially.

This will also help in meeting more stringent norms under BASEL III, especially capital adequacy

ratio.

From regulatory perspective, monitoring and control of less number of banks will be easier after

mergers.

CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH MERGER:

Problems to adjust top leadership in institutions and the unions.

Mergers will result in shifting/closure of many ATMs, Branches and controlling offices, as it is

not prudent and economical to keep so many banks concentrated in several pockets, notably in

urban and metropolitan centres.

Mergers will result in immediate job losses on account of large number of people taking VRS on

one side and slow down or stoppage of further recruitment on the other. This will worsen the

unemployment situation further and may create law and order problems and social

disturbances.

Mergers will result in clash of different organizational cultures. Conflicts will arise in the area of

systems and processes too.

When a big bank books huge loss or crumbles, there will be a big jolt in the entire banking

industry. Its repercussions will be felt everywhere.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: BENEFITS OF MERGING BANKS

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology

(INST), Mohali, have developed an efficient, low-cost electro-

catalyst from fish gills. The catalyst can help develop

environmentally friendly renewable energy conversion and

storage technologies.

ELECTRO-CATALYST:

Electrocatalysis is a type of catalysis that results in the modification of the rate of an electrochemical reaction occurring on an electrode surface.

The relative electrocatalytic properties of a group of materials at a given temperature and concentration are not necessarily constant, and may vary according to the different dependence of rates on electrical potential.

The bio-inspired carbon nanostructure will overcome the bottleneck in the realization of several

renewable energy conversion and storage technologies such as fuel cell, biofuel cell, and metal-

air battery.

The strategy will enrich a route to bioinspired electrocatalyst that is better than commercial

Platinum on carbon (Pt/C) catalysts.

It can be utilized as next-generation nonprecious carbon-based electrocatalyst for energy

conversion and storage applications.

In this method, the air is used as a catalyst along with a rechargeable Zn-air battery (ZAB).

With careful selection of transition metals, the synthesis protocol can pave a new way for low-

cost electrocatalysts for efficient and environmentally friendly energy conversion devices.

STUDY FINDINGS





Transition-metal atoms and/or heteroatom-doped carbon nanostructures are a crucial alternative to find a nonprecious metal catalyst for electrocatalytic ORR.

In their study, for the first time, the INST scientists demonstrated the formation of binary (Fe-Mn) active sites in hierarchically porous nanostructure composed of Fe, Mn, and N-doped fish gill derived carbon.

They fabricated a homemade rechargeable Zn−air battery (ZAB) with the catalyst as an air cathode, which showed almost stable charge−discharge voltage plateaus after rigorous cycling for a long duration. It surpassed the commercial Pt/C based ZAB performance.

The Fe/Mn/N-FGC catalyst showed onset potential (Eonset) of 1.03 V and half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.89 V, slightly better than commercial Pt/C (Eonset = 1.01 V, E1/2 = 0.88 V) in alkaline medium (pH > 13). The remarkable ORR performance is attributed to the synergistic effect of Fe-Mn dual metal center, as evidenced by X-ray absorption spectroscopic study.

The scientists found that the reason behind the outstanding performance of this catalyst is the presence of Fe−Mn based binary moiety, which is beneficial for the Oxygen (O2) binding and boosting ORR catalytic performances in alkaline medium by weakening the Oxygen-Oxygen bonds.

The researchers have suggested that the careful selection of transition metals and heteroatoms together with engineering the synthesis protocol could lead to highly active low-cost electrocatalyst for energy conversion devices.

The results of the strategy to synthesize the bioinspired electrocatalyst have been published in the journal Inorganic Chemistry published by the American Chemical Society.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: KEY FINDING OF THE STUDY AND ELECTRO-CATALYST

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:





According to the satellite data published by US space agency

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) stated

that the air pollution over northern India has dropped to a 20-

year-low for this time of the year. The data were retrieved by

the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)

on NASA’s Terra satellite.

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:

The report highlighted that the sensors observed aerosol levels low after the imposition of a

nationwide lockdown in India.

As per the analysis, an optical depth or thickness of less than 0.1 over the entire atmospheric

vertical column shows a “clean” condition. If aerosols are concentrated near the surface, an

optical depth of 1 or above indicates very “hazy” conditions.

The report tracked the aerosol optical depth (AOD). AOD shows how light is absorbed or

reflected by airborne particles as it travels through the atmosphere.

Aerosols are very tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air. It reduces visibility and can

damage the human lungs and heart.

KEY FACTS:

A study has gauged that 80 percent of the total untimely deaths in India due to outdoor air

pollution is caused by emissions within the country itself while pollutants transported from

outside the country contributed to 16 percent of the mortalities.

Within India, home to 14 of the world’s most polluted cities, emissions in the densely populated

Indo Gangetic Plain (IGP) are responsible for nearly half (46 percent) of the premature deaths in

the country linked to PM2.5.

Every region in India, in particular, eastern India, is impacted by the transport of pollutants from

other regions within India. Local pollution control alone will not be sufficient to reduce

premature mortality in most regions in India, the researchers said.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ABOUT THE STUDY, INDO GANGETIC PLAIN (IGP)

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

Indian herpetologists have discovered a new species of viper

family in Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh, and the

green pit viper species was discovered by a team led by

Zeeshan Mirza.

HIGHLIGHTS:

A group of researchers who recorded this serpent has named it Salazar’s pit viper. The name

was inspired by Salazar Slytherin, the co-founder of J.K. Rowlings’ fictional Hogwarts School of

Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The viper Trimeresurus Salazar has a unique orange to reddish stripe present on the head and

body in males.

The pit vipers belong to the genus Trimeresurus and are distributed widely across East and

South-East Asia.

This is the second species discovered within the course of the expedition to Arunachal Pradesh,

which reflects the poor nature of biodiversity documentation across North-East India.

Dedicated surveys in the future conducted across north-eastern India will help document

biodiversity, which is under threat from numerous development activities that include road

widening, agriculture, and hydro-electric projects.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: PAKKE TIGER RESERVE, HYDRO-ELECTRIC PROJECTS OF INDIA

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************





Context:

National Wildlife Board issues final nod for Mumbai-Nagpur

highway amid lockdown. The approval was given via video-

conferencing.

BACKGROUND:

The 701-km Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg

connecting Mumbai and Nagpur covering 10 districts, 26 talukas and 392 villages, will reduce

the existing travel time of 15 hours to eight hours.

The project will require felling of over one lakh trees and passes through the 10-km eco-

sensitive zone (ESZ) of Katepurna and Karanja Sohal Blackbuck wildlife sanctuaries towards one

end of the state while cutting through the ESZ of Tansa lake sanctuary closer to the Mumbai

Metropolitan Region.

NATIONAL BOARD FOR WILDLIFE

According to information provided to Lok Sabha, since August 2014, the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) cleared 682 of the 687 projects (99.82%) that came up for scrutiny. Wildlife experts have criticized NBWL by describing it as a “clearance house.”

STATUS:

NBWL is a statutory body as it has been constituted under Section 5 A the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

MANDATE:

It is the apex body to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and sanctuaries i.e. Protected Areas.

TIMELINE:

In 2003, NBWL was constituted. Its term lapsed in 2013. In 2014, it was reconstituted (was notified on July 22, 2014).

COMPOSITION:

It is a 47-member board (including the chairman) which usually meets once a year. It is chaired by Prime minister.

STANDING COMMITTEE:





The environment ministry has delegated all powers of the NBWL to a compliant Standing Committee which regularly meets and clears projects in Protected Areas.

The National Board may, at its discretion, constitute a Standing Committee under sub-section (1) of Section 5B to be chaired by Union Minister in charge of Forests and Wildlife.

ROLES AND FUNCTIONS:

Its role is “advisory” in nature and advises the Central Government on framing policies and

measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.

Primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and

forests.

It has power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national

parks and sanctuaries.

No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done without

approval of the NBWL.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF NBWL

Sources: PIB

*****************************

Context:

The largest number of nests of rare leatherback sea turtles in

Thailand beaches, The environmentalists said that this has

occurred due to the bereft of tourists because of the

coronavirus pandemic.

HIGHLIGHTS:





The highest recorded turtle nests the authorities have found since last November was 11 in the

past two decades.

Phuket Marine Biological Center reported that more number of turtle nests were found this

year.

The turtles had a high risk of getting killed by fishing gear and humans disturbing the beach.

LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES

COMMON NAME:

Leatherback – named for its unique shell which is composed of a layer of thin, tough, rubbery skin, strengthened by thousands of tiny bone plates that makes it look “leathery.”

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Dermochelys coriacea

DESCRIPTION:

Head has a deeply notched upper jaw with 2 cusps.

The leatherback is the only sea turtle that lacks a hard shell. Its carapace is large, elongated and flexible with 7 distinct ridges running the length of the animal. Composed of a layer of thin, tough, rubbery skin, strengthened by thousands of tiny bone plates, the carapace does not have scales, except in hatchlings.

All flippers are without claws. The carapace is dark grey or black with white or pale spots, while the plastron is whitish to black

and marked by 5 ridges. Hatchlings have white blotches on carapace.

SIZE:

4 to 6 feet (130 – 183 cm), The largest leatherback ever recorded was almost 10 feet (305 cm) from the tip of its beak to the tip of its tail and weighed in at 2,019 pounds (916 kg).

WEIGHT:

660 to 1,100 pounds (300 – 500 kg)

DIET:

Leatherbacks have delicate, scissor-like jaws.

Figure 3 LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES





Their jaws would be damaged by anything other than a diet of soft-bodied animals, so they feed almost exclusively on jellyfish. It is remarkable that this large, active animal can survive on a diet of jellyfish, which are composed mostly of water and appear to be a poor source of nutrients.

HABITAT:

Primarily found in the open ocean, as far north as Alaska and as far south as the southern tip of Africa, though recent satellite tracking research indicates that leatherbacks feed in areas just offshore.

Known to be active in water below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the only reptile known to remain active at such a low temperature

NESTING:

Nest at intervals of 2 to 3 years, though recent research has indicated they can nest every year. Nests between 4 to 7 times per season, with an average of 10 days between nestings.

Lays an average of 80 fertilized eggs, the size of billiard balls, and 30 smaller, unfertilized eggs, in each nest.

Eggs incubate for about 65 days. Unlike other species of sea turtles, leatherback females may change nesting beaches, though they tend to stay in the same region.

RANGE:

Most widely distributed of all sea turtles. Found world wide with the largest north and south range of all the sea turtle species. With its streamlined body shape and the powerful front flippers, a leatherback can swim

thousands of miles over open ocean and against fast currents.

STATUS:

U.S. Listed as Endangered (in danger of extinction within the foreseeable future) in 1970 under the U.S. Endangered Species Conservation Act, the predecessor to the U.S. Endangered Species Act, which was established in 1973. International – Listed as Vulnerable in 2013 (facing a high risk of extinction in the wild in the immediate future) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

THREATS TO SURVIVAL:

Greatest threat to leatherback sea turtles is from incidental take in commercial fisheries and marine pollution (such as balloons and plastic bags floating in the water, which are mistaken for jellyfish).

Population Estimate: Between 34,000 and 36,000 nesting females

NESTING SITES





Figure 4 LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES’S NESTING SITES

WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES

Sources: THE HINDU

*****************************

Context:

Scientists at the British Geological Survey (BGS) have reported

a change in the Earth’s seismic noise and vibrations amid the

coronavirus lockdown.

These findings have come two weeks after seismologists at the Royal Observatory in Belgium observed a

30-50% fall in levels of seismic noise since schools and businesses were closed in mid-March.

OBSERVATIONS





Scientists at the British Geological Survey (BGS) have reported a change in the Earth’s seismic

noise and vibrations amid the coronavirus lockdown.

They have observed a 30-50 per cent fall in levels of ambient seismic noise since schools and

businesses were closed in mid-March.

Seismologists around the world have now begun a collaborative effort to study the fall in seismic

noise levels.

WHAT IS SEISMIC NOISE?

In geology (study of rocks), seismic noise refers to the relatively persistent vibration of the

ground due to a multitude of causes.

This noise includes vibrations caused due to human activity, such as transport and

manufacturing.

Scientists first observed this seismic noise — everything recorded on seismograms that cannot

be attributed to earthquakes — at the end of the 19th century.

It is the unwanted component of signals recorded by a seismometer and makes it difficult for

scientists to study seismic data that is more valuable.

Apart from geology, seismic noise is also studied in other fields such as oil exploration,

hydrology, and earthquake engineering.

It is the unwanted component of signals recorded by a seismometer– the scientific instrument

that records ground motions, such as those caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and

explosions.

CAUSES:

This noise includes vibrations caused due to human activity, such as transport and manufacturing, and

makes it difficult for scientists to study seismic data that is more valuable. Apart from geology, seismic

noise is also studied in other fields such as oil exploration, hydrology, and earthquake engineering.

BENEFITS OF REDUCTION IN SEISMIC NOISE

Usually, to measure seismic activity accurately and reduce the effect of seismic noise, geologists

place their detectors 100 metres below the Earth’s surface. Because, the seismic noise

vibrations caused by human activity are of high frequency (between 1-100 Hz), and travel

through the Earth’s surface layers.

However, since the lockdown, researchers have said that they were able to study natural

vibrations even from surface readings, owing to lesser seismic noise.

Due to lower noise levels, scientists are now hoping that they would be able to detect smaller

earthquakes and tremors that had slipped past their instruments so far.

Due to lower noise levels, scientists are now hoping that they would be able to detect smaller

earthquakes and tremors that had slipped past their instruments so far.





WHAT’S IMPORTANT?

For prelims and mains: BENEFITS OF REDUCTION IN SEISMIC NOISE

Sources: Economics Times





QUESTION 1:

Name the 1st state in India which has software based in-house virtual court facility.

1) Uttar Pradesh

2) Rajasthan

3) Bihar

4) Haryana

5) Maharashtra

QUESTION 2:

The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Finance has notified changes

in FDI policy, 2017 are amended under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The FEMA is

originally constituted in which year?

1) 2017

2) 1956

3) 1999

4) 2004

5) 1987

QUESTION 3:

The Department of Expenditure under Ministry of Finance has frozen which allowances for 1.1

crore employees and pensioners due from January 1, 2020 to fight covid-19.

1) Dearness Allowance (DA)

2) Dearness Relief (DR)





3) Travel Allowance (TA)

4) Both 1) and 2)

5) Both 2) and 3)

QUESTION 4:

What are the sections that are suspended by government in IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy

Code), 2016 for 1year to avoid insolvency proceedings?

1) Section 7, 8, 9

2) Section 7, 9, 10

3) Section 6, 10, 11

4) Section 1, 2, 5

5) Section 4, 5, 9

QUESTION 5:

What is the coal production target of the country for the Financial Year 2020-21 as per Union

Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi?

1) 710 MT

2) 1000 MT

3) 920 MT

4) 655 MT

5) 840 MT

QUESTION 6:

Name the scheme which was launched by PM Modi on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj

Day on April 24, 2020 (also launched e-Gram swaraj Portal & Mobile app).

1) Swaraj

2) Subam





3) Swayam

4) Swamitva

5) Saubhagya

QUESTION 7:

Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan has participated virtual interactive sessions with health

minister of World Health Organisation (WHO) countries. What is the number of member

countries in WHO?

1) 196

2) 200

3) 186

4) 194

5) 189

QUESTION 8:

To which Indian state world bank approved Rs. 585 Crore for upgradation of roads and

modernization of public works department (PWD)?

1) Uttar Pradesh

2) Madhya Pradesh

3) Andhra Pradesh

4) Arunachal Pradesh

5) Himachal Pradesh

QUESTION 9:

Which Insurance company has partnered with smart health company GOQii to launch

preventive healthcare platform named ‘BAGIC GOQii Co-pay Option’?

1) SBI Life Insurance

2) Bajaj Allianz General Insurance





3) Acko General Insurance

4) Bharti AXA General Insurance

5) Cholamandalam MS General Insurance

QUESTION 10:

SIDBI has launched special liquidity schemes to support MSME during lockdown. Where is the

HQ of SIDBI located?

1) Indore

2) Pune

3) Lucknow

4) Kolkata

5) Mumbai

QUESTION 11:

Three panchayats in J&K has got recognition in Panchayat Awards 2020 on occasion of National

Panchayati Raj Day on April 24, 2020. Who is the present Panchayat Raj minister?

1) Mansukh L. Mandaviya

2) Narendra Singh Tomar

3) Nitin Gadkari

4) Smriti Irani

5) Nirmala Sitharaman

QUESTION 12:

India has participated South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) health

ministers conference. Name the countries which hosted the conference.

1) Bangladesh

2) Pakistan





3) Sri Lanka

4) Nepal

5) Myanmar

QUESTION 13:

The Ministry of Shipping has given its consent for re-constitution of 16-member National

Shipping Board (NSB) recently. Name the person who heads NSB.

1) T. Swaminathan

2) Malini Shankar

3) S. Rajagopal

4) Rajiv Gauba

5) Kamail Pande

QUESTION 14:

Name the company which has acquired 3.36% share in Hinduja Leyland Finance Ltd (HLFL).

1) Maruti Suzuki

2) Hindustan Motors Limited

3) Hindustan Motors Limited

4) TATA Motors

5) Ashok Leyland Limited

QUESTION 15:

Caladium Investment an affiliate of sovereign wealth fund GIC of which country has increased

its stake in Kolkata based Bandhan Bank by 1% (3.39% to 4.49%) recently?

1) Singapore

2) Japan

3) China





4) United States

5) Saudi Arabia

QUESTION 16:

What is the name of military satellite which was launched by Iran recently?

1) Badr

2) Noor

3) Babur

4) Arabsat

5) Messenger

QUESTION 17:

Native Fury is the military exercise between United States and which other country?

1) Qatar

2) Israel

3) UAE

4) Iran

5) Lebanon

QUESTION 18:

What is the name of the high-pressure ventilator which was developed by US space agency

NASA to fight covid-19?

1) VIRAL

2) INFECT

3) FIGHT

4) VITAL

5) EMERGE





QUESTION 19:

Doug Sanders who passed away recently is related to which sports?

1) Squash

2) Football

3) Cricket

4) Golf

5) Rugby

QUESTION 20:

Ice Hockey player Roger Chappot who passed away recently belongs to which country?

1) Japan

2) France

3) Germany

4) Switzerland

5) United States

QUESTION 21:

When was the world day for laboratory animals observed annually?

1) April 22

2) April 23

3) April 24

4) April 25

5) April 26

QUESTION 22:

The National Panchayati Raj day was observed annually on April 24. The day marks the passing

of which amendment of constitution?





1) 71st Amendment

2) 82nd Amendment

3) 72nd Amendment

4) 74th Amendment

5) 73rd Amendment

QUESTION 23:

April 24-30 has been observed as World Immunization week. What is the theme for the year

2020?

1) Vaccines to save you

2) Vaccines Work for All

3) Close the immunization gap

4) Vaccines Work

5) Protected Together

QUESTION 24:

The International Girls in ICT day 2020 was celebrated on April 23 with the theme ‘Expand

horizons, change attitudes’. The Day is celebrated generally on ______ of April?

1) 4th Thursday

2) 4th Wednesday

3) 5th Monday

4) 4th Sunday

5) 3rd Saturday

QUESTION 25:

Which edition of National fire service day was observed on April 14, 2020?

1) 81st





2) 52nd

3) 76th

4) 49th

5) 71st

QUESTION 26:

Which Indian state government has commemorated Khongjom Day at War Memorial Complex

on April 23, 2020?

1) Nagaland

2) Sikkim

3) Assam

4) Meghalaya

5) Manipur

QUESTION 27:

The Hangpan Dada Bridge over river Subansiri was revamped and inaugurated by CM of the

state Pema Khandu recently. Pema Khandu is the CM of which Indian state?

1) Assam

2) Arunachal Pradesh

3) Goa

4) Nagaland

5) Meghalaya

QUESTION 28:

Name the organisation which is going to handle Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU)

Scheme Phase-II as appointed by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

1) Power Finance Corporation





2) Rural Electrification Corporation Limited

3) Reliance Capital Ltd

4) PTC India Financial Services

5) Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited

QUESTION 29:

National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) meeting under the chairmanship of

Dharmendra Pradhan (Petroleum & Natural gas minister) has approved Food Corporation of

India (FCI) to convert the available surplus rice into ________.

1) Ethanol

2) Methanol

3) Ethane

4) Methane

5) Propane

QUESTION 30:

Name the company whose drug (developed with CSIR support) was approved for trial by Drug

Controller General of India (DCGI) for reducing mortality rate in critically ill COVID-19

patientssuffering from Gram-negative bacterial sepsis.

1) Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited

2) Glenmark Pharma Limited

3) Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

4) Cipla Limited

5) Aurobindo Pharma Limited

QUESTION 31:

Name the Indian state which has launched ‘Chief Minister COVID-19 Yoddha Kalyan Yojana’ to

benefit Anganwadi workers & Assistants.





1) Haryana

2) Rajasthan

3) Punjab

4) Madhya Pradesh

5) Bihar

QUESTION 32:

What is the revised Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit for Central government for 1st half

of FY21?

1) 1.50 lakh crore

2) 1.65 Lakh crore

3) 2.00 Lakh crore

4) 1.75 Lakh crore

5) 2.15 Lakh crore

QUESTION 33:

RBI has cancelled the license to conduct banking business of which urban cooperative bank

(based on Goa).

1) The Akola Janata Commercial Co-operative Bank

2) Mapusa Urban Co-operative Bank

3) TJSB Sahakari Bank

4) SBPP Co-operative Bank

5) Kalyan Janata Sahakari Bank

QUESTION 34:

Which payment bank of India has collaborated with Mastercard to issue virtual and physical

debit cards?





1) Airtel Payments Bank

2) Jio Payments Bank

3) Jio Payments Bank

4) India Post Payments Bank

5) Paytm Payments Bank

QUESTION 35:

RBI has instructed its regulated entities (REs) to carry out money laundering (ML)and terrorist

financing (TF) risk assessment exercise periodically& added a new section 5(A) in the Master

Directions (MD) on KYC. The Prevention of Money Laundering rules was enacted in which year?

1) 2005

2) 2004

3) 2006

4) 2007

5) 2003

QUESTION 36:

With which healthcare startup Rajasthan government has partnered to tackle covid-19 using

integrated solution – Aayu and SehatSathi app?

1) Netmeds

2) Practo

3) Medlife

4) 1mg

5) MedCords

QUESTION 37:

Name the person who has been re-appointed as the MD & CEO of City Union Bank (CUB) as

approved by RBI.





1) Rana Kapoor

2) N Kamakodi

3) Shyam Srinivasan

4) Ashok Kumar Pradhan

5) Mahabaleswar MS

QUESTION 38:

Noel Quinn has been appointed as the CEO of which multinational bank?

1) HSBC Bank

2) BNP Paribas

3) Deutsche Bank

4) Standard Chartered Bank

5) Bank of China

QUESTION 39:

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has attended the 5th annual meeting of board of

governors of New Development Bank (NDB) recently. Where is HQ of NDB located?

1) Beijing

2) New Delhi

3) Mandaluyong

4) Shanghai

5) Moscow

QUESTION 40:

Name the company which tied up with Daimler Truck AG for joint venture to develop &

produce fuel cell systems for heavy vehicle.

1) BMW group





2) Volvo Group

3) Lexus Group

4) Jaguar and Land Rover Group

5) INFINITI Group

QUESTION 41:

Which Indian ministry has launched a dashboard link in its website which lists details of Dhabas

and Truck Repair Shops across the country?

1) Minister of Food Processing Industries

2) Ministry of Home Affairs

3) Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

4) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways

5) Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment

QUESTION 42:

Name the Indian ministry which has launched ‘COVID India seva’ twitter handle to engage

citizens on covid-19 for answering real time queries.

1) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

2) Ministry of Science and Technology

3) Ministry of Communications

4) Ministry of Home Affairs

5) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

QUESTION 43:

The scientists of which university has discovered six-planet system (a ‘super-Earth’ & five ‘mini-

Neptunes’) orbiting the star HD 158259 in the Draco constellation?

1) Oxford University





2) University of Geneva

3) University of Cambria

4) University of Stanford

5) Harvard University

QUESTION 44:

Find the institute of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) which has developed

fabric based personal protective coverall suit to fight against COVID-19.

1) National Geophysical Research Institute

2) National Chemical Laboratory

3) National Aerospace Laboratories

4) National Institute of Oceanography

5) Central Drug Research Institute

QUESTION 45:

The scientists of Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) has developed an efficient,

low-cost electro-catalyst from fish gills. INST is located at?

1) Pune

2) Lucknow

3) Mohali

4) Ranchi

5) Kolkata

QUESTION 46:

Which Indian state/UT is going to use ‘Assess Koro Na’ app for door-to-door survey in

containment zones?

1) Chandigarh





2) New Delhi

3) Punjab

4) Chhattisgarh

5) Puducherry

QUESTION 47:

Laisenia Qarase who passed away recently is the former Prime Minister of which country?

1) Australia

2) New Zealand

3) Fiji

4) Papua New Guinea

5) Vanuatu

QUESTION 48:

When were World Creativity and Innovation Day celebrated annually?

1) April 4

2) April 21

3) April 12

4) April 13

5) April 30

QUESTION 49:

Which among the following day was celebrated on April 21 annually?

1) National Farmers Day

2) National Doctors Day

3) National Civil Services Day





4) National Lawyers Day

5) National Engineers Day

QUESTION 50:

The Administrative professional’s day celebrated on which date in India for the year 2020?

1) January 12

2) February 6

3) March 18

4) April 21

5) May 1

******************************





QUESTION’S NUMBERS

ANSWERS DESCRIPTION

1 1) Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh (UP) becomes the 1st state with a software-based in-house facility of virtual courts, where a requisite infrastructure in Allahabad High Court and all district courts of Uttar Pradesh to hear cases through video conferencing as there is lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

2 3) 1999

As we have notified earlier that the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) under the Ministry of Finance has made changes in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy, 2017, which made prior approval of the government mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share border with India, to prevent opportunistic takeover of domestic firms amid COVID-19 pandemic under the under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999.

3 4) Both 1) and 2)

The Department of Expenditure, under the finance ministry has stated that the central government has frozen the Dearness Allowance (DA) & Dearness Relief (DR), an inflation-linked allowance to its 1.1 crore employees & pensioners respectively due from January 1, 2020 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

4 2) Section 7, 9,

10

The government has decided to amend the IBC (Insolvency and

Bankruptcy Code), 2016 by suspending the provisions that

results in insolvency proceedings against defaulters, for a period

upto one year. This will act as a relief measure for corporate

borrowers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as pave

the way for banks to restructure loans.Govt decides to suspend

up to 1 year IBC provisions In this regard, an ordinance would be

promulgated to suspend three sections of IBC viz. Section 7, 9

and 10 for six months, if the current situation continues beyond

April 30, 2020, and the suspension time can be extended up to





one year based on the economic situation. The effective date of

the amendments coming into force would be the date of

promulgation of the ordinance.

5 1) 710 MT

Union Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi has set the

target for Coal India Limited (CIL) to produce 710 million tonnes

(MT) of coal for FY 2020-2021. The decision has been taken on

the lines of achieving 1 billion tonne (BT) coal production by

year 2023-24 and also the demand of coal will be accelerated

after coronavirus lockdown.

6 4) Swamitva

On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th of April 2020, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Damodardas Modi has launched the Swamitva (Ownership) Scheme as well as an integrated e-Gram swaraj Portal & Mobile app for accelerating the pace of development in India’s villages. The Scheme uses drones in mapping of properties in villages. This will end confusion and quarrels over property. This will help in planning development works in the village. Apart from this, like in cities, now people will be able to take loans from banks even in villages. It has been developed by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with Survey of India and State Panchayati Raj Department, State Revenue Department, using the latest drone-based survey technology.

7 4) 194

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), participated in the Virtual interactive session with Health Ministers of member countries of World Health Organization (WHO) on the measures being taken against the battle of COVID-19. There are 194 member countries in WHO.

8 5) Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal Pradesh State Roads Transformation Project (HPSRTP) will receive a funding of US$82 million (Rs 585 crore) from World Bank (WB) for the upgradation of major roads and modernization of the Public Works Department (PWD) in Himachal Pradesh (HP).

9 2) Bajaj Allianz

General Insurance

Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launched a preventive healthcare platform ‘BAGIC GOQii Co-pay Option’ in partnership with a smart health company GOQii under the regulatory sandbox approval from Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).Objective of the product– to reward the customers with a healthy lifestyle in the form of co-pay deduction in their health insurance policy named Health Ensure policy.

10 3) Lucknow

The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has launched special liquidity schemes to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) due to lockdown because of the





COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The schemes will cover all eligible entities with investment-grade ratings irrespective of the entity’s size & the quantum of the loans is 90 days.Headquarters– Lucknow.

11 2) Narendra

Singh Tomar

On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th of April 2020, three Panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Union Territory-UT has clinched national awards under separate categories for their outstanding performance in strengthening rural democracy.Union Minister– Narendra Singh Tomar.

12 2) Pakistan

India participated in The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) health ministers conference hosted by Pakistan to promote great regional cooperation to tackle the coronavirus pandemic. India was represented by Rajiv Garg, the Director General of Health Services who was assisted by experts from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Most SAARC countries were represented at the official level.

13 2) Malini

Shankar

The Ministry of Shipping has given its consent for the reconstitution of the 16-member National Shipping Board (NSB), the highest advisory body on matters related to Indian shipping and its development or other matters arising out of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. The reconstituted board will be headed by former Director General of Shipping Malini Shankar.

14 5) Ashok

Leyland Limited

Hinduja Group flagship Ashok Leyland Ltd has acquired 15,796,406 shares of Rs 10 each constituting 3.36 per cent of the equity of its subsidiary Hinduja Leyland Finance Ltd for Rs 187.97 crore. The acquisition is part of the 6.99 per cent acquisition approved by the Board at the meeting held on March 21, 2020

15 1) Singapore

Caladium Investment Pte Ltd, an affiliate of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC (Government of Singapore Investment Corporation), has raised its stake in India-based private sector lender Bandhan Bank by 1 percent from 3.39% to 4.49% through secondary market operations.

16 2) Noor

Iran launched its 1st military satellite into orbit named “Noor” or light. The satellite has successfully reached an orbit of 425 kilometers above the Earth’s surface.

17 3) UAE

U.S. Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion and a United Arab Emirates Armed Forces soldier conduct urban breaching during exercise Native Fury in the United Arab Emirates in March 2020.

18 4) VITAL

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) engineers developed a new, easy-to-build high-pressure ventilator named VITAL (Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally) specifically to treat COVID-19 patients.

19 4) Golf

Doug Sanders, the American golf legend known as the ‘Peacock of the Fairways’ for his colorful wardrobe, died recently at the





age of 86.

20 4) Switzerland

Former ice hockey player Roger Chappot, who played more than 100 games for Switzerland’s national team including at the 1964 Winter Olympics, has died due to COVID-19. He was 79.

21 3) April 24

The World Day for Laboratory Animals has been observed annually on April 24th with the associated “Lab Animal Week” (20th-26th April) since 1979 as a movement to end the sufferings of the animals that are used for testing in the laboratories around the world and replace them with the advanced scientific non-animal techniques.

22 5) 73rd

Amendment

National Panchayati Raj Day (NPRD) is observed annually on April 24 in India which is organized by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to mark a defining moment in the history of decentralization of political power at the rural level because it was difficult for a single Chief Minister (CM) to look after entire state solely and solve their issues in the minimum time possible.The first National Panchayati Raj Day was first celebrated on April 24, 2010, in India. The day marks the passing of the Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act 1992, that came into force from April 24, 1993.

23 2) Vaccines

Work for All

World Immunization Week is a global public health campaign to raise awareness and increase rates of immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases around the world. Theme for the year 2020: Vaccines Work for All. The World Immunization week celebrates “Vaccine Heroes” worldwide ranging from parents and community members to health workers and innovators who help to ensure that we are protected via the power of vaccines. The last week of April (24 to 30) every year is observed as World Immunisation Week in order to promote the use of vaccines for the ‘protection of people’ of all age-groups against disease.

24 1) 4th Thursday

The International Girls in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) Day is celebrated every year on the 4th Thursday of April. This year it is being observed on 23 April 2020 based on the theme ‘Expand horizons, change attitudes’.

25 3) 76th

On 14th April 2020, the 76th National Fire Service Day is observed at every Fire Service Station in the city to remember the sacrifice of the 71 Firemen in the Rescue operation of the Freighter SS fort Stikine at the Victoria Dock in the Bombay port following the Fire Prevention Week or Fire Service Week (FSW) from 14th April to 20th April. This year’s theme for FSW is “Samanamagni – Saranam Agni”.

26 5) Manipur

On 23rd April 2020, the Government of Manipur commemorated the people who sacrificed their lives in the Anglo-Manipuri War as Khongjom Day at the Khongjom War Memorial Complex which is a historical site that holds the tallest statute of Sword in the world constructed in remembrance of





the people who fought in the war.

27 2) Arunachal Pradesh

The Chief Minister (CM) of Arunachal Pradesh (AR), Pema Khandu, inaugurated the revamped Hangpan Dada Bridge over River Subansiri at Daporijo in Upper Subansiri district, AR through video conferencing. The reconstruction work of this 430 feet multi span bridge was done by Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) of Border Road Organization (BRO) within a month’s time (started 17th Mar, 2020), Government of India under Project ARUNANK.

28 5) Indian

Renewable Energy

Development Agency Limited

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) on its behalf in the amended clause has appointed the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) as the implementing agency to handle the Central Public Sector Undertaking (CPSU) Scheme Phase-II & all issues regarding the time-extension and dispute resolution on inevitable events.

29 1) Ethanol

National Biofuel Coordination Committee (NBCC) meeting under the chairmanship of Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas has approved & allowed Food Corporation of India (FCI) to convert the available surplus rice to ethanol so as to utilize it in making alcohol-based hand-sanitizers & also for the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme.

30 1) Cadila

Pharmaceuticals Limited

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved a trial of a drug, Sepsivac for reducing mortality rate in critically ill COVID-19 patients and the trial is likely to begin at multiple hospitals. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) through the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) program. The drug has been developed by Cadila Pharmaceuticals Limited with the support of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to treat critically ill patients suffering from Gram-negative bacterial sepsis.

31 4) Madhya Pradesh

The state Government of Madhya Pradesh (MP) has launched the ‘Chief Minister COVID-19 Yoddha Kalyan Yojana’ to benefit the Anganwadi workers and Assistants of the state. Under the scheme, the state government will provide a special health insurance cover of Rs 50 lakhs.

32 3) 2.00 Lakh

crore

In an important revision, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in consultation with Indian Government has increased the limit for Ways and Means Advances (WMA) by 66% for Central government to Rs 2,00,000 crore from Rs 1,20,000 crore for the remaining part of first half of the financial year 2020-21 i.e H1 FY21 (April 2020 to September 2020) to tackle the financial crisis arisen due to COVID-19 pandemic.





33 2) Mapusa

Urban Co-operative

Bank

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cancelled the license granted to the Mapusa Urban Co-operative Bank of Goa Ltd., Goa to conduct banking business which includes acceptance of deposits and repayment of deposits as defined in Section 5 (b) read with Section 56 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.

34 5) Paytm

Payments Bank

Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) has collaborated with Mastercard to issue virtual and physical debit cards to enable its customers to perform secure online transactions, make payment in stores as well as withdraw cash from ATMs. PPBL will issue Mastercard virtual debit cards to its new customers to perform secure online transactions for everyday purchases.

35 1) 2005

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) instructed its regulated entities (REs) to carry out money laundering (ML)and terrorist financing (TF) risk assessment exercise periodically. In this regard the central has added a new section 5(A) in the Master Directions on KYC (know your customer), which has come into force with immediate effect. The changes were made in Prevention of Money Laundering rules, 2005.

36 5) Medcords

The Government of Rajasthan has partnered with MedCords, a healthcare startup to provide online consultations and to deliver medicine to the people of Rajasthan to control the COVID-19 pandemic. MedCord will provide the requirements of over 68 million people throughout Rajasthan through its integrated solution – Aayu and SehatSathi app.

37 2) N Kamakodi

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved the re-appointment of N Kamakodi as the Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of City Union Bank (CUB), a private sector bank for 3 years with effect from May 1.

38 1) HSBC Bank

HSBC (Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation) Bank appointed Noel Quinn as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He served as the interim CEO of the bank since August 2019. He was the successor of John Flint.

39 4) Shanghai

Union Minister of Finance & Corporate Affairs, Nirmala Sitharaman attended the 5th Annual Meeting of Board of Governors of New Development Bank (NDB) through video-conference in New Delhi.Appreciated NDB’s effort to provide financial assistance of about USD 5 billion to Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries including USD 1 billion to India as a emergency Assistance to combat COVID-19 pandemic & suggested that the assistance to be enhanced to USD 10 billion. The HQ of NDB is at Shanghai, China.

40 2) Volvo Group

Swedish luxury vehicles brand Volvo Group and German automotive corporation Daimler Truck AG aka Mercedes have collaborated to set up a joint venture (JV) with equal partnership for the development and production of fuel cell





systems for heavy vehicles. As a part of JV, Daimler Truck will put all its current fuel cell activities, and Volvo Group will buy a 50% stake in the venture for around 600 million euros ($652 million). This JV will be an independent and autonomous organization which will focus on Green Deal for sustainable transport and a carbon neutral Europe by 2050. It should be noted that Fuel cells use hydrogen to create electricity.

41 4) Ministry of

Road Transport and

Highways

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has created & launched a dashboard link in its website which lists details of Dhabas and Truck Repair Shops available across the country. NHAI’s centralized call number 1033 is also enabled to answer calls and help drivers/cleaners to find information about the dhabas and repair shops along National Highways.

42 5) Ministry of Health &

Family Welfare

Dr Harsh Vardhan, the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare has launched the ‘COVID India Seva’, a Twitter handle for citizen engagement on the coronavirus (COVID-19) with the aim of this initiative is to enable real-time e-governance delivery and answer citizen queries.

43 2) University of

Geneva

A team of Scientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) ,Switzerland, have discovered a six-planet system (a ‘super-Earth’ & five ‘mini-Neptunes’) orbiting the star HD 158259 in the Draco constellation.The discovery was done by using the SOPHIE spectrograph installed at the Haute-Provence Observatory in the South of France and TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) exoplanet-hunting space telescope.

44 3) National

Aerospace Laboratories

To protect the medical personnel fighting against the COVID-19, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – National Aerospace Laboratories (CSIR-NAL) along with MAF Clothing Private Limited,developed and certified a polypropylene spun-laminated, multilayered non-woven fabric based overall which are highly cost-effective than the other manufacturers.

45 3) Mohali

The Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, Punjab an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology(DST) developed an efficient, low-cost electro-catalyst from fish gills.

46 2) New Delhi

Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev has asked all district magistrates (DM) to use the new “Assess Koro Na” app for door-to-door survey in COVID-19 containment zones to speed up decision-making by analysing real-time data. The first phase of the app-based assessment will be launched in South Delhi.

47 3) Fiji

The founder of the Soqosoqo Duavata Ni Lewenivanua Party & former Fiji Prime Minister (2000-2006) Laisenia Qarase passed away at 79 in Oceania Hospital, Suva due to an illness. He hails from Mavana, Vanuabalavu, Lau.





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48 2) April 21

World Creativity and Innovation Day (WCID) is a global United Nation (UN) day celebrated on April 21 to raise awareness around the importance of creativity and innovation in problem solving with respect to advancing the United Nations sustainable development goals, also known as the “global goals”.

49 3) National Civil Services Day

21st April every year is celebrated as the National Civil Service Day to celebrate the civil servants (IAS- Indian Administrative Services, IPS- Indian Police Services, IFS- Indian Foreign services and group A and B services) who dedicated their lives to the citizens and to renew their commitments and excellence in work. This is also to encourage the passion of the Indians to get into civil service.

50 4) April 21

Administrative Professionals Day (also known as Secretaries day or Admin Day) is observed on April 21 for the year 2020 across India to recognize the work of secretaries, receptionists, administrative assistants and other administrative support professionals.



Documents

1 volume: 10 · 2.3.3 “Saiyam App” to tracks Home Quarantined itizens 41 2.3.4 SAHYO app to help area-specific strategies, decisions in COVID-19 outbreak 42 2.3.5 IAS IPS officers