CURRENT AFFAIRS APRIL 2020 - Mission CAPF hub

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CURRENT AFFAIRS

APRIL 2020

FEATURES OF CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE

COVERAGE – THE HINDU, INDIAN EXPRESS. PIB GKTODAY MONTHLY MAGAZINE VISION IAS MONTHLY MAGAZINE

CONCISE AND COMPREHENSIVE MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

STRICTLY BASED ON PREVIOUS YEARS UPSC CAPF CURRENT AFFAIRS QUESTION TRENDS.

TOPIC WISE SEGGREGATION OF CURRENT NEWS.

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INDEX OF CURRENT AFFAIRS SERIA

L NO.

SECTION/TOPIC PAGE NO.

1) AWARDS/MEDALS/HONORS/PRIZE 4

2) REPORTS /INDEX/SURVEY/STUDY 4

3) GOVT. SCHEMES/PORTAL /APPS/INITIATIVES 6

4) ECONOMY/BANKING 8

5) DEFENCE NEWS / MILITARY EXERCISE 9

6) ENVIRONMENTS 10

7) INTERNATIONAL NEWS 10

8) SPORTS 12

9) PERSONS IN NEWS 13

10) PLACES IN NEWS – SUMMITS/CONFERENCE 14

11) IMPORTANTS DATES & EVENTS 14

12) STATES IN NEWS 15

13) SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 17

14) FESTIVALS/GI TAGS 18

15) BOOKS 18

16) MISCELLANEOUS 19-20





ANALYSIS OF CURRENT AFFAIRS PREVIOUS YEARS

QUESTIONS PAPERS (2015-2019)

SERIAL

NO.

SECTION/TOPIC NO. OF

QUESTIONS

1) AWARDS/MEDALS/HONORS/PRIZE

14

2) REPORTS /INDEX/SURVEY/STUDY

04

3) GOVT. SCHEMES/PORTAL /APPS/INITIATIVES

09

4) ECONOMY/BANKING

08

5) DEFENCE NEWS / MILITARY EXERCISE

10

6) ENVIRONMENTS

02

7) INTERNATIONAL NEWS

05

8) PERSONS IN NEWS

08

9) SPORTS

06

10) PLACES IN NEWS – SUMMITS/CONFERENCE

07

11) IMPORTANTS DATES & EVENTS

02

12) STATES IN NEWS

02

13) SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

02

14) FESTIVALS/GI TAGS

02

15) BOOKS

03

16) MISCELLANEOUS

10





AWARDS/MEDALS/HONORS/PRIZE

‘Hero to Animals Award’ by animal rights body PETA to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik.

Ram Prasad Kadel of Nepal has been selected for the Nikkei Asia Prize 2020 in the category of

Culture and Community.

Anthony Tan (Malaysia) & Tan Hooi Ling (Malaysia) has been selected for the Nikkei Asia Prize

2020 in the category of Economic and Business Innovation.

REPORTS/COMMITTEEG /INDEX/SURVEY/STUDY

“East Asia and Pacific in the Time of Covid-19”report by World Bank

Finding of report=East Asia and the Pacific could see up to 11 million people driven into poverty.

‘South Asia Economic Focus’ report by World Bank = at 1.5%-2.8%, Indian economy’s growth

will be the worst since the 1991 liberalisation this fiscal year.

M S Sahoo Committee =To recommends setting up National Institute of Valuers.

4th annual Global Report on Food Crises = UN’s World Food Programme.

‘From the Great Lockdown to the Great Meltdown’ report = UNCTAD (United Nations

Conference on Trade and Development).

World Press Freedom Index = Norway = 1st North Korea + 180th [last]+ India ranks 142nd,

The Index is compiled and published by Reporters without borders.

“World Economic Outlook” = The International Monetary Fund (IMF) = IMF has reduced

India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate from 5.8% to 1.9% in the fiscal year 2020-21. It

has also stated that India’s GDP will show recovery in the next financial year with the growth rate

of 7.4%.

SIPRI releases report “Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2019” = The top 5 largest

spenders in 2019 were: United States ($732 billion), China ($261 billion), India ( $71.1 billion),

Russia ($65.1 billion) and Saudi Arabia ($61.9 billion).+ India spent $71.1 billion on defence in

2019 which is 2.4% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), rising from 4th position in 2018 to 3rd

in 2019.[ first instance when two Asian states have featured among the top three military spenders.]

India Ranks 53rd in Open Budget Index 2019 = topped by New Zealand followed by South

Africa. & Sweden 3rd .










GOVT. SCHEMES/PORTAL /APPS/INITIATIVES

“United against CORONA- Express through Art” = by ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural

Relations)

- A global painting competition open to both Indians and foreigners;

- Submission deadline: May 1, 2020.

“Stranded in India” portal by Tourism Ministry

Objective=for foreign tourists who are stranded in the country in the wake of coronavirus

lockdown.

‘Hack the Crisis-India’= a hackathon to find working solution launched by MoS HRD and IT,

Sanjay Dhotre.

‘Bharat Padhe Online’ campaign = for crowd sourcing of ideas for improving online education

ecosystem + launched by HRD Ministry.

YUKTI Portal (Young India Combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology and Innovation)

portal = by HRD Ministry.

Objectives= is a unique portal and dashboard to monitor and record the efforts and initiatives of

MHRD. The portal intends to cover the different dimensions of COVID-19 challenges in a

very holistic and comprehensive way.

Union Ministry announces “innovative challenge” to develop video-conferencing solution under

the Digital India programme.

Three Schemes launched to boost Electronic Manufacturing Sector.

1. Production Linked Incentive Scheme = It will provide 4% to 6% incentives on electronics

products that show incremental sales.

2. Electronics Manufacturing Clusters 2.0 (EMC 2.0) = to provide support to companies that are

creating world class infrastructure in the Electronics sector. The scheme has been launched under

National Policy for Electronics 2019. It aims to make India a global hub of mobile manufacturing.

3. Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronics Components and Semiconductors

(SPECS) = The scheme provides incentive of 25% of the capital spent on establishing an

electronics plant, equipment, machinery, technology, etc.

“iGOT” [ Integrated Government Online Training portal]- An Online Training Portal launched

on DIKSHA platform of MHRD.

PM Modi launches “Saptapadi” to fight against COVID-19 Saptapadi is seven mantras to fight

against the virus.

“Kisan Rath” App = to facilitate transportation of food grains and perishables during lockdown by

Agriculture Ministry.

Cabinet approves fixation of Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for Phosphatic and Potassic





(P&K) fertilizers for the year 2020-21.

Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme = Under the scheme, a fixed amount of subsidy decided on an

annual basis is provided on each grade of subsidized Phosphatic and Potassic

(P&K) fertilizers, except for Urea, based on the nutrient content present in them.

The scheme is administered by the Department of Fertilizers under the Ministry of Chemicals &

Fertilizers. [In India, urea is the only controlled fertilizer and is sold at a statutory notified uniform

sale price.]

e-Gram Swaraj portal = provide panchayats a single interface to complete development projects

& Swamitva Yojana = use drones in mapping of properties in villages and will make it easier for

villagers to avail loans from banks — for faster development of villages.

SVAMITVA Scheme = aimed at rural people the right to document their residential properties.

International Financial Services Centre Authority established by GoI.+ headquarters at

Gandhinagar, Gujarat.

Functions = to regulate financial products such as contracts of insurance, deposits, securities of the

financial institutions that have been approved by regulators. The regulators include RBI, SEBI,

Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority, IRDAI.

The Authority was established through a notification. The notification issued by the GoI brings into

effect certain effects of IFSCA Act, 2019.

The authority consists of 9 members that are appointed by the Government of India. The members

are to have a term of three years. The members include Chairperson, two members from Ministry of

Finance, one each from RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA and two members based on the

recommendation of search committee.

Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched the initiative called “Lifeline UDAN” to help India fight

against COVID-19.

The innovation cell of the Ministry of Human Resource Development and All India Council for

Technical Education has launched a mega ONLINE challenge called “SAMADHAN” to fight

against covid19.






ECONOMY/BANKING

Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) also known as production volume index.

Objective= To measures collective and individual performance of production in selected eight core

industries viz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and

Electricity.

Compiled and released = by Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA), Department of Industrial

Policy & Promotion (DIPP), and Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Importance of index= Combined weight of these eight core industries is 40.27 percent of IIP with

base 2011-12.

Highest of weight for the Core Industries in IIP= Refinery Products= 11.2896

[ Highest of Weights (% in ICI)= Refinery Products= 28.03 & lowest weight = Fertilizers]

Base year = 2011-12

In news= Eight core sector industries record 5.5% growth in February, highest in 11-months.

RBI increases the Ways and Means Advances (WMA) limit for state governments and union

territories by 30% till September 30.

- WMA is a temporary liquidity arrangement with the central bank, which enables the centre

and the states to borrow money up to 90 days from the RBI to tide over their liquidity mismatch.

PSB Indian Overseas Bank nominated by Govt. for collection of donations for PM-CARES.

Helicopter Money = given by an American Economist Milton Friedman. Helicopter Money is the

monetary policy tool used for Quantitative Easing. It aims to dump money into a struggling

economy.

Helicopter Money in simple terms is extension of non-repayable money towards state and

central governments from central bank. The policy intends to make more money available for

the people to nudge them to spend more.

India’s merchandise trade in 2019-20 = Exports declined by 4.78% to USD 314.31 billion +

Imports declined by 9.12% to USD 467.19 billion + Trade deficit was USD 152.88 billion as against

USD 184 billion in 2018-19. Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation declines to 4-month low

of 1% in March.

RBI launches OBICUS [Order Books, Inventories and Capacity Utilization Survey] = The survey

provides an insight into the demands of the Indian manufacturing sector. The survey is

conducted quarterly (4 times a year). It is being conducted since 2008.

The Asian Development Bank has released its annual economic publication “Asian Development

Outlook 2020”. In its annual flagship economic publication “Asian Development Outlook 2020”,

the Asian Development Bank has projected India’s growth to slow down to 4% in the current fiscal

year i.e. 2020-2021.

Reserve Bank of India has launched a twitter campaign urging bank customers to adopt digital

modes of payment that are convenient and safe.

Jana Small Finance Bank has launched “DigiGen” a digital banking platform where customers





can digitally open a savings account and fixed deposit instantly, any time, anywhere.

DEFENCE NEWS/SECURITY/MILITARY EXERCISE

Indradhanush exercise = between IAF and UK’s Royal Air Force concludes at Air Force Station

Hindan (UP).

United States has approved the sale of Harpoon air launched anti-ship missiles and Mark 54

lightweight torpedoes to India to enhance India’s deterrent capabilities against “regional threats”

and also to strengthen its homeland defence.

Indian Navy’s Naval Dockyard in Mumbai has designed and developed its own handheld

infraredbased temperature sensor gun for the screening of personnel in a bid to limit the spread

of COVID-19

Indian Navy’s Naval Aircraft Yard (Kochi) has formed “Air Evacuation Pod (AEP)” for the

safe evacuation of COVID-19 patients from remote areas. The pod is made up of aluminium,

nitrile rubber and perspex.






ENVIRONMENTS

COP26 [Glasgow conference] postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic = 26th United Nations

Climate Change conference. It was scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland from 9 to 20

November 2020 under the presidency of the UK Government has been pushed to 2021.

Leather back Sea Turtles build largest nests in 20 years in deserted beaches. The Leather back

Turtles are the world’s giant sea turtles. They are considered vulnerable under International Union

for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of threatened species.

India attends Petersberg Climate Dialogue = The dialogue was hosted by Germany since the

failure of Copenhagen Summit [ 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) is

commonly known as Copenhagen Summit]in 2009. It was co-chaired by United Kingdom. Over 30

countries participated in the dialogue. The dialogue discussed about measures to tackle COVID-19,

save lives and to overcome social and economic consequences of the disease.

The dialogue is usually attended by the Environmental Ministers.

India's oldest National Park, Jim Corbett National Park becomes India's 1st quarantine facility

for animals with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). The Park has built isolation wards for

animals.

Scientists who have been observing the ozone hole at Copernicus’ Atmospheric Monitoring

Service has announced that the Ozone layer hole is now closed in the North Pole.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS 2nd Extraordinary G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting =

under the Saudi Arabian Presidency through videoconferencing participated by Finance Minister

Nirmala Sitharaman.

Finance minister supported G20 Action Plan in Response to COVID-19.

G-20 has launched a “Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator” under the presidency of Saudi

Arabia to improve connections as well as to leverage interdependencies for collective partnership,

mobilizing, problem-solving, and guiding investments for new COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics

as well as vaccines.

UN Security Council unanimously adopts resolution 2518 on the safety and security of

peacekeepers [first of its kind initiative] =

- The resolution was initiated and sponsored by China and co-sponsored by 43 countries, including

Italy, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, South Africa, Russia, Spain, Turkey and Vietnam, according to the

statement.

- This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the UN and a crucial year for the

implementation of the "Action for Peace" initiative.

- Top contributed to the nation peacekeeping force = Ethiopia

Tropical Cyclone Harold = South Pacific island nation Vanuatu





Indonesia’s = Anak Krakatau active volcano erupt recently.[locate it on map]

- Anak Krakatoa is an island in a caldera in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and

Sumatra.

- Anak Krakatau is classified as a "stratovolcano." This type of volcano (also known as a

"composite volcano").

NASA’s Artemis = First Human Base Camp on moon’s south pole by 2024

The NASA project Artemis aims at placing first woman and next man on the moon.

Demo-2 mission = Mission of NASA was launched by SpaceX. It was the first uncrewed test

flight to be launched to the International Space Station. Currently, SpaceX and Boeing are the

space taxi providers of NASA.

The mission is to use Falcon-9 rocket. The astronauts are to be sent for an extended stay at the

international space station. It is the first crewed launch of the Elon Musk space company. The

mission named as “Commercial Crew Programme”.

China names its first Mars exploration mission to be launched later in 2020 as Tianwen-1

Lebanon = First Arab Country to legalize Marijuana cultivation.

NOOR = Iran’s first military satellite launched successfully. The Iran Revolutionary Guards

Corps [IRGC] launched the satellite. Iran has used Ghased or Messenger satellite launcher to put

the satellite in its orbit.

Exercise Pitch Black = The biennial warfare exercise hosted by Royal Australian Air Force

cancelled due to COVID- 19.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud has abolished the death penalty for crimes

committed by minors.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected mission "Sun Radio

Interferometer Space Experiment (SunRISE)" to look into how the Sun generates and releases

solar particle storms into planetary space.






SPORTS

Mascots of the 19th Asian Games at Hangzhou, China [2022] = 3 robots named — Congcong,

Lianlian and Chenchen.

England’s Ben Stokes named leading men’s cricketer of the year by 2020 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack & Australia’s Ellyse Perry is leading women’s cricketer of the year 2020.

Wimbledon cancelled for the First Time since World Wars due to COVID-19.

Wimbledon Tennis Tournament was first held in 1877. The Wimbledon is also known as The

Championships. It is the oldest Tennis Tournament in the world. It is one of the four Grand Slam

tennis tournaments. The other three include French Open, US open and Australian Open.

Wimbledon is the only tournament that is still played on grass. Playing on grass is considered as

traditional and is also a classic tennis court.

World Games, 2021 postponed to avoid clash with Tokyo Olympics =

The World Games is held once in four years. It features 32 sports that are not a part of the

Olympics.

These games were scheduled to be conducted in Birmingham, Alabama. The World Games

was first held in 1981.

So far, the World Games have not yet been held in African countries. Even in the US, it was

held only in 1981. The games are predominantly conducted in European countries.

Asian Youth Games to be held in China in November 2021= The Olympic Council of Asia

announced that the third Asian Youth Games is to be held in China in November 2021.

The Asian Youth Games is held once in four years. It is organized by the Olympic Council of

Asia. It is the second largest sports gamed after the Asian Games. The first Asian Youth Games

was held in 2011 in Singapore, later in 2013 in China. Olympic Council of Asia It is the governing

body of sports events in Asia. India is a member of Olympic Council of Asia.

‘Feifei’, the mascot = 4th Asian Para Games at Hangzhou, China in October 2022’

‘Team Mask Force’ = by BCCI video to promote wearing masks in public place.

PV Sindhu named as ambassador in the Badminton World Federation campaign “I am

Badminton”. To provides platform for the badminton players to advocate and commit to honest and

clean play.

Deepak Agarwal has been banned by the ICC from all cricket for a period of 2 years after he

accepted one charge of breaching the ICC Anti-Corruption Code.

India lost the hosting rights of the men’s World boxing championship 2021 to Serbia.





PERSONS IN NEWS

Renowned Hindustani classical singer and Padma Shri awardee Shanti Hiranand Chawla dies

aged 87

Senior advocate and Padma Bhushan awardee Ashok Desai, who served as Attorney General of

India in 1996-98, dies aged 77.

Viswanathan Anand = ambassador for environment education programme of World Wide Fund

India.

Jeff Bezos [ Amazon Founder and Chief Executive Officer tops Forbes billionaires list “The

Richest in 2020” & bill gates = 2nd .+ 3rd time in a row that he has topped the annual world’s

billionaires list released by Forbes.






PLACES IN NEWS – SUMMITS/CONFERENCE

The Future of Work: Women in India’s Workforce seminar = organised by ministry of Women

and Child Development (WCD) and the World Bank in New Delhi

IMPORTANTS DATES & EVENTS

World Autism Awareness Day observed = April 2

- theme: ‘The Transition to Adulthood’

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action = April 4

- observed by United Nation.

International Day of Conscience celebrated by UN = April 5

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace observed by UN = April 6

World Health Day = April 7. Theme = focus on the critical role played by nurses and midwives.

The International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was

observed by the UN = April 7, 2020

International Day for Monuments and Sites (World Heritage Day) = April 18

Theme = ‘Shared Cultures, Shared Heritage, Shared Responsibility’.

Panchayati Raj Day = April 24 .It marks the passing of Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act, 1992.

The National Panchayati Raj Day was first declared by the then PM Manmohan Singh in 2010. The

day is also called National Local Self Government Day.

World Intellectual Property Day = April 26. Theme = ‘Innovate for a Green Future’.

World Earth Day = April 22 + Theme = Climate Action. This year the 50th anniversary of World

Earth Day[started in 1970]





STATES IN NEWS

‘Portable Multi-feed Oxygen Manifold (MOM)’= developed by personnel from the Naval

Dockyard, Visakhapatnam for COVID-19 patients.

- AP govt to buy MOM.

Objective = To cater to the requirement of oxygen supply for multiple patients during the ongoing

COVID-19 pandemic.

Utkala Dibasa = celebrated in Odisha on April 1 to mark its formation as a separate state in 1936.

The State of Odisha was established on April 1, 1936. It was established as a province of British

India on April 1, 1936. It was named Orissa. The English name was changed to Odisha on

November 4, 2011.

‘Operation SHIELD’ = announces in 21 containment zones to curb the spread of COVID-19. +

launched by Delhi govt.

“5 Ts Plan” = to control the spread of COVID-19: Testing, Tracing, Treatment, Teamwork and

Tracking & monitoring by Delhi govt.

“Mo Prativa”= Odisha-UNICEF Programme to engage children during Lock Down

Theme = My Responsibility as a young citizen during COVID-19 and Being at home during

lockdown.

Uttar Pradesh: First State to start Pool Testing= Under Pool Testing, if 10 samples of COVID-19

test negative, then it is an indicator that all the samples test negative. On the other hand, if the

samples tested are not negative, individual testing will be done. Under pool testing, the samples will

be mixed and tested.

Uttar Pradesh = First State to Geo Tag Community Kitchens

Goa becomes first zero COVID-19 state in the country.

Karnataka govt launches “Apthamitra” helpline and mobile app to fight COVID-19

UP becomes the first state to have video conferencing infrastructure in all its courts.

‘V Safe Tunnel’ = Telangana = A unique disinfectant named ‘V Safe Tunnel’ sanitizes people

from any possible bacteria and other microbes within 20 seconds.

Arunachal Pradesh government has launched an app called “COVIDCARE”.

Goa becomes the first state to integrate allopathy and Ayurveda to boost the immunity of COVID-

19 patients and those who have been quarantined.

The Government of Manipur commemorated “Khongjom Day” at Khongjom War Memorial

Complex, Thoubal, Manipur. This day is observed to remember the people who valiantly fought in

the Anglo-Manipuri War in 1891.





The government hospital in Ernakulamhere, Kerala has deployed a robot named ‘KARMI-Bot’ to

serve COVID-19 patients at the medical college’s COVID-19 isolation ward.






SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

‘Patho Detect’ = First made-in-India testing kit for novel coronavirus launched at Mylab Discovery

in Pune.

- developed by team led by virologist Minal Dakhave Bhosale.

A Tiger tests positive of COVID-19 in the US: Zoos on high alert in the country. This is the first

time COVID-19 infections are reported on an animal.

Feline Coronavirus = Cats are affected by a specific class of coronavirus called the feline

coronavirus. Unlike the SARS CoV 2 feline coronaviruses are transmitted through faecal- oral route.

These viruses affect the intestine or peritoneum of cats.

IGIB (Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi) scientists develop low cost

COVID-19 test; name it after detective character ‘Feluda’

Hydrogen Fuel Bus and car launched by NTPC = The Hydrogen Fuel Cell use chemical process

to convert hydrogen rich fuel into electricity. The main advantage of fuel cells is that they need not

be charged frequently. They produce electricity as long as the fuel is available.

In a Hydrogen Fuel cell, the hydrogen is passed through the anode, oxygen is passed through

cathode. At anode, the hydrogen molecules are split into protons and electrons. The protons hence

formed pass through electrolyte membrane. This forces electron to pass into the circuit, generating

electric current.

Benefits = high efficiency, low to zero emissions, fuel flexibility, quiet operation, durability and

energy security.

AIIMS Rishikesh partners with BEL (Bharat Electronics Limited) to set up India’s 1st remote

health monitoring system in the state of Uttarakhand to monitor COVID-19 patients.

Lucknow’s King George’s Medical University (KGMU) has become the 1st government

hospital in the country to successfully launch the plasma therapy treatment for COVID-19.

Bio suit named as “Personal Protective Equipment” has been developed by the Defence

Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to keep the medical, paramedical and other

personnel engaged in combating COVID-19 safe from the deadly virus.

Genrich Membranes has developed a ‘Membrane Oxygenator Equipment‘ for the treatment of

COVID19 patients.

The scientists of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST)

have designed and developed an highly efficient super absorbent material titled “Chitra

Acrylosorb Secretion Solidification System”.

Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has rolled out an Integrated

Geospatial Platform known as “SAHYOG” to help in decision making during the present

COVID-19.

“COVSACK” is a kiosk developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation to





make the process of collecting COVID-19 samples free of infection spread.

IIT-Bombay has developed a digital stethoscope called “AyuSynk” to check patients who are

infected with COVID-19.

A low-cost electro-catalyst has been developed with “Fish gills” by the scientists at the Institute of

Nano Science and Technology (INST).

Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre For Advanced Scientific Research has developed

“Berberine” based Alzheimer inhibitor. Scientists modified berberine to “Ber-D” which is a

soluble (aqueous) and acts as antioxidant.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration has announced that they will launch astronauts

Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to International Space Station (ISS).

FESTIVALS/GI TAGS

Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela = organised in New Delhi by ICAR-IARI

BOOKS

Mathrubhumi Book of the Year award = Hindi poet-novelist Vinod Kumar Shukla + for his

translated book “Blue Is Like Blue”

‘Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster’book by

Adam Higginbotham [ wins William E. Colby Award for his book]

World Book and Copyright Day = April 23 celebrated by UNSECO

Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) named World Book Capital for 2020.

Mary Jordan [ The Pulitzer Prize-winning American reporter for The Washington Post]has

written a book titled ‘The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump’.





MISCELLANEOUS( imp )

Operation Sanjeevani = Indian Air Force (IAF) launched an 18-hour operation and airlifted 6.2

tonnes of essential medicines and hospital consumables with its C-130 transport aircraft and

delivered it to the Maldives under Operation Sanjeevani.

Other Operations & exercise with Maldives =

1. Operation Cactus was conducted in 1988 to help Maldives Government neutralize coup

attempt.

2. Operation Neer in 2014 was conducted to help Maldives with its drinking water crisis. 3. Operation Samudra Setu [2020]= Indian Navy has launched Operation 'Samudra Setu' as a

part of national effort to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in the Maldives and other due to the

COVID-19.

4. Ekuverin exercise = is the joint military exercise conducted between India and Maldives.

Indian Railways develops low-cost ventilator ‘Jeevan’ at its Kapurthala Rail Coal Factory.

HRD Ministry, AICTE and Forge & InnovatioCuris launch mega online challenge ‘SAMADHAN’

- Objectives = for students, researchers and innovators to develop solutions against coronavirus

epidemic and future challenges.

Health Ministry’s HLL Lifecare Ltd launches rapid antibody diagnostic kit named ‘MakeSure’

for COVID-1.

Google Pay launches ‘Nearby Spot’ to help users find local stores selling essentials.

IIT Bombay researchers get patent for ‘Smart Stethoscope’.

National Book Trust launched “Corona Studies” Book Series. The National Book Trust was

established in 1957. It currently operates under Ministry of Human Resource Development. NBT

recently launched Stay Home India with Books initiative.

Project Prana = Indigenous ventilators developed by IISc Bengaluru scientists and students

Exercise NCC Yogdan = launched to fight COVID-19 to to offer a helping hand to the authorities

fighting against COVID-19.

India’s first remote Health Monitoring System set up in Rishikesh by The All India Institute of

Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh along with BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electronics) has set up

India’s first remote health monitoring system.

India is the most digitally dexterous country in the world = Gartner 2019 Digital Workplace

Survey.

IIT Ropar designs ‘WardBot’ to deliver food, medicines to COVID-19 patients in isolation wards

without human intervention.





Matterhorn mountain [4478 m] in Swiss Alps lights up with Indian flag + 1] act as a main

watershed & border between Switzerland and Italy. 2] Range = Pennine Alps.3] It is a Landforms of

highest glaciation called as Arétes and pyramidal peaks = Matterhorn mountains is classic example

of this.

e-karyalay = An e-office application launched in CISF to enable movement of files and documents

without physical touch.

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute has developed PUSA decontamination tunnel. The

Tunnel includes foot operated water dispenser and soap. it sources Quaternary Ammonium

Compounds that are used at concentration of 0.045% which is used as surfactants, disinfectant,

antistatic agents or fabric softener.

Daporijo Bridge across Subansiri river in Arunachal Pradesh inaugurated. The bridge was

constructed by the BRO (Border Roads Organization).

New species of viper family discovered in the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. It has

been named after a fictional character, Salazar Slytherin. Vipers are venomous snakes.+ Pakke

Tiger Reserve is bounded by Kameng river in the west and north and by Pakke river in the east. It

is located in Arunachal Pradesh.

Kasowal Bridge on River Ravi under the Project Chetak of BRO. 484-meter bridge was built by

BRO. Project Chetak = project of the BRO was raised in June 1962 for expanding and improving

the road networks and ditch-cum-bunds.

Ruhdaar = Low Cost Mechanical Ventilator developed by IIT Bombay other.

National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) will run live counseling sessions on Swayam Prabha

DTH Channel namely Panini, Channel Sharda and Channel Kishore Manch, for secondary and

senior secondary levels respectively to overcome the loss of academic time of the students.

A webinar series titled “#DekhoApnaDesh” has been launched by the Indian Tourism Ministry to

provide information on many destinations and culture & heritage of Incredible India.

Government of India to set up a chain of 20 lakh retail shops called ‘Suraksha Stores’ across India

to provide daily essentials to citizens while maintaining stringent safety norms in the wake of

COVID-19.

“CovidGyan” has been launched by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Indian Institute of

Science, and Tata Memorial Centre.+ scientific and factual aspects of COVID-19 pandemic

outbreak on to public domain.








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CURRENT AFFAIRS APRIL 2020 - Mission CAPF hub