Daily Current Affairs of 15th May 2020
National Current Affairs
- Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan today chaired the 15th meeting of Group of Ministers (GoM) on COVID-19 in New Delhi.
- During the meeting, the GoM had in depth deliberation on containment strategy and management aspects of COVID-19, as well as the measures being taken by Centre and various states.
- The GoM was informed that there are 30 municipal areas which constitute 79 percent of India’s case load.
- It also discussed that focus of COVID-19 management strategy needs to be on the states with highest number of confirmed cases and highest number of fatalities, and on treatment and case fatality management.
- Note : As on today, a total of 8,694 facilities comprising of 919 dedicated COVID hospitals, 2,036 COVID Health Centres and 5,739 COVID Care Centres are available.
- India's fiscal deficit may expand to 7.9% in the current financial year from the previous estimate of 3.5% of the GDP, a report released by the State Bank of India (SBI) said.
- Problems of sustainable debt limit will arise with an increase in deficit, it added.
- There will be a 4.5% direct impact on deficit due to revenue shortfall and 0.9% indirect impact because of GDP change.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the government will immediately create a ₹1 lakh crore fund for agri infrastructure projects at farm-gate and aggregation points like primary co-operative societies and producers' organisations.
- The government will launch Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for integrated, sustainable, inclusive development of marine and inland fisheries.
- An estimated ₹11,000 crore will be earmarked for marine, inland fisheries and aquaculture, while ₹9,000 crore will be allocated for infrastructure related to fishing harbours, cold chains, markets, etc.
- An Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund worth ₹15,000 crore will be created by Govt.
- It aims to support private investment in Dairy Processing, value addition and cattle feed infrastructure. Further, incentives will be given for establishing plants for the export of niche products.
- The government today allocated ₹4,000 crore for promotion of herbal cultivation.
- 10,00,000 hectare will be covered under herbal cultivation in next two years.
- It will lead to ₹5,000-crore income generation for farmers. T
- The government today announced a ₹10,000-crore scheme for formalisation of Micro Food Enterprises (MFEs).
- It will be launched to help 2 lakh MFEs. Existing micro food enterprises, farmer producer organisations, self help groups and cooperatives will be supported under the scheme.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday announced an allocation of ₹500 crore for beekeeping initiatives that is expected to benefit two lakh beekeepers in rural areas.
- The government will implement a scheme for infrastructure development related to integrated beekeeping development centres, collection, marketing and storage centres, and post-harvest facilities, among others.
- The World Bank has approved $1 billion aid to support India's efforts at providing social assistance to the poor and vulnerable households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It had announced $1 billion support last month for India's health sector.
- Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya has exhausted all his legal options in the UK after his application for permission to appeal his extradition in the Supreme Court was rejected yesterday.
- The ruling would mean Mallya has to be extradited to India within 28 days.
- Indian Potash Limited (IPL), A PSU under the department of fertilizers ministry of chemicals and fertilizers has decided to cut the price of Muriate of Potash (MOP)from the present level of Rs.19000 per MT to 17500 per MT i.e a reduction of Rs. 75 per bag w.e.f 18th may 2020.
- About MOP :
- Muriate of potash, also known as potassium chloride is essential for plant growth and quality.
- It plays a vital role in the production of proteins and sugars.
- It also protects against draught by maintaining plants water content which in turn is a benefit for photosynthesis as leafs maintain their shape and vigor.
- In order to give a boost to domestic defence and aerospace manufacturing, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the launch of Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) with an outlay of Rs 400 crore for creating state of the art testing infrastructure for this sector.
- The Scheme would run for the duration of five years and envisages to setup six to eight new test facilities in partnership with private industry.
- This will facilitate indigenous defence production, consequently reduce imports of military equipment and help make the country self-reliant.
- Government of India, West Bengal Government and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) today signed a loan agreement for a 145 million dollar project to improve irrigation services and flood management in the Damodar Valley Command Area in West Bengal.
- Noted literary personality, educationist and national Professor Anisuzzaman (83) passed away in Dhaka today.
- He was a reputed scholar and leading intellectual of Bangladesh who made great contribution in the field of Bangla language and literature.
- The multi faceted Prof. Anusuzzaman was the President of Bangla Academy since 2012.
- Former underworld don Muthappa Rai (68), who had turned to social activism in the recent years, passed away in Bengaluru after a year-long battle with brain cancer.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet and two interceptor boats (IBs) C-450 and C-451 in Goa via video conference today.
- The ICGS Sachet, the 1st in the series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) has been designed & built indigenously by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment.
- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg today announced that Facebook's video-conferencing tool, Messenger Rooms, is now available to users in US, Canada and Mexico.
- It will be available to all users globally in the next week.
- Messenger Rooms can host up to 50 participants and can be created for free across Messenger and Facebook.
- IIT-Kanpur along with ALIMCO (Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India) developed Techno Advanced Disinfectant Tunnel to disinfect external surfaces and public places of coronavirus.
- The fully automated tunnel is fitted with ultrasonic sensors and includes 3 disinfection processes.
- The tunnel uses disinfectant spray as well as heat for the purpose and also exposes people to UV treatment.
- Roberto Azevêdo, the Director-General of World Trade Organization (WTO), has announced he will step down on 31st August 2020, a year before his term ends.
- Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda has launched the “GOAL (Going Online As Leaders)" programme of his Ministry in partnership with Facebook at a Webinar in New Delhi today.
- The GOAL programme is designed to provide mentorship to tribal youth through digital mode.
- The digitally enabled programme envisages to act as a catalyst to explore hidden talents of the tribal youth, which will help in their personal development as well as contribute to all-round upliftment of their society.
- Download January 2020 Month's Current Affairs PDF File from HERE
- Download February 2020 Month's Current Affairs PDF File from HERE
- Download March 2020 Month's Current Affairs PDF File from HERE
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