Current Affairs 7 April 2020

We are here for you to provide the important Recent and Latest Current Affairs 7 April 2020, which have unique updates of Latest Current Affairs 2020 events from all newspapers such as The Hindu, The Economic Times, PIB, Times of India, PTI, Indian Express, Business Standard and all Government official websites.

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Top 20 Current Affairs of 7 April 2020

NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Tamil Nadu topped in micro-irrigation coverage under PMKSY for FY 2019-20

The state of Tamil Nadu has topped the all-India level for micro-irrigation (MI), under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), with coverage of 2,06,853.25 ha for the year financial year 2019-20. The state is followed by Karnataka and Gujarat with 1,41,103.56 Ha and 1,08,322.00 Ha of coverage respectively.

• On the other hand, the cumulative total coverage of MI during 2015-2020 has been topped by Karnataka (8,15,690.31 ha) followed by Andhra Pradesh (7,17,421.08 ha) and Gujarat (7,00,858.35 ha). Tamil Nadu occupies the fourth spot with about 5,62,059.11 ha….Click here to Read More

ICMR approves TB machines for COVID-19 testing

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given its nod to Diagnostic machines used to test drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) for conducting COVID-19 tests. In this regard, Truenat beta CoV test on Truelab workstation will be used for the screening test of COVID-19. A total of 800 truenat machines are available in India.

• Currently, India is using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing approved by United States and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

About Truenat:
-It is a battery-operated small machine that requires minimal training and gives the result between 30-60 minutes.
-The sample of the throat and the nasal swab is collected by the trained technicians wearing personal protective equipment(PPE).
-There are two-way and four-way Truenat machines. Four-way Truenat machines can run 32 to 48 samples of multiple diseases – COVID19, HIV and TB, while two-way can handle 16 to 24 samples.
-The cost of a test on Truenat machines will be of Rs 1000-Rs.1500.
About ICMR:
It is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
Headquarter– New Delhi
Director General– Prof. Balram Bhargava

COVID-19 Testing, treatment free for Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries

On April 4, 2020 the National Health Authority (NHA) announced that more than 50 crore eligible citizens under the health insurance scheme of  Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) will avail free testing through private labs and treatment for COVID-19 in empanelled hospitals to increase the supply of testing and treatment facilities in the country.
Key Points
i.The empanelled hospitals under the AB-PMJAY can use their own authorised testing facilities or tie up with an authorised testing facility….Click here to Read More

Central government constitutes 10-member group headed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant to fight corona

On April 5, 2020, In order to deal with this coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the central government has constituted a 10-member group under the chairmanship of NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog CEO (Chief Executive Officer) Amitabh Kant.
Key Points:
i.The work of this group will primarily identify issues through 3 groups of stakeholders, the empowered group set up for coordination with private sector, NGOs and international organisations then present effective measures to address solutions to the issues related to the formulation of plans for counter-activities related to COVID-19. The 3 groups includes

• The UN agencies, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Civil Society Organisations and development partners
• Industry associations – CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), FICCI ( Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry), ASSOCHAM (Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India), NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Service Companies).
• Six meetings have been conducted since March 30 with various stakeholders about their contribution to the response.All three groups have proactively pointed out the areas where they need support which the government is following up.

ii.NITI Aayog write to the over 92,000 NGOs (Non-governmental organizations) / CSOs (civil society organisation) registered on its ‘Darpan’ portal to help the government identify hotspots, the elderly, the differently-abled, children & other vulnerable groups to fight against the virus.
iii.Other members of Committee include Dr Vijayaraghavan, PSA, Kamal Kishore (Member, NDMA); Sandeep Mohan Bhatnagar (Member, CBIC); Anil Malik (AS, MHA); Vikram Doraiswami, (AS, MEA); P. Harish (AS, MEA); Gopal Baglay (JS, PMO); Aishvarya Singh (DS, PMO); Tina Soni (DS, Cabinet Secretariat); and Sanyukta Samaddar (Adviser, SDG, NITI Aayog).
About NITI Aayog:
Headquarters– New Delhi.
Chairperson– Narendra Modi.
Vice Chairperson– Rajiv Kumar.

BANKING & FINANCE

Govt nominated IOB & HDFC Bank for collecting donations of PM CARES Fund

After State Bank of India (SBI), now State-owned Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) and private lender Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Bank have been nominated for the collection of donations for Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM-CARES Fund), which was set up on March 28, 2020 to raise money for providing relief to the affected due to Coronavirus outbreak.

• The contributions can be made by RTGS, NEFT, IMPS, cheques and demand drafts were drawn in favour of PM-CARES Fund.
• One can also remit contributions directly by electronic clearing system (ECS) to the designated savings bank account of nominated banks.
• It should be noted that all donations are entitled to 100% income tax exemption under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

About HDFC
The HDFC group has contributed Rs.150 crores to the PM-CARES Fund.
Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Managing Director (MD)– Aditya Puri
Tagline– We understand your world
Digital Assistant– EVA
About IOB
Headquarters– Chennai, Tamil Nadu
MD & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– KarnamSekar
Tagline– Good people to grow with

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS       

Naveen Patnaik conferred PETA’s “Hero to Animals Award”for feeding community animals

The Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik has been conferred with Hero to Animals Award by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India for allocating funds to feed community animals in five municipal corporations and all 48 municipalities of Odisha during the COVID-19 lockdown. He has allocated Rs 54 lakhs from a relief fund for the same.

• He has presented a framed certificate and a letter of appreciation from PETA India.

It should be noted that the central government advisory body the Animal Welfare Board of India had urged state governments and union territories (UTs) to allow animal welfare volunteers to feed community animals. Also, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries mandated veterinary services and animal shelters to function as normal and kept in the “essential services” list.
About PETA India
Establishment– 2000
Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra 

   SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Indian Railways’ RCF unit developed low-cost ventilator ‘Jeevan’ to fight COVID-19

The Indian Railways has developed a low-cost ventilator ‘Jeevan’ at its premier coach production unit,Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala in Punjab.The cost of “Jeevan” is around Rs 10,000 without the compressor and it will not rise over Rs 30,000 even after adding a few more indicators.The ventilator is now awaiting the final clearance from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

• It should be noted that this ventilator has produced at a time when the nation needs them utmost due to COVID-19 effect. Currently India has 57,000 ventilators but their requirement can be reached between 110,000-220,000.
• Also, Jeevan will produce low cost-effective service as other ventilators cost between Rs5- Rs15 lakh.

Key Points:
-If Jeevan receives final clearance from ICMR then RCF will produce 100 such devices every day.
-The reason behind its low cost is that it is produced from materials which were already available in the factory. For eg: the portable compressor has been made from an air cooling machine, the body from coach components, the argon flow has been taken from a laser welding machine, while the microprocessor has been taken from the coach information system.
About RCF:
Establishment– 1986
General manager– Ravinder Gupta

Start-up Aerobiosys Innovations at IIT-Hyderabad develops low-cost ventilator called ‘Jeevan Lite’

On April 4, 2020, In view of increasing cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) infection in the country, Aerobiosys Innovations Private Limited, a start-up incubated at The Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship (CfHE) in the Indian Institute of Technology-Hyderabad (IIT-H)– Telangana, has designed a low cost portable emergency ventilator called ‘Jeevan Lite’.  Aerobiosys has gone one step ahead by providing personal protection to the healthcare providers through IoT-enabled monitoring.
Key Points:
i.Jeevan Lite with internet access can be run through the mobile app. Apart from this, it will also run on the battery for up to 5 hours so that the patient does not have any discomfort during the power cut.
ii.Every breath of the patient will be recorded and will reach the doctor operating it from the app to enable telemedicine support. This device can also be connected to an oxygen cylinder and can operate on its own in ambient air.
iii.After receiving the certification for the device, Aerobiosys will produce 50 to 70 portable ventilators daily. The price of this product has been fixed at Rs 1 lakh & the design for manufacturing of the device will be delivered by first week of April 2020.
About Indian Institute of Technology (IIT Hyderabad):
Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana
Director– Budaraju Srinivasa Murty
About Aerobiosys:
Headquarters– Sangareddy, Telangana
Co-founders– Rajesh Thangavel and Cyril Antony

NASA’s Artemis: First human base camp on Moon’s South Pole by 2024

On April 2, 2020, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) unveiled its plan to setup ‘Artemis’, the first human base camp on Moon’s South Pole by 2024 through a 13-page report titled “NASA’s Plan for Sustained Lunar Exploration and Development”. The report was submitted to the National Space Council, an advisory group to United States (US) President Donald Trump, presided over by Vice President Mike Pence.

• The Artemis program aims to land first woman and next man on the moon by 2024. The report offered a summary of how the space agency will accomplish the 2024 moon landing mission.
• The plan is to make a one to two-month stay at the South Pole of the moon to learn more about it and the universe.
• Base camp will need infrastructure for power, waste disposal and communications, besides radiation shielding and a landing pad.

The Artemis program is carried out by NASA along with European Space Agency (ESA), the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the Australian Space Agency (ASA).
About NASA:
Establishment– 1958,
Headquarter– Washington, D.C., United States
Administrator– James Frederick Bridenstine

SPORTS

American Basketball player Kobe Bryant inducted into Naismith Hall of Fame

On April 4, 2020 American Basketball player & 5 time NBA champion Kobe Bryan will be posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, Massachusetts on August 29, 2020 along with 8 honourees.
Key Points
i.Los Angeles Lakers great Bryant was on the United States team that won the Olympic gold in 2008 and 2012 & also won the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 2008, a 2 time MVP finalists & earned 18 All-Star selections.
ii.Other inductees include-Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, coach Eddie Sutton, coach Rudy Tomjanovich, Tamika Catchings, coach Baylor Kim Mulkey, coach Barbara Stevens and longtime FIBA executive Patrick Baumann.
About Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
It is an American history museum and hall of fame that serves as the most complete library for basketball in addition to promoting and preserving basketball history. It is named after Canadian-American physician and inventor of basketball, James Naismith.

IWF bans Thailand & Malaysia from weightlifting at Tokyo Olympics

On April 5, 2020 The Independent Member Federation Sanctions Panel (IMFSP) of the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has banned Thailand and Malaysia from participating in weightlifting events at the Tokyo Olympics due to multiple doping offences.
Key Points
i.It has suspended the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (TAWA) for 3 years to April 2023 (TAWA officers are suspended for 2 years and ineligible for any IWF designation until its suspension) and imposed a fine of USD 2,00,000 & also suspended Malaysian Weightlifting Federation (MWF) for a year to April 2021.
ii.TAWA’s & MWC’s suspension will be reviewed and may be lifted on or after March 7, 2022 & as early as 1st October 2021 respectively if they are able to prove that they have met predefined criteria designed to prevent further doping issues.
iii.Both federations have a 21-day window to challenge the decision and appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
iv.The Thailand Federation has already voluntarily withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics after 9 weightlifters were caught for doping violations at the 2018 World Championships.
About IWF:
Headquarters– Budapest, Hungary
President– Tamas AJAN

Former Australian Test spinner Stephen O’Keefe retires from 1^st class cricket

On April 5, 2020, Former Australian Test Spinner Stephen Norman John O’Keefe, 35 years old, has retired from first-class cricket after being omitted from New South Wales’ list of contracted players for the next domestic season.
Key Points:
i.About Stephen O’keefe: Stephen, the Australian cricketer who has played for Australian national team in Tests and T20Is (Twenty 20 International). The left-armer took 35 wickets in nine tests including 12 in a match against India at Pune 2017.
ii.O’Keefe took 16 wickets at 22.25 as New South Wales won the Sheffield Shield four-day title last season.

East Bengal F.C contracts Indian-origin Iranian footballer Omid Singh

On April 05, 2020, East Bengal F.C (Football Club ),a professional football Club based in Kolkata, West Bengal (WB), has signed Iran’s Indian-origin footballer Omid Singh (29) for a 2-year deal.
i.Omid hails from Punjab and will join the I-League heavyweights from Naft Masjed Soleyman FC in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
ii.The I-League has been suspended due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with four rounds to go.

China’s High Jumper Zhang Guowei retires at 28

On April 6, 2020, China’s world silver- medallist high jumper Zhang Guowei, 28 years old, renowned for his flamboyant twerking celebrations, announced his retirement in high jumping.
Key Points:
i.About Zhang: He has won silver at the Beijing 2015 World Championships and also represented China in the London Olympics 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics.
ii.He holds the Chinese indoor record of 2.33 meters and has jumped 2.38 meters outdoors.

OBITUARY

Libya’s former PM Mahmoud Jibril passed away at 67

On April 5, 2020, Libya’s former Prime Minister (PM) Mahmoud Jibril el-Warfally passed away at the age 67 in Cairo, Egypt due to Coronavirus. He was born on May 28, 1952 in Benghazi, Libya.
Key Points:
i.About Mahmoud Jibril: He served as the interim Prime Minister (PM) of Libya for almost a year during the Libyan Civil War in 2011, chairing the executive board of National Transitional Council and later killed Moammar Gaddafi in 2011.
ii.He also served as an economic advisor to the Gaddafi government before the revolution and served as the interim leader until the country held its first free elections in four decades in 2012.
About Libya:
Capital– Tripoli.
Currency– Libyan dinar.

Malayalam Music composer M.K. Arjunan passed away at 84

On April 6, 2020, Famous Malayalam Music Composer M.K. Arjunan (fondly called as Arjunan Master) passed away at the age of 84 in Kochi, Kerala. He was born on March 1, 1936 in Fort Kochi, Kerala.
Key Points:
i.About Arjunan: He tuned about 700 songs, many of them among the biggest hits of all time. His songs were celebrated as much as those of great composers like G. Devarajan (who was also his guru), M.S. Baburaj, V. Dakshinamoorthy and K. Raghavan.
ii.Awards: Arjunan was awarded Kerala State award for the best composer in 2017 for Jayaraj’s Bhayanakam.
iii.Famous tunes: His famous tunes include Kasthoori manakkunnallo kaatte… (Picnic),
Yadukula rathidevane vide… (Rest House),  Nin maniyarayile… (CID Nazir), Chandrarashmi than… (Anweshansm), Sukhamoru bindu…(Ithu Manushyano), Chembaka thaikal pootha… (Kathirunna Nimiaham), Mallikappoovin madhura gandham… (Honeymoon) and Kuyilinte maninaadam…(Padmavyooham).

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Two new books providing a better understanding of COVID-19 will release in May 2020

To provide better understanding and prevention of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), two new books are all set to release in May 2020. The books are:

• How Contagion Works: Science, Awareness and Community in Times of Global Crisis” by Italian physicist Paolo Giordano.
• Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs” by epidemiologist Michael Osterholm and author Mark Olshaker.

Both books will be published by Hatchette, United States (US).
Key Points:
-“How Contagion works” will explain how contagion works and why people should limit their exposure to the outside world.  It should be noted that Giordano’s first novel, “The Solitude of Prime Numbers”, was translated into more than 40 languages worldwide and won the Premio Strega, the most prestigious Italian literary award.
-On the other hand Deadliest Enemy is a high scientific drama, a chronicle of medical mystery and discovery, a reality check and a practical plan of action.

IMPORTANT DAYS

National Maritime Day 2020: April 5

The 57^th Edition of National Maritime Day (NMD) was celebrated on April 5, 2020. The day is observed annually to raise awareness in supporting intercontinental commerce and the global economy as the most well- organized, safe & sound, environmentally responsive approach of transporting goods from one corner to another corner of the world.
Key Points:
i.About NMD: The National Maritime Day was first celebrated on April 5, 1964. The saga of India shipping first started on April 5, 1919, when the SS Loyalty, the first ship of The Scindia Steam Navigation Company Limited travelled from Mumbai to the United Kingdom (UK).
ii.Awards & recognitions: On this day, an award called “Varuna” is conferred to those who made an outstanding contribution to Indian maritime sector.
iii.About WMD: World Maritime Day (WMD) is observed on the last week of September on Thursday annually and this year the day will be celebrated on September 24, 2020.
iv.The theme for WMD selected by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for the year 2020 is, “Sustainable shipping for a sustainable planet”.

International Day of Conscience 2020: April 5

On April 5, 2020 The International Day of Conscience (IDC) is observed for the 1st time to recognize the need to establish stability, well-being, peaceful and friendly relations on the basis of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, irrespective of race, gender, language or religion & also to remind people to self-reflect, follow their conscience, & do the right things.
FIFA has joined forces with the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in supporting the”#BeActive campaign” launched on the UN International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
Background
i.The concept of peace culture emerged in July 1989 from the International Congress for Peace organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Côte d’Ivoire.
ii.The 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution on 31 July 2019 titled- “Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience” and declared 5 April as the International Day of Conscience.
Encouraging people to be #HealthyAtHome as the world comes together in the fight against COVID-19.

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2020: April 6

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSP) is celebrated every year on April 6 to recognize the power of sport in promoting social change, community development and to encourage peace and understanding. IDSP 2020 marks its 7th edition.
Key Points
i.The United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2013 has declared April 6 as IDSP & is celebrated annually since then 2014.
ii.The day focuses on aspects of sports that have a positive impact on the individual’s healthy development, where it emphasizes on playing games which are not only good for the body , but also boosts teamwork skills & increases the power to motivate oneself.
iii.The day honours the beginning of the first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896, in Athens.

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