MONTHLY MAGAZINE FOR TNPSC EXAMS MAY–2020

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01 - 26 HISTORY 01 . Important Days . Defence National Security and Terrorism . World Organisations – Pacts and Summits . Eminent Persons . Sports and Games . Books & Authors . Awards & Honours . Cultural Panaroma . India & its Neighbours . Appointments – Who is who?

27 - 19 POLITICAL SCIENCE 27 .India’s Foreign Policy .Latest Court Verdicts .Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility

30-45 GEOGRAPHY 30 .Policy on Environment and Ecology .Natural Disasters – Safeguard Measures

46-71 ECONOMICS 46 .New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector .Current Socio - Economic Problems 72 72 - 96 SCIENCE .Latest Inventions in Science & Technology . Latest Discoveries on Health Science . Mass Media & Communication 97

97 NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENTS

98

98 INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

99

99 TAMIL NADU AFFAIRS

104 PRACTICE QUESTIONS 104 Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Important Days History

1.1 Important Days

Date Day Theme / Remark

May 1 International Labour Day

May 3 World Press Freedom Day

May 5 World Hand Hygiene Day

The theme for 2020 International Day of International Day of the the Midwife is Midwives with women: May 5 Midwife celebrate, demonstrate, mobilise, unite – our time is NOW!. The theme for 2020 is ‘Enough Asthma May 5 World Asthma Day Deaths’. Theme : The drawing of a new era for Thalassemia: Time for a global effort May 5 World Athletics Day 2020 to make novel therapies accessible and affordable to patients May 8 World Thalassemia Day

The theme of World Migratory Bird Day May 9 World Migratory Bird Day 2020 is “Birds Connect Our World”.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 1 Important Days Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

This year’s focus is “Rebooting the economy through science and technology. PM Modi praises technology As the world continues to battle the Covid-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted the importance of technology in the fight against the Coronavirus as Technology Day was May 11 National technology day observed. Technology Day is observed to mark the successful testing of nuclear missiles in 1998 under the leadership of Vajpayee and scientist and former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. It was after the successful completion of these tests that Vajpayee declared India as a nuclear state.

Theme: Nurses: A voice to lead-Nursing May 12 International Nurse Day the World to Health Theme for the year 2020: “Families in International Day of Families May 15 Development: Copenhagen & Beijing + 2020 25”. The Sikkim Government celebrates its 45th Statehood Day. Every year Sikkim Sikkim celebrtes 45th State May 16 celebrates its State Day in May 16 as the Day state came into existence on this day in 1975.

May 16 National dengue day 2020

The theme for World Hypertension Day May 17 World Hypertension Day 2020 is Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, Live Longer. Theme for the year 2020: “Connect 2030: World Telecommunication May 17 ICTs for the Sustainable Development and Information Society Day Goals (SDGs)”. The theme of the day is “Museums for May 18 International Museum Day Equality: Diversity and Inclusion”.

2 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Important Days

May 18 World AIDS Vaccine Day

May 18 World Metrology Day

The day marks the death anniversary of India’s seventh Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on 21 May 1991. He was killed in Tamil Nadu in a campaign by the Tamil May 21 Anti Terrorism Day Tigers Eelam (LTTE) a terrorist group. After this assassination, V.P. Singh government has decided to observe 21st May as Anti Terrorism Day. Theme for International Day for Biological International Day for May 22 Diversity 2020 is “Our solutions are in Biological Diversity nature”.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 3 Defence, National Security and Terrorism Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 1.2 Defence, National Security at the Cochin International Airport in Kerala. and Terrorism The DRDO had deployed a similar disinfectant chamber at the All India Indian Navy launches “Samudra Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Setu” Operation Delhi on April 7 to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. The disinfectant chamber uses a solution that is known to kill COVID-19. It is expected to help in containing the spread of coronavirus. The DRDO has been lately working on providing a large number of medical and personal protection equipment for healthcare personnel in the country. The Indian Navy has launched ‘Samudra Setu’ operation as a part of the nation’s “The Resistance Front” efforts to bring back Indian citizens from “The Resistance Front” is the new name abroad. The operation’s name means ‘sea of terror group in Kashmir. The group is bridge’. made of existing terror groups such as Under the operation, INS Jalashwa and Jais-e- Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahidin, Magar have departed for the port of Male LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) and Al-Badr. in the Maldives to begin the evacuation The Resistance Front has claimed of Indian citizens. responsibility for the attack in Kupwara The Indian Mission in the Maldives is district along the Line of Control. preparing a list of Indian nationals, who Highlights will be evacuated by the Indian naval According to the Indian Army, The ships. The evacuees will undergo medical Resistance Front (TRF) is like the old screening before embarking the ships. wine in new bottle! The new terror Around 1000 people are expected to be group is being supported by Pakistan. evacuated in the first trip. This is being done to get deniability of action under the Financial Action Task DRDO installs its UV disinfection Force (FATF). Pakistan has been under chamber at Cochin International constant pressure from the FATF to Airport cut its financial support to the terrorist An Ultra Violet disinfection chamber has organizations. been installed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

4 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Defence, National Security and Terrorism

WHO, UN postal agency release Three years’ service among new commemorative postage stamp on models Army is looking to use for 40th anniversary of eradication of recruitment smallpox The Army headquarters is considering The World Health Organization (WHO) two different models for recruitment and the UN’s postal agency have in the future one under which youth released a commemorative postage can voluntarily serve in the Army for a stamp on 9 May to commemorate the temporary period of three years, and the 40th anniversary of the eradication of other where they are recruited by Central smallpox. Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), trained WHO’s smallpox eradication campaign and posted in the Army for about seven was launched in 1967. WHO raised years, before being transferred back. awareness about smallpox across the The recruitment models are being world through postage stamps. In 1980 considered to attract more youth to join May, the 33rd World Health Assembly the Army, fill up officers’ vacancies, and issued its official declaration that the reduce burgeoning defence pensions, world and all its peoples have won which make up nearly 30 per cent of the freedom from smallpox. defence budget and ballooned after the Smallpox: ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) scheme The causative agent of Smallpox is came into effect. the Variola virus. It is a member of The first model, of three years’ service, is the genus Orthopoxvirus, subfamily called ‘Tour of Duty’, while the other is Chordopoxvirinae of family Poxviridae. called ‘Inverse Induction’. The symptoms of smallpox include fever Indian coast guard ship sachet, (range of 101 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit), interceptor boats C-450 and C-451 malaise, head and body aches, vomiting, commissioned: Rajnath Singh rashes which turn into small red spots on the tongue and mouth, sores and bumps. Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh In 1796, Edward Jenner developed the has commissioned the indigenously-built first successful vaccine. The smallpox Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship (ICGS) disease has now been eradicated after Sachet, the 1st in the series of five offshore a successful worldwide vaccination patrol vessels (OPVs), and Interceptor program. Boats (IB’s) C-450 and C-451 in Goa by video conference from New Delhi. For the 1st time in Indian maritime history that a ship was commissioned through digital medium by maintaining strict protocol of social distancing due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 5 Defence, National Security and Terrorism Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

Sachet Coronavirus will push over 6 crore Sachet’ means alert is projection of will people into extreme poverty, says and commitment of ICG ‘to be ever World Bank vigilant for serving a nd protecting’ the The World Bank announced that the maritime interest of the Nation. coronavirus pandemic will push over 6 The 105 metre ship is designed and crore people into extreme poverty, even built indigenously by Goa Shipyard as it announced emergency operations Ltd (GSL) and is fitted with state-of- worth $160 billion (Rs 12.1 lakh crore) the-art navigation and communication in 100 developing countries to fight the equipment, sensors and machinery. virus. The World Bank approved $1 billion (Rs Indian Navy commissions 7th ship of 7,570 crore) emergency funding for India. MK IV class Landing Craft Utility ‘IN Globally, the novel coronavirus has LCU L57’ at Port Blair infected over 49 lakh people so far, and Lt. General PS Rajeshwar, Commanding- killed more than 3.23 lakh, according to in-Chief of Andaman & Nicobar the Johns Hopkins University. Command, has commissioned the 103rd Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class “Open Skies” treaty vessel ‘INLCU L 57’ (Yard no: 2098) into The treaty allows 34 countries to conduct the Indian Navy at Port Blair. It was the unarmed surveillance flights over one 7th in the series of 8 such vessels being another’s territories — including the US indigenously made by Garden Reach and Russia. It was signed in 1992 and Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited went into effect in 2002. (GRSE) for the Navy. Kyrgyzstan has signed, but not ratified The ship can be used for beaching the treaty. operations, search and rescue, Significance: disaster relief operations, supply and It was agreed just after the Cold War replenishment and evacuation from to allow signatories to avoid nasty distant islands. surprises by monitoring rival militaries. About LCU Mk-IV Class of ships: The treaty “was designed to enhance These ships are a further improved version mutual understanding and confidence of the Mk-III LCU Vessels fitted with by giving all participants, regardless close to 90% indigenous equipment, in of size, a direct role in gathering line with the central Government’s ‘Make information through aerial imaging on in India’ initiative towards achieving self- military forces and activities of concern reliance and indigenisation. to them.”

6 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Defence, National Security and Terrorism India sets up military war game Second squadron of Tejas fighter centre called ‘INDIA’ for Ugandan jets inducted into Indian Air Force at Defence forces in Jinja Sulur air base The Indian Association Uganda (IAU) and Adding more muscle to the Indian Air Indian Military Advisory and Training Force’s lethal power, the second squadron Team for Uganda Peoples Defence Forces of the indigenous Tejas Mk-1 FOC (Final (UPDF) have jointly set up military war Operations Clearance) fighter aircraft has game centre called ‘INDIA’ at the Uganda been operationalised at Sulur Air Force Senior Command and Staff College in Station in Coimbatore. Kimaka in Jinja District of Uganda with The aircraft inducted into the No.18 a cost of over 1 billion Ugandan shillings Squadron ‘Flying Bullets’, the only Param or $2,65,000. Vir Chakra Squadron of the IAF, was The centre was inaugurated by the manufactured at Hindustan Aeronautics Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Limited in Bengaluru. Museveni. The Tejas Mk-1 inducted into the No.18 Key Points: Squadron (Flying Bullets) -- the only The cost of the project was funded Param Vir Chakra Squadron of the voluntarily by Ugandans of Indian origin IAF -- was manufactured at Hindustan that will help make the centre’s region a Aeronautics Limited in Bengaluru. long-lasting symbol of the special bond The Tejas Mk-1 FOC aircraft has more that both the countries share. clearance to carry different types of The center will not only help the college weapons when compared to the earlier but also strongly support UPDF’s version of Tejas. transformation. In addition to Uganda, the East African region will also get benefitted in training peacekeeping troops that would cross the continent and beyond. The IAU donated a vehicle and other equipment to the Uganda to help in medical services during the battle against coronavirus (COVID-19).

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 7 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 1.3 World Organisations – WHO released first “State of the World’s Nursing Report – 2020 Pacts and Summits Countries facing greatest shortfall of nurses are in Africa, South East Asia and 2 crore Indian babies will be born the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region amid COVID as well as some parts of Latin America. One in every eight nurses practices in a

India is projected to record the highest country other than the one where they number of births in the nine months since were born or trained. COVID-19 was declared a pandemic The report estimates that countries in March, with more than 20 million experiencing shortages need to increase babies expected to be born in the country the total number of nurse graduates by between March and December, according on average 8% per year. to a top UN body. About The State of the World’s Nursing The United Nations Children’s Fund 2020: warned that pregnant mothers and babies It provides an in-depth look at the largest born during the pandemic across the component of the health workforce. world were threatened by strained health Findings identify important gaps in the systems and disruptions in services. nursing workforce and priority areas for An estimated 116 million babies will be investment in nursing education, jobs, born under the shadow of COVID-19 and leadership to strengthen nursing pandemic, announced by the UNICEF, around the world and improve health for ahead of Mother’s Day, observed on May all. 10. Other countries with the expected highest About WHO numbers of births during this period are Director General– Tedros Adhanom China (13.5 million), Nigeria (6.4 million), Ghebreyesus Pakistan (5 million) and Indonesia (4 Headquarters- Geneva, Switzerland million). Most of these countries had About ICN high neonatal mortality rates even before Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland the pandemic and may see these levels increase with COVID-19 conditions. India to participate in SCO foreign ministers’ virtual meet on coronavirus India will be participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting on Covid-19. The video conference is being hosted by Russia.

8 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will sustainable, affordable, and inclusive be attending the conference to discuss future energy system. the global challenges, preparedness, and The scores of ETI are on a scale from 0% response to the coronavirus pandemic. to 100%. The ministers will discuss topical regional Rank List and global issues and particularly focus Rank Country on developing cooperation within the India 74 SCO in the context of the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), the Sweden 1 upcoming 75th anniversary of the Victory Switzerland 2 in WWII and the 75th anniversary of the Finland 3 United Nations France (8th) and the United Kingdom (7th) The grouping will share information on are the only G20 countries in the top ten. best practices and areas of cooperation China, India, and Italy made consistent to work on, particularly in the medicine, improvements on overall ETI score since medical equipment, and pharmaceutical 2015 & Russia, Japan, South Korea and sector, given the fact that three of the Germany made moderate gains. world’s biggest pharma manufacturers -- About WEF: India, China, Russia are part of SCP. Headquarters– Cologny/Geneva, Switzerland India ranks 74th, Sweden tops: WEF’s Founder and Executive Chairman– Klaus global Energy Transition index 2020 Schwab According to the World Economic India likely to miss global nutrition Forum (WEF)’s targets by 2025: WHO’s Global global Energy Nutrition Report 2020 Transition Index According to World Health Organization (ETI) 2020, India (WHO)’s Global Nutrition Report 2020, has moved up two places from India is one among 88 countries to miss rank 76th (2019) to 74th with a score of global nutrition targets by 2025 & is with 51.5%, Sweden (74.2%) topped for the 3rd highest rates of domestic inequalities in consecutive time followed by Switzerland malnutrition. (73.4%) and Finland (72.4%). The index is India along with Nigeria & Indonesia are a composite score of 40 indicators, worst in disparities in stunting & the levels benchmarks 115 countries on the current varied four-fold across communities. performance of their energy system, and Aim– To inspire governments, civil readiness for transition to a secure, society and private stakeholders to act to end malnutrition in all its forms.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 9 World Organisations – Pacts and Summits Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Targets WHO warns of a ‘second peak’ in Reduce stunting by 40% in children under nations where COVID-19 spread is 5; Reduce Anaemia by 50% in women of slowing down reproductive age (15-49 years); Reduce The World Health Organization (WHO) 30% in low birth weight; No increase in has issued a warning for an ‘immediate childhood overweight; Increase the rate second peak” of infections in countries of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 that are witnessing a decline in COVID-19 months up to at least 50%; Reduce and cases. maintain childhood wasting to less than WHO warned that the nations will see an 5%. immediate second peak if they let down

Stunting– It is the impaired growth and their measures to halt the outbreak too development that children experience soon. from poor nutrition, repeated infection, Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s and inadequate psychosocial stimulation. Health Emergencies Programme stated About the report: during a press briefing that currently the It was conceived following the 1st world is in the middle of the first wave Nutrition for Growth Initiative Summit of the pandemic, where the disease is (N4G) in 2013. The 1st publication was actually on the way up. He added saying published in 2014. that epidemics often come in waves, About WHO: which means that outbreaks could come Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland back later in 2020 in places where the first Director General– Tedros Adhanom wave has subsided. Ghebreyesus

10 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Eminent Persons 1.4 Eminent Persons a Fellow for his seminal contributions in microstructural mechanics. His works include developing ‘metallic wood’, Tributes pour in for football legend sheets of nickel as strong as titanium, but Chuni Goswami four-times lighter thanks to their plant- Heartfelt tributes like nanoscale pores. poured in from all corners as India’s Donald Trump Nominates Indian- sporting community American Attorney As Federal Court mourned the death of Judge former football captain US President Donald Chuni Goswami, who Trump nominated an died at the age of 82 in Indian-American Kolkata. attorney to a federal

From Sunil Gavaskar to Sunil Chettri, court in New York. cricket and football stood united in grief Nominated as the judge for the loss of Subimal ‘Chuni’ Goswami, of the US District Court considered a colossus in Indian sports. for the Eastern District of New York,

Goswami, who led India to their first Saritha Komatireddy, is a prosecutor and Asian Games medal during the 1962 teaches law at the Columbia Law School. edition, also played for state team Bengal Komatireddy is currently Deputy Chief in first-class cricket tournament Ranji of General Crimes in the United States Trophy. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Indian-origin Cambridge Professor Previously she was Acting Deputy Chief, elected Fellow of UK’s Royal Society International Narcotics and Money Professor Vikram Deshpande from the Laundering (June, 2018 - January, 2019) Cambridge University have been elected and Computer Hacking and Intellectual as new Fellows of the prestigious Royal Property Coordinator (2016-2019). Society in the UK which recently added more than 60 exceptional scientists to its Israel names street after fold. Rabindranath Tagore on his 159th Active since 1660, the Royal Society is the anniversary oldest scientific academy in continuous Israel has named a street in Tel Aviv after existence. It is an independent scientific celebrated Indian poet Rabindranath academy made up of the most eminent Tagore as a tribute on his 159th birthday scientists, engineers and technologists on 08 May. Israel named it ‘Tagore from the UK and the Commonwealth. Street’ to commemorate the poet’s birth Deshpande, a Indian Institute of anniversary. Technology-Bombay graduate, becomes

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 11 Eminent Persons Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Gurudev : Journey of the Maestro U.S. President Trump honours Telugu through his visual vocabulary girl for gesture towards COVID-19 heroes

The National Gallery of Modern Art has organised a virtual tour to commemorate Little contributions in difficult times the 159th birth anniversary of Gurudev make a great difference, and when Sravya Rabindranath Tagore. The Virtual Tour Annapareddy sent personalised cards to has been titled as “Gurudev: Journey healthcare workers fighting COVID-19 of the Maestro through his visual across the United States. vocabulary. Hockey legend Balbir Singh Sr passes Nation celebrates 480th birth away anniversary of Maharana Pratap Triple Olympic gold Nation celebrates 480th birth anniversary medallist Balbir Singh of Maharana Pratap on 9 May. He was Senior breathed his last Born on 9 May 1540. To honour of the at a Mohali hospital. brave king, Maharana Pratap Jayanti is He was 96. Singh, who celebrated every year on 9 May. was member of the 1948 London Olympics Battle of Haldighati gold medal-winning Maharana is known for his bravery in the Indian hockey team, Battle of Haldighati. The battle was fought apart from being the vice-captain of the on 18 June, 1576 between Maharana and 1952 victorious side and skipper of the the forces of Akbar. Rana fought with 1956 champions, had been admitted to 22,000 forces against 2 lakh soldiers of the the hospital earlier this month on May 8 Mughal army. The Mughals were led by due to pneumonia and was on ventilator Man Singh of Amber. support. Singh, whose full name was Balbir Singh Dosanjh but was called Senior to differentiate from the other five Balbirs who played for India in later years, was also the oldest surviving Olympic

12 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Eminent Persons

medallist from India, a record which now Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo passes on to his 1948 London Olympics Monteiro De Castro Araujo joined the team-mate Keshav Dutt. Brazilian Navy Health Corps in 1997 & graduated from Staff college in 2012. Indian Army Major Suman Gawani About the award: becomes the 1st Indian peacekeeper In 2016 the 1st award was given & the Indian Army officer selection process for recipients began in and woman 2015 peacekeeper Suman The award is underpinned by the Gawani who has principles outlined in United Nations served with the Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) United Nations 1325 and follow-on resolutions on Mission in South women, peace and security. Sudan (UNMISS) & Recipients of the award Brazilian Naval 2016–Captain Aichatou Ousmane Issaka Officer Commander Carl Monteiro de from Niger for her service with UN Castro Araujo have been selected for the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization prestigious United Nations Military Mission in Mali(MINUSMA). Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2017–Major Seitebatso Pearl Block (2019). Suman Gawani becomes the 1st from South Africa for her service Indian peacekeeper to win the award. with United Nations Stabilization The award will be given during an online mission in the Democratic Republic of ceremony presided over by United Congo(MONUSCO) Nations Secretary-General António 2018–Lieutenant Commander Marcia Guterres on May 29, the International Andrade Braga from Brazil for her service Day of UN Peacekeepers. with MINUSCA Key Points She serves as the military Gender and Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo is the Protection Advisor in the UN Mission in second brazilian to receive this award. the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). This is the 1st time 2 different peacekeepers will receive the award. NGMA commemorates 115th Birth Suman Gawani Anniversary of Ramkinkar Baij Gawani joined the Indian Army in 2011 The National Gallery of Modern where she graduated from the Officers Art (NGMA) organised a virtual Training Academy, then joined the Army tour to commemorate the 115th Birth Signal Corps. She hails from Pokhar Anniversary of iconic artist Ramkinkar village in Tehri Garwhal. Baij. The virtual tour was titled as “Ramkinkar Baij Journey through silent transformation and expressions” and

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 13 Eminent Persons Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

was conducted in five different themes Rajya Sabha MP Veerendra Kumar namely: Portrait, Life Study, Abstract & passes away Structural Composition, Nature Study & M.P. Veerendra Kumar, Landscape, Sculptures. Ramkinkar Baij Rajya Sabha (RS) MP was the one of the most seminal artists from Kerala and of modern India. He was honoured Loktantrik Janata Dal with the Padma Bhushan Award by the (LJD) Leader, writer and Government of India in 1970, for his journalist, passed away irrefutable contribution to Indian art. at the age of 83 due to cardiac arrest in Former Tamil Nadu footballer Kozhikode, Kerala. He was born on July Shanmugam passes away at 77 22, 1936, at Kalpetta, Wayanad district, Former Tamil Nadu Kerala. Footballer and coach R. He also served as the Managing Director Shanmugam passed (MD) of the Malayalam daily newspaper away at the age of 77 Mathrubhumi and was also associated due to age-related illness with the Indian Newspaper Society as in Chennai, Tamil Nadu well as the Press Trust of India (PTI). (TN). He was born in Burma (now Myanmar) in 1943. Key Points: About Shanmugam: He had obtained diplomas in football coaching from the National Institute of Sports in 1975-76 and the Brazilian Football Academy in 1995. Shanmugam had attended the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) Coca-Cola coaching course in 1978 & 1991 and the Olympic solidarity course in 1996.

14 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Places in News 1.5 Places in News The research shows how rivers in drier Ladakh Himalaya are operating on Issue of geo-code to the kovilpatti longer time scales and how they respond to varying climates, an understanding peanut candy of water and sediment routing, which Kovilpatti, the so-called queen of the is important as the country improves its traditional food of Tamils, has been given infrastructure and develops smart cities. geological code. It helps To understand the landform Tamil Nadu already has Palani evolution in transitional climatic zone Panchamirtham, Madurai Jasmine, the Zanskar catchment was explored by Sungudi Sarees, Kodaikanal Hilltop, WIHG team by using morpho stratigraphy Pattamadai Boy, Kanchipuram Silk, and origin study of landforms like valley Bhavani Jamukalam, Thanjavur Plate, fill terraces, alluvial fans (triangle-shaped Thanjavur Painting, Thanjavur Veenai, deposit of gravel, sand, and even smaller Erode Yellow, Mahapalipattu Geodetic pieces of sediment, such as silt). code iss Bringing. Currently, the About WIHG: geopolitical code is provided for the f temple. f It was established in June 1968 Objectives - To undertake, aid, 35 thousand-year history of river promote, guide and coordinate erosion in Ladakh Himalayas research in geology of the Himalaya revealed: WIHG and foster a tradition of scholarships. ff Headquarters–Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur Netti, Arumbavur wood carvings get GI tag The Thanjavur Netti works (pith works) and Arambavur Scientists and students from Wadia Wood Carvings Institute of Himalayan Geology(WIHG), of Tamil Nadu an autonomous institute under the were accorded Department of Science &Technology, in the the study, published in the Global and Geographical Planetary Changes journal has revealed a Indication Tag 35 thousand-year history of river erosion by the GI and identified hotspots of erosion and registry. There wide valleys that act a buffer zones in has been a long-standing demand for GI Ladakh Himalayas Tag. The tag is awarded to products that

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 15 Places in News Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

the special for a particular geographical tag from the Geographical Indications area and prevents misuse of the Registry. For the Sohrai Khovar painting popularity of the products by others. of Jharkhand, application of GI-tag Thanjavur Netti work is made from was made by Sohrai Kala Mahila Vikas Netti (pith) from a marshy plant Sahyog Samiti Limited. For the Telia called as Aeschynomene Aspera. The Rumal of Telangana, application of GI-tag traditional artform used widely in the was made by Consortium of Puttapaka Brihadeeshwara temple Idols. The Handloom Cluster-IHDS. government has recognised the pith work Telia Rumal industry as one of the major handicraft Telia Rumal is a method for the oil symbols. treatment of yarn. It originated from Pochampalli in Telangana. Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting It is an art of Ikat tradition using natural & Telangana’s Telia Rumal gets GI- vegetable dyes. Tag The Sohrai Khovar painting of Jharkhand and Telia Rumal of Telangana have received the Geographical Indication (GI)

16 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Sports and Games 1.6 Sports and Games with Nadiia Kichenok, she secured the women’s double title at Hobart FIFA launches #WeWillWin campaign International. for health workers ICC India slips to 3rd Position Fédération Internationale de Football India has lost its top spot & has slipped to Association(FIFA), Switzerland the 3rd position(114) for the first time since based international governing body, 2016 in the International Cricket Council has launched a campaign called (ICC) test rankings, Australia(116) topped “#WeWillWin”, a special video to pay the rank, followed by New Zealand(115) tribute to health workers and other This is the second closest the top three professionals who ensure the society teams have been since the Test rankings continues to function among COVID-19 were launched in 2003. The closest for panademic. Former India football captain the top three teams were in January 2016, Bhaichung Bhutia who is also featured when India had led Australia and South among 50 past and present football stars. Africa by a single point. Sania Mirza, first Indian to be About ICC: nominated for Fed Cup Heart Award ff Headquarters– Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Sania Mirza became ff Chairman– Shashank Manohar. the first Indian to be nominated for the Fed CGF postpones 7th season of 2021 Cup Heart Award Commonwealth Youth Games to 2023 from the Asia/Oceania

Zone along with Priska Commonwealth Games Federation Madelyn Nugroho of (CGF) has postponed the 7th season of Indonesia, Estonia’s Commonwealth Youth Games 2021, Anett Kontaveit and scheduled to take place from August Luxembourg’s Eleonora Molinaro from 1 – 7 2021 in Port of Spain, Trinidad Europe/Africa, Fernanda Contreras and Tobago, to the year 2023 following Gomes of Mexico and Paraguay’s a clash with Tokyo Olympic 2020 Veronica Cepede Royg from Americas. dates postponed by a year due to the The voting for the award opens from 1st coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic. Click May until 8th May. here to Read More Sania Mirza won the doubles match which About Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF): helped her to win against Indonesia in the final Group 1 match and secured her ff Headquarters– London, England a place in the playoff. ff President– Dame Louise Martin In her comeback after giving birth in October 2018 in January 2020 pairing

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 17 Sports and Games Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup to About Fed Cup Heart Award: be held in February 2021 It is an International Tennis Federation(ITF) initiative established in The All India Football Federation (AIFF) 2009 to recognise players representing on declared that the FIFA Under-17 their countries in the Fed Cup by BNP Women’s World Cup will now be held Paribas. during February 17, 2021 - March 7, 2021 in India. The tournament was earlier About ITF: scheduled to be held on November 2, Headquarters– London, United Kingdom 2020. However, the AIFF had to cancel it President– David Haggerty due to COVID-19 outbreak. Bundesliga becomes 1st major sports Indian Tennis ace Sania Mirza event to resume post COVID-19 becomes 1st Indian to win Fed Cup lockdown Heart award 2020 The Bundesliga primary football league of Indian professional tennis player Sania Germany becomes the world’s first major Mirza (33) has created new history by sports event to resume after COVID-19 becoming the 1st Indian to win Fed Cup lockdown. The Bundesliga games began Heart Award 2020 for Asia/Oceania with empty stadium though the stadium zone. She decided to give a prize money had the capacity to hold more than 80,000 of $ 2000 to the Telangana Chief Minister players. Bundesliga means “Federal Relief Fund to help battle against League”. coronavirus. Tennis star Naomi Osaka becomes Sania is one of 4 winners chosen by a public vote, alongside Anastasija world’s highest paid female athlete Sevastova of Latvia (wins Qualifiers Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka has award), Mexico’s Fernanda Contreras becomethe highest paid female athlete Gomez (Americas I zone) and Estonian in the world, topping American great Anett Kontaveit (Europe/Africa I zone). Serena Williams. About Fed Cup Heart Award: Osaka earned $37.4 million in the last It is a UK (United Kingdom) based 12 months from prize money and International Tennis Federation (ITF) endorsements, $1.4 million more than initiative established in 2009 to recognise Williams, setting an all-time earnings players representing their countries in record for a female athlete in a single the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas year. Maria Sharapova previously held the record with $29.7 million in 2015, About Fed cup: news agency IANS reported. It is the world’s largest annual Since Forbes began tracking women international team competition in athletes’ income in 1990, tennis players women’s sport with 108 nations entered have topped the annual list every year. in 2019 was launched in 1963. 18 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Books & Authors Osaka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, 1.7 Books & Authors ranks No. 29 on the 2020 Forbes list of the world’s 100 top-paid athletes while A book titled “The Room Where It Williams is No. 33. Happened: A White House Memoir” Mizoram becomes the 1st state to give authored by John Bolton industry status to sports Mizoram sports minister Robert Romawia Royte informed that the state cabinet has cleared the proposal of the Sports and Youth Service department to grant sports an industry status to boost A book titled “The Room Where It the sports sector, generate employment, Happened: A White House Memoir” increase value of sports & to attract authored by John Bolton. The date of the private companies to invest in sports book release has been pushed back from which will benefit in terms of subsidy, May 12, 2020 to June 23, 2020, on Amazon. loans and concessions. It becomes the 1st com and Barnes & Noble Bookseller state to do so. Company. Key Points A new book “Shivaji in South Block: The industry status will help to meet the The Unwritten History of a Proud requirements of sportspersons and others People” by Girish Kuber involved in the sector & will ensure sustainability, proper registration and A New book named” Shivaji in South management of sports. Block: The Unwritten History of a Proud People” written by journalist Girish District Sports Stadium to be built at Kuber talks about the Maharashtra’s Rs.14.66 crore evolution from the past to the modern times and its contribution to the tapestry The legislative committee and CM of the country’s culture, politics, history Palaniswamy opened the construction of and society. the newly built district sports stadium in Kanchipuram at a cost of Rs.14.66 crore. Union Culture Minister releases The Peraringyar Anna sports stadium in e-book “Prof. B.B. Lal: India Kanchipuram district is being constructed Rediscovered” at a cost of Rs.14.66 crore Union Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has released an e-book titled “Prof. B.B. Lal: India Rediscovered” on the occasion of centenary year of great archaeologist Professor B. B. Lal. E-book titled “Prof. B.B. Lal: India Rediscovered”

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 19 Books & Authors Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

has been prepared by the Ministry of A Book titled “Wuhan Diary: culture along with Prof B B Lal Centenary Dispatches from a Quarantined City” Celebration Committee. authored by Fang Fang The book titled as “Wuhan Diary: A book titled as Vijyant at Kargil: The Dispatches from a Quarantined City” Life of a Kargil War Hero authored by authored by Chinese literary writer Colonel VN Thapar and Neha Dwivedi Fang Fang is a compilation of online The book titled as diary entries and social media posts that ‘Vijyant at Kargil: The document 60 days of lockdown during Life of a Kargil Hero’ COVID-19. The book was released in authored by Vijyant’s India. father Colonel VN Thapar and writer Neha 21st Century Skills and Principals’ Dwivedi, a martyr’s handbook daughter. Its e-book will be released on May 15. It Union Human Resource Development is published by Penguin Random House. (HRD) Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank released three handbooks “Psycho-Social Impact of Pandemic & through video conferencing in New Lockdown and How to Cope With” Delhi. The 3 handbooks was prepared by Union HRD (Human the Central Board of Secondary Education Resource (CBSE) on measures taken by the Board Development) Minister to adopt value-based global standards of Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal education. Nishank e-Launched print as well as JK Rowling releases children’s book e-editions of the set of 7 ‘The Ickabog’ online for free titles on “Psycho-Social Impact of Harry Potter author JK Rowling released pandemic & lockdown and how to Cope a new online Children’s book named With” under the corona studies series published by National Book Trust (NBT), ‘The Ickabog’ to entertain children India. These books will serve as guides to during Coronavirus lockdown. The new mental well-being of people at large. story will be serialized with a couple of chapters released for free online and About NBT: posted on “The Ickabog” website every National Book Trust (NBT) is an Indian weekday from May 26, 2020 to July 10, publishing house, founded in 1957 as an 2020 in instalments. autonomous body under the Ministry of Education, Government of India (GOI). About Ickabog: This is the first book of NBT now functions under the aegis author JK Rowling aimed at children of the Ministry of Human Resource since “Harry Potter and the Deathly Development, GOI. Hallows”.

20 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Awards & Honours 1.8 Awards & Honours Institute Chair Professor of Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras. The nation also conferred the Padma Shri on him American Academy of Arts and recently. Sciences honours Professor Shobhana Prof T Pradeep’s nanotechnology-enabled Narasimhan water filters have helped to deliver clean Professor Shobhana water for at a cost of just 2 paisa per litre Narasimhan has been in India. elected as an International He has demonstrated that completely Honorary Member to the home-grown nanotechnology, from American Academy of excellent science to relevant technology is Arts and Sciences. She possible in our institutions, with limited has been honoured for resources available from research grants, her distinguished work in the process transforming students to in the field of sciences. She has done entrepreneurs. remarkable work on the rational design of nanomaterials, determining the affect Indian journalists wins Pulitzer Prize of lowering of dimensionality and 2020 in feature photography reduction of size on the properties of Indian journalists namely Dar Yasin, material. Albert Einstein, Nelson Mandela Mukhtar Khan and Channi Anand and Charles Darwin are some of the have been honoured with the 2020 previous International Honorary Pulitzer Prize. These journalists have Members being honoured by the won the award in the field of feature American Academy of Arts and Sciences. photography. All the three journalists belongs to Associated Press. They have IIT Madras professor, Padma Shri been awarded for the lockdown coverage. awardee chosen for Nikkei Asia Prizes 2020 for clean water tech at ` 2 per litre IT Madras professor T Pradeep, a 2020 Padma Shri Awardee, was chosen for the prestigious Nikkei Asia Prizes 2020 in ‘Science and Technology’ category for his pioneering work in nanotechnology- based water purification. More than one crore Indians have benefitted from the research undertaken by the research group led by Prof T Pradeep, who is the Deepak Parekh

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 21 Cultural Panorama Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 1.7 Cultural Panorama 1.9 Appointments – Who is who?

Discovery of Antique Pottery Products Tarun Bajaj appointed as Economic near Cuddalore Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj took charge Pottery items were found when they as the new Economic were leveling agricultural land near Affairs Secretary on May Kulappa Countanapatti Mattapparai 1, 2020. He has assumed near Kodalur in Theni district. When the charge at a time when the farmer rammed the land that belonged to economy is under severe Ramar last Saturday, little earthenware stress due to the ongoing came to light. They informed the Vaigai coronavirus pandemic. Archaeological Survey. When they Tarun Bajaj is a 1988 batch IAS officer. He arrived they collected specimens of was previously serving as the Additional pottery from ancient times. According to Secretary in Prime Minister’s Office. He an archaeologist, the pottery found here has succeeded Atanu Chakraborty, who dates back to about 2500 years. retired on April 30, 2020. Antiquities found in a lake near Before joining the Prime Minister’s Office Thiruvallur in 2015, Bajaj was the Joint Secretary in the Economic Affairs Department, where The ancient pottery was found by the he primarily looked after multilateral youths of the area when the sand was funding agencies division. laid to build a temple in the lake near Thiruvallur. Ajay Tirkey assumes charge as Antiquities, such as old-fashioned cellars, Secretary of WCD Ministry baked earthenware pots, and water-filled Ajay Tirkey has assumed charge as the vases have been found. Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Beginning of excavation at Konthagai Child Development. He is a 1987 batch IAS officer from Madhya Pradesh cadre. Under Phase 2, excavation began on February 19 in Kondagai, Manalur and Arvind Kumar Sharma assumes Akaram. Due to the curfew, Manalur, charge as Secretary to MSME Ministry under the aegis of excavation on May 20,

had not started in the mangroves . Arvind Kumar Sharma has assumed the charge as Secretary to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Before assuming charge as Secretary to MSME

22 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Appointments – Who is who?

Ministry, he was serving as Additional of the 34-member WHO Executive Board. Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office The proposal to appoint India’s nominee (PMO). to the executive board was signed by the 194-nation World Health Assembly on Indian-American lawyer Ashok Tuesday, officials said on condition of Michael Pinto as US representative to anonymity. World Bank’s lending arm IBRD The chairman’s post is held by rotation United States President Donald Trump for one year among regional groups nominated Indian-American lawyer and it was decided last year that India’s Ashok Michael Pinto as a representative to nominee would be the Executive Board the International Bank for Reconstruction chairman for the first year starting. and Development (IBRD), the World About WHO Bank’s lending arm. He was nominated as US Alternate Executive Director of ff Founded: 7 April 1948 IBRD for a period of 2 years ff Member Countries- 193 f About World Bank: f Current Director of WHO- Tedros Adhanom The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans ff Head Quarters- Geneva, Switzerland and grants to the governments of poorer ff Current WHO’s executive board countries for the purpose of pursuing chairman - Dr Hiroki Nakatani capital projects. It comprises two Functions About executive board institutions: the International Bank for The Executive Board is composed of 34 Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) individuals technically qualified in the and the International Development Association (IDA). field of health, each one designated by Headquarters– Washington D.C., US. a Member State elected to do so by the President– David Robert Malpass. World Health Assembly. Member States are elected for three-year terms. Harsh Vardhan set to be WHO The Board meets at least twice a year; Executive Board chairman the main meeting is normally in January, with a second shorter meeting in May, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who is at immediately after the Health Assembly. the forefront of India’s The main functions of the Executive battle against coronavirus Board are to give effect to the decisions (Covid-19), is set to take and policies of the Health Assembly, to charge as the chairman of advise it and generally to facilitate its the WHO Executive Board work. on May 22 Vardhan would succeed Dr Hiroki Nakatani of Japan, currently the Chairman

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 23 Appointments – Who is who? Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Abhas Jha appointed by World Bank GR Chintala takes over as NABARD to Key position on Climate Change, chairman Disaster Management in South Asia GR Chintala has taken charge as the Indian economist Abhas chairman of National Bank for Agriculture Jha has been appointed and Rural Development (NABARD), by the World Bank to a the apex agri-finance institution said key position on climate on Wednesday. Chintala replaces HK change and disaster Bhanwala, who headed the organisation management in South for more than six years. Asia. Jha’s appointment Prior to this posting, Chintala was comes during the time managing director of NABARD Financial when Cyclone Amphan has badly hit Services (NABFINS), a subsidiary of West Bengal, Orissa in India, and NABARD headquartered in Bengaluru Bangladesh. Chintala has handled several consultancy Roles and Duties: assignments including a significant one Jha will help the South Asia region (SAR) on roadmap for amalgamation of regional Disaster Risk Management and Climate rural banks (RRBs) in 2006 that led the Change team to connect and collaborate way for the consolidation of 196 RRBs. across Global Practice boundaries. Indian-origin Siddhartha Mukherjee He will also guide the World Bank to appointed to Commission on conceive and deliver innovative and Economic Recovery of New York high-quality development solutions to respond to client demands and strengthen Indian-American disaster risk management and climate physician Siddhartha action in the region. Mukherjee has been appointed as the Member Abhas Jha: of Commission on Abhas Jha joined the Bank in 2001 in Economic Recovery of the office of the Executive Director (ED) New York. The for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Sri commission focuses on Lanka. Since then, he has worked in Latin jumpstarting the America and the Caribbean, Europe economy of the state that has been hit by and Central Asia, and East Asia and the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, Pacific regions. Indian-origin Satish Tripathi has been appointed as the Member of the commission.

24 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Historical events| India and its Neighbours IOC appoints Narinder Batra as member of Olympic Channel 1.10 Latest Historical events Commission “Ramayana” becomes Highest Indian Olympic Viewed Entertainment Programme Association (IOA) Globally President Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra, 63 years India’s epic mythological saga of the old, was appointed as a 1980s, ‘Ramayan’ has created the world member of the Olympic record of Highest Viewed Entertainment Channel Commission. Programme Globally. On 16th April, 2020, Badra also heads the the mythological show was watched by International Hockey 7.7 crore viewers all over the world. Federation (FIH). Key Points: About Narinder Batra: Batra also served as the president of Hockey India (2014- 1.11 India and its Neighbours 2016) and Asian Hockey Federation Nepal approves new political map (2003-2013). He was also the treasurer including India’s Kalapani, Lipulekh of Delhi & District Cricket Association as its territory between 2003 to 2013.

R Sreerekha to become Kerala’s first woman DGP R Sreerekha will be the first woman Director General of Police in Kerala as the Amidst the border dispute with India, Kerala government Nepal’s cabinet has accepted a new has appointed her as political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani Fire and Rescue and Limpiyadhura under its territory. Services DGP. She is India and Nepal are at a dispute after the presently an Indian side released its new political map Additional Director General of Police, on 2 November 2019, which covers above heading the Prisons and Correctional three areas in Indian territory. Services Department. Background: India and Nepal are at a dispute after the Indian side released its new political map on 2 November 2019, which covers

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 25 India and its Neighbours Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

Kalapani, Limpiyadhura and Lipulekh Routes areas in Indian territory. The inclusion of Sonamura (India)- The tension further increased after Daudkandi (Bangladesh) stretch of Gumti Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh river (93 Km) as IBP route No. 9 & 10 in the inaugurated a 80km road link connecting protocol will improve the connectivity of Kailash Mansarovar, a holy pilgrimage Tripura and adjoining States with Indian site situated at Tibet, China, that passes and Bangladesh`s economic centres through the territory belonging to Nepal. and will help the hinterland of both the countries. This route shall be connecting India, Bangladesh sign pact to all existing IBP routes from 1 to 8. operationalise 5 more ports of call & Background 2 new routes This Protocol, which was first signed in India & Bangladesh signed the 2nd 1972 (immediately after independence Addendum to the Protocol on Inland of Bangladesh) and since then the two Water Transit and Trade in Dhaka. Under countries have renewed the agreement this pact- Increased 5 more ports of call through PIWTT (Protocol on Inland from earlier 6 (Total- 11) & extended 2 Water Transit and Trade). ports of call in each country; 2 new Indo It was last renewed in 2015 for 5 years with Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes (from 8 a provision for its automatic renewal for to 10) & new locations are also added to a further period of five years giving long the existing routes to facilitate the trade term assurance to various stakeholders. between two countries. What is “Port of call”? It was signed by the High Commissioner As per the shipping Monitoring, of India in Bangladesh, Riva Ganguly Reporting and Verification (MRV) Das, and Bangladesh Shipping Secretary regulation, a “port of call” can be defined Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury. as the port of a country where cargo Ports or a passenger (cruise) ship halts to New Ports– The new ports of call in India discharge or load the cargo or to embark are Dhulian, Moya, Kolaghat, Sonamura or disembark passengers. and Jogigopha & in Bangladesh will be Rajshahi, Sultanganj, Chilmari, Daudkandi and Bahadurabad. Inclusion of Jogigopha and Bahadurabad will provide connectivity to Meghalaya, Assam and Bhutan. Jogigopha also becomes important, since a Multimodal Logistics Park is proposed to be established there.

26 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility POLITICAL 2. SCIENCE 2.1 Govt – Welfare oriented Coir Geo textiles to be used in rural road construction under PMGSY-III: Govt schemes, their Govt According to the National Rural utility Infrastructure Development Agency under Union Ministry of Rural Govt to run awareness campaign in Development, Coir Geo textiles has been 1 lakh villages on balanced use of finally gets nod as a good material for fertilisers for FY20-21 rural road construction under the third In this regard, Soil Testing Labs by youth phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak having education in agriculture, Women Yojana, (PMGSY-III). Self Help Groups, FPOs (Farmer’s About 1674 km road will be constructed Produce Organization) etc. will be set up using Coir Geo textiles in 7 states namely- at village level Soil Health Card (SHC) Andhra Pradesh ,Gujarat, Kerala , scheme. Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu (TN) Also Department of Agriculture, and Telengana with a cost of around Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare will Rs.70 Crore. launch a comprehensive campaign on About PMGSY: It was launched by the soil test based rational application of central Government in December 2000 to fertilisers and promotion of organic provide all-weather friendly single road farming including Bhartiya Prakritik connectivity to the prescribed size. Krishi Padhati (BPKP). About PMGSY-III: About SHC scheme Launched on December 18,2019, this Launched in 2015, under this Soil Health phase aims to construct 1,25,000 km of Cards are provided to all farmers at an roads with an estimated cost of about interval of 2 years. These cards provide 80,250 crores rupees (Central Share of information to farmers on nutrient status Rs. 53,800 crores) for the period 2019-20 of their soil along with recommendation – 2024-25. on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be The share of funds between the Centre applied for improving soil health and its and the states will be in the ratio of fertility.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 27 Govt – Welfare oriented Govt schemes, their utility Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

60:40, but in 8 North Eastern states and Super Year for Biodiversity three Himalayan states (Jammu and The United Nations framed 20 global Kashmir (J&K), Himachal Pradesh and actions to be implemented between 2010 Uttarakhand) it will be in the ratio of and 2020. This is called Strategic Plan 90:10. for Biodiversity. The year 2020 is called Super Year for Biodiversity GoI launches 5 initiatives towards Conservation of Biodiversity Webinar on “Van Dhan Scheme: To celebrate the International Day for Learnings for post COVID-19” Biological Diversity, 2020, the Ministry of The Department of Science and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Technology, Government of Rajasthan launched five initiatives on conservation has organized a webinar on “Van Dhan of biodiversity. Scheme: Learnings for post COVID-19” Highlights in assciation with TRIFED, under the The five initiatives include the following Know Your Scheme-Lecture Series. The “Biodiversity Samrakshan Internship TRIFED has partnered with UNICEF Programme” was launched. It aims at to initiate “Van Dhan Samajik Doori engaging 20 students in post graduate Jagrookta Abhiyaan” under which programme for a period of 1 year. tribals will be provided with relevant The programme will engage creative information regarding COVID-19 along students that are willing to learn about with several guidelines, nationwide and biodiversity conservation and natural state-specific webinars and instructions resource management. on safety measures to be followed. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) campaign called LIC launches “PM Vaya Vandana Illegal Trafficking of Endangered Species Yojana” for senior citizens was launched. The campaign is called Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) “Not All Animals Migrate by Choice”. has announced the launch of modified The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana, a campaign called Not All Animals Migrate social security scheme for senior citizens. by Choice was launched. This plan starts from May 26 for three A Webinar series was launched. The financial years up to March 31, 2023. The series was on “Biodiversity Conservation policy term is of 10 years and for policies and Biological Diversity Act, 2002”. sold during the first financial year up to The World Wildlife Fund Model March 31, 2021, the scheme will provide Conference of Parties was launched. an assured rate of return of 7.40 per cent It includes younger generation. This once a year payable monthly (which will engage them towards imprint of is like 7.66 per cent per annum) for the humanity towards biodiversity. whole duration of 10 years.

28 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Court Verdicts

2.2 Latest Court Verdicts

SC refuses to order restoration of 4G services in J&K

The Supreme Court, refused to order the restoration of 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, but set up a special committee, led by the Union Home Secretary to take a call on the issue after factoring in the security situation on the ground.

Supreme Court explains reference to larger Bench A nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court declared that superior courts enjoy untrammelled power to take up any cause to do complete justice. It invoked Article 142 of the Constitution “which enables this court to make any order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 29 Policy on Environment and Ecology Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 3. GEOGRAPHY

3.1 Policy on Environment and Ecology

Kashmir Saffron receives GI Tag Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad are The Saffron cultivated territories currently under Pakistani in the Kashmir valley occupation. India says the whole of has received Jammu and Kashmir is part of India, Geographical something that is contested by Pakistan. Indication Tag. It is That India had included the two regions to be noted that three in its Jammu and Kashmir meteorological other products such as Gorakhpur sub-division Teracotta, Kovilpatti Kadalai Mittai and The India Meteorological Department Black rice of Manipur also received GI tag (IMD) announced it had started recently. mentioning the region in its national weather bulletin ever since Jammu and About Kashmir Saffron Kashmir, and Ladakh were made two The Saffron cultivated in Kashmir is long, separate Union territories last year after thick and has natural deep red colour. the abrogation of Article 370. However, Also, it has high aroma and is processed it was not explicitly mentioned in the without adding any chemicals. regional forecast for northwest India. The colour of the saffron is unique due to the high quantity of crocin. It has st India’s CO2 emissions falls for the 1 a rich flavour because of safranal and time in four decades: Carbon Brief the bitterness is due to the presence of picrocrocin.

IMD lists Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzaffarabad under J&K meteorological sub-division In a first, the Indian Meteorological Department has included regions of

Gilgit-Baltistan and Muzaffarabad as part According to analysis by the of its Jammu and Kashmir meteorological environmental website, Carbon Brief, India’s Carbon Dioxide (CO ) emissions sub-division. 2 fell by 30 metric tones (1.4%) in the

30 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Policy on Environment and Ecology

fiscal year ending March, which is the A new species of small freshwater first annual decline in four decades. fish “Puntius sanctus” discovered in Furthermore emission fell by 15% during Velankanni, Tamil Nadu the month of March and is likely to fall by 30% in April. Fall of contribution- By an economic slowdown, the growth of the country’s use of renewable energy and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Professor Mathews Plamoottil, head of The analysis is done by Lauri Myllyvirta the Department of Zoology at the BJM and Sunil Dahiya of Centre for Research Government College, Chavara (Kerala), on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). has detected a new species of silver World carbon pollution falls 17% colored small freshwater fish “Puntius during pandemic peak sanctus” of the Cyprinidae family in Velankanni, Tamil Nadu (TN). The world cut its daily Key Points: carbon About Puntius sanctus: dioxide This fish is very small and Grows toa emissions length of 7 cm. Although this fish found by 17 per in Kerala and Tamil Nadu shows almost cent at the peak of the pandemic similarity, this fish found in Velankanni shutdown last month. differs from the rest of the species. In their study of carbon dioxide emissions Its physical features include a ‘protractible during the coronavirus pandemic, an mouth’, a pair of ‘maxillary barbels’ (a international team of scientists calculated sensory organ near the mouth), 24-25 that pollution levels are heading back up lateral line titrations and 10 pre-dorsal - and for the year will end up between 4 scales. per cent and 7 per cent lower than 2019 About Puntius genus: levels. That’s still the biggest annual drop The Puntius species is locally known as in carbon emissions since World War II. ‘Paral’ in Kerala and ‘Kende’ in Tamil The United States cut its carbon dioxide Nadu. levels by about one-third. China, the world’s biggest emitter of heat-trapping gases, sliced its carbon pollution by nearly a quarter in February. India and Europe cut emissions by 26 per cent and 27 per cent respectively.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 31 Natural Disasters – Safeguard Measures Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 3.1 Natural Disasters – Safeguard Measures

Disasters, conflicts trigger 5 million Cyclone Amphan displacements in India in 2019: IDMC India Meteorological Department (IMD) According to a recent report from the has warned of heavy rainfall across Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Odisha titled ‘The Global Report on Internal and West Bengal due to Cyclone Amphan Displacement (GRID 2020)’, nearly 5 that is likely to form in the southern Bay million(mn) people were displaced in of Bengal India in 2019, the highest in the world so The Metrological department issued far. an alert on the Cyclone Amphan to the About GRID 2020: National Disaster Response Force and the It is a global reference for internal chief secretaries of eight states and Union displacement data and analysis and is Territories. widely used by policy-makers, national The name Amphan was suggested by governments, United Nations(UN) Thailand and is the last name from the agencies, international Non-Government original list of 64 cyclone names proposed Organisations (NGOs), journalists and in 2004 for storms over the north Indian academics. Ocean. About IDMC: It is the world’s authoritative source of data and analysis on internal displacement. It has been a part of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) since its establishment in 1998. Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland Director– Alexandra Bilak

32 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

4. ECONOMICS 4.1 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

India ranks 53rd in budget Government, and assesses whether these transparency; New Zealand tops: are made public, in a timely manner, and IBP’s Open Budget Survey 2019 provide comprehensive information. According to the 7th edition of ‘Open RBI most popular among central Budget Survey 2019’ conducted by banks International Budget Partnership (IBP), India has been ranked at 53rd position The Reserve Bank of India is not the among 117 nations in terms of budget most powerful in terms of monetary fire transparency and accountability with the power like its peers in the US and Europe score of 49 out of 100. While New Zealand but when it comes to popularity, the has been topped the list with a score of 87. monetary authority is the most followed The global average transparency score on on Twitter. this survey was 45. With the microblogging site emerging Performance of India: As per IBP, the as a key platform for information Centre for Budget and Governance dissemination, many central banks are Accountability (CBGA) has helped to active on Twitter, especially in these know the performance of India in this times of economic uncertainties amid the survey, which is just a stagnation over coronavirus pandemic. the last few year.India also functioned The 85-year-old RBI and its Governor better in publishing timely and relevant Shaktikanta Das have separate Twitter information in the audit reports and in- accounts. year reports. RBI’s Twitter handle has 7.45 lakh followers. On April 20 alone, the handle About the ranking: saw 1.31 lakh new followers, according The survey ranked the countries in 5 to an official with the central bank, who different categories based on their scores. attributes the massive spike to an ongoing [0-20: scant, 21-40: minimal, 41-60:limited, campaign. 61-80:substantial,81-100:extensive]. Since March 2019, the count of followers It evaluates each nation’s 8 key budget has more than doubled from just about documents of the Central or Federal

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3,42,000 to over 7,50,000 to data Bank of Baroda disburses Rs 2,300 Closely behind RBI is the Bank Indonesia, cr to MSMEs under emergency credit the central bank of the East Asian nation, line facility with 7.15 lakh followers. At the third spot The MSME sector is key priority area and is Banco de Mexico - the apex bank of Bank of Baroda (BoB) is taking various Mexico - with 7.11 lakh followers on the steps, including a Rs 2,300-crore financial microblogging site. support, to help the sector hit hard by the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Growth in 8 sectors declined 6.5 The state-owned bank launched an percent in March emergency credit line to provide funds The country’s eight core sectors saw to its existing MSME and corporate growth of 6.5 per cent in March. borrowers in the last week of March, soon Crude oil, fertilizers, steel, cement and after the lockdown was announced. electricity have declined by 6.5 per cent, To provide relief to the stressed MSME mainly due to a sharp fall in production. sector, the RBI extended the one-time Crude oil, coal, natural gas, petroleum restructuring scheme by another one refinery products, fertilizers, steel, cement year till March 2021. As per the central and electricity are the eight major sectors. bank’s directive, the restructuring under The eight core sectors grew by 5.8 per the scheme has to be implemented by cent in March last year. December 31, 2020.

India’s Jan-Mar gold demand falls CAIT to launch national e-commerce 36% due to volatile prices, economic marketplace “bharatmarket” for uncertainties: WGC retail traders Gold demand in India fell 36 per cent in Traders’ body Confederation of All India the January-March quarter of this year Traders (CAIT) has announced to launch to 101.9 tonne due to volatile prices, a national e-commerce marketplace economic uncertainties and coronavirus- ‘Bharatmarket’ soon for all retail traders induced nationwide lockdown towards in collaboration with several technology the end of the quarter partners. About WGC CAIT stated the marketplace will integrate The World Gold Council is the market capabilities of various technology development organisation for the gold companies to provide end-to-end industry. It works across all parts of services in the logistics and supply chains the industry, from gold mining to from manufacturers to end consumers, investment, and their aim is to stimulate including deliveries at home. and sustain demand for gold. CAIT Secretary General Praveen Headquarters: London, United Khandelwal said the e-commerce portal Kingdom will include a nationwide participation

34 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

by retailers and aims to bring 95 per cent (SAFE) loan limit has been increased to 2 of retail traders onboard the platform, crores from Rs 50 lakhs. who would exclusively run the portal. About SIDBI: Headquarters– Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh ‘India SME Services Platform’ to be Chairman & Managing Director (MD)– launched: SIDBI Mohammad Mustafa The Small Industries India’s Unemployment Rate rises to Development 27.11%: CMIE Bank of As per the data of Centre for India(SIDBI) informed that it will launch Monitoring India Economy (CMIE), ‘India SME Services Platform’, a digital the unemployment rate in India rose to platform to educate stakeholders in the 27.11 percent for a week on May 3 due small and medium enterprises(SME) to the COVID-19 lockdown. Earlier in a ecosystem and have information on week that ended on March 15, 2020, the coronavirus-related initiatives for the unemployment rate was 6.74%. During sector the lockdown, nearly all the economic Gist about the Platform activities were suspended which led to Provide Micro, Small and Medium the increase in unemployment in India. Enterprises (MSMEs) information about starting operations, getting finance, credit Iran changes national currency from enhancement and other support services. ‘rial’ to ‘toman’ Bring together all MSMEs, MSME Iranian lawmakers voted to change Iran’s ecosystem stakeholders, financiers, national currency from ‘rial’ to ‘toman’. corporates, government, regulators, The lawmakers approved an amendment employees and associations in an to Iran’s Monetary and Banking Act of interactive platform, where all will be Iran to make the change. at one place & one place for all kinds of Under the amended law, the existing initiatives. currency of Iran will continue to remain Other initiatives by SIDBI in relation to valid alongside “toman” for two years, COVID-19 during which the old coins and bills will Launched special liquidity schemes be gradually collected to replace them to support Micro, Small and Medium with new ones. Enterprises(MSMEs) The new currency is equal to 10,000 rials, Announced that it will provide emergency marking a reduction of four zeros. The working capital of up to Rs 1 crore to new currency has been introduced amid SMEs. The SIDBI Assistance to Facilitate the sharp fall in the value of Iranian Emergency response against coronavirus currency as a result of crippling sanctions imposed by the United States.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 35 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

The new bill will need to be approved by ‘Baa2’– is an investment grade rating the clerical body that approves legislation with moderate credit risk. before it comes into effect. About Moody’s: Headquarters– NewYork, United States. SBI launches special FD scheme for senior citizens Khadi & village industries turnover State Bank of India (SBI) has launched reaches to Rs. 88, 887 crore in 2019- a special fixed deposit (FD) scheme 20 for senior citizens called ‘SBI Wecare The total Khadi and village industries Deposit’. This has been introduced in the turnover in the year 2019-20, has reached retail term deposit segment to safeguard to Rs. 88, 887 crore. the interests of senior citizens in the In the last one year, the turnover of Khadi current falling rate regime in the time of registered a growth of 31 per cent. Khadi coronavirus pandemic. and Village Industry Commission, KVIC SBI says under this new scheme, an Chairman, Vinai Kumar Saxena has additional 30 basis points (bps) premium attributed Khadi’s phenomenal growth will be payable for senior citizen’s retail to the sustained efforts of Prime Minister term deposits with “5 Years & above” Narendra Modi. tenor only. In 2018-19, it registered an increase of 31 The ‘SBI Wecare Deposit’ scheme would per cent in the sale of Khadi and over 19 be in effect upto 30 September 2020. per cent rise in the sale of village industry products despite nationwide lockdown Moody’s slashes India’s GDP growth in wake of Covid-19. to zero in FY 21 from 2.6% The sale of Khadi fabric products Moody’s slashed down India’s Gross increased by 179 per cent from Rs. 1510 Domestic Product (GDP) growth to zero crore in 2015 -16 to Rs. 4,211 crore in for the current fiscal 2020-21 from its 2019-20. earlier forecast of 2.6%. In 2021-22 India’s About KVIC GDP growth rate will bounce back to ff Founded: 1956 6.6%. ff Headquarters: Mumbai Major highlights No change in sovereign rating which Central Board of Direct Taxes amends stands at ‘Baa2’ with ‘Negative’ outlook 44G of Income-tax Rules 1962 for India. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) The negative outlook reflects an increase amended Rule 44G of Income-tax Rules, in risk that economic growth remains 1962 for making an application to invoke significantly lower than in the past & is the mutual agreement procedure in Form triggered by COVID-19. no.34F which will be called Income-tax (8th Amendment) Rules, 2020

36 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

According to the Agreements between current financial year due to the impact India and the other countries or specified of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic territory within an average time period Key Points: of 24 months the authority in India will It means both the firms predicted a endeavour to arrive at mutually agreeable contraction of 0.4 % of India’s GDP in the resolution of the tax disruption. current financial year due to the impact of It states that the acceptance or non- the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. acceptance within 30 days. The Nomura’s forecast: It predicted India’s acceptance of the resolution, the assessed GDP growth forecast for 2020 to minus 5 shall withdraw any appeal field in this %. However it has been increased to 7.9 regard and pay the tax determined by the % for 2021 (from 7.3 % forecast). Nomura assessing officer after giving effect to the expects the central government’s fiscal resolution. deficit to rise to 7 % of GDP in FY21, The rule 44H has been omitted with this which is higher than the target of 3.5 & amendment. and much higher than the earlier forecast About CBDT: of 5.1%. ff Chairman– Pramod Chandra Mody Goldman’s forecast: In April 2020, it had ff Headquarters– New Delhi expected GDP growth to slip to 1.6 % in ff Established– 1924 FY21. However, it was earlier 2.7 % in the general opinion. Ratings agencies Goldman Sachs & Recently, global rating agency Moody’s Nomura cut India’s economic growth cut India’s growth estimate to 0 % for projections for 2020-21 the current fiscal 2020-21, which is lower than 4.8 % estimated in 2019-20. Goldman Sachs Group, About Nomura Holdings, Inc: Inc. has ff Headquarters– Tokyo, Japan predicted ff About Goldman Sachs Group, Inc: India’s GDP ff Headquarters– New York City, U.S. (Gross domestic PM Modi announces Rs 20 lakh crore product) growth for 2020-21 (FY21) at special economic package -0.4% following the expansion of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi lockdown. announced a Rs 20-lakh-crore stimulus While Nomura Holdings, Inc. has also package, equivalent to about 10% of lowered India’s FY21 GDP growth India’s GDP, aimed at making the country forecast to–5.2% from -0.4% predicted self-reliant and reviving the stalled earlier. economy. Details of the plan, dubbed It means both the firms predicted a the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, will contraction of 0.4 % of India’s GDP in the be unveiled by finance minister Nirmala

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 37 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

Sitharaman enterprises (MSME) sector, Finance The package is for our labourers, farmers, Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced honest tax payers, MSMEs and cottage collateral-free automatic loan worth Rs 3 industry. lakh crore. 6 Covid relief measures announced by BRICS’ New Development Bank FM Nirmala Sitharaman to make MSMEs provides USD 1 billion loan to India ‘atmanirbhar’. to fight COVID-19 The Indian Finance Minister Nirmala The New Sitharaman announced six measures for Development the MSME sector as part of the Modi Bank of the government’s ` 20 lakh crores stimulus BRICS countries package. has fully The Six measures for the Micro, Small and disbursed USD Medium Enterprises (MSME) include one billion emergency assistance loan to collateral-free loans, additional debt and India to help it contain the spread of equity infusion. The government has also COVID-19 and reduce human, social and announced a new policy that will shield economic losses caused by the coronavirus the Indian MSME businesses from unfair pandemic. competition from foreign companies. The Shanghai-based New Development According to the MSME Development Bank (NDB) was established by the Act, 2006, enterprises which are in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South manufacturing and service sectors Africa) countries in 2014 and is headed by qualify as MSMEs. Subject to investment veteran Indian banker K V Kamath. and turnover limits. The purpose of the bank is to mobilise resources for infrastructure and PM Modi announces Atma Nirbhar sustainable development projects in Bharat Abhiyan BRICS countries and other emerging economies and developing nations, complementing the existing efforts of multilateral and regional financial institutions for global growth and development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Nirmala Sitharaman announces announced a new scheme called “Atma collateral-free loans for MSMEs worth Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan”. Under the Rs 3 lakh crore new scheme, 20 lakh crore of package has In a bid to provide support to the been announced. struggling micro, small and medium

38 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

Features of the scheme Govt to launch affordable rental Under the scheme, the government of housing scheme for migrant workers India is to support key sectors and also Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman help achieve measures undertaken by announced that the Government will Reserve Bank of India. The economic launch affordable rental housing scheme package is 10% of the GDP. for migrant workers.

The package will also focus on The Finance Minister also unveiled the strengthening local markets and supply contours of a scheme for affordable rental chains. housing for migrant workers to provide ease of living by converting government- UN forecasts India to grow at 1.2% funded housing in cities into Affordable in CY20 and global economy to shrink Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) by 3.2% under PPP mode through concessionaire. In the United Nations (UN) World For middle income group with Rs 6 lakh Economic Situation and Prospects to Rs 18 lakh annual income, Sitharaman (WESP) midyear report forecast that the announced an extension of the affordable COVID-19 pandemic situation will shrink housing scheme till March 2021. the world economy by 3.2% in 2020 this is For middle income group with Rs 6 lakh the sharpest contraction since the 1930’s Great Depression and India’s economy to to Rs 18 lakh annual income. Credit grow at 1.2% in 2020. linked subsidy scheme for affordable housing extended till March 2021. Key Points: Another 2.5 lakh families will benefit. The mid 2020 report of WESP states that Expected to give a Rs 70,000 crore boost to the COVID-19 pandemic situation is housing. The second tranche of economic expected to cut off the global economic output by arournd 8.5 trillion USD in the stimulus package will be for the benefit next two years which will nearly wipe of migrant workers, street vendors and out all the gains of the past four years. small farmers. At a press conference, The UN forecast in January before the she said 3 crore marginal farmers have COVID-19 pandemic expected a modest already availed Rs 4 lakh crore of loans acceleration of growth by 2.5% in 2020 on concessional rates. Around 90% of the world economy is Nirmala Sitharaman also declared a big under the form of lockdown, disrupting push towards One Nation, One Ration supply chain, depressing consumer Card. While announcing measures for demand and unemployment. migrant workers, Sitharaman said that About UN Department of Economic and 100 per cent of ration cardholders will be Social Affairs (DESA): covered in One Nation One Ration Card Under Secretary General(USG)- Liu scheme by March 2021. Zhenmin Headquarters- New York

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 39 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

Finance Minister Announces Rs 1 Lakh critical gaps in fisheries value chain. This Crore Agricultural Infrastructure move will provide employment to over Fund 55 lakh persons & double exports to Rs 1 lakh crore. Finance Minister FM noted that a new scheme has been Nirmala Sitharaman launched for interest subvention @ 2% provided the details of per annum to dairy cooperatives for 2020- third tranche of 21 aimed at unlocking Rs 5000 crores economic package additional liquidity, benefitting 2 crore focusing on agriculture farmers. and allied activities Government will amend Essential fisheries, animal husbandry, dairy, etc. Commodities Act to enable better price FM announces Rs 1 lakh crore agri realisation for farmers. Agriculture infrastructure fund for Farmer Producer foodstuffs, including cereals, edible oils, Organizations, aggregators, primary oilseeds, pulses, onions and potato, will agriculture cooperative societies for be deregulated. strengthening farm-gate infrastructure such as cold chains, post harvest World Bank to lend $1 billion to management infrastructure. support India’s Covid fight Government announced an Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development The World Bank announced $1 billion Fund worth Rs. 15,000 crore to support (approximately ` 7,500-7,600 crore) private investment in Dairy Processing, loan for India to support its Covid-19 value addition and cattle feed Social Protection Response Programme. infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Bank has announced it is National Animal Disease Control revising its India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Programme has been launched with Product) growth estimate downward total outlay of Rs. 13,343 crores for 100% from the previous projection of 1.5 per vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat cent. and pig population in India. Fifth Tranche of Atma Bharat Abhiyan FM announced 10,000 crore Fund announced for Micro Food Enterprises (MFEs) Marketing assistance to help local The Union Finance Minister Nirmala products create global impact, focus on Sitaraman announced the fifth and organic, nutritional and health & wellness final tranche of Atma Nirbhar Bharat products, cluster-based approach. Abhiyan. The scheme is to implement Government is to launch Pradhan Mantri several measures to fight COVID-19 at Matsya Sampada Yojana for integrated, an allocated budget of Rs 20 lakh crore sustainable, inclusive development economic packages. of marine and inland fisheries to plug

40 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

Highlights to offset the impact of the Covid-19 Under the fifth tranche of the scheme, outbreak. the finance minister announced seven FDI limit in defence production through steps. This included MNREGA, health automatic route (meaning specific and education, decriminalization approvals are not needed) has been of Companies Act, businesses and increased to 74% from 49%, while private COVID-19, Public Sector Enterprises, sector participation has been allowed in Ease of Doing Business, State space exploration as part of structural Governments and related resources. reforms that were announced for a variety of sectors including mineral mining, civil Global economy could witness losses aviation and atomic energy. up to $8.8 trillion: ADB The Centre would carry out a significant uplift of industrial infrastructure in states The global economy is expected to suffer $5.8-8.8 trillion in losses due to after ranking all 3,376 industrial parks the coronavirus pandemic, said by the and special economic zones with 5 lakh Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a hectares or more of land. The government new report subsequent to its economic will come out with incentive schemes for outlook released in early April. promotion of sectors such as solar PV manufacturing and advanced cell battery Of this, the impact on South Asian gross domestic product (GDP) will be to the storage.

tune of $142-218 billion. About `50,000 crore will be spent by the government for creating evacuation The GDP in South Asia will also be lower by 3.9-6%, mainly reflecting the tight infrastructure, including `18,000 crore restrictions in place in countries like on rail infrastructure, for transporting Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, ADB mined coal to pit heads. The government said in its updated assessment of the will provide Rs 8,100 crore as viability Potential Economic Impact of COVID-19. gap funding for creation of social infrastructure, including hospitals. The Nirmala Sitharaman announces first three installments of the stimulus major reforms in coal, defence programme announced earlier this week manufacturing comprised schemes worth a total of Rs 9.9 lakh crore. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled a slew of steps to spur Aviation investments, including relaxation of The aviation package includes measures foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in for better airspace management across defence, privatisation of six more airports, the country and those aimed at making and fully opening up coal mining to the India a maintenance, repair and overhaul private sector, in the fourth installment of hub, and privatisation of government an expansive economic stimulus package airports. “Today, only 60% of the airspace

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 41 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

is available for commercial flights and ICRA sharply cuts India’s GDP growth discussions will happen to ensure forecast for FY21 at -5% that more airspace is made available ICRA Limited (formerly Investment to commercial flights, which will not Information and Credit Rating Agency) just reduce travel time between two has sharply reduced the India’s FY21 destinations but also reduce cost of (Fiscal Year 2020-21) growth forecast to operations for the airlines,” Sitharaman minus 5 % from 1%-2% growth predicted said. The government will also privatise earlier, due to the multiple extension six more airports. of lockdown and labour mismatches results in further delays in supply chain Indian economy to contract 5% in resumption. FY21: Goldman Sachs However, the agency predicted better American brokerage Goldman Sachs growth of 2.1 % growth in Q3 and 5 % in expects the Indian economy to contract Q4 of current FY 2021. by 5% in FY21, which will be the deepest compared to all recessions India has ever experienced since 1979. It is against its earlier forecast of 0.4% contraction before revising it down to a level it shares with Japanese brokerage Nomura. American brokerage Goldman Sachs expects the Indian economy to contract by 5% in FY21, which will be the deepest compared to all recessions India has ever experienced since 1979. It is against its earlier forecast of 0.4% contraction before revising it down to a level it shares with Japanese brokerage Nomura. Major Highlights It expects India’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) growth will contract by 45% in the 2nd quarter from the prior Key Points: three months compared to its previous It has also reduced the growth forecast forecast of a 20% slump. in first quarter (Q1) of FY2021 to 25 % as There will be a strong sequential compared to the previous forecast of 16- mechanical rebound in the September 20 % and to minus 2.1 % in Q2 as against quarter(Q3)& expect a 20% annualised the 2.1 % growth predicted earlier. It gain growth in GDP over the level of implied the economy was in recession. June-end. The earlier estimation was of a About ICRA Limited: 10% gain. Headquarters– Gurugram, Haryana.

42 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector

Indian exports to fall by 20% during Aim– to make Indian products more FY 21: FIEO competitive in the global markets. The Federation of Indian Export RBI allows 3 month extension of loan Organisations (FIEO), apex body of EMI moratorium exporters informed that Indian exports are expected to fall by 20% in the current The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) fiscal, in value terms it will be around announced an extension of the USD 50 to 60 billion & also imports due previously announced three-month loan to COVID-19 pandemic. EMI moratorium by another 3 months to August 31, 2020. The central bank, in Major Highlights March had announced a three-month FIEO has requested the government EMI holiday from March 1, 2020, till May to provide 2% additional Merchandise 31, 2020 on all term loan repayments like Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) auto, home, personal loan EMIs and so support to all exports & 4% to labour- on. intensive sectors like apparel, leather, This extension is especially a big relief for handicraft, carpets, marine, tea and home loan borrowers facing a cash crunch processed food. due to the nationwide lockdown and its Merchandise exports constitute around associated adverse financial impact on the economy. 12% of India’s Gross Domestic Product Let us take the example of a borrower (GDP), and foreign exchange earnings who has taken a loan of Rs 30 lakh with are around USD 320 billion. tenure of 20 years paying 8 per cent per About FIEO: annum as interest rate. FIEO was set up jointly by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India and India’s GDP growth is expected to private trade and industry in 1965. reach 1.2% in Q4 FY20: SBI Ecowrap It is an apex body of the export promotion report councils, commodity boards and export According to the State Bank of India’s(SBI) development authorities in India & Ecowrap report India’s Gross Domestic provides an interface between the Product(GDP) is estimated to grow at international trading community of India 1.2% in the last quarter(Q4) of FY20 as & the central and state. economic activity came to a halt since Headquarters–Niryat Bhawan, NewDelhi last week of March due to the nationwide President– Sharad Kumar Saraf lockdown. About MEIS: Major Highlights of the report It was established under the Foreign The GDP is likely to be 4.2% for FY20 and Trade Policy of India(FTP 2015-20). It (-)6.8% for FY21. The gross value added provides incentive in the form of duty (GVA) growth would be nearly (-) 3.1%. credit scrip to the exporter to compensate for FY21 for his loss on payment of duties. Vetrii IAS Study Circle 43 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

The GDP growth of 3rd quarter of FY20 FDI in India jumps 13 per cent to slipped to a nearly seven-year low of record USD 49.98 billion in 2019-20 4.7%, in Q1 it was 5.1% & in Q2 was 5.6%. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India The annual FY20 GDP growth will be rose by 13 per cent - the sharpest pace in around 4.2% as compared to 5% projected the last four fiscals - to a record of USD earlier. 49.97 billion in 2019-20, according to The report forecast a loss of at least Rs 1.4 official data. The country had received lakh crore during the last week of March. FDI of USD 44.36 billion during April- In red zones & almost all the big districts March 2018-19. of the country, the loss is maximum Foreign investments in the last fiscal grew (around 50%). The combined loss of at the sharpest pace since 2015-16 when orange and red zones is around 90% of the inflows had jumped by 35 per cent. total loss. Also, the country logged its all-time high FDI in a fiscal year since 2000-01 when India’s GDP growth to contract 5% in the first such data was released. FY21: S&P Global Ratings Singapore with FDI inflows of USD 14,67 S&P Global Ratings (previously Standard billion emerged as the largest source of & Poor’s), an American credit rating foreign fund flows in India for the second agency, has projected India’s GDP (Gross financial year in a row. However, it is Domestic Product) growth for the current down from USD 16.22 billion in 2018-19. fiscal year FY 21( 2020-21) to contract Singapore was followed by Mauritius by 5 % from 1.8 % growth projected in (USD 8.24 billion), the Netherlands (USD April 2020, due to the lockdown imposed 6.5 billion), the US (USD 4.22 billion), for the prevention of the coronavirus Caymen Islands (USD 3.7 billion), Japan (COVID-19) pandemic, which severely (USD 3.22 billion), France (USD 1.89 affected economic activity in the country. billion), UK (USD 1.42 billion) Cyprus Key Points: (USD 879 million), and Germany (USD However in the fiscal year FY 22 (2021- 488 million). 22) the growth is expected to pick up to FDI is important as the country requires 8.5 % as against the previous forecast of huge investments to overhaul its 7.5%.In the following fiscal(FY23), the infrastructure sector to boost growth. GDP is projected to expand by 6.5 % and 6.6 % in FY24. Covid-19 poses serious threat to According to S&P, the service sector, global financial system: FSDC which provides the most employment, The Financial Stability and Development has been severely affected due to the Council (FSDC) chaired by Finance two month lockdown & workers have Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on been geographically displaced and will Thursday cautioned that the Covid-19 take time to recover. poses a serious threat to the stability of

44 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 New Economic Policy & Govt. Sector the global financial system as the ultimate India GDP growth slows to 3.1% in impact of the crisis and the timing of Q4 recovery, is uncertain at this point of time. The pandemic has thrown the global economy into its worst recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s, and India is no exception. Domestic economic growth is expected to contract for the first time in forty years in FY21

Indian economy to contract by 5% in FY21 by Fitch’s GEO and Crisil According to Fitch’s Global Economic Outlook(GEO) for May, India’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) is anticipated to a 5% decline in the current financial year(ending March 2021) from its earlier forecast(late-April’s GEO) of growth of 0.8% due to the pandemic economic activities. This is the biggest forecast cut to India. India’s economy grew 3.1 per cent in the Reasons leading to growth contraction: January-March quarter compared with The growth contraction in the current the same period last year, official data fiscal is mainly due to a 8.3% and 9.7% showed on Friday, reflecting the partial contraction in consumer spending and impact of the coronavirus pandemic. fixed investment in FY21. The headline number for the full FY20 Forecasts: financial year came to an 11-year low of Fitch predicted 2 consecutive quarters 4.2 per cent, against 6.1 per cent in 2018- of contraction or negative year-on-year 19, said the Ministry of Statistics and growth in current fiscal (-) 2.7% in April- Programme Implementation (Mospi) in a June and (-)12.4% in July-September statement. alternatively comparing to 1.2% India’s eight infrastructure sectors estimated growth in January-March. contracted by a record 38.1 per cent in The growth is expected to rebound to April, data from the industry department 9.5% in 2021-22. In the previous fiscal showed earlier in the day. the growth was estimated at 3.9%. The first Advance Estimates, released in About Fitch Ratings: January for Budget preparations, pegged ff Headquarters– New York, US the economic growth rate at 5 per cent in ff President– Ian Linnell 2019-20.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 45 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 5. SCIENCE

5.1 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

India installs 7.3 GW of solar power in Destined to become the CY 2019 & secures world’s 3rd largest first aircraft to attempt solar market: Mercom powered flight on another According to planet, NASA’s Mars Mercom India Helicopter officially Research’s ‘India named: Ingenuity, as Solar Market suggested by Ms Rupani. Leaderboard 2020’ While NASA announced in March that its report India has installed 7.3 Giga Watt next rover would be named Perseverance (GW) of solar power in CY 2019 which based on seventh-grader Alexander consolidates its position as the 3rd largest Mather’s essay, the agency decided to solar market in the world. also choose a name for the helicopter that India has total solar installations of will accompany the rover to Mars. approximately 35.7 GW by the end of Pune-based defence institute December 2019 develops microwave steriliser Atulya About Mercom India: to kill COVID- 19

Mercom Communications India is The Defence Ministry a subsidiary of U.S.-based Mercom announced that the Capital Group, it is a leading clean Pune-based Defence energy communications, a consulting Institute of Advanced firm & is widely recognized for its Technology (DIAT) leadership and influence in helping has developed a shape India’s rapidly growing clean microwave steriliser energy markets. ‘Atulya’ that can disintegrate the novel Coronavirus within 30 seconds by Indian-Origin Girl, 17, Names NASA’s differential heating in the range of 56 First Mars Helicopter degrees to 60 degrees celsius temperatures NASA’s first Mars helicopter has a name About Atulya: The steriliser was tested now and the credit goes to 17-year-old for human/operator safety and has been Indian-origin girl Vaneeza Rupani.

46 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

found to be safe depending upon the size On average, temperatures above the and shape of various objects. Arctic aren’t quite as cold as those above Atulya is a cost-effective solution Antarctica, which makes the seasonal that can be operated in portable or appearance of ozone holes in the north fixed installations and weighs around rare, while it is a yearly phenomenon in 3 kilograms (Kg). It can be used for the south. sterilisation of non-metallic objects only. Ozone helps filter ultaviolet light from About DRDO: the atmosphere, and when holes appear ff Headquarters– DRDO Bhavan, New it means more harmful solar radiation is Delhi. penetrating the atmosphere and reaching ff Chairman– Dr G. Satheesh Reddy. the Earth’s surface. It’s been driven by an unusually strong Largest ozone hole ever recorded and long-lived polar vortex, and isn’t above the Arctic has CLOSED related to air quality changes.

The largest ozone hole ever documented FDA allows emergency use of anti- above the North Pole has closed almost as viral vaccine Remdesivir to treat quickly as it formed. COVID-19 patients The hole formed earlier this year and reached its maximum size in March some The US food 11 miles above the surface of the Earth. and drug It was the largest ozone hole ever regulatory documented over the Arctic, beating body has the previous record holder, which was allowed the observed during the 2011 winter. emergency Researchers with Copernicus’ use of an investigational anti-viral vaccine Atmospheric Monitoring Service believed to treat COVID-19 patients after some the hole was caused by an unusually researches, including one led by an strong polar vortex, which explained its Indian-American physician, found that relatively sudden growth, according to a the drug helped recover some of the report in CNN. infected cases faster.

The polar vortex is a high altitude current The Food and Drug Administration that circulates in an irregular ring-like (FDA) gave emergency use authorisation pattern around the Arctic and helps keep (EUA) for the use of investigational anti- cold air trapped above the pole. viral Remdesivir in the treatment of When temperatures drop to a low enough COVID-19 patients. point, polar stratospheric clouds (PCS) The FDA authorisation came after can form, which can in turn activate researches, including one led by Indian- ozone-depleting chemicals like chlorine American physician Aruna Subramanian, in the atmosphere. reported Remdesivir shortened the

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 47 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 recovery times in people who have fallen detect toxins, narcotic drugs and used as ill from the new coronavirus. a reliable tool to detect infectious diseases About NIAB: st Russia to launch its 1 satellite NIAB is an autonomous institute under ‘Arktika-M’ to monitor Arctic climate the department of Biotechnology, & environment Minister of Science and Technology. Russia will launch its 1st Arktika M Headquarters– Hyderabad, Telangana. satellite by December 9, 2020 to monitor the Arctic climate and environment. It UV Blaster: Disinfection Tower will be launched from Baikonur space developed by DRDO center (Kazakhstan) using a Soyuz-2.1b The Defence Research and Development carrier rocket with a freegate booster. Organization has developed Ultra Violet This announcement was made by Disinfection Tower for chemical free and General Director of Lavochkin aerospace rapid disinfection. The tower is to be company of Russia,Vladimir Kolmykov highly helpful in high infection prone on May 04, 2020. areas. The 2nd Arktika-M satellite is still under Highlights development and will be launched in The equipment named UV Blaster is a UV 2023. based sanitizer that was designed and About Arktika-M satellite: developed by DRDO. It is highly helpful This remote-sensing and emergency for disinfecting high tech surfaces such communications satellite is the No.1 as computers, electronic equipment and one spacecraft ever developed & is other gadgets. UV Blaster is helpful in being radio-electronic tested. offices where chemical methods may not It will collect meteorological data in be suitable. the Earth’s polar regions, which will The product is also very much suitable in help scientists to better study climate areas where chemical methods cannot be change, with permission to improve implemented. weather forecasts. IIG developed 1D fluid simulation NIAB develops portable coronavirus code to study electric field structure detection kit “eCovSens” in Earth’s Magnetosphere

The researchers from the Department of Scientists, under the guidance of Dr. Biotechnology (DBT), National Institute of Amar Kakad, at the Indian Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) developed Geomagnetism (IIG) an autonomous a biosensor “eCovSens” to detect the institution of the Department of Science novel coronavirus within 30 seconds and Technology have developed a using 20 microliters of the sample of generalized one-dimensional (1D) fluid saliva The Biosensors is currently used to simulation code capable of studying

48 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology a wide spectrum of coherent electric Wenchang Space Launch Centre in China’s field structures in near-earth plasma island province of Hainan. Around 488 environment or earth’s magnetosphere. seconds later, the experimental spacecraft This development will help in planning with no crew separated from the rocket of future space missions. and entered its planned orbit along with The results obtained through fluid the cargo return capsule. simulation code, published in the journal The successful launch of the spacecraft is Physics of Plasmas. the third step towards China’s manned What is magnetosphere? space program, which includes the A magnetosphere is the region around construction of a space station. a planet dominated by the planet’s The large rocket, Long March-5B carries, magnetic field. Earth has the strongest has been developed primarily for China’s one of all the rocky planets. manned space programme. It will be How it is formed: Sun forces plasma used to launch the various modules of the towards the earth in the form of the solar future space station. wind. The solar wind carries with it a solar ‘Feluda’: Made-in-India paper-based magnetic field, called an Interplanetary strip for rapid, mass testing for Magnetic Field (IMF).The interaction of Covid-19 the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) with Earth’s magnetic field results in the A lab of the formation of Earth’s magnetosphere. Council of Different regions of earth’s Scientific and magnetosphere: 1) Bow shock, 2) Industrial Magnetosheath, 3) Magnetopause, 4) Research (CSIR) Northern tail lobe, 5) Southern tail lobe, which developed 6) Plasmasphere, 7) Solar wind ‘Feluda’ paper-based test strip for About Indian Institute of Geomagnetism Covid-19 which is named after the (IIG) fictional detective created by Satyajit Ray Establishment– 1971 joined hands with Tata Sons for its Location– Mumbai, Maharashtra deployment and widespread use for rapid mass testing. China launches large rocket ‘ Long A completely indigenous scientific March 5B carrier’ invention, ‘Feluda’ has been designed for mitigating the ongoing Covid-19 China’s new Long March 5B carrier rocket took its maiden flight on May 5, 2020 situation and to cater to mass testing. carrying the trial version of the country’s Its main advantages are its affordability, new-generation manned spaceship and a relative ease of use and non-dependency cargo return capsule for test into space. on expensive Q-PCR machines. The large white rocket blasted off from

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 49 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Italian researchers claim world’s first NSAFE : First antimicrobial and Coronavirus vaccine washable Face Mask An Italian medical firm has claimed to The Startup of have developed a vaccine that neutralises IIT Delhi has the novel coronavirus in human cells. found an According to tests carried out at Rome’s antimicrobial infectious-disease Spallanzani Hospital, face mask that the vaccine has antibodies generated in can be washed mice that work on human cells. and reused for 50 times. The Nanosafe Tests conducted on mice by a team of Solutions at IIT Delhi has developed the scientists at Italian medical firm Takis masks to fight against COVID-19. showed they developed antibodies after a Highlights single vaccination that can block the virus The NSAFE face mask provides 99.2% of from infecting human cells. bacterial filtration. This is the first fabric- based face mask that is antimicrobial and Scientists find coronavirus outbreak washable. The mask complies ASTM started late 2019 standards. Investigators, who analysed virus genomes from over 7,500 infected people, JNCASR scientists fabricate energy- find nearly 200 mutations in the SARS- efficient photodetector for security CoV-2 virus since China’s outbreak application but say this does not mean it is getting deadlier. Scientists have found the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has been in circulation since possibly October last year, evolving ever since it struck China with close to The scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru 200 “recurrent genetic mutations” in the Centre for Advanced Scientific Research virus. (JNCASR) have developed an economical The study “Emergence of genomic and energy-efficient wafer-scale diversity and recurrent mutations in photodetector. SARS-CoV-2” was carried out by a The thin slice-based photodetector has group of international scientists led by been fabricated using gold – silicon University College London. interface for security applications. The technology could help detect weak scattered light as an indication of unwanted activity. Photo detectors are one of the most significant part of any optoelectronic

50 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

circuit. They can detect light and are used This robust test will play a critical role in for a wide variety of applications, ranging surveillance of proportion of population from controlling automatic lighting in exposed to SARSCoV2 infection. supermarkets to detecting radiation from the outer galaxy as well as security- DRDO- DFRL’s mobile microbial related applications. containment lab handed over to However, the cost of the material and MMCRI processes involved in making high- Defence Food Research Laboratory performance detectors make them (DFRL), an Indian defence laboratory of unaffordable for day to day applications. the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has handed DRDO develops devices to sanitise over an innovative, state of the art phones, currency notes Mobile Microbial Containment (BSL-3) The RCI, a premier laboratory of DRDO Laboratory ‘PARAKH’ to the Mysuru based at Hyderabad, has developed an Medical College and Research Institute automated contactless UVC sanitising (MMCRI) to test samples of coronavirus cabinet to sanitise mobile phones, iPads, (Covid-19) at its hi-tech Viral Research laptops, currency notes, cheque leafs, and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL). challans, passbooks, and paper. It is to be noted that Defence minister Research Centre Imarat (RCI), a part Rajnath Singh on April 23, 2020, had of Defence Research Development dedicated the 1st corona sample collection Organisation (DRDO), developed the mobile lab “Mobile BSL-3 VRDL Lab” to Defence Research Ultraviolet Sanitiser the nation through video conference in (DRUVS). New Delhi. The DRUVS provides 360 degree About Parakh: exposure of UVC to the objects placed It is a fully autonomous containment inside the cabinet. Once the sanitisation lab, developed within record time is done, the system goes in sleep mode, of 2 weeks by ministry of Defence in hence the operator need not wait or stand collaboration with ESIC (Employees’ near the device. State Insurance Corporation) Medical College & Hospital, Sanathnagar, First indigenous kit for COVID-19 Hyderabad with the permission from developed by National Institute of Indian Council of Medical Research Virology (ICMR). National Institute of Virology, Pune has It is designed on ISO (International successfully developed the 1st indigenous Organization for Standardization) 20 anti-SARS-CoV-2 human IgG ELISA test feet container and installed on Ashok kit for antibody detection of COVID-19. Leyland 1618-2C-4700 wb cabin Chassis.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 51 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Indian Scientists discover 3 new CSIR-NAL develops BiPAP Non species of fishes under genus Invasive Ventilator “SwasthVayu” ‘Dawkinsia’ in western ghats A Non Invasive BiPAP Ventilator According to the published in the “SwasthVayu” has been developed by international journal Vertebrate Zoology, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Scientists from the Bombay Natural Bangalore to treat COVID-19 patients. History Society (BNHS),the Kerala The unique features of the Non Invasive University of Fisheries and Ocean BiPAP Ventilator “SwasthVayu” helps to Studies (KUFOS) and the Indian Institute alleviate the fear of the virus spread. The of Science Education and Research ventilator is very simple to use without (IISER), Pune (Maharashtra), have jointly any specialized nursing and is cost discovered a three new fish species under effective, compact and configured with the genus ‘Dawkinsia’ namely Dawkinsia majority of indigenous components. apsara, Dawkinsia austellus, Dawkinsia crassa. NIV-Pune develops India’s 1st antibody testing kit “ELISA” Key Points: The species’ common names are filament India’s first barb, an active, lively, and peaceful fishes indigenous found in the rivers of peninsular India antibody testing and Sri Lanka . They are marketable kit “ELISA” has among aquarium hobbyists and are wild- been collected and captive-bred for trade. successfully developed by About the 3 species: the National Institute of Virology, Pune. The 1st species ‘Dawkinsia apsara’, found This antibody testing kit will help in in Karnataka’s Sita and Sowparnika surveillance of proportion of the rivers, has been christened after the population exposed to SARSCoV2 beautiful celestial nymphs in Hindu infection and hence, it will help in mythology. combating COVID-19. For mass scale The 2nd species ‘Dawkinsia austellus’, production of the ELISA test kits, ICMR found from the Muvattupuzha river has tied-up with ZYDUS CADILA. in Kerala, has been named referring to the Latin word for ‘South’ and refers to IIT-M develop automated respiratory the distribution range of the species in assist device “Sundaram Ventago” Southern Kerala. The TVS (Thirukkurungudi Vengaram The 3rd species ‘Dawkinsia crassa’, Sundram) group, the Sundaram Medical found in the Netravati river of Coastal Foundation, IIT (Indian Institute of Karnataka, has been named after the Technology)- Madras, have jointly Latin word for ‘round/thick’ referring to developed a low-cost, automated the rounded appearance of the fish.

52 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

respiratory assistance device called The coating can be easily washed and “Sundaram Ventago” that will be useful cleansed of the top of the coat when in remote and rural areas where ventilator preparing the armor. facilities are not available and would This will prevent the corona fire from have a great impact of post COVID-19. spreading through the armor. About TVS Groups: Dr Harsh Vardhan dedicates COBAS About Sundaram Ventago: It provides 6800 testing machine to the nation breathing support to patients through controlled and automated squeezing of a self-inflating or Ambu bag. Headquarters– Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN).

JNU to develop portable coronavirus Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of testing device Health and Family Welfare dedicated the The Jawaharlal Nehru University’s COBAS 6800 COVID-19 testing machine (JNU) is developing a low-cost, to the nation during a visit to the National portable and battery-operated device Centre for Disease Contro (NCDC) to test coronavirus, the varsity said in a in New Delhi. The machine has been statement. According to JNU, the device placed at the NCDC because it requires can complete testing in 50 minutes while a minimum BSL2+ (Biosafety Level Two it takes 120-180 minutes through the Plus) containment level for testing, and conventional method. cannot be placed at just any facility. COBAS 6800 can also detect other It has designed a chip-based spatial pathogens like Viral Hepatitis B and C, reverse transcription-polymerase chain HIV, Mtb, Papilloma, CMV, Chlamadiya, reaction (RT-PCR) where PCR has been Neiserreia, etc. integrated with an in-built detection system containing LED and diode About COBAS 6800: detector. The COBAS 6800 is a fully automated, high-end machine for performing Fireproof armor Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for COVID-19. US scientists have discovered a topical The machine will provide high-volume anti-corrosive agent in the armor used and quality testing and will be able to test by doctors and nurses who are battling around 1200 samples in 24 hours. This corona virus infection. will help to increase the testing capacity

Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh in the country. in the United States, have found a coating that prevents the corona virus from sticking tightly in armor and face shields.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 53 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Delhi Police gets India’s first ‘Thermal implant. The implants were developed Corona Combat Headgear’ to enhance from Iron-Manganese alloy. social distancing Highlights Delhi Police The alloy is highly applicable for making launched biodegradable orthopedic implant India’s first applicants and stents. These implants ‘Thermal participate in the healing process and Corona Combat gradually degrade maintaining the Headgear’ to mechanical integrity. They do not leave ensure the out any residues in the human body. safety of They are certainly better alternatives to frontline current implants. warriors and enforce social distancing. The initiative has been launched by the A novel tool to help gain deeper Delhi police in collaboration with Indian insights into Parkinson’s disease Robotics Solution. Scientists of Indian Institute of Key Points: Technology (IIT) (Indian School of Mines Thermal Corona Combat Headgear: This ISM) Dhanbad and Council of Scientific equipment helps police personnel to and Industrial Research(CSIR)-Indian detect the temperature of a large number Institute of Chemical Biology(IICB) of people from a distance of 10-15 metres. teamed up to find a solution to understand Thermal Corona Combat Drone: The Parkinson’s disease which is a common Delhi Police has also launched a ‘Thermal neurodegenerative disease with no cure. Corona Combat Drone-(TCCD)’ in Key Points: collaboration with the same startup. The Scientists from IIT (ISM) and CSIR- About TCCD: The drone is fitted with a IICB, Biology, Kolkata teamed to find day-vision camera that can see the real a solution to this disease. The Research image of the personnel, a disinfectant team of IIT (ISM) led by Dr.Umakanta tank to sanitise an area when a suspected Tripathy, a physicist studies the nonlinear person is taken away for further tests. behaviour of biomaterials using Z-scan technique, a machine that he built in his Next Generation Biodegradable institute. Metal Implants developed by ARCI Dr. Krishnananda Chattopadhyay of scientists CSIR-IICB, a biophysicist working to The scientists of Advanced Research understand ASyn aggregation and its Centre for powder metallurgy and new implications in Parkinson’s disease. materials along with Sree Chitra Tirunal Z-scan method is a technique helped in Institute of Medical Sciences (SCTIMST) monitoring both the early and late stage have developed new biodegradable of aggregation of ASyn.

54 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Parkinson’s disease: Develops robot “Rail-BOT (R-BOT)” The aggregation of proteinforms called to assist railway doctors alpha synuclein(ASyn) is believed to be South Central Railway the major reason in the pathology of this (SCR) zone developed a disease. The aggregation is abundant robotic device, “RAIL- in the substantianigra portion in the BOT” (R-BOT) to assist midbrain of the Parkinson’s patients. in hospital management functions towards ISRO directs startups to build local patient care in the wake tech for Gaganyaan mission of COVID-19 outbreak. India’s space agency Indian Space The robot provide Research Organisation (ISRO) has medicines, medical directed the startups to develop tools and accessories & to serve machines for its maiden human space food to the patients, flight Gaganyaan-1 mission. ISRO focuses without any need for to potentially help them build products physical contact. This and solutions that they can exploit will enable doctors, nurses and other commercially. The move is expected to support medical staff to stay away from open up opportunities for new types of the risk of contracting infections. companies to come up in India. Key Points: Highlights: The R-BOT underwent extensive trial and Amid lockdown, ISRO has identified a set demonstration before being deployed of 17 technologies that to develop locally for use in Central Railway Hospital, at lower costs for use in its Gaganyaan Lallaguda, Secunderabad. missions. About R-BOT: R-BOT is being used to ISRO has opened up its facilities to provide medicines, medical accessories companies like Larson & Toubro and and to serve food to the patients, without HAL to build its polar satellite launch any need for physical contact. This will vehicle (PSLV). enable doctors, nurses and other support The startups will develop food and medical staff to stay away from the risk of medicines for astronauts, better tools to contracting infections. access machines in a spacecraft, green The R-BOT is operated through a unique engines, life support systems including mobile application developed as part a spacesuit, anti-radiation and thermal of the Innovation, supported by Wi-Fi protection technologies for spacecraft (Wireless Fidelity) facility. The R-BOT which will bring the astronauts back to holds sensor-based features to read earth safely, and inflatable habitats that the body temperature of patients and are required for the mission. transmit the same for display on mobile phones.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 55 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

Mitra robot: A hospital in Bengaluru Mycobacterium Bovis. It has been used deployed the ‘Mitra’ robots to check across the world, including in India for and screen the patients for COVID-19 decades, against tuberculosis. symptoms. The robots are programmed In India, 91.9 per cent of children between to interact with people using facial and the ages of 12 and 23 months have speech recognition. received the vaccine, according to the National Family Health Survey. Outside Jaipur based company ‘Club First’ of some Northeastern states, almost all develops India’s first service robots states have above a 90% BCG vaccination “Sona 1.5 and Sona .5” rate. Jaipur-based company ‘Club Low Cost Corona Testing Equipment First’ has developed in Kerala India’s first service A low-cost tool for screening for robots named as coronavirus infection in Kerala was “Sona 1.5 and Sona launched. .5”to help health The device, which has the ability to extract workers in and test the RNA from the specimen, conducting a has a cost of Rs.150. The instrument thermal screening of named “Agape Chitra Magna” was the people amid developed by Sri Chitra Thirunal Medical COVID-19 crisis. Science Technology Institute under the The robot which is Department of Science and Technology. 95 per cent made in India is the first in the world to be based on spine technology. Researchers at IIT-M develop solar parabolic trough collector TB vaccine as anti-Covid candidate Researchers at the Indian Institute of In a growing list of global trials on Technology-Madras (ITT-M), developed the efficacy of tuberculosis vaccines in a solar ‘parabolic trough collector’ (PTC) preventing Covid-19, one is an upcoming system for concentrating solar energy for 10-month trial being conducted by the industrial applications like desalination, Indian Council of Medical Research space heating and space cooling. (ICMR) on the BCG vaccine. Researchers at the Indian Institute What is the BCG vaccine? of Technology-Madras (ITT-M), has Short for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, BCG developed a solar ‘parabolic trough is a vaccine that uses a live attenuated collector’ (PTC) system for concentrating strain (potency of the pathogen artificially solar energy for industrial applications disabled, but identifying characters like desalination, space heating and space retained) derived from an isolate of cooling.

56 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Key Points: off for International Space Station (ISS), The research was led by Professor K becoming the first crewed flight to launch Srinivas Reddy, Heat Transfer and from American soil since the conclusion Thermal Power Laboratory, Department of the space shuttle era in 2011. of Mechanical Engineering, IIT What is the mission? Madras and his team member Mr C The Demo-2 mission is part of NASA’s Ananthsornaraj. Commercial Crew Program, and will fly The ‘Trough Collector’ focuses sunlight on two astronauts on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon a small area where it is absorbed and then spacecraft. utilised for heating and subsequently into This mission is essentially a flight test to energy generation. This system consists certify if SpaceX’s crew transportation of a concentrator or reflector, receiver, system can be used to ferry crew to and supporting structures like pylon, torque from the space station regularly. tube, mirror supporting arm and receiver This is the final flight test for the system support and a tracking unit. and intends to validate its different components, including the spacecraft New space defense unit launched: (Crew Dragon), the launch vehicle Japan (Falcon 9), the launch pad (LC-39A) and Japan has launched a new space defense the operations capabilities. unity to monitor and counter threats to the country’s satellites. The main role Indian Navy made breathable PPE kit of the unit is to monitor and protect “NavRakshak” Japanese satellites from enemy attacks or Indian Navy made “NavRakshak” PPE space debris and also to conduct satellite- kit made with innovative breathable based navigation and communications fabric material, to provide comfort to for other troops in the field. The capital healthcare workers working against and currency of Japan is Tokyo and COVID-19 pandemic wearing multi- Japanese yen respectively. layered coverall PPE treating patients in the hot and humid condition for more SpaceX Demo-2 mission than 12 hours. About NavRakshak: NavRaksha means – “novel protector” has two factors, optimal protectiveness and optimal breathability. This uses advanced quality non woven fabric of specific Grams per Square Meter (GSM) with stitching technique. It took seven days for Surgeon Lieutenant NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 test flight will lift Commander Arnab Ghosh from Naval

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 57 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Medical Specialist of Innovation Cell, About Goniothalamus sericeus: Institute of Naval Medicine in Mumbai to Discovered in the Kanyakumari wildlife make the NavRakshak after research and sanctuary in Tamil Nadu (TN) at an studies on medical garments like gloves, altitude of 1400m, this species belongs to headgears etc. the Annonaceae family of custard apple. It was made with the understanding of About Memecylon nervosum: the difficulties faced by the healthcare Found at an altitude between 700-900m workers combating against COVID-19. at the Kanyakumari wildlife sanctuary in Tamil Nadu (TN), this species belongs Scientists at BSI discover 3 new plant to the Melastomataceae (Kayamboo or species in Western Ghats Kaasavu in local parlance) family.

NASA’s WFIRST Hubble Telescope renamed after astronomer Nancy Grace Roman NASA has renamed its next-generation A team of scientists led by K.A. Sujana at space telescope- Wide-Field Infrared the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have Survey Telescope (WFIRST), after the discovered 3 new plant species namely- space agency’s first chief astronomer Eugenia sphaerocarpa, Goniothalamus Nancy Grace Roman. The Nancy Grace sericeus and Memecylon nervosum at the Roman Space Telescope or Roman Space Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu Telescope is set for launch in 2025. (TN). NASA’s first Chief Astronomer Nancy A team of scientists led by K.A. Sujana Grace Roman had paved the way for at the Kolkata based Botanical Survey of space telescopes focused on the broader India (BSI) have discovered 3 new plant universe. She is considered as the mother species namely- Eugenia sphaerocarpa, of Hubble Space Telescope, which had Goniothalamus sericeus and Memecylon launched 30 years ago. nervosum at the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu (TN). Objective The Roman Space Telescope is expected Key Points: to help NASA gain a better understanding About Eugenia sphaenrocarpa: of space and help the space agency Found primarily in the Kakkayam area of unravel the long-standing astronomical the Malabar wildlife sanctuary in Kerala mysteries, such as the force behind the at an altitude of 800 m, it belongs to the universe’s expansion and also boost its Myrtaceae or Rose apple family. search for distant planets beyond our The term ‘sphaerocarpa’ refers to the solar system. large, catchy lemon-yellow spherical fruit, which are best known for their taste.

58 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Who was Nancy Grace Roman? for various uses including time and Nancy Grace Roman was born on May attendance, access control, visitor 16, 1925 in Nashville, Tennessee. Roman management, event management, wanted to become an astronomer since contractor module along with others. she was in seventh grade. She was faced with challenges that CSIR-IIIM & Reliance Industries plagued many women of her generation Limited (RIL) to develop RT-LAMP interested in advancing in scientific based test for Coronavirus research. Despite being discouraged The Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIM) from pursuing science, Roman earned in Jammu has collaborated with Reliance a bachelor’s degree in astronomy in Industries Limited (RIL) to develop and 1946 and earned a doctorate from the increase a new Reverse Transcriptase- University of Chicago in 1949. Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) based COVID-19 diagnostic Mumbai based start-up VAMS Global kit. A Memorandum of Understanding develops world’s 1st contactless (MoU) has also been signed between visitor management software CSIR-IIM, Jammu and RIL. VAMS (Visitor Authentication & Key Points: Management Systems) Global, a Mumbai COVID-19 RT-LAMP: COVID-19 RT- based startup offering specialized LAMP test is a nucleic acid-based test solutions for Corporates & Commercial carried out from nasal or throat swab Buildings, has developed world’s 1st samples from patients. This is a rapid test contactless Visitor Management Software which can be done within 45-60 minutes, called ‘VAMS SafeGuard’ that checks a cost-effective and accurate test. body temperature, scans faces with mask The RT-LAMP test has been developed compliance & monitors social distancing & successfully demonstrated using on the premise. synthetic templates.

It scans and records one person at a time Advantage: RT-LAMP-based COVID-19 from a distance of 18″ in less than 3-5 kit components are easily available and seconds. completely manufactured in India. Key Points: IIT Madras develops magnesium alloy About VAMS SafeGuard: to replace steel, aluminium in cars With the help of AI (Artificial Intelligence), the software enables entry of visitors, who The research team of Dr. Sushanta are only complying to all coronavirus Kumar Panigrahi, Associate Professor, (COVID) protection measures. Department of Mechanical Engineering The embedded face & palm recognition at Indian Institute of Technology sensors equipped in the software provide (IIT), Madras, Professor Rajiv Mishra, 100 % hands-free user authentication University of North Texas and K.Cho,

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 59 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 the United States (US) Army Research Aarogya Setu becomes world’s Laboratory has engineered a magnesium largest contact tracing app alloy to replace the steel and aluminium Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh in the automobile industry to reduce Vardhan said on May 27, 2020 that India’s the carbon footprint and increase fuel Aarogya Setu has become the world’s efficiency. largest contact tracing app, reaching over Development of magnesium alloy: 11 crore 40 lakh people in just 40 days. The magnesium alloy contains rare earth The Minister tweeted saying that the elements like Gadolinium (Gd), Yttrium application is a classic example of (Y) and Zirconium (Zr). coordination between government, The ultrafine-grained magnesium alloy industry and citizens. The app was is obtained though thermo mechanical recently made an open source. processing technique (severe plastic The Health Minister stated that the iOS deformation and ageing treatment) on version of the open source app will be which the team engineered the nano- released in the next two weeks. He further precipitates and thermally stable ultrafine added saying that the use of the app intermetallic compounds to achieve is continuously increasing and a large the strength-ductility and high strain number of people are benefiting from it. superplasticity. CIPET renamed as Central Institute Facebook launches calling application of Petrochemicals Engineering “CatchUp” &Technology A calling application named as “CatchUp” Central Institute of Plastics Engineering has been launched by the social media & Technology (CIPET) was renamed major Facebook to coordinate call timings as Central Institute of Petrochemicals with friends and family members, and Engineering and Technology. CIPET is will enable users to check availability of a premier national institution under the time with a group of up to eight people. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, With the help of calling application Government of India (GOI). “CatchUp”, the user will be able to Key Points: indicate the availability to talk and call The changed name has been registered other users, and will enable other users to under the Tamil Nadu (TN) Societies do the same and chose a common time for Registration Act 1975 (TN Act 27 of 1975). the call. The users will be able to avail the DV Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister services of this calling application with for Chemicals and Fertilizers, added that their existing Facebook account. at-present CIPET will be in a position to fully devote itself for the growth of the entire petrochemical sector with a focus on Academics, Skilling, Technology

60 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Inventions on Science & Technology

Support and Research. About Lunar Soil:

Objective: The primary objective of CIPET The composition of lunar soils has two is to contribute the growth towards the broad groups viz: plastics industry through a combined The highland soils, which are developed program of education and research. on anorthositic bedrock. These are enriched in aluminium and calcium. ISRO receives patent for highland soil Mare soils, which are developed on simulant for future lunar missions basaltic bedrock, are relatively enriched Indian Space Research Organisation in iron, magnesium and titanium. (ISRO) has received a patent for its method of manufacturing highland lunar Indian researchers explore new soil simulant or moon soil which was possibilities to increase paddy yield prepared to create an artificial moon According to the study published in surface as a part of 2019’s Moon landing ‘The Plant Journal’, a team of researchers mission Chandrayaan-2 so that the from the Department of Biotechnology’s Vikram lander and Pragyaan rover could National Institute of Plant Genome be tested. This soil simulant represents Research (DBT-NIPGR) of New Delhi, the regolith (loose unconsolidated rock ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research and dust that sits atop a layer of bedrock) Institute (IARI), ICAR-National Rice of lunar highland region. Research Institute (ICAR-NRRI), Cuttack It is made in bulk from anorthosite rocks, and University of Delhi South Campus a sample similar to regolith identified and (UDSC), have identified a part in the picked out from Sittampundi Anorthosite paddy genome through which there is a Complex, almost 67 km from Salem, in possibility of increasing yields. Tamil Nadu. The study has been published in ‘The Recalling, the mission Chandrayaan-2, Plant Journal’. with an orbiter, a rover and a probe, The scientist then studied the DNA of successfully placed the orbiter which will 3,000 varieties of rice found worldwide have an extended lifespan of seven years, with four Indian genotypes sequenced, while the lander crashed on the Moon’s where they identified a long (~ 6 Mb) South Pole in September 2019. genomic region, with an unusually suppressed nucleotide diversity region at the center of chromosome 5. They named it ‘low diversity area (LDR).

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 61 Latest Discoveries in Health Science Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 5.2 Latest Discoveries in in a collaborative study discovered that Ashwagandha may hold an efficient natural compound that could be effective Health Science in developing a drug for the coronavirus. According to the team, the findings will save time and cost required for screening Men are more vulnerable to of anti-COVID-19 drugs and will also coronavirus than women offer some preventive and therapeutic Researchers have found that men seem value for the management of the fatal 19 to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 than pandemic. Hence they warrant prioritised women. It suggested the reason might validation in laboratory and clinical tests. be related to the concentration of the enzyme Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme New treatment method for cure 2 (ACE2) in the blood of men and women. alzheimer Key Findings: The research team of Indian Institute The ACE2 enzyme in blood responds to of Technology (IIT) Guwahati headed the novel coronavirus and enables it to by Professor Vibin Ramakrishnan, infect the human cell. Department of Bioscience and ACE2 is also a receptor present on the Bioengineering and Professor Harsha surface of healthy cells. The SARS-CoV-2 Nemade, Department of Electronics and virus uses this receptor to enter inside Electrical Engineering, IIT Guwahati with cells. ACE2 receptors are present in research scholars Dr. Gaurav Pandey abundance in the lungs, heart, kidneys, and Jahnu Daikia worked on a new idea and testes. to help in preventing or reducing the The study found men have higher short-term memory loss associated with concentrations of ACE2 in their blood Alzheimer’s disease. than women. It also showed heart failure Key Points: patients who are taking a certain class of India has the 3rd highest number of drugs, called RAAS inhibitors, did not Alzheimer’s in the world after China have higher concentrations of ACE2 in and US with 4 million patients and the their blood. But, some studies suggested current treatments alleviates only some RAAS inhibitors might increase ACE2 of the symptoms with no disruptive concentrations in blood plasma. therapeutic approach to treat the causes of Alzheimer’s. Ashwagandha could help fight From 1998 to 2011 approximately 100 COVID-19, says IIT-Delhi potential drugs for the treatment of Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi Alzheimer’s have failed. (IIT-D) and National Institute of Advanced The main reason for the memory loss Industrial Science and Technology, Japan in Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of

62 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Latest Discoveries in Health Science

amyloid beta peptides in the brain and Range of countries across the world had the researchers are working on methods been pursuing these clinical trials. The to reduce the accumulation of these to decision for the suspension of trial came arrest the progression of Alzheimer’s. after a study was published in The Lancet The researchers studied the neurochemical which indicated that the use of drugs on principles of Alzheimer’s and methods COVID-19 patients can be harmful and to prevent accumulation of neurotoxic increase the chances of death. molecules in the brain that causes short Decision of suspending the trial by term memory loss. WHO: WHO chief informed that the executive WHO ceases the trial of anti-malarial group of Solidarity trial has temporarily drug over safety reasons paused the trial of hydroxychloroquine World Health arm while the safety data is being reviewed Organisation by the Data Safety Monitoring Board. He (WHO) on May further mentioned that the other arms of 25 announced the trial are being continued. During his that the clinical virtual press conference on May 25, the trial of hydroxy WHO chief stressed that the two drugs -chloroquine have been accepted as generally safe for COVID-19 treatment has been for the use in patients with malaria or temporarily suspended due to safety autoimmune diseases. reasons.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 63 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 5.3 Mass Media & Communication Arogya Setu app mandatory for govt, private sector employees Janaushadhi Sugam app to access The Centre made it mandatory generic medicine benefits 325000 for government and private sector users employees to use Arogya Setu mobile application to bolster the efforts to fight More than 325000 users are benefited the COVID-19 pandemic, and entrusted by the “Janaushadhi Sugam” a mobile the organisational heads with ensuring its application developed by the Bureau of 100 per cent coverage. The Union Home Pharma PSUs of India(BPPI) under the Ministry also said the mobile app will Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry be must for people living in COVID-19 of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government containment zones. of India for the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Use of Arogya Setu app shall be made Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) mandatory for all employees, both private The Janaushadhi Sugam App helps the and public. It shall be the responsibility of consumers to use the digital technology the head of the respective organisations to to locate the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya ensure 100% coverage of this app among Janaushadhi Kendra (PMJAK) and the employees. provide directions through Google Maps and search for the availability of BharatPe launches two apps to affordable generic medicine, analyze limit the need to touch handsets for the comparison of generic and branded checking transactions medicine in MRP and overall savings. The BharatPe, a Merchant payment and a “Kisan Sabha App” developed by leading network provider launched two CSIR-Central Road Research Institute voice based applications Paisa Bolega and BharatPe Balance for the account “Kisan Sabha App” has been developed holders to access transactions and balance by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute using without touching the phones in the (CSIR-CRRI) to connect farmers to COVID-19 pandemic supply chain and freight transportation The Paisa Bolega is a button introduced management system. The portal will be in the BharatPe which converts the a single stop for every entity related to smartphone into a speaker with this voice agriculture such as farmer who needs alerts of transactions by providing loud good price for the crops, mandi dealer instant confirmations for all the received who needs to connect to more farmers, payments through their BharatPe quick and truckers who repeatedly go empty response (QR). from the mandis. The prime objective of BharatPe Balance will provide the Kisan Sabha app is to provide the most information about total available balance economical as well as timely logistics help across the deposits, loan and daily to the farmers.

64 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Mass Media & Communication collections through the QR. This will About DAY-NRLM: provide a snapshot of the shopkeepers DAY-NLRM aims to reduce poverty daily QR collections, balance in 12% through promotion of diversified and interest a/c and the loan limit. gainful self-employment. About GeM: Dr Harsh Vardhan launches Government e Marketplace (GeM) is a multimedia guide ‘COVID Katha’ 100 percent Government owned Section Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan 8 Company set up as the National Public has launched a multimedia guide on the Procurement Portal to provide online, end Covid-19 disease named ‘COVID Katha’. to end solution for procurement of goods and services for all Central Government The guide is launched on the occasion of and State Government Ministries the 50th DST (Department of Science and Technology) Foundation Day. West Bengal government rolls out Chennai defence lab develops “Exit App” ‘Kavasam’ app The West Bengal government has rolled out an “Exit App” for people from other The Chennai-based Combat Vehicles states who are stucked in West Bengal Research and Development Establishment amid the nationwide lockdown and (CVRDE) has developed an app called desires to return to their native place. ‘Kavasam’ to contain the COVID-19 It will enable these people who are pandemic, which is wreaking havoc in willing to go back to their native states, the city. by applying online on this app. It can be Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar accessed by the stranded people from the launched “The Saras Collection” on West Bengal government’s ‘Egiye Bangla’ GeM portal from New Delhi website. It aims to provide SHGs in rural areas Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath with market access to Central and State launches ‘Ayush Kavach-Covid’ App Government buyers. Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) The Saras Collection is an initiative of Yogi Adityanath launched the “Ayush GeM and the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Kavach-Covid app” that will provide Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods health-related tips and information about Mission (DAY-NRLM). ayurvedic medicines to people during The first phase is a pilot stage under the coronavirus crisis. The App provides which 913 SHGs from 11 States have measures to boost immunity based on already registered as sellers and 442 natural resources. It delivers information products have been on-boarded. about Ayurveda and traditional medicines and prescriptions in simple language with ease among the masses

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 65 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

About Ayush Kavach-Covid App: The Key Points: mobile app Ayush Kavach has been The ‘Pravasi Raahat Mitra’ helps the developed by the AYUSH (Ayurveda, migrants to monitor their health and Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha provide the requirements like job and and Homoeopathy) Department of UP in livelihood related to their skills. view of the COVID-19 health crisis. The app will collect the basic information The App provides measures to boost such as name, educational qualification, immunity based on natural resources. temporary and permanent address, bank account details, Corona-related screening Minister K Pandiarajan calls for status and experience as data from the enhanced use of Tamil on internet migrant citizens and will have full details Tamil development and archaeology of the people staying in the shelter center minister K Pandiarajan urged the Public and the people who reached their homes to enhance the use of Tamil on internet from other states. to make it one of the top influential languages in the world. Aarogya Setu becomes world’s 7th The minister made the statement while most downloaded app inaugurating e-Sangam in Madurai. The Aarogya Setu, the Covid-19 tracking app e-Sangam was launched as part of the that has already reached the 9 crore user third anniversary of Digit-all, an initiative of the Tamil Nadu chamber Foundation milestone within weeks, is now also one to take technology to the villages. of the world’s top 10 most downloaded He announced the Use of Tamil saalai apps. app for Tamil development work. According to Sensor Tower’s April numbers, NITI Aayog’s app secured the Yogi Adityanath launches ‘Pravasi 7th position in the “Top Apps Worldwide Raahat Mitra’ app for migrant for April 2020 by Downloads” list, Workers overtaking other popular apps like Chief Minister Of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and even Adityanath launched the ‘Pravasi Raahat the streaming app, Netflix. The top six Mitra’ mobile application developed apps were Zoom, TikTok, Facebook, by the state revenue department in WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger. collaboration with United Nation Protocol laid down for sharing, Development Program to provide collecting data of Aarogya Setu App support for the migrant workers of Uttar Pradesh in other states to access the The ministry announced that the National advantages of the government schemes. Informatics Centre (NIC), the developer The app collects basic information like, of the application, shall collect only such name, address, bank details and others of response data which is necessary and the people. proportionate to formulate or implement

66 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Mass Media & Communication appropriate health responses. Further, staying in as well as the recently returned such data shall be used strictly for the migrant youths. purpose of formulating or implementing This platform will help the unemployed appropriate health responses and youths in job hunting and skill constantly improving such responses. development and the database will The government launched the app in help the employers to find the suitable April for contract tracing in the wake of candidates for their requirements. spread of coronavirus. But now it is used About Uttarakhand: for providing various other activities State was formed on- 9th November 2000. including e-pass, telemedicine and others. MSME Ministry launches CHAMPIONS Chennai Corporation launches app Portal for free telemedicine consultation Union Ministry of Micro, Small and The Greater Chennai Corporation Medium Enterprises (MSME) launched launched a mobile application ‘GCC CHAMPIONS (Creation and Harmonious Vidmed’ to provide free telemedicine Application of Modern Processes for consultations for Chennaiites. Increasing the Output and National Considering the difficulties faced by the Strength) portal (www.Champions.gov. public in visiting a doctor or hospital in), a Technology-driven control room- for simple ailments, the app was jointly cum-Management Information System. launched by the civic body and Dhanush The system utilises modern Information Healthcare,” an official release from and Communications Technology (ICT) the Corporation announced adding tools. that special officer and Commissioner Gist about the portal of Revenue Administration Dr J Aim- To assist Indian MSME’s to become Radhakrishnan launched the application. National and Global CHAMPIONS in the Uttarakhand CM launches ‘HOPE’ a big league. portal to help unemployed youths 3 basic objectives

The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand To help the MSMEs in this difficult Trivendra Singh Rawat launched ‘HOPE’- situation in terms of finance, raw Helping Out People Everywhere a portal materials, labour, permissions, etc. to create employment opportunities To help them capture new opportunities for the youths in their expertise and to like manufacturing of medical accessories provide skill development opportunities. and products like Personal Protective Equipments (PPE), masks, etc. Key Points: To identify the sparks, particularly The portal HOPE will be used to collect the bright MSMEs who can not only the data on the youths of the state who are withstand but can also become national and international champions.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 67 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 SAMARTH an e-Governance platform Arjun Munda launches ‘GOAL’ for The Ministry of Human Resource digital skilling of tribal youths Development has developed an Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri e-Governance platform, SAMARTH Arjun Munda launched the ‘GOAL’ – Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP) Going Online As Leaders of the Ministry under National Mission of Education of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in partnership in Information and Communication with Facebook at a Webinar in New Delhi. Technology Scheme (NMEICT). GOAL is designed to provide mentorship To provide quality education to students to tribal youth with digital mode. across all Universities & Higher Education Key Points: Institutes (HEIs), which is the mission of The GOAL is a unique and influential the Department of Higher Education. programme developed to act as a catalyst ERP, SAMARTH, is an Open Standard in exploring the talents of the tribal youth Open Source Architecture, Secure, and help in their personal development Scalable and Evolutionary Process and contribute in uplifting their society Automation Engine for Universities and by creating an environment to empower HEI’s & caters to faculty, students and tribal women by connecting them with staff at a University/HEI’s. the digital world.

The SAMARTH team has provided the This programme demonstrates software free of cost to NIT, Kurukshetra affirmative actions to reduce the gap who have implemented it through a between the tribal and non-tribal youth collaboration between NMEICT and and will enlist them in participation of TEQIP teams in MHRD. tribal youth in nation building.

Objective of this initiative– to automate In this program 5000 scheduled tribe the processes of the Institute. youth(Mentees) will be trained by the This initiative will improve productivity experts of different fields (Mentors). by better information management in the There will be 2 mentees under a mentor. institute by flawless access to information, The mentors will be connected with the and its utilization for various purposes. mentees through the digital platforms to 38 modules implemented in NIT, share aspirations, dreams and talents. Kurukshetra. The aspirants can apply through an online About ICG: portal ‘goal.tribal.gov.in’ the application ff Headquarters- New Delhi, India is open from May 4,2020 till midnight of About GSL: July 3,2020. ff Headquarters– Vasco da Gama, Goa About MoTA: ff Minister- Arjun Munda ff Headquarters- New Delhi ff Founded- 1999

68 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Mass Media & Communication New Software to detect COVID-19 combine all efforts related to digital / cases online /on-air education, which will Sastra University professor have enable multi-mode access to education, developed a software prototype that can and includes: identify whether a person is COVID-19 DIKSHA (one nation-one digital positive or has other conditions like platform) will become the nation’s pneumonia, using a chest X-ray instead digital infrastructure to provide quality of PCR technique e-content in school education for all the When the scanned image of an X-ray is states/UTs fed to it, the software, developed using TV (one class-one channel) where one machine learning, a branch of artificial dedicated channel per grade for each of intelligence, would be able to tell the user the classes 1 to 12 will provide access to if the patient is COVID-19 positive, has quality educational material- Study Webs pneumonia, or neither of the two. The of Active–Learning for Young Aspiring software could be taught to identify other Minds (SWAYAM) online courses in infections too Massive Open Online Course(MOOCS) X-rays to improve the accuracy of format for school and higher education the software. The students are also Indian Institute of Technology Professor developing a standalone app to improve Assisted Learning(IITPAL) for IIT access and convenience. Joint Entrance Examination (JEE)/ National Eligibility cum Entrance Test exam(NEET) preparation Nirmala Sitharaman announces Air through Community radio and CBSE several initiatives to boost education Shiksha Vani podcast; study material sector for the differently-abled developed on Digitally Accessible Information System Union Finance & Corporate Affairs (DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has website/ YouTube. announced several initiatives to boost Beneficiaries– Will benefit nearly 25 crore the education sector in New Delhi to school going children across the country. boost the access and equity in education Manodarpan initiative is launched to and improve the gross enrolment ratio in provide such support through a website, the coming years. The initiatives show a toll-free helpline, national directory up as there is new challenge & several of counselors and interactive chat opportunities for the education system in platform among others so as to provide the country due to COVID-19 pandemic. psychosocial support to students, Immediate set of initiatives in this teachers and families for mental health direction includes: and emotional wellbeing. A comprehensive initiative called PM Beneficiaries– Will benefit all school going e-VIDYA will be launched which will children in the country, along with their Vetrii IAS Study Circle 69 Mass Media & Communication Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 parents, teachers and the community of Union HRD Minister launches IGNOU’s stakeholders in school education. Online Master’s Programme in Hindi

Government expands e-learning in Union HRD (Human Resource higher education by liberalizing open, Development Minister) Shri Ramesh distance and online education regulatory Pokhriyal Nishank launched IGNOU’S framework. Top 100 universities will start (Indira Gandhi National Open University) online courses & online components in Online Programme for Master of Arts conventional Universities and Open and (MA) in Hindi, through Facebook live Distance Learning (ODL) programmes session & also broadcasted live through will also be raised from 20% to 40%. IGNOU’s Gyan Darshan Channel, Gyan Dhara. The launch was done keeping Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank launches in mind the prevailing situation and ‘National Test Abhyas’ adherence to the partial-lockdown as per Union Human Resource Development the Government’s directives. Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank Key Points: launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI)- The Minister also added that this online powered mobile app called the ‘National programme would strengthen the “Padhe Test Abhyas’. The app is developed India Online” initiative. He stressed by National Testing Agency (NTA) to on the role of the Hindi Language not enable candidates to take mock tests for only in India but also in other countries upcoming exams such as Joint Entrance including Mauritius, Fiji, Surinam, etc., Examination (JEE) main, National The initiatives like National Digital Eligibility cum Entrance Test exam Library (NDL), Swayam, Swayam (NEET) under the NTA’s purview. Prabha, Diksha (Digital Infrastructure Aim of the app for Knowledge Sharing) among other To facilitate candidates’ access to high platforms are providing digital education quality mock tests in the safety and to lakhs of learners across India and comfort of their homes since there is a IGNOU’s step in the same direction also demand to make up the loss to students promotes online education. due to closure of educational institutions About Bharat Padhe Online: The main and NTA’s Test-Practice Centers (TPCs) objective of Bharat Padhe or India Padhe as there is continuing lockdown because online is to promote online education for of COVID-19. Crowdsourcing of Ideas. About NTA: Headquarters- Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

70 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Mass Media & Communication MeitY launched seven weather About Umang: services of IMD in UMANG app Launched in 2017 by Prime Minister The Ministry of Narendra Modi, its aim is to make Electronics and the government accessible on the Information mobile phone of citizens. This app Technology (MeitY) provides around 660 services from 127 has launched seven departments & 25 states and about 180 services of India utility bill payment services are live and Meteorological more are in pipeline. Citizens also access Department (IMD) on their Digilocker from UMANG. the Unified Mobile DRDO’s RCI develops ‘AINA’ AI-based Application for New-age Governance Attendance Application (UMANG) App to further enhance the online delivery of Government services. The Research Centre Imarat (RCI), DRDO The IMD services (hosted at http:// (Defense Research and Development mausam.imd.gov.in) on the UMANG Organization) laboratory, Hyderabad, app has been inaugurated by Madhavan Telangana, developed an AI (Artificial Nair Rajeevan, Secretary Ministry of Intelligence)-based Attendance Earth Sciences (MoES) in the presence application (AINA) which allows non- of Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, Director contact based personnel verification, General of Meteorology (DGM), IMD, using facial features of the person in the and Abhishek Singh, President and Chief wake of COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Officer (CEO) of National Key Points: eGovernance Division (NeGD). AINA (AI eNabled Attendance): AINA can be deployed with minimal upgradation to the legacy attendance infrastructure with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) readers. AINA can be installed on a normal desktop computer with a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) based display adapter.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 71 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 6. NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENT

Delhi Police & AIIA jointly launches About All India Institute of Ayurveda ‘Ayuraksha’ programme to fight (AIIA): COVID-19 ff Location– New Delhi In view of increasing coronavirus About Ministry of AYUSH: (COVID-19) cases, the Delhi Police in ff Headquarters– New Delhi association with All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) has jointly run the DST launched ‘Year of Awareness on program called ‘Ayuraksha – Corona se Science & Health (YASH) jung, Delhi Police ke sang’, under which This programme will provide scientific Ayurveda immunity boosting kit will awareness and health preparedness be distributed to the Delhi Police in 4 to combat the pandemic scenario like different phases by Ministry of AYUSH COVID-19 outbreak which has posed (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, concerns and challenges around the Siddha and Homoeopathy). globe. About Ayuraksha: Under this programme, It is launched by the National Council for Ayurveda immunity boosting kit, which Science & Technology Communication contain medicine formulations, method (NCSTC) under DST. of use and advisory, will be distributed Its aim is to convey authentic best practices by Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga to the general public to minimize the & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and risk of transmission of virus at all levels, Homoeopathy) to the Delhi Police in 4 in the absence of vaccines and cure for different phases. It includes, COVID-19. ff Phase I: All quarantined police officers This programme will provide clarity and officials on the misperceptions, misbeliefs by ff Phase II: Police officials/officers introducing practices based on authentic deputed in containment zones knowledge duly verified by scientific ff Phase III: Police officials/officers processes deputed in quarantine zones ff Phase IV: All policemen working as front line workers in field.

72 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event

About NCSTC: movement, the states of Maharashtra and Established in 1982 by under DST, Gujarat were formed. NCSTC is a scientific programme Maharashtra: of the Government of India for the ff Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari popularisation of science, dissemination ff Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray of scientific knowledge and inculcation ff Capital: Mumbai, Nagpur (Winter) of scientific temper. ff Official language: Marathi Tripura government launches agro ff Bird: Yellow-footed green pigeon entrepreneur facilitation desk to ff Flower: Jarul boost economy ff Tree: Mango Tree The Tripura government launched an Gujarat: “Agro-Entrepreneur Facilitation Desk” to ff Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat help the entrepreneurs of the state to get ff Chief Minister: Vijay Rupani subsidies and incentives from ff Capital: Gandhinagar Central government funding agencies. ff Bird: Greater flamingo The state cabinet has approved the ff Flower: Marigold setting up of the desk, which will operate ff Tree: Banyan from the Directorate of Horticulture and Soil Conservation in the state capital, E-Nam: 200 new Mandis integrated Agartala. Around 200 Mandis Maharashtra, Gujarat celebrates were added to the state formation day on 1 May E-NAM platform. The mandis were Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day from 7 different is celebrated in the Indian states of states. They were Maharashtra and Gujarat on 1 May joined through a video conference held every year. The day commemorates the by the Union Minister of Agriculture Shri formation of the state on this day in 1960. Narendra Singh Tomar. History: Highlights In 1960, the Bombay Reorganization Act, The mandis added were from the states 1960 was passed by India’s Parliament of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, to divide the multilingual state of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka Bombay into Gujarat and Maharashtra. and Uttar Pradesh. These addends have Bombay formerly consisted of speakers brought the number of E-Nam mandis in of different languages such as Gujarati, the country to 785. Marathi, Konkani, and Kutchi. As a result of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 73 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 E-Nam Maharashtra the first state The National Agriculture Market government to announces free and was launched in 2016. It facilitates cashless insurance to the people farmers, buyers and traders to trade After the events of their commodities online. More than 90 Maharashtra Day The commodities are listed and are available Health Minister of for trade. The features of E-NAM were Maharashtra Rajesh enhanced by attractive launchings such Tope announced that as BHIM, MIS dashboard, etc Maharashtra will be the first state to provide IDEAthon launched by Jal Shakti free and cashless Ministry insurance protection to The National Mission for Clean Ganga the people and the covered under the operating under Ministry of Jal Shakti state governments health scheme and for launched “IDEAthon”. It focuses on “The the treatment of COVID-19 patients at the Future of River Management” to explore private hospitals in Pune and Mumbai how the COVID-19 crisis will change the the government has signed a MoU with river management strategies. the General Insurance Public Sector Highlights Association (GIPSA). The IDEAthon event examined how About MJPJAY: social angle of rivers can be leveraged to Implemented under the name of RAjiv address the crisis. It also discussed about Gandhi Jeevandayee Arogya Yojana the lessons taught by COVID-19 crisis. (RGJAY) on 1st April 2017 throughout Namami Gange Maharashtra in a phase manner for 4 years The Namami Gange, also called the period. On 13th April 2017 the name of the National Mission for Clean Ganga was scheme is changed to Mahatma Jyotiba launched in 2011. The initiative focuses on Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY). controlling the pollution of River Ganga. The main pillars of the mission include Government to set up panel to give sewerage treatment, industrial effluent clearances in 3-month time frame for monitoring, bio-diversity, development businesses of river surface cleaning, afforestation, The government will set up a panel to and public awareness. provide necessary clearances needed In order to implement the scheme India by businesses within a time frame of has joined hands with Germany. three-months in a bid to attract foreign investment in MSMEs, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced . Addressing Chartered Accountants Association

74 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event

of India, the minister informed that a HP govt to launch ‘Mukhya Mantri Joint Secretary level officer has already Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojna ‘ for been appointed to look after the foreign urban employment investment in micro, small and medium In a bid to revive the economy of the enterprises (MSMEs). state affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Himachal Pradesh India ranked 3rd among countries (HP) state government has decided to in scientific publication in 2018; launch employment guarantee scheme expenditure on R&D tripled: NSTMIS called “’Mukhya Mantri Shahari Rojgar rd India occupies 3 rank in terms of Guarantee Yojna” that will provide 120 number of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. days of employment to those living in D.)’s awarded in Science and Engineering urban areas. (S&E) after USA (39,710 in 2016) and The state also decided to provided China (34,440 in 2015). Rs 2,000 to about one lakh workers The Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) in the country has nearly tripled from registered under the Building and Other Rs. 39,437.77 crore in 2007- 08 to Rs. Construction Workers Board. 1,13,825.03 crore in 2017-18. IIT Launches India’s first COVID-19 During 2017-18 a total of 47,854 patents were filed in India. Out of which, 15,550 test bus in Mumbai (32%) patents were filed by Indian residents. Department Of Science & Technology (DST) & Department of Biotechnology (DBT) were the two major players contributing 63% and 14%, respectively of the total extramural R&D support in the country during 2016-17.

Indian Railways starts Shramik The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Special Trains Alumni Council launched a “COVID-19 As per the guideline issued by the test bus” in Mumbai, Maharashtra and Ministry of Home Affairs, which has inaugurated by Chief Minister Uddhav decided to run “Shramik Special” trains Thackery, Health Minister Rajesh Tope from “Labour Day”(May 1,2020), to move and Praveen Pardeshi migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, Key points: students and other persons stranded The COVID-19 Testing bus will at different places due to lock down. reduce 80% of the testing cost without Indian railways has already run the first such train with 1,200 passengers from compromising on the testing capacity. Hyderabad to Jharkhand. According to the IIT alumni council,

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 75 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

a global alumni body for all the 23 IITs maintenance, landwork and afforestation this will increase the testing capacity through MNREGA. within 100 days and support the health Veer Sahid PotoHoKhel Vikas Scheme department in controlling the COVID-19 (VSPHKVS) is for linking sports with rural pandemic. job schemes in order to provide boost to PAN IIT ALumni India: sports through the scheme around 5,000 Pan IIT Alumni India is an organisation sports grounds are planned to set up for representing alumni of all IIT. one each in all 4300 panchayats. Registered on– 20 September 2006 Surakshit Dada-Dadi & Nana-Nani Headquarters– IIT Delhi, New Delhi Abhiyan campaign to protect senior Jharkhand launches three schemes citizens during COVID-19: NITI for rural job creation Aayog In Ranchi, Chief Minister, HemantSoren The National Institution for Transforming launches three schemes, BirsaHarit Gram India(NITI) Aayog in association with Yojana (BHGY), Neelambar Pitambar Piramal Foundation(the philanthropic JAL Sammridhi Yojana (NPJSY) and arm of the Piramal Group) launched Veer Sahid PotoHoKhelVikas Scheme virtually the ‘Surakshit Dada-Dadi & (VSPHKVS) to prove wage employment Nana-Nani Abhiyan’ campaign to ensure for the workers in the rural area devised well being of senior citizens during the in convergence with the Mahatma COVID-19 pandemic Gandhi National Rural Employment What are Aspirational Districts? Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) in These are districts in India, that are the presence of rural development affected by poor socio-economic minister AlamgirAlam, water resources indicators. Improvement in these districts minister Mithilesh Thankur and other can lead to the overall improvement in administrative officials human development in India. Neelambar Pitambar JalSammridhi About NITI Aayog: Yojana (NPJSY) is aimed for the ff Headquarters– New Delhi, India conservation of water, recharge of ground ff Chairperson– Narendra Modi. water, creation of agro-water storage units for saving rainwater and runaway Himachal Pradesh to launch ‘Nigah’ ground water. to aware family members of migrant

BirsaHarit Gram Yojana (BHGY) is aimed returnees to use the two lakh acres of government

lands for afforestation by providing Himachal Pradesh (HP) government 100 fruit-bearing plants to more than 5 plans to launch a new programme lakh families to initiate the plantation, ‘Nigah’ to sensitize and educate the

76 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event family members of the people coming to at 2 AM on in the morning and quickly the state from other parts of the country spread to around 5 villages in the vicinity The programme will deploy ASHA of RR Venkatapuram where the plant is (Accredited Social Health Activist) located. workers, health and Anganwadi What is Styrene Gas? workers to create general awareness in Styrene is a chemical compound that has maintaining social distancing during been identified as neruo-toxins. It is also home quarantine, to save themselves known as ethenylbenzene, vinylbenzene, from any possible infection. and phenylethene and has chemical The residence of such persons who have formula of C6H5CH=CH2. Styrene Gas recently returned to the state from other is a by-product of highly flammable raw states must be properly labelled. material Styrene. The gas produced by burning styrene is poisonous in nature. Vande Bharat and Samudra Setu Coming to chemical properties, Styrene Missions to repatriate Indian Gas is a colour-less and odour-less nationals compound. However, in few cases, the In an effort to bring back its stranded gas has been reported as having a mild citizens abroad due to the spread of the sweet odour. It quickly spreads in air. novel coronavirus and the resulting In which products it is used as a raw lockdown thereof, India has rolled out material? massive evacuation plans called ‘Vande Styrene is used as a raw material for Bharat Mission’ and ‘Samudra Setu’ – making products that are commonly perhaps one of the largest evacuation used in electric fan blades, cups and drills since the Kuwait airlift in 1990, will cutlery as well as containers in which take place from May 7 to May 13. The first cosmetic products are stored. It is widely phase of the mass evacuation mission used in plastic and rubber industry as a will roll out. raw material. Vizag gas leak How does inhalation of Styrene Gas Af- fect a Human Body?

Styrene Gas was leaked from the LG Going by the reports coming in from Polymers Plant in Visakhapatnam, Vizag, inhalation of Styrene gas affects which has so far claimed over 8 lives in body in following stages Andhra Pradesh. Media reports have ff Step 1: Upper respiratory irritation indicated that following the leak, the and burning chest sensation gas has spread across as radius of 3 km ff Step 2: Chest Congestion: Wheezing, affecting at least 5 villages and over 3000 Air hunger and Gasping people. Initial reports indicate the gas f leak occurred on 7th May – Thursday f Step 3: Muscular Weakness Abrupt Paralysis

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ff Step 4: Full Respiratory Paralysis Additional Chief Secretary Panchayat ff Step 5: Comatose state and Rural Development, informed that ff Step 6: Death from oxygen depravation this information has been given in the review meeting conducted by the Central Health Impact of Styrene Gas (Long Term) Government According to experts, Styrene is a Key Points: neuro-toxin and its inhalation can lead Amidst Corona crisis, an amount of Rs. to immobilisation and eventual death 117 crore has been transferred online (in confused in concentrated doses) by the state government in the bank in ten minutes. Some of the common accounts of the parents of total 66 lakh implications of inhalation of Styrene Gas 27 thousand students of primary and on human body are as follows: secondary school.

ff Adverse Impact on Nervous System In addition, under door-to-door mid- leading to unconsciousness day meal scheme, ration has also been provided to 56 lakh 87 thousand ff Difficulty in Breathing children. ff Changes in vision and colour of vision Distribution of door to door mid-day along with watering of eyes meal ration: Manoj Shrivastava also ff Headache, Fatigue, Weakness, And added that since the schools were closed Depression in the month of April 2020, with the help ff Hearing Loss, And Peripheral of Anganwadi workers, representatives neuropathy i.e. Muscle Weakness of Panchayats and local teachers mid- ff Irritation in the Eye day meal ration were delivered at the ff Gastrointestinal effects (such as doorsteps of the children. stomach upset) st ff Irritation of the epithelial lining India for the 1 time has more ff It has also been listed as a possible internet users in rural areas than carcinogen by the International urban: IAMAI report Agency for Research on Cancer According to ‘Digital in India’ report (IARC) by the Internet & Mobile Association of ff Nervous system and kidney effects India(IAMAI) & Nielsen shows that for ff Balance and concentration problems the 1st time has more internet users in rural areas than urban, where rural India MP becomes the first state in country had 227 million active internet users, to provide Mid-Day Meal ration 10% more than urban India’s about 205 The Central Government appreciated million, as of November 2019 that Madhya Pradesh (MP) has become Major Highlights the first state in the country to provide a India exceeds another milestone with mid-day meal ration. Manoj Shrivastava, 504 million active Internet users aged 5

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years old or above, 53 million more than “The ‘Sanjivani’ mobile app, which has 451 million in March 2019, which makes been launched, will help to generate it the 2nd largest internet user behind data on acceptance and usage of AYUSH China, which has about 850 million users. advocacies and measures among The United States (US) has about 280-300 the population and its impact in the million users. prevention of COVID 19. It is developed There was an increase in female internet by Ministry of AYUSH and MEITY and users at 21% as compared to 9% for males shall reach out to a target of 50 lakh during the March-November period & 26 people. million new female users accessed online during this period. These changes can UP passes ordinance to suspend most Labour Laws for 3 years be found on sites such as women-centric POPxo, which has increasing users from The Uttar small towns and in local languages. Pradesh (UP) Delhi tops in state-level Internet Pene- government tration followed by Kerala has passed an At the state level, Delhi retains the top ordinance spot in terms of Internet penetration ‘Uttar Pradesh followed by Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Temporary Exemption from Certain Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab. Labour Laws Ordinance, 2020’, to suspend most of the labour laws for 3 India starts clinical trial of Ayush years, where all factories & manufacturing medicines like Ashwagandha establishments will be exempt from The Union government announced that existing labour laws except few the health ministry has today started Gist about the ordinance a clinical trial of traditional medicines like Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Aim – To encourage industries to employ Guduchi Pippali amid rising number of the large number of migrant workers that coronavirus positive cases in the country. have come back & new investments to set The clinical trials of Ayush medicines like up new industrial infrastructure and to Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu, Guduchi benefit the existing industries & factories Pippali, Ayush-64 on health workers Purpose – There is a slow industrial and those working in high risk areas has activity (state) & the state needs to revive begun. the economy back on track due the Sanjivani App COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Health Ministry launches ‘Sanjivani App’, two AYUSH based studies related to COVID-19.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh operation is being conducted under inaugurates 80 km link road for close cooperation of Ministry of Defence Kailash Mansarovar through VC and Ministry of External Affairs. The Defence Minister Shri Rajnath Singh mission has been deployed under close has inaugurated 80km strategically consonance with the India’s vision crucial road link connecting Lipulekh “SAGAR” in the Indian Ocean. pass (China Border) with Dharchula in What is SAGAR Vision? Uttarakhand through video conferencing In 2015, India introduced its vision of (VC). Indian Ocean called “SAGAR”, Security It will help pilgrims visiting Kailash and Growth for All in the Region. India Mansarovar in Tibet as it is around 90 aims to seek economic and security kms from the Lipulekh pass cooperation with its neighbours Key Points: (especially maritime neighbours) under Road for Kailash- Mansarovar Yatra: the vision.

ff The Border Roads Organization In order to achieve this India would (BRO) has constructed the road that cooperate on exchange of information, originates from Ghatiabagarh and building of infrastructure, coastal it ends at Lipulekh Pass which is a surveillance and strengthening mutual gateway to Kailash-Mansarovar. capabilities. f f It will help pilgrims visiting Kailash African swine fever kills over 13,000 Mansarovar in Tibet as it is around pigs in Assam 90 kms from the Lipulekh pass. This road, which has an altitude ranging The outbreak of African swine fever from 6000 to 17060 feet, constructed (AFS) has claimed more than 13,000 pigs along the banks of river Kali between in the last few days in parts of Assam, India and Nepal. affecting the livelihood of hundreds of people involved in the animal husbandry GoI launches “Mission Sagar” in the state. The infection has spread rapidly as the The Government of India has launched “Mission Sagar”, an outreach programme deaths have been reported from nine amidst COVID-19 pandemic. The mission districts in Assam.

aims at providing food items, Ayurvedic A total of 13,013 pigs have died in the last medicines related to COVID-19, HCQ few days due to the ASF, which was first tablets to Maldives, Madagascar, detected in Assam in February this year.

Seychelles and Comoros. The infection has spread from six districts to three more, namely Majuli, Golaghat Highlights and Kamrup Metropolitan. The Indian Naval Ship Kesari has been deployed under the mission. The

80 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event Giriraj Singh presents awards to the National Gallery of Modern Art winners of “Startup India- Animal launches a virtual program ‘NGMA Ke Husbandry Grand Challenge” Sangrah Se’ to showcase artworks Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) Husbandry and Dairying, Giriraj New Delhi, has launched a virtual Singh(chief guest) presented the award program called “NGMA KE SANGRAH to the winners of “Startup India-Animal SE” to showcase an iconic and rare Husbandry Grand Challenge”. collection of artifacts from its repository. About “Startup India- Animal Husbandry The event is based on various weekly/ Grand Challenge” daily themes & for the current week, the Launch theme is ‘Artist by Artists’ and dedicated it to Poet Rabindranath Tagore, whose It was launched by the Department of 159th birth anniversary was celebrated on Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in 7th May 2020. partnership with Startup India to look It showcases 102 original paintings by out for innovative and commercially Tagore, a virtual tour called ‘Gurudev, viable solutions to address the problems Journey of the Maestro Through His faced by the Animal Husbandry and Visual Vocabulary’ and different Dairy sector. exhibitions is being held with the aim to Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched give the opportunity to art lovers, artists, the challenge on 11th September 2019 art connoisseurs, students, teachers etc. at a national animal disease control to see the rarely presented artworks programme in Mathura. from their homes due to coronavirus Pranavayu Programme launched in (COVID-19) lockdown. Karanataka Union Health Ministry to hold Sero The Bengaluru City Corporation recently Survey launched “Pranavayu Programme” to The Union Health Ministry will be create awareness about the respiratory conducting the population-based Sero health of Bengaloreans. survey in a few districts to monitor the Highlights trends of COVID-19 infection. Under the

The initiative aims to help people in survey, the ministry will collect throat increasing oxygen level of the people and nasal swabs for RT-PCR tests. These by themselves. This will help them to tests will be done in addition to the keep track about their health before their routine testing. ailments become fatal. The survey would be conducted in 69 districts of 21 states and Union Territories, the apex health research body said in a statement on Tuesday.

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Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Launched helpline ‘Dial 112’ to facilitate Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, immediate availability of ambulance, West Bengal, Assam and Bihar are some police and fire fighting services wherever of the states where the survey would be needed. conducted. Gist about ‘FIR Aapke Dwar Yojana’ Sero-survey The yojana will be implemented in a A survey of the serostatus of a sample of police station under 11 divisions (both blood serum with respect to a range of urban and rural) of the state and also substances. under one police station in Datia & will cover a total of 23 police station areas. Bengaluru Airport: Voted as best It is a pilot project under which a regional airport in India & Central complainant is supposed to dial police Asia emergency number 100 to lodge an FIR The Kempegowda International Airport, for this purpose the Head Constables are Bengaluru has won this year’s SKYTRAX trained. Award for Best Regional Airport in India and Central Asia. The airport was Gujarat based Macpower produces st voted by customers because of the Best India’s 1 indigenous Seam Sealing Regional Airport in India & Central Asia Machine for PPEs for the third time in four years at the 2020 Macpower CNC Machines Ltd, a Rajkot World Airport Awards. (Gujarat) based manufacturer of CNC (Computerized Numerical Control), has st MP becomes 1 in the country to made India’s 1st indigenous hot air seam launch ‘FIR Aapke Dwar Yojana’ sealing machine used to manufacture personal protective equipment (PPE) kits. The make in India machine, manufactured with the guidance of doctors at Indian Medical Association (IMA), was launched by Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani The machine, prepared in a short span of time, is used to seal the seam of the PPEs Madhya Pradesh (MP) Home Minister so that viruses cannot penetrate from the Narottam Mishra launched the country’s small pores and infect the coronavirus 1st ‘First Information Report (FIR) Aapke (COVID-19) warriors fighting to treat Dwar Yojana ‘(FIR at your doorstep) at those affected by the disease. the new Police Control Room, Bhopal to enable people to file FIRs from their homes instead of visiting police stations

82 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event Video conference held on “Tribal horticulture and pisciculture involving livelihoods and safety” the locals. Chief Minister (CM) Mamata A video conference was held by the Banerjee also added that the scheme will Minister of Tribal Affairs, Shri Arjun benefit around 2.5 lakh people in rural Munda on “Tribal livelihoods and safety”. Bengal. The conference was held with States/UTs About Matir Smristi: There is at least in New Delhi. The conference featured 50,000 acre of barren land in Bankura, the participation of Chief Ministers, Birbhum, Purulia, Jhargram, West Deputy Chief Ministers, State Ministers Burdwan and West Midnapore districts, for Tribal Affairs and state ministers for which cannot produce anything naturally Forests from more than 20 states/UTs. nor can the farmers cultivate on the strip.

Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh CSIR and AYUSH Ministry begin Chouhan launched Sambal Yojana clinical trials of four Ayurvedic Drugs

Madhya Pradesh(MP) Chief Minister(CM) The Shivraj Singh Chouhan re-launched Council of Sambal Yojana to strengthen the lives Scientific of the poor and Scheduled Caste (SC) and and Scheduled Tribe(ST) communities Industrial by providing them social security cover, Research right from birth to death. He transferred and the Rs 41.33 crores to 1903 beneficiaries Ministry of AYUSH began clinical trials account. of four Ayurvedic drugs. The four formulations include Ashwagandha, Gist about Sambal Yojana Guduchi + Pippali, Yashtimadhu and Sambal Yojana was started in April 2018 AYUSH-64. & Rs 703 crore was spent in 2018-19 for its implementation. Highlights

Objective- To provide social security to It is usually consumed to increase the poor and the beneficiaries of Sc and immunity of the body against cold, cough ST from birth to death. and viral infections. Ashwagandha is a leaf. West Bengal govt launches ‘Matir Ashwagandha Smristi’ scheme It is usually consumed to increase The West Bengal (WB) Government (govt) immunity of the body against cold, cough launched ‘Matir Smristi’ scheme to utilise and viral infections. Ashwagandha is a 50,000 acres of barren land in 6 districts leaf. for income-generating activities like

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 83 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Guduchi (AGSY)’ under which small businessmen Guduchi is an Ayurvedic root. It possesses and a cross- section of people falling antipyretic, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant under the lower middle-income group properties. It helps to fight respiratory can take a guarantee-free loan of Rs 1 issues and also heal digestive problems. lakh from banks at a 2 % annual interest Yashtimadhu rate for a period of 3 years.

Yashtimadhu is a stem. It is used to heal The scheme is in line with the central sore throat, irritation in the throat and government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat cough. Apart from this, it also has ulcer Abhiyan (or Self-reliant India Mission), fighting fighting properties. which has given a package of Rs 20 lakh crore to make India ‘atmanirbhar’ Pippali (self-reliant). Pippali is a medicinal herb. The root of the herb is used. It is used to improve Harsh Vardhan participates in the blood circulation and treat asthma. 32nd Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting Jal Jeevan Mission: Haryana and J&K to provide tap water to every Union Health & Family Welfare Minister household by Dec 2022 Harsh Vardhan participated in the 32nd Commonwealth Health Ministers The Union Territory (UT) Jammu & Meeting through Video Conference. The Kashmir (J&K) and the state Government theme of the meeting is- ‘Delivering a of Haryana have planned to provide tap co-ordinated Commonwealth COVID-19 connection to supply water to all rural response’. families by December 2022 under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). While the national About Commonwealth: target has been set for the year 2024-25. There are 54 countries in the Commonwealth, in Africa, Asia, the About Jal Jeevan Mission: Americas, Europe and the Pacific. It is a central government initiative works Commonwealth countries are diverse under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. It aims – they are amongst the world’s biggest, to provide drinking water to every rural smallest, richest and poorest countries. household. The 26th Commonwealth Heads of Gujarat Govt launches ‘Atmanirbhar Government Meeting (CHOGM) Gujarat Sahay Yojna’ scheduled to take place in Kigali, Rwanda on 22 – 27 June 2020 has been postponed In a bid to help people start a normal due to COVID-19. life which has been affected due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown, the Gujarat state government has launched a ‘Atmanirbhar Gujarat Sahay Yojna

84 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event Chhattisgarh to launch Rajiv Gandhi and joyful. Kisan Nyay Yojana As part of this, at least one art-integrated project in each subject shall be taken up by all students of classes 9 and 10 from the academic session 2020-21, and students of classes 1 to 8 will also be encouraged to take at least one art-integrated project (trans-disciplinary project) in a given academic year. Chhattisgarh State government is to The CBSE has directed schools that for launch Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana classes 1 to 8, art-integrated projects on 21 May on the commemoration of should be of trans-disciplinary nature. the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The scheme is Education dept with Doordarshan aimed to stimulate the rural economy in starts online classes for School the state, amid the slowdown caused by children by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana: Under the scheme, the state government will inject Rs.5100 crore into the state’s rural economy by directly transferring the grant amount through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the accounts of farmers. For this scheme, the state had made the provision for the scheme in the In Jharkhand, the State Education Budget 2020-21. Department in collaboration with The farmers would be paid Rs.10,000 per Doordarshan started online classes and acre for paddy, corn, and sugarcane crops, educational programs to provide school based on the registered and procured education to students of the state through area for the Kharif season. video and thematic lectures. The scheme will benefit over 1.87 million The special educational lectures designed farmers. for students from class 1 to 12 began with special slots allotted for each class. CBSE to introduce art-integrated The programme is scheduled to air on the project work for classes 1 to 10 regional DD channel and free Dish TV The Central Board of Secondary Education from morning 10 am to afternoon 2 pm (CBSE) has decided to introduce art- for five days a week everyday. integrated project work for classes 1 to 10 from this academic session to make teaching and learning competency based

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 85 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Ultra-mega solar parks initiated in Karnataka (H.A.C.K) inaugurated India’s clean energy transition: US- on 16th May 2020 by Additional Chief based IEEFA report Secretary in Charge of Department of IT, BT and S&T, EV Ramana Reddy. Indian government has set a target of installing 75 Giga Watts of renewable Key Points: energy by the FY 2021-22 and 275 Hack is an Accelerator for Cyber Security gigawatts by FY 2026-27 to transform in Karnataka (H.A.C.K) inviting all the cyber security startups in both early- the country’s power sector from an stage and growth-stage, for applying for expensive, unreliable, and polluting the zeroth cohort launching in Q2 2020. fossil fuel based system into a low-cost, H.A.C.K will provide an innovative reliable and low-emission system based incubation platform to connect startups on renewable energy. with entrepreneurial ecosystems and The Bhadla Solar Park in Rajasthan is the marquee mentors around the world world’s largest such installation to date, who are looking for a connection with covering more than 14,000 acres with government, industry and market total capacity of 2,245 megawatts (MW). players. What is an ultra-mega power plant (UMPP)? Madhya Pradesh launched an The UMPP concept involves a state initiative for migrant labourers: government or local distribution Charan Paduka company providing a single central Madhya Pradesh launched Charan grid connection and acquiring land on Paduka campaign, first of its kind which the project can be built, shielding initiative for migrant labourers passing developers from procurement and time- through the states in which barefoot delay risks. migrants are provided with shoes and About IEEFA (Institute for Energy Effi- slippers. This campaign is conducted by ciency Financial Analysis the Police in most of the places. It conducts research and analyses on Key Points: financial and economic issues related to The Charan Paduka campaign is to energy and the environment. support the migrant labourers travelling Headquarters– Cleveland, Ohio, United to their home and to provide footwear States (US). like shoes and slippers to reduce their pain. Karnataka launches first accelerator The campaign started in the Rau Police for cyber security start-up Station of Indore by the initiative of the Karnataka’s Centre of Excellence on Cyber Station In-charge Dinesh Verma. Security (CS-CoE) launched the first cyber The campaign is spreaded in many security accelerator for startups in India, parts of Madhya Pradesh like Damoh, Hack is an Accelerator for Cyber Security Umaria and Sagar.

86 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event Special Postal Cover dedicated to help students in choosing a right career Migrant Workers: India post after their secondary or higher secondary In a bid to tribute migrant workers, India education. post, Mumbai has released a Special Government implements Shekatkar Postal Cover dedicated to migrant workers at the Bicentennial Hall of the Committee’s recommendations to historic ,Mumbai, Maharashtra. The five create border infrastructure migrant workers from different sectors Government has accepted such as two from construction sector, and implemented 3 important a taxi driver, a jewelry craftsman and a recommendations of the Committee of tailor were called to release the postal Experts (CoE) under the Chairmanship of cover. India post, Department of Posts Lieutenant General D B Shekatkar (Retd) (DoP), which comes under the Ministry relating to border Infrastructure so as to of Communications and Information speed up road construction, which leads Technology, headquartered in New to socio-economic development in the Delhi. border areas. J&K promotes e-learning under About Shekatkar Committee: Samagra Shiksha programme The Shekatkar Committee was set up by In Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the former defence minister Manohar Parrikar Union territory (UT) administration in 2016 to improve combat capability & has initiated a slew of measures under rebalance defence expenditure of the “Samagra Shiksha programme” to Armed forces for better teeth-to-tail ratio. facilitate students with complete access The Committee submitted its report in to education through technological December 2016. interventions and other viable means in Initially, the ministry has considered wake of COVID-19 lockdown. the report and sent 99 recommendations Samagra Shiksha programme: Due to to the armed forces for making an the COVID-19 pandemic, all educational implementation plan. In August 2017, institutes have been closed and in order then-defence minister Arun Jaitley had to maintain the continuity of education approved 65 recommendations pertaining delivery to students several steps are to the Indian Army for implementation. being taken by the UT Government which According to a 2017 report, the Shekatkar inter-alia included Radio Classrooms Committee had recommended that wherein Live Lectures are being broadcast India’s defence budget should be in daily between 2 to 4 P.M. the range of 2.5 to 3% of the Gross

Manzelein: The J&K government also Domestic Product(GDP) among various launched Online Career Guidance Portal recommendations. “Manzelein” for students in association with UNICEF which is a structured and What is the tooth-to- tail ratio? well programmed portal developed to It is a military term that refers to the

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 87 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 amount of military personnel it takes to January 2018, a framework similar to supply and support (tail) each combat the examination systems where each soldier (tooth). ward in every city must achieve a certain standard across 24 different components 6 Cities rated 5 Star, 65 Cities rated of SWM and is graded based on overall 3 Star and 70 Cities rated 1 Star for marks received. garbage free cities: MOHUA Hardeep Singh (S) Puri, Minister of State Lata Mangeskar sings “JAYTU (Independent/Charge) of Ministry Of BHARATAM” song for Atma Nirbhar Housing and Urban Affairs(MOHUA) Bharat announced the results of the Star Legendary singer Lata Mangeskar has Rating of Garbage Free Cities, for the sung a song titled as JAYTU BHARATAM assessment year 2019-2020, where saluting the spirit of Atma Nirbhar Bharat. 6 Cities (Ambikapur, Rajkot, Surat, More than 200 singers have sung the song Mysuru, Indore and Navi Mumbai) were including Anuradha Paudwal, Kavita rated 5 Star, 65 Cities rated 3 Star and 70 Krishnamurthy, Shaan, Udit Narayan, Cities rated 1 Star out of 141 cities & also Pankaj Udas, Alka Yagini, Rekha, Asha launched the revised protocol for the Star Bhonsle, SP Balasubrahmanyam, Shankar Rating of Garbage Free Cities. Mahadevan, Sonu Nigam and Kailash Kher.

J&K starts an initiative ‘SUKOON’ – COVID-19 Beat the Stress In Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has started an initiative ‘SUKOON’- COVID-19 Beat the Stress, in order to spread awareness about psychological impact of lockdown and measures to be adopted to overcome Background them.

Swachh Survekshan (SS) was introduced Key Points: 5 years ago to ensure a high degree of About Sukoon: The Sukoon programme cleanliness and sanitation in urban areas. will be telecast on Doordarshan (DD) As it is a ranking system, many cities Kashmir Channel on every Tuesday despite doing exceptionally well, were at 9.00 PM during which psychiatrists, not being recognized appropriately. eminent doctors and scientists will share So the ministry introduced the Star their knowledge on psychological health, Rating Protocol for Garbage Free Cities how to keep the mind anxiety free and

88 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event the measures which people can adopt to About IRIBL: keep stress level under control. It is an Insurance Regulatory and The aim is to ensure that people stay Development Authority of India(IRDA) mentally fit and cope with the fears licensed insurance intermediary since related to COVID-19 with a sound mind. 2004 & is one of the India’s leading This initiative is in line with the growing distributors of diversified insurance concern that COVID-19 pandemic and products and services and specialize in the prolonged lockdown has resulted Risk Management, Claim consultancy, in tremendous stress among various Insurance Placement & Government sections of the society. Business.

‘Mee Annapurna’ initiative launched Ranchi district launches “Tatpar” for farmers welfare across programme to transport migrants Maharashtra The Ranchi district launched the “Tatpar” After the Department of Agriculture, program to help the migrant workers Govt of Maharashtra announced a 3 year to get back to their native places on empanelment of insurance companies bus instead of tiresome travel by foot. and intermediaries for implementation The administration launched a helpline of crop insurance scheme, the Integrated “1950” to support the migrant workers in Risk Insurance Brokers Limited(IRIBL), arranging buses. announced ‘Mee Annapurna’ for farmers Key Points: welfare across Maharashtra The officials collect the information Major Highlights about the workers travelling through It is an initiative that integrates three foot in the national highways or on critical aspects of livelihood and other roads and provide them transport comprehensive engagement for farmers facilities. welfare across Maharashtra. It revolves A day after the launch of the programme, around the three commandments – over 140 migrant workers were Expertise, Engagement and Entitlement. benefited through this programme and Background sent back to their native places through bus. As more small and marginal farmers are Through this programme while forced to take daily wage labor on large transportation the migrant workers lands for survival, the state government were provided with masks and food is likely to face a major challenge to bring packets. them back into the institutional credit system after the lockdown is eliminated. Farmers should be given adequate loans to cover the input expenditure for farming.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 89 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 PM Modi lauds Ayushman Bharat for 100% solarisation of Konark Sun scheme as beneficiaries cross 1 crore- Temple and Konark town in Odisha. mark Key Points: Over one crore people have availed The Ministry of New and Renewable treatment worth around Rs 13,412 crore Energy has taken up this scheme of for free in hospitals across the country complete solarisation of Konark town in under the Ayushman Bharat health Odisha. insurance scheme since its launch in The objective of this scheme is to advance September 2018. the Prime Minister’s vision to develop the Responding to the COVID-19 outbreak, historical Sun Temple town of Konark as the Union Ministry of Health has made ‘Surya Nagri’ and to meet all the energy testing and treatment for the coronavirus requirements of the Konark town with infection free under the insurance scheme solar energy. for its 53 crore beneficiaries. The scheme foresees a 10 megawatt (MW) Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, grid-connected solar project and various Kerala and Rajasthan have emerged as solar off-grid applications like solar trees, the top performing states, providing the solar drinking water kiosks and off-grid highest number of treatments under the power plants with battery storage, with scheme, it said. 100% central financial assistance (CFA) Orthopaedics, cardiology, cardio- support around Rs 25 crore through thoracic and vascular surgery, radiation MNRE from Government of India. oncology and urology have remained as Odisha Renewable Energy Development the top specialties under which treatment Agency (OREDA) will be implementing is sought. this scheme.

Centre launches scheme for 100% India becomes world’s second largest solarisation of Konark sun temple & PPE Body coveralls manufacturer Konark town in Odisha India has become the world’s second largest manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE) body coveralls within two months, following China. PPE body coveralls are crucial to safeguard against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. China is the world’s leading producer of PPE body coveralls, crucial to safeguard The Ministry of New and Renewable against the COVID-19 pandemic. Energy (MNRE) announced that the Government of India launched a scheme PPE testing process The laboratory set up to test the PPEs has

90 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event to be accredited by the NABL. After that, in which more than 800 Defence MSMEs a Unique Certification Code has been participated. passed to test the samples submitted Key Points by the manufacturers of PPEs. Details The definition of MSME has been of all UCC Certificates are available revised, so that MSMEs can be expanded on the official websites of DRDO, OFB & there will be no distinction between (Ordnance Factory Board) and SITRA, for manufacturing and services sector verification by the public. MSMEs.

M/s HLL Lifecare Limited is the In government contracts (procurements) designated single-window procurement of Rs 200 crores or less, global tenders will agency for the hospitals and healthcare not be allowed, which will help MSMEs organisations under the Ministry of to grow their business. Health & Family Welfare, Government of E-market linkages will be ensured if the India. MSME’s are unable to participate in trade About Textile Committee: fairs due to COVID-19. Government and The Textiles Committee is a statutory PSUs will also ensure the clearance of body established in 1963 through an all outstanding payments in the next 45 Act of Parliament and is under the days. administrative control of the Ministry About CII: of Textiles, Government of India. It was ff Corporate Office– New Delhi, India formed to ensure the quality of textiles ff President– Vikram S. Kirloskar and textile machinery both for internal consumption and export purpose. 11 member high-level committee Union Textile Minister– Smriti Zubin formed to reform drug regulatory Irani. system in India Rajnath Singh participates in MSMEs The centre has constituted a 11 member E-conclave “SIDM MSME Conclave high-level committee to “simplify and 2020” expedite” the drug approval process in India. The committee chaired by Rajesh Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Bhushan, Officer on Special Duty, Ministry participates in Micro, Small and Medium of Health was set up by the Ministry of Enterprises(MSMEs) E-conclave, “Society Health and Family Welfare(MoHFW) on of Indian Defence Manufacturers May 11 as a measure to reform the drug (SIDM) MSME Conclave 2020“, jointly regulatory system in India. It comprises organised by SIDM, Confederation of senior health officials, scientists and Indian Industry(CII) and Department of representatives of the pharmaceutical Defence Production. The Theme of the industry. The committee will submit its E-conclave is ‘Business Continuity for report within a period of one month from MSMEs in Defence & Aerospace Sector’ the date of its formation.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 91 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

The Ministry of Health & Joint Drug out to the vulnerable sections offline and Controller of India Eswara Reddy will online for the past 50 days. It has also assist the committee to adopt global organized founding Meitram, the first co- standards for drug and medical device working and networking space owned regulation amid COVID-19 pandemic and run by queer individuals in India. Objective UP govt to form commission to map To study the current drug regulatory skills of migrant labourers system and to submit recommendations for reforming the system to bring it in The Uttar Pradesh government line with global standards and to deliver announced it will form a migration more efficiently. commission to identify the skills of returning migrant workers and provide UN declares Khudol initiative of employment to them. The government Manipur also plans to provide insurance to these Jayathma Wickramanayake of Sri Lanka, workers. United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s The Uttar Pradesh government has Envoy on Youth, has listed Khudol already started the process of skill (gift),a crowdfunded initiative of Imphal mapping of migrant labourers so that (Manipur) based NGO Ya_All, among the they can be provided employment once top 10 global initiatives for an inclusive they complete the quarantine period. fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) pandemic. governments in both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been under tremendous Key Points: pressure to rehabilitate returning migrant About Khudol: labourers. NGO (Non Governmental Organization) Ya_All’s this initiate aims to provide Uttarakhand becomes the 1st state food, health and hygiene of the LGBTQI+ to release report on conservation of (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) endemic, threatened floras community, people living with HIV Uttarakhand became the 1st state (Human immunodeficiency virus), daily- to release a report highlighting its wage earners, children and adolescents. conservation efforts to save over 1,100

Through the network of 100 volunteers, rare plants from extinction. The project the organization has provided over aims at Germplasm conservation so 1,000 health kits, 6,500 sanitary pads that species remain conserved with the and 1,500 condoms to 2,000 families and forest department & also to promote individuals. conservation of plant species among About Ya All: the general public so as to end plant Founded in 2017,It has organized several blindness. mental health workshops and reached 92 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event

According to the red list of the Under the “ReStart Package”, government International Union for Conservation will waive of all the minimum power of Nature (IUCN) or state biodiversity demand charges of MSMEs of the months board under this project a total of 1,145 of April, May and June, and will provide plant species are conserved out of which input capital of Rs 200 crore to the firms 46 species are endemic to Uttarakhand at low-interest rates in order to bring the and 68 species are rare, endangered or MSMEs back on rails. threatened This will be done by providing loans in Few floras conserved by Uttarakhand partnership with the Small industrial Forest department Development Bank of India at a low- Among the conserved floras under this interest rate. programme, Brahmkamal (scientific name- Saussurea obvallata), an ‘Hunar Haat’ with the theme “Local endangered plant named after Hindu god to Global”to restart from September Brahma, and mythological Sanjeevani’ 2020 herb are included. A flagship initiative ‘Hunar Haat’ by the ff Brahmkamal- It is found at over Minority Affairs Ministry will make a 12,000 feet altitude in the Himalayan comeback in September 2020 with a theme region bordering China & is the state ‘Local to Global’, which is a platform for flower of Uttarakhand and considered artisans and craftsmen from various parts a very sacred flower. It also has many of the country to showcase their art and medicinal properties, is used as craft and to generate employment for antiseptic and for treatment of other master craftspeople. ailments. Sanjeevani (Selaginella bryopteris) is Chardham Project: BRO constructs another rare herb which has found a 440-meter long tunnel below Chamba mention in Ramayan. town in Uttarakhand In a big boost to ”Char Dham” project Andhra Pradesh government releases to connect holy towns of Gangotri, st 1 tranche of “ReStart Package” Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Badrinath, Andhra Pradesh government has released the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) the 1st tranche of “ReStart Package” to has constructed a 440-meter-long tunnel help the lockdown-hit Micro, Small and under the Chamba town on Rishikesh- Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to reopen Dharasu road Highway (NH 94) in and become functional. Uttarakhand even during the coronavirus The first tranche is of Rs 450 crore which (COVID-19) epidemic. will be used in clearing the pending Key Points: industrial incentives that would benefit Breakthrough event: Union Minister for nearly 98,000 units. Road Transport & Highways and MSMEs

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 93 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) which resulted in huge blocks in the canal Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari has praised system and restricting the flow of water. the BRO for the construction & he also inaugurated the breakthrough event Ladakh inaugurates the 1st Solar Lift through video conference. Irrigation Plant of Kargil

About the tunnel: The long tunnel, Ladakh’s Director of Animal, Sheep being constructed under the Chardham Husbandry and Fisheries Mohammad Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna using Raza inaugurated the 1st Solar Austrian technology, will be ready for Lift Irrigation Plant of Kargil with traffic by the month of October 2020, five kilowatt(KW) Solar Plant and around 3 months ahead of its scheduled 3 Horsepower(HP) Submersible date of completion of January 2021. Pump(installed by Kargil Renewable Background: The BRO is constructing a Energy Agency- KREDA) at Yak Breeding 250-km long national highway leading Farm, Bodh Kharboo. to the holy temples of Gangotri and Badrinath under the 889-km-long Major Highlights Chardham project costing around Rs The prototype will help to solve the 12,000 crore. shortage of water to irrigate, especially those lands which are at the banks of Desilting work of Ranbir Canal along rivers & the drinking water issue. This IB in Jammu completed despite Pak Solar Irrigation Pump will help in proper objection utilization of this fund in the Farm. Jammu, Ignoring the objection by Pakistan, The pump discharges 45,000 liters of the Border Security Force carried out the water per day, a major achievement in desilting work of the Ranbir Canal along the industry. the International Border (IB) in Jammu This step is to fulfil the dream of Prime district, providing much needed relief to Minister Narendra Modi to Make Ladakh the border residents including farmers. a Carbon Neutral Entity and will also The Ranbir Canal, considered to be the help the Yak Farm spread at a 360 Canal lifeline of Jammu, was constructed in Land to be self-sufficient in Fodder 1905 as the major source of irrigation for Development. farmers in the region. The famous basmati Gist about RGM: rice of R S Pura owes its cultivation It was launched in December 2014 with an primarily to the canal. outlay of Rs 2025 crore for enhancement With a total length of 59.55 kms, the canal & conservation of indigenous breeds was the game changing project which laid by selective breeding in the breeding the foundation of rapid transformation of tract and genetic upgradation of the rural agricultural economy in Jammu. It nondescript bovine population. The enters into close vicinity of the IB and a comprises two components namely large amount of silt had deposited in it National Programme for Bovine Breeding

94 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 National – Diary of Event (NPBB) and National Mission on Bovine door-to-door survey will be carried out by Productivity (NMBP). teams comprising Primary Health Centre officials, revenue officials, education ADB approves USD 177 mn loan for department staff and ASHA (accredited road projects in Maharashtra social health activist) workers. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Karnataka is all set to roll out the first of signed a USD 177 million loan to upgrade its kind in the country a “State Health 450 km of state highways and major Register” that will maintain the health district roads in Maharashtra. records of all 6.5 crore citizens of the state. ADB and the Central government signed This decision has been taken by after a a USD 177 million loan to upgrade 450 meeting with medical experts from both km of state highways and major district government and private hospitals, in roads in the state of Maharashtra Bengaluru, Karnataka. Under the Maharashtra state road improvement project, two major district Uttarakhand launches Mukhyamantri roads and 11 state highways, with Swarozgar Yojana for returnee combined length of 450 km will be upgraded to two-lane standard across migrants seven districts. Uttarakhand Chief Minister (CM) The projects would improve connectivity Trivendra Singh Rawat, launched to national highways, interstate roads, the scheme named “Mukhyamantri seaports, airports, rail hubs, district Swarozgar Yojana” to retain the migrants headquarters, industrial areas, enterprise who have returned to the state during the clusters and agricultural areas. lockdown. “The project will improve connectivity between rural areas and urban centres Key Points: in the state enabling rural communities SS Negi, Vice Chairman of state rural to better access markets, employment development and migration commission, opportunities and services. and other experts have termed this initiative as a “game changer” which Karnataka to launch State Health benefits peoples especially in the hilly Register, a first-of-its-kind in India areas. This decision to launch the standardized About Mukhyamantri Swarozgar Yojana: health repository of citizens has been The scheme aims at providing self- taken after the COVID-19 crisis which employment opportunities to youth and needed urgent focus on better healthcare a boost to reverse migration, specifically for all. entrepreneurs returning to Uttarakhand, Pilot project will be implemented in to encourage skilled and unskilled Chikkaballapur district, and Dakshina artisans, handicrafts and unemployed Kannada or Mangalore districts where youths to start their own business.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 95 National – Diary of Event Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

The scheme will offer credit facility employment to the migrant workers who through nationalised banks, scheduled returned to the state in the COVID-19 commercial banks and cooperative banks. situation and to meet the workers requirements of the industries. Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh MP Rojgar Setu Portal: launches ‘Rozgar Setu Yojana’ for The government of Madhya Pradesh skilled workers launched a portal ‘MP Rojgar Setu Portal’ The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for the unemployed migrants to register Shivraj Singh Chauhan launched ‘Rozgar and find jobs in the field related to their Setu Yojana’ to support and provide skills. Eligibility for the scheme: Workers with permanent resident of Madhya Pradesh. Holders of Samagra ID, if not generate the same. Last date for submitting the online application is 3rd June 2020.

96 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 International Affairs 7. INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Vladimir Putin honours Kim Jong-un government led by Prime Minister with a World War II medal Benjamin Netanyahu and his former rival Benny Gantz, ending the longest political Russian President Vladimir Putin has crisis in the country’s history. After more than 500 days without a stable government and three inconclusive elections, lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset approved a three-year coalition, with 73 voting for and 49 against. One member was absent.

Italy develops ‘iFeel-You’ bracelet for social distancing The Genoa-based Italian Institute of honoured the North Korean Leader Kim Technology (IIT) has developed “i-Feel Jong-un with a World War-II memorial you”, an intelligent medal marking the 75th anniversary of bracelet which will the victory over Nazi Germany. The help users respect North Korean leader was awarded with social distancing medal for his role in preserving the rules. The technology was launched at a memory of Soviet soldiers who died on video conference which involved the North Korean territory. participation of Liguria governor Giovanni Toti and IIT President Giorgia Israel swears in new gov’t as Metta. Netanyahu pledges annexation push Key Points: The bracelet has been developed as the measures for safeguarding people against the Coronavirus pandemic. About i-Feel you: The bracelet can measure social distance in a much more precise manner than a mobile application (app) and it does not track geolocation Israel’s parliament has sworn in a new hence has little effect on privacy.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 97 International Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Unprecedented World Health than those in wealthy countries. Assembly Convenes Online As In India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Pandemic Rages Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic The World Health Organization’s annual Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, oversight convention will be held by more than 50 million persons in each teleconference beginning, as the worst country were estimated to be without pandemic in modern history continues handwashing access, according to the around the globe. study. The 73rd annual World Health Assembly Australian researchers achieve typically brings together representatives world’s fastest Internet speeds from the WHO’s 194 member states in Geneva to discuss a wide range of health Researchers from Monash, Swinburne, topics. However, this year’s meeting will and RMIT universities of Australia have be held by teleconference for the first time successfully tested and recorded the ever. It will also be much more focused world’s fastest internet data speed. The on the novel coronavirus that’s infected researchers achieved this from a single more than 4.5 million people, killed optical chip – capable of downloading 300,000, crashed the global economy and 1000 high definition movies in a split shows no sign of going away on its own. second, as per the Swinburne Insitute’s official release. Over 50 Million Indians Lack Access This technology has the capacity to Handwashing to support the high-speed internet More than 50 connections of 1.8 million households million people in Melbourne. This can also address the in India do not problem of virtual jams across the world have access to during peak periods. effective Researchers achieved these quick handwashing, speeds using existing communications putting them at infrastructure where they were able to a greater risk of acquiring and transmitting efficiently load-test the network. the novel coronavirus They used a new device called micro- Researchers from the Institute for Health comb that replaces 80 lasers, which Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the is smaller and lighter than existing University of Washington in the US found telecommunications hardware. It was that without access to soap and clean planted into and load-tested using water, over two billion people in low- existing infrastructure, which mirrors and middle-income nations – a quarter that used by the NBN. of the world’s population have a greater likelihood of transmitting the coronavirus

98 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Tamilnadu Affairs 8. TAMILNADU AFFAIRS

Special committee to attract take a headcount of Tamils stuck in any corporates from Corona affected part of the world. After launching one countries in TN such portal for gathering information In a bid to woo foreign investments in about Tamils working abroad, the the wake of some companies mulling government is all set to launch another moving out of some countries in view portal, to gather information about of the corona virus impact, Tamil Nadu people from Tamil Nadu stuck in other Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami states in the country. announced formation of a Special Those wanting to return home can log in Committee to attract them to invest in to nonresidenttamil.org and fill out the the State. ‘Return to Tamil Nadu’ form. The website Several firms from Japan, Taiwan, also has a form for guests stranded in the South Korea, Singapore and the United state, wanting to return to their respective States were planning to exit from some hometowns, called ‘Return to Other State’ countries due to the economic setback form. caused by the COVID impact and were Tamil Nadu government increases planning to expand their manufacturing retirement age to 59 base to other countries, including India. Tamil Nadu government increases the Tamil Nadu govt launches website retirement age of the government staff, to help non-resident Tamils return teachers and those in public sector units home from 58 years to 59 years. More than 25,000 government employees were set to superannuate this financial year. Those who are due for retirement on May 31 this year will now retire on May 31, 2021.

Tamilnadu tops India in corona test with 52 laboratories

Launching portals seems to be the only Tamil Nadu tops in coronavirus test. way known to the state government to There are 52 laboratories for testing in

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 99 Tamilnadu Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 India. Similarly, Tamil Nadu has a large This state-of-the-art X-ray instrument number of experiments. Tamil Nadu is equipped with automobiles to take ranks 3rd in terms of coronavirus infection patients to an X-ray, where doctors can in India. Maharashtra and Gujarat are in quickly diagnose and treat the test results. the second position. The death toll is low in Tamil Nadu compared to other states. World Health Organization commends Tamil Nadu Government TN govt. forms high-Level Committee The Government of Tamil Nadu has done to assess impact of COVID-19 a good job in preventing the spread of pandemic corona virus announced that the World The Tamil Nadu government has Health Organization’s medical officer constituted a high-Level Committee Surendran. to assess the overall immediate and The Government of Tamil Nadu has been medium-term impact of COVID-19 on effective in preventing corona spread. the state’s economy. The committee will An investigation is being carried out to be headed by Dr. C Rangarajan, former ascertain whether arrangements, facilities Reserve Bank of India Governor. and medical equipment have been made Highlights: in government hospitals as a preventive measure for corona spread. The committee will access the impact of the lockdown imposed to prevent spread Modern Data Center in Chennai of the coronavirus.

The committee will also assess the Palanisamy has laid the foundation additional costs and implications due to for the modern data center to be built a social distancing and other precautionary SIPCOT Information Technology Park measures. next to Chennai.

It will also assess the opportunities and The National Association for the Payment threats in the short and medium-term, of Fees has been set up under the apart from seeking measures to help the guidance of the Central Bank of India and important sections of the economy to the Reserve Bank of India. The company overcome the impact of the pandemic. conducts all cash transactions ranging from retail transactions to banking Sophisticated X-ray Equipment for transactions. The company handles about Diagnosing Coronary Heart Disease Rs.400 crore in transactions every month. The economic value of these is Rs.15 lakh Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisamy crore per month. inaugurated the state-of-the-art X-ray The modern date center is to be set up instrument equipped vehicles for the at a cost of Rs.500 crore with eight-tier rapid detection of coronavirus infection. security infrastructure at the local level.

100 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Tamilnadu Affairs This modern date center will help meet Tamil Nadu starts Implementation the rapidly growing IT challenges. of Solar Fence Farmland Protection It is set to be the first data center in the city Programme of Chennai with four-tier standards. This The Government of Tamil Nadu started data center will support all kinds of digital the preliminary works on implementing initiatives that serve the purpose of Digital the Solar Fence Farmland Protection India. The new structure is to be built Programme, under the Central according to green building guidelines so Agriculture Improvement Scheme. as not to affect environmental cleanliness. This scheme is to protect agricultural The data center is to be equipped with lands of the districts which have the uninterrupted horizontal power lines western ghats as their boundaries and are and to deal with natural disasters such as at risk of animal(Elephant) attacks. hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis.

New testing plan for Chennai Health Minister C.Vijayabaskar announced that the state has launched a micro plan for 33 containment areas in Chennai city Namma Chennai Corona Thaduppu Thittam-where more than 500 newly appointed health inspectors will Key Points: fan out for a door-to-door screening of The eco-friendly and non polluting patients with influenza-like symptoms. solar powered electric fences are being constructed in the various districts of Cleaners are no longer “employees of Tamil Nadu. cleanliness” 50% of the construction cost of the electric The Government of Tamil Nadu has fence and setting up the solar panels for issued a constitution to call sanitation power generation will be provided under workers, chief minister Palanisamy the Central Agriculture Improvement announced that under the Article 110 Scheme as a subsidy to the farmers of the legislative session, the cleaning The Maximum limit for availing the staff would no longer be called cleaners. subsidy is set to Rs.2.18 Lakhs. Accordingly, the government has now Order to upload the functions of the issued a decree honoring those who work colleges to the ‘e-samiksha’ website in local bodies and in various sectors. Prime Minister issued new announcements for various sectors in the country, the central government created an e-Samikshha website portal to monitor whether the plans were

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 101 Tamilnadu Affairs Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 implemented properly. In this portal, the leadership of the Tamil Nadu Chief all the departments and directories in Secretary Shanmugam to take necessary the country have been given a unique steps to start their business in the state number. with special emphasis on companies Accordingly, departmental activities from various nations who have already should be uploaded once or twice a month invested. on the portal. The academic program, The details of 17 MoUs signed are as awareness campaigns and ceremonies of follows: the current academic year, government- Daimler India (investment Rs 2,277 aided arts and science colleges in Tamil crore), Finland’s Salcomp (Rs 1,300 crore), Nadu, will be uploaded on June 4 by Polymatech Electronics of Japan (Rs 900 e-Samiksha. crore), Taiwan’s Chung Jye Company Ltd and Aston Shoes Pvt Ltd (Rs 350 crore), Tamil Nadu govt inks 17 investment Australia’s Lai Investment Manager MoUs worth `15,128cr with Pvt Ltd (Rs 400 crore), South Korea’s corporates Mando Automotive India Pvt Ltd (Rs 150 Industry and the economy are being crore), Netherlands’ Dinex (Rs 100 crore), hit by the increasing coronavirus Indo-UK joint venture Chennai Power (COVID-19) impact in Tamil Nadu (TN) Generation Ltd (Rs 3,000 crore). & in the meantime, the state Government In addition, France based IGL India is taking various measures to restore the Transplantation Solutions Pvt Ltd (Rs 18 industry which has been hit by the virus. crore) & Vivid Solaire Energy Pvt Ltd (Rs As part of this, the state government has 2,000 crore), US based HDCI Data Centre inked 17 memorandum of understandings Holdings Chennai LLP (Rs 2,800 crore), (MOUs) worth `15,128 crore with various Singapore’s ST Tele Media (Rs 1,500 companies based in Germany, Finland, crore), Germany’s Baettr (Rs 210 crore), Taiwan, China, France, South Korea, China’s BYD India Pvt Ltd (Rs 50 crore), Japan, USA, Australia, England and Taiwan’s TJR Precision Technology Netherlands, with the aim to provide Company Ltd (Rs 46 crore), Japan’s Pillar employment opportunities to 47,150 Industries India Pvt Ltd (Rs 15 crore) people. US based Lincoln Electric research and Key Points: development centre (Rs 12 crore) also Background: With the impact of Corona signed the MoU. on the global economy, many foreign companies have decided to relocate to countries including India. In view of this, a special committee has been set up under

102 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Tamilnadu Affairs Rs 300-crore package to boost rural economy In an effort to strengthen rural enterprises, the State government has come up with a `300-crore Covid-19 assistance package, which is likely to benefit as many as 1.4 lakh people, under the Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project (TNRTP). The current Covid-19 assistance package will be the first-of-its-kind initiative to provide a stimulus fund to a targeted 1,39,574 beneficiaries from various categories including members of women self-help groups, individual enterprises, producer groups, enterprise groups, producer collectives, differently-abled and vulnerable members involved in livelihood or enterprise activities and skilled migrant youth returnees to start new enterprises.

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 103 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 9. PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. What is the main objective of Government of India recently launched scheme “Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan”? (A) Export Promotion (B) Self Reliant Economy (C) Increase India Import (D) Development below Poverty line People 2. Which of the following Date Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana was launched? (A) 1st January 2019 (B) 1st December 2018 (C) 24th February 2019 (D) 1st March 2019 3. Global Forest Resources Assessment Report 2020 released by which of the following organization? (A) United Nations Organisation (B) Food and Agricultural Organization (C) United Nations Environment Programme (D) United Nations Metrological Research Centre 4. What is the Name of India’s first automated COVID-19 testing Machine? (A) COBAS 19 (B) COBAS 6800-RT-PCR (C) COV-19-PCR (D) COV-RT-PCR 5. Puttuswamy Vs Union of India case related to which of the following issue? (A) Privacy Rights (B) Fundamental Right (C) Right to Education (D) DPSP 6. Who has been recently take charge as the president of the paralympic committee of India? (A) Mariyappan Thangavel (B) Deepa Malik (C) Varun Singh (D) Devendra Jhejhoria 7. What is the theme of the International Nurses Day 2020? (A) Honours the Nurses (B) Nursing the Globe (C) Nurses are warriors (D) Nursing the world to Health 8. Pongong Pso Lake is recently seen in News is a part of which of the following Indian state/ UT? (A) Jammu & Kashmir (B) Goa (C) Ladakh (D) Arunachal Pradesh 9. According to Global Report on International Displacement report, which country has highest number of displaced people? (A) China (B) India (C) USA (D) Brazil

104 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Practice Questions

10. Multisystem inflammatory state is frequently seen in the news, which is related to which disease? (A) COVID-19 (B) SARS (C) MERS (D) Kawasaki disease 11. USA recently released Annual special 301 report which is related to? (A) Refugees (B) Trade Barriers (C) Terrorism (D) Religious Affairs 12. How many member countries are in Asia Pacific Economic Corporation? (A) 12 (B) 21 (C) 24 (D) 25 13. Which of the following Institution developed HCARD robot to assist health workers ? (A) CMERI (B) DRDO (C) IIT-B (D) IIT-M 14. SWAMITVA Scheme” recently seen in News is launched by which of the following ministry? (A) Ministry Human Resources Development (B) Ministry of Finance (C) Ministry of Panchayat Raj (D) Ministry of Consumer Affairs 15. Which of the following Indian IT firm launched “Corana Warriors” an online self certification course for health workers? (A) WIPRO (B) TCS (C) Infosys (D) HCL Technologies 16. Which Indian has featured in the top 20 global leaders of medicine maker power list 2020? (A) Dilip Shanghvi (B) Pankaj Patel (C) Ajay Piramal (D) Kiran Mazumdar Shaw 17. Papikonda National Park is located in which of the following state? (A) Karnataka (B) Telangana (C) Andhra Pradesh (D) Kerala 18. Name the plan which was part of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana to modernize the fisheries sector? (A) Mitra Sagar (B) Suman Sagar (C) Swath Sagar (D) Swachh Sagar 19. Which state Government signed MoU with Flipkart to support mango farmers to sell their produce through the online platform? (A) Karnataka (B) Tamilnadu (C) Andhra Pradesh (D) Maharastra 20. Who has been released the book “The Ickabog” recently? (A) Sews (B) Enid Blyton (C) JK Rowling (D) Beverly 21. The famours Author “Mujtaba Hussain” belongs to which language? (A) Gujarati (B) Telugu (C) Bengali (D) Urdu 22. The Hoggar mountains National Park recently seen in news located in which country? (A) Mali (B) Niger (C) Algeria (D) Tunishia

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 105 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 23. The river Narmada originates in Which Indian state? (A) Karnataka (B) Uttar pradesh (C) Madhya Pradesh (D) Odisha 24. Choose the correct statement regarding e-cigarette. 1. It converts liquid nicotine into mist, vapour. 2. Currently Indian Government banned the selling of e-cigrattes. (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both (D) None of the above 25. The New Fresh water fish variety “Punitus Sanctur” is recently found in which state? (A) Kerala (B) Assam (C) Tamilnadu (D) Odisha 26. Which of the following are major ethnic groups of Myanmar? 1. Rakhine 2. Rohingya 3. Kachin 4. Bamar (A) 1, 2 only (B) 2 only (C) 1, 2, 3 (D) All the above 27. Choose the correct statement. 1. The Mekong River commission is an interGovernmental organisation established in 5th april 1995. 2. The Commission Headquartered in Cambodia. (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both (D) None of the above 28. Which Country is the Chair of BRICS for the year 2020? (A) India (B) China (C) Brazil (D) Russia 29. “Global macro outlook” 2020-21 Report has been Released by which of the following organisation ? (A) IMF (B) Moody’s (C) World Book (D) New Development Bank 30. Which Indian State topped in the “CRISIL” total Installed renewable energy capacity Research Report ? (A) Gujarat (B) Tamilnadu (C) Karnataka (D) Rajasthan 31. What is the rank of India in open budget survey? (A) 50 (B) 52 (C) 53 (D) 54 32. Who heads the taskforce on National Infrastructure pipeline (NIP) ? (A) Rajiv Kumar (B) Atanu Chakraborty (C) Nirmala Sitharaman (D) R K Mishra 33. Which of the following is known as Chak-Hao? (A) Gorakhpur Terracotta (B) Black rice of Manipur (C) Kovilpatti Kadalaimuttai (D) Silk of Manipur

106 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Practice Questions 34. Which of the following ministry launched bank of schemes, Innovation and research portal? (A) Ministry of Finance (B) Ministry of Commerce (C) Ministry of MSME (D) Ministry of Home Affairs 35. Which country recently announced Hazbollah as a terrorist organization? (A) Germany (B) Russia (C) USA (D) Saudi Arabia 36. Choose the correct statement. 1. The Computer Emergency Response Team (ERT) is the nodal Agency in India that deals with hacking, cyber security threats. 2. CERT operates under ministry of Electronics and information Technology. (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both (D) None of the above 37. Sambal Yojana is belongs to which of the following state? (A) Uttar Pradesh (B) Bihar (C) Madhya Pradesh (D) Rajasthan 38. Which of the following Airport won the SKY TRAX award-2020 for Best Regional Airport in India and Central Asia? (A) Chennai International Airport (B) Kempe Gowda International Airport (C) Indira Gandhi International Airport (D) Chattrapati Shivaji International Airport 39. What is the rank of India in World Economic Forum’s Global Energy Transition Index (ETI) 2020? (A) 71 (B) 72 (C) 73 (D) 74 40. Choose the correct statement regarding Kalakad Mundandurai Tiger reserve 1. It is the Evergreen forest with high humidity Reserve in Tamil nadu. 2. 13 river branches of Tamiravaruni is following in this area. 3. Agasthiya falls, Manimutharu falls, Karaiyaru were present in the region. (A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 and 3 (C) 1 and 3 (D) All the above 41. Choose the correct statement regarding the impact of Corona Pandemic. 1. Reduction in the demand of essential commodities. 2. Increase in Production reduction in purchase by the common. 3. Reduction in money supply. (A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 and 3 (C) 1 and 3 (D) All the above 42. Presently how many railway zones in India? (A) 15 (B) 16 (C) 17 (D) 18 43. What is the name of the Indian Coast Guard ship which was introduced recently to improve the security of coastal regions? (A) Sachet (B) C-450 (C) C-451 (D) Samudra

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 107 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 44. Chamba Tunnnel recently seen in News is located in which of the following National Highway? (A) NH-1 (B) NH-27 (C) NH-49 (D) NH-94 45. Choose the correct statement. 1. Animal Welfare Board of India was created under prevention of cruelty to animals Act 1960. 2. Currently head quartered in Chennai. (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both (D) None of the above 46. Chardham Highway Project connects which of the following pilgrimage sites in uttarkhand? 1. Gangotri 2. Kedarnath 3. Yamunothri 4. Badrinath (A) 1, 2 (B) 2, 3, 4 (C) 1, 2, 3 (D) All the above 47. Financial stability and Development Council (FSDC) was established under the recommendation of______? (A) Urjith Patel committee (B) Rangarajan Committee (C) Raguram Rajan Committee (D) Srinivasan Committee 48. Who has penned the song titled Jayata Jayanto Bharatam vasudev Kutumbakkam? (A) Shankar Mahadevan (B) Amir Khan (C) Vasanth Dev (D) Prasoon Joshi 49. Who has been recently received UN Military Gender Advocate Award 2019? (A) Suresh Gupta (B) Gopal Gurunath (C) Suman Gawani (D) Srinivas Kumar 50. Valley of flowers national park is located in which state? (A) Meghalaya (B) Kerala (C) Madhya Pradesh (D) Uttarkhand 51. Where the Headquarters of Botanical Survey of India located ? (A) Chennai (B) Kochin (C) Ahmedabad (D) Kolkata 52. Karewas Highlands Recently seen in News located in which of the following state? (A) Himachal Pradesh (B) Arunachal Pradesh (C) Assam (D) Jammu & Kashmir 53. Which of the following tax fall under indirect tax? 1. Corporate tax 2. Capital Gain tax 3. Service Tax 4. Income Tax (A) 2, 3 (B) 3 only (C) 1, 3, 4 (D) None of the above 54. Bannerghatta Biological Park is located in which of the following city? (A) Mysore (B) Bangalore (C) Mangalore (D) Kochi

108 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Practice Questions 55. Which Indian-origin Professor elected fellow of UK’s Royal society Recently ? (A) Vikram Deshpande (B) Priti Patel (C) Alok Sharma (D) Rishi Sunak 56. Choose the correct statement ? 1. National Mission for clean Ganga Operating under ministry of Jal shakti launched “IDEAthon” 2. The IDEAthon focuses on “The future of River management” (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both (D) None of the above 57. The Cauvery water management authority was constituted to resolve the dispute over water sharing among how many states? (A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5 58. Which of the following state provide employment to highest number of Labourers under Mahatma Gandhi National rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in 2020 ? (A) Rajasthan (B) Gujarat (C) Madhya Pradesh (D) Chattisgarh 59. “Hema Bharali” the famous personality recently seen in news related to which field ? (A) Journalist (B) Freedom Fighter (C) Author (D) Scientist 60. The issues on Agreement on Trade related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Administered by which of the following organisation ? (A) IMF (B) WIPO (C) WTO (D) World Bank 61. With which organisation the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has partnered to deliver COVID-19 test Kits? (A) National Highway Authority of India (B) India Post (C) Amazon (D) Flipkart 62. Netravali wild life sanctuary recently seen in News is located in which of the following Indian State? (A) Karnataka (B) Andhra Pradesh (C) Goa (D) Gujarat 63. Choose the correct statement regarding former President of India. 1. They have equal rank with Prime Minister in the order of Precedence. 2. The spouse of a deceased president is entitled to receive 50% of Pension of a retired President. (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both (D) None of the above 64. New Development Bank is related to which of the following organization? (A) BRICS (B) ASEAN (C) SCO (D) SAARC

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 109 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020

65. Which of the following is are the special powers of Rajya Sabha? 1. It can authorise the Parliament to make a law on subject in the state list. 2. The resolution for the removal of vice president can be introduced only in Rajya Sabha. 3. Except the control over ministers, the power of Rajya Sabha is equal with the lok sabha. (A) 1 only (B) 1 and 2 (C) 2 and 3 (D) All the above 66. Recently Central Government Approved the drinking water from sea water project in Gulf of mannar which will be executed in which place? (A) Kudiraimozhi Ramanathapuram (B) Alandhalai Tuticorin (C) Rameshwaram, Ramanathapuram (D) Pekarumbu, Ramanathapuram 67. Who among the following voter is not allowed to cast their votes through postal ballot? (A) Armed Police force servants (B) Government servant posted abroad (C) A Prisoner under Preventive detention (D) A prisoner under punitive detention 68. The main objective of vivad se vishwas scheme is? (A) To make e-passes easy (B) To collect Tax and reduce litigation (C) To easily pay GST (D) To rectify the queries of tax payers 69. Atal Pension Yojana launched in which year? (A) 2015 (B) 2016 (C) 2017 (D) 2018 70. Which of the following state Government recently provided industrial status to “sports” on Newly created Industrial Policy? (A) New Delhi (B) Kerala (C) Mizoram (D) Nagaland 71. Where Indian Dispute Resolution Centre (IDRC) has been inaugurated recently? (A) Mumbai (B) New Delhi (C) Kolkata (D) Chennai 72. Name the person who has become world’s highest paid female athlete as per forbes? (A) Serenawilliams (B) P.V. Sindhu (C) Naomi Osaka (D) Maria Sharapova 73. Who headed the 9 member panel formed by IRDAI to made recommends increase in indemnity provided to the policy holders under Trade Credit Insurances? (A) Ajay Tyagi (B) Subash Chandra (C) Atul Suhai (D) Tapan Roy 74. Which of the following state Government recently setup migration commission? (A) Madhya Pradesh (B) Uttar Pradesh (C) Kerala (D) Bihar 75. The famous person “Balbir Singh sr” associated with which sports? (A) Cricket (B) Tennis (C) Hockey (D) Chess 76. Which State Government begins work on implementing solar fence farmland protection programme? (A) Rajasthan (B) Gujarat (C) Karnataka (D) Tamil Nadu

110 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Practice Questions

77. The ministry of Electronics and information Technology has launched seven services of India meterological Department on which app? (A) Sanjeevani (B) UMANG (C) My Gov (D) Weather info 78. Where is the Headquarters of FICCI located? (A) Chennai (B) Hyderabad (C) Pune (D) New Delhi 79. Where is the head quarters of International Energy Agency located? (A) New Delhi (B) Vienna (C) Paris (D) Rome 80. Government of india recently launched “Project Monitoring Unit” is associated with which industry? (A) Electricity (B) Coal (C) Automobile (D) Chemical Industry 81. Bombay reorganization Act came into effect from which of the following date? (A) May 1, 1960 (B) May 1, 1961 (C) May 2, 1960 (D) May 2, 1961 82. Choose the Correct Statement? 1. Creation of State legislative Council mentioned in Article 169 of the constitution of india. 2. As of now 8 indian states have state legislative council. (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both (D) None of the above 83. Which country constituted the Award “order of Rising sun”? (A) Japan (B) USA (C) India (D) France 84. “Galos” Tribal grops recently seen in News belongs to which Indian state? (A) Assam (B) Jharkhand (C) Arunachal Pradesh(D) Sikkim 85. Who is the current president of Asian Development Bank ? (A) Takehik Nakao (B) Ursula Vonder leyan (C) Masat sugu Asakawa (D) Kofi Anan 86. Choose the correct statement? 1. Asiatic Lion is naturally found in India only 2. One horned Rchinoceros is naturally found in india only (A) 1 only (B) 2 only (C) Both (D) None of the above 87. Which year International Astronomical Union founded ? (A) 1909 (B) 1919 (C) 1929 (D) 1939 88. The Index of Industrial Production is Published by which of the following organization ? (A) RBI (B) Central Statistical Organization (C) Ministry of Finance (D) Ministry of Trade and Commerce

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 111 Practice Questions Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 89. PM’s Matsya Sampada Yojana is related to ______? (A) Farming Sector (B) Fishery Sector (C) Dairy Sector (D) Animal Husbandry Sector 90. Which is the first state to start intra state transportationafter lockdown? (A) Kerala (B) Haryana (C) Himachal Pradesh (D) West Bengal 91. Which country’s scientists recently discovered the super earth it holds the conditions to sustain human life? (A) USA (B) India (C) China (D) Newzeland 92. Day yasin, Mukhtar Khan, Channi Anand are awarded Pulitzer Prize-2020 recently they are associate with which of the following field? (A) Cinema (B) Photo Journalism (C) Literature (D) Music 93. Which of the following ministry recently formed of 7 member committee to enhance audit independence and Accountability? (A) Ministry of Finance (B) Ministry of Corporate affairs (C) Ministry of Trade and Commerce (D) Ministry of Home 94. Global Press Freedom Index is released by which of the following organisation? (A) Reporters without Borders (B) United Nations Organization (C) UNHRC (D) World Press Forum 95. African Swine Fever is caused by ? (A) Bacteria (B) Virus (C) Fungus (D) Bats 96. Koundinya wild life sanctuary is located in which of the following state? (A) Telangana (B) Andhra Pradesh (C) Tamil Nadu (D) Karnataka 97. “Danda Jatra” folk dance performed in which Indian State ? (A) West Bengal (B) Odisha (C) Telangana (D) Andhra Pradesh 98. Which of the following organisation developed an ultra violet (UV) disinfection tower for high infection prone Areas ? (A) AIIMS (B) DRDO (C) ISRO (D) IIT Madras 99. The Rocket Named “long march 5B carrier” has been launched by which of the following country ? (A) Japan (B) China (C) USA (D) England 100. Which of the following Indian Naval Ship has been deployed under the “mission sagar”? (A) INS Kalvari (B) INS Vikranth (C) INS Betwa (D) INS Kesari

112 Vetrii IAS Study Circle Vetrii's Current Affairs, May - 2020 Practice Questions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 B C B B A B D C B D 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 B B A C B D C C A C 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 D C C B C D B D B C 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 C B B C A C C B D D 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 B C A D A D A D D D 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 D D D B A C C D B C 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 B C B A B A D B A C 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 B C C B C D B D C B 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 A A A C C A B B B B 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 D B B A B B B B B D

Vetrii IAS Study Circle 113

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