The Gist JUNE 2020 - IAS EXAM PORTAL PDF

‘The GIST’ - JUNE 2020

CONTENTS

GIST OF YOJANA Magazine 9
#1 Industry 4.0 9
#2 AIM: Fostering Innovation 13
#3 Social Media: The Force Multiplier 16
#4 Digital Platforms 20
#5 International Day of Yoga 23
#6 Tropical Cyclones 24
#7 Swasth Vayu 25
#8 Kisan Sabha App 25
GIST OF KURUKSHETRA Magazine 27

#1 Water Management: Towards Sustainable Agriculture 27
#2 New Mandis Integrated with eNAM 35
#3 Smart Agriculture 36
#4 Jal Jeevan Mission 41
#5 Solution to Groundwater Crisis 42
#6 Atma Nirbhar Bharat 45
GIST OF THE HINDU (Newspaper) 49

Manipur black rice, Gorakhpur terracotta gets GI tag 49
Centre urges industry players to support and reduce crop loss 49
India-UAE to holds discussion to expand bilateral ties 50
India-G20 to come out with digital action plan to fight COVID 50
CSIR begins anti-leprosy drug trials against COVID 50
More states integrated under "One Nation, One Ration Card" plan 51
Direct taxes account for healthy growth despite lockdown 51
Centre hikes MSP for 49 minor forest produce 52
World observes international labour day 52
WHO raises concern over use of BCG vaccines 52
Study finds improved water quality in Ganges amid lockdown 53
Australian team tops Test and T20 rankings 53
Armed forces display solidarity to COVID warriors 53
UPSC Exams Study Notes
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PM Jan AushadhiKendras register record sales turnover 54

Government likely to extend interest equalisation scheme to boost exports 54
MSME to focus on import substitution and export enhancements 55
RCEP nations offer a package to India 55
Bangladesh sends Rohingyas to resettlement facility 55
Snake Experts suggests cobra hatchlings as lethal 56
Central health team to monitor districts with high COVID cases 56
Folk artists releases paintings to spread awareness against COVID 57
RBI assures full repayment to CKP cooperative bank depositors 57
Commerce ministry to identify sectors to establish India as a manufacturing hub 58
India asks Pakistan to vacate all areas under illegal occupation 58
Scientists develop new code to study earth’s magnetosphere 59
PrithviSai named ISRL-2 champion 59
Government to bring in Indian nationals stranded abroad 59
Government set to mobilize NGO’s to combat COVID and help migrant workers 60
Centre to focus on MSME agro policy 60
Saras collection platform launched in GeM portal 61
PM addresses NAM summit via videoconferencing 61
DRDO develops disinfection tower 61
Carlsen wins online chess tournament 62
PM reviews status of India’s vaccine development, drug discovery and testing of COVID-19 62
Corporate borrowings tumble amid lockdown 62
Cotton corporation to purchase cotton at MSP 63
India plans first virtual bilateral summit with Australia 63
China launches new satellite via Longmarch 5B rocket 64
Experts claim reduced emissions and blue skies won’t benefit environment in the long run 64
Around 40cr people receive financial assistance under various schemes 65
Agriculture ministry moots integrated soil management approach 65
Study finds COVID-19 to accelerate e-com adoptions 65
PMGKAY distributes 120lakh tonnes of food grains 66
Centre asks West Bengal to allow land transportations from Bangladesh 66
Death of pigs in Meghalaya associated to suspected hog cholera 66
NADA to conduct disciplinary hearings online 67
PM takes stock of situation in Visakhapatnam after gas leak in factory 67
Defence ministry approves abolition of posts in MES 67
India seeks to lure American businesses out of China 68
Israel top court orders that Netanyahu can form government amid corruption charges 69
WHO reports surge in domestic violence mid COVID 69
Scientists warn that intensive farming could increase risk of epidemics 69
NGT asks LG polymers to deposit compensation upholding ‘absolute liability’ clause 70
Very few take up ration card portability scheme by centre 70
Finance ministry announces relief package for NRI’s and foreign visitors 71

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India-AIIB sign agreement to strengthen public health preparedness 71

India helps African nations affected by COVID 72
WHO says countries must return to public health surveillance to control COVID 72
Indian scientists develop energy efficient photo detector 73
India gives clarification on territorial extent near Nepal border 73
NDMA issues guidelines for restarting industries post lockdown 73
Former RBI governor says centre’s financial stimulus not sufficient 74
SEZ units demand customs duty waiver for domestic sale 74
Egypt brings in new amendments bringing more powers to president 75
UN postal agency and WHO release stamp to commemorate eradication 75
Sal forest tortoise expands habitat outside protected areas 75
Majority advocates support collegium system for selection to higher posts 76
BPRD rejects online manual for identifying fake news 76
Sowing are of summer crops increases significantly 77
WHO says live animal markets crucial in providing food for millions 77
NIV develops indigenous ELISA test kit 77
Centre extends deadline for Aadhar-ration card seeding 78
Data protocol norms for Arogya Setu app released 78
Reports suggest fiscal deficit to come down to 5.8% 79
Survey finds lockdown has brought in change in buying behaviour 79
Saudi Arabia to raise VAT from 5-15% from July 80
China threatens on retaliation over U.S visa rules 80
National technology day being celebrated across the country 80
Sania Mirza wins Fed cup heart award 81
PM announces special package worth 20lakh cr to kickstart economy 81
India to miss nutrition targets as per global nutrition report 82
SEBI relaxes norms for banks and insurers in terms of financials 82
India caught in U.S-China spat over Taiwan 83
Indian army says no violation of air space with china near ladakh 83
Government makes mandatory installation of Arogya Setu app for returning migrants 83
Women’s FIFA under 17 worldcup rescheduled to March 2021 84
President, Lok Sabha speaker meet on 68th anniversary of first sitting of Parliament 84
Government announces first tranche of fiscal stimulus package 84
U.S discusses west bank annexation with Israel PM 85
WHO warns of reopening of economies without proper contact tracing risky 85
Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and Telangana’s Telia Rumal get added to GI tag 86
Former national table tennis champion passes away 86
NHRC issues notice to states over plight of migrants 86
Centre considering work from home for government staff 87
WPI inflation declines to 3.6% in April 87
Centre’s financial backup to ease discoms of liquidity pressures 88
India reminds China of Gilgit Baltistan territorial rights 88


India urges G20 countries to ensure supply of essential medicines and treatments 88
Fly ash barges causing threat to Sunderban ecology 89
Curbing of fake news does not impinge press freedom claims I & B minister 89
Defense ministry approves new testing infrastructure scheme 89
Govt announces package for infrastructure, capacity of agriculture and allied sectors 90
NBFC’s seek permission from RBI to draw from reserves 90
Foreign secretary embraces India’s role as pharmacy of the world 90
AIIB signs $145million agreement to improve irrigation in West Bengal 91
CSIR develops light weight carbon foam batteries 91
Centre launches online dashboard to monitor movement of migrants 92
Cyclone Amphane to intensify as severe cyclone says IMD 92
Government Announces reforms in key sectors 93
Competition commission demands amendments in regulations 93
UN celebrates international day of living together in peace 94
U.S planning to file anti-trust suit against google 94
New silk fibroin based hydrogel developed by India 94
Centre extends lockdown till May end,allows states to demarcate zones 95
Undertrials released after intervention from legal services institutes 95
Centre allows states to hike borrowing limits in 5th tranche of stimulus package 96
Study finds reverse flow of remittances in the economy 96
Pakistan issues order to conduct polls in Gilgit Baltistan 97
Unity government takes charge in Israel 97
Scientists from New Zealand discovers super earth 97
Govt. allows reopening of stadiums without spectators 98
Centre drop order on wages after Supreme Court ruling 98
ADR study finds party funding from unknown sources 98
Centre allocates 40000 cr for employment generation in rural India 99
HRD ministry claims online digital education platforms to reach remotest areas of country 99
Online session of world health assembly held 100
India backs EU resolution at WHO for probing corona crisis 100
Odisha tribals allege destruction of forest biodiversity 100
ICC panel recommends ban on use of saliva for shining ball 101
SC declines to interfere in NGT order on AP gas leak 101
MoHUA declares five star garbage free cities 101
Government decides to revise criteria for medium based units 102
Over 2000 Indian evacuated from Srilanka 102
India and U.S plan to collaborate on vaccine trials 103
Scientists claim higher temperatures in ocean leads to super cyclones 103
Cabinet approves additional funding under ECLGS 104
NAM health minster’s meeting held through videoconferencing 104
SEBI allows listing of MF schemes that are under winding process 105
Survey finds 60% of farmers faced losses due to COVID-19 105


India claims Nepal’s new official map as unacceptable 105

Palestine claims Israel’s annexation have derailed Oslo accord 106
Rare palm species from Andamans finds new home at Kerala 106
Indian athletes and hockey players in Quarantine after SAI staff tests COVID positive 107
CIC starts hearing RTI pleas from J & K territory 107
Centre claims over crore treatments provided under Ayushman bharat,PMJAY 108
Government to amend GFR to facilitate procurement of domestic firm 108
PET recycling units seek import permission 108
India asks Iran and Pakistan to coordinate locust control operations 109
MEA claims India fully familiar with alignment of LAC in border areas 109
Researchers use Trojan peptides to fight alzheimer’s disease 110
India plans to tour South Africa for T20 matches in August 110
Centre to expand community radio network in country 110
India Posts to work towards realising PM’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision 111
Finance ministry seeks PSB’s to reduce lending rates post RBI action 111
Central government’s debt-GDP ratio declines in FY19 112
Southeast Asian stock markets plunge amid Hongkong security law 112
Maldives not to act or target against India in OIC 112
Study finds sun entering deepest period of sunshine recession 113
West Bengal seeks support of army for restoring essential services in state 113
IMD issues heatwave warning in central and northwestern parts of the country 113
Finance ministry upholds importance of Atma Nirbhar Bharat programme 114
Centre claims solar energy can reduce electricity costs significantly 114
Srilanka seeks Indian help for revival of economy and stalled projects 115
China hints change in BRI path amid debt concerns 115
New solar parabolic trough collector developed by Indian researchers 115
SAI and Cycling federations to conduct trials of JyotiKumari 116
Government seeks clarity on efficacy of Ayurveda in COVID treatment 116
Centre to restart region connectivity under UDAN scheme 116
Report finds India to register recession in third quarter 117
Top 10 states account for majority of under constructed projects,claims study 117
China accuses U.S for pushing relations upto new cold war 117
Howrah’s historical botanical garden is now a graveyard of trees amid cyclone Amphan 118
Bayern registers big win in Bundesliga 118
Supreme court develops software to go paperless 118
Regular parliamentary meeting scheduled to be held soon 119
Government to explore new FI’s to support MSME’s 119
End of oil pacts with Malaysia and Indonesia likely to see hike in import duties 120
ILO urges India not to dilute labour laws 120
Japan lifts state of emergency 120
New fresh water fish species discovered in Tamilnadu 121
Indian hockey legend Balbirsingh passes away 121


PM reviews LAC standoff with defence staff 121

Government says ArogyaSetu app is now an open source 122
EXIM bank claims present situation not suitable to raise funds from overseas 122
Centre claims special emphasis give to fisheries sector 123
Srilanka assures deeper and stronger cooperation with India 123
Myanmar seeks $700m loan from IMF to fight COVID 123
Earth’s magnetic field weakening,may affect satellites spacecrafts 124
BCCI calls for change in Ranji formats 124
LWO warns locust threat to be bigger this year 124
Health ministry advises states/ut’s to provide home delivery of essential medicines 125
Finance ministry asks banks to make MSME loans risk free 125
Wheat procurement on target despite lockdown 126
Nepal wants India to pull out forces from Kalapani 126
EU brings in euro 750billion economy rescue plan 127
Invasive mussel species spreads rapidly in Kerala 127
BWF extends Tokyo Olympic qualification period 128
India plans to start COVID vaccine trials by October 128
FDI rises by 13% in 2019-20 financial year 128
World bank study projects at least 49million people to be pushed into extreme poverty 129
U.S ends sanctions waiver that allowed countries to cooperate with Iran 129
Chinese parliament approves hongkong security bill 130
Critically endangered Saharan cheetah found in Algeria 130
National games postponed indefinitely due to COVID spread 130
Reports suggest locust attacks could turn out to be global plague 130
Labour ministry starts online career skill training programmes 131
Fiscal deficit widens to 4.6% due to revenue crunch 131
TRAI recommends new national numbering plan 132
UN awards Indian army women with gender advocate award 132
U.S decides to terminate relationship with WHO 133
New dredging technology helps improve population of Irrawaddy dolphins 133
Hockey India introduces grading system for match officials 133
PMO claims PM-CARES fund not under the ambit of RTI 133
Certain number of states/UT’s yet to lift foodgrains allocated from centre 134
DPIIT to release draft e-commerce policy soon 134
India urges for more tax information sharing with BRICS countries 135
India and Srilanka commits to strengthen bilateral relationships 135
U.S calls for expansion of G7 member countries 135
Space X’s dragon spacecraft takes off for international space station 136
Rohit Sharma nominated for KhelRatna 136
GIST OF Science Reporter Magazine 137

#1 New Mini Moon of Earth 137
#2 Chenab Bridge –The Highest Bridge 137


#3 CSIR’s Mission to Combat COVID19 139

#4 Air Pollution and Public Health: Challenges and Interventions 140
#5 GOI Launches Aarogya Setu App 141
#6 Apple Unveils COVID-19 Information App and Website 142
#7 GOKADDAL —World’s First-ever Digital Solutions exchange Cloud 142
#8 Electronic Skin — Human-machine Interface 142
#9 Mary River Turtle 142
#10 MCQs on Human Virus 143
#11 MCQs on Understanding Ecoterms 144
GIST OF PIB (Press Information Bureau) 148

#1 Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence 148
#2 Aarogyapath 148
#3 Joint Science Communication Forum to promote common policy and best practices 149
#4 3 DST institutes among top 30 Indian Institutions in Nature Index 2020 149
#5 India Rankings 2020 for Higher Educational Institutions 150
#6 CSIR and AIM sign a Letter of Intent to Foster Innovation 151
#7 Central Administrative Tribunal for the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh 151
#8 Coal India Arm Western Coalfields opens 3 new coal mines 152
#9 Aerosol characterization and radiative forcing Western-Trans Himalayas 153
#10 The Urban Learning Internship Program 154
#11 Healthy and Energy Efficient Buildings Initiative 155
#12 Amery Ice Shelf 155
#13 PM chairs Cabinet Meeting to give historic boost to Rural India 156
#14 Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy 158
#15 India and Bhutan on Cooperation in the areas of Environment 159
#16 21st meeting of Central Employment Guarantee Council 159
#17 My Life My Yoga contest 160
#18 India National Supermodel 160
#19 National Career Service portal 160
#20 Index of Eight Core Industries 161
#21 Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme 161
#22 Promoting Beekeeping as part of its aim to double farmers’ income 161
#23 Alternative dwarfing genes in wheat can eliminate rice crop residue burning 162
#24 Initiatives launched on International Day of Biodiversity 162
#25 Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western Ghats 162
#26 Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana 163
#27 Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFCs/HFCs 163
#28 National Test Abhyas 164
#29 73rd World Health Assembly 164
#30 Shekatkar Committee recommendations 165
#31 Union Finance Minister announces several initiatives to boost Education Sector 165
#32 International Museum Day 166


#33 Finance Minister announces new horizons of growth 166

#34 Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme 167
#35 NIT Kurukshetra Implements SAMARTH 167
#36 COBAS 6800 testing machine 167
#37 PM CARES Fund Trust Allocates Rs. 3100 Crore for Fight against COVID-19 168
#38 UMANG Mobile App 168

COURTESY:
● The Hindu
● Yojana
● Kurukshetra
● Science Reporter
● Press Information Bureau

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GIST OF YOJANA Magazine

❏ The Industrial Internet Of Things (IIoT),
#1 Industry 4.0 ❏ Cyber-physicalSystems (CPS),
❏ Smart Manufacturing,
Introduction:
❏ Smart Factories, Cloud Computing,
● This transition is so compelling that it is
❏ Additive Manufacturing,
being called Industry 4.0to represent the ❏ Big Data, Robotics,
fourth revolution that has occurred in ❏ Cognitive Computing,
manufacturing.Industry 4.0 is signalling a ❏ Artificial Intelligence & Blockchain etc.
change in the traditional manufacturing ● This automation creates a manufacturing
landscape. system whereby the machines in factories
● Industry 4.0 encompassesthree are augmented with wireless connectivity
technological trends drivingthis and sensors to monitor and visualise an
transformation: connectivity,intelligence entire production process and make
and flexible automation. autonomous decisions.
● It is further estimated that wireless
Evolution process of industrial revolution: connectivity and the augmentation of
● The first industrial revolution came with machines will be greatly advanced with
the advent of mechanisation, steam power the full rollout of 5G. This will provide
and water power. faster response times, allowing for near
● The second industrial revolution revolved real-time communication between
around mass production and assembly systems.
lines using electricity.
● The third industrial revolution came with Digital twin technologies:
electronic and IT systems and ● The fourth industrial revolution also
automation. relates to digital twin technologies. These
● The fourth industrial revolution is digital technologies can create virtual
associated with cyber-physical systems. versions of real-world
installations,processes and applications.
What about Industry 4.0? This can then be robustly tested to make
● Industry 4.0 describes the growing trend cost-effective decentralised decisions.
towards automation and data exchange in ● These virtual copies can then be created
technology and processes within the in the real world and linked,via the Internet
manufacturing industry, including: of Things allowing for cyber-physical
❏ The Internet ofThings (IoT),


systems to communicate and cooperate nanotechnology, biotechnology, material

with each other and human staff to create science, and quantum computing. It is
a joined up real-time data exchange and creating fresh challenges and
automation process for Industry opportunities within innovation.
4.0manufacturing. ● The world is facing greater disruption and
● As Industry 4.0unfolds, computers are an increasing innovation pace and actually
connected and communicate with one caught up in a very revolutionary period.
another to ultimately make decisions ● The days of simple product innovation are
without human involvement. A dwindling. Currently,the technology, talent,
combination of cyber-physical systems, and new innovation ecosystems are
theInternet of Things and the Internet emerging;building greater complexities
ofSystems make Industry 4.0 possible and into our final innovation offerings.
the smart factory a reality. ● Intelligent Automation and technology are
● As a result of the support of smart fueling this new industrial revolution.And
machines that keep getting smarter as this unprecedented, exponential pace of
they get access to more data, our change is increasingly reliant on
factories will become more efficient and collaborative platforms to realise the
productive and less wasteful. result which is more radical innovations.
● Ultimately, it is the network of these
machines that are digitally connected with Emerging Digital Business Models:
one another which create and share ● We need to appreciate new digital
information that results in the true power business models and their impact. We Are
of Industry 4.0. increasingly reliant on digital engineering
and science.
Radical Pace of Innovation: ● There is scope to have radically different
● Innovation Is fundamentally undergoing a product development and processes to
radical change. Wherever we turn the manage.
manufacturing world, the technological ● These are multiplying by this rate of
revolution immerseus. industrial change. The Traditional supply
● The scale, scope, and complexity are chain has a very different potential when
things we have certainly never factories and operations become highly
experienced. It is exposing us connected and start operating as Industry
toexponential technologies. 4.0entities.
● We seem to have caught up in such levels ● The new business models will emerge
of velocity, scope, and systems impact –it from the way they can be operated, be
is seemingly exponential, occurring at responsive in the supply networks. All this
faster rates of change. Companiesare requires digital management. As we
radically overhauling entire systems of connect more,the customer experiences
production, management,and governance can hugely benefit. We can target, sell, and
on a constant basis of change. marketon greater connecting knowledge
● We have unprecedented processing platforms. We can understand channel
power, storage capacity,and access to choice and provide more tailored presales
various avenues of knowledge. These are and post-sales support to manage the
being combined with emerging technology entire lifecycle as we continue to build the
in fields such as artificial connected industry 4.0ecosystems.
intelligence,robotics, 3D printing,


● Further, Blockchain Technology is not only cost reduction, productivity, sustainability

disrupting banking and finance, but it also and innovation.
has the potential to impact many ● The goal was to make smooth businesses
industries and communities as a whole. to run better.The focus for many
● For Instance, this technology can enable a manufacturers now is survival first and
car to respond as per the need by foremost and beyond that, damage
installing a digital wallet based on limitation.The immediate financial impact
Blockchain technology. This wallet works on manufacturers is already resulting in a
by logging all transactions made involving huge reduction in non-essential spending
the vehicle, including maintenance, and investments. ManyIndustry 4.0
modifications, charging for filling up gas. solutions currently being considered or
● It makes it possible to predetermine the being deployed fall into the category of
total cost of ownership and calculate non-essential business activities.
return on investment for the car on a very ● Now, the bigger question is-IsIndustry 4.0
detailed level. relevant anymore? If it is relevant, why and
what role does it have to play moving
Industry 4.0 Post COVID-19: forward? We Believe Industry 4.0 is not
● Industry 4.0 is not only as relevant as it only as applicable as it was before but it is
was before the global actually far more relevant moving forward.
COVID-19emergency; it is actually far ● The priorities for most manufacturers
more relevant moving forward. The world today fall into three distinct Stages:
is gripped by the pandemic. The global ❖ Stage 1 – Survival;
supply chain is experiencing a level of ❖ Stage 2 – Recovery;
disruption that has never been seen ❖ Stage 3 –Business as usual in the
before. new post crisis paradigm.
● Some manufacturers have ceased ● The goal for all manufacturers will be to
production completely, some have seen get to Stage 3 as soon as possible at the
greatly reduced demand and others have lowest cost. Defining the operating model
seen a huge increase in demand. Every forStage 3 they will factor-in lessons
manufacturer is impacted by this crisis in learnt from the crisis and try to build a
some way and for many this poses an more resilient and agile business.
existential threat. ● As we believe one of the major
● We have noticed duringCOVID-19 weaknesses is a lack of real-time visibility
pandemic that exhibitions are getting across the business. Visibility that is
ready in virtual spaces. essential to support critical business
decisions.
How physical conferences are converted into ● Another key learning from the crisis will be
digital webinars? driven by manufacturers reliance on
● Prior to the crisis, Industry4.0 was an area human capital and the impacts of social
of great interest to many manufacturers. distancing. If we go one level deeper than
At this point,it probably seems insensitive the supply chain view, then manufacturing
and inappropriate to discuss Industry4.0 in particular will be highlighted as a big
in the way it was discussed pre-crisis. The area for improvement.
business drivers ofIndustry 4.0 pre-crisis ● During the crisis,production plans would
were focused on competitive advantage, have been changing on a much higher
frequency as a result of changing


demands and availability of raw materials, ● It has been demonstrated in the enhanced

keystaff and assets. Manufacturing has a corporate ability of long-distance
much higher volume and frequency of collaborative work,wide recognition of the
transaction than the supply chain. value of digital transformation and
information technology among all
COVID-19 Leading to Digital Transformation: employees,and the ability to market online
● The integration of digital infrastructure to and business development.
streamline public health to respond to the ● In the time ofCoronavirus crisis, Digital
COVID-19pandemic is very crucial in the Industry4.0 plays a vital role in envisioning
context of epidemic forecasting and and modeling outbreaks. As the epidemic
decision-making, one such example in continues to spread around the world, it
India is the Aarogya Setu appby will become imperative for organisations
Government of India. to look for new solutions or ways to stay
● Thisapplication is the official ahead of the competition. Because most
COVID-19tracker. This explains that digital enterprises will fail to spot their financial
contact tracing is conferring a newform of targets due to supply-chain disruptions
immunity–digital immunity. and lowered customer demand.
● The fastest scalable solution toIndia’s
COVID-19 challenge was to employ digital COVID-19 effect to the manufacturing sector:
technology for diagnosis and for contact ● The COVID-19 pandemic hit
tracing. manufacturers in an unexpected and
● Aarogya Setu app can also be tapped for unprecedented way. For the first time in
providing telemedicine,especially in modern manufacturing history, demand,
remote parts, during this moment of supply and workforce availability are
crisis. affected globally at the same time.
● This digital infrastructure implementation ● Socialdistancing and employee safety
increasingly fuels the digital measures put an additional level of
transformation initiatives within an pressure on manufacturers, as 40-50% of
organisation as well. But Due to the their workforce will be unavailable to
pandemic, the transition will see perform their functions on-site. While
significant changes in industries office employees and knowledge workers
especially in technology,food delivery are able to shift to remote work as the
services, customer service, and virtual default operating mode, most factories
events. In the present situation, we are are simply not designed to be managed
seeing major occurrences worldwide, remotely and lack the digital tools and
including soaring adoption of online infrastructure needed to support such
services,an enormous requirement for activities.
internet services, and enhanced
connectivity among industries, regardless Way ahead:
of their sizes. ● However, this situation must be viewed as
● The impact of the COVID-19pandemic has an opportunity and companies must focus
demonstrated the value of IT and digital on digital infrastructure. Organisations
transformation across industries and that adapt their technological capacity
businesses and they must utilise this time and investments on digital platforms can
to speed up the transition. alleviate the impact of the COVID-19and


keep their businesses running in the long essential for improving national
term. well-being.
● Manyorganisations may adopt remote
working agreements as strategies to
reduce costs, improve productivity,and
increase worker satisfaction.
● Many manufacturers are increasing
efforts to equip their human workers with
digital connected-worker tools that
incorporate safety checks into workflows,
ensure collaboration with colleagues when
physical contact is off the cards, and other
such processes that ultimately balance
business continuity and employee health.

Conclusion:
● This is also the dawn of anew era where
‘frontline’ workers and desk workers are
harmonised with tools that can support
the flow of collaboration and data,where ● New inventions and innovations in
something that happens on the factory agriculture, mass production,
floor initiates communication or workflow transportation and communication during
in the back office. theIndustrial Revolution were largely
● Although the concept of using responsible for proving Economist
connected-worker technology to empower Thomas Malthus wrong, who predicted
workers around safety,quality and that the world couldn’t support an
productivity may be heightened right now, exponentially increasing population.
it will still be just as critical to build ● Social entrepreneur is a creature of his or
business resiliency after this pandemic is her time—a hybrid that combines the
over. driving passion for improving a lot of
● What most of us consider normal has excluded groups with the practical,
already fundamentally innovative and opportunistic traits of the
shifted.Manufacturers who understand entrepreneur.
and act on this new normal will have ● Social Entrepreneurs are focused on the
ample opportunities for growth in this era delivery of public goods using business
of Industry 4.0. approaches. They are too busy finding the
solutions that will allow all people to
participate as active producers and
#2 AIM: Fostering Innovation
consumers in the local, national and
The Rise of Social Entrepreneurship: global economies.
● Sustainable development is the practice of
improving human life while protecting the India, The Innovator: Gathering Momentum
environment. It is perhaps the most ● India, as a country is surrounded with
important and the most formidable challenges that demand.
long-term challenge that the world faces. ● The last few years have seen innovation in
Creative thinking has always been Indiareach a tipping point with the
emergence of innovativeIndian


companies, large-scale social innovation major initiatives taken in first year of its
and now the big impact innovations in establishment:
public service.Social enterprises are ● Atal Tinkering Labs- Creating
beginning to leverage Innovation. problem-solving mindset across schools
● SKS Microfinance has successfully in India.
innovated on theGrameen Bank ● Atal Incubation Centres- Fostering
Microfinance Model. This Business world-class startups and adding a new
ModelInnovation has figured out a unique dimension to the incubator model.
way to ‘scale up’ the penetration and ● Atal New India Challenges- Fostering
impact of a Microfinance product innovations and aligning them to
organisation.SKS has acquired a the needs of various sectors/ministries.
membership of 5.7 million, across ● Mentor India Campaign- A national Mentor
16States in 11 years. network in collaboration with the public
● Akshay Patra is the world’s largest sector, corporates and institutions, to
NGO-run school meal program–it reaches support all the initiatives of the mission.
10 million children across fiveStates of ● Atal Community Innovation Centre- To
India, six-days a week. And they serve stimulate community centric innovation
freshly cooked meals at Rs. 1.50 per meal. and ideas in the unserved /underserved
This was achieved through a regions of the country including Tier 2 and
‘technological Innovation: to prepare Tier 3 cities.
meals on a large scale in a short time’ and ● ARISE- To stimulate innovation and
a ‘logistics innovation-to reach the meals research in theMSME industry.
to the schools’. A number of other
largescale Innovations like Goonj– Initiatives under Atal Innovation Mission:
creating rural value fromurban waste in a 1. Atal Tinkering Labs - at School Level
manner that is mutually dignified and ● Over the last two years, AIM has launched
MVFoundation–a new way to take kids out the establishment of thousands of Atal
of child labour andinto schools are Tinkering Labs enabling students from
bringing through Non-linear solutions grade 6 to grade 12 to have access to and
forthe country’s huge developmental tinker with innovative tools and
challenges. technologies like 3Dprinters, robotics,
miniaturised electronics do-it-yourself kits,
Atal Innovation Mission: thus stimulating a problem solving
● The Government of India hasset up Atal innovative mindset to solve problems in
Innovation Mission (AIM) to promote a the community they are in.
culture of innovation and entrepreneurship ● Atal Tinkering Labs are being established
in the country. in schools nationwide with 4880+
● AIMs objective is to develop new operational in 650+ districts andover 2
programmes and policies for fostering million students having access to
innovation in different sectors of the ATLs.Some activities related to ATL
economy,provide platform and Operational Excellence,Proactive
collaboration opportunities for different Promotion of Innovation & Thought
stakeholders, create awareness and Leadership,Collaborations & Partnerships
create an umbrella structure to oversee and New Initiatives byAIM:
innovation ecosystem of the country.Six ● 2000+ ATL Teachers Trained with
Corporate Partners.


● ATL Gandhian Challenge - launched in all ● Ongoing discussions and interests
schools along with UNICEF. expressed for Incubator and Startup
● India Stamp Creativity challenge- launched Collaborations by Indo
withUNICEF and India Post. German,Netherlands, Swedish,
● PM India Innovative Learning DHRUV French,Australian Embassies, US
Program –AIM invited as key partner by IndiaBusiness council, etc.
MHRD. ● Bill and Melinda Gates
● Russia AIM SIRIUS ATL Student Foundationpartnership in AIC/Startup
InnovationExchange finalised. Training.
● Singapore Entrepreneur 3.0 ATL ● UNLEASH Startups Challenge
showcasing of Top 6Innovations. withNetherlands embassy support.

2. Atal Incubators at Universities, 3. Atal Community InnovationCentres -
Institutions,Industry Level: Serving Unserved andUnder-Served
● To promote creation of a supporting Regions of India:
ecosystem forstart-ups and entrepreneurs, ● To promote the benefits of technology led
AIM has been establishing world-class innovation to the unserved/underserved
incubators called Atal Incubation regions of India includingTier 2, Tier 3
Centres(AICs) in universities. Institutions, cities, aspirational districts,tribal, hilly and
corporates, etc. thatwould foster coastal areas, AIM is setting up Atal
world-class innovative start-ups and Community InnovationCentres with a
become scalable and sustainable unique partnership driven model wherein
enterprises. AIMwould grant up to Rs. 2.5 crore to an
● To date, AIM has selected 102 universities ACIC subject to a partner proving equal or
/ institutions / private players to establish greater matching funding. Over 300+
world class Incubators each of which will Applications Have been received across
foster creation and nurturing of 40-50 the country and 50+ ACICs will be
world class Startups every four years. 50+ established during the next two years.
of them are already operational with 900+ ● Some activities related toACIC Operational
operational Startups and the remaining Excellence,Proactive Promotion
will be operationalised during this year. ofInnovation & ThoughtLeadership,
● Some activities related to AIC Operational Collaborations & Partnerships and New
Excellence,Proactive Promotion of Initiatives By AIM:
Innovation & Thought ● 300+ Applications received to date and
Leadership,Collaborations & Partnerships over 1300registrations.
and New Initiatives byAIM: ● 25 ACICs to be operationalised during FY
● Indo French Knowledge Summit at Lyon - 5 2020-21.
AI startups - received immediate funding 4. Atal New India Challenges - Product and
interest by VCs. ServiceInnovations with National Impact
● Youth-CoLab Sustainable ● To create product and service innovations
InnovationChallenge along with having national socio-economic impact,
UNDP–based on Gandhian Values. AIM has launched over 24 Atal New India
● Entrepreneur World Cup Challenges in partnership with five
NationalInnovation Challenge - CAMP different ministries and departments of
AICStartup emerged as India winner. the central government. 52 winners have
been selected for grant aid and hand


holding by Incubators/mentors of AIM out storage have transformed vegetable and
of 950+ applications received for the animal productivity and output, and even
same. raised the tree line above 13000 ft.
● Some activities related to
ANICOperational Excellence, Conclusion:
ProactivePromotion of Innovation & ● This reinforces our belief that ‘Innovation
ThoughtLeadership, Collaborations & is forIndia, what quality is for Japan; a
Partnerships and New Initiatives byAIM: transforming agent’.Let’s build this
● 24 ANICs launched, 5Ministries momentum to the point it makes India
supported. theInnovation Capital of the world.
● 26 winners selected and announced for
first tranche disbursement, 26 shortlisted #3 Social Media: The Force Multiplier
for hand holding with incubators for
Introduction:
subsequent disbursement.
● Socialmedia has become a game changer

in the way federal, regional, and local
5. Applied Research andInnovation for Small
government agencies are
Enterprises(ARISE) - to Stimulate MSME
engaging,interacting, and communicating
Industry Innovation:
with citizens.
● To promote innovation in a phased
● The Indian Government has been at the
manner in the MSME/Start-up sectorAIM
forefront of these emerging trends–it has
will be launching ARISE along with partner
rapidly adopted the latest digital
Ministries so that great research ideas are
technologies and embraced newforms of
converted to viable innovative prototypes
social media communication tools in the
followed by product development and
discharge of its governance and
commercial deployment.
administrative duties.

● The Government of India’s ambitious
6. Mentorship andPartnerships - with
Digital India Programme is aimed at
Public,Private sector, NGOs,Academia,
transforming India into a digitally
Institutions:
empowered society and knowledge
● To enable all the initiatives to succeed,
economy. This initiative is anchored by the
AIM has launched one of the largest
Ministry of Electronics andInformation
mentor engagement and management
Technology (MeitY),but is implemented
programs “MentorIndia – The Mentors of
across the federal framework of the
Change”.
country covering central, state, and local
● AIM has over 10000+ registrations
organisations in both the public and
nationwide on AIM with 4000+ of them
private space.
allocated toATLs and AICs. What’s even
● Most government departments and
more promising is that other government
agencies now maintain an active presence
agencies are also leveraging Innovation
on the popular social media channels.
forInclusive Growth. The Defence Institute
They have created official accounts, have
for High AltitudeResearch (DIHAR) in
large numbers of followers, and regularly
Ladakh has played an innovative and
share news updates, departmental
transformational role in accelerating the
notifications,or public announcements on
socioeconomic development of Ladakh.
their channels. Not just departmental
● Many initiatives like solar energy based
accounts even executive
low-cost Green Houses, zero energy based
officers,bureaucrats, politicians, ministers


etc. are active on social media and PressInformation Bureau) to citizens for
regularly cross share (or retweet)each the lockdown imposed due to COVID-19.
others’ updates.
● The content they share can be of any Citizen Engagement:
form–videos,images, presentations, text, ● One of the best roles social media can
pdfs, GIFsetc, though videos are often the play is to act as a medium for continuous
most engaging format and evoke the best engagement between governments and
viewer response. its citizens. Citizens Should fear their
● Here is a compilation of twelveways in governments are participatory and
which Indian Government Agencies are welcoming, and be able to contribute their
using social media as a force multiplier in ideas,comments and suggestions in policy
their work: formulation and program implementation.
● The IndianGovernment’s MyGov platform
has proven to be popular with citizens in
this regard. Apart from MyGov,other social
media channels used by the Indian
Government (Twitter,Facebook, WhatsApp,
Instagram)also promote citizen
engagement,participation, and
transparency in this important
relationship.

Citizen Grievances & Support:
● Social media has emerged as avery
impactful, real-time channel for citizen
Crisis / Disaster Management: grievances and support.
● Whenever there is a big,unexpected crisis, ● Most Citizen services (especially the
citizens tend to panic and look for public facing ones) maintain active
directions and advisories from their accounts on social media and encourage
elected representatives. The government citizens to directly reach out with their
machinery springs into action and they grievances. Given all this is happening in
need to emphatically communicate to full public view, there is pressure on the
citizens the SOP (standard operating service providers to resolve the issue (if
procedures) to be adopted. What Adds to possible, in real-time, else with some
the heat of the moment is the possibility delay), while appearing fair, transparent,
of (panic induced)rumours that may lead and responsive for everyone to see.
citizens astray. ● Sometimes when the query gets resolved
● Social media is now increasingly being quickly,citizens express their gratitude
used by governments to reachout to andelation immediately. This expression
citizens during such crises. Two Recent can act as an authentic validation or
examples bear out this trend–the first one testimonial for the service.
is a cyclone alert from the National
Disaster ManagementAgency (NDMA) on Example:
India’s easterncoasts (in the state of ● The two examples below are common on
Odisha), while the other one is an advisory social media these days–the first one is
fromPIB (Indian Government’s about a traffic complaint to MumbaiPolice,


while the other one is a realtime grievance Foreign Relations:

filed by a traveller on Indian Railways to ● Social media bridges the distance
the Railways Bangalore Division. between nations on the internet. Many
Governments agencies are using social
Law & Order: media channels effectively to engage with
● Amongst governmental agencies,police their foreign counterparts.Embassies and
departments are arguably one of the most foreign consulates are active on Twitter &
active users of social media channels. Facebook,engaging with each other or
This is because their jobs hover around sharing important updates to their
real-time,public facing situations, which citizens.
are frequently subject to rumours, false
alerts etc. Example:
● They are required to display trust in their ● Below is an example of the
public dealings and communicate IndianGovernment (through their
unequivocally. ThePolice frequently needs officialTwitter account) wishing the people
to make public ofParaguay on their Independence Day
announcements–something that social And how the Indian Government’sMinistry
media is well-suited for. of External Affairs (MEA)has published all
their official Twitter Handles on the MEA
Example: website (https://mea.gov.in/).
● This DelhiPolice advisory on Twitter is a
telling example how police use social Business & Industry Relations:
media to alert citizens about circulating ● Government agencies partner with
rumours. businesses, industry bodies and trade
organisations on a regular basis for policy,
Hiring & Recruitment: consultations, networking etc. Businesses
● Some government agencies are using play a key role in driving social media’s
social media hiring channels for attracting impact by contributing significantly to the
best-in-class talent for their job vacancies. internet economy via advertising,paid
“LinkedIn”is a popular online services etc. Many monetisation models
recruitmentplatform–here is an example on the internet (wholly or partially) rely on
of a vacancy posted by NISG enterprises, B2B(business to business)
(NationalInstitute of Smart Government) and large corporations with large
for technical positions in UIDAI advertising and marketing budgets, which
(UniqueIdentification Authority of contributes to the nation’s economy.
India)which runs the Government of
India’sAadhaar program. Example:
● The two examples shared on the left
Example: exemplify this–the first is a Facebookpost
● LinkedIn offers two advantages–it is a from Ministry of Commerce& Industry
publishing tool for job postings, and it also showing the Ministeraddressing an
has over 500 million registered users industry gathering,while the second is an
across the world (including 62 million invitation onTwitter for an industry summit
Indian Users). They can readily view these onEducation by the Indian Consulate
vacancies and apply if interested. inIndonesia.


Live Traffic Updates: ● The internet is fundamentally participatory

● Real time traffic updates and advisories in character–people openly share their
get regularly shared in the metropolitan knowledge, skills,and experiences in the
cities via the local TrafficPolice social belief that others can benefit from it.
media accounts. These Updates are ● Sometimesthis is free, or there may be
helpful to commuters in avoiding traffic some incentives for it. Crowdsourcing isa
jams or taking detours to save time. Often popular activity on the internet,where you
these live updates are picked up by local get to tap into the collective “wisdom of
FM radio channels that do their civic bit, the crowds”.
by sharing it on with live audiences that
have tuned into the channel while on the Example:
roads. ● On the left is an example on how the
Indian Government’s community
Example: participation platform MyGov is leveraging
● Here are two examples ofDelhi Traffic crowdsourcing, by hostinga “Logo Design
Police sharing updates on Twitter for a Competition '' for an upcoming
road blockage, and traffic advisory for government heritage complex. Citizens
traffic rerouting owing to some festivities. are invited to contribute their logo entries
for the contest, which has an
Government Procurement: accompanying cash prize to generate
● The government (as an entity)is the excitement and motivate participants.
largest producer and buyer of goods and
services in the country. It's Buying (or Citizen Service-Delivery Apps:
procurement) is largely based on open ● The government has launched various
tendering process,which gives everyone a service delivery apps for its citizens.
chance to participate in an unbiased, Social media is a key channel to drive
non-discriminatory way. awareness about these apps and get
● Hence, tender notices have to be people to download them.Because these
published publicly on the main outreach apps are mass targeted,the intent is to
channels.Traditionally, tender notices were make them “go viral”and spread via
advertised in newspapers; now with the “word-of-mouth”from person to person.
advent of e-tendering, these notices are Social media channels like Twitter,
increasingly getting posted on social Facebook,WhatsApp are best-suited for
media channels as well. this virality.

Example: Example:
● The Two examples above bear testimony ● The two examples here showcase
to this trend–the first one is a tender this–DigiLocker is meantfor digitised
notice from the Ministry of Power inviting documents & certificates,while UMANG is
bids for electric cars, while the second one like a gateway (or a directory) to multiple
is from the Ministry of Information& government services. While these apps
Broadcasting’s Chandigarh Bureaufor have their individual social media handles,
digital printing. they are also promoted by the government
departments.
Crowdsourcing Ideas & Innovation:
Transparency & Accountability:


● Citizens weren't ready to access ● It calculates this based on people's
government departments and its interaction with others, using cutting-edge
functioning officers. Given the size and bluetooth technology,algorithms and
expanse of the official setup, it is often not artificial intelligence.
easy to figure out who is the concerned ● Once installed in a smartphone through an
officer-in-charge (in whose jurisdiction the easy and user-friendly process, the app
case falls) and their contact details. Social detects other devices with Arogya Setup
media can come to the rescue in some installed that come in the proximity of that
cases. phone.
● The App can then calculate the risk of
Example: infection based on sophisticated
● Here is an example of how the police parameters if any of these contacts is
department in Dima Hasao, one of the tested positive.
districts in Assam has publicly shared ● The App is helping the government to take
telephone numbers of their top officers necessary and timely steps for assessing
and their rank and file. Such measures risk of spread of COVID-19 infection, and
reduce bureaucracy, while promoting ensuring isolation where required.
transparency and accountability in the ● TheApp’s design ensures privacy-first and
eyes of the citizens. the Government, after apprehensions from
some people has assured users about the
#4 Digital Platforms data safety and security ofthe app.
● The personal data collected by the App is
● During COVID-19 pandemic,Indian
encrypted using state-of-the-art
government’s use of digital technology
technology and stays secure on the phone
and providing information on national
till it is needed for facilitating medical
portals, mobile apps or through social
intervention andis available in 11
media platforms is the game changer to
languages.
reach to the masses.

● Timely information, directmoney transfer
Chatbot:
to the poor, needy and vulnerable groups
● The Government of India has launched a
can help save many lives and at this point
WhatsApp chat bot so that the citizens
the digital apps developed by the
can get instant and authentic answers to
government are playing an important role
all of their queries related to the
in responding to the crisis.
Coronavirus pandemic. Users have to drop
● The PrimeMinister also while addressing
a ‘Hi’ on the number +91-9013151515 or
the nation on 12th May, 2020 gave a call
can call on the MyGov Corona Helpdesk to
for ‘self-reliant India’ and mentioned how
get answers to pertinent queries such as
with direct benefit transfer during the
the symptoms of the deadly disease,
Corona crisis, the government has been
nearest COVID-19 testing facility.
able to transfer funds directly to the actual

beneficiary accounts and able to curb
Corona Kavach:
corruption and leakages.
● It is a COVID-19 tracker application,

created by the Union Ministry of
Aarogya Setu App:
Electronics and Information Technology in
● The ‘Aarogya Setu’ App enables people to
collaboration with the Ministry of Health
assess themselves the risk for their
and Family Welfare.
catching the norovirus infection.


● This application provides users with real ● The violators would be shown in red on a
time location of infected users who have map if they break the geo-fence or their
activated the ‘Kavach’ feature. selfie(s) does not match; in blue if their
smartphones stop sending periodic
COVID-19 Feedback: updates; and in green if everything is
● This application has been developed by found satisfactory.
the centre to get direct feedback from
people who have undergone coronavirus
treatment in the country.
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT):
COVID-19 National Helpline: ● It is a scheme by the Government of India
to transfer the benefits and subsidies of
● A 24x7 National Helpline number various social welfare schemes like LPG
+91-11-23978046 and toll-free number subsidy, MNREGA payments, old-age
1075 have been launched where people pension, scholarships etc. directly in the
can access corona related information by bank account of the beneficiary. The
the government. government’s technology-driven direct
benefit transfer (DBT) has been crucial in
SAMPRAC: implementing PM Garib Kalyan Yojana
that was rolled out to provide relief to the
● Defence Research and Development poor and vulnerable amid the COVID-19
Organisation (DRDO) has developed an crisis.
app called ‘SAMPRAC’ to enable tracking
people under quarantine. It is a software SAHYOG
that includes an app that can be installed
on the smart phones of the infected ● The Survey of India (SoI) has developed an
COVID-19 patients. It is a server-side e-platform that collects geotagged
application that is used by the state information on the nation’s critical
authorities to track the patients. infrastructure in order to help the
● The system enables geofencing, AI-based government and public health agencies
automated face recognition (between take critical decisions in response to the
selfie taken during registration and current COVID-19 pandemic situation.
subsequent selfies sent by the patient), ● The platform has geo-located information
and would have the capability to display of hospitals, testing labs, quarantine
the information to the state officials on a camps, containment and buffer zones as
map which can be colour-coded to depict well as information on biomedical waste
hotspots and containment zones. disposal sites.
● Honest usage of this app can give them ● The mobile based application, called
an option of home isolation instead of SAHYOG, works as a key tool in helping
isolation in a government facility. It is community workers carry out the
expected to drastically reduce the government’s objectives of door-to-door
overhead of tracking every patient under surveys, contact tracing, deliveries of
home isolation, thereby reducing the load essentials items and to create focused
on the state machinery. The officials can public awareness campaigns.
easily track the violators and can also ● This platform and app have been created
perform random checks. to enhance the efforts of the government


in improving its response system at this ● Through the mobile app by Indian Railway
crucial time. Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited
● The platform strengthens the public health (IRCTC) consumers need not stand in long
delivery system of the State and central queues and can book e-tickets from
governments and subsequently provides home.
the necessary geospatial information
support to citizens and agencies dealing GeM:
with the challenges related to health,
socio-economic distress, and livelihood ● It is an e-commerce portal or the
challenges. Some other technology apps government e-Marketplace, which has
developed by the government and playing been created to allow government
an important role during COVID- 19 crisis departments to buy their requirements
are: from various vendors without cash or
physical payments.
BHIM App:
UMANG App:
● BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) is an
Indian mobile payment app developed by ● UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for
the National Payments Corporation of New-age Governance) is a Government of
India (NPCI), based on the Unified India all-in-one single unified secure
Payments Interface (UPI). It was launched multi-channel multi-platform multi-lingual
on 30th December, 2016 and helps in multiservice freeware mobile app.
facilitating e-payments directly through ● It has accessing over 1,200 central and
banks as a drive towards cashless state government services in multiple
transactions. Transactions on BHIM are Indian languages over Android, iOS,
nearly instantaneous and can be done Windows and USSD (feature phone)
24/7 including weekends and bank devices, including services such as
holidays. BHIM also allows users to check AADHAAR, Digi Locker, Bharat Bill
the current balance in their bank accounts Payment System, PAN, EPFO services,
and to choose which account to use for PMKVY services, AICTE, CBSE, tax and fee
conducting transactions, although only or utilities bills payments, education, job
one can be active at any time. search, tax, business, health, agriculture,
travel, Indian railway tickets bookings,
RuPay: birth certificates, e-District, e-Panchayat,
police clearance, passport, other utility
● It is a card scheme, conceived and services from private companies and
launched by the National Payments much more.
Corporation of India to fulfil the Reserve
Bank of India’s vision to have a domestic, SWAYAM:
open and multilateral system of
payments. RuPay facilitates electronic ● It is an online education programme
payment at all Indian banks and financial initiated by the Government of India to
institutions. achieve the principles of education policy
by providing access, equity and quality.
IRCTC: The objective of this effort is to take the
best teaching learning resources to all,
including the most disadvantaged.


● The Study Webs of Active-Learning for between mind and body. It is an art and
Young Aspiring Minds (SWAYAM) seeks to science for healthy living. The word “Yoga”
bridge the digital divide for students who is derived from the Sanskrit root ‘yuj’
have hitherto remained untouched by the meaning “to join”, “to yoke” or “to unite”.
digital revolution and have not been able According to Yogic scriptures, the practice
to join the mainstream of the knowledge of Yoga leads to the union of an individual
economy. consciousness with the universal
● It is done through a platform that consciousness. According to modern
facilitates hosting of all the courses, scientists, everything in the universe is just
taught in classrooms from Class 9 till a manifestation of the same quantum
postgraduation to be accessed by anyone, firmament. One who experiences this
anywhere at any time. More than 1,000 oneness of existence is said to be “in
specially chosen faculty and teachers Yoga” and is termed as a yogi who has
from across the country have participated attained a state of freedom, referred to as
in preparing these courses which are mukti, nirvāna, kaivalya or mok a.
available free of cost. These courses are ● “Yoga” also refers to an inner science
of great help to learners as they have been comprising a variety of methods through
designed by one of the best faculties from which human beings can achieve union
India and follow four quadrant approach between the body and mind to attain
to learning. self-realisation. The aim of Yoga practice
(sādhana) is to overcome all kinds of
Conclusion: sufferings that lead to a sense of freedom
in every walk of life with holistic health,
● Thus, by installing and using the happiness and harmony.
government apps, Indian citizens can save
time, money as these apps are proving to How Yoga Can Help:
be of great help during COVID-19
pandemic, playing a significant role in ● Yoga is essentially a path to get liberated
responding and reaching to the needy and from all the bondages. However, medical
vulnerable groups. research in recent years has uncovered
many physical and mental benefits that
#5 International Day of Yoga Yoga offers, corroborating the experiences
of millions of practitioners. A small
● While addressing the 69th session of sampling of research shows that:
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) ❏ Yoga is beneficial for physical fitness,
on September 27, 2014, the Honorable musculoskeletal functioning and
Prime Minister of India urged the world cardio-vascular health.
community to adopt an International Day ❏ It is beneficial in the management of
of Yoga. On December 11, 2014, the 193 diabetes, respiratory disorders,
member UNGA approved the proposal by hypertension, hypotension and many
consensus with a record 177 lifestyle related disorders.
cosponsoring countries, a resolution to ❏ Yoga helps to reduce depression, fatigue,
establish 21 June as “International Day of anxiety disorders and stress.
Yoga”. ❏ Yoga helps to regulate menstrual and
● Yoga is essentially a spiritual discipline menopausal symptoms.
based on an extremely subtle science
which focuses on bringing harmony


❏ In essence, Yoga is a process of creating ● There is a strict procedure to determine a
body and mind that are stepping-stones, list of tropical cyclone names in an ocean
not hurdles, to an exuberant and fulfilling basin by the Tropical Cyclone Regional
life. Body responsible for that basin at its
annual/biennial meeting. There are five
#6 Tropical Cyclones tropical cyclone regional bodies, i.e.
ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee,
Introduction: WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones,
RA I Tropical Cyclone Committee, RA IV
● Tropical cyclone Amphan intensified Hurricane Committee, and RA V Tropical
rapidly in the Bay of Bengal to become a Cyclone Committee.
“Super Cyclonic Storm” – the equivalent of ● Hurricane Committee determines a
a strong Category 4/weak Category 5 on pre-designated list of hurricane names for
the Saffir Simpson scale. It weakened six years separately at its annual session.
ahead of landfall on Wednesday 20 May The pre-designated list of hurricane
as a very severe cyclonic storm (strong names are proposed by its Members that
Category 2 equivalent), bringing include National Meteorological and
dangerous winds, storm surge and Hydrological Services in the North/Central
flooding to coastal areas of West Bengal America and the Caribbean. Naming
in India and Bangladesh. procedures in other regions are almost the
● Amphan (pronounced Um-Pun) impacted same as in the Caribbean. In some of the
densely populated areas, including the regions, the lists are established by
Indian city of Kolkata (Calcutta) at a time alphabetical order of the names. In other
when restrictions due to the COVID-19 regions, the lists are established following
pandemic is complicating disaster the alphabetical order of the country
management – and making it more names. In general, tropical cyclones are
necessary than ever before. named according to the rules at a regional
level.
Tropical Cyclone Naming: ● World Meteorological Organization
maintains rotating lists of names which
● Tropical cyclones can last for a week or
are appropriate for each Tropical Cyclone
more; therefore there can be more than
basin. If a cyclone is particularly deadly or
one cyclone at a time. Weather
costly, then its name is retired and
forecasters give each tropical cyclone a
replaced by another one.
name to avoid confusion. Each year,
tropical cyclones receive names in Objective:
alphabetical order.
● Women and men’s names are alternated. ● It is important to note that tropical
The name list is proposed by the National cyclones/hurricanes/typhoons are not
Meteorological and Hydrological Services named after any particular person. The
(NMHSs) of WMO Members of a specific tropical cyclone/hurricane/typhoon names
region, and approved by the respective selected are those that are familiar to the
tropical cyclone regional bodies at their people in each region.
annual/bi-annual sessions. Nations in the ● Obviously, the main purpose of naming a
western North Pacific began using a new tropical cyclone/hurricane is basically for
system for naming tropical cyclones in people easily to understand and
2000.


remember the tropical Advantage:

cyclone/hurricane/typhoon in a region,
thus to facilitate tropical ● The major advantage of this machine is
cyclone/hurricane/typhoon disaster risk that it is simple to use without any
awareness, preparedness, management specialised nursing, cost effective,
and reduction. compact and configured with majority of
indigenous components.
● This is ideal for treating COVID-19 patients
in Wards, Makeshift Hospitals,
dispensaries and homes in the current
Indian COVID-19 scenario.
● CSIR-NAL is in process of taking it forward
with the regulatory authorities for approval
and expected to get shortly. CSIR-NAL has
already initiated dialogue with major
public/private industries as a partner for
mass production.
Health:
● Non-invasive Ventilator with externally

connected Oxygen concentrator will be
#7 Swasth Vayu ideal to treat moderate or mid-stage
severe COVID-19 patients who do not
● SIR-National Aerospace Laboratories require intubation and invasive ventilation.
(NAL) Bangalore, a constituent of lab of
CSIR has developed a Non Invasive BiPAP #8 Kisan Sabha App
Ventilator in a record time of 36 days to
treat COVID-19 patients. ● In present situation of COVID 19, farmers
● BiPAP Non Invasive ventilator is a are looking for help in their harvest
microcontroller-based precise closed-loop reaching the market, seed/fertilizer
adaptive control system with a built-in procurement, etc. A robust supply chain
biocompatible “3D printed manifold & management is urgently required to
coupler” with HEPA filter (Highly Efficient facilitate the timely delivery of the produce
Particulate Air Filter). These unique at the best possible prices.
features help to alleviate the fear of the ● Kisan Sabha App has been developed by
virus spread. It has features like CSIR Central Road Research Institute
Spontaneous, CPAP, Timed, AUTO BIPAP (CSIR-CRRI), New Delhi to connect farmers
modes with provision to connect Oxygen to supply chain and freight transportation
concentrator or Enrichment unit externally. management system.
The system has been certified for safety
and performance by NABL accredited About the portal:
agencies. The system has undergone
stringent biomedical tests and beta ● The portal connects the farmers,
clinical trials at NAL Health Centre. transporters, Service providers (like
pesticides/ fertilizer/ dealers, cold store
and warehouse owner), mandi dealers,


customers (like big retail outlets, online the farmers and to increase their profit
stores, institutional buyers) and other margins by minimizing interference of
related entities for timely and effective middlemen and directly connecting with
solution. the institutional buyers.
● The portal acts as a single stop for every ● It will also help in providing best market
entity related to agriculture, be they a rates of crops by comparing nearest
farmer who needs better price for the mandis, booking of freight vehicles at
crops or mandi dealer who wants to cheapest cost thereby giving maximum
connect to more farmers or truckers who benefit to the farmers.
invariably go empty from the mandis.
● KisanSabha also works for people in
agriculture services sector such as
dealers of fertilizers/ pesticides, who can
reach out to more farmers for their New!
●
services.
It would also prove to be useful for those
UPSC, IAS (PRE)
associated with cold store(s) or Papers Download
godown(s). KisanSabha also provides a
platform for people who want to buy
directly from the farmers.
● Kisan Sabha has 6 major modules taking
care of Farmers/Mandi
Dealers/Transporters/Mandi Board
Members/ Service Providers/Consumers.

Objective:

● Kisan Sabha aims to provide the most
economical and timely logistics support to


GIST OF KURUKSHETRA Magazine

population from a meagre 2.3 percent of
#1 Water Management: Towards Sustainable land area which is further constrained by
Agriculture the fact that the country has only 4
percent of the global water resources at
● Water is one of the most critical resources its disposal.
for sustainable agricultural development ● In addition to the second largest human
worldwide. population, the country also has to provide
feed and fodder to 11 percent of the
Background:
world’s livestock population.
● Combination of high yielding varieties,
● Sustainable water management in
enhanced availability of water and
agriculture aims to match water
fertilisers—the three key inputs in
availability and water needs in quantity
agriculture—transformed India from a
and quality, in space and time, at
country of begging bowl to one with
reasonable cost and with acceptable
overflowing granaries. It has imparted
environmental impact.
stability and resilience to the agricultural
● Irrigated areas will increase in the
production system in the country.
forthcoming years, while fresh water
● With the foodgrain production touching an
supplies will be diverted from agriculture
all-time record level of 284 plus million
to meet the increasing demand of
tonnes (MT) in 2018–19, Indian
domestic use and industry. Furthermore,
agriculture has made stupendous
the efficiency of irrigation is very low,
progress in ensuring food security to its
since less than 40 percent of the applied
vast population.
water is actually used by the crops.
● The new emerging demands of the
relatively more-affluent Indian population,
Significance:
particularly its middle class, coupled with
● The sustainable use of irrigation water is a a net cultivated area unlikely to exceed
priority for agriculture in arid and semi-arid 143 million hectare (MH) in 2050 as well
areas. So, under scarcity of water and as an estimated rainfed agriculture to
changing climate scenario, India has a cover around 45 percent of the net sown
very formidable and challenging task of area, are further compounded with the
feeding 17.5 percent of the world’s human harsh reality that highly productive


agricultural land is being continuously lost fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators

out to the industry and urban sectors. and livestock feed additives, instead they
rely upon crop rotations, crop residues,
Steps needed to meet the target: animal manures, legumes, green manures,
off-farm organic wastes, appropriate
● How will the country meet the target of mechanical cultivation, and mineral
355 MT for foodgrains, 180 MT for bearing rocks to maintain soil fertility and
vegetables, 182 MT for milk, 15 MT for productivity.
meat, and 16 MT for fish by 2030,
warranting an improvement of 50–100 Ways to sustain agricultural productivity:
percent over the current production, in a
situation where the natural resources base ● Soil management through conservation
is continuously degrading and climate agriculture, organic farming, integrated
change with its attendant impacts is nutrient management system and on-farm
adversely affecting the agricultural residue management;
production system. ● Efficient water resource management
● The strategies to attain this are techniques like right method of irrigation,
water-intensive. Further, increased micro-irrigation, life-saving irrigation, use
production is to be achieved through of mulches etc.;
reduced emission of Greenhouse Gases ● Crop management includes right time of
(GHGs) and using cleaner energy. sowing, cultivation of suitable crops and
● Therefore, development strategies in varieties in rotation, inter cropping,
agriculture need to be centred on regional mixed-cropping, integrated pests
water availability, water budgeting and its management, etc.
efficient use. ● The sustainability in agriculture i.e. for
● Sustainable agriculture is a way of farming crops/cropping systems primarily
according to the location-specific depends upon the availability of water in
ecosystem and study of relationships its optimum quantity and acceptable
between organisms and their quality.
environment. ● Agriculture might not sustain its
● The sustainable agriculture is a form of productivity if irrigation is not sustainable
agriculture aimed at meeting the needs of and water supplies are not reliable.
the present generation without Especially in areas of water scarcity the
endangering the resource base of the major need for development of irrigation is
future generations. Thus, a holistic and to minimise water use. Efforts are needed
systematic approach is essential for to find economic crops using minimal
achieving sustainability. water, to use application methods that
● Such systems must be minimise loss of water by evaporation
resource-conserving, socially supportive, from the soil or percolation of water
commercially competitive and beyond the depth of the root zone and to
environmentally sound. Such systems aim minimise losses of water from storage or
to produce qualitative and nutritious food delivery systems.
without harming human health and ● Nowadays, during a period of dramatic
ecosystem. changes and uncertain water resources,
● Thus, such systems generally avoid the there is a need to provide support and
use of synthetically compounded encouragement to farmers to move from


their traditional high-water demand BCM from surface and 433 BCM from
cropping viz. rice–wheat to ground water), which is just 28 percent of
maize–wheat/pigeonpea–wheat and the total precipitation. About 80 percent of
irrigation practices to modern, reduced the water (688 BCM) is being diverted for
demand systems and technologies. irrigation, which may increase to 1,072
● Under scarcity conditions considerable BCM by 2050.
effort has been devoted over time to ● On the basis of the available water
introduce policies aiming to increase resources, the total irrigation potential
water efficiency based on the assertion from surface and ground water resources
that more can be achieved with less water is estimated to be 139.9 MH. The major
through better management. source for irrigation is groundwater.
● Better management usually refers to Annual groundwater recharge is about 433
improvement of allocative and/or BCM of which 212.5 BCM is used for
irrigation water efficiency. The former is irrigation and 18.1 BCM for domestic and
closely related to adequate pricing, while industrial use.
the latter depends on the type of irrigation ● By 2025, demand for domestic and
technology, environmental conditions and industrial water usage may increase to
on scheduling of water application. Thus, 29.2 BCM. Today at 68.1 MH (2013–14),
water management has been a key issue India has one of the largest net irrigated
in realising commendable progress in areas in the world but if one examines the
agricultural production. productivity of irrigated areas at the
● All India Coordinated Research Project on national level, it is only around 3 tonnes
Water Management, Water Technology per hectare.3 The efficiency of surface
Centre, Water and Land Management irrigation systems is around 30–40
Institute and various central and state percent which implies that at least 60
agricultural universities in the country percent of the water being supplied is
have made remarkable progress in being lost at various stages in the system.
evolving different strategies and
technologies for improving sustainable Efficient Water Management Practices:
use of available water resources for
enhancing water and crop productivity. ● Efficient and sustainable water
management practices in agriculture aims
Water Resources of India: to match water availability and water
needs in quantity and quality, in space and
● Rainwater is the primary source to meet time, at reasonable cost and with
the demand of water in Indian agriculture. acceptable environmental impact. Under
India annually receives a rainfall of 1,085 water demand management most
mm. Nearly three-fourths of the total attention has been given to irrigation
rainfall received in India is through scheduling (when to irrigate and how
south-western monsoon activity. The much water to apply) giving minor role to
remaining amount of rainfall comes via irrigation methods (how to apply the water
pre or post and north-eastern monsoon in the field). Many parameters like crop
activity. growth stage and its sensitivity to water
● Total utilisable water resource in the stress, climatic conditions and water
country has been estimated to be about availability in the soil determine when to
1,123 billion cubic metres (BCM) (690


irrigate or the so-called irrigation irrigation method determines the accuracy

frequency. of how much water to apply. In most
● However, this frequency depends upon the cases, the skill of the farmer determines
irrigation method and therefore, both the effectiveness of the irrigation
irrigation scheduling and the irrigation scheduling at field level.
method are interrelated. The National ● With appropriate irrigation scheduling
Agricultural Research System (NARS) deep percolation and transportation of
through its vast network of State fertilisers and agro-chemicals out of the
Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Indian root-zone is controlled, water-logging is
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) avoided, less water is used (saving water
institutions and All India Coordinated and energy), optimum soil water
Research Projects (AICRPs) have conditions are created for plant growth,
developed a plethora of technologies and higher yields and better quality are
practices focusing on enhancing water obtained and rising of saline water table is
use efficiency at all levels, which are avoided.
described below: ● In water-scarce regions, irrigation
scheduling is more important than in
1. Laser Land Levelling: conditions of abundant water, since any
excess in water use is a potential cause
● Proper land levelling is one of the for deficit for other users or uses.
management options which is generally ● Irrigation scheduling techniques and tools
ignored by most farmers. vary greatly and have different
● It increases the water application characteristics related to their applicability
efficiency which leads to higher yields as and effectiveness. Timing and depth
well as rise in water use efficiency. It also criteria for irrigation scheduling can be
has a direct impact on the nutrient use established by using several approaches
efficiency. based on soil water measurements, soil
water balance estimates and plant stress
2. Irrigation Scheduling: indicators, climatic parameters, in
combination with simple rules or very
● Irrigation scheduling is the
sophisticated models.
decision-making process for determining
when to irrigate the crops and how much 3. Methods of Irrigation:
water to apply.
● The goal of an effective irrigation ● Once the water requirement of crops is
scheduling programme is to supply the quantitatively and temporally determined
plants with sufficient water while then methods of irrigation make water
minimising loss to deep percolation or available to crop plants. Water use
runoff. It forms the sole means for efficiency mainly depends on the way
optimising agricultural production and for water is applied in the field. Efficient
conserving water and it is the key to irrigation method is always aimed at
improving performance and sustainability reducing the various losses of water
of the irrigation systems. during application. It is very important to
● It requires good knowledge of the crops’ employ the correct method of water
water requirements and of the soil water application to minimise the adverse
characteristics that determine when to effects of irrigation.
irrigate, while the adequacy of the


● The selection of the right method of 3.3 Surge Flow Irrigation:
irrigation is influenced by soil type, land
topography, crops to be grown, quality and ● Excessive water intake and deep
quantity of water available for irrigation percolation losses are major limitations
and other site-specific variations. Various for irrigation through furrows and border
irrigation methods are described below strips.
which are commonly used in different ● Surge flow irrigation, the intermittent
crops and cropping systems under application of water in a series of on and
specific situations: off modes of constant or variable time
spans has the potential of reducing intake
3.1 Check Basin and Border Strip Irrigation: and percolation losses, increasing the
irrigation efficiencies and conserving
● Surface irrigation involves the application irrigation water.
of water by gravity flow to the surface of
the field. Over the years many surface 3.4. Micro-irrigation:
methods of irrigation have been
developed. Among them, the check basin ● Micro-irrigation is one of the most efficient
method of irrigation is the most popular. methods of irrigation which not only
● Check basin is the easiest and least costly enhanced water use efficiency but also
method, but is usually highly inefficient increased crop productivity. Promotion of
only less than 20 percent of the water is micro-irrigation is critical to enhance
taken up by the plant. Unfortunately, this is water use efficiency in the context of
also the most widely used method among rampant extraction of groundwater for
Indian farmers in different crops and irrigation and high variability in rainfall due
cropping systems. to climate change. Micro-irrigation in India
● Farmers also go for surface flooding is popularised with a subsidy component,
which is also an inefficient manner of by both the central and state
using this precious natural resource. governments.
● In 2006, the Government of India (GOI)
3.2 Furrow Irrigation: started a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
(CSS) for micro irrigation. In 2010, CSS
● The furrow method of irrigation is was enhanced in scope and renamed as
generally used to irrigate row crops and National Mission on Micro Irrigation
vegetables, and is suited to soils in which (NMMI), which was subsequently brought
the infiltration rates are between 0.5 and under the ambit of the National Mission
2.5 cm/hr. It is ideal for slopes varying on Sustainable Agriculture.
from 0.2 to 0.5 percent and a stream size ● In 2015, NMMI was brought as a scheme
of 1–2 litre/second. under the Prime Minister’s Krishi
● Many of the field crops in which water is Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY). The scheme
applied through flooding, check basin or envisages providing end-to-end solution to
border strip methods, can easily be irrigation supply chain. Micro-irrigation
adapted for furrow irrigation or its helps in attaining greater water-use
modified version i.e. raised bed system efficiency, thereby reducing the pressure
and 20–30 percent savings in irrigation on groundwater sources with reduced
water can be achieved by switching over GHG emissions.
to raised bed furrow irrigation systems. ● Micro-irrigation has the potential to
function both as demand- and supply-side


management tool. However, only about 15 emitters or applicators placed along a

percent of potential areas could be water delivery line adjacent to the plant
brought under micro-irrigation, warranting row, is often preferred over other irrigation
a course correction. methods because of its high (90 percent)
● Micro-irrigation should be popularised in water application efficiency and have been
more water scarce and unsustainable proved as one of the best ways to
water extraction regions to sustain the increase water productivity.
productivity and water use efficiency. ● Evidences show that the water use
Micro-irrigation mainly includes drip efficiency increases up to 100 percent in a
irrigation and sprinkler system water properly designed and managed drip
application. irrigation system. Drip method of irrigation
helps to reduce the over-exploitation of
3.4.1. Sprinkler Irrigation: groundwater that partly occurs because of
inefficient use of water under surface
● Sprinkler irrigation systems imitate natural method of irrigation. Water logging and
rainfall. Water is pumped through pipes salinity are also completely absent under
and then sprayed onto the crops through drip method of irrigation.
rotating sprinkler heads. These systems ● It also helps in attaining early maturity of
are more efficient than surface irrigation, crops, higher quality produce, increased
however, they are more costly to install crop yields and higher fertiliser-use
and operate because of the need for efficiency, reduction in weed growth, less
pressurised water. Conventional sprinkler labour requirement and less electric power
systems spray the water into the air, losing consumption, cost of cultivation especially
considerable amounts to evaporation. in inputs like fertilisers, labour, tilling and
● Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA) weeding.
offers a more efficient alternative. In this
system the water is delivered to the crops 3.4.3. Fertigation:
from drop tubes that extend from the
sprinkler’s arm. When applied together ● The application of fertilisers through the
with appropriate water-saving farming irrigation system (fertigation) became a
techniques, LEPA can achieve efficiencies common practice in modern irrigated
as high as 95 percent. agriculture. Localised irrigation systems,
● Since this method operates at low which could be highly efficient for water
pressure, it also saves as much as 20 to application, are also suitable for
50 percent in energy costs compared with fertigation.
conventional systems. ● Thus, the soluble fertilisers at
concentrations required by crops are
3.4.2. Drip Irrigation: applied through the irrigation system to
the wetted volume of the soil. Possible
● Drip method of irrigation gives many disadvantages include the nonuniform
advantages over the gravity surface chemical distribution when irrigation
irrigation methods in terms of water design or operation are inadequate, the
savings and yields. Drip and over-fertilisation in case that irrigation is
micro-sprinkler irrigation systems, which not based on actual crop requirements
apply water slowly on or below the soil and the excessive use of soluble
surface as discrete or continuous drips, fertilisers.
tiny streams, or miniature spray through


3.4.4. Subsurface Drip Irrigation: Then, irrigation strategies should not be
based on full crop water requirements but
● Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) is a should be adopted for more effective and
low-pressure, low volume irrigation rational use of water based on the critical
system that uses buried tubes to apply or sensitive growth stages to water deficit.
water. The applied water moves out of the Thus, at non-sensitive growth stages
tubes by soil matric suction. Wetting irrigation is withheld which is called deficit
occurs around the tube and water moves irrigation.
out in the soil all directions.
3.5.1. Regulated Deficit Irrigation:
The potential advantages of SDI are:
● Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) is an
1. water conservation, optimising strategy under which crops are
2. enhanced fertiliser efficiency, allowed to sustain some degree of water
3. uniform and highly efficient water deficit and yield reduction. During RDI the
application, crop is exposed to certain levels of water
4. elimination of surface infiltration problems stress either during a particular period or
and evaporation losses, throughout the growing season.
5. flexibility in providing frequent and light ● The main objective of RDI is to increase
irrigations, Water Use Efficiency (WUE) of the crop by
6. Reduced problems of disease and weeds, eliminating irrigations that have little
7. lower pressure required for operation. impact on yield and to improve control of
vegetative growth (improve fruit size and
quality). RDI is a sustainable way to cope
with water scarcity since the allowed
● Subsurface irrigation is suitable for almost water deficits favour water saving, control
all crops, especially for high value fruit and of percolation and runoff return flows and
vegetables, turfs and landscapes. The the reduction of losses of fertilisers and
tube is installed below the soil surface agrochemicals. It provides for leaching
either by digging the ditches or by special requirements to cope with salinity and the
device pulled by a tractor. optimization approach leads to economic
● The depth of installation depends upon viability. The adoption of deficit irrigation
soil characteristics and crop species implies appropriate knowledge of crop
ranging from 15–20 cms for vegetables evapotranspiration, of crop response to
and field crops and 30–50 cms for tree water deficits including the identification
crops. The main disadvantages are the of critical crop growth stages, and of the
high cost of initial installation and the economic impact of yield reduction
increased possibility for clogging, strategies.
especially when poor quality water is
used. 3.5.2. Partial Root Drying:
3.5. Deficit Irrigation Practices: ● Partial Root Drying (PRD) is a new
irrigation technique, first applied to
● In arid and semiarid regions, water grapevines that subject one half of the
availability is usually limited, and certainly root system to dry or drying conditions
not enough to achieve total crop water while the other half is irrigated. Wetted
requirement and the maximum yields. and dried sides of the root system


alternate on a 7–14 day cycle. PRD uses is applied in furrows. This method
biochemical responses of plants to water helps to save 30–40 percent water
stress to achieve balance between and is typically suitable for close
vegetative and reproductive growth. planted field crops and
● The PRD has been successfully applied horticultural row crops.
with drip irrigation in grapevines, with ○ Conservation Tillage (CT): CT
subsurface irrigation in grapevines and includes zero tillage and retention
even furrow irrigation in pear, citrus and of crop residuals on the soil
grapevines. Improvement of WUE results surface at planting. Crop residues
from partial stomatal closure and acts as mulches and reduce
reducing evapotranspiration during drying evaporation losses and protect the
period. soil from direct impact of
raindrops, thus controlling crusting
4. Agronomic Practices: and sealing processes. CT helps to
maintain high levels of organic
● Agronomic practices, such as soil matter in the soil thus it is highly
management, fertiliser application, and effective in improving soil
disease and pest control are related to infiltration and controlling erosion
sustainable water management in which results in an increase of
agriculture and the protection of the WUE.
environment. ○ Mulch: Mulching with crop
● These practices are very important for residues on soil surface shades
increasing crop productivity as well as the soil, slows water overland flow,
WUE. There are large number of traditional improves infiltration conditions,
and modern soil and crop management reduces evaporation losses and
practices for water conservation (runoff also contributes to control of
control, improvement of soil infiltration weeds and therefore of
rate, increase soil water capacity, control non-beneficial water use.
of soil water evaporation) and erosion ○ Addition of Organic Manures:
control in agriculture which increase WUE. Increasing or maintaining the
Some of the important agronomic amount of organic matter in the
practices, which increase the water use upper soil layers provides for
efficiency, are discussed below: better soil aggregation, reduced
○ Contour Tillage: Soil cultivation is crusting or sealing on soil surface
made along the land slope and the and increased water retention
soil is left with small furrows and capacity of the soil.
ridges that prevent runoff. This ○ Addition of Clay or Hydrophilic
technique is also effective to Compound: This technique
control erosion and may be applied increases the water retention
to row crops and small grains capacity of the soil and controls
provided that field slopes are low. deep percolation. Thus, water
This is one of the techniques to availability in soils with low water
increase better use of the rain holding capacity is increased.
water, especially in rainfed areas. ○ Control of Acidity: Lime
○ Broad Bed Planting: Cultivation of application to soils with high pH
crop on broad beds and irrigation favours more intensive and deep


○ rooting, better crop development ● National Agriculture Market (eNAM), a

and contributes to improved soil pan-India electronic trading portal was
aggregation, thus producing some launched on 14th April 2016, by the Prime
increase in soil water availability. Minister Shri Narendra Modi, with the aim
○ Weed Control Measure: Adoption of networking the existing Mandis on a
of appropriate weed control common online market platform as “One
techniques to alleviate competition Nation One Market” for agricultural
for water and transpiration losses commodities in India.
by weeds is very important
agronomic practice to increase
water use efficiency in different
crops and cropping systems.
○ Integrated Pests Management
(IPM): IPM techniques aim to
increase crop productivity with the
same amount of other inputs like
water, fertilisers etc. Pests cause
severe losses to the different crops
and cropping systems. However,
timely control of the severe pests
and diseases of different crops will
not only increase the productivity
and profitability to the farmers but

also improve water use efficiency
and water productivity. Scenarios of the National Agriculture Market:
Conclusion: ● 38 additional mandis were integrated with

the eNAM platform, thus achieving a
● Share of water to agriculture is going to
milestone of integration of 415 mandis as
decline in the future due to the stiff
per the planned target. 38 Mandis
competition from the industrial and
integrated are in Madhya Pradesh (19),
domestic sectors and compounded
Telangana (10), Maharashtra (4) and One
further by global warming and associated
(1) each from Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab,
adverse impact of climate change.
Kerala & J & J&K. In a press release on
● Since, water is a critical input for
May 15, 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture &
agriculture, therefore, adoption and
Farmers Welfare said, with the overall
upscaling of new technologies of efficient
success of 585 mandis in Phase 1 and
water management especially
further expanding its wings to integrate
micro-irrigation as quickly as possible is
415 new mandis in Phase 2, the e-NAM
the only viable solution to sustain
platform now has a total number of 1000
agricultural productivity.
mandis across 18 States and 3 UTs.
● In last 4 years the e-NAM has registered a
#2 New Mandis Integrated with eNAM
user base of 1.66 Cr Farmers, 1.31 lakh
Traders, 73,151 Commission Agents and
Introduction:
1012 FPOs. As on 14th May 2020, total
volume of 3.43 Crore MT & 38.16 Lakh


numbers (Bamboo & Coconut) collectively centres. Nine logistic service

crossed a remarkable business milestone providers/aggregators linked with 2.3 lakh
worth Rs. 1 lakh crore on e-NAM platform. transporters and 11.37 lakh vehicles have
Presently 150 commodities, including been on-boarded on eNAM platform.
Foodgrains, Oilseeds, Fibers, Fruits & ● On 1st May 2020, Interoperability between
Vegetables, are traded on eNAM. ReMS (Unified Market Portal-UMP) and
● To address the difficulties faced by the e-NAM portal was launched. In this new
farmers due to the COVID-19 lockdown module farmers and traders across ReMS
crisis, the Union Minister of Agriculture & (UMP) of Karnataka and e-NAM platform
Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh can conduct inter-platform trade to access
Tomar, on 2nd April 2020 launched 3 new more markets for trade using
modules of eNAM. interoperability features and vice-versa.
1. FPO Module on eNAM: #3 Smart Agriculture
● This enables FPOs to conduct trade of Introduction:

commodities from their collection centres
declared as “Deemed Market” or “Sub ● According to the Food and Agriculture
Market yards”. Organization (FAO), globally irrigated
● As on 14th May 2020, 1012 FPOs are agriculture represents 20 percent of the
registered on e-NAM platform, and have total cultivated land, but contributes only
traded 3053 MT of agri-produce worth Rs 40 percent of the total food produced
8.11 Crore. Among these, 42 FPOs traded worldwide.
from their own collection center through ● Water is a critical resource in agriculture
the recently introduced FPO module. and higher variations in usage can have
adverse consequences on crop yields and
2. Warehouse based Electronic Negotiable soil health. Presently, irrigation water-use
Warehouse Receipts (eNWR) trading: accounts for 80 percent of the available
water.
● For eNWR based trading, WDRA ● The FAO estimates that over the last
accredited warehouses from Andhra century the global water withdrawal grew
Pradesh (23) and Telangana (14) have 1.7 times faster than the population, which
been declared as deemed market by aggravates the concern over the
respective State Governments. sustainability of water use as the demand
● Rajasthan Government has recently for agricultural, industrial and domestic
declared 138 State Government & uses continues to increase.
cooperative warehouses as sub market ● Improving agricultural productivity, while
yards. Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, conserving and enhancing natural
Gujarat and Punjab have initiated resources, such as water, is an essential
amendments in their respective acts to requirement for farmers to increase global
facilitate warehouse-based trade. food supplies on a sustainable basis.
● The role of smallholder farmers and their
3. Logistics Module: families in increasing agricultural
productivity growth sustainably will be
● This facilitates transportation of the crucial because most of the world’s
commodities from farm to Mandis and agriculture is carried out by millions of
from Mandis to warehouse/consumption


small farmers who produce a large share faster computers, and access to large
of the world’s food and support their amounts of data have augmented the
households. advances in AI, particularly in the field of
● We have to realise the importance of Machine Learning where significant
judicious use of water by remembering progress has been made in the areas of
that it takes between one and three tonnes image and pattern recognition, natural
of water to grow one kg of cereal. It is language understanding, and robotics.
estimated that irrigation requirements has ● Integration of AI and IoT devices further
to be lowered to the level of 68 percent of improves the growing and selling
the total demand by 2050. processes via predictive analytics. These
programmes will help farmers determine
Transformative Discoveries for Smart which crops to grow and anticipate
Agriculture: potential threats by combining historical
information about weather patterns and
● There is a basket of technologies and crop performance with real-time data.
innovations that enable production
technology of smart agriculture. The Blockchain:
concept, science and applications of such
innovations are described below: ● It is a recent technological advancement
with potential for addressing the challenge
Internet of Things (IoT): of creating a more transparent, authentic,
and trustworthy digital record of the
IoT is described as a network of physical objects. journey that food and other physical
These can be “things” that can be embedded products take across the supply chain.
with technologies, software or sensors which ● Blockchain works by mapping data and
further helps in connecting or the exchange of providing it to users along the value chain
data with other devices or systems via the simply by scanning a barcode. These
internet or vice versa. In 2016, more than 5.5 barcodes are applied and linked
million new “things” got connected every day, throughout the value chain automatically
thus creating a huge scope for the Internet of by grading and sorting robotics. This
Things. There are over 8.3 billion IoT devices information not only provides the
connected today. consumer with transparency, but also
reduces risks for producers at the same
Artificial Intelligence (AI): time making available a cost-effective
supply chain analysis to optimise profits.
● It is the science of instilling intelligence in
● When blockchain is integrated with IoT, it
machines so that they are capable of
creates an immutable supply chain,
doing tasks that traditionally required the
ensuring that buyers are getting an
human mind. The term AI is commonly
authentic product that has not been
used when a machine mimics cognitive
damaged along the way. These
functions such as planning, learning,
technologies can also verify whether a
reasoning, problem solving, knowledge
product that contains hazardous materials
representation, perception, motion,
has been disposed of correctly and safely.
manipulation, social intelligence, and
creativity. Robotics:
● AI combines automation, robotics, and
computer vision. Advances in statistics,


● Powered with advanced AI technology, decisions and act on that data without
robots will soon play a defining role in involvement by humans.
agriculture. Advanced computer vision is
also transforming the way drones operate. Big Data:
Drones with AI-enabled vision processing
capabilities are being used to assess the ● It is a combination of technology and
real situation on the condition of crops on analytics that can collect and compile
ground. novel data and process it in a more useful
● Autonomous drones and the data they and timely way to assist decision making.
provide can help in crop monitoring, soil Data mining is the computing process of
assessment, plant emergence and discovering patterns in large data sets
population, fertility, crop protection, crop involving methods at the intersection of
insurance reporting in real time, irrigation artificial intelligence, machine learning
and drainage planning and harvest statistics and database system.
planning. ● Big Data and analytics have the potential
to add value across each step and can
Autonomous Swarms: streamline food processing value chains
such as selection of right agri-inputs,
● Autonomous swarms combine the monitoring soil moisture, tracking prices
technology of swarm robotics with a of market, controlling irrigations, finding
blockchain-based backend. Swarm the right selling point and getting the right
robotics involves multiple copies of the price.
same robot, working independently in
parallel to achieve a goal too large for any Focus on Higher Water-use Efficiency
one robot to accomplish.
● By leveraging the benefits of both swarm ● Since the advent of the Green Revolution,
robotics and Blockchain, pesticide and irrigation has been the main intervention
fertilizer can be applied more sparingly to assure the reliability and productivity of
and planting and harvesting can be done cropping in India and has played a
with individual attention to each plant, an significant role in national food security.
impossible task with large-scale The area equipped for irrigation has grown
machinery. The new approach produces enormously over the past five decades in
greater yields at reduced cost, while India.
raising the quality of the crop. ● The country records only 38 percent water
use efficiency in the field of agriculture
Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT): and much needs to be done to improve it.
Conventional surface irrigation provides
● Individually, the Internet of Things (IoT) 60–70 percent efficiency, whereas, higher
and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are powerful efficiency of up to 70–80 percent with
technologies. AIoT is a combination of AI sprinkler and 90 percent with drip
and IoT. AI can complete a set of tasks or irrigation systems can be achieved.
learn from data in a way that seems Implementation of smart irrigation by
intelligent. looking into the evapotranspiration
● Devices empowered with the combination parameter of plants to optimise the
of AI and IoT can analyse data and make irrigation cycle is well in play.
● The use of soil moisture content and
temperature sensors are widely prevalent


in scheduling irrigation. Drones equipped 2. Signal-based Control: Unlike

with hyperspectral, multispectral, or sensor-based controls, these smart
thermal sensors are able to identify areas irrigation systems rely on weather updates
that require changes in irrigation. Once transmitted by radio, telephone or
crops have started growing, these sensors web-based applications. These signals are
are able to calculate their vegetation index typically sent from local weather stations
and indicator of health through AI, by to update the “evapotranspiration rate” of
measuring the crop’s heat signature. the irrigation controller.
● Analog irrigation systems have been used
in commercial agriculture for some time
and they operate on pre-programmed
schedules and timers.
● As we do not take in to account the data
on daily weather conditions, this often
leaves farmers unprepared for sudden
weather changes and can lead to
significant overwatering and waste. Smart
irrigation systems are more inclusive to
such risks and are equipped with
self-governing capabilities that result in
more precise watering schedules that
reflect the actual conditions of the grow
site. Smart irrigation comprises

specialised hardware devices, software
and services used to obtain real time data Need for Water Accounting:
to help farmers make effective decisions
pertaining to their farms. ● Water accounting includes sophisticated
● The combination of IoT and AI approaches to demand forecasting on the
technologies, such as Machine Learning, basis of demographic change,
computer vision and predictive analytics, urbanisation, industrialisation and energy
further allow farmers to analyse real-time production. Water accounting is an
data of weather conditions, temperature, essential underpinning to transparent and
soil moisture and plant health. According effective water allocation systems. Such
to the Alliance for Water Efficiency, most systems have been developed in some
smart irrigation technologies fall under countries (e.g. Australia, China, France,
two classifications: Iran, and the US) with varying levels of
1. Sensor-based Control: This method sophistication and effectiveness. In China,
leverages real-time measurements from water is allocated to different sectors (e.g.
locally installed sensors to automatically agriculture, urban and rural domestic,
adjust irrigation timing to the exact sanitation, industry, environment) within a
temperature, rainfall, humidity and soil limit on total water use at the national
moisture present in a given environment. level and in each major river basin.
This data is also supplemented with ● Water accounts are created to assess the
historic weather information to ensure volume of water resources available at
farmers are able to anticipate basin and subsidiary levels, to incorporate
unfavourable conditions. long-term inter annual variability in rainfall


and weather, and to estimate water ● Maha Agri Tech Project in Maharashtra is
availability. Available water includes water another such project which seeks to use
stored in dams/reservoirs and innovative technologies to address
underground. The accounts are updated various risks related to cultivation such as
through the year and reassessed at the poor rains, pest attacks, etc., and to
beginning of each “water year”. accurately predict crop yielding.
● Water accounts are typically constructed ● The project will also use this data to
on the basis of catchment-scale inform farmers about several policy
hydrologic modelling, required data on requirements including pricing,
rainfall, evaporation and transpiration and warehousing and crop insurance. The first
stream flow over the entire landscape. phase of the project uses satellite images
and the data analysis done by
Initiatives of Smart Agriculture: Maharashtra Remote Sensing Application
Centre (MRSAC) and the National Remote
● NITI Aayog came up with a National Sensing Centre (NRSC) to assess the area
Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in India, of land, and the conditions of select crops
which is aimed at focusing on economic in select talukas.
growth and social inclusion. ● However, the second phase includes an
● The Government signed an MOU with IBM analysis of the data collected to build a
to use AI to secure the farming seamless framework for agriculture
capabilities of Indian farmers. The pilot modelling and a geospatial database of
study will be conducted in states like soil nutrients, rainfall, and moisture stress
Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and to facilitate location-specific advisories to
Maharashtra. After the pilot study, IBM’s farmers.
Watson decision platform will provide a ● Smart agriculture has the potential to
farm-level solution for improving the double the food production with lesser
agriculture sector. impact on climate change. Further, it can
● It will provide weather forecast and soil reduce the losses and wastage. It is
moisture information to farmers to take estimated that the IoT has the potential to
pre-informed decisions regarding better increase agricultural productivity by 70
management of water, soil and crop. percent by 2050.6
● This initiative was aimed at improving the ● There is a need to develop an
future of farming by harnessing multiple infrastructure in our agricultural
data points and combine predictive institutions to have scientific
analytics, AI, satellite data, and IoT understanding for such technologies so
sensors to give farmers insights on that the farmers can be trained to use of
ploughing, choosing crops, spraying such technologies and equipments in the
pesticides, and harvesting. field.
● In a bid to push innovative technologies in ● There is a need for convergence of
agriculture sector, the government has available institutional resources in the
also launched AGRI-UDAAN to mentor 40 country.
agricultural start-ups from cities like ● We have best technology institutions of
Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Pune, Bengaluru, the world like Indian Institutes of
Kolkata and Hyderabad, and enable them Technology, National Institutes of
to connect with potential investors. Technology, Indian Institute of Science,
etc.


● Our immediate need is to rope in these maintain their own in-village water supply
institutions with our top agricultural systems.
intuitions for testing and validation of the ● States/UTs to develop robust institutions
suitable technologies in commercially having focus on service delivery and
important crops in different parts of the financial sustainability of the sector by
country. promoting utility approach.
● In the long run, there should be a ● Capacity building of the stakeholders and
collaboration in these technology and creating awareness in community on the
agricultural institutions for the significance of water for improvement in
development of such technologies for quality of life.
sustaining smart agriculture in the ● In making provision and mobilisation of
country. financial assistance to states/UTs for
implementation of the mission.
#4 Jal Jeevan Mission
Objectives:
Vision:
The broad objectives of the Mission are:
● Every rural household has drinking water
supply in adequate quantities of ● To provide Functional Household Tap
prescribed quality on a regular and Connection (FHTC) to every rural
long-term basis at affordable service household.
delivery charges leading to improvement ● To prioritize provision of FHTCs in quality
in living standards of rural communities. affected areas, villages in drought prone
and desert areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram
Mission: Yojana (SAGY) villages, etc.
● To provide Functional Tap Connection to
Jal Jeevan Mission is to assist, empower and schools, Anganwadi centres, GP buildings,
facilitate: health centres, wellness centres and
community buildings.
● States/UTs in planning a participatory ● To monitor functionality of tap
rural water supply strategy for ensuring connections.
potable drinking water security on a ● To promote and ensure voluntary
long-term basis to every rural household ownership among local community by way
and public institution, viz. GP of contribution in cash, kind and/or labour
buildStates/UTsing, school, Anganwadi and voluntary labour (shramdaan).
centre, health centre, wellness centres, ● To assist in ensuring sustainability of
etc. water supply system, i.e. water source,
● States/UTs for creation of water supply water supply infrastructure, and funds for
infrastructure so that every rural regular O&M.
household has Functional Tap Connection ● To empower and develop human
(FTC) by 2024 and water in adequate resources in the sector such that the
quantities of prescribed quality is made demands of construction, plumbing,
available on a regular basis. electrical, water quality management,
● to plan for their drinking water security. water treatment, catchment protection,
● GPs/rural communities to plan, O&M, etc. are taken care of in the short
implement, manage, own, operate and and long term.


● To bring awareness on various aspects ● The General Budget for 2020–21, Finance
and significance of safe drinking water Minister announced that the government
and involvement of stakeholders in will identify 100 most ‘water stressed’
manners that make water everyone's districts and comprehensive measures on
business. addressing this shortage will be chalked
out. Ms Sitharaman further said that this
Components under JJM: will be a part of the Jal Jivan mission, for
which Rs 3.06 lakh crore has been
The following components are supported under earmarked.
JJM:
Outline of the Jal Jivan mission:
● Development of in-village piped water
supply infrastructure to provide tap water ● The proceeds outlined for the Jal Jivan is
connection to every rural household. slated to be used for augmenting existing
● Development of reliable drinking water water resources, recharging of lakes,
sources and/ or augmentation of existing water desalination, rain water harvesting
sources to provide long-term sustainability as well as sewage water treatment.
of water supply system. ● Announcement of such a huge cash
● Wherever necessary, bulk water transfer, spending on a problem which had so far
treatment plants and distribution network been mostly heard only in seminars,
to cater to every rural household. closed door discussions and by the way of
● Technological interventions for removal of NGO activism, was no aberration.
contaminants where water quality is an ● This development had been written in
issue. 2018 when NITI Aayog, the top intellectual
● Retrofitting of completed and ongoing body of the Central Government, came up
schemes to provide FHTCs at minimum with its maiden the Composite Water
service level of 55 lpcd. Management Index (CWMI).
● Greywater management. ● This was the first ever effort in
● Support activities, i.e. IEC, HRD, training, independent India to fathom the water
development of utilities, water quality. crisis scientifically at every inch of the
laboratories, water quality testing & country.
surveillance, R&D, knowledge centre, ● NITI Aayog described it as “the first
capacity building of communities, etc. comprehensive collection of country-wide
● Any other unforeseen challenges/ issues water data in India based on in-depth
emerging due to natural disasters/ structured questionnaires followed by
calamities which affect the goal of FHTC focus group discussions to generate
to every household by 2024, as per qualitative information.”
guidelines of the Ministry of Finance on ● The scenario that this decorated
Flexi Funds. Efforts should be made to document unveiled left little option with
source funds from different the government to further delay the
sources/programmes and convergence is response to the looming water crisis in
the key. front of the country.
#5 Solution to Groundwater Crisis Ground Water Crisis in India: How severe is it?
Introduction: ● According to the maiden CWMI report

released by the NITI Aayog in 2018, 21


major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, ● In May 2019, as Modi 2.0 government took

Hyderabad and others) are racing to reach the reign of the country in its second term,
zero groundwater levels by 2020, affecting the Prime Minister merged two ministries
access for 100 million people. Ministry of Water Resources, River
● Nearly 40 percent of the population will Development and Ganga Rejuvenation and
have absolutely no access to drinking Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation
water by 2030, and 6 percent of India’s to create a new ministry, which was
GDP would be lost by 2050 due to water named as Ministry of Jal Shakti.
crisis. ● The ministry launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan
● However, 12 per cent of India’s population in an effort to over bridge the water
is already living the ‘Day Zero’ scenario, challenge being faced by 1592
thanks to excessive groundwater water-stressed blocks in 256 districts by
pumping, an inefficient and wasteful water the way of a campaign for water
management system and years of conservation and water security.
deficient rains. The CWMI report also ● It was decided on the highest level that
states that by 2030, the country’s water water conservation efforts would be
demand is projected to be twice the unleashed to ensure five important water
available supply, implying severe water conservation interventions: water
scarcity for hundreds of millions of conservation and rainwater harvesting;
people. It has been reported that in many renovation of traditional and other water
parts of the country the water table is bodies/tanks; reuse borewell recharge
declining at the rate of 1-2 m/year. structures; watershed development and
intensive afforestation.
International norms to recognised as water
stress country: Two ways the government can play its role:
● As per the international norms, a country ● One, by extending policy incentives to stop

is classified as water stressed and water the misuse of ground water; and
scarce if per capita water availability goes ● Two, by unleashing a movement on the
below 1700 cubic meter and 1000 cubic model of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ to
meter, respectively. create awareness among people against
● The per capita availability of water is wasting water.
estimated to decline further to 1465 cubic
meter by 2025 and 1235 cubic meter by Anatomy of the Problem:
2050. If it declines further to around
1000-1100 cubic meters, then India could ● While talking about the water crisis,
be declared as a water-stressed country.” potability is only a small part of the
problem.
Government’s Response So Far: ● In fact, many developed countries have
already found a solution of potable water
● Equipped with the broad scientific data by turning sea water into drinkable water
about rapidly deteriorating qualitative as on mass scale. But the real catastrophe
well as quantitative water tables across waiting to happen, is in agriculture.
India, the Narendra Modi Government ● As per the Land Use Statistics 2014–15,
established a whole new ministry to fight the total geographical area of the country
the menace in its second term. is 328.7 million hectares, of which 140.1
million hectares is the reported net sown


area. As per a World Bank report, India ● Farmers often give such maths a cold
withdrew a total of 761 billion cubic meter shoulder terming it a luxury because they
ground water in 2018 out of which 688 think it is something they are supposed to
billion cubic metre was used for worry about in favour of comparatively
agriculture. This is 90 percent of the total affluent people. What they don’t
ground water withdrawn in a year. The comprehend is that it is them, who is most
other side of the problem is that out of the affected by this anomaly.
total water volume needed for agriculture, ● The adversity befalls upon them in two
70 percent is groundwater today. Both the ways.
data, if put together, gives us a glimpse ● Sinking water level increases their cost of
about the possible ways to find a solution cultivation and decreases the production
of this grim problem. level at one hand, and increases their cost
of living on the other hand.
Agricultural success in Punjab region: ● Water scarcity impacts farmers’ profit
negatively, established a study titled ‘The
● Punjab, a celebrated story of agricultural Efficiency of Rationing: Agricultural Power
success, is gradually turning into a Subsidies, Power Supply and Groundwater
graveyard of agriculture. The result of the Depletion in Rajasthan’ published in 2018.
policy of excessive subsidy on chemical ● This study found that farmers facing
fertilizers and pesticides on one hand and greater water scarcity sink deeper wells
encouragement to farmers for unbridled and are more likely to grow water-hardy
se of groundwater by providing them free crops and make investments in
electricity on the other, has resulted in water-conserving irrigation technologies.
double whammy. One, the state is devoid ● Despite these investments, water scarcity
of ground water and two, the upper crest still decreases profits and lands them in
under soil has developed a layer of hard debt, according to the study.
chemical residue due to which the rain ● In many parts of the country, where the
water simply flows away without seeping ground water has reached to the level of
into the ground. So, there is little rocks beneath soil, the productivity has
bewilderment that Punjab has the highest gone down drastically and the cost of
ground water development ratio. cultivation has shot up. Even in the
● The level of ground water development is selection of crops, the farmers in such
very high in the states of Delhi, Haryana, areas don’t find much option. Even if the
Punjab and Rajasthan, where ground water table goes down below 600 ft plus,
water development is more than 100 the cost of borewell increases multiple
percent with Punjab being on top with 172 times.
percent. This implies that in these states, ● There are strong links between cash
the annual ground water consumption is cropping, the failure of borewells,
more than annual ground water recharge. overwhelming debts and farmer suicides
Not only that, incentives to waste water in the semi-arid regions of northern and
has also worsened the state’s water western Andhra Pradesh and other parts
productivity. Punjab requires two to three of the Deccan plateau, according to a
times as much water as Bihar and West study published in Third World Quarterly in
Bengal to produce a kilogram of rice. 2013.
How will it impact the farmers?


What is the solution? it is flouted by the lower lever corruption
by the related companies in connivance
● One thing is very clear. We cannot create with agriculture department officials. This
water. We can only preserve water that we discourages farmers from going for it.
already have with us and that we will get in ● Moreover, due to lack of awareness, most
future in the form of rains. But again the of them think that micro-irrigation is only
rain data across the globe describes the for the regions where farmers don’t have
challenge. much water availability.
● While at just over 260 cubic km per year, ● To change the mindset of the producers,
India uses 25 percent of all groundwater the government needs to rope in the
extracted globally, ahead of the US and private sector along with its own agencies
China, while it receives only four percent for successfully running focussed
of the global precipitation and ranks 133 awareness programmes around the
in the world in terms of water availability benefits of micro-irrigation.
per person per annum. ● The farmers should be taught how flood
● The approach to control the situation irrigation results in wastage of water and
before it gets out of hand must have energy as well as reduce the efficiency of
multi-directional dimensions. And because fertilisers.
90 percent of the water is used by ● Also, there should be stress laid on the
agriculture, no solution will work lest we need for scheduling of irrigation
should keep cultivation in the centre. processes and said technologies like
● The key to the solution is producing more moisture sensors and other software that
with less water. This goal can be achieved are available to achieve this aim.
in two ways, one by shifting from more ● Other than to use the available water
water guzzling crops to lesser ones and judiciously, the farmers also need to be
two, by creating awareness among made aware and trained about
farmers to use micro-irrigation tools. conservation of water. There are many
● To achieve the optimum result with the farmers across the country who have
first approach, ICAR’s two bodies, National developed unique models of cultivation
Institute of Agricultural Economics and where each drop of rain water falling
Policy Research and Indian Institute of within their farmland is preserved.
Farming Systems Research at Modipuram,
Meerut, are working toward this aim. The Conclusion:
crop planning would be based
● on local climatic conditions, water ● With all means of communication, it has
availability and overall demand-supply to be made a part of national conscience
situation and could help the government that groundwater rejuvenation has no
to plan its incentives in such ways that option and that it is needed not only for
farmers will adopt those recommended future generations, but also for the present
crops, according to the ICAR. population.
● Experts say there is a need to double the
area under micro-irrigation from the #6 Atma Nirbhar Bharat
current level of nine million hectares.
● But it is easier said than done. In spite of Introduction:
the fact that almost all states have
subsidy on getting micro-irrigation system, ● Union Finance & Corporate Affairs
Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in her


press conference announced on 15 May ● Financing facility of Rs. 1,00,000 crore will
2020 the 3rd Tranche of measures to be provided for funding Agriculture
strengthen Infrastructure Logistics, Infrastructure
Capacity Building, Governance and ● Projects at farm-gate & aggregation points
Administrative Reforms for Agriculture, (Primary Agricultural Cooperative
Fisheries and Food Processing Sectors. Societies, Farmers
● Outlining what the Government has done ● Producer Organizations, Agriculture
over the last 2 months, the Finance entrepreneurs, Start-ups, etc.). Impetus for
Minister said, during the lockdown period development of farmgate & aggregation
Minimum Support Price (MSP) purchases point, affordable and financially viable
of more than Rs. 74,300 crore, PM KISAN Post Harvest Management infrastructure.
fund transfer of Rs. 18,700 crore and PM Funds will be created immediately.
Fasal Bima Yojana claim payment of Rs.
6,400 crore have been made. Rs. 10,000 crore scheme for Formalisation of
Micro Food Enterprises (MFE):
● A Scheme promoting the vision of Prime

Minister Shri Narendra Modi: ‘Vocal for
Local with
● Global Outreach’ will be launched to help 2
lakh MFEs who need technical
upgradation to attain
● FSSAI food standards, build brands and
marketing. Existing micro food
enterprises, Farmer Producer
Organisations, Self Help Groups and
Cooperatives to be supported. The focus
will be on women and SC/ST owned units
and those in Aspirational districts and a
cluster-based approach (e.g. Mango in UP,
Tomato in Karnataka, Chilli in Andhra
Atma Nirbhar Bharat:
Pradesh, Orange in Maharashtra etc.) will
be followed.
● It is a measure to strengthen agriculture
infrastructure logistics, capacity building,
Rs. 20,000 crore for fisherman through Pradhan
governance and administrative reforms for
Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY):
agriculture, fisheries and food processing
sectors. ● The Government will launch the PMMSY
for integrated, sustainable, inclusive
The Finance Minister announced the following
development of marine and inland
measures:
fisheries. Rs 11,000 crore for activities in
Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture
Rs. 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for
and Rs. 9000 crore for Infrastructure such
farm-gate infrastructure for farmers:
as Fishing Harbours, Cold chain, Markets
etc., shall be provided. Cage Culture,
Seaweed farming, Ornamental Fisheries
as well as New Fishing Vessels,


Traceability, Laboratory Network etc., will to Rs. 5,000 crore income generation for
be key activities. There will be provisions farmers.
of Ban Period Support to fishermen ● There will be a network of regional mandis
(during the period fishing is not permitted), for Medicinal Plants. NMPB will bring in
Personal & Boat Insurance. the area of 800 hectare by developing a
● This will lead to additional fish production corridor of medicinal plants along the
of 70 lakh tonnes over 5 years, banks of Ganga.
employment to over 55 lakh persons and
doubling of the exports to Rs 1,00,000 Beekeeping Initiatives – Rs 500 crore;
crore. The focus will be on islands, Government will implement a scheme for:
Himalayan States, North-east and
Aspirational Districts. ● Infrastructure development related to
Integrated Beekeeping Development
National Animal Disease Control Programme: Centres, collection, marketing and storage
centres, post harvest & value addition
● National Animal Disease Control facilities etc;
Programme for Foot and Mouth Disease ● Implementation of standards & developing
(FMD) and Brucellosis launched with total traceability system;
outlay of Rs. 13,343 crore to ensure 100% ● Capacity building with thrust on women;
vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat ● Development of quality nucleus stock and
and pig population (total 53 crore animals) bee breeders.
for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and for ● This will lead to increase in income for 2
brucellosis. Till date, 1.5 crore cows & lakh beekeepers and quality honey will
buffaloes tagged and vaccinated. reach the consumers.
Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development From ‘TOP’ to TOTAL – Rs. 500 crore:
Fund - Rs. 15,000 crore:
● “Operation Greens' ' run by the Ministry of
● An Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Food Processing Industries (MOFPI) will
Development Fund of Rs. 15,000 crore will be extended from tomatoes, onion and
be set up, with an aim to support private potatoes to ALL fruit and vegetables. The
investment in dairy processing, value Scheme would provide 50% subsidy on
addition and cattle feed infrastructure. transportation from surplus to deficit
Incentives will be given for establishing markets, 50% subsidy on storage,
plants for export of niche products. including cold storages and will be
launched as pilot for the next 6 months
Promotion of Herbal Cultivation: Outlay of Rs. and will be extended and expanded.
4,000 crore: ● This will lead to better price realisation to
farmers, reduced wastages, affordability
● The National Medicinal Plants Board of products for consumers.
(NMPB) has supported 2.25 lakh hectare
area under
● cultivation of medicinal plants. Area of
10,00,000 hectare will be covered under
Herbal cultivation in next two years with
an outlay of Rs. 4,000 crore. This will lead



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of rice seedlings raised in nurseries in
Manipur black rice, Gorakhpur terracotta puddled fields are widely practised in the
gets GI tag State’s wetlands.
● Chak-Hao, which is a black rice variety of ● The terracotta work of Gorakhpur is a
Manipur, and Gorakhpur terracotta have centuries-old traditional art form, where
bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) the potters make various animal figures
tag. like, horses, elephants, camel, goat and ox
● The application for Chak-Hao was filed by with hand-applied ornamentation.
the Consortium of Producers of Chak-Hao ● Some of the major products of
(Black Rice), Manipur and was facilitated craftsmanship include the Hauda
by the Department of Agriculture, elephants, Mahawatdar horse, deer, camel,
Government of Manipur and the North five-faced Ganesha, singled-faced
Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Ganesha, elephant table, chandeliers and
Corporation Limited (NERAMAC). hanging bells.
● Chak-Hao, a scented glutinous rice which
Centre urges industry players to support and
has been in cultivation in Manipur over
reduce crop loss
centuries, is characterised by its special
aroma. It is normally eaten during ● Expressing concern over loss of harvested
community feasts and is served as crops in different parts of the country, the
Chak-Haokheer. Centre on Wednesday asked industry
● Chak-Hao has also been used by players to buy perishable vegetables and
traditional medical practitioners as part of fruits besides foodgrains to reduce
traditional medicine. According to the GI wastage and benefit farmers amid
application filed, this rice takes the longest COVID-19-induced lockdown.
cooking time of 40-45 minutes due to the ● Union Food Processing Industries Minister
presence of a fibrous bran layer and higher HarsimratKaurBadal pointed out this issue
crude fibre content. in a meeting with members of industry
● At present, the traditional system of chamber FICCI via video conference called
Chak-Hao cultivation is practised in some to ascertain the requirement of food
pockets of Manipur. Direct sowing of processing sector for post-lockdown
pre-soaked seeds and also transplantation scenario, an official statement said.


● The industry demanded a Standard of COVID-19, particularly on the cultural
Operating Protocol (SOP) for operating sector.
facilities in different containment zones,
dedicated nodal officials for the food India-G20 to come out with digital action
processing industry at state levels to plan to fight COVID
address challenges, standardized protocol
● India has called upon the G20 countries to
for issuing worker passes to operate
come out with a concrete Digital action
facilities and maintain supply chain
plan to fight the Covid-19.
besides reevaluating the process of
● Communications and Electronics and IT
identifying COVID clusters or region, the
Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad emphasized
statement said.
on the responsibility of G20 nations to
● The food processing industry has been
focus on making inclusive and sustainable
asked to send a working model to the
economies and societies that are more
government for considering allowing
resilient in the face of the ongoing
greater workforce to join the facilities.
pandemic.
Suggestions have also been invited to
● He was attending an extraordinary virtual
frame a scheme to support the food
G20 Digital Economy Ministers meeting to
industry, the ministry said.
discuss the challenges posed by the
● The secretary said that the government
pandemic and to forge a global
has already issued required advisories to
coordinated response harnessing Digital
address the challenges related to
Technologies.
logistics, warehouse operations,
● Mr. Prasad highlighted the steps taken by
movement of workers and vehicles etc.
Indian Government to contain the spread
India-UAE to holds discussion to expand and offered the roadmap for the world to
bilateral ties emulate.Mr Prasad also emphasized the
importance to revive the economy while
● Prahlad Singh Patel, Union Minister of continuing the fight against COVID-19.
Culture discussed with Noura bint ● He said that next phase of digitalization is
Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE Minister of about applications that will impact
Culture and Knowledge Development, livelihoods, accelerate various sectors,
ways of strengthening the bilateral strengthen the supply chain and build a
cooperation between the UAE and India in cyber safe world.
tangible and intangible heritage.
● Emirates News Agency in a press
statement on Thursday said that during CSIR begins anti-leprosy drug trials against
their phone call, Ms Al Kaabi highlighted COVID
the efforts of the culture and innovation
sector to launch initiatives and incentives ● The Council of Scientific and Industrial
to ensure its sustainability. Research has started the trials of
● The UAE Minister also briefed her Indian anti-leprosy drug trials against COVID-19.
counterpart about the precautionary The drug trial is to be conducted with the
measures taken by the UAE to counter the help of Mycobacterium MW.
novel coronavirus, COVID-19. ● The Mycobacterium MW is a heat killed
● In his statement, Patel said that the two bacteria. It is to be tried on different
sides are aware of the initiatives taken by COVID-19 patients. The drug trial was
their governments to address the impact approved by the Drug Controller General of


India. One particular strain of bacteria for nearly 60 Crore beneficiaries of 17
called the Mycobacterium MW is to be States and UTs.
tried on several COVID-19 patients. The ● They will now lift their entitled quota of
drug has already proved its effectivity foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop of
against leprosy. their choice, anywhere in these 17 States
● Mycobacterium MW is a strain of and UTs by using their existing ration card
mycobacterium. It is a non-pathogenic, under One Nation, One Ration Card plan.
non-specific immune potentiating, rapidly ● The Ministry said, constant efforts are
growing atypical mycobacterium. also being made to expand the reach of
● This strain of bacteria shares a common T One Nation, One Ration Card plan, to the
and B cell determinants with beneficiaries of other States and UTs..
Mycobacterium tuberculosis and
Mycobacterium leprae. Direct taxes account for healthy growth
● The heat killed bacteria induces T-cell despite lockdown
responses. This induces the responses of
● Direct tax collection recorded a healthy
the cells against tumor cells as well.
growth in April despite the nationwide
● Along with CSIR Gujarat based
lockdown and grew by 36.6%.
pharma-giant Cadila Pharmaceuticals will
● Data accessed by The Hindu showed that
also join the Mycobacterium trial. The
the net direct tax collection for April 2020
hospitals that are to participate in the trial
was ₹34,780.4 crore as compared to
includes AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Chandigarh
₹25,466 crore recorded in April 2019, a
and AIIMS Bhopal.
jump of 36.6%.Income tax collection in
More states integrated under "One Nation, April was ₹19,762.1 crore while corporate
One Ration Card" plan tax collection was ₹14,608.1 crore.
● The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
● Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas had convened a video-conference on
Paswan has approved the integration of Friday with tax commissioners to review
five more States and Union Territories with the collection position during the
the National Cluster under the One Nation, lockdown period. The collection figures of
One Ration Card plan. different zones were discussed during the
● These States and UTs are Uttar Pradesh, meeting.
Bihar, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and ● The department noted the effort of the
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and officers in ensuring healthy growth of tax
Diu. collection in these testing times. Among
● 12 states have already under One Nation, the zones, Mumbai reported a massive
One Ration Card plan namely - Andhra 500% growth in net tax collections,
Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, followed by Bengaluru that reported 160%
Jharkhand, Kerala, Karnataka Madhya growth. Delhi, at number three, reported a
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, 34% growth in April.
Telangana and Tripura. ● The government is expected to miss the
● Mr Paswan on Friday reviewed the direct tax collection target for the financial
progress of the implementation of year 2019-20. The revised estimate has
National Portability of ration card pegged the target for collection of direct
holders.With this, the facility of national taxes for 2019-20 at ₹11.70 lakh crore.
and inter-state portability will be available The government had collected over ₹7.52
lakh crore as direct taxes till January 31.


● In addition, the outlook for indirect tax tweet, Mr Kovind said, this day is
collection is also bleak in the first few dedicated to honour the hard work and
months of the current financial year due to dedication of crores of men and women
the countrywide lockdown. workers.
● Some reports suggest that GST collection ● He said, they are laying the foundation for
in April and May could decline drastically a better and prosperous India and they are
as the number of electronic permits for the nation builders in the true sense.
transporting goods are down 80% in April. ● In his message, Director General of
With the lockdown extended till May 17, International Labour Organization, Guy
tax collections are expected to remain Ryder called upon everyone to together
subdued. build a better normal.
● He said, the time is now to bring solutions
Centre hikes MSP for 49 minor forest to the table and secure a future of work
produce built on social justice.
● Mr Ryder said, the lasting legacy of the
● Government has raised the minimum
2020 global health and human crisis must
support price for Minor Forest Produce of
be that Labour Day 2021 marks progress
49 items in view of circumstances arising
in shaping a better normal.
out of Covid 19.
● Tribal Affairs Ministry said, the increase WHO raises concern over use of BCG
across various items of Minor Forest vaccines
Produce (MFP) ranges from 16 per cent to
66 per cent.The increase is expected to ● In a letter published in The Lancet on April
provide an immediate and much needed 30, World Health Organization (WHO)
momentum to procurement of Minor Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus and
Tribal Produce in at least 20 States. others highlight a few critical issues over
● The Ministry said that the MSP for Minor the use of BCG vaccine for COVID-19.
Forest Produces is revised once in every They underscore the importance of
three years by the Pricing Cell constituted randomised controlled trials of the
under the Ministry. vaccine to understand its safety and
● It said that in view of the exceptional and efficacy before using it on healthcare
very difficult circumstances prevailing due workers.
to COVID-19 pandemic, the competent ● Randomised controlled trials are under
authority has decided to relax the existing way in the Netherlands and Australia to
provisions in the scheme guidelines and find out whether the vaccine can reduce
revised the MSP. the incidence and severity of COVID-19
among healthcare workers.
World observes international labour day ● The authors do state that the BCG vaccine,
which “enhances the innate immune
● Yesterday was the International Labour
response to subsequent infections, might
Day, also known as International Worker's
reduce viral load after SARS-CoV-2
Day or May Day. The day is celebrated to
exposure, with a consequent less severe
honour the contribution of working men
COVID-19 and more rapid recovery”.
and women.
● A study, posted on March 28 in a preprint
● President Ram NathKovind has greeted
server medRxiv, found an association
the men and women workers on the
between countries that have a universal
occasion of International Labour Day.In a
BCG vaccination and reduced coronavirus


cases — and even deaths. Preprints are stopped. Also, the major industrial
yet to be peer-reviewed and published in activities around the river were stopped.
scientific journals. ● Though sewage persists to enter the river,
● BCG given early in life does improve the now the situation is different. This is
immune system. The vaccine can prevent because when sewage effluents get mixed
intracellular infections. So the protective with the industrial effluents get mixed with
effect of BCG against COVID-19 is a the industrial effluents, it is highly difficult
biologically plausible hypothesis,” Prof. for the river to assimilate itself.
Gagandeep Kang, executive director of the
Translational Health Science and Australian team tops Test and T20 rankings
Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad,
● Australia has deposed India in the world
had earlier told.
Test rankings and Pakistan in the
Study finds improved water quality in Ganges Twenty20 standings, the International
amid lockdown Cricket Council said on Friday.
● Just two points separate Australia (116),
● The Lock Down imposed in the country on New Zealand (115) and India (114) in the
March 22, 2020 has improved air quality Test standings, with cricket suspended
and water quality.According to CPCB due to the coronavirus pandemic.
(Central Pollution Control Board), 40 ● India, which had held the No. 1 spot since
million litres of waste water enters water October 2016, stays on top of the World
bodies. Test Championship table.
● The water pollution of a river is measured
based on Biological Oxygen Demand Armed forces display solidarity to COVID
(BOD). The Ganga has become dump yard warriors
for industrial waste and untreated
● Indian Army, Navy and Air Force today
sewage.
showcased solidarity with country's COVID
● Since 1985, several schemes and
19 warriors by a unique series of activities
programmes have been launched to clean
across the nation.
Ganga starting with Ganga Action Plan I.
● In Delhi this morning, representatives of
Later in 2015, the biggest initiative
the three services laid wreaths at the
NamamiGange was launched.
National Police Memorial honouring the
● After lock down, the real time monitoring
efforts of police for their exceptional and
data from the CPCB say that out of 36
heroic efforts in country's fight against the
monitoring points of the Ganges, 27 are
pandemic. Indian Air Force chopper
now clean and suitable for wildlife and
showered petals on the National Police
fisheries propagation.
Memorial saluting the efforts of police.
● The dissolved Oxygen values have
● Chief of Defence Staff General BipinRawat
reported to have improved in the cities like
had announced on Friday that the three
Varanasi where the pollution peaked. The
services will carry out a series of activities
improvement has been from 6.8 mg/litre
to thank the corona warriors.
as compared to 3.8 mg/litre before lock
● AIR correspondent reports, light rain and
down.
overcast skies added magic to the
● The major reasons for the improvement in
atmosphere even as Indian Air Force
the water quality is that activities such as
showered red hued petals at hospitals
bathing, tourism, fairs near the ghats were
across the city including Sir Ganga Ram


Hospital, DeenDayalUpadhyay Hospital the Jan Aushadhi store operators for

and LokNayak Jap Prakash Narayan achieving a record sales turnover.
hospital. ● Mr.Gowda has assured that the
● Sukhoi 30 MKIs, MiG 29s and Jaguars government is committed to ensure
conducted a flypast over Rajpath, orbited uninterrupted availability of affordable
over the city for over half an hour. The jets medicines to people of the country.
showering petals could be clearly seen in ● AIR Correspondent reports, in its fight
the sky, and warmed the heart of many a against COVID-19, government is
people in these difficult times. transforming the face of healthcare
● The Indian Army band also performed at system through PradhanMantriBhartiya
the COVID-19 quarantine centre at Narela. Jan AushadhiPariyojana that has been
The Armed Forces' efforts to life the providing over 900 quality
morale of corona warriors have garnered generic-medicines and 154 surgical
praise from everyone,including Prime equipment at affordable prices.
Minister Narendra Modi. ● Presently, more than 6,300 Jan Aushadhi
Kendra are functioning across the nation
covering 726 districts. With the help of
Jan AushadhiSugam Mobile App, people
can locate their nearest Jan
AushadhiKendras and get the information
about the availability of medicine. Over 3
lakh 25 thousand people are using this
App.
Government likely to extend interest

equalisation scheme to boost exports
● The government may soon extend the

interest equalisation scheme, which
lapsed on March 31, to shore up the
PM Jan AushadhiKendras register record export sector impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic, an official said.
sales turnover
● Under the scheme, exporters get 3-5 per
● A record sales turnover of Rs 52 crore has cent subsidy on loans for specified items.
been registered by the It was announced in April 2015 for five
PradhanMantriBhartiya Jan years.
AushadhiKendras in the last month. This ● Addressing a Webinar organised by Ficci,
led to total savings of approximately Rs Director General of Foreign Trade
300 crore as Jan Aushadhi Kendra's AmitYadav said, "In the weeks ahead, you
medicines are cheaper by 50 to 90 per would be hearing a good news with regard
cent of the average market price. to the extension of interest equalisation
● Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister, DV scheme."
SadanandaGowda and Minister of State ● "We are ensuring that exports come back
for Chemicals and Fertilizers, on the track. The export data for March is
MansukhMandaviya have congratulated an indicator; the impact of the present
crisis could be seen from the export data


of March and that for April would also be

similar," a Ficci statement quoted Yadav as RCEP nations offer a package to India
saying.
● Members of the Regional Comprehensive
● He said the government has been holding
Economic Partnership have offered India a
regular interactions with the stakeholders
package to return to the negotiating table,
in these difficult time, which was "never
taking into account the country’s concerns
imagined".
over tariff base rates and special trade
MSME to focus on import substitution and safeguards.
export enhancements ● Members of the trade bloc urged India to
convey its initial response to the package
● MSME Minister NitinGadkari has asked by May 15 as the Indo-Pacific region
Industries to focus on export braces for a post-Covid-19 economic
enhancement as well as import order.
substitution to replace foreign imports ● The package comes after RCEP members
with domestic production. said last month they would welcome
● He added that industry should focus more India’s return to the negotiating table for
on innovation, entrepreneurship, science entering the regional trade bloc. The RCEP
and technology, research skill and package recognises India’s preference to
experiences to convert the knowledge into use more recent most-favoured nation
wealth. tariff rates than the 2014 base rates.
● Mr Gadkari said this while interacting with ● India opted out of the RCEP negotiations
the representatives of Dalit Indian last year after the group did not assuage
Chamber of Commerce & Industry, DICCI its concerns over getting swamped by
on impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs owned imports and putting its domestic industry
by SC-ST entrepreneurs. Mr Gadkari said, and agriculture at risk.
in order to gain competitiveness in the ● The RCEP members “reaffirmed their
international markets, the industry must commitment to continue working with
focus on reducing logistic cost, capital India to address its outstanding issues” at
cost, power and production cost without the 29the meeting of the RCEP trade
compromising with the quality. negotiating committee held via video
● During the interaction, the representatives conference on April 20, 22 and 24,
of DICCI expressed concerns regarding according to a joint statement.
various challenges being faced by SC-ST ● Recognising India as a valuable original
MSMEs amid COVID-19 pandemic and participant, the members would welcome
requested support from the government to India’s return to the RCEP negotiations,
keep the sector afloat. according to the statement.
● The Minister said that work on Green
Express Highway has already started, and
Bangladesh sends Rohingyas to resettlement
this is an opportunity for industry to make facility
future investments in industrial clusters,
● Bangladesh has sent a small group of
logistics parks equipped with state-of-art
Rohingyas who entered the country a few
technology.
days ago from Myanmar in small boats to
the recently constructed resettlement
facility at Bhashan Char island.


● Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A.K. a cobra on her palm went viral on social
Abdul Momen has said on Sunday that the media. The hatchling, a few centimetres in
decision to send nearly 70 Rohingyas to length, could be seen holding its hood up
Bhashan Char Island has been taken to in the video and launching itself forward
keep the Rohingya camps free of as if to strike.
Coronavirus infection. ● It doesn’t require an adult cobra to snuff
● Earlier, in mid April Bangladesh Coast the life out of you; even hatchlings are
Guard had rescued 382 Rohingya refugees capable of it, warn herpetologists.
from the South Eastern coast of ● Snake specialists sounded caution on
Bangladesh. They were adrift in the sea handling snakes after a video of a
for close to 2 months and more than 30 Malayalam actor holding the hatchling of
occupants of the boat had died due to a cobra on her palm went viral on social
starvation and disease while it tried to media. The hatchling, a few centimetres in
land in Malaysia which turned it away. length, could be seen holding its hood up
● A few other large boats with Rohingya in the video and launching itself forward
refugees are reportedly stranded in the as if to strike.
sea. Bangladesh government has denied ● Snakes hatch towards the end of summer
that these boats are under its maritime months and the chance of encountering
borders. them were higher during the monsoon
● Bangladesh has said that it has sheltered period. Most cases of snakebite occurred
more than 1 million Rohingya refugees during monsoon, he said. Ideally, one
and it can not solely be made responsible should stay away from snakes.
to shelter the Rohingya refugees in the ● If confronted in an unavoidable situation,
region. the movement of the snake could be
● Government of Bangladesh has been keen restrained by covering it with a bucket and
to relocate the Rohingya refugees to the then waiting for snake rescuers to arrive.
uninhabited Bhashan Char island where
arrangements for relocating 1 lakh people
have been made at a cost of Taka 2300 Central health team to monitor districts with
crore. high COVID cases
● It has built houses, cyclone shelters, a
three metre high and 13-km long ● The total number of confirmed COVID-19
flood-defence embankment, food cases in India crossed 40,000 on Sunday,
warehouses and other basic facilities on making it one among 16 countries that
the island. have crossed that figure. With 83 more
deaths since Saturday, a single-day high,

the death toll nationwide has gone up to
Snake Experts suggests cobra hatchlings as 1,306.
lethal ● India currently has 28,070 active cases
and 10,886 patients have recovered,
● It doesn’t require an adult cobra to snuff according to the latest numbers available
the life out of you; even hatchlings are on the Health Ministry website.
capable of it, warn herpetologists. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi led with
● Snake specialists sounded caution on the maximum number of cases.
handling snakes after a video of a ● These teams, comprising experts from the
Malayalam actor holding the hatchling of National Centre for Disease Control


(NCDC), AIIMS, JIPMER and the All India hospitals treating Covid-19 patients.India's

Institute of Hygiene and Public Health folk artists have long used traditional art
among others, will submit reports to the for social messaging.
State health authorities with
recommendations. RBI assures full repayment to CKP
● In terms of total cases, three other cooperative bank depositors
countries are comparable to India — the
● Reserve Bank of India has said that over
Netherlands, Peru and Belgium, with
99 per cent of CKP Co-Op Bank's 1.32 lakh
confirmed infections from 40,000-49,900.
depositors will get full money through
● India is one of 11 countries that have
Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee
tested over one million samples, with the
Corporation (DICGC).
latest Health Ministry update reporting
● RBI's chief general manager in the
74,000 tests a day. However, at just 758
Department of Communication,
tests per million of population, India ranks
YogeshDayal, said that the CKP co
among countries that have tested the
operative bank had been under all
lowest fraction of their population.
inclusive directions that had restricted its
● In an interview to the Press Trust of India,
activities since 2014 itself, and the
NITI Aayog Member, V.K. Paul said
decision to cancel the license was taken
extending India’s lockdown was part of a
as there was no scope for its revival.
plan to curb infection transmission.
● In its order cancelling the license of CKP
Folk artists releases paintings to spread Bank, the RBI said the cooperative bank is
awareness against COVID not satisfying the stipulated minimum
regulatory capital requirement of 9 per
● India's prominent folk artists have cent and the financial position of the bank
released a series of paintings to spread is highly adverse and unsustainable.
the message of social distancing and ● The Registrar of Co-operative Societies,
hygiene to prevent the spreading of Pune has been asked to issue an order for
coronavirus. winding up the affairs of the CKP
● Working during the lockdown, which has Co-operative Bank and appoint a liquidator
now lasted more than a month, a group of for the bank, as per the RBI notification on
folk artists and craftspeople across India Saturday.
have produced these illustrations and ● The RBI action on the bank had come over
paintings in traditional styles. seven months after it placed the
● LailaTyabji, chairperson of Dastkar, India's city-based Punjab and Maharashtra
prominent society for crafts and Co-operative Bank under directions in
craftspeople, told that though many fear September last year due to financial
the impact of Covid-19 may be the end of mismanagement by officials.
craftspeople, it is their creativity and ● PMC was one of the largest banks in the
resilience that could save them. space, and the directions, which include
● Since March, folk artists who work with capping of deposit withdrawals, had led to
Dastkar have produced artwork that protests by the depositors.
convey the importance of social ● The RBI has said that on liquidation, every
distancing, wearing face masks, washing depositor is entitled to repayment of
hands with soap and avoiding group his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling
travel. There are also scenes depicting


of 5 lakh rupees from the DICGC as per pandemic is spreading, it has also given
usual terms and conditions. rise to a second pandemic of
misinformation, from harmful health
Commerce ministry to identify sectors to advice to wild conspiracy theories.
establish India as a manufacturing hub ● He focussed on the importance of the
press in this situation saying that the
● The commerce and industry ministry is
press provides the antidote: verified,
working to identify certain key sectors --
scientific, fact-based news and analysis.
like capital goods, leather and chemicals --
● World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed
with a view to establish India as
by the UN General Assembly in December
manufacturing hub, according to sources.
1993, following the recommendation of
● Several meetings have taken place with
UNESCO's General Conference.
stakeholders, including industry
● Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the
chambers, to identify those sectors which
Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated
have the potential to become global
worldwide as the World Press Freedom
winners and make India a strong
Day to pay gratitude to those journalists
manufacturing hub, the sources said.
who lost their lives in order to bring us
● Commerce and Industry Minister
honest and real news.
PiyushGoyal has recently stated that in the
post-COVID era, there is going to a be
perceptible change in the global
supply-chains, and Indian industrialists
and exporters should be looking to
capture significant share in the world
trade.
● Promoting manufacturing will help in
creating more jobs and pushing India's
dwindling exports.Manufacturing sector
contributes about 15 per cent in the

country's economy and the government is
aiming to increase it significantly. India asks Pakistan to vacate all areas under
● The output of eight core infrastructure illegal occupation
industries shrank by a record 6.5 per cent
in March due to significant dip in ● India has protested against efforts to
production of crude oil, natural gas, bring material change in Pakistan
fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity occupied territories and asked the
amid the coronavirus lockdown. neighbouring country to vacate them.
● ● External Affairs Ministry said that India
● World press freedom day celebrated demarched senior Pakistan diplomat and
across the globe lodged a strong protest against Supreme
● World Press Freedom Day was being Court of Pakistan order on the so-called
celebrated across the globe yesterday. As "Gilgit-Baltistan”.
the entire world is going through COVID-19 ● It was clearly conveyed that the entire
pandemic, this year the theme of the day Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir
is "Journalism without Fear or Favour." and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit
● In his message, UN Secretary-General and Baltistan, are an integral part of India
AntónioGuterres said that as the COVID-19


by virtue of its fully legal and irrevocable ● The magnetosphere of the earth has
accession. several numbers of satellites revolving.
● Pakistan government or its judiciary has When the satellites leave the
no locus standi on territories illegally and observational domain of one satellite and
forcibly occupied by it. enter into the other, a blind arena is
● India has completely rejected such actions created.
and continued attempts to bring material
changes in Pakistan occupied areas of PrithviSai named ISRL-2 champion
Jammu and Kashmir.It has asked
● The practice arena turned into a battlefield
Pakistan to immediately vacate all areas
for the new generation of India’s racers in
under its illegal occupation.
the lockdown time. Cooped up inside
● It was further conveyed that such actions
homes and missing out on valuable wheel
can neither hide the illegal occupation of
time, racers from 14 cities took part in the
parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
country’s most popular online competition
by Pakistan nor the grave human rights
— the Indian Sim Racing League (ISRL), in
violations, exploitation and denial of
association with Volkswagen Motorsport.
freedom to the people residing in Pakistan
● And Chennai’s SaiPrithvi made the best
occupied territories for the past seven
use of it to tally a maximum of 252 points
decades.
over the five rounds to emerge Season
Scientists develop new code to study earth’s Two’s undisputed champion.He enjoyed
magnetosphere four victories which was sufficient enough
to give him the crown and testing in a
● The Indian Scientists at the Indian Volkswagen Motorsport race car.
Institute of Geomagnetism has developed ● Thrissur’s Abdul Fattah (191) and
fluid simulation code to study electric field Mumbai’s RaidenSamervel (172) finished
structure in the magnetosphere of the for the next two places respectively.
earth.
● The study will help to plan the future Government to bring in Indian nationals
space missions. The study will also lead stranded abroad
to control fusion experiments to fulfill
ever-expanding energy demands of ● Government of India will facilitate the
humanity. return of Indian nationals stranded abroad
● The scientists have developed on compelling grounds in a phased
one-dimensional fluid simulation code. manner. Indian Embassies and High
The study helps to see the electric field in Commissions are preparing a list of
isolated pulses. distressed Indian citizens and the travel
● The sun is the major source that deposits will begin in a phased manner from 7th of
plasma around the earth. It forces its this month. The travel will be arranged by
plasma towards the earth through its solar aircraft and naval ships.
wind. This creates interplanetary magnetic ● In a statement, Home Ministry said, this
field that is carried by the solar magnetic facility will be made available on
field. payment-basis and non-scheduled
● The interaction of the earth’s magnetic commercial flights will be arranged for air
field and the interplanetary magnetic field travel. Medical screening of passengers
creates magnetosphere of the earth. will be done before taking the flight and


only asymptomatic passengers will be which is fairly low and it is less than 2 per
allowed to travel. cent of the national level.
● During the journey, all these passengers ● He also said, tele-medicine feature has
will have to follow the protocols of Health been incorporated in the AarogyaSetu App
and Civil Aviation Ministries. and about 19 millions installations have
● On reaching the destination, everyone will been made so far..
have to register on the ArogyaSetu app.
The Indian nationals will also be medically Centre to focus on MSME agro policy
screened and after that they will be
● Union Minister for Micro, Small and
quarantined for 14 days, either in a
Medium Enterprises-MSME NitinGadkari
hospital or in an institutional quarantine
today informed that his Ministry is working
on payment-basis, by the concerned State
on bringing out an Agro MSME Policy. He
government.
said, it will focus on entrepreneurship
● Their COVID test will be done after 14
development in rural, tribal, agricultural
days and further action will be taken
and forest areas for manufacturing of
according to health protocols. The
products using local raw material.
Ministries of External Affairs and Civil
● Mr Gadkariwas speaking during meetings
Aviation will soon share detailed
held via video conferencing with the
information about it. State Governments
representatives of SME Chamber of India,
are being advised to make arrangements,
SME Export Promotion Council and
including for testing, quarantine and
representatives of beauty and wellness
onward movement of the returning Indians
industry on impact of COVID-19 on
in their respective areas.
MSMEs.
Government set to mobilize NGO’s to combat ● During the meeting, the Minister called
upon the industry to ensure that
COVID and help migrant workers
necessary preventive measures are taken
● During the briefing, Chairman of the to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He
Empowered Group 6 presented how the also mentioned that there is a need to
Group has been engaging with Civil focus on export enhancement as well as
Society Organizations, NGOs, Industry and import substitution to replace foreign
International Organisations to combat imports with domestic production.
COVID-19 and galvanize action on various ● He added that industry should focus more
fronts. on innovation, entrepreneurship, science
● He said,the group has mobilized more and technology, research skill and
than 92 thousand NGOs and civil society experiences to convert the knowledge into
organizations, appealing them to assist wealth.
states and districts in identifying hotspots, ● The Minister recalled that Government of
helping migrant workers and other needy Japan has offered special package to its
people. industries for taking out Japanese
● He said, Aspirational Districts Programme investments from China and move
piloted by NITI Aayog has been a big elsewhere. He opined that it is an
success in uplifting lives of millions in 112 opportunity for India which should be
most backward districts. He informed that grabbed.
there are 610 cases in these districts


promote global solidarity and it must

Saras collection platform launched in GeM
remain inclusive. He said the humanity is
portal
facing a major crisis in the wake of
● Union Minister of Rural Development and COVID-19 pandemic and NAM can
Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar contribute in dealing with it.
launched “The Saras Collection” on the ● Speaking at virtual Non-Aligned Movement
Government e Marketplace (GeM) portal Summit through Video Conferencing this
in New Delhi today. evening, Mr Modi said, the world needs a
● The Saras Collection showcases daily new template of globalisation post
utility products made by rural self-help COVID-19 based on fairness, equality and
groups (SHGs) and aims to provide SHGs humanity.
in rural areas with market access to ● He said, during this crisis India has shown
Central and State Government buyers. It is how democracy, discipline and
a unique initiative of GeM and the decisiveness can come together to create
DeenDayalAntyodayaYojana-National a genuine people's movement.
Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). ● He added that Indian civilization sees
● Under this initiative, the SHG sellers will be whole world as one family and while
able to list their products in 5 product caring for its own citizens, New Delhi is
categories, namely handicrafts, also extending help to other countries.
handloom and textiles, office ● Mr Modi said, India is regarded as
accessories, grocery and pantry and pharmacy of the world especially for
personal care and hygiene. affordable medicines and despite own
● The Rural Development Ministry said that needs during COVID 19 pandemic, it has
in the first phase, 913 SHGs from 11 ensured supply of medicines to 123
States have already registered as sellers partner countries including 59 NAM
and 442 products have been on-boarded. members. He also said the county is
● GeM will provide dashboards for active in global efforts to develop
functionaries at the national, state, district remedies and vaccines for COVID-19.
and block level to provide them real time
DRDO develops disinfection tower
information about the number of products
uploaded by SHGs, and value and volume ● Defence Research and Development
of orders received and fulfilled. Organisation, DRDO has developed an
● In addition, Government buyers shall be Ultra Violet Disinfection Tower for rapid
sensitized through system generated and chemical free disinfection of high
messages and in the Marketplace about infection prone areas.
availability of SHG products on the portal. ● Defence Ministry said, the equipment
Potential buyers will be able to search, named UV blaster is an Ultra violet based
view, cart and procure such products area sanitiser designed and developed by
through the stipulated modes of Laser Science and Technology Centre.
procurement. ● The UV Blaster is useful for high tech
surfaces like electronic equipment,
PM addresses NAM summit via
computers and other gadgets in
videoconferencing
laboratories and offices that are not
● Prime Minister NarendraModi today said suitable for disinfection with chemical
the Non Aligned Movement can help methods.


● The product is also effective for areas verification. Thirdly, plant extracts and
with large flow of people such as airports, products are being examined for general
shopping malls, metros, hotels, factories anti-viral properties. In diagnosis and
and offices. testing, several academic research
● The equipment has six lamps each with institutions and start-ups have developed
43 watts of UV-C power. For a room of new tests, both for the RT-PCR approach
about 12 x 12 feet dimension, the and for the antibody detection.
disinfection time is about 10 minutes and ● During the meeting, Mr Modi took note of
30 minutes for 400 square feet area by the extraordinary coming together of
positioning the equipment at different academia, industry and government,
places within the room. combined with speedy but efficient
regulatory process.
Carlsen wins online chess tournament ● He desired that such coordination and
speed should be embedded into a
● Living up to his reputation, World
standard operating procedure. He
champion Magnus Carlsen produced two
emphasized, what is possible in a crisis
flawless displays over four games and
should be a part of routine way of
defeated Hikaru Nakamura 2.5-1.5 to win
scientific functioning.
the $250,000 Magnus Carlsen Invitational
● Appreciating the scientific coming
online chess tournament on Sunday.
together of computer science, chemistry
● The triumph was worth $70,000 for
and biotechnology in drug discovery, the
Carlsen in the richest online event.
Prime Minister suggested that a
Nakamura received $45,000 for his
hackathon be held on this subject, linking
performance in the 16-day
computer science to synthesis and testing
competition.The result (final): Magnus
in the laboratory.
Carlsen (Nor) btHikaru Nakamura (USA)
● The successful candidates from the
2.5-1.5.
hackathon could be taken up by the
PM reviews status of India’s vaccine start-ups for further development and
development, drug discovery and testing of scaling up. Mr Modi added that the
innovative and original manner in which
COVID-19
Indian scientists have come together with
● Prime Minister NarendraModi has taken a industry is heartening. This kind of pride,
detailed review of the current status of originality and sense of purpose should
India’s efforts in vaccine development, dominate India's approach going ahead..
drug discovery, diagnosis and testing
related to COVID-19.
Corporate borrowings tumble amid lockdown
● An official statement said, over 30 Indian ● Borrowings by 1.7 million companies
vaccines are in different stages of tracked by the ministry of corporate affairs
development with a few going on to the have nearly dried up since the government
trial stages. In drug development, three imposed a nationwide lockdown on March
approaches are being taken which include 25 to rein in the Covid-19 outbreak.
the repurposing of existing drugs. ● The number of charge filings for loans
● Secondly, the development of new above ₹50 crore in the January-March
candidate drugs and molecules are being quarter fell 44% year-on-year. The Reserve
driven by linking high performance Bank of India (RBI) data separately
computational approach with laboratory


showed that credit grew 6.1% at the end of regulated by state’s agricultural produce

March, a 58-year low. market committees (APMCs) and 27
● Bank credit, bonds outstanding and centres are coming under red zones
commercial paper stood at Rs 6 lakh crore wherein procurement is expected to pick
in FY20, down from Rs 16.8 lakh crore in up this week.
the previous financial year.Banks ● In the remaining 22 centres the state
accounted for as much as ₹5.9 lakh crore government has been approached by the
of the total lending, though it was nearly CCI for issue of passes/tokens to farmers
half of ₹11.9 lakh crore they had lent in the to bring cotton and the matter is being
previous fiscal. constantly monitored by the Ministry of
● “Even though each charge filing is not Textiles through daily status reports on
equal to a new loan every time, the decline arrival of farmers and procurements at the
is significant to indicate that there is a APMCs.
decline in broader borrowing activity of
medium and large corporates.”Rating India plans first virtual bilateral summit with
agency Icra said incremental credit growth Australia
declined 64% at the end of March.
● India is planning to hold its first ever
● The pandemic has had a severe financial
bilateral virtual summit where PM
impact, even as the government has tried
NarendraModi and his Australian
to stave off economic collapse. According
counterpart Scott Morrison plan to
to the International Monetary Fund, the
discuss a range of issues including joint
Indian economy is projected to grow at
fight against Covid and Indo-Pacific
1.9% this fiscal, sharply lower than the
partnership.
level of about 5% forecast earlier. Global
● The two sides plan to conclude a range of
growth is set to contract 3%, as the world
pacts including Mutual Logistics Sharing
stares at the worst recession since the
Pact and in areas of science & technology
Great Depression of 1929-33.
and public administration on the occasion
Cotton corporation to purchase cotton at ● Australia has felt that it can do more with
MSP India in global and regional responses to
the threat of terrorism besides widening
● The Textiles Ministry has assured farmers the scope of their Indo-Pacific partnership
in Maharashtra that the Cotton to stabilise Indian Ocean Region through
Corporation of India (CCI) is fully prepared Mutual Logistics Sharing Agreement for
to purchase cotton at minimum support their defence forces.
price in the state during the ongoing ● The logistic sharing Agreement was
lockdown. originally scheduled to be signed in
● The MSP operations are continuing and January on the occasion of Morrison’s
Cotton Corporation of India's (CCI) visit.
procurement is currently on at 34 centres ● Logistics sharing agreements with nations
in the state.The ministry’s move comes like Japan and Australia will significantly
amid concerns that traders may not offer enhance the capability of the India Navy to
a better price in view of the pandemic operate eastwards, which is an increasing
situation forcing farmers to avail the MSP area of interest.
rates. ● However, sources cautioned that the
● AIR correspondent reports, the Textile agreements should not been seen in the
ministry has said the procurement is context of the ‘Quad’ initiative and that


individual relations with the nations have ● China plans to send an astronaut to the
progressed to a level where increasing Moon in about a decade and then build a
bilateral activity requires such a pact. base there.
Experts claim reduced emissions and blue

skies won’t benefit environment in the long
run
● Weeks of lockdown in the country to fight

coronavirus may have reduced
greenhouse gas emissions enabling
people to breathe cleaner air and feast on
blue skies, but it is only a temporary phase
and will not benefit the environment in the
long run, experts have said.
● Recently, the Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) released a report on effect
of 'Janata Curfew' on the air quality in
which it found that the reduction in
number of on-road vehicles, resulted in up
to 51 per cent reduction in nitrogen oxide
China launches new satellite via Longmarch (NOx) levels and 32 per cent reduction in
5B rocket carbon dioxide (CO2) levels during March
22-23, 2020 as compared to March 21.
● China on Tuesday successfully launched a ● Environmentalists feel that carbon
new rocket and prototype spacecraft, emissions may have reduced drastically
state media said, in a major test of the but are likely to go back to the pre-corona
country’s ambitions to operate a levels in a few weeks' time, once the virus
permanent space station and send threat mitigates.
astronauts to the Moon. ● Sharing a similar opinion, Suyash Gupta,
● The spaceship will one day transport Director General, Indian Auto LPG
astronauts to a space station that China Coalition, said many cities are breathing
plans to complete by 2022 — and clean air after a long time but this
eventually to the Moon. It will have shutdown cannot be expected to result in
capacity for a crew of six. stabilization of carbon dioxide
● The United States is so far the only concentration.
country to have successfully sent humans ● "Researchers have already stated that we
to the Moon. But Beijing has made huge must not expect the impact of this global
strides in its effort to catch up, sending shutdown to result in any stabilization in
astronauts into space, satellites into orbit CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.
and a rover to the far side of the Moon. However, this phase has certainly raised
● The successful maiden flight of the awareness about the need for people to
54-metre Long March 5B — which has a adopt more eco-friendly lifestyles
take-off mass of about 849 tonnes — including the usage of clean transport
should reassure China, following failures fuels once human activity resumes," Gupta
of the 7A model in March and 3B model in said.
April.


Assurance covering 22.12 Lakh health

Around 40cr people receive financial
workers.
assistance under various schemes
Agriculture ministry moots integrated soil
● Around 39 crore poor and needy people
management approach
received financial assistance of 34
thousand 800 crore rupees under the ● Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh
PradhanMantriGaribKalyan Package, Tomar has called for making integrated
PMGKP so far. soil nutrient management a farmers’
● The package was announced by the movement.
Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman in ● Reviewing the progress of the Soil Health
March to protect the poor people from the Programme in New Delhi on Wednesday,
impact of the lockdown imposed due to Mr Tomar directed for running a mission
COVID 19. As part of the package, the mode awareness campaigns on
Government announced free food grains increasing use of bio and organic
and cash payment to women, poor senior fertilisers and reducing chemical
citizens and farmers. fertilisers strictly based on
● The implementation of the package is recommendations of Soil Health Card.
being continuously monitored by Central ● During 2020-21, the major focus of the
and State governments to provide relief to programme will be on mass awareness
the poor people. Fintech and digital programme for farmers in over one lakh
technology have been employed for swift villages covering all districts of the
and efficient transfer of financial country.
assistance to the beneficiaries. ● Mr Tomar advocated for setting up of
● Under the various components of the village level Soil Testing Labs by youth
package, 16 thousand 394 crore rupees having education in agriculture.
front loaded towards payment of the first ● He said the Soil Health Card scheme will
instalment of PM-KISAN to 8.19 crore focus on enabling employment generation
beneficiaries. More than 10 thousand after appropriate skill development..
crore rupees credited to 20 crore women’s
Jan Dhan account as first instalment. Study finds COVID-19 to accelerate e-com
● In addition to it, 9.6 lakh members of adoptions
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation,
EPFO has taken benefit of online ● The COVID-19 pandemic could accelerate
withdrawal of non-refundable advance the adoption of e-commerce in the
from EPFO account amounting to 2,985 country, with online sales accounting for
crore rupees. 24 per cent EPF contribution over 10% of Indian retail sales in the next
transferred to 44.97 lakh employees’ 12-18 month period, from 5% currently.
account amounting to 698 crore rupees. ● Presently, 95% of India’s retail sales do
● Under the MNREGA scheme, 5.97 crore happen at stores, and online contribute
person’s man-days of work generated and only 5%. However, we expect this order to
21 thousand 32 crore released to States to change dramatically. Online sales will
liquidate pending dues. Insurance scheme breach the double-digit mark within the
for health workers in Government next 12-18 months,”
Hospitals and Health Care Centres has PrashobhChandralayam, executive
been operationalised by New India director (Retail), Global Business Services,
IBM India/South Asia told.


● Talking about changes in shopping beneficiaries under the

experience, Mr.Chandralayam said since PradhanMantriGaribKalyan Anna Yojana.
safety and security was going to be the
single most important thing, he expected Centre asks West Bengal to allow land
end-to-end digitisation at stores to be transportations from Bangladesh
mandatory.
● Centre has again directed the West Bengal
● “The entire product value chain will need
government to allow cross land border
to be articulated as part of the product
transportation through all
info. Farm to fork and fibre to fashion is
Indo-Bangladesh borders without any
what matters. Customers will not shy
delay. It has also asked the state
away from paying extra money for the
government to send a compliance report
product information,” he said.
in this regard.
● Mr.Chandralayam pointed out that 31% of
● Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla has
the world’s GDP is retail and from a digital
written to West Bengal Chief Secretary
perspective, 40 petabytes of data is
Rajiv Sinha that the unilateral action of
generated every hour in retail. “It’s not just
State government not to allow the cross
any data, it’s the demand signal for the
border transportation will have larger
world. Post COVID-19 era, data signals
implications for the Indian government
from retail will provide vital clues on the
with regard to its legally binding
shape of economic recovery,” he said.
international commitments.
PMGKAY distributes 120lakh tonnes of food ● The letter said, this act of the State
grains government amounts to violation of the
orders issued by the Ministry of Home
● About 120 lakh tonnes of food grains are Affairs under Disaster Management Act,
being distributed free to 80 crore 2005.
individuals during COVID-19 crisis under ● It said, a large number of trucks carrying
the PradhanMantriGaribKalyan Anna essential supplies, bound for Bangladesh,
Yojana. are stranded at different border crossing
● Consumer Affairs Ministry said, each of points and a number of drivers returning
the individual will be provided double of from Bangladesh have not been allowed to
their current entitlement during April, May cross the border and are stranded in
and June this year. Bangladesh.
● More than 69 lakh tonnes foodgrains have
been lifted by States and Union Territories. Death of pigs in Meghalaya associated to
Five Union Territories have lifted entire suspected hog cholera
three months quota and 18 States and
● Suspected hog cholera has killed at least
UTs lifted two months' quota. While 14
a dozen pigs across two districts of
States have lifted one month quota.
Meghalaya.This coincided with the death
● Secretary, Department of Food and Public
of more than 2,900 pigs in Assam due to
Distribution SudhanshuPandey today held
African swine fever (AFS), a first in the
a review meeting with the State Food
Indian subcontinent.
Secretaries and other concerned officers
● Officials in Meghalaya have allegedly been
of 24 States and UTs through video
silent on a possible outbreak of hog
conferencing.
cholera, also known as classical swine
● In the meeting, he discussed the lifting
fever.But pig farmers said the disease, a
and distribution status of food grains to


fairly common one, has struck a village

PM takes stock of situation in
each in East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi
Visakhapatnam after gas leak in factory
districts.
● The KhasiJaintia Pig Association said it ● In Andhra Pradesh, the death toll in
was worried about the possibility of hog Visakhapatnam gas leak has risen to 11.
cholera spreading.“We have decided to The styrene had gas leaked during wee
stop selling pork in the eastern part of hours yesterday from a Polymers Plant at
Meghalaya for two weeks from today RR Venkatapuram village near
(Wednesday),” a member of the Visakhapatnam and quickly spread to
association said. villages in a five-kilometre radius.
● Meanwhile, the Assam government has Hundreds of villagers, most of them
formed high-level committees in six children, suffered from irritation in their
AFS-hit districts as well as at the State eyes, breathlessness, nausea and rashes.
level to deal with the crisis.Farmers have ● Prime Minister NarendraModi took stock
been warned not to dispose carcasses in of the situation at a high level meeting. Mr
rivers. Modi discussed measures being taken for
● Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister the safety of the affected people. Prime
Atul Bora said, “We have not received Minister also spoke to the officials of
reports of fresh pig deaths during the last Union Home Ministry and the National
24 hours, which is a good sign.” Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The meeting was attended by Home
NADA to conduct disciplinary hearings
Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister
online
Rajnath Singh among others.
● The National Anti-Doping Agency’s ● Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba also
director-general NavinAgarwal on reviewed the situation with the
Wednesday said the body will conduct its Secretaries of the Ministries of Home
disciplinary hearings online from Friday Affairs, Environment, Chemicals and
despite the many logistical challenges to Petrochemicals, Pharmaceuticals,
ensure cases don’t pile up. Information and Broadcasting, Members
● NADA hearings have not been taking place of the National Disaster Management
due to the lockdown to contain the Authority and Director General, National
COVID-19 pandemic. Disaster Response Force and others.
● “We will be starting with our online ● The NDRF team with CBRN personnel at
hearings from May 8.“Both Anti-Doping Vishakhapatnam was deployed
Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) and Anti-Doping immediately to support the state
Appeals Panel (ADAP) hearings will be government and local administration. The
conducted for the cases which are NDRF team carried out immediate
pending,” Agarwal said. evacuation of people living in the
● Listing inconsistent or unavailable internet immediate vicinity of the leakage site.
as one of them, Agarwal said athletes will
Defence ministry approves abolition of posts
be allowed to participate via audio calls to
in MES
ensure that things can be managed
smoothly. ● Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has
approved a proposal for the abolition of
9,304 posts in the Military Engineering


Service (MES), the Defence Ministry said and 2.37 lakh cases have been sanctioned

on Thursday. loans worth 26,500 crore rupees.
● This is in line with the recommendations ● Public Sector Banks complemented RBI
of the Lt. Gen. D.B. Shekatkar (Retd.) on loan moratorium. Their effective
Committee, which had suggested communication and proactive actions
measures to enhance combat capability ensured that over 3.2 crore accounts
and rebalance armed forces’ expenditure. availed three-month moratorium. Quick
● One of the recommendations was to query redressals allayed customer
restructure the civilian workforce in a concerns and ensured responsible
manner that the work of the MES could be banking amid lockdown.
partly done by departmentally employed
staff and other works could be India seeks to lure American businesses out
outsourced, it stated. of China
● It was aimed at making the MES an
● India is seeking to lure U.S. businesses,
effective organisation with a leaner
including medical devices giant Abbott
workforce, well equipped to handle
Laboratories, to relocate from China as
complex issues in an efficient and cost-
President Donald Trump’s administration
effective manner, it added.
steps up efforts to blame Beijing for its
● The 11-member committee, appointed by
role in the coronavirus pandemic.
the late Defence Minister ManoharParrikar
● India expects to win over U.S. companies
in 2016, had made about 99
involved in healthcare products and
recommendations, from optimising
devices, and is in talks with Medtronic Plc
defence budget to the need for a Chief of
and Abbott Laboratories on relocating
the Defence Staff.
their units to the country, an official said.
● These recommendations, if implemented
Medtronic spokesman Ben Petok and
over the next five years, can result in
Abbott spokeswoman Darcy Ross didn’t
savings of up to ₹25,000 crore in defence
immediately respond to emails seeking
expenditure. Of these, the first batch of 65
comment.
recommendations pertaining to the Army
● India’s trade ministry has sought detailed
were approved in August 2017.
feedback from U.S. companies on
● PSB’s sanction loans worth 6lakh crore
changes needed to make the country’s tax
during lockdown period
and labor laws more favorable to
● Public Sector Banks have sanctioned
companies, said one of the officials.
loans worth 5.66 lakh crore rupees for
Modi’s federal government is working with
more than 41 lakh 81 thousand accounts
states to ensure long term solutions, the
during March-April this year.
official added, including developing land
● In a series of tweets, Office of Finance
banks to ensure a quick start for units.
Minister NirmalaSitharaman said, these
● Some states including Maharashtra have
borrowers are from MSME, Retail,
ensured that supply chains for foreign
Agriculture and Corporate sectors, waiting
manufacturers remained functional
for disbursal soon after lockdown lifts.
through India’s national virus lockdown.
● For MSMEs and others, pre-approved
Others like Tamil Nadu in the south and
Emergency credit lines and working
Uttar Pradesh in the north have offered
capital enhancements are being prioritised
concessions for those planning to move.
by Public Sector Banks. More than 27 lakh
customers have contacted from March 20


Israel top court orders that Netanyahu can WHO reports surge in domestic violence mid
form government amid corruption charges COVID
● Israel's Supreme Court has ruled that ● Emergency services across Europe have
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may seen a sharp rise in domestic abuse calls
form a new government while under under sweeping lockdowns imposed
indictment for corruption charges, clearing across the continent, the World Health
the way for him and his Organization’s regional office said
rival-turned-uneasy ally to join together in Thursday.
a controversial power-sharing deal. ● Billions of people are subject to some
● Earlier, Netanyahu and his form of stay-at-home orders across the
rival-turned-partner, Benny Gantz, said they globe, and experts say women and
expected their coalition to be sworn into children are most vulnerable to abuse.
office at the earliest. Their unanimous ● WHO’s regional director for Europe, Hans
decision, has ended a 17-month political Kluge, said countries “are reporting up to a
stalemate and prevented the country from 60% increase in emergency calls by
plunging into a fourth consecutive election women subjected to violence by their
in just over a year. intimate partners in April this year,
● After battling to three inconclusive compared to last”.
elections over the past year, Netanyahu ● According to the organisation, domestic
and Gantz, a former military chief, violence often increases in times of crisis,
announced their emergency government and is exacerbated due to restrictions and
last month, saying they would put aside containment measures put in place to
their rivalry to steer the country through limit the spread of the new coronavirus.
the coronavirus crisis. ● “We have an increase in reporting from
● The two sides agreed on a coalition deal almost all countries,” said Isabel Yordi,
that makes the two men equal partners, Technical Officer for Gender and Health at
with virtual veto power over each other's WHO Europe.
decisions. Because of the nature of ● The UN agency for sexual and
arrangement, the Knesset must pass new reproductive health (UNFPA) has
legislation before they take office. estimated that there would be 31 million
● Under the deal, Netanyahu and Gantz more cases of domestic violence
would be sworn-in together, with worldwide if lockdowns continue for
Netanyahu serving first as prime minister another six months.
and Gantz as the designated premier.
After 18 months, the two are to swap Scientists warn that intensive farming could
positions. increase risk of epidemics
● The court said Netanyahu would need to
● Intensive farming techniques have led to a
abide by a conflict of interest arrangement
common antibiotic-resistant pathogen to
while prime minister whenever dealing
become capable of infecting both cattle
with law enforcement affairs.
and humans, according to a study which
suggests the need to check agriculture
practices for such outbreaks.
● Based on their findings, published in the
journal PNAS, the researchers said the


bacterium is able to infect more than one ₹50 crore and formed a fact-finding
species because of its ability to transfer committee, its use of the term “strict
genes, and adapt quickly to new host liability” has been questioned. For, under
environments. the “strict liability principle”, a party is not
● They said overuse of antibiotics, high liable and need not pay compensation if a
animal numbers, and low genetic diversity hazardous substance escapes his
caused by intensive farming techniques premises by accident or by an “act of
increase the likelihood of these pathogens God’” among other circumstances.
becoming a major public health risk. ● The Supreme Court, while deciding the
● These bacteria are often resistant to Oleum gas leak case of Delhi, found strict
antibiotics, due to use of the drugs in liability woefully inadequate to protect
farming, and can be transferred to people citizens’ rights in an industrialised
when they eat undercooked meat and economy like India and replaced it with the
poultry, the scientists said. ‘absolute liability principle’.
● According to study co-author Sam ● So, under the absolute liability principle,
Sheppard from the University of Bath in the apex court held that a company in a
the UK, cattle infected with the pathogen hazardous industry cannot claim any
pose a major public health risk for exemption. It has to mandatorily pay
humans. compensation, whether or not the disaster
● "There are an estimated 1.5 billion cattle was caused by its negligence. The court
on Earth, each producing around 30 said a hazardous enterprise has an
kilogrammes of manure each day. If “absolute non-delegable duty to the
roughly 20 per cent of these are carrying community”.
Campylobacter, that amounts to a huge
potential public health risk," Sheppard Very few take up ration card portability
said. scheme by centre
● The scientists believe that the finding is a
● Although 60 crore people are now
wake-up call to be more responsible about
potentially covered under the Centre’s
farming methods, "so we can reduce the
ration card portability scheme, inter-State
risk of outbreaks of problematic
usage has been very low so far, says Food
pathogens in the future."
Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.
NGT asks LG polymers to deposit ● If utilised properly, the One Nation, One
compensation upholding ‘absolute liability’ Ration Card scheme could allow migrant
clause workers to access free foodgrains
wherever they are, providing a lifeline for
● The National Green Tribunal's order on desperate migrants during the COVID-19
Friday in the Visakhapatnam gas tragedy lockdown.
found LG Polymers prima facie liable ● The portability scheme could not work
under the 19th century English law without biometric authentication using
principle of “strict liability”, which was electronic point of sale machines,
made redundant in India by the Supreme Mr.Paswan said. In fact, during a recent
Court in 1986. Lawyers say the term conference with the Centre, several States
“absolute liability” should have been used had suggested allowing distribution using
instead. just ration cards.
● Even though the NGT directed the ● On procurement of wheat from farmers
company to deposit an initial amount of during the ongoing rabi marketing season,


the Minister said it was lagging behind by ● Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman has
18.35% following shortage of jute gunny allowed discounting of prolonged stay
bags due to the lockdown. period in India for the purpose of
● Mr.Paswan urged the State governments determining residency status.
to ensure speedier distribution of pulses, ● The CBDT has decided that for the
noting that while the entire allocation of purposes of determining the residential
1.95 lakh tonnes for April had been status during the previous year 2019-20 in
despatched by the Centre and 93% of that respect of an individual who has come to
had been received by States, only 27% had India on a visit before 22nd March, 2020
actually reached beneficiaries. and were unable to leave India on or
before 31st March 2020, his period of stay
in India from 22nd March to 31st March
shall not be taken into account.
India-AIIB sign agreement to strengthen

public health preparedness
● India and the Asian Infrastructure

Investment Bank, AIIB today signed a 500
million dollar “COVID-19 Emergency
Response and Health Systems
Preparedness Project” in New Delhi to
strengthen its public health preparedness.
● This is the first ever health sector support
from the Bank to India.Finance Ministry
Finance ministry announces relief package
said, this new support will cover all States
for NRI’s and foreign visitors
and Union Territories across the country
● Union Government yesterday gave relief and address the needs of infected people,
on residency status to NRIs and foreign at-risk populations, medical and
visitors whose stay in India got prolonged emergency personnel and service
due to lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 providers, medical and testing facilities,
outbreak. In its circular, Central Board of and national and animal health agencies.
Direct Taxes- CBDT said that the ● The agreement was signed by Additional
prolonged stay in India will be discounted. Secretary, Department of Economic
● It said, the circular for determining the Affairs, Sameer Kumar Khare and Rajat
residential status in such cases for Mishra, Director General (Acting) on behalf
Financial Year 2020-21 will be issued in of the AIIB.
due course, depending upon normalization ● Mr Kharesaid, that AIIB’s timely assistance
and resumption of international flights. will help Government in its efforts to
● Considering various representations respond to the threat posed by COVID-19
received from people who had to prolong and strengthen the national health
their stay in India due to lockdown, systems for preparedness in India.
expressed concerns that they will be ● The project will also enhance the
required to file tax returns as Indian resilience of India’s health system to
residents. provide core public health prevention and
patient care to better manage COVID-19
and future disease outbreaks. It will help


strengthen country's Integrated Disease

WHO says countries must return to public
Surveillance Program, revamp infectious
health surveillance to control COVID
disease hospitals and medical college
hospitals. ● World Health Organization’s top
emergency health expert has said that
India helps African nations affected by
countries must return to basic principles
COVID
of public health surveillance if they are to
● In response to the pandemic, India has bring the Corona virus outbreak under
readily come to the assistance of various control.
African countries affected by COVID-19. ● The WHO issued the call for more
● It is in keeping with India’s traditionally surveillance as many countries including
strong bonds of friendship and solidarity the United States, Switzerland, Mexico and
with Africa, which has reached new Germany have turned their efforts toward
heights in the last few years. re-opening economies battered by the
● India is dispatching packages of pandemic.
medicines to more than 25 countries in ● Head of the WHO’s Health Emergencies
Africa. This package of medicines Programme Mike Ryan said that all
includes hydroxychloroquine, paracetamol nations should focus on the fundamentals
and other drugs which are immediately of the global Corona virus fight : scouting
required to fight the pandemic. potential new infections, hunting them
● These medicines are expected to down, confirming them and then
complement the national efforts of the separating those afflicted, to save others
various countries in Africa to combat the from the disease.
pandemic. ● In another press briefing yesterday, WHO
● Prime Minister NarendraModi had Food Safety and Animal Diseases Expert
telephonic conversation on 17th April with Peter Ben Embarek said, live animal
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South markets are critical to providing food and
Africa, who is also the current Chairperson livelihoods for millions of people globally.
of the African Union. He said, authorities should focus on
● Last month, External Affairs Minister had improving such markets rather than
also spoken to his counterparts in several outlawing them - even though they can
African countries to reiterate India’s sometimes spark epidemics in humans.
solidarity with African people in the fight ● Mr Embarek said, investigations are
against COVID-19 and offered them all continuing in China to pinpoint the animal
assistance. His offer was deeply source from which COVID-19 jumped into
appreciated by these countries. humans. He said, it might take
● The e-ITEC course for healthcare workers considerable time to identify the original
and others on "COVID-19 Pandemic : animal source for the Novel Corona virus,
Prevention and Management Guidelines explaining that extensive studies need to
for healthcare professional” organised by occur first. China is yet to invite WHO or
the Ministry of External Affairs along with other external experts to be part of that
its partner AIIMS Raipur is also now been investigation.
extended to all healthcare workers of
Africa.


the pre-existing route used by the pilgrims

Indian scientists develop energy efficient
of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
photo detector
● Under the present project, the same road
● The scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru has been made pliable for the ease and
Centre for Advances Scientific Research convenience of pilgrims, locals and
(JNCASR) has fabricated energy efficient traders.
photodetector for security applications. ● The spokesperson said India and Nepal
● The autonomous institute has fabricated have established mechanism to deal with
energy efficient, economical and wafer all boundary matters. He said the
scale photodetector. The photodetector boundary delineation exercise with Nepal
was designed using a gold-silicon is ongoing.
interface for security applications. It will ● India is committed to resolving
also help to detect weak scattered light. outstanding boundary issues through
● The scientists in the new invention have diplomatic dialogue and in the spirit of
fabricated gold-silicon interface that close and friendly bilateral relations with
shows high sensitivity towards light. The Nepal.
interface was brought between the ● Mr Srivastava said both sides are also in
elements with the help of galvanic the process of scheduling Foreign
deposition. Water based solutions were Secretary level talks which will be held
used to deposit the ions. This has made once the dates are finalized after the
the detector affordable and also more COVID 19 challenge is dealt with.
efficient.
NDMA issues guidelines for restarting
● The detector has a rapid response time of
40 micro seconds. It covers broad range industries post lockdown
between UV and IR. As the device works in
● National Disaster Management Authority
self-powered mode, no external power
(NDMA) has issued guidelines for restart
source is required. This makes the device
of manufacturing industries after the
highly energy efficient.
lockdown. In its guidelines, NDMA said
● Today, photodetectors are used in wide
state governments will ensure that off-
range of applications. They are employed
site diaster management plan of the
in wide range of applications from control
respective major Accidental Hazard units
of automatic lighting in supermarkets to
are upto date and preparedness to
detect radiations from outer galaxy.
implement them is high.
● It has also advised that all the responsible
India gives clarification on territorial extent officers of the district will ensure that the
near Nepal border industrial On- Site Disaster Management
● India has said that the recently Plans are also in place and cover Standard
inaugurated road section in Pithoragarh Operating Procedures for the safe
district of Uttarakhand lies completely restarting of the industries during and
within its territory. after COVID -19 lockdown.
● In response to queries on statement ● In the guidelines, the NDMA has advised
issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Manufacturing Industries to consider
Nepal pertaining to the road inauguration, the first week as trial or test run period
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson while restarting the Unit and ensure all
Anurag Srivastava said the road follows


safety protocols and not try to achieve under "deeper stress" by the time the
high production targets. COVID-19 crisis ends, though he sees
● It said, to minimise the risk, it is important some silver linings in the situation such as
that employees who work on specific plummeting crude prices and bumper agri
equipments are sensitized. yield.
● In case of discovering a COVID-19 positive ● Stressing that the world has to live with
case, the factories have to prepare coronavirus for some time, Subbarao said
accomodation to isolate workers if both centre and states are working in
needed and HR has to help manage the tandem to contain the pandemic.
whole process for individual and all ● On the other hand, a stringent lockdown to
travelling employees also to undergo a control the pandemic can mean millions
mandatory 14 day quarantine. of livelihoods.This is a very difficult
● The NDMA said, workers involved in balancing act. Particularly for India, as our
dealing with hazardous material must be economy is in bad shape, Subbarao said.
skilled and experienced in the field. No
compromise on deployment of such SEZ units demand customs duty waiver for
workers should be permitted when an domestic sale
industrial unit is opened up, it added.
● Faced with extensive cancellation of
Former RBI governor says centre’s financial global orders due to the spread of the
stimulus not sufficient Covid-19 pandemic, units in Special
Economic Zones (SEZ) want the
● Maintaining that the combined fiscal government to allow them to sell their
deficit of the Centre and states may go up products in the domestic market without
to 13-14 per cent this fiscal, former RBI payment of customs duties.
Governor Duvvuri Subbarao on Sunday ● At present, SEZs are also not able to sell
said the financial stimulus announced by their products in the domestic market, as
the Centre on March 26 on account of payment of customs duty as per Section
lockdown to contain spread of COVID-19, 30 of SEZ Act, 2005, is making their
is "not sufficient". products uncompetitive, the Export
● Speaking at a webinar titled "The Promotion Council for EOUs and SEZs
Challenge of the Corona Crisis - Economic (EPCES) said in a letter to commerce and
Dimensions", organised by the city-based industry minister Piyush Goyal.
Manthan Foundation, Subbarao said the ● Asking for a waiver of customs duties, the
Centre needs to cap its borrowings as the council said that SEZ units should be
open ended borrowings will have negative allowed to make Domestic Tariff Area
consequences such as pushing interest (DTA) sale on payment of duty in line with
rates high. EOU (export-oriented units) or equivalent
● He said that since March 24, when the to duty forgone on the raw material used
lockdown was imposed nationwide, in the manufacture of finished goods sold
millions of households have become in DTA market.
vulnerable and therefore livelihood ● As per the council, EPCES sector provides
support has to be extended to many more direct employment to more than 25 lakhs
families as most of their savings have people with investment of more than 5.5
dried up. lakhs crore and contributes Rs 7.87 lakhs
● According to him, the domestic financial crore to India’s export basket.
sector, which is under deep stress, will be


declaration that the world and all peoples have

Egypt brings in new amendments bringing
won freedom from smallpox.
more powers to president
● It ended after a 10-year WHO-spearheaded
● Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi has global effort that involved thousands of health
approved amendments to the country’s state of workers around the world to administer half a
emergency that grant him and security agencies billion vaccinations to stamp out smallpox.
additional powers, which the government says ● WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom
are needed to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. Ghebreyesus said, when WHO's smallpox
● The new amendments allow the President to eradication campaign was launched in 1967,
take measures such as suspending classes at one of the ways countries raised awareness
schools and universities and quarantining those about smallpox was through postage stamps.
returning from abroad. But they also include ● He added Social media like Twitter and
expanded powers to ban public and private Facebook was not even on the horizon then.
meetings, protests, celebrations and other WHO chief yesterday in Geneva thanked Mr Atul
forms of assembly. Khare, United Nations Under-Secretary-General
● The amendments, which Mr. Sisi signed off on for Operational Support, for making the
Friday, also allow military prosecutors to commemorative stamp possible.
investigate incidents when army officers are ● He said this during a virtual unveiling of the
tasked with law enforcement or when the stamp. Born in India, Khare is the
President orders it. The country’s chief civilian Under-Secretary-General for the Department of
prosecutor would have the final decision on Operational Support (DOS) and the UN Postal
whether to bring matters to trial. Administration is within the DOS Division of
● The amended law would also allow the Administration.
President to postpone taxes and utility
payments as well as provide economic support Sal forest tortoise expands habitat outside
for affected sectors. protected areas
● Egypt has been under a state of emergency ● The sal forest tortoise is widely distributed
since April 2017, and the government extended over eastern and northern India and
it late last month for another three months. The Southeast Asia. However, it is not
government said the amendments were needed common in any of this terrain.
to address a legal “vacuum” revealed by the ● Also known as the elongated tortoise
COVID-19 outbreak. Egypt, with a population of (Indotestudo elongata), the sal forest
100 million, has reported at least 504 deaths tortoise, recently assessed as critically
among around 8,500 confirmed cases. endangered, is heavily hunted for food. It
is collected both for local use, such as
UN postal agency and WHO release stamp to
decorative masks, and international
commemorate eradication
wildlife trade.
● World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN's ● A recent study by ecologists in the Wildlife
postal agency have released a commemorative Institute of India, Dehradun, finds that the
postage stamp today on the 40th anniversary of area designated as a protected area
the eradication of smallpox. The head of the network has only a small overlap with the
global health body expressed gratitude to a top actual habitat it roams around in.
Indian-origin UN official. In May 1980, the 33rd ● According to the authors of the study
World Health Assembly issued its official published in the journal Herpetological


Conservation and Biology, over 90% of the ● The survey also found that only 7.58% of
potential distribution of the species falls the surveyed Delhi High Court lawyers
outside current protected area’s network. have themselves or any other lawyer they
● Also, in northeast India, the representation know received assistance from the
of the species in protected areas is least, Advocates’ Welfare Fund that was
and there is little to no connectivity among established by a law in 2001. This
most of the protected areas where the percentage, however, was much higher at
species is present. the other seven HCs at around 64.
● According to the IUCN the population of
the species may have fallen by about 80% BPRD rejects online manual for identifying
in the last three generations (90 years). fake news
● There is little information on the
● A day after it published a step-by-step
population sizes of the sal forest tortoise,
guide for law enforcement agencies to
or any such species, mainly because they
identify ‘fake news’ and communally
are so rare, live in remote areas of the
sensitive posts in the wake of COVID-19
forest and funding opportunities to study
pandemic, the Bureau of Police Research
them are few.
and Development (BPRD) removed the
Majority advocates support collegium manual from its website.
system for selection to higher posts ● On Sunday, after The Hindu carried the
report, several Twitter users objected to
● Over 68% of the advocates surveyed from the inclusion of certain portals on an
eight High Courts were of the opinion that indicative list of websites that could be
the collegium system of appointments — accessed for fact check, including
wherein the Supreme Court appoints www.thehindu.com, pib.gov.in and
judges to itself and the HCs — ensures the reporterlabs.org and others.
selection of the most competent judges, a ● The report, ‘Fake News & Disinformation:
report by Delhi-based Vidhi Centre for A Guide for LEAs - How to spot and
Legal Policy has revealed. investigate,’ was prepared by the
● The survey covered advocates’ Modernisation division of the think tank
perceptions about the judges with regard under the Union Home Ministry.
to different aspects of their functioning, ● The detailed manual had said “digital
their relationship with the Bar Council and news has brought back and increased the
their perceptions about their earnings and usage of fake news or yellow journalism”
other professional conditions. usually “published with the intent to
● On whether the advocates think they get a damage an agency, entity or a person and
fair hearing before the judge, 82% of the gain financially or politically often using
surveyed Delhi HC advocates said it sensationalist, dishonest or outright
depended on the judge or the bench. fabricated headlines to increase
● It also found that 80% of the surveyed readership.”
advocates from the Delhi HC said that the ● To explain the communal aspect, the
average monthly income in the first two guidelines included a screenshot of a fake
years of practice is between ₹5,000 and video which accused people belonging to
₹20,000. For the remaining seven HCs, a particular community of licking cleaned
over 78% of the advocates surveyed said plates and spoons to “transfer the virus to
this was in the range of ₹2,000 and people at large”. It also attached a clip
₹10,000. where miscreants used fake URLs to


mislead people who wanted to donate to Ben Embarek said, live animal markets are
PM-CARES Fund. critical to providing food and livelihoods
for millions of people globally.
Sowing are of summer crops increases ● He said, authorities should focus on
significantly improving such markets rather than
outlawing them - even though they can
● Agriculture Ministry has said that sowing
sometimes spark epidemics in humans.
area coverage of Summer Crops has
● Mr Embarek said, investigations are
increased significantly in the country.
continuing in China to pinpoint the animal
About 34.87 lakh hectare area have been
source from which COVID-19 jumped into
brought under summer rice coverage as
humans. He said, it might take
compared to 25.29 lakh hectare during the
considerable time to identify the original
corresponding period last year.
animal source for the Novel Corona virus,
● The Ministry said, pulses have been sown
explaining that extensive studies need to
in nearly 10.35 lakh hectare area as
occur first. China is yet to invite WHO or
compared to 5.92 lakh hectare during the
other external experts to be part of that
corresponding period of last year. Coarse
investigation.
Cereals have been sown in about 9.57 lakh
hectare area while about 9.17 lakh hectare
area have been brought under oilseeds NIV develops indigenous ELISA test kit
coverage.
● The National Institute of Virology (NIV),
● The Ministry further said that during Rabi
Pune, has developed an immunological
Marketing Season 2020-21, a total of
assay — enzyme-linked immunosorbent
241.36 Lakh Metric Tonnes wheat have
assay (ELISA) — to detect antibodies that
arrived in Food Corporation of India, out of
the body develops in response to infection
which 233.51 Lakh Metric Tonnes were
by the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus, an
purchased. A total of 3,206 designated
official source told The Hindu. The test will
procurement centers for Rabi pulses and
detect antibodies in blood samples. ELISA
oilseeds are available in eleven States.
is routinely used for detecting HIV
● It also said 2.74 Lakh Metric Tonnes Gram
infection.
have been procured from nine States,
● “This kit was validated at two sites in
1.71 Lakh Metric Tonnes Toor from eight
Mumbai and has high sensitivity and
States and 3.40 Lakh Metric Tonnes
accuracy. Besides, it has the advantage of
Mustard from five States.
testing 90 samples together in a single run
WHO says live animal markets crucial in of 2.5 hours,” Union Health Minister Dr.
providing food for millions Harsh Vardhan tweeted.
● This is the first time India has developed
● The World Health Organization (WHO) has an indigenous ELISA test for coronavirus.
said that although a market in the Chinese While ELISA tests for coronavirus are
city of Wuhan selling live animals likely already available in other countries,
played a significant role in the emergence procuring them in large numbers may be a
of the Novel Corona virus, it does not challenge, particularly during a pandemic.
recommend that such markets to be In contrast, availability will be a non-issue
closed globally. when a locally developed test is
● In a press briefing yesterday, WHO Food manufactured in India.
Safety and Animal Diseases Expert Peter


● The ELISA test developed by NIV gains so that no poor or deserving person or
significance as the rapid antibody tests family is denied access to food grains.
imported from China were found to be ● In order to achieve seamless inter-state
unreliable and hence the States were portability transactions of a ration card, it
instructed not to use them for detecting is essential to have a Centralized
previous novel coronavirus infection. Repository for maintaining unique ration
● While the RT-PCR (reverse transcription cards and beneficiaries’ data of all states
polymerase chain reaction) test, which covered under NFSA.
detects the RNA of the coronavirus,
enables detection of current infection, it Data protocol norms for Arogya Setu app
will not be useful if the testing is carried released
out days after the infection clears as the
● Data of nearly 13,000 Aarogya Setu App
virus will no longer be present.
users who have tested positive for
● However, antibodies developed in
COVID-19 have so far been transferred to
response to the coronavirus infection will
the server for health intervention, says
be present in the blood for a longer
Ajay Sawhney, Chairman, Empowered
duration and hence the ELISA test can
Group on Technology and Data
help detect past infection.
Management.
Centre extends deadline for Aadhar-ration ● On Monday, he issued an order notifying
card seeding the Aarogya Setu Data Access and
Knowledge Sharing Protocol, 2020, that
● The Centre has extended the deadline lays down the guidelines for collection,
given to all States and Union Territories to processing, storage and sharing of
complete the seeding of Aadhaar numbers “anonymised” data.
with all ration cards till 30th of September ● Stating that Aarogya Setu had contributed
this year. immensely to the fight against COVID-19,
● It also clarified that until then no genuine Mr. Sawhney said privacy protection was
beneficiary will be denied from entitled the primary consideration while
quota of food grains and their names or developing the app. It stores an encrypted
ration cards will not be d or cancelled only signature when the user comes in
on the ground of not possessing an proximity with other registered devices.
Aadhaar number. Ministry of Consumer This interaction information is not pushed
Affairs has issued clear instructions to all to the server unless the user tests
States in this regard. positive.
● The Ministry also rejected media reports ● Based on the data of fewer than 13,000
that ration cards of those who do not users who tested positive, alerts were sent
provide Aadhar number will be cancelled. to 1.4 lakh users, he said. Nearly 9.8 crore
● It has also issued instructions that food people had so far downloaded the
grains under National Food Security Act, contact-tracing app. The same service
NFSA will not be denied due to failure of would soon be made available in feature
biometric Aadhaar authentication of phones.
beneficiary because of poor biometrics, ● The protocol states that the contact and
issues with network connectivity or linking location data will, by default, remain on
or any other technical reasons. the device on which the app is installed. It
● The Ministry said, during the current crisis may be uploaded to the server only for the
situation, a pragmatic approach is needed


purpose of formulating or implementing

Survey finds lockdown has brought in
appropriate health responses.
change in buying behaviour
● Demographic data of an individual,
collected by the NIC, will be retained for as ● The coronavirus lockdown has brought a
long as the Protocol remains in force or if sea change in the buying behaviour of
the individual requests that it be deleted, many Indians, such as purchasing
for a maximum of 30 days from such vegetables and other consumables
request, whichever is earlier. without asking for prices, far from the old
habit of asking 'dhaniya' or 'mirchi' free
Reports suggest fiscal deficit to come down
from vendors, according to a survey by
to 5.8%
Enormous Brands.
● After the government's move to raise its ● It found that there has also been a sharp
market borrowing programme for the increase in adoption of digital technology
current financial year by Rs 4.2 lakh crore, by older people to join the e-commerce
a foreign brokerage on Monday estimated bandwagon for ordering items like milk,
the fiscal deficit to come at 5.8 per cent of grocery and home essentials and paying
the GDP in FY21 as against the budget through wallets and UPI.
target of 3.5 per cent. ● The study also found that COVID-19 has
● In a report, analysts at Bank of America helped in forming an opinion for pushing
also revised down their GDP growth the 'Make in India' agenda, with 42 per
estimate to 0.5 per cent for the current cent believing that "there is an active and
fiscal year, as against the earlier estimate deliberate attempt by China to spread
of 1.5 per cent adding that they fear that COVID across the world for economic
the lockdown my extend beyond May. gains" which has led to a strong anti-China
● It can be noted that due to the heavy dip in sentiment.
growth - it was supposed to hit a decadal ● Commenting on the findings, Enormous
low of 5 per cent in FY20 as per official Brands Managing Partner Ajay Verma
estimates - the government is forced to said, "The young Indian population is
spend extra to help restrict the impact of behaving very differently from other parts
the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. of the globe. The study suggests a high
● On likely routes of funding the fiscal level of optimism even in a situation that
deficit, it said the options before has brought the entire world in a
policymakers may include open market lock-down and also showcased that
operations by the Reserve Bank with a households feel confident about the
new calendar being put out by Governor revival of the Indian economy."
Shaktikanta Das to comfort markets, a ● As per the survey, newspapers are poised
direct monetisation where RBI can directly for a strong return, with 74 per cent of the
subscribe to government debt or respondents saying they missed their daily
incentivising banks to put their surplus in newspaper. While 29 per cent have moved
money markets, it said. to reading newspapers online, only 4 per
● The focus of the new package will be on cent would unsubscribe from the hard
small businesses, real estate and the copy.
banking sector, it said, adding that this is
after assuming a slip in growth to 0.5 per
cent, the brokerage said.


● The Minister explained that due to the

Saudi Arabia to raise VAT from 5-15% from
precautionary measures undertaken
July
worldwide to combat the pandemic, the
● In a significant decision , the Kingdom of first economic shock was the
Saudi Arabia has decided to raise value unprecedented decline in oil demand,
added tax (VAT) from 5 percent to 15 which led to lower oil prices and a sharp
percent starting from 1st July and has decline in oil revenue that represents a
taken a decision to suspend cost of living main source of public revenue for the
allowance starting from 1st June, state state budget.
news agency SPA reported on Monday.
China threatens on retaliation over U.S visa
● The Kingdom has also decided to cancel,
rules
extend, or postpone some operational and
capital expenditures for some government ● China on Monday threatened to retaliate
agencies, as well reduce provisions for against a U.S. rule that tightening visa
initiative of a number of Vision Realization restrictions on Chinese journalists, in an
Programs and major projects for the fiscal escalating row after Beijing expelled more
year 2020. than a dozen American reporters.
● SPA quoting the Minister of Finance and ● Citing China’s treatment of the reporters,
Acting Minister of Economy and Planning, the U.S. Homeland Security Department
Mohammad Aljadaan, said that the issued new regulations on Friday limiting
measures are being undertaken to protect visas for Chinese journalists to a
the Saudi economy and overcome the maximum 90-day stay, with the possibility
unprecedented financial and economic to request an extension. Until now, visas
ramifications of the global coronavirus for Chinese journalists lasted for the
pandemic in the best way possible. duration of their employment in the U.S.
● The Minister said that these “measures ● The tit-for-tat actions have added to
that have been undertaken today, as tough searing diplomatic tensions.Foreign
as they are, are necessary and beneficial journalists working in China receive
to maintain comprehensive financial and one-year visas that must be renewed every
economic stability on the medium and year.
long-term for the interest of the country ● But in an annual report, the Foreign
and its citizens”. Correspondents’ Club of China said at
● The Minister added that the government is least a dozen correspondents were issued
committed to taking necessary and timely press credentials valid for half a year or
measures to protect citizens and less.
residents, as well as the economy to ● The report said Chinese authorities were
mitigate the effects of the crisis and its “using visas as weapons against the
ramifications. foreign press like never before.”
● The Minister emphasized that the crisis
caused by the global pandemic resulted in National technology day being celebrated
three economic shocks, each of which across the country
could in itself have an extremely negative
effect on the performance and stability of ● National Technology Day is being
public finance had the government not observed today to signify the glorious
intervened by taking measures to absorb achievements of Indian science and
them. technology. On this day in 1998, India


successfully carried out nuclear tests in ● Sania won the award for Asia/Oceania
Rajasthan's Pokhran. zone after securing more than 10,000
● On the same day India also performed votes out of the total 16,985 online votes
successful test firing of the Trishul Missile cast for this year’s three regional Group I
and had test flown the first indigenous nominees.
aircraft - ‘Hansa - 3’. A high-level digital ● The award is an International Tennis
conference on Rebooting the Economy Federation initiative to recognise those
through Science, Technology and Fed Cup players who represent their
Research is being organized by countries with distinction, show
Technology Development Board to mark exceptional courage on court and
the day. demonstrate outstanding commitment to
● In the COVID 19 crisis, technology has the ideals of the competition.
been at the forefront of the battle against
the pandemic. As the world adjusts to its
new normal, business leaders world over
are rethinking and devising new strategies
to harness technologies that will help
drive resilience and make them emerge
from the crisis stronger.
● Keeping in mind the need of the hour to
formulate a comprehensive action plan to
reboot the economy, Technology
Development Board is celebrating
National Technology Day focusing on
technological solutions towards that end.
These technologies will include, medical
technologies, advanced technologies and
PM announces special package worth
manufacturing that will prepare India for
20lakh cr to kickstart economy
the post Covid-19 time.
● The digital conference is bring together ● Prime Minister Narendra Modi has
Scientists, Technocrats, Government announced a special economic package
officials, Diplomats, WHO officials and worth 20 lakh crore rupees for an
dignitaries from national and international 'Atma-Nirbhar Bharat' or self-reliant India,
Industry, Research Institutions and saying that self reliance is the only way to
Academic Institutions on a single platform ensure that 21st Century belongs to India.
to share their insights on the role played ● Addressing the nation yesterday, the
by S & T in the global healthcare crisis and Prime Minister noted that this package,
find solutions that not only address the together with earlier announcements by
current pandemic but will also help in the government during COVID crisis and
facing the challenges ahead. decisions taken by RBI, is to the tune of 20
lakh crore rupees. This is equivalent to
Sania Mirza wins Fed cup heart award
almost 10 percent of India’s GDP.
● Tennis star Sania Mirza on Monday ● The Prime Minister said several bold
became the first Indian to win the Fed Cup reforms are needed to make the country
Heart Award for her successful return to self-reliant, so that the impact of crisis
the court post-motherhood. such as COVID, can be negated in future.


These reforms include supply chain ● India is identified as among the three
reforms for agriculture, rational tax worst countries, along with Nigeria and
system, simple and clear laws, capable Indonesia, for steep within-country
human resource and a strong financial disparities on stunting, where the levels
system. These reforms will promote varied four-fold across communities.
business, attract investment, and further ● Coming at a time the world is battling
strengthen Make in India. COVID-19, which has exposed different
● He praised India's ancient culture saying forms of socio-economic inequities, the
that the wisdom of age old principles such authors have called for promoting equity
as Vasudaiva Kutumbakam and harmony to address malnutrition.
with nature ensure that world progress is
central to India's conception of progress. SEBI relaxes norms for banks and insurers in
● Mr Modi clarified that when India talks terms of financials
about self-reliance, it is different from
being self-centred. He said that India ● Listed companies can conduct their
considers the world as one family, and annual general meetings (AGMs) through
progress in India has always contributed video conferencing while banks and
to progress in the whole world. insurance companies have been given the
● He also said India's initiatives such as the option of submitting only the standalone
International Solar Alliance were a gift to numbers instead of consolidated
the world. Our centuries old conception of financials.
self-reliance has always followed the path ● Further, norms related to sending physical
of global progress. copies of annual reports or publishing
certain statutory advertisements have
India to miss nutrition targets as per global also been relaxed due to COVID-19
nutrition report pandemic.
● Meanwhile, the regulator has received
● India is among 88 countries that are likely representation from listed companies that
to miss global nutrition targets by 2025, banks or insurance companies as well as
according to the Global Nutrition Report those that have banks and insurance
2020 released on Tuesday. It also companies as subsidiaries are facing
identified the country as one with the challenges in preparing consolidated
highest rates of domestic inequalities in financial results.
malnutrition. ● The regulator has made it voluntary for
● According to the Global Nutrition Report banking and insurance companies to
2020, India will miss targets for all four submit consolidated results for June
nutritional indicators for which there is quarter though such entities still have to
data available — stunting among submit standalone numbers.
under-five children, anaemia among ● Among other things, the regulator has
women of reproductive age, childhood waived the requirement of companies
overweight and exclusive breastfeeding. sending physical forms for proxy
● Between 2000 and 2016, underweight attendance if the meetings are held
rates have decreased from 66.0% to 58.1% electronically.
for boys and 54.2% to 50.1% in girls. ● The exemptions related to publishing
However, this is still high compared with certain statutory advertisements in
the average of 35.6% for boys and 31.8%
for girls in Asia.


newspapers till May 15 have been official said the meeting had discussed
extended until June 30. “strengthening and reforming” the WHO.

Indian army says no violation of air space
India caught in U.S-China spat over Taiwan with china near ladakh
● As tensions between the U.S. and China ● Helicopters of the Chinese People’s
rise over the novel coronavirus pandemic, Liberation Army (PLA) came close to the
India, which is set to take over as the next border during the face-off with the Indian
Chairperson of the World Health Army near Pangong Tso lake in Eastern
Organization’s decision-making executive Ladakh last week, but there was no air
body in May, is faced with a major choice space violation on either side, Indian Air
on whether to support a U.S. move to Force (IAF) sources said on Tuesday.
reinstate Taiwan’s observer status at the ● Separately, Army spokesperson Col. Aman
World Health Assembly (WHA) or to Anand said there was no ongoing face-off
China’s opposition to it. at the Pangong Tso lake or any “build-up
● On Wednesday, Mr. Jaishankar will take of armed troops in the area”.
part in a virtual meeting of the 8-nation ● Stating that incidents of face-off and
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) aggressive behaviour occur on the Line of
led by China and Russia, which will Actual Control (LAC), Col. Anand said
discuss responses to the pandemic. patrols disengaged after local-level
● The meeting was held on the same day interaction and dialogue.
the U.S. Senate passed an Act (S.249) to ● “Temporary and short-duration face-offs
“direct the Secretary of State to develop a occur as boundary is not resolved. Troops
strategy to regain observer status for resolve such incidents mutually as per
Taiwan in the World Health Organization”, established protocols,” he said in response
beginning with its decision-making body, to reports of an ongoing stand-off at the
the WHA. site.
● India is likely to hold the post for the next ● As per existing agreements between India
three years. The timing of the appointment and China, operation of fighter aircraft and
is crucial, given the worldwide debate on armed helicopters is restricted to a
the role of the WHO during the pandemic, distance from the LAC.
and criticism of WHO Director-General ● According to the ‘Agreement on
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity
● The meeting was attended by the foreign along the LAC in India-China Border Area’
ministers of Australia, Brazil, India, Israel, of 1996, “combat aircraft (to include
Japan, and the Republic of Korea. fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, military
Significantly, all invitees other than India trainer, armed helicopter and other armed
are major non-NATO allies of the United aircraft) shall not fly within 10 km of the
States, who would be expected to support LAC.”
Washington’s call.
Government makes mandatory installation of
● The MEA declined to comment on whether
Arogya Setu app for returning migrants
Taiwan was discussed during the meeting,
or whether India has decided on ● Expanding the ambit of the Aarogya Setu
supporting the U.S. on its move to include app, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday
Taiwan as a WHA participant. A senior directed that downloading it be made


compulsory for all returnees (migrant the organisers have decided to treat the
labourers and those coming from abroad) tournament as the 2020 edition only.
for better contact surveillance and ● The 2020 U-20 Women’s World Cup, in
suitable medical intervention. Costa Rica / Panama, has also been
● It also asked the States to ramp up rescheduled to January 20-February 6,
surveillance for Severe Acute Respiratory 2021 while the 2020 Futsal World Cup
Infections (SARI) or Influenza-like illnesses would be held from September 12-October
(ILI) to detect any possible hidden 3, 2021 in Lithuania. The tournaments,
infection at an early stage to ensure timely though, remain conditional subject to
containment. further monitoring of the pandemic.
● In addition to making the Aarogya Setu
app mandatory, the Health Ministry also President, Lok Sabha speaker meet on 68th
directed the States to focus on more anniversary of first sitting of Parliament
effective surveillance, contact tracing,
● On the occasion of 68th year of the first
adequate testing and timely treatment of
sittings of Parliament, Vice President M
all the returnees, including testing at the
Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om
point of disembarking, quarantining and
Birla., Parliamentary Affairs Minister
offering further treatment.
Prahlad Joshi and Ministers of State for
● The direction comes with an
Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal
announcement by the ICMR on Tuesday
and V. Muraleedharan today visited the
on undertaking a community based
historic Central Hall of Parliament House
sero-survey to estimate the prevalence of
and Chambers of Lok Sabha and Rajya
SARS-CoV-2 infection in Indian population.
Sabha.
● “Sera from these individuals will be tested
● They offered respects to the first
for presence of IgG antibodies using
Chairman of the Council of States, Dr. S.
ELISA test developed by ICMR-National
Radhakrishnan and other leaders who are
Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. The
portrayed in the Central Hall.
results of the survey will provide
● On the occasion, Mr Naidu and Mr Birla
information about spread of SARS-CoV-2
discussed about various memories and
infection in different parts of the country.
experiences of the First Sittings of the two
Besides this community-based survey,
Houses. On 13 May 1952, both Houses of
Health Ministry is also initiating
Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,
hospital-based surveillance to monitor the
held their first sittings after Independence.
trend of infection in all districts,’’ added the
● The President of India, Shri Ram Nath
ICMR release.
Kovind, also paid homage to Shri
Women’s FIFA under 17 worldcup Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, former President of
rescheduled to March 2021 India on his Birth Anniversary at
Rashtrapati Bhavan.
● The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup,
Government announces first tranche of fiscal
originally scheduled to be held later this
year, has now been rescheduled to
stimulus package
February 17-March 7, 2021. ● Government has announced the first
● However, the age eligibility for players is tranche of stimulus packages, under the
the same, making even those turning 18 in Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Yojana. Prime
this period eligible for participation since Minister Narendra Modi had on Tuesday


made a clarion call of making India ● Standing alongside Mr. Pompeo, Mr.
self-reliant and had announced the Netanyahu said the six-hour visit is a
Atma-Nirbhar Bharat Yojana. “testament to the strength of our alliance.”
● Addressing mediapersons yesterday, The two said their talks would focus on
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave shared concerns about Iran, the battle
details regarding these financial packages against the coronavirus and Israel’s
equaling to 10 per cent of the national incoming government.
GDP and amounting to 20 lakh crore ● Mr. Netanyahu and his new coalition
rupees. She said the financial stimulus will partner, Blue and White party leader Benny
cater to various sections of the society Gantz, postponed the swearing-in of their
including MSMEs, labourers, middle class government until Thursday to
and Industries. accommodate Mr. Pompeo’s visit.
● Ms. Sitharaman announced 15 special
financial packages of 6 lakh 40 thousand WHO warns of reopening of economies
crore rupees benefitting a wide array of without proper contact tracing risky
sectors including MSMEs, Discoms, Real
● A top world health official has warned that
Estate, Middle Class, Tax Payers and
countries are essentially driving blind in
others.
reopening their economies without setting
● In a historical decision, the ambit of Micro,
up strong contact tracing to beat back
Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)
flare-ups of the coronavirus.
have been widened resulting in inclusion
● The warning came as France and Belgium
of many small and micro industries under
emerged from lockdowns, the Netherlands
this sector.
sent children back to school, and a
● This decision of changing the definition of
number of US states continued to lift their
MSMEs will increase competition and
business restrictions.
productivity in the sector. In a major boost
● Fears of infection spikes in places that
to the MSME sector, collateral free loan of
have loosened up have been borne out in
3 lakh crore rupees has been announced
recent days in Germany, where new
with a moratorium of 12 months.
clusters were linked to three
slaughterhouses; in Wuhan, the Chinese
city where the crisis started; and in South
U.S discusses west bank annexation with
Korea, where one nightclub customer was
Israel PM
linked to 85 new cases.
● U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met ● Authorities have warned that the scourge
on Wednesday with Prime Minister could come back with a vengeance
Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Israel’s without widespread testing and tracing of
plans to annex parts of the West Bank, as infected people's contacts.
Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian ● The World Health Organization's
teen in a clash with stone-throwers in the emergencies chief, Dr Michael Ryan, said
occupied territory. that robust contact tracing measures
● Mr. Pompeo’s brief visit came at a tense adopted by Germany and South Korea
time, as Israeli troops searched for the provide hope that those countries can
killers of a soldier killed a day earlier by a detect and stop virus clusters before they
rock dropped from a rooftop during an get out of control.
army raid of a West Bank village.


● For the past two years, Manmeet was

Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and
suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral
Telangana’s Telia Rumal get added to GI tag
Sclerosis (ALC), a neurodegenerative
● Jharkhand’s Sohrai Khovar painting and disease.
Telangana’s Telia Rumal were given the ● He was National junior champion, National
Geographical Indication (GI) tag on men’s doubles champion (with
Tuesday by the Geographical Indications schoolmate and close friend Vinay
Registry headquartered in Chennai. Chopra), before winning the National
● The Sohrai Khovar painting is primarily singles title beating S. Sriram in
being practised only in the district of Hyderabad in 1989.
Hazaribagh. However, in recent years, for
NHRC issues notice to states over plight of
promotional purposes, it has been seen in
migrants
other parts of Jharkhand.
● Traditionally painted on the walls of mud ● The National Human Rights Commission
houses, they are now seen on other (NHRC) on Thursday issued notices to the
surfaces, too. The style features a Maharashtra government over the
profusion of lines, dots, animal figures and “inappropriate approach” adopted for the
plants, often representing religious release of prisoners to avoid the
iconography. SARS-CoV-2 infection and the incident of a
● Details provided in the application filed pregnant migrant giving birth on the road.
with the Geographical Indications Registry ● In the second case, it also issued notice to
shows that Telia Rumal can only be the Madhya Pradesh government as the
created using the traditional handloom woman was walking from Maharashtra to
process and not by any other mechanical Satna, her home town, when she was
means as otherwise, the very quality of the forced to give birth on the road.
Rumal would be lost. ● Taking cognisance of a complaint by its
● During the Nizam’s dynasty, Puttapaka, a prison monitor Maja Daruwala, the NHRC
small, backward village of the Telangana noted that “allegedly, the policy adopted
region of Andhra Pradesh had about 20 by the Maharashtra government to
families engaged in handloom weaving, decongest jails has arisen due to the
who were patronised by rich Muslim misinterpretation of directions given by
families and the Nizam rulers. the Supreme Court in the matter”.
● The officers working in the court of the ● “The Commission has observed that it is
Nizam would wear the Chituki Telia Rumal aware of the fact that in many jails, the
as a symbolic representation of status. prisoners as well as the staff members
Telia Rumals are offered at the dargah of have fallen prey to COVID-19 owing to
Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan, with some overcrowding, lack of manpower and
devotees offering 50 or even 100 cloths. medical facilities,” an NHRC statement
said.
Former national table tennis champion
● In the second case, the NHRC took suo
passes away
motu cognisance of media reports on
● Former men’s National table tennis Tuesday about a pregnant woman
champion Manmeet Singh, 58, passed developing labour pain while walking with
away in Montreal on Monday. He is her husband from Nashik in Maharashtra
survived by his wife and two daughters. to Satna.She gave birth on the road,


resting for two hours and continuing to ● Employees would be provided with the
walk the remaining 150 km. logistic supports in the form of
● “The Commission has observed that this laptop/desktop by the respective
incident amounts to sheer negligence of Ministries/Departments.They may also
the state authorities, resulting in violation get reimbursement for Internet services
of human rights of the victim woman,” that they would use while working from
another statement from the NHRC home.
said.The NHRC asked the Chief ● The Ministries/Departments concerned,
Secretaries of both States for a report in who were not yet using the e-office
four weeks. module, would make an endeavour for its
expeditious implementation in their
Centre considering work from home for secretariat, attached and subordinate
government staff offices in a “time-bound manner”.
● Post lockdown, the Union government will WPI inflation declines to 3.6% in April
continue staggered and variable work
hours for its employees with the ● Union Government today released
Personnel Ministry floating a draft truncated data for April wholesale
consultation paper on best price-based inflation saying there was
work-from-home practices. limited transaction of products in the
● The Department of Personnel and Training market due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
may provide the option of work from home ● As per the data released by the Commerce
to eligible officers and other employees and Industry Ministry, Wholesale Price
for 15 days a year as a matter of policy, Index (WPI) deflation in primary articles
the paper said.The department asked the was 0.79 per cent in April, as against an
Ministries and departments to send in inflation of 3.72 per cent in March.
their suggestions by May 21. ● The fuel and power basket saw a deflation
● “Extra protocol for all VIP and Parliament of 10.12 per cent in April, against 1.76 per
matters”, which require utmost attention, cent deflation in the previous month.The
is among the proposals. An employee rate of inflation based on WPI Food Index
working from home cannot process decreased from 5.49 per cent in March,
“classified papers/files”. 2020 to 3.60 per cent in April, 2020.
● “As per instructions of the Ministry of ● An official statement said, all commodities
Home Affairs, no classified information WPI could not be computed for April-2020
shall be handled through e-office. due to non-availability of manufactured
Therefore, classified files shall not be product group index. It added, the price
processed in e-office during work from indices of primary articles have been
home,” the draft paper said. computed based on mandi prices of
● The National Informatics Centre (NIC) may agricultural items, ex-mine prices of
evaluate the existing security protocol for minerals, prices of crude petroleum and
remote access of classified file and natural gas.
information in consultation with the Home ● With regard to inflation in manufactured
Ministry and propose suitable guidelines products, the Ministry said in view of the
and the standard operating procedures lockdown, the price collection of
(SOP) for handling classified information manufactured products through personal
in e-office, it said.


visits of price collectors was suspended Gilgit-Baltistan where China has teamed
with effect from 19 th of March. up with Pakistan to build the
Diamer-Bhasha dam.
Centre’s financial backup to ease discoms of ● Mr. Srivastava said both sides understand
liquidity pressures the importance of maintaining peace.
“India and China attach importance to
● The Centre’s decision to provide ₹90,000
tranquillity and it is essential for the
crore liquidity injection for the
overall development of bilateral ties.”
funds-starved electricity distribution
● He reminded China about India’s claims
companies (Discoms) is likely to ease the
over the territory of Gilgit-Baltistan under
liquidity pressure in the Indian power
Pakistan’s control. “Our position is clear.
sector and likely to benefit the consumers
The entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir
with continuity of uninterrupted power
is part of India.”
supply.
● The assertion is important as it was made
● The loan will be provided against the
a day after Power China, one of the
₹94,000 crore receivables of the discoms
biggest Chinese power companies,
and will be secured against receivables,
received a contract to build the
and additionally guaranteed by the
Diamer-Bhasha dam which once
respective state governments.
completed will allow Pakistan to use the
● The funds will be infused within a couple
waters of the Indus for irrigation.
of days by offering concessional loans to
Islamabad claims that the dam will help
state electricity discoms, which would be
reduce downstream flood by the Indus.
150 basis points lower than the usual
lending rates by the PFC and REC. India urges G20 countries to ensure supply
● However, appropriate structuring for bond of essential medicines and treatments
issuance against guarantee will be critical
to raise funds in the current tight liquidity ● India has called upon the G-20 nations to
situation. ensure access to essential medicines,
● The loan tenure would be of 7-10 years treatments and vaccines at affordable
with a moratorium of two years. PFC and prices.
REC have been raising funds in tranches ● Speaking at the 2nd G-20 Virtual Trade
and at concessional rates by sourcing it and Investment Ministers Meeting through
through bonds under a special window to Video-conferencing, Commerce and
the power sector. Industry Minister Piyush Goyal asked the
G-20 members to first focus on immediate
India reminds China of Gilgit Baltistan and concrete actions that can ease the
territorial rights distress being faced by people all over the
world due to Corona pandemic.
● The recent incidents of face-off between
● He said that the unprecedented situation
the troops of India and China are neither
calls for solidarity and a balanced,
correlated nor have any connection with
inclusive and calibrated response. He
other global or local activities, Army chief
called upon the G-20 nations to also agree
Gen. Manoj Naravane said on Thursday.
to provide diagnostic and protective
● The statement was supplemented by
equipment, and health care professionals
official spokesperson of the Ministry of
across borders where they are most
External Affairs Anurag Srivastava who
needed.
reminded China about India’s claims over


● The Minister said, India is proactively ● The Minister said, there is always a debate
partnering in global efforts to develop about how much freedom the press enjoys in a
vaccines and effective treatment for this country. He pointed out that in India, the only
disease. time press freedom was muzzled was during
the Emergency.
● He said, fake news poses a big threat to
Fly ash barges causing threat to Sunderban freedom of media. He highlighted that during
ecology the lockdown, there has been a marked increase
in the circulation of fake news pushed through
● The Fisheries organization and
print, electronic and especially social media
environmental experts flag serious threats
such as Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp.
to the ecology of Indian Sundarbans as
the fly ash filled barges are sinking and ● To check this menace, government established
capsizing in Hooghly river. a Fact Check unit in Press Information Bureau
● In April 2020, two fly ash filled barges sank that started taking immediate cognizance of
within a range of 30 kilometres of Hooghly fake news. Mr Javadekar said, fake news also
river. Around 100 Bangladeshi barges creates panic.
each weighing 600 tonnes to 800 tonnes ● He said, it cannot be allowed in a pluralistic
traverse through Indian waters. democratic set up like India, not even if the
● They carry fly ash from Indian thermal purveyors of fake news try to portray it as
power station to Bangladesh where the fly crackdown on the freedom of press.
ashes are used in manufacturing cement.
● The vessels that sunk in the river are Defense ministry approves new testing
threatening the local fishes and other infrastructure scheme
aquatic biodiversity. This in turn is
● In order to give a boost to domestic
affecting lives of 1000s of fishermen.
defence and aerospace manufacturing,
● Most of the barges that are carrying the fly
Defence minister Rajnath Singh has
ashes are old and are ill maintained. They
approved the launch of Defence Testing
often cause accidents.
Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) with an
● The Fly Ash is a by product of coal
outlay of 400 crore rupees for creating
combustion. Fly ash has several useful
state of the art testing infrastructure for
applications. It includes concrete
this sector.
production, embankments, fly-ash pellets,
● The Scheme would run for the duration of
road subbase construction, cement clinker
five years and envisages to set up six to
production, brick production, etc.
eight new Test Facilities in partnership
Curbing of fake news does not impinge press with private industry.
freedom claims I & B minister ● This will facilitate indigenous defence
production, consequently reduce imports
● Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash of military equipment and help make the
Javadekar today stated that curbing fake news country self-reliant
does not impinge on press freedom. In an article ● The projects under the Scheme will be
in several news dailies, Mr Javadekar said, provided with up to 75 percent
rumours are spread widely as news with government funding in the form of
dangerous consequences and government is Grant-in-Aid . Our correspondent reports,
committed to battling it. the remaining 25 per cent of the project
cost will have to be borne by the Special


Purpose Vehicle whose constituents will ● This money would go into providing
be Indian private entities and State subsidy on transportation from surplus to
Governments. deficient markets as well as on storages
including cold storages. Ms Sitharaman
Govt announces package for infrastructure, said the scheme will prevent distress sale
capacity of agriculture and allied sectors by farmers.
● Government has announced a 1.63 lakh NBFC’s seek permission from RBI to draw
crore rupee package for agriculture and from reserves
allied sectors aimed at strengthening
infrastructure, logistics and capacity ● Non-banking finance companies (NBFCs)
building at farm gate. on Friday requested the Reserve Bank of
● Announcing the third tranche of an overall India (RBI) to allow them to draw down
package of 20 lakh crore rupees to deal from their reserves for making additional
with the economic situation arising of provision for expected losses due to
COVID-19 pandemic, Finance Minister COVID-19 pandemic.
Nirmala Sitharaman announced a one lakh ● NBFCs appropriate pro- statutory and
crore rupees Agri Infrastructure Fund that other reserves, and utilisation of these
will finance projects at farm-gate and reserves is governed by the statute
aggregation point for efficient requiring its creation.
post-harvest management of crops. ● A one-time draw-down from reserves
● Besides, schemes for micro food would enable them to shore up their
enterprises, cattle vaccination, dairy balance sheet strength by reporting a
sector, herbal plantation, beekeeping, and more fortified ECL provision cover against
fruits and vegetables were also their likely increase in delinquent loans
announced. and remain eligible to access equity/debt
● Ms Sitharaman said the government will capital when situation normalises, the
provide one lakh crore rupees for letter read.
aggregators, farmers producers ● The sector has asked the RBI to consider
organisations, primary agri cooperative permitting any provisions made as per
societies, agri entrepreneurs and startups ECL, in respect of the standard assets, to
under the agri infrastructure fund. She be reckoned with for the purpose of tier II
informed that the fund will be created at capital.
the earliest. ● The industry also wanted the RBI to raise
● The Minister stated that lack of adequate the ceiling for considering standard asset
cold chain facilities and post-harvest provision for calculation of capital
management infrastructure in the vicinity adequacy to 2.5% from 1.25%.
of farm gates is causing gaps in the value
chain. She announced 10,000 crore rupees
fund to support 2 lakh micro food Foreign secretary embraces India’s role as
enterprises for promoting health and pharmacy of the world
wellness, herbal, organic and nutritional
products. ● Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla
● The government extended Operation today said India’s role as a pharmacy of
Greens from tomato, onion and potato to the world has come into focus during the
all fruits and vegetables by providing an COVID-19 crisis. He said, India has a
additional fund of 500 crore rupees. world-class pharmaceutical industry that


is the producer of choice for critical Department of Economic Affairs and Rajat

medications with brand recognition in all Misra, Director General on behalf of the
geographies and markets. AIIB.
● He added that the pandemic produced an ● Mr Khare said, India is adopting a strategic
explosion in demand for drugs such as growth path that uses and manages its
Hydroxychloroquine and Paracetamol water resources more efficiently. He said,
produced in India. The Foreign Secretary this project will assist in improving
was giving a virtual address to the irrigation and agriculture in the Damodar
National Defence College on 'India’s Valley Command Area, by optimizing the
Foreign Policy Options in the Emerging use of surface and groundwater.
World Order'. ● It will also strengthen flood management,
● Mr Shringla said, in a coordinated which will help boost agricultural
response involving several branches of productivity and increase incomes in rural
government and multiple private sector areas. The total value of the project is over
pharma companies, India was able to 413 million dollars.
supply large volumes of these drugs to
friends and consumers across the world.
● It is also making its medical and public CSIR develops light weight carbon foam
health expertise and capacity available to batteries
the entire South Asian region. He said,
India has not let the pandemic come in the ● The researcher from Council of Scientific
way of diplomatic engagements. and Industrial Research (CSIR) has
● The Foreign Secretary pointed out that developed light carbon foam that will
India’s wise counsel and the Prime replace lead batteries. The carbon foam is
Minister’s statesmanship have been easy to fabricate, non-toxic and
sought and appreciated at various affordable.
bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral ● The researcher is a recipient of INSPIRE
platforms. Faculty award. The material developed by
the institute has the potential to replace
AIIB signs $145million agreement to improve lead-acid batteries.
irrigation in West Bengal ● It is also useful to make heat sink,
electromagnetic interference shielding in
● Government of India, West Bengal aerospace, electrode for lead-acid
Government and the Asian Infrastructure batteries, hydrogen storage and water
Investment Bank, AIIB today signed a loan purification systems.
agreement for a 145 million dollar project ● The raw materials to make the carbon
to improve irrigation services and flood foam is easily available. It also helps to
management in the Damodar Valley remove oil, arsenic and other metals from
Command Area in West Bengal. contaminated water.
● Finance Ministry said, the West Bengal ● Carbon Foam batteries have better life
Major Irrigation and Flood Management cycle as compared to the lead-acid
Project will benefit about 27 lakh farmers batteries. They are built three-fifth the cost
from five districts of the state with better of other advanced batteries.
irrigation services and improved ● The world’s first carbon foam
protection against annual flooding. manufacturing unit was set up in Gujarat
● The agreement was signed by Sameer in 2011. 20% of the produce in these
Kumar Khare, Additional Secretary,


industries are being exported and the rest and movement monitoring during
are being used for electric vehicles. COVID-19.

Cyclone Amphane to intensify as severe
Centre launches online dashboard to monitor cyclone says IMD
movement of migrants
● India Meteorological Department has
● The Centre has asked the States to use warned that the cyclonic storm Amphan is
online portal National Migrant Information likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic
System (NMIS) for capturing the storm in the next 12 hours and into a very
information on movement of migrants and severe cyclonic storm by tomorrow
for better inter-State co-ordination. morning. Weathermen have warned of
● In a letter to the State Chief Secretaries, heavy rain in Odisha and West Bengal
Union Home Secretary, Ajay Bhalla said under its impact.
that to capture the information regarding ● The coastal districts of Gangetic West
movement of migrants and facilitate the Bengal, including North and South 24
smooth movement of stranded persons Parganas, Kolkata, East and West
across States, National Disaster Midnapore, Howrah and Hooghly will
Management Authority (NDMA) has experience heavy rain on Tuesday and
developed an online Dashboard- NMIS on Wednesday. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen
the existing NDMA-GIS portal. Patnaik reviewed the preparedness for the
● He said, the portal will maintain a central impending cyclonic storm which is likely
repository and help the sending as well as to affect Odisha coast from tomorrow.
receiving State and district to ask for and ● In a view of the possible cyclone which is
give their acceptance in an online format likely to affect Odisha coast, Chief
seamlessly. Minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the
● This system will help in speedy preparedness. In the meeting, the chief
communication between States without minister has instructed to make adequate
creating additional work at the level of the relief provision for the affected people and
field officers. Mr Bhalla said, it has to preposition NDRF, ODRAF and Fire
additional advantages like contact tracing, Services units in different vulnerable
which may be useful in overall COVID locations. Similarly, the Energy
response work. Through this system, Department should make necessary prior
States can upload batch file of individual arrangements for quick restoration of
data on the portal. power supply.
● The key data pertaining to the persons ● The fishermen in Odisha have been asked
migrating has been standardized for not to venture into the deep sea in view of
uploading such as name, age, mobile the impending cyclone. The state
number, originating and destination government has, meanwhile, placed 12
district, and date of travel which States are coastal districts on high risk and asked
already collecting. the district collectors to arrange for
● Mr Bhalla said, States will be able to concrete shelters to evacuate people if
visualize how many people are going out such a situation arises.
from where and how many are reaching
destination states. The mobile numbers of
people can be used for contact tracing


promotion of industry and sustainability of
sector for the power distribution
companies. She also announced the
proposal to privatise the power
departments in Union Territories ensuring
better services and efficiency in power
distribution.
● In a major sectoral reform for the atomic
energy sector, Finance Minister
announced establishment of research
reactors on PPP basis for production of
medical isotopes. This decision will lead
Government Announces reforms in key
to opening up of various affordable
sectors
treatment facilities for cancer and other
● Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman major diseases.
unveiled structural reforms for various
Competition commission demands
sectors to help build a self-reliant India
amendments in regulations
under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Campaign.
● Addressing a media briefing yesterday, ● Competition Commission of India, CCI has
Finance Minister in her announcement of proposed changes to combination
the fourth tranche of measures outlined regulations to do away with the
structural reforms with focus on eight requirement for disclosing certain
sectors of coal, minerals, defence non-compete restrictions while seeking
production, civil aviation, power the watchdog's approval.
distribution companies, space sector and ● Combinations -- generally mergers and
atomic energy. acquisitions -- beyond a certain threshold
● In a major announcement, Ms Sitharaman need clearance from the regulator under
informed that, Foreign Direct Investment the Competition Act.
(FDI) limit in defence manufacturing under ● The CCI plans to omit part of the
automatic route will be raised from 49 per combination regulation that seeks
cent to 74 per cent. information regarding non-compete
● With an aim to boost Make in India, restrictions agreed between the parties to
Finance Minister announced that a list of combination and justification for the
weapons or their parts would no longer be same.
imported and their indigenous production ● This would allow the parties flexibility in
will be ensured within the country. determining non-compete restrictions,
● Government will notify year-wise timelines while also reducing the information
to ban such imports. In another historic burden on them.
structural reform FM Sitharaman ● However, CCI yesterday said in a release
announced that Corporatisation of that the parties will be responsible for
Ordnance Factory Board to improve ensuring that their non-compete
autonomy, accountability and efficiency arrangements are competition compliant.
among Ordnance Suppliers was done. Competition concerns, if any, that may
● Ms. Sitharaman informed that the arise from non-compete restrictions can
government will release a tariff policy with be looked into under Sections 3 and 4 of
reforms, including consumer rights, the Act, it added.


● The regulator has been looking at has been making progress on its case,
non-compete restrictions stipulated in said the people, who spoke on the
mergers and acquisitions while reviewing condition of anonymity.
combinations. Notifying parties are ● The regulators are focused on Google’s
required to furnish information on dominance in the online advertising
non-compete restrictions. industry, and the case will also involve
● Stakeholders can give their comments on allegations that the company abused its
the draft amendment to the combination dominant position in online search to
regulations by 15 of next month. harm competitors, the people said.
● State Attorneys General are likely to file
their own anti-trust lawsuits against
UN celebrates international day of living Google or join the Justice Department
together in peace case sometime this year, said a person
with knowledge of the state investigation.
● Today is International Day of Living ● The moves would also set a bench mark
Together in Peace. In 2017, the United for how regulators and lawmakers
Nations declared this Day to promote proceed with investigations into other
peace, tolerance, inclusion, understanding, large tech companies such as Facebook
and solidarity across the world. and Amazon, which the Federal Trade
● President of General Assembly, Tijjani Commission, State Attorneys General and
Muhammad-Bande in a message said that Congress are scrutinising for their market
today the world is facing the most power and corporate behaviour.
challenging crisis since the Second World
War.
● COVID-19 poses a serious threat to New silk fibroin based hydrogel developed by
maintenance of international peace and India
security - potentially leading to an increase
in social unrest and violence. ● The JNCASR (Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for
● He has called for an immediate global Advanced Scientific Research) has
ceasefire to work together on the actual developed injectable silk-fibroin based
fight - defeating the pandemic. Over 100 hydrogel to deliver sustained insulin to
Member States, diverse regional diabetic patients.
organizations, religious leaders and more ● The fibroin-based hydrogel was developed
than 200 civil society groups have using biocompatible additives. The gel
endorsed this call. developed will ease insulin delivery in
diabetic patients. The gel was first tested
U.S planning to file anti-trust suit against
in rats and was successful.
google
● The researchers have found that
● The Justice Department is planning to file subcutaneous injection of insulin with
anti-trust charges against Google as early fibroid based hydrogel formed an active
as this summer, said two people with depot under the skin. This helped to leach
knowledge of the situation, in what would out insulin, restore physiological glucose
be one of the biggest anti-trust actions by for a longer period of time.
the U.S. since the late 1990s. ● The body cells of Diabetic patients do not
● The Justice Department is still get glucose. This is because insulin that
investigating the Internet company and


helps glucose in blood reach body cells is put out a list of activities which will remain
not secreted properly in these patients. prohibited throughout the country till the
● The fibroin-based hydrogel increases next 14 days.
insulin level in the blood for a longer ● Other than the nationwide prohibited
period. The scientists found that it made activities, State and Union Territories will
insulin available in the blood for even four decide on all other activities to be allowed
days without lowering blood glucose. in the three demarcated zones. They will
● Hydrogels are highly absorbent. They are also decide on resuming the Intra-State
used in tissue engineering. The hydrogels bus and other vehicular services.
that are responsive specific molecules are ● As far as Inter-state movement of buses
used as biosensors. They Are also used in and vehicles is concerned, consent of
diapers and sanitary napkins as well as in both the concerned states will be
breast implants. necessary. Apart from these fresh
relaxations which will allow majority of the
Centre extends lockdown till May end,allows shops to be opened, government has also
states to demarcate zones allowed opening of sports complexes and
stadiums.
● Fourth phase of nationwide lockdown
begins today. Union Home Ministry had Undertrials released after intervention from
yesterday extended the nationwide legal services institutes
lockdown for fourteen more days, till 31st
of this month. ● Legal services institutions have intervened
● The lockdown since 24th March has to release 42,529 undertrial prisoners as
helped considerably in containing the well as 16,391 convicts on parole to
spread of COVID-19 in the country. The de-congest prisons during the COVID-19
fourth phase of lockdown will however pandemic, a report from the National
witness substantial relaxations than its Legal Services Authority (NALSA) said.
previous versions. ● The NALSA, a statutory body to provide
● Centre has allowed States and Union free legal services to the weaker sections,
Territories to demarcate Red, Orange and said 243 undertrial prisoners had been
Green Zones. In the current phase of granted bail and 9,558 persons in remand
lockdown, States and Union Territories will had been given legal representation
be able to delineate districts, sub-divisions across the country. The report was
or even municipalities into the three prepared under the aegis of NALSA
different zones based on parameters set Executive Chairman and Supreme Court
by Union Health ministry. This measure judge N.V. Ramana.
would help the States in extending the ● It said the highest number of undertrial
relaxations in larger parts. prisoners released was 9,977 in Uttar
● The containment zones will be located Pradesh, followed by 5,460 in Rajasthan
within the Red and Orange zones with a and 4,547 in Tamil Nadu, 3,698 in Punjab
small part of the area also demarcated as and 3,400 in Maharashtra.
buffer zone. ● The Supreme Court observed in March
● With directions of extra caution for the that physical distancing, an effective
buffer zones, Government has directed measure to check the spread of the novel
that no activities, except for medical and coronavirus, would be difficult in prisons.
essential supplies to be allowed in the There are 1,339 prisons with
containment zones. Home Ministry has approximately 4,66,084 inmates.


● The court said the National Crime Records 5% of Gross State Domestic Product

Bureau put the rate of occupancy at Indian (GSDP), which is particularly important as
prisons at 117.6%. The court issued GSDPs are likely to contract, further
guidelines, formed committees and asked shrinking possible borrowing at a time
the legal services authorities to work when States are at the frontline of
together and release undertrial prisoners containment and relief operations.
and those on bail and parole to bring the
prison population down. Study finds reverse flow of remittances in
● Legal assistance was provided in 658 the economy
cases of domestic violence during the
● An early pickup in economic activity and
lockdown. A total of 727 cases was
rise in reverse remittances from rural to
reported to State legal services
urban have led to revival in domestic
authorities, including 144 in Uttarakhand
remittances in May after a near total
— which is the highest — 79 in Haryana, 63
collapse in March and April.
in Delhi, 48 in Tamil Nadu and 18 in Kerala.
● India’s dominant players such as Fino
Centre allows states to hike borrowing limits Payments Bank, Spice Digital, Eko
in 5th tranche of stimulus package Financial Services and PayPoint are
reporting a 35-50% recovery in business in
● The Centre has agreed to demands from the first two weeks of May against 90%
States to hike their borrowing limits from fall in March and April. More importantly, it
3% to 5% of their GDP in light of the is a reversal in trend.
COVID-19 crisis, but on the condition that ● With economic activities in urban India
they implement specific reforms. coming to a grinding halt since the
● The fifth and final tranche of the lockdown, some players are seeing a
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus reversal in remittance flows. Rural
package, announced by Finance Minister markets, which typically were receivers of
Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, also remittances, are now turning into
included an additional ₹40,000 crore providers for the stranded migrant
allocation for the Mahatma Gandhi populace in the cities.
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act ● There are predominantly six major
(MGNREGA), and a new policy welcoming corridors in India from where large chunk
private companies into every sector of of remittances originate – Delhi, Mumbai,
industry, while limiting public sector Indore, Rajasthan and Gujarat – with the
enterprises to strategic sectors only. states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh,
● Corporate enterprises were also offered Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, known as
some relief via changes to the Insolvency the BIMARU belt, being the largest
and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) and the receivers of these inflows.
Companies Act. ● The areas that saw a rise of 60% in
● The total package amounts to almost ₹21 outward transactions are the southern
lakh crore by the Centre’s accounting, but states least affected by the virus. The
is heavy on credit-related measures, northern parts of the country have
including ₹8 lakh crore worth of liquidity recovered about 40-50%, while states like
enhancing measures by the RBI. Maharashtra and Gujarat have been worst
● State governments have been given more hit with a 70% dip in business.
fiscal room in the current crisis with the ● Mr.Doshi,an expert said there has been a
hiking of their borrowing limits from 3% to slight revival in transactions in May from


the earlier weeks of the lockdown due to three-year coalition government with 73
opening up of smaller towns and some voting for and 49 against. One member
districts in south. However, he pointed out was absent for the vote.
that the sudden spurt could also be ● Addressing the Knesset before the vote,
attributed to a “technical correction.” Mr. Netanyahu vowed to push on with
controversial plans to annex large parts of
Pakistan issues order to conduct polls in the occupied West Bank.Mr. Netanyahu
Gilgit Baltistan said his incoming government should
apply Israeli sovereignty over West Bank
● Pakistan President Arif Alvi has
settlements.
promulgated an order to form a caretaker
● Such a move is seen likely to cause
government as well as to conduct
international uproar and inflame tensions
elections in Gilgit-Baltistan province, a
in the West Bank, home to nearly three
move strongly opposed by India.
million Palestinians and some 400,000
● The presidential promulgation came days
Israelis living in settlements considered
after the Pakistan Supreme Court on April
illegal under international law.
30 allowed the federal government to
● Israel’s unity government starts work amid
amend a 2018 administrative order to
the coronavirus pandemic and after a
conduct general elections in the region.
political crisis that saw three inconclusive
● The Gilgit-Baltistan Order of 2018 provided
elections and left the country in political
for administrative changes, including
limbo for more than 500 days.
authorising the Prime Minister of Pakistan
to legislate on an array of subjects.
● India has conveyed its strong protest to
Scientists from New Zealand discovers
Islamabad for its efforts to bring “material
change” to territories under its “illegal and super earth
forcible” occupation after the apex court
● The scientists from New Zealand have
allowed holding of elections in
discovered the “Super Earth”. It potentially
Gilgit-Baltistan.
holds the conditions to sustain human life.
● Earlier this month, the Ministry of External
● The super earth is one of the handful of
Affairs (MEA) in Delhi said a demarche
planets discovered that are of the same
was issued to a senior Pakistani diplomat
size and orbiting distance as that of the
lodging a strong protest over the court
earth. The host star of the planet is 10%
ruling and clearly conveying that the entire
the mass of the sun.
union territories of Jammu and Kashmir
● The planet is larger than the earth and
and Ladakh, including the areas of Gilgit
hence the name “Super Earth”. The planet
and Baltistan, are an integral part of India.
could be cold according to the scientists
Unity government takes charge in Israel as the star is much smaller than the sun.
● Due to this reason, water may not exist in
● Israel’s Parliament swore in its new unity its liquid state, but might occur as ice. As
government on Sunday led by Prime the planet is heavier in mass, it might take
Minister Netanyahu and his former rival 617 days to revolve around its star. The
Benny Gantz, ending the longest political super earth, according to the scientist
crisis in the nation’s history. might possess “Goldilocks Zone” in the
● Lawmakers in the 120-person parliament, future.
the Knesset, formally approved the


● Goldilocks Zone is the space around a star ● The order that has now been dropped also

where temperature aptly sustains water in called for action against landlords who
liquid state.The space also supports life. forced students and migrant workers to
● The planet is 111 light years away from vacate the premises during the lockdown.
the earth and hence not very possible for ● Several companies had moved the
humans to reach the planet. Supreme Court against the order last
week and the apex court asked the
government to not take any coercive
Govt. allows reopening of stadiums without against them.
spectators ● Since the lockdown was first imposed on
March 24, the Centre invoked provisions of
● The latest guidelines on the extension of the Disaster Management Act, 2005,
lockdown from the central government which is binding on all States.
have finally opened up the spectre of ● District magistrates and Superintendents
training for athletes across the country, of Police are personally liable for the
with caveats. “Sports complexes and implementation of the orders issued under
stadia will be permitted to open only for the DM Act.
sports activities. ● Clause III of the March 29 order said, “all
● This would allow athletes — stuck in the employers, be it in the industry or in
various Sports Authority of India centres the shops and commercial
across the country — to resume their establishments, shall make payment of
practice. wages of their workers, at their
● While this would allow non-contact sports workplaces, on the due date, without any
to start training almost immediately, those deduction, for the period their
with full or partial contact would be establishments are under closure during
looking for further clarity. the lockdown.”
● Taking into the account the restrictions on ● It also said, “wherever the workers,
air travel and movement of people till May including the migrants are living in rented
31, the BCCI has announced that it will accommodation, the landlords of those
wait before organising a skill-based properties shall not demand payment of
training camp for its contracted players. It rent for a period of one month. If any
added that it will work in sync with the landlord is forcing labourers and students
State Associations to chalk out a to vacate the premises, they will be liable
programme for skill-based training at a for action under the Act.”
local level.
ADR study finds party funding from unknown
Centre drop order on wages after Supreme sources
Court ruling
● More than half of the income of 23
● The Union Home Ministry has dropped a regional parties whose annual audit and
crucial order that required all employers — contribution reports were analysed came
shops, industry and commercial from unknown sources in 2018-19, a
establishments — to pay wages to workers report released by the Association for
for the period the units were shut during Democratic Reforms (ADR) on Monday
lockdown. said.


● The report initially considered 52 MNREGA, Health and Education, Business
recognised regional parties but only 26 of during Covid, Decriminalisation of
them had filed their annual audit and Company Act, Ease of doing business,
contribution reports with the Election Policy related to Public Sector Units, State
Commission, the report said. government and resources related to it.
● The total income declared by the 23 ● Under the MNREGA scheme, an additional
parties was ₹885.956 crore, of which 40 thousand crore rupees will be allocated
₹257.14 crore or 29.02% came from for employment generation in the rural
known sources (donations declared to the parts of the country. She said, this will
ECI) and Rs.147.54 crore or 16.65% came help to generate nearly 300 crore person
from other known sources such as days to provide relief to the migrant
membership fees, bank interest etc. workers.
● A total of ₹481.27 crore or 54.32% of the
parties’ income came from unknown HRD ministry claims online digital education
sources, the report said. Ninety per cent of platforms to reach remotest areas of country
the income from unknown sources was
through electoral bonds. ● Union Minister for Human Resources and
● The Biju Janata Dal declared the highest Development Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank
income from unknown sources (₹213.54 has said that One nation, One Digital
crore), followed by the YSR-Congress Platform and One Class, One Channel will
(₹100.50 crore) and the Shiv Sena (₹60.73 ensure reach of quality education to
crore). farthest corners of the country.
● “Since a very large percentage of the ● He said, the initiatives will boost the
income of political parties cannot be access and equity in education and
traced to the original donor, full details of improve the gross enrolment ratio in the
all donors should be made available for times to come. Mr Nishank said, Finance
public scrutiny through RTI,” the report Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had
recommended. announced several initiatives to boost
education sector in New Delhi on Sunday.
● He said, investing in the human capital is
Centre allocates 40000 cr for employment equivalent to an investment in productivity
and prosperity of the nation. The present
generation in rural India
pandemic situation has presented new
● Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman challenges and several opportunities for
yesterday unveiled the fifth and final the education system.
tranche of financial stimulus and policy ● The Minister also said, comprehensive
measures to help build a self-reliant India initiative called PM e-VIDYA will be
under the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Campaign. launched which unifies all efforts related
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on to digital education. This will enable
Tuesday in his address to the nation multi-mode access to education and
announced a special economic package includes DIKSHA (One nation, One Digital
equivalent to 10 per cent of India’s GDP, Platform) which will now become the
amounting to 20 lakh crore rupees. nation’s digital infrastructure for providing
● Addressing a media briefing in New Delhi, quality e-content in school education for
Finance Minister outlined structural all the states and Union Territories.
reforms with focus on seven areas of


● He said, government is expanding learnt from the WHO-coordinated

e-learning in higher education by international health response to COVID-19.
liberalizing open, distance and online The resolution has been presented to the
education regulatory framework. Top 100 World Health Assembly which is holding
universities will start online courses. its virtual session by teleconferencing in
Geneva today
● Total 120 nations including Australia, EU,
Online session of world health assembly held Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico,
Norway, Russia, South Korea, South Africa,
● Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today Turkey, Ukraine and UK have sponsored
participated in the 73rd World Health the resolution.
Assembly through video conference and ● The Resolution on COVID-19 Response
highlighted the timely, graded and says that the nations are deeply
proactive measures taken by India concerned by the morbidity and mortality
towards COVID management. He said caused by COVID-19 pandemic, its
India undertook the COVID-19 challenge negative impacts on physical and mental
with the highest level of political health and social well-being.
commitment. ● It also expresses concern over the
● The Minister said India took all necessary negative impacts on economy and society
steps well in time, including surveillance at and the consequent exacerbation of
points of entry, evacuation of nationals inequalities within and between countries.
stranded overseas, massive community

surveillance through robust disease
surveillance network, and strengthening of Odisha tribals allege destruction of forest
health infrastructure. biodiversity
● Dr Harsh Vardhan urged upon all
Governments, industry and philanthropy to ● Tribals of Pidadamaha village in
prioritise the long term and pool their Daringbadi block of Odisha’s Kandhamal
resources, to ensure everyone benefits. district have alleged that without the
● He said India is playing a key role in consent of their gram sabha, Forest
fostering bilateral and regional Department officials were trying to destroy
partnerships. Under Prime Minister the biodiversity of traditional community
Narendra Modi's leadership, India has forest near their village.
supplied essential medicines to 123 ● About 90 tribal families living in
nations as an expression of solidarity. Pidadamaha protect the community forest
near their village. The forest has been
India backs EU resolution at WHO for probing providing livelihood to these tribals as it
corona crisis contains fruit-bearing trees as well as
several other forest produce.
● India has backed a European Union
● According to ‘Jungle Adhikar Committee’
resolution seeking a probe into the
of the village, in the recent past officials
response of World Health Organization
from the Brahmanigaon forest range
during the Corona virus crisis around the
arrived in their village to press them to
world.
support commercial plantation in the
● It calls for an impartial, independent and
community forest.
comprehensive probe at the earliest to
review the experience gained and lessons


● Inhabitants of Pidadamaha alleged that

SC declines to interfere in NGT order on AP
the Forest Department has not taken
permission of the local gram sabha for the
gas leak
same. They have written to the authorities
● The Supreme Court did not interfere on
concerned in Kandhamal district on the
Tuesday with an order passed by the
issue.
National Green Tribunal (NGT), which
● According to them, the department is
ordered LG Polymers to pay Rs. 50 crore
planning to plant trees that will destroy the
as interim compensation for the gas leak
biodiversity of the forest near their village,
at its Visakhapatnam plant and set up a
affecting their livelihood.
five-member fact-finding committee to
● Green Nobel Prize winner and
inquire into the incident leading to the
environmental activist Prafulla Samantara
death of several innocents.
has taken up the issue. Mr. Samantara has
● The company also questioned how the
written to the Governor seeking his
NGT could take suo motu cognisance of
intervention. Mr. Samantara said as per
the gas leak and form a fact-finding
his information, the officials have already
committee led by former High Court judge,
cut several trees in the forest affecting its
Justice B. Seshasayana Reddy, when the
biodiversity.
High Court, a constitutional court, was
● “Forceful commercial plantation without
already seized of the matter.
approval of the local gram sabha is
● Mr. Rohatgi said the company did not
against the Forest Rights Act, 2006. It is
intend to create any deliberate roadblocks
undemocratic unconstitutional action in a
and had already deposited Rs. 50 crore
scheduled area,” he said.
with the district magistrate as ordered by
the tribunal.
● The NGT, on May 8, had appointed a
ICC panel recommends ban on use of saliva
committee to “specifically report on the
for shining ball sequence of events, causes of failure and
persons and authorities responsible,
● The ICC’s Cricket Committee has
extent of damage to life, human and
recommended the prohibition of the use
non-human, public health and environment
of saliva to shine the ball to mitigate the
— including water, soil and air, steps to be
risks posed by COVID-19 when the sport
taken for compensation of victims and
resumes.
restitution of the damaged property and
● However, the committee has not barred
environment and the cost involved”.
the use of sweat. It has not allowed any
● The NGT had also on May 8 issued formal
external polishing material.
notices to the Andhra Pradesh Pollution
● The committee, chaired by former India
Control Board, the Central Pollution
captain and coach Anil Kumble, has also
Control Board and the Union Environment
proposed that local umpires be appointed
Ministry, seeking their responses.
for matches in the short term to deal with
international travel restrictions during the MoHUA declares five star garbage free cities
pandemic. It has also recommended an
increase in reviews per innings through ● Centre has declared Ambikapur, Rajkot,
DRS for this. Surat, Mysore, Indore and Navi Mumbai as
five-star garbage free cities. Ministry of
Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry today


announced the results of star rating of Rs. 200 crore respectively, Union Minister
garbage free cities. Six cities have been Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.
rated 5 Star, 65 Cities rated 3 star and 70 ● Unveiling the contours of the Rs.
cities rated 1 Star. 20-lakh-crore stimulus package, Finance
● Housing and Urban Affairs Minister, Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had last last
Hardeep Singh Puri also launched the week announced a change in the definition
revised protocol for the star rating of of micro, small and medium enterprises
garbage free cities. Addressing the media, (MSMEs).
the Minister said, the importance of ● As per the revised definition, any firm with
sanitation and effective solid waste an investment of up to Rs. 1 crore and
management has been brought to the turnover under Rs. 5 crore will be
forefront now due to the corona virus classified as ‘micro.’
crisis. ● A company with an investment of up to
● He said, Swachh Bharat Mission has Rs. 10 crore and a turnover of up to Rs. 50
played important role in the last five years crore will be classified as ‘small’ and a firm
to ensure a high degree of cleanliness and with an investment of up to Rs. 20 crore
sanitation in urban areas. He said, our and a turnover under Rs. 100 crore will be
cities and towns will continue to set new classified as ‘medium.’
benchmarks in Swachhata thus paving the ● The previous criteria for classifying
way for a Swachh, Swasth, Shashakt and enterprises in the ‘medium’ category was
Sampann Atma Nirbhar New India. an investment of up to Rs. 10 crore and a
● The star rating protocol was launched by turnover of up to Rs. 50 crore.
the Ministry in January 2018 to ● Mr. Gadkari said the government planned
institutionalize a mechanism for cities to to raise MSMEs’ contribution to India’s
achieve garbage free status and to exports to 60% from the 48% at present
motivate cities to achieve higher degrees and also boost the sector’s contribution to
of cleanliness. the country’s GDP from 29% currently to
● Since its launch in 2014, Swachh Bharat 50%.
Mission-Urban has made significant ● Interacting with representatives from an
progress in the area of both sanitation and exporters’ body, he urged them to take
solid waste management. 4 thousand 324 advantage of the ‘blessing in disguise’
urban local bodies have been declared posed by the global ‘hatred against China’
open defecation free. More than 66 lakhs through cost reduction and encouraging
individual household toilets and over 6 import substitution.
lakhs community and public toilets have
been constructed.
Over 2000 Indian evacuated from Srilanka
Government decides to revise criteria for ● Two months after being stranded in Sri
medium based units Lanka, 2,400-odd Indians finally have
some ray of hope as the first repatriation
● Days after changing the definition of
flight from the island nation will fly to
MSMEs, the government has decided to
Mumbai on May 29.
further revise the criteria for medium-sized
● This delayed announcement has, however,
units by enhancing the investment and
only added to the confusion for Indians
turnover limits to up to Rs. 50 crore and
from various States who have been


allowed to travel on this flight. The Air 200 ventilators announced by President
India flight on May 29 will fly from Donald Trump last week.
Colombo to Mumbai and then onward to ● The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and
Bhubaneswar and Kolkata, benefiting Prevention said it would separately fund
those from Maharashtra, Goa, Odisha and the Government of India $3.6 million to
West Bengal. support “prevention, preparedness, and
● Among Indians wanting to return response activities in India, in
immediately are not just those who were collaboration with and concurrence from
on short holidays to the island nation, and the GoI.”
have now spent two months with an
unplanned budget, but also those who are
employed there. Scientists claim higher temperatures in
● Noida-resident Vineeta Singh is among ocean leads to super cyclones
those desperate to leave. An IT
professional, Ms. Singh had gone to the ● Higher than normal temperatures in the
island nation to spend time with her Bay of Bengal (BoB) may be whetting
husband, a merchant navy officer. ‘super cyclones’ and the lockdown,
● “It has been over two months now. My indirectly, may have played a role,
husband's ship sailed long ago and is en meteorologists and atmospheric science
route to Russia. He is having sleepless experts told The Hindu.
nights and is sometimes unable to contact ● Super cyclone Amphan that is barrelling
me due to a bad Internet connection. My towards West Bengal is the strongest
father-in-law has been constantly trying to storm to have formed in the BoB since the
draw the government’s attention in India Super Cyclone of 1999 that ravaged
[to our plight],” she said. Paradip in Odisha, said Director-General,
India Meteorological Department M.
India and U.S plan to collaborate on vaccine Mohapatra.
trials ● Cyclones gain their energy from the heat
and moisture generated from warm ocean
● India and the U.S. plan to work together on surfaces. This year, the BoB has posted
vaccine research and testing for record summer temperatures a fall-out, as
COVID-19, U.S. health officials said here researchers have warned, of global
on Tuesday, listing a number of other ways warming from fossil fuel emissions that
in which the two countries are working has been heating up oceans.
together. ● While tropical cyclones in these seas are a
● The VAP, or the Indo-U.S. Vaccine Action typical feature of the summer months and
Program (VAP), is a 33-year collaboration play a role in aiding the arrival of the
between the U.S. National Institutes of monsoon, Dr. Koll said warming around
Health, the Indian Department of India is not longer restricted to just the
Biotechnology (DBT) and the Indian BoB but also the Arabian Sea and the
Council of Medical Research (ICMR) along Indian Ocean. This makes storm
with other partners. prediction less reliable as well as
● Meanwhile, 50 ventilators from the United disrupting monsoon patterns.
States are expected in India shortly, the ● Every year, increased particulate pollution
embassy said, as part of the donation of from the Indo-Gangetic plains is
transported towards the BoB and this also


influences the formation of clouds over the Scheme to 31.10.2020, or till an
the ocean, said V. Vinoj, Assistant amount of Rs. three lakh crore is
Professor, School of Earth, Ocean and sanctioned under the GECL, whichever is
Climate Sciences at the Indian Institute of earlier.
Technology in Bhubaneswar.
NAM health minster’s meeting held through
Cabinet approves additional funding under videoconferencing
ECLGS
● Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan
● Union Cabinet has approved additional participated in the Non-Aligned Movement
funding of up to Rs. three lakh crore (NAM) Health Ministers’ meeting through
through introduction of Emergency Credit video conferencing today.The meeting
Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS). was chaired by Health Minister of Republic
● Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) of Azerbaijan Ogtay Shiraliyev.
facility to help eligible Micro, Small and ● The Health Ministers of participating NAM
Medium Enterprise (MSME) borrowers, countries expressed their concern at the
including interested MUDRA borrowers. global threat posed by COVID-19 and
● Cabinet also decided 100 per cent credit resolved to fight it with proper
guarantee coverage by National Credit preparedness and greater national,
Guarantee Trustee Company Limited regional and international collaboration.
(NCGTC) to Member Lending Institutions ● Dr. Harsh Vardhan while addressing the
(MLIs). meeting asserted that the COVID-19
● The Cabinet also approved that the pandemic has displayed the
Scheme would be applicable to all loans interconnectivity and interdependency of
sanctioned under GECL Facility during the countries like never before.
period from the date of announcement of ● He added that it has made the world
the Scheme to 31.10.2020, or till an realize that the man-made challenges can
amount of three lakh crore is sanctioned only be faced together with collaboration.
under the GECL, whichever is earlier. ● Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that India has been
● AIR correspondent reports, the Emergency fighting the COVID battle with a firm
Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) political will under the guidance of Prime
has been formulated as a specific Minister Narendra Modi.
response to the unprecedented situation ● He said that the country has taken every
caused by COVID-19 and the consequent possible step to ensure that the spread of
lockdown, which has severely impacted the virus is significantly contained.
manufacturing and other activities in the ● Health Minister added that, the support
MSME sector. rendered by 135 crore citizens to honor
● The salient features of the scheme include the decisions on nationwide lockdowns
all MSME borrower accounts with ensured that the mortality rate remained
outstanding credit of up to Rs. 25 crore as consistently much below than most of the
on 29.2.2020 and with an annual turnover other affected countries.
of up to Rs. 100 crore would be eligible for ● The Minister said that India not only
GECL funding under the scheme. successfully contained the spread of
● The scheme would be applicable to all COVID-19 in the country but also shared
loans sanctioned under GECL during the it's medical expertise with neighbouring
period from the date of announcement of


countries to aid them in their fight against

Survey finds 60% of farmers faced losses
the pandemic.
● He also highlighted country's significant
due to COVID-19
contribution in ensuring medical supplies
● Most farmers managed to harvest their
to over 123 countries, including 59 NAM
crops despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but
countries.
60% of them still faced losses, mostly
related to the lockdown, according to a
new survey in 12 States.
SEBI allows listing of MF schemes that are ● A majority of farmers also say the
under winding process lockdown has hurt their preparations for
the upcoming sowing season either
● The Securities and Exchange Board of
because they cannot afford inputs such as
India (SEBI) has allowed listing of units of
seeds and fertilizer or because of labour
mutual fund schemes that are in the
shortages.
process of winding up so that investors
● The situation is worse for wage workers,
get an exit option.
with four out of five seeing their incomes
● “As per MF regulations, there are several
fall over the last month. On average,
steps envisaged with respect to winding
wages were 76% lower compared to the
up of mutual fund schemes before the
same time last year.
scheme ceases to exist. During this
● The survey found that 26% of respondents
process, such units can be listed and
had harvested a crop in the past month,
traded on a recognised stock exchange,
while 26% said this was not a harvesting
which may provide an exit to investors,”
season for them. Only 10% were unable to
stated a SEBI circular issued on
harvest their rabi or winter season crop,
Wednesday, while highlighting the fact
due to lockdown-related issues such as
that close-ended schemes and units of
low market prices, difficulty in market
segregated portfolio are allowed to list on
access, government curbs and a shortage
the bourses.
of labour and machinery.
● Trading via the stock exchange
● The situation becomes more complicated
mechanism will not be mandatory for
when looking at different crops and
investors; rather, they may avail an
different States. Wheat is the biggest rabi
optional exit channel, it added. SEBI also
crop and harvesting rates were especially
directed stock exchanges to submit the
high in northern States like Punjab (95%)
operational modalities of the mechanism
and Haryana (81%) which also have high
within seven days.
rates of mechanisation.
● It may be recalled that last month saw
● However, while almost 90% of the wheat
Franklin Templeton MF wind up six debt
harvested in Punjab has already been sold,
schemes with cumulative assets worth
that figure falls to just above 60% for
₹26,000 crore. Separately, the fund house
Haryana.
appointed Kotak Mahindra Bank to assist
in the monetisation of assets of the six India claims Nepal’s new official map as
schemes. unacceptable
● New Delhi today said, the official map of

Nepal released by Government of Nepal
includes parts of Indian territory.


● In response to media queries on the issue, ● Mr. Abbas argued that Israel had “annulled

the Official Spokesman Anurag Srivastava the Oslo agreement” and the ensuing
said, this unilateral act is not based on pacts that built upon it. Mr. Abbas,
historical facts and evidence. however, did not set out a timetable or
● It is contrary to the bilateral understanding mechanisms for withdrawing from the
to resolve the outstanding boundary agreements.
issues through diplomatic dialogue. He
said, such artificial enlargement of
territorial claims will not be accepted by
India.
● The Spokesman said, Nepal is well aware
of India’s consistent position on this
matter and urged the Government of
Nepal to refrain from such unjustified
cartographic assertion and respect India’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity.
● He expressed the hope that the Nepalese
leadership will create a positive
atmosphere for diplomatic dialogue to
resolve the outstanding boundary issues.
Palestine claims Israel’s annexation have

derailed Oslo accord
● Raising the stakes over Israel’s drive to Rare palm species from Andamans finds new

annex land the Palestinians have long home at Kerala
claimed, President Mahmoud Abbas of the
Palestinian Authority on Tuesday angrily ● A rare palm from South Andaman Island
declared it free of its commitments under has found its second home in Jawaharlal
the Oslo peace process, including security Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and
understandings that have protected Research Institute (JNTBGRI) Kerala. The
Israelis and preserved the authority’s species has been brought to the Indian
political hold over the occupied West mainland to prevent its extinction.
Bank. ● The rare palm is called Pinanga
● For a change, several senior Palestinian andamanensis and is a critically
officials insisted, Mr. Abbas was not endangered species. There are only 600
making a mere threat.Mr. Abbas said his specimens of the species at present. It is
move was a response to the new Israeli tiny and generally grows in evergreen
government’s push to annex large portions forests.
of the West Bank. ● The JNTBGRI has ensured to conserve the
● In the recent Israeli election, Prime germplasm of the tree. This will help to
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu campaigned prevent the species from wiping out. It is
for right-wing support on a promise to endangered due to natural calamity. The
extend Israeli sovereignty over the Jordan palm resembles areca palm and is used in
Valley and Jewish settlements totalling preparing palm oil.
about 30% of the territory.


● The palm requires 5 to 6 hours of

CIC starts hearing RTI pleas from J & K
sunshine, 80% of humidity. It thrives well
in areas where the temperature is between
territory
22 degree Celsius and 24 degree Celsius.
● CIC, the final appellate authority for Right
The name of the palm is derived from the
to Information (RTI) Act, started hearing
modern Malaysian state called ‘Penang’.
cases from union territory of Jammu and
The species was thought to be extinct till
Kashmir on Friday. This was the first time
1992.
since the reorganisation of Jammu and
● Germplasm is the living resources like
Kashmir on October 31 that RTI cases
tissue and seeds that are preserved for
were heard at CIC.
plant breeding. They can also be used are
● Though the administration has still not
genetic resources.
transferred pending RTI applications, CIC
opened registration of complaints and
appeals from the state and registered
Indian athletes and hockey players in 100-odd cases. Terming the hearings as
Quarantine after SAI staff tests COVID “out of turn” before the pending cases are
positive heard, CIC has helped the applicants in
getting the information sought.
● Just when they were about to resume ● Of the 10 cases listed, information
training, after receiving the green signal commission D P Sinha issued show cause
from the Ministry of Home Affairs and notices in three cases taking a grim view
Sports Ministry, athletes and hockey of the way the administration had handled
players preparing for next year's Tokyo the cases. In a case an applicant, Showkat
Olympics suffered a fresh blow after a Ali Bhatt, had sought information on
cook employed with the Sports Authority details of works undertaken from MPLAD
of India's South Centre in Bengaluru funds of Congress MP Ghulam Nabi Azad
passed away. in Changa panchayat between 2015 and
● The senior cook, who had not been 2019.
coming to the SAI campus after the ● The appellant said he had not received any
lockdown began but had attended a information since August 2019 when he
meeting there on May 15, had died of had filed the application. However, the
cardiac arrest in a hospital on Monday. His public information officer (PIO) claimed
sample had tested positive for COVID-19 the information had been provided. Bhatt
on Tuesday. had contended that he stayed close to the
● The SAI confirmed, through a note, that post office and there was no way he could
the meeting was attended by 16 members have missed receiving the information.
at the auditorium near the administrative ● Sinha pulled up PIO and issued a
block and that social distancing norms showcause notice asking why
were followed. It said that the cook did not proceedings should not be initiated
interact with any of the players, or the against him. He even decided to provide
other staff members in the centre. file inspection to the appellant so that all
relevant documents could be seen. In
another case, an appellant had sought
information on tiling work in the vicinity of
Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC).


AB-PMJAY beneficiary e-card” exhibiting

Centre claims over crore treatments
the milestone of 1 crore hospital
provided under Ayushman bharat,PMJAY admissions.
● Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Jan
Arogya Yojana, the flagship health
assurance scheme of the Government of
Government to amend GFR to facilitate
India today marked one crore treatments. procurement of domestic firm
● To mark the milestone, Health Minister Dr.
● Government has notified amendments to
Harsh Vardhan, inaugurated the first
General Financial Rules (GFR) to ensure
edition of Arogya Dhara, a series of
that goods and services valued less than
webinars created as an open platform for
200 crore rupees are being procured from
discussion on topical issues of public
domestic firms.
health in New Delhi today. The webinar
● In a tweet, the Office of Finance Minister
was titled “Ayushman Bharat: 1 crore
Nirmala Sitharaman said the Center has
treatments and beyond”.
notified the amendments to the GFR 2017
● Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Harsh
to ensure that henceforth global tenders
Vardhan said, providing one crore
will be disallowed in government
treatments to patients from the country’s
procurement up to 200 crore rupees, as
poorest households since its launch less
announced in the Aatmanirbhar Bharat
than two years ago is a milestone
Package. It is a big boost to domestic
achievement for Ayushman Bharat PMJAY
suppliers especially MSMEs.
scheme.
● Last week, the Minister had announced an
● He said, these treatments worth 13
economic support package for micro,
thousand 412 crore rupees have been
small and medium enterprises (MSMEs),
provided through a growing network of 21
which includes disallowing global tender
thousand 565 public and private
for government procurement up to 200
empanelled hospitals. The Union Health
crore rupees.
Minister said, Ayushman Bharat will
continue be a trailblazer with an PET recycling units seek import permission
all-encompassing humanitarian approach.
● He said, the aim of the scheme is to ● PET bottle recycling units have sought
ensure financial risk protection to more permission from the Centre to import
than 10.74 crore poorest, most vulnerable washed PET bottle flakes.
families in the country and is a step ● B.P. Sultania, former president of the All
forward towards achievement of Universal India Recycled Fibre and Yarn
Health Coverage in India. Manufacturer Association, said PET bottle
● On this occasion, Dr. Harsh Vardhan scrap is processed and converted into
launched a ‘Ask Ayushman’ chat bot on valuable products such as polyester staple
WhatsApp, a 24*7 AI-enabled assistant fibre and yarn.
that provides information on various ● The 40 PET recycling companies in the
aspects of the AB-PMJAY scheme. country have a production capacity of
● He also launched a “Hospital Ranking close to 12 lakh tonnes of recycled
Dashboard” which is a significant step to polyester staple fibre a year, including
rank empanelled hospitals on the basis of capacities that are in the pipeline.
beneficiaries’ feedback. The Minister also ● With the spread of COVID-19 pandemic
released a “Special edition of the and the nationwide lockdown following


this, the industry is in trouble as almost all the Desert Locust population is expected
the plants are closed due to shortage of to move from spring breeding of
raw materials. Balochistan to summer breeding along
● PET bottles are used to pack and store India-Pakistan border.
water, cold drinks, and the like. With the ● In India, more adult groups and small
closure of airlines, railways and hotels, the swarms have arrived from Pakistan in the
use of PET bottles has declined. past weeks and moved east into
Generation of PET bottle scrap has also Rajasthan, reaching Jodhpur.
reduced drastically.
● This will enable the industries to operate. MEA claims India fully familiar with
Import of PET recycled fibre and yarns alignment of LAC in border areas
should be either banned or attract higher
customs duty to protect the Indian ● External Affairs Ministry today said that
recycling industries, he said. any suggestion that Indian troops had
undertaken activity across the LAC in the
India asks Iran and Pakistan to coordinate Western Sector or the Sikkim sector is not
locust control operations accurate.
● In a virtual briefing, Ministry spokesperson
● India has proposed coordinated response Anurag Srivastava said Indian troops are
to Desert Locust control to Iran and fully familiar with the alignment of the Line
Pakistan. of Actual Control in the India-China border
● India has suggested to Pakistan that both areas and abide by it scrupulously.
countries coordinate locust control ● He stressed that all Indian activities are
operation along the border and that India entirely on the Indian side of the LAC. He
can facilitate supply of pesticide said that in fact, it is Chinese side that has
Malathion to Pakistan.Iran has responded recently undertaken activity hindering
positively to India’s offer. Pakistan is yet to India’s normal patrolling patterns. Indian
respond. side has always taken a very responsible
● India has also offered to supply pesticide approach towards border management. At
to Iran to carry out Desert Locust control the same time, India is deeply committed
operations in its Sistan-Balochistan and to ensuring country's sovereignty and
South Khorasan provinces. These efforts security
will contribute to mitigate the effect of the ● The Indian troops strictly follow the
Desert Locust not only in these countries, procedures laid down in various bilateral
but also for India, sources said. agreements and protocols to resolve any
● As per the Food and Agriculture situations which may arise due to
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) difference in perception of LAC. Mr
reports, in Iran, hopper bands of the Srivastava said the two sides have
Locust are maturing along the established mechanisms to resolve such
southwestern coastal plains, and another situations peacefully through dialogue.
generation of breeding is underway in the Both sides remain engaged with each
southeast where hatching is taking place other to address any immediate issues.
on the coast and in the interior of ● The spokesperson said that in accordance
Sistan-Baluchistan. with the consensus reached in Chennai,
● Food and Agriculture Organization of the Indian side remains firmly committed to
United Nations (FAO) reports indicate that work for the common objective of


maintenance of peace and tranquillity in

border areas. He said this is an essential India plans to tour South Africa for T20
prerequisite to the further development of matches in August
Indian-China bilateral relations.
● Talk that India could mark its return to

international cricket with a short white-ball
Researchers use Trojan peptides to fight series in South Africa in August has been
doing the rounds for more than a month
alzheimer’s disease
now. On Thursday, Cricket South Africa
● Researchers at the Indian Institute of (CSA) admitted it was discussing a
Technology-Guwahati (IIT-G) have, after a three-T20I series with the BCCI.
five-year study, arrived at methods for ● The series is being planned to make up for
preventing the accumulation of neurotoxic the cancelled ODI series between the two
molecules in the brain, which leads to teams in India in March, after a washed
memory loss. out first ODI.
● One is the use of “trojan peptides” that ● A BCCI executive confirmed that the Board
does what the Trojan horse did for the hopes to get the government nod. With
ancient Greeks in their victory over Troy. guidelines for resumption of sports
● The other is the application of a training having been released, the BCCI’s
low-voltage electric field toward medical team, in consultation with the
preventing amyloid plaques from support staff, has started planning for a
aggregating to cause memory loss.The simulation camp starting early June.
cause of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation
Centre to expand community radio network
of amyloid-beta peptides in the brain.
● “The trojan peptide is roughly like the
in country
peptide in the body. But while it goes
● Information and Broadcasting Minister,
along with the other peptides, its function
Prakash Javadekar said that Community
is contrary to aggregation. Through
Radio is a community in itself and it is
intravenous injection of the trojan peptide,
agents of change. Ministry will come out
we can retard the degeneration of nerve
with a plan to increase the number of such
cells by 17-35%, translating into a 10-year
stations soon.
delay in the onset of the disease,” Dr.
● Addressing listeners of all Community
Ramakrishnan said.
Radio stations through All India Radio
● The next step for the researchers is to
News, Mr. Javadekar said, government is
work with these techniques on mice
eager to raise air time for advertisements
induced with Alzheimer’s at the National
to 12 minutes from 7 minutes per hour on
Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and
Community Radio Stations to bring them
Research in Guwahati.
at par with TV channels.
● The development of a cure for the disease
● On the key demand of Community Radio
is important for India, which is third behind
of broadcasting news from their platform,
China and the U.S. in the number of
the Minister assured that he will consider
Alzheimer’s patients, they said.
it. He prodded stations to play key role in
combating fake news menace by verifying
it through local sources.
● He invited stations to share it with All India
Radio so that the reach of the truth can be


amplified. He added that the Ministry has ● More than two thousand tonnes of
created a Fact Check Cell under PIB and medicines and medical equipment were
the Community Radio can complement delivered to individuals and hospitals
the role of Fact Check Cell. across the country.
● Mr Javedkar said, that fake news is very ● Around one thousand 500 crore rupees
dangerous and should not be considered disbursed to around 85 lakh beneficiaries
as part of press freedom. He stressed on using Aadhaar enabled Payment System
the crucial role of community radios in of India Post Payments Bank.
countering fake news by giving the correct ● Six lakh food and ration packets were
information verified at the local level. distributed to labourers and 1,100 crore
● Exhorting people to keep up their fight rupees disbursed in beneficiary accounts
against Coronavirus, the Minister said, we through direct benefit transfers.
will drive it away the way we have driven
away other diseases. He stressed on the 4
steps to keep themselves safe by staying Finance ministry seeks PSB’s to reduce
at home, frequent washing of hands, lending rates post RBI action
wearing face mask in public and
maintaining social distancing. ● Hours after the Reserve Bank of India
(RBI) reduced interest rates, Finance
India Posts to work towards realising PM’s Minister Nirmala Sitharaman conveyed to
Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision public sector banks in no certain terms
that the government expected banks to
● Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has reduce lending rates, which was required
instructed India Post to work towards to kick start the economy.
realizing the vision of Prime Minister for ● The Finance Minister met the chief
an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. executives of PSBs over
● The Minister of Communications, video-conferencing in a pre-scheduled
Electronics and Information Technology meeting to review credit flow to productive
stressed on the need to provide logistics sectors of the economy.
support for Indian systems of medicines ● “The FM wants interest rate transmission.
that include Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha. He She wanted banks to cut rates as quickly
said, India Post should prepare strategic as possible so customers are benefited,”
plan to become flag bearer of Indian said the chief executive of a public sector
supply chain through which agri-products, bank who attended the meeting. “The
handicrafts, artisan products can be Finance Ministry is aware that
delivered. transmission of interest rates has not
● AIR correspondent reports that India Post happened fully,” the official told .
has taken several steps to deliver ● Bankers said lending rates are set to come
essential items during the lockdown. In down after Friday’s RBI rate cut. Some of
this period, India Post with its vast the large lenders, including SBI, convened
network of one lakh 56 thousand post a meeting of the asset-liability committee
offices, delivered mails and medicines, to take a view on the interest rates.
provided financial assistance at the ● According to bankers, the FM tried to
doorsteps and distributed food and ration understand the ground situation as far as
to needy people. lending was concerned, and wanted to


ensure that the loan guarantee scheme for sparring over a new Hong Kong security

MSMEs reached all entities needing it. law kept investors away from riskier
● “Since March 1, banks have sanctioned ₹6 assets.
lakh crore of loans. Our bank has ● Stocks declined across the globe led by a
sanctioned ₹15,000 crore, of which steep drop in Hong Kong shares as rising
₹12,000 crore has been disbursed. Over tensions between Washington and Beijing
1.36 lakh customers have been benefited,” and the gloomy outlook for China’s
said A.K. Goel, MD and chief executive economy weighed on investors’
officer of UCO Bank. sentiment.
● The Hang Seng Index closed down 5.5% in
Central government’s debt-GDP ratio its worst day since July 2015 after China
declines in FY19 moved to impose new national-security
laws on the city.
● The central government’s debt as a ● Hong Kong’s Hang Seng nosedived 5.6 per
percentage of gross domestic product cent and China’s Shanghai Composite
(GDP) dropped marginally by 0.1% from index plunged 1.9 per cent. Singapore’s
45.8% in fiscal 2017-18 to 45.7% or Rs Straits times tumbled 2.2 per cent. Japan’s
86.73 lakh crore in FY19, according to the Nikkei-225 Index lost 0.8 per cent while
Status Paper on Government Debt for South Korea’s KOSPI lost 1.4 per cent.
2018-19, compiled by the finance ministry ● European indices were also down in
in April. intra-day trade. London’s FTSC-100
● Since 2010, the central government has declined 1.2 per cent and Germany’s DAX
been publishing an annual Status Paper fell 0.6 per cent while France’s CAC-40 fell
on Government Debt that provides a half a per cent.
detailed account of the overall debt
position of the country. This was the ninth Maldives not to act or target against India in
paper of the series. OIC
● Although banks still dominated the
ownership patterns, the decline from ● Maldives has said it cannot support any
42.7% in March 2018 indicated a action within the Organization of Islamic
broadening of the market. cooperation (OIC), that singles-out or
● The government continued its efforts to targets India.
reduce the roll-over risk of dated securities ● This was stated by Maldives Permanent
by elongating the maturity profile of its Representative to United Nations
debt portfolio. However, the weighted Ambassador Thilmeeza Hussain in a
average residual maturity of outstanding recently organized virtual meeting of OIC
dated securities in March 2019 stood at Ambassadors to the UN where the issue
10.4 years compared to 10.62 years in of growing Islamophobia in South Asia
March 2018. was discussed.
● The Maldives ambassador stated that
singling out India, the largest democracy
Southeast Asian stock markets plunge amid in the world and a multicultural society
Hongkong security law and home to over 200 million Muslims,
would be factually incorrect.
● Southeast Asian stock markets today ● He said it would be detrimental to the
plunged as the United States and China religious harmony in the South Asian


region as Islam has existed in India for

West Bengal seeks support of army for
centuries and it is the second-largest
restoring essential services in state
religion in India, with 14.2% of the
country's population.
● The West Bengal government on Saturday
● The ambassador said Maldives stands
sought support of the Indian Army,
firmly against Islamophobia, xenophobia
railways and port for restoring essential
or any form of violence to promote
infrastructure and services in the
political or any other agenda but targeting
cyclone-ravaged areas of the state. It also
a specific country will be like side stepping
urged private entities to provide
the real issue. The issue was raised by
manpower and equipment for the
Pakistan ambassador to UN.
purpose.
● It said that drinking water and drainage
infrastructure is getting restored fast and
Study finds sun entering deepest period of the Public Health Engineering Department
sunshine recession has been asked to supply water pouches
in areas where there is a crisis.
● The sun has reached into a state of ‘solar
● The announcement came after protests in
minimum’. It has been more than 100 days
several parts of Kolkata and neighbouring
since sun has shown zero sunspots. The
districts over power and water crisis even
sun is to enter into the deepest period of
three days after cyclone 'Amphan' hit the
‘sunshine recession’.
state.
● The cycle of the sun lasts for 11 years.
● Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has
This is called Solar Cycle. Solar minimum
urged people to have patience as the
does not mean that sun becomes dull or
administration was working tirelessly to
its activity reduces. It simply means that
restore normalcy.
the sun is changing forms. The sun spots
● Cyclone 'Amphan' has claimed 86 lives in
fade away every 11 years.
the state and caused havoc in at least 14
● The Solar Cycle is also called the Solar
districts, mainly in South 24 Parganas,
Magnetic Activity Cycle. It exists for 11
Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and East
years and is measured in terms of number
Midnapore.
of sun spots on the surface. Sunspots
were observed in the early 17th century. It IMD issues heatwave warning in central and
was first observed by Galileo Galilei. northwestern parts of the country
● Under Solar Cycle, the solar maximum and
solar minimum refers to the periods of ● The India Meteorological Department
maximum and minimum sunspots (IMD) has issued a heatwave warning over
respectively. northwest and central India for the coming
● The sun spots are magnetic in nature. The five days.
magnetic polarity of sun spots are ● The heatwave is due to dry northwesterly
constant throughout the cycle. It is winds that are prevailing over these
opposite across the equator throughout a regions over the last two days. Rainfall
cycle. Also, the magnetic polarity reversed activity has also reduced over peninsular
itself from one cycle to the other. India, making the southern regions also
susceptible to extreme hot weathers.
Andhra Pradesh and Telangana might see


the mercury rise over the coming week, ● The Finance Minister also said that the
but only in isolated spots. Reserve Bank of India has also taken
● The IMD also issued heavy rainfall timely decisions to extend relief on market
warnings for the northeastern states. They borrowing and moratoriums on loans. She
warned that Assam and Meghalaya should said these decisions will ensure affordable
brace themselves for "extremely heavy" liquidity in the market.
rainfall, while other states are slated to
experience slight to moderate rain. Centre claims solar energy can reduce
● The IMD considers a heatwave for a electricity costs significantly
particular region if it reaches at least 40°C
or more for plains, 37°C or more for ● Union Minister Nitin Gadkari yesterday
coastal areas, and at least 30°C or more held meeting via video conferencing with
for hilly regions. If at least two weather the members of Maha Solar Sangathan to
stations record these temperatures for understand the opportunities in the solar
two consecutive days, a heatwave is energy sector.
officially announced. ● The Minister highlighted the importance of
solar energy and said the sector has huge

potential and can help to reduce the
Finance ministry upholds importance of electricity cost significantly. He further
Atma Nirbhar Bharat programme mentioned that sectors such as
agriculture and warehousing are energy
● The AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus extensive sectors and proper commercial
package of 20 lakh crore aims at providing use of solar energy can contribute
the required relief to every sector under towards reducing power cost.
stress. Finance Minister ● The Minister emphasized the need of
NirmalaSitharaman while interacting with export enhancement along with import
BJP spokesperson NalinKohli on social substitution to replace foreign imports
media platform informed that government with domestic production. He encouraged
has instructed all Public Sector Banks to manufacturers to make India self-reliant
start disbursal of collateral free loans with the help of “Make in India” products.
through the automatic route. ● Mr Gadkari mentioned that for providing
● She said, the series of announcements much-needed impetus to the MSME sector
under the scheme also aim at creating a to deal with the current economic
strong foundation for a hassle free instability, the government has announced
economic operation throughout the several measures under AatmaNirbhar
country. The Finance Minister said, long Bharat Abhiyan. These include collateral
pending issues of sectoral reforms have free automatic loan, which will allow the
also been addressed. MSMEs to enhance working capital by 20
● Responding to a query regarding the fiscal per cent without providing additional
outlay under the AtmaNirbhar Bharat collateral.
Abhiyan, Ms Sitharaman said, the
economic stimulus is not only restricted to
handing out immediate cash to people but
is also aimed at creating a sustainable
demand base by augmenting employment
opportunities.


Srilanka seeks Indian help for revival of China hints change in BRI path amid debt
economy and stalled projects concerns
● China has hinted at a shift in how it will

● Sri Lankan President GotabayaRajapaksa
pursue its signature Belt and Road
has sought the intervention of PM Modi to
Initiative (BRI) amid growing concerns
revive some of the key projects as Sri
about debt repayments from many partner
Lanka strives to restore the economy in
countries because of the COVID-19
the wake of COVID crisis.
pandemic.
● In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi said, Sri
● Since 2018, the BRI has had a dedicated
Lanka is fighting COVID-19 effectively
sub-section in the NPC report, which is
under the leadership of Mr Rajapaksa and
China’s most important policy document.
India will continue to support its close
The BRI was written into the Communist
maritime neighbour in dealing with the
Party of China’s Constitution in 2017,
pandemic and its economic impact.
underlining its special status.
● The Prime Minister said, the two nations
● The report in 2018 did not mention
agreed to accelerate Indian-assisted
“quality”, merely saying China “will
development projects in Sri Lanka and
promote the joint pursuit of the BRI”. It
also strengthen investment links. The
also mentioned then China would seek to
Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes
advance infrastructure connectivity, which
for the health and wellbeing of the Sri
was omitted this year.
Lankan people.
● According to AidData, a research lab at the
● President Rajapaksa briefed Prime
College of William & Mary, China’s grants
Minister Modi on the steps being taken by
and loans totalled $354.4 billion between
the Sri Lankan government to restart
2000 and 2014, of which 23% was grants
economic activity. They also discussed
while the rest were commercial loans at
the possibilities of promoting investments
market or close-to-market rates.
and value-addition in Sri Lanka by the
● The world’s debt to China grew 10 times
Indian private sector.
between 2000 and 2017, with developing
● Mr.Rajapaksa said he is trying to promote
countries owing $380 billion to China, the
value added industrial and agricultural
Kiel Institute for the World Economy in
activities and will be happy to encourage
Germany said in a report last year.
Indian investors to start such investments,
●
including Indian companies already in Sri
Lanka to increase domestic value New solar parabolic trough collector
addition. developed by Indian researchers
● The Sri Lankan President also requested
government of India to provide USD 1.1 ● A new trough collector equipped with
billion special SWAP facility to top up USD enhanced energy to serve industries has
400 million under SAARC facility as it been developed by Indian Institute of
would enormously help Sri Lanka in Madras (IIT-M), its researchers said here
dealing with the foreign exchange issues. on Wednesday.
● The 'Parabolic Trough Collector' is a
lightweight and low-cost system with high
energy efficiency and can operate under
the country's varied climatic conditions.


● The 'Trough Collector' focuses sunlight on ● “Ayurveda is a traditional medicinal

a small area where it is absorbed and then knowledge source from India and there is
utilised for heating and subsequently into huge potential in it. Its inherent strength in
energy generation, the researchers said. holistic healing and wellbeing is being put
● The system can help manufacturers in to good use in treatment of the patients at
solar energy devices with higher efficiency, this centre,” said the Minister.
they said. The concept also follows the ● He said this knowledge and experience
Centre's National Solar Mission which has would surely prove beneficial to people all
set a target of providing 20,000 MW solar over the world, especially in combating the
power by 2022. battle against COVID-19.According to
● "Particularly, concentrated solar power figures released by the Ministry, till date
technology can meet thermal and 201 patients have been admitted to the
electrical energy demands due to its high CBPACS Centre.
dispatchability and reliability", Reddy, who ● “Of these, 37 have been cured and 100
led the team to develop the collector, patients have been advised home
said.States like Bihar, Haryana, Madhya isolation. Nineteen patients have been
Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat have shifted to speciality hospitals on review of
great potential to harness this energy, he their medical condition. There has been no
said. casualty in this centre,” noted the Health
Ministry.
SAI and Cycling federations to conduct trials
of JyotiKumari Centre to restart region connectivity under
UDAN scheme
● Sports Minister KirenRijiju has said he will
ask the officials of Sports Authority of ● Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to
India(SAI) and Cycling Federations of India restart the regional air connectivity
to conduct trial of JyotiKumari, a young services under the UDAN scheme.
girl from Bihar who paddled for over 1000 ● Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
Kms on cycle from Gurugram to said that preference will however be given
Darbhanga with her father as pillion during to flights connecting North-East region, hill
this lockdown. states, islands and other short haul
● In a tweet, Mr Rijiju said that she will be routes. In a tweet, he said that the flights
selected as trainee at the National Cycling will be augmented under the scheme in a
Academy in the IGI Stadium complex in calibrated manner.
New Delhi if she is found to have potential. ● Civil Aviation ministry has said that all
operational routes up to 500 km stage
Government seeks clarity on efficacy of
length, all operational helicopter routes
Ayurveda in COVID treatment and routes with no viability gap funding
● The Union Health Ministry on Sunday will be permitted to resume operations.
sought results of COVID-19 treatment ● Selected airline operators will also be
using Ayurvedic medicines. allowed to operationalize the awarded
● This was following a visit by Health routes under the UDAN scheme, including
Minister Harsh Vardhan to a dedicated seaplanes on the permitted routes.
COVID-19 health centre at the Chaudhary
Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan
(CBPACS), Najafgarh.


have been on a standstill during the

lockdown period, chief economist
ArunSingh said.
Top 10 states account for majority of under

constructed projects,claims study
● Highway construction activity which came

to grinding halt with imposition of
nationwide lockdown on March 25 and
was allowed to resume in April, remains
stalled due to severe shortage of labour
and raw material, and difficulty in securing
requisite clearances, a report by CRISIL
Research has said.
● The Centre has divided districts into red,
Report finds India to register recession in orange and green zones based on the
third quarter extent of coronavirus contagion. Only
in-situ construction is allowed in red zones
● The Indian economy is likely to slip into
until the next announcement, the report
recession in the third quarter of this fiscal
said.
as loss in income and jobs and
● CRISIL Research’s analysis of over 270
cautiousness among consumers will delay
under-construction national highways
recovery in consumer demand even after
indicates the Top 10 states account for
the pandemic, says a report.
80% of the projects. Projects are most at
● The report noted that the government's
risk in four of these states – Maharashtra,
larger-than-expected stimulus package is
Uttar Pradesh (UP), Tamil Nadu and
likely to re-start economic activities.
Andhra Pradesh – that account for over a
● Besides, measures taken by the Reserve
third of the projects.
Bank of India like reducing the repo rate by
● "In Maharashtra, which has 11% of the
a further 40 basis points to 4 per cent,
national highway projects, as much as
extending the moratorium period by three
55% of it is in red zones," it said. In Uttar
months and facilitating working capital
Pradesh, which has the lion’s share of
financing will also help stimulate the
projects under construction at 15%, a third
momentum.
is in the red zones. "Projects in Tamil Nadu
● The report further noted that even as the
and Andhra Pradesh, each with over 35%
monetary stimulus is expected to inject
projects in red zones, are also at risk," the
liquidity and stimulate demand for a wider
report added.
section of the economy, the
channelisation of funds from the financial China accuses U.S for pushing relations upto
institutions will be subjected to several new cold war
constraints.
● The foremost concern being increase in ● The United States is pushing relations with
risk averseness, as the balance sheets of China to "the brink of a new Cold War",
firms, households, and banks/NBFCs have China's foreign minister said Sunday,
weakened considerably and low demand rejecting Washington's "lies" over the
for funds by firms as production activities


coronavirus while saying Beijing was open mad tree (Pterygotaalata var. irregularis),

to an international effort to find its source. the para rubber tree (Heveabrasiliensis),
● Keeping up the worsening war of words the Malabar chestnut (Pachirainsignis),
with Washington over the pandemic and a the Chir pine (Pinusroxburghii), and
Beijing move to tighten control over Hong several century-old mahogany trees
Kong, Wang Yi said the United States had (Swieteniamahagoni) in the garden’s
been infected by a "political virus" famous Mahogany Avenue.
compelling figures there to continually ● Most of these trees were introduced to the
attack China. garden by British botanists in the late 18th
● Longstanding friction between the two and early 19th centuries. Commercial
powers over trade, human rights and a cultivation of mahogany and rubber began
range of other issues have been pushed to in India after the species were first
new heights since the virus outbreak. introduced in this garden.
● Wang did not identify what "forces" he was ● Located at the western edge of garden,
referring to, but US President Donald about 10% of the Great Banyan’s prop
Trump has led world criticism of China's roots have been damaged by the cyclone.
initial response to the pandemic, which The authorities managing the Botanic
has caused more than 340,000 deaths and Garden are confident that the destroyed
economic carnage worldwide. prop roots can either be repaired, or new
● Most scientists believe the virus jumped roots will come up.
from animals to humans after emerging in ● The tree is one of the garden’s major
China, possibly from a market in the attractions. The main trunk of the banyan
central city of Wuhan where exotic tree had to be removed in 1925, after an
animals were sold for meat. Governments infection was caused by a wood-rotting
including the US and Australia have called fungi.
in recent weeks for an investigation into
the exact origins of the virus. Bayern registers big win in Bundesliga
Howrah’s historical botanical garden is now a ● Bayern Munich beat Eintracht Frankfurt

graveyard of trees amid cyclone Amphan 5-2 on Saturday, surviving a brief
second-half comeback scare, to stay four
● Set up in 1787, the 273-acre garden, points clear of Borussia Dortmund at the
located at the other end of the Hooghly, top of the Bundesliga.
has turned into a graveyard of trees. ● The results: Schalke 0 lost to Augsburg 3
Massive trees, hundreds in number, with (Loewen 5, Bazee 76, Cordova 90+1);
trunks having a girth of several metres, Mainz 0 lost to Leipzig 5 (Werner 11, 48,
have fallen all over the garden, blocking 75, Poulsen 23, Sabitzer 36).
access to large parts of the campus.
● “We have lost nearly 1,000 trees, including Supreme court develops software to go
some notable and rare species,” Kanad paperless
Das, scientist, Botanical Survey of India
● The Supreme Court, which has been
(BSI), and in charge of the Botanic Garden,
experimenting with tech solutions and
said. The garden has over 13,000 trees of
artificial intelligence tools to streamline
about 1,100 species.
the working of courts, has developed a
● Among the rare trees that have fallen
software called SCI-Interact to make all its
include the only full-grown kalpabriksha
17 benches paperless.
(Adansoniadigitata) tree in the garden, the


● This software comprises five components had been mooted by heads of different
— scanned copies of pending cases, committees a few weeks back as a way
e-filing of fresh cases, IT hardware, MPLS out to hold the meetings so that important
network with dual redundancy, and developments in the wake of the
security audit. “This would minimise pandemic could be taken up.
human touch, speed up disposal of cases ● The issue had stirred a controversy as the
and help in quick decision-making. Once parliamentary panel meetings are held
the security testing is done (already in-camera and the issues discussed are
underway), the project will be not made public. Holding such meetings
implemented,” SS Rathi, member, through video conference would have
e-committee, and convener, artificial compromised the secrecy clause. The two
intelligence committee of the court, told presiding officers had directed the
● Meanwhile, the AI committee is also secretary generals of the two houses to
working on a second project called examine this issue and find if a fool-proof
SUPACE (Supreme Court Portal for option was available.
Assistance in Court Efficiency), aimed at ● Sources said nine rooms of Parliament
data mining, tracking progress of cases, House and annexe building have been
legal research and other uses to ensure identified for holding meetings of 24
timely delivery of justice by judges. department-related standing committees
● Earlier, the apex court had developed a after lockdown 4.0 ends on May 31.
dedicated open-source judicial domain Another six rooms have also been
language translation tool named SUVAS shortlisted for meetings of other
(Supreme Court VidhikAnuvaad Software) parliamentary panels like the permanent
to translate judicial documents from committees.
English to nine vernacular languages —
Marathi, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Government to explore new FI’s to support
Punjabi, Gujarati, Malayalam and Bengali MSME’s
— and vice versa.
● Minister for Micro, Small and Medium
Regular parliamentary meeting scheduled to Enterprises NitinGadkari has said that the
be held soon government is exploring new financial
lending institutions to support small-scale
● With the resumption of air and train units in terms of financial support.
services, the process of holding regular ● He said that government is working
meetings of various parliamentary towards strengthening the Non- Banking
committees has begun. Financial Companies (NBFCs) which will
● Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and help small businesses to avail easy credit
LokSabha Speaker Om Birla held in the coming time.
discussions with the parliament ● Addressing the members of Calcutta
secretariat on the issue, following which Chamber of Commerce on impact of
15 rooms in Parliament House and annexe COVID-19 on MSMEs through video
building were identified for holding these conference, Mr Gadkari requested all the
meetings. stakeholders to work in tandem and urged
● This would also mean that the idea of the industry to maintain a positive attitude
holding parliamentary panel meetings during this time to tide over this crisis.
through videoconferencing has been ● The Minister mentioned that special focus
shelved for the time being. This proposal towards export enhancement, is the need


of the hour. He further added that there is

ILO urges India not to dilute labour laws
need to reduce the cost on production and
logistics to become economically viable. ● The International Labour Organisation
● He said that the current contribution of (ILO) has informed trade unions of India
MSMEs in export is 48 per cent, which that its Director-General has expressed
may be increased to 60 per cent. concern and urged Prime Minister
NarendraModi to “send a clear message”
End of oil pacts with Malaysia and Indonesia
to the Central and State governments to
likely to see hike in import duties
uphold international labour laws after the
● As India's 2010 pact with Malaysia and recent dilution of laws by some States.
Indonesia came to an end, trade body SEA ● A group of 10 Central trade unions wrote
on Monday said the government should to the ILO in Geneva on May 14, seeking
hike customs duty on soya, sunflower and its intervention to protect workers’ rights
crude palm oils and encourage domestic and international labour standards.
production. ● In a response to the unions on May 22, the
● The Solvent Extractors Association of chief of the Freedom Of Association
India (SEA) also urged the government to Branch of the ILO’s International Labour
ban the import of refined palm oils or Standards Department, Karen Curtis,
palmolien in order to encourage domestic wrote: “Please allow me to assure you that
production.These are some of the the ILO Director-General has immediately
short-term measures the trade body has intervened, expressing his deep concern at
submitted to the government for making these recent events and appealing to the
India self-sufficient in edible oils. Prime Minister to send a clear message to
● Low import duties on edible oils over the Central and State governments to uphold
years has practically made our farmers the country’s international commitments
lose interest in oilseed cultivation. No and encourage engagement in effective
wonder India's oilseed production has social dialogue”.
remained stagnant but consumption of ● The unions that sent the representation to
edible oils driven by improved affluence the ILO sent the representation to the ILO
has skyrocketed and has been growing at after Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
the rate of 3 to 4 per cent per annum, SEA Gujarat and some other States either
president said, adding that however in the suspended a large number of labour laws
last few years, an attempt has been made for two-three years or diluted them in an
to correct this anomaly. attempt to woo industry in the midst of the
● Among long term measures, SEA has COVID-19 pandemic.
suggested the government to encourage
Japan lifts state of emergency
Punjab and Haryana farmers to divert land
to corn or sunflower in kharif season and ● Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lifted
mustard in rabi season. a state of emergency for Tokyo and four
● Adequate arrangements will have to be remaining areas on Monday after the
made for incentivising the farmers and number of infections fell across the
procuring their produce in initial years to country, but warned that it could be
give price protection. Private sector reimposed if the virus started spreading
support can be galvanised for this again.
initiative, he said. ● The move meant that the whole country
would now have the social distancing


curbs loosened, after an initial lifting of Tamil Nadu. They are purely freshwater
restrictions for most areas on May 14. fishes,” he said.
● Mr. Abe said that the total amount of ● While the genus shows great species
stimulus from two economic packages richness in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the
would exceed 200 trillion yen ($1.86 specimen from Velankanni bears “distinct
trillion) but it would still take considerable differences” from its Puntius cousins, he
time to get back to normal life while said.
controlling infection risks. “Today we are ● Its physical characteristics included a
taking a firm step towards the next stage protractible mouth, a pair of maxillary
following the removal of the state of barbels (a sensory organ near the snout),
emergency,” the visibly relaxed Prime 24-25 lateral line scales and 10 pre-dorsal
Minister told reporters gathered in Tokyo. scales.
● Mr. Abe acknowledged Japan has faced
some problems with its response and Indian hockey legend Balbirsingh passes
promised a review once the outbreak was away
over. But he also praised the “Japan
● Balbir’s world record for most goals
model”, in which it brought the outbreak
scored by an individual in the men’s
under control in six weeks without strict
hockey final of the Olympics still remains
lockdowns imposed in other countries.
unbeaten. He scored five goals in India’s
● However, he warned that, “in the worst
6-1 victory over the Netherlands in the
case scenario, there may be the
gold medal match of the 1952 Helsinki
unfortunate possibility of reimposing the
Games.
state of emergency if the speed of
● Three-time Olympic champion and one of
infections rises again”.Japan has escaped
the greatest ever hockey players, Balbir
an explosive outbreak with more than
Singh Dosanjh passed away after
16,600 infections and 839 deaths so far,
prolonged illness on Monday morning.
according to NHK public broadcaster.
● Known as Balbir Singh Senior to all, the
New fresh water fish species discovered in 95-year-old was hospitalised on May 8
Tamilnadu after complaining of high fever and
breathing problems. He suffered three
● Velankanni in Tamil Nadu has thrown up a cardiac arrests but had been stable since
new species of small freshwater fish of May 13.
the family Cyprinidae. The silver-hued fish
has been christened Puntiussanctus —
‘sanctus’ is Latin for holy — after the PM reviews LAC standoff with defence staff
popular pilgrim town.
● The fish has been identified and named by ● Prime Minister NarendraModi on Tuesday
Mathews Plamoottil, head of the reviewed the current situation on the Line
Department of Zoology, BJM Government of Actual Control (LAC) and the ongoing
College, Chavara, in Kollam. standoff with China with National Security
● Encountered in a small waterbody in Adviser AjitDoval, Chief of Defence Staff
Velankanni, Puntius Sanctus Grows to a (CDS) Gen. BipinRawat and the three
length of 7 cm. It is used both as food and Service Chiefs, multiple sources said. The
as an aquarium draw, Dr. Plamoottil meeting comes a day before the biannual
Said.“ThePuntius species are known Army Commanders conference.
locally as ‘Paral’ in Kerala and ‘Kende’ in


● Army chief Gen. Manoj Naravane made a Ministry of Electronics and IT said in a
detailed presentation on the standoff at statement.
various points of the LAC in eastern ● The “Bug Bounty” programme will be open
Ladakh, it has been learnt. to Indian and foreign nationals, but only
● Several rounds of talks on the ground up Indians will be eligible for rewards offered
to the level of Division Commanders have under the scheme. Anyone who points out
failed to break the impasse. a security vulnerability in the app source
● The meeting was to review the code will be eligible for a reward of up to
implementation of the recommendations ₹3 lakh, and up to ₹1 lakh for pointing out
of the Shekatkar Committee but the a suggestion or improvement in the
Ladakh standoff was discussed, sources source code.
said, without stating the specifics of the ● MishiChoudhary, technology lawyer, said,
discussion. “The government of India has an amazing
● MEA officials have also said “established policy on adoption of open source
mechanisms” are in place to resolve the software that encourages formal adoption
issue, indicating their relative silence on and use of open source software in
the issue is to enable talks between government organisations. We will be
military commanders and diplomatic verifying that all code is open source and
channels to proceed. global best practices are followed.”
● On Tuesday, the Chinese Communist
Party-owned newspaper Global Times
published an editorial cautioning against EXIM bank claims present situation not
misreading the move. “China clearly has suitable to raise funds from overseas
no intention of escalating the border
disputes with India, so its assistance to its ● Premier export finance institution Exim
citizens should not be over-interpreted,” Bank said on Sunday that the present
the editorial said. scenario arising out of the COVID-19
outbreak is not suitable to raise resources
Government says ArogyaSetu app is now an from overseas markets.
open source ● Under such circumstances, the lender had
requested the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
● Amid concerns over privacy of data being for a credit line of USD two billion, an
collected by its COVID-19 contact tracing official of the Export-Import Bank of India
app, the government on Tuesday said it said.
was open-sourcing AarogyaSetu. ● "We requested for USD two billion credit
● The government has also launched a “Bug line from RBI, equivalent to around Rs
Bounty” programme wherein financial 15,000 crore, which the apex bank has
rewards will be given to security agreed to," he told PTI.The Reserve Bank
researchers for finding any vulnerability in on Friday announced a Rs 15,000-crore
the application or suggesting line of credit to the lender.
improvements to the source code. ● Exim Bank raises funds in multiple
● While the source code for the Android currencies like USD, Japanese Yen, South
version of the application will be available African Rand, Euro and Singapore dollar,
for review on GitHub, the iOS version of he said.
the application will be released as open ● All the currencies are then swapped into
source within the next two weeks, the USD, according to him."Nearly 70 per cent


of our business is in USD. We have a huge

Srilanka assures deeper and stronger
requirement of dollars," he said.
cooperation with India
● The market sentiment is down at the
moment, and there has been no specific ● Sri Lanka has assured fullest commitment
request for line of credit from any for stronger and deeper cooperation with
quarter."We are now trying to deal with India, while appreciating the continued
companies which have already made exchanges of goodwill that are evident in
inroads in Africa, Bangladesh and Sri the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Lanka," he added. ● This was conveyed by Sri Lankan foreign
minister Dinesh Gunawardena to the
Centre claims special emphasis give to
newly accredited Indian High
fisheries sector
Commissioner GopalBaglay when the
● Minister for Fisheries, Dairy and Animal latter met him today. Both exchanged
Husbandry Giriraj Singh has said that the views on a wide range of bilateral issues
Centre has given special emphasis on the during the meeting.
fisheries sector. ● The High Commissioner conveyed Prime
● Briefing media in New Delhi today, Mr Minister NarendraModi’s assurances of
Singh said that the Blue revolution brought closer cooperation with Sri Lanka through
by Prime Minister NarendraModi has his neighbourhood first policy. It was
moved towards as a economic revolution. agreed to kick start tourism exchanges
He said, in Blue revolution Government is based on the ancient foundations of
focussing on employment, production and Hindu-Buddhist cultural affinities between
export. the two countries.
● The Minister said, from 1947 to 2014, no ● Also both sides agreed to follow up on the
government gave emphasis to the Sector pending Memoranda of Understanding
and during the years the central allocation and other bilateral instruments. It was
was only 3 thousand 6 hundred 82 crore agreed to work towards mutually
rupees. He added that the current beneficial trade, investment, development
government is giving special focus to the and political relations in the post
fisheries sector. COVID-19 new international environment
● Mr Singh informed that from 2010 to 2014 by enhancing maritime cooperation,
the growth in the fisheries sector was 4 to security exchanges, ensuring food and
5 per cent, but now it has been doubled health security, enhanced assistance for
and annual growth reached 10.8 per cent. capacity building and technical
He said, India is the 2nd largest exporter cooperation.
of Fisheries in the world.
Myanmar seeks $700m loan from IMF to
● He informed that average annual growth
fight COVID
rate of fish production is 7.53 per cent. On
the occasion, Mr Singh along with ● The parliament of Myanmar on Tuesday
Ministers of State SanjeevBalyan and approved the proposal to seek 700 million
Pratap Chandra Sarangi released a booklet dollar loan from IMF to finance its
on PradhanMantriMatsyaSampadaYojana spending on fighting COVID-19 in the
(PMMSY). country.
● Myanmar has sought the loan from IMF
under its Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) and


Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) which ● This reversal last happened 7.8 lakh years
offers quick loan facility at concessional ago, with scientists believing that a shift is
rates for Low Income Countries. long overdue. These reversals usually
● The loan will be used to cover deficit happen at an interval of 250,000 years.
incurred by the government due to ● If a reversal takes place, the repercussions
increased spending on social security, could be significant and could cause
health services and economic assistance major issues for telecommunications and
in the wake of Corona pandemic outbreak. satellite systems. Certain mobile phones
● According to a report of the IMF, Myanmar and satellites may stop working.
has been deeply affected by the outbreak ● A study published in the scientific journal
of Corona pandemic. It has reported sharp Proceedings of the National Academy of
decline in tourist arrival, supply chain Sciences in 2018, however, said the
disruption in the garment sector, losses in planet’s magnetic field is not reversing
the SMEs, exports and foreign despite the weakening field as the process
remittances. of reversal could take tens of thousands
● The Myanmar government has developed of years.
a COVID 19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP)
with several fiscal and monetary BCCI calls for change in Ranji formats
measures including a 70 million dollar
● The BCCI is considering a change of
COVID 19 fund to provide soft loans to
format for the RanjiTrophy.The proposal is
garment and tourism sector businesses
to split the Elite teams into five groups
and industries. Myanmar has decided to
instead of the current three. At the
allocate up to 10 percent of its current
moment, Elite Groups A and B have nine
budget to fight COVID-19.
teams each while Group C has 10. The
Earth’s magnetic field weakening,may affect Plate group has 10 teams.
satellites spacecrafts ● In the new avatar, each Elite group will
have six teams, while the Plate group will
● The magnetic field of the Earth between consist of eight (the top two from the
Africa and South America is weakening, previous season will be promoted to Elite
causing problems for satellites and Group E).
spacecraft. ● The proposal was submitted before the
● The phenomenon has been dubbed as the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, but with
South Atlantic Anomaly by scientists, the pandemic disrupting the sports
who’ve been studying the occurrence, calendar the world over, the BCCI could be
which has grown considerably in recent tempted to test it for the next season,
years. which is almost certain to be shortened.
● The data gathered by the European Space
Agency’s swarm of satellites reveals that LWO warns locust threat to be bigger this
the area of the anomaly dropped in year
strength by over 8 per cent between 1970
● The threat of locusts, which have invaded
and 2020.
vast swathes of land in Rajasthan and
● One of the possible explanations for this
entered neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, is
could be a shift in the Earth’s magnetic
bigger this year in comparison with the
field, whereby the North Pole and the
damage caused to standing crops in a
South Pole switch places as the field
limited area in 2019. The tropical
reverses.


grasshoppers have been crossing over to ● In this regard, Ministry issued a guidance
India via Pakistan’s Sindh province since note today, wherein it was stressed that
April 11. critical services for women, children and
● The Union Agriculture Ministry’s Locust adolescent should be provided
Warning Organisation (LWO), irrespective of their COVID-19 status.
headquartered in Jodhpur, said on ● Ministry said, campaign mode services
Wednesday that the locusts that came last like mass vitamin A prophylaxis,
year, after a gap of 26 years, were mature campaigns for Intensified Diarrhea Control
and had affected 12 districts of the State. Fortnight, National De-worming Day and
● “Though Pakistan has claimed that it is Test, Treat and Talk camps for Anemia,
taking action to eliminate the breeding can be organized on an alternative
grounds of insects, their control measures mechanism like through home delivery of
do not seem to be effective,” Dr.Gurjar essential services and commodities,
said. While Pakistan’s National Disaster based on local situation.
Management Authority has arranged ● Health Ministry said that all COVID
aircraft and helicopters for the aerial spray suspect and positive cases should be
of insecticides, locusts have destroyed provided services at dedicated COVID
crop in the cotton-producing belt of Sindh. facility. It said, COVID testing is not
● A bigger challenge is likely to emerge mandatory for these services and ICMR
when the swarms flying over 20 districts in testing guidelines need to be followed. It
Rajasthan start breeding. The locusts will also stressed on the use of
start laying eggs after the onset of tele-consultation services to prevent
monsoon and continue breeding for two overcrowding and reduce cross infection.
more months, with new insects being born ● The Ministry said, with more than 2.5 crore
during the growth phase of the kharif pregnancies each year in the country, it is
crops. important to ensure the availability of
● The U.N. Food and Agriculture services during this period as any denial
Organisation has warned of more attacks of services can have an impact on
of locusts along both sides of the maternal and newborn mortalities.
India-Pakistan border.
Finance ministry asks banks to make MSME
Health ministry advises states/ut’s to provide loans risk free
home delivery of essential medicines
● The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to
● Health Ministry has advised States and allow banks to assign zero risk weight for
Union Territories to organize home loans that will be extended to the micro,
deliveries of essential medicines like medium and small enterprises (MSMEs)
calcium, ORS, zinc, contraceptives, iron under the ₹20 lakh crore economic
folic in containment zones to ensure package announced by the government
maternal and child health care amid the earlier this month.
Corona virus pandemic. ● The Finance Ministry had requested the
● It said, drugs and commodities needed for central bank to make these loans risk free,
continuing Reproductive, Maternal, following an interaction with banks.
Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Plus ● As a part of the package, a ₹3 lakh crore
Nutrition services should be treated as loan for the MSME sector was announced.
essential commodities. This will be guaranteed by the National
Credit Guarantee Trustee Company


Limited (NCGTC) in the form of a ● The late excess rainfall during last year’s
Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) monsoon followed by a long winter
facility. provided the climatic conditions needed
● However, such loans would attract a risk for wheat production to hit a record high
weight of a minimum 20% since these for the fourth straight year.
don’t come with direct government ● According to the Agriculture Ministry’s
guarantee. This facility is similar to the third advance estimates, the country’s
loans that are guaranteed by the Credit production amounts to 1,071 lakh tonnes
Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small of wheat this year, almost 36 lakh tonnes
Enterprises (CGTMSE). higher than previous year’s and 110 lakh
● After banks highlighted the issue with the tonnes higher than the average harvest.
government, the Finance Ministry asked ● A little over a third of the crop is procured
the RBI to waive the requirement of by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) at
assigning a risk weight to the loans, the minimum support price set by the
sources said. Centre each year, to go into the central
● Though primarily meant for the MSME pool for subsidised distribution under the
sector, other small borrowers including National Food Security Act.
non-banking financial companies can also ● Once procurement started, concerns
avail themselves of the scheme, sources included a shortage of labour at markets,
said. fears of infection spread and a shortage
● The scheme will be applicable till October of jute gunny bags due to production
31, or till an amount of ₹3 lakh crore is being disrupted at West Bengal’s jute
sanctioned, whichever is earlier. mills.
● Zero risk would mean that banks will not ● The Food Ministry said it had permitted
have to set aside additional capital for the use of plastic bags as well as used
these loans. The move is aimed at and cleaned jute bags to overcome this
encouraging lenders to extend credit, as hurdle, and it offered specific time slots
banks have turned risk averse and have for farmers, as well as safety equipment
been reluctant to lend. for labourers.
● According to FCI data, 342.6 lakh tonnes
Wheat procurement on target despite of wheat have been procured so far in this
lockdown 2020-21 marketing season, from 10 wheat
producing States. This is higher than the
● On the back of a record wheat harvest of
341 lakh tonnes procured last year.
more than 1,071 lakh tonnes, procurement
of the grain currently at 342.6 lakh tonnes
has also crossed last year’s levels despite
Nepal wants India to pull out forces from
the lockdown, and is well on the way to
Kalapani
reaching this year’s target of 407 lakh
tonnes. ● India should withdraw security forces
● However, the progress on procurement is from the Kalapani region and restore
uneven, with States such as Punjab and status quo, Nepalese Foreign Minister
Haryana racing towards their targets Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on
despite a late start, while Uttar Pradesh Wednesday.
lags behind, having reached less than 40% ● He said a solution to the border dispute
of its target. should be found urgently, even as Indian


sources confirmed that they were closely slump expected this year due to the
monitoring the debates in Nepal’s coronavirus lockdowns.
Parliament to provide a constitutional ● Much of the money will go to Italy and
guarantee to the new map that shows the Spain, the EU nations worst affected by
disputed region as part of Nepal’s the pandemic. EU leaders agree that, if
sovereign territory. they fail to rescue economies now in
● Mr.Gyawali said Nepal appreciated the ties freefall, they risk something worse than
it shares with India but was disappointed their divisive debt crisis of a decade ago,
with the November 2019 political map of which fanned euroscepticism and
India that brought the issue back to the threatened to pull the eurozone apart.
table. “The map is a breach of the 1997 ● The 500 billion euros in grants is in line
understanding that both sides had with the wishes of the EU’s two biggest
reached during the Kathmandu visit of economies, France and Germany, which
Prime Minister I.K. Gujral,” he said. came up with a grants-only proposal last
● India has taken note of the parliamentary week. France, Germany, Italy and others
debates, with informed sources saying the welcomed the Commission plan.
South Block is “carefully following” the ● The more frugal nations would rather see
developments in Nepal. South Block’s the recovery package comprise only loans,
concerns about the Kalapani region is of and the Netherlands — among the most
particular significance as the Lipulekh resistant to mutualised debt and grants -
pass in the region connects India with responded cautiously to the proposals.
Tibet. The plan has to be approved by all 27
● “Border issues are sensitive and require member states and the European
trust and confidence to be resolved to the Parliament.
mutual satisfaction,” said a source,
indicating a change in thinking. Earlier,
officials had said India would consider
discussion on the Kalapani issue after the
COVID-19 pandemic was dealt with.
EU brings in euro 750billion economy rescue

plan
● The European Union (EU)’s executive

unveiled a €750 billion plan on Wednesday
to prop up economies hammered by the
coronavirus crisis, hoping to end months
of squabbling over how to fund a recovery
that has exposed fault-lines across the
27-nation bloc.
● Under the proposal, which could still be Invasive mussel species spreads rapidly in
blocked by more frugal northern nations, Kerala
the European Commission would borrow
the funds from the market and then ● An invasive mussel native to the South
disburse two-thirds in grants and the rest and Central American coasts is spreading
in loans to cushion the unprecedented quickly in the backwaters of Kerala,
elbowing out other mussel and clam


species and threatening the livelihoods of period, slated from week 1 to 17 in 2021,
fishermen engaged in molluscan fisheries. will include a select number of
● The rapid spread of the Charru mussel tournaments that were postponed,
(Mytellastrigata) may have been triggered cancelled or suspended.
by Cyclone Ockhi which struck the region ● Efforts will be made to hold these events
in 2017, according to a paper published in next year in the same corresponding week
the Journal of Aquatic Biology and from 2020.
Fisheries.
● Externally, the Charru mussel resembles India plans to start COVID vaccine trials by
the green and brown mussels October
(kallummekkaya in Malayalam), but is
● A novel coronavirus vaccine being
much smaller in size. Its colour varies
developed in India will likely begin to be
from black to brown, purple or dark green.
tested in people in October, K.
● The short-necked clam fisheries in the
VijayRaghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser
lake had obtained an eco label from the
to the government, said at a press briefing
Marine Stewardship Council and about
on Thursday.
3,000 people are dependent on fisheries
● Another vaccine group had developed a
here. In such a scenario, the fast-breeding
promising protein that would be ready to
Charru mussel could be seen as a ‘pest,’
be tested by next February. India was
the authors state.
looking at both indigenous as well as
● “The potential of Mytella Strigata to
foreign collaborations, he added.
outcompete the lucrative clam fishery is a
● The scale of the pandemic was such that
serious concern that urgently needs to be
it did not matter which company made a
addressed,” they add. Though this smaller
vaccine first, and there was enough room
mussel is edible, the overall economic
for promising vaccine candidates that
loss and impact on biodiversity is much
would take a while to develop. Moreover, it
bigger, it is pointed out.
was possible for vaccines to show limited
● In this scenario, there is an urgent need to
efficacy in primates but be more
identify the presence of the Charru mussel
protective in people.
in other parts of India by locating the
● Dr. Paul, who is heading an empowered
pathways of introduction, said Biju Kumar
group on medical equipment and
of the University of Kerala.
management plan to tackle the outbreak,
BWF extends Tokyo Olympic qualification said the results of a major sero-prevalence
period survey by the Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) in 69 districts to
● Badminton World Federation (BWF), on estimate the level of infection in several
Wednesday, announced an extended districts were expected next week.
qualification period of 17 weeks in 2021
for the Tokyo Olympics. FDI rises by 13% in 2019-20 financial year
● Crucially, it stated that all ranking points
● Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India
earned at tournaments during the original
grew by 13% to a record of $49.97 billion
Olympic qualification period (29 April 2019
in the 2019-20 financial year, according to
to 26 April 2020) will also count.
official data.
● BWF was unable to complete the last six
● The country had received an FDI of $44.36
weeks of its one-year qualifying period in
billion during April-March 2018-19. The
2020 due to COVID-19 and the extended


sectors which attracted maximum foreign Modi’s lockdown risks reversing those
inflows during 2019-20 include services gains.
($7.85 billion), computer software and ● The World Bank and the CMIE estimates
hardware ($7.67 billion), were published in late April and early May
telecommunications ($4.44 billion), respectively. Since then the situation in
trading ($4.57 billion), automobile ($2.82 India has only become grimmer, with
billion), construction ($2 billion), and harrowing images of people making
chemicals ($1 billion), the Department for desperate attempts to reach their villages,
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade on crowded buses, the flatbeds of trucks
(DPIIT) data showed. and even on foot or on bicycles
● Singapore emerged as the largest source dominating media coverage.
of FDI in India during the last fiscal with ● It’s dire enough to warrant the country
$14.67 billion investments. exiting its lockdown, as it has been doing
● It was followed by Mauritius ($8.24 incrementally since May 4, even as its
billion), the Netherlands ($6.5 billion), the infections are surging. India is now Asia’s
U.S. ($4.22 billion), Caymen Islands ($3.7 virus hotspot with infections well over
billion), Japan ($3.22 billion), and France 1,50,000.
($1.89 billion). FDI is important as the
country requires major investments to U.S ends sanctions waiver that allowed
overhaul its infrastructure sector to boost countries to cooperate with Iran
growth.
● The US will end the last remaining
World bank study projects at least 49million sanctions waiver that allowed countries
people to be pushed into extreme poverty like China to cooperate with Iran on civil
nuclear projects under the landmark 2015
● At least 49 million people across the world Iran nuclear deal, Secretary of State Mike
are expected to plunge into “extreme Pompeo has announced.
poverty” — those living on less than $1.90 ● European nations and other parties to the
per day — as a direct result of the nuclear deal, including Russia and China,
pandemic’s economic destruction and have continued to work with Iran within
India leads that projection, with the World the framework of the 2015 pact, which
Bank estimating some 12 million of its eased economic sanctions on Tehran in
citizens will be pushed to the very margins exchange for limits on its nuclear
this year. programme. The waivers allowed
● Some 122 million Indians were forced out companies from these countries to work
of jobs last month alone, according to with Iran on civil nuclear projects.
estimates from the CMIE. Daily wage ● President Donald Trump withdrew from
workers and those employed by small the nuclear deal in 2018 and has steadily
businesses have taken the worst hit. reimposed US sanctions on Iran that had
These include hawkers, roadside vendors, been eased or lifted under its terms.
workers employed in the construction ● Later Special US Representative on Iran,
industry and many who eke out a living by Brian Hook said that the US is taking these
pushing handcarts and rickshaws. actions now because the regime
● A World Bank report found India had been continues to use its nuclear programme to
making significant progress and was extort the international community.
close to losing its status as the country
with the most poor citizens. The impact of


● The animal was spotted in the Hoggar

Chinese parliament approves hongkong
Mountains national park in the vast
security bill
country's desert south, parks official Salah
● China's parliament approved a decision on Amokrane told the state-run APS news
Thursday to go forward with national agency.
security legislation for Hong Kong that ● Mr Amokrane was speaking at the release
democracy activists in the city and on Monday of a documentary on the work
Western countries fear could endanger its of the park's scientists, which includes
special autonomy and freedoms. images of the cheetah taken in the Atakor
● China says the legislation will be aimed at volcanic field whose peaks approach a
tackling secession, subversion, terrorism height of 3,000 metres (9,800 feet).
and foreign interference in the city but the ● The Saharan cheetah's range is now
plan, unveiled in Beijing last week, limited to isolated pockets across the
triggered the first big protests in Hong Sahara and Sahel from Mali in the west to
Kong for months. the Central African Republic in the east.
● The Chinese government's security law for
National games postponed indefinitely due
the city is fuelling fears in Hong Kong and
to COVID spread
beyond that Beijing is imposing its
authority and eroding the high degree of ● The much-delayed 36th National Games,
autonomy the former British colony has scheduled for October-November in Goa,
enjoyed under a "one country, two was on Thursday postponed indefinitely
systems" formula since it returned to due to the pandemic.
Chinese rule in 1997. ● The Indian Olympic Association (IOA)
● Relations between the two superpowers recently asked the Goa government that it
have been tense over China's claims in the must host the National Games as
South China Sea and trade. The scheduled from October 20 to November 4
coronavirus pandemic has also become this year. However, a spurt in the number
an issue of acrimony. of COVID-19 cases has led to a
● Chinese-claimed Taiwan on Thursday postponement.
promised to settle any Hong Kong people
who flee for political reasons, offering help Reports suggest locust attacks could turn
from employment to counselling. out to be global plague
Critically endangered Saharan cheetah found ● The current upsurge in desert locust

in Algeria attacks could turn into a full-fledged
global plague by the end of the year if it
● Naturalists in Algeria have filmed a spreads to West Africa and the insects
Saharan cheetah, a subspecies listed as begin breeding there, says the Food and
critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, Agriculture Organisation’s senior locust
for the first time in a decade, the national forecasting officer Keith Cressman.
parks authority said. ● However, despite the dramatic images of
● One of the world's most elusive wild cats, locusts in Jaipur and at the Panna tiger
the Saharan cheetah is quite different in reserve, and the fears of attacks as far as
appearance from the other African Delhi, Mr. Cressman says the swarms are
cheetahs. Its coat is shorter and paler in unlikely to linger in the central Indian
colour. States or over large urban centres, and will


return to the deserts of Rajasthan with the ● NCS has so far conducted around 76
arrival of monsoon. Online Job Fairs during the lockdown
● A changing climate and the recent period. Online Job Fairs are being
cyclonic activity have brought the swarms organized to bridge the gap between job
into India earlier than expected and driven seekers and employers where the
them further east than usual, he added. complete cycle from job posting to
● “Locusts don’t like urban areas, they will selection of candidate can be completed
simply overfly the urban areas. They will on the portal.
make enough of a bother to scare people, ● Besides, a special link for Work from
[but] they don’t attack humans, of course. Home jobs and online training has been
There’s not much to eat in urban areas. created on NCS portal to give direct
They’re not good at eating cement and access to job seekers to such jobs.
concrete, they really like to eat the natural ● There are around one crore active job
vegetation,” he said on Friday, speaking at seekers and 54 thousand active
a webinar organised by the Centre for employers registered on NCS and around
Science and Environment. 73 lakh vacancies have been mobilized
through the portal so far.
Labour ministry starts online career skill ● Around one thousand employment
training programmes exchanges including 200 Model Career
Centres across the country are integrated
● Ministry of Labour and Employment under
with NCS.
its National Career Service (NCS) project
has now started offering free online
Career Skills Training for its registered
Fiscal deficit widens to 4.6% due to revenue
job-seekers.
crunch
● This course on soft skills assists the
learners in enhancing personality ● The country’s fiscal deficit widened to
development with modules on corporate 4.6% of the gross domestic product (GDP)
etiquette, improving inter personal skills, in 2019-20 mainly on account of poor
making impactful presentation including revenue realisation, according to official
other necessary soft skills demanded by data.
the industry at present. ● The deficit, which signifies the gap
● The training module is available in Hindi between government revenue and
and English on the NCS portal. The expenditure, is higher than the revised
Ministry is implementing the NCS Project estimate of 3.8% for the fiscal.
for transformation of the National ● According to the Controller General of
Employment Service to provide a variety of Accounts (CGA) data, the fiscal deficit for
employment related services like job 2019-20 worked out to be 4.59% of the
search, career counselling, information on GDP, while the revenue deficit was 3.27%.
skill development courses, apprenticeship ● The effective revenue deficit was 2.36%,
and internships through an on-line portal the data showed. The increase in the
of NCS. fiscal deficit has been mainly on account
● National Career Service has taken a of shortfall in revenue collection during
number of initiatives to mitigate the 2019-20.
challenges in the labour market due to ● Revenue receipts during the year worked
COVID-19 and the consequent lockdown. out to be only 90% of the revised


estimate.In absolute terms, total receipts

UN awards Indian army women with gender
of the government were ₹17.5 lakh crore
advocate award
against the estimate of ₹19.31 lakh crore.
● The data showed the government’s total ● Major Suman Gawani, an Indian Army
expenditure was ₹26.86 lakh crore, lower officer who served as a women
than the ₹26.98 lakh crore projected peacekeeper with the United Nations
earlier. Mission in South Sudan in 2019 is being
awarded the prestigious - United Nations
TRAI recommends new national numbering
Military Gender Advocate of the year
plan
Award.
● The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ● She will receive the award from the UN
on Friday recommended that a new Secretary General Antonio Guterres during
National Numbering Plan be issued at the an online ceremony today being organised
earliest so that a uniquely identifiable at the UN Headquarters, New York on the
number can be provided to every occasion of International Day of United
subscriber in India. Nations Peacekeepers. Major Suman will
● Some of the options that TRAI has receive this award along with a Brazilian
recommended include switching to a Naval Officer Commander Carla Monteiro
11-digit mobile number, reallocation of de Castro Araujo.
mobile numbering resources surrendered ● Major Suman served as a Military
by operators who have shut shop and observer in United Nations Mission in
prefixing zero for all mobile calls made South Sudan,UNMISS from November
from fixed line. 2018 to December 2019. The officer
● The regulator said adequate availability of encouraged participation in joint military
numbering resources is threatened patrols to maintain gender balance,
because of an increase in the range of irrespective of the hardships under
services and massive growth in the extreme field conditions. She visited
number of connections, especially in the various mission team sites across South
mobile segment. Sudan to integrate gender perspective into
● The ongoing plan implemented in 2003, the planning and military activity in the
was developed keeping in mind the mission.
projections till the year 2033. The total ● The officer was selected to attend a
number of telephone subscribers in India specialised training on Conflict Related
stands at 1,177.02 million with a Sexual Violence at Nairobi and
tele-density of 87.45% at the end of participated in various UN forums to
January 2020. demonstrate how a gender perspective
● TRAI said that some serious problems are can help in protecting civilians, especially
anticipated with a change in the mobile from conflict related sexual violence.
number from 10 to 11 digits, and the move ● Apart from supporting the UNMISS Force
should be resorted to only if all the efforts initiatives, she also trained the South
to continue with the 10-digit numbering Sudan government forces on Conflict
are exhausted. Related Sexual Violence related aspects.
The officer also commanded the UN
Peacekeepers Day Parade organised at
UNMISS.


and ultimately transportation of the

U.S decides to terminate relationship with
material to the placement area.
WHO ● Restored at a cost of Rs 10 crore by
opening the mouth and other related
● United States President Donald Trump has
works in six months', the lake is now off
announced that America is terminating its
the threatened list (Montreux record).
relationship with World Health
● The IIT Madras team developed the
Organization over its handling of the
dredging methodology identifying the
Corona virus.
location of dredging along with disposal
● He blamed WHO and China for the deaths
and selection of suitable dredger with
and destruction caused by the COVID-19
minimum impact on the ecosystem.
pandemic across the globe.
● The Chilika Lake Authority has developed
● The US President said, because they have
an Ecosystem Health Report Card and
failed to make the requested and greatly
periodical monitoring of salinity, fish and
needed reforms, the United States will be
dolphin, freshwater weeds, birds and other
terminating its relationship with WHO
biological parameters are being carried
forthwith and redirecting those funds to
out.
other worldwide and deserving, urgent
global public health needs. He said that
the world needs answers from China on
the virus.
Hockey India introduces grading system for
● In his speech from the Rose Garden of the match officials
White House yesterday, Mr.Trump also
● To improve umpiring standards and bring
announced that the US will end special
more structure to officiating, Hockey India
treatment of Hong Kong in response to
has decided to introduce grading system
Chinese imposition of new controls. US
for all officials, including umpires and
will revise its travel advisory to warn of
technical officials. Tournament officials —
surveillance in Hong Kong, he added.
technical delegates, umpire managers,
technical officials, judges and umpires —
will be divided into three grades.
New dredging technology helps improve
● While for Umpires the final score will be
population of Irrawaddy dolphins
based on performance reports from all
● A research project by the Indian Institute domestic tournaments, fitness tests and
of Technology (IIT) Madras has helped online tests, for technical officials the
Odisha's Chilika lake, Asia's largest parameters will be the same without
brackish water body, in tripling the fitness tests.
population of the Irrawaddy dolphins. The
searchers conducted geotechnical,
hydraulic and satellite imagery studies and PMO claims PM-CARES fund not under the
developed a dredging methodology with ambit of RTI
minimum impact on the lake ecosystem.
● The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has
● The process of dredging consists of the
refused to disclose details on the creation
excavation (loosening or dislodging) of
and operation of the PM CARES Fund,
the material from the bottom, removal of
telling an RTI applicant that the fund is
the loosened material to the dredge vessel


“not a public authority” within the ambit of available with the Ministry of Food and
the RTI Act, 2005. Public Distribution.
● The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance ● Eight States and Union Territories have so
and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM far not lifted any foodgrains under the
CARES) Fund accepts donations and scheme: Delhi, Chandigarh, Assam,
provides relief during the COVID-19 Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan,
pandemic, and other similar emergencies. Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
● Sri HarshaKandukuri, a law student, filed ● The Centre has laid the onus of
an RTI request on April 1, asking the PMO identification of the migrant workers and
to provide the Fund’s trust deed and all deciding the mechanism for allocating the
government orders, notifications and foodgrains on the States. Speaking to
circulars relating to its creation and reporters over a videoconference on
operation. Friday, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan
● “PM CARES Fund is not a Public Authority said, “We are not raising any ifs and buts,
under the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI it is up to the States to come up with a
Act, 2005. However, relevant information policy and distribute the grains. By July 15,
in respect of PM CARES Fund may be they should submit a list of beneficiaries
seen on the Website pmcares.gov.in,” the whom these grains have been distributed
reply said. to”.
● Another RTI request on the issue, filed by ● Separately, Delhi and West Bengal were
activist Vikrant Togad, had also been yet to lift the foodgrains allocated for the
refused in April citing a Supreme Court month of May under the
(SC) observation that “indiscriminate and PradhanMantriGaribKalyan Anna Yojana
impractical demands under RTI Act for (PMGAY), Mr.Paswan said.
disclosure of all and sundry information
would be counterproductive”.
DPIIT to release draft e-commerce policy
Certain number of states/UT’s yet to lift soon
foodgrains allocated from centre
● The Department for Promotion of Industry
● Eight States have so far not lifted any and Internal Trade (DPIIT) will very soon
foodgrains allocated by the Centre under put a draft e-commerce policy in the public
the AtmaNirbhar Bharat package, which domain to seek views and comments, a
aims to ensure free supply of foodgrains top government official said on Saturday.
to all migrants who are not covered under ● DPIIT Secretary GuruprasadMohapatra
the Food Security Act for the next two said e-commerce is a fast emerging
months. sector and it is difficult to predict where it
● As part of the scheme, which targets will go in the next couple of years.
around 8 crore migrant workers who do ● The country does not have an
not have ration cards, the beneficiaries are e-commerce policy and the department is
supposed to get free supply of 5 kg of currently working on this, he added.
either rice or wheat and 1 kg of chana or Several foreign e-commerce firms have
pulses. raised concerns over some points in the
● Till Thursday, out of the 8 lakh metric draft pertaining to data.
tonne (LMT) allocated under the scheme ● It is now recognised that the country
only 2.06 LMT had been lifted by the State should have a definite, clear and coherent
governments, as per the statistics


policy, which is keeping in tune with the bilateral relations exploring new avenues
requirement of the society and service of cooperation. During his meeting with
providers, he noted. new Indian High Commissioner
● “So, the e-commerce policy firstly should GopalBaglay in Colombo today, Sri Lankan
lay down a very clear policy on what is President GotabayaRajapaksa stressed
data; what kind of data the e-commerce the need to expedite the implementation
companies can use; how the citizens’ right of already agreed joint projects for the
of privacy can be protected; how the benefit of both countries.
e-commerce data is being leveraged for ● Areas such as tertiary education, tourism,
other purposes, other commercial benefits information and communication
accrue to the e-commerce data holder; technology, agriculture and agri-based
how citizens like you and me can have products were mentioned for enhancing
access to those benefits, he said. bilateral cooperation.
● It was agreed to accelerate India’s
India urges for more tax information sharing participation in Sri Lanka’s post COVID
with BRICS countries economic recovery building on the areas
identified as mutual priorities in the
● India pitched for wider sharing of
telephonic conversation between Sri
information exchanged under tax treaties
Lankan President and PM Modi last
among BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia,
Saturday.
India, China and South Africa – for
● Both sides further noted that the shared
countering corruption, money laundering
heritage of Buddhism and the civilizational
and terrorist financing, at the meeting of
links between India and Sri Lanka provide
tax heads held on Friday.
a robust platform for bringing the two
● India batted for adopting a “whole of
peoples even closer. The Indian High
government approach” in dealing with
Commissioner said that India is ready to
crossborder financial crimes, as they have
provide more opportunities for Sri Lankan
ramifications in respect of various
scholars to study in India in their chosen
statutes, not only taxation, said finance
fields.
secretary Ajay BhushanPandey, who
represented India via video conferencing. U.S calls for expansion of G7 member
● India also asked for sharing of Covid-19 countries
related tax measures taken by respective
tax administrations to enhance the ● US President Donald Trump has said that
country’s understanding of fiscal and he will postpone a meeting of Group of 7
economic impact of the pandemic. nations until fall and called for an
● The knowledge sharing would also aid in expansion of the group's membership.
further evaluating various possibilities in ● Mr Trump told reporters that that he has
assisting the government’s efforts in not yet set a new date, but it can take
containing the pandemic, said Pandey. place in September around the time of the
annual meeting of the United Nations.
● The leaders of the world’s major
India and Srilanka commits to strengthen economies were slated to meet in June in
bilateral relationships the US. Mr Trump said he considers the
G7 an outdated group that doesn't
● India and Sri Lanka have reaffirmed properly represent what's taking place in
commitment to further strengthen the world.


● The US President singled out India, Russia, shuttle flights. Hurley is the spacecraft

Australia and South Korea as possible commander for the mission, responsible
additions. The G7 members are US, for activities such as launch, landing and
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and recovery. He was selected as an astronaut
UK. in 2000 and has completed two
● Meanwhile,German Chancellor Angela spaceflights.
Merkel will not attend an in-person
summit of G7 leaders that U.S. President
Donald Trump has suggested he will host Rohit Sharma nominated for KhelRatna
despite concerns over the COVID-19
pandemic, the Politico website quoted her ● The Board of Control for Cricket in India
spokesman as saying on Friday. has nominated Rohit Sharma for the Rajiv
Gandhi KhelRatna while Ishant Sharma,
Space X’s dragon spacecraft takes off for ShikharDhawan and Deepti Sharma have
international space station been recommended for the Arjuna Award.
● If Rohit gets the KhelRatna, he will become
● SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft the fourth cricketer, after Sachin
successfully took off last night from Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and
Kennedy Space Center for the ViratKohli, to win the coveted award.
International Space Station (ISS), with two

NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and
Douglas Hurley.
● The spacecraft is the first to take the
American astronauts to orbit from
American soil in nearly a decade. The
mission marks the first launch of a rocket
owned by SpaceX, the commercial space
company founded by Elon Musk. US
President Donald Trump was present at
the Kennedy Space Center to view the
rocket launch.
● On Wednesday, the planned launch was
called off due to bad weather. NASA has
assigned Hurley and Behnken--two of its
most experienced astronauts. Behnken is

the joint operations commander for the

Demo-2 mission, responsible for activities
such as rendezvous, docking and
undocking, as well as activities while the
spacecraft is docked to the space station.

● He was selected as a NASA astronaut in
2000 and has completed two space


GIST OF Science Reporter Magazine

the Earth-moon system and will likely
#1 New Mini Moon of Earth escape in April.
● It will most likely return to orbiting the sun,
● A new mini-moon was observed by although there’s a chance it could some
Wierzchos and Teddy Pruyne at the day head straight to Earth, where it would
NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey in burn up in the atmosphere in a dazzling
Arizona on the night of researchers meteor display.
Kacper February 15. It is about the size of
a car roughly 6-11 feet in diameter. #2 Chenab Bridge –The Highest Bridge
Researchers named it “2020 CD 3” – it is
likely to be a carbonaceous type asteroid. About:
● According to the astronomers, this finding
is very important because the miniature ● Bridge length: 1,315 m or 4,314 ft
moon is only the second asteroid known ● Bridge length includes 650 m or 2,130 ft
to orbit Earth after the 2006 RH120 which long viaduct on the northern side
was also discovered by the Catalina Sky ● Arch length: 480 m or 1575 ft
Survey. 2006 RH120 rotated the planet ● Arch span: 467 m or 1,532 ft
from September 2006 to June 2007. ● Height above river bed: 359 m or 1,178 ft
● It was suggested that 2020 CD3 entered ● Height above river surface: 322 m or 1,056
the Earth’s orbit around three years ago. In ft
support of this “The Smithsonian ● 14 m-wide dual carriage way
Astrophysical Observatory’s Minor Planet ● 1.2 m-wide central verge
Center” announces that no link was found
for the known artificial object and it is Extraordinary Features:
likely the captured asteroid in the Earth’s
gravity. ● It is 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower
● The researchers found that it has a in Paris, France.
rambling loop around the Earth about ● It is the seventh-largest arch-shaped
every four months or so. But it is bridge in the world.
temporarily bound to the Earth and is not ● It is partly in straight horizon and partly in
in a stable orbit. It is heading away from curves.
● It can withstand winds up to 260 kmph


● Lifespan will be 120 years built in 1907. Havelock Bridge, also called
● It can handle speeds up to 100 kmph the Old Godavari Bridge, at Rajahmundry,
● Challenging, fragile and daunting geology, Andhra Pradesh, was decommissioned in
treacherous terrains, rugged Himalayan 1997 and is now a national monument.
Mountains. ● Koilwar railway bridge, now called Abdul
Bari Bridge, over the upper Sone river,
Materials Used: Bihar, began in 1856. It was completed in
1862, after the First War of Indian
A unique structure like the Chenab Bridge is built Independence of 1857 halted its
with the help of some unique materials, which construction.
include: ● Aryankavu bridge at Kaduthuruthy, near
Punalur, Kerala, on the Kollam–Sengottai
● High quality steel of Grade E250C being branch line is nearly 110 years old. At
used for fabrication of deck Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, both trains and
superstructure. The C grade steel has motor vehicles cross the Yamuna, near its
special toughness properties at subzero confluence with the Ganga, on the
temperature making the steel enough doubledeck, steel-truss, 1,006-metre Old
ductile in chilly cold weather conditions. Z Naini bridge built in 1865.
grade steel used in fabrication of Arch has ● The 1854-built Dapoori viaduct, on the
special thickness properties preventing Great Indian Peninsula Railway, crossed
lamellar failure of steel plates. the Mula river.
● Double corrosion protected Dywidag bars, ● The Nanjangud railway bridge, connecting
pre-stressed high tensile steel threaded Tandavapura and Nanjangud stations,
bar used for slope stabilization with the over the Kabini river in Mysore district was
requisite tensile strength. built in 1735 and is a heritage site. Built
● Cable anchors are used for stabilization of first as a passenger bridge, for horse,
more critical slopes such as below the camel and bullock carriages, in brick sand
main Arch foundations. and stone, by Dalvoy Devraj, in 1902 it was
● For steel to steel interfaces, multi-metal converted into a railway bridge.
grout with pressure has been used for
ensuring 100% contact in between, so as Similar Examples of Engineering Milestones for
to prevent any point loading causing Railways Bogibeel Bridge on river Brahmaputra
rupture. in Assam
● For maintenance, regular painting of large
bridges is an intimidating task. Hence, a ● It is the longest rail-cum-road bridge in
painting scheme was developed, having India
renewal of over 15 years, compared to ● It measures 4.94 km over the Brahmaputra
approximately 5 to 7 years in most other river.
Indian railway bridges. ● It is India’s first bridge to have fully welded
steel-concrete support beams.
Historical Masterpieces: ● It is situated in an earthquake-prone area.
● It can withstand earthquakes of
● The railway bridge across the Mahi river at magnitudes up to 7 on the Richter Scale.
Bhairongarh, Madhya Pradesh, near ● It has a serviceable period of around 120
Ratlam, was built in 1890. years.
● Netravati Bridge goes across the Ullal
River, near Mangalore, Karnataka, was


● It is the fifth longest bridge in India after price. The import content is also
Bhupen Hazarika Setu, Dibang river bridge, negligible.
Mahatma Gandhi Setu and Bandra Worli
Sea Link. HCARD — Robotic Device for Frontline
● It is Asia’s second longest rail-cum-road Healthcare Warriors:
bridge Pamban bridge at Rameshwaram.
● It is India’s first railway sea bridge. ● CSIR-CMERI (Central Mechanical
● It is situated in a marine environment. Engineering Research Institute), Durgapur,
● Designed for wave action and cyclonic has developed a “Hospital Care Assistive
storm. Robotic Device” to safeguard the
● It has a span which could be opened for healthcare workers by reducing their
ship traffic. exposure to the infected patients directly.
The device helps healthcare workers
maintain physical distance from COVID-19
patients.
● The robotic device possesses various
features including navigation, drawer
activation for providing medicines and
food to patients, sample collection and
audio-visual communication. It can be
controlled and monitored by a nursing
booth with a control station. The robot
works with both automatic as well as
manual modes of navigation.
#3 CSIR’s Mission to Combat COVID19 Trial on Mycobacterium W (Mw):
Coverall Suit to Combat COVID-19: ● CSIR has been granted approval by the
Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to
● CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories conduct trials on an approved
(CSIR-NAL), Bengaluru, along with MAF immunomodulator, Sepsivac®, to test its
Clothing Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru, has efficacy against COVID-19. The drug
developed and certified polypropylene contains heat-killed Mycobacterium W
spun laminated multi-layered non-woven (Mw), to enhance innate immunity of the
fabric based Coverall to ensure the safety body to limit the spread of COVID-19
of Doctors, Nurses, Paramedical staff and infection.
Health Care workers who are working ● It will also help to fasten the recovery of
round the clock to fight COVID-19. infected patients. Sepsivac® drug is used
● The Coveralls have gone through stringent to treat patients with gram-negative sepsis
testing at SITRA, Coimbatore, and have and is also effective for leprosy patients.
been certified for use. CSIRNAL and MAF There are similarities between the clinical
have plans to augment the production characteristics of coronavirus patients
capacity to about 30,000 units per day and gram-negative sepsis because of
within four weeks. The major advantage of which it may hold some promise.
these Coveralls is their highly competitive
CSIR Identifies top 25 Drugs for Repurposing:


● To make drugs available for corona Ashwagandha, Mulethi, Harad, Baheda
patients in India, CSIR is working on the and Sataver.
repurposing of 25 drugs/drug candidates
for COVID-19. Hyderabad based #4 Air Pollution and Public Health:
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Challenges and Interventions
Technology (IICT) has developed a
convenient and cost-effective synthetic Challenges:
process for Favipiravir, an inhibitor of viral
RNA polymerase and that has emerged as ● Air Pollution: Know your Enemy — Insights
one of the most encouraging drugs. from Around the Globe
● The technology has been transferred to ● Air Pollution: A Burden on One’s Health
Cipla which will approach the Drugs ● Indoor Air Pollution: A Devil at Home?
Controller General of India (DCGI) for ● Air Pollution & Respiratory Diseases:
approval of Favipiravir to be launched in Turning Acute to Chronic
India as Ciplenza. ● Alarming Rise of Cancer: Is Air Pollution a
Contributor?
Herbal Decongestant Spray for Mask by ● Impact of Air Pollution on Reproductive
CSIR-NBRI: Health
● Mitigation Strategies and Role of
● The most common problem of wearing a Public-Private Partnership
mask for a long time is suffocation. ● Recommendations for Sustainable
● Masks can cause congestion in the Solutions
respiratory system. CSIR-National
Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Interventions:
Lucknow, has developed a “Herbal
Decongestant Spray” that removes the ● Appropriate policies should be adopted
mucus or cough thus clearing the and programmes initiated to control air
windpipe and congestion. pollution resulting from emissions of
● The spray has been formulated as per the oxides of carbon, sulphur & nitrogen;
guidelines of the Ministry of AYUSH. The hydrocarbons and particulate matter, from
Institute is planning to transfer the stationary and mobile sources to achieve
technology for commercial production. acceptable levels of ambient air quality.
● Efforts should be made to have
CIMAP’s CIM-Paushak and Herbal Cough Syrup: continuous monitoring systems of primary
and secondary pollutants and their
● CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and sources to provide precise information
Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow, has about the level of air pollution in a
developed two herbal products, region-specific manner, including
CIM-Paushak and Herbal Cough Syrup — hotspots, to get a clear idea about the
that can boost immunity and help in intensity and magnitude of the problem.
easing the dry cough symptom linked with ● Member countries should share
COVID-19. information about emissions of different
● The two effective, cheap and safe categories of air pollutants from various
products have been formulated as per the sources.
guidelines from the Ministry of AYUSH. ● In order to precisely establish the
The products have been formulated using cause-effect relationship, efforts should
twelve valuable herbs including Puranva,


be made to continuously monitor and of polluters, within a legal framework, and
record seasonal fluctuations in air other effective and efficient means of
pollution levels and correlate with reducing the pollution levels.
increased incidents of associated health ● Internationally coordinated research and
issues. development programmes should be
● Governments, industries as well as supported and undertaken aimed at better
research and healthcare institutions understanding of the effects of air
should encourage transdisciplinary, pollution on humans and the environment,
holistic research to study the effects of air and improving technologies for fossil fuel
pollution on human, animal and plant combustion and control of pollutant
health. emissions.
● The understanding of the concept of ‘One ● Governments in NAM and other
Health’ should be promoted especially in developing countries should encourage
the context of air pollution. the use of biofuels and other sources of
● Special emphasis should be given to renewable energy. The focus should also
conducting in depth analysis of the be directed towards waste management
sources, types, causes and effects of and biotreatment of polluted
indoor and ambient air pollution. environments.
● Capacity building programs, workshops ● All major industrial and infrastructure
and training sessions should be projects should undergo a human health
conducted to sensitize people about the impact assessment as a part of the
causes and harmful effects of indoor and approval process.
ambient air pollution. ● Industries should be mandated to adopt
● Governments should encourage ‘Cleaner Technologies’ in their production
educational institutions to adopt processes to reduce air pollution at
pedagogical tools in the curriculum in the source. Industries should be encouraged
environment and climate change to with incentives to implement ‘Process
increase awareness and sensitize Optimization’ and ‘Process Integration’ for
students on the harmful effects of air mitigation of air pollution.
pollution and their role in minimizing the
effects. #5 GOI Launches Aarogya Setu App
● Local health workers and medical
practitioners should be encouraged to be ● Aarogya Setu is a mobile application
involved in epidemiological programs, to developed by the Government of India to
create a database of various health issues link essential health services with the
related to air pollution. people of India to fight against COVID-19.
● Governments should encourage and fund ● The App is intended at enhancing the
start-ups and researchers engaged in initiatives of the Government of India,
designing environment friendly solutions mainly the Department of Health, in
in sectors such as transportation, actively reaching out to and informing the
household cooking, construction, etc. to users of the app regarding various risks,
minimize the emission of air pollutants. best practices and relevant advisories
● Appropriate emission control strategies relating to the control of COVID-19.
should be adopted on national and ● The application tracks through a bluetooth
international basis, which may include and location generated social graph, it
emission standards for various categories notifies the user about closeness with a


COVID-19 positive individual. The app Gokkadal Technologies is a Dubai based
alerts are accompanied by instructions on emerging Technology company and is a
how to self-isolate and what to do in case part of the Mekado Group at Bangalore,
if someone has developed symptoms. Karnataka.
● The app has various advisories on how to
maintain social distancing, and various #8 Electronic Skin — Human-machine
recommendations to stay safe. It also Interface
indicates the level of risk regarding
infection. ● WeI Gao, assistant professor at Caltech’s
Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of
#6 Apple Unveils COVID-19 Information App Medical Engineering, has developed an
and Website electronic skin, or e-skin, which can be
applied directly on top of the real skin.
● Apple has also launched a website and a ● The newly developed e-skin which is made
new application devoted to the screening from soft, flexible rubber, can be
of COVID-19. embedded with sensors. These sensors
● The resources provide an online screening can monitor information like body
tool, information regarding the disease, temperature, heart rate, levels of blood
and also provides guidance suggesting sugar and metabolic by-products that are
when to seek testing or emergency care. indicators of health, and even the nerve
● The site and the application are developed signals that control our muscles. It does
by Apple in collaboration with the Centers not require a battery, as it runs solely on
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), biofuel cells powered by one of the body’s
Federal Emergency Management Agency own waste products.
(FEMA), and the White House. The app is ● According to Gao, “One of the major
available for download on the App Store. challenges with these kinds of wearable
devices is on the power side. Many people
#7 GOKADDAL —World’s First-ever Digital are using batteries, but that’s not very
Solutions exchange Cloud sustainable. Some people have tried using
solar cells or harvesting the power of
● GOKADDAL, the world’s first Digital human motion, but we wanted to know,
Solutions Exchange in Cloud, was ‘Can we get sufficient energy from sweat
launched in India. gokaddal.com is a to power the wearables?’ and the answer
cloud-based solution exchange platform. is yes.”
It mainly emphasises on 4A’s –
Automation, Artificial Intelligence, #9 Mary River Turtle
Analytics and Augmentative Technologies.
It is a Business to Business (B2B), ● The “Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus)”
Business to Government (B2G), Business is River Queensland, Australia, and
to Consumer (B2C) solution platform possesses rare biological traits that make
connecting solution providers to solution the turtle highly distinctive.
seekers. ● The turtle is one of Australia’s largest
● It is also an innovative platform for freshwater turtles and is also referred to
Startups and SME companies. It seeks to as a “Butt-breather” as it can breathe
facilitate how digital solutions are underwater through its cloaca — the
sourced, delivered and managed. posterior orifice serving as the only


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opening for reproductive, digestive and c. Simplexvirus

urinary tract. And because of this
specialised respiratory system they can d. Rhinovirus
spend more time in water up to three days
due to which algae grows on its body and 2. ________is a very large, complex, brick-shaped
head giving a green punk-rock hairstyle to virus that causes smallpox.
the turtle. This growth of algae also allows
it to camouflage with its surroundings. a. Rhinovirus
● The algae grows on its body and head and
b. Orthopoxvirus
two long whiskers or barbels (slender
tactile organ) emerging out of its chin
c. Simplexvirus
make the turtle appear like an ageing rock.
● The body of the adult turtle has an
d. Enterovirus
elongated, streamlined shell with a
moderate short neck and well-webbed 3. __________belongs to the family Picornaviridae
limbs. Adult males possess an extremely
long tail which can be as long as a. Cytomegalovirus
two-thirds of the carapace length.
● Usually, the body of the Mary River Turtle b. Simplexvirus
is dark grey whereas the shell can be dark
brown to red with plastron a lighter grey to c. Poliovirus
cream or light yellow colour.
● Popular for its features, the Mary River d. Coronavirus
Turtle was named as one of the species
on the brink of extinction according to the
Evolutionary Distinct and Globally
Endangered (EDGE) Reptiles list of 4. In April 2015, the World Health Organization
Zoological Society of London. The turtle (WHO) declared the Americas free of _________
was formally described as a species in the transmission causative agent for German
1990s. measles
● However, during the 1960s and 70s the
a. Rotavirus
turtle fell victim to pet trade which
ultimately dwindled their numbers.
b. Influenza virus
● Another major reason for their
vulnerability to extinction is the
c. Hantavirus
exceptionally long time to reach sexual
maturity which is about 25 to 30 years. d. Rubivirus (rubella virus)
#10 MCQs on Human Virus
1. Which of the following viruses can cause 5. Which virus causes progressive failure of the
warts and cervical & anal cancer in humans? immune system?
a. Lentivirus a. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
b. Papillomavirus


b. Papillomavirus 9. ________ is the most common cause of severe
diarrhoeal disease in young children throughout
c. Norovirus the world.
d. Rhadinovirus a. Rotaviruses
b. Coronavirus
6. Among the five main hepatitis viruses c. Rhadinovirus

_________ uses reverse transcriptase to produce
its DNA from mRNA. d. Rubivirus
a. Hepatitis A virus
b. Hepatitis E virus 10. The causative agent for genital herpes

is_________
c. Hepatitis C virus
a. Papillomavirus
d. Hepatitis B virus
b. Herpes simplex virus 1

c. Herpes simplex virus 2
7. H1N1 is a subtype of_______virus.
d. Norovirus
a. Influenza A

b. Influenza B
#11 MCQs on Understanding Ecoterms
c. Influenza C
1. A species that has an extremely high impact
d. Influenza D on its natural environment relative to its
abundance (population) and plays a critical role
in the overall structure and function of an
ecosystem is known as
8. Which among the following is a
single-stranded RNA enveloped virus? (a) Root Species
a. Rhinovirus (b) Endemic Species
b. Lentivirus (c) Keystone Species
c. Rotavirus (d) Venture Species
d. Coronavirus
2. The gradual increase in the concentration of

nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) in
a water body (such as a lake) promoting


excessive growth of algae and causing ageing of human-health impacts of a proposed project or
the aquatic ecosystem is known as developmental activity is known as
(a) Biomagnification (a) Environmental Audit (EA)
(b) Eutrophication (b) Green Audit (GA)
(c) Coagulation (c) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
(d) Sedimentation (d) Environmental Taxation Monitoring (ETM)

3. The total amount of greenhouse gases 6. A transition area in nature where two distinct
produced to, directly and indirectly, support communities meet and integrate is termed as
human activities, usually expressed as carbon
dioxide equivalent is termed as (a) Isotone
(a) Carbon Footprint (b) Mergitone
(b) Greenhouse Impression (c) Blendosphere
(c) Carbon Trail (d) Ecotone
(d) Warming Outline
7. The species of plants and animals that exist

only in one geographic region are known as
4. A species that is not native to a specific
location and has a tendency to spread to a (a) Universal Species
degree believed to cause damage to the
environment, human economy or human health (b) Invasive Species
is known as
(c) Endemic Species
(a) Martial Species
(d) Endangered Species
(b) Threatened Species

(c) Enveloping Species
8. The variability among living organisms
(d) Invasive Species (including diversity within species, between
species, and of ecosystems) from all sources,
including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic
ecosystems and the ecological complexes of
5. The process of evaluating the possible which they are part is termed as
environmental, socio-economic, cultural and
(a) Species Richness


(b) Biodiversity 11. Long-term biological interaction between two

species in which one species obtains food or
(c) Global Evenness other benefits from the other without either
harming or benefiting each other is
(d) Eco-density
(a) Parasitism (b) Mutualism

(c) Commensalism (d) Competition
9. The increasing concentration of a toxic
substance in the tissues of tolerant organisms at
successively higher trophic levels in a food chain
is known as: 12. The scientific study of the distribution,
abundance and relation of organisms and their
(a) Eco-accumulation interactions
(b) Detritus Food-chain with the environment is termed as
(c) Incineration (a) Ecology (b) Ecosystem
(d) Biomagnification (c) Biosphere (d) Eco-physiology
13. A neurological syndrome caused by severe

mercury poisoning is termed as:
(a) Blue-baby Syndrome
(b) Itai-itai Disease
(c) Minamata Disease

(d) Black foot Disease
10. The place or environment, characterised by
both physical and biological features, where a
species naturally lives and grows is termed as
14. The amount of dissolved oxygen needed by
(a) Habitat aerobic microorganisms in the biological process
of metabolizing organic material present in a
(b) Ecotone given water sample at a certain temperature over
a specific period is termed as
(c) Locale
(a) Alkalinity Neutralization Demand
(d) Eco-zone
(b) Conductivity Suspension Demand

(c) Dissolved Oxygen Demand


(d) Biochemical Oxygen Demand
15. The development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs is
know as
(a) Justifiable Development
(b) Sustainable Development
(c) Defensible Development
(d) Organic Development


GIST OF PIB (Press Information Bureau)

Paris, as well as by two Centers of
#1 Global Partnership on Artificial Expertise- one each in Montreal and Paris.
Intelligence
India joined the Global Partnership on Artificial #2 Aarogyapath

Intelligence (GPAI or Gee-Pay) as a founding
member to support the responsible and A CSIR National Healthcare Supply Chain Portal
human-centric development and use of AI. that aims to provide real-time availability of
critical healthcare supplies has been launched.
About:
About:
● India joined the league of leading
economies including USA, UK, EU, AarogyaPath would serve manufacturers,
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, suppliers and customers.
Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of
Korea, Singapore to launch the GPAI. The information platform named AarogyaPath
● GPAI is an international and with a vision of “providing a path which leads one
multi-stakeholder initiative to guide the on a journey towards Aarogya (healthy life)” was
responsible development and use of AI, developed to address these challenges.
grounded in human rights, inclusion,
Key highlights:
diversity, innovation, and economic
growth.
● This integrated public platform that
● This is also a first initiative of its type for
provides single-point availability of key
evolving better understanding of the
healthcare goodscan be helpful to
challenges and opportunities around AI
customers in tackling a number of
using the experience and diversity of
routinely experienced issues.
participating countries.
● These issues include dependence on
● GPAI will be supported by a Secretariat, to
limited suppliers, time-consuming
be hosted by Organization for Economic
processes to identify good quality
Cooperation and Development (OECD) in


products, limited access to suppliers who ● It is represented by senior officials from
can supply standardized products at various central ministries and
reasonable prices within desired timelines, departments, including Agriculture, Health,
lack of awareness about the latest Culture, Defense, Space, Atomic Energy,
product launches, etc. and Information and Broadcasting, in
● It also helps manufacturers and suppliers addition to Science and Technology.
to reach a wide network of customers ● The Forum would be served by a
efficiently, overcoming gaps in Secretariat at the National Council for
connectivity between them and potential Science and Technology Communication
demand centers like nearby pathological (NCSTC), Department of Science and
laboratories, medical stores, hospitals, etc. Technology.
● It will also create opportunities for ● The Forum brings together science
business expansion due to an expanded communication efforts spread across
slate of buyers and visibility of new various institutions and can help adoption
requirements for products. Over time, of a common policy and best practices at
analytics from this platform is expected to a wider scale, ultimately aiming towards a
generate early signals to manufacturers national science communication
on over capacity as well as on looming framework.
shortages. ● These organizations are contributing to
● This would help to reduce wastage of science communication using various
resources due to inefficient forecasting ways and means and reaching out to the
and excess manufacturing, generate masses. However, there seems to be
awareness about the demand for new ample scope for interaction and
technologies. integration for evolving and adopting
common policies and following best
Way ahead: practices at a much wider scale.
● Concerted and collective countrywide
CSIR expects AarogyaPath to become the programmes are needed to be worked out
national healthcare information platform of and implemented jointly by integrating
choice in the years to come, filling a critical gap in them, and eventually, a national science
last-mile delivery of patient care within India communication framework may emerge.
through improved availability and affordability of ● The public communication of science and
healthcare supplies. technology and inculcation of scientific
temper among masses necessitates
interaction, cooperation, and coordination
#3 Joint Science Communication Forum to
amongst various stakeholders for better
promote common policy and best practices planning, policy, and implementation of
large-scale science communication
The Department of Science and Technology (DST) programmes in the country.
has constituted a joint Science Communication
Forum to facilitate interaction and coordination
amongst various public sector science #4 3 DST institutes among top 30 Indian
communication institutions and agencies. Institutions in Nature Index 2020
Key highlights: In the recently-released Nature Index table 2020,

India is placed twelfth globally in science


research output. The top five positions have gone ○ N. Bose National Centre for Basic
to the United States of America, China, Germany, Sciences, Kolkata at 30th position.
United Kingdom and Japan.

What is the Nature Index?
The Nature Index is a database of author

affiliation information collated from research
articles published in an independently selected
group of 82 high-quality science journals.
The database is compiled by Nature Research, a

division of the international scientific publishing
company Springer Nature that publishes
academic journals. Nature Research’s flagship
publication is Nature, a weekly multidisciplinary
journal first published in 1869.
The Nature Index provides a close to real-time

proxy of high-quality research output and
collaboration at the institutional, national and
regional level. #5 India Rankings 2020 for Higher
Educational Institutions
The Nature Index is updated monthly and also
releases annual tables of country. Union HRD Minister released “India Rankings
2020” for Higher Educational Institutions in
Key findings of Nature Index, 2020 on India: various categories on the basis of their
performance on five broad categories of
● Globally the top-rated Indian institutions in parameters.
this list are Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (CSIR), a group of About:
● 39 institutions at the 160th position and
Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore Instituted by: This is the fifth consecutive edition
at the 184th position. of India Rankings of the institutions of higher
● Three of the autonomous institutions of education by the Ministry of Human Resource
the Department of Science & Technology, Development (MHRD).
Government of India have found their
place among top 30 Indian Institutions as The National Institutional Ranking Framework
per Nature Index 2020 ratings. These are (NIRF), launched in 2015, outlines a methodology
○ the Indian Association for the to rank institutions across the country.
Cultivation of Science (IACS),
Kolkata at 7th position, Parameters:
○ Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for
Advanced Scientific Research The ranking framework evaluates institutions on
(JNCASR), Bangalore at 14th five parameters –
position and


● Teaching, Learning and Resources Supporting world class start-ups through CSIR
(TLR) – 30% Weightage Incubators under Atal Innovation mission
● Research and Professional initiatives and jointly work on new models of
Practice (RP) – 40% innovation, including setting up of CSIR
● Graduation Outcomes (GO) – 5% Innovation Parks. CSIR with its strong patent
● Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) – 15% portfolio and knowledge base and world class
● Perception (PR) – 10% researchers and AIM that has been working on
policies for fostering innovation in different
Dental institutions have been included for first sectors of the economy together can boost and
time in “India Rankings” bringing the total tally to strengthen innovation ecosystem of the country.
10 categories / subject domains.
Stimulating innovation and research in the MSME
List of institutes which secured top rank in ‘India industry by CSIR in collaboration with ARISE. In
Rankings 2020’ in various categories: this context, while ARISE initiative of AIM, works
to stimulate innovation and research in the MSME
● 1. Overall: Indian Institute of Technology industry, CSIR has been working very closely with
Madras MSME where in many of its technologies and
● 2. University: Indian Institute of Science, know-how have supported the MSME industry.
Bengaluru Together they have the potential to transform and
● 3. Engineering: Indian Institute of stimulate the MSME sector in the country.
Technology Madras
● 4. Management: Indian Institute of Creating problem solving mind-set across
Management Ahmedabad schools in India through close cooperation
● 5. Colleges: Miranda House, Delhi between Atal Tinkering Labs and Jigyasa. There
● 6. Pharmacy: Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi is natural synergy between Atal Tinkering
● 7. Medical: All India Institute of Medical Laboratories that have been working to foster
Sciences, New Delhi curiosity, creativity and imagination in young
● 8. Architecture: Indian Institute of minds and CSIRs ´JIGYASA’ a Student-Scientist
Technology Kharagpur connect program where in >3 lakhs students
● 9. Law: National Law School of India across the country have been exposed to science
University, Bengaluru and technology. The coming together of the two
● 10. Dental: Maulana Azad Institute of will enhance the opportunities for students and
Dental Sciences, Delhi stimulate their scientific thinking and
temperament.
#6 CSIR and AIM sign a Letter of Intent to The joint initiatives and collaboration will be
Foster Innovation implemented through development of Work Plans,
which describe specifically the activities to be
CSIR and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) together carried out under this collaboration.
to promote a culture of innovation and
entrepreneurship have come together to
collaborate in areas of mutual interest. #7 Central Administrative Tribunal for the
Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh
Major areas of mutual interest, among others
include: Union Minister of Personnel and Public
Grievances inaugurated the 18th Bench of Central


Administrative Tribunal (CAT) for the Union

Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. #8 Coal India Arm Western Coalfields opens
3 new coal mines
About:
Coal India Subsidiary Western Coalfields Ltd
Setting up of CAT Bench of Jammu to deal (WCL) opened 3 new coal mines in Maharashtra
exclusively with service matters of government and Madhya Pradesh having combined annual
employees would reduce the burden of various production capacity of 2.9 million tonnes (MT).
Courts.
About:
Earlier, in a notification issued under section 5(7)
of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, the The company will infuse total capital expenditure
Central Government has specified Jammu and (Capex) of Rs. 849 crores on these projects and
Srinagar as the places at which the benches of generate direct employment for 647 persons.
the CAT shall ordinarily sit for the UT of Jammu
and Kashmir and UT of Ladakh. WCL has to produce 75 MT of coal by the
financial year of 2023-24 and opening of these
Key highlights: mines will certainly add to the efforts of the
company reaching this milestone and will help
● The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Coal India achieve the target of 1 billion tonnes
had been established under Article 323 – (BT) coal production by the financial year of
A of the Constitution. 2023-24.
● To adjudicate disputes and complaints
with respect to recruitment and conditions The three mines which WCL has opened, are
of service of persons appointed to public
services and posts in connection with the Adasa Mine, an underground to open cast mine, in
affairs of the Union or other authorities Nagpur Area of Maharashtra,
under the control of the Government.
● Under Section 17 of the Administrative Sharda underground Mine in Kanhan Area and
Tribunal Act, 1985, the Tribunal has been
conferred with the power to exercise the Dhankasa underground mine in Pench Area of
same jurisdiction and authority in respect Madhya Pradesh.
of contempt of itself as a High Court.
● The Tribunal is guided by the principles of WCL EYE surveillance System:
natural justice in deciding cases and is not
The company launched a surveillance System
bound by the procedure, prescribed by the
named ‘WCL EYE’ to monitor operations of 15
Civil Procedure Code.
major mines of the company round the clock. It
● Salaries and Allowances and Conditions
will also help monitor coal stocks.
of Service of the officers and other
employees of the Tribunal are specified by
WCL has launched “Mission 100 Days” a roadmap
the Central Government.
to achieve targets for the current fiscal. This
mission will also help the company accomplish
mid and long-term goals. The company’s coal
production and offtake target for the current fiscal
is 62 MT.


SAMVAAD App: forcing of aerosols leads to heating rates

of 0.04 to 0.13 C per day.
It also launched an App named SAMVAAD to ● Further, the temperature over the Ladakh
connect with its employees and stakeholders on region is increasing 0.3 to 0.4 degrees
this occasion. Celsius per decades from the last 3
decades.
Background:
Significance:
The company has already opened 20 new and
expansion projects in the last 6 years with over ● The atmospheric aerosols play a key role
Rs. 5300 crores of capital expenditure and 5250 in the regional/global climate system
direct employment to land losers. through scattering and absorption of
incoming solar radiation and by modifying
WCL had produced 57.64 MT of Coal in financial the cloud structure.
year 2019-20, up over 8% in comparison to the ● The transport of light-absorbing
last fiscal. carbonaceous aerosols and dust from the
polluted Indo-Gangetic Plain and desert
areas over the Himalayas constitutes a
#9 Aerosol characterization and radiative
major climatic issue due to severe
forcing Western-Trans Himalayas impacts on atmospheric warming and
glacier retreat.
Researchers at the Aryabhatta Research Institute ● This heating over the Himalayas facilitates
of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital have the “elevated-heat pump” that strengthens
found that aerosol radiative forcing larger than the temperature gradient between land
the global averages, implying some amount of and ocean and modifies the atmospheric
radiative effects, in spite of the clean atmosphere circulation and the monsoon rainfall.
over the trans-Himalayas. ● A deep scientific study of aerosol
generation, transport, and its properties
About:
have important implications in the
mitigation of climate change.
ARIES, Nainital is an autonomous research
● The study can help better understand the
institute under the Department of Science and
aerosol optical and microphysical
Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and
properties and improve the modelling of
Technology.
aerosol effects in view of aerosol-climate
implication via modifications in
The Trans-Himalayas Mountain Region is located
atmospheric warming and changes in the
to the north of the Great Himalayas which
snow/glacier albedo over the
consists of Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar and
trans-Himalayan region.
Kailash mountain ranges. It is also called the
Tibet Himalayan Region because most of the part
Background:
of these ranges lies in Tibet.
Measurements of aerosol optical and
Key highlights of the study:
microphysical properties started during the last
decade at the Indian Astronomical Observatory
● The paper under publication in the journal
(IAO) at the high altitude background sites of
Science of the Total Environment shows
Hanle and Merak in the trans-Himalayas under the
that monthly-mean atmospheric radiative
frameworks of Aerosol Radiative Forcing over


India (ARFI) and Astronomical Site Survey Now the projects worth over Rs. 1,65,000 crores
program of Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), have been tendered of which projects amounting
Bangalore. to around Rs. 1,24,000 crores are in the
implementation stage.
The Indian Astronomical Observatory, located
near Leh in Ladakh, has one of the world’s highest Projects worth Rs. 26,700 crores are already
located sites for optical, infrared and gamma-ray completed and delivering benefits to the citizens.
telescopes.
In order to boost walkability, non-motorized
In addition to this, few in-situ measurements of transport and public transport, our cities have
carbonaceous aerosols and ionic species have completed 151 smart road projects worth Rs.
also been performed at Himansh Observatory 2,300 crores and 373 projects worth Rs.18,300
(Spiti Valley) in the western Himalayas. crores are near completion. 91 PPP projects
worth Rs.3,700 crores have been completed and
203 projects worth Rs. 21,400 crores will be
#10 The Urban Learning Internship Program completed soon.
The Ministry of Human Resource Development 51 projects worth Rs. 800 crores in the domain of
and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, vibrant urban spaces have been completed. 67
and All India Council for Technical Education projects worth Rs.2,300 crores related to smart
(AICTE) have jointly launched an online portal water and 41 projects worth Rs. 200 crores under
called The Urban Learning Internship Program smart solar have been completed.
(TULIP).
Significance:
About:
TULIP would help enhance the value-to-market of
TULIP is a program for providing fresh graduates India’s graduates and help create a potential
experiential learning opportunities in the urban talent pool in diverse fields like urban planning,
sector. transport engineering, environment, municipal
finance etc. thus not only catalyzing creation of
TULIP has been conceived pursuant to the Budget prospective city managers but also talented
2020-21 announcement by the Finance Minister private/ non-government sector professionals.
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman under the theme
‘Aspirational India’. TULIP would benefit ULBs and smart cities
immensely.
It is the result of the visionary leadership of our
Prime Minister who firmly believes in the power of It will lead to infusion of fresh ideas and energy
the youth and their ability to not only bring with engagement of youth in co-creation of
positive change in our country but in the world. solutions for solving India’s urban challenges.
Smart Cities Mission – Snapshot of progress: It will further Government’s endeavors to boost
community partnership and government-
The Smart Cities Mission has made significant academia-industry-civil society linkages.
progress over the last three years in laying the
foundation for future of urban India. It would help fulfill twin goals of providing interns
with hands-on learning experience as well as


infusing fresh energy and ideas in the functioning As part of this pilot, “Healthy and Energy Efficient
of India’s ULBs and Smart Cities. Buildings” Initiative, EESL has taken the
leadership by being the first to implement this
framework in its own offices.
#11 Healthy and Energy Efficient Buildings
Initiative This initiative is addressing the challenges of
retrofitting existing buildings and air conditioning
On World Environment Day, Energy Efficiency systems so that they are both healthy and energy
Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of PSUs efficient.
under Ministry of Power, in partnership with the
U.S. Agency for International Development’s The EESL office pilot will address this problem by
(USAID) MAITREE program, launched the “Healthy developing specifications for future use in other
and Energy Efficient Buildings” initiative. buildings throughout the country, as well as aid in
evaluating the effectiveness and cost benefits of
About EESL: various technologies and their short and
long-term impacts on air quality, comfort, and
Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), under energy use.
the administration of Ministry of Power,
Government of India, is working towards
mainstreaming energy efficiency and is #12 Amery Ice Shelf
implementing the world’s largest energy efficiency
portfolio in the country. The National Centre for Polar and Ocean
Research (NCPOR) predicts that there would be a
Driven by the mission of Enabling More – more 24% increase in the expansion of Ameri Ice Shelf
transparency, more transformation, and more (AIS) boundaries by 2021 and another 24%
innovation. expansion by 2026 from its 2016 positions.
EESL aims to create market access for efficient Background:

and future-ready transformative solutions that
create a win-win situation for every stakeholder. The prediction made by NCPOR is based on a
16-year-long satellite-based observation that
MAITREE: covered an area of 60,000 sq. km across the AIS.
Scientists feel that this study would help
The Market Integration and Transformation understand the ongoing changes in the ocean and
Program for Energy Efficiency (MAITREE), under atmospheric forces better.
which this initiative has been launched.
Key highlights:
It is a part of the US-India bilateral Partnership
between the Ministry of Power and USAID. ● The floating sheets of ice called the ice
shelves play a multi-faceted role in
It is aimed at accelerating the adoption of maintaining the stability of a glacier. Ice
cost-effective energy efficiency as a standard shelves connect a glacier to the landmass.
practice within buildings, and specifically focuses ● The ice sheet mass balance, sea
on cooling. stratification, and bottom water formation
are important parameters for the
Key highlights: balancing of a glacier. Latent and sensible


heat processes do play important roles get better prices due to lack of investment in cold
here. storage, warehouses, processing and export as
● The AIS is one of the largest glacier the entrepreneurial spirit gets dampened due to
drainage basins in the world, located on hanging sword of Essential Commodities Act.
the east coast of Antarctica, at about 70ºS
Latitude, 70ºE Longitude. The AIS Farmers suffer huge losses when there are
dynamics and mass balance help in bumper harvests, especially of perishable
understanding the changes in the global commodities. With adequate processing facilities,
climate scenario. much of this wastage can be reduced.
● The insulation of ice shelves from
atmospheric forcing is dependent on a Benefits
temperature gradient that the ocean cavity
beneath the ice shelves provides. It is the With the amendment to Essential Commodities
pressure exerted by the ice shelves upon Act, commodities like cereals, pulses, oilseeds,
the ocean cavity that determines this edible oils, onion and potatoes will be removed
temperature gradient. from list of essential commodities. This will
● There is always a stress on the sea ice remove fears of private investors of excessive
and ice sheets itself plays an indirect role regulatory interference in their business
in reducing the amplitude of the ocean operations.
swell. This is assisted by the freezing
The freedom to produce, hold, move, distribute
atmospheric temperature, which is
and supply will lead to harnessing of economies
capable of promoting a change in the
of scale and attract private sector/foreign direct
morphology of ice shelves.
investment into agriculture sector. It will help
drive up investment in cold storages and
#13 PM chairs Cabinet Meeting to give modernization of food supply chain.
historic boost to Rural India
Safeguarding interest of consumers
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri
The Government, while liberalizing the regulatory
Narendra Modi met on 3rd June, 2020. Several
environment, has also ensured that interests of
landmark and historic decisions were taken in the
consumers are safeguarded. It has been provided
meeting, which will go a long way in helping
in the Amendment, that in situations such as war,
India’s farmers while also transforming the
famine, extraordinary price rise and natural
agriculture sector.
calamity, such agricultural foodstuff can be
regulated.
Historic Amendment to Essential Commodities
Act
However, the installed capacity of a value chain
participant and the export demand of an exporter
The Cabinet today approved historic amendment
will remain exempted from such stock limit
to the Essential Commodities Act. This is a
imposition so as to ensure that investments in
visionary step towards transformation of
agriculture are not discouraged.
agriculture and raising farmers’ income.
The amendment announced will help both

Background
farmers and consumers while bringing in price
While India has become surplus in most stability. It will create competitive market
agri-commodities, farmers have been unable to environment and also prevent wastage of


agri-produce that happens due to lack of storage there will be a separate dispute resolution
facilities. mechanism for the farmers.
Barrier-free trade in agriculture produce One India, One Agriculture Market
Cabinet approved ‘The Farming Produce Trade The ordinance basically aims at creating
and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) additional trading opportunities outside the
Ordinance, 2020’. APMC market yards to help farmers get
remunerative prices due to additional
Background competition. This will supplement the existing
MSP procurement system which is providing
Farmers in India today suffer from various stable income to farmers.
restrictions in marketing their produce. There are
restrictions for farmers in selling agri-produce It will certainly pave the way for creating One
outside the notified APMC market yards. India, One Agriculture Market and will lay the
foundation for ensuring golden harvests for our
The farmers are also restricted to sell the produce hard working farmers.
only to registered licensees of the State
Governments. Farmers empowered to engage with processors,
aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers,
Further, Barriers exist in free flow of agriculture exporters:
produce between various States owing to the
prevalence of various APMC legislations enacted Cabinet approved ‘The Farmers (Empowerment
by the State Governments. and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance
and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020’.
Benefits
Background:
The Ordinance will create an ecosystem where
the farmers and traders will enjoy freedom of Indian Agriculture is characterized by
choice of sale and purchase of agri-produce. fragmentation due to small holding sizes and has
certain weaknesses such as weather
It will also promote barrier-free inter-state and dependence, production uncertainties and market
intra-state trade and commerce outside the unpredictability.
physical premises of markets notified under State
Agricultural Produce Marketing legislations. This makes agriculture risky and inefficient in
respect of both input and output management.
It will open more choices for the farmer, reduce
marketing costs for the farmers and help them in Benefits:
getting better prices. It will also help farmers of
regions with surplus produce to get better prices The ordinance will empower farmers for engaging
and consumers of regions with shortages, lower with processors, wholesalers, aggregators,
prices. The ordinance also proposes an electronic wholesalers, large retailers, exporters etc., on a
trading in transaction platform for ensuring a level playing field without any fear of exploitation.
seamless trade electronically.
It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability
The farmers will not be charged any cess or levy from the farmer to the sponsor and also enable
for sale of their produce under this Act. Further the farmer to access modern technology and


better inputs. It will reduce cost of marketing and cause of welfare of the hardworking farmers of
improve income of farmers. India.
This Ordinance will act as a catalyst to attract

private sector investment for building supply
chains for supply of Indian farm produce to global
markets. Farmers will get access to technology
and advice for high value agriculture and get
ready market for such produce.
Farmers will engage in direct marketing thereby

eliminating intermediaries resulting in full
realization of price. Farmers have been provided
adequate protection. Sale, lease or mortgage of
farmers’ land is totally prohibited and farmers’
land is also protected against any recovery.
Effective dispute resolution mechanism has been

provided for with clear time lines for redressal. #14 Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian
Medicine and Homoeopathy
Government committed to the cause of farmer
welfare: The Union Cabinet has given its approval to
re-establish Pharmacopoeia Commission for
A series of steps were announced as part of the Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) as
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan to provide a boost Subordinate Office under Ministry of AYUSH.
to those engaged in agriculture and allied
activities. About:
These include provision of concessional credit PLIM and HPL being the subordinate offices and
through Kisan Credit Cards, financing facility for PCIM&H- an autonomous organization under
agri-infra projects, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Ministry of AYUSH are going to be merged to
Sampada Yojana and other measures to establish PCIM&H, as a subordinate office of the
strengthen fisheries, vaccination against Foot & Ministry with a common administrative control.
Mouth Disease and Brucellosis, Herbal Cultivation
promotion, boost to beekeeping, Operation Green The two central laboratories established at
etc. Ghaziabad since 1975.
Through PM KISAN, over 9.54 crore farmer Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine
families(as on first June 2020) have benefited & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) is an autonomous
and an amount of Rs. 19,515 crore has been body under the aegis of Ministry of AYUSH
disbursed so far during the lockdown period. An established since 2010.
Amount of Rs. 8090 crore has been paid during
lockdown period under PMFBY. Key highlights:
These steps are only the latest in a series of ● The merger is aimed at optimizing the use
measures taken by the government, which shows of infrastructural facilities, technical
its continuous commitment to championing the manpower and financial resources of the


three organizations for enhancing the It will facilitate exchange of best practices and
standardization outcomes of Ayurveda, technical knowhow through both public and
Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs private sectors and shall contribute to sustainable
towards their effective regulation and development. It provides the possibility for joint
quality control. projects in areas of mutual interest. However, no
● This merger will facilitate focused and significant employment generation is envisaged.
cohesive development of standards of
AYUSH drugs and publication of Background:
pharmacopoeias and formularies.
● It is also intended to accord legal status to A MoU was signed between the Central Pollution
the merged structure of PCIM&H and its Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment,
laboratory by virtue of making necessary India and the National Environment Commission
amendment and enabling provisions in the (NEC) of Bhutan in 2013.
Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
● Post-merger PCIM&H will have adequate This MoU expired in 2016. Noting the benefits of
administrative structure under the Ministry the earlier MoU, both sides have decided to
to strive for augmenting the capacity and continue cooperation and collaboration in the
outcomes of pharmacopoieal work, field of Environment.
achieving harmonization of
pharmacopoeial standards of Ayurveda,
#16 21st meeting of Central Employment
Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy drugs,
preventing duplication and overlapping of
Guarantee Council
drug standardization work and optimal
Union Minister of Rural Development chaired the
utilization of resources in effective
21st meeting of Central Employment Guarantee
manner.
Council.
#15 India and Bhutan on Cooperation in the About:

areas of Environment
The Central Employment Guarantee Council was
constituted under Section 10 of the Mahatma
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for
Gandhi National Rural Employment
signing the MoU between the Government of
India and Bhutan on Cooperation in the areas of
Guarantee Act (Mahatma Gandhi NREGA), 2005.
Environment.
Addressing the participants, rural development
About:
minister said that for the Financial Year 2020-21,
Rs.61,500 crore has been allocated for this
The MoU will cover the following areas of the
program which is an all-time high.
environment: (1) Air; (2) Waste; (3) Chemical
Management; (4) Climate Change; and () Any
Additional provision of Rs.40,000 crore has been
other areas jointly decided upon.
made for this program under Atmanirbhar Bharat
Abhiyan to provide employment to the needy
This MoU shall enter into force on the date of
workers during this difficult period arising from
signature and shall continue to remain in force for
COVID-19.
a period of ten years.


by investigators funded by DST-SERB (Science

#17 My Life My Yoga contest and Engineering Research Board) and other
agencies.
Prime Minister of India announced the “My Life –
My Yoga”(also called “Jeevan Yoga”) Video As part of this initiative, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre
Blogging Contest. for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and
IISc, Bangalore will co-ordinate to connect and
About: work with all COVID-19 modeling projects and
programs in the country.
The contest is a joint effort by the Ministry of
AYUSH and the Indian Council for Cultural
Relations (ICCR) to inspire people to become #19 National Career Service portal
active participants in the observation of the sixth
International Day of Yoga (IDY) coming up on 21st The Ministry of Labour and Employment under its
June 2020. National Career Service (NCS) project has now
started offering free online “Career Skills Training”
This contest is open to all participants across the in partnership with TCS ION for its registered
world. The contest has gone live on the social job-seekers.
media handles of the Ministry of AYUSH today, 31
May 2020. About:
To enter into the contest the participants are The Ministry of Labour and Employment is
required to upload a 3 minutes duration video of 3 implementing the National Career Service (NCS)
Yogic practices (kriya, asana, pranayama, bandha project for transformation of the National
or mudra), including a description on how the said Employment Service to provide a variety of
Yogic practices influenced their life. employment related services like job search, job
matching, career counselling, vocational
For the India contestants, prizes worth Rs. 1 lakh, guidance, information on skill development
50K and 25K for 1st, 2nd and 3rd ranking within 6 courses through an on-line portal
categories have been announced. Details of the (www.ncs.gov.in).
global prizes will be announced shortly on the
Yoga Portal of Ministry of AYUSH. Around 1000 employment exchanges including
200 Model Career Centers across the country are
integrated with NCS.
#18 India National Supermodel
A Special link for Work from Home Jobs and
Department of Science and Technology (DST) has Online Trainings has been created on NCS portal
initiated a COVID-19 Indian National Supermodel Home Page to give direct access to job-seekers
to help monitor the future transmission of to such jobs.
infection.
NCS also offers the functionality of creation of
About: video profiles for job-seekers in partnership with
HIREMEE, a platform which provides online
This will aid decisions involving health system assessment and hiring services. Job-seekers can
readiness and other mitigation measures. showcase their ability to recruiters using short
video clips. All services on NCS are free.
Numerous mathematical models for Covid-19
forecasting and surveillance are being worked out


Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat themes for their wide

#20 Index of Eight Core Industries dissemination.
The Office of Economic Adviser, Department for To have a common repository for the Ek Bharat
Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Shreshtha Bharat digital resources that can be
released the Index of Eight Core Industries (Base: used by every Ministry. This repository may be
2011-12=100) for the Month of April, 2020. hosted on a common portal.
About: About the program:
The growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries The program was announced by the Prime
for April 2020 declined by 38.1% (provisional) Minister in 2015 on the 140th birth anniversary of
compared to decline of 9% (provisional) previous Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Subsequently, the
month of March 2020. initiative was announced in the Union Budget for
2016-17.
In view of nationwide lockdown during April 2020
due to COVID-19 pandemic, various industries viz. To promote engagement and thereby
Coal, Cement, Steel, Natural Gas, Refinery, Crude understanding amongst the people of different
Oil etc. experienced substantial loss of states/UTs to ensure ensure a stronger united
production. India.
Production of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery The Ministry of Human Resource Development
products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity has been designated Nodal Ministry for
contracted by 15.5%, 6.4%, 19.9%, 24.2%, 4.5%, co-ordination of the programme.
83.9%, 86%, 22.8%, respectively.
The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 percent #22 Promoting Beekeeping as part of its aim

of the weight of items included in the Index of to double farmers’ income
Industrial Production (IIP).
Union Agriculture Minister said that Government
During 2019-20, core industries recorded 0.6% of India is promoting Beekeeping as part of its
growth against 4.4% in 2018-19. aim to double farmers’ income by 2024.
About:
#21 Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat programme
Government has allocated Rs.500 crore towards
Union Ministry of HRD has decided to take Beekeeping under the Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan.
forward the Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB)
programme by using innovative ways in view of India is among the world’s top five honey
the prevailing conditions of COVID 19. producers.
Key highlights: Compared to 2005-06 honey production has risen

by 242% and exports shot by 265%.
To move towards digital mediums for the carrying
on the activities under EBSB by each participating The National Bee Board has created four modules
Ministry/ Department. To organise webinars on to impart training as part of the National


Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) and 30

lakh farmers have been trained in beekeeping. #24 Initiatives launched on International Day
of Biodiversity
Government has launched ‘Honey Mission’ as part
of ‘Sweet Revolution.’ On the occasion of the International Day for
Biological Diversity 2020, Union Minister of
Environment launched five key initiatives towards
#23 Alternative dwarfing genes in wheat can
conservation of biodiversity.
eliminate rice crop residue burning
The year 2020 is also the “SUPER YEAR FOR
Scientists at Pune based Agharkar Research BIODIVERSITY”, as the Strategic Plan for
Institute (ARI), an autonomous institute of the Biodiversity with 20 global Aichi targets adopted
Department of Science and Technology, have in 2010 ends in 2020 and all the countries
mapped two alternative dwarfing genes Rht14 together are in the process of preparation of
and Rht18 in wheat. Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
About: Biodiversity Samrakshan Internship Program:
These genes are associated with better seedling This is an initiative of National Biodiversity
vigour and longer coleoptiles (sheath protecting Authority (NBA) and United Nations Development
the young shoot tip). Programme (UNDP).
They have mapped the dwarfing genes on The program proposes to engage 20 students
chromosome 6A in durum wheat, and DNA-based with postgraduate degrees for a period of one
markers were developed for a better selection of year to support the projects of NBA in various
these genes in wheat breeding lines. State/UTs and to technically assist the State
Biodiversity Boards/UTs Biodiversity Council in
The DNA-based markers will help wheat breeders discharge of their mandates.
to precisely select wheat lines carrying these
alternative dwarfing genes from a massive pool Not all Animals Migrate by Choice:
of wheat breeding lines.
The Campaign on Illegal Trafficking of
These DNA based markers are being used at ARI Endangered Species: ‘Not all Animals Migrate by
for marker-assisted transfer of these genes in Choice’ was launched by the Wildlife Crime
Indian wheat varieties, so as to make them Control Bureau, with UNEP.
suitable for sowing under rice stubble-retained
conditions and dry environments. Illegal trade in wildlife carries the risk of
spreading dangerous pandemics. It seeks to
Wheat lines with these alternative dwarfing genes, address these environmental challenges, to raise
apart from reducing crop residue burning, can awareness, and to advocate solutions.
allow deeper sowing of wheat seeds to avail
advantage of residual moisture in the soil under
dry environments. #25 Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western
Ghats
Union Minister of Environment interacted with

Chief Ministers & State Government Officers of


six states viz, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Under the Central Sector Scheme Component an
Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu to discuss amount of 1720 crores has been earmarked.
issues relating to notification of Ecologically
Sensitive Area (ESA) pertaining to the Western Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)
Ghats. Component, an investment of 18330 crores has
been envisaged, which in turn is segregated into
About: Non-beneficiary oriented and Beneficiary
orientated sub-components/activities under the
To protect the biodiversity of Western Ghats while following three broad heads: Enhancement of
allowing for sustainable development of the Production and Productivity, Infrastructure and
region, the Government of India had constituted a Post-Harvest Management and Fisheries
High-Level Working Group under the Management and Regulatory Framework.
Chairmanship of Dr. Kasturirangan.
For optimal outcomes, ‘Cluster or area-based
The Committee had recommended that identified approach’ would be followed with requisite
geographical areas falling in the six States of forward and backward linkages and end to end
Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and solutions.
Tamil Nadu may be declared as Ecologically
Sensitive Areas. Collectivization of fishers and fish farmers
through Fish Farmer Producer Organizations
A draft notification was issued in October 2018 (FFPOs) to increase the bargaining power of
mentioning the areas to be notified in the ESA. fishers and fish farmers is a key feature of
PMMSY.
The states expressed their desire to expedite
early notification while protecting the interest of Expected Benefits:
ecology and environment.
Augmenting fish production and productivity at a
sustained average annual growth rate of about 9%
#26 Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana to achieve a target of 22 million metric tons by
2024-25.
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for
implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Creation of direct gainful employment
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) – a scheme to bring opportunities to about 15 lakh fishers, fish
Blue Revolution through sustainable and farmers, fish workers, fish vendors, etc.
responsible development of the fisheries sector in
India. Doubling of fishers, fish farmers, and fish workers’
incomes by 2024.
About:
The Scheme will be implemented during a period #27 Special Liquidity Scheme for
of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25. NBFCs/HFCs
The PMMSY will be implemented as an umbrella The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of
scheme with two separate Components namely the Ministry of Finance to launch a new Special
Central Sector Scheme (CS) and Centrally Liquidity Scheme for Non-Banking Financial
Sponsored Scheme (CSS). Companies (NBFCs) and Housing Finance


Companies (HFCs) to improve the liquidity

position of the NBFCs/HFCs.
#28 National Test Abhyas
About:
Union Human Resource Development (HRD)
A large public sector bank would set up a Special Minister launched a new mobile app called the
Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to manage a Stressed ‘National Test Abhyas’.
Asset Fund (SAF) whose special securities would
be guaranteed by the Government of India and About:
purchased by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
only. The AI-powered mobile App has been developed
by National Testing Agency (NTA) to enable
The SPV would issue securities as per candidates to take mock tests for upcoming
requirement subject to the total amount of exams such as JEE Main, NEET under the NTA’s
securities outstanding not exceeding Rs. 30,000 purview.
crore to be extended by the amount required as
per the need. The app has been launched to facilitate
candidates’ access to high-quality mock tests in
The securities issued by the SPV would be their homes since there was a demand for
purchased by RBI and proceeds thereof would be making up the loss to students due to closure of
used by the SPV to acquire the debt of at least educational institutions and NTA’s Test-Practice
investment grade of short duration (residual Centers (TPCs) due to the continuing lockdown.
maturity of up to 3 months) of eligible NBFCs /
HFCs.
#29 73rd World Health Assembly
The Scheme will be administered by the
Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health
Department of Financial Services.
participated in the 73rd World Health Assembly
The direct financial implication for the (WHA) through Video Conference.
Government is Rs. 5 crores, which may be the
About:
equity contribution to the Special Purpose Vehicle
(SPV).
At the assembly, more than 100 countries
including India backed a resolution drafted by the
European Union calling for an independent inquiry
into the pandemic, which has claimed more than
3 lakh lives globally so far.
The World Health Assembly is the

decision-making body of the World Health
Organization (WHO).
It is attended by delegations from all WHO

Member States and focuses on a specific health

agenda prepared by the Executive Board.
The main functions of the World Health Assembly

are to determine the policies of the Organization,


appoint the Director-General, supervise financial when 90 percent of the statutory clearances have
policies, and review and approve the proposed been obtained.
program budget.
The Health Assembly is held annually in Geneva, #31 Union Finance Minister announces
Switzerland. several initiatives to boost Education Sector
Union Finance Minister announced several

#30 Shekatkar Committee recommendations initiatives to boost Education Sector.
Government has accepted and implemented three These are:

important recommendations of the Committee of
Experts (CoE) under the Chairmanship of Lt A comprehensive initiative called PM e-VIDYA will
General D B Shekatkar (Retd) relating to border be launched which unifies all efforts related to
Infrastructure. digital/online/on-air education. This will enable
multi-mode access to education and includes:
About:
DIKSHA (one nation-one digital platform) which
Government has implemented recommendations will now become the nation’s digital infrastructure
of CoE to outsource road construction work for providing quality e-content in school education
beyond the optimal capacity of Border Roads for all the states/UTs;
Organisation (BRO).
TV (one class-one channel) where one dedicated
It has been made mandatory to adopt Engineering channel per grade for each of the classes 1 to 12
Procurement Contract (EPC) mode for execution will provide access to quality educational
of all works costing more than Rs 100 crore. material;
The other recommendation relating to the SWAYAM online courses in MOOCS format for
introduction of modern construction plants, school and higher education;
equipment, and machinery have been
implemented by delegating enhanced IITPAL for IITJEE/NEET preparation; and
procurement powers from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 100
crore to BRO, for domestic and foreign study material for the differently-abled developed
procurements. on Digitally Accessible Information System
(DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS website/
Border Roads has recently inducted Hot-Mix Plant YouTube.
20/30 TPH for the speedier laying of roads,
remotely operated hydraulic Rock Drills DC-400 R The Manodarpan initiative is being launched to
for hard rock cutting, a range of F-90 series of provide psychosocial support to students,
self-propelled snow-cutters/blowers for speedier teachers, and families for mental health and
snow clearance. emotional wellbeing through a website, a toll-free
helpline, national directory of counselors,
The land acquisition and all statutory clearances interactive chat platform, etc.
like forest and environmental clearance are also
made part of the approval of the Detailed Project Government is expanding e-learning in higher
Report (DPR). It is mandatory to award work only education. Top 100 universities will start online
courses. Also, an online component in


conventional Universities and ODL programs will Key Highlights:

also be raised from the present 20% to 40%.
Space Sector: Private sector will be allowed to
It has been decided to prepare a new National use ISRO facilities and other relevant assets to
Curriculum and Pedagogical Framework for improve their capacities. Future projects for
school education, teacher education and early planetary exploration, outer space travel etc shall
childhood stage to prepare students and future also be open for the private sector.
teachers as per global benchmarks.
Atomic energy: Research reactor in PPP mode for
A National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy the production of medical isotopes shall be
Mission will be launched, for ensuring that every established. Facilities in PPP mode to use
child in the country necessarily attains irradiation technology for food preservation shall
foundational literacy and numeracy. This mission also be established.
will cover the learning needs of nearly 4 crore
children in the age group of 3 to 11 years. Social Infrastructure: For boosting private sector
investment, Government will enhance the
quantum of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) up to 30%
#32 International Museum Day each of Total Project Cost as VGF by the Centre
and State/Statutory Bodies.
International Museum Day 2020 was celebrated
on May 18 under the theme of “Museums for Civil Aviation Sector: Restrictions on the
Equality: Diversity and Inclusion”. utilisation of the Indian Air Space will be eased so
that civilian flying becomes more efficient. India
About: to become a global hub for Aircraft Maintenance,
Repair and Overhaul (MRO).
International Museum Day (IMD) is an
international day held annually on 18 May to Mineral Sector: A Composite
create awareness about the cultural importance exploration-cum-mining-cum-production regime
of museums. for minerals to be announced for enhancing
Private Investments in the Mineral Sector. The
It is coordinated by the International Council of distinction between captive and non-captive
Museums (ICOM). mines to allow the transfer of mining leases and
sale of surplus unused minerals production shall
It is being celebrated since the year 1977.
be removed.
Coal Sector: Commercial Mining in Coal Sector on
#33 Finance Minister announces new
revenue sharing basis instead of the regime of
horizons of growth fixed Rupee/tonne to be introduced. Coal Bed
Methane (CBM) extraction rights will be
Union Finance Minister announced the 4th
auctioned from Coal India Limited’s (CIL) coal
Tranche of measures for reforms in the eight
mines.
sectors of Coal, Minerals, Defence production,
Civil Aviation, Power Sector, Social Infrastructure, Defence Sector: FDI limit in the Defence
Space and Atomic energy under Aatma Nirbhar manufacturing under automatic route will be
Bharat Abhiyaan. raised from 49% to 74%. A list of
weapons/platforms for a ban on import will be
notified. The corporatisation of the Ordnance


Factory Board to be implemented for improving Corridors (DICs), the Scheme is not limited to
autonomy and efficiency in Ordnance Supplies. setting up Test Facilities in the DICs only.
Power Sector: Power Departments / Utilities in

Union Territories will be privatised. #35 NIT Kurukshetra Implements SAMARTH
NIT Kurukshetra has implemented Enterprises

#34 Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme Resource Planning (ERP), SAMARTH to enhance
productivity through better information
Defence Minister has approved the launch of management, and automating the process in the
Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) institute.
with an outlay of Rs 400 crore for creating a state
of the art testing infrastructure for this sector. About:
About: SAMARTH, an e-Governance platform, is an Open

Standard Open Source Architecture Automation
The Scheme would run for the duration of five Engine for Universities and Higher Educational
years and envisages to set up six to eight new Institutions. It caters to faculty, students and staff
test facilities in partnership with private industry. at a University/Higher Educational Institutions.
This will facilitate indigenous defence production, It has been developed under the National Mission

consequently, reduce imports of military of Education in Information and Communication
equipment and help make the country self-reliant. Technology Scheme (NMEICT) of the Ministry of
Human Resource Development (HRD).
It aims to give a boost to domestic defence and
aerospace manufacturing. This initiative will enhance productivity through
better information management in the institutes
Key highlights: by seamless access to information, and its
utilization for various purposes.
The projects under the Scheme will be provided
with up to 75 per cent government funding in the
form of ‘Grant-in-Aid’. #36 COBAS 6800 testing machine
The remaining 25 per cent of the project cost will Union Health Minister dedicated the COBAS 6800
have to be borne by the Special Purpose Vehicle testing machine to the nation.
(SPV) whose constituents will be Indian private
entities and State Governments. About:
The SPVs under the Scheme will be registered COBAS 6800 is for performing real-time PCR
under Companies Act 2013 and shall also operate testing COVID-19. COBAS 6800 can also detect
and maintain all assets under the Scheme, in a other pathogens like Viral Hepatitis B and C, HIV,
self-sustainable manner by collecting user MTb (both rifampicin and isoniazid resistance),
charges. The equipment/systems tested will be Papilloma, CMV, Chlamydia, Neiserreia, etc.
certified as per appropriate accreditation.
COBAS 6800 will provide quality, high-volume
While the majority of test facilities are expected testing with a high throughput of test around
to come up in the two Defence Industrial


1200 samples in 24 hours. It will largely increase ex-officio Members of the trust are Defence
the testing capacity with a reduction in pendency. Minister, Home Minister, and Finance Minister.
This is the first such testing machine that has Relief Measures for Migrants:
been procured by the Government for testing of
COVID-19 cases and is installed at the National The States/UTs will be given a lump sum
Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi. As the assistance of total Rs. 1000 Crore from PM
machine requires a minimum BSL2+ containment CARES Fund for the welfare of the migrants and
level for testing, it cannot be placed at just any poor.
facility.
State/UT-wise funds will be released on the
weightage,
Population of the State/UT as per 2011 Census –

50%,
Number of positive COVID-19 cases as on date –

40% weightage and
Equal share (10% weightage) for all states/UTs to

ensure the basic minimum sum for all states.
The fund will be released to the District

Collector/District Magistrate/Municipal
Commissioner through the State Disaster Relief
Commissioner of the States/UTs concerned.
#37 PM CARES Fund Trust Allocates Rs.
3100 Crore for Fight against COVID-19
#38 UMANG Mobile App
PM CARES (Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance
The UMANG mobile app (Unified Mobile
and Relief in Emergency Situations) Fund Trust
Application for New-age Governance) is a
decided to allocate Rs. 3100 Crore for the fight
Government of India all-in-one single, unified,
against COVID-19.
secure, multi-channel, multi-platform,
multi-lingual, multi-service mobile app.
About:
About:
Out of Rs 3100 crore, a sum of approximately
Rs.2000 crore will be earmarked for the purchase
It is powered by a robust back-end platform
of 50000 ‘Made-in-India’ ventilators, Rs. 1000
providing access to high impact services of
crores will be used for the care of migrant
various organizations (Central and State).
laborers and Rs.100 crores will be given to
support vaccine development.
Prime Minister of India launched the UMANG App
in 2017 to bring major government services on a
The trust formed on 27th March 2020 is headed
single mobile app, with a larger goal to make the
by Hon’ble Prime Minister (ex-Officio) and other
government accessible on the mobile phone of
our citizens.


About 660 services from 127 departments & 25 and Yellow are the alert levels with Red as
states and about 180 utility bill payment services the most severe category. Issued twice a
are live and more are in pipeline. day for all districts for the coming five
days.
UMANG user base has crossed 2.1 Crore ● Cyclone: Cyclone warnings and alerts
including Android, iOS, Web and KaiOS. Citizens provides the track of cyclonic storms
can also access their Digilocker from UMANG and along with likely time and point of
give their feedback after availing any service crossing of coast. Impact based warnings,
through Rapid Assessment System (RAS) which area/district wise, are issued so that
has been integrated with UMANG. appropriate preparation including
evacuation of vulnerable areas can be
MeitY has taken various initiatives in recent past done.
to ease of lives of citizens by facilitating online
delivery of Government services. To further
enhance the initiatives of Digital India
Programme, MeitY has brought the India
Meteorological Department (IMD) services on the
“UMANG App”.
Key highlights of the services provided by the

app:
Current Weather: Current temperature, humidity,

wind speed, direction for 150 cities updated 8
times a day. Information on sunrise/ sunset and
moonrise/ moonset is also given.

Nowcast:Three hourly warnings of localized
weather phenomena and their intensity issued for New!
about 800 stations, and districts of India by State DAILY Current Affairs
Meteorological Centers of IMD. In case of severe
weather, its impact also is included in the
For IAS Exams
warning.

● City Forecast: Past 24 hours and 7 day
forecast of weather conditions around 450
cities in India are given.
● Rainfall Information: All India district
Rainfall information daily, weekly, monthly
and cumulative series are available.
● Tourism Forecast: Past 24 hours and 7
day forecast of weather conditions of
around 100 Tourist cities in India are
provided.
● Warnings: The alert issued to warn
citizens of approaching dangerous
weather. It is colour coded in Red, Orange


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GIST OF KURUKSHETRA Magazine 27

GIST OF THE HINDU (Newspaper) 49

PM Jan AushadhiKendras register record sales turnover 54

India-AIIB sign agreement to strengthen public health preparedness 71

India claims Nepal’s new oﬃcial map as unacceptable 105

PM reviews LAC standoff with defence staff 121

GIST OF Science Reporter Magazine 137

#3 CSIR’s Mission to Combat COVID19 139

GIST OF PIB (Press Information Bureau) 148

#33 Finance Minister announces new horizons of growth 166

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

GIST OF YOJANA Magazine

systems to communicate and cooperate nanotechnology, biotechnology, material

● Further, Blockchain Technology is not only cost reduction, productivity, sustainability

demands and availability of raw materials, ● It has been demonstrated in the enhanced

while the other one is a realtime grievance Foreign Relations:

Live Traﬃc Updates: ● The internet is fundamentally participatory

remember the tropical Advantage:

● Non-invasive Ventilator with externally

GIST OF KURUKSHETRA Magazine

agricultural land is being continuously lost fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators

irrigate or the so-called irrigation irrigation method determines the accuracy

management tool. However, only about 15 emitters or applicators placed along a

○ rooting, better crop development ● National Agriculture Market (eNAM), a

Conclusion: ● 38 additional mandis were integrated with

numbers (Bamboo & Coconut) collectively centres. Nine logistic service

1. FPO Module on eNAM: #3 Smart Agriculture

● This enables FPOs to conduct trade of Introduction:

in scheduling irrigation. Drones equipped 2. Signal-based Control: Unlike

Introduction: ● According to the maiden CWMI report

major cities (Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, ● In May 2019, as Modi 2.0 government took

● As per the international norms, a country ● One, by extending policy incentives to stop

How will it impact the farmers?

● A Scheme promoting the vision of Prime

GIST OF THE HINDU (Newspaper)

Hospital, DeenDayalUpadhyay Hospital the Jan Aushadhi store operators for

Government likely to extend interest

● The government may soon extend the

of March and that for April would also be

(NCDC), AIIMS, JIPMER and the All India hospitals treating Covid-19 patients.India's

promote global solidarity and it must

showed that credit grew 6.1% at the end of regulated by state’s agricultural produce

Experts claim reduced emissions and blue

● Weeks of lockdown in the country to ﬁght

Assurance covering 22.12 Lakh health

● Talking about changes in shopping beneﬁciaries under the

fairly common one, has struck a village

Service (MES), the Defence Ministry said and 2.37 lakh cases have been sanctioned

India-AIIB sign agreement to strengthen

● India and the Asian Infrastructure

strengthen country's Integrated Disease

the pre-existing route used by the pilgrims

declaration that the world and all peoples have

purpose of formulating or implementing

● The Minister explained that due to the

● For the past two years, Manmeet was

is the producer of choice for critical Department of Economic Affairs and Rajat

● The court said the National Crime Records 5% of Gross State Domestic Product

● Goldilocks Zone is the space around a star ● The order that has now been dropped also

● He said, government is expanding learnt from the WHO-coordinated

● Inhabitants of Pidadamaha alleged that

countries to aid them in their ﬁght against

● New Delhi today said, the oﬃcial map of