l

This is Paid PDF provided by AffairsCloud.com, Our team is working hard

in back end to provide quality PDF. If you not buy this paid PDF
subscription plan, we kindly request you to buy pdf to avail this service.
Help Us To Grow & Provide Quality Service

CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF PLANS

Current Affairs PDF 2020: Weekly, Study, Pocket and Q&A PDF’s

Current Affairs PDF 2019: Study, Pocket and Q&A PDF’s

Current Affairs PDF 2018: Study, Pocket and Q&A PDF’s

CRACK HIGH LEVEL PDF PLANS

Crack High Level: Puzzle & Seating Arrangement Questions PDF 2019

Crack High Level: English Language Questions PDF 2019

Crack High Level: Data Interpretation Questions PDF 2019

Suggestions & Feedback are welcomed

Support@affairscloud.com

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 1

 Current Affairs Weekly PDF – May 2020 3rd Week (16-23)
NATIONAL AFFAIRS

Govt introduces new scheme of 2% interest subvention on working capital loans for dairy sector
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has introduced a new scheme named “Interest
subvention on Working Capital Loans for Dairy sector” for supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmer
Producer Organizations engaged in dairy activities. The scheme has made provisions for providing
interest subvention of 2% per annum, with an additional incentive of 2% per annum interest subvention.
The scheme will be implemented through National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

Arjun Munda launches ‘GOAL’ Programme for digital skilling of tribal youths
Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Shri Arjun Munda launched the ‘GOAL’ – Going Online As Leaders
Programme of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) in partnership with Facebook. It is designed to
provide mentorship to tribal youth with digital mode. The program will focus on three core areas – Digital
Literacy, Life Skills and Leadership and Entrepreneurship on sectors like textiles, Agriculture, Art &
Culture, Nutrition etc.

Dr Harsh Vardhan dedicates COBAS 6800 testing machine to the nation

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan has dedicated the COBAS 6800 COVID-19
testing machine to the nation during a visit to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in New
Delhi. The COBAS 6800 is a fully automated, high-end machine for performing Reverse transcription
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for COVID-19. The machine can able to test around 1200
samples in 24 hours. It can also detect other pathogens like Viral Hepatitis B and C, HIV, etc.

Harsh Vardhan participates in the 32nd Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Virtual Meeting
Union Health & Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan participated in the 32nd Commonwealth Health
Ministers’ Meeting through Video Conference. The theme of the meeting is- ‘Delivering a co-ordinated
Commonwealth COVID-19 response’. The secretariat of Commonwealth is located at London, UK.

Piyush Goyal participated in 2nd G20 Trade & Investment Ministers Virtual Meeting
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal participated in a video conference of 2nd edition of
trade and investment ministers of G20 countries following the G20 trade ministers meet on March 30,
2020 to discuss on COVID-19 situation. The meeting was chaired by Saudi Arabia which holds presidency
of G20 for 2020.

4 Ayush formulations against COVID-19 by AYUSH ministry & CSIR

The Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State (I/C) for AYUSH, has announced that AYUSH ministry & Council
of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) are working together to validate 4 Ayush formulations
Ashwagandha, Yashtimadhu (Mulethi), Guduchi Pippali (Giloy) and AYUSH-64 (poly herbal formulation)
against COVID-19.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan Part-2: Package for Poor, including migrants and farmers
detailed by Nirmala Sitharaman
The Part 2 of “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan” (self-reliant India Movement) is focused on providing relief
to poor including migrant labours, street vendors, migrant urban poor, small traders, self-employed
people, small farmers, housing and members of tribal community.
 One Ration Card fully rolled out by March 2021
 2% Interest Subvention for 12 months for Shishu MUDRA loanees- Relief of Rs. 1,500 crores

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 2

  Rs 6000 crore employment push using CAMPA funds
 Rs 30,000 crore Additional Emergency Working Capital for farmers through NABARD
Read More Details Here: Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan Part-2: Package for Poor, including migrants and
farmers detailed by Nirmala Sitharaman

Delhi Police gets India’s first ‘Thermal Corona Combat Headgear’ to enhance social distancing
Delhi Police launched India’s first ‘Thermal Corona Combat Headgear’ to ensure the safety of frontline
warriors and enforce social distancing. The initiative has been launched by the Delhi police in
collaboration with Indian Robotics Solution. The equipment is used to detect temperature of large
number of people at the distance of 10-15m. The Delhi Police has also launched a ‘Thermal Corona
Combat Drone-(TCCD)’ in collaboration with the same start-up Indian Robotics Solution.

India’s CO2 emissions falls for the 1st time in four decades: Carbon Brief
As per the analysis of UK based environmental website, Carbon Brief, India’s Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
emissions fell by 30 metric tonnes (1.4%) in the fiscal year ending March 2020, which is the first annual
decline in four decades. Furthermore, emission fell by 15% during the month of March and is likely to fall
by 30% in April. The analysis is done by Lauri Myllyvirta and Sunil Dahiya of Centre for Research on
Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
Read More Details Here: India’s CO2 emissions falls for the 1st time in four decades: Carbon Brief

Rajnath Singh approves Rs 400 crore Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme

Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh has approved the launch of Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme
(DTIS) with a cost of Rs 400 crores to create testing infrastructure for the defence sector so as to boost
domestic defence and aerospace manufacturing. The DTIS is to promote indigenous defence production,
with special focus on participation of MSMEs and start-ups by bridging the gaps in defence testing
infrastructure in the country.

Centre approves modified DPR of Ujh Multipurpose Project in Jammu and Kashmir
The Central government has approved the modification of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Ujh
multipurpose Project (MPP) located on the river Ujh, main tributaries of river Ravi in Kathua district of
Jammu and Kashmir at the estimated cost of Rs.9,167 crore.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan Part-3: Package for agriculture Fisheries and Food Processing
Sectors detailed by Nirmala Sitharaman
The Part 3 of “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan” (self-reliant India Movement) is consisted of 11 measures.
8 measures are for improving agricultural infrastructure and 3 measures are for administrative and
governance reforms, including removing restrictions on sale and stock limits of farm produce.
 NABARD anchored Rs 1 lakh crore Agri Infrastructure Fund for farm-gate infrastructure for farmers
 20,000 crores allocated for fisherman through Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)
 Rs. 13,343 cr National Animal Disease Control Programme launched
 Amendments to Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to enable better price realisation for farmers
Read More Details Here: Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan Part-3: Package for agriculture Fisheries and
Food Processing Sectors detailed by Nirmala Sitharaman

3rd advance estimates of production projects all time high food grain production of 295.67
million tonnes for 2019-20
In accordance with the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare’s 3rd Advance
Estimates of production of major crops for 2019-20, the total food grain production in the country is
estimated to achieve a record of all-time high 295.67 million tonnes in 2019-20 for the 4th consecutive
year since 2016-17 crop year (July-June).

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 3

e-NAM reaches target 1000 mandis across 18 states and 3 Union Territories
The Ministry of Agriculture announced that the e-NAM reached target 1000 mandis across the nation in
18 states and 3 union territories (UTs) with 38 new mandis integrated with the e-NAM platform of
electronic agriculture trading portal. The 38 new mandis include 19 from Madhya Pradesh, 10 from
Telangana, 4 from Maharashtra and one each in Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Kerala and J&K.

Ultra-mega solar parks-initiated India’s clean energy transition: US-based IEEFA report
In accordance with a report titled “India’s Utility-Scale Solar Parks—A Global Success Story” by Kashish
Shah, a researcher analyst at US-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA),
the installation of utility-scale solar parks or ultra-mega power plant (UMPP) in India has started the
India’s energy sector transition. It should be noted that in 2016, the Indian government has set a target
of installing 175 gigawatts of renewable energy by the FY2021-22and 275 gigawatts by FY2026-27. The
ultra-mega solar parks have attracted foreign capital as well as top global developers to India providing
investors with an opportunity to join a US$500-700bn renewable energy and grid infrastructure
investment boom in the coming decade.

GoM headed by Thawar Chand Gehlot proposes land pooling to corporatise agri, merging
MGNREGA with skilling programmes
A Group of Ministers (GoM) panel headed by Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand
Gehlot on employment and skill development has drafted a set of proposals that includes land pooling to
corporatize agriculture, merging MGNREGA with skilling programmes to create a wage subsidy
programme.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan Part-4: New Horizons of Growth detailed by Nirmala Sitharaman
The Part 4 of “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan” (self-reliant India Movement) is consisted of structural
reforms in the eight sectors of Coal, Minerals, Defence production, Civil Aviation, Power Sector, Social
Infrastructure, Space and Atomic energy. The aim is to boost economic growth, and create jobs.
 Coal Sector: Rs 50,000 cr infused for building evacuation infrastructure
 Defence sector: FDI to be raised from 49% to 74%
 Power sector; Privatization of PDCs in UTs
 Atomic Energy Sector
Read More Details Here: Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan Part-4: New Horizons of Growth detailed by
Nirmala Sitharaman

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan Part-5: Government reforms detailed by Nirmala Sitharaman

The Part 5 of “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan” (self-reliant India Movement) is focused on seven areas viz.
MNREGA, Health and Education, Business during COVID-19, Decriminalisation of Company Act, Ease of
doing business, Policy related to Public Sector Units, State government and resources related to it.
 Rs 40,000 crores increase in allocation for MGNREGS to provide employment boost
 Technology Driven Education with Equity post-COVID by launching PM eVIDYA
 Enhancement of Ease of Doing business through IBC related measures
 Ease of Doing Business for Corporates
 Public Sector Enterprise Policy for a New, Self-reliant India
Read More Details Here: Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan Part-5: Government reforms detailed by Nirmala
Sitharaman

Government implements Shekatkar Committee’s recommendations to create border

infrastructure
Government has accepted and implemented 3 important recommendations of Committee of Experts
(CoE) under the Chairmanship of Lieutenant General D B Shekatkar (Retd) relating to border

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 4

 Infrastructure so as to speed up road construction, which leads to socio-economic development in the
border areas. The Committee was set up by former defence minister Manohar Parrikar in 2016.

6 Cities rated 5 Star, 65 Cities rated 3 Star and 70 Cities rated 1 Star for garbage free cities:
MOHUA
Ministry Of Housing and Urban Affairs (MOHUA) announced the results of the Star Rating of Garbage Free
Cities, for the assessment year 2019-2020, where 6 Cities (Ambikapur, Rajkot, Surat, Mysuru, Indore and
Navi Mumbai) were rated 5 Star, 65 Cities rated 3 Star and 70 Cities rated 1 Star out of 141 cities & also
launched the revised protocol for the Star Rating of Garbage Free Cities.

India Provides 2 million USD to support UN agency working for Palestinian refugees
India provides 2 million USD (Rs 15 crore) to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
(UNRWA) to support the Palestinian refugees for its programmes and services like education and
healthcare in the COVID-19 situation. India has increased the annual contribution to the UNRWA from
1.25 million USD (Rs.9.45 crore) to 5 million USD (Rs. 37 crore) in 2019 and promised another 5 million
USD (Rs. 37 crore) for 2020.

Army proposes 3-year stint for civilians under “Three-Year Short Service” Scheme
Indian army is considering a proposal to allow civilians, including young working professionals, to join
the force for 3 years as officers and in other ranks (ORs) in areas like logistics and front-line formations
under the “Tour of Duty” or “Three-Year Short Service” Scheme. Initially, 100 officers and 1,000 men are
being considered for recruitment. The key criteria under this scheme will be age and fitness, among
others.

Indian Railways operationalised its 1st 12,000 hp electric made in India Locomotive- WAG12
manufactured by MELPL
Indian Railways has operationalised its 1st 12,000 hp electric made in India Locomotive named WAG12
from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Station, Uttar Pradesh. It is manufactured by Madhepura Electric
Locomotive Pvt. Ltd. (MELPL) Factory, Bihar which is a joint venture between French giant Alstom (74%
share) & IR (26% share). India became the 6th country to produce high hp loco indigenously & is the 1st
time it operationalised high hp on a broad-gauge track in the world.

Defence ministry & eGov Foundation signs MoU through video conference for Online
Management of Cantonment Boards
The Directorate General Defence Estates (DGDE), Ministry of Defence & eGov Foundation has signed MoU
through video conference to implement a cloud-based platform to deliver various citizen services under
the program e-Chhawani & to drive e-governance and improved citizen services across all 62 cantonment
boards in the country.

Coir Geo textiles to be used in rural road construction under PMGSY-III: Govt
According to the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) under Union Ministry of
Rural Development, ‘Coir Geo textiles’ has been finally got nod as a good material for rural road
construction under the third phase of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, (PMGSY-III).

Labour ministry notifies EPF contribution to 10% from 12% for three months
Ministry of Labour & Employment had decided to reduce the Employees’ provident fund (EPF)
contributions to 10% from the existing 12% for three months till July 2020 (i.e May, June, July) to retain
more money in the hands of the employer and the salary class.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 5

Nirmala Sitharaman announces several initiatives to boost education sector
Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced several initiatives to
boost the education sector. PM e-VIDYA will be launched, to enable multi-mode access to education.
Manodarpan initiative is launched to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for
mental health and emotional wellbeing. Government expands e-learning in higher education by
liberalizing open, distance and online education regulatory framework.

Centre launches scheme for 100% solarisation of Konark sun temple & Konark town in Odisha
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) announced that the Government of India launched
a scheme for 100% solarisation of Konark Sun Temple and Konark town in Odisha. The objective of this
scheme is to advance the Prime Minister’s vision to develop the historical Sun Temple town of Konark as
‘Surya Nagri’ to meet all the requirements of the Konark town by solar energy. The implementation of
this scheme will be done by Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA).

Defence Ministry approves procurement of 26 defence items from local suppliers to boost ‘Make
in India’
The Department of Defence Production (DDP), Ministry of Defence in order to further encourage
procurement from local suppliers to boost ‘Make in India’, has approved 26 defence items out of 127
already notified have now been notified under clause 3(a) of the Public Procurement (Preference to Make
in India) Order 2017.
Read More Details Here: Defence Ministry approves procurement of 26 defence items from local
suppliers to boost ‘Make in India’

Centre gives environmental clearance for drilling & testing of hydrocarbons in Assam’s Dibru
Saikhowa Park
Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) gave green clearance for the
extension drilling and testing of hydrocarbons at seven locations by Oil India Ltd under Assam's Dibru-
Saikhowa National Park. The clearance was given as part of the Centre’s target to reduce 10% imports
and the Northeast Vision 2030. Union MoEFCC Minister & Chairman of National Board for Wildlife
(NBWL), Prakash Javadekar has also approved a coal-mining project in the Saleki reserve forest which is
a part of the Dihing Patkai Elephant Reserve (Assam).

1 crore treatments provided under AB-PMJAY, created webinar, launched Ask Ayushman &
Hospital Ranking Dashboard: Harsh Vardhan
Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan to mark 1 crore treatments of the Ayushman
Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) has inaugurated the 1st edition of Arogya Dhara,
a series of webinars titled “Ayushman Bharat: 1 crore treatments and beyond” which is created as an
open platform for discussion on topical issues of public health and launched ‘Ask Ayushman’ a chatbot
on WhatsApp & “Hospital Ranking Dashboard”.
Read More Details Here: 1 crore treatments provided under AB-PMJAY, created webinar, launched Ask
Ayushman & Hospital Ranking Dashboard: Harsh Vardhan

Textiles Committee named as 9th approved laboratory to test and certify PPE body coveralls;
developed fully indigenous Design PPE Testing Equipment
Mumbai based Textiles Committee of Ministry of Textiles was named as the ninth approved laboratory
to test and certify Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) body coveralls produced in the country for
healthcare workers and other COVID-19 warriors. India has become the world’s second largest
manufacturer of PPE body coveralls, following China.
Read More Details Here: Textiles Committee named as 9th approved laboratory to test and certify PPE
body coveralls; developed fully indigenous Design PPE Testing Equipment

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 6

Rajnath Singh participates in MSMEs E-conclave “SIDM MSME Conclave 2020”
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh participates in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) E-
conclave, “Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) MSME Conclave 2020“, jointly organised by
SIDM, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Department of Defence Production. The Theme of the
E-conclave is ‘Business Continuity for MSMEs in Defence & Aerospace Sector’.

Union Minister Harsh Vardhan participates in NAM health ministers meeting through video
conference
Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan participated in the Non-Aligned Movement
(NAM) Health Ministers meeting through video conference. The NAM Summit is organised in a time when
international community faces a pandemic and the meeting was chaired by Minister of Health, Azerbaijan,
Mr. Ogtay Shiraliyev. Ilham Aliyev the president of Azerbaijan is the present chairman of NAM.

Govt amends rules to ban global tender for procurement up to Rs 200 crores to benefit MSMEs
Government has notified the amendments to the General Financial Rules, 2017 to ensure that goods and
services valued less than Rs 200 crores are procured from domestic firms, which states that the global
tenders will be banned for government procurement up to 200 crores as announced in the Aatmanirbhar
Bharat Package. This move will boost domestic suppliers, particularly Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs).

Local to Global: Khadi Masks to export in Foreign Markets

Ministry of Commerce and Industries lifted the ban on export of non-medical/ non-surgical masks of all
types. Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has already developed double layered cotton
masks and triple-layered silk face masks. If this came to effect then it will be a perfect example of “local
the global”, a call-in wake of AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

Cabinet approvals on May 20, 2020

The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its approval to the following on May
20, 2020:
 Cabinet approves Rs 10,000 cr “Scheme for formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises
(FME)”
 Cabinet approves extension of ‘Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana till 2023
 Cabinet approves Rs 20,050 cr Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
 Cabinet approves Rs 30,000 cr Special Liquidity Scheme for NBFCs/HFCs to address their Liquidity
Stress
 Cabinet approves waiver of interest of Hindustan Organic Chemicals Limited
Read More Details Here: Cabinet approvals on May 20, 2020

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Israel names street in Tel Aviv after Rabindranath Tagore on his 159th birth anniversary
Israel has named a street in Tel Aviv after Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore on his 159th birth
anniversary to honour his valuable contributions in the field and to mankind. He was born on May 7,
1861, in Calcutta. In Bengal Rabindra Jayanti is celebrated on the 25th day of the Bengali month of
Boishakh. The capital and currency of Israel is Jerusalem and Shekel respectively.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sworn-in for the 5th time
Benjamin Netanyahu has been sworn as the Israel Prime Minister (PM) for the 5th time after signing of
power-sharing deal with rival-turned-partner Benny Gantz of Blue and White Party. He will now chair

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 7

 the post until 13 November 2021. As per agreement Benjamin will continue as PM of Israel for 18 months
and Benny will take charge after that.

Italy develops ‘iFeel-You’ bracelet for social distancing

The Genoa-based Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) has developed “i-Feel you”, an intelligent bracelet
which will help users respect social distancing rules. The capital and currency of Italy is Rome and Euro
respectively.

Nepal approves new political map including India’s Kalapani, Lipulekh as its territory
Nepal’s cabinet has accepted a new political map showing Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura under
its territory. The new map shows the northern, southern, eastern and western international borders of
Nepal. The politics and administrative systems of the areas adjacent to these borders are also mentioned.
The Lipulekh Pass is a remote western place near the disputed border between Nepal and India, Kalapani.
Both India and Nepal consider Kalapani as their integral part. India calls it part of Pithoragarh district of
Uttarakhand while Nepal is part of Dharchula district.

India, Bangladesh sign pact to operationalise 5 more ports of call & 2 new routes
India & Bangladesh signed the 2nd Addendum to the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade in
Dhaka. Under this pact- Increased 5 more ports of call from earlier 6 (Total- 11) & extended 2 ports of
call in each country; 2 new Indo Bangladesh Protocol (IBP) routes (from 8 to 10) & new locations are also
added to the existing routes to facilitate the trade between two countries.

Airtel Africa with UNICEF extends e-learning support to students

New York headquartered United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) partnered with Bharti Airtel’s Africa
Arm to support the school children in the COVID-19 affected areas and provide them access to remote
learning and financial assistance to their families through mobile cash transfer. Under this partnership,
Airtel Africa will utilize mobile technology to support over 133 million school age children affected due
to closure of schools in 13 Sub-Saharan African country. This partnership will support UNICEF’s Global
Agenda for Action for children.

73rd session of the WHA held virtually; Draft resolution on COVID-19 investigation adopted;
Harsh Vardhan named as chairman of WHO Executive Board
The 2-day long 73rd session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) of World Health Organization (WHO)
was held virtually for the first time, amid COVID-19, from 18 – 19 May 2020. The objective of the meet
was to reach a consensus of EU backed draft stating an investigation on how the “severe acute respiratory
syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)” has originated.
 EU initiated draft resolution on COVID-19 response adopted at WHA73; Supported by India
 Dr Harsh Vardhan named as chairman of WHO Executive Board
 China announces USD 2 billion in coronavirus help at WHO assembly
 Keva Bain of Bahamas elected as new president of WHA
Read More Details Here: 73rd session of the WHA held virtually; Draft resolution on COVID-19
investigation adopted; Harsh Vardhan named as chairman of WHO Executive Board

BANKING & FINANCE

World Bank approves 1 billion USD to support India’s combat against COVID-19
World Bank approves Rs 7500 crore (1 billion USD) to ‘Accelerating India’s COVID-19 Social Protection
Response Program’ to increase India’s COVID-19 Social Protection response Program to help the nation’s
efforts in providing assistance for the poor and needy who are affected by the pandemic. This makes the

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 8

 total commitment from the World Bank to India for the COVID-19 response to Rs.15000 crore (USD 2
billion).

Centre, WB govt inked loan agreements with AIIB and World Bank for “West Bengal Major
Irrigation and Flood Management Project”
The Government of India and West Bengal Government have inked two loan agreements with Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and World Bank (WB) each $145 million ($290 million
cumulative) for the “West Bengal Major Irrigation and Flood Management Project” to improve irrigation
services and flood management in the Damodar Valley Command Area (DVCA) of West Bengal. The total
outlay of the project is $413.8 million. The Government of West Bengal has infused $123.8 million for this
project.

Rs 1,500 crores sanctioned for Punjab to ensure continuous credit flow to farmers: NABARD
The Mumbai based National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned Rs
1,500 crores for Punjab to ensure continuous credit flow to farmers, through state cooperative banks,
amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Out of the total amount Rs 1,000 crores is sanctioned to Punjab State
Cooperative Bank and Rs 500 crores to Punjab Gramin Bank.

Canara Bank launches special gold loan business vertical

The Bengaluru headquartered Canara Bank has launched a special business vertical dedicated for gold
loans to meet the financial needs of its customers as they are in need of immediate credit support to meet
their emergency needs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank has launched a gold loan campaign till
30th June, 2020 with an interest rate as low as 7.85% per annum. The MD & CEO of Canara bank is LV
Prabhakar.

NABARD extends Rs 20,500 crores special liquidity facility to co-op banks & RRBs
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has informed that it has extended
Rs 20,500 crores special liquidity facility to co-operative banks (co-op– Rs 15,200 crores) and Regional
Rural Banks (RRB’s– Rs 5,300 crores) in various States. This amount is part of the Rs 25,000 crores of
special refinance facility provided by the RBI to NABARD for refinancing RRBs, cooperative banks and
Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).

Kotak Mahindra becomes 1st bank in India to introduce video-KYC facility for SA customers
The Mumbai based Kotak Mahindra Bank has become the 1st bank in India to allow video Know your
customer (KYC) facility for its customers opening savings account (SA) on Kotak 811 platform.

Flipkart ties up with Bajaj Allianz General Insurance for digital motor insurance policy
E-commerce company Flipkart partnered with Pune based Bajaj Allianz General Insurance Company to
offer digital motor insurance policy to customers of e-commerce major. This enables consumers to
purchase the motor-insurance policy using the Flipkart mobile application.

Franklin Templeton appoints Kotak Bank as an advisor to assist in monetising assets of 6 Wind-
up Schemes
Franklin Templeton Trustee Services Pvt. Ltd. has appointed Mumbai based Kotak Mahindra Bank as an
independent advisor to work together with Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Pvt. Ltd (the
AMC), to assist the Trustees in monetizing portfolios of the 6 schemes that are being wound up & make
pay-outs to the affected investors.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 9

IBM ties up with Intellect Design Arena to launch iTurmeric FinCloud platform for cloud services
of banks, financial institutions
IBM (International Business Machines) ties up with the Intellect Design Arena Limited, a full spectrum
banking and insurance products company, has launched iTurmeric FinCloud platform through IBM public
cloud targeting financial institutions which are looking to switch to the latest tools and technologies.

Overview of Monetary Policy Statement 2020-21 released by RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released its Monetary Policy Statement 2020-21 in Mumbai,
Maharashtra. The three-day (May 20 to 22,2020) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) virtual meeting by
the 6 members was headed by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das.
 All members of the MPC unanimously voted to reduce the policy repo rate under the liquidity
adjustment facility (LAF) to 4.0 % from 4.40%.
 RBI extends moratorium on loans for another 3 months till August 2020
 India’s 2020-21 GDP growth rate expected to be negative
 Reserve Bank infuses Rs 15,000-crore line of credit to EXIM Bank
 Reserve bank grants Rs 15,000-crore refinance facility for SIDBI
 Industrial production decrease by 17 % in March with manufacturing activity down by 21%: RBI
Read More Details Here: Overview of Monetary Policy Statement 2020-21 released by RBI

World Bank announces $160 billion assistance to 100 countries

The World Bank announced emergency operations worth USD 160 billion to 100 developing countries
over a 15-month period to fight the deadly Coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown were
expected to put over 60 million into extreme poverty globally.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

COVID-19 may cost global economy loss of up to $ 8.8 trillion: ADB report
According to a report titled “Updated Assessment of the Potential Economic Impact of COVID-19”
released by Manila, Philippines based Asian Development Bank (ADB), global economy is expected to lose
between $ 5.8 trillion to $ 8.8 trillion (equal to 6.4 % to 9.7 % of global gross domestic product (GDP))
due to the outbreak of the COVID-19.

Indian economy to contract by 5% in FY21: Goldman Sachs

US based Goldman Sachs has estimated Indian economy to contract by 5% in FY21, which will be the
deepest compared to all recessions India has ever experienced since 1979. It is against its earlier forecast
of 0.4% contraction before revising it down to a level it shares with Japanese brokerage Nomura.

ICRA sharply cuts India’s GDP growth forecast for FY21 at -5%
Gurugram based credit rating agency ICRA Limited has sharply reduced India’s FY21 (Fiscal Year 2020-
21) growth forecast to minus 5 % from 1%, -2% growth predicted earlier, due to the multiple extension
of lockdown and labour mismatches results in further delays in supply chain resumption.

Finance ministry exempts B2B firms from using only BHIM, RuPay for accepting payments
Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), a statutory authority functioning under the Department of
Revenue in the Ministry of Finance, has exempted firms with a turnover of over ₹50 crore & engaged in
business-to-business (B2B) transactions, from the requirement of accepting payments only by e-
payments facilities using debit cards powered by RuPay or BHIM-UPI.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 10

Indian exports to fall by 20% during FY 21: FIEO
The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), apex body of exporters set up jointly by Ministry
of Commerce and Government of India has informed that Indian exports are expected to fall by 20% in
the current fiscal, in value terms it will be around USD 50 to 60 billion & also imports due to COVID-19
pandemic.

Bharat Biotech and Thomas Jefferson University to develop a new vaccine candidate for COVID-
19
Hyderabad based Vaccine manufacturer Bharat Biotech and Thomas Jefferson University of Philadelphia
have signed an exclusive deal to develop a new vaccine candidate for COVID-19 at Jefferson with the
support from the Department of Biotechnology, Bharat Biotech aims for human trials in early December
2020.

ONGC, NTPC signs MoU to start joint venture for renewable energy business
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) and NTPC have signed a preliminary agreement to set
up a joint venture for a renewable energy project and entered into a memorandum of understanding
(MoU) on 21st May 2020 in New Delhi to formalize the agreement. The joint venture will gain significant
growth in the renewable power sector.

Ircon signs MoU with RZD International for joint development of railways
State-owned Ircon International Limited (IRCON) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
with RZD International L.L.C., a subsidiary of government-owned Russian Railways Company, to explore
opportunities for joint development of railways and other infrastructure projects in Asia, Africa and Latin
America.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar wins 2019 Alexander Dalrymple Award from UK
The National Hydrographer to the Government of India, Vice Admiral Vinay Badhwar is honoured with
the 2019 Alexander Dalrymple Award. The award was first presented in 2006 by the UK Ministry of
Defence sponsored UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) named after the first Hydrographer of the Admiralty,
Alexander Dalrymple. In 2019, He received the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal for “distinguished service of an
exceptional order during peacetime”.

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

WTO Director General Roberto Azevedo to step down on August 31 before term expires
At the World Trade Organisation (WTO) members virtual meeting, the 6th Director-General Roberto
Azevedo (62), a former Brazilian diplomat & 1st Latin American director of WTO has announced that he
will step down from the 7-year tenure (since 2013) on 31st August, 2020 on personal grounds, cutting
his second term in office short by exactly one year.

Zubair Iqbal appointed as MD of J&K Bank, Chibber to continue as chairman

The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration approved the appointment of Zubair Iqbal as the new
Managing Director (MD) of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, for a period of 3 years. The Rajesh Kumar Chibber,
who is currently MD and Chairman of J&K bank, has been reappointed as the Chairman for the period of
3 years.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 11

Govinda Rajulu Chintala appointed as NABARD chairman, Shaji KV and PVS Suryakumar
appointed as DMD of NABARD
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) appointed Govinda Rajulu Chintala as Chairman of
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). He was the successor of Harsh Kumar
Bhanwala. Also, Shaji K V and P.V.S Suryakumar have been appointed as Deputy Managing Directors
(DMD) of NABARD.

Indian Steel Association appoints Dilip Oommen as new president

Indian Steel Association (ISA) has unanimously appointed Dilip Oommen, CEO of Arcelor Mittal Nippon
Steel India as the new President for the next two years with immediate effect after T V Narendran, CEO
of TATA Steel stepped down on May 1.

Moeketsi Majoro sworn in as Lesotho’s new prime minister

Moeketsi Majoro (58) has been sworn in as Lesotho’s new prime minister (PM) after Thomas Motsoahae
Thabane, who has stepped down as prime minister. The capital and currency of Lesotho are Maseru &
Lesotho Loti respectively.

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Godrej consumer products arm picks balance 25% stake in Kenya’s Canon Chemicals
Godrej East Africa Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of FMCG (Fast-moving consumer goods) firm Godrej
Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL), has acquired the balance 25% stake in Kenya-based Canon Chemicals
Ltd for an undisclosed sum. Earlier, the Godrej group has acquired 75 % stake in Canon for an undisclosed
sum in 2016.

General Atlantic buys 1.34% stake in Jio platforms for Rs 6,598.38 crores
Reliance Industries Limited announced the sale of 1.34% stake in its digital services subsidiary, Jio
Platforms to General Atlantic for Rs 6,598.38 crores. After this investment Jio Platforms will have an
equity value of Rs 4.91 trillion and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 trillion. Earlier, Facebook has bought
9.99%, Silver lake bought 1.15% and Vista equity partners bought 2.32% stake in Jio platforms.

Accenture acquires start-up Byte Prophecy to deliver AI solutions to enterprises

Irish based multinational professional services company; Accenture has acquired Ahmedabad based AI
(Artificial Intelligence) start-up Byte Prophecy for an undisclosed sum.

Tata Power International Pte Ltd acquires 10% stake in Adjaristsqali Netherlands BV
Tata Power announced that its subsidiary Tata Power International Pte Ltd (TPIPL) has acquired a 10%
stake in Adjaristsqali Netherlands BV (ABV) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for USD
150,000 (about Rs 1.13 crore). The agreement is signed among TPIPL, ABV, and the IFC. The acquisition
is done as per the provisions of the shareholder agreement.

IRDAI approves Union Bank to continue with its 30% holding in India First Life Insurance
Hyderabad based Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has approved the
proposal of the Mumbai headquartered Public Sector Bank Union Bank of India-UBI (which holds 25.1%
stake in Star Union Dai-Chi Life) to continue with its 30% holding in India First Life Insurance.

KKR buys 2.32% in Jio Platforms for Rs 11,367 crores

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced the sale of a 2.32 % stake in its digital unit, Jio Platforms to
US private equity giant KKR for Rs 11,367 crores, which is the 5th deal of Jio since 22 April that will inject

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 12

 Rs 78,562 crores in RIL to cut debt. After this transaction, Jio Platforms will have an equity value of Rs
4.91 lakh crore and an enterprise value of Rs 5.16 lakh crore.
Previous deals done by Jio:
Date Name of the Company Stake % Amount in crores
April 22 Facebook 9.99% Rs 43,574
May 4 Silver Lake 1.15% Rs 5,665.75
May 8 Vista Equity Partners 2.32% Rs 11,367
May 17 General Atlantic 1.34% Rs 6,598.38

Airtel acquires 10% stakes in conversational AI start-up Voicezen

Bharti Airtel acquired a10% strategic stake in Voicezen, a Gurugram based start-up in early stage focused
on conversational AI technologies under the fast expanding Airtel Start-up Accelerator Program as a part
of its strategy to deliver highly differentiated service experience.

CCI approves 100% acquisition of Emami Cement by Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved 100% acquisition of the total issued and paid
up share capital of Emami Cement Limited (ECL)on a fully diluted basis, by Nuvoco Vistas Corporation
Limited (NVCL) for an enterprise value of Rs 5,500 crore.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Indian coast guard ship sachet, interceptor boats C-450 and C-451 commissioned: Rajnath Singh
Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh has commissioned the indigenously-built Indian Coast Guard Ship
(ICGS) Sachet, the 1st in the series of five offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and Interceptor Boats (IB’s) C-
450 and C-451 in Goa. The ICGS Sachet is indigenously designed and built by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) &
The interceptor boats are designed and built by Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Shipyard.

MHRD develops SAMARTH an e-Governance platform to provide quality education to students

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has developed an e-Governance platform named,
SAMARTH Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP) under National Mission of Education in Information and
Communication Technology Scheme (NMEICT) to provide quality education to students across all
Universities & Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), which is the mission of Department of Higher
Education.

IITGN develops interactive dashboard “MIR AHD Covid-19 Dashboard” to help contain COVID-19
community infection post lockdown
The Researchers at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)- Gandhinagar (IITGN), Gujarat, have developed
an interactive COVID-19 dashboard named “MIR AHD Covid-19 Dashboard”, that can help administrators,
hospitals as well as public in planning optimised testing for the COVID-19 and containing community
infection in various post-lockdown scenarios.

Indian Navy commissions 7th ship of MK IV class Landing Craft Utility ‘IN LCU L57’ at Port Blair
Lt. General PS Rajeshwar the Commander-in-Chief of Andaman & Nicobar Command, has commissioned
the 103rd Landing Craft Utility (LCU) MK IV class vessel ‘INLCU L 57’ (Yard no: 2098) into the Indian
Navy at Port Blair in a low-profile ceremony. It was the 7th in the series of 8 such vessels being
indigenously made by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers Limited (GRSE) for the Navy.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 13

CSIR collaborates with Intel India and IIIT-Hyderabad to develop solution and strategies to
combat COVID-19
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) working with Intel India and International
Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad in developing a faster and cost efficient COVID-19
diagnostic solution, an IT technology to understand epidemiology and AI based risk stratification for the
patients. To perform comprehensive diagnostics the constituent labs of CSIR like, IGIB, CCMB, IMTECH,
CLRIT are collaborating with various hospitals and diagnostic chains.

Scientists of JNCASR Develops Injectable Silk Fibroin-based hydrogel for Insulin delivery in
diabetic patients
The Research team of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Karnataka
headed by Prof. T. Govindaraju developed the Silk Fibroin (SF) formulated using biocompatible additives
and an injectable SF hydrogel (iSFH) to ease the insulin delivery for diabetic patients.

Bhopal’s CSIR-AMPRI faculty Rajeev Kumar develops lightweight carbon foam that can replace
lead batteries
Dr. Rajeev Kumar of the Bhopal based Council of Scientific and Industrial Research -Advanced Materials
and Processes Research Institute (CSIR -AMPRI), who received the Inspire Faculty Award, constituted by
the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has developed a porous lightweight carbon foam with
a density of less than 0.3g/cc that can replace lead-grids in lead acid batteries.

COVID-19: University of Hyderabad, CSIR-CCMB ties up with Vins Bioproducts for antibody
therapy
University of Hyderabad (UoH) and Hyderabad based CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology
(CCMB), have tied up with Vins Bioproducts Limited, an antisera manufacturing company incubated at
UoH’s BioNEST incubation centre, to develop antibody- based immunotherapy for immediate treatment
for Covid-19 pandemic.

A novel tool to help gain deeper insights into Parkinson’s disease

Scientists of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) (Indian School of Mines ISM) Dhanbad, Jharkhand and
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata
has teamed up to find a solution to understand Parkinson’s disease which is a common
neurodegenerative disease with no cure.

NDMA developed an online Dashboard National Migrant Information System to track migrants’
movements
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) developed an online dashboard National Migrant
Information System (NMIS) on the existing NDMA-Geographical Information System (GIS) portal to
capture the information regarding movement of migrants and facilitate the smooth movement of
stranded persons across states.

CSIR-CMERI develops two mobile indoor disinfection sprayers: BPDS and POMID to combat
COVID-19
The CSIR – Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI), Durgapur, West Bengal has
developed two mobile indoor disinfection sprayer units Battery Powered Disinfectant Sprayer (BPDS)
and Pneumatically Operated Mobile Indoor Disinfection (POMID) for cleaning and disinfecting
pathogenic micro-organism.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 14

ARCI & SCTIMST jointly develops next-generation biodegradable metal implants for use in
humans
The Hyderabad based International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials
(ARCI) and Thiruvananthapuram based Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and technology
(SCTIMST) – autonomous institutes under Department of Science and Technology (DST) have jointly
developed new generation Iron-Manganese (Fe-Mn) based alloys for biodegradable metal implants for
use in humans. The newly developed alloys are suitable for biodegradable stent and orthopaedic implant
applications.

SCR develops robot “Rail-BOT (R-BOT)” to assist railway doctors

South Central Railway (SCR) zone developed a robotic device, “RAIL-BOT” (R-BOT) to assist in hospital
management functions towards patient care in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. The robot provides
medicines, medical accessories & to serve food to the patients, without any need for physical contact.
Also, Jaipur-based Club First, has developed robots to help the healthcare workers and to contain the
spread of the virus. It is the world’s first robot that is based on spine technology which helps robots
balance anything it handles. A hospital in Bengaluru deployed the ‘Mitra’ robots to check and screen the
patients for COVID-19 symptoms.

Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launches ‘National Test Abhyas’ an AI-powered mobile app for
mock tests for JEE Main, NEET 2020
Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched an Artificial
Intelligence (AI)-powered mobile app called the ‘National Test Abhyas’. The app is developed by National
Testing Agency (NTA).

Union HRD Minister launches IGNOU’s Online Master’s Programme in Hindi

Union HRD (Human Resource Development Minister) Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched IGNOU’S
(Indira Gandhi National Open University) Online Programme for Master of Arts (MA) in Hindi. The main
objective of Bharat Padhe or India Padhe online is to promote online education for Crowdsourcing of
Ideas.

Researcher of CSIRO develops “heat resistant” coral to fight bleaching

A team of scientists of CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) and
Australia’s national science agency, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the University
of Melbourne successfully discovered corals with increased heat tolerance which has potential to reduce
the impacts of coral reef bleaching due to climatic change.

IIT Guwahati discovers methods to prevent memory loss due to Alzheimer

The research team of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati headed by Professor Vibin
Ramakrishnan, Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering worked on a new idea to help in preventing
or reducing the short-term memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientist at Pune based ARI maps 2 alternative dwarfing genes in wheat that can eliminate rice
crop residue burning
According to the research published in The Crop Journal and Molecular Breeding, a team of Scientists at
Pune based the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) have mapped two alternative dwarf genes – Rht14 and
Rht18– in wheat that can eliminate rice crop residue burning.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 15

SCTIMST commercially launched RNA extraction Kit ‘Agappe Chitra Magna’ for detection of
COVID-19
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Science and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum, Kerala with
Agappe Diagnostics Ltd, Cochin organised the commercial launch of ‘Agappe Chitra Manga’, a magnetic
nanoparticle-based RNA extraction Kit for the detection of COVID-19 at the Biomedical Technology Wing
of SCTIMST.

Researchers at IIT-M develop solar parabolic trough collector

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M), developed a solar ‘parabolic trough
collector’ (PTC) system for concentrating solar energy for industrial applications like desalination, space
heating and space cooling.

A rare palm from Andamans ‘Pinanga andamanensis’ replanted at Kerala’s JNTBGRI

A rare palm of South Andaman Island ‘Pinanga andamanensis’ will be grown in Palode (Kerala) with the
help of Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI). The Pinanga,
recorded as a time-extinct species, is related to Areca Palm. Around 600 plants are found in a small area
of ‘Mount Harriet National Park’ in South Andaman.

ENVIRONMENT

Denmark researcher discovers new species of fungus ‘Troglomyces Twitteri’ on Twitter

According to the study published in the journal MycoKeys, Ana Sofia Reboleira, a biologist from the
University of Copenhagen’s Natural History Museum of Denmark, has discovered a new species of a
parasitic fungus ‘Troglomyces Twitteri’ by using an image of millipede circulating on social media
platform Twitter.

Zoological Survey of India lists 20 species of amphibians as critically endangered and 35 as

endangered
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) updated the checklist of Indian amphibians, a list of 20 species as
critically endangered and 35 species as endangered on its website. The scientists of Zoological Survey of
India in collaboration with other Indian institutes update the checklists of Indian amphibians periodically
as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Cyclone Amphan causes havoc in India and Bangladesh

A powerful super-cyclone Amphan, making landfall at 2.30 p.m. between Digha in West Bengal and Hatiya
island in Bangladesh with winds of about 120mph (190km/h), has killed at least 22 people and
destroying thousands of homes. Cyclone Amphan pronounced as ‘um-pun’, Thailand had given the name
‘Amphan’ for this cyclone way back in 2004.

SPORTS

China wins 1st edition of FIDE Chess.com online Nations cup 2020; India finishes fifth
China has won the 1st edition of FIDE Chess.com online Nations Cup 2020 chess tournament took place
from 5-10 May 2020, through a chess.com platform. They have defeated United States in the final of the
competition. India finished 5th in the six-team event consists of Russia, US, Europe, China, India and a
team representing the Rest of the World (RoW).

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 16

COVID-19 impact: ICC cricket committee led by Anil Kumble recommends ban on use of saliva to
shine ball
The International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket Committee, chaired by former Indian cricketer, Anil
Kumble has recommended a ban on the use of saliva to make the ball shine due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, the committee considered ball-shining as safe from the use of sweat. The committee also
recommended that two non-neutral umpires should be appointed for a short period of time & provision
for extra DRS (Decision Review System).

NADA provisionally suspends Savita Kumari, Ankit Shishodia for violating anti-doping rules
The New Delhi based National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) provisionally suspended powerlifters Savita
Kumari and Ankit Shisodia for violating anti-doping rules. Athletes were given an opportunity to present
themselves before the Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel (ADDP) and explain their cases on the date and
time fixed by the panel for a hearing.

OBITUARY

Bengali author Sahitya Akademi winner Debesh Roy passes away at 84

Veteran Bengali author Debesh Roy (84) passed away due to massive cardiac attack in a private hospital
in Baguihati. He was born on December 17, 1936 in Pabna (present day Bangladesh). He won the Sahitya
Akademi award for his novel ‘Tista Parer Brittanto’ in 1990.

Padma Bhushan awardee Professor Anisuzzaman passes away at 83

Padma Bhushan recipient and Bangladesh’s National Professor Anisuzzaman (83) passed away in Dhaka,
Bangladesh. He was born on February 18, 1937, in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India and shifted
to Bangladesh soon after the partition in 1947. He made an immense contribution to Bangla language &
literature through his research and writings.

Dadasaheb Phalke Awardee and Veteran Marathi writer, playwright Ratnakar Matkari passed
away at 81
Veteran Marathi writer, playwright Ratnakar Matkari (81) passed away in a hospital at suburban Marol,
Mumbai. Last week he was tested positive to COVID-19. He was born on 17th November 1938 in Mumbai,
Maharashtra. He won the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for his directorial front. His Film “Investment” won
the National Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi in 2012.He won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
in the year 2003.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

Union HRD Minister e-Launches seven titles on “Psycho-Social Impact of Pandemic & Lockdown
and How to Cope With”
Union HRD (Human Resource Development) Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank e-Launched print
as well as e-editions of the set of 7 titles on “Psycho-Social Impact of pandemic & lockdown and how to
Cope With” under the corona studies series published by National Book Trust (NBT), India. These books
will serve as guides to mental well-being of people at large.
Read More Details Here: Union HRD Minister e-Launches seven titles on “Psycho-Social Impact of
Pandemic & Lockdown and How to Cope With”

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 17

A Book titled “Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City” authored by Fang Fang
The book titled as “Wuhan Diary: Dispatches from a Quarantined City” authored by Chinese literary
writer Fang Fang is a compilation of online diary entries and social media posts that document 60 days
of lockdown during COVID-19. The book was released in India in an ebook format on May 15, 2020,
published by HarperNonFiction, the audio will follow on May 26.

Union HRD Minister releases three handbooks prepared by CBSE on Cyber security for students,
21st Century Skills and Principals’ handbook
Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ released three
handbooks through video conferencing in New Delhi. The 3 handbooks were prepared by the Central
Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on measures taken by the Board to adopt value-based global
standards of education.

Ruskin Bond’s new book ‘Hop On: My Adventures on Boats, Trains and Planes’ released on his
86th birthday
Popular author Ruskin Bond has authored a book titled ‘Hop On: My Adventures on Boats, Trains and
Planes. The e-book format was released on the occasion of his 86th birthday. The illustration of the new
book has been done by Samrat Halder and published by Speaking Tiger’s children’s imprint Talking Cub.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Families 2020: May 15

International Day of Families is observed every year on May 15. The day provides an opportunity to
promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic
and demographic processes affecting families. Theme for the year 2020: “Families in Development:
Copenhagen & Beijing + 25”.

National Endangered Species Day observed on May 15, 2020

In order to raise awareness about endangered species and wildlife in India, National Endangered Species
Day is celebrated every year on the 3rd Friday of May. This year the day falls on May 15, 2020 & we are
celebrating the 15th edition. As per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at least
40 % species of animals, plants, and insects are at the risk of extinction around the globe.

International Day of Light 2020: May 16

The International Day of Light (IDL) is celebrated every year on May 16 globally. The day marks the
anniversary of the first successful operation of the laser in 1960 by physicist and engineer, Theodore
Maiman. The day was organized by UNESCO which celebrates the role light plays in science, culture, art,
education and sustainable development as well as in the fields of medicines, communications & energy.

National dengue day 2020, May 16

India observes National Dengue Day on May 16 every year based on the suggestion of the Union Health
Ministry to create awareness about measures on dengue prevention and to control the spread of the
vector-borne disease and preparedness before the transmission season of dengue begins.

International Museum Day 2020: May 18

The International Museum Day (IMD) is celebrated annually on May 18, to create awareness on the
importance of museums for the development of society. The day is organized by the International Council
of Museums (ICOM) and has been celebrated since 1977. Theme for the year 2020: “Museums for
Equality: Diversity and Inclusion”. The HQ of ICOM is located at Paris, France.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 18

World AIDS Vaccine Day celebrated on May 18, 2020
The World AIDS Vaccine Day (or HIV Vaccine Awareness Day) has been observed annually on May 18 to
recognize and acknowledge the hard work of the thousands of health professionals, volunteers, members
of the medical field and scientists who have been working together for so many years to make HIV
(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) / AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) vaccine. The United
Nations (UN) has set a target to eliminate AIDS from its roots by 2030.

World Hypertension Day 2020, May 17

The World Hypertension Day is observed every year on 17th May to create awareness and educate people
to prevent and control the Hypertension. This day was initiated by the World hypertension League (WHL)
an affiliated section of the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) in May 2005.The theme of World
Hypertension Day 2020 is “Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, Live Longer”.

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2020: May 17

The World Telecommunications and Information Society Day (WTISD) is celebrated every year on May
17 to raise awareness about the importance of the internet and other means of information and
communication in bringing the world closer. This day marks the foundation of ITU in 1989 and Telegraph
convention in 1865. The HQ of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is located at Geneva,
Switzerland. The Theme for the year 2020: “Connect 2030: ICTs for the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs)”.

International Day of Living Together in Peace 2020: May 16

The International Day of Living Together in Peace is celebrated every year on May 16th since 2018 with
an aim to uphold the desire to live and act together, united in differences and diversity, in order to build
a sustainable world of peace, solidarity and harmony.

World Bee Day 2020 - May 20

The May 20th of every year is celebrated as the World Bee Day to commemorate the birth anniversary of
Anton Jansa, the pioneer of beekeeping born in 1734 in Slovenia and to acknowledge the role of bees in
the ecosystem. The theme of world Bee Day 2020 is “Bee Engaged” – highlighted the importance of
traditional knowledge related to beekeeping, the use of bee-derived products and services

World Metrology Day 2020: May 20

World Metrology Day (WMD) is celebrated every year on May 20, celebrating the International Systems
of Units. The term Metrology is a study of measurements. On this day, many nations internationally
collaborate to create awareness about metrology and its advancement in the respective field. Theme for
the year 2020: Measurements for global trade.

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 2020: May 21
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is observed every year on May 21. The
day celebrates not only the richness of the world’s cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural
dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development. In the year 2001, UNESCO adopted the
Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity.

International Tea Day 2020, May 21

The International Tea Day is annually celebrated by tea-growing countries like India and Sri Lanka since
2005 and in December 2019, the United Nation (UN) approved the proposal to celebrate the International
Tea Day put forth by the Government of India in the session of the Intergovernmental Group on Tea and
designated May 21st as International Tea Day.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 19

National Anti-Terrorism Day 2020: May 21
National Anti-Terrorism Day is observed every year on May 21 in order to raise awareness amongst
people that terrorism has no religion, also to spread the message of peace, harmony, and brotherhood.
The day commemorates the death anniversary of former India’s youngest Prime Minister (PM) Rajiv
Gandhi. He served the nation from 1984 to 1989.

International Day for Biological Diversity 2020: May 22

International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) is celebrated every year May 22. The day was declared
by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness and increase understanding of biodiversity issues.
Biological Diversity is not limited to nature alone, but also plants, animals, microorganisms and different
ecosystems. Theme for the year 2020: Our solutions are in nature.

STATE NEWS

Gujarat Govt launches ‘Atmanirbhar Gujarat Sahay Yojna’ to provide loans to small businessmen
The Gujarat state government has launched a ‘Atmanirbhar Gujarat Sahay Yojna (AGSY)’ under which
small businessmen and a cross- section of people falling under the lower middle-income group can take
a guarantee-free loan of Rs 1 lakh from banks at a 2 % annual interest rate for a period of 3 years.

Government of West Bengal announces two new schemes- ‘Sneher Porosh’ & ‘Prochesta’
The Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee launched two schemes ‘Sneher Porosh’ to provide
support for the migrant workers and ‘Prochesta’ to help the workers of the unorganised sector of Bengal
to enable them to earn their living in the lockdown situation.

Jharkhand: Education dept with Doordarshan starts online classes for School children
The State Education Department of Jharkhand in collaboration with Doordarshan (DD) started online
classes and educational programmes to provide school education to students of the state through video
and thematic lectures. The special educational lectures are designed for students from class 1 to 12 with
special slots allotted for each class.

AP govt forms 5-member panel headed by Neerabh Kumar Prasad to probe Vizag gas leak
The Andhra Pradesh (AP) government has formed a 5-member high-powered committee led by Neerabh
Kumar Prasad to probe into the causes behind the leakage of styrene gas from the LG Polymers India Ltd
located at Visakhapatnam. The panel required to submit its final report within one month.

Madhya Pradesh launched 1st of its kind campaign for migrant labourers: Charan Paduka
Madhya Pradesh, in a first of its kind of initiative named “Charan Paduka” campaign has been started for
the migrant labourers passing through the state. Under this campaign, the migrant labourers going
barefoot are being providing shoes and slippers to reduce their pain. The most notable thing is that this
campaign is being conducted by the police at most places.

Karnataka launches first accelerator for cyber security start-up

Karnataka's centre of excellence in cyber security (CySecK) has launched an accelerator programme for
cyber security start-ups. Branded as H.A.C.K, it is the State's first cyber security-specific accelerator.
H.A.C.K is an Accelerator for Cyber Security in Karnataka (H.A.C.K) inviting all the cyber security start-
ups in both early-stage and growth-stage, for applying for the zeroth cohort launching in Q2 2020.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 20

J&K promotes e-learning under Samagra Shiksha programme
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the Union Territory administration has initiated a slew of measures under
“Samagra Shiksha programme” to facilitate students with complete access to education through
technological interventions and other viable means in wake of COVID-19 lockdown. These measures
include tele-classes on DD Kashmir and Local Cable Network. The J&K government also launched Online
Career Guidance Portal “Manzelein” for students in association with UNICEF.

Punjab govt promulgates ‘Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners Amendment Ordinance, 2020’
The Punjab government has promulgated ‘The Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release)
Amendment Ordinance, 2020’. As per new provisions, the temporary release of the prisoners has been
allowed beyond the maximum period of 16 weeks in a calendar year.

UP presents largest ever Rs 5.12 lakh crores budget in state assembly

Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the Uttar Pradesh (UP) government’s largest ever
budget of Rs 5,12,860.72 crores for FY 2020-21 which estimates total receipts of 5,00,558 crores (Rs
4,22,567 crores- revenue and Rs 77,990 crores-capital receipts) & a deficit of Rs 12,302 crores.
Read More Details Here: UP presents largest ever Rs 5.12 lakh crores budget in state assembly

J&K starts an initiative ‘SUKOON’ – COVID-19 Beat the Stress

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

Jammu and Kashmir notified new rules for issuing domicile certificates
The administration in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir issued a new set of rules named
“Jammu and Kashmir Grant of Domicile Certificate Rules 2020” which defines the rules for issuing
domicile certificates in the UT.
Read More Details Here: Jammu and Kashmir notified new rules for issuing domicile certificates

Ranchi district launches “Tatpar” programme to transport migrants

Ranchi district launched the “Tatpar” program to help the migrant workers to get back to their native
places on bus instead of tiresome travel by foot. The administration launched a helpline “1950” to support
the migrant workers in arranging buses.

‘Mee Annapurna’ initiative launched for farmers welfare across Maharashtra

The Government of Maharashtra has announced ‘Mee Annapurna’ for farmers welfare across the state.
This comes after the Department of Agriculture, Govt of Maharashtra announced a 3-year empanelment
of insurance companies and intermediaries for implementation of crop insurance scheme, the Integrated
Risk Insurance Brokers Limited (IRIBL).

UP launches ‘Startup Fund’ signs MoU with SIDBI to promoted young entrepreneurs
The Government of Uttar Pradesh launched the ‘Uttar Pradesh Start-up Fund’ to promote
entrepreneurship among the youths of the state and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the MoU
between the state and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI). The HQ of SIDBI located at
Lucknow, UP.

MP: Rural Livelihood Mission begins Didi Vehicle Service for safe delivery of rural women
In the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh (MP), the women Rural Livelihood Mission started ‘Didi Vehicle
Service’ for rural women for the safe delivery and other emergency medical services. Also, the Madhya

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 21

 Pradesh government has developed a unique vehicle named ‘Sanjeevani’ to help the health care workers
in order to investigate any suspected COVID-19 patients without getting out of the vehicle.

Chhattisgarh Govt rolls out Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana for farmers
The state government of Chhattisgarh has launched its ambitious ‘Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana’
(RGKNY) to encourage crop production in the state and to give the farmers the right price for their
produce. Under this scheme, an amount of Rs 5700 crore will be transferred directly to their accounts in
four instalments to 19 lakh farmers of the state.

AC GAZE

Little Richard, rock’n’roll pioneer, passed away at 87

Little Richard (87), architect of rock ‘n’ roll, has passed away in Tullahoma, Tennessee due to bone cancer,
who was a Grammy Award winner and an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

Special Postal Cover dedicated to Migrant Workers: India post

The India post, Mumbai has released a Special Postal Cover dedicated to migrant workers at the
Bicentennial Hall of the historic, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The five migrant workers from different sectors
such as two from construction sector, a taxi driver, a jewellery craftsman and a tailor were called to
release the postal cover. India post, Department of Posts (DoP), which comes under the Ministry of
Communications, headquartered in New Delhi.

Gujarat mandates digital payment for home delivery in Ahmedabad

To Prevent the spread of Covid-19 through currency notes, Gujarat government has mandated digital
payment for all home delivery services in the worst-hit city of Ahmedabad and also issued protocol to be
followed by the delivery persons.

Jaipur based company ‘Club First’ develops India’s first service robots “Sona 1.5 and Sona .5”
Jaipur-based company named ‘Club First’ has developed India’s first service robots named “Sona 1.5 and
Sona .5” to help health workers in conducting a thermal screening of the people amid COVID-19 crisis.
The robot which is 95 per cent made in India is the first in the world to be based on spine technology.

Actor Sai Gundewar passed away at 42

Actor Sai Gundekar passed away at the age of 42 years due to brain cancer in the United States (U.S), who
was known for his appearances in shows like Survivor and Splitsvilla, as well as acting in films PK and
Rock On!.

New space defense unit launched: Japan

Japan has launched a new space defense unity to monitor and counter threats to the country’s satellites.
The main role of the unit is to monitor and protect Japanese satellites from enemy attacks or space debris
and also to conduct satellite-based navigation and communications for other troops in the field. The
capital and currency of Japan is Tokyo and Japanese yen respectively.

Facebook acquires popular GIF database GIPHY

Facebook has acquired New York based GIF database GIPHY for $400 million to integrate its GIF library
into Instagram and other Facebook apps, Vishal Shah, Instagram’s VP of product.

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 22

GA Questions Asked in Exams

• GA Questions Asked in IBPS Clerk Mains Exam 2020 – 90% Questions Covered by AC
• GA Questions asked in SBI PO 2019 Main Exam
• GA Questions asked in SBI Clerk Main Exam 2019
• GA Questions asked in IBPS PO Main Exam 2019
• GA Questions asked in RBI Grade B Prelims Exam 2019
• GA Questions asked in IBPS RRB Clerk Mains Exam 2019
• GA Questions asked in IBPS RRB PO Mains Exam 2019

All The Best for Your Exams!!!

Suggestions & Feedback are welcomed

Support@affairscloud.com

Report Errors in the PDF - ebooks@affairscloud.com Copyright 2014-2020 @ AffairsCloud.Com 23