TNPSC Current Affairs May 15, 2020

www.tnpsc.academy – TNPSC Current Affairs May 15, 2020 (15/05/2020)

 

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Topic: New Economic Policies in India

Economic Stimulus package

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has unveiled the second tranche of measures of the government’s “atmanirbhar (self-reliant) campaign”.

Background:

With a view to revive the economy shuttered by the coronavirus lockdown, PM Narendra Modi had announced a Rs 20 lakh crore special economic package.

In its first instalment, FM had announced Rs 3 lakh crore collateral-free automatic loans for businesses, including MSMEs, as well as Rs 30,000 crore liquidity facility for NBFCs, among other measures.

Key measures announced:

Free food grains will be supplied to all Migrant labourers for 2 months i.e. May and June, 2020.

Technology system to be used to enable Migrants to access PDS (Ration) from any Fair Price Shops in India so as to achieve 100% National portability by March, 2021 under One Nation one Ration Card scheme.

Central Government will launch a scheme for migrant workers and urban poor to provide ease of living at affordable rent.

Government of India will provide Interest subvention of 2% for prompt payees for a period of 12 months to MUDRA Shishu loanees, who have loans below Rs 50,000.

A special scheme will be launched within a month to facilitate easy access to credit to Street vendors. 50 lakh street vendors will be benefitted under this scheme and credit of Rs. 5,000 crore would flow to them.

Rs 70,000 crore boost is given to housing sector and middle-income group (MIG) through extension of Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme for MIG under PMAY(Urban) up to March 2021.

6,000 crore of funds under Compensatory Afforestation Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA)will be used for Afforestation and Plantation works, including in urban areas. This will create job opportunities.

NABARD will extend additional re-finance support of Rs 30,000 crore for meeting crop loan requirement of Rural Cooperative Banks and RRBs. This refinance will be front-loaded and available on tap.

A special drive to be conducted to provide concessional credit to PM-KISAN beneficiaries through Kisan Credit Cards. Fisherman and Animal Husbandry Farmers will also be included. This will inject additional liquidity of Rs 2 lakh crore in the farm sector.

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Topic: International Events

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar recently represented India at SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) foreign minister meet. The meet was attended by foreign ministers through video conferencing.

The foreign ministers at the meet discussed COVID-19 crisis and coordination efforts. They also discussed about social and economic consequences of the crisis and how to tackle it. Apart from COVID-19, the major issue discussed was the situation in Afghanistan.

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Topic: World Organizations, International Events

G20

Union Commerce and Industry Minister recently attended the 2nd G20 Virtual Trade & Investment Ministers Meeting, held through video-conferencing.

What is the G20?

The G20 is an annual meeting of leaders from the countries with the largest and fastest-growing economies. Its members account for 85% of the world’s GDP, and two-thirds of its population.

The G20 Summit is formally known as the “Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy”.

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Topic: Profile of States, Latest Diary of Events

Dibang Multipurpose Project (MPP)

Forest Advisory Committee has once again deferred its decision on Dibang project in Arunachal Pradesh. The project has been delayed for over six years because it required diverting 1,165 hectares of forest in a region of rich biodiversity.

Dibang project:

It is envisaged as a storage-based hydro-electric project with flood moderation as the key objective. This is the largest ever Hydro Electric Projects to be constructed in India. The dam is 278 metres high and will be the highest dam in India once completed.

The Project is located on river Dibang, in Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh.

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Topic: Latest Diary of Events

International Day of Families 2020

Observed on 15th of May with the theme “Families in Development: Copenhagen & Beijing+25.”

To promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting them.

This year is the 25th anniversary of Copenhagen Declaration and Beijing Platform for Action.

At the World Summit for Social Development held at Copenhagen in 1995, Governments reached a new consensus on the need to put people at the centre of development and adopted the Copenhagen Declaration.

The Beijing Declaration was a resolution adopted by the UN at the end of the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing. The resolution adopted to promulgate a set of principles concerning the equality of men and women.

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Latest inventions on Science and Health

COBAS 6800: India’s first automated COVID-19 testing machine

The Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan dedicated the COBAS 6800 RT PCR machine to the nation.

Key facts:

The machine is completely automated and performs high end RT-PCR tests. The machine will help to increase the testing capacity of the country. It has been placed at National Centre for Disease Control, Delhi. The machine can also detect pathogens such as Hepatitis, Chlamydia, HIV, Papiloma, MTb, Chlamydia, CMV, Neisseria, etc.

The machine will provide high volume tests. It is capable of providing test results of 1,200 samples in 24 hours. Thus, the machine will help in increasing the testing capacity of the country.

The machine is enabled with robotics. It will help minimize contamination as it involves very little human intervention. It is the first machine in India that is completely automatic.

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Topic: Mass Communication, Latest Diary of Events

EventBot Malware

The Computer Emergency Response of Team (CERT) of India has issued warning against a new malware called “EventBot”. The malware according to CERT steals personal financial information from Android phone users.

Key facts:

The Eventbot malware that is spreading a Trojan. It cheats victims secretly attacking computer or phone operating system. Currently, the malware is capable of targeting more than 200 different financial applications. The malware has already looted crypto currency wallets, bank accounts in Europe and US. It targets money-transfer services, financial applications.

According to CERT, the malware has currently attacked financial applications such as Paypal, UniCredit, HSBC, Coinbase, TrasnferWise, etc.