Current Affairs - Update of 18.04.2020

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1. RBI cuts reverse repo rate by 15 bps

  • The RBI on 17 April 2020 cut the reverse repo rate by 25 bps basis points to 3.75%
  • It announced a fresh Rs 50,000 crore targeted Long-Term Repo Operation (LTRO 2.0)
  • RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das unveiled fresh measures aimed at maintaining adequate liquidity in the system, facilitating and incentivising banks to ensure better credit flow and enabling normal functioning of the financial market.

2. Rajasthan: 1st to carry out Rapid Testing

  • In Rajasthan, Health Minister Raghu Sharma has claimed that the state become the first in the country to carry out Rapid Testing for COVID-19
  • This test will be done at a large scale to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 in hotspots
  • PCR based testing will also continue to be done in an aggressive manner in the containment zones all over Rajasthan.

3. RBI cancelled Mapusa Urban bank's licence

  • The RBI on 17 April 2020, cancelled the Mapusa Urban Co-operation Bank's licence and set up the course for liquidation
  • Mapusa Urban is barred from carrying out any banking business during the liquidation process, as per the RBI order which is effective from the close of business on April 16, 2020
  • Mapusa Urban is been struggling under RBI directions since 2015.

4. DRDO testing facility shifted to Delhi

  • DRDO has shifted its testing facility from Gwalior to Delhi
  • It has been shifted from the Defence Research Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior to the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS) min Delhi
  • The INMAS is a premier life science laboratory of the DRDO
  • The facility at INMAS is fully operational for testing and evaluation of bodysuits and masks.

5. Kisan Rath Mobile App launched

  • Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on 17 April 2020 launched Kisan Rath Mobile App to facilitate transportation of foodgrains and perishables during lockdown
  • It is developed by the National Informatics Centre to ensure farmers and traders are able to find transport for Agriculture and Horticulture produce
  • 'Kisan Rath' App will greatly facilitate farmers, FPOs and Cooperatives.

6. Ro Khanna appointed in an advisory council

  • Indian-American Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna has been appointed to the White House coronavirus advisory council to combat the disease in the US
  • Mr. Khanna is the only Indian-American lawmaker to be named to the White House's Opening UP America Again Congressional Group which compromise congressmen from both the Republican and the Democratic parties.

7. Diagnostic test developed in Kerala

  • A research initiate on Kerala has developed a new, faster and cheaper diagnostic test for COVID-19
  • Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology in Thiruvananthapuram has developed the innovative kit named Chitra Gene LAMP-N for the diagnosis of COVID-19
  • This new kit is considered as one of the first few confirmatory diagnostic test for N-gene of COVID-19 virus.

8. Maharashtra government launched 'COVID-Madat'

  • The Pune Platform for COVID-19 Response (PPCR) with the support of Maharashtra State Innovative Society has launched 'COVID-Madat'
  • It is a telemedicine helpline for people to tele-screen themselves for COVID-related symptoms
  • Through 'COVID-Madat', people who suspect they might have COVID-19 symptoms can call on the helpline 09513615550.

9. Rohit Sharma: CricKingdom's brand ambassador

  • Rohit Sharma has become brand ambassador of 'CricKingdom'
  • It is a cricket academy based in Dubai which will also facilitate coaching through its online platform after the global COVID-19 pandemic subsides
  • CricKingdom's online platform will connect student, coaches, academics and facilities into an integrated ecosystem.

10. Viswanathan Anand joined WWF India

  • Five-time world chess championship Viswanathan Anand has joined WWF (World Wide Fund) India as its ambassador for environment education programme
  • WWF India is celebrating its 50 years of conservation in India
  • WWF India's environment education programme is as old as the organisation itself, starting way back in 1976 with the Nature Clubs of India (NCI) initiative.