Category: National Current Affairs

MSP for minor forest produce increased from 16% to 66%

May 3, 2020

• Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the Minor forest produce (MFP) has been increased from somewhere between 16% to 66%.
• Minor forest produce includes non-timber items such as bamboo and other grasses, edible or useful roots, seeds, fruits, flowers and plants. A number of people from scheduled tribes and other forest dwelling communities depend on the collection and sale of such items for their livelihood.

Rs 500 credited to women beneficiaries under PMGKY

May 3, 2020

• Second installment of Rs. 500 has been credited to women beneficiaries under Pardhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna (PMGKY). They are bound to get installment of Rs. 500 each month starting from April 2020.

Construction of New parliament approved by Environment Ministry.

May 3, 2020

• The Expert appraisal committee of the Environment Ministry has approved the construction of the new Parliament building of India at a cost of Rs. 922 crore.
• There will be different buildings for executive and legislative functions.

Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) to launch BHARATMARKET for retail traders

May 3, 2020

• Confederation of All India Traders (CIAT)  will be launching BHARATMARKET, an e-commerce platform for all retail traders.
• It aims to bring 95% of retail traders under this platform. This project is supported by Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune develops sterilizer “ATULYA”

May 3, 2020

• Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune has developed a microwave steriliser “ATULYA” that can disintegrate the novel coronavirus COVID-19 using differential heating in the range of 56 degree to 60 degree celsius.
• DIAT is a deemed university under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

AYURAKSHA programme launched by All India institute of Ayurveda (AIIA)

May 2, 2020

• AYURAKHSA programme has been launched by All India Institute of Ayurveda(AIIA) laong with AYUSH ministry and Delhi Police to boost immunity of people during the period of pandemic COVID-19.
• The slogan is ““Corona Se Jung: Delhi Police Ke Sang”. Free immunity booster kits will be distributed to delhi police as well.

YASH launched by NCSTC and DST for COVID-19

May 1, 2020

• Year of awareness on Science & health(YASH) has been launched by National council for Science and technology communication (NCSTC) and Department of Science and Technology(DST) to fight against COVId-19 

PNB Housing appoints Neeraj Vyas as new MD & CEO

April 30, 2020

• Punjab National Bank (PNB) Housing Finance Ltd. has appointed Neeraj Vyas as the new MD and CEO.He will be replacing Sanjay Gupta, present MD and CEO of PNB Housing Finance Ltd.

IIT delhi develops dashboard “PRACRITI” for COVID-19

April 30, 2020

• Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi has developed a special dashboard “PRACRITI” for state-wise and district-wise predictions of COVID-19 for a three-week period.

• PRACRITI is acronym for PRediction and Assessment of CoRona Infections and Transmission in India

ADB to provide a loan of $1 Billion to India for COVID-19

April 29, 2020

• Asian development Bank(ADB) has signed a loan agreement with Government of India (GoI) of $1 Billion that will be utilized to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Govt. will focus on providing food security, medical kits and other essential equipments like ventilators, PPE kits etc.