Focus Merit

Category: All Current Affairs

China to host the 2021 Asian Youth Games

April 1, 2020
2021 Asian Youth Games
  • The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) on 1st April said that the coastal city of Shantou in China will continue as hosts of the third Asian Youth Games
  • The Asian Youth Games will be organized from November 20 to 28, 2021.

Paytm Money CEO Pravin Jadhav retires

April 1, 2020
Pravin Jadhav
  • The MD & CEO of Paytm Money Pravin Jadhav has retired.
  • Jadhav was involved with Paytm Money since June 2017 as its first member and saw its rise to 40 million users.

S&P further cut India’s growth forecast to 3.5% from 5.2% for FY21

April 1, 2020
GDP
  • S&P Global Ratings has cut India’s growth forecast to 3.5% for the coming fiscal from an early downgrade to 5.2% on 30th March.
  • It told declining credit quality due to the COVID-19 outbreak persisted in many countries.

Affordable housing firm Aavas receives $60m ADB loan

April 1, 2020
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has inked an agreement to lend up to $60 million to Aavas Financiers Ltd, a housing finance company in India, to enhance access to housing finance for lower-income borrowers, especially women.

Utkal Diwas or Odisha day is celebrated on 1 April

April 1, 2020
Utkal Diwas
  • Utkal Diwas, meaning Odisha day, is celebrated on 1 April in Odisha annually. The day marks the establishment of the state in 1936.
  • The day cherishes the contributions and sacrifices by the people of Odisha.

MHRD’s National Book Trust to releases ‘Corona Studies Series’

March 31, 2020
MHRD’s National Book Trust to releases ‘Corona Studies Series’
  • The National Book Trust (NBT) by the Ministry of Human Resource Development(MHRD) has decided to release a “Corona Studies Series” in the wake of the recent crisis.
  • It also plans Children’s books to know Our Corona Warriors, story and picture books associated with various aspects of Coronavirus.

Mirza Waheed and Santanu Das honored with The Hindu Prize 2019

March 31, 2020
The Hindu Prize 2019
  • The Hindu prize (annual) 2019 is conferred to Mirza Waheed’s Tell Her Everything and Santanu Das’s India, Empire, and First World War Culture: Writings, Images and Songs.

Shokoofeh Azar writes a book named- The Enlightenment of The Greengage Tree

March 31, 2020
The Enlightenment of The Greengage Tree
  • Shokoofeh Azar’s book-The Enlightenment of The Greengage Tree was originally published in 2017, has been reprinted by Europa Editions in January 2020.
  • The book has been selected(among 13) in the long list of Booker Prizes (annual) 2020 for a £50,000 (USD 98,000) prize.

Veteran Japanese comedian Ken Shimura passes away

March 31, 2020
Ken Shimura
  • Veteran Japanese comic Ken Shimura, who tested positive for the COVID-19, was at the age of 70. He tested positive for COVID-19 on March 23.
  • The actor was set to star in his debut film “God of Cinema”, directed by Yoji Yamada.

Fitch Solutions drops India GDP growth forecast to 4.6% for FY21

March 31, 2020
GDP
  • Fitch Solutions on 30th March cut its measure for India’s GDP growth in the fiscal starting April 1 to 4.6 percent due to coronavirus outbreak, resulting in economies around the globe.
  • The growth approximate for 2020-21 fiscal (April 2020 to March 2021) compares with a 9 per cent forecast in the current 2019-20.