1. Georgia declares nationwide emergency over Novel Coronavirus pandemic
- The Black Sea nation of some 3.7 million people has so far reported 48 cases of COVID-19,
- 2,000 people are under quarantine.
- Georgia : President Salome Zurabishvili ,
- PM : Giorgi Gakharia.
2. SEBI takes measures to check short selling, curb volatility
- SEBI = Security and Exchange Board of India
- SEBI lowered the limit of positions that can be taken in the futures & options market,
- It increased margin requirements and capped derivatives exposure.
- SEBI’s measures are largely to curb extreme volatility in individual stocks and index derivatives segment.
- SEBI, Headquarters:Mumbai
3. RBI opens ₹60,000-crore emergency credit line for Yes Bank
- To meet any liquidity crisis in paying back its depositors.
- The move comes after 16 years when a similar credit line was opened for Global Trust Bank in 2004.
- Additional liquidity, under Section 17 (4) of the RBI Act.
4. Romesh Sobti to have advisory role at IndusInd Bank
- He will hold the post after retirement on March 24.
- Sobti took over as IndusInd Bank CEO at the end of 2007 after serving as the head of ABN Amro in India.
- Sumant Kathpalia newly appointed CEO of IndusInd Bank.
5. Afghanistan, Maldives pledge to contribute USD 1.2 million to SAARC Corona Emergency Fund
- South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
6. Cabinet approves scheme to make India electronic manufacturing hub
- Cabinet approved 3 schemes for the hub.
- Attract fresh investments worth at least ₹50,000 cr. in the sector.
- Funds allocated are to be used over 5 yrs.
- Scheme has the potential of creating 8,00,00 direct & indirect jobs.
- Electronics & information technology min. : Ravi Shankar Prasad.
7. RBI extends restrictions on PMC Bank for three more months
- PMC = Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank.
- The validity of directive dated 23 September, 2019, stands modified from 23 March, 2020 to 22 June, 2020.
- J B Bhoria, administrator of PMC Bank.
8. MyGov Corona Helpdesk launched on Whatsapp to provide COVID-19 information
- Government launched an official chatbot on popular instant messaging application WhatsApp.
- The person in need is only required to save the number – 9013151515 in their contact list and send a message to the MyGov Corona Helpdesk.
- MyGov.in launched on : 26 July 2014.
9. Cabinet approves relaunch of bulk drug park scheme
- Scheme to set up 3 bulk drug parks and 4 medical device parks for a total outlay of ₹3,400 cr.over 5 years.
- Bulk drug and medical devices park schemes were first suggested in Feb. 2015
- By a committee headed by V.M. Katoch.
- Chemicals minister : D.V. Sadananda Gowda.
10. Government announces a production-linked incentive scheme (2) to boost domestic manufacturing
- Domestic manufacturing of critical key starting materials (KSMs), drug intermediates and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
- PLI scheme would have a financial implication of ₹6,940 crore.
- China supplies, 2/3rd of India’s pharmaceutical raw materials.
11. Yogi Adityanath announces relief measures for UP’s daily wage earners
- Rs 1,000 would be provided to each of the 20.37 lakh construction workers
- Who are registered with the labour department &
- And to each of the 15 lakh self employed cart owners, small shop owners and rickshaw pullers.
- Anandiben Patel,current Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
12. Jammu and Kashmir approves adoption of IT/ITeS policy
- Administrative Council headed by Lt Governor accorded approval to the adoption of J-K IT/ITeS policy.
- The policy provides for creation and up-gradation of IT infrastructure
- To meet existing & future needs of the Union Territory in e-governance among others.
- Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Governor : G C Murmu.
13. Legendary country music singer Kenny Rogers dies at 81
- Kenny Rogers, best known for global hits such as “Lucille”, “Lady”, “The Gambler” and “Islands in the Stream”.
- He had his 1st gold single with a song called “That Crazy Feeling” under the name Kenneth Rogers.
- Rogers won three Grammys and six CMA Awards.
14. World Water Day 2020 – Water and Climate Change
- Focusing attention on the importance of water.
- Theme = ‘Water and Climate Change’,
- Water is our most precious resource-we must use more responsibly.
- For first time World water day held on 22 March 1993.
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