Current Affairs 27th March 2020

1. Cabinet approves recapitalization of RRBs to improve their Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio

• The process of recapitalization of RRBs by providing minimum regulatory capital up to 2020-21.
• For those RRBs which are unable to maintain minimum CRAR of 9%,
• As per the regulatory norms prescribed by the Reserve Bank.
• Rs.670 Cr will be used for the RRBs Recapitalization scheme.

2. Cabinet approves MoU between India and Germany in Railway sector

• MoU signed between Ministry of Railways of Government of India and DB Engineering & Consulting GMBH of Germany.
• For technological cooperation in the Railway Sector.
• The MoU was signed in February 2020.

3. National Book Trust of MHRD Launches #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks initiative

• In the wake of preventive measures of the central government to contain the spread of Covid-19,
• The National Book Trust of HRD Ministry is providing its select and best-selling titles for FREE Download
• As part of its initiative of #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks.
• The 100+ books, in PDF format, can be downloaded.

4. NTPC’s installed capacity touches 58,816 MW

• With the commissioning of 2nd unit of 660 MW at Khargone Super Thermal Power Project, Madhya Pradesh.
• NTPC now has 55 power stations, including 24 coal-based & 7 combined cycle gas/liquid fuel.
• Others: 2 hydro, 1 wind, 11 solar & 10 joint venture stations.

5. Cabinet approves extension of Rebate in Taxes on Export of Garments and Made ups

• Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has given its approval for continuation of Rebate of State & Central Taxes & Levies (RoSCTL) from 1st April 2020 onward.
• Until such time that the scheme is merged with Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP).
• RoSCTL comes under the Ministry of Textiles.

6. Covid-19 treatment to be covered under Ayushman Bharat

• The National Health Authority (NHA) has decided it.
• Ayushman Bharat launched on September 2018.
• NHA expects to cover cost under viral infection packages.

7. Goa partners with Innovaccer to launch first-ever self-assessment tool for Covid-19

• Goa became 1st Indian state to launch a digital self-assessment test tool.
• Tool is called Test Yourself Goa for COVID-19.
• To help people to identify whether they are at risk of being infected by coronavirus without having to physically visit a healthcare facility.
• The Goa government has partnered with Innovaccer for this.

8. First-of-its-kind form-based codes being developed by IRSDC

• The Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited is developing a first-of-its-kind ‘Form Based Codes’
• For the development of railway land with support from Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.
• PDA is also a nodal agency for the station development.

9. ARCI develop technology to improve fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines

• International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials, a R&D Centre of Department of Science & Technology,
• It has developed ultrafast laser surface texturing technology,
• This can improve the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines.
• Created textures were tested in an engine test rig.

10. Walmart appoints Sameer Aggarwal as CEO for India

• Walmart Inc. is an American multinational retail corporation.

11. UP govt to launch massive campaign for identification of persons back from abroad

• To ensure that such persons remain in quarantine.
• CM helpline service is 1076.
• UP CM : Yogi Adityanath,
• Governor : Anandiben Patel.

12. EC allows use of indelible ink stamp for home quarantine

• Election Commission has decided to allow usage of indelible ink on persons for stamping for home quarantine by health authorities in view of COVID-19.
• Health Ministry may standardise the mark and the location on the body where the mark has to be applied.
• Chief Election Commissioner of India : Sunil Arora.

13. Former footballer Abdul Latif passed away at the age of 73

• Latif represented Mohammedan Sporting from 1963-1967.

14. ‘Asterix and Obelix’ co-creator Albert Uderzo dies aged 92

• The hugely popular comic follows the adventures of Gaulish warriors.
• They were published for the first time in francophone Pilote magazine in 1959.
• Cartoons have been translated into more than 100 languages.

15. ITU launches ‘Global Network Resiliency Platform’: COVID-19

• To help protect telecoms networks during the COVID-19 crisis.
• The platform will assist the government & private sector to ensure that networks are kept flexible.
• ITU Secretary General, Hulin Zhao.

16. Jana SFB launches UPI QR-based loan instalment payment facility

• Jana Small Finance Bank along with NPCI launched a UPI QR-based loan instalment payment facility for its customers.
• The move comes at a time when banks are advising their customers to operate maximum banking services from the safe confines of their home.
• Payment mode is available for P2P & P2M payments.

17. Microsoft & US CDC tie-up to create ‘Clara’, a COVID-19 self-screening bot

• To help people assess potential symptoms of COVID-19
• The CDC has partnered up with CDC Foundation and Microsoft Azure’s Healthcare Bot service to create Clara.
• Bot is currently only available in the US on the CDC website.

18. Coronavirus: Patnaik launches Mo Jeeban programme, urges

• Hours after the state announced total lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched Mo Jeeban programme
• He urged people to take a pledge to stay indoors.
• The objective of the programme is to keep everyone safe in the state.
• Odisha Governor : Ganeshi Lal,
• Capital : Bhubaneshwar.

19. Iqbal Singh Bains appointed MP chief secretary

• Iqbal Singh Bains was appointed as Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Secretary by the newly sworn Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of the state.
• He was the successor of CS M Gopal Reddy.
• This was the 1st appointment made by the new CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• Madhya Pradesh Governor- Lalji Tandon.