Current Affairs - May 2, 2020 Current Affairs

Maharashtra Day and Gujarat Day is celebrated in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat on 1 May every year. The day commemorates the formation of the state on this day in 1960.

Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Pune, supported by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a microwave sterilizer named "ATULYA". The sterilizer will disintegrate coronavirus.

Output of eight core infrastructure industries grew 0.6% in 2019-20. The figure was 4.4% in 2018-19.

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has identified the top 25 drugs/drug candidates for repurposing as they can be quickly deployed for treatment. On of the top 25 drugs is Favipiravir. Favipiravir is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of viral RNA polymerase and has emerged as one of the most promising drugs. Favipiravir was developed by Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Ltd. It is an approved treatment for common influenza and is marketed in Russia, China, and Japan.

National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology (DST) launched 'Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH)' a programme on health and risk communication with a focus on COVID-19.

A programme titled AYURAKSHA "Corona Se Jung- Delhi Police Ke Sang" was organized for Delhi Police personnel at New Delhi on 30 April. The programme aims to fight against corona through simple and time tested Ayurveda immunity-boosting measures.

National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) paid tribute to celebrated painter and artist Raja Ravi Varma on his 172nd birth anniversary on 29 April 2020 through a virtual tour. This virtual tour showcased the entire collection of his artworks at reserve collection, NGMA in New Delhi.

Footballer Chuni Goswami dies at 82 in Kolkata. India won gold in Asian Games for the last time under his captaincy at Jakarta in 1962. He also played for Bengal in Ranji Trophy cricket.

Shri Ajay Tirkey assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) in New Delhi on 1 May 2020. He succeeded Shri Rabindra Panwar who retired on superannuation on 30 April 2020.

Scientists at S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Kolkata (SNBNCBS) developed a nanomedicine that promises the treatment of a number of diseases by altering oxidative stress in the body. The research will support India in its fight against COVID-19.

Scientists at the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) developed a generalized one-dimensional fluid simulation code capable of studying a wide spectrum of coherent electric field structures in near-earth plasma environment or earth's magnetosphere.

Ministry of Coal (MoC) launched a Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) for the facilitation of early operationalization of coal mines allocated by the Central Government. The move will promote Ease of Doing Business. PMC will support the Coal mines allocatees in obtaining timely approval or permissions to operationalize the mines.

Ramayan creates world record for Highest Viewed Entertainment Programme Globally. 77 million people watched it on April 16.

International Labour Day or Worker's day is celebrated on 1 May every year. The day commemorates the Haymarket affair or the Haymarket massacre in Chicago. The day aims to celebrate labourers and the working class. The day promotes international labour associations.

United States Agency for International Development to provide USD 3 million to India's PAHAL (Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity) project to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Chak-Hao, the black rice of Manipur, and the Gorakhpur terracotta bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The information was announced by Chinnaraja G. Naidu, deputy registrar, Geographical Indications.

India was ranked 53rd among 117 nations in terms of budget transparency and accountability by Open Budget Survey.

Scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) studied rivers in Ladakh Himalaya. Their study found out the 35,000-year history of river erosion and identified hotspots of erosion and wide valleys that act as buffer zones.

Gorakhpur terracotta bagged the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The information was announced by Chinnaraja G. Naidu, deputy registrar, Geographical Indications.

Agra Smart City, Uttar Pradesh has created a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) dashboard which will show various hotspots, heat maps, positive cases, recovered cases, etc of COVID-19.