Current Affairs - May 28, 2020 Current Affairs

Life Insurance Corporation of India announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana-PMVVY Scheme for those over and above 60 years. The sale will be available from May 26 for 3 financial years(up to March 31, 2023). This scheme can be purchased offline as well as online from LIC website.The policy has a 10-year tenure and for policies sold in the 1st financial year March 2021, the scheme will offer an assured rate of return of 7.40% per annum, but will be paid monthly for the entire 10 year period.

A song titled 'Jayatu Jayatu Bharatam - Vasudev Kutumbakkam' was released. The song lyrics penned by Prasoon Joshi and composed by Shankar Mahadevan, as many as 211 singers involved like legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar to increase the nation's will power and evoke the spirit of self-reliance in COVID-19 pandemic.

Researchers team led by Dr Kiran Shankar Hazra, of Institute of Nano Science and Technology , Mohali an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology found an innovative route to fabricate precisely controlled nanostructure of the required geometry and location on two dimensional materials using one-step low power laser writing process.

Indian Council of Medical Research stated that a total of 1,61,041 COVID-19 samples are being tested in 24 hours. With this, the figure for the total number of tests reached 32,42,160 in the country. So far, ICMR has approved a total of 624 laboratories across India to conduct the tests for COVID-19 including 435 government laboratories and 189 private laboratories' chains.

Researchers have identified a region in the genome of a rice, which seems to have the potential for improving productivity. The study was conducted jointly by the Department of Biotechnology's National Institute of Plant Genome Research (DBT-NIPGR), ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), ICAR-National Rice Research Institute (ICAR-NRRI), Cuttack and University of Delhi South Campus (UDSC).

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor's adviser Baseer Ahmad Khan inaugurated first of it's kind Infectious Disease Block facility at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences at Soura in Srinagar, J&K. It was an initiative for the treatment of COVID-19 and other pathologically infected patients.

Noted Classical musician Shyamala G. Bhave, who was well versed in both the Hindustani and Carnatic styles passed away at the age of 79 on May 23, 2020, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. She was born on March 14, 1941, in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Sports Authority of India has deposited Rs.30,000 each to 2,749 Khelo India athletes as out of pocket allowance amid the COVID-19 lockdown. The total sum of the amount is Rs.8.25 crore in all. The announcement regarding disbursement of the Khelo India allowances was made by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju.

The Government of Tamil Nadu started the preliminary works on implementing the Solar Fence Farmland Protection Programme, under the Central Agriculture Improvement Scheme. This scheme is to protect agricultural lands of the districts which have the western ghats as their boundaries and are at risk of animal attacks.

The European Union Commission has proposed a $825 billion recovery fund "European breakthrough" to help the bloc's economy through the deep recession induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced by the commissioner Paolo Gentiloni. The aim is to tackle an unprecedented crisis.

Tata Capital, Private Non-Banking Financial Company , has launched a voicebot "TIA" on WhatsApp.The voicebot offers a range of services to its customers like opting for a new loan or getting queries resolved etc to provide seamless and interactive services on the widely used messaging platform, Whatsapp.

The proto-type test samples of Personal protective equipment Coveralls in India are tested and certified by 9 authorized laboratories as per the technical specifications prescribed by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The test standards are in conformity with the World Health Organization Guidelines for COVID-19. The PPEs are tested in accordance with ISO 16603 Class 3 and above for the 'Synthetic Blood Penetration Resistance Test'.

According to the State Bank of India's Ecowrap report India's Gross Domestic Product is estimated to grow at 1.2% in the last quarter of FY20 as economic activity came to a halt since last week of March due to the nationwide lockdown.

IBM Academy of Technology member Dr. Rajiv Joshi, an Indian-American scientist won The New York Intellectual Property Law Association 2020 Inventor of the Year Award, to honour for his work in advancing the electronic industry and improving artificial intelligence capabilities. He received the award through an online interview.

VAMS (Visitor Authentication & Management Systems) Global, a Mumbai based startup offering specialized solutions for Corporates & Commercial Buildings, has developed world's 1st contactless Visitor Management Software called 'VAMS SafeGuard' that checks body temperature, scans faces with mask compliance & monitors social distancing on the premise.

Indian Army officer and woman peacekeeper Suman Gawani who has served with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan & Brazilian Naval Officer Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo have been selected for the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award 2019. Suman Gawani becomes the 1st Indian peacekeeper to win the award. The award will be given during an online ceremony presided over by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on May 29, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat presented the surplus annual budget of Rs 53,526.97 crore for FY20-21. The budget is described as the document reflecting the hopes and aspirations of the people of the state. It aims to achieve 25 public welfare goals under the state government's Vision 2020.

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling announced that she is to release "The Ickabog." The new children's book marks her first novel aimed toward younger readers that doesn't take place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Researchers from Tsinghua University, China and the University of Connecticut in the US have jointly discovered two bacterial secreted proteins that can effectively inactivate a series of viruses, including the novel coronavirus, dengue, and the HIV.

In a big boost to "Char Dham" project to connect holy towns of Gangotri, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Badrinath, the Border Roads Organisation has constructed a 440-meter-long tunnel under the Chamba town on Rishikesh-Dharasu road Highway (NH 94) in Uttarakhand even during the coronavirus epidemic.