Current Affairs Today

1.Moc Launched Project Monitoring Unite for early operationalization of coal mines

On April 30, 2020, the Ministry of Coal (MoC) launched a project monitoring unit (PMU) to facilitate early operationalization of coal mines allocated by the government in order to ramp up coal production in the country.

2. Manipur black rice, Gorakpur terracotta & Kovilpatti kadalai mittai gets GI tag

Chak-Hao, the black rice of Manipur which is glutinous rice cultivated in Manipur & is characterised by its special aroma; the terracotta work of Gorakhpur &Kovilpatti kadalai mittai(a peanut candy)has been granted with the Geographical Indication(GI) tag.

3. DST launched Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH) on health & risk communication focusing COVID-19 

On April 30, 2020, National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology (DST) has initiated a programme on health and risk communication focusing on COVID-19 titled “Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH)”. Its aim is to convey authentic best practices to the general public to minimize the risk of transmission of virus at all levels, in the absence of vaccines and cure for COVID-19.

4.RBI extends regulatory benefits under SLF-MF scheme 

On April 30, 2020, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) extended the regulatory benefits under the special liquidity facility for mutual funds (SLF-MF) to all banks, irrespective of whether they avail funding from the Reserve Bank or deploy their own resources under SLF-MF scheme. This decision has been taken on the lines of a request made by banks to RBI

5. Sania Mirza, first Indian to be nominated for Fed Cup Heart Award

On 30th April 2020, Sania Mirza became the first Indian to be nominated for the Fed Cup Heart Award from the Asia/Oceania Zone along with Priska Madelyn Nugroho of Indonesia, Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit and Luxembourg’s Eleonora Molinaro from Europe/Africa, Fernanda Contreras Gomes of Mexico and Paraguay’s Veronica Cepede Royg from Americas. The voting for the award opens from 1st May until 8th May.

6. Union minister Nitin Gadkari launches "MSME Bank of ideas, Innovation and Research portal

On April 30, 2020, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and MSME (Ministry of Micro Small & Medium Enterprises) Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari has launched ‘MSME Bank of Ideas, Innovation and Research’ portal (http://ideas.msme.gov.in/) through Video Conference from Nagpur, Maharashtra.
He also launched ‘Ayush Entrepreneurship Development Program’ jointly organized by the Ministry of AYUSH & Ministry of MSME for promoting the AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) sector in India.

7. Pune-based defence institute develops microwave steriliser Atulay to kill COVID-19

On May 1, 2020, The Defence Ministry announced that the Pune-based Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) has developed a microwave steriliser ‘Atulya’ that can disintegrate the novel Coronavirus within 30 seconds by differential heating in the range of 56 degrees to 60 degrees Celsius temperatures.

8.CSIR-CSIO transfers its electrostatic Disinfection Technology for commercialization

On 29th April 2020, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) – CSIR’s Scientific Instruments Organisation (CSIO) transferred the Electrostatic Disinfection Technology, an innovative and effective disinfection and sanitization technology developed by CSIR-CSIO to fight coronavirus pandemic to Rite Water Solutions Private Limited a Nagpur based company for commercialization and large scale production.

9. Indian-Origin Girl Vaneeza names NASA's 1st Mars helicopter as Ingenuity 

On April 30, 2020, A 17-year old Indian-origin girl Vaneeza Rupani has named the 1st helicopter to be built for Mars as ‘Ingenuity’ (in Hindi it means the inventive character of a person). She received this credit when she submitted her essay in NASA’s (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) ‘Name the Rover’ competition.
Before this new name, It was just named as “Mars Helicopter”.

10. Australia deposes India for the first time since 2016 in Test ranking for men: ICC India slips to 3rd position 

On May 1, 2020, India has lost its top spot & has slipped to the 3rd position(114) for the first time since 2016 in the International Cricket Council (ICC) test rankings, as its record of 12 test victories and one Test defeat in 2016-17 was removed in the latest chart as per rules. Australia(116) topped the rank, followed by New Zealand(115).


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