Daily Current Affairs and GK | 05 May 2020

1. 92 thousand NGOs will assist government to combat COVID-19

• 92 thousand non-governmental organizations and other organizations will assist the government in reducing COVID-19.
• These organizations have been urged to help the states and districts identify hotspots, migrant workers and other needy people.
• It is known that the Aspirational District Program run by NITI Aayog has played a big role in upliftment of millions of people in 112 backward districts.
• There are only 610 cases of corona in these districts which is less than 2% of the national level.

2. Launch of "The Saras Collection" on Government e marketplace portal

• Recently, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Rural Development, launched "The Saras Collection" in New Delhi.
• This collection has been launched on the Government e marketplace (GeM) portal.
• Daily use items prepared by self-help groups are available in this collection.
• The objective of this initiative is to connect self-help groups in rural areas with buyers from central and state governments.
• This initiative is a unique initiative of GeM and Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
• Under this initiative, self-help group vendors can list their products in five categories - handicrafts, handlooms and textiles, office utilities, rations and kitchens and personal care and hygiene, etc.
• This initiative will eliminate the role of middlemen and people will get better prices of products.
• Along with this, the employment opportunities at the local level will also increase.

3. Various initiatives for tribal artisans by the government

• The government has been taking various steps to support the tribal assembly and tribal artisans during COVID-19 pandemic.
• The MSP of minor forest produce has been increased under the Institutional Support for the development and marketing of tribal products scheme.
• About 10 lakh tribal artisan families are associated with it.
• Along with this, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has allowed the purchase of existing available stock from the most affected tribal artisans.
• Similarly, TRIFED will purchase tribal products worth about Rs 23 crore from tribal artisans across the country.
• Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED):
  • It is a national level apex organization under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
  • It came into existence in 1987.
  • Its head office is located in New Delhi.
  • It has 13 regional offices located at various places in the country.

4. Defense Research and Development Organization developed Ultraviolet Disinfection Tower

• The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed the Ultraviolet Disinfection Tower.
• The tower is designed to provide fast and chemic free disinfection of COVID-19 infection-prone areas.
• The device is named ‘UV-Blaster’ and is an ultraviolet based sanitizer.
• It has been designed and developed by the Laser Science and Technology Center (LASTEC), a lab of DRDO located in new Delhi.
• UV-blaster is useful for electronic equipment, computers and other devices in labs and offices, as they cannot be made infection-free by chemical methods.
• The device is also useful for airports, shopping malls, metros, hotels and factories where a large number of people visit.

5. Official announcement of new dates for Dubai Expo

• Recently new dates for Dubai Expo have been officially announced.
• Dubai has set a date for the mega expo event from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022.
• This decision has been taken by a two-thirds majority by the member countries of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).
• The Expo 2020 is a World Expo organized by the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, to be held on October 20, 2020.
• The expo was to be held with the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future".
• Bureau International des Expositions (BIE):
  • It is an intergovernmental organization created to monitor international exhibitions.
  • It was founded on 22 November 1928.
  • Its headquarters are located in Paris, France.

6. Russia will launch Arktika-M satellite

• Russia will launch the Arktika-M satellite later this year.
• The satellite will monitor meteorological conditions in the Arctic polar region.
• The satellite will be launched by Soyuz-2, 1b carrier rocket with a frigate booster.
• Russia:
  • Russia is an intercontinental country located in Eastern Europe and North Asia.
  • Its capital is Moscow and the currency is the Russian ruble.

7. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson launches virtual global conference

• British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently launched a virtual global conference on the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Britain has organized this international conference, with eight countries, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Saudi Arabia and the European Commission.
• During the conference, British PM appealed to all countries to speed up efforts to tackle Novel Coronavirus and work together.
• Mr Johnson has committed £ 388 million for research into vaccine, screening and treatment of COVID-19.
• Britain:
  • Britain or the United Kingdom is an island nation in northwestern Europe.
  • It is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Its capital is London and the currency is pound sterling.

8. India sent ships to evacuate stranded Indians from Maldives, United Arab Emirates

• Recently, India has sent four naval ships to evacuate its civilians stranded due to coronavirus lockdown in Maldives and UAE.
• INS Magar and INS Jalashwa have been sent to Maldives. While INS Shardul and INS Airavat have been sent to Dubai to evacuate the migrants.
• Maldives:
  • It is a small island nation in South Asia, located in the Arabian Sea of ​​the Indian Ocean.
  • Its capital is Male and the currency Maldivian rufiya.

• United Arab Emirates (UAE):
  • Located at the northeast end of the Arabian Peninsula, UAE is a country in western Asia.
  • Its capital is Abu Dhabi and the currency is United Arab Emirates Dirham.

9. Trump nominated Ashok Michael Pinto as the representative of IBRD

• Recently US President has named Indian-American Ashok Michael Pinto as the representative of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
• If confirmed by the Senate, he will replace Erik Bethel, who has recently resigned from the post.
• His term will be two years.
• Ashok currently serves as an advisor to the Under Secretary of International Affairs at the United States Department of the Treasury.
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD):
  • There is an international financial institution, which is the lending body of the World Bank Group.
  • It was established in 1944.
  • It is headquartered in Washington, DC, United States.

10. Kashmir Saffron given GI tag

• Recently Kashmir Saffron has been given GI tag.
• Kashmir saffron grown in the Karewa Highlands of Jammu and Kashmir has been given Geographical Indication (GI Tag).
• Kashmir saffron is globally famous as a spice, which is grown in Pulwama, Budgam, Kishtwar and Srinagar.
• It is the only saffron in the world that is grown at an altitude of 1,600 meters to 1,800 meters above mean sea level, distinguishing it from other saffron varieties available worldwide.
• There are three types of saffron available in Kashmir - Lachha saffron, Mongra saffron and Guchhi saffron.
• The cultivation of saffron began in Kashmir around the first century BCE by Central Asian immigrants. In ancient Sanskrit literature, saffron was called Bahukam.
• Iran is the largest producer of saffron and India is a close competitor.