Daily Current Affairs and GK | 16 June 2020

1. Employees' Provident Fund Organization launched a multiple-location claim settlement facility

• Recently, the Employees Provident Fund Organization has introduced a multi-location claim settlement facility.
• This facility has been introduced by EPFO ​​with the objective of allowing online claims settlement from any of its regional offices across the country.
• All types of online claims including provident fund, pension, partial withdrawal and transfer claims will be settled under this initiative.
• This step will equally distribute the workload related to nationwide claims settlement, thereby reducing the delay in process settlement.
• This initiative enables EPFO ​​for fast-tracking settlement process through proper mobilization of workforce.
• Employee Provident Fund Organization (EPFO):
  • It is a statutory body constituted by the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Rules Act, 1952.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
  • It was founded in 1952.

(Source: News on AIR)

2. ICMR recommended the use of rapid antigen test kits in combination with RT-PCR testing

• Recently the Indian Council of Medical Research has recommended the use of rapid antigen test kits in combination with RT-PCR testing for the diagnosis of Covid-19.
• The ICMR has stated that even if a person is negative by the Covid-19 fast antigen test, their RT-PCR test will be performed again to control the infection, while a positive test should be considered a true positive and reaffirmed is not needed.
• Rapid antigen test kit ensures rapid diagnosis without laboratory testing.
• The Rapid Antigen Test Kit is a rapid chromatographic immune assay for qualitative detection of specific antigens of Corona virus. It is developed by a South Korea-based company.
• Indian Council of Medical Research:
  • Indian Council of Medical Research is the apex body in India for the creation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research.
  • It is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world.
  • Its headquarters is located in New Delhi.
  • It was founded in 1911.
  • The Director General of the institution is Dr. Balram Bhargava.

(Source: News on AIR)

3. Scheme to provide oximeters at the Mohalla and Colony level in Madhya Pradesh

• The state government in Madhya Pradesh is planning to provide oximeters at the Mohalla and colony levels.
• This decision has been taken keeping in mind the growing case of Corona virus in the state.
• Oximeters will not only help control corona infection, but will also make survey work easier.
• Oximeters or pulse oximeters are small light devices that are used to monitor the amount of oxygen in the body.
• Madhya Pradesh:
  • Madhya Pradesh is second only to Rajasthan in terms of area in the country.
  • Bhopal is the capital of the state.
  • The Chief Minister of MP is Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Governor is Lalji Tandon.
  • The state animal is Barasingha.
  • The state bird of Madhya Pradesh is the Asian Paradise Flycatcher (Dudhraj).

4. Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas launched Indian Gas Exchange

• Recently Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched the Indian Gas Exchange.
• It is the first nationwide online delivery-based gas trading platform. The trading platform will enable market participants to trade in standardized gas contracts.
• IGX is fully automated with a web based interface and will provide a seamless business experience to customers. This will help the country to move towards free market pricing of natural gas.
• IGX is incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of IEX.
• IEX is India's energy market platform.

(Source: News on AIR)

5. A new species of fish has been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

• Recently a new species of fish has been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.
• It has been discovered by Dr. Keshav Kumar Jha, Associate Professor and Head of Department of Zoology, Jawaharlal Nehru College, Pasighat.
• This new species of fish is named Schizothorax sikusirumensis.
• The species of this fish is named after the rivers where it was found.

6. Malabar gliding frogs spotted in Pullad, Kerala

• The Malabar gliding frog was recently spotted in Pullad, Kerala.
• This amphibian is endemic to rain forests of the Western Ghats.
• The frog has a body length of 10 centimeters, it is one of the largest frogs.
• The fingers and toes are like sticks to attach to tree branches and walk. Males are smaller than females.
• Malabar gliding frog populations are declining due to deforestation, climate change, developmental activities, and toxic chemicals.
• Its IUCN status is the Least Concern.

(Source: The Hindu)

7. Britain announces jet zero plan

• Recently the UK has announced the Jet Zero scheme.
• The plan aims to reduce aviation emissions.
• The UK aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from aviation within a generation to create carbon-free transatlantic flights. For this, there has also been talk of forming a Jet Zero Council.
• Aviation emissions currently account for more than 2% of global greenhouse gases, and have risen to 70% since 2005.
• United Kingdom:
  • 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. Government of Karnataka is planning to set up Monkey park

• The state government of Karnataka is planning to set up a monkey park on uninhabited islands in the Sharavathi backwater area.
• This decision has been taken in due to several protests by troubled farmers recent days, due to the attack of monkeys on agricultural and plantation crops in the Malnad region.
• Therefore, the Government of Karnataka has decided to establish a Park to solve the problem.
• However, the state government's plan has been opposed by environmentalists, as the Sharavathi backwater areas are rich in biodiversity and there may be ecological imbalance due to the translocation of monkeys.
• For this, an allocation of ₹6.25 crore was made in the budget of 2020-21.
• It is known that in Himachal Pradesh, there are state-of-the-art monkey sterilization and rehabilitation centers for monkeys.

9. Trial of new coronavirus vaccine started in humans in UK

• Recently, trials of new coronavirus vaccines have been started in humans in the UK.
• This vaccine has been made by scientists at Imperial College London.
• Scientists at Imperial College London have vaccinated 300 healthy people in the UK with two doses of their experimental coronavirus vaccine.
• So far this vaccine has been tested only in animals and in the laboratory, where it will be seen to have produced higher levels of antibodies than the infected ones.
• This vaccine is designed using the basis of a synthetic strand of the genetic code of the virus.
• About a dozen vaccines are currently in the initial stages of testing.

10. China halts the launch of the last satellite of the Beidou Navigation Network

• Recently China has indefinitely halted the launch of the last satellite of the Beidou Navigation Network.
• This launch has been prevented due to technical problems in the rocket.
• It was the 35^th and last satellite of the Chinese navigation system.
• This project meant to be Beijing's answer to the U.S.-owned Global Positioning System.
• After its completion, China's military communications system would have become secure and weapons targeting would also improve, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.

(Source: The Hindu)

11. Oscar Awards 2021 postponed for two months

• Recently the Oscar Awards 2021 have been postponed for two months due to Kovid-19.
• The Oscar Awards, to be held in February every year in 2021, will be held on 25 April.
• The eligibility period for these has also been extended by two months.
• Oscar Awards:
  • Academy Awards, popularly known as Oscars, is an award for artistic and technical merit in the film industry.
  • It is organized in the United States.
  • This honor was conferred for the first time on 16 May 1929.