Daily Current Affairs, 31st March 2020

1) DRDO develops casualty evacuation bags

•The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has designed a casualty evacuation bag to transport or isolate persons infected with COVID-19. The bag is water and air-proof and treated to deal with biological agents. DRDO will be procuring an initial lot of 500 such bags. DRDO’s Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), which carries out research in aero-medical engineering and life support equipment and Nuclear Chemical and Biological (NBC) protection systems, has developed this bag.

The shape of the Bag:

•The bag is in the shape of a rigid cylinder is made of non-woven, water-repellant fabric with air and waterproof zippers as well as a ventilator. It is coated with a film to cater to a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) environment with requisite protection against blood and viral penetration. The size and shape of the COVID casualty evacuation bag is something akin to a fabric chamber developed by DEBEL in the aftermath of the 1999 Kargil conflict to manage patients affected with High Altitude Pulmonary Odema (HAPO). The chamber is airtight and simulates air pressure that is prevalent at lower altitudes while evacuating patients from high altitude.

Multi-Patient Ventilators:

•The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also trying to develop ‘multi-patient ventilators’ to support critical COVID-19 patients. The multi-patient ventilators will help support several patients through a single unit. The DRDO is developing the advanced ventilators to meet the demand in case the coronavirus outbreak goes out of control. The DRDO aims to produce around 5000 ventilators in the first months and 10,000 subsequently.

2) MSDE prepares NSTIs as quarantine centres for COVID-19

•All National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) have been readied by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) as quarantine centres to fight the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). MSDE has taken this step in order to align its efforts with the central government’s efforts against the pandemic which has led to a nationwide lockdown for 3 weeks to encourage social distancing among people.

More key measures taken by MSDE are:

•The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been facilitated with a list of around one lakh personnel trained in healthcare skills through various programmes under the Skill India Mission. This force is expected to boost the efforts to contain the COVID-19 spread, and treatment and care of infected people in the new quarantine/ isolation/ hospital facilities.

•The employees of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will contribute at least one day salary to PM cares Fund.

3) Jharkhand govt launches PRAGYAAM app to issue e-passes

•The Jharkhand Government has launched a mobile app PRAGYAAM to issue e-passes. The app was launched by the State Chief Minister Hemant Soren. The app aims to issue e-passes to everyone associated with the delivery of essential services during the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19.

•Jharkhand District Transport Officers have been given authority to issue e-passes to vehicles through online mode after verification of the documents uploaded through the app. These passes will be issued to those involved in the regular supply services, medical, banking and other necessary services. Officials can also verify the status of the e-passes on the app and other details, including mobile number and identity card of the person engaged in such duties to curb the chances of fake e-passes.

4) Andhra Pradesh govt sets up Mobile Hand-wash facilities

•Andhra Pradesh State government has set up “Mobile Hand-wash facilities” for the benefit of Slum Dwellers amidst lockdown in the state. This facility to help them protect themselves from COVID-19. The mobile Hand Wash facility has become handy for both the state authorities and slum dwellers to access facility of hands cleaning.

•With prevention and cleanliness being the sole method to stay Coronavirus away, with the assistance of some NGOs, the local authorities are taking the hand wash facility itself to slum dwellers. They fitted a water tanker to a vehicle, with four tap connections and 4 washbasins. Two soap dispensers also are fitted to the installation.

•Officials feel that it’ll bring equality among people in terms of access to raised health and sanitation facilities. It’ll also help the slum dwellers and homeless people to scrub their hands frequently. Andhra Pradesh has so far reported a total of 23 positive cases for Coronavirus.

5) IMF declares that World is now in “Recession”

•The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced that the world has clearly entered a recession due to the coronavirus pandemic. It has emphasized that the current recession is even worse than that of 2009. The statements about the world economy were made after the meeting of governing body of the IMF, the International Monetary and Financial Committee.

•The International Monetary Fund has also projected a recovery in the next financial year i.e. 2021. The recovery from the recession will be possible if the international community contains the virus everywhere successfully and prevent the liquidity problems from becoming a solvency issue.

6) ADB to invest 100 million USD in India’s infrastructure sector

•Asian Development Bank (ADB) will invest 100 million US Dollars in India’s infrastructure sector through the government-promoted National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) of India Fund of Funds (FoF). NIIF is India’s first sovereign wealth fund that was set up by the Government of India in February 2015.

•ADB’s investment into the NIIF platform, the FoF has now secured $700 million in commitments. ADB will now join the Government of India (GOI) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) as an investor in the Fund.

•The investment announcement comes at a critical time for India, whose already sagging economic growth is set to take a beating due to the coronavirus pandemic. It manages over $4 billion of capital commitments across three funds. ADB’s investment in NIIF will help catalyze institutional capital into domestic private equity funds in India, thereby contributing to greater availability of long-term growth financing for private sector companies and leading to the creation of quality jobs, social infrastructure development, and economic growth.

7) MCA introduces “Companies Fresh Start Scheme 2020”

•The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) has introduced the “Companies Fresh Start Scheme, 2020”. The new scheme has been introduced to provide relief to law abiding companies and the Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) amid COVID-19 pandemic. MCA has also revised “LLP Settlement Scheme, 2020”.

•The Fresh Start scheme and revised LLP Settlement Scheme stimulates compliance and lessen the compliance burden during the unprecedented public health situation triggered by COVID-19. Both the schemes will also provide longer timelines for corporates to obey the various filing requirements under the Companies Act 2013 and LLP Act, 2008.

About LLP Settlement Scheme, 2020:

•The LLP Settlement Scheme, 2020 facilitates chances to companies as well as LLPs to make good any filing related defaults, irrespective of duration of default, and enables them to make a fresh start as a fully compliant entity.

8) Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 rescheduled to year 2021

•The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 have been postponed by one year and will be held from 23 July to 8 August, 2021. The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 were earlier scheduled to be held from 24 July to 9 August 2020. The decision to postpone the 32nd edition of the tournament was taken by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) along with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan. The decision has been taken by the IOC amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision was taken on the basis of three main considerations:

•To protect the health of the athletes and everyone involved, and to support the containment of the COVID-19 virus.

•To safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport.

•The global international sports calendar.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has decided to reschedule the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games will be held from 24 August to 5th September 2021. The Paralympic Games were earlier scheduled to be held from 25th August to 6th September 2020.