Daily Current Affairs, 06th April 2020

1) UN declares April 5 as International Day of Conscience

•The United Nations declares April 5 as International Day of Conscience. This day serves to remind people to self-reflect, follow their conscience, and do the right things. April 5, 2020, will mark the first International Day of Conscience, which is a United Nations day.

•The designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience serves to remind people to engage in self-reflection to improve themselves and their communities, stimulating a crucial turning point for transforming our world. Conscience empowers people to tolerate, forgive, and love one another, and thus it shortens the distance between people and between nations.

History of International Day of Conscience:

•On February 5, 2019, Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) launched a global endorsement campaign for the Declaration of International Day of Conscience at the United Nations in New York. To date, the declaration has been translated into 41 languages and endorsed by people in 185 nations. On July 25, 2019, during its 73rd session, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a draft resolution submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, entitled “Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience,” declaring April 5 the International Day of Conscience.

2) Nation celebrates 57th edition of National Maritime Day

•National Maritime Day in India is observed on 5 April every year. This year is 57th edition of the National Maritime Day. The National Maritime Day is celebrated every year day to illustrate the awareness in supporting intercontinental commerce and the global economy as the most well-organized, safe and sound, environmentally responsive approach of transporting goods from one corner to another corner of the world.

3) 6 April observed as International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

•The United Nations celebrates 6th of April every year as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. Sport has historically played an important role in all societies, be it in the form of competitive sport, physical activity or play. Sports also presents a natural partnership for the United Nations (UN) system.

•To celebrate International Day of Sport for Development and Peace 2020, the United Nations requests people around the world to be active, stay healthy and exhibit solidarity during this period of physical and social distancing as this team spirit is going to help us all in getting through the current challenges together. In year 2020, responding to global developments concerning the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN is stressing on the health benefits of participating in sporting and physical activity, especially in the present time of uncertainty and social distancing.

•For the International Day of Sport 2020, the UN has appealed to people to #BeActive and healthy to beat #COVID19.

4) Civil servants launch ‘Caruna’ initiative to fight Coronavirus

•Civil services officers’ associations have formed an initiative called ‘Caruna’ to support and supplement the government’s efforts in fighting coronavirus. The acronym ‘Caruna’ stands for Civil Services Associations Reach to Support in Natural Disasters.

•The platform includes officers from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Revenue Service (IRS), state services and so on. This platform was launched by the IAS Association vice-president Sanjeev Chopra.

5) PM, President and MPs Salary Cut by 30% , MPLAD funds suspended for 2 years

•The Union Cabinet approved an ordinance amending the salary, allowances and pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954, to reduce the allowances and pension by 30% starting April 1, 2020, for a year. All Members of Parliament (MPs), including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers, would be taking a 30 per cent salary cut due to the impact of the novel coronavirus.

•Indian President, Vice President and all state governors have voluntarily decided to take a 30 per cent salary cut for a year in view of the coronavirus outbreak and the expected downturn in the economy.

•The cabinet also approved temporary suspension of MPLAD (Member of Parliament Local Area Development) fund scheme during 2020-21 and 2021-22, and the funds will be used for managing health services and the adverse impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Rs 7,900 crore from the MPLADS scheme will go to Consolidated Fund of India. The Rs 10 crore from each MPLAD fund will now go to the Consolidated Fund of India for “managing health and the adverse impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 in India”. India is under a 21-day nationwide lockdown to mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus.

6) ‘V Safe Tunnel’ installed in Telangana to sanitize people

•‘V Safe Tunnel’ has been installed in Telangana to sanitize people. The sanitising tunnel has been installed at the state Director General of Police’s office. A unique disinfectant named ‘V Safe Tunnel’ sanitizes people from any possible bacteria and other microbes within 20 seconds.

•The ‘V Safe Tunnel’ aims to minimise the local transmission of Coronavirus in the state by providing maximum protection to people passing through the tunnel in around 20 seconds. It includes a combination of a water-soluble polymer and iodine in a form of spray and is known to be effective against virus such as SARS and Ebola.

7) CM Naveen Patnaik honoured by Peta India for feeding animals

•Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik has been conferred with ‘Hero to Animals Award’ by animal rights body PETA India. He has been awarded by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for allocating funds to feed community animals in Odisha during the lockdown over the novel coronavirus pandemic.

•The lockdown has not only affected people but animals as well. In the concern that the animals do not go starving in such conditions, CM approved of Rs 54 lakhs from a relief fund to feed animals of the community. The initiative undertaken to feed animals are conducted in five municipal corporations and all 48 municipalities of Odisha.

8) Madhabi Puri Buch gets 6-month extension as WTM at SEBI

•The term of Madhabi Puri Buch as a Whole Time Member (WTM) at Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been extended by 6 months. Madhabi Puri Buch is the first woman Whole Time Member (WTM) of SEBI and also the first from the private sector to be appointed as a board member in SEBI.

•Madhabi Puri Buch was appointed as the Whole Time Member (WTM) at Securities and Exchange Board of India in 2017 with a three-year tenure, while other WTMs of SEBI were appointed for the duration of five years.

9) IAF airlifts essential drugs to Maldives under ‘Operation Sanjeevani’

•The Indian Air Force (IAF) has launched ‘Operation Sanjeevani’ and air-lifted 6.2 tonnes of essential medical supplies to the Maldives via transport aircraft C-130J as assistance in the fight against the COVID 19.

•India has supplied 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines to the Maldives as assistance in the fight against The medicines were procured from various cities and delivered by a Hercules aircraft of Indian Air Force. India has also supplied essential food grains and edibles despite logistical challenges in the wake of lockdown. The neighbouring country is mostly dependent on imports from India for such supplies.

10) Empowered Group for coordinating COVID-19 related Response Activities

•The Government of India has constituted an Empowered Group for coordinating response activities with Private Sector, NGOs and International Organisations related to COVID-19.

•This group which will coordinate response activities with Private Sector, NGOs and International Organisations related to COVID-19, will be headed by the chief executive officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant. The group will address the issues involving identification of problems, effective solutions and making of plans along with three groups of stakeholders.