Daily Current Affairs, 13th April 2020

1) International Day of Human Space Flight observed globally on 12 April

•The International Day of Human Space Flight 2020 observed globally on April 12 every year. The UN General Assembly passed a resolution on April 7, 2011, had declared April 12 to be celebrated as International Day of Human Space Flight.

•On 12 April 1961, was the date of the 1st human space flight was carried out by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen, who became the first person to journey into outer space. This historic incident opened the way for space exploration for the benefit of all mankind. 12 April was also the date of the 1st Space Shuttle STS-1 of Columbia launched in 1981, which is also commemorated on this date.

2) Ministry of HRD starts web portal ‘YUKTI’

•Ministry for Human Resource Development has starts web-portal named YUKTI (Young India Combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology and Innovation) in New Delhi. The web portal and dashboard will help to monitor and record the efforts and initiatives of the Ministry of HRD. Its plan to cover different dimensions of COVID-19 challenges in a comprehensive and holistic way.

•The web-portal is an effort of the HRD Ministry to achieve this goal in this difficult situation. The main aim of the MHRD is to keep the academic community healthy, both physically and mentally and to enable a continuous high-quality learning environment. The web portal will cover both qualitative and quantitative parameters for effective delivery of services to the academic community at large. The web portal will also establish a 2-way communication channel between the MHRD and the institutions to provide the necessary support system to the institutions.

3) Manipur govt starts new initiative ‘Food Bank’ to help the poor

•Government of Manipur starts a new initiative titled ‘Food Bank’ in view of the threat of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This initiative provides immediate aid within the sort of free food to the poor and needy who face scarcity of essential commodities due to the long statewide lockdown.

4) Centre plans to set up ‘Suraksha Stores’ to meet daily needs

•The government of India plans to set up a chain of 20 lakh retail shops called ‘Suraksha Stores’ across India. These ‘Suraksha Stores’ will provide daily essentials to citizens while maintaining stringent safety norms in the wake of COVID-19.

5) Ahmedabad station becomes 1st station to get sanitizing tunnel

•Under Western Railway, Ahmedabad railway station at Kalupur, Gujarat becomes the 1st station of Indian Railways (IR) to install a “Walk Through Mass Sanitizing Tunnel”. This Walk Through Mass Sanitizing Tunnel is installed to ensure the safety of staff and passengers in the view of the COVID-19.

What is Sanitizing tunnel?

•The tunnel uses WHO (World Health Organization) approved sanitizer and fitted with a sensor, so that when a passenger approaches the tunnel entrance it starts fogging automatically. The sanitization system runs on the principle of Vaporization process which converts the sanitizer mixture into vapour which forms a uniform layer over the surface & dries up quickly.

6) IMF chief names Raghuram Rajan in her External Advisory Group

•Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva has named a group of prominent individuals to serve as her new External Advisory Group which includes former RBI governor, Raghuram Rajan and others to its new External Advisory Group. Raghuram Rajan was the RBI governor for three years and presently working as a professor at the prestigious University of Chicago.

•To provide perspectives from around the world on key developments, policy issues, policy responses to the exceptional challenges the world now faces due to the coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact. 

7) UNIDO & CUTS signs agreement to counter economic impact of COVID-19

•United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) to empower consumers to contribute to the global development agenda as well as support their respective governments in times of global crisis due to coronavirus.

The objective of the MOU:

•The MoU is valid for 5 years and the aim is to create joint technical co-operation initiatives to support ongoing activities in achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).

•As per the MoU, CUTS will support e-commerce as a platform to accelerate Member States’ transition to the digital economy and adapt to the 4th Industrial Revolution.

What is CUTS?

•Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) is an India-based institution and established in 1983, working to realize “consumer sovereignty within the framework of social justice, economic equality and environmental balance within and across borders”. The main engagement areas of CUTS are promoting rules-based trade, good governance and effective regulations.

8) Prasar Bharti launches new channel “DD Retro”

•India’s Public service broadcaster Prasar Bharti has rolled out a new channel called DD Retro. The new channel “DD Retro” would be specifically dedicated to old classics of Doordarshan. The channel has been launched by Prasar Bharti in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic to keep viewers engaged.

•DD Retro is presently airing the same shows that DD National had started airing again in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. These favourite memorable serials of Doordarshan includes that of mythological epics Ramayana and Mahabharat, historical drama Chanakya and superhero series Shaktimaan. The list also features comedy drama Shriman Shrimati, detective show Byomkesh Bakshi, drama show Hum Hain Na and Shah Rukh Khan’s Circus.

•After the return of these memorable classics, Doordarshan has also emerged as the most watched channel in India, surpassing any other genre in the Hindi-speaking markets.