Daily Current Affairs, 15th May 2020

1) International Family Day observed globally on 15th May

•International Family Day observed globally on 15th May every year. This day is spread awareness about the importance of families and the role of the international community in the development of the families. A happy and healthy family makes up for a supportive society, which in turn makes better citizens of the nation.

About International Day of Families:

•The United Nation General Assembly proclaimed the International Year of the Families in its resolution 44/82 of 9 December 1989. The General Assembly in 1993 decided in a resolution (A/RES/47/237) to observe 15 May every year as The International Day of Families. United Nations aims to encourage the people for better living standards and social progress of families worldwide. The day focuses to modify economic and social structures that affect the stability and structure of family units in various parts of the world.

2) West Bengal govt launches ‘Matir Smristi’ scheme

•West Bengal Government has launched ‘Matir Smristi’ scheme to utilise 50,000 acres of barren land in 6 districts. This scheme helps to generate income activities in horticulture and pisciculture involving the locals. The ‘Matir Smristi’ scheme will benefit around 2.5 lakh people in rural Bengal.

•In West Bengal at least 50,000 acres of barren land in Birbhum, Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, West Burdwan and West Midnapore districts, which cannot produce anything naturally nor can the farmers cultivate on the strip. The work has been started in 6,500 acres of land at the micro-level and this is an environment-friendly scheme.

3) World Bank approves $1 billion social protection package for India

In wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Bank has announced $1 billion social protection package for India. This package will be linked to the programmes launched by the Government of India. Hence, it will support India’s efforts at providing social assistance to the poor and vulnerable households who severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The $1 billion social protection package for India has taken the total commitment from the World Bank towards emergency COVID-19 response in India to $2 billion. The social protection package for India would be funded in two tranches in the following manner:

•First tranche will be made available as an immediate allocation of $750 million for fiscal year 2020.

•Second tranche would be remaining $250 million that would be made available for fiscal year 2021.

4) Slovenia becomes 1st coronavirus-free country in Europe

•Slovenia becomes the 1st nation in Europe to declare an official end to the COVID-19 pandemic. More restrictions have now been eased in the country and people entering from other European Union states.

•The country housing over 2 million people bordered with Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia has reported 1,464 cases of COVID-19 disease and 103 deaths after declaring a pandemic. The government has considerably eased many restrictions that were initially imposed to flatten the curve of disease spread. The educational institutions will be allowed to accept students in preschools along with in the first three grades in primary schools. All shops and driving schools are also given a green signal to resume their services.

5) Government of India sets up “Rice Export Promotion Forum”

•Rice Export Promotion Forum (REPF) has been set up by the Government of India to provide stimulus to the rice exports. The Rice Export Promotion Forum has been set up under the aegis of the Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Promotion Development Authority (Apeda).

•The REPF will make take collaborative steps to identify, document particulars and reach out to the stakeholders across the entire production/ supply chain of export of rice in order to enhance the exports remarkably to the global market. It will also monitor, identify and anticipate the developments related to production and exports and put forward various necessary policy measures.

6) 32nd Commonwealth Health Ministers Meet held via Video Conference

•The 32nd Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting was held through Video Conference. India was represented by Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan in the video conference. The meeting was held with a theme: Delivering a co-ordinated Commonwealth COVID-19 response.

•During the video conference, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan acknowledged the tremendous contribution of the numerous frontline health service providers as well as other civic bodies in saving the precious lives. He also stressed on the steps taken by the Indian government to curb the spread of COVID-19 by imposing lockdown and keeping surveillance at points of entry. He also mentioned other steps taken by India such as evacuation of our nationals from abroad, surveillance in community via disease surveillance network, health infrastructure strengthening, training and capacity building of health staff. he also emphasized on India’s contribution in providing essential medicines such as Hydroxy Chloroquine to around 100 needy countries, extending solidarity and support during this time of crisis.

7) UN releases report “World Economic Situation and Prospects”

•The United Nations has released its report “World Economic Situation and Prospects” as of mid-2020. In this report, UN has projected growth rates of individual countries as well as global economy for fiscal year 2020 & 2021.

•According to the “World Economic Situation and Prospects” as of mid-2020, the growth rate of India has been projected to grow at 1.2% in fiscal year 2020. While the report has also indicated a slight recovery in the growth rate of India for fiscal year 2021 and stated that it would clock a 5.5% growth rate in 2021. As the COVID-19 pandemic has paralysed the world, the UN has projected that the global economy will contract sharply by 3.2% in fiscal year 2020, with only a gradual recovery of lost output projected for fiscal year 2021.

8) Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers meet on COVID-19

•A virtual conference of Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member countries was held to deliberate on cooperation to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foreign Ministers of the member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation participated in the video conference. In the video conference, India was represented by the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

•All the participating Foreign Ministers deliberated on the global challenges, preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The video conference was held under the presidency of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

9) 2nd Extraordinary G20 Virtual Trade and Investment Ministerial Meet

•The second edition of Extraordinary G20 Virtual Trade and Investment Ministerial Meet was held under the presidency of Saudi Arabia. The meeting was chaired by the Saudi Minister of Commerce, Majid Al Qasabi, in the presence of the Minister of Investment, Khalid Al-Faleh. In the virtual meeting, India was represented by the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

•During his address during the meet, Piyush Goyal urged the G20 nations to ensure access to essential medicines, treatments and vaccines at affordable prices. He also appealed to the G20 nations to assent the provision of diagnostic and protective equipments as well as healthcare professionals across borders where they are most needed.

10) Raksha Mantri commissions ICGS “Sachet” & two interceptor boats

•Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh has commissioned Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Sachet and two interceptor boats (IBs) C-450 and C-451 in Goa via video conference. This is the first time in the annals of Indian maritime history that a coast guard ship was commissioned through the digital medium, maintaining the strict protocol of social distancing in the backdrop of pandemic COVID-19.