Current Affairs Daily Digest – March 11 2020

1. Eleventh Bengaluru INDIA Nano conference and exhibition held at Bengaluru

The three-day event was organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of Karnataka, and Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), in association with other Govt Institutions and corporate companies.

Highlights :

• Research work to tackle infections related to antimicrobial resistance, eco-friendly batteries, and tools on nanotechnology, which was developed for agriculture were showcased by JNCASR at the exhibition.
• A set of Zn-air eco-friendly batteries were also displayed.
• Rhino Lure and Rhyncho Lure, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and residual free control strategy tools to monitor and manage Rhinoceros Beetle and Red Plam Weevil pests and protect crops like coconut, date palm, oil palm, and arecanut were exhibited.

2. GoI approved industrial licenses to 15 companies to manufacture Bullet Proof Jackets

The 15 companies for manufacturing Bullet Proof Jackets have the production capacity in the country of over 10 Lakh per annum to meet the domestic and export requirement.

India exports Bullet Proof Jackets to 18 countries. Earlier, Indian soldiers did not have bullet-proof jackets. At present, 1.86 lakh soldiers are given BPJs.

3. ARI developed ARI-516, a hybrid variety of grapes

Scientists from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) have developed a hybrid variety of grapes, ARI-516. It is resistant to fungal diseases, high yielding, and has excellent juice quality.

Highlights :

• ARI-516 was developed by interbreeding of two species from the same genus Catawba variety of Vitis labrusca and Beauty seedless variety of Vitis vinifera.
• The hybrid suitable for the preparation of juice, raisin, jam, and red wine, and farmers are enthusiastically adopting the variety.
• It is expected that the hybrid can benefit farmers, the processing industry, and consumers.
• The grape has superior quality fruits and higher yield per unit area. It matures in 110-120 days after pruning.

4. Indo-Thai workshop on stellar variability and star formation was held at ARIES

Indo-Thai workshop on stellar variability & star formation was held at ARIES, Nainital, Uttarakhand. The one-day workshop was organized by Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Department of Science and Technology (DST), that functions under the Ministry of Science & Technology.

The workshop aimed to strengthen the ongoing collaboration and expand the Indo-Thai cooperation from stellar sources to other areas of astronomy and astrophysics such as extra-galactic astronomy and instrumentation.

5.Jobs provided under scheme of compassionate appointment

The family members of the personnel of paramilitary forces killed in the line of duty were offered jobs under the scheme of compassionate appointment. The announcement was made by Shri Nityanand Rai, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs.

The Compassionate appointment Scheme aims to grant appointment on compassionate grounds to a dependent family member of a Government servant killed in the line of duty or who is retired on medical grounds, thereby leaving his family without any means of livelihood. The scheme also focuses on the family of the Government servant concerned from financial destitution and to help it get over the emergency.

6. CRPF instituted Shakti Award

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has instituted a special ‘Shakti Award.’ It will be annually presented to chosen personnel who works for the empowerment of women.

Women who work for creating women-friendly infrastructure, better work environment, ease of living with safety, addressing women-specific issues, and related innovation and initiatives will be awarded. The award will carry a reward of Rs.1 lakh, a citation, and a trophy.

7. Worlds only female white Giraffe and calf killed by Poachers

Conservationist stated that Kenya’s only female white Giraffe and her calf had been killed by poachers. White giraffes are rare animals that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. Now, only one white Giraffe, a lone male borne by the same slaughtered female, is alive.

8. Amit Panghal, Lovlina Borgohain won bronze medal in the Asian Boxing Olympic qualifiers

Boxers Amit Panghal and Lovlina Borgohain won the bronze medal in the Asian Boxing Olympic qualifiers held in Amman, Jordan. Both the boxers had already claimed their place in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Borgohain secured 0-5 and lost to China’s Hong Gu in the 69kg weight category. Pangal was defeated by China’s Jianguan Hu in the 52 kg category.

9. Coronavirus outbreak could cost global economy up to USD 2 trillion: UNCTAD

The coronavirus outbreak could cost the global economy up to USD 2 trillion this year, the UN’s trade and development agency said, warning that shock from the epidemic will cause a recession in some countries and depress global annual growth to below 2.5 per cent.

10. SBI cuts lending rate, home, auto loan EMIs to fall

The country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI) has cut its marginal cost of fund-based lending rate (MCLR) by up to 15 basis points across various tenors effective March 10, a move which will make home loans cheaper.

SBI has reduced its one-year MCLR by 10 basis points to 7.75% from 7.85% earlier. This is 10th consecutive cut in MCLR by the bank in the current fiscal. The lender had on February 10th had cut MCLR rates by 5 basis points across all tenors.

11. Voda Idea to rationalise operations, merge telecom circles to cut costs

Vodafone Idea has started operationally merging 6-7 of its weaker telecom circles with stronger ones, multiple sources familiar with the matter said, as the loss-making telecom carrier moves to cut costs and focus on prominent markets.

The decision is expected to result in another round of job losses, they said, without specifying how many employees would be asked to leave. The telco, which employs about 11,000 people directly, is working on severance packages for the workers, the sources added.

12. Mahim Verma is to resign as BCCI vice president

The current Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice president Mahim Verma is to resign from his post. The announcement comes after his win in the election for the post of secretary at the Cricket Association of Uttarakhand (CAU).