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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 26 March 2020

::NATIONAL::

Centre urges states to ensure unhindered movement of essential goods & services

Centre has directed all states to ensure unhindered movement of essential goods and services in states and union territories including inter-state movement. This is being done to ensure continuity of supply chains during COVID-19 lockdown.
In a letter to chief secretaries of all states and union territories, Home Ministry said that it is necessary to ensure the unhindered operation of manufacturing, processing, transportation, distribution, storage and logistics related to all services, and commodities required for the delivery of essential services which have been exempted.
Centre said it is necessary for each state and union territory to set up a 24/7 control room with helplines at state and district levels to address any grievance or problems faced by the providers of goods and services.

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EC allows government to use indelible ink to mark the quarantined

The Election Commission of India on Wednesday said it had allowed the government to use indelible ink, which is used to mark voters, to mark people ordered quarantine themselves at home in view of the “extraordinary circumstances” due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In a letter to the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the EC wrote that it had taken the suomotu decision to allow the use of indelible ink with certain conditions.
The EC wrote that according to Rule 49 K of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, an elector is supposed to be marked on the forefinger of his left hand before casting the vote.
In case the elector does not have a forefinger on the left hand, any other finger of the left hand can be marked and in case the elector does not have any finger on the left hand, the forefinger of the right hand can be marked.

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::ECONOMY::

Cabinet approves recapitalisation of RRB’s

The Centre has approved a ₹1,340-crore recapitalisation plan for regional rural banks (RRBs) to improve their capital-to-risk weighted assets ratio (CRAR), strengthening these institutions that are critical to the provision of credit in rural areas.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs gave its nod for an outlay of ₹670 crore as the central share for the scheme on the condition that the release of the funds will be contingent upon the release of the proportionate share by the sponsor banks, an official statement said.
This would provide minimum regulatory capital for one more year viz. up to 2020-21 for those RRBs that are unable to maintain the minimum CRAR of 9%. This has been an ongoing scheme since 2011.
The RRBs are required to provide 75% of their total credit as priority sector lending with primary focus on agricultural credit, including small and marginal farmers, as well as micro entrepreneurs and rural artisans.

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Finance ministry asks RBI to relax asset classification norms for farm loans

The Finance Ministry has asked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to relax asset classification norms for farm loans extended by banks following the stress faced by the agriculture sector.
In a letter addressed to RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das, the Ministry said, “it is requested to consider making appropriate relaxation in asset classification norms in respect of short-term agricultural crop loans for a period up to 30th June 2020.”
The letter, reviewed by The Hindu, cited a communication from the Agriculture Ministry which is considering an extension of the interest subvention scheme for the farm sector which, in turn, would require relaxation of NPA norms. As per the RBI’s asset classification norms, a loan is classified as non-performing by banks if repayment is due for more than 90 days.
“The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, has [said that] in view of the unprecedented situation prevailing in the country on account of increasing incidence of COVID-19 infection and consequent lockdown across the country, they are actively considering the possibility of extending the benefit of interest subvention and prompt repayment incentive to short-term crop agriculture loans falling due between 29th March 2020 and 30th June 2020, if the loans are repaid by 30th June 2020,” the letter said.
“They have further stated the extension of the repayment date would require relaxation in asset qualification by RBI,” it added.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

After India,Nepal imposes country wide lockdown

Nepal has imposed nationwide lockdown to control the possible spread of COVID-19. The decision was taken by the cabinet in Kathmandu on Monday after confirmation of second case of COVID-19 in the Himalayan nation.
The lockdown started in all 77 districts this morning and will continue till March 31. The people have been asked not to leave their homes except for emergency purpose or to purchase medicines or food stuffs. All public and private vehicles have also been restricted except those used by the security forces or health workers. All domestic commercial flights have ceased their operation.
Anyone violating the rule may land in jail for a month or fined Rs 100. All the government offices have been directed to send their non-essential staff on leave on the condition that they will be available as and when required.
The government has urged all emergency and essential service providing agencies including security, food supply, electricity, communication, customs, quarantine and garbage management and others to function with minimum necessary staff.
Similarly, all industries and other private offices have been directed to grant leave to their employees. The government has asked medical suppliers to maintain smooth supply of essential medicines during the lockdown.

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India and Russia stress upon significance of international cooperation on fighting pandemic

India and Russia have stressed the significance of international cooperation for unitedly fighting COVID-19, including within the framework of G-20. Prime Minister NarendraModi and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a telephonic conversation and discussed the global situation in the context of COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Modi conveyed his good wishes for early recovery of those suffering from the disease in Russia. He expressed the hope that Russia’s efforts, led by President Putin, to fight the disease will be successful.
President Putin conveyed to the Prime Minister his good wishes for the success of measures adopted in India to combat COVID-19.
The two leaders agreed on further consultation and cooperation in addressing all challenges faced by this major global crisis, including those pertaining to health, medicine, scientific research, humanitarian matters and impact on global economy.
The two leaders also agreed to continue their close cooperation for maintaining the excellent momentum and the warm of the cordial and time-tested bilateral relations.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

New technology to improve fuel efficiency of IC engines developed

The International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI) operating under Department of Science and Technology, Government of India has developed a technology to improve fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines.
The technology improves the fuel efficiency by reducing friction in the engines. This has been achieved through Laser surface micro-texturing.In this technology, the friction is controlled by controlling the size, density and shape of the micro-surface texture features.
Such a texture is created by using a pulsating laser beam. The beam creates micro-dimples, grooves on the surface of the materials.These Grooves trap debris that usually increase friction and thereby wear and tear.

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::SPORTS::

BCCI president donates Rs50lakh worth rice to underprivileged

BCCI President SouravGanguly has come forward in support of those affected by the 21-day lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic, pledging to donate rice worth 50 lakh rupees for the underprivileged.
The Cricket Association of Bengal announced in a statement that Ganguly along with Lal Baba Rice will provide for the needy people who have been put in government schools for safety and security.

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