About:

• This will aid decisions involving health system readiness and other mitigation measures.
  
  
• Numerous mathematical models for Covid-19 forecasting and surveillance are being worked out by investigators funded by DST-SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board) and other agencies.
  
  
• As part of this initiative, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) and IISc, Bangalore will co-ordinate to connect and work with all COVID-19 modeling projects and programs in the country. 
  
  

About:

• Thirty countries and multiple international partners and institutions have signed up to support the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP).
  
  
• C-TAP is an initiative aimed at making vaccines, tests, treatments and other health technologies to fight COVID-19 accessible to all.
  
  
• The COVID-19 (Technology) Access Pool will be voluntary and based on social solidarity. It will provide a one-stop shop for scientific knowledge, data and intellectual property to be shared equitably by the global community.
  
  
• With supportive countries across the globe, C-TAP will serve as a sister initiative to the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator and other initiatives to support efforts to fight COVID-19 worldwide.
  
  

About:

• The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund accepts donations and provides relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, and other similar emergencies.
  
  
• According to PMO, “PM CARES Fund is not a Public Authority under the ambit of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.
  
  
• The PMO cited a Supreme Court (SC) observation that “indiscriminate and impractical demands under RTI Act for disclosure of all and sundry information would be counterproductive”. 
  
  

About:

• Objective: To empower the youth to become AI ready and help reduce the skill gap, while enabling youth to create meaningful social impact solutions.
  
  
• Bodies involved: The Program has been created and launched by the National e-Governance Division, Ministry of Electronics & IT in collaboration with Intel India, with support from Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L), Ministry of HRD.
  
  
• Coverage: The National Programme is open to students of classes 8 - 12 from Central and State government-run schools (including KVS, NVS, JNV) from across the country.
  
  

About:

• This portal has been jointly developed by the Ministry of Electronics and IT and IT Industry. National e-Governance Division of Ministry of Electronics and IT and NASSCOM from the IT industry will jointly run this portal.
  
  
• This portal shall work as a one stop digital platform for AI related developments in India, sharing of resources such as articles, startups, investment funds in AI, resources, companies and educational institutions related to AI in India. 
  
  

About:

• They found that Proxima b is 1.17 times the mass of Earth, smaller than the older estimate of 1.3 times. It orbits its star in just 11.2 days.
  
  
• Proxima b was first discovered in 2016 using HARPS (High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher), a planet-hunting spectrograph mounted to one of the telescopes at the European Southern Observatory at the La Silla Observatory in Chile.
  
  
• In the recent research, the scientists were able to hone in on the planet with ESPRESSO, a new generation spectrograph also at the observatory in Chile, which boasts three times the precision as HARPS.
  
  

About:

• The fiscal deficit for 2019-20 worked out to be 4.59% of the GDP. The deficit, which signifies the gap between government revenue and expenditure, is higher than the revised estimate of 3.8% for the fiscal.
  
  
• The revenue deficit for 2019-20 was 3.27% of the GDP. The effective revenue deficit was 2.36%.
  
  
• Revenue receipts during the year worked out to be only 90% of the revised estimate. In absolute terms, total receipts of the government were ₹17.5 lakh crore against the estimate of ₹19.31 lakh crore.
  
  
• The data showed the government’s total expenditure was ₹26.86 lakh crore, lower than the ₹26.98 lakh crore projected earlier. 
  
  

About:

• Real GDP or Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at Constant (2011-12) Prices in the year 2019-20 is now estimated to attain a level of ₹ 145.66 lakh crore.
  
  
• The growth in GDP during 2019-20 is estimated at 4.2 percent as compared to 6.1 percent in 2018-19. This is the lowest annual growth rate of GDP registered under the new GDP data series which uses 2011-12 as the base year.
  
  
• GDP at Current Prices in the year 2019-20 is estimated to attain a level of ₹ 203.40 lakh crore, as against the First Revised Estimates of ₹ 189.71 lakh crore in 2018-19, showing a growth rate of 7.2 percent as compared to 11.0 percent in 2018-19.
  
  
• The Per Capita Income in real terms (at 2011-12 Prices) during 2019-20 is estimated to attain a level of ₹ 94,954 as compared to ₹ 92,085 in the year 2018-19, resulting in growth of 3.1 percent during 2019-20, as against 4.8 per cent in the previous year.
  
  
• The Per Capita Income at current prices during 2019-20 is estimated to be ₹ 134,226, showing a rise of 6.1 percent as compared to ₹ 1,26,521 during 2018-19.
  
  
• GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in Q4 of 2019-20 is estimated at ₹ 38.04 lakh crore, as against ₹ 36.90 lakh crore in Q4 of 2018-19, showing a growth of 3.1 percent. 
  
  

About:

• The growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries for April 2020 declined by 38.1% (provisional) compared to decline of 9% (provisional) previous month of March 2020.
  
  
• In view of nationwide lockdown during April 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic, various industries viz. Coal, Cement, Steel, Natural Gas, Refinery, Crude Oil etc. experienced substantial loss of production.
  
  
• Production of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertiliser, steel, cement and electricity contracted by 15.5%, 6.4%, 19.9%, 24.2%, 4.5%, 83.9%, 86%, 22.8%, respectively.
  
  
• The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
  
  
• During 2019-20, core industries recorded 0.6% growth against 4.4% in 2018-19. 
  
  

About:

• FDI into India rose 13% to a record $49.97 billion in FY2019-20 from $44.36 billion a year earlier.
  
  
• While FDI through FIPB route/RBI’s Automatic Route/Acquisition Route rose 13% on year, total FDI that also includes equity capital of unincorporated bodies, reinvested earnings and other capital was up 18% on year to $73.45 billion, more than double from $36.04 billion in 2013-14.
  
  
• Sectors which attracted maximum foreign inflows during 2019-20 include services ($7.85 billion), computer software and hardware ($7.67 billion), telecommunications ($4.44 billion), trading ($4.57 billion), automobile ($2.82 billion), construction ($2 billion), and chemicals ($1 billion).
  
  
• Singapore emerged as the largest source of FDI in India during the last fiscal with $14.67 billion investments followed by Mauritius ($8.24 billion).
  
  
• Among states, Maharashtra garnered the highest share of FDI at 30% with investments clocking $7.26 billion. Karnataka and Delhi followed with 18% and 17% share, respectively. 
  
  

About:

• The Ministry of Labour and Employment is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) project for transformation of the National Employment Service to provide a variety of employment related services like job search, job matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses through an on-line portal (www.ncs.gov.in).
  
  
• Around 1000 employment exchanges including 200 Model Career Centers across the country are integrated with NCS.
  
  
• A Special link for Work from Home Jobs and Online Trainings has been created on NCS portal Home Page to give direct access to job-seekers to such jobs.
  
  
• NCS also offers the functionality of creation of video profiles for job-seekers in partnership with HIREMEE, a platform which provides online assessment and hiring services. Job-seekers can showcase their ability to recruiters using short video clips. All services on NCS are free. 
  
  

About:

• The Army Commanders' Conference is an apex level biannual event which facilitates conceptual level deliberations culminating in important policy decisions.
  
  
• The biannual army commanders conference is generally held in April and October every year.
  
  
• The commanders' conference was originally scheduled to be held from April 13-18, but it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The second phase of the conference will take place from June 24-27, 2020. 
  
  

About:

• INS Kalinga has taken significant strides in Green Initiatives since it's setting up in the early 1980s, including afforestation, numerous plantation drives, coastal cleanup drives and protection of the Geo-Heritage site “Erra Matti Dibbalu”.
  
  
• Erra Matti Dibbalu also called as Red Sand Hills, a notified National Geo-heritage Monument, is situated at the outskirts of Visakhapatnam City. It is located very near to the Bay of Bengal and is one of Visakhapatnam's many heritage sites. 
  
  

About:

• ‘AGNEEPRASTHA’ aims to capture glimpses of Missile History of INS Kalinga till date. Once completed, it will be dedicated to all the Officers, Sailors and Support Staff of INS Kalinga, who have served in this premier op-support Base of the Eastern Naval Command (ENC).
  
  
• The Missile Park has been set up with a replica of missiles and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) that showcase the evolution of missiles handled by the unit.
  
  
• The main attraction is P-70 'Ametist', an underwater launched anti-ship missile from the arsenal of the old 'Chakra' (Charlie-1 submarine) which was in service with IN during 1988-91. 
  
  

About:

• The decision enhancing the coverage from 50 to 73 items comes in view of the COVID-19 pandemic so that much needed support could be provided to the tribal MFP gatherers.
  
  
• The Ministry has provided flexibility to States to fix MSP upto 10% higher or lower than MSP declared by the Government.
  
  
• This was done under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme titled "Mechanism for Marketing of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) through Minimum Support Price (MSP) and development of value chain of MFP" which was launched in 2011.
  
  
• TRIFED is the nodal agency for the implementation of the scheme. 
  
  

About:

• The members nominated in J&K are MoS PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh and Members of Parliament, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Hasnain Masoodi and Jugal Kishore Sharma.
  
  
• Jammu and Kashmir at present has no legislative assembly as it is a Union Territory with a provision of a legislature.
  
  
• Members of Parliament and legislative assemblies of states, for which the Delimitation Commission is set up, are drawn in as associate members to assist the panel in its task.
  
  
• The commission will delimit the constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir in accordance with the provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019.
  • According to section 60 of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019, the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly of Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir shall be increased from 107 to 114.
    
    
  
  
  

About:

• Background: It was setup in 2010 by Indian Government as an executive body. It replaced the High Level Coordination Committee on Financial Markets (HLCCFM). The idea to create such a super regulatory body was first mooted by the Raghuram Rajan Committee in 2008.
  
  
• Status: FSDC is not a statutory body. No funds are separately allocated to the council for undertaking its activities.
  
  
• Objective: Its objectives are to strengthen and institutionalize the mechanism for maintaining financial stability and Enhancing inter-regulatory coordination.
  
  
• Composition: It is chaired by the Union Finance Minister of India. The other 12 members are
  • Governor, RBI,
    
    
  • Chairman, SEBI,
    
    
  • Chairman, IRDA,
    
    
  • Chairman, PFRDA,
    
    
  • Minister of state responsible for the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA),
    
    
  • Secretary of Department of Electronics and Information Technology’,
    
    
  • Revenue secretary,
    
    
  • Finance Secretary and/or Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs;
    
    
  • Secretary, Department of Financial Services;
    
    
  • Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs,
    
    
  • Chief Economic Adviser and
    
    
  • Chairperson of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI).
    
    
  
  
  
• Sub-committee of FSDC: A sub-committee of FSDC has also been set up under the chairmanship of Governor RBI. It discusses and decides on a range of issues relating to financial sector development and stability including substantive issues relating to inter-regulatory coordination.
  
  

About:

• The WHO Foundation is an independent grant-making foundation that will support WHO efforts to address the most pressing global health challenges by raising new funding from "non-traditional sources".
  
  
• By funding high-impact initiatives and advancing strategies of innovation, effectiveness, and rapid response, it will support the global health ecosystem.
  
  
• It is Headquartered in Geneva.
  
  
• The foundation is legally independent from the WHO. It is established under the laws of Switzerland. 
  
  

About:

• This facility is now available for those PAN applicants who possess a valid Aadhaar number and have a mobile number registered with Aadhaar. The allotment process is paperless and an electronic PAN (e-PAN) is issued to the applicants free of cost.
  
  
• In the Union Budget, 2020, Finance Minister had announced that in order to ease the process of allotment of PAN, she will soon launch a system under which PAN shall be instantly allotted online on the basis of Aadhaar without any requirement for filling up of detailed application form.”
  
  

About:

• Laurence David Kramer (1935 – 2020) was an American playwright, author, film producer, public health advocate, and LGBT rights activist.
  
  
• He co-founded the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC), which has become the world's largest private organization assisting people living with AIDS.
  
  
• His political activism continued with the founding of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) in 1987, an influential direct action protest organization with the aim of gaining more public action to fight the AIDS crisis.
  
  
• Kramer, whose works include the award-winning 1985 play, “The Normal Heart,” established himself as a fierce advocate for LGBTQ rights as the gay community, including many of his friends, became afflicted with AIDS, a newly emergent disease in the 1980s.
  
  
• According to UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, “His contribution to the global AIDS response was invaluable.” 
  
  

About:

• The rapid spread of the Charru mussel (Mytella strigata) in Kerala may have been triggered by Cyclone Ockhi which struck the region in 2017.
  
  
• Externally, the Charru mussel resembles the green and brown mussels (kallummekkaya in Malayalam), but is much smaller in size. Its colour varies from black to brown, purple or dark green.
  
  
• It has replaced the Asian green mussel (Perna viridis) and the edible oyster Magallana bilineata (known locally as muringa) backwaters of Kerala
  
  
• In Ashtamudi Lake, the Charru mussel had established breeding populations in 2018 and 2019, acquiring the moniker ‘varathan kakka’ (alien mollusc). 
  
  

About:

• These herbal roads will have medicinal and herbal trees – like Peepal, Neem, Sehjan along with other herb varieties like Brahmi, Ashvagandha and Jatrofa – along with the land on their both sides.
  
  
• These plants will provide raw material for the medicines and will also help in curbing the erosion of land.
  
  
• These 800 kilometer roads will be along national and state highways passing through state and the herbal garden along with them will keep air-borne, bacterial and other diseases at bay. 
  
  

About:

• The “Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC)” was established in January 2012 after border talks between then National Security Adviser (NSA) Shivshankar Menon and his Chinese counterpart Dai Bingguo.
  
  
• It is headed by joint secretary-level officials from both sides. They are entrusted to help the special representative for boundary talks, a position currently held by NSA Ajit Doval.
  
  
• These officials have had 14 meetings since 2012, the last one in July 2019, and meet more frequently than the special representatives. 
  
  

About:

• Operation Warp Speed is a public–private partnership, initiated by the Federal Government of the United States, to facilitate and accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
  
  
• It is an interagency program that includes components of the Department of Health, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health and private firms.
  
  

About:

• Montenegro is a country of South and Southeast Europe on the coast of the Balkans.
  
  
• It borders Bosnia-Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast, Kosovo to the east, Albania to the southeast, the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, and Croatia to the west.
  
  
• Its capital is Podgorica.
  
  
• Montenegro is a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean. It is also in the process of joining the European Union.
  
  
• The largest lake in Montenegro and the Balkans is Lake Scutari.
  
  

About:

• The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
  
  
• Location: The bank is headquartered in Shanghai, China. The first regional office of the NDB is in Johannesburg, South Africa.
  
  
• History: During the sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014), the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB). The Bank formally came into existence as a legal entity in 2015.
  
  
• Capital: The initial authorized capital of the bank is $100 billion divided into 1 million shares having a par value of $100,000 each. 
  
  

About:

• The strategic stealth bomber, the second 5th Generation combat aircraft from Russia after the Sukhoi Su-57 supersonic fighter, will eventually replace the currents set of strategic bombers Tupolev Tu 22, Tu-95 and Tu-160.
  
  
• The PAK DA bomber will use the latest technologies and materials to reduce its radar signature, making it invisible to the enemy.
  
  
• The first test flight of the PAK DA bomber is likely to take place in late 2021 or early 2022. The bomber is expected to join the Russian Aerospace Force only by 2028 0r 2029 after rigorous testing and development.
  
  
• The aircraft PAK DA, will compete with the U.S. B-2 strategic stealth bomber which entered service in 1997. China is also developing its own stealth bomber - the Xian H-20. 
  
  

About:

• Date of observance: May 29.
  
  
• Why may 29: The first UN peacekeeping mission was established on 29th May 1948, when the Security Council authorized the deployment of a small number of UN military observers to the Middle East.
  
  
• Objective of the day: To pay tribute to the invaluable contribution by the uniformed and civilian personnel and to honour more than 3,800 peacekeepers who have lost their lives while rendering peacekeeping services.