Daily Current Affairs 30th March, 2020

Daily Current Affairs 30 March 2020 for Banking/Insurance/SSC and other related exams.

NATIONAL NEWS

Govt releases Rs 4,431 cr to clear pending due wages under MGNREGA
The Centre has released Rs 4,431 crore to clear pending wages under the rural job scheme MGNREGA and will pay all dues by April 10, a day after the government announced increase in wages under the programme.

• The government will clear all pending wages under the employment guarantee scheme amounting to Rs 11,499 crore by April 10, out of which Rs 4,431 crore has been released till March 28.

DoNER to provide Rs 25 crores to Northeast to fight the COVID-19 outbreak
The Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Ministry and the North Eastern Council (NEC) would provide Rs 25 crore to the States in the Northeast for gap funding to fight COVID-19.

• This fund would be in the nature of untied fund, which can be utilized on any activity relating to COVID-19 pandemic, and not covered under existing Central packages

Dr. Harsh Vardhan launches National Teleconsultation Centre (CoNTeC)
The Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched the National Teleconsultation Centre (CoNTeC)  and also interacted with Nodal Officers of Medical Colleges of States and other AIIMS of the country and reviewed the COVID-19 preparedness.

• The project CoNTeC, an acronym for COVID-19 National Teleconsultation Centre, has been conceptualised by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and has been implemented by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US announces $174 mn aid to 64 countries including $2.9 mn to India
The United States announced USD 174 million financial assistance to 64 countries including USD 2.9 million to India to help them fight the Jcoronavirus pandemic

• This is in addition to the USD 100 million aid announced by the US in February.

BANKING & FINANCE

RBI announces liquidity boost of Rs 3.74 lakh crore amid coronavirus outbreak
In a bid to maintain stability in the financial system in the wake of coronavirus pandemic, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Shaktikanta Das said that Rs 3.74 lakh crore liquidity will be injected into system through various measures.

• As part of liquidity infusion measures, the central bank announced a massive 75 basis points cut in repo rates to revival economic growth which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak. The reverse repo rate has been slashed by 90 basis points to 4 per cent.
• Besides, the cash reserve ratio (CRR) of all banks has been reduced by 100 basis points to 3 per cent from 4 per cent, with effect from the fortnight beginning 28 March for a period of 1 year. This is expected to release Rs 1.37 lakh crore liquidity in the market.

SPORTS

Indian Shot Putter Navin Chikara Banned for 4 Years for Failing Dope Test
Indian shot putter Navin Chikara was suspended for four years by global athletics body’s (IAAF) Athletics Integrity Unit for failing an out-of-competition dope test in 2018.

• Chikara was banned for the presence and use of a prohibited substance and his four-year suspension starts from July 27, 2018. 

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS

Chennai Port acquires majority stake in Kamarajar Port
Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) acquired 67% stake of its subsidiary Kamarajar Port Ltd. (KPL) for ₹2,383 crore.

• This agreement comes into force with immediate effect. The focus is to utilise the existing capacity in ChPT to the maximum and carry out expansion in KPL.
• The next target is to achieve cargo handling of 100 million tonnes in the coming years.

OBITUARIES

US veteran civil rights leader Joseph E Lowery passes away
Joseph E Lowery, a veteran civil rights leader who helped Martin Luther King Jr found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and fought against racial discrimination in the United States, has died. He was 98.

• A charismatic and fiery preacher, Lowery led the SCLC for two decades – restoring the organisation’s financial stability and pressuring businesses not to trade with South Africa’s apartheid-era regime – before retiring in 1997.
• Lowery, considered the dean of civil rights veterans, lived to celebrate a November 2008 milestone that few of his movement colleagues thought they would ever witness – the election of an African American president.

Retired Air Vice Marshal Chandan Singh Rathore passes away
Retired Air Vice Marshal Chandan Singh Rathore passed away at his Jodhpur residence. He was 95.

• He was the recipient of Maha Vir Chakra (MVC).
• He gave major contributions as a valorous young air warrior during the Sino-India 1962 war and the 1971 Indo-Pak war and contributed towards a stronger and safer India.

BOOKS & AUTHORS

National Book Trust to launch Corona Studies Series books
National Book Trust (NBT) will launch Corona Studies Series books to provide relevant reading materials for all age-groups for the post-Corona readership needs.

• The ‘Corona Studies Series’  will be the long-term contribution to prepare and engage readers with the various aspects of the Corona times by bringing out affordable books in various Indian languages in the identified subject areas.

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