1. World Bank offers $1bn for proposed India project to battle with COVID-19

• The World Bank has offered $1 billion to the Indian government for a proposed India COVID-19 emergency response and health systems preparedness project. This four-year project aims to develop the preparedness of India’s health care systems in the time of the pandemic.
• The idea of the project will be to respond and mitigate the Covid-19 threat and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness in India.
• The World Bank funding is from its Covid-19 fast-track facility where both the entities (World Bank and the government of India) will work on following the best international practice.

Foot Notes:About World Bank
Founded: 1944
Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States
CEO: Kristalina Georgieva 
Founder: Harry Dexter White

2. Utkal Dibasa / Odisha divas is celebrated every year on April 1 in Odisha

• Every year on April 1, Odisha celebrates Utkal Dibasa to mark the day the state was born as a separate entity on linguistic basis. 
• This year marks the 83rd Utkal Dibasa, or the foundation day of Odisha. Odisha was born as a separate state on April 1, 1936, on linguistic basis.
• The state was carved out of the combined Bengal-Bihar-Orissa province.

Foot Notes:About Odisha
Founded: 01 Apr 1936
Capital: Bhubaneswar
Governor: Ganeshi Lal
Chief Minister: Naveen Patnaik

3. Government sanctions Rs 10-crore special funds for CRPF; “madadgaar” helpline expanded

• The Union Home Ministry has granted a special Rs 10-crore fund to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), enabling it to undertake relief works for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The sanction for financial year 2019-20 has been made under the 'civic action programme' head to the country's largest CAPF that has about 3.25 lakh personnel in its ranks.
• The 'madadgaar' helpline number of CRPF, ‘14411’ has received about 2,500 calls and got over 2.5 lakh impressions on its various social media platforms where people sought help in the wake of the viral disease outbreak and the subsequent lockdown imposed in the country from March 25.
• The helpline will now work in close coordination with other CAPFs and state authorities to help the needy. Launched in July, 2017, the helpline has recently floated a new WhatsApp number 7082814411- for the public.

Foot notes: About CRPF
Headquarters: New Delhi
Motto: "सेवा और निष्ठा"
Minister responsible: Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs
Director-General: AP Maheshwari

4. Nirmala Sitharaman participates in 2nd virtual G20 meeting of Finance Ministers

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the 2nd Extraordinary G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting under the Saudi Arabian Presidency. The meeting was called to discuss the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and coordinate efforts in response to this global challenge.
• The Finance Minister appreciated the Saudi Presidency for organizing these meetings which provide opportunity to all G20 members to not only share their individual experiences but also to work in better coordination.

Foot notes: About G20
Founder: Group of Seven
Founded: 26 September 1999
Leader: Salman of Saudi Arabia
Purpose: Bring together systemically important industrialized and developing economies to discuss key issues in the global economy.

5. Himachal Pradesh govt launches ‘Active Case Finding Campaign’ for COVID 19 patients

• The Himachal Pradesh government has launched an Active Case Finding Campaign for COVID 19 patients from1 April. Under this campaign, health workers would provide information regarding symptoms of Covid-19 to the people at their doorsteps.
• Under the campaign, every ASHA worker with two people's team will visit every house in the village and gather health information of every person and would share it with the department through Google form.
• The timing for gathering information would start from 9 AM to 4 PM every day and the suspected persons would be investigated accordingly.

Foot Notes: About Himachal Pradesh
Capital: Shimla
Governor: Bandaru Dattatreya
Chief Minister:Jai Ram Thakur

6. BharatPe, ICICI Lombard launch COVID-19 insurance product for shopkeepers

• Amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, BharatPe has partnered with ICICI Lombard to roll out 'COVID-19 Protection Insurance Cover' for shopkeepers. On diagnosis of COVID-19 (positive) this policy will pay 100 per cent of the sum insured, irrespective of hospitalisation expenses. 
• It is also a ‘first of its kind’ sachet product by ICICI Lombard that will cover merchants.
• The health cover is priced at a premium starting at a nominal amount of Rs 199 and provides a sum insured for Rs 25,000 and value-added benefits.
• The benefit of the COVID-19 Insurance Protection Cover is the coverage across the age group of 18 to 65 years.

Foot Notes: About BharatPe
Headquarters– New Delhi
CEO & Co-founder– Ashneer Grover
About ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd:
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
MD– Bhargav Dasgupta

7. Govt extends existing foreign trade policy (2015-20) for one year till March 2021

• The Government extended the existing foreign trade policy (2015-20) for one year till March 2021 amid coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown. The existing foreign trade policy 2015-20 which is valid up to March 31 this year is extended up to March 31, 2021. 
• Various other changes are also made extending the date of exemptions by one year and extending validity of DFIA and EPCG authorisations for import purposes.
• Exports during April-February this fiscal dipped by 1.5 per cent to 292.91 billion dollars.
• Imports during the period declined by 7.30 per cent to 436 billion dollars, leaving a trade deficit of 143.12 billion dollars.

8. Princess Maria Teresa of Spain becomes first royal person to die from COVID-19

• Spanish Princess Maria Teresa of Bourbon-Parma has become the first royal to pass away due to Covid-19 complications. The 86-year-old was a cousin of Spain's King Felipe VI. 
• Princess Teresa's death comes weeks after King Felipe VI of Spain tested negative for the virus. 
• She was known for her outspoken views and activist work, which led to her nickname the "Red Princess."
• Meanwhile, Prince Charles became the first British royal to be tested positive for the coronavirus, earlier this week.

Foot notes: About Spain
Capital: Madrid
Currency: Euro
Prime Minister: Pedro Sánchez

9. Australia’s IAG sold its 26% stake in SBI General Insurance for $310 mn

• On March 30, 2020, Insurance Australia General (IAG) has sold its entire 26% stake in the SBI (State Bank of India) General Insurance Co Ltd for USD 310 million (about Rs 2,325 crore) to Napean Opportunities LLP (an affiliate of Premji invest)and WP Honey Wheat Investment Ltd (Warburg Pincus Group).
• As a result, IAG earned a net profit on the sale of its stake in SBI General Insurance for approximately USD 310 million in the second half of FY20.IAG’s regulatory capital position also increased by nearly USD 450 million.
• Importantly, Napean Opportunities LLP has acquired 16.01% interest whereas WP Honey Wheat Investment Ltd acquired a 9.99% interest.

Foot Notes: About SBI General Insurance
It was a joint venture between SBI and Insurance Australia Group where SBI owns 70% stake.
Establishment– 2010
Headquarter– Mumbai, Maharashtra
Chairman– Rajnish Kumar
Managing Director (MD) & Chief Executive Officer (CEO)– PushanMahapatra

About IAG(Insurance Australia Group):
Founded: 2000 (renamed from NRMA Insurance Group in 2002)
Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
Chairman: Antonio Vázquez Romero

10. Shokoofeh Azar authored a book titled- The Enlightenment of The Greengage Tree

• Shokoofeh Azar’s The Enlightenment of The Greengage Tree was originally published in 2017 by ReadHowYouWant.com, Limited & has been reprinted by Europa Editions in January 2020.
• The book has been named(among 13) in the longlist of Booker Prizes (annual) 2020 for a £50,000 (USD 98,000) prize, which is shared between the author & translator of the winning book.

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Current Affairs 31 March 2020

Current Affairs 30 March 2020

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