1. NCC volunteer cadets to fight COVID-19 under ‘Exercise NCC Yogdan’

• National Cadet Corps (NCC) has offered its volunteer cadets to assist the civilian authorities to fight COVID-19 under ‘Exercise NCC Yogdan’.
• It has issued guidelines for the temporary employment of its cadets to enhance the operations of various organizations involved in relief efforts & fighting the pandemic.
• The tasks for NCC cadets include- manning of a helpline, call centres; distribution of relief materials, medicines, food, essential commodities; community assistance; data management and queue & traffic management.

Foot Notes: About NCC
It is operated under the Ministry of Defence & is the largest uniform youth organization in the country which involves various social service and community development activities. It contributes to the national cause during natural calamities like floods, cyclones, etc.,
Director-General– Lieutenant general(Lt Gen) Rajeev Chopra
Motto: एकता और अनुशासन; Unity and discipline
Founder: Government of the United Kingdom
Founded: 16 April 1948
Headquarters location: New Delhi

2. Dr Jitendra Singh released National Corona Survey conducted in 410 districts 

• Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions released the COVID- 19 National Preparedness Survey 2020. The survey will serve as a benchmark for policymakers at National and State levels.
• Objectives of the Survey: To develop a comparative analysis of COVID- 19 preparedness across States, to access enabling factors in making institutional/ logistics/ hospital preparedness etc., and also to identify the process-related deficiencies, in combating COVID-19 in all the districts of India.
• The survey was conducted with responses from 410 civil servants who are providing field level leadership. District Collectors & IAS (Indian Administrative Service) officers of (2014- 2018) batches who have served as Assistant Secretaries in GOI (Government of India) participated in the survey.

3. Government extends tenure of NCLT acting President for another 3 months

• On April 2, 2020 The government extended the tenure of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) acting President Bethala Shanta Vijaya (B.S.V.) Prakash Kumar for another 3 months (with effect from 5th April, 2020) or till the joining of new President,  whichever is earlier.
• Earlier he was appointed as the acting President for 3 months from January 5 after the retirement of NCLT president Justice Mahesh Mittal (M.M.) Kumar.
• He previously served as a Judicial Member of the NCLT’s Madras bench.

Foot Notes: About NCLT
It was constituted by the central government on June 1, 2016 under section 408 of the Companies Act, 2013 to provide a formal resolution of the dispute, which relates to the company’s issues in India. There are 13 benches across the country.
Headquarters– New Delhi, India
Founded: 1 June 2016

4. Prominent virologist Gita Ramjee dies from coronavirus

• World-renowned virologist Gita Ramjee, aged nearly 50 years, passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa, due to Coronavirus. She was the stellar vaccine scientist and an HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) prevention research leader.
• She served as the Clinical Trials Unit Principal Investigator and Unit Director of the HIV Prevention Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) offices in Durban.
• In 2018, Ramjee was presented with the Outstanding Female Scientist Award in Lisbon by the European Development Clinical Trials Partnerships (EDCTP) for her lifetime contribution in finding new HIV prevention methods.

5. International Mine Awareness Day observed on 04 April

• International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is observed on April 4 each year. 
• This day aims to raise awareness about landmines and progress toward their eradication. 
• Mine Awareness Day aims to raise awareness about the dangers of landmines.

6. Minister of State Human Resource Development launches 'Hack the Crisis-India' hackathon

• Minister of State Human Resource Development and IT Sanjay Dhotre launched ‘Hack the Crisis - India’, an Online Hackathon to find working solutions for overcoming COVID-19 pandemic. 
• This hackathon is part of a global initiative and is being organised by ‘Hack A Cause - India’ and ‘FICCI Ladies Organization Pune’ and supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. 
• The aim of this hackathon is to strengthen the fight against COVID-19.
• Over 2,000 teams and over 15,000 participants will be enhancing their working prototypes in a 48 hour hackathon.

Foot Notes:
Minister of State Human Resource Development: Ramesh Pokhriyal.

7. India’s foreign exchange reserves rise by 5.65 billion after falling for 2 weeks

• After falling for two weeks in a row, India’s foreign exchange reserves have surged by $5.65 billion to $475.56 billion in the week ended on 27th of March. 
• Foreign currency assets, a major part of the overall reserves, increased by $2.56 billion to $439.66 billion.
• In the previous week, the reserves had declined by $11.98 billion to $469.91 billion as the RBI was supplying dollars to contain fall in the rupee, which has breached the 76 mark against the US Dollar. 
• Gold reserves also increased by $3.03 billion to $30.89 billion. 
• India's special drawing rights with the International Monetary Fund went up by $14 million to $1.42 billion, while the country's reserve position also increased by $44 million to $3.58 billion.

Foot Notes: About RBI
Founded: 01 Apr 1935
Headquarters: Mumbai, India
Governor: Shaktikanta Das

8. FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup scheduled in November postponed 

• The FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup, which was scheduled to be played in India between November 2nd and 21st, has been postponed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 
• The new dates for the tournament will be identified later.
• The working group also postponed FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup which was scheduled between August and September in Panama and Costa Rica. 
• The Under-17 Women's World Cup was scheduled to be played in India across five host cities - Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.

Foot notes: About FIFA U-17 Women’s world cup
Current champion: Spain women's national under-17 football team
Most successful team(s): North Korea; (2 titles)
Founded: 2008

9. Global Coronavirus Cases surpass One Million all over the world

• As of 03 April 2020, Global coronavirus cases have surpassed one million figures. 
• According to the World Health Organization, over ten lakh cases have been recorded across 188 countries, including 51,718 deaths.
• Of these fatalities, nearly three-quarters of the deaths are in Europe. 
• A total of 37,709 deaths have been recorded in Europe, with Italy registering 13,915, followed by Spain with ten thousand deaths, France with 5,387 and the United States with 5,316.
• The United States and Canada have 235,900 cases and 5,427 deaths and Asia has 112,061 cases with 3,998 deaths.

10. Saudi Arabia imposes 24-hour curfew in holy cities of Makkah and Madina 

• Saudi Arabia has announced imposing of 24-hour curfew in the holy cities of Makkah and Madina until further notice.
• The decision was taken to supplement the Kingdom’s efforts to confront Coronavirus pandemic and in the interest of public health.
• The Royal order also prohibited the practice of any commercial activities within the residential neighborhoods of the cities of Makkah and Madinah, except for pharmacies and food supply stores, gas stations and banking services.

Foot Notes: About Saudi Arabia
Capital: Riyadh
Prime Minister: Salman of Saudi Arabia
Currency: Saudi riyal