Daily News

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Cabinet approves recapitalization of RRBs to improve their Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio

Union Cabinet approved continuation of the process of recapitalization of RRBs by providing minimum regulatory capital up to 2020-21 for those RRBs which are unable to maintain minimum CRAR of 9%, as per the regulatory norms prescribed by the Reserve Bank.

Did you Know

Rs.670 Cr will be used for the RRBs Recapitalization scheme.

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Cabinet approves MoU between India and Germany in Railway sector

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister; Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a MoU signed between Ministry of Railways of Government of India with DB Engineering & Consulting GMBH of Germany for technological cooperation in the Railway Sector.

Did you Know

The MoU was signed in February 2020.

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National Book Trust of MHRD Launches #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks initiative

In the wake of preventive measures of the central government to contain the spread of Covid-19, the National Book Trust of HRD Ministry is providing its select and best-selling titles for FREE Download as part of its initiative of #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks.

Did you Know

The 100+ books, in PDF format, can be downloaded.

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NTPC’s installed capacity touches 58,816 MW

NTPC has increased total installed capacity to 58,816 MW with the commissioning of 2nd unit of 660 MW at Khargone Super Thermal Power Project, Madhya Pradesh. NTPC now has 55 power stations, including 24 coal-based & 7 combined cycle gas/liquid fuel.

Did you Know

Others: 2 hydro, 1 wind, 11 solar & 10 joint venture stations.

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Cabinet approves extension of Rebate in Taxes on Export of Garments and Made ups

Cabinet chaired by PM Modi has given its approval for continuation of Rebate of State & Central Taxes & Levies (RoSCTL) from 1st April 2020 onward until such time that the scheme is merged with Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP).

Did you Know

RoSCTL comes under the Ministry of Textiles.

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PSBs to extend loans so firms can continue ops and pay salaries

State-run banks have stepped up with emergency funds to help companies continue operations & pay employee salaries, as corporates seek help to tide over the crisis caused by Covid-19. SBI’s credit line is up to ₹200 Cr & Indian Bank’s is up to ₹100 Cr.

Did you Know

BoB sanctioned an ad hoc limit of ₹200 Cr, UBI- Up to 50 Cr.

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Covid-19 treatment to be covered under Ayushman Bharat

The National Health Authority (NHA) has decided to cover Covid-19 treatment of the poorest of the poor in private hospitals under Ayushman Bharat- the central government’s health insurance scheme for the deprived, launched on September 2018.

Did you Know

NHA expects to cover cost under viral infection packages.

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Goa partners with Innovaccer to launch first-ever self-assessment tool for Covid-19

Goa became 1st Indian state to launch a digital self-assessment test tool called Test Yourself Goa for COVID-19 to help people to identify whether they are at risk of being infected by coronavirus without having to physically visit a healthcare facility.

Did you Know

The Goa government has partnered with Innovaccer for this.

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First-of-its-kind form-based codes being developed by IRSDC

Indian Railways focuses on world-class stations. The Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation Limited is developing a first-of-its-kind ‘Form Based Codes’ for the development of railway land with support from Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation.

Did you Know

PDA is also a nodal agency for the station development.

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ARCI develop technology to improve fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines

International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials, a R&D Centre of Department of Science & Technology, has developed ultrafast laser surface texturing technology, which can improve the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines.

Did you Know

Created textures were tested in an engine test rig.

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Scientists of ARI, Pune develop biofortified, high protein wheat variety

Scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune, Maharashtra an autonomous institute under the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, have developed a biofortified durum wheat variety MACS 4028, which shows high protein content.

Did you Know

Features: high protein content of 14.7%, nutritional quality.

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Rating Agency Moody's downgrades Indiabulls Housing Finance with negative outlook

International rating agency Moody's downgraded Indiabulls Housing Finance with a negative outlook, citing challenges in raising funds. It downgraded the corporate family rating (CFR) and foreign-currency senior secured rating of the company to B3 from B2.

Did you Know

It expects the company's asset quality to continue to weaken.

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Walmart appoints Sameer Aggarwal as CEO for India

Walmart India has elevated Sameer Aggarwal to the position of Chief Executive Officer, Best Price Stores. He will report directly to Dirk Van den Berghe, EVP and Regional CEO of Asia and Global Sourcing at Walmart. Sameer Aggarwal will succeed Krish Iyer.

Did you Know

Walmart Inc. is an American multinational retail corporation.

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UP govt to launch massive campaign for identification of persons back from abroad

Uttar Pradesh government has decided to launch massive campaign for identification of those person who have recently returned from abroad and calling over 10,000 village heads to ensure that such persons remain in quarantine. CM helpline service is 1076.

Did you Know

UP CM- Yogi Adityanath, Governor- Anandiben Patel.

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EC allows use of indelible ink stamp for home quarantine

Election Commission has decided to allow usage of indelible ink on persons for stamping for home quarantine by health authorities in view of COVID-19. Health Ministry may standardise the mark and the location on the body where the mark has to be applied.

Did you Know

Chief Election Commissioner of India- Sunil Arora.

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Coronavirus to shave off ₹40k Cr every day from Indian economy: CARE Ratings

If the 21-day long national lockdown leads to 80% production loss, the economy will take a hit of ₹35,000-40,000 Cr daily, shaving off ₹6.3-7.2 lakh Cr cumulatively, says Care Ratings. The assessment is based on the FY20 real GDP of ₹140-150 lakh Cr.

Did you Know

The daily output comes to ₹45-50,000 crore normally.

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Former footballer Abdul Latif passed away at the age of 73

Former India midfielder Abdul Latif, who was also a key member of bronze medal winning team at the 1970 Bangkok Asian Games died in Guwahati. He was also represented India in Asia Cup Qualifier in 1968 in Myanmar and Merdeka Cup in 1969 in Kuala Lumpur.

Did you Know

Latif represented Mohammedan Sporting from 1963-1967.

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‘Asterix and Obelix’ co-creator Albert Uderzo dies aged 92

Albert Uderzo, co-creator and illustrator of the ‘Asterix’ comic book series, has died at the age of 92. The hugely popular comic follows the adventures of Gaulish warriors. They were published for the first time in francophone Pilote magazine in 1959.

Did you Know

Cartoons have been translated into more than 100 languages.

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ITU launches ‘Global Network Resiliency Platform’: COVID-19

International Telecommunications Union is launching a ‘Global Network Resiliency Platform’ to help protect telecoms networks during the COVID-19 crisis. The platform will assist the government & private sector to ensure that networks are kept flexible.

Did you Know

ITU Secretary General, Hulin Zhao.

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Jana SFB launches UPI QR-based loan instalment payment facility

Jana Small Finance Bank along with NPCI launched a UPI QR-based loan instalment payment facility for its customers. The move comes at a time when banks are advising their customers to operate maximum banking services from the safe confines of their home.

Did you Know

Payment mode is available for P2P & P2M payments.

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Microsoft & US CDC tie-up to create ‘Clara’, a COVID-19 self-screening bot

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has introduced an AI bot called ‘Clara’ to help people assess potential symptoms of COVID-19The CDC has partnered up with CDC Foundation and Microsoft Azure’s Healthcare Bot service to create Clara.

Did you Know

Bot is currently only available in the US on the CDC website.

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Coronavirus: Patnaik launches Mo Jeeban programme, urges

Hours after the state announced total lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched Mo Jeeban programme & urged people to take a pledge to stay indoors. The objective of the programme is to keep everyone safe in the state.

Did you Know

Odisha Governor- Ganeshi Lal, Capital- Bhubaneshwar.

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Iqbal Singh Bains appointed MP chief secretary

Iqbal Singh Bains was appointed as Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Secretary by the newly sworn Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of the state. He was the successor of CS M Gopal Reddy. This was the 1st appointment made by the new CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Did you Know

Madhya Pradesh Governor- Lalji Tandon.

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Indian football team skipper Sunil Chhetri among 28 players named for FIFA's campaign to combat COVID-19 crisis

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri was picked among 28 past and present stars for world governing body FIFA's campaign to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. FIFA and WHO have teamed up to combat the coronavirus by launching a new COVID-19 awareness campaign.

Did you Know

Campaign: ‘Pass the message to kick out coronavirus’.