Current Affairs and Corporate Affairs as on 22nd July 2020
CURRENT AFFAIRS AS ON 22nd JULY 2020
COVID-19 NEWS
(1.) Harsh Vardhan says N95 masks with respirator valves do not prevent corona-virus; appeals everyone to use triple layer mask made of cloth :- Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has said that N95 masks with respirator valves in them do not prevent the corona-virus from spreading out. He said, N95 mask fitted with perforated respirator is contrary to the rules adopted to prevent the spread of corona-virus. In a tweet, Dr. Harsh Vardhan appealed to everyone to use a triple layer mask made of cloth and also to encourage others for this. Director-General of Health Services, Dr. Rajiv Garg has written to the Principal Secretaries of health and medical education of all the States in this regard. In the letter, Dr. Garg said that the use of valved respirator N95 mask is detrimental to the measures adopted for preventing the spread of corona-virus as it does not prevent the virus from escaping out of the mask. In view of it, the DGHS has urged the States to instruct all concerned to follow the guidelines on the use of face and mouth cover and prevent inappropriate use of N95 masks. Dr. Garg said, it has been observed that there is inappropriate use of N95 masks, particularly those with the valved respirator, by the public other than designated health workers. He also referred to an advisory issued by the Health Ministry on the use of homemade protective cover for face and mouth available on its website.
NATIONAL NEWS
(1.) Vice President Venkaiah Naidu unveils statue of Babasaheb Dr. B R Ambedkar at CAG office :- Vice President Venkaiah Naidu today said the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is a strong and credible institution and the credit for this must go to the framers of the Constitution, particularly to Dr. B R Ambedkar. He said Babasaheb Ambedkar had the vision to ensure independence and a wide mandate to the CAG. The Vice President said this while unveiling the statue of Dr. Ambedkar at CAG office in New Delhi. He said the CAG has evolved as an enabler to Balasaheb’s vision that not only ensures public financial accountability but also acts as a friend, philosopher and guide of the executive.
(2.) PM Modi congratulates nuclear scientists for achieving criticality of Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant-3 :- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated nuclear scientists for achieving criticality of Kakrapar Atomic Power Plant-3 in Gujarat. In a tweet, Mr. Modi said this indigenously designed 700 MWe KAPP-3 reactor is a shining example of Make in India. He said this is a trailblazer for many such future achievements.
(3.) Government extends work from home for IT, BPO companies till December 31st due to COVID-19 :- Government has extended connectivity norms for work from home for IT and BPO companies till December 31st this year due to COVID-19 pandemic. In a tweet last night, the Department of Telecommunications said, it has further extended the relaxations in the terms and conditions for other service providers up to 31st December 2020 to facilitate work from home in view of the ongoing concern due to COVID-19.
(4.) Despite COVID-19 pandemic, total production of fertilizers and Urea improves by 2.79 per cent than last year :- Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister D V Sadananda Gowda today said that despite the spread of COVID- 19 pandemic, production and movement of fertilizers remains comfortable across the country. He said, there will be no scarcity of fertilizers this year also. Mr. Gowda said that during the period from April to June this year, the total production of fertilizers crossed 101 lakh tonnes which is 2.79 per cent higher than the corresponding period last year. He said, Urea production also touched over 60 lakh tonnes which is 8.40 per cent higher than the corresponding period last year.
(5.) AIIMS Delhi holds first interactive session of National Clinical Grand Rounds :- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi held the first interactive session of National Clinical Grand Rounds led by AIIMS Director, Dr. Randeep Guleria. The session was aimed at facilitating discussion on issues related to COVID-19. Doctors from medical colleges and Senior Physicians from hospitals located across the country and abroad participated in the online session. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Guleria said, the objective of National Clinical Grand Rounds is to bring down the mortality rate in COVID-19 patients to less than one per cent. He said that COVID-19 is a national crisis and that there was a need for a common platform for clinical issues and case based learning.
STATE NEWS
(1.) 3 day training program on NGDRS and e-Stamping starts at DC Office Srinagar :- In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, a three day training program on National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) and e-Stamping started at DC Office Srinagar. The program is aimed at training the officials of the Registration Department for digital registration of properties and to facilitate the people. The training program was coordinated by Additional Inspector General Registration (AIGR) Kashmir Gulzar Ahmad at Srinagar. Tehsildar Head Quarter in the office of Inspector General Registration, Rafiq Ahmad Jaral coordinated the training at Jammu.
(2.) Toy manufacturing firm in Gujarat offers Indian alternative to Chinese products :- Rajkot based Aditi Toys is mainly into the business of manufacturing promotion toys. The company has two manufacturing plants at Rajkot and will soon set up a third plant. It manufactures around 10 lakh toys per day. Talking to AIR, Director of Aditi Toys Arvind Jhala said, the company received the monetary support from PM’s Aatma Nirbhar package. He said they have started large scale manufacturing of big toys, and will soon launch 50 types of big toys in the market.
(3.) Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh virtually inaugurates 6 completed projects in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir :- Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said that despite serious challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has not compromised with the pace of development. He was inaugurating six completed projects in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir through online mode.
(4.) BJP MP Suresh Kumar Kashyap appointed new party chief of Himachal Pradesh :- BJP MP Suresh Kumar Kashyap has been appointed as the new party chief of Himachal Pradesh. Party President J P Nadda has cleared his appointment. He will replace Rajeev Bindal who resigned in May.
(5.) Plasma blood bank launched by State Health Department in Chennai :- In Chennai, a plasma blood bank has been launched by the State Health Department to facilitate convalescent plasma therapy to COVID-19 patients. The State Health Minister Dr. C Vijayabhaskar inaugurated it at the Government Rajiv Gandhi General Hospital in the city. It has the facility for seven people to donate blood plasma at a time. Blood plasma in the new facility in Chennai can be preserved for as long as a year. A person can donate 500 ml blood plasma 14 days after recovery from COVID-19 infection, provided he or she has no other co-morbid condition. Doctors say, after a gap of two weeks the donor can offer the blood plasma once more.
(6.) Delhi High Court asks Center to consider providing ration to PWDs based on their disability certificates :- The Delhi High Court has asked the Center to consider providing ration to the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) based on their disability certificates. The court was hearing the Public Interest Litigation filed by the National Federation of the Blind. The court suggested to the Central government to initially provide one month’s ration to PWDs based on their disability certificates and while doing so, to also get all their details which would be required to issue them a ration card. General Secretary of National Federation of the Blind, Santosh Kumar Rungta informed the media that the Court has directed the Department of Consumer Affairs and Food and Civil Supplies to take instruction by the 29th of this month for providing five per cent reservation to PWDs under National Food Security Act and Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
(1.) Bangladesh continues to reel under longest floods since 1988 :- Bangladesh continues to reel under the floods which may be the longest since 1988, says the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Almost one third of the country is submerged under water which has continued for close to three weeks now. According to the latest bulletin of the Flood Forecast and Warning Center (FFWC) released at 9 AM today, out of 101 points monitored, water level has risen at 73 points since yesterday. Water level was observed to be above danger level at 30 points across all the four major river basins in the country.
(2.) India receives first tranche of 4,475 Oxygen Concentrators from Temasek Foundation, Singapore :- Minister of State for Health Ashwini Kumar Choubey today received the first tranche of 4,475 Oxygen Concentrators from Temasek Foundation, Singapore. The Foundation has offered to donate a total of 20,000 Oxygen Concentrators to India. The remaining Oxygen Concentrators will be received next month. These devices will be made available to States and Union Territories for use in management of moderate cases of COVID-19. Mr. Choubey said that the Oxygen Concentrators will substantially aid the fight against COVID-19 in the country.
BUSINESS AND FINANCE
(1.) Yes Bank fraud : PMLA court rejects Rana Kapoor’s bail plea :- Mumbai’s special PMLA court has rejected the bail petition of Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor, who is an accused in a multi-crore fraud at the bank. Special judge PP Rajvaidya rejected Kapoor’s plea that the investigation in the case is complete, hence there is no reason to keep him in jail. The banker, currently in judicial custody, was arrested in March under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The Enforcement Directorate is primarily investigating Kapoor, his wife and three daughters over an alleged receipt of 600 crore rupees from an entity linked to the scam-hit Dewan Housing Finance Limited (DHFL).
(2.) ED raids 13 places in four states in connection with fertilizer scam :- The Enforcement Directorate today conducted raids at 13 places in Rajasthan, West Bengal, Gujarat and Delhi in connection with a money laundering case linked to the fertilizer scam. The agency had filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act based on a Customs department complaint and charge sheet in the alleged fertilizer scam case. Official sources said the raids were conducted at six places in Rajasthan, four in Gujarat, two in West Bengal and one location in Delhi. The premises of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s brother were also raided in this case.
SPORTS
(1.) Cricket : BCCI will seek government’s permission to host IPL in UAE:- BCCI will seek government’s permission to stage this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This was stated by IPL chief Brijesh Patel yesterday. He said, they will discuss the issue in the next governing council meeting in 7-10 days.
Cricket boards of UAE and Sri Lanka have offered to host the league considering the Corona situation in India. Monday’s postponement of this year’s 20-20 World Cup, which has been scheduled to take place in Australia from 18th October, has presented the BCCI with a new opportunity to stage the IPL.
CORPORATE AFFAIRS AS ON 22nd JULY 2020
MINISTRY OF COAL
(1.) Union Home Minister to launch Vriksharopan Abhiyaan tomorrow and Large scale plantation to be carried out by Coal/ Lignite PSUs under Coal Ministry.
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(1.) Under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, 2,43,092 MT of food grains distributed to 2.40 crore beneficiaries :- Under Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, 2,43,092 MT of food grains distributed to 2.40 crore beneficiaries in May and to 2.47 crore beneficiaries in June 2020; 11,678 MT chana also distributed by the States and UTs.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
(1.) DGGI busts racket for tax evasion :- DGGI busts racket for tax evasion worth more than Rs. 72 crore of clandestine clearance of cigarettes.
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT
(1.) EPFO payroll data : enrollment rates increase; 3.18 lakh net new subscribers registered :-EPFO payroll data : enrollment rates increase; 3.18 lakh net new subscribers registered in May 2020 against about 1 lakh in April. New establishments registered with EPFO grow by around 72% with 8,367 new establishments registering in May as compared to April.
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(1.) Triple Talaq- Big Reform, Better Result :- 1st August 2019 is a historic day in Indian Parliamentary history when The Bill against Triple Talaq was made a Law despite of obstacle.
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS
(1.) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways notifies regulations for tyres, safety glass, external projections, etc under CMVR :- The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways vide GSR 457 (E) dated 20th July 2020, has made amendments in CMVR 1989.
SEBI
- Facility to view status of deficiency in claim applications and making good those deficiencies for investors/ applicants with claims between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 7,000.
- Circular on Transaction in Corporate Bonds/ Commercial Papers through RFQ platform and enhancing transparency pertaining to debt schemes.
- Axis Value Fund SCHEME INFORMATION DOCUMENT (An open ended equity scheme following a value investment strategy)
- Implementation of Section 51A of UAPA, 1967: Updates to UNSC’s 1267/ 1989 ISIL (Da’esh) & AlQaida Sanctions List – Addition of one individual.
- Corrigendum to Notice of Demand for Certificate No. 2727 of 2020 against Satyender Kumar in the matter of Mefcom Agro Industries Ltd.
- Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited – Letter of Offer.
- Chairman’s speech dated July 22, 2020 on “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat: Role of Capital Markets” at the FICCI Capital Market Conference – CAPAM 2020.
Thanks for Reading Current Affairs and Corporate Affairs as on 22nd July 2020
Compiled By : CS Surbhi Saxena
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