Current and corporate affairs : 23 august 2020
COVID-19
- Highest number of over 10 lakh COVID-19 tests conducted in a single day: -India has crossed the milestone of conducting 10 lakh COVID-19 tests in a single day. The Health Ministry said, during the last 24 hours, more than 10 lakh 23 thousand people were tested. This has taken the cumulative tests to over three crore 44 lakh.
- Election Commission issues guidelines to conduct elections amid COVID-19 pandemic: –Election Commission has issued detailed guidelines related to key activities for conducting upcoming General Elections and byeelections in various States and Union Territories during the period of COVID-19 Pandemic.The guidelines laid down strict compliance norms to be followed by Candidates and officials conducting the Elections. Those found violating the instructions on COVID-19 measures even during the campaign process will be liable to be proceeded against, as per the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. During the campaign process, not more than 5 people have been allowed for door to door campaigning. During the road shows, the convoy should have a gap after every set of five vehicles and Public gatherings and rallies can be conducted with strict adherence to the COVID-19 guidelines.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Power Ministry advises all power companies to charge LPS at maximum 12 per cent per annum: – The Power Ministry has advised all power generating and transmission companies to charge Late Payment Surcharge (LPS) at a rate not exceeding 12 per cent per annum for all payments made under liquidity infusion scheme. The financial burden on Discoms will ease out with this measure. In general, the applicable rate of Late Payment Surcharges is quite high despite the fact that interest rates in the country have softened over the last few years. The rate of LPS in many cases ranges upto 18 per cent per annum and has
adversely impacted Discoms during lockdown phase due to COVID-19. - BSF recovers bodies of all 5 intruders shot dead along India-Pak Border this morning: –Border Security Force has recovered all the five dead bodies of the intruders during intensive search operation of the area, launched after crossfiring between the Jawans on Indo-Pak border in Punjab.The BSF officers said, they have also recovered one AK 47, two
magazines and 9 kilogram heroine during the search. Notably today early in the morning, the Border Security Force had shot dead five intruders in cross fire along the India-Pakistan Border in Tarntaran district of Punjab near BOP Dall, when they were attempting to cross border early morning. - CBI requests AIIMS, New Delhi to review death case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput: – CBI has made a request to the Forensic department of AIIMS, New Delhi, to review the death case of Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput and give its medico-legal opinion. A medical board of forensic experts has been constituted by AIIMS under the chairmanship of Dr. Sudhir Gupta to study the case and submit its findings to the Investigating agency. CBI will provide necessary medical records
to the forensic team for their analysis based on which the team
will analyse the injury pattern in relation to the medical findings
in the case. - National Fertilizers Limited to set up an Organic Waste Converter Plant: – National Fertilizers Limited, NFL, a PSU under the Department of Fertilizers in Vijaipur, Madhya Pradesh is going to set up an Organic Waste Converter, OWC Plant. The biodegradable waste collected in the unit will be transported to OWC where it will be segregated from nondegradable parts. It will take around 10 days to convert it into ready to use compost. Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizers said, an initiative towards Swachh Bharat, the project aims to recycle around 2000 Kg per day of the biodegradable waste generated in township including the horticulture waste and convert it into ready to use compost. The unit plans to utilize this compost as manure thus substituting consumption of fertilisers or manure used for developments of parks or public places. The compost can also be used by the residents in their lawns and
kitchen gardens. - Consumer Affairs Minister says hallmarking of precious metals will be mandatory from June 1 next year: –Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has said that hallmarking of precious metals will be mandatory from 1st June next year. Mr Paswan said this while launching the online system of Registration and Renewal of Jewellers in New Delhi yesterday. He said that the best thing about the online system is that there will be no human interface in processing the applications. Now, Jewellers can apply online and submit required necessary documents and fees for obtaining a licence through this portal. Mr Paswan said that the moment a jeweller submits the application with the requisite fees, he will be granted registration.
STATE NEWS
- Sikkim Health Minister Dr MK Sharma tests positive for COVID-19: –Sikkim Health Minister Dr MK Sharma has tested positive for COVID-19. Dr Sharma informed that after testing positive, he is under isolation and doing fine. He appealed to people not to panic and requested primary contacts to self-isolate and get tested after seven days of contact or earlier if they develop symptoms.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- Selling at GBP 2,60,000 Mahatma Gandhi’s goldplated spectacles break all records for UK auction house: – A pair of gold-plated spectacles believed to have been worn by Mahatma Gandhi and presented as a gift in the 1900s have broken all records for a United Kingdom auction house by
selling for Rs 2,55,000,00 or GBP 2,60,000. The glasses, which were dropped through the letterbox of East Bristol Auctions in Hanham, south-west England, four weeks ago were estimated to fetch between GBP 10,000 and GBP 15,000. But, the online bids for the lot kept multiplying to finally go under the hammer of the six-figure sum.
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL
APPOINTMENTS
- Rajiv Kumar appointed new Election Commissioner following resignation of Ashok Lavasa: – Former finance secretary Rajiv Kumar has been appointed new election commissioner. He will replace Ashok Lavasa, who resigned earlier this week. Mr Kumar will take charge the day Mr Lavasa leaves his office on August 31. Mr Kumar’s appointment
comes at a time when the election commission is preparing to hold Bihar assembly polls amid the coronavirus pandemic.