Govt launches ‘AarogyaSetu’ mobile app to asses people on COVID-19

1.Global Coronavirus Cases surpass One Million

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.

2.Saudi Arabia imposes 24 hour curfew in holy cities of Makkah and Madina until further notice

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.

3.Englishman Bob Weighton confirmed as the world’s oldest man living at 112

Bob Weighton, from the UK, has been officially confirmed as the oldest person living (male) at 112 Years and 1 day as of 30 March 2020.Bob Weighton received the record title after Mr. Chitetsu Watanabe (Japan) passed away on February 23rd 2020 at 112 years and 355 days.   

Bob was born on March 29th 1908, in Kingston-Upon-Hull, Yorkshire and was one of seven children.

Bob has 10 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Kane Tanaka from Japan is currently the oldest person living (female) and celebrated her 117th birthday in January.

4.Govt launches ‘AarogyaSetu’ mobile app to asses people on COVID-19

The Government launched a mobile app developed in public-private partnership to bring the people of India together in a resolute fight against COVID-19.The App, called ‘AarogyaSetu’ joins Digital India for the health and well-being of every Indian.

The App will enable people to assess themselves the risk of catching the Coronavirus infection.

It will calculate this based on their interaction with others, using cutting edge Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence.

Once installed in a smartphone through an easy and user-friendly process, the app detects other devices with Aarogya Setu installed that come in the proximity of that phone.

The app can then calculate the risk of infection based on sophisticated parameters if any of these contacts is tested positive.

The App will help the Government take necessary timely steps for assessing risk of spread of COVID-19 infection, and ensuring isolation where required.

5.DRDO develops bio suit to keep health professionals fighting COVID-19 safe

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a bio suit to keep the medical, paramedical and other personnel engaged in combating COVID-19 safe from the deadly virus.Scientists at various DRDO laboratories have applied their technical know-how and expertise in textile, coating and nanotechnology to develop the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) having specific types of fabric with coating.

The suit has been prepared with the help of the industry and subjected to rigorous testing for textile parameters as well as protection against synthetic blood.

The DRDO is making all efforts to ensure that these suits are produced in large numbers and serve as a robust line of defence for the medics, paramedics and other personnel in the front line combating COVID-19.

6.Indian Railways Chittaranjan Locomotive Works creates world record; produces highest number of locos

Indian Railways’ Chittaranjan Locomotive Works sets new world record amidst nationwide Coronavirus lockdown.Despite COVID-19 restrictions coming in force on 21 March 2020 across the country, the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) has created another record in making the highest number of locomotives.

In the financial year 2019-20, the CLW produced a total of 431 locomotives.

The locomotive factory, located in Asansol, West Bengal, surpassed its own record of manufacturing a number of 402 locomotives in the financial year 2018-19, which has been recognized by Limca Book of Records as a World Record.

The production of locomotives by CLW has witnessed a jump of 75 per cent over the last six years from 250 locomotives in 2014-15 to 431 locomotives in 2019-20, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, states Indian Railways.

7.Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launches new features of e-NAM Platform

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar launched new features of National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Platform.It will help strengthen agriculture marketing by farmers which will reduce their need to come to wholesale mandis for selling their harvested produce, at a time when there is a critical need to decongest mandis to effectively fight against COVID-19.

e-NAM was launched in 2016 as a pan-India electronic trade portal linking Agricultural Produce Market Committee – APMCs across the States.

8.Naval Dockyard Mumbai designs low cost temperature gun

Naval Dockyard Mumbai has designed and developed its own handheld IR based temperature sensor for undertaking screening of large number of personnel at the entry gates of the yard.The instrument has been manufactured under Rs 1,000 through in-house resources (which is fraction of the cost of the Temperature Guns in the market).

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the non-contact thermometers or temperature guns have become scarce in the market and are being sold at a very high cost.

To overcome the scarcity and requirement of large numbers, ND (Mumbai) has designed and developed its own handheld IR based temperature sensor with accuracy of 0.02 deg Celsius.

9.SBI lists $100 million green bond issue on India INX

India’s biggest lender State Bank of India listed Green Bonds of $100 million under its $10 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme on India INX’s Global Securities Market Green Platform (GSM).Since the launch of global securities market, it has been the leading listing platform for bonds at GIFT IFSC.

SBI had earlier also listed its maiden Green Bond issuance of $650 million on India INX.

A green bond is a type of fixed-income instrument that is specifically earmarked to raise money for climate and environmental projects.

10.Justice Rajnesh Oswal sworn in as permanent Judge of High Court of J&K, Ladakh under Indian Constitution

Justice Rajnesh Oswal was sworn in as a permanent Judge of the common High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.He was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Jammu and Kashmir High Court, Justice Gita Mittal in a simple but impressive ceremony in Jammu.

He is the first Judge of the High Court to take oath under the Indian Constitution.

All previous Judges of the High Court had taken oath under the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, which ceased to have effect from August 5, 2019.

With the appointment of Justice Oswal, the strength of Justices of J&K High Court increased from eight to nine.

11.Paytm Money founder MD Pravin Jadhav quits

Founder MD and CEO of Paytm Money Pravin Jadhav has resigned from his post due to growing differences with the company board.Jadhav, who built Paytm’s wealth management arm into India’s leading mutual fund platform, reportedly quit over issues related to employee stock options (ESOPs) and remuneration.

Paytm Money is part of Paytm parent One97 Communications’ growing consumer ecosystem, alongside Paytm, Paytm Mall and Paytm Payments Bank.