NCC offers its volunteer cadets for national duty to fight COVID-19 under ‘Ex NCC Yogdan’

1.World Autism Awareness Day: 02 April

World Autism Awareness Day is observed by the Member States of the United Nations on April 2 to raise public awareness of autism.Several organisations across the world contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Autism is a developmental disorder and people with ASD are characterised by difficulties with social interaction and by restricted and repetitive behaviour.

The problem is associated with a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

2020 theme: “The Transition to Adulthood.”

2.United Nation’s COP 26 climate change summit postponed till next year

The United Nation’s COP 26 climate change summit due to take place in the Scottish city of Glasgow in November has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.British government said that dates for a rescheduled conference in 2021 would be announced later.

Some 30,000 people, including 200 world leaders, had been due to attend the 10-day conference for crucial talks to halt rising global temperatures.

A UN panel in 2018 concluded that avoiding global climate chaos needed a major shift in society and the world economy.

3.NCC offers its volunteer cadets for national duty to fight COVID-19 under ‘Ex NCC Yogdan’

The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has offered a helping hand to civilian authorities in the country’s fight against COVID-19 by extending the services of cadets under ‘Exercise NCC Yogdan’.It has issued guidelines for temporary employment of its cadets to augment relief efforts and functioning of various agencies involved in battling the pandemic.

The tasks envisaged for NCC cadets include, manning of helpline/call centres; distribution of relief materials/medicines/ food/essential commodities; community assistance; data management and queue & traffic management. 

According to the guidelines, cadets should not be employed in handling law and order situations or for active military duties or at hot spots.  

Only Senior Division volunteer cadets above 18 years of age will be employed.

The NCC, which operates under the Ministry of Defence, is the largest uniformed youth organisation of the country and has been engaged in conducting various social service and community development activities.

The NCC cadets have been contributing to the national cause during natural calamities like floods, cyclone, etc since its inception.

4.Delhi government to provide Rs 1 Cr to families of healthcare personnel if they die handling Corona cases

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced one crore rupees for the families of healthcare personnel if they lose their lives while dealing with COVID-19 cases.The personnel include all sanitation workers, doctors and  nurses from the private or government sector, be it temporary or permanent.

The Chief Minister said COVID-19 has  not reached the stage of community transmission in Delhi and  the situation is under control. 

5.CBSE introduces ‘Applied Mathematics’ as new academic elective from 2020-21

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced ‘Applied Mathematics’ as a new academic elective from the current academic year (2020-2021) for class XI.The Applied Mathematics course is designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of Mathematics that are required to be successful in different fields of their future career.

The approach of Applied Mathematics subject will be practical, and the students are expected to learn through practical applications of Mathematics in different disciplines.

Those students who have passed Basic Mathematics in class X are now allowed to offer the new academic elective Applied Mathematics at Senior Secondary Level.

6.Date for renewal of health, motor insurance policies extended to April 21

The ministry of finance issued notifications on April 1, 2020, stating that the renewal dates of health and motor insurance policies which fall in the period from March 25, 2020, to April 14, 2020, are extended till April 21, 2020 due to coronavirus lockdown.This means that your existing policies which are falling due for renewal from March 25, 2020, to April 14, 2020, can be renewed uptill April 21, 2020.

If your current compulsory third-party insurance policy is expiring between March 25, 2020, and April 14, 2020, and you are not able to renew your policy because of country-wide lockdown then you can renew such motor insurance policy by April 21, 2020.

Similarly, if your health insurance policy is expiring and is due for renewal in the period from March 25, 2020, to April 14, 2020, you can renew your policy by April 21, 2020.

7.HUL says GlaxoSmithKline merger is complete

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever announced completion of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Ltd merger (GSKCH) with itself.The company has received all the necessary regulator approvals along with the National Company Law Tribunal for the merger of GSKCH into the company.

In addition, the board of HUL also approved acquisition of popular health drink brand Horlicks from GSK for a consideration of Euro 375.6 million (Rs 3,045 crore), exercising the option available in the original agreement between its parent firm Unilever and GSK.

On December 3, 2018 HUL had announced merger of GSKCH, which was subject to obtaining necessary approvals.

This is one of the largest deals in the FMCG sector in recent times and will lead to significant value creation for all stakeholders.

8.RBI asks banks to inform about re-appointment cases of MD, CEOs six months in advance

The Reserve Bank asked the private sector and foreign banks to intimate it six months in advance in cases of re-appointment of managing director and chief executives as against the present practice of four months.The RBI said proposals for appointment of a new MD and CEO or CEO should contain a panel of at least two names in order of preference and the same should be submitted at least four months before the expiry of the term of office of the incumbent.

The revised forms aim to enhance disclosure and improve transparency, get more clarity in the information being sought and is aligned to the requirements of the Companies Act, 2013.

9.D Lakshminarayanan named MD of Sundaram Home Finance

Sundaram Finance has announced the appointment of D Lakshminarayanan as the Managing Director of its wholly owned subsidiary, Sundaram Home Finance, effective April 1, 2020.In May 2019, Sundaram Home had inducted Lakshminarayanan, from within the Sundaram Finance group, as Executive Director.

In October, he was appointed as a Whole-time Director on the board of Sundaram Home Finance.

10.Wimbledon Tennis tournament canceled for the first time since World War-II

Wimbledon, the oldest Grand Slam tennis tournament, has been cancelled for the first time since World War-II because of the Coronavirus pandemic.Tournament organizer, All England Club (AELTC) after an emergency meeting announced that the Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the Novel Coronavirus epidemic.

The tournament was due to be played between 29 June and 12 July.

The entire grass-court season has been abandoned, and there will be no professional tennis anywhere in the world until at least 13 July.

11.China to host Asian Youth Games in 2021

Epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic before it gripped Europe and the USA, China will host the third edition of the Asian Youth Games in Shantou in November next year.The Chinese city of Wuhan was the epicentre of the pandemic that is still sweeping across the world with Western Europe and USA being the worst hit currently.

The pandemic has led to the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 and brought sports events to a halt.

The OCA has decided to hold the Asian Youth Games from November 20 to 28.