Current Affairs Today 27th March 2020| Current Affairs News

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CURRENT AFFAIRS: DAYS

World Theatre Day

• World Theatre Day is celebrated on 27 March. It was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute.
• World Theatre Day is observed to generate awareness about the importance of theatre in our life. Theatre is an art form which comprises live performers, actors, props and more.
• It is a tradition for theInternational World Theatre Institute to invite an eminent Theatre person to pen a message on World Theatre Day (March 27). This year, the writer is Shahid Nadeem, Pakistan’s leading playwright and head of the renowned Ajoka Theatre.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: NATIONAL

Election Commission allows use of indelible ink for stamping ‘home quarantined’

• The Election Commission has allowed usage of indelible ink by health authorities for stamping ‘home quarantined’ on the hands of those suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, easing its policy of using the ink only for voting purposes.
• The EC’s sou-moto decision was communicated to the secretary, health ministry, all chief electoral officers across states, and to the sole manufacturer of the indelible ink, Mysore Paints & Varnish Limited, a Karnataka government
• It also suggested the health ministry may standardise the mark and the location on the body where the ink is to be applied. The indelible ink mark normally stays for three days when applied on the skin.

About Election Commission of India

• F0rmed- 1950
• Headquarters- New Delhi
• Chief Election Commissioner – Sunil Arora

DST sets up COVID-19 Task Force for mapping technologies

• Department of Science and Technology (DST) has set up a COVID-19 Task Force for mapping of technologies from Research and Development labs, academic institutions, start-ups and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• It also aims at  funding nearly market-ready solutions in the area of diagnostics, testing, health care delivery solutions and  equipment supplies. Some of these solutions include masks, sanitizers, affordable kits for screening, ventilators and oxygenators.
  DST is also coordinating an effort to upscale appropriate technologies and manufacturing available in India for addressing a plethora of issues related to COVID-19.
• The capacity mapping group consists of representatives including from DST, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Council of Medical Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and  Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
• The Task Force is to identify the most promising start-ups that are close to scale up, who may need financial or other help or connects or projected demand to rapidly scale up

About Department of Science and Technology (DST) :

• The Department of Science and Technology is a department within the Ministry of Science and Technology in India.
• Headquarters location: New Delhi
• Founded: May 1971
• Minister of State Harsh Vardhan is head of the department,
• Ashutosh Sharma is its present secretary.

India proposes online platform for SAARC to jointly combat coronavirus

• India has proposed setting up of a common electronic platform for all SAARC nations to share expertise and best practices in jointly combating the coronavirus pandemic.
• India made the proposal at a video-conference of senior health officials of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. The SAARC is a regional grouping comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• At an India-initiated video-conference of SAARC leaders on March 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had suggested that health professionals of the member nations could come together to jointly fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
• India proposed a shared electronic platform for all SAARC nations to share and exchange information, knowledge, expertise and best practices for jointly combating the coronavirus epidemic, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated in a statement.
• It was informed that considerable work had already gone into the creation of the platform, which could also serve as a multi-purpose vehicle to further discuss and conduct activities such as online training for emergency response personnel, the MEA stated.
• The Indian side proposed that till the electronic platform is fully operational, a network of experts representing the health services of all SAARC countries may be set up on email or WhatsApp to enable exchange of all relevant information on a real-time basis.

About SAARC:

• SAARC founded: 8 December 1985
• Headquarters of SAARC: Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Member countries of SAARC: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Centre announces relief package worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore for poor

• Union Government has announced a package of 7 lakh crore rupees for the poor who need immediate help in the wake of COVID-19 like migrant workers and urban and rural poor. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated they have come up with Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan scheme to help the migrant and poor people.
• She also announced insurance cover of 50 lakh rupees per person for three months for COVID-19 warriors who are exposing themselves to the virus. They include doctors, paramedics, healthcare workers, sanitation workers, ASHA workers dealing with coronavirus outbreak.
• The Finance Minister elaborated that 5 kilo rice or wheat will be given for the next three months for free in addition to the 5 kilos already being given to 80 crore people. Additionally, one kilo of  preferred pulses will also be given per family for free under Pradhan Mantri Anna Yojana.
• Ms Sitharaman stated, around 8.70 crore farmers will get 2,000 rupees in first week of April in their account under existing Prime Minister’s Kisan Yojana. Besides, 20.5 crore women Jan Dhan Account holders will get  500 rupees per month for the next three months, while poor senior citizens, widows and disabled will get an ex- graita of  1,000 rupees.
• Under Prime Minister’s Garib Kalyan Yojana, MNREGA wages would be increased by 20 from 182 to 202 rupees with effect from 1st of next month. Wage increase under MNREGA will provide an additional  2,000 rupees benefit annually to a worker. This will benefit approximately 13.62 crore families. The government will contribute employees as well as employer’s contribution to the provident fund for the next three months of companies with up to 100 employees with 90 per cent earning not more than 15,000 rupees. The contribution will be a total of 24 per cent of eligible wages.
• Under UJJWALA scheme,  gas cylinders would be provided to eight crore poor families free of cost for the next three months. Senior citizens, widows and disabled will be given an ex-gratia of 1,000 rupees in two instalments over next three months. This will benefit three crore poor senior citizens, widows and Divyangs.
• Ms Sitharaman stated, workers will be allowed to draw a non-refundable advance of 75 per cent from credit in provident fund account or three months salary, whichever is lower. She stated, the limit of collateral-free loans to 63 lakh women self-held groups is being doubled to 20 lakh rupees.
• The State Government will be asked to utilize the funds available under District Mineral Fund  for supplementing and augmenting facilities of medical testing, screening and other requirements in connection with preventing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic as well as treating the patients affected with this pandemic.

AIIMS sets up Task Force to develop management protocol for COVID-19

• All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi has set up a Task Force to develop a management protocol for COVID-19. It has also constituted several committees to respond to challenges of rising number of the infections which may emerge in the coming days.
• The committees have been constituted for coordination of various activities related to management of patients. The AIIMS also stated that all health care personnel will be trained to handle and use personal protection equipment.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: INTERNATIONAL

G20 countries pledge $ 5 trillion funds in the world economy

• To deal with the social, economic as well the financial impacts of the COVID-19, the G20 countries have all decided to put in together $ 5 trillion funds in the world economy.
• The leaders got together for an Extraordinary Virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit, which came close of the heels of the recent video conference PM Modi had with the SAARC leaders to discuss the pandemic. So according to reports, almost 5, 00,000 people across the globe have been infected and around 30,000 death have been reported.
• The meeting was called to discuss the challenges which have been posed due to the spread of COVID-19 and how the world economies could together help developing economies.
• Members of G20, Most of the large economies of the world such as the US, the EU, Australia, Brazil, India, China, Japan, France, Germany, South Korea and South Africa are members.
• Almost all have been hit by the pandemic and besides China, Italy is among those who has been badly affected.

About G20 countries:

• The G20 is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 19 countries and the European Union.
• Leader: Salman of Saudi Arabia (2020)
• Founded: 26 September 1999
• The members of the G20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BANKING AND FINANCE

RBI cuts repo rate by 75 basis points

• Reverse repo rate slashed by 90 bps
• To help the economy fight the Covid-19 pandemic, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) slashed the repo rate by 75 basis points to 40 per cent from 5.15 per cent.
• Simultaneously, the reverse repo rate has been been cut sharply by 90 basis points to 4 per cent from 90 per cent, to ensure that banks don’t passively park funds with RBI and start lending to the productive sectors of the economy.
• The banking system will become flush with liquidity aggregating ₹3.74 lakh crore as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has, among others, decided to cut the cash reserve ratio (CRR) to 3 per cent from 4 per cent and decided to conduct more long-term repo operation (LTRO).
• CRR cut, which will be effective for a year, will result in infusion of primary liquidity for banks aggregating ₹1.37 lakh crore.
• RBI has also declared a three month moratorium on payment of instalment on all term loans. It also allowed deferment of servicing of working capital loans (cash credit/ overdraft) for three months.
• These measures, which are aimed at helping borrowers and banks tide over the crisis arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, will not lead to asset classification downgrade, stated Governor Shaktikanta Das.
• The moratorium/ deferment will be available for loans outstanding as on March 1, 2020

About Reserve Bank of India (RBI):

• Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Formation– 1 April 1935
• Governor– Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy Governors– 3 (Bibhu Prasad Kanungo, Mahesh Kumar Jain, Michael Debabrata Patra)

RBI offers Rs 11,722 cr to banks through repo auction

• The Reserve Bank of India has offered Rs 11,772 crore to banks through a 12-day variable rate repo auction. Before the auction, the RBI enhanced the amount of auction to Rs 50,000 crore from Rs 25,000 crore, announced earlier.
• In the auction, the central bank received Rs 11,772 crore of bids and allocated the entire amount at a cut-off rate of 16 per cent.
• RBI had advanced this auction from March 30 due to the evolving financial conditions and taking into account the impact of disruptions caused by COVID-19.
• It will conduct another variable term repo auction of Rs 25,000 crore on March 31.

Andhra Bank opens Covid-19 emergency credit line

• Andhra Bank has opened an emergency credit line by launching a new short-term loan facility. The Covid-19 Emergency Credit Line (CECL) is being offered to agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and corporates to meet temporary liquidity mismatches.
• The scheme is aimed at providing assistance to the industry segment whose business operations have been affected due to stress in supply chains, decreased demand for the product, delayed realisations of the receivables, lockdown of the units, non-availability of labour and raw materials due to Covid-19, Andhra Bank stated.
• The details of the scheme and other modalities can be obtained from the bank branches.

About Andhra bank :

• Headquarters: Hyderabad
• CEO: J Packirisamy
• Tagline :Much more to do with You in focus

CURRENT AFFAIRS: STATES

Relief Packages for CORONA outbreak from different States

• Indore, India’s cleanest city, has opted to deploy drones to sprinkle chemicals in a bid to sanitise it against the coronavirus outbreak.
• The Indore Municipal Corporation has hired two drones from a private company, making it perhaps the first city in India to attempt to fight off the virus scare this way.
• Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren government has decided to provide two months ration in advance to the beneficiaries of the public distribution system.
• Also launched an app – VeggiGo – for people to place order for essential commodities.
• The Delhi district administration introduced a colour-coding mechanism to streamline the process of issuing electronic passes (e-passes) for those working to provide essential services in the national capital.
• As per the new system, those involved in manufacturing, storage, and transportation of essential items such as masks, sanitisers and milk, etc. will be issued blue-colour passes. Delivery persons and related services will get orange passes, while those engaged in groceries will be given green passes. Yellow is for retailers, pink for doctors, nurses and other health workers, red for chemists and pharmacists and purple is for miscellaneous categories such as the
• CM Kejriwal has released a dedicated helpline number ‘1031’ for those who require the e-pass. Later, the Delhi government also released a WhatsApp number, 9873743727, for the same purpose.
• J&K Administrative Council directed the immediate release of all pensions of one month to pensioners in view of the COVID 19 outbreak. Also to immediately release one month’s wages for all daily wagers . Ration packets were also distributed among the destitute and slum dwellers.
• Bihar government has released rupees 100 crore as an assistance package for poor people of the state in view of ongoing lockdown in view of Coronavirus outbreak. This decision was taken in a high level meeting which was chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar

Bengal releases helpline number for children suffering from stress amid lockdown

• Amid concerns that children might suffer from depression due to the ongoing lockdown, the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) has launched a helpline number through which psychiatrists and paediatricians would provide consultation to children for free.
• According to the Chairperson of the WBCPCR, Ananya Chatterjee Chakraborti, the commission has started a helpline with a team of 17 psychiatrists, paediatricians, counsellors and psychologists to help the children who are under stress due to lockdown.
• This has been done to help the children, who are suffering from boredom for being locked up at their houses due to this shutdown, Chakraborti stated.
• Since they are not being able to go outside and play regularly, there are chances that stress and depression might creep in. So this helpline will help both the children and their parents to deal with such situations, she stated. The mobile numbers of each consultant and time slot have been given in the list published by the commission.

About west Bengal:

• Governor: Jagdeep Dhankhar
• Capital: Kolkata
• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

ITC sets up ₹150 crore Covid Contingency Fund

• ITC is setting up a Contingency Fund of Rs 150 crore to address and manage the challenges arising out of the Covid-19 epidemic. This fund will be utilised primarily to provide relief to the vulnerable and most needy sections of society who have been harshly impacted by the pandemic and have faced significant disruption in their livelihoods.
• Besides, the fund will collaborate with District Authorities to assist with to the district health and rural healthcare eco-system that reaches out to the weakest sections of society.
• Further, it is also envisaged that the resources under this fund will be channelised towards the protection and well-being of the ground forces who are doing commendable work to reach medicines, groceries, other essential goods, sourcing of agri-commodities and so on for people across the country during the lockdown, by providing personal protective gear and hygiene products to such frontline warriors, ITC stated in a statement.

About ITC:

• Founded: 1975
• Headquarters: New Delhi, India
• Gurdeep Singh (Chairman & MD)

CRISIL, ICRA lower GDP’s growth forecast for FY21

• Two domestic research agencies, CRISIL and ICRA, sharply lowered their GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth forecast for FY21.
• While CRISIL has lowered growth projection by 170 basis points (100 basis points mean one percentage point), ICRA’s cut is in the range of 50-100 bps. These revisions have been done at a time when India is passing through 21-day nationwide lockdown in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19.
• CRISIL stated that the pandemic and the consequent lockdown pose a material risk to its India economic outlook. The adverse effects that will follow can dwarf the gains from the sharp drop in crude oil prices, and the anticipated monetary and fiscal stimuli. Latest high-frequency data on the impact of the coronavirus, such as industrial production, PMI and exports is not yet available. So, it cautioned on the Ides of March.
• We have slashed our base-case GDP growth forecast for FY21 to 5 per cent from 5.2 per cent expected earlier, stated Dharmakirti Joshi, Chief Economist at CRISIL.
• ICRA’s take
• Accordingly, the impact of social distancing and the lockdowns to limit GDP growth to 2.4 per cent in Q4 (January-March) FY20 and a marginal 0.5 per cent in Q1 (April-June) FY21, despite the support from agriculture and government spending. As a result, the annual GDP growth to ease from 4 per cent in FY20 to 4.2 per cent in FY21.
• Earlier this week, ICRA revised GDP growth projection for FY20 to 4.7 per cent. Depending on the duration of the near-lockdowns that have been imposed in several districts, GDP growth appears likely to range from 7-5.2 per cent in FY21. However, if the unprecedented situation continues into Q2 FY21, there could be considerable downside risks to forecasts.

About CRISIL:

• CEO: Ashu Suyash
• Headquarters: Mumbai

About ICRA:

• Headquarters: India
• CEO: Naresh Takkar

Moody’s slashes India GDP growth in 2020 to 2.5%

• The estimate for 2020 compares to 5 per cent economic growth in 2019
• Moody’s Investors Service slashed its estimate of India’s GDP growth during 2020 calendar year to 5 per cent, from an earlier estimate of 5.3 per cent and stated the coronavirus pandemic will cause unprecedented shock to the global economy.
• The estimate for 2020 compares to 5 per cent economic growth in 2019.
• In its Global Macro Outlook 2020-21, Moody’s stated India is likely to see a sharp fall in incomes at the estimated 2.5 per cent growth rate, further weighing on domestic demand and the pace of recovery in 2021.
• Moody’s now expects real GDP in the global economy to contract by 5 per cent in 2020, followed by a pickup to 3.2 per cent in 2021

About Moody’s  investor service:

• Headquarters: New York, United States
• CEO: Raymond W. McDaniel Jr.
• Founder: John Moody

SIDBI to provide loans up to Rs 50 lakh to MSEs manufacturing medical supplies to fight COVID-19

• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) stated it will provide loans up to Rs 50 lakh to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) that are manufacturing medical supplies for fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
• The Sidbi Assistance to Facilitate Emergency (SAFE) response against coronavirus scheme will offer loans to MSEs at a fixed interest rate of 5 per cent and with a maximum loan repayment tenure of five years.
• MSEs engaged in manufacturing of hand sanitizers, masks, gloves, head gear, body suits, shoe-covers, ventilators, goggles and testing labs are eligible for loans under this scheme.
• The special scheme will help MSEs to acquire equipment, plant and machinery, other assets including raw materials required for production or delivery of services.
• It will also help meet additional emergencies to ramp-up supplies of these essential products.
• The loans offered are collateral-free and will be sanctioned within 48 hours of applying and submission of documents. MSEs can apply online for availing loans under the scheme, Sidbi stated.

About SIDBI:

• Headquarters location: Lucknow
• Founded: 2 April 1990
• Agency executive: : Mohammad Mustafa, (Chairman and Managing Director)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: ACQUISITION AND MERGERS

NTPC concludes acquisition of govt’s stake in THDC, NEEPCO at Rs 11,500 cr

• Power generating firm NTPC concluded the acquisition of Centre’s entire stake in two hydropower generating firms, THDC India and North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), at Rs 11,500 crore.
• The company informed the exchanges that it signed share purchase agreement to buy the government’s entire 49 per cent stake of THDC for an aggregate consideration of Rs 7,500 crore.

About NTPC:

• NTPC Limited, formerly known as National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, is an Indian Public Sector Undertaking, engaged in the business of generation of electricity and allied activities. It is a company incorporated under the Companies Act 1956 and is promoted by the Government of India.
• The headquarters of the company is situated at New Delhi.
• Gurdeep Singh (Chairman & MD)

CURRENT AFFAIRS: APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATION

IRS officers KM Prasad and SK Gupta appointed CBDT board members

• The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment two Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers as members of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
• Krishan Mohan Prasad and IRS officer Satish Kumar Gupta were appointed as CBDT members.
• Presently, Prasad is piloting the Faceless e-Assessment Scheme as Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax, National e-assessment centre in Delhi while Gupta is Principal Chief Commissioner Mumbai.

About CBDT

• Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) is the apex policy-making body of the Direct Tax department. It functions under the Department of Revenue of the Ministry of Finance.
• Chairperson– Pramod Chandra Mody

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

IIT Delhi makes anti-infection fabric to curb hospital infections

• The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) here has developed an “infection-proof fabric” to be used at hospitals to prevent hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The development by “Fabiosys Innovations“, a start-up incubated at IIT-Delhi, comes at a time when the world is dealing with the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
• However, the team has been working on the project for over a year with support from the government’s Department of Science and Technology.
• According to official statistics from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, for every 100 hospitalised patients in developing countries, 10 acquire HAIs and the risk is even higher at the time of a coronavirus outbreak.
• The team claims to have developed an affordable, novel textile-processing technology, which converts regular cotton fabric into infection-proof fabric.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: BOOKS AND AUTHORS

National Book Trust of MHRD Launches #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks initiative

• National Book Trust of HRD Ministry, in its efforts to encourage people to read books while at home, is providing its select and best-selling titles for FREE Download as part of its initiative of #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks!. In the wake of Preventive Measures of the Government of India to contain the spread of Covid-19, and to encourage people to #StayIn and #StayHome
• The 100+ books, in PDF format, can be downloaded from the NBT’s website https://nbtindia.gov.in. Available in Hindi, English, Asamiya, Bangla, Guajarati, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Kokborok, Mizo, Bodo, Nepali, Tamil, Punjabi, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu and Sanskrit, the books cover all genres of fiction, biography, popular science, teacher’s handbook, and majorly books for children and young adults. In addition, there are books by Tagore, by Premchand, and books on Mahatma Gandhi.
• Some select titles include, Holidays Have Come, Animals You can’t Forget, Nine Little Birds, The Puzzle, Gandhi Tatva Satkam, Women Scientists in India, Activity-Based Learning Science, A Touch of Glass, Gandhi: Warrior of Non-Violence, and many more.

About National Book Trust

• Headquarters -New Delhi
• President- Govind prasad sharma

CURRENT AFFAIRS: OBITUARY

Renowned chef Floyd Cardoz passes away

• Renowned chef Floyd Cardoz, who ran the successful ‘Bombay Canteen’, ‘O Pedro’ and ‘Bombay Sweet Shop’ in Mumbai and was the magician behind New York’s ‘Tabla’, passed away due to complications from the coronavirus.
• Cardoz also competed on ‘Top Chef’ and won ‘Top Chef Masters’.

Veteran photographer Nemai Ghosh passes away

• Veteran photographer Nemai Ghosh, who had a long association with directing great Satyajit Ray, passed away.
• A Padma Shri recipient, Nemai Ghosh had also penned books such as “Manik Da: Memoirs of Satyajit Ray.
• He also served as a jury member at the 2007 National Film Awards.

DAILY CA 26^th   MAR

• Indian Railways for world-class stations, First-of-its-kind form based codes being developed by IRSDC
• Cabinet approves MoU between Railways, Germany
• UN launches 2 Billion dollar response plan to fight corona
• IMF, World Bank call for suspension of debt payments by poorest nations
• WHO begins mega trial of 4 promising drugs to cure Covid-19
• Indian Bank announces special emergency loan schemes to address lockdown
• Centre approves Rs 1,340 crore to recapitalise Regional Rural Banks for next financial year
• Canara Bank offers credit support to MSMEs, corporates, agri, business entities & retail borrowers to tide over Covid-19
• RBI doubles the variable rate repo auction amount to ₹50,000 cr
• Recent Schemes Launched by Various States in India for COVID 19
• Ugadi 2020
• Microsoft, US CDC tie-up to create ‘Clara’, a COVID-19 self-screening bot
• Saudi king to chair G20 video summit on coronavirus
• ITU launches Global Network Resiliency Platform
• Former India international footballer Abdul Latif passes away
• Veteran Hindi film actress Nimmi passes away

DAILY CA 27^th   MAR

• World Theatre Day is celebrated on 27 March.
• Election Commission allows use of indelible ink for stamping ‘home quarantined’
• DST sets up COVID-19 Task Force for mapping technologies
• India proposes online platform for SAARC to jointly combat coronavirus
• Centre announces relief package worth Rs 1.7 lakh crore for poor
• AIIMS sets up Task Force to develop management protocol for COVID-19
• G20 countries pledge $ 5 trillion funds in the world economy
• RBI cuts repo rate by 75 basis points
• RBI offers Rs 11,722 cr to banks through repo auction
• Andhra Bank opens Covid-19 emergency credit line

• Relief Packages for CORONA outbreak from different States
• Bengal releases helpline number for children suffering from stress amid lockdown
• ITC sets up ₹150 crore Covid Contingency Fund
• CRISIL, ICRA lower GDP’s growth forecast for FY21
• Moody’s slashes India GDP growth in 2020 to 5%
• SIDBI to provide loans up to Rs 50 lakh to MSEs manufacturing medical supplies to fight COVID-19
• NTPC concludes acquisition of govt’s stake in THDC, NEEPCO at Rs 11,500 cr
• IRS officers KM Prasad and SK Gupta appointed CBDT board members 

• IIT Delhi makes anti-infection fabric to curb hospital infections
• National Book Trust of MHRD Launches #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks initiative
• Renowned chef Floyd Cardoz passes away
• Veteran photographer Nemai Ghosh passes away