Daily Current Affairs:-9th May

Current Affairs 9thMay 2020:-

NMITLI Programme of CSIR to conduct “hmAbs” trial to neutrialize COVID-19:-

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under its New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) is to develop humanmonoclonal antibodies (hmAbs). These antibodies will neutralise COVID-19 virus in patients.

The CSIR on one side is fighting hard against COVID-19 through its own researches. On the other side, it is also working and supporting industries andpublic sector units that are coming up with solutions to COVID-19. One such initiative is developing “hmAbs”.

About the project The project will generate hmAbs from patients that are in convalescent phase. Convalescent is patients that are recovering from illness. The project also aims to generate hmAbs clones. These clones are expected to neutralize mutated virus.

IEA Report: Global Energy Review, 2020:-

The International Energy Agency recently released Global Energy Review in 2020. The report highlights the global energy demand in 2020 and carbon dioxide emissions.The report was prepared by collecting data from 30 countries. This includes India and China. According to the report, 15%of the daily electricity demand has been reduced. The decline was mainly due to complete lock down in the countries such as India, Italy, France, UK.

Birth Anniversary of Maharana Pratap Singh:- Maharana Pratap Singh popularly known as “Maharana” was the 13th king of Mewar (the present Rajasthan). He was born on May 9, 1540.

AIIB approves 500 million USD for India:- On May 8, 2020, the AIIB (Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank) approved 500 million USD to COVID-19 to India. The funds were aimed to scale up the the containment efforts and strengthen the health system. This will help manage future outbreaks. The funds are to be used for Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Project. The Project consists of 6 components. The funds will also be used to support research that are being conducted in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). It will also focus on community engagement and risk communication strategies. The AIIB had also approved 335 million USD to China as a part of its emergency health project.

GoI sets up Centre of Excellence for coir applications:-
The Coir Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IIT Madras. The memorandum aims to set up a Centre of Excellence for Coir Applications. Under the MoU, the Centre of Excellence is to extend the research work of the coir sector with the support of IIT Madras. The MoU will extend the use of Coir Geo Textiles. The Coir Geo Textiles are used to prevent soil erosion in river embankments, slopes and mine slope stabilization. The Coir Geo Textiles can also be used in low volume rural roads as re-enforcement material.

Amendments to Prime Minister Research Fellowship Scheme (PMRF):- The Union Ministry of Human Resource and Development recently announced various amendments to Prime Minister Research Fellowship Scheme. Under the scheme, a dedicated division called “Research and Innovation Division” was created to boost research. The division is to be headed by direct who coordinates research work of several institutions under the Ministry of HRD. The new amendment makes GATE score mandatory for the students of any other institutes other than the central institutes (such as IISc, NIT, IIT, IIIT). From the academic year 2020-21, two channels of entries, one under direct entry and other under lateral entry are to be conducted to students willing to pursue their PhD under the PMRF scheme. The scheme is designed to improve quality of research in higher educational institutions. The main aim of the scheme is to attract best talent into the IITs, IISc Bengaluru and other top central universities and NITs. Above all the institutes should offer science and technology degrees  research. The PMRF Scheme was first introduced in the Union Budget 2018-19. The institutes that are eligible under PMRF scheme includes IISERs, IIITs, IISc Bengaluru and other top central universities and NITs. Above all the institutes should offer science and technology degrees.

CSIR begins clinical trials of two drugs:- On May 8, 2020, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) begins its clinical trials on Favipiravir and Phytopharmaceutical.

World Migratory Bird Day:- Every year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) marks the World Migratory Day on May 9. It is an annual campaign that creates awareness about the need to conserve migratory birds and their habitats. This year the day is being celebrated under the theme

Theme: Birds Connect our World

Defence Ministry signs MoU with TATA Power to modernize 37 airfields:- On May 8, 2020, the Ministry of Defence signed a contract with the TATA POWER SED to modernize infrastructure of 37 airfields of Indian Air Force. The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 1,200 crore.

The Plan-Under Phase-1 of the Modernization of Airfield Infrastructure, the airfields of the Indian Air Force were upgraded. The contract has been signed under phase-2 of the programme. Under Phase-2, the navigational aids and infrastructure are to be upgraded. The second phase also includes installation and commissioning of modern airfield equipment such as Cat-II Instrument Landing System and Air Field Lightning System. The modern equipment are to be directly connected to Air Traffic Control. This will provide excellent control of airfield system.

INR-USD Futures and Options Contracts launched by Finance Minister:- On May 9, 2020, the Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman launched the INR-USD Futures and Options contracts in the BSE and NSE platforms. They were launched at the GIFT International Financial Service Centre (IFSC) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat through video conference. The contracts have been launched to increase economic activity and employment in the country. A significant market share of India has moved to other International financial Centres in the last decade. The move will help to bring back those businesses back to India. In Addition, the world-class business environment at the GIFT IFSC will help to bring in larger global participation.

India Post delivers testing kits from ICMR:- India Post has tied up with ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) to deliver COVID-19 testing kits to around 200 labs. These labs have been desiginated by ICMR. ICMR has planned to conduct 1 lakh COVID-19 tests per day all over the country. In order to achieve this, India Post with its 1,50,000 post offices has entered into an agreement with the ICMR. India Post will help to reach remote places in the north eastern region such as Dungarpur, Jhalwar. Apart from this, it will also deliver the kits to other cities such as Imphal, Kolkata, Aizawl, Jodhpur, Rachi, Bhubaneshwar, Udaipur and Kota.

Massive Exercise to supply pulses and food grains to 80 crore people:- On May 8, 2020, Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Shri Ram Vilas Paswan announced that NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited) is to provide free pulses for three months to more than 19.5 crore households for three months. Under the exercise, the Government is to distribute free 1 kg of pulses to 19.5 crore people for a period of three months. This is the first time Government is carrying such a massive operation. The stock of pulses in about 165 NAFED godowns are to be used in the scheme. Around 100 dal mills are to work to achieve the target.

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