Current Affairs Quiz - April, 2020

Notes:
During the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2019, Bahrain sponsored its Prime Minister’s imitative to designate 5 April as the ‘International Day of Conscience’.
The Assembly unanimously adopted resolution “Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience” and declared 5 April as the International Day of Conscience (IDC). It is celebrated in 2020 for the first time.

Notes:
The National Maritime Day is celebrated on April 5, to commemorate the maiden voyage of the first wholly owned ship of Indians.
It was the first ship was owned by the Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd. On the same day in the year 1919, the ship travelled from Mumbai to the city of London, United Kingdom. This year is the 57th edition of the National Maritime Day. World Maritime Day is observed on the last week of September on Thursday annually.

Notes:
The United Nation has been observing April 6 as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
This year, the international day focusses on health benefits of participating in sporting and physical activity, during this time of pandemic and social distancing. The UN also announced a tagline for this day as “For the International Day of Sport this year, let’s Be Active and healthy to beat COVID19”.

Notes:
The Tropical Cyclone named ‘Harold’ recently hit the South Pacific island nations including Vanuatu islands and Fuji. It started from the south-west Pacific nation Solomon Islands last week, where it claimed 27 lives.
Later, it hit the Vanuatu islands and caused damages especially in the main town Luganville. Though the cyclone was expected to only reach Category Three, it reached the Category Four in Fiji, where the winds are blowing up to 240 kilometres per hour.

Notes:
The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) recently announced that it will provide emergency loans to small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) named ‘SIDBI Assistance to Facilitate Emergency’ -SAFE PLUS.
Working capital of up to Rs 1 Crore will be provided to small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in manufacturing of medical equipment and products related to Covid-19. The SAFE PLUS collateral-free loans will be disbursed within 48 hours at an interest rate of five per cent. The limit of the loans has been enhanced from 50 lakh rupees to two crore rupees.

Notes:
On April 9th, 1965 a small contingent of CRPF successfully fought and repulsed an attack by a Pakistani Brigade at Sardar Post in the Rann of Kutch, Gujarat.
That was the first time in the history of military battles, two companies of policemen fought back a whole infantry Brigade. Six CRPF men attained martyrdom during this attack. As a tribute to the martyrs of CRPF, April 9 is celebrated by the CRPF as ‘Valour Day’.

Notes:
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved using diagnostic machines that are used for testing drug-resistant Tuberculosis for conducting coronavirus tests.
The ICMR has recommended this as a screening test. As per the guidance issued, throat or nasal swabs are to be collected in the viral transport medium with the ‘virus lysis buffer’, which is provided along with the kit. ICMR-NIV, Pune will inform about the effects of the viral RNA after neutralization of this novel coronavirus by the lysis buffer.

Notes:
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given approval to plasma therapy for COVID-19 treatment to Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST).
It is an Institution of National Importance under the Department of Science and Technology, located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala. The treatment called ‘convalescent-plasma therapy’ transfers the antibody from a recovered patient to a sick person, increasing his/her immune power. The Scientists have also discovered Chitra Disinfection Gateway and Chitra UV Based Facemask Disposal Bin.

Notes:
Veteran Hindustani classical singer and Padma Shri awardee Shanti Hiranand Chawla passed away at Gurgaon, at the age of 87.
The renowned singer was trained in several styles of music including thumri, dadra and ghazal. She had conducted several stage-performances in Indian and abroad. She had been conferred with several accolades including the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2007.

Notes:
The former Chairman and Managing Director of National Housing Bank, RV Verma has been appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of AU Small Finance Bank for a period of one year. He has been an independent director of the SFB from 2018.
The AU Small Finance Bank is headquartered at Jaipur, Rajasthan. RBI has also approved the re-appointment of Sanjay Agarwal as Managing Director & CEO of the Small Finance Bank.