22 April 2020 Daily GK Update: Read Daily GK, Current Affairs for Bank Exam

Here is the daily GK update of 21st April 2020 covering the following news headlines: Standard Operating Procedures, COVID India Seva, Aayu & Sehat Sathi, Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan and many more.

Daily GK updates are incorporated with the important news that made the current affairs headlines for banking or other competitive exams. Daily GK Update is the complete bag of the important news that held all day long. One should have complete knowledge about the banking terms, current affairs news, etc. So, here is the GK Jupdate of 22nd April 2020 to help you prepare the Current affairs part. After reading this section, you can successfully attempt Current Affairs Quiz.

National News

1. Ministry of Home Affairs issues SOPs for seafarers

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a set of Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) as well as graded relaxations for seafarers. As per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Home Ministry, the Indian seafarers on the vessel are required to undergo the COVID-19 test prior to their return at their home.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Union Minister for Home Affairs: Amit Shah.

2. Health Ministry starts ‘COVID India Seva’ to address citizens queries

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan starts an interactive platform ‘COVID India Seva’ to address citizens queries on coronavirus. This main objective of this initiative is to enable transparent e-governance delivery in real-time and answering citizen queries. This platform trained experts will be able to share authoritative public health information swiftly at scale, helping to build a direct channel for communication with citizens.

International

3. Lebanon legalizes cannabis farming for medicinal use

The Lebanese parliament has passed the legislation to legalize the cannabis cultivation for medical and industrial purposes. Earlier, the farming of cannabis was illegal in Lebanon, but now the cannabis farming would be regulated within the country. Legalizing the cultivation of Cannabis is expected to produce high value-added medicinal products. It is also a potentially lucrative export for Lebanese economy which is in dire need of foreign currency as it is grappled with a financial crisis.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Prime Minister of Lebanon: Hassan Diab.
• Capital of Lebanon: Beirut; Currency: Lebanese pound.

State News

4. Rajasthan govt launches “Aayu & Sehat Sathi” app

The state government of Rajasthan has partnered with healthcare startup MedCords to launch ‘Aayu & Sehat Sathi app to fight against COVID-19. This app helps state people to consult doctors online and place orders for their medicine requirement in the wake of a lockdown due to COVID-19.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• CM of Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot.
• Capital of Rajasthan: Jaipur.
• Governor of Rajasthan: Kalraj Mishra.

5. Gujarat govt gives approval to “Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan”

The government of Gujarat has given the approval of the third edition of his government’s ‘Sujalam Sufalam Jal Sanchay Abhiyan’ amid Coronavirus lockdown. The scheme will see the deepening of lakes, check dams and rivers by removing silt. This will be done till June 10, 2020, with people’s participation also as under MNREGA. The scheme was started in 2018 after a weak monsoon. It is a conservation plan to deepen water bodies in the state before the monsoon.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chief Minister of Gujarat: Vijay Rupani; Governor of Gujarat: Acharya Dev Vrat.
• Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan Gir, is a forest and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat, India.
• The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a gravity dam on the Narmada river near Navagam, Gujarat.

6. Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district starts “Tiranga” Rapid Screening

The Administration of Pathanamthitta district in Kerala has launched a vehicle called ‘Tiranga’ (Total India Remote Analysis Nirogya Abhiyaan) for rapid screening of COVID-19 symptoms. The vehicle is provided with thermal scanning, an infrared thermometer mounted on the bonnet, a two-way microphone system by which individuals inside and out of doors the vehicle can ask one another, a mobile camera which will click photos of their identity cards.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Chief Minister of Kerala: Pinarayi Vijayan.
• Governor of Kerala: Arif Mohammad Khan.
• Capital of Kerala: Thiruvananthapuram.

Appointments

Agreements

9. Paytm Payments Bank inks partnership with Mastercard

Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL) inks partnership with Mastercard to issue virtual and physical debit cards. These cards enable its customers to perform secure online transactions, make payment in stores as well as withdraw cash from ATMs.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• MD and CEO of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd: Satish Kumar Gupta.
• Paytm Payments Bank Ltd Headquarters: Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

Awards

10. Adam Higginbotham’s bags William E. Colby Award

Adam Higginbotham’s book “Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World’s Greatest Nuclear Disaster” wins the William E. Colby Award. The award is given for an outstanding book on military or intelligence history.

Summit & Conferences

11. Saudi Arabia organizes G-20 Extraordinary Agriculture Ministers Meet

The G-20 Extraordinary Agriculture Ministers Meeting was held through Video Conferencing. The meeting was held on the issue of COVID-19 as well as its impact on food security, safety and nutrition. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar participated in the Extraordinary virtual meeting of G-20 Agriculture Ministers organised under the presidency of Saudi Arabia.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• The Group of Twenty (G20) is the premier forum for international economic cooperation which brings together the leaders of both developed and developing countries from every continent. ​
• The members of the G20 group are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, ​Republic o​f Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union (EU)​.

Important Days

12. Earth Day observed globally on 22 April

Earth Day or International Mother Earth Day is observed globally on 22 April every year. Earth Day 2020 will be celebrated all over the world to spread awareness for Earth’s wellbeing and to encourage people to support environmental protection. World Earth Day 2020 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the day since it started being observed in 1970. Earth Day was renamed officially by the UN in 2009 as International Mother Earth Day. The theme of Earth Day 2020: Climate Action. 

Miscellaneous

13. NBRI creates alcohol-based herbal sanitizer

In the wake of growing demand for sanitizers amid COVID-19 outbreak, the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) has created an alcohol-based herbal sanitizer. An alcohol-based herbal sanitizer has been developed under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR-Aroma Mission following the guidelines of World Health Organisation.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Director of National Botanical Research Institute: Dr. S.K. Barik.

14. Pune Municipal Corporation develops “Saiyam” mobile App

The Pune Municipal Corporation has developed a mobile application named “Saiyam”. This application has been developed to effectively track the home-quarantine citizens and to ensure they stay in the home.

15. MoRTH launches dashboard with list of Dhabas & Truck Repair Shops

A dashboard containing list of Dhabas and Truck Repair Shops has been launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on its website. The dashboard consists of list as well as details of Dhabas and Truck repair shops available across the country during the nationwide lockdown due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways: Nitin Jairam Gadkari.

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