Daily Current Affairs : 29th June 2020 | Daily GK update Quiz

Exp. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on 29th June launched convalescent plasma therapy-cum- trial project for treatment of critical COVID-19 patients with a state medical education department official calling it the largest initiative of its kind in the world.

Convalescent plasma therapy, also called passive antibody therapy, seeks to obtain plasma from the blood of people who have recovered from the infection to inject into patients undergoing treatment.

“The project, titled ‘Platina’, is the largest convalescent plasma therapy-cum-trial project in the world.

Note: About Maharashtra

Capital: Mumbai

Governor: Bhagat Singh Koshyari

Chief Minister: Uddhav Thackeray

Exp. Delhi government on 29th June announced setting up of a plasma bank for the treatment of covid-19 patients. Delhi was one of the first states to have given a go-ahead for plasma therapy in April.

The facility will be set up at Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) and will be made available for government and private hospitals after getting a doctor’s recommendation.

Exp. Madhya Pradesh government will launch a ‘Kill Corona campaign’ from July 1 to screen entire population of the state in a fortnight. This was decided at a meeting chaired by chief minister Shviraj Singh Chouhan. “The campaign will start from Bhopal.

Exp. The government on 29th June launched the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME) scheme as a part of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ and as a part of Prime Minister’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’. Launched by Union Minister for Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the scheme would generate a total investment of Rs 35,000 crore and generate 9 lakh skilled semi-skilled employment.

Purpose: It will benefit 8 lakh units through access to information, training, better exposure and formalization.

Exp. The Central Government has granted special financial powers of Rs 500 crore as emergency funds to armed forces for war preparedness amid ongoing border tensions with China. Under this financial aid, the three defence services (Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force) can buy any weapon system or any in inventory upto Rs 500 cr in consultation with the Department of Military Affairs (DMA).

Exp. India and Bhutan took a major step forward for the construction of the 600 MW Kholongchhu project, their first hydropower joint venture project in Bhutan’s less developed eastern region of Trashiyangtse. The project’s “Concession agreement,” which was signed in the presence via video-conference.

First time an India-Bhutan hydropower project will be constructed as a 50:50 joint venture, not as a government-to-government agreement.

Note: About Bhutan

Capital: Thimphu

Prime minister: Lotay Tshering

Currency: Ngultrum

Exp. The World Bank on 28th June Announced its Board of Executive Directors has approved USD 500 million (about Rs 3,700 crore) loan to improve quality and governance of school education in six Indian states. The board approved a loan for Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS) on June 24, 2020.

“Some 250 million students (between the age of 6 and 17) in 1.5 million schools, and over 10 million teachers will benefit from the program. The STARS program builds on the long partnership between India and the World Bank (since 1994), for strengthening public school education and to support the country’s goal of providing Education for All. Prior to STARS, the bank had provided a total assistance of more than USD 3 billion towards this goal.

At the national level, through the Samagra Shiksha, and in partnership with the states of Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

Exp. The new President of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera. He defeated incumbent Peter Mutharika with 58.57% of votes.

Exp. Micheál Martin has been named Ireland’s new prime minister nearly five months after an inconclusive election that shattered the twin pillars of Irish politics and forced them to finally govern together.

About Ireland

Capital: Dublin

Currency: Euro

Exp. India’s Nitin Menon on 29th June became the youngest ever to be included in the International Cricket Council’s Elite Panel of Umpires for the upcoming 2020-21 season, replacing England’s Nigel Llong.

The 36-year-old, who has officiated in three Tests, 24 ODIs and 16 T20Is, is only the third from India to make it to the prestigious group after former captain Srinivas Venkatraghavan and Sundaram Ravi, who was axed last year.

Exp. The Government has been celebrating the Statistics Day, to popularise the use of Statistics in everyday life and sensitise the public as to how Statistics helps in shaping and framing policies. It has been designated as one of the Special Days to be celebrated at the national level and is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Prof. P C Mahalanobis, on 29^th June, in recognition of his invaluable contribution in establishing the National Statistical System.

Theme 2020: SDG- 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages) & SDG- 5 (Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls)

Exp. About Malawi

Capital: Lilongwe

Currency: Malawian kwacha