Daily Current affairs for May 12, 2020

Candidates aspiring to crack bank exams, SSC exams or UPSC exams know very well, the importance of preparing for current affairs section. It consists of atleast 15-20 questions.

The easiest way to scoop up full marks in this section, is to keep a track of the important daily events.With vast information available in newspapers, it will be really tough for you to follow everything at one go.

To help you in these preparations, we are here with the daily current affairs for May 12, 2020

A population-based Sero-survey to be conducted by ICMR and NCDC

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) are set to start a population-based sero-survey in select districts

• The survey`s main objective is to monitor the prevalence of COVID-19 infection at district level that can help ascertain if there was community transmission of the respiratory disease in these areas.
• It shall be conducted in randomly selected 69 districts from 21 states.

The sero survey is coordinated by ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) and National Institute of Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT), Chennai.

CSIR-NAL develops Non-Invasive Ventilator to treat COVID-19 patients

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) Bangalore, have developed a non invasive BiPAP ventilator to treat COVID-19 patients.

• BiPAP Non-Invasive ventilator is a microcontroller-based precise closed-loop adaptive control system with a built-in biocompatible 3D printed manifold & coupler with HEPA filter (Highly Efficient Particulate Air Filter).
• The major advantage of this machine is that it is simple to use without any specialized nursing, cost effective, compact and configured with majority of indigenous components.

The ventilator was developed in a record time of 36 days

MSME Ministry launches CHAMPIONS portal

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Ministry has launched a new portal called ‘CHAMPIONS’, a technology driven control room-cum-management information system.

• The portal aims to assist Indian MSMEs to enter into big league as national and global champions.
• CHAMPIONS stands for Creation and Harmonious Application of Modern Processes for Increasing the Output and National Strength.

The system`s framework is enabled by Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics and Machine Learning.The portal can be accessed at www.Champions.gov.in

International Nurses Day celebrated on May 12, 2020

May 12th is observed as the International Nurses Day. It is organised every year to celebrate birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.

• The theme for International Nurses Day 2020 is “Nursing the World to Health”.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated 2020 as ‘The Year of the Nurse and Midwife’, to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale.

Atmanirbhar Bharat: PM Modi announces Rs 20 Lakh cr economic package for covid19 relief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a special economic package worth over 20 lakh crore rupees for India, for covid19 relief.

• Building a Self Reliant India was essential in a post COVID-19 world, he stressed
• He also highlighted that India’s self reliance would be based on 5 pillars – Economy, Infrastructure, System, Demography and Demand.

The details of financial assistance and economic welfare schemes are to be released by the finance minister, in the coming days.

‘International Solar Alliance’ is India’s gift to world for fight against global warming: PM Modi

The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched by Mr. Narendra Modi, the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and Mr. Francois Hollande, former Hon’ble President of France on 30th November 2015, at the 21st session of United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France.

• Mission of ISA: Every home no matter how far away, will have a light at home.

The ISA is a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie entirely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs.

COVID KAVACH ELISA: New test for antibody detection of COVID-19 developed by ICMR and NIV

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune have developed a new test called ‘COVID KAVACH ELISA’

• ELISA – Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay or ELISA.This test would be used for antibody detection of COVID-19.
• An advantage of this method is that 90 samples can be tested at once and each cycle of tests takes about 2.5 hours to complete.

Scientists at NIV Pune isolated the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the samples of covid19 infected patients, which was used in developing this particular screening test that can be used to detect antibodies formed against the novel coronavirus in an individual’s blood.

US CDC commits $3 million to India to help in covid19 fight

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has pledged to provide $3.6 million to India, to help in the fight against Covid-19 epidemic.

• The fund assistance is being offered for the country`s prevention, preparedness and response activities towards coronavirus containment efforts.

The United States in the month of April had announced to provide an aid worth $3 million to the PAHAL (Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity) project.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to start on Feb 17, 2021 in India

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup have released the new dates for the tournament.

As per the official statement, the FIFA U-17 world cup will be held from February 17 to march 7, 2021. It was planned to be held from November 2-21, 2020 but had to be postponed due to covid19 spread.

The games are scheduled to be played across five cities — Navi Mumbai, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar.

AIFF nominates Sandesh Jhingan, Bala Devi for Arjuna Award

The All India Football Federation has nominated Sandesh Jhingan, national team’s central defender and N Bala Devi, women’s team striker for the Arjuna Award.

• Bala Devi is the current top scorer for the Indian national women’s team, having scored an impressive 52 times in 58 games since 2010. She is also the top international goal scorer in the South Asian region.She is also the first Indian woman professional footballer to play in Europe after joining Rangers FC in an 18-month deal.
• Sandesh Jhingan, plays for Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters FC and is the central defender for the national football team. He has appeared in 38 international matches so far in his career.

Arjuna Awards are given to sport persons to honour their excellence in sports.

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