1.Miscellaneous
UP becomes first Indian state with in-house virtual courts facility
Uttar Pradesh has become the first state with a software-based in-house facility of virtual courts
Amidst the coronavirus lockdown, Allahabad High Court and all its courts will have suitable infrastructure to hear cases through video conferencing
Quick facts: The capital of Uttar Pradesh is Lucknow
2.Economy
Vodafone Idea ties up with Paytm to launch ‘Recharge Saathi’
Recharge Saathi program will help individuals and small businesses to earn additional income.
As part of the program, any Paytm customers can start selling Vodafone and Idea recharges through the Paytm app
Vodafone Idea will provide cashback to merchant partners for multiple recharges.
Quick facts: Satish Kumar Gupta is MD and CEO of Paytm Payments Bank Ltd.
3.Person in News
Sanjay Kothari: New Central Vigilance Commissioner
Sanjay Kothari has been selected as the new CVC by a high-powered committee.
Before this appointment, he served as the Secretary to the president.
Quick facts: Central Vigilance Commission was created in 1964 to address governmental corruption. It got statutory status in 2003.Â
4.Environment
Bengaluru airport to revive endangered citrus fruit, Devanahalli Pomelo
Devanahalli Pomelo has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag
It has almost vanished from its local area near the Bengaluru airport due to local farmers adopting other professions
Airport authorities plan to work with local farmers and promote cultivation by empowering self-help groups and undertaking tree grafting in its orchard
The revival is part of their flagship CSR Programme ‘Namma Ooru’.
Quick facts: The tree’s fruit is rich in Vitamin C and is known for its sweetness
5.Economy
RBI’s Operation Twist
RBI will be relaunching its bond swapping programme called Operation Twist.
It will purchase long-dated securities and sell short-dated securities under open market operations (OMO)
This operation will neutralise liquidity in the system, bring down rates and stimulate private sector borrowing.
Quick facts: An OMO is an activity by a central bank to give (or take) liquidity in its currency to (or from) a bank or a group of banks
6.Science and Technology
First-ever digital geological map of moon released by US Geological Survey
The map has been developed jointly by US Geological Survey, NASA and Lunar Planetary Institute
Unified Geologic Map of the Moon is a ‘seamless, globally consistent, 1:5,000,000-scale geologic map’
The map will serve as a blueprint for future human missions
It will also be a source of research and analysis in lunar geology
7.Economy
Commodity Markets Outlook By World Bank
The April 2020 Commodity Markets Outlook has been released by World Bank
It provides market analysis and prices for major commodities
As per current Outlook, commodity prices, especially those related to transportation, have been deeply affected due to COVID-19.
8.Environment
Hydrogen Fuel Bus and car launched by NTPC
National Thermal Power Corporation has launched ten Hydrogen Fuel Cell based buses and 10 similar electric cars.
This is part of NTPC’s aim to decarbonize India’s transport system for environment purposes
Hydrogen Fuel Cells convert hydrogen rich fuel into electricity
