Daily Current Affairs 13 April 2020 | UPSC Current Affairs 2020

Current Affairs Of Today Are

1) Data is key to control of this pandemic

The article contains excerpts from the interview of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organisation.

Details:

Gene sequencing of SARS-CoV-2:

Gene sequencing is important given that it provides critical information about the viral evolution, transmission dynamics and provides useful insights for drug development.
There are currently over 4,500 viral sequences deposited in the GISAID platform, with around 10 Indian strains.

Global initiative on sharing all influenza data (GISAID) platform, launched in May 2008, serves as an alternative to the previous public domain sharing model. It provides a publicly accessible database designed for scientists to improve the sharing of influenza data.
In 2010, Germany became the official host of the GISAID platform.

Given the fact that all viruses undergo mutations as they transmit from person to person, variability has been observed in the strains.
However, no mutation has been observed so far on any of the important sites of the virus, such as the spike protein or in the RNA polymerase or protease enzymes, which are relevant for drug targeting and vaccines.
This is important given that the strategies now being used to develop both therapeutics or vaccines are not threatened by any changes in the virus.

Lockdown as a strategy:

Physical distancing and lockdown, does help bring down the transmission of the virus in the population. However, it was observed that despite the lockdown measures, transmissions within households were still occurring.
Hence lockdowns alone cannot be effective unless combined with other health measures.
There is the need for extensive testing to test everyone with symptoms, and taking those who were positive to a separate facility where they could be kept and treated, and the exposed persons to a separate quarantine facility. The public health system will need to detect, isolate, treat and track cases.
Public health interventions that are shown to be effective like hand-washing, disinfecting surfaces, covering the face and mouth when coughing and usage of masks need to be implemented together.
People will need to change behavior by continuing to follow physical distancing, improve personal hygiene.
Given the fact that the fight against COVID-19 is going to be for a long time, there is the need to think of sustainable strategies for the post-lockdown scenario.

Need for more testing:

Given the fact that data is the key to the control of this pandemic, there is the need to expand the number of people who are being tested.
However, given the shortage of testing kits, a viable strategy would be sentinel surveillance, which involves testing a proportion of people with influenza-like illness (ILI) or Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI).
Serological testing can give an idea of the extent of the population exposed and also the geographic spread of the virus.

RT-PCR test detects the virus and the antibody tests, which use blood, detect the body’s response to the virus. A positive result in the antibody test tells that the person was exposed to the virus.
The real-time RT-PCR kits are used to detect an ongoing infection. Unlike RT-PCR kits, the antibody testing kits can indicate if a person has ever been infected by the virus.

Drug development:

The Solidarity trial being coordinated by WHO is comparing Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and Lopinavir/Ritonavir with and without interferon beta, as a treatment protocol for COVID-19.
The aim is to develop new therapies by finding an antiviral drug, monoclonal antibody treatment or an adjunct therapy that helps modulate the body’s response to the virus.
Though there is currently no drug with proven efficacy against COVID-19, some drugs are being used for severe cases that are not entirely based on scientific evidence of clinical trials.

Source: The Hindu

2) Issue of Indian laborers in Gulf Co-operation Council countries.

Currently, there are nearly 8 million Indian immigrants in GCC, of which nearly 2.1 million are from Kerala. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Bengal, and Punjab also have a high number of emigrants in this region.
Most of these migrants are low and semi-skilled laborers who are at the bottom of the pyramid in their host countries.

Details:

In the wake of the COVID-19 spread, the situation of Indian immigrants is very precarious.

Nurses, small businessmen, laborers have been infected in significant numbers.
In Kuwait 530 of its 993, confirmed cases are Indians. Indian localities have been quarantined. In Dubai, more than 500 Indians have been infected. Similar situations have been reported from Qatar too.

Concerns:

Health profile of the migrants:

The lowest and semi-skilled laborers have often reported multiple ailments like diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, and even kidney, liver problems, and cancer.
Since medicines are very expensive in Gulf countries, migrants often procure their medication from India and stockpile for three to four months. With the current restrictions in place, there are reports of acute shortage of medicines among the Indian community.

Access to healthcare:

Most Indian migrants in the GCC countries are at the bottom of the pyramid in their host countries and have limited access to healthcare.
The Gulf countries lack broad-based healthcare facilities to accommodate a high number of patients.
The migrants are struggling for their safety and survival.

The lifestyle of the migrants:

Most of the migrant laborers are single men living in congested labor camps, using common toilets, rooms, etc. Their living conditions do not allow social distancing.
In such scenarios, the risk of spread is even higher, making the migrants very vulnerable to the pandemic.

Way forward:

The Indian migrant laborers in GCC countries need urgent assistance.
The immediate task for the Indian government is to chart out a strategy for the safe evacuation of emigrants, with a particular emphasis on those immigrants without visa documents and their dependants who are mostly elderly, women, children, and unemployed persons. Subsequently, the governments should work on their rehabilitation in the home society.
There have also been calls from Indian associations particularly in Dubai, to hire and convert Indian schools into isolation wards. India can help the GCC countries with their efforts against COVID-19 with higher efforts directed towards the Indian population.

Kerala’s case:

Replacement migrants:

Approximately 21 lakh Keralites work outside the country. The mass exodus of Keralites over the years has led to a situation where Kerala needs migrants from other parts of the country.
Around 30 lakh inter-State migrants have migrated to Kerala for work opportunities. They are referred to as the replacement migrants.

Disruption due to the pandemic:

Under the current lockdown situation, the internal migrants have been protected and guarded in Kerala. Kerala is providing accommodation, medication, and food for these migrants.
Some of the replacement migrants are expected to leave when the lockdown is eased. It also remains to be seen whether the workers who had left before will return.
Given some incidents of protests in guest workers’ pockets, there seems to be an increasing resentment against immigrant laborers in Kerala.
In the post-pandemic grim scenario, if there is a reverse migration of the Kerala migrants that might also have an impact on the prospects of internal migrants in Kerala.
Given the fact that these migrant workers are strong building blocks of Kerala’s society, the prevailing uncertainty is not good for Kerala.

Source: The Hindu

3) Economic revival post the national lockdown.

Union Minister for Micro, Medium and Small scale Enterprises (MSME) Nitin Gadkari’s views on economic revival post the national lockdown.

Details:

Issue of migrant laborers:

The lockdown has hurt the economy and has been particularly severe on the migrant laborers. There are nearly 20 lakh migrant laborers in shelters across the country. Some have been able to reach their native places while most are stranded in shelters houses. Their economic and social security is at risk.

Post lockdown scenario:

The MSME sector employs nearly 11 crore people and is labor-intensive. The flight of labor and the prevailing restrictions have brought the entire sector to a standstill.
The reverse migration of laborers from cities is a serious issue in any post lockdown plan for economic revival.

Way forward:

Facilitating return:

The State governments will have to evolve guidelines and arrange for the logistics to allow the return of the migrant laborers while balancing the need for public health.
Confidence-building measures will have to be undertaken by the government and the factory owners to incentivize the return of migrant laborers.
Considering the Disaster Management Act now in place, the District Collector will be playing a key role in facilitating the return.

Providing relief:

Given the distraction due to the crisis, there will be a need for handholding by the state by measures such as giving a boost for the Credit Guarantee Trusts and offering affordable working capital for the firms.

Changes post lockdown:

Even post the lockdown; it won’t be business as usual. The industries will have to be COVID-19 ready in terms of shop floors and business processes and the industry’s culture will have to change accordingly.

Bridge plan:

The Ministry is also preparing bridge plans for the MSME sector including encouraging rural craft and providing funding for the village-based industry.
Under project Spoorti, around 400 clusters with 2 crore corpus each have been identified for its implementation.

Long term plan:

The present crisis provides important lessons for India to ensure the production of essential commodities within the domestic territory.
There is a need for strengthening of domestic manufacturing capabilities, emphasizing on import substitution units within the country.

Source: The Hindu

4) KVIC Develops Double Layered Khadi Masks; Bags Large Quantity Orders

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has successfully developed a double-layered Khadi mask and has procured orders for supplying it in large quantities. To add to its success, KVIC has recently bagged an order to supply 7.5 lakh pieces of Khadi Masks to Jammu & Kashmir Government alone in which 5 lakh masks will be supplied to Jammu district, one lakh forty thousand to Pulwama district, one lakh to Udhampur district and 10,000 to Kupwara district. These masks will be supplied to assist the Development Commissioners of these districts by April 20. The cotton reusable mask will be of 7 inches (length) by 9 inches (breadth) with three pleats, four strips at the corner for tying.
Currently, the Khadi Stitching Center at Nagrotta near Jammu has been turned into a Mask stitching center, which is producing 10,000 masks per day, while the rest of the orders are being distributed amongst various Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Khadi institutions in and around Srinagar.
In one-meter Khadi fabric, 10 double-layered masks will be made. To make 7.5 Lakh masks, around 75,000 meters of Khadi fabric will be used, this will further enhance livelihood opportunities to the Khadi Artisans. Since J&K khadi institutions are producing only woolen fabric, cotton fabric for masks is procured from Haryana and UP khadi institutions and being despatched by taking special permission from the district authorities.

Source: PIB

5) Coronavirus: two vaccines enter human trials, 60 in the pre-clinical stage

Governments, top private players, academics and not-for-profit organizations are working to find a COVID-19 vaccine.

Details:

According to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the global COVID-19 vaccine R&D landscape includes 115 vaccine candidates, of which 78 are confirmed as active.
According to the “DRAFT landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines” released by the World Health Organization (WHO), two vaccines are currently being tested on humans.

Non-replicating viral vector vaccine:

A non-replicating vector vaccine can be developed either using a virus that is killed or a part of the virus.
Since it is not a complete virus or uses a killed virus, it cannot replicate inside the host.
The antigens present in the vaccine trigger the human immune system to produce antibodies, which help fight the disease.

Messenger RNA vaccine:

In RNA vaccines, the messenger RNA from the pathogen is used.
The messenger RNA gets translated into antigenic protein recognized by human immune cells and antibodies are produced.
Given the fact that mRNA is a highly unstable molecule, it poses handling challenges. So the mRNA is encapsulated in a small ball of fat or lipid nanoparticle (LNP). This LNP acts as a delivery vehicle that helps the mRNA cross the host cell membrane and once inside the mRNA is released.

Vaccines from India:

The vaccines being developed in India contain the DNA plasmid vaccine developed by Gujarat based Zydus Cadila and Live Attenuated Virus vaccine developed by the Serum Institute of India.

DNA plasmid vaccine:

DNA vaccines are made by taking genes from the pathogen and inserting it into the host’s body with a vector. The host cells produce the protein of the viral gene and this is recognized as a foreign antigenic protein by the host’s immune system.
DNA vaccines are comparatively easy to make, transport, store and are cheaper.

Live attenuated virus vaccine:

It is created by reducing the virulence of a pathogen or weakening it, but still keeping it alive to trigger an immune response from the human body.

Source: The Hindu

6) YUKTI (Young India Combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology, and Innovation)

Union Minister for HRD Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” has launched a web-portal YUKTI (Young India Combating COVID with Knowledge, Technology and Innovation) today in New Delhi. It’s a unique portal and dashboard to monitor and record the efforts and initiatives of MHRD. The portal intends to cover the different dimensions of COVID-19 challenges in a very holistic and comprehensive way.
The primary aim is to keep our academic community healthy, both physically & mentally and to enable a continuous high-quality learning environment for learners. The portal is an effort of the HRD Ministry to achieve this goal in these difficult times.
It will cover the various initiatives and efforts of the institutions in academics, research especially related to CoVID, social initiatives by institutions and the measures taken for the betterment of the total wellbeing of the students. The portal will cover both qualitative and quantitative parameters for the effective delivery of services to the academic community at large.

Source: PIB

7) Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM)

A digital pipeline has been laid through linking of Jan-Dhan accounts as well as other accounts with the account holders’ mobile numbers and Aadhaar [Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM)]. This infrastructure pipeline is providing the necessary backbone for DBT flows, adoption of social security/pension schemes, etc. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was launched in August 2014 to provide bank accounts to unbanked persons. Out of around 126 crore operative CASA accounts as, on 20th March 2020, more than 38 crores have been opened under PMJDY.

Enablement of interoperable, speedy and accurate transactions:

The bank accounts are enabled to carry out both cash and digital transactions at bank branches, Business Correspondent (BC) points, merchant locations and on the internet. Using biometric ID, highly cost-effective payment solutions like AePS/ Bhim Aadhaar Pay have been created both for banking services and for retail payments.

The Digital Payment Ecosystem includes the following modes:

AePS: helps in cash withdrawal by using Aadhaar authentication at branch/BC locations.
Bhim Adhaar Pay: enables payment to merchants using Aadhaar authentication
RuPay debit cards: As on 31 March 2020, a total of 60.4crore RuPay cards have been issued including 29 crores issued in PMJDY accounts. These cards could be used at ATMs for cash withdrawal and at Points of Sale (PoS)& e-commerce for digital payments.
UPI: Immediate real-time payment system which helps in both person to person (P2P) and Person to Merchant (P2M) transactions.
BBPS: helps in payment of utility bills through internet & BC locations both by using cash & digital modes.

Using the digital payment infrastructure mentioned above, more than 30 crore poor people have received financial assistance of Rs 28,256 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package announced by Union Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman on 26th March to protect them from the impact of the lockdown due to COVID 19.

Source: PIB

8) Meru Jatra festival

Odisha’s Ganjam district administration has banned the Meru Jatra festival and congregations related to it at temples on the occasion of Mahavishub Sankranti

Mahavishub Sankranti

Maha Vishuba Sankranti is the traditional new year day festival of Buddhists and Hindus in Odisha, India. The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the lunisolar calendar, as the first day of the traditional solar month of Mesha. This is identical to the purnimanta system of lunar month Baisakh (on the Indian national system, it is the 24th day of Chaitra). It therefore almost always falls on 14 April every year on the Gregorian calendar.
The festival is celebrated with visits to Shiva, Shakti, or Hanuman temples, as the day is considered to be the birthday of Hanuman. People take baths in rivers or major pilgrimage centers. Communities participate in mela (fairs), watch street dance or acrobatic performances. A notable climax of the social celebrations is the fire-walk, where volunteers sprint over a bed of burning coal while being cheered with music and songs. Feasts and special drinks such as a chilled sweet mango-milk-yogurt-coconut drink called Pana are shared, a tradition that part is the source of this festival's name.
Pana Sankranti is similar to new year festivals observed by Hindus elsewhere such as Vaisakhi (north and central India), Bihu (Assam), Pohela Boishakh (Bengal) and Puthandu (Tamil Nadu).

Source: The Hindu

9) ADB Assures COVID-19 Support Package

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has assured the Ministry of Finance of USD 2.2 billion (about Rs 16,500 crore) support to India in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 18th March 2020, ADB announced an initial package of approximately USD 6.5 billion to address the immediate needs of its developing member countries, including India, as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The World Bank has approved a $1-billion assistance to help India prevent, detect and respond to the outbreak, and strengthen its public health preparedness.

Key Points

Background: Weakening global economic growth is causing

Disruptions in India’s trade and manufacturing supply chains,
The slowdown in tourism and other economic activities,
The strain on a large number of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises,
A negative impact on the livelihood of formal and informal laborers across the country, etc.

ADB praised efforts of the Government: ADB praised the Indian government’s decisive response to the pandemic, including

A national health emergency program.
Tax and other relief measures provided to businesses.
Rs 1.7 lakh crore economic relief package (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana), which provides immediate income and consumption support to the poor, women, and workers affected by the three-week nationwide lockdown.

ADB’s Support to India

It is now preparing USD 2.2 billion in immediate assistance in response to COVID-19 to the health sector to help alleviate the economic impact of the pandemic on the poor.
ADB is also engaged with the private sector to meet its financing needs during this period.
It is ready to provide further financial assistance and policy advice whenever the situation warrants.
ADB is also planning to consider all financing options available to meet India’s needs, to facilitate swift disbursement of ADB funds including emergency assistance, policy-based loans, and budget support.

Asian Development Bank

ADB is a regional development bank established on 19th December 1966.
ADB now has 68 members, 49 from within Asia.
Japan holds the largest proportion of shares in ADB followed by the USA.
It aims to promote social and economic development in Asia.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
ADB is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.

Source: Indian Express

10) NBFCs Face Moratorium Issue with Banks

Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) may face a tough time following the Reserve Bank of India’s recent directive on providing a moratorium on repayment.

This is because though these entities are providing moratoriums to their customers, they still have to continue repaying banks and other borrowers.

Key Points

Banks are not willing to offer any moratorium on term loans taken by the NBFCs. This has put significant pressure on the liquidity profiles of many NBFCs.

A significant part of money disbursed by NBFCs is a loan taken from banks.
Moratorium simply refers to a legal authorization to existing borrowers to defer or postpone their loan repayments for a predetermined period.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had asked banks, co-operative banks and NBFCs to offer a three-month moratorium on loan repayments by their customers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide lockdown.

The RBI has not specifically said NBFCs should not be given moratorium by banks.
While a few banks are inclined to offer a moratorium on NBFC loans, some of the big banks have ruled out any such facility.

The NBFCs have already been facing liquidity problems due to the IL&FS and DHFL crises.
Total bank loan outstandings to the Non-Banking Financial Company(NBFC) sector were Rs.7,37,198 crore as of January 31,2020 showing a rise of 32.2 percent on a year-on-year basis.

Collections from customers have declined due to the lockdown, closure of units and job losses.
Almost 60% of NBFC borrowings are from non-bank sources and require continuity in debt servicing.
With minimal collections, NBFCs can only depend on their cash reserves and any backup credit lines from banks, if available for servicing such debt.
Debt service is the cash that is required to cover the repayment of interest and principal on a debt for a particular period.

Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Move

The RBI has made available Rs 1 lakh crore through its targeted long-term repo operations (TLTRO) window.
Corporates and government-owned financiers will also be interested in this window.
Only higher-rated NBFCs may end up benefiting.
Industry chamber Assocham has proposed a special liquidity window for NBFCs, but the RBI has not shown any inclination so far.

Non-Banking Financial Company

NBFC is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956.
It is engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business.
But, it does not include any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) or providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of the immovable property.
A non-banking institution which is a company and has principal business of receiving deposits under any scheme or arrangement in one lump sum or in installments by way of contributions or in any other manner is also a non-banking financial company (Residuary non-banking company).

Features of NBFCs

NBFC cannot accept demand deposits.
NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself.
The deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs.

Source: Indian Express