1. President Ram Nath Kovind has approved The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, what will be the fine if the attackers cause grievous hurt to healthcare professionals?
a. ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
b. ₹4 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
c. ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
d. ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• President Ram Nath Kovind has approved The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, aimed at protecting healthcare professionals against violence during health crises such as the covid-19 pandemic now ravaging the world.
• If the attackers cause grievous hurt, they can be imprisoned for six months to seven years with fine of ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
• The offender will also be liable to pay compensation to the victim and twice the fair market value for damage of property.
2. President Ram Nath Kovind has approved The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, what will be the fine if there is any commission or abetment to acts of violence towards healthcare workers?
a. ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh
b. ₹50,000 to ₹2.5 lakh
c. ₹50,000 to ₹1.5 lakh
d. ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• President Ram Nath Kovind has approved The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, aimed at protecting healthcare professionals against violence during health crises such as the covid-19 pandemic now ravaging the world.
• The approval followed the Union cabinet nod to the ordinance, which makes not just attacks on healthcare personnel, but also those on their property, including their living and working premises, cognizable, non-bailable offences.
• The ordinance also provides for compensation for injury and damage to or loss of property in such cases.
• The amendment states that any commission or abetment to acts of violence shall be punished with imprisonment of three months to five years and a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh.
3. Who among the following has been appointed as a member of the National Science Board by the US President Donald Trump?
a. Sudarsanam Babu
b. Sunil Babu
c. Sushmit Babu
d. Sankalp Babu
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• U.S. President Donald Trump appointed Indian-American Sudarsanam Babu to country's top science board. Mr. Babu, who is from the prestigious Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has been appointed as a member of the National Science Board for a six-year term, the White House said as it announced several key administrative appointments.
• Mr. Babu earned his master of technology (industrial metallurgy - welding) from IIT-Madras in 1988 and a bachelor of engineering (eetallurgy) from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore in 1986.
4. SD Biosensor Healthcare Pvt Ltd. has started production of the COVID-19 rapid antibody testing kits. It belongs to which country?
a. South Korea
b. United States
c. Germany
d. Israel
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• SD Biosensor Healthcare Pvt Ltd, a South Korean firm has started production of the COVID-19 rapid antibody testing kits in its Indian subsidiary plant to meet the growing demand of the medical equipment in India and other parts of the world.
• SD Biosensor Healthcare Pvt Ltd is producing the test kits with a capacity of 500,000 tests per week and the first batch was rolled out on April 19.
• Its Indian subsidiary is located in Manesar, Gurgaon. This is an excellent example of India's 'Make in India for the World' as the company plans to ramp up production to meet growing demand in India as well as other parts of the world.
• The strategy and corporate structure of this company exemplifies the strong partnership between the two countries specially in the field of medical technology.
5. What amount has been issued from the IMF to Pakistan to boost its foreign exchange reserves in the wake of the further economic downturn due to the coronavirus crisis ?
a. USD 1.39 billion
b. USD 1.79 billion
c. USD 1.69 billion
d. USD 1.49 billion
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Cash-strapped Pakistan has received an emergency loan of USD 1.39 billion from the IMF to boost its foreign exchange reserves in the wake of the further economic downturn due to the coronavirus crisis.
• The USD 1.39 billion loan is in addition to the USD 6 billion bailout package that Pakistan has signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July last year to stave off a balance of payment crisis.
• Pakistan in March had requested the global money lender for a low-cost, fast-disbursing loan under its Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) to deal with the adverse economic impact of COVID-19.
• The RFI is used to provide financial assistance to IMF member countries facing an urgent balance of payments need without requiring them to put a full-fledged programme in place. The USD 1,39 billion loan will push Pakistan's foreign currency reserves apparently to a one-month high above USD 12 billion.
• The World Bank has earlier approved USD 1 billion and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) USD 1.5 billion for Pakistan to keep its economy afloat.
