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Daily Current Affairs 17 April 2020: We have collected the latest current affairs for 17 April 2020 that are important for all competitive exams like Bank, SSC, IBPS, SBI exams. The GK current affairs will help you score more in these competitive exams. Improve your general knowledge with our daily online current affairs. You can also read the daily current affairs on our mobile app.

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Current Affairs 17 April 2020

Government sets foodgrain production target at 298.3 mn tons for 2020-21 crop year

The agriculture ministry has set a target to increase foodgrain production to record 298.3 million tonnes in the 2020-21 crop year (July-June). This is more by 6.35 million tonnes from the previous years’ estimate.
To be bifurcated, the target is 149.92 million tonnes of foodgrain production in the Kharif (summer) season and 148.4 million tonnes in the rabi (winter) season.
The foodgrain output in the 2019-20 crop year is estimated at 291.95 million tonnes.

NIT-K Researchers develops disinfect chamber ‘Zero-Cov’ for PPE Kits, vegetables, currency notes among others

A team of researchers at National Institute of Technology-Karnataka has developed a cost-effective disinfectant chamber, Zero-Cov.
This out-of-the-box disinfectant chamber could disinfect personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, surgical masks, currency note, vegetables, packed food and other day-to-day items without causing them damage.
The chamber, made out of an old refrigerator, uses Ultraviolet (UV)-C radiation to destroy or inactivate all surface contamination like bacteria and viruses including novel coronavirus, up to 99.9 %, within 15 minutes.

BSNL Partners with SBI to launch UPI-based payment platform Bharat InstaPay

State-owned telecom operator BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited) has partnered with State Bank of India (SBI) to launch its own UPI-based payment platform, Bharat InstaPay.
The new digital payment platform will enable all type of channel partners of BSNL for doing all their payment transactions digitally on 24 X 7 basis.

RBI announces Announces Fourth Targeted Long Term Repo Operation (TLTRO); Caps investment at 10%

The Reserve bank of India has announced the fourth and final tranche of its Targeted Long Term Repo Operation (TLTRO) of amount Rs. 25,000 Crore.
The maximum amount that a particular bank can invest in the securities issued by a particular entity or group of entities out of the allotment received by it under the TLTRO shall be capped at 10 per cent.
The funds availed under this tranche of TLTRO would have to be deployed within 30 working days from the date of the operation.
Total Size of all four trache of TLTRO= Rs 1 lakh crore.

SBI report predicts India’s GDP growth for FY21 at 1.1%; 4.1% in FY20

According to the SBI Ecowrap report, India’s GDP growth rate for FY21 is predicted at 1.1%.
For FY20, the GDP rate is predicted at 4.1%. Earlier there was a prediction of 5%.

IMF predicts GDP Growth for Asia in 2020 at 0%; Global GDP to contract by 3% in 2020

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted Asia’s GDP growth in 2020 at 0%. It has also said that this is much better than other regions.
The global GDP prediction in 2020 is minus 3% (contraction by 3%.)
In its report, IMF has positioned India as the fastest-growing emerging economies of the world. Only two countries will have positive growth, one is India at1.9% and other is China with 1.2%. (This is for year 2020).

Goldman Sachs downgrades India from ‘overweight’ to ‘marketweight’

Goldman Sachs has downgraded its stance on the Indian market from ‘overweight’ to ‘marketweight’ due to “delayed recovery and extended valuations.”
Golman Sachs says that the domestic equities could underperform, unless India unleashes a big stimulus package.

IWF Chief Tamas Ajan Steps Down Amid Corruption Probe

International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) president Tamas Ajan has resigned from the post in the wake of allegations of corruption and doping violations against him.
Ajan had served the Budapest, Hungary based federation for more than four decades.
He was the Secretary General of the International Weightlifting Federation from 1975 to 2000 and had been the President of IWF from 2000 to 2020.

BSNL CMD P K Purwar takes additional charge of MTNL

P. K. Purwar, the chairman and managing director of BSNL has been given the additional charge as CMD of Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited.
He has been given the additional charge w.e.f April 13, 2020. In the last 6 years, this is the third time that Purwar has been given charge of MTNL CMD.

Rohit Sharma appointed as the brand ambassador of ‘CricKingdom’

Rohit Sharma has been appointed as the brand ambassador of ‘CricKingdom’ which is a cricket academy based in Dubai.
The online platform, CricKingdom’s “will connect student, coaches, academies and facilities into an integrated ecosystem’.

Viswanathan Anand joins World Wide Fund India as ambassador for environment education programme

World chess champion Viswanathan Anand has joined WWF World Wide Fund (WWF) India as its ambassador for the environment education programme.
This year, WWF India is celebrating its 50th year of conservation in India. It was found in November 1969.

Mascot for Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games unveiled – “Feifei”

The 4th Asian Para Games will be held from October 09-15, 2022 in Hangzhou, China.
“Feifei” is the official mascot of Hangzhou 2022 Asian Para Games. It is inspired by the motif of the ‘Divine Bird’ in the Liangzhu Culture.
The two fei has a distinct meaning. The first ‘fei’ means the birds flying. Which implies inclusiveness, respect, and fraternity of human society. And the second ‘fei’ represents the mental tenacity of the athletes with disabilities pursuing dreams and reaching beyond themselves.

National Football League’s Hall of Famer Willie Davis Passes Away at 85

Former American football defensive player, Willie Davis, passed away. He was 85.
Davis was inducted into the National Football League’s Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
He spent 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and played for the Cleveland Browns (1958-59) and the Green Bay Packers (1960-69).
Davis become the first African-American captain in Green Bay Packers’ history in 1965.

Film, TV and theatre actor Ranjit Chowdhry passes away at 65

Veteran film, television and theatre actor Ranjit Chowdhry passed away at the age of 65.
The late actor made his screen debut in the movie Khatta Meetha in 1978 and was best known for his role in the Rekha starrer Khubsoorat in 1980.
He had also worked in Hollywood movies like Mississippi Masala, Lonely in America as well as US TV series like Prison Break.

Pakistan first-class cricketer Zafar Sarfraz passes away at 50 due to COVID-19

Former Pakistani first-class cricketer Zafar Sarfraz passed away after contracting the novel coronavirus. He was 50.
Zafar is the first professional cricketer in the country to die from coronavirus during the pandemic in Pakistan.

World Hemophilia Day: April 17

World Hemophilia Day is an international day held annually on April 17 to raise awareness for hemophilia and other bleeding disorders and bring understanding and attention for proper care for these rare inherited bleeding disorders community.
The date marks the birthday of Frank Schnabel, founder of the World Federation of Hemophilia.
The theme of World Hemophilia Day 2020 is “Get+involved”.

Daily Current Affairs – 17 April 2020