Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 21 MAY 2020

::NATIONAL::

Union Cabinet has approved additional funding of up to Rs. three lakh crore through introduction of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS).
Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) facility to help eligible Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) borrowers, including interested MUDRA borrowers.
The Cabinet also approved that the Scheme would be applicable to all loans sanctioned under GECL Facility during the period from the date of announcement of the Scheme to 31.10.2020, or till an amount of three lakh crore is sanctioned under the GECL, whichever is earlier.
AIR correspondent reports, the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) has been formulated as a specific response to the unprecedented situation caused by COVID-19 and the consequent lockdown, which has severely impacted manufacturing and other activities in the MSME sector.
The salient features of the scheme include all MSME borrower accounts with outstanding credit of up to Rs. 25 crore as on 29.2.2020 and with an annual turnover of up to Rs. 100 crore would be eligible for GECL funding under the scheme.
The scheme would be applicable to all loans sanctioned under GECL during the period from the date of announcement of the Scheme to 31.10.2020, or till an amount of Rs. three lakh crore is sanctioned under the GECL, whichever is earlier.

Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan participated in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Health Ministers’ meeting through video conferencing today.The meeting was chaired by Health Minister of Republic of Azerbaijan OgtayShiraliyev.
The Health Ministers of participating NAM countries expressed their concern at the global threat posed by COVID-19 and resolved to fight it with proper preparedness and greater national, regional and international collaboration.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan while addressing the meeting asserted that the COVID-19 pandemic has displayed the interconnectivity and interdependency of countries like never before.
He added that it has made the world realize that the man-made challenges can only be faced together with collaboration.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that India has been fighting the COVID battle with a firm political will under the guidance of Prime Minister NarendraModi.
The Minister said that India not only successfully contained the spread of COVID-19 in the country but also shared it's medical expertise with neighbouring countries to aid them in their fight against the pandemic.
He also highlighted country's significant contribution in ensuring medical supplies to over 123 countries, including 59 NAM countries.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has allowed listing of units of mutual fund schemes that are in the process of winding up so that investors get an exit option.
“As per MF regulations, there are several steps envisaged with respect to winding up of mutual fund schemes before the scheme ceases to exist. During this process, such units can be listed and traded on a recognised stock exchange, which may provide an exit to investors,” stated a SEBI circular issued on Wednesday, while highlighting the fact that close-ended schemes and units of segregated portfolio are allowed to list on the bourses.
It may be recalled that last month saw Franklin Templeton MF wind up six debt schemes with cumulative assets worth ₹26,000 crore. Separately, the fund house appointed Kotak Mahindra Bank to assist in the monetisation of assets of the six schemes.

Most farmers managed to harvest their crops despite the COVID-19 pandemic, but 60% of them still faced losses, mostly related to the lockdown, according to a new survey in 12 States.
A majority of farmers also say the lockdown has hurt their preparations for the upcoming sowing season either because they cannot afford inputs such as seeds and fertilizer or because of labour shortages.
The situation is worse for wage workers, with four out of five seeing their incomes fall over the last month. On average, wages were 76% lower compared to the same time last year.
The survey found that 26% of respondents had harvested a crop in the past month, while 26% said this was not a harvesting season for them. Only 10% were unable to harvest their rabi or winter season crop, due to lockdown-related issues such as low market prices, difficulty in market access, government curbs and a shortage of labour and machinery.

New Delhi today said, the official map of Nepal released by Government of Nepal includes parts of Indian territory.
In response to media queries on the issue, the Official Spokesman AnuragSrivastava said, this unilateral act is not based on historical facts and evidence.
It is contrary to the bilateral understanding to resolve the outstanding boundary issues through diplomatic dialogue. He said, such artificial enlargement of territorial claims will not be accepted by India.
The Spokesman said, Nepal is well aware of India’s consistent position on this matter and urged the Government of Nepal to refrain from such unjustified cartographic assertion and respect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
He expressed the hope that the Nepalese leadership will create a positive atmosphere for diplomatic dialogue to resolve the outstanding boundary issues.

A rare palm from South Andaman Island has found its second home in Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) Kerala. The species has been brought to the Indian mainland to prevent its extinction.
The rare palm is called Pinangaandamanensis and is a critically endangered species. There are only 600 specimens of the species at present. It is tiny and generally grows in evergreen forests.
The JNTBGRI has ensured to conserve the germplasm of the tree. This will help to prevent the species from wiping out. It is endangered due to natural calamity. The palm resembles areca palm and is used in preparing palm oil.
The palm requires 5 to 6 hours of sunshine, 80% of humidity. It thrives well in areas where the temperature is between 22 degree Celsius and 24 degree Celsius. The name of the palm is derived from the modern Malaysian state called ‘Penang’. The species was thought to be extinct till 1992.
Germplasm is the living resources like tissue and seeds that are preserved for plant breeding. They can also be used are genetic resources.