Top Best Current Affairs 15 April 2020

The Centre is to pass an ordinance which will allow the state governments the flexibility to increase the work hours of employees across establishments to 12 hours per day from eight hours. The move is aimed to address the issue of labour shortage and facilitate companies to maintain social distancing.The ordinance will enforce the Code on Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH&WC) that empowers states or 'appropriate authority' to notify work hours. The ordinance is yet to be passed.

:Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed COVID-19 Sample Collection Kiosk (COVSACK) to combat COVID-19.COVSACK was developed by DRDL in consultation with the doctors of Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), Hyderabad.

GMR Airports Limited gets approval to build greenfield International airport at Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh.

Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) began the supply of coveralls conforming to ISO Class 3 exposure standards. The initial order of 1.10 lakh from HLL Lifecare Limited (HLL) has begun in OFB. This order will be completed in 40 days. OFB is also trying to produce face masks as per pilot order quantity placed by HLL.OFB has developed special 2m tents which can be used for a medical emergency, screening, hospital triage and quarantine purposes. OFB has manufactured hand sanitizer on a war footing and more than 70,000 litres have already been supplied to different agencies. Headquarters of OFB is in Ayudh Bhawan, Kolkata

COVID-19: SC says only persons covered under 'Ayushman Yojana' can be tested for free for COVID-19 in private labs.

The birth anniversary of Dr.B R Ambedkar is celebrated on 14 April. The day is celebrated to honour his countless contributions in the making of independent India. Ambedkar Jayanti is also known as Bhim Jayanti. India, amid the lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak, celebrated the birth anniversary of Dr.BR Ambedkar, digitally, to mark their respect.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have greeted people on the occasion of Baisakhi on 14 April. On this auspicious day, people celebrate Vaisakhi, Vishu, Rongali Bihu, Naba Barsha, Vaisakhadi, Puthandu, Pirappu, which are being celebrated in different parts of the country. The festival is a religious festival celebrated by Sikhs and Hindus.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) announced that the antiviral drug Remdesivir can be used against COVID-19. ICMR stated that Research on the efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19 is a part of the "Solidarity Trial" of the World Health Organization (WHO).