Top Best Current Affairs 21 May 2020 (2)

Veteran Marathi writer, playwright Ratnakar Matkari passed away at 81 in a hospital at suburban Marol, Mumbai. Last week he was tested positive to coronavirus. He was born on 17th November 1938 in Mumbai, India.

World Bee day is observed on 20 May every year. The day aims to strengthen measures to protect bees and other pollinators. The day aims to spread awareness about the significance of pollinators like bees, butterflies, bats, and sparrows.

The Union Cabinet has approved extension of 'Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana' (PMVVY) up to 31st March 2023 for a further period of three years, beyond 31st March 2020. Earlier, the last date of PMMVY was March 31, 2020, and the extension was not provided to it. Now, the last date to invest in PMVVY will be March 31, 2023.

India provides 2 million USD (Rs 15 crore) to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to support the Palestinian refugees for its programmes and services like education and healthcare in the COVID-19 situation.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on 20 May 2020. The scheme aims to boost investments in the fisheries sector and increase of competitiveness of fish and fisheries products. The total estimated investment for the scheme is Rs.20,050 crore comprising of the Central government share of Rs.9,407 crore, State government share of Rs.4,880 crore, and Beneficiaries' share of Rs.5,763 crore.

Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries set a milestone by touching 1 crore count across the country. The scheme is meant only for poor and economically-deprived people in India. The eligible families to avail the benefits of the scheme are fixed based on the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC). Ayushman Bharat or the National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPM) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2018 in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the Uttar Pradesh(UP) government's largest ever budget of Rs 5,12,860.72 crores for FY 2020-21 in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the state assembly. The budget estimates total receipts of 5,00,558 crores(Rs 4,22,567 crores- revenue and Rs 77,990 crores-capital receipts) & a deficit of Rs 12,302 crores.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is to conduct a 10-month trial on the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine. The trial is to find a vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The trial conducted by the ICMR will focus on the vaccine's potential in reducing the chance of COVID-19 death, especially among those who are above age 60.