Gs – 2
International
New sectors to be added in the second phase of CPEC
• Pakistan announced that it is to add more sectors like agriculture and tourism in the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
• China, earlier, has committed to invest over $60 billion in Pakistan as part of the CPEC under which it planned to build a number of special economic zones (SEZ).
CPEC:
• The CPEC is the flagship project of the multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China.
• It was initiated by the Chinese President Xi Jinping and launched in 2015.
• It aimed to enhance China’s influence around the world through China-funded infrastructure projects.
• India objected to being a part of the CPEC as it is being laid through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Health and welfare
Revised Version of Swachhata Application launched
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched a revised version of Swachhata application.
Why Swachhta Application?
• The Application has more than 1.7 crore urban users all over the country, Therefore, the reach is faster.
• It has separate grievance redressal tool to address complaints of Swachh Bharat Mission.
About the Modified Version
• They are request for sanitation during COVID-19, reporting suspected cases, reporting violation of quarantine and lock down, requesting medicine during COVID-19, reporting suspected cases, reporting violation of quarantine and lock down, requesting medicine during COVID-19, requesting food, shelter and request of waste pick up.
National
‘CHARAK’ for zero-contact check-ups
• The West Central Railway’s Coach Rehabilitation Workshop (CRWS) in Madhya Pradesh’s (MP) Bhopal city,has created a mobile doctor booth called “CHARAK” to eliminate the possibility of physical contact between the doctor and the coronavirus (COVID-19) infected patient.
GS – 3
Economy
Goldman Sachs lowers India’s growth forecast for FY 21 to 1.6% from 3.3%
• American multinational investment bank and financial services company, Goldman Sachs lowered India’s growth forecast for Financial Year (FY) 21 from 3.3% (estimated on March 22, 2020) to 1.6% due to the lockdown & social distancing measures so as to control the COVID-19 pandemic spread.
• It stated that the revised growth will be deeper when compared to the recession India has experienced in 1970’s, 1980’s & 2009.
• Many analysts like Fitch, Moody are downgrading India’s growth rate due to the pandemic
Future Officers 