Daily Current Affairs 13 May 2020 With Video Lecture

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on May 12th 2020 Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the nation today. Recalling those who have died battling the pandemic,...

Chetan Apurav
May 13, 2020
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Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on May 12th 2020

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the nation today. Recalling those who have died battling the pandemic, Prime Minister said that the crisis that has emerged due to COVID-19 is unprecedented, but in this battle, we not only need to protect ourselves but also have to keep moving forward.
Self-reliant India
- Talking about the pre and post COVID worlds, Prime Minister observed that in order to fulfill the dream of making the 21st century India’s, the way forward is through ensuring that the country becomes self-reliant. Talking about turning a crisis into an opportunity, he gave the example of PPE kits N-95 masks, whose production in India has gone up from almost being negligible to 2 lakh each, on a daily basis.
- Prime Minister remarked that the definition of self-reliance has undergone a change in the globalized world and clarified that when the country talks about self-reliance, it is different from being self-centered. He said that India’s culture considers the world as one family, and progress in India is part of, and also contributes to, progress in the whole world. He noted that the world trusts that India has a lot to contribute towards the development of the entire humanity.
Five pillars of a self-reliant India
- Recalling the devastation in Kutch after the earthquake, Prime Minister said that through determination and resolve, the area was back on its feet. A similar determination is needed to make the country self-reliant.
- He said that a self-reliant India will stand on five pillars viz. Economy, which brings in quantum jump and not incremental change; Infrastructure, which should become the identity of India; System, based on 21st century technology driven arrangements; Vibrant Demography, which is our source of energy for a self-reliant India; and Demand, whereby the strength of our demand and supply chain should be utilized to full capacity. He underlined the importance of strengthening all stakeholders in the supply chain to increase, as well as fulfill, the demand.
Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan
- Prime Minister announced a special economic package and gave a clarion call for Atmanirbhar Bharat. He noted that this package, taken together with earlier announcements by the government during COVID crisis and decisions taken by RBI, is to the tune of Rs 20 lakh crore, which is equivalent to almost 10% of India’s GDP. He said that the package will provide a much needed boost towards achieving ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
- Prime Minister observed that the package will also focus on land, labour, liquidity and laws. It will cater to various sections including cottage industry, MSMEs, labourers, middle class, and industries, among others. He informed that the details of the contours of the package will be provided by the Finance Minister from tomorrow, in the coming few days.
- Talking about the positive impact of reforms like JAM trinity and others, brought about in the last six years, Prime Minister said that several bold reforms are needed to make the country self-reliant, so that the impact of crisis such as COVID, can be negated in future. These reforms include supply chain reforms for agriculture, rational tax system, simple and clear laws, capable human resource and a strong financial system. These reforms will promote business, attract investment, and further strengthen Make in India.
- Prime Minister remarked that self-reliance will prepare the country for tough competition in the global supply chain, and it is important that the country wins this competition. The same has been kept in mind while preparing the package. It will not only increase efficiency in various sectors but also ensure quality.
- Highlighting their contribution to the country, Prime Minister said that the package will also focus on empowering the poor, labourers, migrants, etc., both from organized and unorganized sectors.
- He observed that the crisis has taught us the importance of local manufacturing, local market and local supply chains. All our demands during the crisis were met ‘locally’. Now, its time to be vocal about the local products and help these local products become global, he said.
Living with COVID
- Prime Minister noted that several experts and scientists have said that the virus is going to be part of our lives for a long time. But, it is also important to ensure that our life does-not revolve only around it. He exhorted people to work towards their targets while taking precautions like wearing masks and maintaining ‘do Gaz doori’.
- On the fourth stage of Lockdown, he said that its contours will be completely different from those seen yet. On the basis of recommendations received from states, new rules will be framed, and information about the same will be conveyed before 18th May.

NTPC, Achieves 100 percent PLF at three of its power stations

NTPC Ltd, a central PSU under Ministry of Power and India’s largest power generator, has achieved 100 percent Plant Load Factor (PLF) on 9th May 2020, at three of its thermal power stations. NTPC Vindhyachal (4760 MW) in Madhya Pradesh, NTPC Talcher Kaniha (3000 MW) in Odisha & NTPC Sipat (2980 MW) in Chhattisgarh achieved 100 percent PLF, demonstrating exceptional operational efficiency and optimum capacity utilisation despite lockdown on account of COVID-19 pandemic.
At the same time, NTPC Koldam in Himachal Pradesh is emerging as one of the best hydropower stations in the country for FY20-21.Earlier, on 13th April 2020, country’s largest power station, NTPC Vindhyachal had achieved 100% plus PLF.
Beyond power output, NTPC is making a rich contribution to the social welfare activities for underprivileged section and migrant workers by providing ration and medical aid amidst COVID-19 situation. NTPC is strictly adhering to the guidelines in its fight against COVID-19 by maintaining social distancing at all its establishments and power stations across the country.
With NTPC Group’s total installed 62110 MW capacity, NTPC has 70 Power stations comprising of 24 Coal, 7 combined cycle gas/liquid fuel, 1 Hydro, 13 renewables along with 25 JV Power Stations.

Transformation of manufacturing companies post COVID-19

Digital conference on Rebooting the Economy through Science, Technology, and Research Translations’ (RESTART), organised on the occasion of National Technology Day.
Highlighted the importance of transformation of manufacturing companies post-COVID 19 pandemic, collaborations and that Research should be brought closer to the Industry in overcoming the present challenge.
Session on ‘Medicines & Medical Technologies for better preparedness to face Pandemics’:
- Great opportunity for R&D and needs to be used for strengthening it.
- some of the best medical advancements and innovations in history like drug discovery, vaccines, and diagnostic tools, and other medical devices, as well as ways to preserve electronic health records
- pandemic has forced people to adopt new ways of primary care
- Technologies such as appropriate face masks and best practices like social distancing need to be made a part of life.
Session on ‘Advanced Materials’
- Research needs to quickly switch over from being capital intensive to knowledge-intensive & should be brought closer to industry.
- novel materials such as smart materials, special purpose alloys, engineering polymers & blends, graphene, composites, etc. will be the key to revamping the industry’s product lines in the future
Session on ‘Advanced Manufacturing Technologies for Sustainable Future’
- COVID has forced the Industries who were sitting on the fence to go for digital transformation, which has brought a tremendous change
- world is moving towards mass customization and mass specialization today, and technology like 3-D printing plays a major role in it
- Additive manufacturing can change the fundamentals of manufacturing, and hence needed to be adapted rapidly.
Session on ‘Global Innovation & Technology Alliance for Global Economic Leadership’
- Virtual collaboration is the key to connect globally to fight against the common challenge of COVID-19, and collaboration between countries must continue with much vigour.

Tribal Affairs Minister, holds video conference on “Tribal livelihoods and safety”

Shri Arjun Munda held a VC with States/UTs on “Tribal livelihoods and safety”. CMs, Deputy CMs, State Ministers for Tribal Affairs and state ministers for Forests from more than 20 states/UTs attended the meeting.
Reviewed the working of Prime Minister’s Vandhan Yojana in the States. He said that value addition is required to connect tribal produce to the Global market which is a long-term vision of the PM
Highlighted upon need to develop a Market chain to take the rural products of Organic nature to National and International markets.
Procurement of Rs 40 cr. worth of MFP by state agencies has resulted in an increase in market price of forest produce benefitting the tribals by additional Rs. 300 crore as a result of procurement by private traders at the revised cost.
1205 Van Dhan Kendras have been set up across states, and have benefitted 3.75 lakh beneficiaries through 18075 Self-help Groups. Nearly Rs 166 cr. rupees have been sanctioned for setting up the VDVKs till date

COVID19 current update in India