NATIONAL NEWS

1. CISF PERSONNEL CONTRIBUTE ONE DAY SALARY TO PM CARES FUND. [GREEN

ZONE]

All ranks of Central Industrial Security Force, CISF personnel have voluntarily contributed
one day salary to PM Cares Fund. Director General of CISF Rajesh Ranjan yesterday handed
over a cheque of 16 crore 23 lakh 82 thousand 357 rupees to Home Minister Amit Shah in
New Delhi. CISF said, it stands firmly with the nation in this fight against COVID-19. The
CISF is the national civil aviation security force and is also tasked to guard vital
infrastructure in the aerospace and nuclear power domain apart from securing some units in
the private domain. It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

2. PMBJK ACCEPTING ORDERS ON WHATSAPP, E-MAIL AMID LOCKDOWN. [ORANGE

ZONE]

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras are accepting orders for medicines on
WhatsApp and e-mail amid lockdown.

Highlights:

 Medicines are delivered at the doorsteps of the patients on the basis of uploaded prions.
 This novel move is ensuring use of technology for facilitating easier procurement of
medicines by the users.
 Complimenting this initiative, Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Sadananda
Gowda said, it is heartening that many Janaushadhi Kendras are using modern
communication tools to provide essential medicines to the needy.
 Till now, there are over 6,300 such Kendras functioning in 726 districts at affordable
prices.
 These medicines are cheaper by about 50 to 90 per cent on an average.
 In April 2020 around 52, crore Rupees worth of medicine have been supplied through out
the country.
 PMBJKs are working under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana
(PMBJP).
3. GOVT ANNOUNCES TO OPERATE 64 FLIGHTS TO REPATRIATE STRANDED INDIANS
ABROAD. [GREEN ZONE]

Government will operate 64 flights to repatriate stranded Indians abroad. On Tuesday,

addressing a digital press conference in New Delhi, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh
Puri said, the flights will be operated from Thursday till 13th of this month. Other than this,
Navy has confirmed that 3 of its ship are on the mission to get back stranded citizens from
Maldives and UAE. INS Jalashwa and INS Magar will get back Indians from the Maldives
while INS Shardul has been diverted to Dubai to get back the deportees from the West Asian
countries. Government has prepared a detailed roadmap to repatriate over 14 thousand 800
stranded Indian citizens from abroad in light of the Corona Virus Pandemic.

4. TEXTILES MINISTRY ASSURES MAHARASHTRA FARMERS: CCI FULLY PREPARED TO

PURCHASE COTTON AT MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE. [ORANGE ZONE]

The Textiles Ministry has assured farmers in Maharashtra that the Cotton Corporation of
India (CCI) is fully prepared to purchase cotton at minimum support price in the state during
the ongoing lockdown. The MSP operations are continuing and Cotton Corporation of India’s
(CCI) procurement is currently on at 34 centres in the state.

Highlights:

 The Ministry’s move comes as traders may not offer a better price in view of the
pandemic situation forcing farmers to avail the MSP rates.
 Textile Ministry has said the procurement is regulated by state’s Agricultural Produce
Market Committees (APMCs) and 27 centres are coming under Red Zones wherein
procurement is expected to pick up this week.
 In the remaining 22 centres, the State Government has been approached by the CCI for
issue of passes to farmers to bring cotton and the matter is being constantly monitored by
the Ministry of Textiles through daily status reports on arrival of farmers and
procurements at the APMCs.
 Around 77.40 per cent of total cotton produced in state has already arrived in the markets
so far and sold till March 25.
5. GOVT REJECTS CLAIM MADE IN WHATSAPP MESSAGE THAT TELECOM OPERATORS

ANNOUNCED TO GIVE FREE INTERNET SERVICE DURING LOCKDOWN. [ORANGE ZONE]

Government yesterday rejected a claim made in WhatsApp message that telecom operators
have announced to give free Internet service during the extended lockdown period in the
wake of COVID-19. In a tweet, Press Information Bureau (PIB) described the claim as false.

Highlights:

 Government has come across reports in a section of social media claiming that the
Telecom Ministry is giving free Internet usage till 17 th May of this month by clicking on a
particular link.
 Telecom Ministry and MEITY says the news is false and the said link is fake. Citizens are
requested not to pay heed to such misleading information and do not fall for it.
 It was clarified that Department of Telecommunications has not made any such
announcement.