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Current Affairs [PDF] - March 16-31, 2020

Measures of GoI
The World Bank has provided Rs 14,000 crores and Asian Development Bank has provided grant of Rs 7,000
crores to improve road infrastructure of India. The funds are to be used to improve road engineering and
also to providing training in driving.
March 17, 2020
Corona Virus: India bans entry of people from UK, EU; WHO’s Blanket Ban comment on India
On March 16, 2020, India has announced that it is to stop entry of people from European Union and United
Kingdom till the end of March 2020. This is being done with the increasing threats of Corona Virus.
Highlights
The entry ban includes all the 27 members of European Union and also the members of European Free
Trade Association. India will also ban passengers from Oman, UAE, Qatar and Kuwait. Because of travel
ban, the tourism industries in the country is greatly affected.
World Health Organization
The WHO has criticized India that the country is implementing a “blanket ban”. By the term, the organization
means that India is restricting foreign nationals and also has suspended visas of foreign nationals.
Tourism
In the last 2 weeks more than 200,000 international and domestic and international tourists cancelled their
trips to Taj Mahal. The holiday seasons in the country is between April and July during which Indians travel
inside and outside the country a lot. It is expected that this holiday season is to take a hit by more than 80%
according to Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). This will be the biggest hit in the history of tourism
industry.
Ranjan Gogoi, the former Chief Justice of India nominated to Rajya Sabha by the President
On March 16, 2020, the President of India Ramnath Kovind nominated the former Chief Justice of India
Ranjan Gogoi to Rajya Sabha. The former chief justice retired in November, 2019.
Article 80-Clause (3)
Under Clause (3) of article 80, the President has powers to nominate persons with special knowledge to the
council of states. Such person shall have special knowledge in science, art, literature and social service.
What is council of states?
Rajya Sabha is called the council of states. The Council of states of defined by Article 80 of the
constitution. The council of states consists of 12 members that are nominated by the President of India.
Other Clauses of Article 80
Apart from 12 members nominated by the president, the council of states also consists of representative
from the states. These representatives should not exceed more than 280 in numbers from the states and
union territories.
The representatives are elected by the members of legislative assembly in the state.
History
During British rule, the Council of State was the upper house of the legislature of British India. It was
created under Government of India Act, 1919. The Viceroy or Governor General was the ex officio President
of the council.
The Government of India act, 1919 implemented Montagu-Chelmsford reforms.
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
The reforms formed two houses namely Central legislative assembly and council of states. Also, the
reforms introduced dual government system or dyarchy. The number of Indians in the Executive Council of
Viceroy was increased from 3 to 8. A council of princes were set up. The Governor General was given
powers to prorogue, summon and dissolve chambers and promulgate ordinances.
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