Daily Current Affairs, 10th March 2020

1) ‘COVA Punjab’ mobile app launched by Punjab Govt.

•Chief Secretary of Punjab, Karan Avtar Singh has launched a mobile application, COVA Punjab. COVA stands for Corona Virus Alert. This app has been developed by the Department of Government Reforms and Public Grievances in consultation with the Health and Family Welfare Department to spread awareness by sharing various travel and preventive care advisories.

•The app would inform people to check out for symptoms as provided by the government from time to time and follow the advisory given thereafter. The app also suggests the nearest hospital and nodal officer of the district where the patient can reach in case he/she is symptomatic. The app was available at Android Playstore and iOS app store with name COVA Punjab.

2) Ashraf Ghani Sworn in for Second Term as Afghanistan President

•Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani was sworn in for a second term as his rival Abdullah Abdullah held a parallel inauguration that could plunge the country deeper into crisis ahead of peace talks with the Taliban.

•The oath-taking ceremony of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was attended by hundreds of people, including visiting foreign dignitaries, diplomats, and senior political figures. Ghani was declared as the winner of the election held in September 2019.

3) India plans to launch Chandrayaan-3 by first half of 2021

•According to the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, a possible schedule for the launch of Chandrayaan-3 is planned to be implemented in the first half of 2021. The preparation of Chandrayaan-3 has been done by taking lessons from the previously launched Chandrayaan-2, a Moon mission which was launched in 2019, in which the Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO)’s Vikram Lander lost contact following a hard landing on the Moon’s surface.

•Chandrayaan-3 will be designed to increase design, capacity with a cost of around Rs 610 crore, including Rs 360 crore for the launch rocket. ISRO also decided to launch in the same area where Chandrayaan-2 launched, and would have a lander, rover and propulsion module like its predecessor.

•Jiendra Singh also mentioned India’s manned space mission Gaganyaan project,where 4 biological and 2 physical science experiments related to microgravity have been done.

4) NASA named Mars 2020 rover as “Perseverance”

•NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) announced the name of the 5th Mars (red planet) rover as Perseverance. Previously the rover was known by its codename as Mars 2020.

•The name was suggested by Alexander Mather, 7th standard student and was announced by Nasa’s director of science, Thomas Zurbuchen at an event in Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia. Nasa’s naming competition asked children to submit their favoured name for the Mars 2020 rover began in August 2019, comprises 4,700 voluntary judges including teachers and space enthusiasts shortlisted nine names and was asked by the public to vote & select the word through online.

•Perseverance: The rover has improved wheel design which is used to collect the samples from the martian rocks and helps scientists to determine about the ancient microbial life that existed in red planet. The Perseverance rover will be the 5th exploratory vehicle after Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity.