GK Snapshots on 1 June 2021

World Vape Day 2021: May 30

World Vape Day 2021 is annually observed across the globe on 30th May and it falls on the day before the WHO’s World No Tobacco Day (May 31) to raise awareness about the significant health, social, and economic benefits of vaping and e-cigarettes/vapor products for people who smoke. It will highlight the benefits of tobacco harm reduction in general and of vaping in particular.

• World Vape Day is a community-supported effort, with the website maintained by the International Network of Nicotine Consumer Organizations (INNCO).

Note – Indian authorities have banned the sale (but not use) of e-cigarettes in 2019.

Background:

World Vape Day was first celebrated in 2012 on various dates. From this year 2021, World Vape will be celebrated on May 30th.

World No Tobacco Day 2021:May 31

World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is observed every year around the world on 31st May to spread awareness about the dangers of using tobacco. According to World Health Organization(WHO), tobacco kills more than 8 million people every year around the world.

The theme of WNTD 2021 is “Commit to Quit”

The objective of 2021 theme:-This yearly celebration alters the people about dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies especially Covid-19 is an infectious disease that mainly attacks the lungs, and tobacco use continues to be the biggest health threats especially during this pandemic.

Commonwealth day in India – May 24

Commonwealth Day is celebrated on the second Monday in the month of March every year. But Commonwealth Day in India is commemorated every year on 24th May.

• This day is also known as Empire Day commemorates the formation of the British Empire in India and other colonies of Britain. It is observed across the 54 Commonwealth Nations to promote Commonwealth’s shared values of peace, democracy, and equality, and to celebrate the association’s rich diversity.

• According to India, Sat-bhakti is the real Commonwealth for human society. Sat-bhakti (True Worship) of Supreme God Kabir obtained from enlightened Saint Rampal Ji Maharaj is the real Commonwealth for humans.

Theme for 2021 Commonwealth Day is ‘Delivering a Common Future’. The aim of this theme is to highlight how the 54 Commonwealth countries are innovating, connecting, and transforming to help achieve essential goals like tackling climate change, promoting good governance, achieving gender equality.

Authors Of The Book Transformation In Times Of Crisis Won International Business Book Of The Year Award 2021

Notion Press authors Nitin Rakesh and Jerry Wind won the International Business Book of the Year Award 2021 for their recently launched book Transformation in Times of Crisis. This book provides the knowledge to thrive business even in a crisis for entrepreneurs and business owners.
About Nitin rakesh:
i.Nitin Rakesh is the Chief Executive Director(CEO) and Executive Director of IT major Mphasis.
ii.He has won ‘Gold Stevie Award’ for Tech Innovator of the Year in 2019.

About Jerry Wind:
i.Jerry Wind is an internationally renowned academician and is currently Lauder Professor Emeritus and Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
ii.He is the recipient of various awards, including the four major marketing awards,

• The Charles Coolidge Parlin Award (1985)
• The AMA/Irwin Distinguished Educator Award (1993)
• The Paul D. Converse Award (1996)
• The Buck Weaver Award (2007).

Govt Reconstitutes 6 Empowered Groups into 10 to Manage Covid-19

The Government has reconstituted 6 empowered groups(EG) set up for Covid-19 into 10 under section 10(2)(h) and (i) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 to manage the current Covid-19 situation by expanding their scope to look into issues like availability of oxygen, vaccination, emergency response and economic welfare measures.

• A panel for vaccination and to monitor medical oxygen requirements was formed.
• NITI Aayog will be leading 3 of the empowered groups. ICMR will lead 1 of the groups and the rest of the six empowered groups will be led by Union secretaries.

CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh Got Additional Charge as DG of NIA

Kuldiep Singh, Director-General (DG) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), has been given additional charge, as the DG of National Investigation Agency (NIA) by the Ministry of Home Affairs.He will replace Y C Modi who retires on May 31, 2021 (superannuation).

• Kuldiep Singh is a 1986-batch West Bengal cadre officer, he has been the DG of CRPF since March, 2021.
• Y C Modi is a 1984-batch IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, who was appointed chief of the federal anti-terror probe agency in September 2017.

India’s Nagaraj Adiga Elected as Asia & Oceania Representative in International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) Council 2021-25

Nagaraj Adiga of India elected as the Asia and Oceania Representative in International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) Executive Council for 2021-2025.He was elected during the 2021 International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) Congress that held virtually from May 22 & 23, 2021.

About Nagaraj Adiga:

i.Adiga was nominated to the IAU Council by Athletics Federation of India (AFI).
ii.He was elected as the Asia and Oceania Representative after defeating the Gilsoo Park of South Korea.

NSA Ajit Doval Commissioned OPV Sajag into Indian Coast Guard

National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval virtually commissioned Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Sajag into Indian Coast Guard (ICG). OPV Sajag was built under the ‘Make in India’ initiative by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) with State-of-Art technology.

i.The virtual launch event saw the participation of K Natarajan, Director General of Indian Coast Guard; Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary; BB Nagpal CMD of GSL.
Note – 3 Indian ships – ICGS Samudra Prahari, ICGS Vajra & ICGS Vaibhav were involved in extinguishing fire in the container vessel X-Press Pearl at Colombo coast in Sri Lanka.
ii.OPV Sajag will be a part of guarding India’s 7500 km long coast and will be involved in overseas missions along the Indo-Pacific region.

Agri Services E-Marketplace Launched By CSC SPV

The Common Services Centres (CSC) E-Governance India Ltd has unveiled a unique Agri Services Portal that will act as a one-stop destination and marketplace for small farmers.

Aim:To empower small and marginal farmers, who constitute 86 per cent of India’s farming community.

NCPCR launches “Bal Swaraj” portal for Children affected by COVID-19

In May 2021, The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), an organisation under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, launched “Bal Swaraj”, an online tracking portal for real-time tracking & monitoring of Children who lost both or either of their parents in COVID-19.

Note- Under Section 2(14) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, Children who lost their parents are children in need of care and protection

i.“COVID-Care”, a link under the Bal Swaraj portal, will enable officers in concerned departments to upload data about such children who are in need of care.

ii.Monitoring of Children right from the point they reach the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) till they are produced to their parent or guardian will be digitally monitored through the portal.

iii.This digital monitoring procedure, will regulate the Financial spending of CWCs in various states/UTs

Bharti-backed OneWeb Launched 36 New LEO Satellites

OneWeb, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communications operator, co-owned by Bharti Global and the UK government, launched another batch of 36 satellites on 28 May 2021, which was carried out by European satellite launch company, Arianespace, from the Russian spaceport, Vostochny Cosmodrome.

• OneWeb plans to launch a fleet of 648 LEO satellites as part of its high-speed, low-latency global connectivity and the current launch increased its total LEO satellite count to 218.
• The satellites are built under a joint venture between OneWeb and the aerospace company, Airbus.

China Launched Cargo Spacecraft ‘Tianzhou-2’ by Long March-7 Y3 rocket

China Launched cargo spacecraft, “Tianzhou-2” or “Heavenly Vessel” through Long March-7 Y3 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan.

The spacecraft “Tianzhou-2” successfully docked with the Tiangong space station.

Key Points:

i.The spacecraft is carrying supplies, equipment and propellant, docked with the space station’s key module Tianhe.
ii.This launch is the part of the construction of the Tiangong space station.

Supriya Paul Authored A Book Titled ‘All You Need Is Josh: Inspiring Stories Of Courage And Conviction In 21st-Century India’

A book titled ‘All You Need Is Josh: Inspiring Stories of Courage and Conviction in 21st-century India’, a collection of 30 awe-inspiring real-life stories of people bracing odds and obstacles and achieving their dreams edited by Supriya Paul was released.This book has been published by Bloomsbury.

About the Book:

i.It contains stories of some unique individuals with an aim to reach those who are searching for hope and comfort during trying times.
ii.The book includes stories of,

Ministry of Education Launched ‘YUVA’ – PM’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors

The Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, launched an Author Mentorship programme ‘YUVA (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors) – Prime Minister’s Scheme for Mentoring Young Authors’ to Train Young and Budding Authors (Below 30 Years of age).

Objective: To promote reading, writing, and book culture of Indians; to project Indian writings globally.

Govt Extended the Validity of ECLGS till September 30, 2021; ECLGS 4.0 Launched for On-Site oxygen generation

The Ministry of Finance has extended the validity of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) for another 3 months till September, 30, 2021 or till guarantee for an amount of Rs 3 lakh crore is issued.

• Additionally, the scope of ECLGS has been widened through the introduction of ECLGS 4.0 for on-site oxygen generation.
• National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) will issue the Operational guidelines.

IFFCO Introduces World’s First ‘Nano Urea’ for Farmers

Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has introduced the world’s first Nano Urea Liquid for farmers during its 50th annual general body virtual meeting.The production of Nano Urea Liquid will commence by June 2021.

• The nano urea fluid was developed to replace conventional urea and that ureas demand could be reduced by at least 50%.
• Scientists have developed indigenous Nano Urea Liquid at Nano Biotechnology Research Centre, Kalol, Gujarat in line with ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Krishi’.
• Nano urea has been added to the government’s Fertilizer Control Order after conducting field tests on 43 crops under National Agriculture Research System (NARS), 20 ICAR research institutes, State Agriculture Universities, and Krishi Vighyana Kendras.

South Africa Hosted 5th BRICS Working Group Meeting on HPC & ICT initiatives; India Chairs 2nd BRICS Sherpas’ & Sous Sherpas’ Meeting

The 5th BRICS Working Group meeting on High Performance Computing (HPC) and Information Communication Technologies (ICT) was organised by South Africa in an Online mode. Key discussions were made on the use of HPC and Artificial Intelligence for fighting pandemics & sustainable development projects.

Objective – To prepare for research cooperations among BRICS countries for weather-climate-environment applications through HPC technologies.

i.The meeting saw more than 50 participants from the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries.
ii.Indian delegates were headed by Mr. Sanjeev Kumar Varshney, Advisor & Head, International Cooperation Division, Department of Science and Technology (DST).
iii.India’s ICT industry contributes over 13 % to India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the digital economy generates about $200 billion annually from business process management (IT-BPM), e-commerce, domestic electronics manufacturing, digital payments, digital communication services, etc.

CWUR’s World University Rankings 2021-22:IIM-Ahmedabad Tops in India; Harvard University Tops Globally

Indian Institute of Management(IIM), Ahmedabad topped among the Indian Universities in the Centre for World University Ranking (CWUR)’s World University Rankings 2021-22 & IIM-Ahmedabad was ranked 415th globally.Harvard University topped globally.

• Jadavpur University ranks 18th among Indian higher educational institutions in CWUR rankings.
• Among the top 2,000 institutions across the globe, 68 Indian institutions have made the positions in this list.
• Indicators- Quality of Education, Alumni Employment, Quality of Faculty, Research Performance were the indicators of Center for World University Rankings (CWUR).

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