GK Snapshots on 14 May 2021

1st International Day of Argania 2021 – 10 May

United Nations(UN)’s first International Day of Argania was observed on 10th May 2021 to recognise the importance of the Argan tree in achieving the 3 dimensions (Economic, Social and Environmental) of sustainable development at the local level.

Starting from 2021 the International Day of Argania will be observed annually across the globe on 10th May.

Cabinet Approvals on May 12, 2021

On May 12, 2021, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved several initiatives. They are

• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme – ‘National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage’ with an Total Outlay of INR 18, 100 Crore.

• Transfer of Land of ITBP (Indo Tibetan Border Police) at Mussoorie to Government of Uttarakhand for Aerial Passenger Ropeway System.

• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) & Qatar Financial Centre Authority.

National Bamboo Mission launches MIS Module for Strengthening Agarbatti Stick Production

National Bamboo Mission (NBM) has launched an MIS Module (Management Information Systems) for strengthening the domestic Agarbatti Industry.

• The module will collect data on agarbatti stick production, location of stick making units, availability of raw material, functioning of units, production capacity, marketing etc.

• It will help in better linkage between the industry & production units, thereby plugging all the information gaps.

• NBM, Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) have come together to make India Atma Nirbhar in the Agarbatti sector.

• Steps are being taken to make the Indian Agarbattis go global.

India received USD 83 Billion in Remittances in 2020, tops in Remittance Inflows: World Bank Report

According to Resilience COVID-19 Crisis Through a Migration Lens report released by the World Bank, India received USD 83 Billion as Remittances in 2020, a drop of just 0.2% from 2019 (USD 83.3 Billion in 2019). It

topped the list of Low- and Middle-Income Countries with maximum Remittance Inflows, India was followed by China (USD 59.5 Billion), Mexico (USD 42.8 Billion).

• The officially recorded remittance flows to Low-and Middle-income countries reached USD 540 Billion in 2020, just 1.6% below 2019 total of USD 548 billion.

• Remittance outflow was maximum from the United States (USD 68 Billion), followed by UAE (USD 43 Billion), Saudi Arabia (USD 34.5 Billion).

India to emerge as World’s most populous country by 2023 or 2024

According to Chinese demographers, India may overtake China as the most populous country by 2023 or 2024, much sooner than the UN projects of 2027.

• Based on 2019 estimates, India had an estimated population of 1.37 Billion.

World Food Price Index Increased in April, Highest since May 2014: FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organization(FAO) Food Price Index (FFPI) has averaged 120.9 points in April 2021, which is 2 points (1.7%) higher than the FFPI in March 2021 and 28.4 points(30.8%) higher than April 2020. This marks the 11th consecutive monthly rise in the FFPI value to its highest since May 2014.

• The April rise of FFPI was led by the increase in the price of sugar, followed by oils, meat, dairy and cereals.

• FAO Sugar Price Index averaged 100.0 points in April, up 3.8 points (3.9 percent) from March 2021;Dairy Price Index averaged 118.9 points in April, up 1.4 points (1.2 percent) from March, 2021;Meat Price Index* averaged 101.8 points in April, up 1.7 points (1.7 percent) from March, 2021.

• FFPI is a measure of the monthly change in the international prices of a basket of food commodities which consists of the average of five commodity group price indices weighted by the average export shares of each of the groups over 2014-2016.

Yoweri Museveni was sworn in for 6th term as the President of Uganda

Yoweri Museveni(76-year-old) of the National Resistance Movement party has sworn in for the 6th term as the President of Uganda. He took the oath of office at the ceremony held in Kampala, Uganda.

• He is expected to serve as the President of Uganda till 2025.

• He won the re-election in January 2021 with 58.6% of the vote.

British Diplomat Martin Griffiths Appointed as UN Humanitarian Chief

United Nations(UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed veteran British diplomat Martin Griffiths as the new UN humanitarian Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator(Chief).He succeeds Mark Lowcock, a Briton who has served as undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator for four years.

Ruskin Bond’s New Book Titled “All Time Favourites for children” to be Released

Most Renowned author Ruskin Bond, is coming up with a new book titled “All Time Favourites for Children” on his 87th birthday on May 19, 2021.It will be published by Puffin, children’s imprint of Penguin Random House. Illustrations of the book was done by Kashmira Sarode.

About the Book: It is a collection of short stories which will feature some of his most celebrated characters and stories like ‘Rusty’s Adventures’, ‘Grandfather’s Stories’ as well as new stories like ‘Goldfish Don’t Bark’, ‘Friends from the Forest’ and many more.

Actress Kalki Koechlin Authored Her Debut Book Titled “Elephant In The Womb”

Actress Kalki Koechlin has authored her debut book titled “Elephant In The Womb”, a non-fiction book on motherhood. The illustrations of the book were done by Valeriya Polyanychko. The illustrated book will be published by the Penguin Random House. India(PRHI). About the book:

i.The book focuses on the physiological discomfort and manic expectations during motherhood.
ii.The book features the personal essays and think pieces of Kalki.

Nobel Prize-winning Author Kazuo Ishiguro, Authored a New Book Titled “Klara and the Sun Novel”
 A Book titled “Klara and the Sun Novel” authored by Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro has been published by Penguin Random house About the Book: Klara and the Sun is a thrilling book that offers a look at our changing world through the eyes of an unforgettable narrator, and one that explores the fundamental question: what does it mean to love?
 

News In Detail