GK Snapshots on 25 May 2021
 

World Turtle Day 2021 – May 23

World Turtle Day is annually observed across the globe on 23rd May to support the people to celebrate and protect the tortoise and turtles and their habitats across the globe.

23rd May 2021 marks the observance of the 21st World Turtle Day.

Aim:

To protect the turtles and tortoises from illegal smuggling, exotic food industry, habitat destruction, global warming and pet trade.

The theme of World Turtle Day 2021 is “Turtle Rocks!”.

Conservation of Turtles:

i.Five species of sea turtles occurring in India, including the Olive Ridley turtles, are legally protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES) Convention which prohibits trade in turtle products.

International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2021 – May 23

The United Nations (UN)’s International Day to End Obstetric Fistula is annually observed across the globe on 23 May to create awareness and intensify the actions towards ending obstetric fistula.

Obstetric Fistula is one of the most serious and tragic childbirth injuries caused by prolonged obstructed labour without access to timely medical treatment.

The theme of International Day to End Obstetric Fistula 2021 is “Women’s rights are human rights! End fistula now!”.

India Biodiversity Awards 2021 – Shergaon BMC, Arunachal Pradesh Awarded with Best BMC

The Shergaon Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of Arunachal Pradesh has won the best ‘BMC’ award in the India Biodiversity Awards(IBA) 2021. The 5th edition of the IBA was held virtually on May 22, 2021, and the awards were given by the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC), Babul Supriyo.

• Shergaon BMC is the first one in Arunachal Pradesh to receive the award.
• The award programme marked the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2021.
• The IBA is a joint initiative by MoEFCC, National Biodiversity Authority, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

• Note – The winners of the IBA carry a Memento, a Certificate and a cash prize of Rs 2 lakhs each for individuals and Rs 5 lakhs each for institutions.

Gautam Adani become Asia’s 2nd Richest Man: Bloomberg Billionaire Index

Based on the data compiled by Bloomberg Billionaire Index, Adani Group’s founder and chairman Gautam Adani became Asia’s 2nd richest man.Reliance Industries’ chairman and India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani topped in the Asia’s Richest Man-Bloomberg Billionaire Index.
 

Rajesh Bansal Appointed as CEO of Reserve Bank Innovation Hub

The Board of Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) has appointed Rajesh Bansal as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the RBIH with effect from May 17, 2021.

Anatole Collinet Makosso Appointed as the Prime Minister of Congo

Anatole Collinet Makosso of Congolese Labour Party, former Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, was appointed as the New Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo. He was appointed by Denis Sassou Nguesso, the President of Congo. He replaced the former Prime Minister Clement Mouamba, who has been in office since 2016.
 

Narinder Batra Re-elected as FIH President for a 2nd Term

Narinder Batra, Indian Olympic Association president was re-elected as president of the International Hockey Federation(FHI) for a 2nd term at the virtual 47th Congress of the FHI held on May22,2021.

• Narinder Batra is also the member of International Olympic Committee (IOC)

DRDO develops ‘DIPCOVAN’ – COVID-19 Antibody Detection Kit

The Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), a unit under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed DIPCOVAN (DIPAS-VDx COVID-19 lgG Antibody Microwell ELISA), an Indigenous COVID-19 Antibody detection-based kit.

• It is set to be used for Sero-surveillance. Sero surveillance is conducted to ascertain the spread of COVID-19 in an area & also gauging a person’s previous exposure to the virus.

• The kit has been developed in association with Vanguard Diagnostics Pvt Ltd, a New Delhi based development and manufacturing diagnostics company.

Microsoft Announced the retirement of Internet Explorer in 2022

Microsoft has announced that its Internet Explorer 11 desktop application will retire and go out of support on 15th June 2022 for certain versions of Windows 10. At present, Internet Explorer, which was launched in 1995, holds only a 3.8% share of the desktop browser space which is dominated by Google’s Chrome with 70% share.

• Microsoft has suggested that users can use the Internet Explorer(IE) mode found on Edge, that will be supported till at least 2029.

• Internet Explorer 11 will no longer be supported for Microsoft’s online services like Office 365, OneDrive, Outlook and more.

Max Verstappen wins F1 Monaco GP; Jack Miller wins French MotoGP

Red Bull Racing Honda’s Max Verstappen from Netherlands won the 2021 F1 Monaco Grand Prix held at Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo.

i.In MotoGP, Ducati’s Jack Miller from Australia won the 2021 French MotoGP (2021 SHARK Helmets Grand Prix de) held at the Le Mans Bugatti Grand Prix race circuit, Le Mans, France.

Formula One – Monaco GP 2021

While Max Verstappen finished 1st, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz from Spain finished 2nd and Mclaren Mercedes’ driver Lando Norris of Great Britain finished 3rd

• This is Max Verstappen’s 1st victory at the Monaco Grand Prix.
• With this victory, Max Verstappen went to the top of the 2021 F1 Drivers’ Championships overtaking Mercedes Driver Lewis Hamilton from Great Britain, who finished 7th in the race.

• The F1 Championships are organised by Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).

MotoGP – 2021 French MotoGP

Ducati’s Jack Miller from Australia won the 2021 French MotoGP.

• Pramac Racing’s Johan Zarco from France finished 2nd, while Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo from France finished 3rd in the race.

• Fabio Quartararo is leading the 2021 Riders’ Championship.

• The MotoGP championships are organized by Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).

Supreme Court’s e-Committee releases Manual for its ‘e-Courts Services Mobile App’

The Supreme Court’s e-Committee released the manual for its free e-Courts Services Mobile App in 14 regional languages. The manual provides explanations about the features of the app, for the easy understanding of the common man.

• Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, Judge, Supreme Court of India and the Chairperson of e-Committee has written the foreword of the manual.

e-Courts Services Mobile App

i.The e-Courts Services Mobile App is an Electronic Case Management Tool (ECMT) launched in 2017. All e-Courts services are interlinked with the app.

• litigants, police, government agencies and common citizens.
• Using the app, the stakeholders can get access to complete case details such as case number, filing numbers, party names, FIR number, advocate details, Case Status and Cause List.

ii.Using the app,

• People can get access to complete case history of cases from filing to disposal (including date wise case diary).
• They can also get the case status and case details of both High Courts and District Courts.
• Advocate/Litigant/Organization can maintain a digital diary of all cases under ‘My Cases’.

51st Edition of Virtual IHGF of Delhi Fair 2021

The 51st Edition of virtual Indian Handicrafts and Gift Fair (IHGF) 2021 organized by Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH) took place from May 19-23, 2021. It is India’s largest Virtual Fair in the Home, Fashion, Lifestyle, Textiles and Furniture sector.

• It was inaugurated by Ravi K. Passi, Chairman of EPCH.
• IHGF is an exclusive Business-2-Business (B2B) online platform developed to assist buyers from all across the globe to source from India.
• Around 1500 manufacturers and overseas buyers from 85 countries participated in the Fair.
• The estimated figures for exports of handicrafts for April-March 2020-21 stand at INR 25, 558.94 Crore, which is a growth of 1.14% (Rupee terms) & decline (-) 3.39% (dollar terms) over the same period in 2020.EPCH has its Headquarters in New Delhi.

Over 21 Million sq kms placed within Protected and Conserved Areas since 2010: UNEP, IUCN Report

According to the ‘Protected Planet Report 2020’ released by United Nations Environment Programme – World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) & Supported by National Geographic Society, around 21 million square kms (which is 7 times the size of India) have been added within the Protected & Conserved Areas of the world since 2010.

• It brings the total percentage of earth’s land which is protected/conserved to 64%, which is just a fraction short of the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 (Protecting/Conserving 17% of Earth’s land and 10% of its marine environments by 2020).
• Around 82% of countries and territories have increased their share of protected area and coverage of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECM).
• The addition of 21 million square kilometres indicates that 42% of the world’s protected and conserved areas were added during 2010-20.

‘Sach Kahun Toh’- Autobiography of Neena Gupta To Be Released

Indian actress and television director, Neena Gupta’s autobiography ‘Sach Kahun Toh’, is set to be published by Penguin Random House India on June 14, 2021.

i.The book was written by Neena Gupta in 2020 during the lockdown, and now it is available for pre-order.
ii.In the book, she shares her life story, details the life’s many choices, big milestones in her life, and her battles against stereotypes, then and now.
 

Ex Atomic Energy Commission Chairman and Padma Shri Awardee Srikumar Banerjee Passed Away

Former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)and Padma Shri Awardee Srikumar Banerjee passed away following a heart attack in Mumbai.

About Srikumar Banerjee:
i.Srikumar Banerjee was awarded Padma Shri in 2005 for his service in the field of science.
ii.He also won the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in 1989.
iii.He served as the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India (AECI) and the secretary of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) in 2012. iv.He had also served as the director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

Indian Olympian Boxer Sakti Mazumdar Passed Away

Former Indian Olympian Boxer Sakti Mazumdar Passed Away after suffering a heart attack in West Bengal.He was born on 13th November 1931 in Kolkata,West Bengal.

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