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Vidyut Mohan, a Delhi-based entrepreneur, won the inaugural edition of The Earthshot Prize He won it for his innovative technology that recycles agricultural wasteto create fuel. Important points: It is an award set up by Prince William and the Royal Foundation, the charity founded by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and historian David Attenborough. Earlier, …

World Food Day is celebrated every year on October 16th to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945. FAO is a specialised agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. In 2021, the UN Secretary-General also convened the very first Food SystemsSummit to discuss ways to transform the production and consumption of …

The COP 26 United Nations Climate Change Conference will be hosted by the UK from 31st october to 12th November. Earlier, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its assessment report on Earth’s climate, highlighting heat waves, droughts, extreme rainfall and sea-level rise in the coming decades. Important points: COP 26 Goals: According to the United Nations Climate Change Framework Convention (UNFCCC), COP26 will work towards four goals …

International E-Waste Day has been observed on 14th October since 2018. The aim of the day is to raise awareness about the millions of tonnes of e-waste generated worldwide each year, which has a negative impact on the environment and natural resources. Earlier this year, the Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued directions for the implementation of E-Waste (Management) …

Recently, the Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force) of the Indian Army has been awarded a Gold medal in the Cambrian Patrol Exercise, which was held in Wales (the UK). Important points: It is an annual international military patrolling exercise and is referred to as the ‘Olympics of Military Patrolling’ among militaries in the world. It was first …

The 8th Edition of joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, Exercise MITRA SHAKTI was conducted in Sri Lanka. The 7th edition of the Mitra Shakti exercise was held in Pune, Maharashtra in 2019. Important points: It is based on counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations in semi urban terrain. It is the largest bilateral exercise being …

Recently, the 17th Indo-US Joint Military Exercise “Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021” was held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska (US). In February 2021, the previous version of the exercise was held in Bikaner’s Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan). Important points: It is the largest running joint military training and defence cooperation endeavor between India and the US. The exercise …

Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has invited India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer, to become its full-time member. Important points: India became an Associate member of IEA in March 2017 but it was in engagement with IEA long before its association with the organization. Earlier in 2021, India also inked a Strategic Partnership Agreement with …

Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released the World Energy Outlook (WEO) Report 2021. Published every year, the WEO provides critical analysis and insights on trends in energy demand and supply. The 2021 report signaled pressure on governments to push for greater climate action at the Conference of Parties (COP26) summit (in Glasgow, UK). Earlier, IEA also released …

The Prime Minister dedicated the seven defence Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), created through the restructuring of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), to the nation. India’s goal under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) is to make the country, on its own, into a big military power. Important points: The Union government ordered the dissolution of the …

Recently, it has been reported that China tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic glide vehicle that circled the globe before speeding towards its target. Several countries, including the US, Russia and China, are developing hypersonic missiles which travel at a speed five times that of sound. Though slower than ballistic missiles, they are harder to intercept and can be …

Recently, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the former President APJ Abdul Kalam on his 90th birth anniversary. Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness Campaign (KAPILA) was launched in 2020 on the occasion of his birth anniversary. Important points: Born on 15th October 1931 at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. His birth anniversary is celebrated as the National …

Recently, the Government has notified new rules under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Act, 2021. The 2021 Act was passed to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971. Important points: The gestational limit for termination of a pregnancy has been increased from 20 to 24 weeks for certain categories of women. The seven specific categories are: Survivors of …

Recently, findings of a study titled “Returns on Investment in Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health in Rajasthan” were released. Adolescents are a heterogeneous group aged between 10 and 19 years, who are in different stages of development, live in varying circumstances and have distinct needs. Important points: It examines the economic and health …

India has slipped to 101st position in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2021 of 116 countries, from its 2020 position of 94th Important points: Jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. It was first produced in 2006. It is published every October. The 2021 edition marks the 16th edition of the GHI. To comprehensively measure and …

Recently, the government has accorded the ‘Maharatna’ status to state-owned Power Finance Corporation (PFC). An order to this effect was issued by the Department of Public Enterprises, under the Ministry of Finance. PFC has become the 11th public sector enterprise to get the ‘Maharatna’ status in the country and joins the ranks of other such companies like ONGC, Indian Oil …

The international environmental think tank ‘Germanwatch’ released the Global Climate Risk Index 2021. This is the 16th Edition of the Index. It is published annually. Germanwatch, based in Bonn and Berlin (Germany), is an independent development and environmental organisation which works for sustainable global development. Important points: The Index analyses the extent to which countries and regions have been affected by the impacts of weather-related loss events (storms, …

In India, countless workers engaged in mines, construction and factories are silently dying of exposure to dust. This is better referred to as silicosis Silicosis can be described as an occupational disease or hazard due to dust exposure. It is incurable and can cause permanent disability. However, it is totally preventable by available control …

Recently, the Kunming Declaration was adopted by over 100 countries at the ongoing 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in china. The adoption of the declaration will create momentum for a new global biodiversity pact. In a previous agreement, Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, signed in Aichi, Japan, in 2010, governments agreed …

Recently, the government of India has launched the ambitious Gati Shakti scheme or National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity plan, with the aim of coordinated planning and execution of infrastructure projects to bring down logistics costs. Important points: To ensure integrated planning and implementation of infrastructure projects in the next four years, with focus on …