National
Renaming of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
⇒ Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on 06 August 2021 the renaming of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the country’s highest sporting honour, after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi will rename the Khel Ratna Award as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
First Female Director of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
⇒ Scientist E, Dhriti Banerjee, has become the first female Director of the 105-year-old Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
51-year-old, Banerjee has had an illustrious career as a scientist, conducting research in taxonomy, zoogeography, morphology and molecular systematics.
ZSI documented the contribution of 100 women scientists on the occasion of its centenary celebrations in 2016. Banerjee had co-authored the document titled “The Glorious 100 women’s Scientific Contribution in ZSI”, on women scientists contribution to studies related to different animal groups.
About ZSI:
ZSI is headquartered in Kolkata. ZSI has 16 regional centres. It was founded on July 1, 1916 under the ministry of environment, forests and climate change.
KVIC's Innovative Plastic-mixed Handmade Paper
⇒ Recently, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) have secured Patent registration for its innovative Plastic-mixed Handmade Paper developed to reduce plastic menace from nature. The Controller of Patent, Intellectual Property of India issued patent certificate to KVIC’s Kumarappa National Handmade Paper Institute (KNHPI), Jaipur.
About Product:
» The plastic-mixed handmade paper was developed under Project REPLAN (REducing PLAstic from Nature).
» This is the first of its kind project in India, where plastic waste is de-structured, degraded, diluted and used with paper pulp while making handmade paper and thus reduces plastic waste from nature.
» The technology developed by KVIC uses both high & low density waste polythene that not only adds extra strength to the paper but also reduces the cost by up to 34%.
Use:
The product is recyclable and eco-friendly. KVIC has developed products such as carry bags, envelopes, files/folders, etc. using plastic mixed handmade paper.
“Reform and regulatory knowledge base for power sector”, an e-certification program
⇒ The Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Shri R.K Singh launched “Reform and regulatory knowledge base for power sector”, an e certification program to provide regulatory training to the practitioners from diverse backgrounds on 06 August 2021.
He also launched a Regulatory Data Dashboard which is an e-compendium of data containing State-wise details of tariff and DISCOM performance. They have been developed by IIT Kanpur.
The Regulatory Data Dashboard would assist benchmarking of the sector performance, over time and across the power sector utilities. This would help regulators and policy makers as well as the entities themselves to identify areas for improvement.
International
G20 Research Ministers’ Meeting
⇒ The Minister of State for Education Shri Subhas Sarkar participated in the G20 Research Ministers’ meeting 06 August 2021. The meeting was hosted in blended mode by Italy.
Discussion:
G20 Education Ministers exchanged views on enhancing research collaborations and sharing digital space among G20 Countries for a strong, sustainable, resilient and inclusive recovery.
Representative of India: Highlights of the Minister’s address
» Shri Subhas Sarkar reiterated the India’s commitment to promote research and to skill, reskill and upskill the youth.
» India attaches great importance to work with G20 partners and find evidence-based solutions to common problems.
» India emphasizes leveraging relevant technologies for maximum gain in the education sector, for which a National Education Technology Forum as an umbrella body is launched.
» India has launched PM eVidya programme, under which we ensured continuity of education across the country with a mix of online, television and radio modes, through our initiatives SWAYAM, DIKSHA, SWAYAM PRABHA and many more.
The Minister reaffirmed the Government of India’s support for the collective efforts of the G-20 countries in building a resilient education system.
Important Day
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
⇒ International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9th August every year. It is also known as World Adivasi Day or World Tribal Day.
Theme:
The theme of International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 2021 is “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract.”
History:
The day recognizes the first meeting, in 1982, of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. It has been celebrated every year since December 1994, in accordance with the declaration by the United Nations General Assembly.
Significance:
It is observed each year around the world to protect the rights of the indigenous population. This event acknowledges the achievements and contributions of the indigenous peoples.
Death
Noted Cartoonist, sculptor and folk singer P.S. Banarji
⇒ Noted Cartoonist, sculptor and folk singer P.S. Banarji passed away at Thiruvananthapuram on 06 August 2021. He was 41.
Banarji was noted for his Ayyankali and Buddha sculptures at Venganur and Koduman. Known for his rendition of a string of folk songs, including the popular ‘Tharaka Pennale’, he was working as a graphic designer in an IT firm.