National
45th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award
⇒ Well-known Malayalam writer Benyamin has bagged the 45th Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Literary Award for his book “Manthalirile 20 Communist Varshangal”.
The prestigious award, instituted by the Vayalar Ramavarma Memorial Trust, comprises a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a sculpture designed by renowned sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman and a citation.
The award was presented to the writer in a function held on 27 October 2021.
About book:
A political satire, the novel revolves around a nondescript village called Manthalir and the influence of religion and politics in its culture in two decades.
Air Quality Early Warning System
⇒ Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh has launched the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) on the occasion of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav week organised by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, an autonomous Institute of Ministry of earth Sciences has developed a new Decision Support System and extended the ability of the existing air quality early warning system to have decision-making capability for air quality management in Delhi – NCR region.
Ayush Van
⇒ Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated ‘Ayush Van’, a dedicated forest for Ayurvedic plants in a program held at the Deendayal Port Trust (DPT)– Rotary Forest in Gandhidham. The Ayush Van was set up in 30 acres of land allotted by DPT in green-belt area.
International
12th Equator Prize by UNDP
⇒ Two Indian organisations have been awarded UNDP Equator Prize 2021. The prestigious 12th Equator Prize has been awarded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Two Indian organisations are:
- Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
- Snehakunja Trust, Karnataka
- Both these organizations are among the 10 awardees of the prestigious Equator Prize 2021.
About Aadhimalai Pazhangudiyinar Producer Company Limited:
This 1,700-member cooperative, managed and run entirely by Indigenous people from the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Southern India, has improved livelihoods across 147 villages by processing and marketing a diverse range of forest products and crops.
About Snehakunja Trust:
Snehakunja Trust has protected sensitive wetland and coastal ecosystems in the Western Ghats and the Karnataka coast for 45 years. With a focus on community-based restoration and conservation, this organization provides essential solutions to the climate crisis.
About Award:
The UNDP biennial award recognizes community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
RNESL acquires 100% shareholding of REC Group
⇒ Reliance New Energy Solar (RNESL) has acquired 100% shareholding of REC Solar Holdings AS (REC Group) from China National Bluestar (Group) Co Ltd., for a value of $771 million.
About:
- Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd (RNESL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).
- REC is headquartered in Norway. REC Group is an international pioneering solar energy company leading the industry through its technological innovations and superior, high efficiency and long-life solar cells and panels for clean and affordable solar power.
Fourth General Assembly of International Solar Alliance
⇒ Shri R K Singh Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy and the President of International Solar Alliance (ISA) inaugurated Fourth General Assembly of International Solar Alliance.
- The 4th general assembly of the International Solar Alliance, was held virtually between October 18th and October 21st, 2021.
Participants:
A total of 108 countries participated in the Assembly, including 74 Member Countries and 34 Observer & Prospective Countries, 23 Partner Organizations and 33 Special Invitee Organisations also participated.
Highlights of the Discussion:
» During the assembly, two new programmes were launched: Management of Solar PV panels & battery usage waste & Solar Hydrogen programme.
» The discussions at the Assembly highlighted that the MSME clusters can replace diesel gensets with hydrogen, which are viable even at today’s solar hydrogen prices.
» The discussions also focused on how ISA’s waste management programme will be pivotal for the growing volume of waste & toxic materials, lack of waste specific legislation, and high cost of waste treatment.
» An update on One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative was also discussed at the Assembly.
» The International Solar Alliance (ISA) also announced a partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies to mobilize $1 trillion in global investments for solar energy across ISA’s member countries.
» The Fourth Assembly of the International Solar Alliance closes with a promise to achieve $1 trillion global in solar investments by 2030.
Sports
Youngest player to score a senior international century
⇒ Ireland’s Amy Hunter has become the youngest player to score a senior international century, hitting an unbeaten 121 and taking her side to a win against Zimbabwe on her 16th birthday.
Hunter overtook the record previously held by India’s Mithali Raj, who scored 114 not out in and ODI against Ireland at the age of 16 years and 205 days in June 1999.
Shahid Afridi is the youngest man to hit an ODI century. He was 16 years and 217 days old when he scored 102 against Sri Lanka in 1996.
Hunter is younger than any man or woman who has scored a century in T20Is.