National
India's Achievements in Renewable Energy Capacity:
⇒ Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shri R.K. Singh tweeted about the India’s achievements in renewable energy capacity on 12 August 2021.
The total installed renewable energy capacity in India, excluding large hydro, has crossed the mile-stone of 100 GW.
India stands at 4th position in the world in terms of installed RE capacity, 5th in solar and 4th in wind in terms of installed capacity.
While 100 GW has been installed, 50 GW is under installation and 27 GW is under tendering. India has also enhanced its ambition to install 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030. If large hydro is included the installed RE capacity increases to 146 GW.
Acquisition by Zomato Limited
⇒ The Competition Commission of India has approved the proposed combination, which involves acquisition by Zomato Limited of approximately 9.3 Per cent stake in each of Grofers India Private Limited and Hands on Trades Private Limited (HoT) along with certain rights in each of the Targets.
Prime Minister’s Shram Awards (PMSA) for the year 2018
⇒ The Government of India on 12 August 2021 announced the Prime Minister’s Shram Awards (PMSA) for the year 2018.
The awards were presented to workers for their distinguished performance, innovative abilities, outstanding contribution in the field of productivity and exhibition of exceptional courage and presence of mind.
Out of the total awardees, 49 workers are from the public sector while 20 workers are from the private sector.
List of Award winners
Earth Observation Satellite EOS-03
⇒ ISRO’s GSLV rocket on 12 August 2021 failed to inject into the orbit the country’s latest earth observation satellite EOS-03 due to a failure to ignite the cryogenic stage of the launch vehicle. However, the first and second stages of the rocket had performed normally.
Earth Observation Satellite, EOS-03 had to be placed in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by GSLV-F10. The geo-imaging satellite was intended to help in near-real time monitoring of natural disasters like floods & cyclones. It was also intended to monitoring of water bodies, crops, vegetation condition, forest cover changes etc.
After GSLV-F10 rocket failed to inject the new-series earth observation satellite EOS-03 (Gisat-1) into the geo orbit, Union space minister Jitendra Singh said the mission can be rescheduled again.
Brand Ambassador of Adventure Tourism in Kerala
⇒ Goalkeeper and former captain of the Indian National Hockey team, PR Sreejesh from Ernakulam will be made the brand ambassador of adventure tourism in Kerala.
Olympian Sreejesh was part of the bronze medal winning Indian Hockey team at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.
International
6th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the member countries of SCO
⇒ Recently, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar attended the 6th meeting of Agriculture Ministers of the member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The meeting was organized virtually in Dushanbe, Tajikstan.
Participants:
In the meeting, the Indian delegation led by Mr. Tomar included the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ms. Shobha Karandlaje.
The Minister of Agriculture of Tajikistan, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, SCO Secretary General Norov Vladimir Imamovich, FAO Director General Mr Qu Dongyu and Chairman of the Food Security Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and others respective members attended the meeting.
Speaking as the Indian representative on the occasion, Mr Tomar said:
» The Government of India has been taking several steps to develop innovative technologies and their dissemination from Lab to Land to empower rural youth, farmers and farm women.
» The Government is determined to attain sustainable development goal to end hunger, achieve food security and nutrition.
» The Government with the goal to double farmer’s income by 2022 has launched several programs.
» The agriculture sector in India performed well even during the severe Covid-19 pandemic. Along with food production, exports have also registered significant growth, contributing to global food security.
» India values and honors its relationship with SCO in promoting multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interaction in the region.
Important Day
International Youth Day 2021
⇒ International Youth Day is commemorated every year on 12 August.
Theme:
The theme of International Youth Day 2021 is “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”.
The theme highlights the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people.
History:
In 1999, in its resolution 54/120, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.
Commemorating the International Youth Day 2021:
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur conferred the National Youth Awards 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.
Ten young winning entrepreneur teams of the agri-enterprise challenge S.O.L.V.E.D 2021 (Social Objectives-Led Volunteer Enterprise Development) were also felicitated by Shri Anurag Thakur.
- Total 22 National Youth awards were given in individual and organisations categories.
- Total 14 awards were given for NYA 2017-18, which includes 10 awards in individual category and 4 awards in Organization category.
- Total 8 awards were given for NYA 2018-19 which includes 7 awards in individual category and 1 award in Organization category.
