National
Fit India Freedom Run 2.0
⇒ The Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Shri Anurag Singh Thakur and Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports (MoS) Shri NisithPramanik on August 13th, 2021 launched the nationwide programme of Fit India Freedom Run 2.0. It was launched as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav which celebrates 75 years on India’s Independence.
The Union Minister flagged off the Freedom Run from Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and participated in the Freedom Run at the stadium.
The event was also held at 75 other locations across the country, including iconic locations such as the Cellular Jail in Port Blair, Kaza Post in Lahaul Spiti, Mumbai’s Gateway of India and the Attari Border in Punjab among many others.
Speaking on the occasion, the Sports Minister reiterated, “A youthful mind, body and soul is key driver of a healthy and fit India’. Only a ‘Fit India’ will make a ‘Hit India’, the Minister added.
Key Activities:
The key activities of Fit India Freedom Run 2.0 include pledge, rendering of National Anthem, Freedom Run, cultural functions at venues, awareness among Youth Volunteers to participate and also organize similar Freedom Runs in their villages.
Schedule:
Freedom Run, which started on August 15, will run till October 2, 2021.
Each week programmes are being held in 75 districts and at 75 villages in each district. Thus, Fit India Freedom Runs will be organized in 744 Districts, 75 villages in each of the 744 Districts and 30,000 Educational Institutions across the country.
Aim:
» The aim of the campaign is to encourage people to take up fitness activities such as running and sports in their daily life.
» Through this campaign, citizens are being given called to make a resolve to include physical activity of at least 30 minutes daily in their lives “FITNESS KI DOSE AADHA GHANTA ROZ”.
First edition:
The first edition of the campaign was organized from 15th August to 2nd October, 2020.
‘SonChiraiya’ – (A brand and logo) - for marketing of urban Self-Help Group products
⇒ Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Durga Shanker Mishra, launched ‘SonChiraiya’ – (A brand and logo) – for marketing of urban Self-Help Group (SHG) products on 13 August 2021.
Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), under the aegis of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs, has focused on equipping the urban poor women with adequate skills and opportunities, and to enable them to promote sustainable micro enterprises. It mobilizes women from urban poor households into SHGs and their federations to create a support system for these women.
Over 5.7 lakh SHGs have been formed across various States/ UTs with almost 60 lakh members. Many of these SHGs are engaged in livelihood activities, producing goods such as handicrafts, textiles, toys, eatables and so on.
These were being sold primarily in local neighbourhood markets and often faced barriers in achieving visibility and wide market access. To overcome these challenges, Ministry entered into MoUs with leading e-Commerce Portals viz Amazon and Flipkart, with an underlying narrative of women empowerment.
Meeting for the review of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative of DPIIT
⇒ The Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Shri Piyush Goyal chaired a meeting for the review of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) initiative of DPIIT on 13 August 2021.
Discussion:
Shri Goyal deliberated with the members of the advisory council & experts on how the initiative will democratise digital commerce & move it from platform-centric model to an open-network model.
Aim:
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is globally first-of-its-kind initiative that aims to democratise Digital Commerce, moving it from a platform-centric model to an open-network.
Highlights of the ONDC:
» As UPI is to the digital payment domain, ONDC is to e-commerce in India.
» ONDC will enable, buyers and sellers to be digitally visible and transact through an open network. no matter what platform/application they use.
» ONDC will empower merchants and consumers by breaking silos to form a single network to drive innovation and scale, transforming all businesses from retail goods, food to mobility.
» ONDC shall take all measures to ensure confidentiality & privacy of data in the network.
» ONDC shall initially give special attention help onboard small and medium businessmen.
» ONDC to plan for a well developed Information, Education & Communication campaign to educate, encourage and to address any apprehensions of various network participants.
‘Science Museum’ in Chandel, an Aspirational District of Manipur
⇒ The Autonomous Institute of Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) established ‘Science Museum’ in Chandel, an Aspirational District of Manipur.
Inauguration:
This Science Museum at Chandel was inaugurated on 11 August 2021 by Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary to Govt of India, Department of Biotechnology.
Location:
The Museum has been established at Maha Union Government Higher Secondary School, Japhou, Chandel, Manipur, India.
Main Objective of the Museum:
» Develop a scientific attitude and to inculcate general awareness among the students and common people.
» Promote scientific intervention through bioresources for the benefits of students and common man of the region by demonstrating about instruments, organising lectures, seminars, scientific camps and outreach program.
International
Three day long maiden bilateral exercise ‘Al – Mohed Al – Hindi’
⇒ The sea phase of the three day long maiden bilateral exercise ‘Al – Mohed Al – Hindi’ between Indian Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Force commenced on 12 August, 2021 off the coast of Al Jubail.
Indian Navy participated with its indigenously built stealth destroyer INS Kochi with two integral Sea King helicopters. The Royal Saudi Navy was represented by missile corvette Badr along with two FACs.
Both navies undertook co-ordinated action against asymmetric threat, replenishment at sea procedures, anti-piracy and boarding ops. Complex and collaborative exercises including weapon targeting drills beyond the horizon were also conducted to enhance synergy and inter-operability between the two navies.
Important Day
World Organ Donation Day
⇒ World Organ Donation Day is observed every year on August 13.
Significance:
The day is celebrated to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation and address and debunk myths related to donating organs.
History:
The first-ever organ donation was done in the US in 1954 when Ronald Lee Herrick donated a kidney to his identical twin brother. Doctor Joseph Murray won the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1990 for successfully carrying out a kidney transplant.