National
PM launches National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in Shahdol
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh on 01 July 2023 and distributed sickle cell genetic status cards to the beneficiaries.
National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission:
- The Mission aims to address the pressing health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among the tribal population.
- The launch will mark a crucial milestone in the Government’s ongoing efforts to eliminate sickle cell disease as a public health problem by 2047.
- The National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission was announced in the Union Budget 2023.
- This will be implemented in 278 districts of 17 high-focus states in the country namely Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, and Uttarakhand.
» The Prime Minister also kickstarted the distribution of about 3.57 crore Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) cards in Madhya Pradesh.
- The ceremony for the distribution of Ayushman cards is being organized at Urban bodies, Gram panchayats and Development Blocks across the state.
- The Ayushman card distribution campaign is a step towards realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of reaching out to every beneficiary to ensure 100 percent saturation of welfare schemes.
» During the programme, the Prime Minister honoured Rani Durgavati the ruling queen of Gondwana in the mid-16th century. She is remembered as a brave, fearless and courageous warrior who fought for freedom against the Mughals.
17th Indian Cooperative Congress
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi on 01 July 2023 on the occasion of International Day of Cooperatives.
- Shri Modi also launched E-Portals of e-Commerce website for Cooperative Marketing, and Cooperative Extension and Advisory Services Portal.
The two-day 17th Indian Cooperative Congress was organised by the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) on 1-2 July, 2023.
- It was chaired by the Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
» The NCUI is an apex organization of the cooperative movement in India with a focus on cooperative education and training.
Objective:
Its objective was to discuss various trends in cooperative movement, showcase best practices being adopted, deliberate challenges being faced and chalk out future policy direction for growth of India’s cooperative movement.
Theme:
The main theme of the 17th Indian Cooperative Congress is ‘Amrit Kaal: Prosperity through Cooperation for a Vibrant India’. There were seven technical sessions on the main theme.
Participation:
It saw the participation of more than 3600 stakeholders including cooperatives from primary level to national level, delegates of International Cooperative Organisations, representatives of International Cooperative Alliance, representatives of Ministries, Universities, eminent institutions, among others.
International
IN-FN Maritime Partnership Exercise off Visakhapatnam
⇒ Indian Naval ships INS Rana, a guided missile destroyer, and INS Sumedha, an indigenously built offshore patrol vessel undertook a Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) with French Navy ship FS Surcouf, in the Bay of Bengal on 30 June 2023.
Key Points:
- The French Navy’s La Fayette class frigate Surcouf visited Visakhapatnam from 26 – 29 June 2023 and participated in a variety of activities with Indian Navy ships which included professional and social interactions, sports fixtures and cross deck visits.
- On departure from Visakhapatnam, FS Surcouf undertook various exercises with IN ships Rana and Sumedha, which included tactical manoeuvres, replenishment at sea (RAS) approaches, air defence against fighter aircraft and cross deck helicopter operations.
- The visit of FS Surcouf to India signifies the strong navy-to-navy links, interoperability and strong bonds between Indian Navy and French Navy.
» Earlier, this year, FS La Fayette, a frigate and FS Dixmude, a Mistral-class amphibious assault class ship had participated in an MPX with INS Sahyadri, a guided missile frigate from 10 – 11 March 2023.
Sports
11th Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023
⇒ The 11th Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 was held at Busan, Republic of Korea from 27 June to 30 June 2023.
- The first edition of the Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in 1980.
Final Match:
» The Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 concluded in Busan on June 30, 2023.
- In the final, the Indian Kabaddi team defeated Iran 42–32 to win their 8th Asian Kabaddi Championship title.
Final Positions:
- Gold- India (8th title)
- Silver- Iran
- Bronze- Chinese Taipei
Key Points:
- The Asian Kabaddi Championship returned after a six-year-long hiatus after the last edition was held in Tehran back in 2017.
- The Asian Kabaddi Championship 2023 featured six nations: India, Iran, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong.
- The continental kabaddi championship was conducted in two phases – a single-headed round robin league phase and a final. The top two teams after the league phase made the title clash.
Important Day
International Day of Cooperatives 2023
⇒ International Day of Cooperatives is celebrated every year on the first Saturday of July.
- International Day of Cooperatives 2023 was observed on 1 July.
- This year’s celebration was the 29th International Day of Cooperatives recognized by the United Nations and the 101th International Cooperative Day, also called #CoopsDay.
The aim of the International Day of Cooperatives is to increase awareness of cooperatives and promote the movement’s ideals of international solidarity, economic efficiency, equality and world peace.
Theme:
The theme for International Day of Cooperatives 2023 was “Cooperatives for Sustainable Development.”
- Under the theme, cooperators across the globe were invited to celebrate the International Day of Cooperatives and show how the cooperative way of working, inspired by the cooperative values and principles, has the accomplishment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as part of its DNA.
History:
- In resolution 47/90 of 16 December 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the first Saturday of July 1995 to be International Day of Cooperatives.
- The UNGA proclaimed the International Day marking the centenary of the establishment of the International Cooperative Alliance, and decides to consider the possibility of observing an International Day of Cooperatives in future years …”.
- The International Cooperative Alliance was founded in London, England on 19 August 1895 during the 1st Cooperative Congress.