Daily Current Affairs
KVIC’s project BOLD
Why in the News?
- The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, has launched the project “Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought” (BOLD).
- The project BOLD is the first of its kind exercise in the country, launched from the tribal village NichlaMandwa in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Key Points
About Project BOLD:
- 5000 saplings of special bamboo species – BambusaTulda and BambusaPolymorpha specially brought from Assam – have been planted over 16 acres approx of vacant arid Gram Panchayat land of village NichlaMandwa.
- KVIC has thus created a world record of planting the highest number of bamboo saplings on a single day at one location.
Part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav:
- The initiative has been launched as part of KVIC’s “Khadi Bamboo Festival” to celebrate 75 years of independence “, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
- KVIC is set to replicate the Project in Gujarat and Leh-Ladakh region by August 2021. KVIC will plant a total of 15,000 bamboo saplings before August 2021.
- Note: Recently, the Space Application Centre, ISRO, also published the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India, which provides a state-wise area of degraded lands for 2018-19.
Benefits to the environment:
- Bamboos are great sources to reduce land degradation, prevent land desertification, achieve sustainable development, and solve food security issues.
- Preventing land desertification can further solve associated problems like soil infertility, soil erosion, and deforestation.
Other Initiatives to fight Desertification:
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (India is the part of it)
- Soil Health Card Scheme
- Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna
- National Mission for Green India
Source: PIB
China declared malaria-free by WHO
Why in the News?
- China was certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), following a 70-year effort to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease.
- China is the first country in the Western Pacific region to be declared malaria-free in more than 30 years, following Australia in 1981, Singapore in 1982 and Brunei in 1987.
Key Points
- China has now maintained zero indigenous malaria cases for four consecutive years, down from an estimated 30 million cases and 300,000 deaths per year in the 1940s.
Global Status:
- China becomes the 40th territory certified malaria-free by the WHO.
- The last countries to gain the status were El Salvador (2021), Algeria and Argentina (2019), and Paraguay and Uzbekistan (2018).
About Malaria:
- Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
- According to the WHO's World Malaria Report 2020, there were an estimated 229 million malaria cases worldwide in 2019. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 409000 in 2019.
- Note: The WHO has also identified 25 countries with the potential to eradicate malaria by 2025 under its 'E-2025 Initiative'.
Initiatives in India:
- National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) in 2016 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. NFME is in line with WHO's Global Technical Strategy for Malaria, 2016-2030.
- The National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination, 2017-22
- The High Burden to High Impact initiative in four states (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh)
- Distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets to high burden areas
- Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India) by the ICMR
Source: Indian Express
Indian Army Memorial in Italy
Why in the News?
- Indian Army Chief Manoj Naravane will inaugurate the Indian Army Memorial at Cassino in Italy during his visit to the UK and Italy.
- In World War II, the memorial commemorates over 3,100 Commonwealth servicemen who took part in liberating Italy.
- 900 Indian soldiers were also commemorated on this memorial.
Key Points
India Army in Italy:
- Three infantry divisions (4th, 8th and 10th Divisions) of the Indian Army took part in the Italian campaign.
India's involvement in World War II:
- The Indian Army was the largest volunteer force during World War II (WWII), with over 2.5 million (more than 20 lakh) Indians participating.
World War I:
- World War I (WWI) was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.
World War II:
- World War II (WWII) was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers.
Source: Indian Express
New Governors appointed in 8 states
Why in the News?
- In a major reshuffle, President of India Ram Nath Kovind appointed eight new governors giving them charge of the administration of new states. While many were transferred, others were new appointments.
- Union Minister and the BJP's Rajya Sabha leader Thawarchand Gehlot has been appointed as the Governor of Karnataka.
Key Points
- Thawarchand Gehlot has been appointed as the Governor of Karnataka.
- Hari Babu Kambhampati has been appointed as the Governor of Mizoram.
- Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been appointed as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
- Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel has been appointed as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
- Satyadev Narayan Arya, Governor of Haryana, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Tripura.
- PS Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Mizoram, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Goa.
- Bandaru Dattatraya, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Haryana.
- Ramesh Bais, Governor of Tripura, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Jharkhand.
Source: The Hindu
Central Government creates a new ‘Ministry of Co-operation’
Why in the News?
- A separate ‘Ministry of Co-operation’ has been created by the Central Government for realizing the vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ or prosperity through cooperation.
- The creation of a separate Ministry for Co-operation also fulfils the budget announcement made by the Finance Minister.
Key Points
- This Ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.
- In our country, a cooperative-based economic development model is very relevant where each member works with a spirit of responsibility.
- The Ministry will work to streamline processes for ‘Ease of doing business’ for cooperatives and enable the development of Multi-State Cooperatives (MSCS).
Source: PIB
Legendary actor Dilip Kumar passes away
Why in the News?
- Legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who was popularly known as the tragedy king of Bollywood, passed away at 98.
Key Points
- Dilip Kumar, real name Yusuf Khan, appeared in Indian cinema's most iconic and landmark films, including Mughal-e-Azam, Naya Daur, Devdas, Ram Aur Shyam, Andaz, Ganga Jamuna and Madhumati.
- He was the first actor to win the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 1954 and won it a total of 8 times.
- He was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
- He also received Pakistan's highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz.
Source: Indian Express
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