International Day for Universal Access to Information
The International Day for the Universal Access to Information (commonly known as Access to Information Day) is observed globally on 28th September every year. Universal access to information means that everyone has the right to seek, receive and impart information for healthy and inclusive knowledge societies.
The International Day for Universal Access to Information 2021 highlights the importance of expanding access to information laws, and their implementation worldwide to build back strong institutions for sustainable development and to uphold the vision of information as a public good, as well as to strengthen international cooperation in the field of implementing the right to information as a fundamental right. Furthermore, the global discussions on “building back better” remain context-adaptive to the COVID-19 pandemic.
History of the day:
On 17 November 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 28 September as International Day for Universal Access to Information. Considering that several civil society organizations and government bodies in the world have adopted and currently celebrate this observance, the UN General Assembly also adopted 28 September 2019 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- UNESCO headquarters: Paris, France;
- UNESCO Head: Audrey Azoulay;
- UNESCO Founded: 16 November 1945.
2021 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar winners announced
Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize for science and technology 2021, were announced during the 80th foundation day of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Every year, CSIR presents this award to scientists below 45 years of age for their contributions in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, medicine, engineering and earth, atmosphere, ocean and planetary sciences. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
During the ceremony, vice president M Venkaiah Naidu advised CSIR to reinvent itself and turn futuristic while pursuing the science of the highest order.
Here is the list of 11 scientists awardees:
Biological Sciences category:
- Dr Amit Singh, department of microbiology and cell biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
- Dr Arun Kumar Shukla, department of biological sciences and bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Chemical sciences category:
- Two researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, Dr Kanishka Biswas from the International Centre of Materials Science and Dr T Govindaraju, from the Bio-organic Chemistry Laboratory, announced as recipients.
Earth, Atmosphere, Ocean and Planetary Sciences category:
- Dr Binoy Kumar Saikia from Coal and Energy Research Group, CSIR North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat, was named recipient.
Engineering sciences category:
- Dr Debdeep Mukhopadhyay, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, received the award under the engineering sciences category.
Mathematical sciences category:
- Dr Anish Ghosh, school of mathematics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai.
- Dr Saket Saurabh, The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, were announced winners.
Medical sciences:
- Dr Jeemon Panniyammakal, Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.
- Dr Rohit Srivastava, department of biosciences and bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
Physical sciences:
- Dr Kanak Saha, from Pune’s Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, received the award for physical sciences.
About the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize:
The Prize is bestowed on a person who, in the opinion of CSIR, has made conspicuously important and outstanding contributions to human knowledge and progress fundamental and applied, in the particular field of endeavour, which is his/her specialization.
England cricketer Moeen Ali announces retirement from Tests
England cricket all-rounder Moeen Ali has announced his retirement from the Test match career. The 34-year-old Ali made his debut in Test cricket in 2014 and represented England in 64 Test matches. He took 195 Test wickets including 5 five-wicket hauls and scored five-Test match centuries during his Test career. Moeen, however, will continue to play limited-overs cricket for England.
4th Indo-US Health Dialogue Held in New Delhi
Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar has led the Indian delegation at the 4th Indo-US Health Dialogue, held in New Delhi. The US delegation for the dialogue is led by Ms Loyce Pace, Director, Office of Global Affairs at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The two-day Dialogue is a platform to deliberate upon multiple ongoing collaborations in the health sector between the two countries.
About the Dialogue:
- The two-day Dialogue will be leveraged as a platform to deliberate upon multiple ongoing collaborations in the health sector between the two countries.
- The issues planned for deliberations in this round also encompass areas of concern pertaining to strengthening of epidemiological research and surveillance, vaccine development, One Health, zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, health systems and health policies etc.
- An MoU was finalised between the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Republic of India and the Department of Health and Human Services of the United States of America, in the field of the health sector, covering issues like Health Safety and Security; Communicable Diseases & Non-Communicable Diseases; Health Systems; and Health Policy.
Mastercard ropes Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen as its Global Ambassador
The financial services company, Mastercard Inc. has named Magnus Carlsen, the highest-rated chess player of all time, as its global brand ambassador. This step is part of a move by Mastercard for adding chess in its coveted list of sports sponsorship. It has joined the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour as an official partner, in its first sponsorship move into chess.
The Norwegian chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen joins the like of other competitive players lineup of ambassadors like Lionel Messi, Naomi Osaka, Crystal Dunn and Dan Carter.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Mastercard Headquarters: New York, United States.
- Mastercard President: Michael Miebach.
ICRA revise GDP growth of India to 9.00% in FY 2022
ICRA has revised up the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of India for the financial year 2021-22 (FY22) to 9 per cent. Earlier this rate was 8.5%. It can be noted that after the 7.3 per cent contraction in 2020-21, there were expectations of a higher growth number in 2021-22.
The key risk to its revised projection of 9 per cent GDP growth is a potential third wave and the existing vaccines being ineffective against newer mutations of the virus. ICRA is Gurgaon based credit rating agency, owned by Moody’s Corporation.
- ICRA Founded: 16 January 1991;
- ICRA CEO: N. Sivaraman.
India claim three silver medals at 2021 Archery World Championships
The team India archers settled for three silver medals at the 2021 World Archery Championships, held in Yankton, South Dakota, United States. The three silver medals were won in Women’s Compound Individual, Women’s Compound Team and Compound Mixed Team competitions.
Besides this, Vennam Jyothi Surekha of Vijayawada became the first Indian woman archer to win three silver medals at a world championship. The 25-year-old achieved this feat after she won the medal in each of the three categories.
Silver Medal Won by India includes:
- Women’s Compound Individual: Jyothi Surekha Vennam
- Women’s Compound Team: Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Muskar Kirar and Priya Gurjar
- Compound Mixed Team: Abhishek Verma and Jyothi Surekha Vennam
Cyclonic Storm ‘Gulab’ hits Andra and Odisha
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Odisha and Andhra Pradesh after the ‘Cyclone Gulab’ made landfall over Northwest and adjoining West-central Bay of Bengal. Cyclone Gulab was named by Pakistan. The word “Gulab” refers to Rose in English. During the landfall, the wind speed could hover between 90 kmph and 100 kmph.
The name Gulab is from the list of cyclone names that is maintained by the World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (WMO/ESCAP) Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC). The panel comprises 13 countries namely, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives, Oman, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, who choose the names of cyclones in the region.
DRDO conducts successful maiden flight test of Akash Prime Missile
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has carried a successful maiden test flight of a new version of the Akash Missile named ‘Akash Prime’ from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Odisha. The success of the test flight demonstrates the competence of DRDO in the design and development of world-class Missile systems. The missile intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial target mimicking enemy aircraft, in its maiden flight test after improvements.
In comparison to the existing Akash System, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy. Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance under low-temperature environments at higher altitudes. A modified ground system of the existing Akash weapon system has been used for the current flight test. The range stations of ITR comprising Radars, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Telemetry stations monitored the missile trajectory and flight parameters.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- Chairman DRDO: Dr G Satheesh Reddy.
- DRDO Headquarters: New Delhi.
- DRDO Established: 1958.
Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh takes charge as DG of NCC
Lieutenant General Gurbirpal Singh has taken charge as the 34th Director-General of the National Cadet Corps (NCC). He succeeds Lt Gen Tarun Kumar Aich. He was commissioned into the PARACHUTE REGIMENT in 1987.
An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun as well as NCC, he attended the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington and the National Defence College Course in New Delhi. Lt Gen Singh has been a Company Commander in the counter-insurgency environment in Nagaland and the Siachen Glacier.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- NCC Founded: 16 April 1948;
- NCC Headquarters: New Delhi.
Sania Mirza & Zhang Shuai Win Ostrava Open WTA Doubles Title
India’s Sania Mirza and her Chinese partner Zhang Shuai won the women’s doubles title in the women’s doubles final at the Ostrava Open in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The second-seeded Indo-Chinese duo defeated the third seeded pair of American Kaitlyn Christian and New Zealander Erin Routliffe 6-3 6-2 in the summit clash in one hour and four minutes.
This was Sania’s second final of the season, following a runner-up finish at the WTA 250 Cleveland event in the US last month with Chirstina Mchale.
MGR Railway Station gets powered by solar energy
Dr MG Ramachandran Central (DRM) or Chennai Central railway station will get 100 per cent of energy through Solar Energy. The Chennai Central railway station comes under the South Central Railway (SCR) zone and which is going to become the world’s largest green railway network. The station will now become the first Indian Railways station, which will get 100 per cent day energy through solar panels.
About the Station:
- The solar power capacity of the station is 1.5 MW and Solar panels are installed on the shelters of the station.
- South Central Railways has adopted the concept of ‘energy neutral’ railway stations and become the first Indian Railway zones to do so.
- India has targeted to become “net-zero carbon emission” before the year 2030.
A new book title “The Battle of Rezang La” written by Kulpreet Yadav
A new book has titled “The Battle of Rezang La” written by Kulpreet Yadav. A new book tells the story of 120 Indian soldiers who put up a valiant fight against the 5,000-strong Chinese military troops in the 1962 Indo-China war, preventing a possible occupation of the entire Ladakh region. The Battle of Rezang La”, published under Penguin Random House’s ”Veer” imprint, is written by ex-naval officer and author Kulpreet Yadav.
NASSCOM: Cryptotech industry can add $184B of economic value in India
The crypto industry in India has the potential to add $184 billion of economic value, in the form of investments and cost savings, by 2030, according to a report from the country’s premier trade body for the tech industry. The report, entitled “Crypto Industry in India,” was published by the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) in conjunction with Binance-owned crypto exchange WazirX.
The “CryptoTech” industry – companies involved in trading, payments, remittances, retail and more – is expected to reach a size of $241 million in India by 2030, and $2.3 billion globally by 2026. The industry currently employs 50,000 people in India, a number which NASSCOM expects to grow to over 800,000 by the end of the decade.
Important takeaways for all competitive exams:
- NASSCOM Chairperson: Rekha M Menon;
- NASSCOM Headquarters: New Delhi;
- NASSCOM Founded: 1 March 1988.
