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By admin: Sept. 1, 2022

FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2022 : Apeksha Fernandes becomes first Indian woman to reach finals

Tags: Sports Sports News

Apeksha Fernandes has reached the final of the FINA World Junior Swimming Championship-2022, becoming the first Indian woman to do so.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• She achieved this feat in the women's 200m butterfly at the 8th edition of the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships 2022 being held in Lima, Peru.

• The only other Indian to qualify for the final at the World Juniors is Srihari Nataraja who finished sixth in the 50m backstroke in 2019.

• In the heats, Fernandes finished fourth with a time of 2:18:18, and finished 8th overall to make her place in the final.

• He set a new national record.

• Earlier, the record stood at 2:18:39, which was set by Apeksha at the Junior Nationals held in June 2022.

• In Junior Nationals, Maharashtra Local set five new national records (Best Indian Performance).

FINA World Junior Swimming Championships :

• The 8th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships is being held from 30 August to 4 September 2022 at the Videna Aquatic Centre in Lima, Peru.

• The competition is open to girls in the age group of 14 to 17 and boys between the ages of 15 and 18.

• India's 17-year-old Vedant Madhavan is leading the Indian men's side in this year's championship, while 15-year-old Ridhima Veerendrakumar from Karnataka is leading the women's side.

Cyber Security Exercise “Synergy”

Tags: National National News

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India in collaboration with the Cyber Security Agency (CSA) of Singapore successfully designed and conducted a cyber security exercise “Synergy” for 13 countries on 31 August.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• It is a part of the International Counter Ransomware Initiative- Resilience Working Group.

• The group is led by India under the leadership of the National Security Council Secretariat.

• Theme - “Building Network Resiliency to Counter Ransomware Attacks”.

• Exercise 'Synergy' was hosted by CERT-In on its exercise simulation platform.

• Each state participated as a National Crisis Management Team composed of different government agencies.

Aims of the Exercise :

• To exchange best practices among member-states to make the network resilient against attacks such as ransomware and cyber extortion.

About CERT- In :

• It is a government-mandated information technology (IT) security organisation.

• Its purpose is to respond to computer security incidents, report on vulnerabilities and promote effective IT security practices throughout the country.

• It was created by the Indian Department of Information Technology in 2004.

Functions of CERT-In :

• Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber attacks.

• Cyber Security Incident Forecasting and Alerts

• Emergency measures to deal with cyber attacks

• Coordinating cyber incident response activities

India’s first indigenously developed vaccine for cervical cancer launched

Tags: Science and Technology National News

India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer launched by Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh in Delhi on 1 September.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The name of the vaccine is CERVAVAC.

• The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has given market authorization to Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture indigenously developed vaccine against cervical cancer.

• Cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer in women in the age group of 15 to 44 years in India.

About CERVAVAC :

• Vaccine CERVAVAC has demonstrated robust antibody response that is approximately 1,000-fold higher based on all targeted HPV types and age groups.

• This vaccine protects women from cervical cancer. 

• It has been developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

• This vaccine will ensure the prevention of cancer caused by human papillomavirus (types 6, 11, 16 and 18).

About Cervical Cancer :

• It is a sexually transmitted infection.

• It occurs in the cells of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus) that connects to the vagina.

• It is mostly caused by long-term infection with HPV.

• It is the second most prevalent cancer form and the second leading cause of cancer death among women aged 15–44.

• Women who have HIV are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer than normal women.

Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) :

• It comes under the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

• It is responsible for approval of licences of specified categories of drugs like blood and blood products, vaccines, IV fluids and sera in India.

• It sets the standards and quality of the manufacture, sale, import and distribution of drugs in India.

Indian Coast Guard conducts Exercise SAREX - 22 in Chennai

Tags: Defence

The Indian Coast Guard recently conducted its biennial National Maritime Search and Rescue Exercise -SAREX 22 off the Chennai coast.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The 10th edition of the SAREX  was inaugurated by Ajay Kumar, Defence Secretary, Government of India.

• The objective of this exercise is to avoid accidents at sea and save lives by conducting rescue operations.

• The two-day exercise, organized under the aegis of the National Maritime Search and Rescue Board (NMSARB), is hosted by the Indian Coast Guard.

• During this, 24 observers from 16 countries participated in the exercise organised under the theme 'Capacity Building Towards Maritime Security'.

• This was the 10th edition of the exercise conducted by the Coast Guard.

• During this exercise, new technology like remote controlled lifebuoy was demonstrated over the Bay of Bengal.

About Indian Coast Guard :

• The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was officially established on 1 February 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India.

• It comes under the Union Ministry of Defence.

• Its main role is to prevent maritime smuggling, ensure the safety of the islands and provide security and support to Indian fishermen and seafarers at sea.

• Motto: "Vayam Raksham - We Protect"

• Headquarters: Ministry of Defence, New Delhi

• Director General: Virendra Singh Pathania

Arvind Kejriwal Launches Country’s First Virtual School for Classes 9 to 12

Tags: National National News

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has announced the launch of the country's first virtual school in Delhi.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The name of this school will be 'Delhi Model Virtual School'.

• The classes in this virtual school will be completely online and the students will be able to complete the classes from their home.

• There will be no option of physical classes in the school. All classes will be online only which will also be recorded so that students can view the recorded classes later.

• In the initial phase, classes from class 9 to 12 will be held in it.

• Children from any state across the country will be able to take admission in this virtual school.

• This school with online classes will also have a digital library for the students.

• Happiness Classes, Patriotic Courses, Sports University, Skill University, Army Preparatory etc. have also been established by the Delhi Government.

Education Ministry refutes Delhi Government's claim :

• The Centre-run National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has refuted Kejriwal's claim that his government is starting the first virtual school in the country.

• NIOS, which functions as an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Education, said that India's first virtual school was started by it in August 2021.

About Delhi :

• After independence in 1947, Delhi was accepted as the capital of the Union of India.

• It got the status of a Union Territory in 1956.

• Under the 69th Constitutional Amendment, 1991, the Union Territory of Delhi was declared as the 'National Capital Territory of Delhi', giving special status.

• A 70-member assembly and a 7-member council of ministers were also arranged for Delhi.

• NCR includes the districts of Uttar Pradesh (8), Haryana (14) and Rajasthan (2) adjoining Delhi.

• Lieutenant Governor- Vinay Kumar Saxena

• Chief Minister- Shri Arvind Kejriwal

National Nutrition Week

Tags: National Important Days

National Nutrition Week is observed every year from 1st September to 7th September by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

IMPORTANT FACTS

• It is an annual nutrition program launched by the Food and Nutrition Board, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India.

• The main objective of celebrating Nutrition Week is to raise awareness on the importance of nutrition for better health, which has an impact on growth, productivity, economic growth and ultimately national development.

• The theme of National Nutrition Week 2022 is 'Celebrate World of Flavour' by the Government of India.

Background :

• National Nutrition Week was first organised in March 1975 by members of the American Dietetic Association, now known as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, to raise public awareness of the need for nutrition education as well as to promote the profession of dietitians.

• After this, in the year 1982, India adopted this new mode and decided to start National Nutrition Week every year from 1 to 7 September.

National Nutrition Mission (Poshan Abhiyaan) :

• It was launched in 2018 by the Government of India with the aim of tackling the malnutrition problem prevalent in India.

• Its objective is to reduce the level of under-nutrition and also enhance the nutritional status of children in the country.

• Its goal is to remove malnutrition from the country by 2022.

• It improves nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers.

Aims :

• To reduce stunting and wasting by 2% a year (total 6% until 2022) among children.

• to reduce anaemia by 3% a year (total 9%) among children, adolescent girls and pregnant women and lactating mothers.

US grounds Chinook chopper fleet over engine fires

Tags: Defence International News

The US military has stopped its fleet of CH-47 Chinook helicopters from flying due to the threat of a helicopter engine fire.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• The US military operates approximately 400 Chinook helicopters which are medium-lift, multi-role helicopters manufactured by Boeing.

• They perform a variety of tasks in military operations.

• The Chinook fleet has been halted by the US military because it is suspected that some of its engines may catch fire.

India's concern :

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) too operates a fleet of Chinook helicopters.

• The IAF operates a fleet of 15 Chinook helicopters and it has not grounded them so far.

• Chinook was inducted into IAF in 2019.

• One helicopter of Chinook unit is based in Chandigarh whereas the other is based at Mohanbari airbase in Assam.

• The Indian Air Force has sought details from US defence manufacturer Boeing on the reasons for shutting down its entire fleet of Chinook helicopters.

About Chinook Helicopters :

• The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engined, heavy-lift helicopter.

• It is developed by the American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol (later known as Boeing Rotorcraft Systems).

• Each helicopter can carry goods and cargo up to 9.6 tonnes.

• It can provide assistance during disaster relief, medical, search and rescue missions, aircraft recovery and parachute drops.

A new book "Indian Banking in Retrospect - 75 Years of Independence" Launched

Tags: Books and Authors

A new book titled "Indian Banking in Retrospect - 75 Years of Independence" has been authored by Dr. Ashutosh Rarawikar, Director, Department of Economic and Policy Research (DEPR), Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• This book has been published by Asvad Publications Pvt Ltd.

• Bibek Debroy, chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India, has written the foreword to the book.

Summary Of The Book :

• The book highlights various economic developments like LPG (Liberalisation, Privatisation and Globalisation) reforms during 1991, nationalisation of banks for the first time in 1969, licensing of new private sector banks after 1991, setting up of payments banks, and small finance banks .

• It also mentions financial inclusion, impact of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana on the banking system in India.

Haridwar declared best aspirational district in India

Tags: National National News

Haridwar city of Uttarakhand has been declared as the best aspirational district by NITI Aayog on the basis of five parameters.

IMPORTANT FACTS -

• NITI Aayog has ranked Haridwar district first among 112 aspirational districts of the country in the theme of basic infrastructure.

• As an award, an additional allocation of three crores will be made to the district.

• The aspirational district Haridwar has got the first prize twice before this. In February 2019, the district got the first prize on the theme of Agriculture and Water Resources, while in July 2019, it got the first position in all the sectors.

Aspirational District Program :

• The program, launched in January 2018, aims to rapidly and effectively transform some of the most underdeveloped districts of the country.

• This scheme has been implemented along with the central and state schemes.

• In its successful implementation, central, state level 'in-charge' officers and district collectors play an important role.

• The ranking of aspirational districts combines innovative use of data with practical governance, placing the district at the centre of inclusive growth.

Parameters for Best Aspirational District :

• It envisages rapid development of selected districts on the basis of a composite index based on five parameters -

1. Health and Nutrition

2. Education

3. Financial Inclusion and Skill Development

4. Agriculture and Water Resources

5. Basic Infrastructure

Super Typhoon Hinnamnor

Tags: International News

According to a forecast by the Japan Meteorological Agency, the strongest tropical storm of 2022 'Super Typhoon Hinnamnor' is moving toward the East China Sea, threatening Japan's southern islands.

About Super Typhoon Hinnamnor :

• It is similar to a category-5 hurricane.

• It is currently moving across the East China Sea, threatening the southern islands of Japan and the eastern coast of China.

• It is bringing about 257 kilometres per hour and gusts of 314 kilometres per hour.

• Hinnamanor is the 11th and  strongest tropical storm of 2022.

• The epicentre of the storm was about 643 km south-southeast of the island of Kyushu, Japan.

About Tropical Storms :

• Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are types of tropical storms.

• But they are given different names depending on where they appear.

• Hurricanes are tropical storms that form over the North Atlantic Ocean and the Northeast Pacific.

• Cyclones form over the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

• Typhoons form over the northwest Pacific Ocean.

• To be classified as a super typhoon, a hurricane needs to attain sustained wind speeds of at least 240 kmph.