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By admin: Aug. 15, 2024

World Organ Donation Day - 13 August 2024

Tags: Important Days

World Organ Donation Day is observed annually on 13 August across the globe.

An Overview of the News

• The day aims to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.

• It encourages people to become organ donors and promote organ donation to save lives.

• The theme/slogan for World Organ Donation Day 2024 is "Be the Reason for Someone's Smile Today!"

History of World Organ Donation Day

• The first temporarily successful transplant of a human kidney was performed by Jean Hamburger in Paris in 1953.

• A kidney was transplanted from the mother to a 16-year-old child.

• However, the first long-term successful kidney transplant was performed in the US in 1954.

• This successful transplant was performed by Dr. Joseph Murray.

• For this, Dr. Joseph Murray received the "Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine" in the year 1990.

History of Indian Organ Donation Day

• Indian Organ Donation Day was originally celebrated on the 27th of November from 2010 to 2022.

• The day was initiated by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

• In 2023, the date was shifted to August 3rd.

• The change commemorates the success of the first deceased heart transplant in India, which took place on August 3rd, 1994.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Unveils Book 'Bharat ke 75 Mahan Krantikari

Tags: Books and Authors

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh released a book titled 'Bharat ke 75 mahan krantikari' (75 Great Revolutionaries of India) in New Delhi.

An Overview of the News

• Author: The book was authored by Bhim Singh, a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Rajya Sabha, representing Bihar.

• Content: The book highlights the lives of 75 revolutionary freedom fighters, including lesser-known figures such as Tantia Bhil, Surya Sen, Pritilata Waddedar, and Permanand Jhansi.

About Bhim Singh Chandravanshi

• Date of Birth: 30 November 1962

• Current Position: Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha from Bihar since 2024

• Political Party: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since 2015

• Current Role in BJP: Vice President of the BJP in Bihar

• Previous Positions:

  • Cabinet Minister under Nitish Kumar and Jitan Ram Manjhi (2012–2015)

  • Member of Bihar Vidhan Parishad for three consecutive terms (2006–2015)

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Limited (TIAL) Receives Greentech Award

Tags: Awards State News

TIAL has been honored with the Pollution Control Waste Management & Recycling (PCWR) Award 2024 by Greentech Foundation.

An Overview of the News

• The award was presented at the Greentech PCWR 2024 Summit, Awards, and Expo held in Guwahati, Assam.

• The award recognizes TIAL's excellence in achieving a 'zero waste to landfill' status.

• The airport has achieved a landfill diversion rate of 99.50% through sustainable waste management practices.

Waste Management Practices

• TIAL's waste management follows the cradle-to-cradle concept, emphasizing waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery.

• The airport processes 100% of its plastic and solid waste.

Certification and Systems

• The waste management system at TIAL is certified under ISO 14001:2015.

• It includes innovative mechanisms for collecting separated waste and transporting it to the recycling yard.

• TIAL is managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, and is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

PM Modi Unveils 109 New Crop Varieties

Tags: National News

On 11th August 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 109 new varieties of 61 crops developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

An Overview of the News

• The event took place at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, New Delhi.

• The 109 new crop varieties include 34 field crops and 27 horticultural crops.

• These varieties are high-yielding, climate-resilient, and biofortified.

Significance of the Launch

• The new crop varieties are nutritionally rich and adaptable to environmental changes.

• This initiative aims to enhance food security, boost agricultural diversity, and address nutritional challenges in India.

Highlighted Crop Varieties

• Pooja 1801: A millet variety rich in iron and zinc, developed to combat child malnutrition.

• Pusa 2002: A millet variety that matures in 70 days, promoting climate resilience.

• Girnar 6: A groundnut variety with high oil content.

• Nandyal 1267: A chickpea variety suitable for mechanical harvesting.

Chhattisgarh Establishes Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla as Fourth Tiger Reserve

Tags: State News

The Chhattisgarh government announced the creation of a new tiger reserve named Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.

An Overview of the News

• This marks the fourth tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh, alongside Indravati Tiger Reserve (Bijapur), Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (Gariaband), and Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (Mungeli).

• The decision was made in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai after recommendations from the State Wildlife Board and approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India (GoI).

• The NTCA will provide additional budgetary support for the operations of the Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve.

Background and Proposal History

• In 2012, the Chhattisgarh State Wildlife Board decided to declare the combined area of Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Sanctuary as a tiger reserve.

• A proposal was submitted to the NTCA in August 2014, and the NTCA gave its in-principle approval in October 2014.

• The final approval for the creation of the tiger reserve was granted by the NTCA in 2021, but further action by the state authorities was delayed until now.

• The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve will cover an expansive area of 2,829.387 square kilometers across the districts of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Koriya, Surajpur, and Balrampur.

Chhattisgarh

• Capital: Raipur

• State Bird: Common Hill Myna

• Wildlife Sanctuaries:

  • Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary

  • Udanti Wild Buffalo Wildlife Sanctuary

• Tiger Reserve: Indravati Tiger Reserve

• Chief Minister (CM): Vishnu Deo Sai

• Governor: Ramen Deka

CM Bhupendra Patel Inaugurates First-Ever IACC-MSME Centre of Excellence in Gujarat

Tags: State News

On August 8, 2024, Gujarat's Chief Minister, Bhupendra Patel, inaugurated the first-ever Indo- American Chamber of Commerce (IACC)-MSME Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the KCG auditorium, i-HUB campus in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

An Overview of the News

• The CoE aims to upgrade and strengthen MSMEs to meet global export market standards.

IACC-MSME Center of Excellence (CoE) Details

• The centre will enhance industrial relations between India and the United States.

• It is designed to equip MSMEs with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate global markets and improve export capabilities.

• This initiative is part of the IACC’s strategy to boost economic relations between India and the USA by addressing challenges faced by Indian MSMEs and facilitating their access to the American market.

Additional Information

• Gujarat has 19.80 lakh registered MSMEs, employing nearly 1.07 crore people, thanks to initiatives like ease of doing business, supportive policies, and prompt government clearances.

• Gujarat contributes 8.63% to India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

• The IACC promotes trade between India and the USA, with bilateral trade reaching USD 200 billion in 2023.

About Gujarat

• Founded: May 1, 1960

• Previous State: Bombay State

• Capital: Gandhinagar

• Official Bird: Greater flamingo

• Chief Minister: Bhupendrabhai Patel

• Governor: Acharya Devvrat

United Nations (UN) International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (IDWIP) - 9 August

Tags: Important Days

United Nations (UN) International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (IDWIP) observed annually on 9 August to promote and protect the rights, cultures, and identities of Indigenous populations globally.

An Overview of the News

• Aimsto raise awareness of the specific needs and unique challenges faced by Indigenous peoples worldwide.

2024 Highlights:

• Theme: "Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact."

• Equator Prize: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the winners of the 15th Equator Prize, recognizing 11 Indigenous Peoples and local communities from 8 countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Background

• In December 1994, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted resolution A/RES/49/214, declaring the period from 1995 to 2004 as the International Decade of the World's Indigenous People.

• As part of this resolution, 9 August of each year during the decade was designated as the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples.

• On 22 December 2004, the UNGA adopted resolution A/RES/59/174, proclaiming a second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, running from 1 January 2005 to December 2014.

• The first-ever International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples was observed on 9 August 1995.