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By admin: May 27, 2022

First Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru death anniversary

Tags: Person in news

Today the nation is remembering first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his death anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru.

• About Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru

• He was born on 14th November 1889 at Allahabad, United Provinces, his father was Motilal Nehru and his mother was Swaruprani Thussu.

• He moved to England at the age of 15 to study at Harrow School.

• He then studied natural science from the University of Cambridge.

• Nehru studied law and started his practice at the Allahabad High Court in 1912.

• When he met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time in 1916, he was very impressed by his teachings.

• He became the Indian National Congress’s General Secretary in 1923.

• He was the party president when Purna Swaraj was first announced at the Lahore session in 1929.

• He was a prominent face of the independence movement after Gandhi. He was jailed on several occasions.

• He headed the interim government in 1946.

• After the country got independence, he successfully integrated the country with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and his associate VK Krishna Menon.

• He initiated many projects for the development of the country like establishment of IITs, Defence academies etc.

• He was the first prime minister of India (1947–64). 

• He is the longest-serving prime minister of the country, having held this position for 17 years.

• He passed away on May 27, 1964.

• His birth anniversary is celebrated as Children's Day in the country.

• Some of Nehru's Works

• The Discovery of India

• Letters from a Father to His Daughter

• Glimpses of World History

• Toward Freedom (Autobiography)

India, UAE sign MoU for climate action

Tags: International News

India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Climate Action on 26 May. 

• It aims to establish a framework to facilitate bilateral cooperation on climate action and contribute towards the implementation of the Paris Agreement 2015.

• The MoU was signed between Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav and UAE Climate Envoy and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr Sultan Al Jaber in New Delhi. 

• In a bilateral meeting, both the leaders discussed issues related to climate change, hosting of COP 28 and other related matters.

• Yadav stressed that issues of climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage require more attention on the way beyond COP26.

• Paris Agreement 2015

• It is an international agreement to combat climate change.

• In December 2015, the governments of 195 countries gathered in Paris, France.

• They discussed a possible new global agreement on climate change that aims to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and tackle the dangerous climate change threat.

• It came into force on 4 November 2016.

• It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change that was adopted by 196 countries.

• It comes under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 

• UNFCCC is a convention held in 1992 to combat climate change. 

• The Kyoto Protocol (1997) was another major international agreement under UNFCCC.

• The aims of Paris Agreement

• To keep the global temperature rise this century below 2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level.

• Trying to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 °C.

• Strengthening the capacity of countries to deal with the effects of climate change.

Govt calls off BPCL’s strategic disinvestment

Tags: Economy/Finance

The Government has decided to end the current Expression of Interest (EoI) process for strategic disinvestment of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, BPCL.

• The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) said that the multiple wave of COVID-19 and geopolitical conditions affected several industries globally, especially the oil and gas industry.

• DIPAM said that most of the Qualified Interested Parties (QIPs) expressed their inability to continue the current process due to the prevailing conditions in the global energy market.

• The transition to green and renewable fuels has made privatisation difficult in the current context.

• DIPAM had issued a Global Invitation in March, 2020 for expression of interest for strategic disinvestment of approximately 53 per cent equity share capital of the Government in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited.

• What Is Disinvestment?

• Disinvestment means selling a stake in a company, subsidiary or other investments.

• Governments often sell stakes in public sector companies to raise revenue.

• In the early 1990s, in the wake of changes in economic policy, the Indian government began disinvestment of its stake in public sector companies.

• This is commonly known as liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation.

• The NDA government in its first term under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee undertook strategic disinvestment in major PSBs such as Bharat Aluminium Company (Balco) and Hindustan Zinc (Sterlite Industries), Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Limited (for Reliance Industries) and VSNL (for Tata).

• Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM)

• It was set up under the Union Ministry of Finance on December 10, 1999. 

• It was established to manage the disinvestment work of the Central Government in Public Sector Undertakings.

• The Department of Disinvestment was renamed as 'Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM)' on April 14, 2016.

PM inaugurates several completed projects and lays foundation stones for new projects in Chennai

Tags: State News National News

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated several completed projects and laid foundation stones for new projects in Chennai on 27 May.

• Inaugurated projects

• He laid foundation stones for six major infrastructure projects worth 28,540 crore rupees. 

• He dedicated to the nation five projects that have been completed at a cost of 2960 crore rupees.

• He inaugurated the new campus of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, which is being fully funded by the Central Government.

• Subramanya Bharathi Chair on Tamil Studies at Banaras Hindu University was announced recently.

• PM inaugurated phase 1 of Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway. 

• He said the proposed Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway would connect the two major centres to boost the economy.

• He also inaugurated a four-lane, double decker, elevated road connecting Chennai Port to Maduravoyal.

• This will make Chennai port more efficient and decongest the city.

• Five railway stations in the state are being redeveloped.

• Chennai Light House project was the first project in the country under the urban component of PM-Awas scheme.

• Multi-modal logistic parks 

Supreme Court recognises sex work as a ‘profession’

Tags: National

The Supreme Court has recognise prostitution (sex work) as a profession. The Supreme Court clearly said that the police cannot interfere in this nor can any action be taken against sex workers who do this work with consent.

• What did the Supreme Court say?

• Sex work is a profession and its practitioners are entitled to respect and equal protection under the law.

• Under Article 21 of the Constitution, every person of this country has the right to lead a dignified life.

• Criminal law should apply equally to all cases on the basis of 'age' and 'consent'.

• A three-judge bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao ordered that sex workers should not be arrested or punished or harassed or victimized whenever a brothel is raided.

• This order was passed by the Supreme Court after invoking the special powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.

• Sex workers can also be victims of sexual harassment, they should be provided with all facilities including immediate medical-legal care.

• Constitutional protection

• Article 23 of the Indian Constitution which was amended in 2014, includes the following provisions -

1. Traffic in human beings and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited. 

2. Any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.

3. Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from implementing compulsory service for public purposes.

4. By implementing such service, the State shall not discriminate on grounds only of religion, race, caste or class or any of them.

President inaugurates Late Smt Laxmibai Dagdusheth Halwai Dutta Mandir Trust in Pune

Tags: Popular State News

President Ram Nath Kovind inaugurated the 125th Anniversary Celebrations of Late Smt Laxmibai Dagdusheth Halwai Dutta Mandir Trust in Pune on 27 May.

• Laxmibai Memorial Awards 2022 

• Laxmibai Memorial Awards 2022 were presented to three eminent women achievers from different fields on the occasion.

• The awardees are Dr. Madhuri Kanitkar, Vice Chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences; International Bonsai expert Dr. Prajakta Kale; and Dr. Bhagyashree Patil, Chairman and Executive Director, Dr. D.Y. Patil Abhimat University, Pimpri.

• About Laxmibai Dagdusheth Halwai Datta Mandir

• It is a Hindu temple established by Laxmibai Dagdusheth, wife of Dagdusheth Gadve.

• She was originally a Lingayat trader from Karnataka.

• After settling in Pune and setting up a business of sweet and savoury snacks, the family came to be known as Dagdusheth Halwai.

• Shrimant Dagdusheth Halwai and his wife Lakshmi Bai played an important role during the freedom struggle and created a tradition of social service.

• This temple was established on 4 July 1904 and is dedicated to Sri Dattatreya.

• In Maharashtra, Dattatreya is considered to be an avatar of the three Hindu Gods, Trimurti—Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. 

• It is believed that the deities are especially awakened in this temple, making it a popular spot among devotees.

• The temple is located in Budhwar Peth near Dagdusheth Halwai Ganpati Temple.

• In 2017, Laxmibai Dagdusheth Halwai Datta Temple became the first temple in Pune to be completely solar powered.

New Guidelines of Micro & Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) approved

Tags: Economy/Finance

The government has approved the new guidelines of Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Program (MSE-CDP).

• It will be implemented during the 15th Finance Commission Cycle(2021-22 to 2025-26).

• The objective of this scheme is to increase the competitiveness and productivity of micro and small enterprises such as -

1. Common Facility Centers (CFCs)

The Central Government grant will be limited to Rs.5 crore to Rs.10 crore, 70% of the project cost and 60% of the project cost from Rs.10 crore to Rs.30 crore.

In case of NE & Hill States, Island territories, Aspirational Districts, government grant will be 80% of the cost of project from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore and 70% of the cost of project from Rs 10 crore to Rs 30 crore. 

2. Infrastructure Development

Central Government grant will be limited to 60% of the project cost for setting up new industrial estate/flatted factory complex from Rs.5.00 crores to Rs.15.00 crores and 50% of the project cost from Rs.5.00 crores to Rs.15.00 crores.

In case of North Eastern and Hilly States, Island areas, Aspirational Districts, the grant will be 70% of the project cost, ranging from Rs.5 crore to Rs.15 crore and 60% of the cost for setting up of new industrial estate/flat factory complex.

• Objectives of MSE-CDP

• To support the sustainability and growth of MSEs by addressing common issues like technology, skill and quality improvement, market access etc.

• To build the capacity of MSEs for common support action through self-help groups, formation of associations, up-gradation of associations etc.

• Creation and upgradation of infrastructure facilities in new and existing industrial areas and clusters of MSEs.

• To set up common facility centres for testing, training centre, raw material depot, effluent treatment etc. 

SC Collegium recommends transfer of six HC judges

Tags: National

The Supreme Court Collegium, headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, has recommended to the government the transfer or repatriation of judges in six different high courts.

• Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah has been recommended to be transferred from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Patna High Court.

• Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash from Orissa to Calcutta High Court.

• Justice Subhasis Talapatra from Tripura to Orissa High Court.

• Justice Lanusungkum Jamir from Manipur to Gauhati High Court.

• Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court to Bombay High Court.

• Justice Purushendra Kumar Kaurav to Delhi High Court from Madhya Pradesh.

• About Collegium System

• It is the system of appointment and transfer of judges.

• It has evolved through judgments of the Supreme Court. 

• The Supreme Court collegium is headed by the CJI and comprises four other senior most judges of the court.

• The High Court Collegium is headed by its Chief Justice and the four other senior-most judges of that court.

Odisha CM launches Olympic Values Education Programme

Tags: State News Sports News

International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s Olympic Value Education Program (OVEP) was launched by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in association with Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust (ABFT).

• With the aim of making children active, healthy and responsible citizens, the curriculum related to the Olympics was included in the school education system.

• The initial target of the program is to reach 32,000 children enrolled in 90 schools in the cities of Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. After this it will be spread to about 70 lakh school children of the state.

• Odisha's Department of School and Mass Education and Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust have jointly prepared this program included in the school curriculum.

• Important facts 

• About the International Olympic Committee

• Headquarters - Lausanne, Switzerland;

• Director General - Christophe De Keper;

• Establishment - 23 June 1894

• At present, a total of 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the world are its members.

Renowned author Geetanjali Shree has been awarded the prestigious International Booker Prize 2022

Tags: Books and Authors Awards

Renowned author Geetanjali Shree has been awarded the prestigious International Booker Prize 2022 for her novel 'Tomb of Sand'.

• Geetanjali has become the first Indian author to win the Sri International Booker Prize.

• 'Tomb of Sand' has become the first book in any Indian language to win the prestigious International Booker Prize.

• This book was originally published in Hindi language as 'Ret Samadhi'. English translation of 'Tomb of Sand' by American translator Daisy Rockwell.

• The book "Tomb of Sand" is published in the UK by Tilted Axis Press.

• Who is Geetanjali Shree

• Geetanjali Shree is originally from Mainpuri, Uttar Pradesh. Gitanjali Shree has written three novels and several collections of stories.

• Among his other major novels are Purohit, Hamara Shahar Us Baras, Empty Space, Anugoonj etc.

• Synopsis of the novel 'Tomb of Sand'

• The novel tells the story of an 80-year-old elderly widow who loses her husband after the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947.

• About International Booker Prize

• The International Booker Prize is awarded annually to a translation of a novel published in the UK or Ireland.

• The Booker Prize was established in 1969 by the Booker Mcconnell Company of England.

• Under this, the amount of 50 thousand pounds i.e. 44 lakh rupees received is divided between the translator and the writer.

• French novelist David Diop was awarded the 'International Booker Prize 2021'.

The 12th edition of the Women's World Boxing Championship

Tags: Sports News

The 12th edition of the Women's World Boxing Championship (WWBC) was organised by the International Boxing Association (IBA) at Basaksehir Youth and Sports Facility, Istanbul, Turkey.

• 310 boxers from 73 countries participated in the event.

• Belarusian and Russian boxers were not allowed to participate in the competition.

• India won a total of 3 medals in this event for the first time in the last four years with one gold and two bronze.

• India's boxer Nikhat Zareen won the gold medal in the flyweight (52kg) division against Thailand's Jitpong Jutamas with a score of 5-0. With this win, she became the fifth Indian female boxer to win a world championship.

• The other four Indian boxers to win the world title include Mary Kom, Sarita Devi, Jenny RL, Lekh Casey.

• The other two Indian women boxers Manisha Maun won bronze medals in 57kg and Parveen Hooda in 63kg category.

• Medal Table