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By admin: June 8, 2022

Tamil Nadu tops food safety index

Tags: Popular Awards

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Union Health Ministry has released the State Food Safety Index 2021-2022.

Tamil Nadu topped the State Food Safety Index this year.

• Top three big states in the index 

1. Tamil Nadu 

2. Gujarat  

3. Maharashtra

• Top three smaller states in the index 

1. Goa 

2. Manipur 

3. Sikkim 

• Top three UTs in the index 

1. Jammu and Kashmir

2. Delhi 

3. Chandigarh 

• New Eat Right India initiatives launched

• Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya launched various innovative initiatives by FSSAI including Eat Right Research Awards and Grants Phase II, Eat Right Creativity Challenge Phase III, a competition at school level.

• He unveiled the logo for the Ayurveda diet, which includes the initials of Ayurveda and Ahara, with 5 leaves symbolizing the five elements of nature.

• About State Food Safety Index

• The index is developed by FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India).

• It was started in 2018-19.

• Its aim is to create a competitive and positive change in India’s food safety ecosystem. 

• It measures the performance of states on five significant parameters of Food Safety.

• These parameters are - Human Resources and Institutional Data, Compliance, Food Testing – Infrastructure and Surveillance, Training & Capacity Building and Consumer Empowerment.

For more information please visit  7th June 2022 news.

NHAI created World Records for laying 75 Km long Bituminous Concrete Road in record 5 days

Tags: International News

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and its contractors entered the Guinness World Records for laying 75 km long continuous bituminous concrete road in a record 5 days.

• The work was carried out in a single lane on the NH-53 section between Amravati and Akola in West Vidarbha.

• This section was constructed by private contractor Rajput Infracon.

• Earlier also Rajput Infracon had created a world record by building a road between Sangli and Satara in 24 hours.

• The NH-53 highway passes through the mineral rich region of India.

• It connects major cities like Kolkata, Raipur, Nagpur, Akola, Dhule and Surat.

• Earlier this record was held by the Public Works Authority of Qatar - Ashghal on February 27, 2019.

• The road was part of the Al-Khor Expressway and took 10 days to complete.

World Bank cuts India's economic growth forecast to 7.5% for FY23

Tags: Economics/Business

The World Bank on June 7 slashed India's economic growth forecast for the current fiscal to 7.5 per cent, keeping in mind rising inflation, supply chain stagnation and geopolitical tensions.

• This is the second time that the World Bank has revised its GDP growth forecast for India in the current fiscal year 2022-23 (April 2022 to March 2023).

• In April 2022, the World Bank had lowered the forecast from 8.7 percent to 8 percent, after which it is now estimated to be 7.5 percent.

• Economic growth forecast expected to be 7.1 percent in 2023-24

• The World Bank report also said that India's growth is expected to slow further to 7.1 per cent in 2023-24.

• However, this is 30 basis points higher than the previous estimate of 6.8 percent.

• India's GDP growth 6.5 percent in 2025

• India's GDP growth for the financial year 2024-25 has been pegged at 6.5 percent by the World Bank.

• However, this figure of decline in the growth forecast for the financial year 2022-23 is higher than the local estimation.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has pegged GDP growth at 7.2 per cent for the financial year 2022-23.

• India's other growth projections 

• Global rating agencies also downgraded India's economic growth forecast.

• Moody's Investors Service cut its GDP forecast for 2022 to 8.8 percent from 9.1 percent, citing high inflation.

• S&P Global Ratings too had cut India's growth projection for 2022-23 to 7.3 per cent, from 7.8 percent. 

• In March, Fitch had cut India's growth forecast to 8.5 per cent, from 10.3 percent.

• The IMF has also lowered the projection to 8.2 percent from 9 per cent.

• Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pegged India's growth at 7.5 per cent.

• In April, the RBI lowered the forecast to 7.2 per cent from 7.8 per cent amid volatile crude oil prices and supply chain disruptions due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Govt changes Service rules to make retired officers eligible for CDS post

Tags: Defence

The Central Government has made a major change in the rules for appointment to the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). The government has amended the service rules of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

• What are the new rules?

• Under the new rule, now retired chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force or serving lieutenant general rank officers can also become CDS.

• Age should be less than 62 years at the time of appointment.

• Thus, under the new rules, the way has been cleared for the second best active rank officers of the three services to become CDS.

• General Bipin Rawat was appointed as the country's first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) after retiring from the post of Army Chief.

• The post of CDS has been lying vacant since the death of General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash in Tamil Nadu in December last year.

• About Chief of Defence Staff (CDS)

• CDS is the head of Indian Armed Forces  and the highest-ranking officer of the Indian Armed Forces.

• The President of India is the supreme commander of the armed forces.

• General Bipin Rawat was the first Chief of Defence Staff.

• He assumed office on 1 January 2020.

• CDS post was created on 24 December 2019.

• CDS is a member of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, National Security Council, Defence Acquisition Council, Defence Planning Committee, Nuclear Command Authority, Defence Cyber Agency and Defence Space Agency.

• List of Chiefs of the Indian Defence

• Army Chief - General Manoj Pande

• Navy Chief - Admiral R. Hari Kumar

• Air Force Chief - Air Chief Marshal  Vivek Ram Chaudhari

India, Vietnam sign joint vision statement on defence partnership for 2030

Tags: International Relations

India and Vietnam signed a 'Vision' document to further widen the "scope" of defence ties by 2030 and a 'Logistic Support' agreement to allow the armies of the two countries to use each other's installations.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh is on a three-day visit to the south-east Asian country.

• The MoU on mutual logistics support was inked by both sides.

• The two countries also agreed to expeditiously finalise India's defence line of credit of $500 million to Vietnam.

• Implementation of the projects through the LoC will significantly enhance Vietnam's defence capabilities and help in taking forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Make in India, Make for the world'.

• India also announced two 'simulators' and funding to set up a language and IT laboratory at the Air Force Officers Training School to improve the capabilities of the Vietnamese Armed Forces.

• India, Vietnam relation 

• Vietnam is an important member of ASEAN (Organisation of Southeast Asian Nations) and has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region.

• India is undertaking oil exploration projects in Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea.

• India and Vietnam have been working together to enhance their maritime security cooperation over the years to protect common interests.

• Vietnam has become an important partner in India's 'Act East Policy' and 'Indo-Pacific Vision'.

• The two countries share a rich history of civilizational and cultural ties dating back more than 2,000 years.

• The relations between the two countries were accorded the status of "strategic partnership" during the visit of the then Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Tan Dung to India in July 2007.

• During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Vietnam in 2016, this status was raised to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership".

Mela Kheer Bhawani begins in Jammu and Kashmir after two years

Tags: State News

The annual Mata Kheer Bhavani Mela began on June 8 at Tullamulla village in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, with Kashmiri Pandits and tourists paying obeisance at the Kheer Bhavani temple.

• Kheerbhawani Temple

• The temple is dedicated to Goddess Ragya Devi.

• The temple is located 30 km from the city of Srinagar, it is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Kashmiri Hindus.

• The temple gets its name from kheer, or milk and rice pudding, which is offered by pilgrims inside the temple premises as prasad to the goddess.

• The Kheerbhawani Mela is the largest gathering of Hindus in Kashmir after the annual Amarnath Yatra.

• Legend has it that the water in the spring of the temple changes from white to red and black.

• The colour of water is said to predict the imminent future.

• If the water turns black, it is seen as inauspicious or an impending disaster.

• Kashmiri Pandits say that the water turned black before they were forced to flee Kashmir during the 1990 insurgency.

Environmental Performance Index 2022

Tags: Popular National News

Recently, India has been ranked 180th out of 180 countries in the 'Environmental Performance Index' released biennially by 'Yale University'.

• The 'Environmental Performance Index' is a joint initiative of Yale University's Centre for Environmental Law and Policy and Columbia University's Centre for International Earth Science Information Network.

• The 'Environmental Performance Index'(EPI) is prepared in collaboration with the 'World Economic Forum'.

• The EPI scores 180 countries based on climate change performance, environmental health and ecosystem status using 40 performance indicators across 11 categories.

• Denmark tops the list

• Denmark topped the Environmental Performance Index (EPI), followed by Britain and Finland.

• These countries have received the highest scores for greenhouse gas emissions reductions in recent years.

• India ranks lowest

• According to the report, India stood at the bottom (180th) with the lowest score (18.9).

• India's neighbouring countries have performed better, with Pakistan at 176th and Bangladesh at 177th.

• Ranking of other major countries

• In the Environmental Performance Index, America was ranked 43rd, France 12th, Germany 13th, Australia 17th, Italy 23rd and Japan 25th.

• China has been ranked 161 in the report with 28.4 points.

• Top 10 countries

Multinational peace exercise "X Khan Quest 2022"

Tags: Defence

A multinational peace exercise "X Khan Quest 2022" involving military contingents from 16 countries was held in Mongolia.

• The Indian Army is represented in the exercise by a contingent of Ladakh Scouts.

• The exercise was inaugurated by Mongolian President Ukhnagin Khuralsukh.

• X Khan Quest

• Khan Quest is a multinational peacekeeping mission organised in Mongolia.

• This includes a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission command post exercise in the Five Hills Mountain Training Area of the Mongolian Armed Forces and a United Nations Peacekeeping Operation (PKO) mission field training exercise.

• The exercise is designed to improve peacekeeping capabilities, strengthen military ties and enhance the UN principle PKO competencies of all participants.

• The military exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Armed Forces of the participating countries, especially Mongolia, thereby enhancing the bilateral ties between the two countries.

• Important fact

• Nomadic Elephant is another military exercise that is conducted between India and Mongolia.

Amazon India signs MoU with Manipur govt to sell Panthoibi Emporium products

Tags: Economy/Finance State News

E-commerce Amazon and the Manipur government inaugurated Panthoibi Emporium, an online platform for the display and sale of handlooms and handicrafts from the state.

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed for this online store between e-commerce Amazon and the Manipur government.

• The initiative will benefit about 300,000 artisans, weavers and members of tribal communities in the state.

• Operated under the aegis of the Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles, Panthoibi Emporium is a part of Manipur Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation Limited (MHHDCL), a government enterprise for the development of local artisans.

• Panthoibi Emporium on Amazon.in includes hand woven clothing, handcrafted hats and bags, terracotta products as well as kauna crafts – a unique handicraft of Manipur in which kauna wood is used to make baskets, purses, bags etc.

• The Manipuri queen Phi, a hand-woven shawl made of silk, can also be found on the website.

• In addition, food items typical of Manipur, including black rice, tea, GI tagged chillies, lemons and oranges, will also be available for sale.

• About Manipur

• Manipur is also called the 'Orchid Basket' of the country. 500 species of orchid flowers are found here.

• This northeastern state is described as Swarna Bhoomi or   'Suvarnabhu'.

• The major population here is Manipuri people known as Meiti.

• Loktak Lake is an important lake here.

• The language of the people here is Manipuri, which was added to the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India in 1992.

• Capital- Imphal

• Governor- L A Ganesan

• Chief Minister- N Biren Singh

World Oceans Day

Tags: Important Days

World Oceans Day is celebrated every year on 8 June to raise global awareness about the important role of oceans in human life and the efforts required to conserve them.

• Purpose of the day

• The main purpose of celebrating this day is to shed light on topics such as biodiversity, food security, ecological balance, climate change, indiscriminate use of marine resources, and to create awareness in the world about the challenges posed by the oceans.

• Theme of World Oceans Day 2022

• The theme for this year's World Ocean Day is "Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean".

• History of the day

• It was decided to celebrate World Oceans Day every year at a forum named 'Planet Earth' held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

• Its concept was proposed at the Earth Summit by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development and the Ocean Institute of Canada.

• On 5 December 2008, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution to designate this day.

• Some important facts about ocean 

• There are a total of five oceans on Earth. The Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), Atlantic Ocean (Atlantic Ocean), Indian Ocean (Indian Ocean), Arctic Ocean (Arctic Ocean) and Antarctic Ocean or Southern Ocean (Antarctic Ocean).

• The Pacific is the largest and deepest ocean. Its depth on the Mariana Trench is 11,033 metres i.e. about 11 kilometres.

• The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest ocean.

• The water of the Atlantic Ocean is the saltiest. Its water has a salinity of 3.7 percent.

• The world's saltiest sea (Red Sea) and warmest ocean (Persian Gulf) are located in the Indian Ocean.

• The Arctic Ocean is the ocean with the least salt.

Alok Kumar Choudhary appointed as new Managing Director of SBI

Tags: Person in news

Alok Kumar Choudhary has been appointed as the new MD (Retail Business and Operations) of the country's largest bank State Bank of India.

• Prior to this appointment, Chaudhary was working as Deputy Managing Director (Finance) in the bank.

• Chaudhary started his job in the bank in 1987 as a Probationary Officer.

• Alok Choudhary replaces Ashwini Bhatia, MD, who retired from the bank on May 31.

• He was also the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Human Resources and Corporate Development Officer in the bank and Chaudhary also served as the Chief General Manager, Delhi Circle of the bank for three years.

• Besides Chowdhary, three other managing directors in State Bank of India are CS Shetty, Swaminathan J and Ashwini Kumar Tiwari.

• About SBI

• The history of the State Bank of India begins in the first decade of the 18th century, when the Bank of Calcutta, later renamed the Bank of Bengal, was established on June 2, 1806.

• The Bank of Bengal was one of the three Presidency banks, the other two being the Bank of Bombay (established on 15 April 1840) and the Bank of Madras (established on 1 July 1843).

• On January 27, 1921, the Presidency Banks were merged and the reorganised banking entity was known as 'Imperial Bank of India'.

• After independence, as per the provisions of the State Bank of India Act 1955, the Reserve Bank of India acquired the control of 'Imperial Bank of India'.

• On July 1, 1955, the name of 'Imperial Bank of India' was changed to 'State Bank of India'.

• Headquarters - Mumbai

• Chairman - Dinesh Kumar Khara

Bajram Begaj has elected as the new President of Albania

Tags: Person in news International News

Bajram Begaj, who held the post of Chief of General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces (AAF), has been elected as the new President of Albania country.

• He is the 8th President of Albania and the third President by military rank.

• Bajram Begaz will be sworn in as the new President on 25 July 2022 to replace the incumbent President 'Ilir Meta', who will remain in office till 22 July 2022.

• About Albania

• The Republic of Albania is a country located in northeastern Europe.

• Albania is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the European Organisation for Security and Cooperation, the European Council, the World Trade Organisation, the Organisation of Islamic Conference, etc.

• The national and ethnic symbol of the Albanian people is "eagle".

• In 1967, Albania became the first atheist country in the world.

• The capital of the country is "Tirana".