1. WHO estimates 4.7 million COVID-19-linked deaths in India
Tags: Latest National News
According to a report by the World Health Organisation There were likely 4.7 million deaths, directly or indirectly attributable to COVID-19 in India in 2020 and 2021.
India officially estimated only 4.8 lakh cumulative deaths linked to COVID-19 by December 2021, which means the WHO's estimate is almost 10 times the government count.
The World Health Organisation said that in the past two years, about 15 million people have lost their lives either to the corona virus or to its effects on health systems.
In India, there were 5.3 lakh deaths among men aged 60 and above in 2020 and 19 lakh deaths in the same age group in 2021.
On the other hand, there were 3.5 lakh deaths among women 60 and older in 2020 and 15 lakh deaths in 2021.
Minutes after the WHO released its estimate, India "objected" to the methodology used by the organisation.
COVID-19-linked deaths Globally
Most of the additional deaths (84%) are concentrated in Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Nearly two-thirds of additional deaths are concentrated in just 10 countries globally.
Globally, the pandemic killed more men than women (57% male, 43% female) with a higher proportion of older people.
2. PM reviews various aspects of wheat supply, stock and exports
Tags: National Economy/Finance
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting to review various aspects of wheat supply, stock and exports.
PM Modi was briefed about the effect of high temperatures in the months of March to April on crop production.
The position of procurement and export of wheat was also reviewed.
The Prime Minister directed that all steps be taken to ensure quality norms and standards so that India can develop as an assured source of food grains and other agricultural products.
Modi also asked the officials to ensure maximum help to the farmers.
The officials informed the Prime Minister about the prevailing market rates which are beneficial for the farmers.
Status of procurement of wheat in India
The procurement of food grains at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) by the government will hit a 13-year low this year.
In 2010-11, wheat procurement was 22.5 MT and in 2016-17, it was 22.96 MT.
MSP purchases of wheat stood around 17 MT as on 5 May, down 42% from the year-ago level.
India is aiming to export more than 10 metric tonnes of wheat in 2022-23.
According to the revised guideline, during the remaining five months of phase VI of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), FCI will allocate 3.5 million tonnes (MT) of wheat to states.
Launched in 2020 as part of COVID19 relief measure, 5 kg of grain under PMGKAY are provided free each month besides highly subsidised foodgrain to beneficiaries under National Food Security Act.
3. PM Modi to address inaugural session of Jain International Trade Organisation’s - JITO Connect 2022
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the inaugural session of Jain International Trade Organisation’s - JITO Connect 2022 through video conferencing.
· JITO Connect 2022 is a three-day event that is being organized in Pune from May 6-8 and will consist of several sessions on various issues related to business and economy.
· About Jain International Trade Organization (JITO)
· JITO is a worldwide association of businessmen, industrialists, knowledge workers and professionals that reflects the glory of ethical business practices.
· It is a global organization formed for socio-economic empowerment, value based education, community welfare, practice of compassion, spreading global friendship and spiritual upliftment of fellow beings.
· Mission of JITO
· Creating a world class body of influential and powerful Industrialists, Entrepreneurs, Businessmen and Professionals to come together for noble causes of Economic Empowerment, Knowledge and Service.
· Objectives of JITO
· Create managed knowledge Institutions and Value Based Education.
· Growth in business by mutual cooperation, avoidance of criticism and opposition.
· Create Platform for young entrepreneurs for right Business contacts.
· Promote governance and politics & value based people.
4. Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor assumes the Appointment of Director General (Inspection and Safety)
Tags: National Defence Person in news
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Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor assumed the appointment of Director General (Inspection and Safety) of Indian Air Force at Air HQ New Delhi on 01 May.
The Air Marshal is a graduate of the National Defence Academy and was commissioned into the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in December 1985 as a transport pilot.
He is an alumnus of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC) Wellington, College of Defence Management and National Defence College.
He is a qualified Flight Instructor with over 7700 hours of flying experience on various aircraft in the IAF list.
He has commanded an operational transport squadron and a major transport base.
He is a recipient of Vayu Sena Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.
5. Over 51,000 frontline Railway Staff trained under Mission Rail Karmayogi
Tags: Latest National News
The central government said that more than 51,000 frontline railway employees have been trained under Mission Rail Karmayogi.
These staff have been trained by master trainers, who themselves have been trained at the Indian Institute of Transport Management, a centralised training institute under the Ministry of Railways.
About Mission Karmayogi
Mission Karmayogi was launched by the government in September, 2020 as the most important capacity building initiative anywhere in the world.
The project seeks to train around one lakh frontline railway employees over a period of six months.
The mission aims to change the attitude of these frontline workers by providing citizen centric training.
Mission Karmayogi will be instrumental in achieving the goal of a 5 trillion dollar economy set by the Prime Minister.
6. Govt prepares new draft National Youth Policy
Tags: Latest National News
The government has prepared a new draft of the National Youth Policy (NYP).
The Government has reviewed the existing draft National Youth Policy, 2014.
The draft NYP envisages a ten-year vision for youth development that India wants to achieve by 2030.
It is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and works to 'unlock the potential of youth to take India forward'.
NYP drafted five priority areas such as education; employment and entrepreneurship; youth leadership and development; health, fitness and sports; and social justice.
Each priority sector is based on the principle of social inclusion keeping in mind the interests of the marginalised sections.
The Department of Youth Affairs seeks comments/views/suggestions on the draft NYP from all stakeholders.
7. Indian Coast Guard commissions its second ALH Mk III Squadron in Kochi
Indian Coast Guard chief VS Pathania on May 04, commissioned the second made in India ALH Mk III Squadron at Coast Guard Air Enclave (CGAE) in Kochi.
This is equipped with the indigenously developed Advanced Mark III (ALH Mark III) helicopters.
The second squadron of ALH Mk III choppers aims to boost the security of the western seaboard further and enhance India’s rescue capability.
The commissioning is a tremendous leap towards self-reliance in the field of search and rescue operations and long range maritime surveillance.
The indigenously developed ALH Mk-III helicopters are fitted with an array of state-of-the-art sensors that enhance the maritime prowess of the Coast Guard.
Four helicopters have been deployed in Kochi to cover the entire coast of Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep.
The Squadron, led by Commandant Kunal Naik has nine officers and 35 men.
TLMC conference
The Coast Guard Headquarters-4 (Kerala and Mahe) at Fort Kochi organised the annual Technical and Logistics Management Committee Conference.
Coast Guard Commander (Western Seaboard) and senior officials are attending the conference.
Director General VS. Pathania inaugurated the conference and acknowledged the force's collective efforts to maintain a fleet of 256 ships and aircraft.
8. PM Modi to chair key meeting on heatwave, monsoon preparedness
Tags: National News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an important review meeting today on the preparedness to deal with heat waves affecting many parts of the country.
The meeting will also review the preparedness related to the upcoming monsoon season.
According to the report of India Meteorological Department (IMD), there is a heat wave-like situation across the country.
As per IMD report, 16 of the 36 of the meteorological subdivisions in India are facing heat wave-like conditions.
About Heat wave
A heat wave is a period of abnormally high temperature, higher than the normal maximum temperature that occurs during the summer season in the northwestern parts of India.
Heat waves usually occur between March and June, and in some rare cases extend up to July.
The extreme temperatures and atmospheric conditions adversely affect the people living in these areas as they cause physical stress, sometimes resulting in death.
Criterion for declaring Heat waves
If the maximum temperature of a meteorological station reaches at least 40 degrees Celsius or more for Plains and at least 30 degrees Celsius or more for Hilly regions.
Heat waves have put enormous pressure on health and emergency services.
It increases strain on water, energy and transportation resulting in power shortages.
This adversely affects agriculture mainly in terms of production of Rabi crops causing stress among farmers.
9. Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurates BSF's floating border outposts at Hingalganj in West Bengal
Tags: Latest National News
Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated BSF's floating border outposts at Hingalganj in West Bengal, where he arrived on a two-day visit.
He also flagged off a boat ambulance to provide medical aid in these inaccessible areas.
He will also participate in several programs including Foundation Stone Laying Program of Maitri Museum and Prahari Sammelan at BOP Haridaspur.
He will visit the India-Bangladesh border area of Teen Bigha, where he is scheduled to interact with BSF personnel on 6th May.
Floating BOP is a post that can be moved across rivers, streams and seas, which can be moved from one place to another.
10. President has no role to play in Perarivalan’s plea : Supreme Court
Tags: Latest National News
The Supreme Court has said that the Tamil Nadu Governor is bound to abide by the state cabinet's decision to release AG Perarivalan, who had spent more than 30 years in jail under life imprisonment for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
The Supreme Court disagreed with the Central government’s suggestion that the court should wait till the President took a call on mercy plea.
The apex court, while rejecting the Governor's move to send the mercy petition to the President, said that if something is happening against the Constitution, then the eyes cannot be closed.
The pertinent question was whether the Governor had the authority to send mercy petitions to the President.
Under Article 161 of the Constitution, the Governor was bound by the aid and advice given by the Tamil Nadu Council of Ministers in September 2018.
The Governor had no prima facie power to transfer the mercy petition to the President.
Article 161 of the Constitution
Article 161 of the Constitution empowers the Governor to pardon or reduce the sentence of any prisoner.
The decision of the Governor will be subject to judicial review by the Constitutional Courts.
What is Pardon?
A pardon is a government/executive decision that allows a person to be absolved of an offence for an alleged offence or other legal offence as if the offender had never committed the crime.
Difference Between the Pardoning Powers of the President and the Governor
The powers of the Governor are limited to offences against the law relating to the matter to which the executive power of the State extends.
The governor cannot pardon the death sentence but the president can pardon the death sentence.
The Governor cannot grant pardon, reprieve, suspension, remission or commutation in respect to punishment or sentence by a court-martial. But the President can do so.
