1. 76th World Health Assembly held in Geneva
Tags: International News
The 76th World Health Assembly was inaugurated by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 21 May 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland.
An Overview of the News:
- This ten-day 76th World Health Assembly is being organized from 21 to 30 May 2023.
- In this, India is being represented by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
- It serves as a platform for representatives of all WHO member states to come together and address health issues affecting people around the world.
- Appreciating India's health priorities, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation, praised India's progress in chairing the G20 as well as its efforts to advance digital health and traditional medicine.
- Theme of the 76th World Health Assembly: WHO at 75: Saving Lives, Driving Health for All.
World Health Assembly:
- The World Health Assembly serves as the decision-making body of the WHO.
- Its primary functions include key aspects of the organization's operations.
- These set policies that guide global health initiatives. Along with this, it also appoints the Director General.
World Health Organization (WHO):
- It is an inter-governmental organization and works in collaboration with the Ministries of Health of its member states.
- Establishment : 1948
- Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
- Members: 194 countries
- WHO started functioning from 7th April, 1948.
- World Health Day is celebrated every year on 7th April.
- WHO has offices in 150 countries as well as six regional offices.
2. Third advance estimate of production of major crops for 2022-23
Tags: National
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar released the third advance estimates of production of major crops for the agricultural year 2022-23. In which food grains production has been estimated at 3305.34 lakh tonnes in the current agricultural year.
An overview of the news:
- In this, record production of rice, wheat, maize, soybean, rapeseed and mustard and sugarcane has been estimated.
- As per the 3rd Advance Estimates for 2022-23, the estimated production of major crops is as follows:
- Total food grain production: 3305.34 lakh tonnes (record). This is 149.18 lakh tonnes more than the previous year 2021-22.
Main food grains :
- Rice: 1355.42 lakh tonnes, which is 60.71 lakh tonnes more than last year.
- Wheat: 1127.43 lakh tonnes
- Bajra: 111.66 lakh tonnes
- Nutri/Coarse Cereals (Shri Anna): 547.48 Lakh Tonnes
- Maize: 359.13 lakh tonnes
- Total pulses: 275.04 lakh tonnes
- Gram: 135.43 lakh tonnes
- Moong: 37.40 lakh tonnes
- Oilseeds: 409.96 lakh tonnes
- Groundnut: 102.82 lakh tonnes
- Soybean: 149.76 lakh tonnes
- Rapeseed and mustard: 124.94 lakh tonnes
- Cotton: 343.47 lakh bales (170 kg per bale)
- Sugarcane: 4942.28 lakh tonnes
Jute and Mesta: 94.94 lakh bales (180 kg per bale)
3. INSV Tarini crew back home after 188 days
Tags: Defence National News
The crew of INSV Tarini, who returned after an inter-continental voyage, were accorded a grand welcome at the flag-in ceremony in Goa.
An overview of the news
The crew returned home on 23 May after an arduous voyage of 17,000 nautical miles.
Two women officers, Lt Cdr Dilna K and Lt Cdr Roopa A, were involved in the entire operation.
Lt Cdr Dilna is a Logistics Officer in the Navy.
Roopa, who hails from Puducherry, has graduated in Aeronautical Engineering from Chennai. He is a Naval Armament Inspection Officer.
Both Dilna and Roopa are currently posted at INS Mandovi in Goa.
The historic voyage from Goa to Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town was completed by INSV Tarini in 188 days.
It reflects an exemplary display of gallantry, courage and tenacity by the crew and highlights the role of the Indian Navy as a pioneer in the country in ocean sailing.
4. Union AYUSH Minister inaugurates PCIM&H 'e-office' and online portal
Tags: National National News
Union Minister for AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated "PCIM&H e-Office Portal" and an online portal.
An Overview of the News
The objective of the online portal is to facilitate easy access of Pharmacopoeia Monographs to the stakeholders across the globe.
During his visit to the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (PCIM&H), the Minister inspected various laboratories: Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Microbiology, Herbal Garden, and Raw Drug Repository of ASU&H drugs.
PCIM&H, under the Ministry of AYUSH, is actively involved in standardisation and quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathic (ASU&H) drugs, and publishes standards in the form of Pharmacopoeia.
In addition, the Minister released the monthly newsletter published by PCIM&H.
Advisor (Ayurveda), Ministry of AYUSH - Dr. Kaustubh Upadhyay
PCIM&H Director - Dr. Raman Mohan Singh
About Ministry of AYUSH
It is a government ministry in India.
It is responsible for the development, promotion and regulation of traditional systems of medicine.
AYUSH is the abbreviation of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Society and aims to promote education and research of the above.
The ministry provides educational and training programs.
Establishment - 2014
Responsible Ministers - Sarbananda Sonowal, Cabinet Minister and Mahendra Munjapara, Minister of State
Ministry Executive - Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary
Ministry of Motherhood - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
5. Union AYUSH Minister inaugurates PCIM&H 'e-office' and online portal
Tags: National National News
Union Minister for AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated "PCIM&H e-Office Portal" and an online portal.
An Overview of the News
The objective of the online portal is to facilitate easy access of Pharmacopoeia Monographs to the stakeholders across the globe.
During his visit to the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homeopathy (PCIM&H), the Minister inspected various laboratories: Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Microbiology, Herbal Garden, and Raw Drug Repository of ASU&H drugs.
PCIM&H, under the Ministry of AYUSH, is actively involved in standardisation and quality control of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathic (ASU&H) drugs, and publishes standards in the form of Pharmacopoeia.
In addition, the Minister released the monthly newsletter published by PCIM&H.
Advisor (Ayurveda), Ministry of AYUSH - Dr. Kaustubh Upadhyay
PCIM&H Director - Dr. Raman Mohan Singh
About Ministry of AYUSH
It is a government ministry in India.
It is responsible for the development, promotion and regulation of traditional systems of medicine.
AYUSH is the abbreviation of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Society and aims to promote education and research of the above.
The ministry provides educational and training programs.
Establishment - 2014
Responsible Ministers - Sarbananda Sonowal, Cabinet Minister and Mahendra Munjapara, Minister of State
Ministry Executive - Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary
Ministry of Motherhood - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
6. Ministry of Civil Aviation launches UDAN 5.1
Tags: Government Schemes National News
The Ministry of Civil Aviation in India has launched UDAN 5.1 on 24 May, a special edition of the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, with a special focus on helicopter routes.
The main features of UDAN 5.1
For the first time under Regional Connectivity Scheme RCS-UDAN, this round is designed specifically for helicopter routes.
There will be an increase in the scope of operations for the operators, which will now also allow routes where one of the origin or destination points is in the priority zone.
The airfare ceiling has been reduced by 25% to make flying in helicopters more affordable for passengers.
The Viability Gap Funding (VGF) cap for single and twin-engine helicopter operators has been substantially increased to enhance the financial viability for operating the routes.
So far 46 helicopter routes have been operationalized under the scheme, benefitting many hilly and North East states and UDAN 5.1 is targeting coverage of a much larger number of routes.
About UDAN Scheme
Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched in 2016 as a Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) under the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Its objective is to make affordable, economically viable and profitable air travel on regional routes available to the common man even in small towns.
It seeks to improve air connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities through revival of unused and underused airports.
The scheme will be jointly funded by the central government and state governments.
The scheme will run for 10 years and can be extended thereafter.
7. More than 90% of funds allocated under Smart Cities Mission utilised
Tags: National Government Schemes National News
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has announced that more than 90% of the funds allocated under the Smart Cities Mission are being utilized and 73% of the projects have already been completed.
An overview of the news
The smart city project was to be completed within five years of the selection of the city.
However, in 2021, the ministry changed the deadline to June 2023 for all cities.
About Smart Cities Mission
Smart Cities Mission is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs which was launched in 2015.
It aims to transform urban areas into sustainable, citizen-friendly and technologically advanced cities.
The mission's primary objective is to enhance the quality of life for citizens by providing them with improved infrastructure, better governance, and increased economic opportunities.
Between January 2016 and June 2018 (when the last city, Shillong, was selected), the ministry selected 100 cities for the mission in five rounds.
Selection Process
The mission follows a competitive approach where cities submit proposals based on specific criteria, including the adoption of smart solutions, citizen engagement, and sustainable development.
The selected cities undergo redevelopment in a phased manner.
Core components
Infrastructure development: Emphasis is placed on developing physical infrastructure such as transportation systems, water supply, sanitation, and affordable housing to meet the needs of the urban population.
Technology integration: The mission integrates technology to improve service delivery, including data analytics and smart grids devices for efficient resource management and real-time monitoring.
Citizen engagement: The mission focuses on citizen participation and engagement through mobile applications and feedback mechanisms, empowering them to contribute to decision-making processes and hold authorities accountable.
Sustainable practices: The mission promotes sustainable development by encouraging the use of renewable energy sources, green building practices, waste management systems, and efficient urban planning.
Funds Utilisation
Till 1 May 2023, a total of Rs 38,400 crore was released for the Smart Cities Mission.
Out of this amount, ₹35,261 crore has already been utilized for various projects.
Project Completion
The Smart Cities Mission includes around 7,800 projects worth Rs 1.8 lakh crore.
Of these projects, more than 5,700 projects worth Rs 1.1 lakh crore have been completed.
The remaining projects are expected to be completed by June 30, 2024.
Currently, only 22 out of 100 designated cities have successfully completed all the projects under the mission.
8. More than 90% of funds allocated under Smart Cities Mission utilised
Tags: National Government Schemes National News
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has announced that more than 90% of the funds allocated under the Smart Cities Mission are being utilized and 73% of the projects have already been completed.
An overview of the news
The smart city project was to be completed within five years of the selection of the city.
However, in 2021, the ministry changed the deadline to June 2023 for all cities.
About Smart Cities Mission
Smart Cities Mission is an initiative of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs which was launched in 2015.
It aims to transform urban areas into sustainable, citizen-friendly and technologically advanced cities.
The mission's primary objective is to enhance the quality of life for citizens by providing them with improved infrastructure, better governance, and increased economic opportunities.
Between January 2016 and June 2018 (when the last city, Shillong, was selected), the ministry selected 100 cities for the mission in five rounds.
Selection Process
The mission follows a competitive approach where cities submit proposals based on specific criteria, including the adoption of smart solutions, citizen engagement, and sustainable development.
The selected cities undergo redevelopment in a phased manner.
Core components
Infrastructure development: Emphasis is placed on developing physical infrastructure such as transportation systems, water supply, sanitation, and affordable housing to meet the needs of the urban population.
Technology integration: The mission integrates technology to improve service delivery, including data analytics and smart grids devices for efficient resource management and real-time monitoring.
Citizen engagement: The mission focuses on citizen participation and engagement through mobile applications and feedback mechanisms, empowering them to contribute to decision-making processes and hold authorities accountable.
Sustainable practices: The mission promotes sustainable development by encouraging the use of renewable energy sources, green building practices, waste management systems, and efficient urban planning.
Funds Utilisation
Till 1 May 2023, a total of Rs 38,400 crore was released for the Smart Cities Mission.
Out of this amount, ₹35,261 crore has already been utilized for various projects.
Project Completion
The Smart Cities Mission includes around 7,800 projects worth Rs 1.8 lakh crore.
Of these projects, more than 5,700 projects worth Rs 1.1 lakh crore have been completed.
The remaining projects are expected to be completed by June 30, 2024.
Currently, only 22 out of 100 designated cities have successfully completed all the projects under the mission.
9. Ministry of Education and PARAKH organise the 1st National level workshop
Tags: National Government Schemes National News
Recently, the Ministry of Education organized a workshop in New Delhi to discuss the integration of 60 school examination boards operating in different states and union territories.
An overview of the news
The key component of the scheme is PARAKH, a National Assessment Center set up under the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
The central government is planning for uniformity of boards to facilitate seamless transition for students in different boards or regions.
It aims to align curriculum standards, grading system and evaluation methods so as to enhance the credibility and recognition of certificates and grades obtained across all boards.
The workshop highlighted the need to re-evaluate the rote-examination culture prevalent in the education system.
What is PARAKH?
PARAKH full name is -Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.
It will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT.
It will also be tasked with conducting periodic learning outcome tests like National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Survey.
This framework will seek to curb the emphasis on rote learning as envisaged by the National Policy on Education (NEP) 2020.
It will be the proposed implementing agency and also will be part of the NEP proposal.
Its team will consist of leading assessment experts with a deep understanding of the education system in India and internationally.
10. Ministry of Education and PARAKH organise the 1st National level workshop
Tags: National Government Schemes National News
Recently, the Ministry of Education organized a workshop in New Delhi to discuss the integration of 60 school examination boards operating in different states and union territories.
An overview of the news
The key component of the scheme is PARAKH, a National Assessment Center set up under the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
The central government is planning for uniformity of boards to facilitate seamless transition for students in different boards or regions.
It aims to align curriculum standards, grading system and evaluation methods so as to enhance the credibility and recognition of certificates and grades obtained across all boards.
The workshop highlighted the need to re-evaluate the rote-examination culture prevalent in the education system.
What is PARAKH?
PARAKH full name is -Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.
It will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT.
It will also be tasked with conducting periodic learning outcome tests like National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Survey.
This framework will seek to curb the emphasis on rote learning as envisaged by the National Policy on Education (NEP) 2020.
It will be the proposed implementing agency and also will be part of the NEP proposal.
Its team will consist of leading assessment experts with a deep understanding of the education system in India and internationally.
