11h April 2021 - English Current Affairs| Education Keeda

Important Days

World Homeopathy Day: 10 April

World Homeopathy Day is celebrated every year on April 10 to spread awareness about homoeopathy and its contribution to the world of medicine.

The day marks the birth anniversary of German physician Dr Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann, who is considered the founder of the system of alternative medicine called Homeopathy. The year 2021 marks the 266th birthday of Hahnemann.

The Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), Ministry of AYUSH, organised a two-day scientific conference on the occasion of #WorldHomoeopathyDay from April 10 & 11, 2021 in New Delhi.

The theme of the conference is “Homoeopathy – Roadmap for Integrative Medicine”

Objective: exchange of experience by policymakers and experts to identify strategic actions towards an effective and efficient inclusion of Homoeopathy in integrative care.

National

Tika Utsav: COVID-19 Vaccination Drive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently appealed to the Chief Ministers of the States to organise “Tika Utsav”.

Tika Utsav is a vaccine festival. It is to be held between April 11, 2021, and April 14, 2021. The main objective of the festival is to vaccinate as many people as possible. It will also focus on zero wastage of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, three states are receiving a maximum number of COVID-19 doses. They are Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.

COVAXIN and COVISHIELD are the two major COVID-19 vaccines that are currently administered in India.

So far, India has shipped 64 million doses of vaccines to 84 countries in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. The major recipient countries of the Indian COVID-19 vaccines are Mexico, Canada, and Brazil.

The GoI has planned to cover 250 million people included in the “high priority” category by July 2021 under its vaccination programme.

India gifts Rs 100 crore patrol vessel “PS Zoroaster” to Seychelles

India formally handed over Rs 100 crore patrol vessel “PS Zoroaster” to Seychelles during the virtual summit between Indian PM Narendra Modi and Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan.

The PS Zoroaster is the fourth made-in-India patrol boat developed for Seychelles since 2005. The other vessels gifted by India include PS Topaz (2005), PS Constant (2014), Patrol Boat Hermes (2016).

The 48.9-metre patrol boat has been built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineering at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore.

The vessel has a top speed of 35 knots and an endurance of 1,500 nautical miles.

It will be used for multi-purpose operations, such as patrolling, anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations, and search and rescue.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

Seychelles Capital: Victoria.
Seychelles Currency: Seychellois rupee.
Seychelles Continent: Africa.

International

Niger President Bazoum Names Mahamadou as New Prime Minister

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum appointed Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou to head his new cabinet as the country’s new prime minister. He was previously served as a minister in charge of the finance and mining portfolios.

He was the chief of staff to former President Mahamadou Issoufou between 2015 and 2021. He was sworn as Niger’s first democratic transition of power since independence in 1960.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

Niger Capital: Niamey.
Niger Currency: West African CFA franc.

Banking

SBI MF becomes first mutual fund company to cross Rs 5 lakh crore AAUM

SBI Funds Management Pvt. Ltd has informed that it has become the first mutual fund house in India to cross the Rs. 5 lakh crore average assets under management (AAUM) mark. SBI MF has seen a growth of 35% during the financial year 2020-21, with its average AUM increasing from Rs 3.73 lakh crore to Rs 5.04 lakh crore.

The company, which is a joint venture between India’s largest lender, State Bank of India, and Europe’s largest asset manager, Amundi. The fund house’s SIP book has increased to ₹1,382 crores from ₹1,180 crores over the last year recording a growth of 17%.

Useful notes for all competitive exams:

SBI Funds Management Founded: 7 February 1992.

Summits and Conferences

Nirmala Sitharaman attends 103rd Development Committee Meeting of World Bank-IMF

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the 103rd Meeting of the Development Committee Plenary, via video conferencing. During the meeting, she shared the measures taken to combat COVID-19 including social support measures for the poor and vulnerable, and relief measures for firms in statutory and regulatory compliance matters.

World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund Support for Debt Relief Under the Common Framework and Beyond;

COVID-19 pandemic: World Bank Group Support for Fair and Affordable Access to Vaccines by Developing Countries;

From COVID-19 Crisis Response to Resilient Recovery – Saving Lives and Livelihoods while Supporting Green, Resilient and Inclusive Development (GRID).

As a part of the meeting, Sitharaman also informed that the Government of India has announced Aatma Nirbhar Packages of Rs 27.1 trillion, which amounts to more than 13% of the GDP. These packages would provide social protection to the poor and vulnerable as well as push forward the economic reforms.

Awards

Dutee Chand selected for inaugural Chhattisgarh Veerni Award

Indian sprinter, Dutee Chand has been chosen for the inaugural edition of the Chhattisgarh Veerni Award, by the Chhattisgarh state government. The award, which recognises the contribution of Indian women in different fields, including sports, will be given virtually on April 14, 2021.

The Odisha sprinter became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the World University Games held in Italy in 2019. She is a silver-medalist in 100 and 200 metres at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. Apart from this, Dutee holds the national record of 11.22 secs in 100m.

Obituary

Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, passes away

Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, has passed away. The 99-year-old royal passed away just months before his 100th birthday in June. He had retired from public duties in 2017 at the age of 96.

He was the longest-serving royal consort in British history who was a constant presence at Queen Elizabeth II’s side for decades.

Miscellaneous

Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal launches “NanoSniffer”

The Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the world’s first Microsensor based Explosive Trace Detector (ETD) called “NanoSniffer”.

The ETD has been developed by NanoSniff Technologies, an IIT Bombay incubated startup. It is being marketed by Vehant Technologies, a spin-off from a former IIT Delhi incubated startup Kritikal Solutions.

Indian Army Officer Bharat Pannu Breaks 2 Guinness World Records

Indian Army’s Lieutenant Colonel, Bharat Pannu has earned two Guinness World Records for his fastest solo cycling feats from October 2020. The first record was created when Lt Col Pannu cycled from Leh to Manali (472 km distance) on October 10, 2020, in just 35 hours and 25 minutes.

Lt Col Pannu created a second record when he cycled the 5,942-km-long ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ route, which connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata 14 days, 23 hours and 52 minutes.