Current Affairs Quiz 19th May 2023 Quiz

Exp. Third G20 tourism meet to be held in Srinagar

The 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group meeting will be held in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir from May 22 to 24.

More than 100 delegates, including at least 70 representing G20 member-states, are expected to participate.

During the working sessions, G20 delegates will discuss a potential roadmap that would link Tourism-sector with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The G20 working group meeting in Jammu and Kashmir is a great opportunity for all of us to showcase and promote the Union Territory and its abundant tourism potential to the world.

The event will be based on 5 areas eg. Green Tourism, Digitalisation, Skills, Tourism MSMEs, and Destination Management.

G20 in News (Note – All Meetings are Under the Presidency of G20 by India)

• 3rd Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting (ETWG) – Mumbai (15 – 17 2023)
• 2nd G20 Culture Working Group Meetigng – Bhubaneswar, Odisha (14 -16 MAy 2023)
• Youth-20 Consultation Programme – Rishikesh, Uttarakhand (4 – 5 May 2023)
• Science 20 Engagement Group Meeting – Bangaram Island, Lakshadweep (1 -2 May 2023)
• Y-20 Pre-Summit Meeting – Leh, Ladakh (26 – 28 April 2023)

Exp. Jal Jeevan Mission achieves milestone of 12 crore Tap Water Connections

The Jal Jeevan Mission has achieved a significant milestone by providing 12 crore tap water connections across the country.

This achievement marks a major step towards ensuring access to clean drinking water for every household.

At the announcement of the Mission, only three crore 23 lakh households in the villages had access to piped water connection.

Five States and three Union Territories have reported 100 percent coverage. These states and UTs are Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Puducherry, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Himachal Pradesh at 98.35%, followed by Bihar at 96.05%, are also set to achieve saturation in the near future.

About Jal Jeevan Mission

• JJM is a flagship programme of the Government of India which was announced from the ramparts of Red Fort by the PM on August 15, 2019.
• The objective of the mission is to supply potable tap water in adequate quantity, prescribed quality and on a regular and long-term basis to every rural household of the country by 2024.
• It is implemented by the Government of India in partnership with the States/Union Territories.
• This mission comes under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The fund sharing pattern between the Center and the states under the mission is 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern states and 50:50 for other states.
• In the case of UTs, 100% contribution is made by the Centre.

Exp. Lucknow to get new Pharmaceutical Research and Innovation Institute

Uttar Pradesh government will set up a pharmaceutical research and innovation institute in Lucknow.

The institute will promote research and manufacturing in the pharma sector.

UP is the sixth-largest state in the nation in terms of the number of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

UP’s contribution to pharma manufacturing in the country is currently 2%, which needs to be increased to 10-12%.

About Uttar Pradesh

• Capital – Lucknow
• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath
• Governor – Anandiben Patel

Exp. Online education program ‘Pahal’ for rural children inaugurated

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary, Durga Shankar Mishra has inaugurated an online rural education program ‘Pahal’ at Government UP Sainik Inter College, Sarojini Nagar.

This programme has been prepared by the Department of secondary education in collaboration with IIT Kanpur.

The initiative aims to provide educational opportunities to rural children who have limited access to quality education.

‘Pahal’ is designed to bridge the education gap between rural and urban areas.

Under this program, in the initial phase, free online education will be provided in 10 government secondary schools of the state.

Through these classes, students of rural areas will be able to get the latest information related to science and mathematics.

About Uttar Pradesh

• Capital – Lucknow
• Chief Minister – Yogi Adityanath
• Governor – Anandiben Patel

Exp. HPCL to set up Rs 500 cr ethanol plant in Una, HP

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) has committed to setting up a state-of-the-art ethanol plant in Jeetpur Baheri, Una district.

With an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore, this project aims to bolster the production of ethanol in the region and create numerous employment opportunities for local communities.

The government will invest 50% equity in the project and would extend cooperation to the company for setting up the plant

The plant would provide employment and self-employment opportunities to the local people and farmers from Kangra, Hamirpur, and Bilaspur

CMD of HPCL – Pushp Kumar Joshi

About Himachal Pradesh

• Capital – Shimla (Summer), Dharamshala (Winter)
• Chief Minister – Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu
• Deputy Chief Minister – Mukesh Agnihotri
• Governor – Shiv Pratap Shukla

Exp. Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates National Mission Conclave in Delhi

Union Minister for AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal has inaugurated two-day National Ayush Mission (NAM) Conclave in New Delhi.

The conclave aims to enhance coordination among stakeholders and strengthen the functioning of Ayush Health Wellness centers.

The National Ayush Mission was launched in 2014 with the objective to preserve and promote India’s traditional systems of medicine.

The objective of the Mission is to enhance the availability, accessibility, and quality of Ayush healthcare services across the country through Ayush Health Wellness centers as part of Government of India’s Ayushman Bharat scheme.

The government had approved the operationalization of 12 thousand 500 Ayush Health Wellness Centres by upgrading existing Ayush Dispensaries and Health Sub-centre under the broad umbrella of NAM in a phased manner.

So far more than 8 thousand 500 such centres have been setup across the country and are serving the communities.

Recent Inauguration by Sarbananda Sonowal

• Sarbananda Sonowal launched ‘Harit Sagar’ the Green Port Guidelines 2023
• Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated Discovery Campus of National Technology Centre in Chennai
• Sarnbanada Sonowal flags off International Yoga Mahotsav in Dibrugarh
• Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated School of Logistics, Waterways, and Communication in Agartala, Tripura.
• Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated ‘Ayush Utsav’ in Kashmir

Exp. India launches ‘Operation Karuna’ to assist cyclone-hit Myanmar

India has launched ‘Operation Karuna’ to assist Myanmar which has been devastated by Cyclone Mocha.

Three Indian Navy ships carrying relief material reached Yangon.

The ships are carrying emergency food items, tents, essential medicines, water pumps, portable generators, clothes, sanitary and hygiene items, etc,”.

More than 40 tonnes of HADR materials brought by INS Shivalik, INS Kamorta and INS Savitri included emergency food items, tents, portable generators, clothes, water pumps, medicines, tarpaulins, hygiene and sanitary items, wheelchair, face masks, etc.

The fourth ship INS Gharial will bring more HADR materials, including emergency medicines and medical kits.

Q.8. According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s “Turning Off The Tap” report, Plastic pollution across the world can see a reduction of up to 80 percent by which year if companies and countries make policy and market shifts using existing technologies?

संयुक्त राष्ट्र पर्यावरण कार्यक्रम (UNEP) की “टर्निंग ऑफ द टैप” रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, दुनिया भर में प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण में किस वर्ष तक 80 प्रतिशत तक की कमी देखी जा सकती है यदि कंपनियां और देश मौजूदा तकनीकों का उपयोग करके नीति और बाजार में बदलाव करते हैं?

(a) 2028

(b) 2030

(c) 2035

(d) 2040

(e) 2045

Exp. UNEP suggests measures to reduce 80% of world's plastic pollution by 2040

According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)'s "Turning Off The Tap" report, Plastic pollution across the world can see a reduction of up to 80 percent by 2040 if companies and countries make policy and market shifts using existing technologies.

The report highlights the magnitude and nature of changes required to end plastic pollution and to create a circular economy to replace the widespread use of single-use plastics and their inappropriate disposal.

Plastic pollution undermines marine ecosystems and contaminates oceans. The presence of microplastics – tiny fragments resulting from the disposal and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste – are increasingly found in the human food chain.

According to the report, one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute while up to five trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year.

In total, half of all plastic produced is designed for single-use purposes, the UNEP confirms. About 400 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated every year.

To reduce the problem of unnecessary plastics, the report suggests tackling the problem with the approach of 'reuse, recycle and reorient and diversify products.'

Exp. Arjun Ram Meghwal appointed as the new Law and Justice Minister

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal has been assigned the independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios.

Meghwal replaced Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

Rijiju who was serving as Law and Justice Minister will now hold the portfolio of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

President Droupadi Murmu allocated the portfolios to these Ministers on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel has been assigned as Minister of State in the Health and Family Welfare Ministry.

Prof. Baghel was serving as Minister of State in the Law and Justice Ministry.

Exp. Tata Chairman N Chandrasekaran honored with France’s highest civilian award

Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran was honoured with the prestigious “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Catherine Colonna.

He was awarded for his role in developing and fostering commercial links between India and France.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, popularly known as Chandra in corporate circles, was appointed as the Chairman of Tata Sons in 2017. Last year, he received a five-year extension in his role.

Chandra began his journey with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in 1987 as a graduate trainee after graduating from Trichy’s Regional Engineering College.

Over the course of his more than two-decade-long tenure at TCS, he steadily climbed the ranks and became the CEO in 2009.

Recent Awards

• Sagar Shreshtha Sammaan Award 2023 – Cochin Port
• Lifetime Achievement Award by Astronomical Society of India (ASI) – Jayant Narlikar
• Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award – Yogi Adityanath
• UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize 2023 – Niloufar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, & Narges Mohammadi
• BAFTA fellowship -UK-based Indian-origin Meera Syal
• Leipzig Book Prize 2023 -Russian poet Maria Stepanova

Exp. Annu Rani clinched gold medal in Federation Cup 2023

Olympian Annu Rani bagged the gold medal in the javelin throwing Federation Cup 2023 athletics event at the Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi.

With the victory, Annu Rani also breached the Asian Games 2023 qualifying standards set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

The 30-year-old javelin thrower made the cut with an effort of 59.24m, well above the AFI’s mark of 56.46m.

She also qualified for the Asian Athletics Championships, scheduled for July in Bangkok, Thailand.

Exp. India bags 16 gold medals at the South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2023

The three-day international event South Asian Youth Table Tennis Championship 2023 concluded in Itanagar.

In this event, more than 100 athletes from six countries Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Nepal participated.

The hosts India won all the gold medals on offer on the last day at the Dorjee Khandu Indoor Stadium. Besides, the Indians also bagged four silver medals in the singles.

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives were also among the medals, while Bhutan, who participated only in the singles events, drew a blank.

On the second day of the championships, the Indians won three gold medals in the U-15 Boys, U-19 Girls and U15 Girls, while Nepal claimed the U-19 Boys gold.

In the Under-19 Boys singles, Ankur Bhattacharjee defeated Payas Jain 4-2 to claim the gold.  

Exp. 18 May 2023 – Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Global Accessibility Awareness Day is celebrated every year on the third Thursday of May. This year falls on 18 May.

The purpose of Global Accessibility Awareness Day is to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital, web, software, mobile among others, and help ensure access to these technologies for people with disabilities.

This day brings focus to designing contents and technologies especially for persons with disabilities.

The effort of the government is clearly inspired by the vision to build an inclusive society in which equal opportunities are provided for the growth and development of Persons with Disabilities so that they can also lead productive, safe and dignified lives.

Exp. 18 May – International Museum Day

International Museum Day is observed annually on May 18 in order to recognize the vital role that museums play in fostering cultural exchange.

Theme 2023 – Museums, Sustainability, and Well-being

International Museum Day was established in 1977 during the ICOM General Assembly in Moscow, Russia.

The resolution aimed to create an annual event that would unite museums and raise global awareness about their activities.

It conveyed the message that museums are essential for cultural exchange, mutual understanding, cooperation, and peace among people.

Exp. 18 May – World AIDS Vaccine Day

Worlds AIDS Vaccine Day or HIV Vaccine Awareness Day is observed every year on 18 May.

Objective – To create awareness about the importance of HIV vaccination in preventing HIV infection and AIDS.

World AIDS Vaccine Day, also known as HIV Vaccine Knowledge Day, was observed for the first time on May 18th, 1998 in order to celebrate the anniversary of the first international AIDS Vaccine trial which took place in 1997.

The trial was conducted in Thailand and it involved more than 16,000 volunteers. The trial was named RV144. It was the first-ever trial against HIV that showed a combination of two vaccines reduced the risk of HIV infection by 31%.

WHAT IS HIV?

• The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the immune system of the body. It can be passed from one person to the other through different actions such as sharing a needle, blood, and unprotected intercourse.
• The symptoms of which include fever, sore throat, chills, night sweats, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, muscle aches, rashes, etc. When the virus reaches the next stage, it is called acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). There are still no vaccines to permanently treat HIV. There is a lot of research and work going on for the same.
• According to WHO data, 38.4 million people are living with the virus estimated at the end of 2021. Research tells that 0.7% adults of aged 15-49 years worldwide are suffering from HIV.
• The WHO African Region is the most severely affected, with 1 in every 25 adults living with HIV. These account for more than two-thirds of the people living with HIV worldwide.