Today's Current Affairs 16th May 2023

NATIONAL

In A First, Kerala Launches Welfare Fund For Workers Under Employment Guarantee Scheme

In a first in the country, the Kerala government launched a welfare fund for Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) workers in the State, 27 lakh people in the State depend on the MGNREGS and the Left government intends to make use of the scheme for the social development of Kerala. In a Facebook post, Vijayan said the workers need to pay a nominal monthly amount of Rs 50 as contribution to the fund and the government will also contribute an equal amount. He said for those who have paid the contributions for ten or more years, their families will get the benefits in case of beneficiary’s death.

Launching the initiative, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the workers who have completed the age of 60 will be entitled for pension under the fund which will also provide financial assistance for medical treatment, education, marriage, among other benefits.

Union Minister Narendra Tomar Inaugurates Integrated Biological Control Laboratory in Hyderabad

The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Government of India, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the Integrated Biological Control Laboratory at National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM) Hyderabad, Telangana.

The new laboratory has state-of-the-art facilities for giving hands-on experience on production methodologies for biopesticides, biocontrol agents like predators and parasitoids, entomopathogenic fungi, biofertilisers, NPV, pheromone and botanicals.

Deploying them will help in reducing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, reduce the adverse effects on the environment and human health and contribute to improved soil and plant health. The laboratory will also have an insect museum, weed museum, exhibition hall, natural farming cell etc. to showcase the specimens of agriculturally important insects and weeds in the best preserved or live forms.

CM, Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the National Homoeopathic Convention 'Homocon 2023'

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the National Homoeopathic Convention 'Homeocon 2023' at Doon University, Dehradun and launched a documentary on Homeopathy.

The commitment of the state government to establish Uttarakhand as a major AYUSH region is due to the economic and effective nature of homeopathy.

Homeopathy has been recognized as the second most practiced system of medicine in the world and its importance has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AYUSH - AYUSH is the abbreviation of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Society and aims to promote education and research in the field of medicine. It is a government ministry of India established in 2014. responsible for the development, promotion and regulation of traditional systems of medicine.

SPORTS

Barcelona win 27th La Liga title

Barcelona secured their 27th La Liga title with a 4-2 triumph over rivals Espanyol, securing their first title since 2019. This win was accomplished with goals from Robert Lewandowski, Alex Balde, and Jules Kounde, and within just 53 minutes, Barcelona had taken a commanding 4-0 lead at the RCDE Stadium.

This was their first league title since Lionel Messi's highlighted exit at Camp Nou. Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scored twice to shine in Barcelona's title win at RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat.

About: Barcelona FC - Futbol Club Barcelona, commonly referred to as Barcelona and colloquially known as Barça, is a professional football club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, that competes in La Liga, the top flight of Spanish football.

APPOINTMENS & RESIGNATIONS

Manoj Soni takes oath as Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) chairman

Eminent educationist Manoj Soni took oath as the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). He was administered the oath of office and secrecy as chairman, UPSC by Smita Nagaraj, senior most member in the Commission,

About UPSC -  The UPSC was established on 1 October 1926 by the Government of India under the Government of India Act, 1919. The Commission is headquartered in New Delhi and has regional offices in Allahabad, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, and Patna. It is India’s premier central recruitment agency for recruitment of all the Group ‘A’ officers under Government of India. It is responsible for appointments to and examinations for the Group ‘A’ posts of several central government establishments which also includes the central public sector undertakings and the central autonomous bodies. While Department of Personnel and Training is the central personnel agency in India.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Sikkim celebrates its 48th State Day

Sikkim celebrates its 48th State Day today. It was on 16th May, 1975 that the erstwhile kingdom became part of India as its 22nd state. The state level celebration will be organised at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok in the presence of governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and chief minister PS Tamang. The programme will include civilian awards, launch of a multimedia database management system by the IPR department and a public awareness video on mobile village clinics; and release of a book titled Skill Gap Assessment Study of Sikkim by the state skill development department, among other recognitions and initiatives.

Sikkim governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and chief minister PS Tamang have wished citizens on the State Day. Mr Acharya said that Sikkim’s journey since becoming part of the world’s largest democracy has been remarkable and marked by unprecedented social, economic and cultural development.

International Day of Light

The International Day of Light is observed on May 16 every year to commemorate Theodore Maiman’s successful operation of the laser in 1960. This day serves as a reminder to enhance scientific collaboration and leverage its capacity to promote peace and sustainable progress. The International Day of Light is an annual event that recognizes the crucial significance of light in science, culture, art, education, and sustainable development.

History - In 2015, the International Year of Light was followed by the International Day of Light. The day was proposed by the Russian Federation, Ghana, Mexico, New Zealand, and the Executive Board of UNESCO. In November 2017, the proposal received approval from the UNESCO General Conference. The International Day of Light was declared by the Executive Board of UNESCO during its 200th session (200 EX/Decision 27). In Document 39 C/40, the 39th General Conference endorsed this choice.

Later on May 16, 2018, the anniversary of the day in 1960 when physicist and engineer Theodore Maiman successfully shot the first laser, UNESCO organised the first International Day of Light event.

BOOKS & AUTHOR

The Golden Years – The Many Joys of Living a Good Long Life, a book by Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond an Indian author, authored a new book Title ‘’The Golden Years – The Many Joys of Living a Good Long Life’’ published by harper Collins India, which is scheduled to be released on 19th May 2023 (on the occasion of 89th Birthday of Ruskin Bond)

"'The Golden Years'-- that's the name of my latest book. This time it isn't a children's book strictly speaking, nor is it novel or a collection of short stories with which my readers are familiar. I suppose you can call it a self-help book,"

Revealing details about the book, Bond further said, "It's called 'The Golden Years' because it is really about the last 20, 30 years of my life; my 60s, 70s and 80s. It is addressed to other people who are growing up and growing old, and sometimes worried about the future; whether old age will be a pleasant experience. I guess, it isn't always but it can be and should be. In my case, I think, I would say the 20 years have been the best professionally and personally in many ways. In this book, in 60 short chapters I have told my friends, my readers, what it's like to be growing old and the pleasant side of it."