Important Current Affairs 7th September 2021

NATIONAL

Manipur CM Launched 'Go to Hills 2.0' outreach campaign

• Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Monday launched an outreach programme “Go To Hills 2.0″ to ensure that people in remote places avail benefits of various welfare schemes at their doorsteps. The campaign was rolled out at a programme at Peace Ground, Tuibong in Churachandpur district.

• The launch of the initiative was marked by the inauguration of 30 projects worth Rs 37.34 crore under various departments such as works, tribal affairs and hills and health. “It gives me immense pleasure to officially launch the ‘Go To Hills 2.0’ today. In our effort to take governance further to the doorsteps, the mission aims to strengthen ties amongst our people through rigorous development,” the CM said on Twitter. Under the outreach programme, the state administration provided assistance and equipment worth Rs 51.52 crore for several departments such as agriculture, horticulture, health, social welfare and education.

28th edition of Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise

• The 28th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) took place from September 02 to 04, 2021. The SIMBEX-2021 annual bilateral maritime exercise was hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) in the southern fringes of the South China Sea.

• The Indian Navy was represented by Guided Missile Destroyer INS Ranvijay with a shipborne helicopter, ASW Corvette INS Kiltan and Guided Missile Corvette INS Kora and one P8I Long Range Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

• The exercise aimed to strengthen the bilateral defence ties between both countries. This year’s edition of SIMBEX is also a special occasion as it takes place during the ongoing celebrations of the 75th year of India’s independence.

• The success of SIMBEX-2021 is yet another demonstration of the mutual resolve on both sides to strengthen the bilateral partnership further in the years ahead.

Government launched AYUSH AAPKE DWAR

• As a part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration, the Ministry of AYUSH has launched a campaign titled ‘AYUSH AAPKE DWAR’, which aims to distribute medicinal plant saplings to 75 lakh households in one year. The campaign was inaugurated by the Union Minister of AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal from Mumbai, during which he distributed medicinal plant saplings to citizens.

• Subsequently, the campaign was launched from more than 45 locations across the country. The medicinal plants being distributed include Tejpatta, Stevia, Ashoka, Giloy, Ashwagandha, Lemongrass, Tulsi, Sarpagandha and Amla. Under this campaign, it is proposed to undertake the cultivation of medicinal plants across 75,000 hectares in one year.

APPOINTMENT & RESIGNATION

Ashoka Buildcon MD Appointed as IRF India president

• Ashoka Buildcon Managing Director and promoter Satish Parekh has taken over as the president of India Chapter of International Road Federation (IRF).

• The governing council of the International Road Federation on September 4, 2021, unanimously endorsed Satish Parakh as President, IRF-IC.

• He takes over from Subhmay Gangopadhyay. former director of  Central Road Research Institute (CRRI).

Equitas Small finance Bank appoints Rani Rampal & Smriti Mandhana as brand ambassadors

• Equitas Small Finance Bank (ESFB) has roped in Indian women hockey player, Rani Rampal and cricketer Smriti Mandhana as the brand ambassadors of the company. The announcement was made during the 5th anniversary of the ESFB on September 5, 2021.

• Rampal holds the record for being the youngest player to play in the national hockey team while Mandhana was recognised as the Best Women’s International Cricketer by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Cyrus Poncha elected Asian Squash Federation vice-president

• Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI) Secretary-General, Cyrus Poncha has been unanimously elected as Vice-President of the Asian Squash Federation (ASF), during the 41st annual general meeting of ASF. The Dronacharya Awardee has been elected for a period of the four-year term.

• David Mui of Hong Kong was elected unopposed as the President of ASF for a second term. Apart from Cyrus Poncha, Mr Fayez Abdullah S.Al-Mutairi of Kuwait and Tae-sook Hee of Korea have been also elected as the Vice-Presidents of ASF.

SUMMIT'S & MOU's

India, US ink pact to develop air-launched

• The Ministry of Defence, the Government of India and US Department of Defence have signed a Project Agreement (PA) for Air-Launched Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (ALUAV). This agreement is signed under the Joint Working Group Air Systems in the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

• The PA for ALUAV is part of the Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) Memorandum of Agreement, which was first signed between the Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defence, in January 2006 and renewed in January 2015. The RDT&E aims at deepening defence technology collaboration between the two nations through the co-development of defence equipment.

OBITUARY

Former France Footballer Jean-Pierre Adams Passes Away after 39 years in coma

• Former France footballer Jean-Pierre Adams, who had been in a coma for 39 years, has passed away. In 1982, Adams slipped into a coma following a medical error, during his routine knee surgery.

• He made a total of 22 appearances for the France National Football Team from 1972–1976. At club level, Adams played as a defender for Paris Saint-Germain, Nîmes and Nice.

IMPORTANT DAYS

International Day of Clean Air for blue skies 2021: 07th September

• The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is observed globally on September 07 to promote and facilitate actions to improve air quality. It is an UN-recognised day that aims to raise public awareness at all levels (individual, community, corporate and government) that clean air is important for health, productivity, the economy and the environment.

• The 2021 theme for the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is “Healthy Air, Healthy Planet” which emphasizes the health aspects of air pollution, especially considering the C-19 pandemic. This year’s focus is on prioritizing the need for healthy air for all while keeping the conversation broad enough to encompass other critical issues such as climate change, human and planetary health as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. The day serves as a rallying call to action to align our efforts and claim our right to clean air. #HealthyAirHealthyPlanet.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

'Super 30' Founder Anand Kumar Gets Award

• ‘Super 30’ founder and mathematician Anand Kumar was conferred the ‘Sarabhai Teacher Scientist National Honorary Award 2021’ by the National Council of Teacher Scientist (NCTS) for making mathematics easy to learn and coaching the underprivileged students to succeed in the IIT exams, the organisers said here on Monday.

• Kumar, a native of Bihar, who has been coaching underprivileged students for nearly two decades for JEE-Advanced, the entrance exam for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), was also awarded the life membership of the organisation during a virtual event held on the occasion of the Teachers’ Day on Sunday, NCTS Chairman Chandramouli Joshi said in a statement.