Daily News Analysis : 27 June 2024

100-Day Women Empowerment Campaign Launched

The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the “National Workshop on SANKALP: Hub for Empowerment of Women,” initiating a 100-day nationwide awareness campaign from June 21 to October 4, 2024. The campaign aims to enhance awareness on women empowerment, featuring enrolment drives and educational sessions. Highlighting key schemes, the workshop included sessions on legal provisions, communication strategies, and counselling for grassroots workers, emphasizing women’s participation in education, health, livelihood, and social security sectors.

[Image Source: PIB]

Key Points:

A) The Ministry of Women and Child Development initiated a nationwide 100-day campaign from June 21 to October 4, 2024, aimed at amplifying awareness and outreach on women empowerment through enrolment drives and educational sessions.
B) Minister Smt. Savitri Thakur emphasized the significance of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Poshan Abhiyaan, and DAY-NRLM in empowering women.
C) The workshop included sessions on legal provisions, communication strategies, and counselling techniques for grassroots functionaries, ensuring last-mile delivery of services and enhancing women’s participation in developmental schemes across 693 districts in India.
 

India’s External debt increase by USD 39.7 billion

The Reserve Bank of India recently informed that India’s External debt grew to USD 663.8 billion There was an increase of USD 39.7 billion over its level at the end March 2023. The External Debt to GDP Ratio declined to 18.7 percent. The largest component of External debt was Loans followed by Currency Deposits, Trade credit and advances and debt securities.

[Image Source: Mint]

Key Points:

A) As of the end of March 2024, the long-term debt, which has an original maturity of more than one year, reached a total of US$ 541.2 billion. This represents a growth of US$ 45.6 billion compared to its level at the end of March 2023.
B) By the end of March 2024, the outstanding debt of both the government and non-government sectors had risen compared to the previous year.
C) Loans continue to hold the largest share of external debt, accounting for 33.4 percent. They are followed by currency and deposits at 23.3 percent, trade credit and advances at 17.9 percent, and debt securities at 17.3 percent.
 

Rare Indian painted frog spotted

A rare Indian Painted frog also known as Kaloula Pulchra was sighted at Telangana’s Kawal Tiger reserve. The Frog is found in its natural habitats in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Western parts of India. It is a narrow mouthed frog part of Microhylidae family and its scientific name is Uperodon Taprobanicus. Its IUCN Status is Least Concern.

[Image Source: Wikipedia]

Key Points:

A) Indian painted frog’s are generally found in Nepal, West and east of India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. However, the rare breed of frog was previously seen in Medak and Adilabad districts of Telangana.
B) The sighting of the painted frog has brought joy to the authorities at the reserve, since it is not their usual habitat.
C) This species is unique and remarkable for its striking appearance and distinctive colouration which often includes shades of brown, with patches of brighter colours such as orange or yellow.
 

[Image Source: Phy.Org]

ALMA Telescope gained new insights into planet formation

Scientists using the powerful Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) have found new insights into how planets form around Binary Stars. Binary system is a system of two gravitationally bound stars that orbit around a common centre of mass called barycenter. ALMA Telescope is a Radio Telescope located in the Atacama Desert of Northern Chile.

Key Points:

A) The research, showcased at the 244th gathering of the American Astronomical Society, concentrated on a pair of binary systems – F.O Tau and D.F. Tau.
B) Through the examination of the gas and dust disks encircling these youthful stars, which serve as the fundamental building blocks for planet creation, the scientists discovered significant disparities between the two systems that might influence their potential to generate planets.
C) Both stars within this system display comparatively sluggish rotational velocities, and their disks remain magnetically tethered to their parent stars.
 

[Image Source: India Today]

350th contract signed under iDEX

The Ministry of Defence recently signed the 350th contract under iDEX for development of miniaturised satellites with SpacePixxel Technologies Pvt Ltd. The miniaturised satellite will be capable of carrying electro-optical, Infrared, synthetic aperture radar and hyperspectral payloads upto 150kgs. Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) is a flagship initiative under the Ministry of Defence. 

Key Points:

A) The Indian Air Force is spearheading this endeavor.
B) The signing of the 150th iDEX contract took place in December 2022.
C) This 350th iDEX contract enables innovation in space electronics, wherein many payloads earlier deployed on dedicated large satellites are now being miniaturised.

[Image Source: India Today]

Ambubachi Mela

Devotees from around the nation gather at Kamakhya Temple Guwahati to offer prayers to Maa Kamakhya amidst ongoing Ambubachi Mela. It is an annual Hindu fair celebrated during monsoon season. It is the celebration of the yearly menstruation course of Goddess Maa Kamakhya. The temple is located on Nilachal Hills on the southern bank of Brahmaputra River in Assam. 

Key Points:

A) A multitude of ‘sadhus’ participated in a religious parade at the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, Assam, on the eve of the yearly Ambubachi Mela.
B)  Arrangements for the festivities were made jointly by the Assam government and Kamakhya Temple Management Committee.
C) The Kamakhya Temple, situated atop the Nilachal Hills, is among the 51 Shaktipeeths in India.
 

China becomes first country to bring back samples from Moon

The Chang’e-6 spacecraft of China has become the first spacecraft to bring back samples from the far side of the moon. The Chang’e 6 Lunar Mission is part CNSAs Lunar exploration program and it is a follow up mission to Chang’e 5. The major objective of the mission was to collect and bring back samples from the far side of the moon. 

[Image Source: BBC News]

Key Points:

A) It carried with it the lunar soil collected earlier in June by the probe after it landed on the Moon’s South Pole-Aitken Basin.
B) The drop location is an impact crater on the side of the Moon which is always facing away from us.
C) China launched its Chang’e-6 probe on May 3 aboard a Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center.

1st IDF Asia-Pacific Summit held at Kochi

The first International Dairy Federation Asia-Pacific Summit was held in Kochi. The Summit was jointly organised by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and International Dairy Federation (IDF). The Summit discussed new ideas and problems in the Dairy industry. 

[Image Source: India Today]

KeyPoints:

A) The conference saw participation from delegates across 25 countries.
B) The 3-day meet, themed “Farmer Centric Innovations in Dairying” featured deliberations bringing together leaders and experts from the global dairy sector.
C) The conference deliberated on contemporary challenges in dairying and help find solutions through the exchange of ideas and innovations.

Doon School Srinagar honoured with Award for Transformative Education Excellence

The Doon School Srinagar was recently honoured with prestigious “Award for Transformative Education Excellence” at Mind Mingles Indo-Norway International Education Summit. The Summit was held in Stortinget, Norway. The award was conferred for Schools outstanding contributions to education under the leadership of Chairman Showkat Hussain Khan.
 

[Image Source: NDTV]

Key Points:

A) The conference brought together leaders from around the world to commemorate advancements in education, with distinguished speakers like Chief Guest Himanshu Gulati, Member of Parliament, Kingdom of Norway, delivering keynote addresses.
B) Showkat Hussain Khan’s efforts in Kashmir, which encompassed the promotion of girls’ education and the cultivation of peace through sports, were emphasized for their significant influence.
C) Boasting an MSc in Physics, Khan has received multiple accolades, including the prestigious 2022 Award for Excellence bestowed by the Government of Mauritius.
 

Kapil Dev takes over as President of Professional Golf tour of India

Former Indian Cricketer Kapil Dev was unanimously chosen as President of Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI). He would be taking over from HR Srinivasan. Kapil Dev was already serving as the Vice president of the PHTI board. 

[Image Source: India Today]

Key Points:

A) The 1983 Cricket ODI World Cup-winning captain became a PGTI board member in 2021 and will now be taking over the mantle of president from HR Srinivasan, whose tenure came to an end recently.
B) Kapil Dev, who aspired to represent India at the Asian Games golf after his retirement from cricket, was elected unanimously for the position.
C) The PGTI, formed in 2006, is a professional golf tour for men based in India.