Daily Current Affairs and GK | 1 June 2021

Topic: Important Days

1. World Milk Day: 1 June

• Every year World Milk Day is observed on 1 June.
• It was started by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2001.
• World Milk Day is observed to highlight the importance of milk and other dairy products for diet.
• The theme of this year’s World Milk Day will focus on ‘sustainability in the dairy sector along with empowering the environment, nutrition, and socio-economic’.
• On the occasion of World Milk Day, several campaigns are being organized by the Global Dairy Platform.
• Milk is a nutrient-rich fluid. It is a rich source of vitamins and protein.
• India is the largest milk-producing country in the world, followed by the USA and China.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

2. Dr. Harsh Vardhan has been honoured by WHO for efforts in tobacco control

• On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has been honoured with Director-General Special award.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) has given this award for its efforts to control tobacco consumption in India.
• Dr Harsh Vardhan taken several steps for controlling tobacco consumption in India. He played a vital role in banning E-cigarettes & heated tobacco products.
• Every year WHO give Director-General Special award to individuals or organizations to recognize their effort in controlling the use of tobacco products.
• World No Tobacco Day Awards were also given by WHO on this occasion.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

3. Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (CDP) virtually launched by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.

• Horticulture Cluster Development Programme (CDP) has been virtually launched by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar.
• Total 53 clusters have been selected for the programme. In the pilot phase, the programme will be implemented in 12 horticulture clusters. The clusters of pilot phase are given below:
  • Shopian (J&K) and Kinnaur (H.P.) for Apple
  • Lucknow (U.P.), Kutch (Gujarat) and Mahbubnagar (Telangana) for Mango
  • Anantpur (A.P.) and Theni (T.N.) for Banana
  • Nasik (Maharashtra) for Grapes
  • Siphahijala (Tripura) for Pineapple
  • Solapur (Maharashtra) and Chitradurga (Karnataka) for Pomegranate
  • West Jaintia Hills (Meghalaya) for Turmeric
• Horticulture Cluster Development Programme is a central sector programme. It will be implemented by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare
• It aims at growing and developing identified horticulture clusters to make them globally competitive.
• Horticulture CDP will benefit about 10 lakh farmers. It will attract an investment of Rs 10,000 crore when implemented in all the 53 clusters.
• National Horticulture Board (NHB):
  • It was set up by the government in 1984.
  • It is headquartered at Gurugram.
  • It was set up on the basis of recommendations of "Group on Perishable Agricultural Commodities", headed by Dr. M. S. Swaminathan.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Appointments

4. Kuldeep Singh given additional charge of National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief.

• Kuldeep Singh has been given additional charge of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief.
• Kuldeep Singh is currently serving as Director-General of the Central Reserve Police Force.
• Kuldeep Singh has replaced NIA Chief Yogesh Chander Modi (YC Modi), who retired on 31 May.
• National Investigation Agency (NIA):
  • It was constituted under the provision of the NIA act 2008 in 2009.
  • It is a central agency to investigate any terror-related cases across the country.
  • Headquarters: New Delhi
  • At present, it has nine branches in India.

Topic: International News

5. China allowed couples to have three children.

• China allowed all married couples to have three children. It has ended the two-child policy.
• China had relaxed the one-child policy in 2016 and allowed people to have a second child. The two-child policy failed to boost birth rates.
• The lower birthrate will lead to a bigger elderly population and it will affect the economic growth of China. It will also increase spending on pensions and health care.
• Birth rates in China have fallen for four consecutive years. In 2020, the number of babies born was the lowest since 1961.
• China's annual birth rate has fallen to a record low of 12 million in 2020. Its fertility rate is 1.3 which is lower than the fertility rate to maintain the population stable.
• Despite adopting a two-child policy birth rates have not increased due to financial pressures on parents.
• However, the government is also considering for increasing the age of retirement.

Topic: Sports

6. Sanjeet won Gold medal at Asian Boxing Championships.

• Indian boxer Sanjeet won a Gold medal at the Asian Boxing Championships. He defeated Vassiliy Levit of Kazakhstan in the finals of men's 91kg.
• Amit Panghal and Shiva Thapa won Silver medals. Amit Panghal lost to Olympic champion Zoirov Shakhobidin in the 52 kg category.
• Thapa lost to Baatarsukh Chinzorig in the final of men's 64 kg category.
• India won two gold, five silver, and eight bronze medals at the Asian Boxing Championships.
• Pooja Rani has won a gold medal in the 75kg Women’s category at Asian Boxing Championships
• The Asian Boxing Championships were held from 24 to 31 May 2021 in Dubai, UAE.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: New Developments

7. IIT Ropar developed India’s first indigenous temperature data logger for cold chain management.

• IIT Ropar has developed “AmbiTAG”, India’s first indigenous temperature data logger for the cold chain management.
• It will record the real-time temperature of the surrounding during the transportation of perishable products, vaccines, and body organs.
• With the help of temperature variation, the device will tell that whether the item transported is still usable or not.
• AmbiTag can record the temperature of its immediate surroundings in any time zone. It can record temperature for 90 days on a single charge.
• It generates an alert when the temperature goes beyond a pre-set limit.
• It has been developed under Technology Innovation Hub – AWaDH (Agriculture and Water Technology Development Hub) and its Startup ScratchNest.
• It will help in the transportation of COVID vaccines. It can also monitor the temperature of animal semen during transportation.

Topic: New Developments

8. Scientists have developed an Artificial Synaptic Network for mimicking human brain.

• Scientists have developed Artificial Synaptic Network that can mimic human brain cognitive actions. It is more efficient than conventional techniques in working like Artificial Intelligence.
• The human brain comprises billions of neurons that are interconnected with each other via axons and dendrites. The complex structure of neurons forms a junction called a synapse. This complex structure provides superior cognitive abilities.
• At present, conventional computing platforms consume more energy than the brain in performing parallel processing of work.
• To overcome this bottleneck, scientists were trying to develop an Artificial Synaptic device that can mimic complex psychological behaviors without the aid of external supporting (CMOS) circuits.
• Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research have fabricated a new approach for developing an artificial synaptic network (ASN).
• Scientists from Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research have discovered a material system mimicking neuronal bodies and axonal network connectivity much like the biological system.
• A prototype kit has been developed for imitation of dog behavior, which will show the potential of this device towards neuromorphic artificial intelligence.

(Source: PIB)

Topic: Books and Authors

9. Ravi Shastri's book 'Stargazing' to release this year

• Indian Cricketer Ravi Shastri has written a book titled 'Stargazing: The Players in My Life'. This is the first book of Ravi Shastri.
• It will be published by HarperCollins India and it is expected to be out in 2021.
• Ravi Shastri has written about 60 extraordinary talented people. These people have inspired him most in life.
• Ayaz Memon is the co-author of this book.
• Ravi Shastri:
  • He is a former Indian cricketer and former commentator.
  • At present, He is the coach of India’s national cricket team.
  • He played international cricket from 1981 to 1992.

Topic: Appointments

10. Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh takes charge as Controller Warship Production and Acquisition on 31 May 2021.

• Vice Admiral Kiran Deshmukh has taken charge as Controller Warship Production and Acquisition on 31 May 21. 
• He was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 31 March 1986. He is a post graduate from Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.
• He has served on board frontline ships like Rajput Class, Delhi Class and Tabar Class.
• He has received Ati Visisht Seva Medal (AVSM) and Visisht Seva Medal (VSM) for his distinguished service.

Topic: Important Days

11. 1 June observed as the Global Day of Parents throughout the world.

• 1 June is observed annually as the Global Day of Parents throughout the world.
• Global Day of Parents is an opportunity to appreciate all parents for their selfless commitment to children.
• Global Day of Parents also provides an opportunity to children to appreciate parents sacrifice in nurturing this relationship.
• UN General Assembly proclaimed 1 June as Global Day of Parents in 2012.
• Year 1994 was proclaimed by UN General Assembly as International Year of the Family.
• In 1993, UN General Assembly decided that 15 May of every year as International Day of Families.

Topic: Environment and Ecology

12. A team of zoologists found a subgenus of cricket under the genus Arachnomimus Saussure.

• A team of zoologists have found a subgenus of cricket under the genus Arachnomimus Saussure in the Kurra caves of Chhattisgarh in April 2021.
• The subgenus was named as Jayanti after Professor Jayant Biswas, one of the leading cave explorers in India.
• Arachnomimus is the genus name given to crickets that resembles spiders. Crickets of Arachnomimus group are commonly known as spider crickets due to their smaller body size and long legs.
• Crickets are known for loud calls, especially at night. Male crickets produce sounds and females listen to these sound using ears located on their legs.
• Males of new Jayanti subgenus cannot produce sound and their females don’t have ears.
• Crickets are insects. They have cylindrically-shaped bodies, round heads, and long antennae.