Daily Current Affairs and GK | 18 May 2021

Topic: Awards and Prizes

1. Union Education Minister receives ‘International Invincible Gold Medal’.

• Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ has been conferred the ‘International Invincible Gold Medal’ award of 2021.
• He has been honoured with this award for his outstanding service to humanity through his writings, social and public life.
• His contribution to the world peace program and propagation of traditional knowledge in a scientific manner is remarkable.
• The award has been announced during a two-day virtual session. He will be presented this award on Guru Purnima this year.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: Important Days

2. World Hypertension Day 2021: 17 May

• World Hypertension Day is celebrated every year on 17 May by World Hypertension League (WHL).
• The main aim of this day is to spread awareness about high blood pressure among people across the world.
• The theme for World Hypertension Day 2021 is “Measure Your Blood Pressure, Control It, Live Longer”.
• It was first celebrated in May 2005.
• Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood to the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure range 120/80 mm Hg is considered to be normal.
• Hypertension:
  • Hypertension or high blood pressure is a serious condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries increases.
  • It increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness.

Topic: Important Days

3. 6^th UN Global Road Safety Week 2021: 17 to 23 May.

• 6^th UN Global Road Safety Week (UNGRSW) is being held this year from 17 to 23 May.
• Streets for Life #Love30 is the theme for 6^th UNGRSW. The theme calls for 30 km/h default speed limits at places where people and vehicles mix.
• One objective of the 6^th UNGRSW is to build momentum towards the launch of the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 in late 2021.
• 5^th UNGRSW was held from 6-12 May 2019 with a focus on leadership for road safety.
• UNGRSW is a biennial global road safety campaign hosted by WHO. First UNGRSW was held in 2007.  
• World Health Organization (WHO):
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
  • It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • It was established on 7 April 1948.
  • 7 April is celebrated every year as World Health Day.
  • Its current President is Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Topic: Awards and Prizes

4. Miss Mexico Andrea Meza wins Miss Universe 2020.

• Miss Mexico Andrea Meza has won Miss Universe 2020.
• Miss Brazil, Julia Gama, was the runner-up. Miss Peru, Janick Maceta Del Castillo, achieved the third position.
• Adline Castelino represented India. She came fourth. She was crowned as Miss Diva Universe 2020.
• Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi presented the crown to Meza.
• Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant.
• Armi Kuusela from Finland won the first Miss Universe title in 1952.

(Source: Economic Times)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

5. MoU for digital transformation of Tribal Schools signed by Tribal Affairs Ministry and Microsoft.

• Tribal Affairs Ministry and Microsoft have signed an MoU for digital transformation of Tribal Schools such as Eklavya Model Residential Schools and Ashram Schools.
• Under the program, Microsoft has adopted 250 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS). Out of 250 EMRS, 50 EMRS Schools will be given intensive training and 500 Master trainers will be trained in the first phase.
• The program will also offer opportunities for teachers to earn professional e-badges and e-certificates from the Microsoft Education Centre.
• Under the partnership, students from schools under the ministry will be advised on projects that include AI applications for social welfare and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
• This initiative will enable educators to use technology in classrooms.
• Microsoft is an American multinational technology company. It is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, United States. Its CEO is Satya Nadella.

(Source: News on AIR)

Topic: MoUs/Agreements

6. Shilpa Medicare arm signs agreement with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories.

• Shilpa Medicare arm, Shilpa Biologicals Pvt Ltd (SBPL), has signed an agreement with Dr Reddy’s Laboratories for manufacturing of Russian Covid-19 vaccine, Sputnik V.
• Shilpa Medicare has entered an agreement for the production supply of Sputnik V vaccine from its integrated biologics R&D cum manufacturing center at Dharwad, Karnataka.
• As per the company (Shilpa Medicare), targeted production of dual vector Sputnik V for one year is 50 million doses.
• Shilpa Medicare is also exploring options to manufacture Sputnik Light. Sputnik Light is a single dose version of Sputnik V.
• First consignment of imported doses of Sputnik V vaccine reached India on 1 May. It is first foreign made vaccine to be used in India.

Topic: Books and Authors

7. Former diplomat Preet Mohan Singh Malik wrote a book on Sikkim titled “Sikkim: A History of Intrigue and Alliance”.

• Former diplomat Preet Mohan Singh Malik has written a book on Sikkim titled as “Sikkim: A History of Intrigue and Alliance”.
• The book has been released on 16 May, which is celebrated as Sikkim Day. HarperCollins India has published this book.
• The book examines the relationship between Lepchas (Rongpas) and Bhutias. Lepchas are original inhabitants of Sikkim.
• Bhutias are Tibetan migrants who founded the Namgyal dynasty. Namgyal ruled the kingdom of Sikkim until it joined India.
• The book is about the history of the kingdom of Sikkim. It is also about how Sikkim became India’s 22^nd state.
• Sikkim:
  • Sikkim is a state in northeast India, bordering Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal.
  • It is the least populous state of India.
  • Its capital is Gangtok.
  • The Chief Minister of Sikkim is Prem Singh Tamang and Governor of Sikkim is Ganga Prasad.

Topic: Government Schemes and Initiatives

8. Government launched innovation challenge for creating Indian Language Learning App.

• MyGov platform of the Government of India has launched an Innovation Challenge for creating an Indian Language Learning App in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education.
• This challenge has been launched to develop an app that will help an individual to learn simple sentences of any Indian language.
• It will help in promoting regional language literacy and develop greater cultural understanding across the country.
• The innovation challenge is open for Indian individuals, startups, and companies. The Top 3 winners of the challenge will receive financial assistance to make their app better.
• The app will be evaluated on various parameters such as innovation, Scalability, Usability, Interoperability, etc.
• MyGov is the government of India’s innovative citizen engagement platform for direct citizen participation in the country’s governance.

Topic: State News/ Bihar

9. Bihar government launched ‘HIT Covid App’.

• Bihar government has launched an app for monitoring and tracking home isolated Covid-19 patients.
• The App has been named as ‘HIT Covid App’. Here ‘HIT’ stands for home isolation tracking.
• It has been launched to help health workers in regular monitoring of home isolated Covid-19 patients.
• Health workers will daily feed the temperature and oxygen level of home isolated Covid-19 patients in this app. The data of the app will be monitored at the district level.
• The App has been developed by the Bihar State Electronics Development Corporation (BELTRON).
• The App has been launched on pilot basis in Supaul, Aurangabad, Bhagalpur, Gopalganj, and Nalanda districts.
• Bihar:
  • It is located in the eastern part of India.
  • It shares its boundary with Uttar Pradesh, Nepal, West Bengal, and Jharkhand.
  • It is divided into two parts by the river Ganga.
  • It is the third-largest state by population and twelfth-largest by territory.
  • Nitish Kumar is the Chief Minister and Phagu Chauhan is the Governor of Bihar.

Topic: International News

10. Moctar Ouane reappointed as Prime Minister of Mali.

• Moctar Ouane is reappointed as Prime Minister of Mali.
• Moctar Ouane was appointed as Prime Minister of the caretaker government in August 2020 after the removal of Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
• In April 2021, Mali’s interim government had announced that it would hold a constitutional referendum on October 31 and an election in February 2022.
• Mali is facing a political crisis due to disputed legislative elections and economic crisis due to economic stagnation, corruption, and Covid-19 pandemic.
• Mali:
  • It is a landlocked country in West Africa.
  • It is the eighth-largest country in Africa.
  • Its capital is Bamako and the currency is the West African CFA Franc.

Topic: International News

11. Culture Ministers of India and Mongolia discuss various issues under Cultural Exchange Programme.

• Minister of State for Culture & Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel and his counterpart Mongolian Minister of Culture Chinbat Nomin discussed various issues under the Cultural Exchange Program.
• The Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) between India and Mongolia stands renewed until 2023.
• Both country’s leaders also agreed on cooperation in the different fields. India is historically connected with Mongolia due to Buddhism.
• India has offered 10 dedicated ICCR scholarships for studying ‘Tibetan Buddhism’ in the institutes of CIBS, Leh, and CUTS, Varanasi.
• India will also digitalize the Buddhist manuscripts of the Gandan monastery and all 108 Mongolian Kanjur manuscripts will be published by March 2022.
• Mongolia:
  • It is a landlocked country in East Asia.
  • Its capital is Ulaanbaatar and its currency is Mongolian Togrog.
  • Khaltmaagiin Battulga is the President of Mongolia.
  • Mongolia got Independence from the Republic of China in 1921.

Topic: Agriculture

12. MCCIA, in association with NABARD, launched India’s first agro-export facilitation center in Pune.

• The Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture (MCCIA) collaborated with NABARD to launch India’s first agro-export facilitation center in Pune.
• It has been launched to boost agricultural exports from the region. It will be available to everyone who wants to export their products overseas.
• The main objective of this center is to increase India’s share of agricultural exports in the world.
• The experts from current agro-exporters and government will help farmers in exporting their products.
• NABARD:
  • It was formed on 12 July 1982.
  • It is an apex finance institution that provides credit for agriculture and other economic activities in rural areas.
  • Its headquarters is located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
  • Govinda Rajulu Chinthala is the current Chairman of NABARD.