PREFACE
It gives us great pleasure to release the monthly edition of the PRAVAHINI – Monthly e-Compendium & Weekly e-Periodicals of Current Affairs. The magazine’s members have shown considerable cooperation as well as devotion. We at successmantra.in work tirelessly to create this magazine and bring it to you with a great sense of gratitude.
The PRAVAHINI June-2022 eBook covers the current events that happened in the month of June. Current Affairs is a crucial component of any competitive exams including CLAT, AILET, DU-LLB, HM, CAT, IAS, PCS, SSC, Banking, MBA and various other competitive examinations.
Current Affairs play the bigger role in many competitive and government exams. It holds the power of making or breaking your chance of success. Therefore, the candidates should cover the Current Affairs thoroughly and smartly.
The PRAVAHINI June-2022 eBook is divided into different sections keeping in mind the need of various exams. The sections covered namely International, National, Economy, Ecology and Environment, Science & Technology, Legal Affairs, Sports, States News Makers and few others.
We would also be pleased to receive any suggestion that could assist us with the upcoming editions.
Success Mantra (GTB Nagar, Delhi)
Website: www.successmantra.in
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
National Affairs
International Affairs
Economic Affairs
Awards & Honor
Dates & Days
Report & Indexes
Science & Technology
Miscellaneous
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
WHAT IS PURI HERITAGE CORRIDOR CASE?
Residents of Puri had moved the High Court alleging that structural safety of 800-year-old Jagannath Temple could be in danger, if land surrounding the temple were dug up.
They also allege that; state government has insulted the devotees by demolishing mutts in order to clear roads to Shri Jagannath temple. These roads were closely linked with different rituals of the 12th century shrine because of the ongoing Sri Mandir Parikrama Project.
Case has also been taken up in the Apex count at times, when Orissa High Court is hearing a plea against construction.
About Sri Mandir Parikrama Project
The foundation stone for the Rs 800 crore Sri Mandir Parikrama Plan (also called Jagannath Temple corridor project) was laid by the CM of Odisha in November 2021.
Under this project, the area within the 75-metre perimeter of Jagannath Temple was to be transformed into a heritage corridor, in order to attract devotees from around the world. It has been modelled on the line of Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project of Varanasi.
What is the controversy?
The Puri Corridor Project came into controversy when government agencies dug huge pits within 100 m from the boundary of the temple, which is categorised as a protected zone, without getting permission from Archeological Survey of India (ASI).
PM MODI LAUNCHED 'LIFE MOVEMENT'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the ‘Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement’, a global initiative, and asserted that its vision is to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it.
The launch initiated ‘LiFE Global Call for Papers’ inviting ideas and suggestions from academics, universities and research institutions etc to influence and persuade individuals, communities and organisations across the world to adopt an environment-conscious lifestyle.
The idea of LiFE was introduced by the Prime Minister during the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties COP-26 in Glasgow last year.
The idea promotes an environment conscious lifestyle that focuses on mindful and deliberate utilisation instead of mindless and destructive consumption.
Mission LiFE borrows from the past, operates in the present and focuses on the future.
SC DIRECTED TO HAVE MANDATORY ESZ
Recently, the Apex Court directed that every protected forest, national park and wildlife sanctuary across India should have a mandatory eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of minimum 1 km, starting from demarcated boundaries.
This direction came from a three-judge Bench composed of Justices L. Nageswara Rao, Aniruddha Bose and B.R. Gavai.
It highlighted how India’s natural resources have been for years ravaged by mining and other activities. It held that, government should not only act like a facilitator of economic activities for immediate upliftment of the fortunes of the State.
SHRESHTHA SCHEME LAUNCHED BY UNION GOVT.
The SHRESHTHA scheme was launched by Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar on June 3, 2022.
This scheme was launched for Scheduled Castes, as they have faced historical injustices in a hierarchical based society and education is the most powerful tool to empower them as a community.
Scheme will provide a level playing field to the poor and meritorious SC students. It was launched with the aim of providing quality education & opportunities to 3,000 students, who belong to scheduled caste category.
It envisions high quality free residential education for meritorious SC students of class 9th to class 12th to meritorious students from SC communities.
TATA PROJECTS WINS BID TO BUILD JEWAR AIRPORT
Tata Projects will build the national capital region’s new airport at Jewar, after outbidding the Shapoorji Pallonji Group and Larsen & Toubro for the contract. While the deal size has not been disclosed, sources pegged it at over Rs 6,000 crore.
Tata Projects, the infrastructure and construction arm of the Tata group, will construct the terminal, runway, airside infrastructure, roads, utilities, landside facilities and other ancillary buildings at the Noida International Airport.
About the contract:
The new airport is expected to be functional by 2024. With the closure of the EPC contract, the first phase of the airport is on track to be delivered within three years of the commencement of the concession period.
According to the contract terms for the Jewar airport, a fine of Rs 10 lakh per day will be levied on the developer of the upcoming Noida International Airport in case of a project delay.
DRAFT AMENDMENTS TO IT RULES 2021
Government has released draft amendments to IT Rules 2021 and sought public comments on some amendments to it.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has released new IT rules in 2021. It came into effect from May 26, 2021.
These rules provide a framework for content regulation by online publishers of current affairs content and news content, as well as curated audio-visual content.
Rules had mandated that social media intermediaries should publish rules to stop posting and sharing of content which is inflammatory, hateful, objectionable, ethnically and racially objectionable etc.
Under the rules, big social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, were mandated to enable identification of ‘first originator’ of any information undermining the sovereignty of India, public order or security of the state.
Draft Proposals
In a new proposal, MeitY provided for setting up a government panel for addressing such grievances. Before that, if any user was not satisfied with any grievance redressal system of social media platforms, he had only one option to approach court.
Government would set up one or more Grievance Appellate Committees, consisting of a chairperson and other members appointed by the government.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
INDIA & ISRAEL VISION STATEMENT ON DEFENCE COOPERATION
India and Israel have signed a ‘vision Statement’ with the aim of further deepening the long-standing defence cooperation between both nations.
This statement was signed at a meeting held between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Benny Gantz, defence minister of Israel. Israel’s defence minister emphasized the need to invest further in defence cooperation between both countries.
Israel is a technological superpower while India is an industrial superpower, thus, cooperation between both nations will help in expanding the individual capabilities. India and Israel are facing similar challenges, including fighting terrorism and border security.
Hence, both nations by working together will be able to boost their capabilities and ensure the economic and security interests of both countries. A Letter of Intent was also exchanged between both ministers to enhance cooperation in the field of futuristic defence technologies.
STOCKHOLM+50 BEING HELD IN SWEDEN
Stockholm+50 is being held in Stockholm, Sweden. It will commemorate the 50 years since the 1972 United Nations (UN) Conference on the Human Environment (also known as the Stockholm Conference).
The UN General Assembly will be convening this international meeting. This is being held at a time when the world is facing a triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and waste, nature and biodiversity loss, as well as other planetary issues even after 50 years of the Stockholm Declaration.
What is the Stockholm Conference, 1972?
Background: Climate change was first discussed using emerging scientific evidence in the UN General Assembly in 1968.
In 1967, a research study provided the actual estimates of global temperature based on CO2 levels. Also, it was predicted that the doubling of CO2 from the current level would result in nearly 2°C rise in global temperature.
The idea of the Stockholm Conference was first proposed by Sweden. That’s why it's also termed the “Swedish Initiative”.
INDIA-BANGLADESH BILATERAL EXERCISE 'SAMPRITI-X'
India-Bangladesh bilateral defence cooperation, a joint military training exercise Ex SAMPRITI-X is being conducted at Jashore Military Station in Bangladesh from 05 June to 16 June 2022.
The aim of the exercise is to strengthen interoperability between the two armies and to understand each other’s tactical drills and operational techniques.
About the Ex SAMPRITI-X:
The Indian contingent of company strength is being represented by a Battalion of the DOGRA Regiment and the contingent departed by road for the exercise location on 4 Jun 2022.
During the joint military exercise Ex Sampriti-X, armies of both the Nations will share expertise in multiple simulated scenarios of Counter Terrorism, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief and UN Peacekeeping Force under UN mandate.
TURKEY NOW TO BE CALLED AS 'TURKIYE'
At the United Nations, Turkey will now be known as Türkiye. This decision was taken after the intergovernmental body agreed to a formal request of Ankara for the name change.
The United Nations had received a request from Ankara in May 2022. Acceptance of this name change at the United Nations marks the start of a similar process of adoption by similar bodies and international organisations.
According to a report by state broadcaster TRT, ‘Turkey’ was adopted after the country's independence in 1923. In the past, Europeans have referred to the Ottoman state and Turkiye by many names. But the name that has stuck most is “Turquia” and “Turkey”.
Furthermore, government also objected Cambridge Dictionary’s definition of “turkey”, meaning “a stupid silly person” or “something that fails badly”.
NATO CONDUCTED NAVAL EXERCISE IN BALTIC SEA
U.S.-led naval exercise in the Baltic Sea, more than 7,000 sailors, airmen, and marines from 16 nations, including two aspiring NATO members, Finland and Sweden, began nearly two-week.
BALTOPS, an annual naval exercise that began in 1972, is not performed in response to any specific danger.
However, NATO stated that “with both Sweden and Finland participating, NATO is embracing the opportunity in an unpredictable world to increase its combined force resilience and strength” in collaboration with two Nordic aspirant countries.
About the U.S-led naval exercise in the Baltic Sea:
Both Finland and Sweden had a lengthy tradition of military non-alignment before their governments choose to apply to join NATO in May, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Moscow has frequently cautioned Helsinki and Stockholm not to join the Western military alliance, threatening harsh measures if they do so.
Turkey, a NATO member with strong relations with Russia, has expressed opposition to Finland and Sweden joining the military alliance, citing their suspected backing for a Kurdish militia that Turkey considers a terrorist organization.
ECONOMIC AFFAIRS
PRIVATISATION OF PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS
The government is in the process of taking ‘advanced action’ to expedite the privatisation of public sector banks.
What is Privatisation?
The transfer of ownership, property or business from the government to the private sector is termed privatisation. The government ceases to be the owner of the entity or business.
India went for privatisation in the historic reforms budget of 1991, also known as 'New Economic Policy or LPG policy'.
What is the Background?
The government decided to nationalise the 14 largest private banks in 1969. The idea was to align the banking sector with the socialistic approach of the then government.
State Bank of India (SBI) had been nationalised in 1955 itself, and the insurance sector in 1956.
Various governments in the last 20 years were for and against privatisation of Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) banks. In 2015, the government had suggested privatisation but the then Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor did not favour the idea.
The Centre had announced the privatisation of two public sector banks in the Budget for 2021-22 but is yet to amend the relevant banking laws to enable the sale of its majority stake in them.
ISRAEL SIGNED FREE TRADE DEAL WITH UAE
Recently, Israel signed a free trade deal with the United Arab Emirates, its first with an Arab country, building on their US-brokered normalization of relations in 2020.
The UAE was the first Gulf country to normalize ties with Israel and only the third Arab nation to do so after Egypt and Jordan.
Significance of the Free Trade Deal:
Builds on the US-brokered Normalisation of Relations: The deal shows the durability of a series of diplomatic deals in 2020 known as the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and four Muslim countries—the U.A.E., Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.
Great Economic Potential: Israel's relationship with the UAE has great economic potential due to the geographic and cultural proximity between the peoples, as well as the UAE’s unique characteristics.
INDIA'S FY23 GDP FORECAST BY WORLD BANK
On June 7, 2021, the World Bank reduced its real gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for year 2022-23 for India from 8 per cent to 7.5 per cent in the “Global Economic Prospects Report”.
This forecast was reduced after considering the supply-chain pressure, inflationary pressures, and geopolitical tensions because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the report, World Bank also decreased its global growth forecast for year 2022 from 4.1 percent to 2.9 percent.
Growth is likely to slow down further to 7.1 percent in 2023-24.
World Bank on growth
According to the World Bank, growth in India will be supported by fixed investment undertaken by government and private sector. Government has already introduced incentives and reforms to improve the business climate.
Background: The World Bank has revised its GDP growth forecast in FY23 for India, for the second time. In April 2022, the forecast was lowered from 8.7 percent to 8 percent.
Apart from the World Bank, Rating agency S&P and the International Monetary Fund also cut their FY23 forecast for India. The World Bank’s forecast (7.5%) is still more bullish than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) forecast of 7.2%.
AWARDS & HONOURS
MEGHALAYA WON UN AWARD AT WSIS FORUM
The Meghalaya government key initiative of e-proposal system, part of Meghalaya Enterprise Architect has won a coveted UN Award- World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) prize at Geneva in Switzerland.
Meghalaya contested with projects from Australia, China, Argentina and Tanzania. Meghalaya was declared as the best project in the category and MeghEA is the only project from India to win the Winner Award this year.
About the MeghEA project:
The MeghEA project is being implemented by the Planning Department, Government of Meghalaya. The project has several components such as Government to Citizen or Business services, Government to Employee services and Government to Government services.
E-Proposal system, part of the Government-to-Government component, enables faster processing and tracking of schemes.
SPORTS
RAFAEL NADAL WON FRENCH OPEN TOURNAMENT
On June 5, 2022, Rafael Nadal won the 14th French Open. With this win, his record extended to 22nd Grand Slam title. He became the oldest male champion at Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal is a Spanish professional tennis player. The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) has ranked him world no. 4.
Earlier, he was ranked world No. 1 for 209 weeks. He has even finished as year-end No. 1 five times. Till date, he has won 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles, including a record of 14 French Open titles.
The French Open: French Open is also known as Roland-Garros. It is a major tennis tournament, which is held for two weeks at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France. It starts in late May, every year.
The Grand Slam: Grand Slam is an achievement of winning four major championships in one discipline in a calendar year. It is also called the “Calendar-year Grand Slam” or “Calendar Slam”.
CRICKETER MITHALI RAJ ANNOUNCED RETIREMENT
Indian women’s cricket team captain, Mithali Raj (39 years old), hailing from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, announced her retirement from all forms of International cricket.
Previously in September 2019, she retired from twenty 20 International (T20Is) but continued to play One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test cricket.
Career overview:
Mithali Raj made her International debut in the ODI against Ireland at Milton Keynes in 1999.
She has represented India in around 232 ODI matches and scored 7805 runs (50.68 on average). She is the only female cricketer to reach the 7,000-run mark. She holds the record for most runs in Women’s ODI.
She has scored a tally of 10,868 runs across all three formats and became the “leading run-scorer of all-time in women’s international cricket”.
Awards & honours:
The government of India(GoI) honoured her with the Arjuna Award in 2003 for her outstanding achievement in cricket and the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021. GoI honoured her with Padma Shri in 2015 for her contribution to sports
IMPORTANT DATES & DAYS
WORLD MILK DAY OBSERVED ON JUNE 1ST
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations adopted June 1 as World Milk Day. The day is marked to recognise milk as global food and to celebrate the dairy industry.
The day is intended to provide an opportunity to bring attention to activities that are connected with the dairy sector. The day has been observed on June 1 each year since 2001.
The theme of World Milk Day 2022:
The theme of World Milk Day 2022 is to bring attention to the climate change crisis and how the dairy sector can reduce its impact on the planet.
The aim is to achieve ‘Dairy Net Zero’ by reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years and improving waste management in order to make the dairy sector sustainable.
TELANGANA FORMATION DAY OBSERVED ON JUNE 2ND
Telangana, India’s 28th state, was founded on 2nd June 2014. Telangana celebrates its Formation Day to mark the people’s contribution to forming a separate state outside of Andhra Pradesh. Telangana’s 30 districts honour this day by hoisting the national flag.
History of Telangana Formation Day
On 1 November 1956, Telangana merged with Andhra Pradesh to form a unified state specifically for the Telugu-speaking people by sculpting that state from erstwhile Madras.
In 1969, the Telangana region witnessed a protest for a new state and in 1972, a distinct Andhra Pradesh was formed.
Various social organisations, student unions, and government employees all played important roles in the 1969 agitation.
After nearly 40 years of protests, the Telangana Bill was passed by the Congress Working Committee and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha in February 2014.
The bill was introduced in the Indian Parliament in 2014 and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act received its approval the same year. According to the bill, Telangana will be constituted by ten districts in north-western Andhra Pradesh.
'YOGA FOR HUMANITY' AS THEME OF INT. YOGA DAY
‘Yoga for Humanity’ has been chosen as the theme of the eighth International Day of Yoga to be organised in India and across the globe on June 21.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the theme in his “Maan Ki Baat’ broadcast.
The main event of International Day of Yoga this year will be held in Mysuru, Karnataka.
Focusing on the theme of ‘yoga for humanity’, special programmes have been designed this year for specially-abled people, the transgender population, women and children.
WORLD BICYCLE DAY OBSERVED ON 3RD JUNE
Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports has launched a nationwide ‘Fit India Freedom Rider Cycle Rally’ on 3rd June 2022 from Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, Delhi.
This day is observed on 3rd June across the world. This day is observed to spread awareness regarding the benefits of using a bicycle. This day highlights the longevity, uniqueness, and versatility of the bicycle.
This day has been observed since 2018 after a resolution was passed by the United Nations, during the UNGA’s 72nd Regular Session.
What is the aim of this day?
This day highlights the benefits of using the bicycle which is an affordable, simple, environmentally fit, clean, and sustainable means of transportation.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY OBSERVED ON 5TH JUNE
World Environment Day is observed globally on 5th June every year. This day is observed to raise awareness about protecting the environment and to remind people not to take nature for granted.
It is the biggest international day for the environment. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the nodal agency that organises and supports events across the world.
The year 2022 marks the 50th WED. Sweden is the host this year and the theme is ‘Only One Earth,’ focusing on the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature.
Only One Earth was the motto for the 1972 Stockholm Conference; 50 years on, the motto holds true – this planet is our only home, whose finite resources humanity must safeguard.
History of the World Environment Day 2022:
The idea of WED can be traced back to a warm June in Stockholm, Sweden, 50 years ago. That’s when the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment took place.
Widely regarded as the first global environment summit, it was here that the idea of a World Environment Day was formalized, with the first one held in 1973.
Since then, the annual event, which falls on June 5, has helped both celebrate the planet and put a spotlight on the perils it is facing.
WORLD FOOD SAFETY DAY OBSERVED ON JUNE 7TH
World Food Safety Day is celebrated globally on June 7 every year as per the World Health Organization (WHO). World Food Safety Day aims to transform food systems to deliver better health sustainably and prevent foodborne diseases.
This day also provides an opportunity to strengthen efforts to ensure that the food we eat is safe and reduce the burden of foodborne illnesses globally.
World Food Safety Day 2022 theme: The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the theme of World Food Safety Day in March.
This year, the theme is ‘Safer food, better health’. WHO also launched a campaign to inspire global participation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly facilitate the observance of World Food Safety Day, in collaboration with Member States and other relevant organizations.
WORLD OCEANS DAY OBSERVED ON JUNE 8TH
World Oceans Day is celebrated on June 8 every year across the globe. The day is commemorated to remind people of the importance of the oceans and the major role they play in everyday life.
The day is also observed to raise public awareness of the ocean and its resources in order to promote global ocean and resource sustainability.
The day intends to highlight the various resources that mankind derives from the ocean, as well as the various threats that the ocean faces.
World Oceans Day 2022: Theme “Revitalization: collective action for the ocean” is the theme for World Oceans Day 2022, a year framed by the UN Decade of Ocean Science and the celebration of the United Nations Ocean Conference, two years after being cancelled because of the pandemic.
REPORTS AND INDEXES
2022 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDEX
The 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) was released recently, ranking 180 countries on 40 performance indicators in 11 issue categories of climate change performance, ecosystem vitality and environmental health.
In the index, India has been ranked at 180th position, bottom of the 2022 Index. India has scored lowest among 180 countries.
The index measured the environmental performance of all the 180 countries.
India’s score
In the Index, India scored 18.9 and has been ranked last. In the last decade, performance of India has decreased by 0.6 scores.
It scored 12.5 on health, which means poor air quality, poor drinking water and poor sanitation. India’s waste management with respect to solid wastes, ocean plastics, and recycling is also poor.
The Rankings of other countries: Neighbouring countries of India have scored slightly better. Pakistan has been ranked at 176th position while Bangladesh at 177.
ASIA UNIVERSITY RANKINGS 2022 RELEASED
Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2022 was released by the Times Higher Education (THE). The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore continues to be the best institute of the country. It ranked at 42nd place.
IISc in the top 100 institutions from Asia were JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research debuting at 65th place, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar at 68th rank and IIT Indore at 87th place.
India was the third most-represented country, behind Japan and mainland China with 71 institutions. 17 Indian universities topped the list under top 200.
Top 4 universities under top 100:
Indian Institute of Science Bangalore (42nd)
JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research (65th)
Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (68th)
Indian Institute of Technology Indore (87th)
There are 17 Indian universities in the top 200 as compared to 18 last year. Of the 14 that were ranked in both years, eight have risen.
MUKESH AMBANI AGAIN BECOMES RICHEST IN INDIA
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman and Managing Director, Mukesh Ambani has regained the position of India as well as Asia’s richest man, replacing Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Ambani who has a net worth of $99.7 billion added $9.69 billion in 2022.
Mr Ambani is followed by Gautam Adani on the global billionaire list. Adani is ranked ninth with Net worth $98.7 billion in the Bloomberg Billionaire index.
Bloomberg Billionaires Index: Globally
Tesla CEO Elon Musk remains the world’s richest person with a net fortune of $227 billion.
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos is the second richest man with a $149 billion net worth, as per the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
LVMH’s Bernard Arnault with $138 billion net worth is the third richest person in the world followed by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates with $124 billion net fortune in the fourth position and legendary investor Warren Buffett in the fifth position with a net worth of $114 billion.
FSSAI 4TH STATE FOOD SAFETY INDEX
On the occasion of World Food Safety Day, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) led 4th State Food Safety Index (SFSI).
The 4th State Food Safety Index was released for measuring the performance of States on five parameters of food safety.
In the index, Tamil Nadu secured first rank, in the category of large states.
In the category of small states, Goa has been ranked first followed by Manipur and Sikkim.
Among UTs, Jammu & Kashmir has been ranked first, followed by Delhi and Chandigarh.
SFSI was initiated in 2018-19, in a bid to create a competitive and positive change in the food safety ecosystem of India. The index has been developed by FSSAI, to measure the performance of states on multiple parameters of Food Safety.
It is a dynamic quantitative and qualitative benchmarking model, providing an objective framework to evaluate food safety across all States/UTs.
SCIENCE & TECH.
WHAT IS ASTRA MARK-1 MISSILE?
Recently, the Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with the Hyderabad-based public-sector Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for supply of the Astra Mark-1.
Contract was signed at a cost of Rs 2,971 crore, for deployment on fighter jets of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
What are the Astra Missile and its Variants?
The Astra project was officially launched in the early 2000s with defined parameters and proposed future variants.
Around 2017, the development phase of the Mk-1 version was complete. Several successful tests have been conducted since 2017 from Sukhoi-30 MKIs.
What are the Key Highlights of the Astra Mk-1 Missile?
About: The Astra Mk-1 is a Beyond Visual Range (BVR), Air-to-Air Missile (AAM).
BVM missiles are capable of engaging beyond the range of 20 nautical miles or 37 kilometers. AAMs are fired from an airborne asset to destroy an airborne target.
INDIA'S 1ST LIQUID MIRROR TELESCOPE
India’s first liquid mirror telescope first came to light in early 2022. This telescope will observe asteroid, space debris, supernovae, and all other celestial objects from an altitude of 2,450 metres in Uttarakhand.
It is the world's first liquid-mirror telescope that was commissioned for astronomy. Other liquid-telescopes were previously built either to track satellites or were used for military purposes.
International Liquid-Mirror Telescope (ILMT) was set up at the Devasthal Observatory campus, which is owned by Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital in Uttarakhand.
ILMT will be the third telescope facility at Devasthal, which has become the world's pristine sites for obtaining astronomical observations.
How is ILMT different?
Liquid-mirror telescopes are stationary telescopes which are used to image a strip of the sky at a given point of time at night as opposed to the conventional telescope which is steered to point towards celestial sources of interest in the sky for observations.
CHINA LAUNCHED 3RD CREWED MISSION TO NEW SS
On June 5, 2022 China successfully launched the 3rd Crewed Mission to its New Space Station.
Three Astronauts will continue the construction work for six months. Astronauts were lifted off on Shenzhou-14 spacecraft.
It was launched by a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in the Gobi Desert of Inner Mongolia.
3rd Crewed Mission in Space
This is China’s third crewed mission during construction of Its space station. China has planned to have a fully crewed and operational space station by December 2022.
The first crewed mission was completed in September 2021, when astronauts stayed for three-months. The second mission was Shenzhou-13, in which three astronauts spent six months for the first time.
Overall, China has planned six space missions before the end of 2022, including another crewed mission, two cargo missions and two laboratory modules.
NASA SET TO LAUNCH 'DAVINCI MISSION'
NASA is set to launch a mission called “DAVINCI Mission”. DAVINCI stands for “Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry and Imaging Mission”.
The mission will fly by Venus and explore its harsh atmosphere in 2029. It will be the first mission to study Venus by means of both flybys and descent.
Spacecraft is likely to explore the layered Venusian atmosphere. It will reach the Venusian surface by June 2031. The mission would capture data about Venus that scientists have been trying to measure since the early 1980s.
Which missions have visited earlier?
Before this mission, only two NASA missions have visited earlier, namely, Pioneer in 1978 and Magellan in early ’90s.
FIRST HUMAN SPACE MISSION 'GAGANYAAN'
India will attain the unique distinction of launching the first Human Space Mission ‘Gaganyaan’ as well as the first Human Ocean Mission in 2023, according to Space and Earth Sciences Minister Dr Jitendra Singh.
Testing for both the Space and Ocean manned missions have evolved to an advanced stage, and that the remarkable accomplishment would be performed in the second half of 2023, while speaking at the World Oceans Day festivities in New Delhi.
According to the Minister, the government will shortly reveal the Blue Economic Policy, and ocean-based sectors would employ roughly 40 million people by 2030.
Major missions for Gaganyaan are planned for the second half of 2022, including a test vehicle flight to validate the crew escape system’s performance and the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, which will be followed by a second uncrewed mission in late 2022 carrying “Vyom Mitra,” an Isro-developed spacefaring human robot, and finally the first crewed Gaganyaan mission in 2023.
MISCELLANEOUS
HAR GHAR DASTAK CAMPAIGN 2.0
On 1st June 2022, the Har Ghar Dastak 2.0 campaign began across the nation to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries receive complete Covid-19 vaccination.
This campaign gives special focus on the vaccination of those aged between 12 to 14 and precaution doses for those above the age of 60.
In November 2021, the first Har Ghar Dastak campaign was conducted. So far, across the nation, 193.6 crore doses of vaccines have been administered.
The aim of this campaign is to vaccinate all the eligible population groups across the country for the first, second, and precaution doses via door-to-door campaigns.
MAHARASHTRA TO HAVE RESERVES & WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife (MSBWL) recently approved 12 new conservation reserves and 3 wildlife sanctuaries, for boosting wildlife conservation movement and environment protection movement.
These protected areas (PAs) will have an area of around 1,000 sq km. In this, an area of 692.74 sq km will be for conservation reserves while an area of 303 sq km will be for wildlife sanctuaries.
Approval was given for notification of following conservation reserves:
Chivatibavari and Alaldari in Dhule
Kalwan, Muragad, Trimbakeshwar and Igatpuri in Nashik
Raigad and Roha in Raigad district
Bhor in Pune
Dare Khurd (Mahadare) in Satara
Masai plateau in Kolhapur and
Mogarkasa in Nagpur.
With this approval, state will also get 3 new wildlife sanctuaries:
Extension of the Lonar wildlife sanctuary Kolamarka in Gadchiroli- This region is affected by the presence of Left-wing extremists. It has endangered Asiatic Wild buffaloes. In 2013, it was designated as a conservation reserve.
According to the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, consent of the wildlife board is required, in order to notify any fresh protected areas in the state.
Till date, 15 conservation reserves were notified in Maharashtra. With the addition of 12 new conservation reserves, the number will increase to 27.
RAJASTHAN LAUNCHED RAJIV GANDHI KHEL RATNA AWARD
Rajasthan Chief Minister (CM) Ashok Gehlot has announced that the state government is set to introduce the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award to the State’s sportspersons.
He made the announcement while addressing the inauguration and player award ceremony at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
He also informed that Rajiv Gandhi Rural Olympics will commence on 29th August 2022 in which more than 27 lakh players of all ages can participate. He also released the torch of the Rural Olympic during the event.
NHAI CREATED GUINNESS WORLD RECORD
State-owned National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has created a Guinness World Record for longest continuously laid bituminous lane of 75 kilometres, on national highway between Amravati and Akola districts of Maharashtra, in 105 hours and 33 minutes.
Project was implemented by 720 workers including a team of independent consultants. Total length of this single lane continuous bituminous concrete road is equal to 37.5 kilometres of two-lane paved shoulder road.
Work on this road was started on June 3, 2022 and was completed on June 7.
Previous Record: Previous World Record for longest continuously laid bituminous was building a 25.275 kilometres road in Doha, Qatar in February 2019. This task was completed in 10 days.
