NMCG & NIUA organized IDEAthon on ‘The Future of River Management’

1.World Press Freedom Day: 03 March

World Press Day is observed every year on 3 May.Each year this special day is observed to celebrate the spirit of journalism and to pay gratitude to those journalists who lost their lives in order to bring us honest and real news about happenings in the nation, city or state. 

The freedom of expression of the media/ press helps in creating awareness amongst the general population.

This year the theme of world press freedom day 2020 is ‘Journalism without Fear or Favour’.

2.International Astronomy Day: 02 May

International Astronomy Day is celebrated twice a year, one in autumn and another in spring.The Astronomy Day 2020 is celebrated on May 2. The world will celebrate the next Astronomy Day on September 26.

On this day, museums, societies, astronomical institutions and planetariums organise seminars, workshops and other fun-filled activities to spread awareness about the world of astronomy.

According to starwalk.space, in 1973, Doug Berger, president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California, had organised the celebration of first Astronomy Day.

The idea behind observing the day is to create awareness and educate people about the beautiful universe.

3.Researchers in Canada using algae to produce low-cost COVID-19 test kits

According to the researchers from the University of Western Ontario in Canada that the new method overcomes shortfalls of existing processes while saving money.The team collaborated with Canadian integrated energy company Suncor to develop algae as a production factory to make necessary proteins to identify COVID-19 antibodies in someone previously infected with the disease.

The researchers noted that one of the limiting factors in developing large-scale serological testing is the ability to make significant quantities of the viral proteins on a cost-effective basis.

Algae are cheap to grow and can easily be engineered to produce the viral proteins.

4.Nation celebrates birth centenary of filmmaker Satyajit Ray

Nation celebrates the birth centenary of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray on 02 May.Ray was born on this day in 02 May 1921.

He directed 36 films in his lifetime.

Ray got Oscar award in 1991 besides he was recipient of Dadasaheb Phalke , Bharat Ratna and many other international awards.

Satyajit Ray created a separate style in filmmaking in the country.

France Government conferred him the country’s highest civilian award Logion of Honour  for his outstanding contributions in the field of film at a function in Kolkata.

5.India placed 3rd in scientific publication

India’s gross expenditure in R&D has tripled between 2008 & 2018 driven mainly by the Govt sector and scientific publications have risen placing the country internationally among the top few.This is as per the R&D Statistics and Indicators 2019-20 based on the national S&T survey 2018 brought out by the National Science and Technology Management Information (NSTMIS), Department of Science and Technology (DST).

The report shows that with the rise in publication, the country is globally at the 3rd   position on this score as per the NSF database, 3rd in the number of Ph.D. in science & engineering.

India occupies 3rd rank in terms of number of Ph.D.’s awarded in Science and Engineering (S&E) after the USA (39,710 in 2016) and China (34,440 in 2015).

Number of researchers per million population in India has increased to 255 in 2017 from 218 in 2015 and 110 in 2000.

6.NMCG & NIUA organized IDEAthon on ‘The Future of River Management’

The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) organized an IDEAthon on “The future of River Management’ to explore how the COVID-19 crisis can shape River Management strategies for the future.The IDEAthon examined how the social angle of rivers can be leveraged on to address other crises. What lessons for river management has the pandemic taught us? And what response mechanisms are needed in the event of a river crisis?

The international webinar conducted brought together close to 500 participants.

National Mission for Clean Ganga had initiated this IDEAthon to garner more attention towards river management and also highlight the interconnectivity of Cities with the River.

7.Ministry of Tourism hosts 13th webinar titled ‘Destination- Sariska Tiger reserve’ of “Dekho Apna Desh” series

The 13th session of Ministry of Tourism’s Dekho ApnaDesh webinar on 1st May 2020, titled, ‘Destination- Sariska Tiger reserve’ was a presentation and virtual tour of wildlife adventure, safari experience for the traveller within the Sariska Tiger Reserve’ in Alwar district, Rajasthan.Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in the Aravalli Hills, 35 km from Alwar, 250 km SW of Delhi and 110 km NE of Jaipur.

The former hunting reserve of the Maharaja of Alwar, the Sariska valley is home to a variety of flora and fauna.

The park has populations of tigers, leopards, Nilgai, Sambar, chital etc.

8.Umaria police launches ‘Sankalp Scheme’ to provide 24-hour help to elderly

In Madhya Pradesh, along with strict implementation of the lockdown, the humanitarian face of the police is also being praised by one and all.The Umaria police have launched a Sankalp Scheme to provide 24-hour help to the elderly.

Under the Sankalp Scheme, the Superintendent of Police has instructed all police officers to identify and help one or two elderly families who are living alone and are worried about their everyday needs during the lockdown.

Under the Sankalp Scheme police personnel are connected along with every elderly member of the family.

9.Himachal Pradesh govt to launch employment scheme for urban areas

The Himachal Pradesh government decided to launch a programme guaranteeing at least 120 days’ employment to those living in urban areas.The cabinet decided to launch the Mukhya Mantri Shahari Rojgar Guarantee Yojna, under which 120 days’ assured employment will be provided to people living in urban areas.

If required, adequate training will be given to them for their skill upgrade.

10.RBI cancels CKP Co-operative Bank’s licence

The Reserve Bank of India suspended operations of CKP Co-operative Bank and cancelled its licence.RBI reasoned that the financial position of the bank is highly adverse and unsustainable.

There is no concrete revival plan or proposal for merger with another bank.

With the cancellation of licence and commencement of liquidation proceedings, the process of paying the depositors of The CKP Co-operative Bank LtdMumbai, as per the DICGC Act, 1961 will be set in motion.

On liquidation, every depositor is entitled to repayment of his/her deposits up to a monetary ceiling of Rs 5,00,000 from the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC) as per usual terms and conditions.

11.Lokpal member Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi dies due to coronavirus

Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi who tested positive for Covid-19, died after suffering a cardiac arrest.Justice AK Tripathi was a judicial member of Lokpal and former Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court.

He tested positive for COVID-19 at AIIMS last month.

He had been in the AIIMS Trauma Centre, which has been converted into a dedicated Covid-19 hospital, since the first week of April.

12.Union Culture Minister releases ebook “Prof. B. B. Lal -India Rediscovered” in New Delhi

On the occasion of the centenary year of the great archaeologist Professor B. B. Lal, Union Culture Minister Shri Prahlad Singh Patel released an e-book “Prof. B. B. Lal -India Rediscovered” in New Delhi.Prof Lal was born on 02nd may 1921 in village Baidora, District Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.

The book is a centenary special edition which has been prepared by the Ministry of culture in collaboration with Prof B B Lal Centenary Celebration Committee.

The book is a tribute from the Ministry of culture for his immense contribution to the field of archaeology.

Braj Basi Lal, better known as B. B. Lal, is an Indian archaeologist. He was the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1968 to 1972 and has served as Director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Shimla.