Current Affairs 28 May 2022

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS

India Plans 10 Hydropower Projects in J&K and HP to Utilise water under IWTIndia is working on to build 10 hydropower projects with the total capacity of 6.8 gigawatts (GW) in the States of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Himachal Pradesh (HP) to fully utilise its share of water under the 1960 Indus waters treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.

• NHPC Limited (formerly National Hydro-Electric Power Corporation Private Limited) has undertaken the implementation of these projects with an estimated investment of Rs Rs 68,000 crore.

Key Points:
i.The Hydropower projects includes 1,000 MegaWatt (MW) Pakal Dul project, 850 MW Ratle project, 624 MW Kiru project, and 540 MW Kwar project added.
ii.In addition to this NHPC also plans to build 1,856 MW Sawalkot (J&K), 930 MW Kirthai-II (J&K), 500 MW Dugar (HP), 240 MW Uri-I Stage-II (J&K), and 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II (J&K).
iii.The Project is strategically important for India on the backdrop of China developing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
iv.India also adapted similar strategies on the eastern borders and plans to construct the country’s second largest dam at Yingkiong in Arunachal Pradesh to counter China’s ambitious scheme to divert water from the river that feeds downstream into the Brahmaputra.
v.The Hydropower project would benefit the J&K residence by providing free power of approx. Rs 4,548.59 crore and Rs 4,941.46 crore with Water Usage Charges from Kwar HydroElectric Project, during the project life cycle of 40 years.
Other Projects in J&K:
i.India is also working on plans to divert the waters of river Ujh, main tributary of Ravi river that flows into Pakistan.
ii.Earlier India through NHPC Ltd built a 330 MW project on the river Kishanganga, a tributary of the Jhelum.
iii.Other works that took place in the region includes Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai hydroelectric projects on the Chenab.
iv.Also the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared the construction of the 540MW Kwar project by Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited, a joint venture between NHPC Ltd and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited.
About Indus Water Treaty
Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan in 1960 to use the water available in the Indus River and its tributaries.The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of six rivers: Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.

Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and H.E. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Climate Envoy and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology had a bilateral meeting in New Delhi, Delhi.

•  Prior to the meeting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on climate action was signed with the basic objective to establish a framework to facilitate and enhance bilateral cooperation on climate action, and also contribute towards implementing the Paris Agreement.

Key Points:
i.Under the MoU both sides have mutually agreed to explore the ways for strengthening bilateral cooperation in climate action.
ii.The Bilateral meeting had taken note of the UAE’s bid to host COP 28 (Conference of parties 28) in 2023, and emphasised the need to prioritise the concerns of developing countries, particularly in areas of implementation support including finance and technology.
iii.Yadav, has also requested the UAE to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure (CDRI) and Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT).

Ministry of Ayush & Department of Biotechnology signed MoU for Mutual Collaboration

On 25th May 2022, the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (Ayush) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, to explore the possibility of cooperation, convergence, and synergy in bringing out expertise under one platform towards evidence-based biotechnological interventions in the Ayush sector.
The MoU will enable the possibility to undertake innovative and path-breaking research that can be used to explore various Fundamental principles of Ayush systems.

LS Speaker Om Birla launches 2nd phase of “Suposhit Maa Abhiyan” in Kota, Rajasthan

Lok Sabha (LS) Speaker Om Birla launched the second phase of “Suposhit Maa Abhiyan” in Kota, Rajasthan. Under the campaign, 3000 women will be provided with the nutrition kits for 9 months with the help of public support and a monthly health checkup.
In 2020, the scheme was first started by identifying 1000 women in the Kota Bundi parliamentary constituency to overcome the nutritional deficiency among women.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Overview of Indian PM Narendra Modi Visit to Japan for QUAD Leaders’ Meeting 2022i.On May 23-24, 2022, the Prime Minister (PM) of India Narendra Modi paid a visit to Japan at the invitation of the Japanese PM Fumio Kishida to participate in the 4th and 2nd in-person QUAD (Quadrilateral) Leaders’ Meeting 2022 in Tokyo, Japan on 24 May 2022 along with the United States (US) President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.; and PM of Australia, Anthony Norman Albanese.
ii.The QUAD countries are Australia, India, Japan, and the US.
iii.The meeting saw the announcement of a Quad Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Package (Q-CHAMP) with ‘mitigation’ and ‘adaptation’ as its two themes.
iv.The QUAD nations also announced the launch of ‘Quad Fellowship program’ which will be offered by the Quad to students from four countries. It is a philanthropic initiative led by the Schmidt Futures.
v.The Government of India (GoI) and the Government of the US has signed an Investment Incentive Agreement (IIA) in Tokyo. This IIA supersedes the IIA signed between GoI and the Government of the US in the year 1997. 
About QUAD:
The group was established shortly after the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 to coordinate humanitarian assistance. It fell into obscurity for over a decade until 2017, when the Quad members decided to step up joint military exercises. 

• The first QUAD Leaders’ Meeting held in March 2021, in-person Summit in Washington D.C., US in September 2021; and virtual meeting in March 2022.
• It has also established six leader-level working groups on the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, technology, cybersecurity, space and infrastructure.

>> Read Full News

Highlights of MoS For External Affairs V. Muraleedharan Visit to the USA; Addressed IMRF 2022

V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, visited the United States of America (USA) for an eight-day visit from May 17 – 24, 2022.
During his visit, he headed the Indian delegation to the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF)-2022, which was held at the United Nations (UN) in New York, USA, from May 17 – 20, 2022, under the aegis of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

• The Forum was hosted by Abdulla Shahid, President of UNGA.
• The forum will be held four year once( quadrennial) and will be held at the highest possible political level, including Heads of State or Government.

International Migration Review Forum (IMRF)-2022

The International Migration Review Forum 2022 acts as the primary intergovernmental global platform for discussing and sharing progress on all aspects of migration and their convergence with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• IMRF will feature four interactive multi-stakeholders round tables, a policy dialogue, and a plenary session. It will result in an intergovernmental declaration of progress.
• It is open to all UN Member States and members of specialised agencies with observer status with the General Assembly.

Background:

• In the General Assembly resolution A/RES/73/195, Member States agreed to review the progress made at the local, national, regional and global levels in implementing the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) in the framework of the United Nations through a State-led approach and with the participation of all relevant stakeholders.
• The High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development, currently scheduled to take place every fourth session of the General Assembly, shall be repurposed and renamed “International Migration Review Forum”;

Significant Occurrences During His Visit
i. He delivered India’s National Statement at the IMRF Plenary Session.

• He met with Abdulla Shahid, the President of UNGA & Antonio Vitorino, the Director General of the International Organization for Migration.

ii. In his remarks to the high-level Ministerial Meeting on “Global Food Security-Call to Action”, he emphasized India’s concern over global food insecurity and stressed the importance of collective work to alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable.

• In response to numerous humanitarian crises over the years, he has highlighted India’s commitment to the cause of global food security by contributing to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
• He also met with Stanley Kakubo, Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, to address a wide range of issues relating to bilateral cooperation between India and Zambia.

iii. He also spoke in the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) Open Debate on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Conflict and Food Security”, which was chaired by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
iv. He has interacted with members of the Indian diaspora in New York, Los Angeles and Houston in the USA and launched a mobile application of the Consulate General of India in New York, USA.

BANKING & FINANCE

IRDAI Sets up Committees Through GIC to Overhaul Insurance Sector

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has formed various committees through the General Insurance Council(GIC) to overhaul the insurance sector. The committees formed through GIC will suggest reforms in the various areas of general, reinsurance and life insurance.

• These committees were set up after new IRDAI Chairman Debasish Panda held an interaction with insurance industry players in April 2022. 
• IRDAI has also decided to review areas like reducing the compliance burden for the industry, rationalising investment norms, and others. 

About the Committee and Panels:
i.Around 5 committees have been formed to suggest the changes in the general insurance, and non-life insurance and 2 panels to explore the reinsurance segment. 
ii.The members of these panels include heads of private and public sector insurance companies, members of IRDAI and representatives from the GIC.
iii.The panels are established to explore the areas of regulation, products, distribution, finance, health, finance, taxation, ease of doing business, and others
Key Points:
i.The representatives of the insurance industry were asked to highlight the issues they face and suggest steps that can be taken. Some recommendations have already been submitted to IRDAI.
ii.These panels would suggest changes that can be made in regulations and legislation which would be considered by IRDAI and the Department of Financial Services.
iii.Loknath Kar, the former ex-legal head of ICICI Lombard and PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), was roped in to draft the reports.
Additional info:
GIC is expected to change its compensation structure in order to attract candidates from the private sector for the position of secretary-general, which was held by former heads of public sector insurance companies. 
About General Insurance Council(GIC):
GIC has been constituted under section 64C of the Insurance Act, 1938 since 2001 by IRDAI. It is a significant link between IRDAI and the non-life insurance industry. 
Secretary-General– Nagaraja Sarma Maddipatla (M N Sarma)
Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra 

NBFC Northern Arc Capital Enters Strategic Partnership with Indian Bank Northern Arc Capital Limited, a non-banking finance company (NBFC) that serves the credit needs of underserved households and businesses, has formed a strategic alliance with Indian Bank.

• The collaboration intends to facilitate the two financial institutions in collaborating, cooperating, co-lending loans, and expanding their respective markets and customer bases.

Key Points:
i. This partnership allows Indian bank to access Northern Arc Capital’s n-POS co-lending platform to locate retail loans, credit underwriting, scoring, disbursement, monitoring, and reporting.

• The n-POS platform also helps investors with periodic reporting and portfolio reconciliations. It has so far enabled over 7.5 million loans.

ii. With real-time KYC validation and instant disbursement features, the platform provides fully integrated systems for partners and investors.
iii. The platform also gives investors a NAC score, which is a rating of a borrower’s financial strength and repayment capacity, developed by Northern Arc and based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms.
About Northern Arc Capital Limited:
MD & CEO – Ashish Mehrotra
Founded – 2008
Headquarters – Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

AU Small Finance Bank Introduces New Services for the Affluent SegmentAU Small Finance Bank has introduced two new products “AU Royale Salary” and “AU Royale Business” current accounts as part of their affluent banking programme – AU Royale.
The AU Royale program is intended to meet the everyday banking needs of the affluent class. It provides family banking, high-interest rates and monthly interest payments, access to domestic airport lounges, and monthly cashback, etc.,
Key Points:
i. ‘AU Royale Salary’ and ‘AU Royale Business’ are two specialised products which have been particularly designed for the salaried and business classes, respectively.

• Also, the bank has already been providing customised premium products to High Net-Worth Individuals (HNIs) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs).

ii. The AU Royale Salary Savings account family banking for up to five family members and cashback up to 1% on Signature Debit Card purchases.

• Customers can make use of a range of other benefits in addition to having a dedicated relationship manager to assist them with all of their banking needs.

iii. The AU Royale Business Current Account includes family banking, which allows for the grouping of business and family accounts.

• Customers can take advantage of a variety of features offered by the Rich Royale Business Signature Debit Card while the Relationship Managers deliver end-to-end personalized banking.
• Best-in-class Merchant Solutions (Quick Response (QR), Point of Sales (PoS), Payment gateway); preferred pricing on banking products; account number selection; and access to domestic airport lounges are just a few of the other benefits.

Additional info : AU Small Finance Bank Introduces New Services for the Affluent Segment

About AU Small Finance Bank:
Originally founded as Au Financiers in 1996, a non-deposit taking Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) was later transformed into AU Small Finance Bank.
MD & CEO – Sanjay Agarwal
Established – 2017
Headquarters – Jaipur, Rajasthan

Tata Capital Launched Loan Against Shares facility

Tata Capital Limited has launched “Loan Against Shares – LAS”, an end to end integrated digital financing offering. Under LAS, Customers can avail of loans up to Rs 5 crores by pledging their dematerialised shares online, facilitated by NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited). The loan amount is customized based on the value of shares in the portfolio of the customer.

• The benefits of LAS include End to End paperless processing; Online Know Your Customer (KYC) and pledging of shares through NSDL; electronic signing of loan documents and Electronic National Automated Clearing House(e-NACH) facility; and an Easy-to-use online portal for disbursement, repayment, additional pledging and de-pledging. 

ECONOMY & BUSINESS

Agri-startup Fasal ties up with IMD for research in weather forecast models

Fasal, an agri-tech platform developed by Wolkus Technology Solutions Private Ltd has signed an agreement with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for research in weather forecast models to make farming climate-smart.
This partnership aims to ensure the availability of day to day short term weather forecasts for farmers. 

• To provide these forecasts, 23 radar stations of IMD and around 600 on ground precision farming devices of Fasal will be used. 
• As a part of this partnership, Fasal and IMD will work on research around precipitation forecasting, validation of weather forecasting models, and dissemination of learning to farmers.

Fasal is an Artificial Intelligence(AI)-powered platform for the agriculture ecosystem that records a variety of growing conditions on farms. 

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS        

Geetanjali Shree Won International Booker Prize for the first Hindi Novel ‘Tomb of Sand’The 2022 International Booker Prize for Translated Fiction was awarded to ‘Tomb of Sand’ written by Geetanjali Shree and translated by Daisy Rockwell. The book was originally published in Hindi as Ret Samadhi in 2018. The award was presented by Booker Prize Foundation.

• This is the first book in any Indian language to win the prestigious International Booker Prize and this is the first novel translated from Hindi to win the award.
• Geetanjali Shree is the first Indian to win the International Booker Prize.
• The recipients were awarded the Prize money of GBP (British pound sterling) 50,000 (USD 63,000) which will be split between the author and the translator.

Plot:
i.The novel sets in northern India, which follows the adventures of an 80-year-old protagonist, Ma, to her family’s consternation, insists on travelling to Pakistan, simultaneously confronting the unresolved trauma of her teenage experiences of Partition, and re-evaluating what it means to be a mother, a daughter, a woman, a feminist.
Key Points:
i.‘Tomb of Sand’ is the first book of Geetanjali Shree to be published in the United Kingdom (UK) in English by Tilted Axis Press in August 2021.
ii.The novel was one among the 6 Shortlisted novels, which were translated to English from 11 languages and originate from 12 countries across four continents.
iii.This year the judges considered 135 books and for the first time in 2022.
iv.Judges for the 2022 International Prize are Frank Wynne; Merve Emre; Petina Gappah; Viv Groskop;  and Jeremy Tiang.
About International Booker Prize and Booker Prize:

• The International Booker Prize was instituted in 2005 as the “Man Booker International Prize” and is awarded every year for a single book that is translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.   
•  Booker Prize is awarded to a book/novel written in English.In 1997, Arundhati Roy became the first Indian to win the Booker Prize for her novel, “The God of Small Things.”

ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS         

CIL to divest 25% stake in BCCL; plans subsequent listing

Coal India Ltd (CIL), under the Ministry of Coal(MoC), is set to divest the 25% paid-up share principle of its unlisted subsidiary, Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL) and its subsequent listing on stock exchanges after getting further clearances. 

• The board of Directors meeting to his effect was held on 10th March 2022. 
• The board also advised forwarding the proposal to the MoC for further clearance. 
• The board has given only the ‘in principle’ approval to the proposal. 

Additional info:
i.In Financial Year 2020-2021 (FY21), the net turnover of BCCL was Rs 6149.81 crore against the previous year’s turnover of Rs 8967.56 crore.
ii.According to the BCCL’s annual report, the decrease in sales affected the finance of BCCL and as a result, BCCL could not maintain its profitability and incurred a loss of RS 1577.06 core. 
About Bharat Coking Coal Ltd (BCCL):
BCCL was incorporated in January 1972 to operate coking coal mines in Jharia and Raniganj Coalfields. 
The government of India took over BCCL on 16th October 1971. 
Chairman cum Managing Director(CMD)– Samiran Dutta 
Headquarters– Dhanbad, Jharkhand. 
About Coal India Ltd (CIL):
CMD– Pramod Agrawal
Established in 1975 
Headquarters– Kolkata, West Bengal

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

‘INS Nirdeshak’ Indian Navy’s Survey Vessel Launched by GRSE On May 26 2022, the second of the four Survey Vessels (Large) (SVL) ‘Nirdeshak’ (Yard 3026), was launched at Kattupalli, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The ship was built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) in collaboration with L&T Shipbuilding Limited for the Indian Navy.

• The contract for building four SVL ships was signed between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata on 30 October 2018. 
• The first of class ship ‘Sandhayak’ was launched on 05 December 2021 at GRSE, Kolkata.

Dignitaries present:
i.The ship was launched by Sarbani Dasgupta, wife of Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command.
Key Points:
i.The new SVL ships will replace the existing Sandhayak Class survey ships with new generation hydrographic equipment to collect oceanographic data. 
ii.The SVL ships have a deep displacement of about 3400 tons and a complement of 235 personnel. It is designed to operate at a cruise speed of 14 knots and a maximum speed of 18 knots with Bow and Stern Thrusters required for better manoeuvring at low speeds required during shallow water survey operations. 
iii.The hull of these ships is made from indigenously developed DMR 249-A steel manufactured by Steel Authority of India Limited(SAIL).
iv.Primary role – It has the capacity to carry four Survey Motor Boats and an integral helicopter for the role of undertaking full scale coastal and deep-water hydrographic surveys of Ports and navigational channels. 
v.The ships would also be deployed for collecting oceanographic and geophysical data for defence as well as civil applications. 
vi.Secondary role – the ships are also capable of providing limited defence, besides serving as Hospital ships during emergencies.
Note:
The new vessel takes its name from a former Indian Naval Survey ship, Nirdeshak, which was decommissioned in December 2014 after 32 years of glorious service.

Indian Navy Successfully Tests Surface To Air Missile System From WarshipThe Indian Navy’s guided-missile anti-submarine stealth frigate successfully tests a low flying target with its surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.The test fire took place from Talwar Class Indian Navy warship – INS Teg.
About Surface to Air Missile
i.A surface-to-air missile, also known as a ground-to-air missile(GTAM)or surface-to-air guided weapon(SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles.

• Types of Important Indian Missiles – Surface-To-Air Missiles, Air-to-air missiles, Surface-to-surface missiles, Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD)/Interceptor Missiles, Cruise Missiles, Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles,and Anti-Tank Missiles.

ii.SAM can be Long Range Surface to Air Missile (LRSAM) and Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM).
iii. LRSAM: to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as cruise missiles and combat jets. Both maritime and land-based versions of the system are available. 

• The LRSAM programme consists of Missiles, MFSTAR (Multi-Function Surveillance, Track And Guidance Radar), Weapon Control System, Vertical Launcher unit and Two- way data link.

iv.MRSAM: High-response, quick reaction, vertically launched supersonic missile, designed to neutralize enemy aerial threats – missiles, aircraft, guided bombs, helicopters.

• The maiden test of the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) for the Indian Army was conducted in 2020.

ENVIRONMENT

Money Spider, Ant-Mimicking Spider Discovered in Kerala

Money spiders, commonly found in European meadows, have been reported for the first time in India from the Muthanga range of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Wayanad,kerala.Researchers also discovered ant-mimicking spiders.Money Spiders belongs to Dwarf group and ant-mimicking spiders, belonging to the group of jumping spiders.

• The findings were published in the scientific journals Peckhamia and Arachnology.

Money Spider
Money Spider is also called as  “believed to bring luck” to the person who comes in contact with it.This spider belongs to the family of dwarf spiders – Linyphiidae under the genus  Prosoponoides. So this dwarf money spider is given the binomial as Prosoponoides biflectogynus.

• So far, only six species of spiders from this genus have been discovered around the world.This is the first report of this genus from India.

Important Features of Money Spider – Dwarf
i.The male and the female money spiders are typically 3 mm and 4 mm long respectively.
ii.Both sexes are dark brown and have irregular silver patches and black spots on the elliptical abdomen.
iii.There are numerous fine black spines on their olive green legs. Eight dark eyes are arranged in two rows.
Ant-mimicking spiders
In the research, the researchers also discovered ant-mimicking spiders, belonging to the group of jumping spiders, from the Mananthavady range. They belong to the family of Salticidae.

• This discovered ant-mimicking spider (jumping)  is given the name as Toxeus alboclavus.Only three species of this genus (jumping) have been reported from India, and this is the first species reported from the Western Ghats

Important Features of Ant-mimicking – Jumping
i.The male and the female spiders of this species grow up to 4 mm and 6 mm long respectively.
ii.A pair of white stripes on the dark brown abdomen of females makes them distinct from other spiders of this group. 
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Established – 1973
Location – Wayanad, Kerala, and  four hill ranges namely Sulthan Bathery, Muthanga, Kurichiat and Tholpetty.

• Integral part of Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve.Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first from India to be included in the UNESCO designated World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2012.
• Kabini river (a tributary of Cauvery river) flows through the sanctuary.

SPORTS

Chessable Masters 2022 Final: Chinese Ding Liren won the Tournament against Indian GM R Praggnanandhaa World No.2 Grandmaster Ding Liren of China won the tournament against India’s teenaged Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa in the final of Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Chessable Masters 2022 online tournament.

• The Indian GM had defeated the highly-rated Dutchman Anish Giri in the semifinal to become the first Indian player to reach the final of a Meltwater Champions Chess Tour event.

Key Information
i.In game two,  the 16-year-old Praggnanandhaa, who lost the first game in the all-Asian final, came back strong to tie the match.
ii.Ding  Liren showed his high-rated skill  by taking the lead to outwit Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa in the third game.
iii.He had beaten world No.1 Magnus Carlsen for a second time during the preliminary phase in which he finished fourth
iv.Recently, Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa was formally inducted into the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) at a function graced by its chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya and the State head of IOC for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. 

• Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa who on attaining 18 years of age would be officially in IOC’s roll.
• IOC’s Roll: tenure-based engagement letter which foster a vibrant ecosystem to promote young sportspersons

IMPORTANT DAYS

Africa Day 2022 – May 25th Africa Day is annually observed across the continent of Africa on 25th May to commemorate the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). OAU was created on 25th May 1963 was transformed and remodelled into the African Union(AU) on 9 July 2002. 
The year 2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the African Union, which was launched in South Africa. 

• The theme of Africa Day 2022 is “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent”.

About African Union:
Headquarters– Ababa, Ethiopia
African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson– H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat
>> Read Full News

STATE NEWS

WHO partners with Government of Rajasthan to create health accounts

Rajasthan is the first state in India to institutionalise health accounts with the help of World Health Organisation (WHO) to estimate the amount spent on the health sector and its impact.This move would be easy to estimate the amount spent on the health sector.
Key Information
i.Efforts are now made to create health accounts in Rajasthan with sufficient capacity with the aid from The WHO.
ii.Rajasthan’s State Government allocates more than 7 percent of the total budget for health, which is higher than the national average. Now, the Health Accounts would aid to monitor and track the health expenditure which could act as an important tool in evidence-based policy making.
iii. For Rajasthan  to continue the success in their state health sector, it is necessary to have a health account that can help the policy makers to monitor the health expenditure seamlessly which can lead to efficient resource allocation. 

• Further leads to institutionalising the health accounts within Rajasthan to expand the universal health coverage.

About Rajasthan
Governor – Kalraj Mishra
Capital – Jaipur 
Chief minister – Ashok Gehlot
Festival – Teej Festival ,Gangaur Festival ,Summer Festival ,and Marwar Festival

Significance of Sela Tunnel project in Arunachal Pradesh
Sela Tunnel project located in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh has entered the decisive phase, expected to be completed by the end of 2022. Upon completion, the tunnel above 13,000 feet will provide all-weather connectivity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China. It provides an alternate axis to Sela pass at 13700 feet. 

• The tunnel constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 700 crore, is on BCT road-  Balipara, Charduar and Tawang axis, which is around 300 km long.
• The project executed by the Border Roads Organisation(BRO), includes 2 tunnels and a link road. Tunnel 1 will be 980 metres long single-tube, Tunnel 2 will be 1,555 metres with one bi-lane tube for traffic and one escape tube for emergencies running alongside. Tunnel 2 will be one of the longest tunnels constructed above 13000 feet. 
• In 2019, the foundation stone of the tunnel was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi 2019 and the first blast was done in January 2021. 

The final blast of tunnel 1 was conducted in January 2022 marking the culmination of the excavation works on the project. The breakthrough blast of tunnel 2 was done in October 2021. 

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