Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 8th June 2021

Daily Current Affairs

Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2019-20

Why in the News?

Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ released the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2019-20 for States and Union Territories of India.
The PGI: States/UTs for 2019-20 is the third publication.

Key Points

Implementing Agency

The scheme is initiated by the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL).

About Performance Grading Index (PGI)

The PGI helps the States/UTs to pinpoint the gaps and accordingly prioritise areas for intervention to ensure that the school education system is robust at every level.
The Government has introduced the Performance Grading Index with a set of 70 parameters to catalyse transformational change in the field of school education.

Note: The PGI for States and Union Territories was first published in 2019 with reference year 2017-18.

Overall Results and Findings

Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Kerala recorded the highest score (Grade I++) for 2019-20.

Grade (Scores)	Names of States/ UTs
Level I (951 - 1000)	Nil
Level II (901 - 950), Grade I ++	Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
Level III (851 - 900) Grade I+	Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, NCT of Delhi, Puducherry, Rajasthan
Level IV (801-850) Grade I	Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Daman & Diu, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh
Level V (751 - 800) Grade II	Goa, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Sikkim, Telangana
Level VI (701 - 750) Grade III	Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram
Level VII (651 - 700) Grade IV	Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland
Level VIII (601 - 650) Grade V	Meghalaya
Level XI (551 - 600) Grade VI	Nil
Level X (0 - 550) Grade VII	Ladakh

Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have improved overall PGI score by 10%, i.e., 100 or more points.

Source: PIB

SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth Engine) initiative and SAGE portal

Why in the News?

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched the SAGE (Seniorcare Aging Growth Engine) initiative and SAGE portal for elderly persons.
An amount of Rs 100 crore has been assigned for the promotion of the silver economy.

About Silver economy

It is the system of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services aimed at using the purchasing potential of older and ageing people and satisfying their consumption, living and health needs.

Key points

About SAGE portal

The SAGE portal will be a “one-stop access” of elderly care products and services by credible start-ups.
SAGE programme and SAGE portal have been launched with a view to help such persons who are interested in entrepreneurship in the field of providing services for elderly care.
The start-ups selected under SAGE will be those which will provide new innovative products and services to elderly persons in various areas like health, travel, finance, legal, housing, food among others.
An allocation of Rs 25 crores has been made for the SAGE project in the current financial year i.e 2021-22.
The SAGE project is shaped on the recommendations of the empowered expert committee (EEC) report on start-ups for elderly.

Need for the Initiative

India’s elderly population is on the rise, and as per surveys, the share of elders, as a percentage of the total population in the country, is expected to increase from around 7.5% in 2001 to almost 12.5% by 2026 and surpass 19.5% by 2050.

Other Government Initiatives for Elderly people

Integrated Programme for Older Persons (IPOP)
Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana (RVY)
Pradhan Mantri Vaya Vandana Yojana (PMVVY)
Vayoshreshtha Samman
Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (MWPSC) Act, 2007
Senior Citizen Welfare Fund

Source: PIB

State of India’s Environment Report 2021

Why in the News?

According to the State of India’s Environment Report 2021, India’s position has slipped by two places from last year to 117 on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The report is released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi, India.
In 2020, India’s rank was 115.

Key Points

India’s overall SDG score is 61.9 out of 100.
India was ranked below four South Asian nations - Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
SDG Goals were adopted as a part of the 2030 agenda by 193 United Nations member states in 2015.

Reason for the drop in rank

The reason is due to major challenges like ending hunger and achieving food security (SDG 2), achieving gender equality (SDG 5) and building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation (SDG 9) in the country.

State-wise preparedness

According to the State of India’s Environment Report 2021, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh with the best overall score are the states and Union Territories on the path to achieving the SDGs.
Bihar and Jharkhand are the least prepared to meet the SDGs by the target year 2030.

The Hindu

Dr Patrick Amoth elected as Chairman of WHO Executive Board

Why in the News?

Dr Patrick Amoth of Kenya has been elected as the Chairman of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board.

Key Points

Dr Amoth is the acting Director-General (DG) for Health, Ministry of Health of Kenya.
He replaced Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister as he completed his tenure as Chairman of WHO Executive Board on June 02.

Facts about WHO (World Health Organization)

Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
Founded: 7 April 1948
Director-General: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Source: The Economic Times

International Booker Prize 2021: David Diop becomes first French winner

Why in the News?

David Diop, a French novelist, won the International Booker Prize 2021 for ‘At Night All Blood is Black’.

Key Points

The book was translated by Anna Moschovakis.
The winning book was first published in 2018 with the French title ‘Frere d’ ame’.
It was published by Pushkin Press.

About International Booker Prize

The International Booker Prize, formerly known as the Man Booker International Prize, has been awarded since 2005.

Source: Indian Express

June 07, World Food Safety Day

Why in the News?

Celebrated on June 7 every year, World Food Safety Day aims to spread awareness, detect, and prevent foodborne risks, contributing to food security, human health, economic prosperity, agriculture, market access, tourism and sustainable development.

Key Points

The theme of World Food Safety Day 2021 is ‘Safe food today for a healthy tomorrow’.

History

In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed that every year June 7 would be observed as World Food Safety Day.
The observance is jointly facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Note:

The World Health Assembly in 2020 further passed a resolution to strengthen efforts across the world for food safety and controlling foodborne diseases.
By 2030, food-borne diseases are expected to rise to 150 to 177 million annually.
According to the UN, unsafe food kills an estimated 420,000 people every year.

Source: Indian Express

June 08, World Oceans Day 2021

Why in the News?

World Oceans Day is observed on June 8. Oceans play a major role in every day life of people globally.

Key Points

The theme of World Oceans Day 2021 is ‘The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods’.

History

In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day”.

Note:

Over three billion people rely on the ocean for their livelihood.
Only one per cent of the ocean is legally protected.
About 70 per cent of the oxygen, we breathe is produced by the oceans.
According to the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS), there are currently at least 236,878 named marine species.
90 per cent of all volcanic activity occurs in the oceans.

Source: NDTV