Daily Current Affairs for State Exams: 8th July 2021

Daily Current Affairs

KVIC’s project BOLD

Why in the News?

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, has launched the project “Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought” (BOLD).
The project BOLD is the first of its kind exercise in the country, launched from the tribal village NichlaMandwa in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Key Points

About Project BOLD:

5000 saplings of special bamboo species – BambusaTulda and BambusaPolymorpha specially brought from Assam – have been planted over 16 acres approx of vacant arid Gram Panchayat land of village NichlaMandwa.
KVIC has thus created a world record of planting the highest number of bamboo saplings on a single day at one location.

Part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav:

The initiative has been launched as part of KVIC’s “Khadi Bamboo Festival” to celebrate 75 years of independence “, Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav”.
KVIC is set to replicate the Project in Gujarat and Leh-Ladakh region by August 2021. KVIC will plant a total of 15,000 bamboo saplings before August 2021.
Note: Recently, the Space Application Centre, ISRO, also published the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India, which provides a state-wise area of degraded lands for 2018-19.

Benefits to the environment:

Bamboos are great sources to reduce land degradation, prevent land desertification, achieve sustainable development, and solve food security issues.
Preventing land desertification can further solve associated problems like soil infertility, soil erosion, and deforestation.

Other Initiatives to fight Desertification:

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (India is the part of it)
Soil Health Card Scheme
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna
National Mission for Green India

Source: PIB

China declared malaria-free by WHO

Why in the News?

China was certified as malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), following a 70-year effort to eradicate the mosquito-borne disease.
China is the first country in the Western Pacific region to be declared malaria-free in more than 30 years, following Australia in 1981, Singapore in 1982 and Brunei in 1987.

Key Points

China has now maintained zero indigenous malaria cases for four consecutive years, down from an estimated 30 million cases and 300,000 deaths per year in the 1940s.

Global Status:

China becomes the 40th territory certified malaria-free by the WHO.
The last countries to gain the status were El Salvador (2021), Algeria and Argentina (2019), and Paraguay and Uzbekistan (2018).

About Malaria:

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
According to the WHO's World Malaria Report 2020, there were an estimated 229 million malaria cases worldwide in 2019. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 409000 in 2019.
Note: The WHO has also identified 25 countries with the potential to eradicate malaria by 2025 under its 'E-2025 Initiative'.

Initiatives in India:

National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) in 2016 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. NFME is in line with WHO's Global Technical Strategy for Malaria, 2016-2030.
The National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination, 2017-22
The High Burden to High Impact initiative in four states (West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh)
Distribution of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets to high burden areas
Malaria Elimination Research Alliance-India (MERA-India) by the ICMR

Source: Indian Express

Indian Army Memorial in Italy

Why in the News?

Indian Army Chief Manoj Naravane will inaugurate the Indian Army Memorial at Cassino in Italy during his visit to the UK and Italy.
In World War II, the memorial commemorates over 3,100 Commonwealth servicemen who took part in liberating Italy.
900 Indian soldiers were also commemorated on this memorial.

Key Points

India Army in Italy:

Three infantry divisions (4th, 8th and 10th Divisions) of the Indian Army took part in the Italian campaign.

India's involvement in World War II:

The Indian Army was the largest volunteer force during World War II (WWII), with over 2.5 million (more than 20 lakh) Indians participating.

World War I:

World War I (WWI) was a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918.

World War II:

World War II (WWII) was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers.

Source: Indian Express

New Governors appointed in 8 states

Why in the News?

In a major reshuffle, President of India Ram Nath Kovind appointed eight new governors giving them charge of the administration of new states. While many were transferred, others were new appointments.
Union Minister and the BJP's Rajya Sabha leader Thawarchand Gehlot has been appointed as the Governor of Karnataka.

Key Points

Thawarchand Gehlot has been appointed as the Governor of Karnataka.
Hari Babu Kambhampati has been appointed as the Governor of Mizoram.
Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar has been appointed as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
Mangubhai Chhaganbhai Patel has been appointed as the Governor of Madhya Pradesh.
Satyadev Narayan Arya, Governor of Haryana, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Tripura.
PS Sreedharan Pillai, Governor of Mizoram, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Goa.
Bandaru Dattatraya, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Haryana.
Ramesh Bais, Governor of Tripura, has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Jharkhand.

Source: The Hindu

Central Government creates a new ‘Ministry of Co-operation’

Why in the News?

A separate ‘Ministry of Co-operation’ has been created by the Central Government for realizing the vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ or prosperity through cooperation.
The creation of a separate Ministry for Co-operation also fulfils the budget announcement made by the Finance Minister.

Key Points

This Ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.
In our country, a cooperative-based economic development model is very relevant where each member works with a spirit of responsibility.
The Ministry will work to streamline processes for ‘Ease of doing business’ for cooperatives and enable the development of Multi-State Cooperatives (MSCS).

Source: PIB

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar passes away

Why in the News?

Legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who was popularly known as the tragedy king of Bollywood, passed away at 98.

Key Points

Dilip Kumar, real name Yusuf Khan, appeared in Indian cinema's most iconic and landmark films, including Mughal-e-Azam, Naya Daur, Devdas, Ram Aur Shyam, Andaz, Ganga Jamuna and Madhumati.
He was the first actor to win the Filmfare Award for Best Actor in 1954 and won it a total of 8 times.
He was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 and Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
He also received Pakistan's highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Imtiaz.

Source: Indian Express