KERALA
‘Nadan’ vegetables from Kerala set to conquer European markets
From a state starved of its own vegetable production, Kerala farmers are taking the first steps to becoming exporters of ‘nadan’ (locally produced) vegetables. The Kochi-headquartered vegetable and fruits promotion council Keralam (VFPCK) is channelizing export quality products to West Asia and London this Onam.
What started off as a small step with the export of nendran bananas during Vishu sent via ship to Europe has now led to more farmer clusters joining in for exporting their produce. With around 2.5 lakh horticulturists in the state associated with VFPCK, the agency has already been getting purchase orders for bananas and ‘nadan’ vegetables.
INTERNATIONAL
Nagasaki Day of Japan – 9th August
Japan commemorates the ninth of August every year as Nagasaki day. On August 9, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Japan.
Highlights:
The bomb was code-named “Fat Man” due to the diagram of the bomb as it had a wide, spherical shape. This passed off three days after losing an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
A region of about 5 square miles was obliterated, and around 65,000 human beings have been killed in the bombing. Nagasaki and Hiroshima continue to experience the impact of the adverse bombing even today.
NATIONAL
Anniversary of Quit India Movement – 8th August
The 79th anniversary of the August Kranti Din or Quit India Movement, which is regarded as one of the necessary milestones in the history of the freedom hostilities of our country, is being determined on eight August 2021.
Highlights:
On eighth Aug 1942, Mahatma Gandhi gave a clarion call to stop British rule and launched the Quit India Movement at the All-India Congress Committee in Mumbai.
After the failure of the Cripps Mission, Gandhiji gave the name “Do or Die” in his Quit India speech delivered at the Gowalia Tank Maidan in Mumbai. Grateful India is paying homage to the freedom fighters and remembering the supreme sacrifices of the martyrs during the freedom struggle.
Earth Observation Satellite Soon be Launched by ISRO
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to launch an Earth Observation Satellite on 12th August.
Highlights:
The satellite is set to be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
Satellite referred to as EOS-03 will be carried onboard the 14th flight of the GSLV celled GSLV-F10.
GSLV-F10 will be a satellite in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
EOS-03 will attain the remaining geostationary orbit using its onboard propulsion system.
In this GSLV flight, a 4-metre diameter Ogive-shaped payload fairing will be flown for the first time.
This will be the 14th flight of GSLV.
Khel Ratna Award as Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award
PM Narendra Modi has announced that the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award will be renamed as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
Highlights:
The pass was primarily based on the numerous requests he obtained from across the nation. Dhyan Chand, whose birthday is celebrated as National Sports Day, won three Olympic golds for India in Hockey.
The award was inaugurated in 1991-92. The Khel Ratna award comprises a medallion, a certificate, and a money prize of Rs.25 lakh. The first awardee of the Khel Ratna was chess legend, Viswanathan Anand. In recent years, some of the winners include cricketer Rohit Sharma, wrestler Vinesh Phogat, women’s hockey team captain Rani Rampal, amongst others.
Steps for Online Education to Students
The Indian government has taken steps to provide online education to students – the information given by the Union Minister for Education.
Highlights:
PM eVIDYA: Facilitating online learning and teaching materials of various types among teachers and students.
DIKSHA: It is a Digital infrastructure for providing students with quality e-content for school education in states/UTs, and it has QR coded Energized Textbooks for all grades.
Swayam Prabha: It’s a programme that offers TV channels for classes 1 to 12 (one channel per class).
Shiksha Vani: This includes the usage of Radio, Community radio and CBSE podcasts.
Special e-content for the visually and hearing impaired developed on Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS website/YouTube.
All the mentioned schemes/programmes are free of cost and available to all the students across the country.