10TH AUGUST
Contents
1ST INDIAN PM TO CHAIR A UNSC DEBATE
7TH INTERNATIONAL ARMY GAMES TO BE HELD IN RUSSIA
INDIA TO LAUNCH GEO IMAGING SATELLITE (GISAT-1)
ITBP INDUCTS ITS 1ST WOMEN OFFICERS IN COMBAT
7TH AUGUST TO BE CELEBRATED AS ‘JAVELIN THROW DAY’
3-YR EXTENSION TO REKHA SHARMA AS CHAIRPERSON OF NCW
WORLD BIOFUEL DAY OBSERVED ON 10TH AUGUST
1ST INDIAN PM TO CHAIR A UNSC DEBATE
- Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi has chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate, via video conferencing.
- With this, PM Modi has become the first Prime Minister of India to chair a UNSC open debate. It must be remembered that India has assumed the Presidency of the UNSC for August 2021, taking over from France.
- The theme of the high-level open debate was ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation’.
- India will organize two more meetings during its presidency, on peacekeeping and counterterrorism.
- During the debate, PM Modi also underlined five principles that need to be followed in terms of maritime trade and security, which included:
- free maritime trade sans barriers,
- peaceful settlement of maritime disputes,
- combating maritime threats,
- encouraging responsible maritime connectivity and
- preserving maritime environment and resources
(SOURCE: THE PRINT)
7TH INTERNATIONAL ARMY GAMES TO BE HELD IN RUSSIA
- The 7th edition of the International Army Games, 2021, will be held from 22 August to 04 September 2021 in Russia.
- The competition will be hosted in eleven countries in the 2021 Games. Over 280 teams from 42 countries will compete in the game to show their combat skills, professionalism and determination to win.
- The International Army Games also referred to as ‘War Olympics’, is an international military sports event, which aims to strengthen military-to-military cooperation between countries and trust between the participating nations.
- From India, 101 members of the Indian Army will participate in the International Army Games, which is organised each year by the Russian Ministry of Defence, since 2015.
- The Indian contingent will participate in Army Scout Masters Competition (ASMC), Elbrus Ring, Polar Star, Sniper Frontier and Safe Route games.
- In 2019, India had also co-hosted the games for the first time in Jaisalmer and had stood first in Army Scouts Master Competition.
(SOURCE: THE HINDU)
INDIA TO LAUNCH GEO IMAGING SATELLITE (GISAT-1)
- India will finally launch its most advanced geo-imaging satellite (GiSAT-1), which will allow better monitoring of the subcontinent, including its borders with Pakistan and China, by imaging the country 4-5 times a day.
- The satellite will be launched on August 12 from Sriharikota. Isro’s GSLV-F10 rocket will finally put the 2,268-kg Gisat-1, codenamed EOS-3, into the geo-orbit. This will be India’s first launch of a primary satellite this year.
- Once placed 36,000 km above the earth in the geostationary orbit after space manoeuvres, the advanced ‘eye in the sky’ can constantly monitor areas of interest (the satellite will move in sync with the rotation of the Earth and hence would look stationary) and will give real-time information about a large area unlike other remote sensing satellites placed in lower orbits that come to a spot only at regular intervals.
- EOS-3 will also enable quick monitoring of natural disasters, episodic and short-term events.
(SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES)
ITBP INDUCTS ITS 1ST WOMEN OFFICERS IN COMBAT
- For the first time, India-China LAC guarding the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) force has commissioned its first two women officers in combat.
- The two women officers, Prakriti and Diksha will be posted as company commanders in ITBP battalions.
- Heretofore, women officers in the ITBP were serving in the medical branch or were on deputation from the Indian Police Service at top echelons.
- Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Deswal put the ranks of Assistant Commandant, the entry-level officer rank in the paramilitary, on the shoulders of Prakriti and Diksha after the passing out parade and attestation ceremony where they took an oath to serve the country.
- The ITBP started recruiting women combat officers in its cadre in 2016 through an all-India examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
(SOURCE: LIVE MINT)
7TH AUGUST TO BE CELEBRATED AS ‘JAVELIN THROW DAY’
- The Athletics Federation of India has decided that javelin throw day will be on 7th August every year in honour of Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra.
- The 23-year-old Neeraj is India’s second individual Olympic gold medallist after Abhinav Bindra. Neeraj bagged the gold medal in men’s javelin throw at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on 7th August 2021.
- Neeraj has scripted the history at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo when he threw the javelin to a distance of 87.58m to end India’s medal drought in athletics at the Olympics.
- This is India’s first-ever gold medal in athletics in the history of the Olympics. AFI’s bid to name August 7 as Javelin Throw Day is an attempt to attract more youth towards the sport.
- Athletics Federation of India President: Adille J Sumariwalla
- Athletics Federation of India Founded:
- Athletics Federation of India Headquarters location: New Delhi.
(SOURCE: SCROLL.IN)
3-YR EXTENSION TO REKHA SHARMA AS CHAIRPERSON OF NCW
- The Government of India has given a three-year extension to Rekha Sharma as Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW).
- She will serve for another three years term with effect from August 07, 2021, or till the age of 65 years or until further orders whichever is the earliest.
- The 57-year-old Sharma first assumed the charge as Chairperson of NCW on August 7, 2018.
- Rekha Sharma has been associated with the Commission as a member since August 2015 and held the additional charge as the chairperson from September 29, 2017, before becoming its regular chief.
- She has been a vocal advocate of gender sensitisation of police personnel since they are the first point of contact for victims.
- National Commission for Women Formed:
- National Commission for Women Headquarters: New Delhi.
(SOURCE: JAGRAN JOSH)
WORLD BIOFUEL DAY OBSERVED ON 10TH AUGUST
- World Biofuel Day is observed on August 10 every year. The day is celebrated to raise awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels and highlight the various efforts made by the Government in the biofuel sector.
- The development of biofuels is in sync with schemes such as Swach Bharat Abhiyan and Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
- World Biofuel Day was first observed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Gas in August 2015.
- Biofuels are environmentally friendly fuels whose use would go a long way in reducing carbon emissions. They are created through renewable biomass resources and therefore make a strong case for sustainable development.
- As such biofuels will help meet the energy requirements of the 21st-century world without damaging the environment in the process.
(SOURCE: FIRSTPOST)