21-10-21 Daily-Punjab-PPSC Current Affairs

Despite the overall improvement in the Covid-19 scenario in Punjab, the high death rate continues to be a matter of concern. The state’s fortnightly death rate has jumped to a new high of 7.67% during October 4-17 from 5.02% recorded on October 3.

While the number of daily deaths has fallen in the state, it is not in proportion to the drop in case tally. Addition of unreported deaths in recent months is another reason for the overall death rate remaining stagnant at 2.7% — three deaths out of every 100 confirmed cases–which is more than double the all-India Average of 1.3%. Around 300 old deaths have been added to the states tally in the last few months.

Punjab and Maharashtra (2.1%) are the only two states in the country with a death rate of over 2%. As many as 10 states/UT have a death rate below 1% while 20 have case fatality rate of below 2%. The neighbouring states of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana have death rates of 1.7% and 1.3%, respectively.

India is set to host young leaders under the new initiative called Gen-Next Democratic Network on 25 November.

The Initiative was planned by (ICCR) and will happen in November.

This is hosted for 5 to 7 young people under 35, invited from 75 different democratic countries from the ruling, opposition and other key parties.

The event will be inaugurated by Om, Brila, Lok Sabha speakers and will begin on 25 November.

The ICCR is trying to build relations with Gen Next of 75 countries, who will become future leaders of their countries.

The Decision Support System (DSS) and Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) were launched by Dr Jitendra Singh.

Highlights:

Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has revealed a new Decision Support System (DSS) as well as the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS).

They were launched for better air-quality management in the Delhi-NCR region.

IITM is an autonomous institute operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences based in Pune.

IITM has also created a website to deliver quantitative data concerning emissions from Delhi and joining districts to air quality.

It consists of providing information on the contribution of -burning activities in the adjoining states.

The 250mm Seer Water Supply Scheme was inaugurated by Union Minister Piyush Goyal in Kashmir.

Highlights:

The minister’s two-day visit ended on October 20, 2021, as part of the public outreach programme of the central government.

The Minister launched a tourist hut of Pahalgam Development Authority at the Golf Course Pahalgam.

The Minister also launched the Forest Departments Deodar sapling plantation drive.

This drive will be conducted under the banner of Green JK Drive, and a total of 1 lakh saplings will be planted.

National Police Commemoration Day is celebrated on 21 October in India, remembering the sacrifices of police officers who died in a Chinese firing in 1959.

On 21 October 1959, Chinese troops threw grenades and opened fire at twenty Indian police officers in Ladakh.

Ten brave police personnel died, and seven sustained injuries in that incident.

On 28 November 1959, the dead bodies of the martyred policemen were returned to India by the Chinese troops.

Since then, 21 October has been observed as Police Commemoration Day.

The first consignment of non-harmful Nano Nitrogen liquid fertilizer reached Srilanka from India on 20 October.

Highlights:

India sent 3.1 million litres of high-quality non-harmful Nano Nitrogen liquid fertilizer.

The fertilizer will help in the cultivation of maize and paddy.

Sri Lanka imported the Nano Nitrogen liquid fertilizer after Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided to stop chemical fertilizer imports.

Nano Nitrogen Liquid Fertilizer was produced by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) to approach imbalanced and excessive use of traditional Urea.

India and Russia have signed an MoU to collaborate in the mining and steel sector.

Highlights:

In Moscow, an MoU was signed between Union Minister of Steel Ram Chandra Prasad and Russias minister of energy Nikolay Shulginov, focusing on coking.

The deal signing is part of Indias National Steel Policy 2017, under which it aims to reach 300 million tonne steel production by 2030.

In the Report Published by Blue Sky, Analytics India has been ranked at the top position in Crop Burning Emissions.

Highlights:

India accounted for 13 per cent of total global emissions in 2015-2020 and a 12.2 per cent towards the cropland fire emissions in 2020 alone.

The Data highlights recent trends in fires, including emissions from crop residue and forest residue fires in India.

Blue Sky Analytics is the Indian Climate tech start-up established by IIT alumni. It is a part of a global confederacy called Climate TRACE.

Climate TRACE is a global coalition that works to stimulate climate action by providing near-real-time and independent high-resolution GHG emissions data.