ASSAM
Assam government plan to fill up 15,000 cop vacancies ushers in hope
The state cabinet’s recent decision to begin the process of recruitment for 15,000 vacancies in the police department from September as part of the government’s promise to appoint 1 lakh youths in government service, has brought a ray of hope for educated unemployed youths, many of whom lost their jobs in the pandemic that broke out last year.
In 2018, the State Level Police Recruitment Board (SLPRB), Assam, had released an official notification inviting online applications for 6,662 constable posts. Exams for the posts were supposed to be held by the end of 2020. But they had to be cancelled after the sub-inspector recruitment exam papers got leaked in September last year.
The state government has also decided to create five new Assam police battalions. A total of 6,270 youths will be appointed in these five new battalions. The police department has around 30,000 vacant posts at present.
NORTH-EASTERN STATES
Tobacco use among kids highest in Mizoram, Arunachal: Study
Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have recorded the highest prevalence of tobacco consumption among children at 57.9 % in each state, followed by Nagaland (42.6%), Meghalaya (33.6%) and Sikkim (24.8%), revealed the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)-2019 for India, released by the Union health minister.
According to the survey, the current use of smoking tobacco has declined from 8.1% in 2003 to 7.3% in 2019 in the country. Significantly, smokeless tobacco consumption, too, has declined from 14% in 2003 to 4.1% in 2019. But even as the national average for tobacco consumption in the age group of 13-15 years is about 8.5% for any type of tobacco use in India, the northeastern states presented a gloomy picture.
Despite being in a better position with 11.9% tobacco consumption in the surveyed age group, Assam is also above the national average for both smoking and smokeless tobacco. Uttar Pradesh at 22.9% and Uttarakhand at 18.5% are ahead of Assam. The lowest prevalence of tobacco consumption in the same age group was found in Himachal Pradesh (1.1%), Karnataka (1.2%), Goa (2.4%) and Kerala (3.2%).
INTERNATIONAL
The Fifth Country to Sign ISA Framework – Germany
Germany grew to become the fifth united states to signal the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement after its amendments entered into force on 8th January 2021, opening its Membership to all Member States of the United Nations.
Ambassador of Germany to India Walter J. Lindner deposited signed copies of the International Solar Alliance Framework Agreement with the Ministry of External Affairs, the depositary of the Agreement.
Membership to the ISA was once restrained to 121 countries, which were in part or placed inside the tropics.
NATIONAL
Javelin Throw Day be on 7th August
The authorities of the Athletics Federation of India has decided to observe javelin throw day on 7th August each year in honour of the Olympic gold medalist of the Tokyo Olympics Neeraj Chopra.
Neeraj Chopra 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 to the sport.
First Port to Launch e-cars – VOC Port
VOC Port becomes the first major port in India to launch e-cars.
Highlights:
VOC Port is previously regarded as Tuticorin Port. The V. O. Chidambaranar Port was declared an essential port in 1974.
It is the 2nd largest port in Tamil Nadu and the 3rd greatest container terminal in India.
It is an artificial port.
It has offerings to the USA, China, Europe, Sri Lanka and the Mediterranean countries.
Monitoring of Groundwater
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) periodically monitors groundwater levels for the duration of the Country on a regional scale by monitoring wells.
Highlights:
Central Ground Water Board, a subordinate office of the Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India, is the National Apex Agency entrusted with supplying scientific inputs for management, exploration, monitoring, assessment, and augmentation legislation of floor water resources of the country.
The board was set up in the year 1970 by renaming the Exploratory Tube Wells Organization below the Ministry of Agriculture. And in 1972, It was merged with the GroundWater Wing of the Geological Survey of India.
Its vision is the sustainable improvement and administration of the country’s groundwater resources.
Pani Maah Launched in Ladakh
Affairs:Pani Maah Campaign was launched in Ladakh to create awareness about clean water.
Highlights:
Pani Maah, or water month, has been launched in Ladakh to inform villagers about the significance of clean water.
The Ladakh authorities have also introduced a reward of Rs 2.5 million for the first block in every district that achieves the fame of ‘Har Ghar Jal’.
The Pani Maah campaign will run at block and panchayat tiers in two phases.
The campaign will adopt a three-pronged strategy — focussing on quality testing, planning and strategising water supply, and seamless functioning of Pani Sabha in villages.
The Pani Maah campaign is anticipated to expedite the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in the union territory.