01 Sep 2022: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Cervavac
2. G 20 - JECMM & Education Ministers Meeting
3. Vostok - 2022
4. Puli Thevar
5. Nuakhai Festival
6. Smart Solutions Challenge and Inclusive Cities Awards - 2022

1. Cervavac

Syllabus – GS 3, Science and Technology; Indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Prelims – Cervavac Vaccine.

Context – Cervavac, India’s first indigenously developed vaccine for the prevention of Cervical Cancer.

Details –

• India’s first indigenously developed cervical vaccine – Cervavac was announced by Dr Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology.
• The scientific completion of the quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine marks an important day for DBT (Department of Biotechnology) and BIRAC (Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council) as it takes India closer to the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• Cervavac vaccine is the result of a partnership by DBT and BIRAC with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, supported by Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. for the indigenous development of quadrivalent vaccine through its Partnership Programmes “Grand Challenges India”.
• Cervical Cancer is the second most prevalent cancer in India and accounts for nearly one-fourth of the world’s cervical cancer deaths.
• In India, 83% of invasive cervical cancers are due to HPV-16 HPV-18. Vaccination against HPV is the most promising intervention for preventing cervical cancer. It is estimated that HPV types 16 &18 together contribute to approximately 70% of the invasive cervical cancers worldwide.
• A number of key initiatives are currently being implemented to promote basic and translational vaccine research including 
  • Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme.
  • National Biopharma Mission.
  • Ind-CEPI Mission.

Mission Covid Suraksha– launched as a part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat 3.0, with the aim of bringing safe, affordable, efficacious and accessible indigenous Covid 19 vaccine to the citizens of the country at the earliest.

2. G 20 – JECMM & Education Ministers Meeting

Syllabus – GS 2; International Relations; Global groupings and agreements involving India 

Prelims – G 20, 2022 at Bali, Indonesia.

Context – G 20 – JECMM (Joint Environment and Climate Ministers Meeting) & G- 20 Education Ministers Meeting.

Details –

• Shri Bupendra Yadav, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change attended the Joint Environment and Climate Change Ministers Meeting (JECMM) at Bali, Indonesia.
• The minister’s address underlined the importance of working together for strong recovery and resilience across the globe leaving no one behind particularly the most vulnerable sections of the society – which forms the heart of 2030 agenda of Sustainable Development.
• The minister said that any initiative to address the contemporary environmental challenge should be on the basis of Equity and the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities & Respective Capabilities in the light of the national circumstances and priorities. The minister emphasised that sustainability requires coordinated action for the global commons.

G-20 Education Ministers Meeting –

• Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Education and Skill Development Minister addressed the G-20 Education Ministers Meeting in Bali and put forward interventions on the theme “Recovery, Re-imagine and Re-build stronger”.
• The minister highlighted the importance of sharing mutual experiences & working together to create a new world in which education remains the focal point for addressing common challenges.
• The minister said that NEP-2020 is based on the foundational principles of equity, access, quality, accountability and affordability and is India’s guiding light for promoting lifelong learning opportunities and achieving the shared vision of G-20. He further said that for education to be the driver of global growth, all efforts should be made to harness the full potential of  G20 EdWG.

India will take over the G-20 presidency from 1st December culminating in the G-20 summit in 2023.

3. Vostok – 2022

Syllabus – GS3; Security; Various Security forces and agencies and their mandate. 

Prelims – Exercise Vostok, 2022.

Context – Indian Army Contingent participates in Exercise Vostok- 2022.

Details –

• A multilateral strategic and command exercise Vostok-2022 at Sergeyevsky, East Military District Russia is held from 1st September – 7 September, 2022.

7/8  Gorkha Rifles of the Indian Army contingent will undertake joint manoeuvres to include joint field training exercises, combat discussions, and firepower exercises.

4. Puli Thevar

Syllabus – GS 1, Modern History; Significant events and personalities.

Prelims – Puli Thevar – Freedom Fighters of India.

Details –

• The PM paid rich tributes to brave Puli Thevar on his birth anniversary which falls on 1st September.
• He was one of the first Indians who resisted British imperialism.
• He was a Tamil Polygar (Palaiyakkarar) from the 18th century who ruled over Nerkattumseval (currently in Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu). 
• From 1750 – 1766 (16 years) he remained undefeated in every battle against Anglo-Nawab forces.

Read more about Polygar Rebellions in the link: Popular Uprisings against British by Deposed Chieftains and Landlords

5. Nuakhai Festival

Syllabus – GS 1, Indian Heritage and Culture; Important Festivals

Prelims – Nuakhai Festival.

Details –

• Shri Narendra Modi greeted the nation on the auspicious occasion of Nuakhai. He expressed gratitude to hardworking farmers for their exemplary work in feeding the nation. 

About the festival –

Nuakhai or Navakhai is an agricultural festival mainly observed by people of Western Odisha and Southern Chhattisgarh in India. Nuakhai is observed to welcome the new rice of the season. According to the calendar it is observed on Panchami tithi (the fifth day) of the lunar fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada (August–September), the day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival.

6. Smart Solutions Challenge and Inclusive Cities Awards – 2022

Syllabus – GS 3,  Science and Technology; Achievements of Indians in science & technology

Prelims – Smart Solutions Challenge and Inclusive Cities Awards – 2022

Context – Awards to promote people-centric designs.

Details –

• Shri Hardeep Singh Puri (the Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs and Petroleum and Natural Gas), presented the Smart Solutions Challenge and Inclusive Cities Awards, 2022.
• The Smart Solutions and Inclusive Cities Awards were launched in April 2022. Its aim is to promote people-centric designs and to foster novel home-grown technological innovations and solutions.
• These awards are an initiative of the NIUA (National Institute of Urban Affairs) and the United Nations in India to address city-level accessibility and inclusion challenges faced by people with disabilities, the elderly, women and girls.
• The top 10 technology-based solutions were presented with the awards. These solutions will be instrumental in integrating universal design which will help to achieve the SDG target 11.7 to provide safe, inclusive, accessible, green and public spaces for all vulnerable sections of society.

Read previous PIB here.

September 1st, 2022, PIB:- Download PDF Here