International Mother Language Day
Why in News
• ‘International Mother Language Day’ is celebrated across the world on 21 February. The main purpose of celebrating this day is to create interest and spread awareness among people about their language and culture around the world. The idea of celebrating International Mother Language Day first came from Bangladesh.
Key point
• Language has a very important role in human life because through this communication can be established even to remote countries.
• The idea of celebrating ‘International Mother Language Day’ was given by Rafikul Islam, a Bangladeshi living in Canada. This day is also remembered for maintaining the existence of Bengali language.
• Each year a unique theme is chosen by UNESCO to celebrate this special day. The theme of International Mother Language Day 2022 is ‘Using Technology for Multilingual Education: Challenges and Opportunities’. It focuses on the potential role of technology in advancing multilingual education and supporting the development of quality teaching and learning for all.
International Mother Language Day
• The purpose behind celebrating International Mother Language Day is to respect the languages and cultures of the world.
• The main objective of celebrating this day is to spread the linguistic and cultural diversity around the world and to make people aware of different mother tongues in the world.
• According to the United Nations, there are about 6900 languages which are spoken around the world. The people speaking 90 percent of these languages are less than one lakh.
• Which languages are most spoken in the world. They include English, Hindi, Japanese, Spanish, Bengali, Punjabi, Russian, Portuguese and Arabic.
History
• The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared on 17 November 1999 as Mother Language Day.
• It was decided that February 21 will be celebrated as International Mother Language Day. It was announced by UNESCO to celebrate Mother Language Day in the year 1999.
• For the first time this day was celebrated as ‘International Mother Language Day’ in the year 2000.
GS PAPER II
Luhansk and Donetsk
Why in News
• Russian President Vladimir Putin recently recognized the separatist rebel region of eastern Ukraine as an independent state. He recognized two separatist regions of Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk, as independent countries. Both these areas are controlled by Russian-backed separatists.
Key point
• After this, Russian President Putin signed several important documents. According to his order, now Russian forces will enter these separatist areas of Ukraine and work to establish peace.
• This decision of Russia has increased the tension between Ukraine-Russia. America has always said that Russia can attack Ukraine at any time.
• The Luhansk and Donetsk regions are controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Let us tell you that they are collectively known as Donbass.
• They broke away from the control of the Ukrainian government in 2014 and declared themselves independent people’s republics, but have not yet been recognized.
• Since then, Ukraine says about 15,000 people have been killed in fighting with separatists. Russia has been refusing to support the separatists in this conflict.
• This decision of Russia has deepened the tension between the West countries and the fears of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Putin made the announcement after a meeting of the President’s Security Council, paving the way for Russia to send military forces and weapons to the conflict between Moscow-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces.
• According to the US and its allies, Russia can attack Ukraine at any time. According to American estimates, there are now about 1 lakh 69 thousand to 1 lakh 90 thousand Russian soldiers stationed on the border of Ukraine. According to British PM Boris Johnson, Russia is preparing for the biggest war since 1945.
Meaning of recognition by Russia
• Russia says it does not consider Donbass to be part of Ukraine. Russia keeps sending its army to this area and says that this is being done to protect these people from Ukraine.
• Last month, the separatists here sought help from Russia. For this reason, the confrontation between the troops of Ukraine and Russia is likely to increase here.
GS PAPER II
Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM)
Why in News
• The Modi government approved the continuation of the Central Sector Composite Scheme of ‘Border Infrastructure and Management (BIM)’ during the 15th Finance Commission cycle from 2021-22 to 2025-26 at a cost of Rs 13,020 crore Is.
Key point
• Ministry of Home Affairs under the guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah is committed to improve border infrastructure and management. Under this decision, border infrastructure will be strengthened to improve border management, policing and guarding of borders.
• The BIM plan will include various infrastructures such as border fences, border flood lights, technological solutions, border roads, and more to secure the India-Pakistan, India-Bangladesh, India-China, India-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan and Indo-Myanmar borders. Creation of Border Posts (BOPs) / Company Operation Centers or Operating Bases (COBs) will go a long way.
GS PAPER II
International Space Station
Why in News
• The US space agency NASA has announced plans to officially close the International Space Station in 2031.
Key point
• After dozens of launches since 1998, the station was moved to a higher orbit. In such a situation, bringing it down would be a huge achievement in itself but there are dangers in it.
• NASA plans to sink it at a place called ‘Point Nemo’ in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for the process of dismantling. It is also known as the ‘Graveyard of Spacecraft’.
• Point Nemo will be the final stop of a complex and multi-stage mission to transform ISS operations into a new commercial space station and safely bring the rest of the structure to Earth.
Purpose of the ISS
• The ISS has taken a giant leap forward in science and cooperation among mankind, involving five different space agencies (USA, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan).
• ISS modules and its parts have been built sequentially by many different countries to work in space.
• NASA has committed to maintain the station by 2030. Its affiliates have not yet officially signed the agreement. This means that the final decision to drop out of the classroom will depend on engineering as well as politics.
• Research in the so-called microgravity environment of the ISS has led to breakthroughs in drug discovery, vaccine development and medical treatments over the past decade.
• The ISS also helps in monitoring Earth’s ecosystems and natural disasters in real time.
• It is also used to test future spacecraft technologies and conduct long-term studies of the possibility of future human exploration of the solar system.
International Space Station: at a glance
• The International Space Station was launched in the year 1998. It weighs 4,20,000 kg and is about the size of a football field 74 meters long and 110 meters wide.
• The International Space Station works as an observatory located in space. It has many advantages over other spacecraft, in which the astronauts living in it get a chance to work in space for a longer time.
GS PAPER III
Corbevax Vaccine
Why in News
• The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has given final approval for the biological E-Corona Vaccine Corbevax for children between 12 years and 18 years.
Key point
• The Corbevax vaccine will be delivered into the body through a muscle and will need to be taken in two doses within 28 days.
• The storage of this vaccine is done at two degrees to eight degrees Celsius. The expert committee of DCGI had earlier on February 14 recommended approval for emergency use of biological E’s Kovid-19 vaccine ‘Corbevax’ with certain conditions.
• DCGI had earlier given its approval to CORBEVAX on 28 December 2021 for emergency on a limited basis. This is an RBD based vaccine developed in India against Kovid-19.
• Biological E Ltd said DCGI has approved for emergency use on children in the age group of 12 years to 18 years.
• The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has already approved the emergency use of Corbevax for adults.
• Permission for 2nd-3rd phase clinical trial of Corbevax on children aged 5 years to 18 years was received in September 2021.
• The Corbevax vaccine will be delivered to the body through muscle and it will be taken in two doses in 28 days.
• The government is buying 300 million doses of this corona vaccine developed by Biological E for children from 12 years to 18 years.
• Their purchase order was placed in August 2021. Biological E has produced 250 million doses of its vaccine, Corbevax. She will also prepare the remaining doses in a few weeks.
Corbewax
• Corbevax vaccine is administered through muscle. Two doses are given at an interval of 28 days. Corbevax 0. Available in a 5 ml (single dose) and 5 ml (ten doses) vial. It is preserved at 2° to 8°C.
GS PAPER III
Indian economy’s growth rate: NITI Aayog
Why in News
• The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NITI Aayog Amitabh Kant said on 21 February 2022 that the Indian economy is growing at the rate of 9.2 percent and this pace of growth is expected to continue in the coming years as well.
Key point
• Referring to the Government’s Production Based Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Emerging Sectors, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said that this will increase the country’s production by $520 billion in the next five years and make India a part of the global supply chain. .
• NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said at an event of All India Management Association (AIMA) that India is witnessing unprecedented level of economic growth and technological changes today.
• The economy is growing at the rate of 9.2 percent and this pace of growth is expected to continue in the coming years as well.
• NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said that this will help make India a world champion in manufacturing. He said that the government has started schemes like National Infrastructure Asset Monetization Pipeline and PM Gatishakti to strengthen the infrastructure sector.
• With the combined effect of these two schemes, infrastructure projects of global scale will be prepared in the country with the participation of both the government and the private sector.
• Adoption of technology is essential for future success. India has already been successful in creating a conducive environment for technology.
• The country has taken several measures to maximize efficiency. The central government has made many important reforms for this. This includes GST (Goods and Services Tax), Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, reducing corporate taxes, etc.
GS PAPER III
Eastern Bridge-VI
Why in News
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAFO) of Oman are scheduled to participate in a bilateral exercise called Eastern Bridge-VI at Air Force Station, Jodhpur from February 21 to 25, 2022.
Key point
• This is the sixth edition of this exercise. This will provide an opportunity to enhance operational efficiency and interoperability between the two Air Forces.
• The participation of IAF and RAFO in this exercise will enhance professional interaction, exchange of experiences and operational know-how, besides strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
• Various senior dignitaries are planned to visit Air Force Station Jodhpur during the exercise.