Tatva Current Affairs

National Statistics Day: June 29            The National Statistics Day is celebrated every year on June 29 in India to create public awareness about the importance of statistics in socio- economic planning and policy formulation. The day also acknowledges notable contribution of Late Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in fields of  Late Professor Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in fields of statistics, statistical system and economic planning. The 2018 theme is  “Quality Assurance in Official Statistics”. It underscores importance of compliance with essential parameters of quality in statistical systems and products.  PC Mahalanobis            He was born on 29 June 1893 in Kolkata and died on 28 June 1972 in Kolkata. He was the first Indian  statistician to receive world recognition. In 1933, he had founded the first Indian statistical journal Sankhya.  He had founded the Indian  Statistical Institute (ISI) and contributed to the design of large-scale sample surveys. He had

President launches Solar Charkha Mission                               President Ram Nath Kovind launched Solar Charkha Mission under which Government will disburse subsidy of Rs 550 crore to thousands of artisans,  generating employment in rural areas. It was launched during the event of Udyam Sangam (National MSME Conclave) on the occasion of World MSME Day  (observed on 27 June). Key Facts                 Under this mission, Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) will cover 50 clusters across the country including in the  Northeast and each cluster will employ 400 to 2,000 artisans. Its ultimate aim is to generate employment in rural areas and contribute to the green  economy. It also aims at linking five crore women across the country to the initiative. The mission is expected to create one lakh jobs during the  first two years .

Day of the Seafarer: June 25                      The Day of the Seafarer is being observed every year on 25 June across the globe as an expression of thanks to the seafarers for their contribution  to the economy and civil society of the world. It also acknowledges the risks and personal costs endured by seafarers while being in their jobs.                     The theme for year 2018 is ‘Seafarers wellbeing’. It highlights issues of seafarers wellbeing, particularly mental health. It deals with specific  strategies to tackle stress and other issues affecting seafarers mental conditions and make tools available more widely known.  Background                   The Day of   the Seafarer was designated by International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 2010. It was established in resolution adopted by 2010 Diplomatic  Conference in Manila to adopt revised Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW)Convention,  1978. For the first time  it was observed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Vanijya Bhawan                                 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of Vanijya Bhawan, a new office complex in New Delhi for the Department of Commerce. Vnijya  Bhawan will help in ease of doing business by bringing all Departments of Commerce under one roof.  Key Facts              The complex is located near India Gate  and is being built on plot of 4.33 acres, belonging to erstwhile Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D). It will be built at an  estimated cost of Rs 226 crore and is expected to be completed by December 2019. The building will be a modern, eco-friendly structure. It will be  completely paperless office with modern facilities such as smart access control, video conferencing and completely networked systems.

June 8: World Oceans Day               The World Oceans Day is being observed every year on 8th June to raise global awareness of current challenges faced by the international community in  connection with the oceans. The day also seeks to provide unique opportunity to honour, protect, and conserve the world’s oceans. The focus of World  Oceans Day 2018 is on ‘Peventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean’. It also coincided with theme of World Environment  Day 2018-‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.  Background              The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had designated 8 June as the World Oceans Day in 2008 by  passing its resolution 63/111. Prior to it was unofficially celebrated every 8 June. In 1992, Canada had prosed celebration of this day at Earth  Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Since 2003, the day has been coordinated by The Ocean Project.

Taj Declaration to Beat Plastic Pollution adopted in Agra            With an aim to make 500-meter area around Taj Mahal litter free and phase out single use plastic, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma administered a pledge  to Agra Residents. The pledge called “Taj Declaration to Beat Plastic Pollution” was made in the presence of United Nations Environment Program  (UNEP) Executive Director Erik Solheim and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador Diya Mirza. The declaration came ahead to the World Environment day, June 5.            Well before the declaration was undertaken, workshops were conducted to deal with problem. The major focus of the workshop is to curb littering  around the 17th century monument. Short term and Long term plans are worked up on.              Minister Mahesh Sharma highlighted that India and the whole world is facing a huge problem of pollution caused by the use of plastic. He said that the  message of ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ is meant not just for Agra residents but to