Facts in News

Facts in News
YUVA Scheme	Recently, ‘YUVA- Prime Minister’s Scheme For Mentoring Young Authors’ has been launched. Key Points YUVA stands for ‘Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors’. It is a part of India@75 Project Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Implementation by: National Book Trust, Ministry of Education Aim: To encourage young writers to write about India’s freedom struggle It is an author mentorship programme to train young and budding authors below the age of 30. Under this scheme, the authors can write on themes such as national movement, unsung heroes, freedom fighters can register themselves at mygov.in. The application window will be open from June 1 to July 31. The winners will be announced on Independence Day (August 15) and they will also get a scholarship worth Rs 50,000 per month for six months.
“PM-CARES for Children” scheme	Recently, the central government has launched the PM-CARES for Children Scheme. Key Points Under this scheme, the government will provide Rs 10 lakh fund, free education for kids orphaned (lost both parents or guardians) due to COVID. Key Features: Financial Aid: Under this scheme, such children will get monthly financial support till 18 years of age, and the government will also support the child’s requirements during the period of higher education. On reaching the age of 23 years, the child will get the corpus amount as one lump sum for personal and professional use. School education: For children between 11 and 18 years: Admission will be given to the child in any Central Government residential school such as Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya, etc. If the child is admitted to a private school, the fees as per the RTE norms will be given from the PM CARES. PM CARES will also pay for expenditure on uniform, textbooks, and notebooks. Support for higher education: Assistance will be provided in obtaining an education loan for professional courses / higher education in India. The interest on this loan will be paid by the PM CARES. Scholarships equivalent to the tuition fees/course fees for undergraduate/ vocational courses as per government norms will be provided to such children under Central or State Government schemes. For children who are not eligible under the existing scholarship schemes, PM CARES will provide an equivalent scholarship. Health insurance: All children will be enrolled as a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh. The premium amount for these children till the age of 18 years will be paid by PM CARES. Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) Established in: March 2020 Objective: Combat, containment, and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and similar pandemic-like situations in the future. Composition: Prime Minister (Chairman) and other members included Union Home Minister, Finance Minister, and Defence Minister. It is a public fund but cannot fall under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005. Registered under Registration Act, 1908.
Goa Statehood Day	Recently, Goa Statehood Day was celebrated on May 30. Key Points It is the smallest state in India. Capital: Panji Official Language: Konkani Location: Southwestern coast of India and geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. Historical Background: India attained independence on 15th August 1947, but Goa remained under the Portuguese dominance. Goa became part of the Union of India in 1961, when the Indian Government launched Operation Vijay and annexed Daman and Diu along with Goa. Goa attained statehood on 30th May 1987. Borders: North: Maharashtra East and South: Karnataka West: Arabian Sea Geography: Highest Point: Sonsogor. Major Rivers: Zuari, Mandovi, Terekhol, Chapora, Galgibag, Kumbarjua canal, Talpona and the Sal. Soil type: Laterite Image Courtesy: World Guides
HRMN 99	Recently, a farmer from Himachal Pradesh has developed an innovative self-pollinating apple variety namely, HRMN 99. Key Points The variety has been named in the name of the farmer, Hariman Sharma. The farmer is known as the ‘Apple man of India’. In 2017, he had been conferred with a National award by the President of India Commercial cultivation of this apple variety has been initiated in Manipur, Jammu, low lying areas of Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, and fruit setting has been expanded to 23 states & UTs so far. Climatic Conditions Can be grown in plain, tropical, and subtropical areas. Does not require chilling hours for flowering and fruit setting. Ready to harvest in early June (after three years of transplanting) and is tolerant to scab disease. Temperature: 40- 45 ºC during summer. Image Courtesy: Trade India
Sunderbans	In recent times, the Sundarbans region has faced several damages due to tropical cyclone Yaas. Prominent sites like Sagar Island (the biggest island of the Sundarbans) and Mousuni faced the atrocities of the cyclone. Key Points Earlier, other cyclones like Fani (May 2019), Bulbul (November 2019), Amphan (May 2020) also caused damage. The region has suffered damage because of gale winds and breached embankments, leading to the ingress of seawater. The intensity of the gale winds has ranged from 100 kmph to 150 kmph during each of the cyclones. The cyclones and the tides also pose a challenge to the conservation efforts of flagship species (like Indian River Terrapin) that are unique to the ecosystem. Sundarbans They are one of the largest forests in the world. Lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal. World Heritage Sites (by UNESCO): Sundarbans National Park, Sundarbans West, Sundarbans South and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuaries. Famous for Bengal Tiger, estuarine crocodile, olive ridley turtle and Indian python etc. The Indian Sundarbans were considered endangered in a 2020 assessment under the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems framework. Image Courtesy: Britannica
Offshore Patrol Vessel Sajag	Recently, the National Security Advisor (NSA) has commissioned the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) Sajag. Key points Constructed by: Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). Sajag is the third in a series of five offshore patrol vessels indigenously designed (by GSL) in line with the ‘Make in India’ vision. The indigenously-built ship is fitted with advanced technology equipment, weapons, and sensors capable of carrying a twin-engine helicopter and four high-speed boats. It will strengthen its concurrent multiple operations’ capability towards ensuring safe, secure, and clean seas as also responding promptly to maritime emergencies in the neighbourhood. Image Courtesy: TOI Indian Coast Guard The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is a maritime law enforcement and search and rescue agency that was established under an act of the Parliament, Coast Guard Act, 1978. Founded in: 1978 Administered by: Ministry of Defence Jurisdiction: India’s territorial waters including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone It is the first responder for any developing situation at sea.
Steadfast Defender 21 War Games	As tensions with Russia simmer, NATO has organized the war games named Steadfast Defender 21. Key Points In this military exercise, thousands of NATO troops, several warships, and dozens of aircraft have participated through the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, and the Black Sea region Aim: Simulating NATO’s response to an attack on any one of its members. It will test NATO’s ability to deploy troops from America and keep supply lines open. Image Courtesy: WSWS North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) It is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 countries across the world. Established in: 1949 Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium India is not a member country of NATO.
25 years of Suryakiran Aerobatic Team	Recently, the Surya Kiran aerobatic display team of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has completed 25 years. Key Points The Suryakiran Aerobatic Display Team is one of the nine aircraft display teams in the world and the only one in Asia. The team currently has 13 pilots and is led by Group Captain Anoop Singh. Established on: May 27, 1996, at the IAF airbase in Bidar, Karnataka, with six Kiran MkII trainer aircraft. Part of 52nd Squadron of the IAF Motto: Always the Best Disbanded in 2011 due to the shortage of training aircraft in the IAF but was resurrected in 2015 on advanced jet trainer Hawk Mk-132 aircraft.