What's the NEWS

• The Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs launched the BHARAT TAP initiative at the ‘Plumbex India' exhibition
• This exhibition is aimed for products and services related to the plumbing, water and sanitation industry.
• BHARAT TAP initiative will provide low-flow, sanitary-ware at scale, and thereby reduce water consumption at source considerably
• This initiative will lead to a renewed focus on water conservation efforts.
• The Minister also launched NARDECO MAHI's ‘Nirmal Jal Prayas' initiative which will work for saving of 500 crore litres of water per year.

Second Global COVID Virtual Summit

What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister participated in the Second Global COVID Virtual Summit on the invitation of the President of U.S.A.
• Summit theme - ‘Preventing Pandemic Fatigue and Prioritizing Preparedness'.
• The aim of the summit is to address the challenges faced by the countries due to the Covid pandemic and to build a stronger health security architecture for all.
• India emphasised its role in the fight against the Covid pandemic by supplying affordable vaccines and medicines to other countries
• The event is co-hosted by the government of Belize as Chair of CARICOM, Senegal as Chair of African Union, Indonesia as President of G20 and Germany as President of G7, respectively.
• Also, the United Nations' Secretary-General, Director General of World Health Organization and other dignitaries will be in attendance.
• PM Modi had participated in the first Global Covid virtual Summit hosted by Biden in September 2021.

• The Caribbean Community (CARICOM or CC) is an intergovernmental organization of 15 member states (14 nation-states and one dependency) throughout the Caribbean having primary objectives to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to coordinate foreign policy.
• The organisation was established in 1973 with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas by its four founding members.
• Its major activities involve coordinating economic policies and development planning; devising and instituting special projects for the less-developed countries within its jurisdiction; operating as a regional single market for many of its members (Caricom Single Market); and handling regional trade disputes.
• The secretariat headquarters is in Georgetown, Guyana.
• CARICOM is an official United Nations Observer beneficiary.

What's the NEWS

• The country's first "Amrit Sarovar" will be inaugurated by the Union Minister for Minority Affairs at Patwai, Rampur(UP) on May 13, 2022.
• In "Mann Ki Baat" programme last month, the Prime Minister had mentioned about this "Amrit Sarovar" in Patwai, Rampur.

• With a view to conserve water for the future, the Prime Minister launched a new Mission on Amrit Sarovar on 24th April 2022.
• The Mission is aimed at developing and rejuvenating 75 water bodies in each district of the country as a part of celebration of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• In total, it would lead to creation of 50,000 water bodies of a size of about an Acre or more.
• This Mission has been launched with a whole of Government Approach in which 6 Ministries/Department namely Dept of Rural Development , Department of land resources, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Department of Water resources, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate changes.
• Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Application and Geo-informatics(BISAG-N)has been engaged as Technical partner for the Mission.
• The Mission works through the States and Districts, through refocusing of various schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi NREGS, XV Finance Commission Grants, PMKSY sub schemes such as Watershed Development Component, Har Khet Ko Pani besides States' own schemes.
• The Mission Amrit Sarovar is to be completed by 15th August 2023. Around 50,000 such Amrit Sarovar may be constructed in the country.
• Each of these Amrit Sarovar will have approx. area of 1 acre with a water holding capacity of 10,000 cubic meter.
• People's participation in the Mission is the focal point.
• Local freedom fighter, their family members, Martyr's family members, Padma Awardee and citizens of the local area wherein an Amrit Sarovar is to be constructed, will be engaged at all stages.
• On every 15th August, National Flag hoisting will be organised on every Amrit Sarovar site .

Prime Minister to visit Lumbini, Nepal

What's the NEWS

• Prime Minister will pay an official visit to Lumbini on 16 May 2022 on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at the invitation of the Rt. Hon'ble Sher Bahadur Deuba, Prime Minister of Nepal.
• This will be Prime Minister's fifth visit to Nepal since 2014.
• At Lumbini, Prime Minister will visit the sacred Mayadevi temple to offer prayers.
• Prime Minister will also deliver an address at a Buddha Jayanti event organized by the Lumbini Development Trust under the aegis of the Government of Nepal.
• Separately, Prime Minister will participate in the "Shilanyas" ceremony for the construction of a centre for Buddhist culture and heritage, in a plot belonging to the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), New Delhi within the Lumbini Monastic Zone.
• Both Prime Ministers will hold a bilateral meeting.

Vagish Shastri
What's the NEWS

• The Prime Minister, has expressed deep grief over the demise of Sanskrit Grammarian, Prof Bhagirath Prasad Tripathi known as Vagish Shastri.
• Vagish Shastri made priceless contributions in making Sanskrit more popular among the youth using modern scientific methods.

Ayurveda Aahara

What's the NEWS

• Ministry of Ayush and Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under MoHFW, India's apex body for food regulation has formulated regulations of safety & quality standards for food products under ‘Ayurveda Aahara' category.
• This comprehensive initiative will ensure manufacturing of quality Ayurveda food products and help in expanding the international market for Make-In-India products.

Regulation Highlights

• According to the regulation, manufacturing and marketing of ‘Ayurveda Aahara' products will now adhere to strict Food Safety and Standards (Ayurveda Aahara) Regulations, 2022 rules and will be available in market only after license/approval from FSSAI.
• A special logo has been created for "Ayurveda Aahara" category, which will enable easier identification and reinforce quality in Ayurveda food products.
• According to the regulations, all food prepared in accordance with the recipes/ingredients/processes described in the authoritative books of Ayurveda will be considered as "Ayurveda Aahara".
•  Food recipes and ingredients for promoting health, specific physiological needs, and foods specified for consumption during or post specified diseases, disorders referred as Pathya in Ayurved are covered under these regulations.
• However, ‘Ayurveda Aahara' will not include Ayurvedic drugs or proprietary Ayurvedic medicines and medicinal products, cosmetics, narcotic or psychotropic substances and herbs.
• Further, Ayurveda Aahara is also not recommended to young children below age 2 years.
• ‘Ayurveda Aahara' needs prior approval, the same shall be in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards (Approval for Non-Specific Food and Food Ingredients) Regulation, 2017.

Successful Firing of Extended Range Version Of Brahmos Air Launched Missile From Su-30 MKI Aircraft

What's the NEWS

• India successfully fired the Extended Range Version of BrahMos Air Launched missile from Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft.
• The launch from the aircraft was as planned and the missile achieved a direct hit on the designated target in the Bay of Bengal region.
• It was the first launch of Extended Range version of BrahMos missile from Su-30MKI aircraft.
• While the Air Launched version of the BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile has been tested multiple times in the recent past, the latest was the first of the Extended Range Version, which is said to have capability of striking the targets located 350 kilometers away compared to around 290 kilometers in the initial version.
• With this, the IAF has achieved the capability to carry out precision strikes from Su-30MKI aircraft against a land/ sea target over very long ranges.
• The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, Indian Navy, DRDO, BAPL and HAL have proven the capability of the nation to achieve this feat.
• The extended range capability of the missile coupled with the high performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the future battle fields.

• The Brahmos Air Launched Cruise Missile makes a significant addition to the IAF's operational capabilities from stand-off ranges.
• Stand-off range missiles are those which are launched at a distance sufficient to allow the attacking party to evade defensive fire expected from the target area.
• Brahmos is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India's Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft, which has been modified by HAL to carry these weapon systems.
• A combination of the names of Brahmaputra and Moskva (in Russia) rivers, BrahMos missiles are designed, developed and produced by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture company set up by DRDO and Mashinostroyenia of Russia.

• In a covert intelligence operation code-named "Golden Tap", the officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) intercepted an air cargo consignment on 11th May 2022 at Delhi
• The consignment declared to contain Triangle Valves, had originated from Guangzhou, China, and had arrived at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport by a Japan Airlines flight.

• It is an Indian intelligence agency.
• It is India's apex anti-smuggling intelligence, investigations and operations agency.
• The Directorate is run by officers from the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) who are posted in its various Zonal Units as well as in Indian embassies abroad as part of the Customs Overseas Intelligence Network.
• It is headed by a Director General of the rank of Special Secretary to the Government of India.
• The Agency works to secure India's national and economic security by preventing the outright smuggling of contraband such as firearms, gold, narcotics, Fake Indian Currency notes, antiques, wildlife and environmental products.
• Moreover, it also works to prevent the proliferation of black money, trade based money laundering and commercial frauds.

• Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Parshottam Rupala released the Breed-Wise Report Of Livestock And Poultry based on 20th Livestock Census
• The breed-wise data collection was done along with 20th Livestock Census during the year 2019.
• It was for the first time in the country that breed wise data was collected by using tablet computers instead of paper mode which is indeed a unique attempt.
• The livestock as well as poultry birds were counted according to their breeds as recognized by National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR).

• The report has covered 184 recognized indigenous/exotic & crossbred breeds of 19 selected species that are registered by the NBAGR (National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources).
• There are 41 recognized indigenous whereas 4 exotic/crossbred breeds of cattle covered in this report.
• As per the report, the Exotic and Crossbred animal contribute nearly 26.5% of the total cattle population whereas 73.5% are Indigenous and Non-descript cattle.
• Crossbred Jersey has the highest share with 49.3% as compared to 39.3% of Crossbred Holstein Friesian (HF) in total Exotic/Crossbred cattle.
• Gir, Lakhimi and Sahiwal breeds have major contribution in total Indigenous Cattle.
• In Buffalo, the Murrah breed majorly contributes with 42.8% which is commonly found in UP and Rajasthan.
• In Sheep, there are 3 exotics and 26 indigenous breeds were found in the country. Among the pure exotic breeds, Corriedale breed majorly contributes with 17.3% and in the indigenous breeds the Nellore breed contribute the highest in the category with 20.0% share.
•  In Goats, there are 28 indigenous breeds found in the country. The Black Bengal breed contributes the highest with 18.6%.
• In exotic/crossbred pigs, crossbred pig contributes 86.6% whereas Yorkshire contributes majorly with 8.4%. In indigenous pigs, Doom breed major contributes with 3.9%.
• In Horse & Ponies, the share of Marwari breed majorly contributes with 9.8%.
• In Donkeys, the share of Spiti breed contributes with 8.3%.
• In Camel, Bikaneri breed majorly contributes with 29.6%.
• In Poultry, desi fowl, Aseel breed majorly contribute in both backyard poultry and commercial poultry farm.