The Press Information Bureau (PIB) is a government agency that releases news and information about the activities of the Indian government. On July 11, 2023, the PIB released a number of important news items, including the 34th International Biology Olympiad, Nirbhaya Fund, Visitor’s Conference 2023, Guinness World Record. This news analysis will provide a brief overview of each of these news items and discuss their implications. The analysis will also highlight some of the other important news items that were released by the PIB on July 11, 2023. Additionally, it will highlight other important announcements made by the PIB on the same day.
1. India tops the medal tally at the 34th International Biology Olympiad, UAE
India topped the medals tally at the 34th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) 2023 held in Al Ain, UAE from 3 July to 11 July 2023, by virtue of every student winning a gold medal! This is the first time that India has turned in an all-gold performance and topped the medals tally in IBO.
The students this year were:
The team was accompanied by two leaders: Prof. Madan M. Chaturvedi (Former Senior Professor, Delhi University) and Dr Anupama Ronad (HBCSE, TIFR), and two Scientific Observers: Dr V. V. Binoy (National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru) and Dr Rambhadur Subedi (NIRRH, Mumbai).
There were 293 students from 76 countries in this year’s IBO. Singapore was the only other country to secure four gold medals. In all 29 gold medals were awarded.
Earlier, India has topped the medals tally in Astronomy & Astrophysics (in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015 and 2021), Physics (in 2018) and Junior Science (in 2014, 2019, 2021, and 2022).
2. Scheme of WCD Ministry under Nirbhaya Fund for Critical care and Support to POCSO victims
Under Nirbhaya Fund, a scheme of Ministry of Women &Child Development namely Scheme for critical care and support for accessing justice to rape gang rape survivors and minor girls who get pregnant was appraised at the total cost of Rs.74.10 cr. The scheme aims at providing shelter, food & daily needs, safe transportation for attending court hearings and legal aid to the minor girls who have been abandoned by the family due to forced pregnancy, either due to rape/ gang rape or due to any other reason, and have no other means to support themselves.
3. President of India Inaugurates Visitor’s Conference 2023 at Rashtrapati Bhavan
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated Visitor’s Conference 2023 at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (July 10, 2023). In her inaugural address, the President said that education is vital for the progress of the individual, society and country. For most of the youth, higher education is the most effective way to come out from the adverse situations. She stated that providing equitable and inclusive higher education to youth coming from socially and economically disadvantaged groups is one of the priorities of the National Education Policy- 2020.
4. PM hails Guinness World Record for ‘largest display of Lambani items’
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has hailed the Guinness World Record for ‘largest display of Lambani items’ with a total of 1755 items during 3rd G20 Culture Working Group Meeting in Hampi, Karnataka. Over 450 women artisans and cultural practitioners from Lambani — a nomadic community inhabiting Karnataka — came together to create embroidered patches with GI-tagged Sandur Lambani embroidery, creating 1,755 patchwork pieces.
5. Ayushman Bharat scheme to more than 1.60 lakh health and wellness centres
India’s five-year-old Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) programme, which has grown to more than 1.60 lakhs centres and registered a footfall of over 178.87 crore (as of June end), is undergoing its biggest ever expansion of services, confirmed sources in the Health Ministry. Under the latest expansion spree, the Central government is adding services, including screening, prevention, control & management of non-communicable diseases, care for common ophthalmic & ENT problems, basic oral health care, elderly and palliative health care services, emergency medical services, and screening and management of mental health ailments.
6. Amit Shah will inaugurate a day-long mega conclave “Strengthening PACS through FPOs” in New Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah will inaugurate a day-long mega conclave “Strengthening PACS through FPOs” in New Delhi on July 14, 2023. The conclave is aimed at discussing ways to strengthen Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).The conclave will witness participation of experts from the sector as well as members from the FPOs across the country. The mega conclave is being organized by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Cooperation.
Being collective entities formed by farmers, enabling them to pool resources and enhance their bargaining power, the FPOs are one of the major vehicles for agricultural transformation. In order to realize the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” and with the efforts of Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, recently a decision was taken to form 1100 New FPOs in Cooperative Sector.
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