GK Snapshots on 22 October 2021  

International Chefs Day 2021 – October 20

International Chefs Day is annually celebrated by the World Association of Chefs Societies(Worldchefs) on 20th October to celebrate the profession of culinary arts and to create awareness about the importance of healthy food. The theme of International Chefs Day 2021 is “Healthy Food for the Future”.

2021 International Chefs Day:
i.The 2021 International Chefs Day focuses on sustainability and the environment to ensure a healthy planet for the next generations.
ii.As a part of the 2021 International Chefs Day, chefs across the globe will host their own workshop on the theme “Healthy Food for the Future”.
 

Police Commemoration Day 2021 – October 21

The Police Commemoration Day is annually observed across India on October 21st to remember and pay tribute to the police personnel who died in the line of duty. In 2020, Police Commemoration Day paid tribute to the personnel who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The day is also known as Police Martyrs Day.

Police Commemoration Day 2021:

The Police Commemoration Day 2021 observed on 21 October 2021, will be followed by 9 days of commemorative events which will be held from 22nd to 30th October 2021 at the National Police Memorial, New Delhi.

National Police Memorial:

i.In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Police Memorial in New Delhi.

ii.The proposal for the police memorial was first made by the government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002.

iii.The names of all the police martyrs are etched and updated every year in stone on the Wall of Valour at the National Police Memorial.

Police Commemoration Day Parade:

i.Since 2012, the Police Commemoration Day Parade has been annually organised at the national level at the National Police Memorial Site, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.

ii.The Delhi Police, Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF), Border Security Force(BSF), Railway Protection Force(RPF), and National Security Guard(NSG), among other paramilitary forces, have participated in the Police Commemoration Day Parade.

Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders Prevention Day 2021 – October 21

Global Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs) Prevention Day which is also known as World Iodine Deficiency Day is annually observed on October 21st to create awareness about the importance of iodine for normal thyroid functions, growth and development.

Importance of iodine:

i.Iodine is one of the essential micronutrients that is needed for the production of Thyroid hormone.

ii.The inclusion of iodine as a part of the diet is important since the body cannot make iodine on its own.

iii.Therefore the iodine deficiency can lead to enlargement of the thyroid, hypothyroidism and to intellectual disabilities in infants and children whose mothers were iodine deficient during pregnancy.

iv.The severe forms of IDDs can cause cretinism, stillbirth and miscarriage

Efforts of India to prevent IDD:

i.Iodised salt was introduced in India in the late 1950s and various governmental and non-governmental programs and initiatives were undertaken to create awareness about the importance of iodised salt.

ii.Under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954, The government of India has banned the sale of non-iodized salt for direct human consumption in India, with effect from May 2006.

PM Narendra Modi Visited Uttar Pradesh; inaugurated Kushinagar International Airport

On October 20, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uttar Pradesh (UP) where he inaugurated the Kushinagar International Airport and participated in an event marking Abhidhamma Day at Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar. He also attended a public function to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects in Kushinagar.

Inauguration of Kushinagar International Airport:

The Ministry of Tourism organized a two days’ conference titled ‘Tourism in Buddhist Circuit- A way forward’ on October 20-21, 2021 at Kushinagar for the inauguration of Kushinagar International Airport by PM Narendra Modi.

• The conference was inaugurated by the Union Minister Gangapuram Kishan Reddy, Ministry of Tourism in the presence of Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), among others.

PM participates in event marking Abhidhamma Day at the Mahaparinirvana Temple

i.The PM also participated in an event organized to mark Abhidhamma Day which symbolizes the end of three-month rainy retreat – Varshavaas or Vassa for the Buddhist Monks, during which they stay at one place in vihara & monastery and pray.

• The event was also attended by Monks from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, Nepal, Bhutan and Cambodia, as well as Ambassadors of various countries.

ii.The Indian PM also walked through the exhibition of Paintings of Ajanta frescoes, Buddhist Sutra Calligraphy and Buddhist artefacts excavated from Vadnagar and other sites in Gujarat.

Inauguration & laying of Foundation Stone of 12 development projects

During a public function at Barwa Jangal, Kushinagar, the PM inaugurated & laid the foundation stone of 12 development projects worth over Rs 180 crore.

• He also laid the foundation stone of Rajkiya Medical College, Kushinagar which will be built at a cost of over Rs 280 crore. It will have a 500 bed hospital and provide admissions to 100 students in MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) course in academic session 2022-2023.

PMGKP Insurance Scheme for Health Workers Extended For Another 180 Days

The Central government extended the duration of “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP)”, an insurance scheme for health care workers fighting COVID-19, for a further period of 180 days

• As the current term of the policy is ending on 20.10.2021, it has been further extended for 180 days from 21.10.2021.

• Until now, 1351 claims have been paid under the scheme. This scheme meant relief plans to help in the survival of the deadly situation of the country.

• Objective – It was launched to provide comprehensive personal accident cover of Rs. 50 Lakh to 22.12 lakh health care providers.

Eligibility for the scheme

• 100 workers who earn less than INR 15,000 per month.

News  in Detail