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  International Friendship Day is celebrated on 30 th  July every year in many parts of the world while in India it is celebrated on the first Sunday of August every year which is going to be 2 nd  August this year. History Behind: The idea of the celebration of friendship day was proposed in the year 1958 in Paraguay by the World Friendship Crusade. Finally, on 27 th  April 2011, the UN General Assembly declared 30 th  July as the International Friendship Day which is dedicated to all the amazing people without whom our lives would be incomplete. The reason behind this beautiful idea mandated by the UN was to inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. Meanwhile, another very popular story behind the celebration of this beautiful day proposes that the day was first coined by Joyce Hall; founder of Hallmark Greetings Cards in the year 1930. Friendship day was celebrated to cherish friendship and value the people in our lives. However, there is various confusion related

  The Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan recently announced that the N95 masks with valved respirators do not prevent COVID-19 from spreading out. What are N95 masks? The N95 masks are protective equipment that protects the wearers from airborne particles contaminating the face. The N95 masks filter particles that are less than 300 nano metres. The size of COVID-19 virus is between 65-125 nano metres. Function of valve in N95 masks The valve in N95 masks is a plastic gasket that filters air inhaled by the person and blocks entry of pathogens. The valve helps to prevent humidity, reduce heat and carbon-dioxide build up in the mask. Concerns The Health Ministry states that N95 masks with valved respirators do not prevent virus from escaping out of the mask. It is a one-way mask. It only protects the person wearing the mask and does not filter aerosols coming out. Therefore, when an asymptomatic patient of COVID-19 wears the mask, he can easily spread the infection to

  On July 21, 2020, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched “Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Ration Yojana”. The scheme is to help the eligible beneficiaries get ration delivered at home. The scheme is to run for 6-7 months. Under the scheme, the Delhi government will deliver wheat, rice, flour and sugar in hygienically packed bags. The packets are to be delivered at door step of the people. The Delhi Government is to start One Nation One Ration Card scheme and Mukhya Mantri Ghar Ghar Yojana on the same day. Significance The scheme will benefit lakhs of people in the capital. Currently, subsidized ration is being provided under National Security act, 2013. The new scheme will add benefit to the act. One Nation One Card scheme Under the National Food Security Act, 2013, 81 crore people are entitled to subsidized food grains. Around 23 crore ration cards have been issued to over 80 crore beneficiaries of National Food security Act. The scheme provides intra state and inter state portabilit

On 30 th  June 2020, a Bell 206-B3 Helicopter was flagged off with spray equipment for Air Force Station in Rajasthan’s Barmer from the helipad facility in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar. Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar flagged off the Helicopter. The Helicopter will be deployed for locust control in the desert areas of Rajasthan. Districts that the Helicopter will cover are Nagaur, Jodhpur, Barmer, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Jodhpur. The Helicopter will be able to cover about 25 to 50-hectare area in one flight. In a single flight, it will have the capacity to carry 250 liters of pesticide. Objective of the Helicopter Operation United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has warned last week that the Desert Locusts may breed in the semi-arid/desert regions of Rajasthan as the monsoon rains will make it suitable for them to breed. The bell helicopter will work towards reaching areas in the desert that is not easily accessible through