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  Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on August 20 said that the second lunar mission of India Chandrayaan-2 has completed one year around the Moon in the lunar orbit. According to ISRO, all the instruments of Chandrayaan-2 are performing well at present. ISRO also highlighted that the fuel onboard is adequate to keep Chandrayaan-2 operational for seven more years. The orbiter completed more than 4,400 orbits around the Moon. Although, the soft-landing attempt was not successful previous year but the orbiter was placed successfully in the lunar orbit. The agency has also claimed that the orbiter is being maintained in 100 +/- 25 km polar orbit with periodic orbit maintenance (OM) maneuvers. Chandrayaan-2 was launched to enhance the knowledge about the moon through a detailed study of its surface chemical composition, topography, thermo-physical characteristics, mineralogy, and atmosphere. Chandrayaan-2 The second lunar mission of the country, Chandrayaan-2 was launched on Jul...

  Indian Cricket players M S Dhoni and Suresh Raina announced their retirement from International Cricket. This means that they shall still play for games conducted within India. About M S Dhoni M S Dhoni is 39-year old and was a world cup winning captain. He announced his retirement through an Instagram post. He last played for the Indian cricket team during India’s 2019 ICC World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. He was awarded with Padma Bhushan in 2018, Padma Shri in 2009 and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna in 2007-08. Under his captainship, India won the 2011 World Cup. M S Dhoni was the first player to win ODI Player of the year award twice once in 2008 and 2009. Indian Army conferred with honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2011. He is the second Indian cricketer to receive the honour after Kapil Dev. It is to be noted that under the captainship of Kapil Dev India won the 1983 World Cup. M S Dhoni was also awarded with the ICC ODI Player of the year in 2008 and 2009. He also re...

  Every year United Nations and other world organizations celebrate World Tribal Day or International Day of the World Indigenous People. The day promotes and protects rights of world indigenous population. The day marks first meet of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva, 1982. This year the day is being observed under the following theme. The first World Tribal Day was celebrated in 1994. In India there are several indigenous tribes. Some have even sprouted out to be rebels demanding own land. Major Tribes in India The Constitution of India recognizes tribal communities in the country under Schedule 5. They are called the Scheduled Tribes. According to Census 2011, the total Scheduled Tribes population in India is 10.43 crores. It accounts to 8.6% of total population in the country. Article 342 says that the President after consultation with the Governor of the state shall specify tribes or tribal communities or groups within tribal communities as S...

  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 v...

  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...

  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 portab...

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 thro...