June 28th Current Affairs

1. Hylocereusundatus.

IN NEWS:

In a major boost to export of exotic fruit, a consignment of fibre and mineral rich ‘Dragon Fruit’, also referred as Kamalam, has been exported to Dubai.

KEY POINTS:

• Dragon fruit production commenced in India in early 1990s and was grown as home gardens. Dragon Fruit has become increasingly popular in recent years in the country as it has been taken up for cultivation by farmers across various states.
• Scientifically referred to as Hylocereusundatus, the dragon fruit is grown in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, the USA and Vietnam.
• At present, dragon fruit is grown mostly in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The cultivation requires less water and can be grown in various kinds of soils.
• There are three main varieties of dragon fruit: white flesh with pink skin, red flesh with pink skin, and white flesh with yellow skin.
• The fruit contains fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
• It can help in repairing the cell damage caused by oxidative stress and reduce inflammation, and also improving the digestive system. Since the fruit has spikes and petals resembling lotus, it is also referred as ‘Kamalam’.

SOURCE:PIB

2. INS TABAR.

IN NEWS:

INS TABAR DEPLOYED TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT EXERCISES WITH FRIENDLY NAVIES IN AFRICA AND EUROPE.

KEY POINTS:

• INS Tabar, is a Talwar-class stealth Frigate built for Indian Navy in Russia.
• The ship is equipped with a versatile range of weapons and sensors and is among the earliest stealth frigates of the Indian Navy.
• The ship is part of the Indian Navy’s Western Fleet which is based at Mumbai under Western Naval Command.
• During the deployment, INS Tabar will transit across the Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea and Baltic Sea while making port calls at Djibouti, Egypt, Italy, France, UK, Russia, Netherlands, Morocco, and Arctic Council  countries like Sweden and Norway.
• In addition to PASSEX with host navies of countries being visited, the ship is also scheduled to participate in bilateral exercises like Ex Konkan with Royal Navy, Ex Varuna with  French Navy and Ex Indra with Russian Federation Navy.
• The deployment will also see participation by the ship in the Russian Navy Day celebrations from 22 to 27 July. 
• The ship will operate in conjunction with the friendly navies, so as to build military relations, develop interoperability and project long range sustenance.

SOURCE:PIB

3. International Day against Drug Abuse

IN NEWS:

International Day Against Drug Abuse is observed on June 26 every year to raise awareness among people regarding dangerous effects of drugs and it’s illicit trafficking.

KEY POINTS:

• Drug abuse and mental health go hand in hand.
• People addicted to drugs not only put their physical health at stake but also give rise to severe mental issues.
• Thus, the day becomes significance to make aware people of harmful impact of drugs.
• This year, International Day against Drug Abuse was observed under the theme ‘Share Facts on Drugs, Save Lives’.
• Its motive is to combat misinformation by sharing real facts on drugs ranging from health risks & solutions for world drug problem to evidence-based prevention, treatment & care.

Important Information:

• International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is a United Nations International Day to fight the menace of drug abuse and illegal trading of drug.
• It is observed on June 26, since 1989.
• Date 26 was selected to commemorate Lin Zexu’s dismantling of opium trade in Humen, Guangdong on June 25, 1839 before First Opium War in China.
• The day was instituted by General Assembly Resolution 42/112 of December 1987.

Drug Abuse in India

• Menace of drug addiction is spreading fast among youth of India.
• The reason for this is, India is sandwiched between two largest Opium producing regions of world namely, Golden triangle and Golden crescent.
• Golden triangle comprises Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos while golden crescent comprises Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
• As per the report of All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in 2019, alcohol is the most abused substance in India.
• About 5 crore Indians used cannabis and opioids when survey was conducted in 2018.

SOURCE:IE

4. International MSMEs Day

IN NEWS:

Every year, Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day is celebrated on 27th June to recognise the contribution of these industries in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

KEY POINTS:

• The United Nations (UN) designated 27th June as Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day through a resolution passed in the UN General Assembly in April 2017.
• In May 2017, a program titled ‘Enhancing National Capacities for Unleashing Full Potentials of MSMEs in Achieving the SDGs in Developing Countries’ was launched.
• It has been funded by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund of the United Nations Peace and Development Fund.

Significance:

• The UN wants countries to recognise sustainable development goals and create awareness about them.
• An International Trade Centre survey on Covid-19 impact among businesses in 136 countries has shown that nearly 62% of women-led small businesses have been strongly affected by the crisis, compared to just over half of firms led by men, and women-owned are 27% more likely not to survive the pandemic.
• Formal and informal MSMEs make up over 90% of all firms and account, on average, for 70% of total employment and 50% of GDP. As such, they are key actors in achieving a green recovery.
• 2021 Theme:MSME 2021: Key to an inclusive and sustainable recovery.

Role of MSMEs in Indian Economy:

• They are the growth accelerators of the Indian economy, contributing about 30% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
• In terms of exports, they are an integral part of the supply chain and contribute about 48% of the overall exports.
• MSMEs also play an important role in employment generation, as they employ about 110 million people across the country.
• Interestingly, MSMEs are intertwined with the rural economy as well, as more than half of the MSMEs operate in rural India.

SOURCE:IE