India warns the West, indicating food grains should not go as COVID vaccinations

20 May 2022
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India warns the West, indicating food grains should not go as COVID vaccinations

After receiving criticism for its restrictions on wheat exports, India accused the West of neglecting principles of justice, affordability, and accessibility in the case of anti-Covid-19 vaccinations, and asked them not to do so again in the case of food grains. Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres  was present at the meeting, which was held at the UN headquarters. The United States and the other G-7 nations chastised New Delhi after it barred wheat exports without previous government approval.

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KEY POINTS:

• V Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for External Affairs, represented India in a ministerial conference in New York held by Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, to discuss the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the resulting supply disruptions.
• When it comes to food grains, he believes that everyone needs to understand the importance of equity, affordability, and accessibility.
• The world has already witnessed how these principles were neglected at tremendous expense in the example of Covid-19 vaccinations. The justification for open markets must not be used to justify unfairness and discrimination.At a ministerial meeting held by the US, Muraleedharan stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in New Delhi had noticed the abrupt jump in global wheat prices, which had put India’s food security, as well as those of its neighbours and other vulnerable countries, in jeopardy.
• Muraleedharan noted that India had sent food aid in the form of thousands of metric tonnes of wheat, rice, pulses, and lentils to a number of nations in South Asia and Africa in order to improve their food security.
• He also mentioned India’s donation of 50 thousand tonnes of wheat to the Afghan people and 10,000 tonnes of rice and wheat to Myanmar.
• India was also supporting Sri Lanka with food aid, as the island nation had just fallen victim to a severe economic crisis.

Important Takeaways For All Competitive Exams:

• Minister of State for External Affairs, GoI: Shri V Muraleedharan
• Secretary General of the United Nations: Antonio Guterres
• US Secretary of State: Antony Blinken

Nikhat Zareen wins gold at Women’s World Boxing Championships

20 May 2022
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Nikhat Zareen wins gold at Women’s World Boxing Championships

Nikhat Zareen gave a dazzling performance to beat Thai Olympian Jutamas Jitpong 5-0 and become the fifth Indian woman to win a World title at the Women’s World Championships, Istanbul. Nikhat thus becomes only the fifth Indian women’s boxer after Mary Kom, Sarita Devi, Jenny RL and Lekha KC to win a gold at the World Championships. The 25-year-old Zareen is a former junior youth world champion.

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The 25-year-old Indian took full advantage of her long reach and maintained her dominance against the Thai boxer, whom she had beaten in the 2019 Thailand Open semi-final—the only meeting between the two, enroute her silver medal finish.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann launched ‘Lok Milni’ scheme for redressal of public complaints

20 May 2022
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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann launched ‘Lok Milni’ scheme for redressal of public complaints

Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann heard the grievances of the people of the state and issued redressal directions in ‘Lok Milni’, a first-of-its-kind public interaction programme. This interactive programme was launched with the aim of providing a single-window platform to the people of the state for the redressal of the complaints that they have. The people of the state who had submitted various grievances and complaints with the state government in the previous two months were called to attend this programme.

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As many as 61 complainants listed their grievances before the chief minister during this ‘Lok Milni’. He directed the top officers of the various departments present on the occasion to ensure the resolution of these complaints in a time-bound manner.

Important takeaways for all competitive exams:

• Punjab Capital: Chandigarh;
• Punjab Governor: Banwarilal Purohit;
• Punjab Chief Minister: Bhagwant Mann.