RAJASTHAN

• CM to launch campaign to rid state from anaemia

• Chief minister Ashok Gehlot will launch a campaign in Jodhpur aiming to free the state from anaemia as part of the Centre’s nationwide Anaemia Mukt Bharat (anaemia free India) drive launched in December last year.

• According to the National Family Heath Survey- 4 (2015-16), 60.3% children between the age of six months and 59 months are anaemic in Rajasthan; 46.8% non-pregnant women between 15 and 49 years are anaemic; 46.6% pregnant women between 15 and 49 are anaemic; 46.8% women age 15-49 are anaemic; and 17.2% men between 15 and 49 years are anaemic.

• Anaemia Free Rajasthan will focus on six interventions namely prophylactic iron and folic acid supplementation; deworming; intensified yearround behaviour change communication campaign; testing and treatment of anaemia, using digital methods; mandatory provision of iron folic acid fortified foods in public health programmes; and addressing nonnutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, haemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.

• The reduction of anaemia is one of the important objectives of Poshan Abhiyaan launched in March 2018. Complying with the targets of Poshan Abhiyaan and the National Nutrition Strategy set by NITI Aayog, the strategy of Anaemia Free India has been designed to reduce prevalence of anaemia by 3 percentage points per year among children, adolescents and women in reproductive age (15-49 years) between the year 2018 and 2022.

INTERNATIONAL

• Sugarcane juice declared ‘national drink’ of Pakistan

• The Pakistan government on Friday declared sugarcane juice as the “national drink” of the country.
• The announcement came after the government conducted a Twitter poll where people were asked to decide on the country’s national drink with two other options — orange and carrot — besides sugarcane
• Over 7,600 people participated in the poll and declared sugarcane as national drink ok Pakistan with 81 percent votes. 15 percent of the participants voted in favor of orange juice while 4 percent choose carrot juice.

NATIONAL

• Padma Awards 2019 announced

• President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian awards of the category.

• The awards were conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

• The list, which was approved by the President, comprises of four Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri awardees.

• Recipients of Padma Vibhushan awards are as follows:

Ms. Teejan Bai

Shri Ismail Omar Guelleh

Shri Anilkumar Manibhai Naik

Shri Balwant Moreshwar Purandare

Gk bit – Padma Awards

• one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

• The Awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

• Pranab Mukherjee, Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhupen Hazarika to be conferred with Bharat Ratna

• Social activist Nanaji Deshmukh, singer Bhupen Hazarika and former President  Pranab Mukherjee will be conferred with country’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna.

• Nanaji Deshmukh and  Bhupen Hazarika will be awarded with the honour posthumously.

• Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of India.

• The Bharat Ratna awardee receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President of India and a medallion in the form of a Peepal leaf.

·         South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa to be Chief Guest at R-Day Parade

• South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosawill be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Parade. He is the second President of South Africa after Nelson Mandela to be the Chief Guest at the parade.

• Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi is revered in the African nation as he had an important role in the non-violent movement in South Africa.

• India was at the forefront of the international community in its support to the anti-apartheid movement there. India is among the top five trading partners of South Africa.

• Both countries have close cooperation in the areas of vocational training and capacity building.

• ICAR’s ‘Kisan Gandhi’ tableau wins first prize at R-Day parade

• The ICAR tableau in the Republic Day Parade has won the first prize for its Kisan Gandhi theme.

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research tableau with the theme “Mishrit Kheti, Khushiyon Ki Kheti” portrayed Gandhi with goats and a cow and Kasturba engaged with charkha and caring animals. The tableau showcased a view from Bapu Kuti at Wardha Ashram.

• Tripura bagged the first prize for the state tableau while tableau from Jammu and Kashmir was adjudged the second and Punjab won the third prize.

• Southern Railway won number one for cleanliness
• The Southern Railway has bagged the number one position for cleanliness in all the 17 railway zones in the country.

• This achievement was under the category of other than Premium Category trains in the recent Trains Cleanliness Survey conducted by IRCTC on all India level.

• The survey is conducted once a year to periodically monitor the progress of ‘Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat’ mission.