SPORTS
Sumit Nagal became first ever Indian to win main draw match at Monte Carlo Masters
• On April 9, 2024, Sumit Nagal made history by becoming the first-ever Indian to secure a main draw victory at the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament.
• In an impressive performance, Nagal defeated Italy's Matteo Arnaldi, ranked 35th globally, in the opening round. The match went to three sets, with Nagal emerging victorious with a score of 5-7, 6-2, and 6-4 at the ATP Masters event.
• This achievement marks Nagal as only the third Indian to feature in the main draw at Monte Carlo, following in the footsteps of Vijay Amritraj (1977) and Ramesh Krishnan (1982). Furthermore, he also became the first-ever male Indian singles player to win a Masters 1000 match on clay.
• Sumit Nagal, a prominent figure in Indian tennis, currently holds the position of the country's top-ranked player.
• The Monte Carlo Masters is an esteemed annual tennis tournament held in France, catering to male professional players. It is recognized as one of the nine ATP Tour Masters 1000 events on the ATP Tour.
APPOINTMENTS
Manoj Panda named as a new finance commission member.
• Manoj Panda has been appointed as a new full-time member of the Sixteenth Finance Commission by the government.
• Formerly the director of the Institute of Economic Growth, Panda brings a wealth of experience in economics to his new role. His appointment completes the finance panel, which previously operated with only three full-time members alongside Chairperson Arvind Panagariya.
• Panda is widely recognized in the field of economics and has previously served as the RBI Chair Professor at the Institute of Economic Growth.
• The Sixteenth Finance Commission was established on December 31, 2023. Its full-time members include Ajay Narayan Jha, Annie George Mathew, Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, and Soumya Kanti Ghosh.
• Tasked with submitting its report by October 31, 2025, covering a period of five years starting from April 1, 2026, the commission held its inaugural meeting on February 14, 2024.
Delhi High Court appoints retired Justice Najmi Waziri as head of Delhi Forest Protection Committee The Delhi High Court has
• Former judge Najmi Waziri has been appointed as the chairman to establish an internal departmental committee dedicated to safeguarding Delhi's forests.
• The primary objective of this committee is to implement effective measures for the protection, conservation, restoration, and improvement of forest areas.
• The committee has been tasked with taking proactive steps to safeguard both protected and deemed forests in the region.
• Additionally, the committee aims to facilitate coordination among various government departments involved in forest management and conservation efforts.
• The decision to form this committee, led by Justice Waziri, comes after previous efforts by other agencies faced challenges in gathering essential documents and records.
• The establishment of this committee underscores the government's commitment to enhancing its efforts towards forest protection and conservation.
LEGAL NEWS
The Supreme Court has affirmed that the Right against climate change is a distinct fundamental and human right.
• In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court acknowledged the right against the adverse impacts of climate change as a separate fundamental right enshrined in the Constitution.
• This ruling came in response to a case concerning the survival of the endangered Great Indian Bustard species.
• Furthermore, the court recognized that the Right to health under Article 21 is significantly affected by factors such as air pollution, shifts in vector-borne diseases, rising temperatures, droughts, and food shortages due to crop failure.
• Additionally, the Supreme Court underscored the interconnectedness between climate change and various human rights, including indigenous rights, gender equality, and the right to development.
• The violation of the right to a healthy environment can have profound implications on rights such as the right to life, personal integrity, health, water, housing, as well as procedural rights.
• Moreover, the court highlighted India's immense potential for solar energy, noting that the country receives approximately 5,000 trillion kWh per year of solar energy.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES AND INITIATIVES
FSSAI launches awareness campaign on food safety aspects at prominent market
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched awareness campaign on food safety aspects at major markets of Delhi.
• In collaboration with the Food Safety Department, Delhi, the campaign was launched from Khan Market and INA Market of Delhi.
• The primary focus of the campaign is on identifying and addressing issues related to pesticide residue and food product contaminants.
• During the programme, the owners of food businesses were sensitized on issues such as the value of organic farming and the need to test raw materials.
• The owners of food businesses were also sensitized on the dangers of pesticide residues, artificial ripening, and the use of banned chemicals for wax coating.
• The Food Safety on Wheel mobile lab project by FSSAI was introduced to the traders and market associations.
• The Food Safety on Wheel mobile lab has a number of quick testing assays that can find up to 50 pesticide residues in a variety of food matrices.
AWARDS
15th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards 2024
• SJVN Limited has won two prestigious awards at the 15th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards 2024, instituted by the Construction Industry Development Council.
• SJVN has been conferred with ‘Achievement Award for Creating Social Development & Impact’ and ‘CIDC Partners in Progress Trophy’.
• Smt. Geeta Kapur, Chairperson & Managing Director of SJVN, expresses gratitude for the recognition, highlighting the company's commitment to CSR.
• SJVN Foundation, the registered trust, manages all CSR initiatives of SJVN.
• Over Rs. 450 crores invested in diverse CSR activities, covering education, healthcare, infrastructure, disaster assistance, cultural preservation, and sports promotion.
