PIB Summary- 15th June, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Mandatory Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery

Mandatory Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery effective from 16th June.

Details:

• Mandatory hallmarking of gold jewellery/artefacts was to be implemented from 15th Jan 2020 but was extended to 1st June 2021 to clear old stock of non-hallmarked jewellery.
• In view of the Covid pandemic, this date has been extended further to 15th June.
• Mandatory hallmarking will make jewellers selling gold jewellery and artefacts register with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and sell only hallmarked gold jewellery & artefacts.
• The purpose of making hallmarking mandatory is to ensure that consumers are not cheated while buying gold ornaments and get the purity as marked on the ornaments.
• This will enhance the credibility of the product and help to develop India as a leading gold market centre in the world.
• According to World Gold Council, India has around 4 lakh jewellers, out of this only 35879 have been BIS certified.

Global Yoga Conference 2021

Context:
Global Yoga Conference 2021 was organised by the ‘Mokshayatan Yog Sansthan’ along with the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India & the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

Details:

• The event was organised to mark the occasion of the 7th International Day of Yoga which falls on 21st June 2021.
• The theme for the International Yoga Day 2021 is “Yoga at home and Yoga with Family”.

International Yoga Day

International Yoga Day was declared by the UN General Assembly on 11th December 2014. Yoga is a mental, physical and spiritual discipline or practice that has its origins in India. 

• The day of 21st June was suggested by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the UN because it is the longest day of the year. 
• The day also has special relevance in several different parts of the globe. The draft resolution was introduced in the General Assembly by India’s Permanent Representative.
• The draft received support from 177 members and they adopted the text without a vote.
• Many international leaders supported this initiative. 
• The resolution was co-sponsored by 175 countries, which is the highest number of co-sponsors for a UN General Assembly resolution of such a type.
• Indian diplomatic missions, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Prime Minister of India himself have ramped up their social media diplomacy on yoga. Yoga is seen as one of the best examples of soft power.

International Yoga Day 2021

This year, the theme for International Yoga Day is “Yoga for well-being” and focuses on the importance of Yoga not just for physical well being but also for mental health.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to upend the lives and livelihoods of people globally. With restrictions implied in various parts of the world, the pandemic has exacerbated psychological suffering and mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.   

A virtual event is to be held conducted on June 21, 2021, on the occasion of the 7th annual International Yoga Day and broadcasted on the UNWebTV. 

Yoga is a powerful tool to deal with the stress of uncertainty and isolation, as well as to maintain physical well-being. The World Health Organisation (WHO) mentions yoga as a means to improve health in its Global action plan on physical activity 2018–2030: more active people for a healthier world.

Yoga

The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of the body and the consciousness.

• It cultivates different ways of maintaining a stable attitude in everyday life and enhances skills for different activities.
• It is said that it is a union of body and mind. 
• Its origins can be traced back to almost 5000 years.
• A number of seals and fossil remains of the Indus Saraswati Valley civilization having Yogic motives and figures performing Yoga Sadhana suggest the presence of Yoga in ancient India.
• While Yoga finds a mention in the Rig-Veda, it became more prominent as hatha yoga texts emerged around the 11th century.
• Yoga includes Asanas, Mudras, Kriyas, Shaktakarmas and Meditation.

Code on Social Security, 2020

Context:
Draft Rules relating to Employee’s Compensation under the Code on Social Security, 2020 notified.

Details:

• The Labour Ministry has notified the draft rules relating to Employee’s Compensation under the Code on Social Security, 2020 for inviting objections and suggestions, if any, from stakeholders.
• The Code amends and consolidates the laws relating to social security with the goal to extend social security to employees and workers in the organised as well as unorganised sectors.
• Chapter VII of the Code contains provisions relating to employer’s liability for compensation in case of fatal accidents, serious bodily injuries or occupational diseases.
• The notified Rules provide for the provisions relating to:
  • The manner of application for claim or settlement.
  • Rate of interest for delayed payment of compensation.
  • The venue of proceedings and transfer of matters.
  • Notice and manner of transmitting money from one competent authority to another
  • Arrangements with other countries for the transfer of money paid as compensation.

Sankalp Se Siddhi – Mission Van Dhan

Context:
Minister for Tribal Affairs launched the tribal livelihoods initiative ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi – Mission Van Dhan’.

About Sankalp Se Siddhi – Mission Van Dhan:

• The mission was launched to promote local products manufactured by tribal artisans to ensure the sustainable livelihood of the tribal population across India.
• Through this, tribal people will get new employment opportunities and they themselves will be able to become entrepreneurs.
• TRIFED plans to expand its operations through convergence of various schemes of different Ministries and Departments and launch the various tribal development programs in Mission Mode under “Sankalp Se Siddhi – Mission Van Dhan” for expediting its implementation in a Mission mode.
• Now all the schemes of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs will be available on a single platform.