PIB Summary- 11th May, 2021 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

National Technology Day

Context: India celebrates May 11 as ‘National Technology Day’.

About National Technology Day:

• The day celebrates the achievements and contributions of Indians to science and technology.
• The day commemorates India conducting three successful nuclear tests at the Indian Army’s Pokhran Test Range in Rajasthan under Operation Shakti in 1998. Read more about this event in This Day in History dated May 11.
• The National Technology Day was observed for the first time on May 11, 1999.
• Usually, a large-scale event is organised in New Delhi for the National Technology Day celebrations and the President is invited to be the chief guest. He confers awards to scientists and honours them for their achievements.
• The National Technology Day 2021 theme is “Science and Technology for a Sustainable Future”.
• In 2020, the theme was ‘Rebooting the Economy through Science, Technology and Research Translations’ titled ‘RESTART’.

India-Swiss Financial Dialogue

Context: 4th India-Swiss Financial Dialogue held virtually.

Details

• The Dialogue, inter-alia, covered sharing of experiences by both countries for collaboration on various aspects including investments, International Financial Services Centre Authority (IFSCA), National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), FinTech, sustainable finance and cross border financial services.
• Further, matters relating to G20, IMF and tax challenges arising from the digitisation of the economy was discussed along with infrastructure financing.
• Both the countries shared views and perspective on their respective countries and global economic scenario.
• Both sides emphasised the importance of coordinated bilateral action on a clean and resilient post-COVID world.

Background

• India and Switzerland have had cordial and friendly relations based on shared values of democracy and rule of law.
• India’s policy of non-alignment and Switzerland’s traditional policy of neutrality has led to a close understanding between the two countries.
• Both the countries have several bilateral dialogue mechanisms in place and this financial dialogue remains amongst the most important.

Prelims Facts

Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA)

• The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has awarded IREDA with “Green Urja Award” for being the Leading Public Institution in Financing Institution for Renewable Energy this year.
• Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) is a Mini Ratna (Category – I) Government of India enterprise under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• IREDA is a Public Limited Government Company established as a Non-Banking Financial Institution in 1987.
• It is engaged in promoting, developing and extending financial assistance for setting up projects relating to new and renewable sources of energy and energy efficiency/conservation.
• IREDA’s Motto is “Energy for Ever.”
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.