Notes:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh virtually conducted the final breakthrough blast of the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh, recently. The construction of the tunnel is expected to be over by June 2022.
Sela tunnel is expected be the world’s largest bi-lane tunnel at an altitude of more than 13,000 feet. The construction is being undertaken by Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The tunnel goes through Sela Pass and will cut down the distance to the China border through Arunachal Pradesh by 10 km.

Notes:
The Chief of the World Health Organisation honored the late Henrietta Lacks with the Director-General award.
She an American woman whose cancer cells were taken without her knowledge during the 1950s. The cells provided the foundation for vast scientific inventions, including research about the coronavirus. The ‘HeLa’ cell line, derived from the first two letters of Henrietta Lacks, helped in the development of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines.

Notes:
The Department of Biotechnology has recently launched ‘One Health’ consortium, to monitor important bacterial, viral and parasitic infections of zoonotic and pathogens in the country.
The project aims to study the use of existing diagnostic tests and the development of additional procedures for monitoring and understanding the spread of emerging diseases. One Health Consortium consists of 27 organisations led by DBT-National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad.

 

Notes:
The Tawang Ganden Namgyal Lhatse (Tawang Monastery), which is the second largest monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, is located in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
India strongly rejected China’s objection to a recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh by Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu. China has been objecting to visits of Indian leaders to Arunachal Pradesh, citing it as a part of South Tibet. Tawang provides a strategic entry into India’s northeastern region and is a critical point in the corridor between Tibet and Brahmaputra Valley.

Notes:
The President of India Ram Nath Kovind has awarded President’s Tatrakshak Medal (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medal (TM) to Indian Coast Guard personnel.
The awards are being given to the personnel of Indian Coast Guard on Republic Day and Independence Day every year, since 26 Jan 1990. The awards are given for their act of exemplary gallantry and meritorious service on the occasion of the Republic Day 2021.