Current affairs 19 June 2023

Ramachandra Guha's book wins Elizabeth Longford Prize.

Historian and writer Ramchandra Guha’s book Rebels Against the Raj: Western Fighters for India’s Freedom has won the Elizabeth Longford Prize for Historical Biography 2023.
Guha has been awarded £5,000 (₹5 lakhs approximately) and a bound copy of Elizabeth Longford’s memoir, The Pebbled Shore.
Guha also received a bound copy of Longford’s autobiography, The Pebbled Shore (1986).
The annual prize "was established in 2003 in affectionate memory of Elizabeth Longford (1906-2002), an acclaimed historical biographer and family matriarch best known for Victoria RI (1964), her scholarly and readable life of Queen Victoria, for her magisterial Wellington: Years of the Sword (1969), and Wellington: Pillar of State (1972)".
The award was founded in 2003 by Flora Fraser and Peter Soros to commemorate British historian Elizabeth Longford.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has awarded the Eat Right Station certification to Guwahati Railway Station for its provision of high-quality and nutritious food to passengers.
This makes it the first station under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to receive this status, valid for two years starting from June 2.
The Eat Right India scheme, initiated by FSSAI, aims to transform the country’s food system towards safe, healthy, and sustainable food for all passengers.

India’s overall exports in May 2023 stood at US$60.29 billion, comprising both merchandise and services. While there was a decline in exports compared to the same period last year, several sectors demonstrated positive growth.
The trade deficit for April-May 2023 also improved significantly, indicating a positive trend in India’s trade performance.

The Indian Navy recently launched an outreach program called Julley Ladakh (Hello Ladakh) to increase awareness about the Navy and engage with the youth and civil society in the pristine state of Ladakh.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Jasjit Singh, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff, flagged off a 5000 km Motorcycle Expedition on June 15, 2023, from the National War Memorial as part of this initiative.

The central government of India has recently taken a proactive step towards improving the well-being of its employees by introducing the Y-Break – Yoga at Office Chair protocol.
This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy), aims to help professionals relieve stress, rejuvenate their energy levels, and enhance concentration.
The protocol includes a series of simple yoga practices, such as asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), and dhyana (meditation), all of which can be easily incorporated into a short break from work.