Category: Current Affairs

Assam Current Affairs – August 13-15, 2024

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Assam and North East Current Affairs & GK- August 13-15, 2024

(Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for August 13-15, 2024)

New Orchid Species Discovered in Sikkim

A unique orchid species- Gastrodia indica, was recently discovered in Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, Sikkim, by botanist Madhusudan Khanal.

About Gastrodia indica: 

  • Gastrodia indica was found at an altitude of 1,950 to 2,100 meters.
  • It is the first orchid from India that never opens its flower. 
  • This is the first cleistogamous species of the genus Gastrodia discovered from India. 
  • The Gastrodia genus is known for terrestrial, herbaceous, and holomycotrophic orchids. 
  • Cleistogamous plants are highly specialized, as they do not depend on external pollinators like insects or wind for reproduction. 
  • Gastrodia indica is a holomycotrophic plant, meaning it depends entirely on fungi for its nutrients because it lacks chlorophyll.
  • It grows in moist, decaying leaf litter and is found near tree species like Magnolia doltsopa and Acer campbelli. 
  • Gastrodia indica faces potential threats due to its limited population and specific habitat requirements.

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF): 2024

Union Minister for Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan released the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024. 

National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2024 were released for 16 categories this year, three more than last year, with open universities, skill universities, and State public universities being the three new categories.

 

NIRF Ranking 2024:  

  • Engineering Institutes: IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay
  • Universities: IISc, Bengaluru JNU, New Delhi, JMI New Delhi 
  • Overall Institutes: IIT Madras, IISc, Bengaluru, IIT Bombay
  • Management Institutes: IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode 
  • Medical Colleges: AIIMS, New Delhi PGIMER, Chandigarh Christian Medical College, Vellore 
  • Colleges: Hindu College, Delhi Miranda House, Delhi St. Stephen’s College, Delhi 
  • State Universities: Anna University, Chennai Jadavpur University, Kolkata Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 
  • Law Institutes: National Law School of India University, Bengaluru National Law University, Delhi NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad 
  • Architecture and Planning Institutes: IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur, NIT Calicut 
  • Open Universities: IGNOU, Netaji Subhash Open University, Kolkata Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Ahmedabad
  • Innovation: IIT Bombay IIT Madras IIT Hyderabad 
  • Agriculture and Allied Sectors: Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 
  • Research Institutes: IISc, Bengaluru IIT Madras IIT Delhi
  • Medical: AIIMS Delhi topped the category. 
  • Dental: Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, and Manipal College of Dental Sciences retained the top two positions. Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences, New Delhi,  secured third position. 

 

About NIRF: 

  • Introduced by: Ministry of Education, Government of India, in 2015 
  • Aims to provide a fair and transparent assessment of higher education institutions in India. 
  • Evaluation Parameters: NIRF evaluates institutions based on five broad categories.
  1. Teaching, Learning, and Resources (TLR) 
  2. Research, Professional Practice, and Collaborative Performance (RPC) 
  3. Graduation Outcomes (GO) 
  4. Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) 
  5. Perception (PR)

Gallantry Awards 2024

President Smt Droupadi Murmu has approved 103 Gallantry awards to Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel on the eve of Independence Day 2024. 

These are:  four Kirti Chakras including three posthumous; 18 Shaurya Chakras including four posthumous; one Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry); 63 Sena Medals (Gallantry) including two posthumous; 11 Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry); and six Vayu Sena Medals (Gallantry). 

Gallantry Awards 

Kirti Chakra 

  • Total Awards: 4 (including 3 posthumous) 
  • Instituted in 1952 as Ashoka Chakra Class-II, renamed Kirti Chakra in 1967. 
  • Awarded for conspicuous gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy. 
  • The medal is circular in shape, made of standard silver. The obverse features an embossed replica of the Ashoka Chakra surrounded by a lotus wreath. 
  • The ribbon is green, divided into three equal parts by two orange vertical lines.

 

Shaurya Chakra 

  • Total Awards: 18 (including 4 posthumous)
  • Instituted in 1952 as Ashoka Chakra Class-III, renamed in 1967. Awarded for gallantry otherwise than in the face of the enemy. The medal is circular in shape with the Ashoka Chakra in the center, surrounded by a lotus wreath. 
  • Ribbon is green divided by three vertical lines. Bars are awarded for subsequent acts of gallantry. 

 

Sena Medal (Gallantry) 

  • Total Awards: 64 (including 2 posthumous and 1 Bar).
  • Awarded to personnel of the Indian Army for acts of bravery or exceptional service. 
  • The Bar recognizes additional acts of bravery. 

Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) 

  • Total Awards: 11 
  • Gallantry award for the Indian Navy, recognizing exceptional devotion to duty or courage. 

Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) 

  • Total Awards: 6 
  • Instituted in 1960 to recognize exceptional devotion to duty or acts of courage by Air Force personnel. 
  • Includes awards for individual acts of bravery and devotion to duty.

 

Mention-in-Despatches 

The President has also approved 39 Mention-in-Despatches, including to Army Dog Kent (posthumous) for their significant contributions in different military operations. 

The operations include Operation Rakshak, Operation Snow Leopard, Operation Sahayata, Operation Hifazat, Operation Orchid and Operation Katchal.

  • Operation Rakshak: Ongoing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir. 
  • Operation Snow Leopard: Response to standoff with Chinese forces along the LAC in Ladakh. 
  • Operation Sahayata: Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. 
  • Operation Orchid: Counter-insurgency in the Naga Hills and Tuensang area of Nagaland. 
  • Operation Hifazat: Counter-insurgency in the Nagaland-Manipur-Arunachal Pradesh area. 

 

Police Medals President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG) 

President’s Medal for Gallantry (PMG): The highest police decoration for bravery, awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry in saving life and property, preventing crime, or arresting criminals. 

1 PMG awarded to Shri Chaduvu Yadaiah, Head Constable of Telangana Police, for his extraordinary bravery during a violent confrontation with criminals involved in chain-snatching and arms dealing. 

Medal for Gallantry (GM): 213 GMs awarded for acts of gallantry, with categories including decorations for firefighters and civil defence personnel. 

President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM): 94 President’s Medal for Distinguished Service (PSM) awarded for exceptional and distinguished service in police work. 

Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM): 729 Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) were awarded for valuable service characterized by resourcefulness and devotion to duty.

Three new wetlands added to the list of Ramsar sites

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that three more wetlands from India have been added to the list of Ramsar sites. This makes the total Ramsar sites count in India to 85. 

The new sites are the Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary and the Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu, and the Tawa Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh.

 

About the newly designated Ramsar Sites:

Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): 

  • Nanjarayan Tank Bird Sanctuary is a protected area and bird sanctuary located in Tiruppur district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
  • It is a home to species like the Eurasian coot, spot-billed duck, and various herons. 

 

Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu): 

  • Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary is a protected area and bird sanctuary located in Villupuram district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
  • The sanctuary has the brakish shallow Kazhuveli lake, which is connected to the Bay of Bengal by the brackish Uppukalli creek and the Edayanthittu Estuary.

 

Tawa Reservoir (Madhya Pradesh): 

  • Tawa Reservoir is located in Itarsi of Narmadapuram District of Madhya Pradesh state, above Betul district. 
  • The reservoir was formed by the construction of the Tawa Dam. The dam provides for irrigation to several thousand hectares of farming land in Narmadapuram and Harda districts. 
  • Tawa Reservoir forms the western boundary of Satpura National Park and Bori Wildlife Sanctuary.

One India-One Ticket Initiative

Indian Railways and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) have partnered to promote the ‘One India-One Ticket’ initiative, to enhance the travel experience for passengers on Indian Railways and Namo Bharat Trains.

Key Points

  • This initiative will enable a unified booking system, allowing commuters to seamlessly travel between Indian Railways and RRTS services.
  • It will allow passengers to book Namo Bharat tickets through IRCTC platform with flexible cancellation and payment.
  • RRTS ticket booking options will appear on the PNR confirmation page and within the user’s booking history.
  • Passengers can generate Unique QR code for Namo Bharat train ticket. The code will be valid for 4 days around the journey date options. 
  • Namo Bharat tickets can be booked up to 120 days in advance, aligning with the current Railway reservation window.

Vinay Mohan Kwatra assumes charge as Indian Ambassador to US

Former Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra assumed charge as the Ambassador of India to the United States. Kwatra succeeds Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Kwatra has held various positions in many of India’s missions abroad and in India, bringing with him nearly 32 years of experience across a range of assignments. 

Kwatra has previously served at the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office as Joint Secretary. He also served as Minister (Commerce) at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., from May 2010 to July 2013. 

He headed the Policy Planning & Research Division of the Ministry of External Affairs between July 2013 and October 2015, and later served as the head of the Americas Division in the Foreign Ministry, where he managed India’s relations with the United States and Canada.

Huge reservoir of water under Mars, seismic data indicates

Scientists have discovered a reservoir of liquid water deep under Mars’ surface, based on seismic data from NASA’s InSight mission.

The study, ‘Liquid water in the Martian mid-crust’, was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). It was conducted by a team from the University of California San Diego, led by scientists Vashan Wright, Matthias Morzfeld, and Michael Manga.

 

Key Points

  • This finding has big implications for understanding how water cycles and climate on Mars have changed over time.
  • Water is located 10-20 km deep, believed to have seeped from the surface billions of years ago. If widespread, this water could fill an ocean 1-2 km deep across Mars.
  • The existence of liquid water raises the tantalizing possibility of discovering a habitable environment on Mars.
  • This discovery could redefine the search for life on Mars, shifting the focus to deep underground environments. It also suggests that Mars may have vast reservoirs of water that could have shaped its geological history.

Australia, U.S., U.K. Sign Nuclear Transfer Deal for AUKUS Submarines

Australia has signed an important deal with the US and the UK to share nuclear secrets and materials. This agreement is a key step toward giving Australia nuclear-powered submarines, as part of the AUKUS security pact.

 

About AUKUS 

It is a trilateral security partnership between Australia, US and UK signed in 2021 to strengthen security and defence interests. 

It aims to build nuclear-powered submarines for Australia

and to develop new military technologies together.

 

Key highlights of the deal 

  • Under the deal, the United States intends to sell Australia three US Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines, in the early 2030s, with an option for Australia to buy two more if needed. 
  • The multi-stage project would culminate with British and Australian production and operation of a new submarine class – SSN-AUKUS. 
  • SSN-AUKUS will be a trilaterally developed vessel based on Britain’s next-generation design. It would be built in Britain and Australia and include cutting edge U.S. technologies. 
  • Britain would take delivery of its first SSN-AUKUS submarine in the late 2030s, and Australia would receive its first in the early 2040s.

 

Impact of this deal

For Australia: Australia will join a small group of countries with nuclear-powered submarines, improving its naval power in the Pacific. 

Australia is committed to not using these submarines for nuclear weapons. 

For U.S.: This is only the second time the U.S. has shared nuclear submarine technology, the first being with the U.K. in 1958. 

For U.K.: The SSN-AUKUS will be built in the U.K. and Australia, using advanced U.S. technology. 

First units will be delivered to the U.K. in the late 2030s and to Australia in the early 2040s.

For India: It can be a tool in strengthening India’s idea of ‘strategic autonomy’ in Indo-Pacific and can complement Quad grouping.

For France: France is not happy with the deal and has termed this deal a “stab in the back” because Australia canceled a previous contract for French submarines.

For Indo-Pacific Region: Under this partnership, technology, scientists, industries and defence forces of these three countries will work together to deliver a safer and more secure region. Some analysts feel that this partnership will lead to intensified arms race in the region.

Govt Issues Guidelines for Model Solar Village Scheme 

The Government has issued operational guidelines for the implementation of Model Solar Village under PM-Surya Ghar-Muft Bijli Yojana.

Key Highlights of the Draft Guidelines

  • Under the scheme component ‘Model Solar Village’, emphasis has been made on creating one Model Solar Village per district across India, with the goal of promoting solar energy adoption and enabling village communities to become self-reliant in meeting their energy needs. 
  • Funding: A total financial outlay of ₹800 crore has been allocated for this component, providing ₹1 crore per selected Model Solar Village.

Criteria: 

  • In order to be considered a village under the competition mode, a village must be a revenue village with a population size above 5,000 (or 2,000 for special category states). 
  • The selection process involves a competitive mode where villages are assessed on their overall distributed renewable energy (RE) capacity installed 6 months after the declaration of the potential candidate by District Level Committee (DLC). 

The winning village in each district, with the highest RE capacity, will receive a central financial assistance grant of ₹1 crore. 

Implementation: The implementation of this scheme will be done by State/UT Renewable Energy Development Agency under the supervision of District Level Committee (DLC).

About PM-Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana 

  • It is a central scheme to promote the adoption of solar rooftop systems by providing substantial financial subsidies and ensuring ease of installation.
  • It aims to provide free electricity to one crore households in India, who opt to install roof top solar electricity units. 
  • The scheme has an outlay of Rs 75,021 crore and is to be implemented till FY 2026-27.

Release of Publication “Women and Men in India 2023

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, released the 25th issue of its publication titled “Women and Men in India 2023”.

The publication is a comprehensive and insightful document that attempts to bring a holistic view of the situation of women and men in India and provides data on a wide range of topics such as Population, Education, Health, Participation in Economy, Participation in Decision making etc. among others. 

Key Highlights of the Publication

  • Population: By 2036, population of India is expected to reach 152.2 Crore, with a slightly improved female percentage of 48.8% as compared to 48.5 percent in 2011. 
  • Age Demographics: The proportion of individuals under 15 years is projected to decrease from 2011 to 2036, likely due to declining fertility. Conversely, the proportion of the population aged 60 years and above is anticipated to substantially increase during this period.
  • Sex Ratio: India’s population in 2036 is expected to be more feminine compared to the 2011 population, as reflected in the sex ratio which is projected to increase from 943 in 2011 to 952 by 2036, highlighting a positive trend in gender equality.
  • Age-Specific Fertility Rates: It is evident that from 2016 to 2020, Age Specific Fertility Rate in the age group of 20-24 and 25-29 has reduced from 135.4 and 166.0 to 113.6 and 139.6 respectively. 

The ASFR for the age 35-39 for the above period has increased from 32.7 to 35.6 which shows that after settling in the life, women are thinking of expansion of family. 

  • Adolescent Fertility Rate was 33.9 for illiterate population whereas 11.0 for the literate in 2020. This rate considerably lower for even those who are literate but without any formal education (20.0) as compared to illiterate women reemphasizing the importance of imparting education to women.
  • Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): India has made notable progress in reducing MMR, achieving a rate of 97 per lakh live births for the period 2018-20. This is a significant step towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 70 by 2030.
  • Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has decreased for both genders, with the rate for females equalizing with that of males at 28 per 1,000 live births in 2020. The Under-5 Mortality Rate has also reduced, indicating improvements in child health. Infant mortality rate (IMR) measures the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births.
  • Labour Force Participation: The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for both genders has increased. 

For men, it rose from 75.8% to 78.5% between 2017-18 and 2022-23, while for women, it increased from 23.3% to 37% during the same period. This indicates greater female involvement in the workforce. Voter Turnout 

  • Election Participation: Women’s voter turnout has increased over the years. In the 2019 elections, women’s participation reached 67.2%, surpassing men’s turnout for the first time. This reflects growing political engagement among women. 
  • Women Entrepreneurs: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has recognized a total of 1,17,254 start-ups between 2016 and 2023. 

Among these, 55,816 start-ups are led by women, constituting 47.6% of the total recognized start-ups.

CSIR-NPL Launches Certification Process for Continuous Emission Monitoring 

The Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) is crucial for tracking pollution in India’s industries. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) made it mandatory to install CEMS in 2014.

To address concerns over the reliability of these systems, the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) launched a certification process to ensure CEMS meet national and international standards.

The certification process includes four levels of quality assurance (QAL-1 to QAL-3) along with yearly checks to keep CEMS functioning well. QAL-1 focuses on proving the equipment’s suitability through thorough testing and audits. 

To further improve the quality of CEMS data, CSIR-NPL is working with the CPCB to develop additional quality assurance procedures, aiming to create a complete framework.

About CSIR-NPL 

  • The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL) was set up in 1947. 
  • It focuses on measuring and setting standards. 
  • It helps industries by making sure their measurements are correct. 
  • The lab has advanced research facilities for many  scientific areas.

 

Important National & International Days in August 2024 – APSC Assam Govt Exam Notes

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Important National and International Days in August 2024 – APSC Assam Govt Exam Notes

Current Affairs Page

August 2024 Important Days and Events
August Dates Name of Important Days in August
1 August World Wide Web Day
1 August World Lung Cancer Day
3 August National Watermelon Day
4 August Friendship Day (First Sunday of August)
6 August Hiroshima Day
7 August National Handloom Day
9 August Quit India Movement Day
9 August Nagasaki Day
9 August International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
9 August National Book Lover’s Day
10 August World Lion Day
10 August World Biofuel Day
12 August International Youth Day
12 August World Elephant Day
13 August International Lefthanders Day
13 August World Organ Donation Day
14 August Youm-e-Azadi (Pakistan Independence Day)
14 August Malayalam New Year
15 August National Mourning Day (Bangladesh)
15 August Independence Day in India
17 August Indonesian Independence Day
17 August Gabon Independence Day
17 August Afghanistan Independence Day
19 August World Photography Day
19 August World Humanitarian Day
19 August Sanskrit Diwas
20 August World Mosquito Day
20 August Sadbhavna Diwas
20 August Indian Akshay Urja Day
23 August
International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
23 August
European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism
23 August ISRO Day
26 August Women’s Equality Day
26 August Mother Teresa Anniversary
29 August National Sports Day
30 August Small Industry Day

 

List of Important Days and Dates in August 2024

 August- World Lung Cancer Day

World Lung Cancer Day is observed annually. The goal of Lung Cancer Day is to raise awareness about the risks, prevention, and early detection of lung cancer, while also providing support to those affected by the disease.

1 August- World Wide Web Day

World Wide Web Day is observed on August 1 globally. The day honours and acknowledges the founder of the Internet, Tim Berners-Lee. This date is considered the birth of the modern internet.

3 August- National Watermelon Day

National Watermelon Day on August 3 recognizes the refreshing summertime treat enjoyed at picnics and fairs. It is a non-official American holiday.

3 August- Cloves Syndrome Awareness Day

Every year August 3 is observed as Cloves Syndrome Awareness Day globally. The day aims to spread awareness about the rare genetic disorder. Its emphasis is on action to gather community support.

4 August (First Sunday of August) – Friendship Day

Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August and in 2024 it falls on 4 August. In 1935, a tradition of dedicating a day in honour of friends began in the US. Gradually Friendship Day gained popularity and various countries including India also celebrate this day.

6 August – Hiroshima Day

Hiroshima Day is observed on 6 August every year. This is the day when the atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.

7 August – National Handloom Day

It is observed on 7 August every year to honour the handloom weavers in the country. This year 6th National Handloom Day is celebrated.

9 August – Quit India Movement Day

All India Congress Committee session in Bombay on 8 August 1942, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi launched the ‘Quit India Movement’. It is also known as August Movement or August Kranti.

9 August – Nagasaki Day

The United States on 9 August 1945 dropped a second bomb on Japan at Nagasaki and the bomb is also known as ‘Fat Man’. It was dropped three days after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

9 August – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Every year International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is celebrated on 9 August to encourage people from around the world to spread the UN’s message on the protection and promotion of the rights of indigenous peoples.

10 August – World Lion Day

It is observed on 10 August annually. The objective is to spread awareness and educate people about lions and their conservation.

10 August – World Biofuel Day

It is observed on 10 August to spread awareness about unconventional sources of fuels that could work as an alternative to fossil fuels.

12 August – International Youth Day

International Youth Day is celebrated on 12 August around the globe to focus on the development and protection of youth in society.

12 August: World Elephant Day

It is observed on 12 August annually to make people understand to preserve and protect the giant animal elephant. This is the way to bring the world together to help elephants.

13 August – International Lefthanders Day

Every year on 13 August Lefthanders Day is observed. It raises awareness about the problems and difficulties that left-handed persons faced.

13 August – World Organ Donation Day

World Organ Donation Day is observed on 13 August to spread awareness about the importance of organ donation.

14 August – Youm-e-Azadi (Pakistan Independence Day)

Youm-e-Azadi or Pakistan Independence Day is observed annually on 14 August. On this day Pakistan achieved Independence and was declared a sovereign nation following the end of British rule in 1947.

14 August- Malayalam New Year

Vishu is a cultural festival celebrating the Malayali New Year in Kerala, Tulu Nadu, and Mahe of India. Vishu falls on the first day of the month of Medam in the Malayalam Calendar.

15 August – National Mourning Day (Bangladesh)

On 15 August, National Mourning Day in Bangladesh is observed. On this day Bangladesh’s first President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated along with most of his family members.

15 August – Independence Day in India

Every Year on 15 August, India celebrates Independence Day. As of this day, India got freedom from British rule. It makes us remind about a new beginning, the beginning of a new era free from British colonialism of more than 200 years.

17 August – Indonesian Independence Day

Indonesian Independence Day is celebrated on 17 August every year. This day is celebrated as the declaration of independence from Dutch colonization in 1945.

17 August- Gabon Independence Day

Gabon Independence Day is observed every year on the 17th of August. This day honours the country’s independence in 1960. It is a national holiday in Gabon and is celebrated in numerous ways including parades, concerts and fireworks.

17 August- Afghanistan Independence Day

Afghan Independence Day in Afghanistan is celebrated as a national holiday on August 19th. This day marks the memory of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919, an event where Afghanistan regained its independence from being under British rule. Back in the day, Afghanistan had been under British control and was considered a British protectorate due to the Treaty of Gandamak, which was signed in 1879 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

19 August – World Photography Day

World Photography Day is observed on 19 August annually to raise awareness about the importance of photography.

19 August – World Humanitarian Day

World Humanitarian Day is observed annually on 19 August around the world to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service. This day also honours the work of women in crises throughout the world.

19 August- Sanskrit Diwas

World Sanskrit Day, also known as Vishva-Samskrita-Dinam, is an annual event focused on the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit that incorporates lectures about the language and is aimed to promote its revival and maintenance.

20 August – World Mosquito Day

World Mosquito Day is observed on 20 August every year to commemorate the British doctor, Sir Ronald Ross’s discovery in 1897 that ‘female mosquitoes transmit malaria between humans’.

20 August -Sadbhavna Diwas

Sadbhavna Divas is observed on 20 August every year to commemorate the memory of our late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. In English, Sadbhavna means goodwill and bonafide.

20 August -Indian Akshay Urja Day

Indian Akshay Urja Day is celebrated on 20 August annually to raise awareness about the development of renewable energy in India. It is a campaign that is celebrated since 2004. This day commemorates the birthday of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

23 August – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition

This day is observed on 23 August every year to remind us of the tragedy of the slave trade in memory of all people that is about the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade. It provides a chance to think about the historic causes and the consequences of the slave trade.

23 August – European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism

This day is observed on 23 August every year as a remembrance day for victims of totalitarian regimes mainly Communism, Fascism, Nazism, etc. It is also known as Black Ribbon Day in some countries. This day also symbolises the rejection of “extremism, intolerance, and oppression”.

23 August- ISRO Day

PM Modi announced the celebration of ISRO Day on August 23. The day will commemorate the soft landing of Chandrayaan 3 on the south pole of the Moon.

26 August – Women’s Equality Day

This day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which granted the women right to vote. In 1971, the U.S. Congress officially recognized August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.

26 August- Mother Teresa Anniversary

Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, widely known as Mother Teresa, was born on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, Ottoman Empire. She served as an inspiration to thousands, encouraging them to extend help to one another and to promote humanity and care.

29 August – National Sports Day

National Sports Day is celebrated on 29 August every year to honour the birthday of Dhyan Chand a field hockey player. National Sports Day is also known as Rashtriya Khel Divas.

30 August – Small Industry Day

Small Industry Day is observed on 30 August every year to support and promote small-scale industries.

Current Affairs Page

Assam Current Affairs – August 04-06, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – August 04-06, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for August 04-06, 2024)

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Current Affairs Assamexam

August 04-06, 2024 

Om Prakash Mathur sworn in as 18th Governor of Sikkim

Om Prakash Mathur was sworn in as the 18th Governor of Sikkim. 

He was administered the oath of office by Sikkim High Court Chief Justice Biswanath Somadder during a function held at the Raj Bhavan.

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, State Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, and senior officials of state civil and police administration were present on the occasion. 

Om Prakash Mathur is a former member of Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan state in India and is a senior politician from Bharatiya Janata Party. 

Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera Assumes Charge as Assam Rifles Director General

Lt General Vikas Lakhera assumed charge as the new Director General of the Assam Rifles. He succeeds Lieutenant General P C Nair.

Lt General Vikas Lakhera is often referred to as the “Sentinels of the Northeast“. Lt Gen Lakhera has held various command and staff appointments Served as the Additional Director General Military Operations, handling information warfare Gained extensive experience in planning and executing counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeastern region 

Lt Gen Lakhera has been awarded several honors, including the Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Sena Medal, and multiple commendation cards, reflecting his commitment to excellence and significant contributions to the Army.

Dr. Nani Gopal Mahanta has been appointed as the 18th Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University

Dr. Nani Gopal Mahanta, a noted academician and political scientist, has been appointed as the new Vice Chancellor of Guwahati University. 

Dr. Mahanta, who previously served as the academic advisor to the Assam government from 2021 to February 2024, is widely recognized for his extensive work in political science. 

Before his advisory role with the government, he was a professor in the Political Science department at Guwahati University. 

Holding an MA in Political Science from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and a PhD from Guwahati University, Dr. Mahanta’s academic journey also included a two-year course on Peace, Conflict Resolution, and Policy Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, as a Rotary World Peace Fellow. 

Swapnil Kusale Wins Bronze Medal in 50m Rifle 3 Position 

Swapnil Kusale has become the first Indian shooter to secure a medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Position (3P) event at the Paris Olympics.

Swapnil steadily climbed the ranks to finish 3rd with a total score of 451.4 points, securing a Bronze medal for the nation. This is India’s third medal at the Paris Olympics, with all three coming from shooting events.

Achievements: 

Swapnil Kusale’s journey to this historic Olympic medal has been decorated with numerous achievements: 

  • World Championship, Cairo (2022): Finished 4th, winning an Olympic quota place for India. 
  • Asian Games 2022: Gold medal in the Team event. 
  • World Cup, Baku (2023): Gold in mixed team event and two silver medals in individual & team events. 
  • World Championship, Cairo (2022): Bronze medal in the team event. 
  • World Cup, New Delhi (2021): Gold medal in the team event.

Swapnil won gold in 50m rifle prone 3 in the junior category in 2015 Asian Shooting Championships in Kuwait. 

He also won the 59th National Shooting Championship held in Tughlakabad ahead of Gagan Narang and Chain Singh in the 50m rifle prone event. 

He repeated the same performance in 61st National Championship in Thiruvananthapuram by winning a gold in 50m rifle 3 position.

President Murmu conferred with Fiji’s Highest Civilian Award 

President Droupadi Murmu has been awarded the Companion of the Order of Fiji, the highest civilian honour from Fiji recognising the strong India-Fiji ties. President Murmu is the first Indian President to visit the South Pacific island nation of Fiji.

President Murmu’s visit aims to strengthen diplomatic ties and build on shared historical and regional interests in the Indo-Pacific. The cultural exchanges and recognition during the visit show mutual respect and a commitment to supporting smaller island nations in the Pacific.

During the meeting, President Murmu was awarded the Companion of the Order of Fiji, the highest honour in Fiji. This award signifies deep respect and strong connections between India and Fiji. 

VIRAASAT:  Handloom Expo

VIRAASAT”, a fortnight long exhibition dedicated to celebrating 10th National Handloom Day began at Handloom Haat in Janpath New Delhi, on 3rd August 2024. 

The event was organized by the National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, will conclude on 16th August 2024.

The exhibition aims to celebrate the rich tradition of handloom and handicrafts in India and to provide a platform for handloom weavers and artisans to connect with buyers.

About VIRAASAT: 

  • It is organized by the National Handloom Development Corporation Ltd (NHDC) under the Ministry of Textiles. 
  • The series “VIRAASAT”- the “Exclusive Handloom Expo” is a continuation of celebrations held during previous years around the National Handloom Day. 
  • The event focuses on the glorious tradition of Handloom and Handicrafts. 
  • It also provides a market connected to the handloom weavers and artisans. 
  • The unique products such as Banarasi, Jamdani, Baluchari, Madhubani, Kosa, Ikkat, Patola, Tussar Silk, Maheshwari, Moirang Phee, Baluchari, Phulkari, Laheriya, Khandua and Tangaliya will be featured in this exhibition.

Significance of National Handloom Day: 

The first National Handloom Day was celebrated on 7th August 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai. 

The National Handloom Day highlights the socio-economic contribution of the handloom sector and reaffirms the Government’s resolve to protect handloom heritage and empower weavers with better opportunities.

Srinagar Designated as World Craft City

Srinagar has become the fourth Indian city to be recognized as a ‘World Craft City’ by the World Craft Council (WCC).

Jaipur, Malappuram and Mysore are the other Indian cities that have previously been recognised as World Craft Cities.

In the year 2021, Srinagar was designated as a creative city as a part of the UNESCO Creative City Network (UCCN). Craft products like paper pulp, walnut wood carvings, carpets, Sozni embroidery, pashmina and Kani shawls are made here.

About About World Craft Council (WCC): 

  • It was founded in 1964 to promote the preservation, protection, and development of traditional crafts and foster economic development through crafts.
  • The World Craft Council (WCC) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization affiliated with UNESCO.
  • Mrs. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay of India, one of the founding members of WCC-International, attended the first WCC General Assembly.
  • This program helps in opening up new markets for the artisans and new opportunities for the craft products made by them and they get the benefit of advanced training programs and workshops

About UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) : 

  • UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was launched in 2004. 
  • It is primarily aimed at cities that recognize creativity as a key factor in their urban development. 
  • The seven creative sectors under this network include crafts and folk arts, media arts, film, design, gastronomy, literature and music.

Bhoj Wetland

The Union Government denied that the international Ramsar site, Bhoj Wetland in Bhopal faces no threat of delisting from Ramsar Convention list of wetlands of International importance.

About Bhoj Wetland 

  • Bhoj Wetland is located in the center of Bhopal district in Madhya Pradesh. 
  • The wetland includes two man-made lakes: the upper lake and the lower lake. 
  • Since August 2002, they have been recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. 
  • The Upper lake is called Bhojtal (Bada Talaab) and the Lower Lake is known as Chhota Talaab. 
  • The Upper Lake is surrounded by Van Vihar National Park on the south, human settlements on the east and north, and agriculture fields on the west. The Upper Lake is a major source of potable water for Bhopal.
  • The Bhoj Wetland, recognized as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention since August 2002, supports a rich variety of flora and fauna, including numerous waterbirds.

India’s Rankings in International Index & Reports in 2024 & 2023 (Latest Rankings)

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India’s Rankings in International Index & Reports in 2024 & 2023 (Latest Rankings)

India’s Rankings in International Indices & Reports is a very important topic for any exams.

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Index Index released by India’s Rank 1st Rank
QS World University Rankings Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Bombay and Delhi 150th IIT Bombay
WEF’s Global Gender Gap Index World Economic Forum 129th –
IEP’ Global Peace Index 2024  Institute for Economics & Peace   116th Iceland
WEF’s Energy Transition Index  World Economic Forum  63rd Sweden

World Press Freedom Index 2024

global media watchdog Reporters

159

Norway

World University Rankings (CWUR) 2024

The Center for World University Rankings

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad

Harvard University

Young University Rankings 2024

Times Higher Education

Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU)

Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore

Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024

World Economic Forum

39th

United States

Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2024

Oxford Economics

350th position, New Delhi

New York City

Bloomberg Billionaires Index 2024

Bloomberg L.P.

Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani

Bernard Arnault from France

Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2024

Times Higher Education magazine

Indian Institute of Science (IISc), 32nd position.

Tsinghua University and Peking University in China

The Business Environment Rankings (BER) for 2024

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

10th

Singapore

Hurun global unicorn index 2024,

Hurun research institute

3rd with 67 unicorns

United states with 703 unicorns

World University Rankings by Subject for 2024.

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has secured the 45th rank

1st place in this category is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States of America

‘World cybercrime index’

International team of researchers

10th

Russia

World airport traffic dataset

The airports council international (aci)

Delhi’s igi airport was ranked 10th globally

Hartsfield-jackson atlanta international airport.

Hurun Global Rich List 2024,

Hurun Research Institute

3rd

China

Human Development Index (HDI)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

134th

Switzerland

Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) 2024

World Bank Group

113th

Belgium

State Energy Efficiency Index (SEEI) 2023

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE)

Karnataka

–

Gender Inequality Index (GII)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),

108th

Denmark

Indian Institutional Ranking Framework

Education Post, a monthly magazine

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad

–

Brand Guardianship Index 2024

Brand Finance

2nd (Mukesh Ambani of Reliance)

First rank is held by Huateng Ma of China-based Tencent

FIFA rankings

Fédération Internationale de Football Association

117th

Argentina

International IP Index 2024

Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC) of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

42nd

USA

Henley Passport Index 2024

International Air Transport Association & Henley & Partners

80th

France

MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) index

Morgan Stanley Capital International

2nd

China

2023 Corruption Perceptions Index

Transparency International

93rd

Denmark

Global derivatives market

World Federation of Exchanges

3rd

US

The 2024 Military Strength Ranking

Global Firepower

4th

US
World Digital Competitiveness Ranking IMD World Competitiveness Center 49th U.S.A
QS World University Rankings Quacquarelli Symonds 220th in the world Toronto

S&P’s Ranking 

 S&P Global Market Intelligence 4th largest insurer Allianz SE from Germany.

Inclusiveness Index

 Othering and Belonging Institute (OBI) at California 117th New Zealand
Global Mobile Speed Ranking Ookla 47th  UAE
Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Organization 40th Switzerland
 World University Rankings Times Higher Education 4th University of Oxford

Digital Quality of Life Index		 Surfshark 52nd France
World Trade Statistical Review World Trade Organization 18th –
THE Young University Rankings Times Higher Education 77th Singapore
Global Peace Index Institute for Economics & Peace 126 Iceland
WEF’s Energy Transition Index World Economic Forum 67th Sweden
Global Liveability Index Economist Intelligence Unit 46th Vienna
Global Gender Gap Index World Economic Forum 127th Iceland
World Press Freedom Index Reporters Without Borders 161 Norway
Global Business Environment Rankings Economist Intelligence Unit 52nd Singapore
Brand Guardianship Index 2023 Brand Finance 2nd (Mukesh Ambani of Reliance) Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia
Electoral Democracy Index — 108th —
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2022-23 Global Report Adapting to a “New Normal Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and National Entrepreneurship Context 4th UAE
Electricity Market Report 2023 International Energy Agency’s (IEA) — China
World Happiness Index 2023 Sustainable Development Solutions Network 136th         Finland
Global Firepower Report 2023 —  4th America

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Index Published by India’s Rank
Climate Change Performance Index 2023 Germanwatch 7th rank
International IP Index 2024 U.S. Chamber of Commerce 42nd position unchanged since 2022
Global Soft Power Index 2024 Brand Finance

29th rank

(28th position in 2023)
Human Development Index (2023-2024) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 134th out of 193 countries (135 in 2022)
Henley Passport Index 2024 International Air Transport Authority (IATA) 80th rank
Gender Inequality Index 2022 UNDP

108th out of 193 countries

(122 rank in 2021)
Future Possibilities Index 2024

Newsweek Vantage and Horizon Group



 

 35th rank
World Happiness Report 2024 UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) 126th rank
Global Terrorism Index 2023 Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) 13th rank
Global Innovation Index 2023 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 40th rank out of 132 economies
Global Hunger Index 2023 Concern Worldwide and Welt Hunger Hilfe 111 (slipped four positions as compared to last year)
Global Competitiveness Index International Institute for Management Development (IMD). 40th rank
Global Peace Index 2023 Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) 126th (two places higher than its previous position)
Corruption Perceptions Index 2023 Transparency International 93rd (85th rank in 2022)
World Press Freedom Index 2023 Reporters Without Borders (RSF). 161th rank
Rule of Law Index 2023 World Justice Project 79th rank
Global Liveability Index 2023 Economist Intelligence Unit
  • New Delhi and Mumbai: 141st
  • Chennai: 144th
  • Vienna: ranked 1st
Global Multidimensional Poverty Index 2023 United Nations Development Programme and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI)

– 415 million poor people moved out of poverty from 2005/2006 to 2019/2021.

– Decline in the poverty head-count ratio from 44.3% in 2005/2006 to 11.8% in 2019/2021.
Energy Transition Index 2023 World Economic Forum  67th 
Democracy Index 2023 Economist Intelligence Unit 41st (placed in the category of a “Flawed Democracy”)
World Economic Outlook 2024 International Monetary Fund
  • India’s growth projected at 6.5% in 2024 and 2025.
  • Global growth projected at 3.1% in 2024 and 3.2% in 2025. 
Global Remittances Inflow Report 2023 World Bank India tops remittance flows at USD 125 billion in 2023.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Report  Oxford University Press  India was the world’s top arms importer in 2019-23 with imports having gone up by 4.7% compared to the 2014-18
Military Strength Ranking 2024 Global Firepower (GFP) 4th
Logistics Performance Index 2023 World Bank 38th (Improved by six places from 44 in 2018)
World Air Quality Report 2024 IQAir India ranks as the third most polluted country. New Delhi ranked as the most polluted capital city.

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Assam Current Affairs – August 01-03, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – August 01-03, 2024

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Current Affairs Assamexam

August 01-03, 2024 

World Wide Web Day

World Wide Web Day is celebrated annually on 1st August. It is a global celebration that commemorates the creation of the World Wide Web (WWW) and its profound impact on human connectivity. 

This day serves as a tribute to the immense impact of the Web on modern society and a reminder of its role in fostering global connectivity and innovation.

This day honours the groundbreaking invention of Tim Berners-Lee, an English scientist who conceptualized and developed the WWW in 1989 while working at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN).

Significance Celebration of World Wide Web Day 2024 

  • This day highlights the web’s transformative effects on communication, education, healthcare, research, and entertainment. 
  • This day aises awareness about the importance of online security and protecting user data. 
  • Emphasizes the need for a more inclusive web that supports diverse communities and perspectives and encourages continued development and ethical use of web technologies to drive future advancements.

India Ranks 39th in Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024

India is ranked 39th among 119 countries, according to the Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024 report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

As per the TTDI report, out of the TTDI pillars mentioned, India’s scores have improved in three areas: Prioritization of Travel & Tourism, Safety & Security, and Health & Hygiene. As per UNWTO barometer for May 2024, there were 975 million International Tourist arrivals around the world in 2022, wherein India recorded 14.3 million International Tourist Arrivals that represented 1.47% of the international inbound tourism market share. The share of India’s International Tourist Arrivals in Asia & Pacific is 15.66% in 2022.

Travel and  Tourism Development Index 

  • The Travel and Tourism Development Index is a biennial report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF). 
  • The 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index was prepared in collaboration with the University of Surrey, England. This year, 119 countries have been ranked on the Index. 
  • The Travel and Tourism Development Index benchmarks and measures the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of the Travel and tourism sector, which plays a role in a country’s development. 

Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill, 2024

The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak Bill, is a proposed legislation introduced to replace the outdated Aircraft Act of 1934.

Need to Replace the Aircraft Act 1943: 

  • The Act has been amended multiple times to enhance safety, and oversight, and align with international conventions, creating ambiguities and confusion for stakeholders. 
  • To eliminate outdated provisions. 
  • Improve ease of doing business and streamline processes. Address design, manufacture, and maintenance of aircraft and related equipment.

Objective 

  • The primary objective of the Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 is to reform and streamline the processes and protocols associated with air traffic management in India. 
  • It aims to integrate advanced technologies and international best practices to ensure the safe and efficient movement of air traffic within the Indian airspace.

Important Provisions: 

  • Empowerment for Rule-Making: The Central Government is empowered to make rules to implement international civil aviation conventions. Examples include the Chicago Convention (1944) and the International Telecommunication Convention (1932). 
  • Enhanced Powers for Aviation Authorities: Increased powers for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Enhanced authority for the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS). Greater powers for the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). 
  • Emergency Powers: The Central Government is empowered to issue orders in emergencies for public safety, such as detaining aircraft. 
  • License and Certification Management: Central Government can suspend, cancel, or restrict licenses or certifications with a hearing opportunity for affected parties. 
  • Appeal Process: Introduction of a second appeal between the initial appeal and final appeal to the Secretary, MoCA. 

Significance of the Bill: 

  • The Bill aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by regulating aircraft design and manufacturing. 
  • It expands coverage to include drones, UAVs, flying taxis, and electronic gliders. 
  • This move addresses the needs of a rapidly growing aviation market, with ICRA forecasting an 8–13% growth in domestic air passenger traffic for FY2024.

Exercise Tarang Shakti

India will host its first multinational air exercise, ‘Tarang Shakti 2024’, in two phases, taking place in Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

It aims to showcase India’s defence capabilities and enhance cooperation among the participating militaries. 

Key Points

  • This exercise will enhance relationships with international community members and will help to improve mutual understanding of air operations through complex missions. 
  • It aims to boost military cooperation and highlight India’s defence industry, supporting the country’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
  • Phase one of the exercise will be conducted at Sulur in Tamil Nadu from August 6 to August 14 and four countries including France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom will participate with their assets. 
  • Phase two will be held at Jodhpur in Rajasthan from September 1 to 14 and it will see participation from Australia, Bangladesh, Greece, Singapore, UAE and the USA with their assets.

Swapnil Kusale earns third bronze medal for India in shooting

Swapnil Kusale has become the first Indian shooter to secure a medal in the 50m Rifle 3 Position (3P) event at the Paris Olympics. He finished his match with 451.4 to settle for a bronze medal. 

The gold medal was won by the world record holder Liu Yukun of China with 463.6 points, while the silver was won by Ukraine’s Serhiy Kulish with 461.3 points.

Achievements: 

Swapnil Kusale’s journey to this historic Olympic medal has been decorated with numerous achievements: 

  • World Championship, Cairo (2022): Finished 4th, winning an Olympic quota place for India. 
  • Asian Games 2022: Gold medal in the Team event. 
  • World Cup, Baku (2023): Gold in mixed team event and two silver medals in individual & team events. 
  • World Championship, Cairo (2022): Bronze medal in the team event. 
  • World Cup, New Delhi (2021): Gold medal in the team event.

Two Indian Astronauts Selected for Axiom-4 Mission

India has announced the selection of two astronauts, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Key Features

  • Indian astronauts will receive training from NASA, international partners, and SpaceX, focusing on spacecraft systems and emergency preparedness, as part of India-US space cooperation goals.
  • The crew will consist of professional astronauts and private individuals, including researchers and potentially tourists, who have undergone rigorous training for the mission.
  • Axiom-4 is expected to be a short-duration mission, lasting approximately 14 days. 
  • During their time aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the crew will conduct scientific experiments, perform technology demonstrations, and engage in educational outreach.

About Axiom-4 Mission 

  • Axiom Mission 4 (or Ax-4) is a private spaceflight to the International Space Station. 
  • It is operated by Axiom Space and uses a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. 
  • The flight is in collaboration with NASA and will be the fourth flight of Axiom Space after Axiom Mission 1, Axiom Mission 2 and Axiom Mission 3. 
  • Scheduled to launch in 2024, Axiom-4 will continue the company’s pioneering efforts to establish a sustainable human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

mRNA vaccine development against human avian influenza (H5N1)

A new initiative to develop and distribute mRNA vaccines for human avian influenza (H5N1) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP).

The initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to improve the sharing of influenza viruses and vaccine access under the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework.

About mRNA Vaccine technology 

  • mRNA vaccines work by introducing a piece of mRNA that corresponds to a viral protein, usually a small piece of a protein found on the virus’s outer membrane. 
  • mRNA is a genetic molecule that contains instructions or recipe that directs cells to make a protein using its natural machinery. This mRNA prompts cells to create viral proteins, triggering the immune system to produce antibodies and boost the immune system. 
  • The mRNA Technology Transfer Programme has already developed a platform for COVID-19 vaccine candidates, which is now being adapted for other diseases, enhancing global vaccine equity.

India Elected as Vice-Chair of IPEF’s Supply Chain Council

India has been elected as the vice-chair of the Supply Chain Council (SCC) under the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). 

India and 13 other Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) partners have established three supply chain bodies under the landmark Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) Agreement relating to Supply Chain Resilience.

The IPEF has created three councils to deal with different supply chain issues:

Supply Chain Council: To pursue targeted, action-oriented work to strengthen the supply chains for those sectors and goods most critical to national security, public health, and economic well-being. 

Crisis Response Network: To provide a forum for a collective emergency response to exigent or imminent disruptions. Labour

Rights Advisory Board: Brings together workers, employers, and governments at the same table to strengthen labour rights and workforce development across regional supply chains.

Recent Appointments: 

During the meetings, each of the three supply chain bodies elected a Chair and Vice Chair, who will serve for a term of two years. The elected chairs and vice chairs are: 

Supply Chain Council: USA (Chair) and India (Vice Chair)

Crisis Response Network: Republic of Korea (Chair) and Japan (Vice Chair) 

Labour Rights Advisory Board: USA (Chair) and Fiji (Vice Chair)

Nano-MIND Technology

Researchers from the Center for Nanomedicine at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Yonsei University in South Korea have successfully demonstrated the ability to control specific brain regions in mice using magnetic fields.

About Nano-MIND Technology

  • Nano-MIND technology utilizes magnetic fields and magnetized nanoparticles to wirelessly and remotely modulate specific deep brain neural circuits. 
  • This innovative approach enables precise activation or inhibition of targeted neurons, providing a powerful tool for researchers to study and influence brain activity without invasive procedures. 
  • By harnessing magnetism, Nano-MIND offers a new level of control over brain function that surpasses traditional methods, which often involve electrical stimulation or pharmacological interventions.

Highlights of the research 

  • The research team demonstrated the technology’s capabilities by activating specific neurons in different brain regions of mice. 
  • One notable achievement was the activation of inhibitory GABA receptors in the medial preoptic area (MPOA), which is responsible for maternal behaviours. 
  • When these neurons were stimulated in non-maternal female mice, the animals exhibited significantly increased nurturing behaviours, mimicking those of maternal mice. 
  • The researchers also successfully regulated feeding behaviours by targeting motivation circuits in the lateral hypothalamus.

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Top Universities/Institutes in Assam

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NIRF 2024 Ranking – Top Universities/Institutes in Assam
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Top Higher Education Institutions and Universities in Assam as per NIRF 2024 Ranking

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Overall Category

Rank Institution/University
9 Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
57 Guwahati University
92 National Institute of Technology Silchar
101-150 Tezpur University
101-150 Assam University
101-150 Dibrugarh University

NIRF 2024 Ranking – University Category

Rank Institution/University
40 Guwahati University
69 Tezpur University
101-150 Assam University, Silchar
101-150 Dibrugarh University

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Engineering Category

Rank Institution/University
7 Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
40 National Institute of Technology Silchar
151-200 Indian Institute of Information Technology Guwahati
151-200 Tezpur University

NIRF 2024 Ranking – State Public University Category

Rank Institution/University
13 Guwahati University
28 Dibrugarh University

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Pharmacy Category

Rank Institution/University
12 National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Guwahati
43 Dibrugarh University

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Law Category

Rank Institution/University
27 National Law University and Judicial Academy

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Management Category

Rank Institution/University
95 Tezpur University

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Agriculture and Allied Sectors Category

Rank Institution/University
14 Assam Agricultural University

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Research Institutions

Rank Institution/University
10 Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
 
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India at Olympic 2024 – Six Medal Winners | APSC/Assam Exams Current Affairs GK

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India at Paris Olympic 2024 – Full list of medal winners | APSC/Assam Exams Current Affairs GK

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India, with a total of 6 medals, including one silver and five bronze medals, finished at the 71st spot in the overall medal tally in the 2024 Paris Olympics. India’s metal tally is reduced also because of Indian fell a little short due to multiple fourth-place finishes and the disheartening disqualification of Vinesh Phogat from her gold medal bout.

Comparatively, India was ranked 48th overall finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with a total of 7 medals, including one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.

India opened their account with shooter Manu Bhaker, who secured a bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Manu was again involved in the second medal win for India when she and her partner Sarabjot Singh won the bronze medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event, defeating South Korea.

Manu also became India’s first athlete to win two medals at the same Olympic Games in the post-independence era. India’s shooting contingent broke a 12-year shooting medal drought, and in some style. With three medals, India’s shooters were the best performing contingent.

India secured their third medal from shooting when shooter Swapnil Kusale became the first Indian to win the bronze medal in the men’s 50m rifle three-position event.

India’s hockey team, was once again on the podium after defeating Spain 2-1 in their bronze medal match. The hockey team, with their win, secured India’s fourth medal in Paris and their 13th overall medal in the Olympic Games.

Neeraj Chopra, although unable to defend his 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medal, still managed to secure a podium finish for himself and medal number five for India by winning the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw event.

The sixth and final medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics for India was also a historic one. The 21-year-old Aman Sehrawat, who won the bronze medal in the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling event after defeating Puerto Rican Dorian Toi Cruz 13-5, became the youngest Indian to win a medal at the Summer Olympics.

Indian medal winners at Paris Olympics 2024
Indian athletes Medal Event
Manu Bhaker Bronze Women’s 10m air pistol event
Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh Bronze 10m air pistol mixed team event
Swapnil Kusale Bronze Men’s 50m rifle 3 positions
Indian hockey team Bronze Men’s hockey
Neeraj Chopra Silver Men’s Javelin Throw
Aman Sehrawat Bronze Men’s 57kg freestyle event

 

Paris Olympics 2024, Closing Ceremony Live Updates: Manu Bhaker and PR Sreejesh are India’s flag bearers for the closing ceremony in Paris.

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Assam Current Affairs – January 28-31, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 28-31, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for January 28-31, 2024)

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 28-31, 2024 

Ministry of Education releases All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-2022

The Ministry of Education, Government of India releases All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-2022. The Ministry has been conducting AISHE since 2011, covering all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in the country registered with AISHE collecting detailed information on different parameters such as student enrollment, teachers, infrastructural information, etc.

Key findings of the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2021-22

  • Total enrollment in higher education increased from approximately 4.14 crore in the previous session to nearly 4.33 crore in 2021-22, marking an increase of around 19 lakh students. 
  • Female enrollment increased from 2.01 crore in 2020-21 to 2.07 crore in 2021-22. The increase in female enrollment from 2014-15 (1.57 crore) to 2021-22 (2.07 crore) accounts for around 50 lakh students. 
  • In 2021-22, 57.2 lakh students were enrolled in the science stream, with female students outnumbering male students (29.8 lakh versus 27.4 lakh). 
  • Female Ph.D. enrollment doubled from 0.48 lakh in 2014-15 to 0.99 lakh in 2021-22. The annual increase in female Ph.D. enrollment for the period 2014-15 to 2021-22 is 10.4%. 
  • The enrollment of Scheduled Tribe (ST) students increased from 16.41 lakh in 2014-15 to 27.1 lakh in 2021-22, marking a 65.2% increase.
  • Total student enrollment in North East States increased from 9.36 lakh in 2014-15 to 12.02 lakh in 2021-22. Female enrollment in North East States (6.07 lakh) surpassed male enrollment (5.95 lakh) in 2021-22. 
  • OBC student enrollment increased by 45% in 2021-22 (1.63 crore) compared to 2014-15 (1.13 crore). Minority student enrollment increased from 21.8 lakh in 2014-15 to 30.1 lakh in 2021-22, with female minority enrollment witnessing a 42.3% increase
  • The total number of Universities / University level institutions registered is 1,168, Colleges 45,473 and Standalone Institutions 12,002. 
  • In all, 341 Universities/University level institutions have been established since 2014-15. 17 Universities (of which 14 are State Public Universities) and 4,470 Colleges are exclusively for women.

About All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE): 

  • The All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) is an annual statistical exercise conducted by the Ministry of Education (formerly known as the Ministry of Human Resource Development) in India.
  • It has been published since 2011 with the objective to portray the status of higher education in the country. 
  • The survey covers all institutions providing higher education in the country. 
  • Data is being collected on multiple parameters, such as teachers, student enrollment , programmes, examination results, education finance and infrastructure. 
  • Indicators of educational development such as institution density, gross enrollment ratio, student-teacher ratio, gender parity index, per student expenditure will also be calculated from the data collected through AISHE.

Laughing Gull Spotted for the First Time in India

The laughing gull, a migratory bird originating from North America, has been observed for the first time in the country at the Chittari estuary in Kasaragod district of Kerala.

About Laughing gull

  • The laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) is a species of bird belonging to the family Laridae.
  • It is a medium-sized gull with a distinctive appearance characterized by its black head, black legs, long drooping bill white body, and long wings.
  • The bird is known for its unique laughter-like calls which resemble human laughter. 
  • These birds are most commonly found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, as well as the Caribbean and parts of Central America.
  • They are known for their adaptability and opportunistic feeding habits.They eat mainly fish, shellfish, crabs, molluscs, insects, bird eggs, and young birds. 

E-Ink displays

An E-ink display is a screen that aims to replicate the experience of reading and writing on paper. They are used in e-readers like the Amazon Kindle. 

About E Ink displays

  • The technology was originally developed in the 1990s at MIT and is now owned by E Ink Corporation.
  • The screens work by manipulating microcapsules filled with positively and negatively charged particles, creating text and images without the need for backlighting. 
  • This makes them ideal for prolonged reading, as they reflect light like paper and consume minimal power.
  • They are being used at bus stop displays, walking direction signs, and some restaurants’ menu boards.

Pros and Cons 

Advantages: E Ink displays excel in low power consumption, making them suitable for devices requiring extended battery life. They also minimize eye strain due to their paper-like visual experience, matte surface, and outdoor readability. 

Disadvantages: E Ink displays have slower refresh rates compared to LCD and OLED screens, rendering them unsuitable for video or animation. They also have limitations regarding color and resolution and remain relatively expensive for larger sizes.

The PM inaugurates the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court of India

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Supreme Court of India at the Supreme Court auditorium in Delhi. He also launched citizen-centric information and technology initiatives that include Digital Supreme Court Reports (Digi SCR), Digital Courts 2.0 and a new website of the Supreme Court.

About the Supreme Court of India

  • The Supreme Court of India is the apex judicial body under the Constitution of India. 
  • Article 124 of the Constitution states that “There shall be a Supreme Court of India.” 
  • The Supreme Court came into existence on January 26, 1950, with the coming into force of the Constitution.
  • The Supreme Court has original, appellate, and advisory jurisdiction. 
  • It serves both as the final court of appeals and the final interpreter of the Constitution. 
  • Its exclusive original jurisdiction extends to any dispute between the Government of India and one or more States or between the Government of India and any State or States on one side and one or more States on the other, or between two or more States, if and insofar as the dispute involves any question (whether of law or fact)on which the existence or extent of a legal right depends.
  • Article 32 of the Constitution gives extensive original jurisdiction to the Supreme Court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights.

Status Report of Snow Leopards in India

The Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the report on the Status of Snow Leopards in India during the National Board for Wildlife meeting held in New Delhi. 

The report was released as part of the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Program, which is the first-ever scientific exercise that reports Snow leopard population of 718 individuals in India. 

About Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Program

  • The SPAI systematically covered over 70% of the potential snow leopard habitat across the trans-Himalayan region, including UTs of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, and states such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
  • The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is the National Coordinator for this exercise that was carried out with the support of all snow leopard range states and two conservation partners, the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru and WWF-India. 
  • The assessment was conducted from 2019 to 2023 using a meticulous two-step framework, including evaluating snow leopard spatial distribution and estimating snow leopard abundance using camera traps.
  • The first step involved evaluating Snow leopard spatial distribution, through an occupancy-based sampling approach in the potential distribution range. In the second step, Snow leopard abundance was estimated using camera traps in each identified stratified region.

Recommendations of the SPAI Program

  • The report emphasises the need for establishing a dedicated Snow Leopard Cell at WII under the MoEFCC to focus on long-term population monitoring. 
  • Consistent monitoring through periodic population estimation is proposed to ensure the long-term survival of snow leopards and to identify challenges, address threats, and formulate effective conservation strategies.

India Nominates ‘Maratha Military Landscapes’ for UNESCO World Heritage List 2024-25

The “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” will be India’s nomination for recognition as the UNESCO World Heritage List for the year 2024-25.

This nomination comprises 12 components, each holding a unique place in history and culture. The twelve component parts of this nomination are, Salher fort, Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Khanderi fort, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala Fort, Vijay durg, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra and Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu. These components, distributed across diverse geographical and physiographic regions, showcase the strategic military powers of the Maratha rule.

About Maratha Military Landscapes

  • The Maratha Military Landscapes of India, which developed between the 17th and 19th centuries, represent an extraordinary fortification and military system envisioned by the Maratha rulers. This extraordinary network of forts, varying in hierarchies, scales and typological features, is a result of integrating the landscape, terrain and physiographic characteristics distinctive to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, the Konkan Coast, Deccan Plateau and the Eastern Ghats in the Indian Peninsula.
  • There are more than 390 forts in Maharashtra out of which only 12 forts are selected under the Maratha Military Landscapes of India, of these eight forts are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. 
  • These are Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala fort, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg and Gingee fort whereas Salher fort, Rajgad, Khanderi fort and Pratapgarh are protected by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra. 
  • In the Maratha Military Landscapes of India Salher fort, Shivneri fort, Lohgad, Raigad, Rajgad and Gingee fort are hill forts, Pratapgad is hill-forest fort, Panhala is hill-plateau fort, Vijaydurg is coastal fort whereas Khanderi fort, Suvarnadurg and Sindhudurg are island forts.

Maratha Military Ideology 

  • The origins of Maratha Military ideology can be traced back to the 17th century during the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (circa 1670 CE). 
  • This enduring legacy continued through subsequent rules, including the Peshwa rule until 1818 CE. 

Nomination and Criteria

  • There are two categories of nomination- cultural and natural criteria, the Maratha Military landscapes is nominated in the category of cultural criteria. 
  • There are six criteria (i to vi) for cultural sites and four criteria (vii to x) for natural sites for inclusion in the World Heritage List.
  • The Maratha Military Landscapes of India is nominated under criterion (iii): To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization that in living or which has disappeared, 
  • criterion (iv): to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble, or landscape that illustrates significant stage(s) in human history and 
  • Criterion (vi): To be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.

India’s UNESCO Heritage

  • At present in India there are 42 World Heritage sites, out of which 34 are cultural sites, seven are natural sites whereas one is mixed site.
  • In Maharashtra there are six World Heritage Sites, five cultural and one natural these are, Ajanta Caves (1983), Ellora Caves (1983), Elephanta Caves (1987), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) (2004), Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai (2018) and western Ghats of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala is serial property in natural category (2012). 
  • The Maratha Military Landscapes of India included in the Tentative List of World Heritage sites in 2021 is the sixth cultural property nominated for inclusion in the World Heritage List from Maharashtra.

India-Saudi Arabia Joint Military Exercise ‘SADA TANSEEQ’

 

The inaugural edition of India-Saudi Arabia Joint Military Exercise ‘SADA TANSEEQ’ commenced at Mahajan, Rajasthan. The Exercise is conducted from 29th January to 10th February 2024. 

 

Participation and Representation: 

  • The Saudi Arabian contingent comprising 45 personnel is being represented by Royal Saudi Land Forces. 
  • The Indian Army contingent also comprising 45 personnel is being represented by a Battalion from the Brigade of the Guards (Mechanised Infantry). 

 

Objectives

  • Aim of the Exercise is to train troops of both sides for Joint Operations in Semi Desert terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. 

 

About Exercise Sada Tanseeq

  • The Exercise will enable both the sides to share their best practices in the tactics, techniques and procedures of conducting operations in sub-conventional domain. 
  • It will facilitate developing interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between troops from both the sides. 
  • The Exercise will involve Establishment of Mobile Vehicle Check Post, Cordon & Search Operation, House Intervention Drill, Reflex Shooting, Slithering and Sniper Firing. 
  • The Exercise will provide an opportunity to both the contingents to strengthen their bond.
  •  It will act as a platform to achieve shared security objectives, enhance the level of defence cooperation and foster bilateral relations between the two friendly nations.

Assam Current Affairs – January 25-27, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 25-27, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for January 25-27, 2024)

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 25-27, 2024 

PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme (PM YASASVI)

PM YASASVI is a Scholarship scheme for Other Backward Class (OBCs), Economically Backward Class (EBC) and Denotified Nomadic Tribes (DNT) Students. 

The scheme aims to provide scholarships to students from various impoverished classes. The Scheme provides these students with the resources they need to become financially independent and continue their studies.

A total of ₹32.44 Crore has been released for Pre-matric Scholarships and ₹387.27 Crore for Post-Matric Scholarships to States/Union Territories (UTs) under the PM YASASVI scheme.

About PM YASASVI 

  • Under this Scheme students can avail Pre-Matric Scholarship from Class 9 to 10 and Post Matric Scholarship for their higher studies at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage. 
  • Students who excel in their studies also get an opportunity of Scholarship to study in Top Class Schools and Colleges under the Scheme of ‘Top Class School Education’ and ‘Top Class College Education’. 
  • Additionally, hostel facilities are provided for OBC students through a construction scheme. 

Eligibility: 

  • Other Backward Class (OBC), Economically Backward Classes (EBC), and Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT) 
  • Parents or guardians annual income is not more than Rs. 2.50 Lakhs. 
  • Studying in a Top Class School in Class 9 or 11.

There are five sub-Schemes under the Scheme. 

  1. Pre-Matric Scholarship for OBC, EBC and DNT Students: For students studying in class IX and X on a full-time basis in Government Schools only. Benefit-The students shall be given a consolidated academic allowance of Rs. 4000/- per annum 
  2. Post-Matric Scholarship for OBC, EBC and DNT Students. : For students studying at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education. Benefits-allowance from Rs.5000 to Rs.20000 is awarded to students as per category of course. 
  3. Top Class School Education for OBC, EBC and DNT Students: For meritorious students belonging to OBC, EBC and DNT categories from Class 9 onwards till they complete Class 12. Benefits-Scholarship is awarded for tuition fee, hostel fee and other charges  subject to a maximum of Rs. 75,000/- per annum per student of class 9 and 10 and Rs. 1,25,000/- per annum per student of class 11 and 12. 
  4. Top Class College Education for OBC, EBC and DNT Students: For students belonging to OBC, EBC and DNT categories. Benefits-by providing full financial support that include tuition fee,living expenses,books and stationaries etcs. 
  5. Construction of Hostel for OBC Boys and Girls -To provide hostel facilities to students belonging to socially and educationally backward classes, especially from rural areas, to enable them to pursue secondary and higher education in the Govt. schools, universities, institutions and institutes located at a reasonable distance.

Arvind Panagariya Appointed Head Of Sixteenth Finance Commission 

The Government of India has appointed Arvind Panagariya, a renowned trade economist and former Niti Aayog vice chairman, as the chairman of the Sixteenth Finance Commission.

Major Terms of Reference for the 16th Finance Commission: 

  • Division of Tax Proceeds: Recommending the distribution of taxes between the Union Government and the States under Chapter I, Part XII of the Constitution. Includes the allocation of shares among the States from these tax proceeds. 
  • Principles for Grants-in-Aid: Establishing principles governing grants-in-aid to the States from the Consolidated Fund of India. Determines amounts to be provided to the States as grants-in-aid under Article 275 of the Constitution. 
  • Enhancing State Funds for Local Bodies: Identifying measures to enhance the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement resources available to Panchayats and Municipalities. Based on recommendations made by the State’s own Finance Commission. 
  • Evaluation of Disaster Management Financing: The Commission may review current financing structures related to Disaster Management initiatives. Examines funds created under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and presents suitable recommendations for improvements or alterations. 

About Finance Commission 

  • The Finance Commission (FC) of India was established by the President in 1951 under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. 

Functions

  • Its primary role is to define and regulate the financial relations between the central government and the individual state governments. 
  • The Finance Commission (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1951, further outlines the qualifications, appointment, disqualification, term, eligibility, and powers of the Finance Commission. 
  • The Fifteenth Finance Commission, made recommendations covering the period of six years commencing on April 1, 2020.

Composition: 

  • Appointed every five years, the FC comprises a chairman and four other members. 
  • The chairman of the commission is selected from among persons who have had experience in public affairs. 
  • Four other members are selected from among persons who: 
  1. are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as Judges of a High Court; 
  2. or have special knowledge of the finances and accounts of Government; 
  3. or have had wide experience in financial matters and in administration; 
  4. or have special knowledge of economics

Padma Awards 2024

The President has approved conferment of 132 Padma Awards including 2 duo cases (counted as one) for the year 2024.

Padma Awards 2024 List

The list comprises 5 Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri Awards. 30 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 8 persons from the category of Foreigners / NRI / PIO / OCI and 9 Posthumous awardees.

About Padma Awards 

  • The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India. They are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. These Awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March / April every year.
  • The Awards are given in various disciplines / fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. 
  • The Padma Awards are provided in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. 
  • The ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is given to people who have done outstanding and remarkable service. 
  • The ‘Padma Bhushan’ is awarded for excellent service of a high order. 
  • The ‘Padma Shri’ is given to those who have shown great service in different fields. 
  • The award contain a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President, medallion and a small replica of the medallion, awardee names are also published in the Gazette of India on the ceremonial day.
  • The award does not amount to title and cannot be used as a suffix or prefix to the awardees’ name.

Padma Vibhushan 2024 

Name                                   Field                State/ Region 

  1. Ms. Vyjayantimala Bali           Art                      Tamil Nadu 
  2. Shri Konidela Chiranjeevi      Art                      Andhra Pradesh 
  3. Shri M Venkaiah Naidu      Public Affairs     Andhra Pradesh
  4. Shri Bindeshwar Pathak    Social Work           Bihar

(Posthumous)  

  1. Ms. Padma Subrahmanyam    Art                 Tamil Nadu

Padma Bhushan Awardees 2024 

Name                                   Field           State/Country 

  1. Ms. M Fathima Beevi   Public Affairs       Kerala 
  2. Shri Hormusji N Cama Literature & Education Maharashtra
  3. Shri Mithun Chakraborty Art West Bengal 
  4. Shri Sitaram Jindal Trade & Industry Karnataka 
  5. Shri Young Liu Trade & Industry Taiwan 
  6. Shri Ashwin Balachand Mehta Medicine Maharashtra 
  7. Shri Satyabrata Mookherjee Public Affairs West Bengal 8. Shri Ram Naik Public Affairs Maharashtra 
  8. Shri Tejas Madhusudan Patel Medicine Gujarat 
  9. Shri Olanchery Rajagopal Public Affairs Kerala 
  10. Shri Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo alias Rajdutt Art Maharashtra 
  11. Shri Togdan Rinpoche Others – Spiritualism Ladakh 13. Shri Pyarelal Sharma Art Maharashtra 
  12. Shri Chandreshwar Prasad Thakur Medicine Bihar 
  13. Ms. Usha Uthup Art West Bengal 
  14. Shri Vijaykanth Art Tamil Nadu 
  15. Shri Kundan Vyas Literature & Education – Journalism Maharashtra

Padma Awards 2024

The Padma Shri Awards 2024 have been announced, honouring 110 distinguished individuals across various fields for their exceptional service. 

Individual/s has been awarded with the Padma Shri Awards 2024 from Assam

  1. Assam’s first female elephant mahout, Parbati Baruah, is recognized for her commitment to mitigating human-elephant conflict.
  2. Sarbeswar Basumatary  also known as “Chirang ke Krishi Chiraag,” is a farmer whose innovative approach to farming, incorporating various technologies, has not only transformed his own agricultural practices but has also garnered attention at the national level.
  3. Folk artiste from Assam Drona Bhuyan, an exponent of Ojapali and Deodhani dancer

Sapinda Marriage

Delhi High Court recently rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of Section 5(v) of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (HMA), which prohibits marriage between Hindus if they are “sapindas” of each other.

About Sapinda Marriage

  • A sapinda marriage is one between individuals who are related to each other within a certain degree of closeness. 
  • Sapinda relationships for the purposes of the HMA are defined in Section 3 of the Hindu Marriage Act. 
  • Under section 3(f)(ii) of the act, two persons are said to be sapindas of each other if one is a lineal ascendant of the other within the limits of sapinda relationship, or if they have a common lineal ascendant who is within the limits of sapinda relationship with reference to each of them. 
  • Under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, on the mother’s side, a Hindu individual cannot marry anyone who is within three generations of them in the line of ascent.
  • On the father’s side, the same prohibition applies to anyone within five generations of the individual.

Exceptions to the Prohibitions Against Sapinda Marriages

  • The Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) provides an exception to the prohibition against sapinda marriages.
  • This exception applies when the customs of each individual involved permit such marriages.
  • According to Section 3(a) of the HMA, a custom must be continuously and uniformly observed for an extended period to gain legitimacy.
  • For a custom to be valid, it must be certain, not unreasonable, and in line with public policy. Additionally, if the custom applies only to a specific family, it should not have been discontinued by that family.

Cabinet approves the scheme for promotion of Coal/Lignite

Union Cabinet approved the scheme for promotion of Coal/Lignite Gasification Projects of Government PSUs and Private Sector with an outlay of Rs.8,500 crore towards incentive for coal gasification projects under three categories.

The cabinet has approved the scheme as follows: 

Total outlay of Rs.8,500 crore will be provided as financial assistance for coal gasification projects under three categories. 

Finance under 3 categories

  • In category I, Rs.4,050 crore provisioned for Government PSUs in which upto 3 projects will be supported by providing lump-sum grant of Rs.1,350 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower.
  • In category II, Rs.3,850 crore provisioned for private sector as well as Government PSUs in which lump-sum grant of Rs.1,000 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower provided for each project. At least one project will be bid out on tariff-based bidding process and its criteria will be designed in consultation with NITI Aayog. 
  • In category III, Rs.600 crore provisioned for demonstration Projects (indigenous technology) and/or small-scale product-based Gasification Plants under which lump-sum grant of Rs.100 crore or 15% of capex, whichever is lower, will be given to the selected entity who will have a minimum Capex of Rs. 100 Crore and minimum production of 1500 Nm3/hr Syn gas.

Project Veer Gatha

The third edition of Project ‘Veer Gatha’, a joint initiative of Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Education as part of Republic Day celebrations, has witnessed an overwhelming pan India response.

About Project Veer Gatha

  • Project Veer Gatha was initiated under the Gallantry Awards Portal (GAP) in 2021 with the primary goal of raising awareness about the brave actions of Gallantry Awardees and sharing their life stories with students.
  • It aims to inspire patriotism and civic values among the youth.
  • It aims to disseminate the details of acts of bravery of the Gallantry Awardees and the life stories of these brave hearts among the students. 
  • The order of precedence for Gallantry awards – Param Vir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, Shaurya Chakra.

Assam Current Affairs – January 22-24, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 22-24, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for January 22-24, 2024)

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 22-24, 2024 

Amit Shah unvelis book ‘Assam’s Braveheart Lachit Barphukan’ 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently launched a book titled ‘Assam’s Braveheart Lachit Barphukan‘.  

The book was released at the Srimanta Sankardev International Auditorium in Guwahati in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The book, authored by Arup Kumar Dutta, delves into the life of the legendary 17th-century Ahom warrior Lachit Barphukan. 

The book highlights Lachit Barphukan’s significant role in defending Assam against the Mughal army, chronicling historical events and the enduring influence of Barphukan’s legacy​​​​.

The book has been published in English language by the state government and translated into 24 scheduled Indian languages.

India-Egypt Joint Special Forces Exercise CYCLONE

The 2nd edition of Exercise CYCLONE, a joint special forces drill between India and Egypt, is taking place in Anshas, Egypt, from January 22 to February 1, 2024. The exercise is designed to develop bilateral military cooperation and strengthen bond between two armies through conduct of discussions and rehearsal of tactical military drills.

About Exercise Cyclone

  • The Indian contingent is being represented by troops from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) and an Egyptian contingent comprising 25 personnel is being represented by Egyptian Commando Squadron and Egyptian Airborne Platoon.
  • Aim of the Exercise is to acquaint both the sides with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of Special Operations in desert/ semi desert terrain under Chapter VII of United Nations Charter.  
  • The Exercise will involve planning and execution of special operations in sub conventional domain and conducted in three phases. 
  • While the first phase will include Military Exhibitions and Tactical Interactions, second phase will focus on training on Improvised Explosive Device (IED), counter IED and Combat First Aid. The third and final phase will encompass Joint Tactical Exercise based on Fighting in Built-up Area and Hostage Rescue Scenarios. 
  • The Exercise will provide an opportunity to both the contingents to strengthen their bond and share best practices. It will also act as a platform to achieve shared security objectives and foster bilateral relations between two friendly nations.
  • The first edition of the exercise was conducted last year in India.

Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana

The PM announced Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana, a pioneering government initiative aimed at installing rooftop solar power systems in one crore households across the nation.

About Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana 

  • This scheme is a new attempt to help reach the target of 40 GW rooftop solar capacity.
  • It will involve installing solar power systems at rooftops for residential consumers. 
  • The scheme would help not only reduce electricity bills of the poor and middle class, but also push India’s goal of becoming self-reliant in the energy sector.

Current Solar Capacity in India

  • According to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, solar power installed capacity in India has reached around 73.31 GW as of December 2023. 
  • Meanwhile, rooftop solar installed capacity is around 11.08 GW as of December 2023. Overall, solar power has a major share in the country’s current renewable energy capacity, which stands at around 180 GW. 
  • High performing states In terms of total solar capacity, Rajasthan is at the top with 18.7 GW. Gujarat is at the second position with 10.5 GW. 
  • When it comes to rooftop solar capacity, Gujarat tops the list with 2.8 GW, followed by Maharashtra by 1.7 GW.

Previous schemes to promote rooftop solar system 

In 2014, the government launched the Rooftop Solar Programme. This had aimed to achieve a cumulative installed capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW) or 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2022.

‘Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman campaign’

The Vice-President of India had inaugurated ‘Hamara Samvidhan, Hamara Samman’ to commemorate the 75th Year of India as a Republic. The campaign, led by the Ministry of Law and Justice, aims to reaffirm commitment to the Constitution, celebrating shared values.

This nationwide initiative envisage to instill a sense of pride and responsibility to uphold the ideals outlined in the constitutional framework. It will also give opportunity to every citizen to participate in various ways, empower them to contribute in a meaningful way in our democratic journey.

Some of the themes to be covered during the Campaign include:-

  • Sabko Nyay Har Ghar Nyaya – Connecting the villagers and spreading awareness of legal services. The citizens would also get the opportunity to showcase their talents and to test their knowledge on the Constitution. 
  • Vidhi Jagriti Abhiyan – Involving the students to carry the message Panch Pran in the villages adopted by the Law colleges, under the Pro Bono Club scheme. 
  • Nyaya Setu – Expanding the legal services till the last mile. The event also released the achievement booklet of the Scheme on Access to Justice ‘Designing Innovative Solutions for Holistic Access to Justice’ (DISHA).
  • Partnership with IGNOU – To allow Paralegals to acquire certifications in diverse field of laws to increase their employability. Partnership with Bhashini – To break the barriers of language in accessibility to justice.

The 9th India International Science Festival (IISF)

The 9th edition of India International Science Festival, (IISF-2023) held from 17 to 20 January at Faridabad, Haryana.

The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt. of India is organizing the 9th edition of IISF and its autonomous organization National Innovation Foundation-India is the coordination and implementation body of IISF 2023. 

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) institutes Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB) – Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI) located in Faridabad (Haryana) is the host institute of the grand event

Objectives

  • The aim of this science festival is to celebrate the achievements of India in the frontier areas of science and technology. 
  • The festival also aims to acknowledge the achievements of science enthusiasts and inculcate scientific temper among young students and spread the same among the Indian citizens. 

Theme

The central theme of IISF 2023 is “Science and Technology Public Outreach in Amrit Kaal”. 

This time, 22 countries are also participating at IISF 2023. These include Argentine Republic, Republic of Armenia, Commonwealth of Australia, Kingdom of Cambodia, French Republic, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia,  Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Republic of Namibia, Republic of the Philippines, Republic of Rwanda, Republic of Singapore, Republic of South Africa, Kingdom of Thailand, United Kingdom, United States of America (USA), Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Republic of Zimbabwe.

19th NAM Summit held in Uganda

The 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit was held in Kampala, Uganda. Uganda has taken over as chair from Azerbaijan, to run until 2027.

Theme: ‘Deepening Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence.’

Key discussions 

    • Israel-Hamas war: The leaders of NAM countries have denounced Israel’s offensive in Gaza and demanded an immediate ceasefire during the summit. 
    • India’s “Vishwa Mitra” initiative: India  emphasized its role as a friend to the world, or “Vishwa Mitra” to global solidarity and cooperation in his address.
    • A call for multipolar world

 

About Non-Aligned Movement

  • The NAM was established in 1961 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, through the initiative of five leaders of newly independent countries: Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Sukarno of Indonesia, and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.
  • It was formed during the Cold War as an organisation of States that did not seek to formally align themselves with either the United States or the Soviet Union but sought to remain independent or neutral. 
  • Currently it has 120 Member States, 17 Observer Countries and 10 Observer organizations. 
  • NAM does not have a permanent secretariat or a formal founding charter, act, or treaty. 
  • The summit usually takes place every three years.