Assam Current Affairs – August 13-15, 2024

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.

 

Assam Current Affairs – January 25-27, 2024

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 – September 19-21, 2022

Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – September 19-21, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the September 19-21, 2022)

Go To Assam Current Affairs                      Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 316: July 2022, Week 4 

September 19-21, 2022

Hemkosh becomes first Braille dictionary in South-east Asia

South-East Asia’s first Braille version of the prestigious Assamese dictionary “Hemkosh” was formally launched at a program held at the Vivekananda Kendra in Guwahati. 

The dictionary was launched by the Sadin Pratidin Group to give a new dimension to the Assamese language with an aim to help in improving the educational quality of visually impaired children in the state.

Sarbananda Sonowal, the minister for ports, shipping, and waterways, as well as other officials, were present on this occasion. The dictionary was formally presented to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. 

The first Assamese language dictionary “Hemkosh” was first published in 1919 by Hem Chandra Baruwa.


Government of Assam will use portable device ‘SAANS’ to prevent neonatal deaths

The Assam government has decided to utilize the air pressure machine ‘SAANS,’ in all of its hospitals to minimize infant mortality 

SAANS’ is a portable neonatal Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) system built by a Bangalore-based start-up.  

Key Points

  • The machine can provide lifesaving breathing support to infants in hospital settings as well as during travel. 
  • More than 50 SAANS devices have been deployed across medical colleges in Assam to date with more deployments underway to district hospitals. 
  • InnAccel Technologies, incubated at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), partnered with the SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility to build the equipment to improve respiratory assistance for babies and paediatric populations in Assam.
  • SAMRIDH is a multi-stakeholder innovation and funding platform operated by IPE Global and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
  • The partnership between InnAccel, C-CAMP, and SAMRIDH, with backing from the National Health Mission, , Assam and the Government of Assam will help deploy 307 units of SAANS in the state. 
  • The distribution of these machines is projected to cover practically all of the state’s current demand for respiratory support technology.

Bhaichung Bhutia becomes new president of Hamro Sikkim Party

Legendary footballer Bhaichung Bhutia has been recently elected as the new president of the Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP). He was elected by party leaders and members at a national conference.

Bhutia pledged to put endless effort to serve the people of Sikkim and represent their hopes and aspirations.

He said “We shall make unending efforts to ensure social equality and justice and provide limitless possibilities for every Sikkimese to realize the full potential of our state,” 

He also expressed gratitude towards the outgoing HSP president Bina Basnett for successfully completing her tenure of three years.


India will host next Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023

The rotational presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been handed over to India in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held in India in 2023.

Delhi will hold the presidency of the grouping for a year until September 2023. Next year, India will take over as the next Chair of SCO from Uzbekistan and will also host the summit. 

During the SCO Summit, the Member States noted the various global challenges and threats in the global economy. They expressed deep concern over the security threat posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism and strongly condemned terrorist acts around the world.

They will seek to develop common principles and approaches to form a unified list of terrorist, separatist and extremist organizations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the SCO member states. 

The Member States also made commitments to build a sustainable economic system by promoting green and environmentally friendly technologies.

In the Samarkand Declaration, the member states supported the efforts of the countries of the region to ensure prosperity, peace and sustainable development. They advocated strengthening the role of SCO in enhancing stability and socio-economic development in the region. 

About Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

  • Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an international alliance consists of 8 member states: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. 
  • The Secretariat of the SCO, headquartered in Beijing, China.
  • The official languages of the SCO are Chinese and Russian.
  • It is governed by the Heads of State Council (HSC), its supreme decision-making body, which meets once a year.

Science magazine ‘Vigyan Pragati’, received the National Rajbhasha Kirti Award

CSIR’s (Council of Scientific & Industrial Research) popular science magazine ‘Vigyan Pragati Received the National Rajbhasha Kirti Award (first position). 

Vigyan Pragati is one of India’s most popular science magazines. It is popular among children, teachers, researchers, and the public across India as well as the world. 

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) started publishing this magazine in 1952. It carries a legacy of seven decades and over these many years.

This monthly Hindi publication imparts the knowledge of the recent national-international S&T related developments. The magazine contents aim at igniting curiosity about science among the young and strive to develop an interest in them to pursue science. 

Rajbhasha Kirti Award was introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs. which aims to encourage the implementation of the Official Language Policy. It is given on the day of Hindi Diwas. 


Andaman and Nicobar Islands become India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has declared Andaman and Nicobar Islands as India’s first Swachh Sujal Pradesh.

With this achievement, all the villages in Andaman and Nicobar Islands have received the Har Ghar Jal certification and also have been verified as ODF (open defecation free) and ODF Plus. 

Swachh And Sujal Key Components

Three important components of Sujal and Swachh states are given below

  • Safe and secure drinking water supply and management; 
  • ODF Plus: ODF Sustainability and Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM) 
  • Cross-cutting interventions like convergence, IEC, action planning, etc.

Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – August 2022 

Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – September 2022

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