Paris 2024 Paralympics – India’s Highest Medal Tally & Best Performance (29 Medals)

Paris 2024 Paralympics – India’s Highest Medal Tally & Best Performance

A record 84 para-athletes are representing India at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, which is being conducted from August 28 to September 8, 2024. India will compete across 12 disciplines at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. 

India has previously won 31 medals across Paralympic Games with the most successful Paralympic campaign being the 2020 Tokyo edition with 19 medals including five gold, eight silver and six bronze medals.

In this edition of the Paralympics, India has won 29 medals with four gold, eight silver, and ten bronze medals in the Games, which marked India’s highest ever medal tally in a single Paralympic Games surpassing there Tokyo 2020 tally of 19 medals.

India’s Medal Tally – Full List

Total Gold Silver Bronze
29 7 9 13

DAY 9

  • Navdeep Singh won Gold in Athletics Javelin throw F41 event
  • Simran Sharma won Bronze in Athletics Women’s 200 m T12 event

DAY 8

  • Praveen Kumar won Gold in Athletics High jump T64 event
  • Hokato Hotozhe Sema won Bronze in Athletics Men’s Shot put F57 event

DAY 7

  • Kapil Parmar won Bronze in Judo Men’s J1 -60 kg event

DAY 6

  • Harvinder Singh won Gold in Archery Individual recurve open event
  • Sachin Khilari won Silver in Men’s shot put F46 event
  • Dharambir Nain won Gold in Club throw F51 event
  • Pranav Soorma won Silver Club throw F51 event

DAY 5

  • Ajeet Singh Yadav won Silver in Javelin throw F46 event.
  • Silver Sharad Kumar won Silver in High jump T63 event
  • Deepthi Jeevanji won Bronze in Women’s 400 m T20 event
  • Mariyappan Thangavelu won Bronze in Men’s high jump T63 event
  • Sundar Singh Gurjar won Bronze in  Men’s javelin throw F46 event

 

DAY 4

  • Kumar Nitesh won Gold in Badminton Men’s singles SL3 event
  • Sumit Antil won Gold in Athletics Men’s javelin throw F64 event
  • Yogesh Kathuniya won Silver in Athletics Men’s discus throw F56 event
  • Thulasimathi Murugesan won Silver in Badminton Women’s singles SU5 event
  • Suhas Lalinakere Yathiraj won Silver in Badminton Men’s singles SL4 event
  • Manisha Ramadass won Bronze in Badminton Women’s singles SU5 event
  • Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar won Bronze in Archery Mixed team compound event
  • Nithya Sivan won Bronze in Badminton Women’s singles SH6 event
Books for Assam General Knowledge 
  Economy of Assam
  Environment & Ecology
  Geography of Assam
  Assam – Art & Culture
  History of Assam – Ahom and British Period
  History of Assam – Ancient Period

DAY 3

Preethi Pal wins BRONZE in women's Women's 200 m T35 event 

Preethi Pal creates history with India’s first-ever Bronze in women’s Women’s 200 m T35 event at Paris Paralympics 2024

Nishad Kumar wins SILVER in men's high jump T47 event 

Nishad Kumar secured his second successive silver in the men’s high jump T47 event. He also won the silver medal at the 2020 Summer Paralympics at Tokyo.

DAY 2

Rubina Francis won Bronze in P2 10 m air pistol SH1 event

Rubina Francis She won the bronze medal at the P2 10 m air pistol SH1 event at the 2024 Paralympics Games. She made history by becoming the first Indian woman to clinch a Paralympics medal in pistol shooting by winning a bronze.

DAY 1

Avani Lekhara won Gold in Women's 10m air rifle (SH1)

Avani Lekhara has become the first Indian to win successive Paralympic gold medals with a record-shattering performance in the women’s 10m air rifle (SH1) event. Avani shot a superb 249.7, breaking her own Paralympic record of 249.6 set in Tokyo three years ago.

Manish Narwal wins SILVER medal in 10m air pistol SH1 event

Manish Narwal won silver in the 10m air pistol SH1 event at the Paris Paralympics. Manish had won gold in the mixed SH1 50m pistol at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

Mona Agarwal wins BRONZE in Women's 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 event 

Mona Agarwal settles for bronze medal in the Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1 even, finishing with a score of 228.7. This is the first time two Indian shooters have medaled in a single Paralympic event

Preethi Pal wins BRONZE in women's T35 100m for India's first track medal 

Preethi Pal won India’s first medal in a Paralympics track event as she clinched a bronze in the women’s T35 100m competition with a personal best time of 14.21 seconds at the Paris Games on Friday. All the athletics medals India had won since the 1984 edition of the Paralympics have come from field events.

ADRE 2023 Test Series Assamexam

Important Books for Assam General Knowledge 
  Economy of Assam
  Environment & Ecology
  Geography of Assam
  History of Britain
  Assam – Art & Culture
  History of Assam – Ahom and British Period
  History of Assam – Ancient Period

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Top Universities/Institutes in Assam

NIRF 2024 Ranking – Top Universities/Institutes in Assam
Go to Assam Current Affairs
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
 
Books for Assam General Knowledge 
  Economy of Assam
  Environment & Ecology
  Geography of Assam
  Assam – Art & Culture
  History of Assam – Ahom and British Period
  History of Assam – Ancient Period
Go to Assam Current Affairs

ADRE 2023 Test Series Assamexam

Assam Current Affairs – January 28-31, 2024

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

Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – 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.

Assam Current Affairs – January 13-15, 2024

Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 13-15, 2024

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 13-15, 2024 

Buffalo Fights Revived in Assam 

The Assam Government revived the traditional buffalo fight (Moh-Juj) after nine years.

About Moh Juj:  A Traditional Buffalo Fight in Assam

  • The riverside town of Ahatguri has hosted buffalo fight tournaments as part of Magh Bihu since 1972. But these large-scale events were stopped after the 2014 prohibition.
  • In May 2022 there was a major development – a Supreme Court bench upheld amendments to animal cruelty legislation by certain states. 
  • This allowed the resumption of specific bull-taming sports and related rural events. 
  • Following this, in October 2022, the Assam Government assured the Gauhati High Court that it would formulate standard operating procedures (SOPs) to regulate traditional practices like buffalo fights. 
  • Subsequently, in December 2023, the Assam cabinet formally approved the revival of buffalo fights under strict rules and protocols. 
  • This nod from the state government paved the way for restarting this cultural event in a regulated manner after years of prohibition. 

Seven products from Odisha Geographical Indication (GI) Tag

Recently, seven products from Odisha, ranging from the Similipal Kai chutney made with red weaver ants to the embroidered Kapdaganda shawl, have bagged the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About Lanjia Saura Painting

  • Lanjia Saurpa Painting is one of the oldest tribal art forms.
  • It is also known as Idital. The artworks are famous for their beauty, aesthetics, ritualistic association and iconography. 
  • It belongs to the Lanjia Saura community, a PVTG largely residing in the Rayagada district. 
  • These paintings are in the form of exterior murals painted on the mud walls of homes.

About Kapdaganda Shawl 

  • It is woven and embroidered by the women of the Dongria Kondh tribe, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) in the Niyamgiri hills in Odisha’s Rayagada and Kalahandi districts. 
  • The shawl reflects the rich tribal heritage of the Dongria Kondhs. 
  • The shawl is worn by both men and women and the Dongrias gift it to their family members as a token of love and affection.

Koraput Kala Jeera Rice 

  • Famous for its aroma, taste, texture and nutritional value. 
  • As the rice grains resemble cumin seeds, it is also called Kala Jeera. 
  • Its consumption helps in increasing haemoglobin levels and improves metabolism in the body. 

Nayagarh Kanteimundi Brinjal 

  • It is known for its prickly thorns on the stems and the whole plant. The green and round fruits contain more seeds as compared to other genotypes. 
  • It is famous for its unique taste and relatively short quick cooking time. 
  • The plants are resistant to major insects and can be grown with minimal pesticide. 

Odisha Khajuri Guda (Jaggery) 

  • It is a natural sweetener extracted from date palm trees and has its origin in the Gajapati district. 
  • Traditionally, the jaggery is prepared in a trapezoidal form called ‘Patali Gur’ and is organic by nature. 
  • It is dark brown and has a unique taste. 

Dhenkanal Magji 

  • It is a type of sweet made from cheese from buffalo milk, with distinct characteristics in terms of appearance, taste, flavour, shape, and size. 
  • It also has unique nutritional values that distinguish it from other cheese-brd sweets.

SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit (SGRTD) Scheme

Recently, the State Bank of India (SBI) launched the SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit (SGRTD) to mobilize funds to support environment friendly initiatives and projects.

About SBI Green Rupee Term Deposit (SGRTD) Scheme

  • The SGRTD is a deposit scheme that aims to raise funds for environmentally-friendly initiatives and projects.
  • The scheme is open to NRIs, non-individuals, and resident individuals.
  • It offers investors the flexibility to choose from three distinct tenors: 1,111 days, 1,777 days, and 2,222 days.
  • Pre-mature withdrawals are allowed under the scheme. 
  • Loan/ overdraft facility will be available against the deposit. 
  • Senior Citizens/ Staff/ Staff Senior Citizens are eligible for an additional interest rate over the applicable rate for the public. 
  • The benefit of additional interest shall not be available to NRI Senior Citizens/NRI Staff.

About Green Deposit

A Green deposit is an interest-bearing deposit, received by the regulated entities (RE) for a fixed period, the proceeds of which are earmarked for being allocated towards green finance. 

The deposits raised under the framework are covered by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).


IUCN Assessment of the Himalayan Wolf

The Himalayan Wolf has been assessed for the first time on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and categorised as ‘Vulnerable’.

 

About Himalayan Wolf

  • The Himalayan Wolf (Canis lupus chanco), a prominent lupine predator found across the Himalayas.
  • The Himalayan wolf resides on the Tibetan Plateau in China, particularly in Gansu, Qinghai, Tibet, and western Sichuan provinces.
  • It is a subspecies of the gray wolf found in the Himalayan region, spanning areas such as Nepal, India, and the Tibetan Plateau.
  • Himalayan wolf has now  been categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List

Reason for the declining population of Himalayan Wolf 

  • Hybridization Threats: Increasing populations of feral dogs in regions like Ladakh and Spiti pose a threat of hybridization. 
  • Illegal Hunting: The Himalayan Wolf is hunted illegally for its fur and body parts, contributing to its declining numbers.
  • Conflict with Livestock: Livestock depredation conflicts are significant, exacerbated by habitat modification and depletion of wild prey.
  • Habitat Destruction: The IUCN Red List Assessment has highlighted an ongoing reduction in the area, extent, and quality of habitat for Himalayan wolves.

Measures should be taken to enhance the protection of Himalayan wolves

  • Securing and restoring healthy wild prey populations and landscapes and setting aside wildlife habitat refuges. 
  • Enhancing livestock guarding methods, including predator-proof corral pens, sustainable herding practices, and holistic management practices.
  • Management of feral dog populations.
  • Trans-boundary efforts in conservation of the species in range countries through research and monitoring.

Pench Tiger Reserve Becomes India’s first Dark Sky Park

The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra has been marked as India’s first Dark Sky Park and the fifth Dark Sky Park in Asia for protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution. The certification was given by the International Dark-Sky Association, a global dark-sky movement to promote astronomy.

About India’s First Dark Sky Park: 

  • Dark Sky Place certification focuses on lighting policy, dark sky-friendly retrofits, outreach and education, and monitoring the night sky. 
  • The reserve’s certification recognizes its commitment to protecting the night sky, reducing light pollution, and creating an ideal environment for astronomy enthusiasts and stargazers.
  • This designation positions PTR as a sanctuary where tourists can witness celestial spectacles, shielded from the intrusion of artificial light pollution.

About Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR)

  • The Reserve is named after the Pench River, which flows from north to south through the Reserve.
  • It is located in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and continues in Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary.
  • The reserve is famous for large herds of Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur (Indian Bison), and wild boar.
  • It was declared a sanctuary in 1965, raised to the status of national park in 1975.

The Rural Development Ministry and State Bank of India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to help rural Self-Help Groups (SHGs)

The Ministry of Rural Development and State Bank of India signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate Enterprise Financing for rural Self-Help Group (SHG) women.

Key Points

  • State Bank of India introduced Svyam Siddha, a financial product tailored for SHG women entrepreneurs, offering loans up to Rs 5 lakhs. 
  • This initiative is uniquely designed to alleviate the challenges associated with extensive documentation requirements for bank loan applications and reduce the Turn Around Time (TAT). 
  • The requirement of burdensome documents like quotations and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) has been dispensed with, allowing an easy application process where a simple loan application with KYC details can be submitted at local SBI bank branches. 
  • DAY-NRLM will facilitate the loan application process and oversee loan repayment through its dedicated field cadre.
  • A training toolkit package was also launched to promote access to formal finance by SHG women entrepreneurs, marking a significant milestone in DAY-NRLM’s commitment to empowering communities and advancing financial inclusion at the grassroots level. 
  • The toolkit covers crucial topics like fundamentals of banking, concepts on financial statements, working capital calculation etc. The key modules of this toolkit have been converted into animated videos for self-capacity building of entrepreneurs. This will facilitate access to formal finance for its SHGs women entrepreneurs.

‘Sinomicrurus Gorei’ a new species of coral snake was discovered in Mizoram

Researchers from Mizoram University’s zoology department have discovered a new species of coral snake in the state. It has been named Sinomicrurus gorei after British India doctor Gore.

This newly discovered coral snake species is locally recognised as “Rul Thi Hna” due to its striking resemblance to Thi Hna, a traditional amber necklace in the Mizo culture.

It has unique patterns and different scales, hemipenis, DNA, and skull.

In Mizoram, Sinomicrurus macclellandi is primarily found in hilly or elevated areas, while Sinomicrurus gorei is found in both low-lying and hilly areas.


Green Fuels Alliance India

Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) is an alliance between Denmark and India to boost collaborative efforts in the sustainable energy solutions sector.

The initiative is part of the Green Strategic Partnership signed in 2020 between India and Denmark.

Key Points

  • This strategic alliance, led by the Danish Embassy and the Consulate General of Denmark in India, aims to boost collaborative efforts in the sustainable energy solutions sector and advance the joint global goal towards carbon neutrality.
  • The initiative aims to advance the green fuels sector, including green hydrogen, through innovation and partnerships.
  • It promotes sustainable energy growth in India by establishing an ecosystem that encourages collaboration among businesses, government entities, research institutions, and financial stakeholders.
  • The alliance is significant in its potential contribution to global decarbonization efforts.

 


Assam Current Affairs – January 07-09, 2024

Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 07-09, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the January 07-09, 2024)

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January 07-09, 2024 

Aditya-L1 successfully placed in a Halo Orbit around L1 Point

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a significant milestone by placing the Aditya-L1 spacecraft in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point (L1).

About Aditya-L1

  • Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun, was launched in September 2023, using a PSLV-C57 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
  • Aditya-L1 is in a periodic halo orbit around L1, approximately 1.5 million km from Earth. 
  • The satellite carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layer of the Sun (corona) using electromagnetic and particle detectors.
  • With a mission life of five years, Aditya-L1 aims to study the sun’s photosphere, chromosphere, and corona, along with in-situ studies of particles and fields at L1. 

Lagrange Point

  • Lagrange Points are positions in space where a small object can maintain its position relative to two larger bodies due to the gravitational balance.
  • Spacecraft leverage these points to minimize fuel consumption and allow spacecraft to maintain their position efficiently.

Ministry of Education launches PRERANA program

The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India has launched ‘Prerana: An Experiential Learning program’, aiming to offer a meaningful, unique, and inspiring experience to all participants, thereby empowering them with leadership qualities.

About PRERANA program

  • Prerana is a week-long residential program for selected students of Class IX to XII. 
  • It is an experiential and inspirational learning program for students with the best-in-class technology where heritage meets innovation.
  • A batch of 20 selected students (10 boys and 10 girls) will attend the program, every week from various parts of the country. 
  • It will run from a Vernacular School, established in 1888, in one of the oldest living cities of India, Vadnagar, district Mehsana, Gujarat.
  • The curriculum of Prerana School prepared by IIT Gandhi Nagar is rooted in nine value based themes: Swabhiman and Vinay, Shaurya and Sahas, Parishram and Samarpan, Karuna and Sewa, Vividhta and Ekta, Satyanishtha and Shuchita, Navachar and Jigyasa, Shraddha aur Vishwas, and Swatantrata and Kartavya. 
  • The program based on the above themes will inspire the youth and foster respect for Bharat’s unity in diversity, embodying the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” and will contribute by making the youth of today, a flame holder for Viksit Bharat. 
  • The day-wise program schedule will feature yoga, mindfulness, and meditation sessions, followed by experiential learning, thematic sessions, and hands-on interesting learning activities.

Rejupave Technology

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has utilised road construction technology i.e. Rejupave technology to construct parts of the world’s highest Sela Road Tunnel and the LGG-Damteng-Yangste (LDY) road near the China border in Arunachal Pradesh.

About the Rejupave Technology

  • It is developed by CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI).
  • Rejupave asphalt modifier is a bio-oil-based product that lowers the heating requirement of bituminous mixes besides preserving the bituminous mix’s temperature during transit.
  • It is beneficial in constructing high-altitude bituminous roads at low and sub-zero temperature conditions.
  • It brings down the temperature of bituminous mixes by 30 to 40 degrees Celsius with negligible heat loss in the bituminous mix during transit.

Raghuram Iyer’s extensive experience in sports management and administration, particularly his previous roles as CEO of Indian Premier League teams Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiants, has been recognized as making him an ideal candidate for this position.


India will host the 46th Session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee

This will be the first instance for India to chair the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and host its 46th session in New Delhi from July 21 to 31, 2024.

About the World Heritage Committee

  • It is a committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 
  • The Committee is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World Heritage Fund, and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties. 
  • It examines reports on the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed. 
  • It also decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Structure:
  • The World Heritage Committee is composed of representatives from 21 member states, elected by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention.
  • According to the World Heritage Convention, a Committee member’s term of office is for six years.

World’s First Functional Semiconductor Made From Graphene

Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have successfully developed the world’s first functional semiconductor composed of graphene.

About Graphene 

  • Graphene is a one-atom-thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the building-block of Graphite.
  • It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.
  • It is almost perfectly transparent, as it absorbs only 2% of light.
  • It is impermeable to gases, even those as light as hydrogen and helium. 
  • It can be used to enhance the strength of other materials. 
  • It is a great material for making heat-spreading solutions, such as heat sinks or heat dissipation films. 
  • This could be useful in both microelectronics and in larger applications, for example, thermal foils for mobile devices. 
  • It also has an extremely high surface-area-to-volume ratio. 

This makes graphene a very promising material for use in batteries and supercapacitors.

Graphene may enable batteries and supercapacitors (and even fuel cells) that can store more energy and charge faster, too.


India Signs Bilateral Hajj Agreement 2024

The Indian government has recently signed a Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), marking a significant development in the facilitation of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

A total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India has been finalised for Haj 2024 with 1,40,020 seats being reserved for pilgrims to proceed through Hajj Committee of India and 35,005 pilgrims would be permitted to proceed through Haj Group Operators.

Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia,  the holiest city for Muslims.

It takes place during Dhu’al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar, and is performed over five to six days. 

The pilgrims wear simple white garments (Ihram) to symbolize equality and purity.


The first meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council held in Kolkata 

The first meeting of the Inland Waterways Development Council (IWDC) concluded on January 8, 2024 in Kolkata to strengthen the inland water transport system in the country. It was organized by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), the nodal agency for inland waterways under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.

Key Points

  • The agenda of the first IWDC meeting had sessions centered around fairway development, enhancing cargo and passenger transport in IWT, potential of river cruise tourism to boost economic activity, sustainability practices in terms of non-fossil fuel-based vessel operations among others. 
  • One of the key highlights of the meeting was the launch of Harit Nauka- Guidelines for Green Transition of Inland Vessels and River Cruise Tourism Roadmap, 2047.
  • The agenda also includes promoting eco-friendly vessels for passenger transportation, exploring economic advantages in river cruise tourism, and advocating for sustainable practices in inland waterways development.
  • The River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047 focuses on four vital pillars, including Infrastructure, Integration, Accessibility, and Policy for promoting river cruise tourism.
  •  As a part of the roadmap, over 30 possible routes and tourist circuits along inland waterways have been identified for further development.
  • MoPSW stressed upon the importance of State-level institutional structure and rules in ensuring that the planning and development of the state’s inland waterway ecosystem accounts for its unique characteristics and requirements.

Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, also known as Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Day is an annual event celebrated every year on 9th  January to honor the Indian diaspora and the contribution of the overseas Indian community to the country’s development.

About Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas

  • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas or NRI Day is celebrated to commemorate the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India on 9 January 1915.
  • It was first celebrated in 2003. It was an annual event earlier, but in 2015, the government revised its format to celebrate PBD once every two years.
  • It has become a platform to connect the Indian diaspora with their roots and encourage their continued engagement with India’s progress. 
  • It is held in different cities, to showcase the diversity and progress of different regions of India. 
  • Till date, 17 conventions have been held. The last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated in the Indore of Madhya Pradesh in 2023 with the  theme “Diaspora: Reliable Partners for India’s Progress in Amrit Kaal.”

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz for APSC 2024 – Set 352: January 2024, Week 4

Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz for APSC 2024 – Set 352: January 2024, Week 4

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Q1. India’s first Girls’ Military School inaugurated in

  1. Vrindaban
  2. Bhopal
  3. Guwahati 
  4. Shillong

Vrindaban

India’s first Girls’ Military School inaugurated in Vrindavan, Mathura. The Samvid Gurukulam Girls Military School, located within the Vatsalya Gram campus and established by Sadhvi Ritambhara, aims to provide education and training to female students. 

This initiative marks a significant step in extending military education traditionally reserved for male students in India to female students as well.

 

Q2. Vijay Raghavan Committee, recently seen in news is related to

  1. To provide free electricity to 1 lakh households.
  2. To make provisions for rural panchayats.
  3. To review the functioning of the Defence Research and Development Organisation
  4. Frame guidelines to tackle the sensitive and far-reaching problems of cybercrimes

To review the functioning of the Defence Research and Development Organisation

Q3. Exercise Cyclone was held between the Indian special forces and which of the following countries?

  1. Myanmar
  2. Sri Lanka
  3. Egypt
  4. Indonesia

Egypt

The 2nd edition of Exercise CYCLONE, a joint special forces drill between India and Egypt, is taking place in Anshas, Egypt. 

Indian Army contingent, consisting of 25 personnel from The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces) with the Egyptian contingent represented by the Egyptian Commando Squadron and Egyptian Airborne Platoon.

The exercise focuses on enhancing bilateral military cooperation and understanding operating procedures in desert terrain under UN Charter Chapter VII. It involves three phases, including Military Exhibitions, IED training, and Joint Tactical Exercises, fostering stronger ties between the two friendly nations.

 

Q4.The ‘Operation Sarvashakti’, recently seen in news is related to

  1. Operation by the IAF to evacuate Indian citizens from Ukraine.
  2. An initiative of the Indian army to neutralise terrorist threats in Pir Panjal range
  3. Operation by the Indian Navy to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Sudan during the 2023 Sudan conflict.
  4. Repatriate Indian citizens from overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic

An initiative of the Indian army to neutralise terrorist threats in Pir Panjal range

Q5. ‘Hatti community has been granted Scheduled Tribe status by which state government recently?

  1. Madhya Pradesh
  2. Haryana
  3. Manipur
  4. Himachal Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh

The Hattis are a close-knit community that got their name from their tradition of selling homegrown vegetables, crops, meat, wool, etc. at small markets called ‘haat’ in towns. They follow a Rigid Caste System. 

The Hattis are governed by a traditional council called Khumbli, which like the Khaps of Haryana, decide community matters. 

The Khumbli’s power has remained unchallenged despite the establishment of the Panchayati Raj System. 

Q6. What is the name of India’s first indigenously developed Hepatitis A vaccine?

  1. Havisure
  2. Rotavac
  3. Comvac
  4. Indirab

Havisure

  • Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), has launched India’s first domestically developed Hepatitis A vaccine, named ‘Havisure.’
  • It is a two-dose vaccine.The first dose given to those above 12 months of age and the second dose is administered at least six months later. 
  • The vaccine is advised for routine immunization in children and individuals at risk due to exposure or travel to regions with high hepatitis A prevalence. 
  • Individuals with occupational infection risks and those suffering from chronic liver diseases can also receive Hepatitis A vaccination.

Q7. Which among the following institutions has been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award-2024 in the ‘Institutional Category’?

  1. Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM)
  2. 60 Parachute Field Hospital, Uttar Pradesh
  3. Disaster Mitigation & Management Centre, Uttarakhand
  4. Lunglei Fire Station (LFS), Mizoram

60 Parachute Field Hospital, Uttar Pradesh

    • 60 Parachute Field Hospitals of Uttar Pradesh have been selected for the Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award for the year 2024 for their excellent work in the field of disaster management. 
    • Under this award, the winning organization in the institutional category is awarded a cash prize of Rs 51 lakh and a certificate. In case of an individual, Rs 5 lakh in cash and a certificate is provided.

Q8. Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana is related to

  1. Rooftop solar panels
  2. Cultivation of Honey
  3. Child Health
  4. Cultivation of Sunflower

Rooftop solar panels

  • Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana is a centrally sponsored scheme, under which rooftop solar panels will be installed on more than 1 crore houses, with the help of which people will get a clean source of energy. 
  • The objective of this scheme is to include poor and middle class persons under the rooftop solar program and also to bring self-reliance in the energy sector.

Q9. Exercise ‘SADA TANSEEQ’, is conducted between which two countries?

  1. India and Turkey
  2. India and Indonesia
  3. India and Saudi Arabia
  4. India and Kazakhstan

India and Saudi Arabia

  • The first joint military exercise between India and Saudi Arabia, “SADA TANSEEQ”, took place from January 29 to February 10, 2024. 
  • The exercise was held at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges in Rajasthan. 
  • The exercise aims to improve synergy, interoperability by sharing best practices between the two countries’ armies.
  • 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 sides.

Q10. Which state’s products Adi Kekir and Wancho wooden craft have recently received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag status?

  1. Assam
  2. Himachal Pradesh
  3. Goa
  4. Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh

  • Recently, three items of Arunachal Pradesh have received the prestigious Geographical Indication tag, officials said on Wednesday. These are Adi kekir (ginger), Handmade carpets by Tibetan settlers and Wooden items made by the Wancho community.

Q11. Who was the President of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly?

  1. Judge Nawaf Salam
  2. H.E. Dennis Francis
  3. Mr. Peter Thomson
  4. Ajay Banga

H.E. Dennis Francis

Q12. International Purple Fest 2024 was organised in 

  1. Punjab
  2. Assam 
  3. Goa
  4. Uttarakhand

Goa

International Purple Fest 2024 was organised in Goa. The objective of this festival is to showcase the talents of persons with disabilities through attractive performances in music, dance and entertainment. 

An extraordinary moment of the inauguration ceremony was the presentation of Purple named ‘Dhumal’. In this, performances will be given by disabled people from different areas of Goa as well as respected composers of the Indian music industry. Thus, events are primarily a symbol of inclusivity and unity. 

Q13. A book named “Gandhi A Life in Three Campaigns” is authored by

  1. Chetan Bhagat
  2. Aravind Adiga
  3. M.J. Akbar
  4. Vivek Singh

M.J. Akbar

Q14. Which country has been selected to host the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee?

  1. Japan
  2. India
  3. Russia
  4. Kazakistan 
India

India is set to chair the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and host its 46th session in New Delhi from July 21 to 31, 2024.

Q15.  ‘Polygonum Chaturbhunjam’ recently seen in the news, belongs to which of the following species?

  1. Fungi
  2. Plants
  3. Fishes 
  4. Reptile
Plants

A new plant species named Polygonum Chaturbhujanum has been discovered at Gol Pahadi island in the Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra. It is an herb.

Additionally, the survey revealed the presence of six plant species endemic to India within the Pench Tiger Reserve, namely Aegineta indica, Boerhavia crispa, Habenaria gibsonii var foetida, Iphigenia pallida, Petalidium barlerioides, and Barleria gibsonii.

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Current Affairs 2022 Compilation for APSC Prelim 2024

Current Affairs 2022 Compilation for APSC Prelim 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for full year 2022)

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Assam Current Affairs & GK – April 2022

Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – April 2022

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 ‘Varuna’ Naval Exercise conducted by India and France

  • The 20th edition of the bilateral naval exercise that is named ‘Varuna’ is being conducted by India and France in the Arabian Sea from 30th March till 3rd April 2022.
  • In this exercise, various units of the two navies which include submarines, ships, fighter aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft, and helicopters are participating.
  • This exercise is conducted so that the participating units can sharpen and enhance their operational skills in the maritime sector. The participating units also look to improve their inter-operability so that they can undertake various maritime security operations. The units also demonstrate their commitment, as an integrated force, to the promotion of the region’s security, peace, and stability.
  • In 1993, this bilateral naval exercises between the Navies of the two were countries were first initiated. In 2001, the name of the exercise was christened ‘Varuna’ and it has become an important part of the bilateral strategic relationship between India and France.

 

India’s First Steel Slag Road at Surat

  • Surat, Gujarat is the first Indian city to get a road built from processed steel slag (industrial waste). This road has been developed as a joint-venture project by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), NITI Aayog, Union Steel Ministry, and ArcelorMittal-Nippon Steel (AM/NS), at Hazira, a suburb of Surat.
  • This steels road’s construction cost is 30 percent cheaper than the roads that are built using natural aggregates. Also, this road’s thickness is 30 percent lesser than the normal ones. As steel slag is used to construct this road its durability is much longer.
  • This project has been implemented under the Waste to Wealth and Clean India Campaign initiative.

 

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Falguni Nayar and Radha Vembu in Hurun Richest Self-Made Women list 2022

  • Three Indian women Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon, Falguni Nayar of Nykaa, and Radha Vembu of Zoho have been featured in the latest Hurun Richest Self-Made Women in the World 2022 (Hurun list of women self-made billionaires).
  • Wu Yajun, a Beijing-based property developer has topped this list. Her estimated worth is USD 17 billion. She cofounded Longfor in 1993 with her ex-husband Cai Kui. In 2021, Longfor reported revenues of USD 34.6 billion.

 

Indians on this list

  • CEO and Founder of Nykaa, Falguni Nayar with 7.6 billion dollars has been placed in the top 10 richest list. She overtook billionaire Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw to become India’s richest self-made woman. She was also featured in first place in Hurun’s list of Top 10 New Faces.
  • Among the biggest risers, Radha Vembu is first in India, and second across the world. Vembu is India’s second-richest self-made woman billionaire with USD 3.9bn. Vembu is Zoho’s product manager, a company she founded along with her brother. On the Hurun list, she has been placed on the 25th rank.
  • Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder and executive chairperson of Biocon Biologics and Biocon Limited, has been placed 26th on the list with a wealth of USD 3.8 bn. From last year she dropped down two places.

 

Arunachal Pradesh inked pack with WWF India to develop State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

  • To develop the State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SBSAP) a pact has been inked by Arunachal Pradesh with WWF India. The SBSAP will be aligning with the Pakke Declaration and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
  • Through a participatory approach and multi-stakeholder consultations, the SBSAP will be developed.
  • This pact will be showcasing Arunachal Pradesh’s participatory conservation initiatives and will be looking to develop an action plan that will be inclusive in nature and will be looking to secure nature’s contribution to people.
  • The plan will also be reflecting the people as well as the state’s aspirations toward sustainable development.

 

About Pakke Declaration

  • In 2021, the “Pakke Tiger Reserve 2047 Declaration on Climate Change Resilient and Responsive Arunachal Pradesh” was adopted by the state Govt and aims to promote development that is climate-resilient in the state.
  • This declaration also focuses on multi-sectoral approaches for climate-resilient development and low emission which are based on five themes which are Health and Well-being for all; Environment, Forest, and Climate Change; Livelihoods, and opportunities; Sustainable and Adaptive living; and Evidence generation, and collaborative action.

 

 

HDFC Limited to merge with HDFC Bank

  • HDFC’s board of directors has approved the merger of HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank with HDFC (Housing Development Finance Corporation), India’s largest housing finance firm
  • The deal will be building the housing loan portfolio of the bank and will also be enhancing its existing customer base.
  • Under the agreement that has been proposed, public shareholders will be 100 percent owning HDFC Bank, and HDFC Limited’s existing shareholders will own 41 percent stake in HDFC Bank.
  • The proposed agreement will be creating a large net worth as well as a balance sheet that would allow a greater credit flow into the economy. Also, underwriting of larger ticket loans such as infrastructure loans will be enabled due to this agreement.
  • After merging, the total assets of HDFC Bank and HDFC Ltd will be more than Rs 25 lakh crore. The turnover of HDFC is Rs 35,681.74 crore while for HDFC Bank it is Rs 1.16 lakh crore.

 

Composer Ricky Kej and Indian-American singer-songwriter Falu: Winners at the Grammy Awards 2022

  • At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, two Indian musicians were among the winners. Falu, an Indian-American singer-songwriter won her maiden Grammy in the category of Best Children’s Music Album. Composer Ricky Kej also won his second Grammy as he and Stewart Copeland won the award in the category of Best New Age Album.
  • Falguni Shah or Falu won the award for her album A Colorful World in the category of Best Children’s Music Album. Falu is a New York-based musician and has collaborated with AR Rahman for the movie Slumdog Millionaire.
  • In 2015, Ricky Kej had won his first Grammy Award and this win was his second. He won the award with Stewart Copeland for the album Divine Tides. He won the award in the Best New Age Album category.
  • Jon Batiste won the Best Album of The Year award. The award for the Best New Artist as well as for Best Pop Vocal Album was won by Olivia Rodrigo and Doja Cat won the award for Best Pop Duo/ Group.

 

India’s export in 2021-2022 touch a record high of USD 418 billion

  • In 2021-22 fiscal, the merchandise exports of India grew to touch a record high of USD 418 billion. This was due to higher exports of products including engineering goods, petroleum products, jewellery, etc. In 2020-21, the merchandise exports of India were worth USD 292 billion.
  • During 2021-22, the goods trade (imports and exports) of the country crossed USD 1 trillion.
  • India’s imports also touched USD 610 billion a record of its own.
  • In March 2022, the outbound shipments of the country also touched a record high of USD 40.38 billion. In March 2021, the exports of India stood at USD 35.26 billion.
  • During the period of April 2021 to March 2022 the Agriculture exports crossed USD 48 billion.
  • The sectors that played a key role in the increase of merchandise exports include engineering, petroleum products, jewellery, gems, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals.

Top export destinations

  • The US, Bangladesh, the UAE, Singapore, the Netherlands, the UK, Hong Kong, Germany, and Belgium were the top export destinations for the products.

 

India’s Agriculture Exports in 2021-22 touched USD 50 billion

  • For FY 2021-22, the exports of agricultural products, including plantation and marine products of India have touched a record USD 50 billion. This is a 20 per cent increase from last year.
  • The export of marine products which stands at USD 7.71 billion has benefitted farmers of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
  • The export of Spices has touched USD 4 billion.
  • For the first time, coffee exports crossed USD 1 billion and have helped in enhancing the income of coffee growers in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
  • This growth in export has been achieved due to a surge in shipments of marine products, rice, buffalo meat, sugar, wheat, and raw cotton.
  • This growth has been achieved despite facing logistical challenges like container shortages, high freight rates, etc.
  • This increase in the growth of agriculture export will also enhance the income of the farmers of the country.
  • The highest ever exports have been achieved by
  • rice (USD 9.65 billion)
  • wheat (USD 2.19 billion)
  • sugar (USD 4.6 billion)
  • other cereals (USD 1.08 billion).

 

Tripura and Manipur among Top 3 smaller states performers in NITI AAYOG’S STATE ENERGY & CLIMATE INDEX

  • The State Energy and Climate Index (SECI) has been launched by NITI Aayog. It is a first-of-its-kind index that aims to track the efforts made in the energy and climate sector by the states and UTs of India.
  • This index’s parameters have been devised while keeping in mind the country’s goals regarding clean energy transition and climate change.
  • This index has ranked the states and the UTs of India based on the efforts they have put towards improving energy consumption, energy access, safeguarding the environment, and energy efficiency.
  • This index has also helped to move toward the agenda of the accessible, affordable, clean, and efficient energy transition at the State level.
  • Six parameters have been used by this index that are:
  • Access Affordability and Reliability of Energy
  • Discoms’ (Power distribution companies) Performance
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Clean Energy Initiatives
  • New Initiatives
  • Environmental Sustainability

 

  • The States and the UTs have been categorized into three groups i.e. Achievers, Front Runners, and Aspirants.

Top 3 performers among the larger states

  1. Gujarat
  2. Kerala
  3. Punjab


Top 3 performers among the smaller states

  1. Goa
  2. Tripura
  3. Manipur

 

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022

  • Recently the QS World University Rankings 2022 by subject has been released. The rankings have been announced for subjects including engineering and technology, humanities and arts, natural sciences, medicine and life sciences, and management and social sciences.
  • Global higher education think-tank QS Quacquarelli Symonds released this report.
  • To rank the universities five components were considered
  1. employer reputation,
  2. academic reputation,
  3. h-index,
  4. research citations per paper,
  5. international research network (by broad-faculty area).

World Rankings in ARTS AND HUMANITIES

  1. University of Oxford
  2. University of Cambridge
  3. Harvard University
  4. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
  5. Stanford University

World Rankings in ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  2. University of Cambridge
  3. University of Oxford
  4. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU)
  5. Stanford University

World Rankings in LIFE SCIENCES AND MEDICINE

  1. Harvard University
  2. University of Oxford
  3. Johns Hopkins University
  4. University of Cambridge
  5. Stanford University

World Rankings in NATURAL SCIENCES

  1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
  2. Harvard University
  3. University of Cambridge
  4. University of Oxford
  5. Stanford University

World Rankings in SOCIAL SCIENCES AND MANAGEMENT

  1. Harvard University
  2. University of Oxford
  3. The London School of Political Science and Economics
  4. University of Cambridge
  5. Stanford University

 

Indian Universities in the list

  • In India, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has topped the list.
  • IIT Delhi’s four academic programmes have also featured among the top 100 in the rankings.
  • Under Arts and Humanities category, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the University of Delhi (DU) have secured 101-150 and 151-200 slabs respectively in the History subject.
  • Under Life Sciences category, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has secured a 204 ranking for the subject of medicine followed by Delhi University (330) and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (375).
  • Under Natural Sciences category, for Chemistry IISc Bangalore has been ranked 81 followed by IIT Bombay (112) and IIT Delhi (151-200 slab).
  • For mathematics, IIT Bombay has been placed among the top 200 with a rank of 117. Next on the list are IIT Delhi (128), IIT Kanpur (132), IISc Bangalore (142) and IIT Madras (148).
  • Under Engineering and Technology, IIT Delhi (65) and IIT Bombay (67) have been placed among the top 100 ranks in Computer Science subject. Also, IIT Kanpur (109), IIT Kharagpur (109), IIT Madras (114), and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore (144) have also been placed on this list. Among the top 251-300, IIT Roorkee has been placed. Among the top 301-350, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) has been placed and among 351-400 IIT Guwahati and DU have been placed.

 

Dipika Pallikal won mixed doubles and women’s doubles in World Doubles Squash Championships

  • Dipika Pallikal won the mixed doubles and women’s doubles championships at the World Doubles Squash Championships teaming up with Saurav Ghosal and Joshna Chinappa respectively.
  • This is the first time India has won the gold medal in this tournament.
  • Teaming up with Saurav Ghosal, Dipika first clinched the mixed doubles title with an 11-6, 11-8 win over Alison Waters and Adrian Waller of England.
  • Dipika teamed up with Joshna Chinappa to win the women’s doubles final with an 11-9, 4-11, 11-8 win over Sarah Jane Perry and Alison Waters who were representing England.
  • In 2014 and 2016 India won two silver medals in this tournament. In 2016, Dipika and Saurav had lost the mixed doubles final. In 2014, Saurav and Ritwik Bhattacharya had lost the men’s doubles final.

 

Nilamani Phookan conferred with Jnanpith award

  • Assam Chief Minister, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma presented the country’s highest literary award, the 56th Jnanpith for the year 2021 to one of the most celebrated poets of Assam, Nilamani Phookan.
  • Nilmani Phookan is the third person to win the Jnanpith Award from Assam after Mamoni Roisom Goswami and Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya. The Award carried a Citation, a shawl, and Rs. 11 lakh.

BIOGRAPHY: Nilmani Phookan

  • The octogenarian was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990 and received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 2002.
  • He was selected as an ‘Emeritus Fellow’ for a period of two years by the Cultural Department, Govt. of India in 1998.
  • Assam Sahitya Sabha also conferred ‘Sahityacharya’ honour to him.
  • The notable works of Phukan are ‘Xurjya Henu Naami Aahe Ei Nodiyedi’, ‘Kabita’ and ‘Gulapi Jamur Lagna’.

 

Waterways Conclave 2022 at Dibrugarh

  • The Waterways Conclave 2022 was organized by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) on 11th and 12th April 2022 in Dibrugarh.
  • The aim of this conclave was to focus on harnessing the potential of the international and domestic waterway ecosystem in the country’s North-eastern region.
  • The industry partner of this conclave was the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).
  • The conclave was launched by Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH.
  • The conclave was attended by various stakeholders in the sector of the waterway ecosystem like Senior Govt Officials, Policy Planners, Sector Experts, Domestic and International Investors, Infrastructure players, Cruise Tourism industry, Vessel Owners and Operators, Representatives of Major Ports, Cargo Passengers, and representatives from the Govts of Maritime States in India.
  • The aim of this conclave is to fast-track the Multimodal projects for the development of the country’s Northeast region so that business opportunities, economic activities, and employment generation can be enhanced.
  • Gauhati University (GU) and the IWAI signed an MoU on the research and development as well as investment and consultancy in inland waterways.
  • Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL), Dibrugarh and IWAI also signed an MoU for cargo transportation via inland water transport.

 

Discovery of Megalithic Stone Jars in Assam’s Dima Hasao district

  • In the Dima Hasao district of Assam, a number of megalithic stone jars have been discovered. This discovery has highlighted the possible links, that date back to the second millennium BC, between Southeast Asia and the Northeast region of India.
  • Three distinct shaped jars have been documented in the paper, ‘An archaeological survey of the Assam stone jar sites.’
  • In a site named Nuchubunglo, 546 jars were discovered making it the largest such site across the planet.
  • The study that has been published in Asian Archaeology has called for more research so as to understand this cultural relationship between Laos and Assam and Indonesia.
  • Indonesia and Laos are the only two other sites from where such similar jars have been discovered.
  • The jars that were discovered in Assam were first sighted in the year 1929 by John Henry Hutton and James Philip Mills, British civil servants. The presence of the jars was recorded by them to have been found in six different sites in Kobak, Dima Hasao: Derebore (now Hojai Dobongling), Molongpa (now Melangpeuram), Kartong, Bolasan (now Nuchubunglo), and Ndunglo. In 2016 and 2020 more such sites have been discovered.

 

 

ADB loan to Nagaland for Urban Infrastructure Projects

  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Govt of India have signed a USD 2 million Project Readiness Financing (PRF) Loan for strengthening the institutional capacity, designing urban infrastructures that are climate-resilient, and improving the mobilization of municipal resources in Nagaland’s 16 district headquarter towns (DHTs).
  • The loan has been signed by Additional Secretary Rajat Kumar Mishra of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, and Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, Takeo Konishi.
  • The PRF loan will help in the facilitation of various key preparatory activities to ensure projects that are aimed to improve urban infrastructure and other services to boost the economic potential of Nagaland.
  • The loan will ensure the state’s project readiness by undertaking feasibility studies, preparing the implementation of detailed engineering designs for selected subprojects and an urban sector strategy, and capacity building of various state-level agencies for the purpose of project implementation, anchoring reforms, and resource mobilization.

 

Hyderabad and Mumbai recognised as the ‘2021 Tree City of the World’ by Food and Agriculture Organisation

  • The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN-FAO) along with Arbor Day Foundation has recognized Hyderabad and Mumbai jointly as the ‘2021 Tree City of the World.’
  • The recognition has been won by the two Indian cities due to their commitment to maintaining and growing greenery and urban trees so as to build resilient, healthy, and happy cities.
  • This is the first time Mumbai has made it to the list. Hyderabad has been featured on this list for the second consecutive year.

 

Lieutenant General Manoj Pande appointed India’s New Chief of Army Staff

  • Lieutenant General Manoj Pande will be replacing General Manoj Mukund Naravane as the 29th chief of the Indian Army. He will be taking charge of this post from 1st May 2022.
  • On 1st February he replaced Lieutenant General CP Mohanty as the vice army chief.

BIOGRAPHY: Lieutenant General Pande

  • He is an alumnus of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun and the National Defence Academy (NDA), Khadakwasla. In 1982, he was commissioned into the Bombay Sappers after passing out from the IMA.
  • Lt General Pande held prestigious command and staff assignments in counter-insurgency and conventional operations in all types of terrain during his 39-year military career. In the Western theatre, he has commanded an engineer brigade. He has also commanded an infantry brigade along the Line of Control (LoC), in the Ladakh sector and a corps in the North-east region of the country.
  • Before taking over as the army’s vice-chief, he has also served as the Eastern Army Commander. From June 2020 to May 2021, he served as the Andaman and Nicobar Command’s commander-in-chief. After General Narvane retires, he will be the senior-most officer of the Army.
  • He has been conferred with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Param Vishisht Seva Medal, and Vishisht Seva Medal, two times with the GOC-in-C Commendation, and the Chief of Army Staff Commendation.

World Bank Report on Extreme Poverty in India dropped to 10.2% in pre-Covid year of 2019

  • According to a working paper of the World Bank, extreme poverty in India has dropped from 22.5 percent in 2011 to 10.2 percent in the pre-Covid year of 2019. Also, the pace of poverty reduction in rural India has been more than in urban areas of the country.
  • In the urban and rural areas poverty level declined by 7.9 percent and 14.7 percent respectively during the period 2011 to 2019.
  • In 2019, the poverty level stood at 11.6 percent in rural areas and 6.3 percent in urban areas.
  • Extreme poverty measured based on the number of people living on less than USD 1.90 (around Rs 145) per day has been used to measure extreme poverty.

 

World’s Highest Tunnel at Shinku La Pass

  • The world’s highest tunnel will be constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at Shinku La Pass at 16,580 feet. This tunnel will be connecting Himachal Pradesh to Ladakh.
  • The construction of this tunnel by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will begin by July 2022 and will be completed by 2025.
  • This tunnel will be connecting Ladakh’s Zanskar Valley to Himachal Pradesh. The tunnel’s south portal will be at Shinku La. The tunnel’s north portal will be at Lakhang.
  • This tunnel will help in boosting the economy of the Zanskar Valley as the travel time between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh will be reduced after this tunnel is opened.

 

National Civil Services Day observed on 21st April

  • On the 21st of April every year, National Civil Services Day is observed to acknowledge the work of all the officers across the country who are engaged in various public service departments.
  • This day also acts as a reminder to the civil servants to run the administration of the nation with the dedication to serving the citizens.
  • This date was chosen to commemorate the day when Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Independent India’s first Home Minister, in 1947 addressed the probationers of Administrative Services Officers at Delhi’s Metcalf House in Delhi.
  • Civil servants were referred to as the ‘steel frame of India’ by him as they act as the supporting pillars of the country’s administrative system. Father of Indian Civil Service title has been given to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
  • On 21 April 2006, the first such function was held in New Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan and since then this day has been celebrated as National Civil Service Day.

 

India’s first commercial-Green Hydrogen Pilot Plant commissioned at Jorhat

  • Oil India Limited (OIL) has commissioned India’s first commercial-grade green hydrogen production plant at Jorhat, Assam.
  • To produce hydrogen, this plant will be using renewable energy from Oil India’s 500kW solar plant pump station.
  • The produced hydrogen will be blended with natural gas to run hydrogen buses in the state of Assam.
  • This newly commissioned pilot project has a daily production capacity of 10kg, which will be increased to 30kg per day.
  • Green hydrogen has the potential of replacing fossil fuels.
  • Green Hydrogen is being produced in the plant from the electricity that is generated by the existing 500kW Solar plant utilizing a 100 kW Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) Electrolyser array. This is the first time AEM technology is being used in India. This plant is a big step toward the country’s target of achieving energy independence.

 

Ajay Kumar Sood is the new Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to Govt of India

  • Ajay Kumar Sood, an eminent physicist has been appointed as the central Govt’s principal scientific advisor (PSA). He will be succeeding renowned biologist K Vijay Raghavan.
  • He is a member of the Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
  • He is known for his work on graphene. Also, he is a physics professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
  • The PSA’s office has the aim of providing objective and pragmatic advice to the cabinet as well as the prime minister on matters that are related to the fields of technology, science, and innovation with a special focus on the application of technology and science in economic and social sectors and critical infrastructure in cooperation with the various Govt departments, industries, and institutions.

 

 

 

 

NIXI World-Class Data Centre to be setup in Tripura

  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been inked between the Govt of Tripura and the NIXI-CSC Data Services Centre to establish an international standard Data Centre in the state.
  • To set up this proposed data centre, CSE e-governance services Ltd and the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) have floated a joint venture.
  • The international standard Data Centre will be located at Indranagar, the headquarters of Tripura’s IT Bhavan.
  • Rs 150 crore will be invested by the joint venture company while the state Govt will only be providing the space for setting up the Data Centre.
  • The MoU was signed by AK Bhattacharjee, in-charge director of the IT department on behalf of Tripura and CEO Anil Jain, NIXI-CSC Data Services Centre.

 

Suman Bery appointed as Vice-chairperson of NITI Aayog

  • The central Govt appointed economist Suman Bery as the vice-chairman of NITI Aayog after Rajiv Kumar resigned from the post on 22nd April 2022.

BIOGRAPHY: Suman Bery

  • Suman Bery was the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) director-general for a period of 10 years from 2001 to 2011.
  • He was also a senior visiting fellow at the Centre for Policy Research, Delhi.
  • He is a Global Fellow in the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars’ Asia programme in Washington, DC. Also, he is a non-resident Fellow of Bruegel which is a Brussels based economic policy research institution.
  • He had earlier served as a member of India’s Statistical Commission, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, and Reserve Bank of India’s Technical Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy.
  • From 2012 to mid-2016 he served as the Chief Economist of Shell International and also advised the management and the board of Royal Dutch Shell on global political and economic developments.
  • Prior to joining NCAER, he was with the World Bank, Washington DC, having joined through the Young Professionals’ Program. At World Bank, he worked on country policy and strategy, and financial sector development notably in the Caribbean and Latin America. His country experience included Argentina, Brazil, Peru, and Chile.
  • Between 1992 to 1994 he was also appointed as a Special Consultant to the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India

 

 

 

National Panchayati Raj Day observed on 24th of April

  • On the 24th of April annually, National Panchayat Raj Day is celebrated. In 2010 this day was first celebrated.
  • In India there are over six lakh villages, with over 750 districts and six thousand blocks that are all governed by the Panchayati Raj system.
  • Panchayati Raj Institution is one of India’s oldest governing bodies. A panchayat is a five-member assembly that works for the improvement of local communities and settles disputes at a lower level.

History of this day

  • On this day in 1992, the Indian constitution’s 73rd amendment was enacted. As a result of this amendment, the powers of the grassroots were decentralized and the Panchayati Raj was founded. Hence, this day is commemorated by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj as the National Panchayati Raj Day.
  • It was necessary to have governing bodies for the country’s rural areas. Hence, in 1957, a committee under the chairmanship of Balwantrai Mehta was established. This committee suggested bringing changes to the central power system and thus the Panchayati raj came into existence. In 1959, the first state to implement this system was Rajasthan.

 

World Malaria Day observed on April 25

  • Annually on the 25th of April World Malaria Day is observed across the world to highlight the need for sustained political commitment and continued investment so as to prevent and control malaria across the world.
  • The World Health Organization has continuously highlighted the need for and also called for innovations and investments to bring in new vector control approaches, antimalarial medicines, diagnostics, and other tools that will help in fighting against malaria.
  • The theme for this year’s world malaria day is “Harness innovation to reduce the malaria disease burden and save lives.”
  • In 2007, WHO got the idea of observing this day came from Africa Malaria Day, which is observed by the African Govt since 2001. At the WHO-sponsored World Health Assembly’s 60th session it was proposed to change the Africa Malaria day to World Malaria Day. This was done with the aim of generating greater awareness regarding the fight against malaria.

Malaria

  • The day is significant as despite being a treatable disease, Malaria continues to impact the livelihoods of people all over the world.
  • According to the WHO, in the year 2020 around 241 million new cases of malaria and 6,27,000 fatalities due to malaria in 85 nations were witnessed.
  • In the African region, more than two-thirds of the reported fatalities were among children who were below the age of 5.

Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture (MeghEA) Project won UN Award – World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum Prizes 2022

  • The Govt of Meghalaya’s Planning Department’s initiative of the “e-Proposal System”, has won the UN Award – World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum Prizes 2022. The “e-Proposal System” is a part of Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture (MeghEA), which eliminates 75 per cent physical work of files in all Govt departments in the state.

About MeghEA Project

  • The Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture Project (MeghEA) was launched with the aim of improving governance and service delivery for the people of the state using the power of various digital technologies.
  • Enterprise Architecture (EA) is the process by which various organisations standardise and organise their Information Technology related infrastructure to achieve various business objectives.
  • This initiative of the state Govt of Meghalaya is spread across six different pillars that are Human Resources, Governance, Primary Sector, Entrepreneurship, Environment, and Infrastructure.
  • Through this initiative Meghalaya will be made into a high-income state by 2030.
  • MeghEA is supporting the digital Govt goals that are:
  • A planned transformation initiative of the state Govt which demands efficient coordination among policies, strategies, services, processes, and organizational capacity.
  • All information and communications technology (ICT) initiatives will be coordinated under one umbrella to provide a better holistic perspective.
  • Implementation of ICT enabled state Govt process with the aim of providing multi-channel service delivery.
  • Ensuring that the systems and applications of the state Govt provide users with all relevant information.
  • Crafting an ecosystem to boost the digital economy by leveraging ICT for growth and employment.

 


India 3rd top military spender: SIPRI Report on World Military Expenditure

  • A report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on World Military Expenditure stated that India was the world’s third-highest military spender behind the US and China.
  • The global defence expenditure in 2021 reached an all-time high and stood at USD 2.1 trillion despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • In 2021, the US has accounted for 38 percent of the world’s military spending. China accounts for around 14 percent and the UK has moved up two ranks as it spent USD 68.4 billion.
  • Top five military spenders account for 62 percent of the world’s global military expenditure. The five countries are:
  • The United States
  • China
  • India
  • The United Kingdom
  • Russia

Military spending of India

  • Military spending of India stood at USD 76.6 billion in 2021, which is a 0.9 percent increase from 2020 and a 33 percent increase from 2012.
  • India is facing ongoing border tensions and disputes with Pakistan and China that occasionally cause armed conflicts. Hence, India is constantly modernizing its armed forces and is increasing its self-reliance in the production of armaments.


Jammu’s Palli village is India’s First ‘Carbon-neutral Panchayat’

  • Palli village located in the Samba district of Jammu has become India’s first panchayat to become carbon neutral, fully solar energy powered, and all its records have been digitized which will help in receiving all benefits of Central schemes easily.
  • Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the 500 KW solar plant at this carbon-neutral panchayat. With this inauguration Palli has become the country’s first panchayat to become carbon-neutral.
  • Palli will now be looked at as a model panchayat, and this will motivate the other panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir, and India to become carbon-neutral.
  • In Palli in a total area of 6,408 square metres 1,500 solar panels have been set up. These solar panels will be providing clean electricity to 340 houses that are located in the panchayat.
  • The central Govt has been pushing for major technology-related measures, modes of payments, and e-swaraj with the aim of making Panchayats of the country more powerful.

Carbon Neutrality

  • This refers to achieving zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing carbon dioxide emissions with their removal or through the elimination of emissions.
  • The term “net-zero” is used to describe a comprehensive commitment to climate action and decarbonization. Net-zero emissions can be achieved only when an organization’s greenhouse gas (CO2-e) emissions are balanced by their removal.


Odisha’s oldest fortified settlement at Asurgarh

  • An advanced radiocarbon dating technique that has been conducted on the Asurgarh fort settlement in the Kalahandi district of Odisha has placed this settlement in the ninth century BC or the Iron Age. This makes the settlement 2,500-2,600 years older than Odisha’s oldest fortified settlement, the Sisupalgarh fort.
  • Archaeologists have used the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon technique to establish that this settlement spanned over three cultural phases beginning from the ninth century BC to the third or fourth century AD. This settlement was earlier believed to be from the Mauryan period.
  • The Sisupalgarh fort dates back to the fifth to sixth century BC.
  • Asurgarh fort consists of exterior fortification and the main fort. The main fortification is spread over an area of 12 hectares.
  • Human settlements in Asurgarh began around the ninth century BC, but the iron tools found in this site are believed to have been developed between the fourth century BC to the second century AD which coincides with the Mauryan period.
  • This site’s cultural period has been divided into three phases that are:
  • Iron Age (9th century BC – 4th century BC)
  • Early Historic Period (2nd century BC – 1st century AD)
  • Late Period (2nd century AD – 3rd -4th century AD).
  • 417 antiquities have been excavated from this site so far including beads of coral, carnelian, lapis lazuli, jasper, glass, shell, garnet, milky quartz, agate, kaolin, terracotta, and soft stone. The people of that period were good with iron technology and its uses. The iron materials that have been found at the Asurgarh site have not yet rusted as they have high ‘Fe’ content.
  • The first excavation on this site was done by N K Sahu in 1973 on behalf of the Postgraduate Department of History, Sambalpur University. Later in 1973, this site was declared protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

 


Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – North East Festival

  • The week-long Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – North East Festival began on 28th April 2022 and it will be showcasing the potential of the Northeast region.
  • This week-long festival will be held across the 8 states of the northeast region in their own significant and special manner.
  • This festival’s coordinating body is the Ministry of DoNER.
  • This festival is being leveraged to discuss the various fundamental aspects of the development of India’s Northeast region. This festival will be celebrating aspiration, hope, and vision for a prosperous and developed North East Region.
  • Starting from the 29th of April, every day will be celebrated under a different theme across the 8 different states. Cultural programs will also be held that will celebrate the uniqueness of this region and will also be highlighting its potential.

Themes of the festival

  • Shillong: Investment Potential and future energy needs of North East (29th April)
  • Itanagar: Welfare of Tribals and Border Management (30th April)
  • Gangtok: The Smart City Revolution in the North East (30th April)
  • Agartala: Role of women in the development of North East (1st May)
  • Aizawl: Eco-Tourism in North East (2nd May)
  • Dimapur: Agri Horti and organic products potential of North East (2nd May)
  • Sports Potential of the North East region will be celebrated as a parallel to Sports week.
  • Imphal: The culmination would be celebrated (3rd May)

 

Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) program launched

  • The launch of the Digital India RISC-V (DIR-V) program was announced by the Govt of India with the aim of creating Microprocessors for the country’s and the world’s future and to achieve industry-grade commercial silicon and design for the next generation of microprocessors by the month of December 2023.
  • RISC-V is an open and free ISA that will enable a new era of processor innovation through collaboration. This initiative is in line with the Govt’s ambition toward Atmanirbhar Bharat.
  • DIR-V will be witnessing partnerships between academia, start-ups, and multinationals with the aim of making India not a talent hub of RISC-V as well as a supplier of RISC-V SoC (System on Chips) to the world for mobile devices, servers, IoT, automotive, microcontrollers, etc.
  • Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship unveiled the blueprint for the roadmap of implementation and design of the DIR-V Program with the VEGA Processor by C-DAC and the SHAKTI Processor by IIT Madras.
  • Ministry of Electronics and IT has plans to join the RISC-V International as a premier board member to contribute, collaborate, and advocate India’s expertise with other global leaders of RISC-V.
  • IIT Madras’s director, Professor V. Kamakoti will be the Chief Architect and the program manager will be S. Krishnakumar Rao of the DIR-V Program.

 

Maharashtra Gene Bank is first-of-its-kind project in India

  • Recently, Maharashtra Cabinet approved the ‘Maharashtra Gene Bank’, a first-of-its-kind project in India.
  • Objective of the Maharashtra Gene Bank Project is to conserve genetic resources in Maharashtra including marine diversity, seeds of local crops, and animal diversity.
  • The ‘Maharashtra Gene Bank Project’ will work on seven themes:
  1. Marine biodiversity
  2. Local crop/seed varieties
  3. Indigenous cattle breeds
  4. Freshwater biodiversity
  5. Grassland, scrubland, and animal grazing land biodiversity
  6. Conservation and management plans for areas under forest right
  7. Rejuvenation of forest areas.
  • In the next five years, an amount of ₹172.39 crores will be spent on these seven focus areas.
  • Indigenous knowledge resources will be tapped. The species and the knowledge of local communities will be well documented.
  • Genetic and molecular samples will be preserved and their breeders will be supported.
  • To preserve crop biodiversity, the Govt will encourage genome carriers who conserve seeds of local crop varieties and create seed banks.

About National Gene Bank of India

  • The Indian National Gene Bank has been established by the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) to conserve the national heritage of germplasm collections in the form of seeds, vegetative propagules, tissue/cell cultures, embryos, gametes, etc. National Gene Bank can preserve about one million germplasm in the form of seeds.

About National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR)

  • National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) was established in 1976 as the nodal agency at the National level for the Management of plant genetic resources (PGR) for food and agriculture, and to carry out related research and human resource development.

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