Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival
The 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the region’s commitment to wildlife conservation, with a special focus on hornbills.
The festival took place at Seijosa in the Pakke Kessang district from January 18-20, 2024.
About Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival
The first-ever Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival was held in 2015.
It aims to recognise the role played by the Nyishi tribal group in conserving hornbills in Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR).
The festival also aims to establish alternative income sources, steering away from harmful practices like hunting and logging.
It serves as a platform for creating national awareness about the natural wonders of the Pakke Tiger Reserve and its surroundings.
The festival brings together diverse communities to unite in their efforts to protect these iconic birds and promote environmental awareness.
This year, the festival’s theme is Domutoh Domutoh, Paga hum Domutoh. It translates to ‘Let Our Hornbills Remain’ in the Nyishi language.
This year’s festival aims to underscore the critical need for preserving these iconic birds.
India Inc lauds establishment of gender equity Alliance at WEF meet 2024
Indian industry lauded the government for establishing the ‘Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality’ announced on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting 2024.
Highlights of the Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality
It seeks to build on the initiatives of the Engagement Group and frameworks like Business 20, Women 20, and G20 EMPOWER.
The idea of this alliance emerged from the G20 Leaders’ Declaration and India’s abiding commitment to the cause of women-led development as propounded by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The primary and stated objective of this new Alliance is to bring together global best practices, knowledge sharing and investments in the identified areas of women’s health, education, and enterprise.
Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the alliance will be housed and anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership.
The alliance aims to champion women-led development, leveraging India’s spectacular inclusive growth story and its philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Prayas” (Together with all, Development for all and Effort for all).
Union Ayush Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal lays foundation stone for State-of-the-Art ‘Ayush Diksha’ centre at Bhubaneswar
The Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for ‘Ayush Diksha’,a groundbreaking center at the Central Ayurveda Research Institute in Bhubaneswar.
Key Points
The ‘Ayush Diksha’ center is set to become a hub for the advancement of human resources in Ayush, with a primary focus on Ayurveda professionals.
The institution aims to foster collaboration with prominent national institutes to enhance capacity, strengthen human resources, facilitate research and development, and achieve self-sustainability for revenue generation.
The institution will offer training programmes for Ayush professionals, especially those from Ayurveda, as it aims to collaborate with national institutes of prominence for capacity development, strengthening human resources, facilitate research and development, achieve self-sustainability with an objective to generate revenue.
The Ayush Diksha centre is being built with a budget of ₹30 crores. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including two auditoriums, 40 modern rooms with all amenities, suites for VIPs, dedicated space for a natural library, discussion rooms, modular kitchen, dining lounge, among other amenities.
The CARI, Bhubaneswar is a unit under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. This ground breaking initiative marks a significant step towards promoting and advancing research in Ayurveda on scientific lines.
WHO Releases Guidelines for Multi-Modal Generative AI in Healthcare
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released comprehensive guidance on the ethical use and governance of large multi-modal models (LMM) in healthcare.
About the Guidelines
The guiding document identified five broad applications of LMMs in healthcare: Diagnosis and clinical care, such as responding to patients’ written queries; patient-guided use for investigating symptoms and treatments; clerical and administrative tasks in electronic health records; medical and nursing education with simulated patient encounters; and scientific research and drug development.
It also recommends designing LMMs for well-defined tasks with the necessary accuracy and understanding of potential secondary outcomes.
It offers a roadmap for harnessing the power of LMMs in healthcare while navigating their complexities and ethical considerations.
This initiative marks a significant step towards ensuring that AI technologies serve the public interest, particularly in the health sector
WHO’s six core principles for AI in health: protect autonomy, promote well-being, ensure transparency, foster responsibility, ensure inclusiveness, and promote sustainability.
Risks Associated with LMMs in Healthcare Generation of False or Biased Information:
LMMs may produce inaccurate or biased information due to biases present in the training data, potentially leading to misguided health decisions.
LMMs might perpetuate healthcare disparities based on factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and age, reflecting the biases present in their training data.
There is a risk of automation bias, where healthcare professionals and patients may overly trust the output of LMMs, leading to the oversight of potential errors.
As LMMs rely on trustworthy algorithms, any compromise in these algorithms could result in the release of sensitive patient information, posing cybersecurity risks.
The WHO Recommendations for Mitigating Risks
Encourages investment in public infrastructure, such as computing power and datasets, adhering to ethical principles.
Stressed on the need for global cooperative leadership to regulate AI technologies effectively.
Governments from all countries must cooperatively lead efforts to effectively regulate the development and use of AI technologies, such as LMMs.
Calls for the implementation of mandatory post-release audits and impact assessments.
Advises developers to engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including potential users and healthcare professionals, from the early stages of AI development.
Emphasizes designing LMMs for well-defined tasks with the necessary accuracy while understanding potential secondary outcomes.
President Droupadi Murmu confers Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred the “Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar” instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India to 19 children at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
This year’s awardees include one child each in the categories of Bravery, Science & Technology and Innovation, four in the category of Social Service, five in the category of Sports, and seven in the category of Art & Culture.
Every year, the Government of India acknowledges the exceptional achievements of children in the age group of 5 to 18 years by conferring the ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) upon them. Each awardee received a medal and a certificate from the President.
Saiyam Mazumdar from Assam has been awarded Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Award, 2024 in the field of social service.
He is a wildlife conservationist who started off by saving and taking care of stray animals, exhibiting incredible compassion.
He bravely saved snakes and informed others about their ecological significance.
President of India inaugurates the 5th edition of the Meghalaya Games
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 5th Edition of the Meghalaya Games in Tura, Meghalaya on January 15, 2024.
The President said that the North East region has a tremendous potential for the development of sports and sportspersons
She emphasized the need to support the talent from the tribal areas and groom them to become professional sportspersons.
With Government’s new initiatives and encouragement to the athletes, Indian sportspersons are now winning more medals than ever in global events.
Programmes such as Khelo India are helping in identifying and nurturing future sports champions.
The Assam government launched the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA) to empower rural women entrepreneurs.
About Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan
The scheme is designed to foster the development of rural women who are part of self-help groups, transforming them into “rural micro-entrepreneurs” with a target annual income of Rs 1 lakh per member.
To qualify for the grant, women from the general and other backward caste (OBC) categories must have no more than three children.
However, specific exemptions are made for women from the Moran, Muttock, and tea-tribe communities, who can apply with four or fewer children.
For women belonging to Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) categories, the eligibility criteria dictate that they should have no more than four children.
If beneficiaries have daughters, they must be enrolled in school. For girls not attending school, a signed commitment for future enrollment is necessary.
Beneficiaries need to ensure that the trees planted under the government’s tree plantation campaign, Amrit Brikshya Andolan, are thriving.
Assam Baibhav Award
Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi will be honored with Assam’s highest civilian award ‘Assam Baibhav’. The decision to confer this year’s award upon Ranjan Gogoi reflects the state government’s acknowledgment of his exceptional service and achievements.
This marks the third year of the Assam Baibhav awards, with the inaugural award presented to business magnate Ratan Tata in the first year, followed by journalist Tapan Saikia in the second year.
About ‘Assam Baibhav’ Awards
It is one of the highest civilian awards given by the state of Assam. As an award, Gogoi will be given a citation, certificate, medal and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh.
Ranjan Gogoi held the office of the 46th Chief Justice of India.
During his tenure, the Supreme Court had given a historic verdict on the decade-old Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case.
Assam Saurav Award 2023:
This award will be given to four personalities.
Mainly among these Hima Das – Athletics
Dr. Kishan Chand Nauriyal: Art and Culture
Elvis Ali Hazarika: Swimming and
Nadiram Deuri: Tiwa Dance
This award will include a citation, certificate, medal and a cash prize of Rs 4 lakh.
Assam Gaurav Award 2023:
This year 17 personalities will be given the ‘Assam Gaurav’ award.
Ranjit Gogoi (Folk and Bihu dance exponent)
Parvati Barua (animal protection activities)
Debojit Chiangmai (sound engineer)
Drono Bhuyan (Oja Pali)
Neelam Dutta (Organic Farming)
Anupam Deka (industrialist)
Soumyadeep Dutta (Wildlife Conservation)
Basant Chiring Phukan (Mushroom Cultivation)
Manendra Deka (Handicraft)
Meenakshi Chetia (Social Service)
Pakhila Lekhtepi (Karbi Lok)
Tenzing Bodosa (Elephant Friendly Tea Garden)
Nirmal De (mat)
Jessin Kumbang Pao (weaving)
Mary Hassa (social services)
Upendra Rabha (black rice cultivation) and
Rahul Gupta (Hydroponic Farming).
Assam Gaurav Award winners will be given a citation, certificate, medal and a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh.
Indian Army launched Operation Sarvashakti
The Indian Army has launched Operation Sarvashakti in the Rajouri-Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, deploying forces on both sides of the Pir Panjal range to target terrorists who have carried out a series of attacks on troops in the area.
About Operation Sarvashakti
Recent years have witnessed three major terrorist attacks in the area, resulting in the loss of 20 soldiers.
Operation Sarvashakti is an initiative of the Indian army to neutralise terrorist threats in Pir Panjal range.
As part of the operation at least three brigades of additional troops are being deployed in the sector from various reserve and strike corps formations in order to increase the density of troops.
It is similar to Operation Sarpvinash.
In 2003, Indian forces launched Operation Sarpvinash to flush out terrorists who had infiltrated from across the border and set up camps in the thick forests south of the Pir Panjal range, especially in the Hilkaka area in Poonch.
The operation flushed out terrorists and brought peace to the area that lasted until 2017-18, even as terrorist incidents continued to take place in the valley.
The deposits raised under the framework are covered by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC).
Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023
Surat and Indore have been jointly recognized as the cleanest cities in India at the Union Urban Affairs Ministry’s annual Clean City Awards 2023. Indore achieved the top rank for the seventh consecutive time.
President Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred the Swachh Survekshan awards 2023 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
The theme for the year 2023 was -“Waste to Wealth”.
The theme for the Cleanliness Survey 2024 is “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.”
The President launched the Swachh Survekshan 2023 dashboard, emphasizing the importance of everyone’s contribution to and participation in the survey.
Key Points
In the category of cities with a population of less than 1 lakh, Sasvad, Patan and Lonavala secured the top three spots.
Mhow Cantonment Board in Madhya Pradesh was adjudged the Cleanest Cantonment Board.
Varanasi and Prayagraj won the top two awards amongst the Cleanest Ganga Towns.
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh won the top three awards for Best Performing State.
Chandigarh walked away with the award for the Best Safaimitra Surakshit Sheher, acknowledging initiatives that prioritize the safety, dignity, and well-being of sanitation workers.
About Swachh Survekshan Awards
It was launched in 2016, as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission initiated by the Government of India to promote cleanliness and sanitation in urban areas.
The annual survey ranks cities based on various sanitation parameters like door-to-door waste collection, waste treatment, public toilet management, citizen participation, and innovation in sanitation practices.
Winning cities and states receive recognition and financial incentives, aiming to motivate them to maintain and improve their sanitation standards.
NHAI Introduces ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ Initiative
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has launched the ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ initiative that aims to discourage user behavior of using single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a particular vehicle.
About the ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ initiative:
The initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of the Electronic Toll Collection system and provide seamless movement at the Toll Plazas.
The new arrangement Of ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ has also been introduced to discourage user behaviour of using single FASTag for multiple vehicles or linking multiple FASTags to a particular vehicle.
The initiative encourages FASTag users to complete ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) process of their latest FASTag by updating KYC as per RBI guidelines.
FASTags with valid balance but with incomplete KYC will get deactivated/blacklisted by banks post 31st January 2024.
NHAI has taken this initiative after the recent reports of multiple FASTags being issued for a particular vehicle and FASTags being issued without KYC in violation of RBI’s mandate.
The ‘One Vehicle, One FASTag’ initiative will help to make toll operations more efficient and ensure seamless & comfortable journeys for the National Highway users.
About FASTag
FASTag is a device that uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to enable toll payments while the vehicle is in motion.
It is essentially an RFID passive tag on the vehicle’s windscreen linked to a customer’s prepaid or savings/current account.
It allows customers to drive through toll plazas without stopping for toll payments.
The toll fee is deducted from the customer’s linked account.
It is also vehicle specific and once it is affixed to a vehicle, it cannot be transferred to another vehicle.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)State’s Startup Ranking 2022
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) released the State’s Startup Ranking Framework 2022 report. Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu emerged as the best-performing states in the Startup Ranking for 2022.
Categories and Participation
A total of 33 states and union territories actively participated in the evaluation, categorized under five distinct groups – best performers, top performers, leaders, aspiring leaders, and emerging startup ecosystems. The rankings serve as a testament to the varied and evolving nature of the startup ecosystem in different regions of the country.
About State’s Startup Ranking Framework 2022 report
Category A States (Population more than 1 crore)
Best performing states: Gujarat, Karnataka and Kerala
Top performing states: Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Orissa and Maharashtra
Leading states: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Andhra Pradesh
States with Ambitious Leadership: Bihar and Haryana
States developing emerging startup ecosystems: Chhattisgarh, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir
Category B States (Population less than 1 crore)
Best performer: Himachal Pradesh
Top Performer: Arunachal Pradesh Meghalaya
Leader: Goa, Manipur and Tripura
Aspiring leader: Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Nagaland
Emerging Ecosystems: Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, Ladakh Mizoram, Puducherry and Sikkim
MeitY Secretary Launches India’s First Graphene Centre and IoT CoE in Kerala
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Secretary S Krishnan inaugurated the India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG) and a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Intelligent Internet of Things (IIoT) Sensors in Kerala.
About India Innovation Centre for Graphene (IICG): India’s first Graphene Center
Digital University Kerala (DUK) (formerly IIITMK) and Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (CMET)-Thrissur are the technical partners for setting up these centers at Makers Village Kochi.
The complete full-fledged facility for R&D, incubation, innovation, skilling, capacity building, testing & certification shall be established at these centers by the experts of these agencies.
The creation of a complete eco-system for start-ups in the area of IoT Sensors and Graphene & 2D Materials are the main objectives for setting up these centers in the country.
The complete solution with material to product/system development shall be provided at these centers in the respective areas.
Indian Army Develops Encrypted Mobile Ecosystem “SAMBHAV”
Indian Army develops end-to-end encrypted mobile ecosystem SAMBHAV (Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version). SAMBHAV’ has been developed in collaboration with leading national centers of excellence from academia and industry.
About SAMBHAV (Secure Army Mobile Bharat Version)
SAMBHAV is an end-to-end secure mobile ecosystem developed by the Indian Army.
It operates on 5G technology and aims to provide secure communication and instant connectivity.
It aims to address the information security challenges faced by the Indian Army.
Command Cyber Operations Support Wings enhance cyber capabilities at operational and tactical levels.
SAMBHAV addresses the vulnerability of mobile networks to eavesdropping, offering end-to-end security.
Command Cyber Operations Support Wing (CCOSW)
The Command Cyber Operations Support Wing (CCOSW) is being established which increases cyber security capability.
The CCOSWs are specialized units of the Indian Army that assist formations in carrying out mandated cyber security functions.
According to a report, six CCOSWs are being established for all commands. Additionally, specialized training will be provided to personnel involved in this initiative.
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.
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).
AboutAditya-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.”
Q1. India’s first Girls’ Military School inaugurated in
Vrindaban
Bhopal
Guwahati
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
To provide free electricity to 1 lakh households.
To make provisions for rural panchayats.
To review the functioning of the Defence Research and Development Organisation
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?
Myanmar
Sri Lanka
Egypt
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
Operation by the IAF to evacuate Indian citizens from Ukraine.
An initiative of the Indian army to neutralise terrorist threats in Pir Panjal range
Operation by the Indian Navy to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Sudan during the 2023 Sudan conflict.
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?
Madhya Pradesh
Haryana
Manipur
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?
Havisure
Rotavac
Comvac
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’?
Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM)
60 Parachute Field Hospital, Uttar Pradesh
Disaster Mitigation & Management Centre, Uttarakhand
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
Rooftop solar panels
Cultivation of Honey
Child Health
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?
India and Turkey
India and Indonesia
India and Saudi Arabia
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?
Assam
Himachal Pradesh
Goa
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?
Judge Nawaf Salam
H.E. Dennis Francis
Mr. Peter Thomson
Ajay Banga
H.E. Dennis Francis
Q12. International Purple Fest 2024 was organised in
Punjab
Assam
Goa
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
Chetan Bhagat
Aravind Adiga
M.J. Akbar
Vivek Singh
M.J. Akbar
Q14. Which country has been selected to host the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee?
Japan
India
Russia
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?
Fungi
Plants
Fishes
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.
Current Affairs 2022 Yearbook – Important Current Affairs & GK (Important for APSC & other exams)
Current Affairs 2022 Yearbook comprehensively covers all the important events/topics of Current affairs of Assam, North-East, India and the World, important for competitive exams point of view.
Current Affairs 2023 Yearbook – Important Current Affairs & GK (Important for APSC & other exams)
Current Affairs 2023 Yearbook comprehensively covers all the important events/topics of Current affairs of Assam, North-East, India and the World, important for competitive exams point of view.
Sahitya Akademi Award 2023 winners, Sahitya Akademi Award winners list, 2023 Sahitya Akademi Award ceremony.
At the Sahitya Akademi ‘Festival of Letters 2024’, Twenty-four writers. The awards were given for literary works including nine books of poetry, six novels, five of short stories, three essays and one literary study.
The awards relate to books first published during the five years immediately preceding the year of the award, i.e. between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021.
The award ceremony coincided with the 70th anniversary celebrations of the National Academy of Letters at the ‘Sahityotsav’.
Pranavjyoti Deka has been selected for the award by the jury board for his work “Dr Pranavjyoti Dekar Shrestha Golpo”, which is a compilation of short stories in Assamese language.
Nandeswar Daimari has won the award for his work “Jiu-Safarni Dakhwn” in Bodo language, which is also a book of short stories.
Sorokhaibam Gambhini from Manipur won the award for her poetry book “Yachangba Nang Hallo”.
Tapan Bandyopadhyay has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi award 2022 for his novel “Birbal”. The decision was taken by a three-member jury comprising Goutam Ghoshdastidar Samaresh Majumder and Himabanta Bandyopadhyay Bandyopadhyay
Hindi novelist Sanjeev was awarded for his novel “Mujhe Pehchaano”.
English author Neelum Saran Gaur for her book “Requiem in Raga Janki” received the prestigious award.
Swapnamay Chakrabarti (Bengali)
Sadiqua Nawab Saher received the award for her book “Rajdev Ki Amrai” in Urdu
Swarnjit Savi was awarded for his book of poetry “Mann Di Chip” in Punjabi.
The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India, which the Sahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the 22 languages of the 8th Schedule to the Indian constitution as well as in English and Rajasthani language.
Established in 1954, the award comprises a plaque and a cash prize of ₹ 1,00,000.
The award’s purpose is to recognise and promote excellence in Indian writing and also acknowledge new trends. The annual process of selecting awardees runs for the preceding twelve months.
The plaque awarded by the Sahitya Akademi was designed by the Indian film-maker Satyajit Ray.
The awards are selected on the basis of unanimous selections made by the jurors, or the selection made on the basis of a majority vote.
Assam govt announces yearly stipend for female PG students
The Govt of Assam will introduce a scheme under which all female students pursuing post-graduate courses in the state will be provided a yearly stipend of Rs 10,000 each which would be helpful in covering their commutation and other related expenses.
This was announced by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The Chief Minister appealed to the female students pursuing PG courses to apply for getting the stipend in the portal to be launched by the Department of Education for the purpose in a few weeks from now.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also distributed scooters to meritorious candidates who cleared the last higher secondary examination conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) with a percentage above a certain threshold at a ceremony held in Guwahati.
To be eligible for the award, the male candidates had to score a minimum of 75 per cent in higher secondary examination, while for female candidates the cut-off was fixed at 60 per cent.
23rdHornbill Festival 2022 in Nagaland
The 23rd edition of the Hornbill International Festival 2022 begins at the Heritage Village Kisama in Nagaland. The festival commenced on December 1 and will continue till December 10.
The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions.
About Hornbill Festival
The festival is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the state’s ethnic groups.
To encourage inter-ethnic interaction and to promote cultural heritage of Nagaland, the Govt of Nagaland organizes the Hornbill Festival every year.
The 10-day Hornbill Festival represents all ethnic groups of Nagaland for which it is also called the Festival of Festivals.
The festival host guests from across states and nations, representing the rich culture of various tribes of Nagaland,
The festival provides a colourful mixture of dances, performances, crafts, parades, games, sports, food fairs and religious ceremonies.
Traditional arts which include paintings, wood carvings, and sculptures are also on display.
The Hornbill Festival has contributed significantly to enhancing the state’s tourism brand.
India-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’
The 18th edition of India-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’is scheduled to be conducted in Uttarakhand.
Exercise Yudh Abhyas is conducted annually between India and USA with the aim of exchanging best practices, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures between the Armies of the two nations.
Key Points
US Army soldiers of 2nd Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division and Indian Army soldiers from the ASSAM Regiment will be participating in the exercise.
The training schedule focuses on employment of an integrated battle group under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate.
The schedule will include all operations related to peace keeping & peace enforcement.
The joint exercise will also focus on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
The troops from both nations will work together to achieve common objectives and will practice launching of swift & coordinated relief efforts in the wake of any natural calamity.
In order to derive full benefit from the professional skills & experiences of both the armies, a Command Post Exercise and Expert Academic Discussions (EAD) on carefully selected topics will be carried out.
The scope of the Field Training Exercise includes validation of integrated battle groups, force multipliers, establishment and functioning of surveillance grids, validation of operational logistics, mountain warfare skills, casualty evacuation and combat medical aid in adverse terrain and climatic conditions.
The exercise will involve exchanges and practices on a wide spectrum of combat skills including combat engineering, employment of UAS/Counter UAS techniques and information operations.
The exercise will facilitate both Armies to share their wide experiences, skills and enhance their techniques through information exchange.
The previous edition of the exercise was conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska (USA) in October 2021.
India assumes United Nations Security Council Presidency for December 2022
India assumed the monthly presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the second time in its two-year tenure as an elected member of the Council in 2021-22. India had earlier assumed the Presidency in August 2021.
India has been a non-permanent member of the United Nations security council for 8 terms, with the most recent being the 2021-22 term.
Key Points
India will hold a “high-level open debate” on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism (NORMS)” at the Security Council.
New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism (NORMS) envisages reforms in the current multilateral architecture, with the UN at its centre, to make it more representative and fit for purpose.
The other signature event planned is the high-level briefing on the theme “Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts: Global Approach to Counter Terrorism — Challenges and Way Forward”.
This briefing intends to underscore the necessity of collective and coordinated efforts to combat the menace of terrorism.
About United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was established by the UN Charter in 1945.
It is one of the UN’s six main organs and is aimed at maintaining international peace and security.
The Headquarters of the UNSC is located in New York City.
The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council.
It is composed of 15 members: 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent.
Five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis as follows:
Five for African and Asian States.
One for the Eastern European States.
Two for the Latin American and Caribbean States;
Two for Western European and other States
India MMR dips to 97 per lakh live births in 2018-20, Assam worst at 195
According to the report released by the office of the Registrar General of India, The maternal Mortality Ratio in India has dropped from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 97 per lakh live births in 2018-20.
About Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)
Maternal mortality in a region is a measure of the reproductive health of women in the area.
According to the World Health Organization, “Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes”.
The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the number of maternal deaths during a specific time period per 100,000 live births during the same period.
Key Points
As per the statistics derived from Sample Registration System (SRS), the country has witnessed a progressive reduction in MMR from 130 in 2014-2016, 122 in 2015-17, 113 in 2016-18, 103 in 2017-19 and to 97 in 2018-20.
Upon achieving this, India has accomplished the National Health Policy (NHP) target for MMR of less than 100/lakh live births.
Target 3.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations aims at reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 1,00,000 live births during the same period.
According to the data, Assam has the highest MMR of 195, followed by Madhya Pradesh with an MMR of 173 and Uttar Pradesh with MMR of 167 per 1 lakh live births.
Kerala has the lowest MMR, followed by Maharashtra at 33 and Telangana at 43.
Silchar-Sylhet Festival organised at Silchar
The first ever Silchar-Sylhet Festival, organized to celebrate the cultural ties between the Barak Valley region of Assam and the Sylhet segment of Bangladesh.
Key Points
Assam’s Silchar town is hosting the two-day Silchar-Sylhet Festival, to celebrate the linguistic and cultural ties between the Barak Valley region of Assam and the Sylhet segment of Bangladesh.
Silchar-Sylhet Festival is organised by the India Foundation.
The Festival coincides with the 75th year of India’s independence and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
The festival underlines the commonalities between India and Bangladesh, specifically the Sylheti variant of the Bengali language and the Sylheti culture.
The festival will showcase tribal culture, cuisine, arts, crafts and local produce, entertainment and bring together eminent people from both sides to discuss and deliberate on issues of mutual growth and opportunity.
Indo-French Partnership on Kaziranga Project
India and France are collaborating under the Kaziranga Project in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.
The Kaziranga project is a part of a larger Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) for which the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has committed funding of €80.2 million for a 10-year period, between 2014-2024.
The project conceptualised the reforestation of 33,500 hectares of land and the training of 10,000 community members in alternate livelihoods by 2024.
The Assam Govt, with the support of AFD, launched the APFBC in 2012, to restore forest ecosystems, protect wildlife and enhance the livelihood of the forest-dependent communities.
About Kaziranga National Park
Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam.
It is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.
It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950, and notified as Kaziranga National Park in 1974.
It is the home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos.
In 1985, Kaziranga was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its unique natural environment.
It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for conservation of avifaunal species.
India ranked 48thin Global Aviation Safety ranking
India ranked 48th position in the global aviation safety ranking by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
India was in the 102nd position four years ago in the ranking.The position is the highest-ever spot attained by the country.
Key Points
In the ranking, Singapore is at the top, followed by the UAE and South Korea at the second and third positions.
As per Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the audit was conducted in the areas of legislation, organisation, personal licensing, operations, airworthiness and aerodromes.
India’s score in terms of effective implementation of key safety elements has improved to 85.49%.
India’s score for civil aviation organizations increased from 63.64% to 72.73 %, aircraft operations from 80.34% to 97.44%, personnel licensing and training from 25.58% to 84.71%, and aerodrome and ground aid from 72.36% to 92.68%.
‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ Conclave
‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ Conclave is being organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through its apex agricultural export promotion body, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
The Conclave is to be a pre-launch event of the ‘International Year of Millets – 2023’ (IYoM-2023). It is organised with the objective of promoting the export of millets.
Key Points
At the Millets Smart Nutritive Conclave, stakeholders of the supply chain such as Farmer Producer Organisations, Start-ups, exporters, producers of millet-based value-added products are key participants.
At the Conclave, exhibition and B2B meetings will also be organized to showcase Indian millets and millet-based products.
At the first-of-its-kind Millets Conclave, the Govt will release e-catalogue on 30 potential importing countries and 21 millet producing states of India.
India is one of the leading producers of millets in the world with an estimated share of around 41 percent in the global production.
India recorded 27 percent growth in millet production in 2021-22 as compared to millet production in the previous year was 15.92 MMT.
India’s top five millet producing states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production.
Exports of millets from India include mainly whole grain and the export of value-added products of millets from India is negligible.
Assam’s Nayanmoni Saikia receives Arjuna Award
Assam’s Nayanmoni Saikia was conferred with the Arjuna Award at Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Draupadi Murmu.
Nayanmoni Saikia was nominated for the award for her achievements in Lawn Bowl.
Apart from Nayanmoni Saikia, Shushila Devi from Manipur was also presented with the prestigious award for her remarkable contributions and achievements in the field of boxing.
Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sharma congratulated Commonwealth Games gold medalist Nayanmoni Saikia for receiving Arjuna Award, 2022 from Hon’ble President Droupadi Murmu.
Mirabai Chanu won silver medal in World Championship 2022
Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has won a silver medal at the weightlifting World Championships in Bogota, Colombia.
Mirabai won a silver medal at the World Championships with a total lift of 200kg. China’s Jiang Huihua, who won the gold with a total effort of 206kg (93kg+113kg) while Tokyo Olympics champion Hou Zhihua who won the bronze with a total effort of198kg (89kg+109kg).
Mirabai had previously won gold in the 2017 world weightlifting championship. This was Mirabai’s second medal at the World Championships.
Tripura gets its first Film and Television Institute
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha inaugurated Tripura’s first film and television institute at Nazrul Kalakshetra in Agartala.
The institute has been set up in collaboration with Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI).
This film Institute will promote Tripura’s rich cultural heritage in the global sphere. It will help the youths of the state to nurture their cultural talents and will also help to improve the socio-economic condition of the youths.
The state Govt has allocated Rs 5.76 crore for the institute. Four short-term courses, including screen acting, film appreciation, production, and management along with news reporting, anchoring and newsroom automation would be started initially.
India ranked 87thin Passport Index 2022
India has been ranked 87 in the world’s strongest passport list for 2022, published by Arton Capital.
Passport Index 2022 published by Arton Capital ranked the world’s strongest and weakest passports.
Key Points
The Passport Index is based on the 139 members of the United Nations and 6 different aspects have been considered to make this list.
UAE ranked first in the rating of passports for 2022 followed by Germany, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Spain and France.
Travellers with UAE passports can travel visa-free or “visa on arrival” to 180 countries.
Countries with the weakest passports are Afghanistan (38) Syria (39), Iraq (40), Pakistan (44).
The data for this list has been given by the Govts of different countries.
Oxford dictionary announces ‘goblin mode’ as word of the year 2022
The Oxford English Dictionary recently announces ‘goblin mode’ as word of the year 2022 that was selected by public votes – Goblin mode.
It’s the first time Oxford Languages opened up its annual word of the year listing to a public vote.
Goblin mode is a slang term that describes a type of behavior that is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, generally rejecting social norms and expectations.
The word goblin mode is used to acknowledge that individuals are not always idealized, curated selves that they force themselves to present in social media platforms.
The term speaks to the current times when people are embracing their inner goblin and choosing to reject the accepted social customs.
American dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster has chosen “gaslighting” as its word of the year for 2022.
Meghalaya health dept awarded for Best Practice in Tuberculosis ACSM
Meghalaya was awarded for Best Practice in Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization in Tuberculosis control at the National Workshop on ACSM to end TB in India,
The award was given to recognize the efforts by the Meghalaya Govt for initiating ‘jan andolan’ (people’s movement) against Tuberculosis
The award was presented to representatives of the health department at a national workshop, aimed at ending TB infections, in New Delhi.
Key Points
TB affects 2.6 million people in India every year.
The TB Mukt Bharat campaign, or ‘Jan Andolan’ aims to enhance awareness, eradicate stigma and generate demand for services throughout the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set a national target to eliminate the disease, which affects more than 26 lakh Indians each year, by 2025, five years ahead of the WHO’s Sustainable Development Goals.
A National Strategic Plan for TB Elimination (2017-25) has also been launched which ensures greater community engagement.
Assam’s Gamusa gets Geographical Indication (GI) tag by Govt of India
‘Gamocha’ of Assam, has received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the central Govt. Gamusa is considered as one of the prominent cultural identifiers of the Assamese community.
About Assamese Gamocha
The ‘gamocha’, a handwoven rectangular cotton piece of cloth with red borders and different designs and motifs. It is an integral part of all socio-religious ceremonies in the state and is considered as an Assamese identity and pride.
It is traditionally offered to elders and guests as a mark of respect and honour by Assamese people. A ‘gamocha’ meant for exchange during ‘Bihu’ festival is known as ‘Bihuwan’.
About Geographical Indication (GI) tag
A geographical indication (GI) is a tag or sign used on products which correspond to a specific geographical location or origin.
A GI is tagged to primarily agricultural, natural or manufactured products, handicrafts and industrial goods originating from a definite geographical territory.
The GI tag has been registered in favour of the Directorate of Handloom & Textiles of the Assam Govt under the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.
Ladakh’s Hanle becomes India’s first dark sky reserve
Ladakh is all set to have India’s first Dark Night Sky Reserve at Hanle village in Changthang region.The Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) will come up within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, situated 4,500 metres above sea level, which makes it a perfect host for telescopes.
Ladakh is also ideal for long-term observatories and dark-sky sites because of its large arid area, high elevation, and sparse population. The Milky Way Galaxy is visible through the night in the Hanle region due to its cloudless skies and lower atmospheric disturbance.
Hanley is home for the second-highest optical telescope in the world, established in 2001 by Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
About Dark sky Reserve
The International Dark Sky Association (IDSA) defines an international dark sky reserve (IDSR) as “a public or private land of substantial size possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment, and that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment”.
A dark sky reserve requires a “core” area that has a clear sky without any light pollution, which can enable telescopes to see the sky in its natural darkness. To support the core, it should be surrounded by a “peripheral” or “buffer” area that supports dark sky values in the core while receiving the same benefits.
Assam govt launches ‘Orunodoi 2.0’, scheme
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the ‘Orunodoi 2.0’, the flagship scheme of the state Govt aimed at providing financial security to financially disadvantaged families.
Key Points
Around 10.50 lakhs new beneficiaries will be newly added under the ambit of Orunodoi 2.0 making the scheme as the Largest DBT scheme in the history of Assam.
With total financial outlay for Orunodoi at Rs.4,142 crore per annum, this scheme is billed as one of the largest direct beneficiary transfer (DBT) schemes in the country.
The scheme will also cover disabled and transgender. The people living in old age homes will also be benefitted from the scheme with DC quota.
Orunodoi, the poverty alleviation scheme, launched to entail a monthly grant of Rs. 1,250 to each beneficiary.
It is one of the flagship schemes of the Govt of Assam currently in operation.
The Orunodoi benefit is usually transferred to the bank account of each beneficiary by the 10th of every month.
Indo-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise “Kazind – 2022” is scheduled to be conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya
The 6th Edition of Indo – Kazakhstan joint training exercise “KAZIND-22” is scheduled to be conducted at Umroi (Meghalaya) from 15 to 28 December 2022.
This joint exercise will enable the two armies to train, plan and execute a series of combined tactical drills for neutralising of likely threats that may be encountered in UN peace keeping operations.
Aim of the exercise is to build positive military relations, imbibe each other’s best practices and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking counter terrorist operations in semi urban / jungle scenario, under a UN peace enforcement mandate.
About “Kazind – 2022”
Joint annual training exercise with the Kazakhstan Army was instituted in 2016 as Exercise Prabal Dostyk, which was later upgraded to a company level exercise and renamed as Ex Kazind in 2018.
The scope of this exercise involves a Command Post Exercise (CPX) at the Battalion level and Company level Field Training Exercise (FTX) on sub-conventional operations.
It will enhance the level of defence cooperation between Indian Army and Kazakhstan Army which will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.
During the exercise, participants will engage in a variety of missions ranging from joint planning, joint tactical drills, basics of special arms skills, HADR and raiding a hostile target.
Kazakhstan Army soldiers composed of troops from the Regional Command, South and Indian Army soldiers from the 11 Gorkha Rifles will be participating in the exercise.
8th edition of Falcon festival begins at Umrangso
The 8th edition of the popular Falcon Festival got underway with great fanfare at the Golf Course near Umrangso in Dima Hasao.
The Falcon Festival is organized on two main ideas. The first aims to increase awareness of the Amur Falcon, and the second is to promote the state’s Dimasa customs and culture.
The Amur Falcon is a tiny yet effective bird predator in the Falcon family. It is a migratory bird that nests in Siberia and Northern China and then travels large distances to Africa.
However, throughout time, a large number of these birds selected Assam and Nagaland as their roosting grounds.
One of the key issues of conservation in this region is the arrival of this bird and the necessity to maintain it. At the occasion, seminars on the conservation of this species will be held.
Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise Surya Kiran XVI
The 16th Edition of Indo-Nepal joint training Exercise “SURYA KIRAN-XVI” between India and Nepal is being held from December 16 to 29 this year in Nepal Army Battle School in Nepal’s Saljhandi.
About Exercise Surya Kiran
Exercise Surya Kiran is a joint military exercise between the armies of India and Nepal.
Its objectives include improving interoperability and sharing experiences and best practices on counter-insurgency operations.
It aims to establish military relations in inaccessible mountainous areas by the soldiers of both countries, Provide humanitarian assistance under disaster management, Get training in anti-terrorist operations.
The inaugural edition of this bilateral exercise was held in Mizoram in 2011. Since then, it has been held each year between the two armies.
The 15th edition was held in Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand.
It is also improving the mutual cooperation between both the armies and further strengthening diplomatic relations of the two countries.
The joint military training is set to conclude on December 29, 2022, after a grueling 48-hour validation exercise to confirm the performance of both armies in the counter-insurgency environment.
The Gorkha battalion from the elite Gorkha regiment is representing the Indian Army in this exercise. The Nepal Army is represented by the Shree Bhawani Baksh Battalion.
During this exercise, the two militaries will share experiences that were gained during the various counter-insurgency operations over the years in their respective countries.
The scope of the Surya Kiran series has been expanded to include Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), High Altitude Warfare, and Jungle Warfare operations.
It will also focus on the evolution of joint drills for planning and conducting tactical operations at the unit level in the counter-terrorism operations and disaster response mechanisms and armed forces’ role in managing disasters.
Assam Grant Industry Status to its Tourism Sector
The state Govt of Assam has approved the proposal for grant of industry status to the tourism sector in the state.
Significance of this transition
To boost investments and generate employment.
The industry status, fresh investments in tourism infrastructure, permanent in nature, will contribute towards rapid employment generation, public-private partnership and development.
With the grant, restaurants, cafeterias, health clubs, spas and wellness centers, among others, are eligible for incentives under the industrial policy.
The newly-implemented policy aims for sustainable and environmentally friendly investment besides capital formation and the creation of gainful employment. The ministry also said the infrastructure can be developed through Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, which will contribute to the overall development of the region.
Assam has now become an all-season tourist destination for its unique wildlife, bio-diversity and experience of an unexploited wonderland. Tourism is to be one of the main sources of income generation for the people over the years.
Tamil Nadu Govt launched Climate Change Mission
The state Govt of Tamil Nadu has launched the Climate Change Mission to protect the natural resources in the state besides restore them on a long-term basis.
The state is first to launch its own Climate Change Mission to make Tamil Nadu a climate smart state.
Key Points
The mission aims to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in the state, increase the use of public transport, develop strategies to cut emissions by using green and renewable energy, increase forest cover, and manage waste effectively.
To develop ways to mitigate the impact of climate change, access financial resources for adaptation, initiate climate education in educational institutions, focus on climate action for women and children.
Adopt a ‘One Health’ approach that includes human, animal, and ecological health to understand health disruptions caused by climate change.
The state has also aimed to achieve carbon neutrality much ahead of 2070 target set by PM Modi.
Japanese space startup, ispace has launched the world’s first commercial moon lander, HAKUTO-R
Japan has successfully launched a spacecraft to the moon recently. This mission was took off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, after two postponements caused by inspections of its SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
About HAKUTO
HAKUTO refers to the white rabbit that lives on the moon in Japanese folklore. The national space agencies of the United States, Russia and China have already achieved the soft landings on moon.
The ispace craft intends to deploy a tiny NASA satellite into the orbit of the moon to look for water deposits prior to its touch in the Atlas Crater. Additionally, the M1 lander will station two robotic rovers, a baseball-sized device from the JAXA space agency, and the four-wheeled Rashid explorer. The Rashid explorer is crafted by the United Arab Emirates.
Assam Cabinet approved a bill to create Safai Karamchari Commission
The Assam Cabinet approved a bill to create a Safai Karamchari Commission and decisions related to providing financial benefits to pregnant women, monitoring drug prices, protecting Safai Karmacharis’ rights and filling up vacancies in the Forest Department were also taken in the meeting.
Key Decisions made during the Cabinet Meeting
The cabinet has also renamed the Dergaon Police Academy as Lachit Barphukan Police Academy.
The Assam cabinet has resolved to transfer Rs 700 to all pregnant women to their bank accounts and around 5 lakh pregnant women of the state will get the benefit.
Approved Rs 361 crore for BTC as the first installment under the annual budget. The state cabinet has approved to set up Safai Karmachari Aayog for Safai workers for their development
The state cabinet has approved Rs 525 crore for the construction of 162 new police stations in the state under the Moitry scheme.
Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain Win Gold Medals at the Women’s National Boxing Championships 2022
Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen won gold medals in their respective weight categories at the Women’s National Boxing Championships 2022 in Bhopal
Key Points
Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain beat Arundhati Choudhary of Services 5-0 in the 75kg final, while Nikhat endured a hard test from Anamika of the RSPB in the 50kg final before the 26-year-old Telangana pugilist won 4-1 to defend her championship.
The Railways team topped the medals tally with 10 medals – five golds, three silvers and two bronze.
Madhya Pradesh, with one gold, two silver and five bronze, and Haryana (two gold and two bronze) claimed second and third position, respectively.
Manipur’s young boxer Sanamacha Thokchom Chanu, who won gold medal at the 2021 Youth World Championships, also put up an impressive show to secure the title in the 70kg by beating Madhya Pradesh’s Shruti Yadav 3-2 in the final.
Haryana’s Manisha (57kg) and Saweety Boora (81kg), SSCB’s Sakshi (52kg), Madhya Pradesh’s Manju Bamboria (66kg) also clinched gold medals in their respective categories at the tournament, which witnessed participation of 302 boxers fighting in 12 categories.
RRR bagged three awards at Philadelphia Film Critics Circle Annual Awards
The Indian film, ‘RRR’ has bagged three awards at the 2022 Philadelphia Film Critics Circle Annual Awards. The film has won three awards at the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle Annual Awards.
Categories – Best Foreign Language Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Score/Soundtrack.
Earlier, the film has also received nominations in two categories for 2023 Golden Globes. The film has been nominated in the Best Picture – Non-English Language category and “Naatu Naatu” in the Best Original Song – Motion Picture category.
This film also bagged four nominations at the inaugural HCA Creative Arts Awards 2023 which included Sreekar Prasad for Best Editing, Srinivas Mohan for Best VFX, M. M. Keeravaani for Best Original Song – ‘Naatu Naatu’, and King Solomon for Best Stunts.
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir appointed as the Chairperson of the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC)
Hansraj Gangaram Ahir assumed charge as Chairperson, National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC). He had been elected four times Member of Parliament from Parliamentary Constituency Chandrapur, Maharashtra and also he was Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council.
He had been Member of various Standing Committees of Parliament and also served as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal and Steel. He had been Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Govt of India the 16th Lok Sabha.
About National Commission for Backward Classes
National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) was initially constituted by the Central Govt by the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993.
The National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 (27 of 1993) has been repealed through the National Commission for Backward Classes (Repeal) Act, 2018 dated 14.08.2018.
The present Commission has been accorded Constitutional Status and constituted through “The Constitution (One Hundred and Second Amendment) Act, 2018” Act dated 11.8.2018, whereby Article 338B has been inserted, forming a Commission for the socially and educationally backward classes to be known as National Commission for Backward Classes.
The Commission consists of a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and three other Members in the rank & pay of Secretary to the Govt of India and their condition of service and tenure of office has been notified vide Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Notification dated 23.08.2018.
India’s first Gold ATM has been launched in Hyderabad
India’s first Gold ATM and world’s first real-time Gold ATM has been launched at Begumpet, Hyderabad. The ATM was set up by the Goldsikka in collaboration with Opencube Technologies (Technology support).
Key Points
The firm’s first ATM has been installed at its head office in Ashoka Raghupathi Chambers, Begumpet, and it aims to install such ATMs throughout the city, especially in rural areas.
This ATM can dispense gold coins in different denominations ranging from 0.5 gm to 100 grams
The ATM, the firm says, aims to give access to a “varied audience”. Anybody can withdraw gold anywhere – 24*7 – with the machine is said to be the goal.
Apart from debit and credit cards, buyers can also use prepaid and postpaid smart cards to withdraw the yellow metal.
The update in the price of gold is based on the live prices.
Each ATM has a capacity of holding up to 5 kg of gold, worth around Rs. 2-3 crores.
There are eight available options, including 0.5 grams, 1 gram, 2 grams, 5 grams, 10 grams, 20 grams, 50 grams and 100 grams,” On security features, Security measures like inbuilt camera in the machine, alarm system, external CCTV cameras are there.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Nepal
Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Nepal for the third time. He replaced Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress party.
A coalition of 6 parties have decided to project Pushpa Kamal Dahal as the Prime Minister. An agreement has been reached. Dahal will lead the Govt for two and a half years and the CPN-UML will be in power in the remaining two-and-a-half years,” Barshaman Pun, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal.
The Indian govt is considering to shift from “Minimum” to “Living” Wages
The Union Labour Ministry is currently mulling to shift from the “minimum wages” to “living wages” in a bid to bring more people from poverty in the country.
The Indian Govt is considering to shift from the minimum wage to the living wage to eliminate poverty in the country. If such a shift happens, it would have significant financial implications for India and the Govt. It will make Sustainable Development Goal commitments easily achievable.
India is planning to receive assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO) to understand what constitutes a living wage since it is highly subjective.
Difference between living wage and minimum wage
The term ‘living wage’ is defined as the minimum income necessary for workers to meet their basic necessities. It is different from the minimum wage, which is based on labor productivity and skill sets.
Minimum wage is the lowest amount of money a laborer can earn as mandated by the law. It does not change based on inflation. It can increase only with Govt intervention. This is not true for the living wage.
The living wage is determined by the average cost to live comfortably, while the minimum wage is the fixed amount set by the Govt.
The difference between the minimum wage and the living wage can range between 10 and 25 percent based on the cost of living in a specific place.
First Bekal International Beach Festival in Kerala
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has inaugurated the 10-day first international beach festival, that captures the wholeness and the essence of the district’s cultural and artistic uniqueness and displays the rich cultural diversity and grandeur of the country, at the majestic Bekal Beach Park.
About Bekal International Beach festival
It is put on by the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC) in collaboration with the district’s local self-Govt entities, Kudumbashree, Asmi Holidays, and the District Tourism Promotion Council.
This festival showcases the country’s rich cultural diversity and magnificence in the majestic Bekal Beach Park.
The festival reflects a cross-section of culture and the unique identity of the land.
More than 1,000 international, national and local artists performed at the Beach Festival.
