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Assam Current Affairs – January 28-31, 2024

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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 13-15, 2024

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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 – December 04-06, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – December 04-06, 2022

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December 04-06, 2022

Silchar-Sylhet Festival 

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 government, 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 48th position in the 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 government 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.

First G20 Sherpa Meeting under India’s Presidency begins at Udaipur

The first G20 Sherpa Meeting under India’s Presidency begins at Udaipur. Representatives of 19 countries including the European Union and nine unique invitee countries will take part in the discussion. 

The G20 Sherpa Meeting will be presided by Amitabh Kant.

Key Points

  • The Sherpa meeting of G20 will be held in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan from 4 December to 7 December.
  • Important conversations on some of the most pressing issues of recent times will be discussed. 
  • India will have the opportunity to convene discussions on shared global priorities with G20 Members and guests.
  • India formally assumed the year-long Presidency of the G-20 on 1st of December. 
  • During the course of its Presidency, India will be holding about 200 meetings in 32 different sectors in multiple locations across the country.
  • As a host, New Delhi will set the agenda for the G-20 summit meeting to be organized in September 2023.

Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar has been appointed as the chairperson of the National Statistical Commission

Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar has been appointed as part-time chairperson of National Statistical Commission of India (NSCI) for three years.

Karandikar will take up this role as an additional responsibility while continuing as Professor Emeritus at Chennai Mathematical Institute (CMI). 

He is widely known for his work on probability theory as well as applications of mathematics and statistics to real world questions. 

He has designed, supervised and analysed nationwide opinion polls for the Indian parliamentary elections as well State assemblies since 1998. 

He is also known for developing a new model and methodology for seat prediction, which has been quite successful for over the last 20 years. 

About National Statistical Commission (NSC) of India

  • The National Statistical Commission (NSC) of India is an autonomous body which was formed in June 2005 under the recommendation of Rangarajan commission.
  • The objective of its constitution is to reduce the problems faced by statistical agencies in the country in relation to collection of data.
  • The Chairperson of the Commission enjoys the status of a Minister of State and the Members of the Commission have the status equivalent to the Secretary to the Government of India. 

Shekhar Pathak has won the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Award for the book based on the Chipko Movement

A book on the Chipko Movement, written by historian-activist Shekhar Pathak, was named the winner of the Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize 2022. 

Translated from Hindi by Manisha Chaudhry, “The Chipko Movement: A People’s History” was selected from a diverse shortlist of five books covering a wide expanse of modern Indian history and encompassing distinct topics and perspectives. 

About Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize

  • The Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize recognises and celebrates excellence in non-fiction writings on modern or contemporary India by writers from all nationalities. 
  • The Prize was established in 2018 by the New India Foundation, a charitable organisation which also awards research fellowships and book grants for Indian writers.
  • The foundation provides grants for scholars and writers who are writing non-fiction and fiction books about India, and also provides translation grants for works translated from Indian languages.
  • The award carries a cash award of Rs 15 lakh, a trophy and a citation. 

 

Assam Current Affairs – October 28-31, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – October 28-31, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the October 28-31, 2022)

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Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – October 2022

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

October 28-31, 2022

Bharati Das takes charge as new Controller General of Accounts (CGA)

Bharati Das took charge as the new Controller General of Accounts (CGA) Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance. 

She is the 27th Controller General of Accounts (CGA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

Bharati Das has served as Principal Chief Controller of Accounts (Pr. CCA) Central Board of Direct Taxes, Pr. CCA Ministry of External Affairs, Pr. CCA Ministry of Home Affairs and CCA, Ministry of Health and Family welfare. 

She has also served as Director, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways.

About the Controller General of Accounts

  • Controller General of Accounts (CGA) is ‘the Principal Advisor’ on Accounting matters to the Union Government.
  • The CGA is responsible for establishing and managing a technically sound Management Accounting System and preparation and submission of the accounts of the Union Government. 
  • The CGA is also responsible for exchequer control and internal audits for the central Government.

Dr Shefali Juneja appointed as the chairperson of the Air Transport Committee (ATC) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

Dr Shefali Juneja has been appointed as the Chairman of the Air Transport Committee (ATC) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The Air Transportation Committee (ATC) is the council’s advisory body on air transportation matters specified in the Chicago Convention.

Juneja, a 1992 batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (Income Tax Cadre). She served as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) before joining the ICA. 

Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation

  • The Convention on International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention, established the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
  • The convention was signed on December 7, 1944, in Chicago by 52 signatory states.
  • It is a specialized agency of the UN charged with coordinating international air travel. 
  • The Convention establishes rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety, security, and sustainability, and details the rights of the signatories in relation to air travel. 
  • ICAO came into existence on 4 April 1947.In October of the same year, ICAO became a specialized agency of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). 

Two Indian beaches enter the coveted list of Blue Beaches

Minicoy Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach in Lakshadweep recently entered into the coveted list of Blue Beaches, an eco-label given to the cleanest beaches in the world.

Key Points

  • The Thundi Beach is one of the most pristine and picturesque beaches in the Lakshadweep archipelago where white sand is lined by turquoise blue water of the lagoon. It is a paradise for swimmers and tourists alike. 
  • The Kadmat Beach is popular with cruise tourists who visit the island for water sports. It is a paradise for nature lovers with its pearl white sand, blue lagoon waters, its moderate climate and friendly locals.
  • Together the two beaches have taken India’s tally of Blue Beaches to 12. 
  • The other Indian beaches in the blue list are Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden beach (Odisha), Radhanagar (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Kovalam (Tamil Nadu) and Eden (Puducherry).

About Blue Flag Tag

  • The Blue Flag tag certification or tag is a globally recognized eco-label accorded by Foundation for Environment Education in Denmark (FEE).
  • It is one of the world’s most recognized voluntary awards for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. 
  • To qualify for the Blue Flag, stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. 

Pankaj Tripathi declared ‘National Icon’ by Election Commission of India

Actor Pankaj Tripathi has been declared the “National Icon” by the election commission of India. The announcement was made by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

CEC Rajiv Kumar complimented Pankaj Tripathi for his association with ECI in creating voting awareness across citizens, and henceforth declared him as the National Icon for ECI.

Pankaj Tripathi has been announced as National Icon to encourage voters and increase the voting percentage in India. ECI significantly chose an icon to create voting awareness among the citizens.

The actor Pankaj Tripathi is a National Award winner. He made his mark on Bollywood through various hit movies and web series.

Shehan Karunatilak has been awarded the Booker Prize 2022

Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka won the 2022 Booker Prize for his second novel ‘The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida’.

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida tells the story of a war photographer who has woken up dead in what seems to be a celestial visa office. He has ‘seven moons’ to try and solve the mystery of his death and to help unveil a cache of photos that will rock war-torn Sri Lanka.

Shehan Karunatilaka is the second Sri Lankan to win the award, following Michael Ondaatje’s victory in 1992 for “The English Patient”.

About Booker Prize

  • The Booker Prize is a literary prize awarded each year for the best novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
  • The winner of the Booker Prize receives international publicity which usually leads to a sales boost.
  • The prize was established as the Booker Prize for Fiction after the company Booker, McConnell Ltd began sponsoring the event in 1969.

Nobel Prize Winners 2022

The Nobel Prizes are five separate prizes according to Alfred Nobel’s will of 1895, which are awarded to “those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.”

The prize ceremonies take place annually. Each recipient receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a monetary award.

Nobel Prizes are awarded in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Economic Sciences and Peace.

Nobel Prize for Literature 

Annie Ernaux won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature for her autobiography “the courage and clinical acuity”. This book uncovers the roots, estrangements, and collective restraints of her personal experiences. 

Nobel Prize for Peace 

Ales Byalyatski, Jailed Belarusian activist, Russian rights group Memorial, and Ukraine’s Center for Civil Liberties won the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize. 

This award was bestowed to Ales for promoting the right to criticize power and protect the fundamental rights of citizens. Whereas the Organization memorial and Organization Centre for Civil Liberties for showcasing outstanding efforts to document war crimes, human rights abuses, and the abuse of power. 

Nobel Prize in Physics 

The prize is mutually shared by scientists Alain Aspect, John Clauser, and Anton Zeilinger for their compilations in quantum mechanics which laid the ground for new applications in computing and cryptography. 

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 

The Nobel prize 2022 in chemistry is jointly given to scientists Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal, and Barry Sharpless for the placement and development of click chemistry and bio-orthogonal chemistry. 

Nobel Prize for Economics 

Douglas Diamond, Philip Dybvig, and U.S economists Ben Bernanke won Nobel Economics Prize 2022 for their research on banking and financial crises. 

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 

Professor Svante Paabo won the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. This award was conferred to him for discoveries on the genetic identity of two of humankind’s earliest ancestors and the human evolution process.

Assam Current Affairs – October 25-27, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – October 25-27, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the October 25-27, 2022)

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Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022

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

October 25-27, 2022

Government of India approved the establishment of Terai Elephant Reserve in Uttar Pradesh

The Union Ministry of Forest and Environment has given its approval to establish the Terai Elephant Reserve (TER) in Uttar Pradesh. 

Key Points

  • Terai Elephant Reserve (TER), which covers 3,049 sq km including Dudhwa Tiger Reserve and Pilibhit Tiger Reserve located in Lakhimpur and Pilibhit districts.
  • It will be the 33rd elephant reserve to be set up in India.
  • This reserve will be developed in the joint forest areas of Dudhwa and Piliphit tiger reserve and will cover the conservation of four wild species including tiger, Asian elephant, swamp deer, and one-horned rhinoceros.
  • The establishment of this reserve will help to conserve the trans-boundary migration of elephant populations and will also help to protect the neighbouring villages in the Indo-Nepal border area of Uttar Pradesh.
  • The government will provide all financial and technical assistance under project Elephant, which will help in handling human-elephant conflicts.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has included Myanmar on the list of high-risk countries 

The Financial Action Task Force(FATF) has included Myanmar on the list of high-risk countries called as ‘Black List’ and has called on members to apply enhanced due diligence to business relations and transactions in Myanmar.

Myanmar was added to the FATF list of high-risk nations for its failure to mark strategic deficiencies as committed by it in February 2020.

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran was put on blacklist by the anti-terror financing and anti-money laundering watchdog earlier in february in 2020.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF)

  • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering and to maintain certain interest. 
  • The body checks the progress in implementing its recommendations through “peer reviews” of member nations.
  • It aims to set standards and boost the effective implementation of regulatory, legal, and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and other threats related to the integrity of the International financial system.
  • It is a “policy-making body” that works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas.
  • The Grey List includes countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering and the Black List includes Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) that support terror funding and money laundering activities.

Indian, US Militaries Conduct ‘Tiger Triumph’ Exercise

The Indian and US militaries carried out a three-day joint humanitarian assistance exercise in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

The 2022 edition of the Tiger Triumph exercise is the second joint exercise between India and the US to coordinate disaster relief in the region. The first exercise took place over the course of nine days in November 2019.

Key Points

  • Tiger Triumph exercise is a comprehensive endeavor of the Indian and US military and diplomatic representatives to provide coordinated disaster relief to a third country hit by a super-cyclone. 
  • Its objective was to streamline diplomatic, operational, and logistical coordination between the two countries while responding to disasters. 
  • This exercise sought to improve interoperability between India and the US and create a multinational command and control model for humanitarian assistance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). 
  • It is the first tri-services exercise between the US and India.
  • Tiger Triumph marked the third time in 2022 that Indian and US militaries have worked together in Vishakhapatnam.

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launches LVM3 M2

Indian Space Research Organisation’s Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3) mission will launch 36 OneWeb Gen-1 satellites, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Key Points

  • LVM3 is the dedicated commercial satellite mission of New Space India Limited (NISL), a central public sector enterprise under the Department of Space. This is the first LVM3 dedicated commercial launch on demand through NSIL.
  • The 43.5 metre LVM3 weighing around 644 tonnes carried 36 satellites weighing 5,796 kg or about 5.7 tonne. 
  • The LVM3 was conceived primarily for launching geo-stationary satellites with a payload capacity of 4T, which can be used for launching 6T payloads for LEO. 
  • This is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons on its sides and core stage comprising L110 liquid stage and C25 cryogenic stage.
  • With this launch, LVM3 has made its entry into the global commercial launch service market.

Assam Current Affairs – October 22-24, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – October 22-24, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the October 22-24, 2022)

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Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022

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

October 22-24, 2022

Trees beyond forests initiative launched in Assam

The Government of Assam’s Department of Environment and Forests and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the “Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI)” program in Assam. 

Key Points

  • The programme will bring together farmers, companies, and private institutions to rapidly expand tree coverage outside of traditional forests in the state.
  • The programme aims to increase carbon sequestration, aid local populations, and boost agriculture’s climate resilience, supporting global climate change mitigation and adaptation goals. 
  • Assam has given increasing the tree cover outside of forest regions great priority, as evidenced by the State Action Plan on Climate Change and the recent creation of the Assam Agroforestry Development Board (AADB). 
  • The program will be implemented in seven states including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
  • The programme aims to increase tree coverage outside of traditional forests by 2.8 million hectares, contributing to India’s nationally determined contribution target of creating an additional “carbon sink” of 2.5 to 3 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2030.
  • Trees Outside Forests in India (TOFI) will improve the resilience of farming systems, while increasing the income of farmers in Assam, in partnership with Assam’s Environment and Forest Department and Assam Agroforestry Development Board (AADB).
  • TOFI will also leverage India’s private sector to promote and scale tree-based enterprises and the sale of carbon credits, helping to create jobs, boost incomes, and help families in Assam overcome the economic impacts of the pandemic.

India’s first indigenously-made aluminium freight train rake introduced  by Hindalco 

Union Minister for Railways, Communications and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated India’s  first indigenously-made aluminium freight train rake at Bhubaneswar Railway Station.

Key Points

  • The aluminum rakes have been developed with the aim to modernise freight transportation and enable significant carbon savings for Indian Railways.
  • The aluminium goods train was jointly developed by Besco Limited Wagon Division and aluminium major Hindalco.
  • The aluminium rake is 180 tonnes lighter than the existing steel rake, which can carry 5-10% additional payload while consuming lesser energy. 
  • The aluminium train can save 8 to 10 tonnes of carbon footprint for every 100 kg weight reduction and this means saving more than 14,500 tonnes of CO2 for a single rake.

Global Youth Climate Summit Begins in Bangladesh

Global Youth Climate Summit has recently launched its Global Youth Climate Summit in Khulna, Bangladesh.

The three-day program to be held on October 20-22 will bring together 650 youth in a hybrid format with 150 youth participating in person and 500 online.

Global Youth Leadership Centre (GYLC) is being launched as a global organisation to mobilise youth especially from the Global South to tackle the climate crisis.

GYLC mission is to expand youth’s knowledge about climate science, equip them with leadership skills to take individual and collective action, and enable them to launch businesses that contribute to climate mitigation or adaptation. 

The youth taking part in the summit will undertake mangrove plantation in the Coastal belt to promote locally led climate adaptation and highlight the importance of mangroves, which are critical for human beings as well as for biodiversity. 

The Global Youth Climate Summit will bring together renowned climate scientists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, leadership experts, and youth climate activists.

Hyderabadi Haleem has won the ‘Most Popular GI’ food award

Hyderabadi Haleem has won the ‘Most Popular GI’ award in the food category. Hyderabadi Haleem has won the award in competition against 17 food items from across India including the Rasogulla, Bikaneri Bhujiya and Ratlami Sev.

The award was conferred by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry to the director of Pista House and president of Hyderabad Haleem Makers Association MA Majeed. 

Key Points

  • Hyderabadi Haleem is a dish that is made up of meat, lentils, wheat, spices, and other ingredients. 
  • GI status was accorded for the first time to Hyderabadi Haleem in 2010. It expired in December 2019. The registrar of Geographical Indication renewed the tag earlier this year and the renewed GI status is now valid for 10 years.
  • GI tag is given to products to ensure that authorised users can only use the popular product name. 
  • Similarly, Thanjavur Art Plate from Tamil Nadu received the award in the handicraft category, Mysore Sandal Soap from Karnataka in the manufactured category, and Chuna Balua Patthar from Uttar Pradesh in the Natural category, respectively.
  • The winners of this award were chosen based on the popular vote in India and abroad and conducted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the commerce ministry.

Tazuni unveiled as mascot for 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Penguin Tazuni has been unveiled as the official mascot of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The design is based on the Eudyptula minor species that found in both host countries. “Tazuni” is the combination of Tasman Sea and the word unity.

Tazuni is a 15-year-old midfielder whose story involves her falling in love with football after playing with a group of children on a beach.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World cup will be the 9th edition in the series and this is the first time both the nations will host the tournament.

Assam Current Affairs – October 19-21, 2022

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

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

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Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022

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

October 19-21, 2022

Northeast Frontier Railway organises Rozgar Mela in Guwahati 

The ‘Rozgar Mela’ is an initiative adopted by the government of India for filling up vacancies at various central government departments including the railway department.

This initiative will be creating a scope for the aspirants who are looking forward to joining the Central Government services. 

The programme will be at Rang Bhavan Cultural Hall located at Maligaon, Guwahati. Central Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal will be handing over the appointment letters to the newly selected candidates.  

New candidates will be offered appointment letters across the nation. PM Narendra Modi addressed these selected candidates virtually.

The first tranche of new appointments will consist of 75,000 vacancies and the Ministry of Railways is one the contributor to the initial tranche of appointees.

Around 200 new recruiters from various government departments, including Railways, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), etc., will receive appointment letters in this programme.

This programme aims to fulfill the government’s commitment towards generating job opportunities for the youth and ensuring the mass’s welfare in the country.

Justice Dhanajaya Yeshwant Chandrachud appointed as the 50th Chief Justice of India

Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud appointed as the 50th Chief Justice of India. He will take over as CJI with effect from 9th November 2022. He will serve as the CJI for two years. 

He was administered the oath by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. 

He was preceded by former CJI, UU Lalit, who served a short tenure of 74 days.  

DY Chandrachud is a former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and Bombay High Court. He presently serves as the National Legal Services Authority’s executive chairman.

Justice Chnadrachud’s father Justice Y.V Chandrachud was the 16th Chief Justice of India.

Goa will host 9th World Ayurveda Congress & Arogya Expo

Union Minister of AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) and Arogya Expo at Panaji, Goa from 8th to 11th December 2022.

Key Points

  • The four-day event was supported by both the central and state governments and the Union Ministry of Ayush.
  • The 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) aims to create an accessible and affordable healthcare system that is in harmony with modern medicine practices.
  • The theme for the 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) this year is ‘Ayurveda For One Health’.
  • The motto of this year’s celebration is “Har Din Har Ghar Ayurveda” (Ayurveda Everyday, Ayurveda Everywhere). 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Mission LiFE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Mission LiFE movement (Lifestyle for the Environment) at the Statue of Unity in Gujarat in the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Key Points

  • Mission LiFE is an India-led global mass movement that will nudge individual and collective action to protect and preserve the environment.
  • It was introduced by Prime Minister Modi at the COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. 
  • The mission emboldens the spirit of the P3 model, Pro Planet People. It unites the people of the earth as pro planet people, uniting them all in their thoughts. 
  • It functions on the basic principles of ‘Lifestyle of the planet, for the planet and by the planet’. 
  • It inspires us to do all that can be done in our everyday life to protect the environment and believes that the environment can be protected by making changes in our lifestyle.
  • PM Modi advocated a circular economy where the concept of ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ can help in striking a balance between the development, economic growth and sustainability.

India’s first ‘Migration Monitoring System’ inaugurated in Mumbai

India’s first ‘Migration Monitoring Systems’ was inaugurated by the Maharashtra Women and Children Development Minister Mangalprabhat Lodha in Mumbai. 

Key Points

  • The system has been developed by the Department of Women and Child Development. 
  • The website-based Migration Tracking System (MTS) will track the movements of vulnerable seasonal migrant beneficiaries through unique identification numbers.
  • The Migration Monitoring Systems aims to provide updated information on migrant pregnant women, lactating mothers and children instantly on a single system. 
  • The information about seasonal migrant women and children will be available on a single platform with the ‘Migration Monitoring Systems’.

Assam Current Affairs – October 10-12, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – October 10-12, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the October 10-12, 2022)

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Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022

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

October 10-12, 2022

Cabinet approved the scheme “Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE)

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently approved the Prime Minister’s development initiative for the North East region (PM-DevINE).

PM-DevINE was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to address development gaps in the North Eastern Region (NER).

Key Points 

  • The PM-DevINE is a 100% Central Government funded plan and will be administered by the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER).
  • The PM-DevINE will be operational for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission, from 2022-23 to 2025-26 and will have an outlay of Rs 6,600 crore.
  • PM-DevINE will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), through the North Eastern Council or central ministries and agencies.
  • The PM-DevINE will lead to the creation of infrastructure, support industries, social development projects, and create livelihood activities for youth and women.
  • PMDevINE will provide support to infrastructure and social development projects which may be larger in size and will also provide an end–to-end development solution instead of isolated projects.

India’s first Slender Loris Sanctuary will be established in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu government has notified the country’s first Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary in Karur and Dindigul districts.

Key Points

  • The Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary will be covering 11,806 hectares in the Karur and Dindigul districts of the State.
  • The Kadavur slender loris sanctuary is to cover Vedasandur, Dindigul East and Natham taluks in Dindigul district and Kadavur taluk in Karur district. 
  • The government notified ‘Kadavur slender loris sanctuary’ under Section 26 (A)(1)(b) of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • The species is considered endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

About Slender Loris

  • The slender lorises are a genus of loris native to India and Sri Lanka.
  • The genus comprises two species, the red slender loris found in Sri Lanka and the gray slender loris from Sri Lanka and India.
  • They are small nocturnal mammals that are arboreal in nature as they spend most of their life on trees, travelling along the tops of branches with slow and precise movements.
  • The species acts as a biological predator of pests in agricultural crops and benefits farmers.
  • The survival of the species depends on its habitat improvement, conservation efforts and mitigation of threats.

Prime Minister declared Modhera as India’s first solar-powered village

The Prime Minister declared Modhera, a village in the Mehsana district of Gujarat as India’s first solar-powered village.

Key Points

  • The Modhera village has a ground-mounted solar power plant, and over 1,300 rooftop solar systems with 1kW capacity have been installed on houses to generate electricity.
  • Modhera was well known for the Sun temple, now it will also be known as a solar-powered village. 
  • The people in the village wouldn’t pay for electricity, rather they could start selling it and earn from energy produced by the solar panel by selling it to the government grid. 
  • It will generate employment at the village level, and ultimately improve the standard of living.
  • The project will enhance the sustainable implementation of various welfare projects in the area. The people of the area will be able to save 60-100% of their electricity bills. 

Jharkhand record country’s highest percentage of child marriage

According to the latest demographic sample survey by the Union Home Ministry, Jharkhand has recorded the highest percentage of underage girls getting married.

The Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report contains estimates of various demographic, fertility and mortality indicators based on the data collected through one of the largest demographic surveys in the world covering about 8.4 million sample population. 

Key Points

  • According to the survey brought out by the office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, the percentage of girls getting married before attaining majority is as high as 5.8 in Jharkhand.
  • As per the survey, the percentage of females who got effectively married before reaching 18 years of age is 1.9 at the national level and varies from 0.0 in Kerala to 5.8 in Jharkhand.
  • In Jharkhand, child marriages accounted for 7.3% of marriages in rural areas and three per cent in urban areas. 
  • Jharkhand and West Bengal are the only two States in the country where more than half of the women are married before attaining the age of 21 years.
  • In West Bengal 54.9 percent of girls are married before attaining the age of 21 years, while in Jharkhand is 54.6 percent as against the national average of 29.5 per cent.

Goa will host the 37th edition of the National Games in October 2023

The Indian Olympic Association has confirmed that Goa will host the 37th edition of the National Games in October next year. 

The Goa state government has conveyed to the IOA its in-principle approval to host the next edition of the National Games.

Goa was set to host the 36th edition of the National Games but the IOA had to shift the venue to Gujrat, who agreed to conduct the event in a short span of time.

The Goa delegation may receive the IOA flag at the Closing Ceremony of the 36th National Games on 12th October 2022 in Surat, Gujarat.

The 35th National Games of India were held in Kerala in 2015. 

Assam Current Affairs – October 07-09, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – October 07-09, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the October 07-09, 2022)

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Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022

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

October 07-09, 2022

Kerala’s Pullampara named first fully digital literate panchayat

The Pullumpara village panchayat in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala has become the first digitally literate panchayat in the country. 

Digital literacy was imperative for the public to get government services as well as connect with the global knowledge network.

Key Points

  • The project was started on August 15, 2021 with the plans to impart digital literacy to all residents of the panchayats under the Digi Pullampara project. 
  • The project mission is to achieve total digital literacy and empower the residents to get access to government services available through the online mode. 
  • Full digital literacy was gained by Pullampara panchayat’s ‘DigiPullampara’ project. 
  • The left democratic front (LDF) government in Kerala had announced to extend digital literacy to all the residents. The government has also created Kerala – Fibre Optic Network (K-FON) to provide an internet connection to all and to ensure its promise of making access to the internet a basic right.

World’s largest jungle safari park will be set up in Haryana

Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar announced that the world’s largest safari park will be set up in the state. The safari park will be spread across an area of 10000 acres in the Aravalli Mountain Range of Gurugram and Nuh District.

Key Points

  • Haryana’s Jungle Safari project will be a joint project of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India and the Government of Haryana. The central government will also help with the funds to Haryana for the project.
  • The proposed Aravalli Park will be 5 times the size and will include a large herbarium, an aviary, four zones for big cars, a large area for herbivores, an area for exotic animal/birds, an underwater world, natural trails, visitors, tourism zones, botanical garden, biomes, equatorial, tropical, coastal, desert, etc.
  • The Jungle safari scheme will not only boost tourism but also provide employment opportunities to local residents.
  • This project will be the largest such project in the world. Currently, Sharjah is the home to the largest curated safari park outside Africa, which covers an area of about 2,000 acres. The park was opened in February 2022.

Union Environment Ministry set up Cheetah task force

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has constituted a Task Force for monitoring Cheetah introduction in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh and other suitable designated areas.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) would facilitate the working of the Cheetah Task Force and render all necessary help.  

Key Points

  • According to the ministry the task force has been constituted for a period of 2 years.
  • The Task Force has been constituted to review, progress and monitor the health status of Cheetah.
  • It will also look over the upkeep of the quarantine & soft release enclosures, protection status of the entire area, adherence to the defined protocols by forest & veterinary officials.
  • It will suggest and advise on development of tourism infrastructure in the fringe areas of Kuno National Park and other Protected Areas. 
  • The Task Force regularly interacts with Cheetah mitras and local communities for their awareness raising and also involvement in protection of Cheetahs in particular & area in general.
  • In addition to these, the task force will also be responsible for monitoring hunting skills and adaptation of Cheetahs to the habitat of Kuno National Park.
  • Cheetah restoration is part of a prototype or model for restoration of original cheetah habitats and their biodiversity, which aimed at putting a check to degradation and rapid loss of biodiversity. 

Pankaj Advani wins gold at IBSF World Billiards Championships in Kuala Lumpur

India’s Pankaj Advani has won a gold medal at the 2022 IBSF World Billiards Championship in Kuala Lumpur. This is Pankaj Advani’s 25th world title. 

He defeated compatriot Sourav Kothari  by ‘4-0’ in the 150-up billiards final at the World Championships in Kuala Lumpur. This is Advani’s  title for the fifth time in a row.

Advani’s last world title came over 12 months ago in Qatar where he won the IBSF 6-Red Snooker World Cup.

RBI Releases Concept Note On Central Bank Digital Currency

The Reserve Bank of India has released a Concept Note on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). The purpose of this Concept Note is to create awareness about CBDCs in general and the planned features of the digital Rupee, in particular. 

It is a sovereign currency issued by Central Banks in alignment with their monetary policy.

Key Points

  • The Reserve Bank defines CBDC as the legal tender issued by a central bank in a digital form. 
  • It is substantially not different from banknotes, but being digital it is likely to be easier, faster and cheaper. 
  • It also has all the transactional benefits of other forms of digital money.
  • It’s a digital bearer instrument that can be stored, transferred, and transmitted by all kinds of digital payment systems and services.
  • The concept note also discusses key considerations such as technology and design choices, possible uses of Digital Rupee, issuance mechanisms, etc. 
  • It examines the implications of the introduction of CBDC on the banking system, monetary policy, financial stability, and analyses privacy issues.

Assam Current Affairs – August 13-15, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – August 13-15, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the August 13-15, 2022)

Go To Assam Current Affairs                      Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

Current Affairs GK & Quiz Monthly – July 2022

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

August 13-15, 2022

Meghalaya will host 2nd edition of the North East Olympics

Meghalaya will host the upcoming 2nd edition of the North East Olympics from October 30th to November 6th in Shillong. 

This edition of the Games will be special as Meghalaya is celebrating the 50th year of its Statehood. 

In this edition, about 4,000 participants from eight North Eastern States will be competing in 18 disciplines at 13 venues spread across Shillong. 

Participants will be competing in disciplines, such as archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, football, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, wushu, cycling (Mountain Bike), golf, weightlifting and wrestling.

The first edition of the Games was held in Manipur in 2018, with 12 disciplines. 

India adds 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites

India has added 11 more wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites, taking the total Ramsar sites in India to 75 covering an area of 13,26,677 hectares in the country.

Key Points

  • The 11 new sites include: Four sites in Tamil Nadu, Three in Odisha, Two in Jammu & Kashmir and One each in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. 
  • Designation of these sites would help in the conservation and management of wetlands and wise use of their resources.
  • During 1982 to 2013, a total of 26 sites were added to the list of Ramsar sites, however, during 2014 to 2022, the country has added 49 new wetlands to the list of Ramsar sites.
  • In the year 2022, a total of 28 sites have been declared as Ramsar sites. 
  • Tamil Nadu leads the charge with a total of 14 Ramsar Sites followed by Uttar Pradesh which has 10.

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment launches SMILE-75 initiative

Recently, the Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment launched SMILE-75 (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise).initiative to address the persisting problem of destitution and beggary. 

This initiative has been started as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.

About the SMILE 75-Initiative

  • The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has also allocated a total budget of Rs.100 crore for the SMILE project for the coming years till 2025-26.
  • The objective of SMILE- 75 is to make our cities/towns and municipal areas begging-free and make a strategy for comprehensive rehabilitation of the persons engaged in the act of begging through the coordinated action of various stakeholders.
  • Under this initiative, 75 Municipal Corporations in collaboration with NGOs and other stakeholders will cover several comprehensive welfare measures for persons who are engaged in the act of begging with a focus extensively on rehabilitation, provision of medical facilities, counselling, awareness, education, skill development, economic linkages and convergence with other Government welfare programmes etc.
  • It seeks to develop a support mechanism for holistic rehabilitation of those engaged in the act of begging.

Agasthiyamalai Elephant Reserve became the fifth elephant reserve in Tamil Nadu

Recently, The Tamil Nadu State government notified Agasthiyamalai Elephant Reserve as the fifth elephant reserve at Agathiyamalai in Tirunelveli district.

The Agasthiyamalai Elephant Reserve will be spread across 1,197.48 sq.km of land and will cover Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli areas.

According to the notification, the forest areas of Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve and Kanniyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary in Agasthyamalai landscape constitute the most important habitats of Asian elephants in the southernmost part of the western ghats.

The declaration of Agasthyamalai region as the 5th Elephant Reserve in the state to put more emphasis on protection and conservation of Elephants within a healthy ecosystem. 

Designation of the area as a dedicated reserve forest will also provide connectivity of the elephant migratory paths in the landscape through proper research and effective management.

Shashi Tharoor has been selected for France’s highest civilian Legion of Honour

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been selected for France’s highest civilian award Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.

The French government is honouring him for his writings and speeches and the French Ambassador here Emmanuel Lenain has written to Tharoor informing him about the award. 

In 2010, Tharoor had received a similar honour from the Spanish government, when the King of Spain had bestowed upon him the Encomienda de la Real Order Espanola de Carlos III.

Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.

It is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil.