Tag: International current affairs

Assam Current Affairs – December 01-03, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – December 01-03, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the December 01-03, 2022)

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December 01-03, 2022

Assam govt announces yearly stipend for female PG students

The government 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.

The 23rd Hornbill Festival 2022 

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 Government 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.

Stephanie Frappart will be the first woman referee at men’s’ FIFA World Cup

Stephanie Frappart will be the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match after FIFA announced that she will take charge of the Group E match between Germany and Costa Rica. 

Frappart is one of three women referees among the 36 selected for the tournament in Qatar, alongside Rwandan official Salima Mukansanga and Japan’s Yoshimi Yamashita.

She was the first woman to referee in France’s Ligue 1 in 2019, the same year she took charge of the women’s World Cup final in her home country. 

She also officiated the 2019 Uefa Super Cup final between Liverpool and Chelsea, before refereeing the Champions League in 2020 and then the French Cup final last season.

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: 
    1. Five for African and Asian States. 
    2. One for the Eastern European States. 
    3. Two for the Latin American and Caribbean States; 
    4. Two for Western European and other States

Maternal Mortality Ratio in India dips to 97 per lakh live births in 2018-20

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.

Assam Current Affairs – November 28-30, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – November 28-30, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the November 28-30, 2022)

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November 28-30, 2022

Meghalaya cabinet approved mental health and social care policy

Meghalaya announced the first-ever draft state mental health and social care policy. The aim of the policy is to promote overall mental health and well-being and facilitate appropriate access and care pathways.

With this, Meghalaya has become the first state in the Northeast and the third state in India to have ‘Mental Health and Social Care Policy’.

According to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma this policy will ensure proper attention to mental health, especially for children, adolescents, and youths. This policy will ensure that proper attention is given to mental health, particularly for our youth and adolescents.

FSSAI approves Himalayan Yak as a ‘food animal’

The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has approved the Himalayan Yak as a ‘food animal’. 

The move is expected to help slow the decline in the population of the high-altitude bovine animal by making it a part of the conventional milk and meat industry. This was proposed by the National Research Centre (NRC) on Yak at Dirang in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. 

About Himalayan Yak 

  • The Yak is found throughout the Himalayan region – Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, North Bengal, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Yaks are highly valued by Himalayan peoples. They are endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and the adjacent high-altitude regions. 
  • They belong to the Bovini tribe, which also includes bison, buffaloes, and cattle. 
  • They are the lifeline of pastoral nomads in high altitudes of the Indian Himalayan region.
  • Traditionally, yaks are reared through a primitive, unorganized, complex transhumance system.

India, Australia wargames “Austra Hind 22” begins

The bilateral training exercise “AUSTRA HIND 22” between contingents of the Indian Army and the Australian Army is scheduled to take place at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges (Rajasthan).

Key Points

  • This is the first exercise in the series of AUSTRA HIND with participation of all arms and services contingent from both armies. 
  • The exercise “AUSTRA HIND” will be a yearly event that will be conducted alternatively in India and Australia.
  • The purpose of the exercise is to build positive military relations, and promote the ability to operate together while undertaking multi-domain operations in Semi deserts terrain under a UN peace enforcement mandate. 
  • This exercise will further help in strengthening ties between India and Australia.

NITI Aayog releases study report on ‘Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) Policy Framework 

NITI Aayog has recently released a study report on Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) Policy Framework and its Deployment Mechanism in India. 

Key Points

  • The report explores the importance of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage as an emission reduction strategy to achieve deep decarbonization from the hard-to-abate sectors. 
  • The report outlines broad level policy interventions needed across various sectors for its application.
  • As, India has updated its NDC targets for achieving 50% of its total installed capacity from non-fossil-based energy sources, 45% reduction in emission intensity by 2030 and taking steps towards achieving Net Zero by 2070.
  • The role of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) becomes important as a reduction strategy to achieve decarbonization from the hard-to abate sectors.
  • CCUS can enable the production of clean products while still utilizing our rich endowments of coal, reducing imports and thus leading to an Atmanirbhar Indian economy. 
  • CCUS projects will also lead to a significant employment generation. It estimates that about 750 mtpa of carbon capture by 2050 can create employment opportunities of about 8-10 million on full time equivalent (FTE) basis in a phased manner. 
  • The report indicates that CCUS can provide a wide variety of opportunities to convert the captured CO2 to different value-added products like green urea, food and beverage form application, building materials and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) with wide market opportunities in India, thus contributing substantially to a circular economy.

Global Technology Summit 2022

The 7th edition of the Global Technology Summit will be held from November 29, 2022 till the 1st of December in New Delhi in a hybrid format.

Key Points

  • The Global Technology Summit is India’s flagship annual event on geotechnology and is co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs and Carnegie India.
  • The theme for this year’s Summit is ‘Geopolitics of Technology’.
  • Its main purpose is to develop new ways to address various concerns of all parties without hindering technological growth and new ideas. 
  • During the summit, the world’s leading experts in technology, government, security, space, startups, data, law, public health, climate change, academics, and the economy will discuss technological progress and its future opportunities.
  • They will discuss the advantages and challenges of technologies, sustainability, emerging geopolitics in the technology sector, and data for development and ideas for India’s G20 Presidency.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya wins UNESCO Award for cultural heritage conservation

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai has won the Award of Excellence in the 2022 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation is supported by a partnership between UNESCO and Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation since 2021.

Key Points

  • 13 projects from six countries- India, China, Afghanistan, Nepal, Iran, and Thailand- have been acknowledged for awards by the jury in 2022. 
  • Jury deliberations were carried out in November when members reviewed 50 entries from 11 countries from the Asia-Pacific region.
  • The Domakonda Fort of Telangana and Byculla station of Mumbai are among the winners in the ‘Award of Merit’ category.
  • The step-wells of Golconda in Hyderabad have won an award in the ‘Award of Distinction’ category.
  • Topdara Stupa, Charikar, Afghanistan, and Nantian Buddhist Temple, Fujian, China have also received the ‘Award of Merit’.

India-Malaysia joint military exercise ‘Harimau Shakti-2022’

India–Malaysia joint military exercise “Harimau Shakti 2022” commenced at Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia.

The exercise will enhance the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army which in turn will further foster the bilateral relations between the two nations.

Key Points

  • Exercise Harimau Shakti is an annual training event between the Indian and Malaysian Army which has been conducted since 2012.
  • The scope of this exercise involves a Command Planning Exercise (CPX) at the Battalion level and Company level Field Training Exercise (FTX) on sub-conventional operations.
  • Combat-experienced troops of the Garhwal Rifles Regiment of the Indian Army and the Royal Malay Regiment of the Malaysian Army are participating in the exercise.
  • The joint exercise schedule includes the establishment of a joint command post, joint surveillance centre, sharing expertise in employment of aerial assets, technical demonstrations, casualty management & casualty evacuation apart from planning logistics at the Battalion level.

Assam Current Affairs – November 25-27, 2022

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

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

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November 25-27, 2022

Assam Cabinet approves Rs 500 crore for building 2,000 Anganwadi centres

The Assam Cabinet approved Rs 500 crore to construct 2,000 new Anganwadi centres across the state in order to improve childcare services.

The cost of each Anganwadi centre will be Rs 25 lakh, and the total cost of all the centres will be Rs 500 crore.

The Assam Cabinet, which held a special sitting at New Delhi, sanctioned Rs 332.59 crore for building a trumpet interchange at Gauripur in North Guwahati to connect NH-17 with the under-construction six-lane road of the bridge on the Brahmaputra. 

To boost the handloom sector, administrative approval was granted to start up the College of Sericulture at Titabar in Jorhat. An amount of Rs 22.14 crore has been approved to set up the institution.

India celebrates 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan

The 3-day long celebrations of the 400th birth anniversary of Ahom commander Lachit Barphukan began in New Delhi. 

Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the exhibition on the occasion highlighting the life and achievement of the Ahom dynasty and Lachit Barphukan among others.

About Lachit Barphukan

  • Lachit Barphukan was born on November 24, 1622, was a commander and Bophukan in the Ahom Kingdom.
  • He is remembered throughout the country for his foresight and outstanding leadership in the 1671 Battle of Saraighat.
  • He was an excellent military leader who was given administrative, judicial, and military duties as one of the five Borphukans of the Ahom kingdom by king Charadhwaj Singha. 
  • He has long been a symbol of the Assamese people’s courage, bravery, and intelligence.

Manipur celebrates Sangai Festival 

Manipur Sangai Festival is organized every year to showcase the uniqueness of Manipur. The festival helps in promoting Manipur as a world-class tourism destination.

The festival is named after the state animal, Sangai, the brow-antlered deer found only in Manipur.

The festival is being organized from November 21 to 30.The 10-day festival promotes the northeastern state’s tourism sector. 

This festival showcases the tourism potential of the state in the areas of arts and culture, handloom, handicraft, indigenous sports, cuisine, music, adventure sports etc.

The Sangai Festival was held at Sangai Ethnic Park located at Moirang Khunou of Bishnupur district. The festival is being celebrated across 13 venues in six districts of Manipur. The theme of the festival is the ‘festival of oneness’.

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards announced

The Sangeet Natak Akademi has announced the list of 10 Akademi fellows and 128 artists who will receive the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award For the years 2019, 2020 and 2021. 

The awards are given in the categories of music, dance, theatre, other traditional arts and puppetry, and for contribution/scholarship in performing arts.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi has also announced the names of 102 artists for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021.These artists are below the age of 40 years. 

The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar identifies and encourages outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and gives them national recognition so that they may work with greater commitment and dedication in their chosen fields. 

The North-eastern States of the country have also been adequately represented with 19 artists from the North-east selected for the Award  from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim and  Tripura.

The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar carries a purse money of Rs. 25,000/- . The Yuva Puraskar will be presented at a special ceremony by the Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi.

About Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 

  • The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are the highest national recognition conferred on practicing artists. 
  • The awards are given in the categories of music, dance, theatre, other traditional arts and puppetry, and for contribution/scholarship in performing arts.
  • The Akademi Awards carries purse money of Rs. 1.00 lakh, a Tamrapatra and an Angavastram. 

Khalid Jawed’s ‘The Paradise of Food’ won the 2022 JCB Prize for Literature

Author Khalid Jawed’s “The Paradise of Food”,  won the fifth JCB Prize for Literature.The book has been translated by Baran Farooqi from Urdu. 

Khalid Jawed’s book ‘The Paradise of Food’ which was originally published as ‘Ne’mat Khana’ 2014, is the fourth translation to win the award and the first work in Urdu. 

The book tells the story of a middle-class joint Muslim family over a span of fifty years where the narrator struggles to find a place for himself, at odds in his home and the world outside.

Urdu writer Khalid Jawed received the prize money of Rs. 25 lakh along with a trophy- a sculpture by Delhi artist duo Thukral and Tagra, “Mirror Melting”. Baroon Farooqi also received an additional Rs. 10 lakh for the award.

The shortlisted books, which only included translation, also featured the International Booker-winning Novel ‘Tomb of Sand’ by Geetanjali Shree and Imaan by Manoranjan Byapari. 

It was also the first time that the titles in Hindi and Nepali made it to the shortlist of the Literary Award. 

The shortlist also included the debut books- Song of the Soil by Chuden Kabimo and ‘Valli’ by Sheela Tomy and each of the shortlisted authors also received Rs. 1 lakh, and the translators Rs. 50,000.

India’s first privately-built rocket Vikram-S has been successfully launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre

ISRO has successfully launched the country’s first private rocket, Vikram-S suborbital vehicle from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The launch vehicle, Vikram-S (VKS), developed by aerospace startup Skyroot Aerospace is the first-ever launch of a privately developed and built rocket in India.

Vikram launch vehicle consists of the Vikram II and Vikram III series. The Vikram-S launch vehicle can be assembled and launched within 24 hours from any launch site. 

VKS is a single-stage solid fuelled rocket,  built using advanced technologies including carbon composite structures and 3D-printed components.

Skyroot launched its maiden rocket under the launch mission, ‘PRARAMBH’, which was unveiled by ISRO Chairman, Dr. S. Somanath in Bangalore in November 2022.

Skyroot’s launch vehicles are named ‘Vikram’ as a tribute to the founder of the Indian space programme and renowned scientist Vikram Sarabhai.

Network Readiness Index 2022

India has improved its position by six slots and is now placed at 61st rank as per the Network Readiness Index 2022 (NRI 2022). 

The report is prepared by a US-based Portulans Institute, an independent non-profit research and educational institute.

Key Points

  • The NRI 2022 report ranks a total of 131 economies based on their performances in four different pillars: Technology, People, Governance, and Impact.
  • India has not only improved its ranking in the Network Readiness Index 2022 but has also improved its score from 49.74 in 2021 to 51.19 in 2022. 
  • As per the Network Readiness Index 2022, India secured 1st rank in “AI talent concentration”. second in ‘Mobile broadband internet traffic within the country,’ third in ‘Annual investment in telecommunication services,’ fourth in ‘ICT Services exports,’ fifth in ‘FTTH/Building Internet subscriptions,’ and sixth in ‘AI scientific publications.’
  • India is ranked out of 36 in the group of lower-middle-income countries after Ukraine and Indonesia. 4. Notably, the country has a score higher than the income group average in all the pillars and sub-pillars.
  • The United States tops the list followed by Singapore and Sweden. 

Assam Current Affairs – November 22-24, 2022

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

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

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November 22-24, 2022

Usha Mangeshkar will be conferred with Dr Bhupen Hazarika Award

Assam Governor Prof. Jagdish Mukhi will present Bishwaratna  Dr. Bhupen Hazarika International Solidarity Award to renowned singer Usha Mangeshkar.

Usha Mangeshkar was chosen for her contributions to the music industries of Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Nepali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, and Assamese.

The award consists of a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakh, an angavastra, a commendation and a collection of books.

A committee is set up by the Assam Sahitya Sabha to carry out the selection process for the award. Notably, the Asam Sahitya Sabha has been presenting this award in collaboration with Numaligarh Refinery Limited since 2013. 

Lubna Marium, a renowned Bangladeshi dancer, art director, researcher, and cultural activist, received the first Dr Bhupen Hazarika International Solidarity Award.

Kokrajhar wins National e-Governance Award

Assam’s Kokrajhar district received a national award for successfully implementing an e-governance project for an effective service delivery system. 

The initiative ‘Infrastructure Snapshot Kokrajhar’ won the award for e-Governance for 2021-2022 under the category ‘Excellence in District Level Initiative in e-Governance’. 

The award was given by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions of the Government of India.

The ‘Infrastructure Snapshot Kokrajhar’ app is a convergence application developed specifically for grievance redressal, supervision and monitoring.

The app was conceptualised by deputy commissioner of Kokrajhar, Varnali Deka, as a 24×7 configurable mobile based application for effective monitoring of all government schemes and public institutions with both offline and online status update facility.

Purnima Devi Barman honoured with the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Champions of the Earth award 2022

Assam’s Purnima Devi Barman is one of the five ‘Champions of the Earth’ for this year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) announced.

Dr Purnima Devi has won the award this year in the ‘Entrepreneurial Vision’ category, for her trail-blazing work in protecting the greater adjutant stork, called ‘hargila’ in Assamese. 

Hargilas are five-foot-tall birds that dwell in wetlands in some parts of southeast Asia including India and Cambodia..

Purnima Devi Barman is a wildlife biologist who won the award along with four others from different countries for their transformative action to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation. 

She dedicated the award to Mother Earth and all the mothers of the planet as the best education begins at home on the mother’s lap.

The other recipients include Lebanon’s environmental enterprise Arceniel, Peru’s Constantino (Tino) Aucca Chuta for pioneering a community reforestation model driven by a local community. Sir Partha Dasgupta of the UK in the Science and Innovation Category. Cameroon’s Cecile Bibian Ndjebet for advocating the rights of women in Africa to secure land tenure.

About the award

  • The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) established Champions of the Earth in 2005 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders from the public and private sectors, and from civil society.
  • It is an annual award accorded for transformative action to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation. 
  • In 2017, the program was expanded to include Young Champions of the Earth.

Two new dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice has been developed

Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) successfully tested two new dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice i.e., Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1638 and Pusa Narendra Kalanamak 1652 in Uttar Pradesh . 

About Kalanamak rice

  • Kalanamak is a traditional variety of paddy with black husk and strong fragrance. 
  • It is considered a gift from Lord Buddha to the people of Sravasti when he visited the region after enlightenment. 
  • It is grown in 11 districts of the Terai region of northeastern Uttar Pradesh and in Nepal.
  • It is grown mainly without using fertilizer or pesticide residues, making it perfect for crop production.
  • It is protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) tag system.
  • It has been awarded under ‘One District One Product’ (ODOP) scheme as an ODOP product of Siddharthnagar which is an aspirational district located in Terai belt of Uttar Pradesh.

Russia  becomes India’s biggest supplier of fertilizers 

Russia has become India’s biggest fertilizer supplier in the first half of the 2022-23 fiscal year, overtaking China. 

Key Points

  • Russian exporters reportedly grabbed a 21% share of the Indian fertilizer market in the first half of the 2022-23 fiscal year.
  • Russian exports reportedly surged 371%, to a record 2.15 million tons from April to October. 
  • In monetary terms, India’s imports over this period increased by 765%, to $1.6 billion. 
  • Russia’s share of Indian fertilizer imports was hovering around 6% during the last fiscal year, while China’s stood at 24%. 
  • In the first half of 2022-23, China’s exports to India halved to 1.78 million tons amid growing Russian supplies.

Arittapatti Village in Madurai notified as Tamil Nadu’s first biodiversity heritage site

The Tamil Nadu Government issued a notification declaring Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage site the first biodiversity heritage site in the State. The declaration was made under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

Key Points

  • The state government notified 193.215 hectares of area spread across Arittapatti and Meenakshipuram villages in Madurai district as ‘Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site’. 
  • Arittapatti village, known for its ecological and historical significance, houses around 250 species of birds including three flagship raptor species – Laggar Falcon , Shaheen Falcon, and Bonelli’s Eagle.
  • It also has Indian pangolin, python, and slender loris. 
  • The area is surrounded by a chain of seven hillocks or inselbergs that serve as a watershed, charging ‘72 lakes, 200 natural springs and three check dams.’
  • The Anaikondan Lake, built during the reign of Pandiyan kings in the 16th century is one among them.
  • Several megalithic structures, rock-cut temples, Tamil Brahmi inscriptions and Jain beds add to the historical significance of the region.

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2021

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India announced “Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award” (TNNAA) for the year 2021.

The award is given in four categories which are Land Adventure, Water Adventure, Air Adventure, and Life Time Achievement.

Key Points

  • Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards are given every year to recognize the achievements of persons in the field of adventure.
  • The award aims to encourage young people to develop the spirit of endurance, risk-taking, cooperative teamwork, and quick, ready, and effective reflexes in challenging situations.
  • Awardees will receive statuettes, certificates and award money of Rs. 15 lakh each.
  • This year, the National Selection Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary (Youth Affairs). 
  • Based on the recommendations of the Committee and after due scrutiny, the Government has decided to confer awards upon the following: 
  1. Ms. Naina Dhakad  in the Land Adventure category.  
  2. Shri Shubham Dhananjay Vanmali in the Water Adventure category. 
  3. Group     Captain      Kunwar     Bhawani Singh Samyal  in the Life Time Achievement category. 

Special GK Quiz on FIFA World Cup 2022

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Special GK Quiz on FIFA World Cup 2022

( Daily and Monthly Assam Current Affairs & GK Quiz & MCQ for APSC Exams and various Assam exams)

Quiz Home Page Current Affairs Assam Quiz - Assam exam

 

Q1. Which country hosts the FIFA World Cup 2022?

  1. Qatar 
  2. India
  3. France 
  4. Russia

Ans. Qatar

Q2. FIFA World Cup 2022 is won by which country?

  1. France
  2. Argentina 
  3. Portugal 
  4. Denmark

Ans. Argentina

Q3. What is the official Mascot of the FIFA World Cup 2022?

  1. La’eeb 
  2. Fuleco 
  3. Savaj 
  4. Fuwa

Ans. La’eeb

Q4. When was the first FIFA World Cup played? 

  1. 1919
  2. 1938
  3. 1942
  4. 1930

Ans. 1930

Q5. Which country hosted the first FIFA World Cup? 

  1. Brazil 
  2. Germany 
  3. Uruguay 
  4. Argentina 

Ans. Uruguay

Q6. Who won the golden boot award in the FIFA World Cup 2022? 

  1. Kylian Mbappe 
  2. Lionel Messi
  3. Cristiano Ronaldo 
  4. Andres Iniesta

Ans. Kylian Mbappe

Q7. Who won the golden ball award in the FIFA World Cup 2022?

  1. Antoine Griezmann
  2. Kylian Mbappe
  3. Lionel Messi 
  4. Bruno Fernandes 

Ans. Lionel Messi

Q8. Who won the golden glove award in the FIFA World Cup 2022?

  1. Cristiano Ronaldo
  2. Emiliano Martinez
  3. Diego Maradona 
  4. Zinedine Zidane

Ans. Emiliano Martinez

  1. Which country is the Runners up in the FIFA World Cup 2022?
  1. Portugal
  2. Brazil
  3. Russia
  4. France

Ans. France

Q10. Who won the silver boot award in the FIFA World Cup 2022?

  1. Thomas Muller
  2. Lionel Messi 
  3. Bruno Fernandes
  4. Lukas Podolsky 

Ans. Lionel Messi

Q11. How many teams participated in the FIFA World Cup 2022?

  1. 25
  2. 28
  3. 32
  4. 40

Ans. 32

Q12. Most FIFA World Cup titles are won by which country?

  1. Brazil 
  2. Spain
  3. Mexico
  4. Denmark

Ans. Brazil

Q13. The FIFA World Cup is played every 

  1. Five Years 
  2. Four Years 
  3. Three Years 
  4. Two Years 

Ans. Four Years

Q14. Which country will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

  1. Toronto
  2. South Africa and Japan
  3. US, Canada and Mexico
  4. Spain

Ans. US, Canada and Mexico

Q15. Which was the first FIFA World Cup held in Asia?

  1. 2002 FIFA World Cup
  2. 2006 FIFA World Cup
  3. 2010 FIFA World Cup
  4. 2022 FIFA World Cup

Ans. 2002 FIFA World Cup

Assam Current Affairs – November 13-15, 2022

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

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

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November 13-15, 2022

Assam govt signs MoU with IIM Bangalore for training young professionals 

The government of Assam has signed an MoU with the Indian Institute of Management (Bangalore) for a training programme for young professionals. 

and facilitators to support government administration. 

The Chief Minister’s Young Professional Programme (CMYPP) aims at bringing transformative changes in health, education, women, and child development in the state.

Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Samir Kumar Sinha singed the MoU on behalf of the Government of Assam and Director IIM Bangalore Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan signed the understanding on behalf of IIM Bangalore to develop a cadre of committed and competent leaders. 

Indo-US joint training exercise ‘YUDH ABHYAS 22’

The 18th edition of Indo – US joint training exercise “YUDH ABHYAS 22” is scheduled to be conducted in Uttarakhand this month. The previous edition of the exercise was conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska (USA) in October 2021.

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 joint exercise will also focus on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. 
  • The training schedule focuses on employment of an integrated battle group under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate and the schedule will include all operations related to peace keeping & peace enforcement. 
  • Troops from both nations will practice launching of swift & coordinated relief efforts in the wake of any natural calamity. 
  • 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.

Supreme Court agree to hear plea against first amendment of constitution

The  Supreme Court of India agreed to examine a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) challenging changes made to the right to freedom of speech and expression by the first amendment act 1951.

About First Amendment to the Constitution 

  • First Amendment to the Constitution amended Articles 15, 19, 85, 87, 174, 176, 341, 342, 372 and 376. 
  • Provided for the saving of laws providing for the acquisition of estates, etc.
  • Added the ninth schedule to protect anti-zamindari laws from judicial review. After Article 31, Articles 31A and 31B were inserted.
  • Added three more grounds for restrictions on freedom of speech and expression: public order, friendly relations with foreign states, and incitement to an offense. Also, it made the restrictions ‘reasonable’ and thus, justiciable in nature.
  • Provided that state trading and nationalization of any trade or business by the state is not to be invalid on the ground of violation of the right to trade or business.

Arguments against this Amendment

The petitioner, Section 3(1) of the amending Act substituted original Clause (2) of Article 19 with a new Clause (2), which contained two objectionable insertions. 

  1. Original Clause (2) of Article 19 was dealing with reasonable restrictions on the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a). 
  2. New Clause (2), contained “two objectionable insertions” allowing restrictions also “in the interest of public order” and “in relation to incitement to an offence”.

The amendment neglects national security by dropping the expression ‘tends to overthrow the State’ which raises grave concern in the context of the dangers posed to the concept of the secular democratic republic by radicalism, terrorism and religious fundamentalism. 

These two Insertions Protect Sections:

  • 124A: Sedition 
  • Section 153A: Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. 
  • 295A: Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) 
  • 505: Statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code from the vice of unconstitutionality.

The plea urged the court to declare Section 3 (1)(a) and 3 (2) of the First Amendment “beyond the amending power of Parliament” and void since the “same damage the basic or essential features of the Constitution and destroy its basic structure”.

G-20 Summit 2022

The 17th G20 Summit began in Bali, Indonesia with the theme of ‘Recover Together, Recover Stronger’. Leaders from the world’s major economies attended the summit.

Key Points

  • The two-day Bali Summit comprises three working sessions at the leaders’ level, in which PM Modi will be participating.
  • The summit focuses on global economic recovery, global health architecture, digital transformation, sustainable energy transition and climate change etc.
  • The world is currently struggling with many important challenges including environmental challenges, lack of progress in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), uneven post-pandemic economic recovery, debt vulnerabilities especially in the countries of the global south, ongoing conflict in Europe etc.
  • G20 leaders will discuss these challenges and underscore the importance of closer multilateral cooperation to help overcome these challenges.
  • They promised to take coordinated action to address food security challenges and recognised the importance of digital transformation in reaching the sustainable development goals.
  • They encouraged international collaboration to further develop digital skills and digital literacy.
  • They expressed their continuous commitment to promoting a healthy and sustainable recovery which builds towards achieving and sustaining universal health coverage.
  • The 2022 summit is especially important for India since it will be taking over the G20 presidency from Indonesia from December 1, 2022. 

19th ASEAN-India Summit

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar led the Indian delegation, including the External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, at the 19th ASEAN-India Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

The Vice President of India stated that India-ASEAN relationship forms the central pillar of India’s ACT-EAST policy. He reiterated India’s support to ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific. 

He said that India and Cambodia share rich traditions and culture while having centuries-old civilization connect. He further added that today Cambodia is an important interlocutor and partner in our ‘Act East’ policy and the ASEAN. 

Key Points

  • At the summit, ASEAN and India adopted a joint statement announcing the elevation of the existing Strategic Partnership to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 
  • Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • The Joint Statement also reiterated the commitment to enhance India-ASEAN cooperation in various areas such as maritime activities, counter-terrorism, transnational crimes, cyber security, digital economy, regional connectivity, smart agriculture, environment, science & technology, tourism, among other areas. 
  • The Joint Statement also proposes expediting the review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more user-friendly, simple, and trade-facilitative.

About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

  • The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on August 8, 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand.
  • It is a regional grouping to promote economic growth, peace, security, social progress and cultural development.
  • Its member states are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • India is hosting the two-day conclave to mark the 30th anniversary of its relations with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
  • The year 2022 has been designated as the ‘ASEAN-India Friendship Year’. This year also marks the tenth anniversary of India’s strategic cooperation with ASEAN.

India and ASEAN

  • ASEAN and India share land and maritime borders, and there is a lot of scope for enhancing connectivity through land, air and sea. 
  • India and several other countries, including the US, China, Japan and Australia, are its dialogue partners.
  • India provides financial assistance to the ASEAN nations through various mechanisms like ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, ASEAN-India S&T Development Fund and ASEAN-India Green Fund. 
  • India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is an ongoing effort to enhance road connectivity between Northeast India and Southeast Asia.

Renowned Mathematician Rangasami Lakshminarayan Kashyap passed away

Renowned mathematician and great scholar Padma Shri Awardee Shri RL Kashyap passed away. RL Kashyap translated around twenty-five thousand Sanskrit mantras into English language. He wrote more than 250 research papers. 

Kashyap has made many important contributions to the field of Veda.

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 by the central government for his considerable service in the field of studying the Vedas.

Kashyap received many international awards for his immense contributions to the fields of science and technology.  

Kashyap worked as a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computers for three decades at Purdue University in America. 

Assam Current Affairs – November 07-09, 2022

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

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

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November 07-09, 2022

Chief Minister of Assam inaugurates Northeast’s largest-ever cold storage facility in the state

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated North-East India’s largest-ever cold storage facility at Chaygaon and also inaugurated a fruit processing centre at Panery. 

Key Points

  • The cold storage facility will have 5,000-MT capacity.
  • The facility has been constructed by the state government at the cost of Rs 24.75 crores. 
  • The Assam CM also emphasised on the planting of high-value trees like sal, agar, teak, etc, at home to reap economic benefits. 
  • While addressing the event, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, the food processing and proper packaging of agricultural produce will lead to economic transformation in our state.

Chief Minister of Assam inked mou with Bright Star Investments Pvt. Ltd for medical infrastructure

Chief Minister of Assam inked mou with Bright Star Investments Pvt. Ltd for medical infrastructure development of the academic block of the second medical college in Guwahati.

It is for the first time that the Assam government has collaborated with the private sector for building infrastructure of a medical college in the state. Bright Star Investments Pvt. Ltd. has chosen Assam as the first state to start the noble collaboration.

Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also said that the state government is working with a vision of one medical college per district in Assam. The government has taken steps for setting up 15 new medical colleges in addition to the nine existing ones. 

With the increase in medical colleges in the state, the number of MBBS seats have also increased from 726 in 2014 to 1,200 in 2022. Till 2014, the total number of postgraduate (PG) seats in Assam was 395. In 2022, the total number of PG seats has increased to 711. 

India participates in Malabar Naval Exercise-2022

India is participating in the 26th International Malabar Naval exercise Yokosuka of Japan. Australia, Japan and the US are also participating in the Malabar Naval Exercise. 

Key Points

  • The naval forces of these countries will take part in the exercise till the 18th of next month. Indian Naval Ships Shivalik and Kamorta are ready to demonstrate at the event.
  • It marks the 30th anniversary of the multinational maritime exercise MALABAR which began in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and US.
  • The exercise will witness live weapon firings, complex surface, Anti-Air and Anti-Submarine Warfare drills, and joint manoeuvres including advanced tactical exercises. 
  • The presence of these indigenously built ships of the Indian Navy will also be an opportunity to showcase the ship-building capabilities of Indian shipyards.

Aruna Miller becomes first Indian-American to be Lt Governor of Maryland 

Aruna Miller has became the first Indian-American to hold the office of Lieutenant Governor in Maryland, Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Aruna Miller, a former delegate to the Maryland House, was on the Lieutenant Governor ticket along with Wes Moore. 

She represented District 15 in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2010 to 2018. She ran for Congress in 2018 in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District and secured the second spot among eight candidates.

he Lieutenant Governor is the state’s highest official following the Governor and assumes the role when the Governor is out of State or incapacitated. 

The 2nd edition of North East Olympic Games 2022 will be organised in Meghalaya

The Government of Meghalaya and the North East Olympic Association (NEOA) will host the 2nd edition of the North East Olympic Games 2022 in Shillong, Meghalaya from 10th November to 16th November.

Key Points

  • Over 3,000 athletes from the eight north-eastern states will participate across 18 sports disciplines.
  • Disciplines in the games include archery, athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, football, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, wushu, cycling, golf, weightlifting and wrestling.
  • The official game mascot, ‘NEO’, is inspired by the Clouded Leopard, the state animal of Meghalaya. 
  • The attire worn by NEO is a fusion of the cultures of the prominent tribes of Meghalaya.
  • The first edition of the North East Olympic Games was held in Manipur in 2018.

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.