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Assam Current Affairs – November 16-18, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – November 16-18, 2022

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the November 16-18, 2022)

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November 16-18, 2022

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launches Assam Millet Mission

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Assam Millet Mission at a function held in Guwahati. 

The programme aims to expand and increase millet cultivation across the state. 

Key Points

  • Millet Mission is targeted to raise the nutrition quotient and doubling of farmers’ income.
  • The mission will also increase crop productivity and contribute to crop diversification.
  • It will help the farmers of Assam to gain knowledge and handholding about millet farming.
  • Synchronizing with the programme, the Assam chief minister also started the process of distributing power tillers, pump sets, mini trucks, harvesters, crop seeds, financial aids among beneficiaries.
  • Along with launching the Millet Mission, the Chief Minister also launched six soil testing and quality control laboratories Bongaigaon, morigaon,Golaghat, Udalgiri,Karimganj and Darrang.

Manipur will host Femina Miss India 2023 in Northeast

The government of Manipur has signed a partnership agreement with the Times group to host the 59th edition of Femina Miss India in the Northeast state of Manipur in April 2023.

The finale of the 59th Femina Miss India in Manipur will be historic as it will be the first to be held in Northeast India.

The partnership agreement was signed between Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Vineet Jain, managing director of Times group.

The objective of this agreement is to celebrate the diverse and inclusive Indian culture and to inspire and empower the local youths by welcoming the best of India talents and providing an opportunity to showcase the state’s rich cultural heritage.

Asia’s largest fountain will be installed in Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala

Asia’s largest fountain will be installed in one of the lakes of Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala in Tripura.

Key Points

  • The fountain will be 120 metres tall which will be the largest in Asia, will be done under the Agartala Smart City Limited (ASCL) project.
  • Installation of this fountain at the Ujjayanta Palace in Agartala will be completed by January 2023.
  • The central government released Rs 294 crore and the state government gave Rs 78 crore. The total amount stands at Rs 372 crore of which Rs 342 crore have been spent on construction so far CEO of ASCL Dr Shailesh Kumar Yadav said.
  • In total, 67 projects were enlisted and among them, 49 have been completed while 17 projects are are still in progress.

Manipur tops in the Northeast Olympic Games for the second consecutive time

Manipur bagged the top position in the Northeast Olympic Games for the second consecutive time with 237 medals, including 85 (gold), as the second edition of the regional multi-sport event.

Key Points

  • The Games are being organised by the government of Meghalaya and the state Olympic Association under the aegis of Northeast Olympic Association (NEOA).
  • Manipur bagged the top position with a total of 240 medals which included 88 gold medals, 75 silver and 77 bronze medals. 
  • Assam took the second spot with a total of 203 medals which included 79 gold medals, 61 silver and 63 bronze medals. 
  • Arunachal Pradesh got the third spot from the host State with a total of 112 medals which included 39 gold, 36 silver and 37 bronze medals. 
  • Meghalaya was at the 4th spot followed by Nagaland at the 5th, Mizoram at 6th, Tripura at 7th and Sikkim was at the last position.
  • Around 3000 athletes competed in 18 disciplines at 12 venues spread across Shillong. The first edition in Manipur had 12 disciplines.
  • Nagaland will host the third edition of the Northeast Olympic Games. 
  • Manipur had also topped the medal tally (80 gold, 49 silver, and 33 bronze) when it hosted the inaugural Games in October 2018.

India ranks 8th on Climate Change Performance Index 

India has ranked 8th in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2023. India jumps two spots higher to rank eighth out of 63 countries in the Climate Change Performance Index 2023 (CCPI).

The Climate Change Performance Index report was published by German Watch, New Climate Institute and Climate Action Network International based in Germany.

About Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)

  • The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), which has been published since 2005, aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries.
  • The CCPI is an independent monitoring tool for tracking the climate protection performance of 59 countries and the EU. 
  • Every year, the CCPI sets off important public and political debates within the countries assessed. 
  • The climate protection performance of these 59 countries, which together account for 92% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  • The CCPI looks at four categories, with 14 indicators: GHG Emissions (40% of the overall score), Renewable Energy (20%), Energy Use (20%), and Climate Policy (20%).

Key Highlights of the report

  • In the overall standings, no country ranked first, second or third on the index. Denmark, with a score of 79.61, ranked fourth, followed by Sweden and Chile.
  • India scored 67.35 points. India’s ranking in categories: In GHGs, it ranked 9 , Renewable Energy (24 ), and Energy Use (9 ), and on Climate Policy (8 ).
  • The ranking given by CCPI places India as the only G-20 country in the top 10 rank.
  • The United States rose by three ranks to the 52nd, Iran (63rd), Saudi Arabia (62nd) and Kazakhstan (61st) fared the worst.

Economist Arvind Virmani appointed as full-time member of NITI Aayog

The Government of India has appointed the former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Virmani as a full-time member of NITI Aayog.

His appointment as the full-time member of NITI Aayog has been approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Currently, there are three members: Dr V K Saraswat, Professor Ramesh Chand and Dr V K Paul.

About Arvind Virmani

  • Mr. Virmani is the founder-chairman of the non-profit public policy organisation Foundation for Economic Growth and Welfare.
  • He has served as the Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry during the Manmohan Singh led Government from 2007 to 2009. 
  • In 2009, he was appointed the Executive Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and he served there till 2012. During his tenure at IMF, he represented India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan.
  • He was a member of the Reserve Bank of India’s Technical Advisory Committee on Monetary Policy from February 2013 to August 2016.

Assam Current Affairs – November 10-12, 2022

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

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

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November 10-12, 2022

Union Minister Gadkari approves Rs 68,000-cr road projects in four Northeastern states

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari approved Rs 68,000 crore, in four Northeastern states to make international standard surface connectivity. 

According to Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the new projects worth Rs 50,000 crore for Assam, Rs 9,000 crore for Meghalaya, Rs 5,000 crore for Nagaland and Rs 4,000 crore for Sikkim were approved.

He stressed upon the importance of coordination and partnership between Central and State agencies to develop top-class transport infrastructure in North Eastern States.

He announced several infrastructure development projects for Assam. He also approved many Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the state. 

He informed that his Ministry has approved the DPR of a ring road in Guwahati including a new bridge over Brahmaputra connecting Narengi and Kuruwa apart from 10 flyovers across the State. 

Assam government approved the proposal to engage retired Army veterans for training the State Police Personnel

The government of Assam has given its approval to the proposal to engage the retired Army veterans for training the State Police Personnel. 

According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, at least 34 retired Army personnel will be appointed by the state government to impart training to the state police personnel in battalions.

In order to remove disparity in remuneration between Assam Civil Service (ACS) and Assam Police Service (APS) officers the approval has been given by the Assam government to bring parity to pay and promotions (up to the Selection Grade level) for both ACS and APS officers.

During the Assam cabinet meeting several other key decisions in regards to installation of smart meters, enhancement of power supply and bringing parity in pay/promotion of ACS and APS officers were also taken. 

State of Food and Agriculture Report, 2022

The State of Food and Agriculture 2022 is one of the annual flagship reports released by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

It provides comprehensive insights into the various issues related to the field of food and agriculture based on science-based assessment. It covers topics that are important for rural and agricultural development as well as global food security.

Highlights of the report

  • The report assessed various drivers of agricultural automation, including the recently developed digital technologies. 
  • The report analyzed the business case for the adoption of these digital automation technologies based on 27 case studies across various agricultural production systems in the world. 
  • It identified various challenges that are preventing inclusive adoption of these technologies, especially by small-scale producers. 
  • It recognized two major barriers for their adoption – low digital literacy and lack of supportive infrastructure like connectivity and access to electricity.
  • The report recommended policies that will enable disadvantaged groups to access the agricultural automation technologies, which will help in the creation of sustainable and resilient agri-food systems. 
  • Agriculture sectors in high-income countries in North America, Europe and Oceania have been highly mechanized since the 1960s. 
  • Only ten of the twenty-seven service providers are profitable and financially sustainable. All of these profitable service providers are based in high-income and used solutions that are in the mature phase, serving only large-scale producers. 
  • Adoption is especially limited in sub-Saharan Africa. Agriculture in this region is dominated by human and animal power, limiting productivity significantly. The report recommends setting up sustainable rental mechanisms to address this issue. 
  • The report addresses the concerns regarding the unemployment crisis caused by labour-saving technologies. It gives several recommendations in this regard: 
  1. Avoiding subsidization of automation in regions where rural labor is abundant and wages are low 
  2. Creation of favorable environment for the adoption of automation technology 
  3. Providing social security for low-skilled workers who are likely to lose their livelihood because of the automation. 

India will host Women’s World Boxing Championships in 2023

India will host the Women’s World Boxing Championships in 2023 in New Delhi. 

This will be the third time that the elite women’s competition will be held in the country having conducted the championships in 2006 and 2018 in New Delhi.

The International Boxing Association (IBA) and the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) signed the MoU in presence of IBA President Umar Kremlev and BFI President Ajay Singh.

Recently, BA President Umar Kremlev, had announced that the men’s world championship, to be held in Tashkent next year in May.

Atal Innovation Mission launches women centric challenges under ANIC program

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog today launched Woman centric challenges under phase-II of the 2nd edition of the Atal New India Challenge (ANIC). 

ANIC is an initiative launched to select and support technology-based innovations that solve sectoral challenges of national importance and societal relevance through a grant-based mechanism of up to ₹1 crore.

Key Points

  • The Woman centric challenges address the major issues faced by women from all spheres of life. 
  • These include driving women hygiene through innovation, innovations to improve women’s safety, professional networking opportunities for women, innovations that make working mothers’ life better, and easing the life of Rural Women. 
  • NITI Aayog currently runs the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), which was launched in 2018, to help women become entrepreneurs, scale up their innovations and create sustainable, long-term strategies for their businesses.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is Government of India’s flagship initiative to create and promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of our country. 

AIM’s objective 

  • Developing new programs and policies to promote innovation in various sectors of the economy.
  • Providing forums and opportunities for collaboration for various stakeholders.
  • To create an umbrella structure to create awareness and monitor the innovation ecosystem of the country.

PM Narendra Modi flagged off first ‘Vande Bharat’ train in South India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first Vande Bharat Express Train on the Mysore-Chennai route at Krantiveera Sangolli Railway station in Bengaluru. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also flagged off the ‘Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan’ train which is operated by Karnataka’s Muzrai Department under the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ train policy of Railways.

Key Points

  • This will be the fifth Vande Bharat Express train in the country and the first such train in South India.
  • The Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express will boost connectivity as well as commercial activities between Chennai, Bengaluru and Mysuru.
  • Vande Bharat Express Train is touted to be an advanced version of trains developed indigenously by the Indian Railways. 
  • PM Modi also flagged off the ‘Bharat Gaurav Kashi Darshan’ train. Under the ‘Bharat Gaurav’ train policy of Railways, the train is operated by Karnataka’s Muzrai Department.
  • Karnataka is the first state to take up this train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme in which the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Railways are working together to send pilgrims from Karnataka to Kashi.

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 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 10-12, 2022

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

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

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the September 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 

September 22-24, 2022

CM of Manipur N. Biren Singh introduce web portal ‘CM Da Haisi’

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has launched a web portal to enable people to redress their grievances, and provide a platform to raise corruption-related issues. The web portal is called “CM Da Haisi,”(Let’s inform the CM).

The Public Grievances Redressal and Anti-Corruption Cell stationed at CM Secretariat will use the portal to communicate with the relevant departments to redress the grievances of the public within a stipulated time and also to provide the actionable complaints to the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Department for further inquiry and investigation. 

This portal will enable fast redressal of public grievances and also provide a platform to raise corruption-related issues.

It will further enable us to bring transparency and accountability in governance and delivery of public services. 

India’s first Avalanche Monitoring Radar installed in Sikkim

The Indian Army and Defence Geoinformatics and Research Establishment (DGRE) have jointly installed the Avalanche Monitoring Radar in north Sikkim. This radar, a first of its kind in India.

Key Points

  • The radar was made operational by DGRE, a laboratory under the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), which is involved in forecasting and mitigation of avalanche hazards faced by the Army in the Himalayan region.
  • It uses a series of short micro wave pulses, which are scattered at the target and can detect an avalanche in less than three seconds. 
  • The radar can permanently scan the targeted slope for avalanche release and track the path of the avalanche and its size in case it is triggered.
  • The radar can see through snow, fog as well as in the night, making it an all weather solution. It covers an area of two sq.km, obviating the requirement to place additional instruments in dangerous avalanche-prone areas, the officer elaborated.
  • The radar is also linked to an alarm system, enabling automatic control and warning measures in case an avalanche is triggered. Images and videos of the event are automatically recorded for future analysis by experts. 

The 10th India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA) Trilateral Ministerial Commission meeting held in New York

The 10th India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA) Trilateral Ministerial Commission meeting was held in New York. Dr. S. Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, presided over the meeting.

The IBSA is a trilateral, developmental initiative between India, Brazil and South Africa to promote South-South cooperation and exchange.

Key Points

  • The agenda of the meeting was on mutual interests including cooperation in multilateral organizations, South-South cooperation, UNSC reform, 2030 agenda, Sustainable Development Goals, climate change, countering terrorism, and financing for developmental activities.
  • They also held discussions on regional issues like the African Union, the Middle East peace process, and the situation in Ukraine. 
  • The Ministers supported the aspiration of African countries to have a permanent presence in the United Nations Security Council. 
  • They also supported India and Brazil’s efforts to get permanent seats in the Security Council. 
  • India will host the 6th IBSA Summit on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in November this year.

India launched the ‘Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries’, at Global Clean Energy Action Forum-2022 

India announces the launch of the “Innovation Roadmap of the Mission Integrated Biorefineries” at the first-ever Global Clean Energy Action Forum-2022 at Pittsburgh, in the United States. 

The Mission Integrated Biorefineries was developed in cooperation with Brazil, Canada, European Commission and the United Kingdom.

Key Points

  • The Mission’s goal is to develop and demonstrate innovative solutions to accelerate the commercialisation of integrated biorefineries.
  • The Mission aims at greater international collaboration and the need for increased financing for Energy RD&D (Research, Development & Demonstration) during the next five years through public-private investment. 
  • It aims to fill the void by identifying gaps and challenges in current biorefining value chains, prioritizing Eight key actions to support the Mission and guiding the Mission’s overall path in achieving its goal.
  • Dr Jitendra Singh said that a pilot plant of 10 Tons/day capacity plant with integrated enzyme production is being set up at Panipat Haryana, which will be commissioned by December 2022. This will be the 1st indigenous technology for on-site enzyme production. 
  • During the conference, India agreed to reach 500-Gigawatt non-fossil energy capacity and reduce carbon intensity of the economy by 45% over 2005 levels and achieve net zero emissions by 2070.

Dilip Tirkey was appointed as President of Hockey India

Former Indian men’s team captain Dilip Tirkey was elected as the new Hockey India (HI) president. He was elected unopposed. 

Bhola Nath has been elected unopposed as secretary general.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has approved Tirkey and his team’s appointments. 

Dilip Tirkey, represented India at three Olympic Games and was a member of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok and silver at the 2012 edition. 

He was also part of the team which won gold medals in the 2003 and 2007 editions of the Asia Cup.

Assam Current Affairs – September 10-12, 2022

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

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

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Current Affairs Quiz – Set 321: September 2022, Week 2   

September 10-12, 2022

PM Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina jointly unveils  Unit-1 of Maitree Super Thermal Power Project

Recently, PM Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina jointly unveils  Unit-1 of Maitree Super Thermal Power Project

Seven Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) have been signed during India-Bangladesh bilateral talks.The MoUs signed between both neighbours cover water sharing, railways, space, science and judiciary and other allied fields.

Key Points

  • Maitree Super Thermal Power Project is being constructed at Rampal in Bagerhat district of Khulna division of Bangladesh. 
  • This project is a 1320MW supercritical coal-fired thermal power plant.
  • The project has been built under India’s concessional financing scheme at an approximate cost of USD 2 Billion.
  • It is being built by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) for Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Private Limited (BIFPCL).
  • Unit 1 of this power plant will go into commercial operation in early October and will be a major breakthrough in the growing cooperation in the Bangladesh-India power sector.
  • Unit 2 of the thermal power plant known as the Rampal coal-fired power project, will be commissioned next year.
  • Once both the units of the power plant are made operational, the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project will be the largest power plant in Bangladesh.

Chief Minister of Meghalaya launches ‘Residents Safety & Security’ portal

Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma launched the online portal of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA). The portal aims to provide a digital platform to ensure the safety and security of the residents and act as a strong intelligence gathering system for authorities.

Key Points

  • The online portal will be beneficial for monitoring and better implementation of services and programs introduced by the government.
  • This online portal is first being rolled out in seven localities of Shillong-Nongrim Hills, Lapanlang, Nongmynsong, Nongrah, Pohkseh, Riat Laban, and Wahdienglieng.
  • The portal will also offer facilities such as monitoring and better implementation of services and programs introduced by the government. 
  • The portal can be utilized for better service delivery in critical areas such as healthcare and will aid in effective monitoring of the schemes and programmes of the Government

UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities 2022

Recently, Three cities of India have been inducted into the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities 2022 List. These include Telangana’s Warangal, Kerala’s Thrissur & Nilambur.

Key Points

  • A total of 77 cities from 44 countries were recently inducted into the UNESCO GNLC List. 
  • In total, the list consists of 294 cities from across the world, which have been bestowed with this distinct honour.
  • Other notable cities which have been featured on UNESCO GNLC include Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Durban in South Africa and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates among others.

About the UNESCO learning cities

  • The UNESCO GNLC was launched in 2013 by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning. 
  • It is an international policy based network, which aims to ensure the development of all learning cities by sharing ideas and arts with other cities.
  • The Network supports the achievement of all seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, SDG 4 (Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all) and SDG 11 (Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable)

Neeraj Chopra won the Zurich Diamond League Final 2022

Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to win a Diamond League Grand Final title in 2022 in Switzerland. 

He won the Zurich Diamond League final with his best throw of 88.44m.

He became the first Indian to clinch a Diamond League meet title. 

The Diamond League encompasses 32 Diamond Disciplines, following a championship-style model. Athletes earn points at the 13-series meet to qualify for the final of their respective disciplines. The winner of each Diamond Discipline at the Final will be crowned ‘Diamond League Champion’.

President Droupadi Murmu launches‘TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu virtually launched the Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan to eliminate tuberculosis from India by 2025.

Key Points

  • The Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has been envisioned to bring together all community stakeholders to support those on TB treatment and accelerate the country’s progress towards TB elimination.
  • President Murmu also launched the Ni-kshay 2.0 initiative, a  portal to provide a platform for donors to provide various forms of support to those undergoing TB treatment.
  • The main objective of Ni-kshay Mitra is to reach out to around 9 lakh TB patients and provide a nutritious diet.
  • It will be based on three-pronged support which includes nutrition, additional diagnostics and professional support. 
  • The duration of assistance under Ni-kshay Mitra can be 1-3 years depending on the duration of treatment of the TB patient. 

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated India’s largest rubber dam

Recently, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the country’s largest rubber dam and a steel bridge over the Falgu river in Gaya district.

Key Points

  • The rubber dam on the Falgu River, which is a vast stretch of sand dunes, will draw more pilgrims and change the landscape. 
  • This dam has been constructed by Rubina Company of Austria in collaboration with Nagarjuna Construction Company of Hyderabad.  Experts from IIT (Roorkee) were involved with the project. 
  • The dam is 411 meters long, 95.5 meters wide and 3 meters high. 
  • The banks along the Falgu River have also been developed and a steel bridge has been built for pilgrims to visit Sita Kund.
  • This rubber dam will keep water throughout the year in the Falgu river and will also facilitate people in bathing, pind daan and tarpan.

Current Affairs Quiz – Set 321: September 2022, Week 2  

Assam Current Affairs – September 01-03, 2022

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

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

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Current Affairs Quiz – Set 321: September 2022, Week 1 | Watch video 

September 01-03, 2022

Amlan Borgohain breaks 100m national record at All India Railway Championships

Assam’s Amlan Borgohain has broke the 100m national record at the 87th All India inter-Railway Championships in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh, 

He clocked 10.25s (wind speed +1.8, legal) to break the six-year-old national record of Amiya Kumar Mallick (10.26s). 

The 24-year-old Amlan, is now the reigning national champion in the 100m and 200m. Amlan Borgohain holds the 200m national record of 20.52s, set in April this year at the Federation Cup.

Meanwhile, Himashree Roy won the women’s 100m in 11.42s while R. Rajesh (46.73s) and Kiran Pahal (53.91s) took the men’s and women’s 400m titles.

World Resource Institute (WRI) India launches online geospatial platform in Guwahati

World Resource Institute (WRI) India in partnership with Assam Energy Development Agency (AEDA) launched an online, open source, interactive geo-spatial platform, called Energy Access Explorer (EAE).

Key Points

  • Energy Access Explorer (EAE) will help visualize the extent of energy access at Assam’s health, education, and livelihood infrastructures. 
  • It claims to assist policy-makers, renewable energy industry entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers from the development sector to make integrated and impactful decisions to expand energy access in the state in the most efficient, cost-effective and sustainable way possible.
  • In the past decade, 37.7 percent of health sub-centres and 41 per cent of schools in rural Assam lack access to reliable and sustainable power, while Assam has made great strides in electricity provisioning to homes. 
  • The leverage data will be provided by the platform and create a scenario of viability and affordability for consumers.

University Grants Commission launched ‘e-Samadhan’ portal

Recently. University Grants Commission (UGC) has launched an online portal, e-Samadhan for addressing student-related grievances. 

UGC will now monitor and address all grievances of students and teaching/non-teaching staff through a centralized portal called ‘e-Samadhan’. 

Key Points

  • The e-Samadhan Portal will handle issues like non-refund of fees, making admission contrary to merit, refusal of admission in accordance with the declared admission policy, withholding of original degrees/diplomas/certificates by institutions, etc.
  • The portal will be the one-stop solution for all grievances; and all other existing portals and helplines will be merged with it except for the anti-ragging helpline.
  • Through this portal, the users can register their complaints on the portal anytime within 24 hours by following a simple procedure using their email id or by placing a call on the toll-free number 1800-111-656.

About University Grants Commission (UGC)

  • University Grants Commission is a statutory body set up by the UGC Act 1956. 
  • It is set up by the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India in accordance and is charged with coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of higher education in India.
  • Its headquarters are in New Delhi, and it has six regional centres in Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Bangalore.
  • It provides recognition to universities in India, and disbursements of funds to such recognized universities and colleges.
  • It provides doctoral scholarships to all those who clear JRF in the National Eligibility Test. 

Cabinet approves an MoU with Govt of Nepal on biodiversity conservation

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for signing an MoU with the Government of Nepal on biodiversity conservation

The MoU aims to strengthen and enhance the coordination and cooperation in the field of forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation and climate change, including restoration of corridors and interlinking areas and share knowledge and best practices, between the two countries.

The MoU is expected to help in promoting cooperation between the Parties in the field of forests, wildlife, environment, biodiversity conservation, and climate change, including restoration of corridors and interlinking areas and sharing knowledge and best practices.

India’s first indigenously developed Vaccine for Cervical Cancer will be launched 

India will launch its first indigenously developed Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (qHPV) against Cervical cancer with the help of the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

Key Points

  • The CERVAVAC vaccination will be the first quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) in India, to prevent cervical cancer. 
  • The vaccine would be launched once an adequate quantum of doses is manufactured and ready for distribution and will be administered with a two-dose schedule for girls in the age group of 9-14 and a three-dose schedule for girls and women in the age group of 15-26.
  • Cervical cancer is the 2nd most prevalent cancer in India and accounts for nearly one-fourth of the world’s cervical cancer deaths despite being largely preventable. 
  • Every year approximately 1.25 lakhs women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 75 thousand die from the disease in India and 83 % of invasive cervical cancers are attributed to HPVs 16 or 18 in India, and 70% of cases worldwide. 
  • The most promising intervention for preventing cervical cancer is vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). 
  • It is estimated that HPV types 16 and 18 (HPV-16 and HPV-18) together contribute to approximately 70% of all invasive cervical cancer cases worldwide.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched virtual school

Recently, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the virtual school called the ‘Delhi Model Virtual School’, in which students from across India will be eligible for admission in classes 9 to 12. 

Key Points 

  • Delhi Model Virtual School will be affiliated to the Delhi Board of School Education (DBSE). 
  • The virtual school will prove to be a milestone in the education sector in the country. 
  • The admission will be open for students across India who are aged between 13 and 18. who has cleared class 8 from any recognised school can apply for admission to DMVS
  • The classes will be online and recorded lectures will also be uploaded online. 

Current Affairs Quiz – Set 321: September 2022, Week 1 | Watch video 

 

Assam Current Affairs – August 10-12, 2022

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

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the August 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 

August 10-12, 2022

India’s medal winners at Commonwealth Games 2022

Commonwealth Games 2022 took place in Birmingham, the United Kingdom from 28 July to 8 August 2022. India is participating for the 18th time in the Commonwealth Games.

India ranked 4th in the Commonwealth Games 2022 Medal Tally with 61 medals. India won 22 gold, 16 silver and 23 bronze medals.

Australia topped the tally with 178 medals (67 gold, 57 silver, 54 bronze) followed by England who collected 173 medals (56 gold, 64 silver, 53 bronze). Canada finished third with 26 gold, 32 silver and 34 bronze for a total of 92 medals.

Gold medal winners for India in Commonwealth Games 2022

  1. Mirabai Chanu-Weightlifter-Women’s 49 kg 
  2. Jeremy Lalrinnunga-Weightlifter-Men’s 67 kg 
  3. Anchita Sheuli-Weightlifter-Men’s 37 kg 
  4. Indian Women Lawn Bowls Team-Lawn Bowls-Women’s Fours Team 
  5. Men’s Table Tennis team-Table Tennis-Men’s Team 
  6. Sudhir-Para Powerlifting-Men’s heavyweight 
  7. Sakshi Malik-Wrestling-Women’s 62 Kg 
  8. Deepak Punia-Wrestling-men’s freestyle 86 kg 
  9. Vinesh Phogat-Wrestling-women’s 53 kg 
  10. Naveen-Wrestling- men’s freestyle 74 kg 
  11. Bhavina Patel- Table Tennis-women’s singles class 
  12. Ravi Kumar Dahiya-Wrestling-Men’s 57 kg freestyle 
  13. Nitu Ghanghas-Boxing-women’s 48 kg 
  14. Amit Panghal-Boxing-men’s 51 kg 
  15. Eldhose Paul-Athletics-men’s triple jump 
  16. Nikhat Zareen-Boxing- women’s 50 kg 
  17. Table Tennis Mixed Team-Table Tennis-Table Tennis Mixed Doubles 
  18. PV Sindhu- Badminton-Women’s Singles 
  19. Bajrang Punia-Wrestling-Men’s 65 Kg 
  20. Lakshya Sen-Badminton-Men’s Singles event 
  21. Sharath Kamal- Table Tennis- Men’s Singles 

22.Satwik Sairaj Rankireddi and Chirag Shetty -Badminton-Men’s Double 

List of Indian Silver Medal Winners in Commonwealth Games 2022 

  1. Bindyarani Devi-Weightlifting-women’s 55 kg 
  2. Sanket Mahadev Sargar-Weightlifting-men’s 55kg 
  3. Judoka Sushila-Judo- Women’s 48 kg 
  4. Vikas Thakur-Weightlifting- men’s 96kg 
  5. Badminton Mixed Team-badminton-Mixed team event 
  6. Tulika Mann-Judo-Women’s 78 kg 
  7. Murali Sreeshankar-Athletics-Men’s long jump 
  8. Anshu Malik-Wrestling-women’s 57 kg final 
  9. Priyanka Goswami-Race Walk-10,000m event 
  10. Avinash Sable-Athletics-men’s 3000m steeplechase 
  11. Indian Men Lawn Bowls team-Lawn Bowls- men’s fours team 
  12. Abdulla Aboobacker-Athletics-Men’s Triple Jump 
  13. Sharath-Sathiyan-Table Tennis- men’s doubles 
  14. Women’s Cricket Team-Cricket-women’s cricket final 
  15. Sagar Ahlawat-Boxing- men’s 92+ kg category 
  16. Indian Men’s Hockey Team-Hockey-Men’s Hockey 

List of Indian Bronze Medal Winners in Commonwealth Games 2022 

  1. Gururaja Poojary-Weightlifting-Men’s 61 kg weight category 
  2. Vijay Kumar Yadav-Judo-Men’s 60-kg class 
  3. Harjinder Kaur-Weightlifting-women’s 71 kg 
  4. Lovepreet Singh-Weightlifting- men’s 109 kg category 
  5. Saurav Ghosal-Squash-Men’s Singles 
  6. Gurdeep Singh-Weightlifting-Men’s 109 kg category 
  7. Tejaswin Shankar-Athletics-men’s high jump 
  8. Divya Kakran-Wrestling-Women’s 68 kg 
  9. Mohit Grewal-Wrestling-Men’s freestyle 125 kg 
  10. Deepak Nehra-Wrestling-Men’s 97 kg category 
  11. Pooja Gehlot-Wrestling-Women’s Freestyle 50 kg category 
  12. Pooja Sihag-Wrestling-Women’s 76 kg category 
  13. Mohammed Hussamuddin-Boxing-Men’s 57kg featherweight category 
  14. Rohit Tokas-Boxing-Men’s 67kg Welterweight 
  15. Sonalben Manubhai Patel-Table Tennis-women’s singles class 3-5 16.
  16. Jaismine Lamboria-Boxing- women’s lightweight (60 kg) 
  17. Indian Women Hockey Team-Hockey-Women’s Hockey 
  18. Sandeep Kumar-Athletics- Men’s 10,000 m racewalk 
  19. Annu Rani-Javelin-women’s Javelin Throw event 
  20. Tressa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand-Badminton-Young Women’s Doubles pair 
  21. Saurav Ghosal and Dipika Pallikal-Squash- Squash Mixed Doubles- 
  22. G. Sathiyan-Table Tennis-Men’s Singles 
  23. Kidambi Srikanth-badminton-Men’s Singles

Indo-US Joint Special Forces Exercise ‘Vajra Prahar 2022 

The 13th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “Ex Vajra Prahar 2022” began at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS), Bakloh Himachal Pradesh.

The Vajra Prahar series of joint exercises aims to share best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics as also to improve interoperability between the Special Forces of both the Nations.

Key Points

  • The Vajra Prahar series of joint exercises hosted alternatively between India and the United States. 
  • During the course of next 21 days, teams of both armies would jointly train, plan and execute a series of Special Operations, Counter Terrorist Operations, Air Borne operations in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios in mountainous terrain. 
  • This joint exercise is a significant step in strengthening the traditional bond of friendship between the special forces of both Nations as well as improving bilateral defence cooperation between India and the USA.
  • The 12th edition was conducted at Joint Base Lewis Mcchord, Washington (USA) in October 2021.

World Lion Day observed globally 

World Lion Day is observed globally on 10th August. The objective is to spread awareness and educate people about lions and their conservation.

Lions supposedly wandered amiably through Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East some three million years ago.

Key Points

  • The population of Asiatic lions has steadily increased in Gujarat’s Gir forest and the larger Saurashtra protected area after experiencing a long period of decline. 
  • Between 2015 and 2020, their population increased from 523 to 674. The much larger African lions are a distant relative of the Asiatic lions of India.
  • In 2013, the first World Lion Day was observed. Dereck and Beverly Joubert, from the Big Cat Initiative and National Geographic, founded it.

World Elephant Day observed globally 

World Elephant Day is observed globally on 12th August. The day tries to highlight why these animals should be protected and what laws and measures can be enacted to ensure their survival. 

The main objective of World Elephant Day is to create awareness of elephant conservation and to share knowledge and positive solutions for the better protection and management of wild and captive elephants.

World Elephant Day was started as an initiative by two Canadian filmmakers, Patricia Sims and Michael Clark of Canazwest pictures, and the Secretary General of Thailand’s Elephant Re-introduction Foundation – Sivaporn Dardaraanda. 

The first World Elephant Day was observed on August 12, 2012.

Sunil Chhetri, Manisha Kalyan named men’s and women’s Footballer of the Year

Sunil Chhetri was named the 2021-22 All India Football Federation (AIFF) men’s footballer of the Year for the seventh time while Manisha Kalyan was picked for her maiden honour in the women’s category for the 2021-22 session. 

Key Points

  • Sunil Chhetri is currently third after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the list of highest goal scorers in international football among active players and sixth on the all-time leaderboard. 
  • This was Sunil Chhetri’s record seventh AIFF Men’s Footballer of the Year award, having won it previously in 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018–19. 
  • Manisha Kalyan, who won the 2021-22 AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year, was the recipient of the Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year from last season.
  • Martina Thokchom was named the 2021-22 Women’s Emerging Footballer of the Year, and Vikram Partap Singh was picked as the 2021-22 Men’s Emerging Footballer of the Year.

Aarya Walvekar crowned Miss India USA 2022

Indian American from Virginia, Aarya Walvekar has been crowned Miss India USA in 2022 in New Jersey. 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the pageant which is the longest-running Indian pageant outside of India. It was started by New York-based Indian- Americans Dharmatma and Neelam Saran under the banner of Worldwide Pageants.

Saumya Sharma, a second-year premedical student at the University of Virginia, was declared the first runner up and Sanjana Chekuri of New Jersey was the second runner-up. 

Akshi Jain from Washington has crowned Mrs India USA and Tanvi Grover from New York was crowned Miss Teen India USA.