Tag: Sports current affairs

Assam Current Affairs – January 19-21, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 19-21, 2024

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 19-21, 2024 

Arunachal Pradesh celebrated the 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival

The 9th edition of the Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival (PPHF) celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the region’s commitment to wildlife conservation, with a special focus on hornbills. 

The festival took place at Seijosa in the Pakke Kessang district from January 18-20, 2024. 

About Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival

  • The first-ever Pakke Paga Hornbill Festival was held in 2015. 
  • It aims to recognise the role played by the Nyishi tribal group in conserving hornbills in Pakke Tiger Reserve (PTR). 
  • The festival also aims to establish alternative income sources, steering away from harmful practices like hunting and logging. 
  • It serves as a platform for creating national awareness about the natural wonders of the Pakke Tiger Reserve and its surroundings.
  • The festival brings together diverse communities to unite in their efforts to protect these iconic birds and promote environmental awareness.
  • This year, the festival’s theme is Domutoh Domutoh, Paga hum Domutoh. It translates to ‘Let Our Hornbills Remain’ in the Nyishi language. 
  • This year’s festival aims to underscore the critical need for preserving these iconic birds.

India Inc lauds establishment of gender equity Alliance at WEF meet 2024

Indian industry lauded the government for establishing the ‘Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality’ announced on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting 2024.

Highlights of the Alliance for Global Good- Gender Equity and Equality

  • It seeks to build on the initiatives of the Engagement Group and frameworks like Business 20, Women 20, and G20 EMPOWER. 
  • The idea of this alliance emerged from the G20 Leaders’ Declaration and India’s abiding commitment to the cause of women-led development as propounded by Prime Minister  Shri Narendra Modi.
  • The primary and stated objective of this new Alliance is to bring together global best practices, knowledge sharing and investments in the identified areas  of women’s health, education, and enterprise.
  • Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the alliance will be housed and anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership. 
  • The alliance aims to champion women-led development, leveraging India’s spectacular inclusive growth story and its philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Prayas” (Together with all, Development for all and Effort for all).

Union Ayush Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal lays foundation stone for State-of-the-Art ‘Ayush Diksha’ centre at Bhubaneswar

The Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation stone for ‘Ayush Diksha’,a groundbreaking center at the Central Ayurveda Research Institute in Bhubaneswar.

Key Points

  • The ‘Ayush Diksha’ center is set to become a hub for the advancement of human resources in Ayush, with a primary focus on Ayurveda professionals. 
  • The institution aims to foster collaboration with prominent national institutes to enhance capacity, strengthen human resources, facilitate research and development, and achieve self-sustainability for revenue generation.
  • The institution will offer training programmes for Ayush professionals, especially those from Ayurveda, as it aims to collaborate with national institutes of prominence for capacity development, strengthening human resources, facilitate research and development, achieve self-sustainability with an objective to generate revenue. 
  • The Ayush Diksha centre is being built with a budget of ₹30 crores. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including two auditoriums, 40 modern rooms with all amenities, suites for VIPs, dedicated space for a natural library, discussion rooms, modular kitchen, dining lounge, among other amenities. 
  • The CARI, Bhubaneswar is a unit under the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. This ground breaking initiative marks a significant step towards promoting and advancing research in Ayurveda on scientific lines.

WHO Releases Guidelines for Multi-Modal Generative AI in Healthcare

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released comprehensive guidance on the ethical use and governance of large multi-modal models (LMM) in healthcare.

About the Guidelines

  • The guiding document identified five broad applications of LMMs in healthcare: Diagnosis and clinical care, such as responding to patients’ written queries; patient-guided use for investigating symptoms and treatments; clerical and administrative tasks in electronic health records; medical and nursing education with simulated patient encounters; and scientific research and drug development. 
  • It also recommends designing LMMs for well-defined tasks with the necessary accuracy and understanding of potential secondary outcomes. 
  • It offers a roadmap for harnessing the power of LMMs in healthcare while navigating their complexities and ethical considerations. 
  • This initiative marks a significant step towards ensuring that AI technologies serve the public interest, particularly in the health sector
  • WHO’s six core principles for AI in health: protect autonomy, promote well-being, ensure transparency, foster responsibility, ensure inclusiveness, and promote sustainability.

Risks Associated with LMMs in Healthcare Generation of False or Biased Information: 

  • LMMs may produce inaccurate or biased information due to biases present in the training data, potentially leading to misguided health decisions. 
  • LMMs might perpetuate healthcare disparities based on factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and age, reflecting the biases present in their training data. 
  • There is a risk of automation bias, where healthcare professionals and patients may overly trust the output of LMMs, leading to the oversight of potential errors. 
  • As LMMs rely on trustworthy algorithms, any compromise in these algorithms could result in the release of sensitive patient information, posing cybersecurity risks.

The WHO Recommendations for Mitigating Risks 

  • Encourages investment in public infrastructure, such as computing power and datasets, adhering to ethical principles. 
  • Stressed on the need for global cooperative leadership to regulate AI technologies effectively. 
  • Governments from all countries must cooperatively lead efforts to effectively regulate the development and use of AI technologies, such as LMMs.
  • Calls for the implementation of mandatory post-release audits and impact assessments.
  • Advises developers to engage a diverse range of stakeholders, including potential users and healthcare professionals, from the early stages of AI development. 
  • Emphasizes designing LMMs for well-defined tasks with the necessary accuracy while understanding potential secondary outcomes.

President Droupadi Murmu confers Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar

The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred the “Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar” instituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India to 19 children at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

This year’s awardees include one child each in the categories of Bravery, Science & Technology and Innovation, four in the category of Social Service, five in the category of Sports, and seven in the category of Art & Culture. 

Every year, the Government of India acknowledges the exceptional achievements of children in the age group of 5 to 18 years by conferring the ‘Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) upon them. Each awardee received a medal and a certificate from the President.

Saiyam Mazumdar from Assam has been awarded Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar Award, 2024 in the field of social service. 

He is a wildlife conservationist who started off by saving and taking care of stray animals, exhibiting incredible compassion. 

He bravely saved snakes and informed others about their ecological significance. 

President of India inaugurates the 5th edition of the Meghalaya Games

The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the 5th Edition of the Meghalaya Games in Tura, Meghalaya on January 15, 2024. 

The President said that the North East region has a tremendous potential for the development of sports and sportspersons

She emphasized the need to support the talent from the tribal areas and groom them to become professional sportspersons. 

With Government’s new initiatives and encouragement to the athletes, Indian sportspersons are now winning more medals than ever in global events. 

Programmes such as Khelo India are helping in identifying and nurturing future sports champions.

Assam Current Affairs – January 10-12, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 10-12, 2024

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 10-12, 2024 

Chandubi festival

The 14th Chandubi Festival was recently held near the Chandubi Lake in Assam’s Kamrup district from January 1 to January 5.

About Chandubi festival

  • It is an annual five-day celebration that takes place at Chandubi Lake in Assam’s Kamrup district.
  • Chandubi Lake is a natural lake that was formed due to massive landslides during the 1897 Assam earthquake, blocking the flow of the Chandubi River.
  • The festival’s main goal is to encourage eco-tourism and protect the lake, which has been losing water. 
  • Preserving the lake and helping the tribes like Rabhas, Garos, Gorkhas, and tea tribes are reasons for holding the festival. 
  • The festival is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the region, celebrating the diversity, customs, and traditions of the local communities. 
  • It represents the confluence of various indigenous tribes and communities, each contributing their unique rituals, arts, crafts, and cultural practices. 
  • The festival features a rich tapestry of cultural performances including traditional dances like Bihu, Sattriya, and tribal dances, showcasing the vibrant folk culture of Assam.

National Sports Awards 2023

The national sports awards are given annually to recognize and reward excellence in sports, highlight extraordinary performance at the national and international competitive events, encourage sportsmanship and promote nation-building by creating a sense of national pride and unity in a country as diverse as India. 

The awards are administered by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India.

The six categories of the National Sports Awards are: 

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: 

  • It is considered India’s highest sporting honour, the Khel Ratna was established in 1991-92.
  • The award is named after the Indian hockey legend, Major Dhyan Chand.
  • The award is given for outstanding performances in sports spanning over a period of four years and the Khel Ratna winners receive a medallion, certificate and a cash prize. 
  • Legendary sports figures like MC Mary Kom, S. MirabaiChanu, PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Vijender Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli amongst others have received this highest sporting honour in the past.
  • In 2023, Chirag Shetty and Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy (badminton) were awarded with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.

Arjuna Award

It is awarded for consistent good performance over a period of four years. The winners of the Arjuna Award receive a statuette of Arjuna, a certificate and a cash prize.

Dronacharya Award: It was instituted in 1985, is India’s highest sports honour for coaches. It is awarded to individuals for producing medal winners at prestigious international events. Awardees receive a bronze statue of Dronacharya, a certificate and a cash prize.

Ganesh Prabhakaran (mallakhamb), Mahavir Saini (para athletics), Lalit Kumar (wrestling), RB Ramesh (chess), Shivendra Singh (hockey) were awarded with Dronacharya Award for Outstanding Coaches in Sports and Games 2023. 

Major Dhyan Chand Award: This award represents India’s highest honour for lifetime achievements in sports. Presented for good performance and contributing towards the promotion of sports in an individual capacity since 2002, the winners get a Dhyan Chand statuette, a certificate and a cash prize. 

Manjusha Kanwar (badminton), Vineet Kumar Sharma (hockey), Kavitha Selvaraj (kabaddi) were awarded with Dhyan Chand Lifetime Award 2023

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy (MAKA): It was instituted in 1956–1957. It is given to an institution or university for top performance in inter-university tournaments over the last one year. 

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2023: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (winner), Lovely Professional University, Punjab (1st runners-up), Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (2nd runners-up).

Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puraskar:

Instituted in 2009.

Awarded to organisations or corporates (both private and public) and individuals for playing a role in the area of sports promotion and development over the last three years. 

In 2023, JAIN (Deemed-to-be-University), Odisha Mining Corporation Limited won this award.

DRDO conducts successful flight-test of New Generation Akash missile

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight-test of the New Generation AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha. 

The flight-test was conducted against a high-speed unmanned aerial target at  very low altitude. 

During the flight-test, the target was successfully intercepted by the weapon system and destroyed. It has validated the functioning of the complete weapon system consisting of the missile with indigenously developed Radio Frequency Seeker, Launcher, Multi-Function Radar and Command, Control & Communication system.

About AKASH (AKASH-NG) missile

  • It is a new generation state-of-the-art surface-to-air missile (SAM) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to destroy high manoeuvring low radar cross section agile aerial threats. 
  • It has been indigenously designed and developed by the DRDO and produced by defence public sector units along with other industries. 
  • Multiple advanced versions of the missile are under development by the team.

Global Risks Report 2024

The World Economic Forum recently released the Global Risks Report 2024. 

Key Highlights of the Report

  • Various global events in 2023, including lethal conflicts, Extreme Weather Conditions, and societal discontent, have contributed to a predominantly negative outlook. 
  • Misinformation and disinformation are listed as the most severe risks over the next two years, highlighting how rapid advances in technology also are creating new problems or making existing ones worse.
  • A persistent cost-of-living crisis may lead to uncertainties in the global economic stability.
  • Inflation and economic downturn have emerged noteworthy top risks.
  • The risk of interstate armed conflict is the immediate concern. The ongoing conflicts, coupled with underlying geopolitical tensions pose the risk of conflict contagion. 
  • In the absence of secure livelihood options, individuals may be prone to crime, militarization, or radicalization. 
  • The countries with a history of conflict or vulnerability to climate change may face growing isolation from investment, technologies and job opportunities. There is continued dominance of environmental risks in the World. 
  • Extreme weather events, critical shifts in Earth systems, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, natural resource shortages, and pollution emerge as severe risks over the next decade.

Global Risks Report 2024: Key Recommendation 

  • To mitigate the risks of AI-enabled misinformation campaigns, the report suggests: Increasing societal resilience through renewed focus on critical thinking, media literacy, and civic responsibility education Governments collaborating with tech firms to promote information integrity while respecting digital rights Fostering international cooperation for early identification and containment of misinformation campaigns
  • Policymakers need to balance measures to control inflation with targeted relief for vulnerable groups to maintain social cohesion, as per the WEF.
  • Urgent climate mitigation and adaptation efforts are essential to prevent catastrophic outcomes, the WEF stresses. Similarly, reversing nature loss through conservation and restoration initiatives is vital for our collective future.
  • The collective actions of individual citizens, companies and countries may seem insignificant on their own, but at critical mass they can move the needle on global risk reduction. 

ANUBHAV Awards Scheme 2024

The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare launched Anubhav Portal in 2015, for sharing experiences of retiring/retired Central Government employees while working with the Government. It is envisaged that this culture of leaving notes by retirees will become the foundation stone of good governance and administrative reforms in future.

About ANUBHAV Awards Scheme 2024

  • The scheme aims to create a database of significant suggestions and work experiences. 
  • It channels the human resource of retiring employees for nation building and also enables Ministries/ Departments to take crucial steps while considering useful and replicable suggestions.
  • To participate in the scheme, retiring Central Government employees/pensioners are required to submit their Anubhav write ups, 8 months prior to retirement and up to 1 year after their retirement. 
  • Thereafter, the write-ups will be published after assessment by concerned Ministries/Departments. The published write-ups will be shortlisted for Anubhav Awards and Jury Certificates. 
  • The last date for submission under ANUBHAV Awards Scheme 2024 is 31.3.2024. 
  • To encourage broader participation in the Anubhav Awards Scheme, 2024, the DOPPW has undertaken an Outreach Campaign to reach out to every pensioner to submit his ANUBHAV experience. 
  • As of now, 54 ANUBHAV Awards have been conferred since the inception of the scheme.

Ujjain Unveils India’s First Hygienic Food Street ‘Prasadam’

Union Minister of Health, Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Mansukh Mandaviya and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav jointly inaugurated the country’s first Healthy and Hygienic Food Street (Prasadam) at Neelkanth Van, Mahakal Lok, Ujjain.

Key Points

  • It is in line with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’. 
  • The initiative aims to connect people in every corner of the country with pure and safe local and traditional food. 
  • The ‘Prasadam’ initiative aims to enhance Ujjain’s tourism attraction and preserve its culinary heritage while also playing a role in promoting economic development.
  • The newly launched food street is designed to provide various facilities including a kids’ play area, drinking water facility, CCTV surveillance, parking, public conveniences and seating spaces. 
  • In addition to enhancing Ujjain’s tourism appeal and preserving its culinary traditions, “Prasadam” will also contribute to economic growth and community engagement.

Indian Navy gets first India-made long endurance Drishti 10 Starliner drone 

The Indian Navy has recently received its first indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone, the Drishti 10 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

About Drishti 10 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

  • It is developed by Adani Defence and Aerospace with technology transfer from Israeli defence firm Elbit Systems.
  • It is India’s first indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone. 70% of the drone is made using indigenous components.
  • With an endurance of 36 hours and the ability to carry a payload of 450 kg, the drone is well-equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
  • It is a variant of Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 Starliner drones.

Divyakriti Singh Becomes 1st Indian Woman Arjuna Awardee for Equestrian Sports

Divyakriti Singh has been conferred with the prestigious Arjuna Award for Equestrian Sports, making her the first woman from Rajasthan to achieve this honour.

Divyakriti Singh’s remarkable journey in the equestrian world reached new heights with the Arjuna Award, recognizing her outstanding contribution to the sport. 

She underwent three years of training in Germany at the Hof Kasselman dressage yard in Hagen. She secured an Individual Silver and two Bronze medals at the International Dressage Competition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Assam Current Affairs – December 07-09, 2022

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

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December 07-09, 2022

Assam’s Nayanmoni Saikia receives Arjuna Award

Assam’s Nayanmoni Saikia was conferred with the Arjuna Award at Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Draupadi Murmu.

Nayanmoni Saikia was nominated for the award for her achievements in Lawn Bowl.

Apart from Nayanmoni Saikia, Shushila Devi from Manipur was also presented with the prestigious award for her remarkable contributions and achievements in the field of boxing. 

Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sharma congratulated Commonwealth Games gold medalist Nayanmoni Saikia for receiving Arjuna Award, 2022 from Hon’ble President Droupadi Murmu.

Mirabai Chanu won silver medal in World Championship 2022 

Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu has won a silver medal at the weightlifting World Championships in Bogota, Colombia. 

Mirabai won a silver medal at the World Championships with a total lift of 200kg. China’s Jiang Huihua, who won the gold with a total effort of 206kg (93kg+113kg) while Tokyo Olympics champion Hou Zhihua who won the bronze with a total effort of198kg (89kg+109kg).

Mirabai had previously won gold in the 2017 world weightlifting championship. This was Mirabai’s second medal at the World Championships. 

Tripura gets its first Film and Television Institute 

Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha inaugurated Tripura’s first film and television institute at Nazrul Kalakshetra in Agartala.

The institute has been set up in collaboration with Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI). 

This film Institute will promote Tripura’s rich cultural heritage in the global sphere. It will help the youths of the state to nurture their cultural talents and will also help to improve the socio-economic condition of the youths.

The state government has allocated Rs 5.76 crore for the institute. Four short-term courses, including screen acting, film appreciation, production, and management along with news reporting, anchoring and newsroom automation would be started initially.

India ranked 87th in the world’s strongest passport list for 2022

India has been ranked 87 in the world’s strongest passport list for 2022, published by Arton Capital. 

Passport Index 2022 published by Arton Capital ranked the world’s strongest and weakest passports.

Key Points

  • The Passport Index is based on the 139 members of the United Nations and 6 different aspects have been considered to make this list.
  • UAE ranked first in the rating of passports for 2022 followed by Germany, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, Spain and France.
  • Travellers with UAE passports can travel visa-free or “visa on arrival” to 180 countries.
  • Countries with the weakest passports are Afghanistan (38) Syria (39), Iraq (40), Pakistan (44).
  • The data for this list has been given by the governments of different countries. 

Indian-American Krishna Vavilala receives US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

Indian-American Krishna Vavilala receives the US Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to his community and the country.

The Presidential Lifetime Achievement (PLA) Awards, led by AmeriCorps, is an annual event held to honour citizens, who exhibit outstanding character, worth ethic, and dedication to their communities.

Krishna Vavilala is from Andhra Pradesh and is a retired Electrical Engineer. Currently, he is the founder and Chairman of the Foundation for India Studies (FIS), a non-profit organization whose major project, the Indo-American Oral History Project, won the Mary Fay Barnes Award for Excellence.

He has also received several awards and accolades from various organizations, such as the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston, the Indo-American Press Club, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the India Culture Centre.

Oxford dictionary announces ‘goblin mode’ as word of the year 2022

The Oxford English Dictionary recently announces ‘goblin mode’ as word of the year 2022 that was selected by public votes – Goblin mode.

It’s the first time Oxford Languages opened up its annual word of the year listing to a public vote. 

Goblin mode is a slang term that describes a type of behavior that is unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, generally rejecting social norms and expectations.

The word goblin mode is used to acknowledge that individuals are not always idealized, curated selves that they force themselves to present in social media platforms.

The term speaks to the current times when people are embracing their inner goblin and choosing to reject the accepted social customs.

American dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster has chosen “gaslighting” as its word of the year for 2022.

Assam Current Affairs – December 01-03, 2022

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

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

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

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November 19-21, 2022

Assam Tourism Policy 2022

The Assam government has launched a new tourism policy. The new policy was launched by Jayanta Malla Baruah, state minister of public health engineering, skill development Employment & entrepreneurship and tourism Jayanta Malla Baruah, in New Delhi and was prepared fter consultations with the World Bank, stakeholders and industry experts.

Key Points

  • The policy aims to improve the tourism sector in Assam and support the private sector engaged in tourism in the state.
  • It aims to guarantee and safeguard the effective standardisation of processes and practices to foster uniformity, which can result in sustainability and an overall improvement in the quality of tourism products.
  • It will promote sustainability by limiting the negative effects of tourism on social, environmental, and economic sectors while ensuring the positive effects.
  • The policy will aim to advance women for management and leadership positions in their companies and encourage employers to provide childcare support and safe transport for female workers. Particular efforts will be made to train women in male-dominated positions such as guides, cooks, waiters, and drivers, and provide recognition to firms that encourage women in these positions.

Mission Basundhara 2.0 

Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Mission Basundhara 2.0 initiative to ascertain the concept of ‘mor maati, mor adhikaar’ (my land, my rights). 

It has been developed to make land revenue services more efficient and accessible to citizens. The services under Mission Basundhara 2.0 are ownership rights to occupancy tenants, settlement of transferred annual Patta land among others.

Mission Basundhara initiative was started by the Government of Assam on 2nd October 2021. 

About Mission Basundhara 2.0

  • Mission Basundhara includes land-related services like land mutation, updating of land records and delivery of these services to the people at their homes without visiting Circle offices through a completely digital process.
  • Settlement of Government ‘khas’ land and ‘ceiling surplus’ land to eligible persons.
  • Settlement of Annual Patta (AP) lands that have already been transferred from the original AP Holder to eligible occupant by granting Periodic Patta (PP) with a view to confer permanent, heritable and transferable rights to the PP Holder. 
  • Settlement of Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR)
  • Settlement of hereditairy land to tribal communities. 
  • Settlement of land for special cultivation (tea, coffee, rubber etc.) to indigenous growers.

Northeast Green Summit begins in Umsaw

The 7th edition of the Northeast Green Summit begins in Umsaw, Meghalaya with the theme ‘Balancing People, Planet, Profit: Sustainable Northeast India and BIMSTEC region’.

The event is organised by Vibgyor NE Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in green issues of Northeast India.

According to the organiser the event will bring together policy makers, green professionals and budding entrepreneurs.

The event aims to celebrate the rich and diverse natural and cultural heritage of Northeast India, showcase their inter-linkages and focus on the need for an integrated approach for sustaining this heritage. 

The summit will showcase the region’s achievements in adopting green practices, products and services. It is striving towards preserving, maximising and developing the potential of the unique biodiversity zone of Northeast India through various awareness programmes. 

Shri Arun Goel appointed as new Election Commissioner

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed retired IAS Arun Goel as Election Commissioner of India with effect from the date he assumes the office. 

Goel will join Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey in the poll panel.

The post of Election Commissioner in the three-member Election Commission of India had been vacant since May when Rajiv Kumar was elevated from the post of Election Commissioner to CEC upon the retirement of Sushil Chandra.

Arun Goel is an IAS officer from the Punjab cadre. Even though he was scheduled to retire on December 31 at age 60, he took voluntary retirement. Until his voluntary retirement, he was the secretary for heavy industries. He previously worked for the union ministry of culture.

Gandhi Mandela Award 2022

The 14th Dalai Lama conferred the Gandhi Mandela Award 2022 at Thekchen Choeling in Dharamshala’s McleodGanj by the governor of Himachal Pradesh Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.

Key Points

  • The Gandhi Mandela Foundation is a non-profit organisation and a government of India registered Trust.
  • The foundation is formed with the motive to promote Mahatma Gandhi’s and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela’s values of non-violence. 
  • It has constituted an international prize, the Gandhi Mandela Award. 
  • The foundation instituted the award on the 150th birth anniversary of MK Gandhi. 
  • The award is given to the personalities who have carried forward the legacies of Gandhi and Mandela by making significant contributions in the fields of Peace, Social Welfare, Culture, Environment, Education, Healthcare, Sports and Innovation.
  • This time, the awardee, Dalai Lama, was selected by a jury including former Chief Justice of India, former Chief Justice of Nepal and former Chief Justice of Bangladesh.
  • The Dalai Lama is the recipient of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize.

National Sports Awards 2022

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2022. The President of India will present the awards to the recipients at a specially organized function at Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 30, 2022.

Key Points

Major Dhyaan Chand Khel Ratna Award: Shri Sharath Kamal Achanta Table Tennis

Arjuna Awards For Sports and Games 2022: 

  1. Ms Seema Punia Athletics 
  2. Shri Eldhose Paul Athletics 
  3. Shri Avinash Mukund Sable Athletics 
  4. Shri Lakshya Sen Badminton 
  5. Shri Prannoy HS Badminton 
  6. Shri Amit Boxing 
  7. Ms Nikhat Zareen Boxing 
  8. Ms Bhakti Pradip Kulkarni Chess 
  9. Shri R Praggnanandhaa Chess 
  10. Ms Deep Grace Ekka Hockey 
  11. Ms Shushila Devi Judo 
  12. Ms Sakshi Kumari Kabaddi 
  13. Ms Nayan Moni Saikia Lawn Bowl 
  14. Shri Sagar Kailas Ovhalkar Mallakhamb 
  15. Ms ElavenilValarivan Shooting 
  16. Shri Omprakash Mitharval Shooting 
  17. Ms Sreeja Akula Table Tennis 
  18. Shri Vikas Thakur Weightlifting 
  19. Ms Anshu Wrestling 
  20. Ms Sarita Wrestling 
  21. Shri Parveen Wushu 
  22. Ms Manasi Girishchandra Joshi Para Badminton 
  23. Shri Tarun Dhillon Para Badminton 
  24. Shri Swapnil Sanjay Patil Para Swimming 
  25. Ms Jerlin Anika J Deaf Badminton

Dronacharya Award for Coaches in Sports and Games: Regular Category: 

  1. Shri Jiwanjot Singh Teja Archery 
  2. Shri Mohammad Ali Qamar Boxing 
  3. Ms Suma Siddharth Shirur Para Shooting 
  4. Shri Sujeet Maan Wrestling

Dronacharya Award for Coaches in Sports and Games: Lifetime Category 

  1. Shri Dinesh Jawahar Lad Cricket 
  2. Shri Bimal Prafulla Ghosh Football 
  3. Shri Raj Singh Wrestling

Dhyanchand Award For Lifetime Achivement: 

  1. Ms Ashwini Akkunji C. Athletics 
  2. Shri Dharamvir Singh Hockey 
  3. Shri B.C Suresh Kabaddi 
  4. Shri Nir Bahadur Gurung Para Athletics

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy 2022: Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar

Awards 

Dhyan Chand Award: It was instituted in 2002. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is given for the most spectacular and outstanding performance by the sportsperson over the period of the previous four years.

Arjuna awards: It was instituted in 1961. The “Arjuna Award for outstanding performance in Sports and Games” is granted in recognition of exemplary performance over the course of the previous four years as well as leadership, sportsmanship, and discipline-related attributes.

Dronacharya Awards: It was instituted in 1985 to honour eminent Coaches for producing medal winners at prestigious International sports events. 

The “Dronacharya Award for exceptional coaches in Sports and Games” is granted to coaches who consistently perform excellent and meritorious work and help athletes succeed in international competitions.

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy: It was instituted in 1956-57. It is given to the overall Top performing University in inter-university tournaments.

Rashtriya Khel Protsahana Purushkar: It was instituted from 2009 to recognize the corporate entities (both in private and public sector) and individuals who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development.

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.