Tag: North East Current Affairs

Assam Current Affairs – January 04-06, 2024

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – January 04-06, 2024

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the January 04-06, 2024)

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Current Affairs Assamexam

January 04-06, 2024 

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) sanctions over ₹750 crores for 5,300 Northeast Projects

North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) has sanctioned Rs 766.47 crore and disbursed Rs 547.11 crore for 5338 projects in the NorthEast region, in diverse sectors – education & training food processing, handlooms & handicrafts, healthcare, hotels & tourism, microfinance etc.

Important Initiatives of NEDFI

  • NEDFi in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) in setting up ₹100 crore North East Venture Fund to promote regional startups.
  • It also partners with banks, microcredit organisations and NGOs for last-mile delivery to remote areas.
  • North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) plays an important role in facilitating setting up of new industrial and service sector projects in the NE Region.
  • ₹547 crore disbursed at concessional interest rates to micro and small businesses 
  • ₹41 crore credit extended via microfinance institutions ₹53 crore direct micro lending to benefit over 9 lakh individuals.
  • ₹98 crore venture capital commitments to 67 startups.

About North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd (NEDFi) 

  • It is a public limited company registered under the Companies Act 1956 on August 9, 1995.
  • It provides financial assistance to MSMEs in the NE region for setting up industrial, infrastructure and agriculture-related projects. 
  • It also provides micro financing through MFIs/NGOS. It also provides consultancy and advisory services to state governments, private sectors and other agencies.

Three New Frogs Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

The Scientists have reported three new frog species belonging to new genera from Arunachal Pradesh’s Namdapha-Kamlang protected area network along the Myanmar border.

About the discovery 

  • Gracixalus patkaiensis – A translucent green tree frog with jelly-like appearance and insect-like call
  • Alcalus fontinalis – A tiny brown frog inhabiting fast-flowing hill streams with unique trickling vocalization 
  • Nidirana noadihing – A marsh-dwelling “music frog” named after the Noa-Dihing river

About Namdapha Tiger Reserve: 

  • It is located in the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, near the international border with Myanmar.
  • It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary under the Assam Forest Regulation 1891 on 2nd Oct.’1972. 
  • In the 1983 year it was declared as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger Scheme of the Govt. of India on 15th March 1983.

India, Nepal hold Seventh Joint Commission Meeting

The Seventh Meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission was held in Kathmandu. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Nepal counterpart NP Saud recently attended the 7th meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission.

 

Key Points

  • Nepal and India signed a long-term agreement for the export of 10,000 MW of power to India for the next 10 years. 
  • Inauguration of Cross-Border Inauguration of 3 cross-border transmission lines which was completed with the help of India (132 kV Raxaul-Parwanipur, 132 kV Kushaha-Kataiya and New Nautanwa-Mainahiya lines). 
  • An agreement for the launch of Nepali satellites was formalized between the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and NewSpace India Limited under the Indian Space Research Organisation.
  • Inaugurated 3 132-kV cross-border transmission strains, which include the second circuits of the Raxaul-Parwanipur line and the Kataiya-Kusaha line, and the New Nautanwa-Mahiya line.

About India-Nepal Joint Commission: 

It was established in 1987 as a platform for the Foreign Ministers of both countries to review all aspects of the bilateral partnership.

Raghuram Iyer appointed as CEO of Indian Olympic Association 

Raghuram Iyer has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

His appointment follows a meticulous selection process conducted by the nomination committee of the IOA.

The appointment comes after a significant delay and repeated reminders from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 

Raghuram Iyer’s extensive experience in sports management and administration, particularly his previous roles as CEO of Indian Premier League teams Rajasthan Royals and Rising Pune Supergiants, has been recognized as making him an ideal candidate for this position.

XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) mission

The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully launched the PSLV-C58 XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) mission.

About XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite)

  • XPoSat is designed to study X-ray polarization in the medium X-ray band, offering insights into celestial sources’ radiation mechanisms and geometry. 
  • This study is crucial for understanding the physics behind these celestial bodies.
  • The satellite carries two main payloads, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing).
  • It is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources.
  • It is designated for observation from low earth orbit.
  • After this launch, India became the second nation after the US to send an observatory to study astronomical sources, such as black holes, and neutron stars, among others.

Wetland City Accreditation

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has submitted three nominations from India for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA).

The nominated cities include Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), and Udaipur (Rajasthan).

 These are the first three Indian cities for which nominations have been submitted for WCA based on the proposals received from respective State Wetlands Authorities in collaboration with the Municipal Corporations.

About Wetland City Accreditation:

  • The Ramsar Convention during COP12 held in the year 2015 approved a voluntary Wetland City Accreditation system.
  • The scheme aims to promote the conservation and wise use of urban and peri-urban wetlands, as well as sustainable socio-economic benefits for local populations.
  • It recognizes cities which have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands and also recognizes the importance of wetlands in urban and peri-urban environments and to take appropriate measures to conserve and protect these wetlands.
  • This voluntary scheme provides an opportunity for cities that value their natural or human-made wetlands to gain international recognition and positive publicity for their efforts.

About the cities nominated for WCA

  1. Indore: Founded by Holkars. Sirpur Lake, a Ramsar Site in the city has been recognised as an important site for water bird congregation and is being developed as a Bird Sanctuary. 

A strong network of wetland mitras is engaged in bird conservation and sensitising the local community to protect Sarus Crane. 

  1. Bhopal: Bhoj Wetland, Ramsar Site is the city’s lifeline, equipped with the world-class wetlands interpretation centre, Jal Tarang. Additionally, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation has a dedicated Lake Conservation Cell. 
  2. Udaipur: The city is surrounded by five major wetlands, namely, Pichola, Fateh Sagar, Rang Sagar, Swaroop Sagar, and Doodh Talai. These wetlands are an integral part of the city’s culture and identity, help maintain the city’s microclimate, and provide a buffer from extreme events.

Union Cabinet approves overarching scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)”

The Union Cabinet recently approved the comprehensive scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. This overarching initiative, with an allocation of Rs 4,797 crore for the period 2021-26.

About PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI) Scheme

Objectives:

The major Objectives of the overarching Prithvi Scheme are: 

  • Augmentation and sustainance of long-term observations of the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere and solid earth to record the vital signs of the Earth System and change 
  • Development of modelling systems for understanding and predicting weather, ocean and climate hazards and understanding the science of climate change 
  • Exploration polar and high seas regions of the Earth towards discovery of new phenomena and resources; 
  • Development of technology for exploration and sustainable harnessing of oceanic resources for societal applications ·
  • Translation of knowledge and insights from Earth systems science into services for societal, environmental and economic benefit.

The Prithvi scheme integrates five existing sub-schemes: 

  1. Atmosphere and Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems and Services (ACROSS) 
  2. Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART) 
  3. Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER) 
  4. Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE) 
  5. Research, Education, Training, and Outreach (REACHOUT).

Additionally, the scheme focuses on providing advanced warning services for natural disasters like cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and earthquakes, facilitating prompt and effective disaster management. 

The scheme ensures precise weather forecasts for both land and oceans, enhancing safety and minimizing property damages in adverse weather conditions.

‘Clean and Green Village’ Programme  for Solar Power Expansion

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) is prioritizing the ‘Clean and Green Village’ theme as part of its Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). 

About ‘Clean and Green Village’ Programme

  • Clean and Green Village’ is the fifth theme under the GPDP.
  • The programme aims to install solar power capacities on a commercial basis. 
  • It aims to develop sustainable business models for solar initiatives at the grassroots level. 
  • The programme focuses on access to safe water, sanitation, and low pollution environments for healthier lives. 
  • It emphasizes sustainable natural resource management for better livelihoods, food security, and environmental protection.
  • It aims to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG13 (climate action). 

Areas of Action: Includes 10 specific areas like Open Defecation Free (ODF) Village, Clean and Green School, promotion of Organic Farming, and more.

Initiatives and Schemes for Clean and Green Village: 

  • Organic and natural farming initiatives like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. 
  • Reducing chemical fertilizers through schemes like PM-PRANAM. Waste to wealth initiatives like GOBARdhan and SATAT.

Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) in Bengaluru have observed a significant shift in the habitat of numerous bird species in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary due to the escalating temperatures in the region.

About Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary

  • It is a protected area of India in the Himalayan foothills of West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • It conjoins Sessa Orchid Sanctuary to the northeast and Pakhui Tiger Reserve across the Kameng river to the east. 
  • It is situated in the biodiversity hotspot of Eastern Himalayas and home to over 500 bird species.
  • It is also a part of the Kameng Elephant Reserve. 
  • It derives its name from the Red Eagle Division of the Indian army The temperate cloud forest is intermixed with dense bamboo patches and broadleaved evergreen forest across a wide altitudinal range, with conifers and rhododendrons at the higher elevations.

Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 339: September 2023, Week 1

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Assam Current Affairs and GK Quiz – Set 339: September 2023, Week 1

(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. Recently, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a major outreach program called “Raijyor Xomadhon (public solutions)” with the aim of

  1. bridging the social infrastructure gap and assessing the implementation of various Govt schemes
  2. bridging e-governance services to the doors of every citizens
  3. improving the health and education scenario in the the rural areas
  4. Solving bottleneck issues in agriculture and primary sectors

Bridging the social infrastructure gap and assessing the implementation of various Govt schemes

 

Q2. Which personality from Assam has been awarded the 65th Ramon Magsaysay Awards 2023?

  1. Manmohan Singh
  2. Ravi Kannan
  3. Bhabendra Nath Saikia
  4. Hema Bharali

Ravi Kannan

 

Q3. Tharman Shanmugaratnam has been recently elected as President of which country?

  1. Mauritius
  2. New Zealand
  3. Singapore
  4. Seychelles

Singapore

  • He won the election with 70.4% of the votes.
  • Shanmugaratnam was previously the Senior Minister of Singapore from 2019 to 2023. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister for eight years. He studied at the London School of Economics, Cambridge University, and Harvard University.

 

Q4. Which country’s military force has recently unveiled the artificial intelligence robot ‘Valkyrie’ for aerial combat?

  1. China
  2. USA
  3. Saudi Arabia
  4. UK

USA

 

Q5. Which Union Ministry has recently introduced a fresh visa category named ‘Ayush Visa’?

  1. Ministry of Ayush
  2. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
  3. Ministry of Home Affairs
  4. Ministry of External Affairs

Ministry of Home Affairs

  • “Ayush Visa” to cater to foreign nationals seeking medical treatment, including therapeutic care, wellness, and yoga in India.
  • To address the requirement for a dedicated visa program for foreign visitors seeking treatment under Ayush systems or Indian medicine.

 

Q6. Which Union Ministry has recently launched the sixth edition of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2023?

  1. Ministry of Electronics and IT
  2. Ministry of Science and Technology
  3. Ministry of Education
  4. Ministry of Home Affairs

Ministry of Education

  • Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell and the All-India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) have launched the sixth edition of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2023.
  • Since its inception in 2017, the Smart India Hackathon has become a global model for hackathons and innovation frameworks.
  • This event presents 239 problem statements, including 182 software challenges and 57 hardware challenges.

 

Q7. Which of the following is the blockchain-based project recently launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)?

  1. Grapevine
  2. PayOne
  3. Falcon
  4. Oxygen App

Falcon

  • Falcon is an open-source project that aims to simplify the management and use of blockchains based on ‘Hyperledger Fabric’ and supported on Kubernetes clusters. Essentially, Falcon is expected to help developers innovate on blockchain-based payment solutions.

 

Q8. Who is the chairperson of the Committee set up to assess the viability of the “one nation, one election” concept?

  1. Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud
  2. Ramnath Kovind
  3. Ranjan Gogoi
  4. Arjun Ram Meghwal

Ramnath Kovind

The members of the panel include Union home minister Amit Shah, ex-J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission chairman N K Singh, Constitution expert Subhash C Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve, and ex-Chief Vigilance Commissioner Sanjay Kothari.

 

Q9. In August 2023, the number of UPI transactions performed reached a milestone of

  1. 10 billion
  2. 12 billion
  3. 20 billion
  4. 50 billion

10 billion

 

Q10. NITI Aayog signed a MoU with which institution on fast tracking SDGs?

  1. World Bank
  2. Asian Development Bank
  3. UNDP
  4. UNEP

UNDP

  • The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to formalise a framework of cooperation on a range of areas, including SDG localisation, data-driven monitoring, Aspirational Districts and Blocks, among others.
  • The MoU was signed for a period of five years.
  • NITI Aayog is the nodal Institution for coordinating the adoption and monitoring of SDGs at the national and sub-national levels. UNDP plays the integrator role in coordinating efforts to fast-track progress on the SDGs within the UN system.

 

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Assam Current Affairs – December 07-09, 2022

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

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the 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 04-06, 2022

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

( Covers all important Current Affairs & GK topics for the December 04-06, 2022)

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December 04-06, 2022

Silchar-Sylhet Festival 

The first ever  Silchar-Sylhet Festival, organized to celebrate the cultural ties between the Barak Valley region of Assam and the Sylhet segment of Bangladesh.

Key Points

  • Assam’s Silchar town is hosting the two-day Silchar-Sylhet Festival, to celebrate the linguistic and cultural ties between the Barak Valley region of Assam and the Sylhet segment of Bangladesh. 
  • Silchar-Sylhet Festival is organised by the India Foundation.
  • The Festival coincides with the 75th year of India’s independence and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
  • The festival underlines the commonalities between India and Bangladesh, specifically the Sylheti variant of the Bengali language and the Sylheti culture. 
  • The festival will showcase tribal culture, cuisine, arts, crafts and local produce, entertainment and bring together eminent people from both sides to discuss and deliberate on issues of mutual growth and opportunity.

Indo-French Partnership on Kaziranga Project

India and France are collaborating under the Kaziranga Project in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

The Kaziranga project is a part of a larger Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) for which the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has committed funding of €80.2 million for a 10-year period, between 2014-2024.

The project conceptualised the reforestation of 33,500 hectares of land and the training of 10,000 community members in alternate livelihoods by 2024. 

The Assam government, with the support of AFD, launched the APFBC in 2012, to restore forest ecosystems, protect wildlife and enhance the livelihood of the forest-dependent communities.

About Kaziranga National Park

  • Kaziranga National Park is a national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam.
  • It is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain. 
  • It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950, and notified as Kaziranga National Park in 1974.
  • It is the home of the world’s most one-horned rhinos. 
  • In 1985, Kaziranga was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its unique natural environment.
  • It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for conservation of avifaunal species.

India ranked 48th position in the global aviation safety ranking

India ranked 48th position in the global aviation safety ranking by the International Civil Aviation Organization. 

India was in the 102nd position four years ago in the ranking.The position is the highest-ever spot attained by the country. 

Key Points

  • In the ranking, Singapore is at the top, followed by the UAE and South Korea at the second and third positions.
  • As per Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the audit was conducted in the areas of legislation, organisation, personal licensing, operations, airworthiness and aerodromes.
  • India’s score in terms of effective implementation of key safety elements has improved to 85.49%.
  • India’s score for civil aviation organizations increased from 63.64% to 72.73 %, aircraft operations from 80.34% to 97.44%, personnel licensing and training from 25.58% to 84.71%, and aerodrome and ground aid from 72.36% to 92.68%.

‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ Conclave 

‘Millets-Smart Nutritive Food’ Conclave is being organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry through its apex agricultural export promotion body, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).

The Conclave is to be a pre-launch event of the ‘International Year of Millets – 2023’ (IYoM-2023). It is organised with the objective of promoting the export of millets.

Key Points

  • At the Millets Smart Nutritive Conclave, stakeholders of the supply chain such as Farmer Producer Organisations, Start-ups, exporters, producers of millet-based value-added products are key participants. 
  • At the Conclave, exhibition and B2B meetings will also be organized to showcase Indian millets and millet-based products.
  • At the first-of-its-kind Millets Conclave, the government will release e-catalogue on 30 potential importing countries and 21 millet producing states of India. 
  • India is one of the leading producers of millets in the world with an estimated share of around 41 percent in the global production. 
  • India recorded 27 percent growth in millet production in 2021-22 as compared to millet production in the previous year was 15.92 MMT. 
  • India’s top five millet producing states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Share of export of millets is nearly 1% of the total millet production. 
  • Exports of millets from India include mainly whole grain and the export of value-added products of millets from India is negligible.

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

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

The G20 Sherpa Meeting will be presided by Amitabh Kant.

Key Points

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About National Statistical Commission (NSC) of India

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

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

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

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

About Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay NIF Book Prize

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

 

Assam Current Affairs – December 01-03, 2022

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

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

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December 01-03, 2022

Assam govt announces yearly stipend for female PG students

The government of Assam will introduce a scheme under which all female students pursuing post-graduate courses in the state will be provided a yearly stipend of Rs 10,000 each which would be helpful in covering their commutation and other related expenses.

This was announced by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The Chief Minister appealed to the female students pursuing PG courses to apply for getting the stipend in the portal to be launched by the Department of Education for the purpose in a few weeks from now.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also distributed scooters to meritorious candidates who cleared the last higher secondary examination conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) with a percentage above a certain threshold at a ceremony held in Guwahati. 

To be eligible for the award, the male candidates had to score a minimum of 75 per cent in higher secondary examination, while for female candidates the cut-off was fixed at 60 per cent.

The 23rd Hornbill Festival 2022 

The 23rd edition of the Hornbill International Festival 2022 begins at the Heritage Village Kisama in Nagaland. The festival commenced on December 1 and will continue till December 10.

The aim of the festival is to revive and protect the rich culture of Nagaland and display its extravaganza and traditions.

About Hornbill Festival

  • The festival is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the state’s ethnic groups.
  • To encourage inter-ethnic interaction and to promote cultural heritage of Nagaland, the Government of Nagaland organizes the Hornbill Festival every year.
  • The 10-day Hornbill Festival represents all ethnic groups of Nagaland for which it is also called the Festival of Festivals.
  • The festival host guests from across states and nations, representing the rich culture of various tribes of Nagaland,
  • The festival provides a colourful mixture of dances, performances, crafts, parades, games, sports, food fairs and religious ceremonies.
  • Traditional arts which include paintings, wood carvings, and sculptures are also on display.
  • The Hornbill Festival has contributed significantly to enhancing the state’s tourism brand.

India-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ 

The 18th edition of India-US joint military exercise ‘Yudh Abhyas’ is scheduled to be conducted in Uttarakhand.

Exercise Yudh Abhyas is conducted annually between India and USA with the aim of exchanging best practices, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures between the Armies of the two nations. 

Key Points

  • US Army soldiers of 2nd Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division and Indian Army soldiers from the ASSAM Regiment will be participating in the exercise. 
  • The training schedule focuses on employment of an integrated battle group under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate. 
  • The schedule will include all operations related to peace keeping & peace enforcement. 
  •  The joint exercise will also focus on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
  • The troops from both nations will work together to achieve common objectives and will practice launching of swift & coordinated relief efforts in the wake of any natural calamity. 
  • In order to derive full benefit from the professional skills & experiences of  both the armies, a Command Post Exercise and Expert Academic Discussions (EAD) on carefully selected topics will be carried out. 
  • The scope of the Field Training Exercise includes validation of integrated battle groups, force multipliers, establishment and functioning of surveillance grids, validation of operational logistics, mountain warfare skills, casualty evacuation  and combat medical aid in adverse terrain and climatic conditions. 
  • The exercise will involve exchanges and practices on a wide spectrum of combat skills including combat engineering, employment of UAS/Counter UAS techniques and information operations. 
  • The exercise will facilitate both Armies to share their wide experiences, skills and enhance their techniques through information exchange.
  • The previous edition of the exercise was conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska (USA) in October 2021.

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

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

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

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

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

India assumes United Nations Security Council Presidency for December 2022

India assumed the monthly presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the second time in its two-year tenure as an elected member of the Council in 2021-22. India had earlier assumed the Presidency in August 2021.

India has been a non-permanent member of the United Nations security council for 8 terms, with the most recent being the 2021-22 term. 

Key Points

  • India will hold a “high-level open debate” on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism (NORMS)” at the Security Council. 
  • New Orientation for Reformed Multilateralism (NORMS) envisages reforms in the current multilateral architecture, with the UN at its centre, to make it more representative and fit for purpose. 
  • The other signature event planned is the high-level briefing on the theme “Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts: Global Approach to Counter Terrorism — Challenges and Way Forward”. 
  • This briefing intends to underscore the necessity of collective and coordinated efforts to combat the menace of terrorism.

About United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

  • The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was established by the UN Charter in 1945.
  • It is one of the UN’s six main organs and is aimed at maintaining international peace and security. 
  • The Headquarters of the UNSC is located in New York City.
  • The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council.
  • It is composed of 15 members: 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent. 
  • Five permanent members: China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
  • The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed on a regional basis as follows: 
    1. Five for African and Asian States. 
    2. One for the Eastern European States. 
    3. Two for the Latin American and Caribbean States; 
    4. Two for Western European and other States

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

According to the report released by the office of the Registrar General of India, The maternal Mortality Ratio in India has dropped from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 97 per lakh live births in 2018-20.

About Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) 

  • Maternal mortality in a region is a measure of the reproductive health of women in the area. 
  • According to the World Health Organization, “Maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes”.
  • The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the number of maternal deaths during a specific time period per 100,000 live births during the same period.

Key Points

  • As per the statistics derived from Sample Registration System (SRS), the country has witnessed a progressive reduction in MMR from 130 in 2014-2016, 122 in 2015-17, 113 in 2016-18, 103 in 2017-19 and to 97 in 2018-20.
  • Upon achieving this, India has accomplished the National Health Policy (NHP) target for MMR of less than 100/lakh live births. 
  • Target 3.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations aims at reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 1,00,000 live births during the same period.
  • According to the data, Assam has the highest MMR of 195, followed by Madhya Pradesh with an MMR of 173 and Uttar Pradesh with MMR of 167 per 1 lakh live births.
  • Kerala has the lowest MMR, followed by Maharashtra at 33 and Telangana at 43.

Assam Current Affairs – November 28-30, 2022

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

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

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November 28-30, 2022

Meghalaya cabinet approved mental health and social care policy

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

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

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

FSSAI approves Himalayan Yak as a ‘food animal’

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

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

About Himalayan Yak 

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

India, Australia wargames “Austra Hind 22” begins

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

Key Points

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

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

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

Key Points

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

Global Technology Summit 2022

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

Key Points

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

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

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

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

Key Points

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

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

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

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

Key Points

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

Assam Current Affairs – November 25-27, 2022

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

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

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November 25-27, 2022

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

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

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

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

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

India celebrates 400th birth anniversary of Lachit Barphukan

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

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

About Lachit Barphukan

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

Manipur celebrates Sangai Festival 

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

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

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

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

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

Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards announced

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Network Readiness Index 2022

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

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

Key Points

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

Assam Current Affairs – November 22-24, 2022

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

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

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November 22-24, 2022

Usha Mangeshkar will be conferred with Dr Bhupen Hazarika Award

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

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

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

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

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

Kokrajhar wins National e-Governance Award

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the award

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

Two new dwarf varieties of Kalanamak rice has been developed

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

About Kalanamak rice

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

Russia  becomes India’s biggest supplier of fertilizers 

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

Key Points

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

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

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

Key Points

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

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2021

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

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

Key Points

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

Assam Current Affairs – November 19-21, 2022

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Assam & NE Current Affairs & GK – 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)

Go To Assam Current Affairs                      Go To Assam Current Affairs Quiz

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.