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By admin: Oct. 1, 2024

PM Modi Launches ₹9,600 Crore Cleanliness Projects on Gandhi Jayanti

Tags: Government Schemes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Swachh Bharat Diwas 2024 programme, celebrating the 155th Gandhi Jayanti.

An Overview of the News

• The event takes place in New Delhi and marks 10 years since the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission, a major initiative for cleanliness.

Key Projects Launched

• The Prime Minister will launch and lay the foundation for various sanitation and cleanliness projects valued at ₹9,600 crore.

Projects include:

• Urban Water and Sewage Systems: Over ₹6,800 crore allocated under AMRUT and AMRUT 2.0.

• Water Quality and Waste Management: Ten projects worth over ₹1,550 crore focused on the Ganga basin under the National Mission for Clean Ganga.

• Compressed Biogas Plants: 15 projects under the GOBARdhan Scheme valued at over ₹1,332 crore.

Significance of the Mission

• This initiative emphasizes the continued commitment to sanitation and cleanliness as vital components of national development.

• It aims to enhance water quality, waste management, and overall urban infrastructure in India.

Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik Appointed as New Chief of Pakistan's ISI

Tags: Person in news

Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik has been appointed as the new Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

An Overview of the News

• Malik will assume his new role on September 30, replacing the outgoing DG, Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum.

Appointment Process

• Authority: The ISI chief is appointed by the prime minister of Pakistan.

• Tradition: The appointment is made in consultation with the army chief, following established tradition.

Significance of the Role

• Strategic Importance: The ISI chief's position is considered one of the most significant within the Pakistan Army.

• Military Influence: The army has ruled Pakistan for over 77 years and holds substantial power in security and foreign policy matters.

Background of Lt Gen Malik

• Previous Command: Lt Gen Malik has commanded the Infantry Division in Balochistan and the Infantry Brigade in Waziristan.

• Education and Honors: He received a Sword of Honour during his training and has served as the chief instructor at the National Defence University (NDU) and an instructor at the Command and Staff College in Quetta.

• Qualifications: He is a graduate of Fort Leavenworth and the Royal College of Defence Studies, bringing extensive experience to his new position.

Archaeologists Discover 8,200-Year-Old Kohl Stick in Turkey

Tags: Popular International News

Archaeologists uncovered the oldest known kohl stick, an early form of eyeliner, at the prehistoric site of Yeşilova Höyük in Turkey.

An Overview of the News

• The kohl stick, dating back over 8,200 years, is made from green serpentine stone and shows traces of black paint at its tip.

• Lead archaeologist Zafer Derin noted the historical significance of kohl, used across cultures, including Egypt, the Levant, and Anatolia.

Physical Details of the Kohl Stick

• The kohl stick measures about 10 cm in length and 1 cm in thickness, resembling a modern pen.

• Its finely crafted design indicates advanced skills in creating personal care tools during that era.

• It was likely used by dipping it in kohl powder for application around the eyes, with the black substance likely containing manganese oxide for a dramatic look.

Kohl’s Medicinal and Cultural Uses

• Beyond aesthetics, kohl held medicinal and cultural significance, protecting the eyes from sunlight and treating various eye ailments.

• Historical texts associate kohl application with spiritual beliefs, including warding off evil spirits and enhancing vision.

• Traditionally made by grinding stibnite into a fine powder, kohl continues to inspire beauty practices worldwide.

A Glimpse into Ancient Beauty Practices

• The Kohl Stick discovery emphasizes the long-standing human interest in cosmetics, dating back to prehistoric times.

• It illustrates that ancient people valued personal appearance and used cosmetics for both practical and aesthetic purposes.

• The craftsmanship of the kohl stick reflects the sophistication of early civilizations, blending beauty with functionality, and showcasing the complexity of early human culture.

Mithun Chakraborty to be Honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award

Tags: Awards

Mithun Chakraborty will be honored with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest recognition in cinema.

An Overview of the News

• The award will be presented at the 70th National Film Awards ceremony on October 8, 2024.

Political Career and Recent Honors

• Mithun Chakraborty was previously a sympathizer of the Naxal movement in Calcutta.

• He became a Rajya Sabha MP in 2014 on a Trinamool Congress ticket.

• He joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2021 ahead of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections.

• Earlier this year, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award.

Cinematic Achievements and National Awards

• Mithun Chakraborty debuted with Mrinal Sen’s 1976 film Mrigayaa, earning his first National Award for Best Actor.

• He received two additional National Awards for Tahader Katha (1992) and Swami Vivekananda (1998).

• Despite his recent decrease in Hindi cinema appearances, his contribution to Indian cinema remains significant, with films like Kabuliwala (2023) and Projapati (2022) in Bengali.

Disco Dancer and Cultural Impact

• Mithun Da’s breakthrough came in 1982 with Disco Dancer, a film credited with popularizing disco dancing in India.

• His iconic performance and dance style in songs like “I Am A Disco Dancer” made him a household name.

• From 2009 to 2018, he served as the head judge on the popular dance reality show Dance India Dance.

India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise KAZIND-2024 Commences in Auli

Tags: Defence

The 8th edition of the India-Kazakhstan Joint Military Exercise, KAZIND-2024, began on 30th September 2024.

An Overview of the News

• The exercise is held at the Surya Foreign Training Node, Auli, Uttarakhand, and will run until 13th October 2024.

• KAZIND has been conducted annually since 2016. The last edition was held in Otar, Kazakhstan, from 30th October to 11th November 2023.

Participating Forces

• Indian Armed Forces are represented by 120 personnel from the KUMAON Regiment of the Indian Army, along with personnel from other arms and services, and the Indian Air Force.

• The Kazakhstan contingent includes personnel from the Land Forces and Airborne Assault Troopers.

Objectives and Focus

• The exercise aims to strengthen joint military capabilities to conduct counter-terrorism operations in a sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

• Focus areas include operations in semi-urban and mountainous terrain.

• Key objectives: achieving high physical fitness, refining tactical drills, and sharing best practices.

Tactical Drills and Key Activities

• Drills include joint responses to terrorist actions, setting up Joint Command Posts, and Intelligence and Surveillance Centres.

• Other activities: securing helipads, combat free falls, Special Heliborne Operations, Cordon and Search operations, and the use of drones and counter-drone systems.

• The exercise fosters interoperability, cooperation, and camaraderie between the two armies, enhancing overall defence cooperation and bilateral relations.

India Launches BharatGen: First Government-Supported Multimodal AI Initiative

Tags: Government Schemes National News

A government-supported multimodal large language model initiative aimed at advancing generative AI for public service delivery and citizen engagement.

An Overview of the News

• It launched in the virtual presence of Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, in New Delhi.

India's Leadership in Generative AI:

• Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted BharatGen as a milestone in India's technological leadership, comparing it to the success of UPI and other national innovations.

Focus on Indian Languages:

• BharatGen is the world's first government-funded multimodal large language model project centered on Indian languages, addressing India's socio-cultural and linguistic diversity.

Key Institutions and Partners:

• Spearheaded by IIT Bombay under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS), Department of Science and Technology (DST).

• Partners include academic institutes like IIT Bombay, IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Mandi, IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, IIM Indore, and IIT Madras.

The objective of BharatGen:

• To develop generative AI systems capable of producing high-quality text and multimodal content in multiple Indian languages.

• Focus on social equity, cultural preservation, and linguistic diversity to ensure inclusive AI for all.

Key Features of BharatGen:

• Multilingual and multimodal foundation models.

• Building and training models on Indian datasets.

• Open-source platform for AI development.

• Ecosystem development for generative AI research in India.

Project Timeline:

• Completion expected by July 2026.

• Key milestones include AI model development, experimentation, and the establishment of benchmarks tailored to India’s needs.

• Plans for scaling AI adoption across industries and public initiatives.

India Participates in Euronaval 2024 Defence Exhibition in France

Tags: International News

India is among 104 countries invited to the Euronaval 2024 defense exhibition, the largest naval defense trade show in the world, scheduled for November 4-7 in Paris.

An Overview of the News

• The exhibition will showcase innovative solutions aimed at enhancing naval forces and protecting maritime infrastructure against modern threats, including air and surface drones, and next-generation anti-ship missiles.

Focus Areas

• The event emphasizes innovation, sovereignty, and international cooperation within the naval industry.

• Key participants include shipbuilders, equipment manufacturers, institutions, and experts, providing a platform to explore the latest technological advancements that will shape future naval operations.

Strategic Discussions

• Euronaval 2024 will address critical strategic and industrial challenges amid rising maritime security threats and technological competition.

• Topics will include innovation, resilience, sustainability, and the need for agile maritime forces capable of adapting to various missions, from humanitarian aid to combat operations.