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By admin: Jan. 23, 2023

'Moidams' nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site

Tags: National News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has selected the 'Pyramids of Assam' as the country's sole nomination for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site out of 52 heritage sites.

An overview of the news

• The Ahom-era 'Moidams' (cemetery of the royal family) in Assam's Charaideo district will be India's only nomination for recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• The 'Moidams' of the Ahom dynasty at Charaideo were first included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Site in April 2014.

• 'Moidems' will be nominated in the category of cultural sites.

• India currently has 40 World Heritage Sites – 32 of them cultural sites, seven natural sites and one mixed site.

• Currently, Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park in Assam in the Northeast are among the seven natural sites while there is no World Heritage Site in the cultural heritage category.

About UNESCO:

• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations (UN).

• It is also a member of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UN SDG), a coalition of United Nations agencies and organisations that aims to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

• Headquarters:- Paris, France

• Director General: -Audrey Azoulay

• Founded:- 16 November 1945 in London, United Kingdom

• The organisation has -193 members and 11 associate members.

Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award-2023

Tags: Awards

Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) and Lunglei Fire Station (LFS) Mizoram selected for Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar-2023 for excellence in disaster management for the year 2023 on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on 23rd January.

An overview of the news

Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) -

• OSDMA was established in 1999 after the huge cyclone tragedy in Odisha.

• OSDMA had worked effectively during various cyclones like Hudhud (2014), Fani (2019), Amphan (2020) and Odisha flood (2020).

Lunglei Fire Station -

• Lunglei Fire Station efficiently and effectively controlled the massive fire that broke out in the uninhabited forest areas surrounding Lunglei town on 24 April 2021.

• The personnel deployed at Lunglei Fire Station worked tirelessly for more than 32 hours to douse the fire with the help of local citizens, during which they motivated and trained them to douse the fire on the spot.

Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award

• The Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has instituted the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar to recognize and honour the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered by individuals and organisations in India in the field of disaster management.

• This is an annual award.

• This award is announced every year on the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (23 January).

• In this award, Rs 51 lakh cash and a certificate is given to the selected organisation in the institutional category and Rs 5 lakh cash and a certificate to the winner in the individual category.

PM Modi named 21 islands of Andaman and Nicobar after Paramveer Chakra awardees

Tags: National News

Modi named 21 islands of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands after 21 Param Vir Chakra awardees on the auspicious occasion of Parakram Divas organised to mark the 126th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on 23 January.

An overview of the news

• The Prime Minister also unveiled the model of the National Memorial dedicated to Netaji to be built on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island.

• PM and Home Minister Amit Shah participated in the program organised in Andaman-Nicobar through video conference.

• In 2019, the museum related to Netaji was inaugurated at the Red Fort in Delhi.

• The eldest Anam Island was named after the first Paramveer Chakra Award winner, the second largest Anam Island was named after the second Paramveer Chakra Award winner.

• This step will be an everlasting tribute to our heroes, many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.

• The Ross Islands were renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Islands in 2018 to honor Netaji's sacrifices.

Islands to be named after the following Param Vir Chakra winners

• Major Somnath Sharma, Subedar and Honorary Captain (then Lance Naik) Karam Singh, MM 2nd Lt. Rama Raghoba Rane, Naik Jadunath Singh, Havildar Major Piru Singh Capt GS Salaria, Lt. Col. (then Major) Dhan Singh Thapa, Subedar Joginder Singh, Maj. Shaitan Singh, Abdul Hameed, Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burjorji Tarapore, Lance Naik Albert Ekka, Major Hoshiar Singh, Second Lieutenant Arun Khetrapal, Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, Naib Subedar Bana Singh, Captain Vikram Batra, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, Subedar Major (then Rifleman) Sanjay Kumar and Subedar Major Retd Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav

The largest biennial exercise of the three services 'AMPEX' 2023 organised

Tags: Defence

The biggest tri-services exercise 'AMPEX' 2023 was conducted from January 17 - 22 near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

An overview of the news

• Troops of the Indian Army, warships of the Indian Navy and aircraft of the Air Force participated during the five-day exercise.

• The aim of this war exercise was to showcase India's capabilities to protect the territorial integrity of its areas including better coordination between the three services and enhance joint war fighting capabilities.

• The exercise included Air Entry of Naval Marine Commandos, Air Entry of Army Special Forces, Naval Gunfire Support, Follow up operations like landing of troops from land, air and water.

• The last edition of the exercise was conducted off Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 21 to 25 January 2021.

Chief of the Three Armies

• Army Chief - General Manoj Pandey   

• Chief of the Air Staff – Air Marshal Vivek Ram Choudhary

• Navy Chief – Admiral R Hari Kumar

• Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) - Lt Gen Anil Chauhan

Aska police station of Odisha's Ganjam district became the country's number one police station

Tags: Reports National News

Aska police station in Ganjam district of Odisha was awarded as number one police station by Home Minister Amit Shah during the DGSP/IGSP conference 2022 held at National Agricultural Science Complex, New Delhi.

An overview of the news

• Aska police station got this title in the annual ranking of police stations for the year 2022.

• On this occasion, Aska police station in-charge Inspector Prashant Kumar Sahu was awarded the prestigious award along with a citation by the Home Minister.

• Gangapur police station in Odisha's Ganjam district has been awarded the second best police station award.

• Banbasa police station in Champawat district of Uttarakhand has been selected as the third best station.

• Sadar Bazar police station was adjudged the best police station in the year 2021 while Gangapur police station was awarded the second best police station award.

• The ranking of police stations across the country is an annual exercise by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The rank is decided on the basis of 165 different parameters such as crime rate, investigation and disposal of cases, infrastructure and public service delivery.

Vikram Dev Dutt appointed as DGCA director general

Tags: Person in news

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on 21 January approved the appointment of Vikram Dev Dutt as the next director general in the Directorate of General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

An overview of the news

• He will take over as the chief of the aviation regulator on February 28, 2023. He will replace DGCA chief Arun Kumar.

• In 2022, Dutt was appointed by the Center as the Chairman and Managing Director of Air India Limited. In 2022, Air India was sold to the Tata Group.

• His appointment as DGCA Director General will be "in the rank and pay of Additional Secretary to the Government of India".

• Dutt is a 1993 batch IAS officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories) cadre.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) 

• It is a statutory body and formed under the Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

• It investigates aviation accidents and enforces all regulations related to aviation.

• It registers and provides certificates to civil aircrafts.

• It is attached to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India.

• It coordinates all regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation. 

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik inaugurates ‘International Craft Summit’

Tags: Summits State News

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on 20 January inaugurated an ‘International Craft Summit’ in Jajpur.

An overview of the news

• It is a first of its kind Crafts Summit which brings together leading craftsmen, culture and art enthusiasts.

• International delegates from 15 countries have reached Jajpur to engage with local artisans and other stakeholders.

• Four United Nations agencies and five UNESCO Creative Cities have partnered to make this ambitious and forward-looking event a reality on behalf of the State Government.

• Jajpur was the ancient capital of Odisha.

• With its existing wealth of religious tourism, urban tourism and Buddhist tourism, it has the potential to become a major tourism hub.

• The cultural heritage of Jajpur is reflected in its vibrant art forms.

• Odisha is a glorious land of immaculate arts and crafts. This is an example of artistic culture. The artistic skills of the craftsmen are reflected in many forms.

• It can be seen in temples, sculptures, Buddhist temples, hand-woven fabrics, Patta paintings, wood works, metal works, etc.

Indian Air Force to conduct ‘PRALAY’ exercise in Northeast

Tags: Defence

Amidst the ongoing standoff with China, the Indian Air Force is going to conduct a major exercise in Northeast India from February 1 to 5. This war exercise has been named 'Pralay'.

An overview of the news

• The 'Pralay' will be organised by the Air Force from all major air bases in the Northeast.

• The exercise will be conducted in preparation for another Air Force exercise named 'Eastern Akash', an annual command-level exercise, to be held in the first week of February.

• The exercise is being conducted by the Air Force at a time when the Indian Air Force has recently deployed and activated S-400 air defence squadrons in the region which can intercept any enemy aircraft or missile from a distance of 400 kms. Only able to kill.

• The exercise will involve transport and other aircraft as well as the main combat arms of the Air Force including Rafale and Sukhoi-30 fighter jets.

• This is the second command-level exercise conducted by the Air Force in recent months.

Brazilian government declares medical emergency in Yanomami

Tags: International News

Recently in Brazil, the government has declared a medical-emergency in the Yanomami region amid reports of child deaths from diseases caused by illegal gold mining and malnutrition-related conditions.

An overview of the news

• The purpose of the state of emergency declaration is to restore health services for the Yanomami people that had come to a standstill during the previous government's tenure.

• In the four years of Bolsonaro's presidency, 570 Yanomami children died from preventable diseases, mainly from malnutrition as well as malaria, diarrhoea, and mercury used by wildcat gold miners.

• The government announced food packages to the Yanomami, where about 26,000 Yanomami live in an area of rainforest and tropical savanna.

• The Yonomami area has been a victim of illegal gold mining gangs for decades.

About Yanomami tribes

• They are also called South American Indians.

• They live in the remote forests of the Orinoco River Basin in southern Venezuela and the northernmost part of the Amazon River Basin in northern Brazil.

• They live in small, scattered, semi-permanent villages, speak the Ziriana language, and hunt.

• Their population is about 26,000.

• Davi Copenava, a Brazilian leader who secured the land rights of the Yanomami people, has been awarded the Right Livelihood Award-2019, also known as Sweden's alternative Nobel Prize.

The first meeting of the Youth 20 Group will be held in Guwahati in February 2023

Tags: Summits

The first meeting of the Youth 20 group as part of the G20 summit will be held in Guwahati from February 6 to 8, 2023.

An overview of the news

• The Youth 20 (Y20) Summit is being hosted by India for the first time on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.

• This is the first of several meetings to be held in India on five Youth20 themes in the run-up to the Youth-20 Summit.

• The meeting will focus on five themes of the Future of Work – climate change and disaster risk reduction, peacebuilding and reconciliation, democracy and youth in health, well-being and sport.

• Its objective is to find out the thinking of the youth and incorporate their suggestions in the policy proposals. It is an attempt to create a channel of contact between G20 governments and their local youth.

• To engage Youth20 in a participatory and inclusive deliberative process, more than 50 universities/colleges from 34 districts of Assam will organise seminars, workshops, debates and panel discussions in their campuses from January 19 till the Foundation Meet.

Parakram Diwas : 126th Birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose

Tags: Important Days

The birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose on 23 January is celebrated every year as Parakram Diwas to inspire the people of the country, especially the youth.

An overview of the news

• Its aim is to work with patience in the face of adversity like Netaji and to inculcate the spirit of patriotism.

• It was on this day in 1897, that Neta Ji was born in Cuttack, Odisha.

What is Parakram Diwas and why is it celebrated?

• To honour and remember Netaji's indomitable courage and selfless service to the nation, the Government of India decided to celebrate his birthday on 23 January every year as Parakram Divas.

Subhash Chandra Bose and his Role in Indian Independence Struggle

• Subhash Chandra Bose was born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa Division, Bengal Province to Prabhavati Dutt Bose and Janakinath Bose.

• In 1919, he passed the Indian Civil Service (ICS) examination. Later he resigned from this post.

• He was deeply influenced by the teachings of Vivekananda and regarded him as his spiritual master. His political mentor was Chittaranjan Das.

• He worked with Jawaharlal Nehru and became the Congress Party’s young leaders gaining popularity among the people.

• He advocated complete Swaraj and was in favour of using force to achieve it.

• Bose's ideology was inclined towards socialism and leftist authoritarianism. He formed the All India Forward Bloc in 1939 as a faction within the Congress.

• He arrived in Singapore from Germany in July 1943, from where he issued his famous slogan 'Delhi Chalo' and announced the formation of the Azad Hind government and the Indian National Army on 21 October 1943.

• Bose inspired the soldiers with his fiery speeches. His famous quote is, "Give me blood, and I will give you freedom!"

Sports Ministry holds its first Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting outside Delhi

Tags: Sports Sports News

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) organised its first Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting on January 19 and 20 outside Delhi and during the Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

An overview of the news

• The MOC members met to discuss the major agenda of India's Olympic program and proposals for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) athletes.

• The Indian men's and women's hockey teams are the only teams that are funded under MYAS's TOPS Scheme and get an annual expenditure of Rs 24 cr under Sports Authority of India's (SAI) Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions (ACTC) scheme.

• Normally, MOC members from all over India visit Delhi every month to discuss agenda related to TOPS.

• During the outbreak of COVID-19, the meetings were conducted through a video conferencing so that the athletes do not suffer due to the delay.

• After the lockdown, the meetings have adopted a hybrid approach where one meeting a month is held virtually, while the other is held as a physical meeting.

Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) 

• It was created in July 2014 under the auspices of the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) with the objective of identifying and preparing potential medal prospects for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

• It is a flagship program of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

• The idea of the scheme is to look to the future and fund a developmental group of athletes who have the potential to bring medals to the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028.

International Trade Fair on Millets and Organic Products held in Bengaluru

Tags: Festivals National News

The 4th International Trade Fair of Millets and Organics Products began on 20 January 2023 at Tripuravasini, Bengaluru.

An overview of the news

• India is leading among countries to celebrate 2023 as the International Year of Millets.

• This three-day fair is organised by the Department of Agriculture and the Government of Karnataka.

• The three day event is divided into multiple segments including Exhibition, Pavilion, B2B Networking and much more.

Promotion of millet and organic market

• The trade fair is a platform for farmers, farmer groups, domestic and international companies, central and state institutions to explore opportunities in agriculture, horticulture, processing, machinery and agro-technology.

• The fair includes more than 250 stalls, millet and organic food court, cooking, drawing and quiz competitions, display of millet recipes, etc.

• The budget allocation for farmers has been increased six times.

• The country is focused on developing 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and assisting farmers in setting up sorting and grading units along with producing value-added products ready for export.

• Consumption of millets is a solution to malnutrition, which will also benefit farmers for better livelihood and increased income.

India as the Global Hub for Millets

• In India, millet is primarily a kharif crop, requiring less water and agricultural inputs.

• Millets are important because of their potential to generate livelihoods, enhance farmers' income and ensure food and nutritional security.

• According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, global millet production in 2020 was 30.464 million metric tonnes (MMT), of which India accounted for 12.49 MMT or 41 per cent of the total millet production.

• Karnataka pioneer for millet promotion

  • The Government of Karnataka has been a pioneer in the promotion of millets.

  • The first millets and organic fair was held in 2017, the second and third editions were held in Bengaluru in 2018 and 2019.

  • Karnataka is distributing millet grain through the PDS system and organising district-wise Kisan Melas.

HCHF and Ladakh Tourism Department organised the annual Ethnic Mamani Festival

Tags: Festivals State News

In Ladakh, the Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation (HCHF) and the Ladakh Tourism Department organised the annual Ethnic Mamani Festival at the historic Satyang Kung village and Chiktan Shagran on 22 January.

An overview of the news

• Steyang Kung village is about 500 years old and is still preserved and being developed as one of the heritage villages in Ladakh.

• The history of Mamani Festival in Ladakh is linked to the ancient tradition of offering food to departed family members.

• During Mamni, people exchange food with their relatives and neighbours and worship a variety of spirits (Lha).

• These festivals have helped in reviving more than 35 cuisines of Kargil Ladakh.

• Dr. Ghulam Mehdi, Principal Scientist, KVK Kargil was the chief guest on the occasion and the program executive AIR Kargil Annendra Singh was the guest of honour and Maj. Dr. Raja C. was the guest of honour.

Significance of the festival

• The festival has great cultural significance as it allows communities to bond together and celebrate their shared heritage.

• It also facilitates communal harmony as members of both Buddhist and Muslim communities in Ladakh participate in the festival, which strengthens social harmony in the region.

• In 2018, the Himalayan Cultural Heritage Foundation along with Anayat Ali Shotopa formally took the responsibility to organise the festival at various locations in order to preserve the heritage in the region.

Jharkhand government launches water conservation scheme to benefit drought-hit farmers

Tags: Government Schemes State News

Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh launched a water conservation scheme with an outlay of Rs 467.32 crore to benefit farmers who faced drought last year in the state.

An overview of the news

• Under the scheme, 2,133 ponds will be renovated and 2,795 percolation tanks will be built in all blocks of 24 districts of the state.

• Foundation stone for renovation work of 71 ponds and 184 percolation tanks was also laid on the occasion.

• Percolation tank is an artificially created surface water body to recharge groundwater storage.

• The objective of this scheme is to provide water to the drought-affected farmers of the state so that they can get enough water to irrigate their fields.

Jharkhand State

• Capital - Ranchi

• Governor - Ramesh Bais

• Chief Minister - Hemant Soren

• Legislative Assembly - 82 seats

• Lok Sabha - 14 seats

• Major festivals of Jharkhand - Sarhul, Karam / Karma, Rohini, Sohrai