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By admin: May 24, 2023

PM Modi attended FIPIC summit in Papua New Guinea

Tags: Summits International News

PM Modi attended the third India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit in Papua New Guinea 23 May. 14 countries from the Pacific Islands (PICs) attended the summit.

An overview of the news

•  The summit was led by Papua New Guinea's PM James Marape and PM Modi. 

• As part of India's Act East Policy, the Prime Minister of India announced a 12-point development plan for the Pacific Island Nations.

• The 12-point development plan focuses on a number of areas including health care, renewable energy and cyber security.

• The two leaders also launched a translation of the Tamil classic ‘Thirukkural’ to the Tok Pisin language of Papua New Guinea. 

• The translated book is co-authored by linguist Subha Sasindran and Sasindran Muthuvel, Governor of West New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea. 

PM Modi's 12-point action plan

• A 100-bed regional super specialty hospital in Fiji

• Setting up a regional IT and cyber security training hub in Papua New Guinea

• Sagar Amrut Scholarships-100 scholarships in the next five years

• Jaipur foot camp in Papua New Guinea in 2023

• FIPIC SME development project, 

• A solar project for government buildings

• Provide desalination units for drinking water

• Supply sea ambulances

• Set up dialysis unit

• Emergency helpline number

• Set up Jan Aushadi kendras

• Set up yoga centres.

Pacific Island nations 

• The Pacific Islands are island geographic regions of the Pacific Ocean.

• Pacific Island nations include the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

About India Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC)

• It was launched during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Fiji in November 2014.

• FIPIC includes India and 14 of the island countries – Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

About FIPIC summit

• FIPIC-I, in 2014, took place at Suva, Fiji’s capital city.

• India announced various development assistance initiatives and other cooperation projects in areas of climate change, trade, economy, telemedicine and tele education, IT, grants for community development projects, etc.

• FIPIC-II summit took place in 2015 in Jaipur.

• In 2019, the Leaders of the Indo-Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) meeting (consisting of delegations from 12 of the 14 Pacific Island countries) was held in New York on September 24, 2019.

Ministry of Education and PARAKH organise the 1st National level workshop

Tags: National Government Schemes National News

Recently, the Ministry of Education organized a workshop in New Delhi to discuss the integration of 60 school examination boards operating in different states and union territories.

An overview of the news

• The key component of the scheme is PARAKH, a National Assessment Center set up under the National Council of Educational Research and Training.

• The central government is planning for uniformity of boards to facilitate seamless transition for students in different boards or regions.

• It aims to align curriculum standards, grading system and evaluation methods so as to enhance the credibility and recognition of certificates and grades obtained across all boards.

• The workshop highlighted the need to re-evaluate the rote-examination culture prevalent in the education system.

What is PARAKH?

• PARAKH full name is -Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development.

• It will act as a constituent unit of the NCERT.

• It will also be tasked with conducting periodic learning outcome tests like National Achievement Survey (NAS) and State Achievement Survey.

• This framework will seek to curb the emphasis on rote learning as envisaged by the National Policy on Education (NEP) 2020.

• It will be the proposed implementing agency and also will be part of the NEP proposal.

• Its team will consist of leading assessment experts with a deep understanding of the education system in India and internationally.

Ireland to become the first country in the world to introduce health warnings on alcohol

Tags: International News

Ireland's health minister, Stephen Donnelly, signed new regulations on May 22 that will carry warnings about the health risks of drinking alcohol, as well as the product's calorie count.

An overview of the news

• This innovative step aims to raise awareness about the potential health risks associated with alcohol consumption.

• The introduction of health warnings on alcohol bottles and cans will serve as a powerful tool for public health promotion and education.

• The warnings will provide concise information about the health hazards linked to excessive alcohol consumption, encouraging individuals to make informed decisions.

• Health warnings include liver disease, heart problems, increased risk of cancer, mental health problems and other associated risks.

• By emphasizing the risks and potential harms associated with alcohol consumption on alcohol packaging, youth can be deterred from drinking at an early age.

Republic of Ireland 

• The Republic of Ireland is a western European country which shares a boundary with Great Britain.

• The Parliament of Ireland is called the Oireachtas. The lower house of the parliament is called Dail and the upper house is called Seanad Éireann (Senate).

• President of Ireland: Michael D. Higgins

• Currency: Euro

• Capital: Dublin

Indian shooters Ganemat Sekhon, Darshna Rathore create history

Tags: Sports Sports News

India for the first time on 24 May won two senior individual medals in women's skeet at International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup stage in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

An overview of the news

• Ganemat Sekhon won the silver, his second ever individual World Cup medal.

• Making her first appearance at the senior level, Darshana Rathore won the bronze medal and this was her debut performance.

• Asem Orinbay of Kazakhstan won the gold medal via shoot-off.

• Mairaj Khan, Gurjot Khangura and Anantjit Singh Naruka participated in the men's skit but none made it to the finals.

ISSF World Championship

• The championship is administered by the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

• These championships, including all shooting events of the ISSF, have been held every four years since 1954.

Shirgaonkar elected as India Taekwondo Chief

Tags: Sports Person in news Sports News

Namdev Shirgaonkar was elected unopposed as the President of the executive committee of India Taekwondoon 23 May. 

An overview of the news

• The election was held at 2 Hotel Sun City Residency, Andheri (East) in which 25 affiliated State Associations duly participated.

• With all the office bearers being elected unopposed, the entire election process was completed without any hitch.

• Sharad D Madakare (retd. Deputy Charity Commissioner) along with Bhagwatrao Gaikwad (retd. Judge) served as the Returning Officer.

• Namdev Shirgaonkar, President, India Taekwondo, who holds a black belt in Taekwondo, has accepted to be elected unopposed as the head of India Taekwondo.

• Kiyarash Bahri (Coordinator - World Taekwondo - WT) and Wanyoung Lee (Observer - Asian Taekwondo Union - ATU) and Prashant Desai(Observer - Paralympic Committee of India - PCI) moderated the election process.

India hands over 20 broad gauge locomotives to Bangladesh

Tags: International Relations International News

Taking a significant step towards enhancing bilateral cooperation in the railway sector, India and Bangladesh handed over 20 broad gauge locomotives to Bangladesh on May 23.

An overview of the news

• The initiative is aimed at meeting the growing demand for passenger and freight traffic between the two neighboring countries.

• The handover ceremony was conducted virtually, which was attended by Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and Bangladesh Railway Minister Nurul Islam Sujan.

• During the meeting held in June 2022, fruitful discussions were held on various aspects of railway operations between the two countries.

• Minister Nurul Islam Sujan highlighted the importance of strengthening rail connectivity between India and Bangladesh to promote trade and travel.

• The newly acquired locomotives will help in meeting the growing demands of passenger and freight traffic on both sides of the border.

• Currently, there are nine interchanges between India and Bangladesh, of which five are already operational and two are under construction.

People’s Republic of Bangladesh 

• Capital: Dhaka 

• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina Wazed 

• President: Mohammad Shahabuddin

• Currency: Taka 

Madhya Pradesh govt to legalise more than 6000 illegal colonies in state

Tags: State News

Madhya Pradesh government has announced to legalize more than 6000 illegal colonies in the state.

An overview of the news

• Illegal colonies that came into existence by 31 December 2022 will be legalised.

• Basic amenities including road, electricity, water, drainage will be provided by the municipal bodies and panchayats in these colonies.

• The amount of development fee will also not be taken from the residents of these colonies.

• In urban areas, poor and laborers will be provided food for five rupees.

About Madhya Pradesh

• In terms of area, it is the second largest state of India after Rajasthan.

• According to the Indian Forest Status Report-2021, Madhya Pradesh has the maximum forest cover in the country in terms of area.

• 25.14% of its area is covered by forests.

• Chief Minister -Shivraj Singh Chouhan

• Capital -Bhopal

Indian Commonwealth Day - 24 May

Tags: Important Days

Commonwealth Day of India is celebrated every year on 24 May.

An Overview of the News 

• Commonwealth Day is a global celebration that is usually celebrated on 13 March, but India and some other countries celebrate it on 24 May.

• The theme for Commonwealth Day 2023 is "Forging a Sustainable and Peaceful Common Future".

• In 2023, Commonwealth Day aims to promote a sense of shared humanity and solidarity.

• The occasion aims to bring together the 2.5 billion citizens of the Commonwealth to recognize their shared values and principles.

• Commonwealth Day provides an opportunity to recognize and acknowledge the achievements of the 54 Commonwealth countries.

• Focus areas include addressing climate change and promoting gender equality.

History of Commonwealth Day:

• It was started in 1902 to pay respect after the death of Queen Victoria on January 22, 1901.

• The first commemoration of Commonwealth Day took place on May 24, 1902, on the occasion of Queen Victoria's birthday.

• In 1916, Commonwealth Day received official recognition as an annual celebration.

• In 1958, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan changed the name of the event from Empire Day to Commonwealth Day.

World Turtle Day - 23 May

Tags: Important Days

World Turtle Day is an annual celebration held on May 23, founded by American Turtle Rescue (ATR).

An Overview of the News 

• American Turtle Rescue (ATR) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and welfare of turtles.

• The theme for this year's World Turtle Day is 'I Love Turtles', emphasising the critical need to protect these species and their future in the face of shrinking habitats.

• The day aims to protect turtles, raise awareness of their disappearing habitats and encourage human action to support their survival.

• American Turtle Rescue provides Turtle Day lesson plans and craft projects for classroom teaching.

• World Turtle Day was established by ATR on 23 May 2000 and has its 24th anniversary in 2023.

• Its founders, Susan Tellem and Marshall Thompson, established the day with the goal of raising awareness of the challenges faced by turtles.

Important Days and Themes 2023

• March 3rd, 2023 - World Wildlife day - Theme:   “Partnerships for wildlife conservation”

• March 22nd, 2023 - World Water Day - Theme: “Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.”

• February 2nd, 2023 - World Wetlands Day - Theme: “It's Time for Wetlands Restoration”

Hari Buddha Magar conquered Mount Everest with artificial legs

Tags: Person in news

Hari Budha Magar, a double-amputee ex-British Gurkha soldier from Nepal, scaled Mount Everest with prosthetic legs.

An Overview of the News 

• Magar acknowledged the collective effort that made his achievement possible, including support from the Government of Nepal and people around the world.

• He joined the British Gurkhas in 1999 at the age of 19.

• Magar lost both his legs when he stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by the Taliban during a mission in Afghanistan in 2010.

• Magar participated in Paralympic sporting activities to raise awareness of disability.

• In the past decade, he accomplished numerous mountaineering feats, including the ascents of Ben Nevis (1,345 m), Mont Blanc (4,808.72 m), Kilimanjaro (5,895 m), Mera Peak (6,476 m), and Mount Toubkal (4,167 m).

Mount Everest:

• Mount Everest is the highest peak of the Greater Himalaya mountain range located on the border of Nepal and China (Tibet) in Asia.

• Mount Everest is called Devagiri in Sanskrit, Chomolungma in Tibetan, Chu-mu-long-ma-feng in Chinese and Sagarmatha in Nepali.

• On 29 May 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, an Indian citizen of Nepalese origin, climbed Mount Everest for the first time.

• Junko Tabei (Japan) is the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, as well as the first woman to climb the highest peaks on each of the 7 continents.

• Bachendri Pal is the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest in 1984.

• Santosh Yadav is the first Indian woman to climb Everest twice in a row.

About Nepal

The kingdom of Nepal was established by the Shah dynasty.

It is a landlocked country in South Asia.

Prime Minister - Pushpa Kamal Dahal

President - Ram Chandra Paudel

Capital - Kathmandu

Currency - Nepalese Rupee

New species of flying lizard found in Mizoram

Tags: Science and Technology State News

Mizoram's flying lizard species has been officially named as Gecko mizoramensis.

An Overview of the News 

• The research for this discovery was done through a collaborative effort between Mizoram University and the Max Planck Institute for Biology in Tübingen, Germany.

• The study detailing the findings of the research on the gliding gecko species was published in a renowned German journal on herpetology.

• Specimens of Gecko mizoramensis were collected from different places of Mizoram.

• Collection sites include the Wildlife Sanctuary in Kolasib District, Dampa Tiger Reserve, and Lawngtlai District.

Mizoram:

• It is a state located in Northeast India.

• The name "Mizoram" is a combination of two words: "Mizo" and "Ram."

• "Mizo" refers to the self-described name of the original inhabitants of Mizoram.

• Establishment - 20 February 1987

Capital - Aizawl

Chief Minister - Zoramthanga

Official flower - Renanthera imschootiana

Official Animal - Sumatran Serow

Official Tree - Ceylon Ironwood

Sourav Ganguly named as brand ambassador of Tripura Tourism

Tags: Person in news State News

Former India cricket captain and former BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has been named as the brand ambassador for Tripura Tourism.

An Overview of the News 

• The Tripura government believes that Ganguly's popularity and charisma will draw attention to the state's unexplored tourist destinations.

• The selection of Ganguly as the brand ambassador is expected to attract more visitors to Tripura and give a boost to the tourism industry.

About Tripura

• It is a state in northeastern India and is bounded by Assam and Mizoram in the east and Bangladesh in the north, south and west.

• Tripura is divided into 8 districts and 23 sub-divisions and Agartala is the state capital and largest city.

• Tripura has 19 different tribal communities with a majority Bengali population and Bengali, English and Kokborok are the official languages of the state.

• Tripura became a full-fledged Indian state in 1972 and only one major highway, National Highway 8, connects it to the rest of the country.

• Five mountain ranges - Hathai Kotor, Atharamura, Longtharai, Shakhan, and Jampui Hills - run from north to south with intervening valleys.

Capital - Agartala

Governor - Dr. Manik Saha

Chief Minister - Mr. Satyadev Narayan Arya

Tourism Minister - Sushant Chowdhary

Target to completely withdraw AFSPA from Assam by December 2023

Tags: State News

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that a target has been set to completely withdraw AFSPA from Assam by the end of 2023.

An Overview of the News 

• The government aims to address concerns of human rights violations and promote accountability and transparency.

About AFSPA:

• AFSPA (Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act provides additional powers to the armed forces to maintain law and order in areas affected by insurgency and internal disturbances.

• It was implemented in the northeastern states of India (Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, parts of Arunachal Pradesh) and Jammu and Kashmir.

• AFSPA gives the armed forces wide powers including arrest, search and shoot on suspicion in "disturbed" areas.

• Provides legal immunity to armed forces personnel for their actions during operations, making accountability for human rights violations difficult.

Aims and Objectives:

• Its goal is to enable the armed forces to deal with insurgency and maintain public order in areas affected by armed insurgency or insurgency.

• The Act empowers the military for preventive measures, search and arrest operations, and the use of force, including lethal force if necessary.

Challenges and Considerations:

• AFSPA faces criticism for human rights violations and excessive use of force by the armed forces.

• Concerns were expressed by human rights organizations regarding abuses, extrajudicial killings and torture.

• Lack of accountability and transparency due to the wide powers and immunity given to the armed forces.

History:

• Launched in 1958 to address the Naga insurgency in Nagaland, later expanded to other areas.

• Implemented in Manipur, Assam, some areas of Arunachal Pradesh and in the east in Jammu and Kashmir.

• In 2020, AFSPA was repealed in Jammu and Kashmir, which is now governed under the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act.

India and Australia sign agreements in the field of migration, mobility partnership and green hydrogen

Tags: International Relations International News

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was exchanged after a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Sydney.

An Overview of the News 

• Prime Minister Modi invited Prime Minister Albanese and Australian cricket fans to India for the Cricket World Cup.

• Prime Minister Albanese announced the establishment of a new Australian Consulate General in Bengaluru to link Australian businesses to India's digital and innovation ecosystem.

About Australia

It is a sovereign country located in the Southern Hemisphere and is geographically isolated from the rest of the world.

Capital - Canberra

Government - Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Emperor - Charles III

Governor-General - David Hurley

Prime Minister - Anthony Albanese