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By admin: Nov. 30, 2024

India re-elected to UN Peacebuilding Commission

Tags: International Relations

India re-elected to UN Peacebuilding Commission

Why in the news?

  • India has been re-elected to the UN Peacebuilding Commission for 2025–2026.India’s current term on the Commission was expiring on December 31.

About UN Peacebuilding Commission:

  • The Peacebuilding Commission isan intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict-affected countries and is a key addition to the capacity of the International Community in the broad peace agenda, according to its website.
  • The PBC is composed of 31 Member States, elected from the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the Economic and Social Council.
  • The top financial contributing countries and the top troop-contributing countries to the United Nations system are also members.
  • India is among the largest contributors of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping.

Functions of UN Peacebuilding Commission:

  • The Commission is mandated to bring together all relevant actors to marshal resources and to advise on and propose integrated strategiesfor post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery.
  • To focus attention on the reconstruction and institution-building efforts necessary for recovery from conflict and to support the development of integrated strategies in order to lay the foundation for sustainable development.
  • It is also mandated to provide recommendations and information to improve the coordination of all relevant actors within and outside the United Nations, to develop best practices, to help to ensure predictable financing for early recovery activities and to extend the period of attention given by the international community to post-conflict recovery.


Notre Dame Cathedral reopens on December 7

Tags: International News

Notre Dame Cathedral reopens on December 7

Why in the news?

  • Notre Dame Cathedral reopens on December 7, marks a new dawn for the architectural marvel of Parisian culture.
  • In 2019, a devastating fire destroyed the cathedral's roof and iconic spire, leaving the world in mourning.

About the Notre Dame Cathedral

  • Studded in gothic grandeur, the Notre Dame Cathedral as an enduring symbol of French identity. 
  • Largely completed by 1345, this architectural marvel has witnessed centuries of pivotal historical events and remains a cornerstone of Parisian culture.
  • From safeguarding sacred relics in the 13th centuryto its transformation into the“Temple of Reason”during the French Revolution, the Cathedral  has played an integral role in shaping
  • history.
  •  It captured global attention in 2019 when a devastating fire destroyed its roof and iconic spire, leaving the world in mourning.
  • After five years of global support, tremendous restoration efforts, and unwavering determination, the cathedral is set to reopen its doors on December 7, 2024, integrating modern safety standards alongside the preservation of historical integrity.




EXERCISE “AGNI WARRIOR - 2024”

Tags: Defence

EXERCISE “AGNI WARRIOR - 2024”

Why in the news?

  • The 13th edition of Joint Military Exercise AGNI WARRIOR (XAW-2024), a bilateral exercise between the Indian Army and Singapore Armed Forces,concluded at Field Firing Ranges, Devlali (Maharashtra) on 30th November 2024.

About theJoint Military Exercise AGNI WARRIOR (XAW-2024):

  •  The three-day exercise conducted from 28th to 30th November 2024, witnessed participation by the Singapore Armed Forces contingent comprising 182 personnel from the Singapore Artillery and the Indian Army contingent comprising 114 personnel from the Regiment of Artillery.
  • The Exercise involved extensive joint preparation, coordination, understanding of each other’s capabilities, procedures and evolution of common interface between Indian and Singapore Artillery procedures. 
  • It marked the culmination of successful training by Singapore Armed Forces troops exposing them to intricacies of Fire Power planning. Both sides utilised niche technologies during the exercise and exchanged best practices as part of the joint training.

Aim of the exercise:

  • The aim of XAW-2024 was to maximise mutual understanding of drills and procedures to achieve jointness as a multinational force under the United Nations Charter.
  • The exercise showcasedjoint firepower planning, execution and use of New Generation Equipment by the Artillery of both Armies.


IIT Guwahati is going to witness India’s Largest Science Festival

Tags: Festivals

IIT Guwahati is going to witness India’s Largest Science Festival 

Why in the news?

  • India International Science Festival (IISF) is going to be celebrated at Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati during 30 Nov. to 3 Dec. 2024.

Important points:

  • This year in 2024, IISF is being organized at IIT Guwahati, Assam from November 30th – December 4th, 2024.  
  • The IISF-2024 isbeing coordinated by the CSIR, convened by CSIR-NIIST and partnered by all the major ministries and scientific departments of the Government of India in collaboration with Vijnana Bharati.
  • The theme of this 10th edition of IISF is "Transforming India into an S&T driven Global Manufacturing Hub".
  • To begin with, IISF 2024 has one special event “Chandrayaan - The Museum of the Moon” where an artistic model by British artist Dr. Luke Jerram will be placed among the attendees to showcase and celebrate India’s success of Chandrayaan Mission.
  • The model is a replica of the moon that measures about seven meters in diameter and will showcase the real like imagery of lunar surface where Chandrayaan was landed on August 23, 2023.
  •  It reflects the government’s aim to merge science and technology with industrial growth, making India a global leader in manufacturing.

About India International Science Festival (IISF):

  • IISF is a unique festival of science society engagement which was initiated in theyear 2015 and the very first IISF was organised at IIT Delhi.
  • Vijnana Bharati, a science movement of India conceptualized this science festival. North East India will witness this festival for the first time.
  • India International Science Festival has been the largest science event in the country with a participation of thousands of people who come together annually to foster scientific collaboration, inspire young minds and propel economic growth through scientific approaches.
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SHe-Box portal recently launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Tags: National News

SHe-Box portal 

Why in the news?

  • SHe-Box portal recently launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Key points:

  • It is developed in accordance with the provisions of theSexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013
  • The portal is designed to serve as a central repository for ICs and LCs at State/ UT administration level workplaces as well as workplaces in the private sector.

About Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013:

  • Safety and security of women in the country is of utmost priority for the Government. Keeping this in view, the Government has enacted “the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013” (SH Act) to provide protection to women against sexual harassment at workplace and for the prevention and redressal of complaints related to it.

Key features:

  • The Act covers all women,irrespective of their age, employment status or nature of work, whether working in public or private, organised or unorganised sector and whether in rural and urban areas.
  •  The Act casts a legal obligation upon employersof all workplaces, public or private, to provide a safe and secure working environment free from sexual harassment, whereby every employer is mandated to constitute an Internal Committee (IC) wherever the number of employees/ workers is more than 10.
  •  Similarly, the Appropriate Government is authorized toconstitute Local Committee (LC) in every district to receive complaints from organizations having less than ten workers or if the complaint is against the employer himself/herself. 
  • The Act has enough provisions to deal with various aspects of the matter including penal provisions for those who violate the provisions of the Act including for the employers. 
  • Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) being the Nodal Ministry, issues advisories to all Central Ministries /Departments and State Governments/ Union Territory (UT) Administrations from time to time for effective implementation of the Act and to organize workshops and awareness programmes at regular intervals for sensitizing the employers and employees.


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