DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

By admin: March 4, 2025

The Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2025 will be held at Gulmarg

Tags: Sports

Why in the news?

• The Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2025 will beheld at Gulmarg from March 9 to 12 following heavy snowfall over the past few days in the higher reaches of the Valley.

Important points:

• The Winter Games, which were earlier scheduled to be held from February 22 to 25, had to be postponed due to lack of snow at Gulmarg with Kashmir witnessing one of its driest winters in recent history.

About The Khelo India Winter Games :

• Under the Khelo India Scheme,the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports (MYAS) organizes National-level competitions, i.e., Khelo India Youth Games, Khelo India University Games, Khelo India Para Games and Khelo India Winter Games to provide a platform for talented athletes to showcase their sporting and competitive skills. 
• Starting in 2020, so far four editions of the Khelo India Winter Games have been successfully conductedwith the participation of 36 States/UTs.
• The fifth edition of Khelo India Winter Games 2025will be held in the UT of Ladakh and J&K .

PM Modi inaugurates Vantara

Tags: National News

Why in the news?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated and visited Vantara, an animal rescue, conservation and rehabilitation centre in Gujarat's Jamnagar district.

Important points:

• During his visit, Mr. Modi explored various facilities at the centre and closely interacted with various animals that have been rehabilitated there. 
• He also checked the wildlife hospital at Vantara and saw the veterinary facilities, which are equipped with MRI, CT scans, and ICUs among others. 

About Vantara:

• Vantara is a large-scale animal rescue centre, cave, conservation and rehabilitation centre established by Reliance Industries with Reliance Foundation. 
• It is located within the Reliance Jamnagar Refinery Complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. 
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India records 1,036 species for backyard bird count third highest globally.

Tags: National News

Why in the news?

• Birding enthusiasts from allover the country documented 1,036 species for the Global Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) 2024.

Important points:

• The backyard bird count happens every year, usually over a four-day period in February.
•  It allows participants to tally birds in diverse locations, ranging from their own backyards to local parks and nature reserves. 
• This year, it took place from February 16-19, 2024, according to a press release from Bird Count India, a coalition of birding organisations and groups. 
• Indian bird enthusiasts celebrated their 12th consecutive year of participation in the GBBC this time.
• India submitted the second-highest number of checklists and the third-highest species among all participating countries. 
• Over the four days, Indian birdwatchers contributed over 61,000 checklists and documented 1,036 bird species on an online platform eBird. 
• The United States submitted themost number of checklists — 172,025 — showed preliminary results from the count.
• Following India, Canada had the third highest number of checklists at 25,420. Colombia (1,363) and Equador (1,130) submitted the most species. 
• This is the first GBBC where birders from all states and Union territories participated.
• Kerala recorded the highest number of checklists (14,023), followed by Tamil Nadu (13,661) and Maharashtra (5,725). 
• West Bengal reported the highest number of species (538), followed by Uttarakhand (426) and Assam (420). 

Cabinet approves Revision of Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP)

Tags: National News

Why in the news?

• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the  Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has today approved the Revision of Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP). 

Important points:

• The scheme hasthree components namely National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), LH&DC and Pashu Aushadhi.  
• LH&DC has three sub-components i.e. Critical Animal Disease Control Programme (CADCP), Establishment and Strengthening of existing Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries - Mobile Veterinary Unit (ESVHD-MVU) and Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD). 
• The Pashu Aushadhi is new component added to the LHDCP scheme.
• The total outlay of  the scheme is Rs.3,880 crore for two years i.e. 2024-25 and 2025-26, which includes provision of Rs. 75 crore to provide good quality and affordable generic veterinary medicine and incentive for sale of medicines under Pashu Aushadhi component.
• The scheme will help in prevention and control of livestock diseases through vaccination, surveillance and upgradation of healthcare facilities.
• The scheme will improve productivity, generate employment, encourage entrepreneurship in the rural area and prevent economic losses of farmers due to disease burden.
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Ministry of Panchayati Raj to Launch “Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan”

Tags: National News

Why in the news?

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is organizing a National Workshop of Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions wherein “Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan” launched at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Important points:

• The Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan (सशक्त पंचायत-नेत्री अभियान) is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the capacity-building interventions for Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions across the nation.
• It focuses on sharpening their leadership acumen, enhancing their decision-making capabilities, and reinforcing their role in grassroots governance. 
• Recognizing the crucial role of Women Elected Representatives in rural local governance, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has devised a strategic roadmap to enhance their leadership and ensure their active participation in decision-making. 
• Over 1,200 Panchayat women leaders from diverse backgrounds will participate in this historic initiative. 
• A key highlight of the event will be the felicitation of outstanding women leaders from Panchayats across various States and Union Territories who have demonstrated exemplary work in rural local self-governance. 
• The workshop will also witness the launch of specific training modules for Capacity Building of Women Elected Representatives  along with a  Primer on Law Addressing Gender Based Violence and Harmful Practices for Panchayat Elected Representatives.
• This National Workshop aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, highlighted in the 119th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, emphasizing upon the role of ‘Nari Shakti’ (women’s power) in nation-building.
• The initiative reflects the Government's dedication in creating Gram Panchayats that are safer, inclusive, gender-sensitive, and socially just, ensuring an environment conducive for the prosperity of women and girls in the country.