1. BIS signs MoU with top six engineering institutes of India
Tags: National National News
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has signed MoUs with six engineering institutes to implement Indian Standards as part of their curriculum.
Important facts
This initiative is towards institutionalising engagement of BIS with the eminent institutes for securing active participation of academia.
BIS has signed an Agreement with the following engineering Institutes-
Indian Institute of Technology BHU,
Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur,
Indian Institute of Technology Indore,
Indian Institute of Technology Patna,
Indian Institute of Technology Madras
National Institute of Technology Trichy
The MoU is for establishment of ‘BIS Standardization Chair Professor’ at these institutes.
It will promote excellence and leadership in teaching, research and development in the field of science and various disciplines in the respective institutions.
Under the agreement, technology innovation and standards development will be linked together to promote the development of technology oriented products and services.
About Bureau of Indian Standards
Bureau of Indian Standards is the national standards body of India under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.
Headquarters- Manak Bhawan, Old Delhi
Director General- Pramod Kumar Tiwari
Established- 23 December 1986
2. Israeli ambassador to India apologizes on remarks of Nadav Lapid on Kashmir Files
Tags: National
Israel ambassador to India, Sri Lanka and Bhutan Naor Gilson has apologized for the comment made by an Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid on the film Kashmir files.
Israel film maker Nadav Lapid who headed the jury in the 53rd International Film Festival of India held at Goa criticized the Kashmir Files film as ‘propaganda and vulgar’ that had no place at a film festival at the closing ceremony on 28 November 2022.
Nadav Lapid was heavily criticized for his comment in India.
The Kashmir Files film is based on events in 1990 when more than 2 lakh Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus) fled from Jammu and Kashmir. It was the start of the Pakistan sponsored militancy in Jammu and Kashmir which took an Islamist colour and Kashmiri pandits were threatened to either leave Kashmir or convert to Islam. Kashmiri pandits were selectively killed by the Islamic militants to scare the community.
The film has been directed by Vivek Agnihotri and Anupam Kher, Darshan Kumar, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborthy have acted in the movies.
The film has become controversial as the film portrays the killing of Kashmiri pandits as a genocide and the critic accuses the film of increasing Islamophobia.
3. India witnesses significant decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)
Tags: Reports National News
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As per a report released by the Registrar General of India on 30 November India has witnessed a significant decline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) from 130 in 2014-16 to 97 in 2018-20 on per lakh live births.
Important facts
As per the report MMR has improved further by a spectacular six points and now stands at 97 per lakh live births.
The MMR is defined as the number of maternal deaths during a given time period per one lakh live births.
India has thus met the National Health Policy target of an MMR of less than 100 per lakh live births and is on course to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of an MMR of less than 70 per lakh live births by 2030.
Three highest MMR State
Assam has the highest maternal mortality rate (MMR) at 195, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 173 and Uttar Pradesh at 167 (per lakh live births).
States with lowest MMR
Kerala has the lowest MMR of 19 per lakh live births, followed by Maharashtra 33 and Telangana 43.
States which have achieved Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target
Kerala (MMR 19), followed by Maharashtra (33), Telangana (43), Andhra Pradesh (45), Tamil Nadu (54), Jharkhand (56), Gujarat (57) and Karnataka (69).
4. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval highlights role of Ulema in countering radicalization
Tags: National National News
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval participated in a conference on 'Role of Ulema in promoting a culture of interfaith peace and social harmony in India and Indonesia', in New Delhi on 29 November.
Important facts
He said that cross-border terrorism and ISIS-inspired terrorism continues to pose a threat.
He said, India and Indonesia are victims of terrorism and separatism.
He said scholars of Islam and Islamic law have a “vital role” to play in countering radicalisation and extremism by propagating progressive ideas and thought.
Role of Ulema in promoting a culture of interreligious peace and social harmony in India and Indonesia - will help bring scholars together to promote tolerance, harmony and peaceful co-operation and strengthen the fight against violent extremism, terrorism and radicalism.
The ulemas have a “leading role in educating the people on the original tolerant and moderate principles of Islam”.
Both countries need to build a consensus on de-radicalisation, and institutions need to come together to identify and address potential negative impacts.
The Indonesian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Mohd Mahfud MD is on a three-day visit to India.
About Indonesia
Indonesia is located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
It is the world's largest island country with more than 17,000 islands, it is the fourth most populous country in the world.
Indonesia ranks first, Pakistan second and India third in terms of Muslim population in the world.
The world's most populous island is Java, it is in Indonesia.
Indonesia was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement along with India.
Currency - Indonesian rupiah
- President - Joko Widodo
5. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval highlights role of Ulema in countering radicalization
Tags: National National News
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval participated in a conference on 'Role of Ulema in promoting a culture of interfaith peace and social harmony in India and Indonesia', in New Delhi on 29 November.
Important facts
He said that cross-border terrorism and ISIS-inspired terrorism continues to pose a threat.
He said, India and Indonesia are victims of terrorism and separatism.
He said scholars of Islam and Islamic law have a “vital role” to play in countering radicalisation and extremism by propagating progressive ideas and thought.
Role of Ulema in promoting a culture of interreligious peace and social harmony in India and Indonesia - will help bring scholars together to promote tolerance, harmony and peaceful co-operation and strengthen the fight against violent extremism, terrorism and radicalism.
The ulemas have a “leading role in educating the people on the original tolerant and moderate principles of Islam”.
Both countries need to build a consensus on de-radicalisation, and institutions need to come together to identify and address potential negative impacts.
The Indonesian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Mohd Mahfud MD is on a three-day visit to India.
About Indonesia
Indonesia is located between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
It is the world's largest island country with more than 17,000 islands, it is the fourth most populous country in the world.
Indonesia ranks first, Pakistan second and India third in terms of Muslim population in the world.
The world's most populous island is Java, it is in Indonesia.
Indonesia was one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement along with India.
Currency - Indonesian rupiah
- President - Joko Widodo
6. 4 US soldiers promoted high up on Nanda Devi during India-US military exercise
Tags: Defence International News
For the first time, four US Army officers from the 11th Airborne Division have been promoted to India's second highest Himalayan peak Nanda Devi during the 18th edition of Indo-US joint military exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' in Uttarakhand.
Important facts
Capt. Cerruti, Lt. Russell, Lt. Brown and Lt. Hack became the first four USArmy Officers to be promoted in the Himalayas during Yudh Abhyas Exercise.
US soldiers from the 2nd Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division and Indian Army soldiers from the Assam Regiment are participating in a two-week joint military exercise.
Yudh Abhyas is conducted annually between India and the US with the aim of exchanging best practices, tactics, techniques and procedures between the armies of the two nations.
The aim of the exercise is to enhance interoperability and share expertise in peacekeeping and disaster relief operations between the two armies.
The joint exercise will also focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.
Nanda Devi Peak
Nanda Devi is the second-highest mountain in India, after Kangchenjunga, and located entirely within India (Kangchenjunga is on the border of India and Nepal). It is in the state of Uttarakhand (Chamoli district).
It is the 23rd-highest peak in the world.
The Nanda Devi Peak is a part of the Garhwal Himalayas.
7. India provides $100 million financial assistance to Maldives
Tags: Economy/Finance International News
The Union External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar virtually handed over the assistance amount of $100 million to Maldives in a ceremony held on 29 November 2022.
The Indian government assistance is in the form of budgetary support to help Maldives deal with its economic problems. Maldivian economy which is heavily dependent on tourism is facing severe economic crisis as covid related restriction has badly affected its economy.
The assistance being extended to Maldives is without any terms and conditions and Maldives is free to use it in its economic recovery.
India and Maldives have a close political relationship. During the visit of the Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in August this year the Prime Minister had announced an additional $100 million loan to Maldives for construction of 2000 new social housing units there.
India has also provided $ 500 million loan to Maldives for the Greater Male Connectivity Project.
Republic of Maldives
Maldives is an archipelago consisting of around 1200 coral islands and atolls. It is part of South Asia and is situated in Indian Ocean
The 8 degree channel separates Maldives from India.
Capital: Male
Currency: Rufiyaa
President: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih
8. WHO has changed the name of Monkeypox disease to mpox
Tags: Science and Technology International News
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on 28 November 2022 has announced that it will term “mpox” as a synonym for monkeypox. Both names will be used simultaneously for one year while “monkeypox” is phased out.
WHO said that the disease's original name was considered “racist and stigmatizing’ in certain countries of the world. After complaints from some member countries WHO decided to rename the disease.
Assigning names to new and, very exceptionally, to existing diseases is the responsibility of WHO under the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared monkeypox disease as a "public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC)", on 23 July 2022.It is the highest level of health alert which is issued by WHO.
Monkeypox disease
- Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa.
- It was first identified in monkeys in 1958 hence it is called Monkeypox. It was first identified in humans in 1970.
- Because it was transmitted from animal to human it is called zoonotic disease.
- The first case of Monkeypox in the country was also reported from Kollam district of Kerala on July 14.
World Health Organisation (WHO)
- The World Health Organisation is a specialised agency of the United Nations which was founded on 7 April, 1948.
- Headquarters of WHO : Geneva, Switzerland
- Director General of WHO: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia.
- Member Countries : 194
9. Russia postpones nuclear arms talks with US
Tags: International News
Russia has suspended nuclear arms talks with the United States under the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) treaty on 28 November and neither side has given a reason for the postponement.
About New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
It is an arms control pact that limits both nations’ stockpiles of nuclear weapons, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles.
It was finalised in 2011 during the Obama administration and serves as the last key pact to limit nuclear arms between Washington and Moscow.
Last year, the US and Russia agreed to extend the pact till 2026.
Under the treaty, Washington and Moscow are permitted to conduct inspections of each other’s weapons sites, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, inspections have been halted since 2020.
10. World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022
Tags: Summits Important Days International News
The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 concluded on November 25, with the Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Important facts
The two-day summit, which began on November 24 in Oman's capital Muscat, follows two high-level summits held in the Netherlands in 2014 and 2019.
The theme of the meeting was - The AMR Pandemic: From Policy to One Health Action.
The Manifesto has been endorsed by 34 of the 45 countries that participated at the conference.
Muscat Ministerial Manifesto on AMR - three global targets
Reduce the total amount of antimicrobials used in the agri-food system at least by 30-50% by 2030 from the current level.
Zero use of Critically important antimicrobials (CIA).
Ensuring that 'access' group antibiotics (a class of antibiotics that are cheaper, safer and have a lower AMR risk) represent at least 60 per cent of total antibiotic consumption in humans by 2030.
About World Antimicrobial Awareness Week
It is a global campaign observed annually to improve awareness and understanding related to AMR.
It encourages best practices among the public, health stakeholders and policy makers to reduce the emergence and spread of AMR.
What is Antimicrobial Resistance?
It is the resistance acquired by any microorganism (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, etc.) against antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimalarials, and anthelmintics) that are used to treat infections.
As a result, standard treatments become ineffective, the infection persists and can spread to others.
