CA To The Point Book 2

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM DOES VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION BENEFIT ALL PATIENTS? • Implanted vagus nerve stimulation does not work for everybody, and is not intended to replace conventional treatment. • It is still being studied and more research is needed into its potential therapeutic effect. Source: TH 11. SCRUB TYPHUS Scrub typhus, an infectious disease, outbreak in Western Odisha. ABOUT SCRUB TYPHUS CLIMATE’S ROLE IN TRANSMITTING SCRUB TYPHUS • The disease-transmitting chiggers thrive in cool, humid environments. • A 2022 study in South India linked temperature, humidity, and rainfall to scrub typhus clustering. • A 2017 study in China linked a 1°C rise in mean temperature to a 3.8% increase in scrub typhus cases during the same week. Diagnosis & Testing • Laboratory testing like Elisa tests, which is available almost in all district public health laboratories. Prevention & Treatment • No vaccine is available to prevent scrub typhus. • It is suggested the risk of contracting the infection by avoiding contact with infected chiggers. • If someone gets infected by scrub typhus then it should be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline. Source: DTE • It's caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, a zoonotic bacterium transmitted to humans by infected chiggers (larval mites). • Mites carrying the disease are generally found in the bush, jungle and paddy areas, so the disease is also called jungle or bush typhus. • The symptoms of scrub typhus commonly include fever, headache, body ache and sometimes a rash. 96 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 12. NIPAH VIRUS The Nipah Virus has made resurgence in Kerala, India, with two fatalities. This marks the first Nipah Virus outbreak in India since 2021 when a case was reported in Kozhikode during the Covid-19 pandemic. NIPAH VIRUS • It first broke out in Malaysia and Singapore in 1998 and 1999. • The disease is named after a village in Malaysia, Sungai Nipah, where it was first detected. • It first appeared in domestic pigs and has been found among several species of domestic animals including dogs, cats, goats, horses and sheep. Transmission • The disease spreads through fruit bats or ‘flying foxes,’ of the genus Pteropus, who are natural reservoir hosts of the Nipah and Hendra viruses. • The virus is present in bat urine and potentially, bat faeces, saliva, and birthing fluids. Symptoms • The human infection presents as an encephalitic syndrome marked by fever, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, mental confusion, coma, and potentially death. Prevention • Currently, there are no vaccines for both humans and animals. Intensive supportive care is given to humans infected by the Nipah virus. Source: TH 13. EGYPT’S “GOLD TIER” STATUS TOWARDS ELIMINATING HEPATITIS C Recently, Egypt became the first country to achieve “gold tier” status on the path to elimination of hepatitis C as per the WHO’s criteria. HEPATITIS • It is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans). • The organism that causes Nipah Virus encephalitis is an RNA or Ribonucleic acid virus of the family Paramyxoviridae, genus Henipavirus, and is closely related to Hendra virus. • Hendra virus (HeV) infection is a rare emerging zoonosis that causes severe and often fatal diseases in both infected horses and humans. • Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. • Triggering agents: Heavy alcohol use, toxins, some medications, and certain medical conditions can cause hepatitis. However, hepatitis is often caused by a virus. • Main Strains: There are five main strains of the hepatitis virus, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. While they all cause liver disease, they differ in important ways including modes of transmission, severity of the illness, geographical distribution and prevention methods. In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in hundreds of millions of people and together are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis, liver cancer and viral hepatitis-related deaths. 97 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM TREATMENT Hepatitis A Hepatitis A is a short-term illness and may not require treatment. Hepatitis B There is no specific treatment program for acute hepatitis B. Hepatitis C Antiviral medications can treat both acute and chronic forms of hepatitis C. Hepatitis D The WHO trusted Source lists pegylated interferon alpha as a treatment for hepatitis D. However, this medication can have severe side effects. Hepatitis E Currently, no specific medical therapies are available to treat hepatitis E. However, pregnant women who develop this infection require close monitoring and care. Autoimmune hepatitis Corticosteroids, like prednisone or budesonide, are extremely important in the early treatment of autoimmune hepatitis. They’re effective in about 80% of people with this condition. ABOUT THE “GOLD TIER” STATUS • The “gold tier” status to reach the stated goal of eliminating hepatitis C includes meeting specific criteria such as: EGYPT’S “100 MILLION HEALTHY LIVES” INITIATIVE • Egypt had undertaken the “100 Million Healthy Lives” initiative. • Through this initiative, Egypt significantly reduced the prevalence of hepatitis C from 10% in 2016 to 5% in 2018 and an estimated less than 1% in 2019. • Egypt has diagnosed 87% of people with hepatitis C and treated 93%, surpassing WHO's targets of 80% diagnosis and 70% treatment. Source: TH 98 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 14. HAEMOGLOBIN A study published in Nature, scientists have reported that cells that make cartilage also make haemoglobin. HEMOGLOBIN HEMOGLOBIN DISORDERS • Haemoglobin disorders or haemoglobinopathies are a group of conditions affecting the molecule haemoglobin which is contained in the red blood cells. • The thalassemias are inherited blood disorders characterized by decreased haemoglobin production. • Sickle Cell Disease: Normal red blood cells are shaped like a donut and can bend and flex easily. The cells which become sickle shaped are rigid and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels, where they can get stuck and clog the blood flow. Source: TH • Hemoglobin is a type of protein in red blood cells that distributes the oxygen to muscles and tissues throughout the body. • It also picks up carbon dioxide and returns it to lungs to exhale. This essential process helps prevent toxic levels of carbon dioxide. • Iron is a key component of hemoglobin. Iron helps hemoglobin bind to oxygen so the hemoglobin can transport the oxygen to tissues. Iron is what makes blood red. • 99 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 15. MONKEYPOX VIRUS A new analysis shows that the monkeypox, or mpox, virus is rapidly diverging into several lineages characterized by mutations resulting from continued interaction with the human immune system, suggesting that the virus has been circulating in humans since 2016. MONKEYPOX Discovery • The monkeypox virus was discovered in Denmark (1958) in monkeys kept for research and the first reported human case of mpox was a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, 1970). • Mpox can spread from person to person or occasionally from animals to people. Transmission • Person-to-person transmission of mpox can occur through direct contact with infectious skin or other lesions such as in the mouth or on genitals. Treatment & Vaccination • The goal of treating mpox is to take care of the rash, manage pain and prevent complications. Early and supportive care is important to help manage symptoms and avoid further problems. Source: TH 16. NATIONAL TEACHERS' AWARD 2023 Recently, the Prime Minister of India interacted with the winners of the National Teachers’ Award 2023 on the eve of Teachers’ Day. ABOUT RADHAKRISHNAN Birth • He was born into a Telugu family in Tiruttani town of Tamil Nadu, on 5th September, 1888. Academics • He studied philosophy at Christian College, Madras, and later became a professor at Madras Presidency College and the University of Mysore. Employment • He served as the first Vice-President of India from 1952 to 1962 and the second President of India from 1962 to 1967. • He was also the Ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952. He was the fourth Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University from 1939 to 1948. Recognition • In 1984, he was posthumously (after death) awarded the Bharat Ratna. Notable Works • Reign of Religion in Contemporary Philosophy, Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore, The Hindu View of Life, Kalki or the Future of Civilisation, An Idealist View of Life, The Religion We Need, India and China, and Gautama the Buddha. • Mpox (monkeypox) is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus. • It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. • It is caused by the monkeypox virus (commonly abbreviated as MPXV), an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia and other viruses. • The two genetic clades of the virus are clades I and II. WHO response: The global outbreak of mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on 23 of July 2022. WHO published a strategic preparedness and response plan for mpox and a suite of technical guidance documents. 100 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM REASONS FOR TEACHER’S DAY CELEBRATION IN INDIA NATIONAL TEACHERS’ AWARD • It celebrates outstanding educators who significantly enhance education quality and positively impact students' lives through their dedication. • The awards are conferred by the President of India on 5th September. • The awards consist of a silver medal, a certificate and a cash prize of Rs. 50,000. • This year, the award scope has widened to encompass teachers selected not only by the Department of School Education & Literacy but also by the Department of Higher Education and Ministry of Skill Development. 17. NISHTHA (NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR SCHOOL HEADS TEACHERS’ HOLISTIC ADVANCEMENT) • It aims to build competencies among all the teachers and school principals at the elementary stage. It is the world’s largest teachers’ training program of its kind. Source: PIB 18. MALAVIYA MISSION The Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship launched the Malaviya Mission. ABOUT • Malaviya Mission – Teacher Training Program is organized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), in association with the Ministry of Education. • The two-week online program shall focus on various themes identified for course curriculum/content for capacity building of faculty members at higher educational institutions. • NISHTHA is a National Mission to improve learning outcomes at the elementary level through an Integrated Teacher Training Program under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha in 2019-20. • It has been launched by the Department of School Education and Literacy. • It is a capacity building program for “Improving Quality of School Education through Integrated Teacher Training”. • The 8 themes include Holistic and Multidisciplinary Education, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), Academic Leadership, Governance and Management, Higher Education and Society, Research and Development, Skill Development, Student Diversity and Inclusive Education and Information and Communication Technology. • The UGC has established a dedicated portal for faculty members to register for the capacity-building programs. It was also announced to rename the Human Resource Development Centres (HRDCs) as Madan Mohan Malaviya Teachers Training Centre. 101 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 19. VIDYA SAMIKSHA KENDRAS Under the National Digital Education Architecture (NDEAR), the Ministry of Education is pushing the establishment of Vidya Samiksha Kendras (VSKs) across states. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy, 2020. Currently, at the Central level, a VSK centre is housed in the Central Institute of Educational Technology building in the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) campus. NDEAR • It aims to enable a common set of principles and approaches to be followed in building, using and reusing technology for education. Vision • A globally pioneering effort in education. • A unifying national digital infrastructure to energise and catalyse the education. Outcomes • Students gain access to on-demand learning materials, videos, graphics, animations, virtual labs, various assessment tools, personalized adaptive learning (PAL), and tracking for transition to higher education and skilling. • The Teachers get access to online support for lesson plans, use of TLM (Teachinglearning material), pedagogic transactions, online reference materials, competency based evaluation tools etc. They also get access to online modules for improving professional standards. VIDYA SAMIKSHA KENDRAS (VSKS) • NDEAR is federated, unbundled, interoperable, inclusive, accessible, evolving which aims to create and deliver diverse, relevant, contextual, innovative solutions that benefit students, teachers, parents, communities, administrators and result in timely implementation of policy goals. • NDEAR is under the aegis of the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). • VSK is aimed at leveraging data and technology to bring a big leap in learning outcomes. • This will cover data of more than 15 Lakh schools, 96 Lakh teachers and 26 Crore students and analyze them meaningfully using big data analysis, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning in order to enhance the overall monitoring of the education system and thereby improving learning outcomes. 102 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM OBJECTIVES • To monitor the real-time status of various projects/ activities under the ambit of Samagra Shiksha. • To keep track of enrolled students including learning outcomes, Dropouts, support required by teachers and schools, etc. • To monitor and track field level academic and non-academic activities at state level and also empower administrators and teachers in the field to take data driven decisions. • To set up a centralized help desk for grievance redressal mechanisms for stakeholders of the School ecosystem. • To identify and analyze improvement areas for decision making and implementation that needs urgent attention. SIGNIFICANCE 20. PM SCHOOLS FOR RISING INDIA (PM SHRI) The Union Minister for Education will inaugurate ICT labs for PM Shri schools on 25th October 2023 at Rohtak, Haryana. PM SHRI SCHEME KEY FEATURES Development of ‘Green Schools’ • These will be equipped with solar panels, LED lights, nutrition gardens, and waste management, water conservation and harvesting systems. Modern Facilities • Schools will include ICT (information and communication technologies) facilities, smart classrooms, library, digital library, science labs and vocational labs etc. Schools will also get science and math kits and annual school grants for libraries or sports. • Mother tongue and local languages to be encouraged. • The ability to effectively collect, monitor, correlate, and analyse data will lead to timely actions to implement schemes. • Integrating various data sets and breaking through the barrier of operating in silos will help us effectively leverage different entities towards a common goal. • Aim: The scheme aims to turn existing government schools into model schools. It will provide highquality education in an “equitable, inclusive and joyful environment that takes care of the diverse background, multilingual needs and different academic abilities of children”. • Funding: The scheme will be implemented as a Centrally sponsored scheme with a total project cost of 27,360 crore for the period of five years from 2022- 23 to 2026-27 for transforming nearly 14,500 schools across the country. • It will showcase all components of the National Education Policy 2020, act as exemplary schools and also offer mentorship to other schools in their vicinity. • A ‘School Quality Assessment Framework’ is being developed to measure the progress and performance of these schools. 103 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM ACCREDITATION OF THE SCHOOLS APP AND MOBILE APPLICATION (NIPUN) Source: PIB 21. SAMMAKKA SARAKKA CENTRAL TRIBAL UNIVERSITY The Union Cabinet recently gave its approval for introduction of the Central Universities (Amendment), Bill, 2023 in the Parliament. CENTRAL UNIVERSITY ACT, 2009 • It was passed by the Parliament in 2009, which aims to establish and incorporate universities directly governed by the federal government for teaching and research purposes, across all the States in India. • Visitor: The President of India shall be the Visitor of the University. • The following shall be the officers of the University, namely: The Chancellor; The Vice-Chancellor; The Pro-ViceChancellor; The Deans of Schools; The Registrar; The Finance Officer; The Controller of Examination; The Librarian; and Such other officers as may be declared by the Statutes to be the officers of the University. • Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor: The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed by the Visitor in such manner as may be prescribed by the Statutes. • The Chancellor shall be the head of the University and preside at the Convocations of the University held for conferring degrees and meetings of the Court. • Central Universities (Amendment) Act, 2014 changed the name of the Central University of Bihar (CUB) to Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) and the new central university was proposed to be called Mahatma Gandhi Central University. Source: PIB • Simplifying School Accreditation: At the event, the ministers will introduce the Accreditation of the Schools app. This app will play a crucial role in simplifying the accreditation process for schools, ensuring that they meet the necessary quality standards. • Skill Development: The Mobile Application (NIPUN) will provide students with a handy platform for skill development, helping them acquire new skills and knowledge. ABOUT • It is to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009 for setting up of Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University. • The university is to be set up at Mulugu District, Telangana as provided in the 13th Schedule to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. IMPORTANCE • The new university will increase access and improve the quality of higher education in the State. • This new university will also create additional capacity and will strive to remove regional imbalances. • It fosters higher education and research in tribal art, culture, and traditional knowledge for the benefit of the tribal population in the State. 104 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 22. SATHEE PORTAL Entrance exam preparation portal SATHEE (Self Assessment Test and Help for Entrance Exams) has been launched by the Ministry of Education and IIT-Kanpur. ABOUT • SATHEE hosts lectures and video content prepared by Professors and students of the IITs, and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). • The initiative is in line with the National Education Policy, with the goal to provide inclusive, high quality education even to remote parts of the country. Source: TH 23. POSHAN ABHIYAAN The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) is celebrating the 6th Rashtriya Poshan Maah throughout September 2023. POSHAN ABHIYAAN TARGET AUDIENCE • It targets pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children under 6 years of age. POSHAN TRACKER APP • In 2021, the MoWCD launched an application called Poshan Tracker. SAKSHAM ANGANWADI AND POSHAN 2.0 • In FY 2021-22, the government restructured some schemes into Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0. It includes the following sub-schemes: • It is an open learning platform available to students at no cost. • The portal uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to interact with students, and can be customised to each student’s pace of learning. • The preparation material will be available in English, Hindi and other regional languages to prepare for competitive exams like JEE and NEET. It is a flagship initiative by the Government of India (GoI) for addressing malnutrition comprehensively. AIM • This integration aims to create an integrated nutrition support program that enhances the content, delivery, outreach, and overall outcomes of nutritional services. • The primary focus is on promoting practices that improve health, wellness, and immunity against diseases and malnutrition. 105 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM Fund • Poshan 2.0 is an ongoing Centrally-Sponsored Scheme being implemented through the State Govts./ UT administrations based on a cost-sharing ratio between the Central and the State Government. Vision • Address the challenging situation of malnutrition among children up to the age of 6 years, adolescent girls (14-18 years) and pregnant and lactating women. • Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2 on Zero Hunger and SDG 4 on Quality Education) lies at the forefront of this program design. • Focus on the fundamental importance of nutrition and early childhood care and education for the well-being, growth and development of children into healthy and productive adults. Components • Nutrition Support for POSHAN through SNP for children of the age group of 06 months to 6 years, pregnant women and lactating mothers (PWLM). • For Adolescent Girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years in Aspirational Districts and North Eastern Region (NER). • Early Childhood Care and Education (3-6 years) and early stimulation for (0-3 years). • Anganwadi Infrastructure including modern, upgraded Saksham Anganwadi, and Poshan Abhiyaan. MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT POSHAN MAAH 2023 FOCUS &OBJECTIVE • The focus is on comprehensively addressing malnutrition using a lifecycle approach, which is a key component of Mission Poshan 2.0. • The main objective is to raise awareness about critical life stages, including pregnancy, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, in order to promote better nutrition across India. Theme: ‘Suposhit Bharat, Sakshar Bharat, Sashakt Bharat’ (Nutrition-rich India, Educated India, Empowered India), emphasizing the importance of nutrition, education, and empowerment in building a healthier and stronger country. THIS YEAR’S INITIATIVES • During this month-long event, the MoWCD will lead nationwide efforts to raise awareness about nutrition, focusing on key themes such as Exclusive Breastfeeding and Complementary Feeding. These efforts include activities like: 2022’S PROGRESS: • During 2022 Poshan Maah, more than 170 million sensitization activities took place, focusing on key themes related to nutrition. • Over 600 million activities have been conducted as part of the Jan Andolan movement during Poshan Pakhwadas (March) and Poshan Maahs (September) each year. 106 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM INTERNAL SECURITY 1. VARUNA-23 Phase II of the 21st edition of Varuna (Varuna-23) bilateral exercise between Indian and French Navy was conducted in the Arabian Sea. ABOUT THE EXERCISE ACHIEVEMENTS OF RECENT EXERCISE Source: PIB 2. ORGANISED CRIME AND CORRUPTION REPORTING PROJECT (OCCRP) The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project has made allegations of stock manipulation against the Adani Group. OCCRP OCCRP’S MISSION AND VISION • To establish a global network of investigative journalists, publishing their stories to uncover and expose crime and corruption, empowering the public to hold those in power accountable. • Its vision is “A world where lives, livelihoods, and democracy are not threatened by crime and corruption.” • Indian & French Navy bilateral naval exercise was initiated in 1993. • The exercise was later christened as ‘Varuna’ in 2001 and has since become a hallmark of robust India-France strategic bilateral relationship. IMPORTANCE • It provides an opportunity to learn from each other’s best practices and procedures. • It promotes operational collaboration between the two Navies for maintaining order at sea, emphasizing their shared commitment to global maritime security, safety, and freedom. • It is a global network of investigative journalists. It is spread across Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. • The organization was founded by Drew Sullivan and Paul Radu in 2006. • It is a member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network. 107 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM Source: Mint 3. DHANUSH GUNS The Indian Army, which has ordered 114 Dhanush artillery guns, will receive all the guns by 2026. ABOUT • It is compatible with all North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 155 mm ammunition systems. • The Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited, carved after corporation of the Ordnance Factory Board, is now manufacturing the Dhanush guns. CHARACTERISTICS Source: TH 4. INDIA’S AIRCRAFT CARRIERS The Defence Procurement Board (DPB) discussed the Navy’s proposal for acquiring a second Vikrantlike aircraft carrier. ABOUT THE PROJECT • Dhanush is the indigenously upgraded gun of the Swedish Bofors gun procured in the 1980s. • It is a 155 mm, 45-calibre towed artillery gun with a range of 36 km and has demonstrated a range of 38 km with specialized ammunition. • It is an upgrade of the existing 155m, 39 calibre Bofors FH 77 gun. • The gun features an inertial navigation system with GPS-based gun recording and auto-lying, an enhanced tactical computer for onboard ballistic computations and an onboard muzzle velocity recording. • It also has an automated gun sighting system with camera, thermal imaging and laser range finder. The project, estimated to cost around ₹40,000 crore, will see some modifications and upgrades to the design of the country’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) INS Vikrant, commissioned in September 2022, and will also be manufactured by Cochin Shipyard Ltd. (CSL). 108 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM INDIA’S AIRCRAFT CARRIERS INS VIKRANT • The Indigenous Aircraft Carrier is named after her illustrious predecessor, India’s first Aircraft Carrier which had played a vital role in the 1971 war. INS VIRAAT • INS Viraat was originally commissioned by the British Royal Navy as HMS Hermes on November 18, 1959. • INS Viraat was finally commissioned by the Indian Navy on 12 May 1987. • INS Viraat’s first major operation was ‘Operation Jupiter’ in July 1989 as part of Peacekeeping Operations in Sri Lanka, following the breakdown of the Indo- Sri Lankan Accord of 1986. • It also played a pivotal role in Operation Parakram, which was carried out in the wake of the 2013 terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament. • By establishing a blockade against Pakistan during the 1999 Kargil War, the INS Viraat also played a crucial part in Operation Vijay. INS VIKRAMADITYA- INDIAN NAVY’S BIGGEST SHIP • Three aircraft carriers were an “unavoidable requirement” to meet any eventualities and stated that taking into account the long coastline and hostile adversities on both sides of the Indian peninsula, an aircraft carrier on both sides of the coast was “quintessential” to uphold operational requirements. Source: TH • INS Vikrant is designed by Indian Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau (WDB) and built by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a Public Sector Shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. • It has been built with state of the art automation features and is the largest ship ever built in maritime history of India. It was launched into water in 2013 and commissioned in 2022. SIGNIFICANCE OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS • Aircraft carriers are extremely strong and have powerful weapons. • Their military capabilities, which include carrier borne aircraft, have completely changed the marine domain. • An aircraft carrier offers incredibly flexible operational options. • Surveillance, air defence, airborne early warning, protection of Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC), and anti-submarine warfare are some of its principal functions. • The carrier battle group is crucial for India, providing essential combat elements and firepower to establish effective air dominance and efficient sea control. 109 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 5. EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS-23 The 19th edition of “EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS” will be conducted in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA. ABOUT THE EXERCISE • Theme 2023: Employment of an Integrated Battle Group in Mountain/Extreme Climatic Conditions. Source: PIB 6. FIVE EYES ALLIANCE Amid recent standoffs between India and Canada the Five Eyes Alliance has emerged in the news. FIVE EYES ALLIANCE Background • It was established in 1946 between the United States and the United Kingdom after WWII. • It expanded to include Canada in 1949 and Australia and New Zealand in 1955. 9 Eyes and 14 Eyes • It later enlarged its core group to ‘Nine Eyes’ and 14 Eyes alliances as well. • The ‘Nine Eyes’ group expands to cover the Netherlands, Denmark, France and Norway, whereas the 14 Eyes bloc further includes Belgium, Italy, Germany, Spain and Sweden. Functioning • The members employ various communication methods, including Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), to monitor the activities of the citizens in other member countries. • They maintain this closeness through the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council, an entity that facilitates the exchange of views, best practices, and annual in-person meetings among non-political intelligence oversight and review agencies of the member countries. Source: IE • It is an annual exercise conducted jointly by the Indian Army and the United States Army that began in 2004. • The 18th edition of the Exercise was conducted in Auli, Uttarakhand, India in November 2022. • Aim: The drill is conducted with the aim of exchanging best practices, tactics, techniques and procedures between the armies of the two countries. OTHER EXERCISES WITH USA: VAJRA PRAHAR, SANGAM (IN-US EOD Ex), RED FLAG, COPE INDIA • Five Eyes is a secret agreement between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the USA. • The parties are diverse societies, governed by rule of law and robust human rights and are bonded by a common language which aids the partners in sharing information with one another to protect their shared national interests. 110 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 7. INDIA-INDONESIA-AUSTRALIA TRILATERAL MARITIME EXERCISE Indian Navy’s warship, INS Sahyadri, in the Indo-Pacific, actively participated in the maiden trilateral Maritime Partnership Exercise with the ships and aircraft from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Indonesian Navy. ABOUT THE EXERCISE • This is the first trilateral exercise which aims to bolster the partnership between India, Australia, and Indonesia, fostering a collective effort to enhance stability, peace, and security in the Indo-Pacific region. • It offered an invaluable opportunity for the participating navies to share their knowledge and expertise. • Additionally, its anti-submarine warfare suite, which includes cutting-edge sonar equipment and anti-submarine warfare helicopters, strengthens its ability to precisely detect and thwart undersea threats. Source: PIB 8. NUCLEAR BRIEFCASE During the recent visit of the Russian President to China, he was seen with officers carrying a “nuclear briefcase.” WHAT IS A ‘NUCLEAR BRIEFCASE’? Also known as the ‘Cheget’, named after Mount Cheget in the Caucasus Mountains in Russia. It plays a vital role in ordering a nuclear strike by Russia. • The briefcase serves as a secure communication tool connecting the president with his top military leaders and conveying orders for a nuclear strike. • In the “command” section, there are two buttons: White for launch and Red for Cancel, activated with a special flashcard (Zvezda). • The Briefcase links the president to the military through “Kazbek”,a secret network connecting to “Kavkaz.” The President, Defence Minister, and Chief of General staff have a briefcase each and they are supposed to coordinate in case of a potential order to strike. INS SAHYADRI • It is the third ship of the indigenously designed and built Project-17 class multirole stealth frigates was built at Mazagon Dock Ltd, Mumbai. • It was launched in 2005 and commissioned in 2012. • Its ability to confront threats across many domains is provided by this weaponry, ensuring its prowess in both offensive and defensive naval operations. 111 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM OTHER COUNTRIES WITH SIMILAR SYSTEMS Source: IE 9. OPERATION CHAKRA II The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has recently launched Operation Chakra-II. WHY MICROSOFT AND AMAZON ARE PART OF OPERATION CHAKRA-II? • In these scams, commonly known as tech support fraud, criminals establish and operate illegal call centres, by impersonating Microsoft and Amazon customer support. • According to the companies, the cybercriminals have targeted over 2,000 customers based in the US, Canada, Germany, Australia, Spain, and the UK which are the important customer bases of these companies. • They believe actionable partnerships like these are critical in helping protect consumers from impersonation scams. HOW TO SAFEGUARD? While Amazon and Microsoft will be working closely on the tech part to mitigate threats online, users should be aware of such ‘tech support’ calls. • Always treat all unsolicited messages with scepticism and do not provide any personal information. DO YOU KNOW? Chakra-1 was conducted nearly a year ago by the CBI in coordination with the Interpol, the FBI and police forces of multiple countries. The agency had conducted searches at 115 locations with police forces in various states, the officials said. Source: TOI ABOUT: OPERATION CHAKRA II The operation was launched to fight against transnational organised cyber-enabled financial crimes in India. • For this, CBI has partnered with Microsoft and Amazon as well as with national and international agencies to combat and dismantle infrastructure of illegal call centres. • The CBI is working closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States, the Cyber Crime Directorate and IFCACC of the INTERPOL, the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the United Kingdom, the Singapore Police Force and the BKA of Germany to notify further leads. 112 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 10. PROJECT UDBHAV The Defence Minister launched ‘Project UDBHAV’ during the inauguration of the Indian Military Heritage Festival. ABOUT THE ANCIENT INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM It is rooted in a 5000 year old civilizational legacy, which has attached great value to knowledge; witnessed by intellectual texts, world’s largest collection of manuscripts, thinkers and different schools of thoughts in so many domains of knowledge. RATIONALE BEHIND THE PROJECT UDBHAV Arthashastra of Chanakya It underscores the importance of strategic partnerships, alliances and diplomacy, aligning with modern military practices such as international cooperation and soft power projection. Chanakya’s teachings on statecraft and warfare are studied by various institutions the world over. Thirukkural of Thiruvalluvar It advocates ethical conduct in all endeavours, including warfare, that aligns with modern military codes of ethics of just war and principles of Geneva Convention. • Apart from ancient texts, a study of prominent military campaigns and leaders like Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka and Cholas flourished and expanded their influence during their times. • The Naval Battle of Saraighat in 1671, led by Lachit Borphukan, stands as a stellar example of the use of clever diplomatic negotiations to buy time, employ psychological warfare, focus on military intelligence and exploiting the strategic weakness of the Mughals. Source: PIB 11. EXERCISE HARIMAU SHAKTI 2023 A joint bilateral training exercise of Indian and Malaysian Armies has commenced in Meghalya’s Umroi Cantonment to enhance military capability for conduct of multi-domain operations in a subconventional scenario. Project UDBHAV (translates as ‘origin’ or ‘genesis’) is a collaboration between the Indian Army and the United Service Institution of India (USI), which aims to revisit the roots of India’s ancient military thoughts. • It acknowledges the vintage scriptures and writings of our Nation, that span centuries in the past and contain profound knowledge that can benefit modern military strategies. 113 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM INDIA MALAYSIA DEFENCE CORPORATIONS • In 1993, India & Malaysia signed a MoU on Defence Cooperation, which is the cornerstone of defence relations between the two countries. • Both sides send naval ships and delegations to the biannual LIMA, DSA (Malaysia) and MILAN, DEFEXPO, AEROINDIA (India) regional events. • India is also participating in the Cooperative Mechanism on the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) and contributed to two of the six International Maritime Organization (IMO) Projects for enhancement of navigational safety and environmental protection in the Straits. Source: TH 12. INDO-TIBETAN BORDER POLICE (ITBP) The 62nd Raising Day of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was organised. ITBP RAISING DAY HISTORY INDO-TIBETAN BORDER POLICE(ITBP): RAISED ON 24 October, 1962 during India-China War MANDATE ITBP primarily guards the nation’s 3,488-kilometre-long India-China borders ranging from the Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh. Additional tasks assigned to ITBP include anti-terrorism and internal security duties, anti-naxal operations, disaster management, UN peacekeeping, VVIP protection and guarding Indian missions abroad. ABOUT: The 5th Royal Battalion of the Malaysian Army and the a Battalion of the Rajput Regiment of Indian Army have participated in the ‘Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023’. • The previous edition of the exercise was conducted in Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia in November 2022. • Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023 is aimed to enhance the level of defence cooperation between Indian and Malaysian Armies along with fostering bilateral relations between the two nations. The history of ITBP Raising Day goes back to the Indo-China war in the high-altitude Himalayan region with freezing conditions. • These climatic conditions, coupled with the numerical superiority of the Chinese army, ensured India ended up on the losing side. • As a response, a specialised security force, the ITBP, was constituted. This force since then has guarded the border at high altitudes. 114 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM VARIOUS ROLES PLAYED BY ITBP: • Whether it is battling terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir or Left-Wing Extremism in Chhattisgarh, the ITBP has performed with excellence. • ITBP personnel also play an active role in making Government of India schemes a success. • During the Lockdown, essential items were supplied by the ITBP to people residing in remote areas. Various services were rendered by the ITBP in efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19 in the country. • The ITBP also contributes to the nation’s economic development by thwarting efforts from across the border aimed at slowing our economic development. Source: PIB 13. PROJECT VEER GATHA 3.0 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE) has now decided to launch Project Veer Gatha 3.0. CLASSIFICATION: Classified into two Categories: Wartime Gallantry Awards & Peacetime Gallantry Awards. Wartime Gallantry Awards Param Vir Chakra (PVC), Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Vir Chakra Peacetime Gallantry Awards Ashok Chakra, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra. Others Sena Medal, Nao Sena Medal & Vayu Sena Medal: Awarded for acts of exceptional devotion to duty or courage in the Army, Navy & IAF respectively. Aim To raise awareness about the brave acts and sacrifices of the Gallantry Award winners among school students. ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED: The projects can be interdisciplinary and in various formats like poems, paintings, essays, videos, etc. • Schools have conducted various projects/activities and have uploaded a total of four best entries from each school on the MyGov portal. • During the earlier two editions, 25 winners (Super 25) were selected. However, in the Veer Gatha Project (3.0), 100 winners (Super 100) will be selected. • Virtual/ face-to-face awareness programs/sessions for schools across the country. • Two editions of the Veer Gatha Project 1.0 and 2.0 have been conducted in 2021 and 2022 respectively. • The best project is rewarded nationally by the Ministry of Defence on the forthcoming Republic Day. • Each winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs.10,000. Source: PIB ABOUT PROJECT VEER GATHA 3.0 Being a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, it has been launched in schools to raise awareness about the Gallantry Awards. WHAT ARE GALLANTRY AWARDS? These awards honor the acts of bravery and sacrifice of the officers/personnel of the Armed Forces, other lawfully constituted forces, and civilians. 115 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 14. BHARAT NCX 2023 Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, inaugurated the ‘Bharat NCX 2023’. ABOUT The 2nd Edition of the National Cyber Security Exercise 2023 ‘Bharat NCX 2023’ will be conducted as a hybrid exercise over a period of twelve days from 09 to 20 October 2023. AIM To train senior management and technical personnel of Government/Critical Sector organizations and Public and Private agencies on contemporary cyber threats and handling cyber incidents and response. The program is being conducted by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), Govt. of India in strategic partnership with Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU). Source: PIB 15. MiG-21 The Number 4 Squadron (Oorials) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) based at Air Force Station Uttarlai (Barmer) is converting from the MiG-21 to the Su-30 MKI. This change signifies the unwavering commitment of the Indian Air Force to modernize and at the same time protect the skies of the nation. ABOUT MiG-21 • The IAF now has two MiG-21 squadrons in service comprising the upgraded Bison variants, the No. 3 squadron ‘Cobras’ at Bikaner and No. 23 squadron ‘Panthers’ at Suratgarh, which will be phased out by 2025. DO YOU KNOW? Source: TH • The (Mikoyan-Gurevich) MiG-21 was the first supersonic fighter in service of the IAF and was inducted in 1963. • The purchase of 12 MiG-21 fighters from the Soviet Union and for Soviet technical assistance in setting up production facilities for the fighter in India was followed by the procurement of SA-2 (Dvina) surface-to-air missiles. • It has participated in all major conflicts since then. • More than 800 variants of the supersonic fighter have been inducted into service, and it remained the frontline fighter jet of the IAF for a long time. • The IAF now has two MiG-21 squadrons in service comprising the upgraded Bison variants, the No. 3 squadron ‘Cobras’ at Bikaner and No. 23 squadron ‘Panthers’ at Suratgarh, which will be phased out by 2025 • In the last few years, the IAF has inducted two squadrons of the LCA Tejas and two squadrons of Rafale fighter jets procured from France which pushed the squadron strength to over 30. • In January 2021, the IAF signed a contract with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 83 LCA Mk1A which it will start receiving from early 2024 onwards. 116 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 16. OPERATION ‘NANHE FARISTEY’ In October 2023, Railway Protection Force reunited over 601 children with their families under Operation ‘Nanhe Faristey’. ABOUT • Under this program, these children were promptly rescued and transferred to the relevant authorities before being reunited with their families. OTHER INITIATIVES BY RAILWAYS INITIATIVE NAME AIM Operation AAHT Combating human trafficking on railways Operation Jeevan Raksha Saving lives of passengers in vulnerable situations Meri Saheli Initiative Ensuring the security of women passengers Operation Uplabdh Cracking down on black marketing of tickets. Operation NARCOS Combating drug-related crimes on railways Rail Madad Portal Swift response to security-related passenger complaints Operation Yatri Suraksha Protecting passengers from offenses through collaboration with GRP/Police Operation Sanraksha Ensuring passenger safety by addressing stone pelting on trains Operation Seva Providing assistance to elderly, sick, or injured passengers Operation Satark Curbing illegal transportation of goods on railways Source: PIB 17. NIRBHAY CRUISE MISSILE India’s defence forces will soon have long-range cruise missiles of Nirbhay Class. ABOUT NIRBHAY • This initiative was introduced on the Indian Railways platform. • It aims to rescue and safeguard children in need of care and protection who encountered by the railway system. • Trained personnel rescue the children who have come to railway stations without informing their parents, because of some family issues or in search of a better life. • Under this program, these children were promptly rescued and transferred to the relevant authorities before being reunited with their families. • It is India’s first indigenously designed and developed Long Range Subsonic Cruise Missile capable of deep penetration into adversary territory to strike high value targets with precision. • Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) as the system designer and integrator led a consortium of DRDO laboratories for the indigenous design and development of Nirbhay. • Presently, Nirbhay is launched from a mobile articulated launcher. 117 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM • It is being adopted for launch from sea and air platforms. • India is in the list of select few countries having capability to design and develop this class of cruise missiles. Source: ET 18. EXERCISE MITRA SHAKTI The ninth edition Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023 has commenced. ABOUT • It is an annual joint military exercise between Srilanka and India. • The first edition of the Exercise was conducted in 2012. • India and Sri Lanka also conduct Trilateral Maritime Exercise “Dosti”, and a Naval exercise named SLINEX. Source: PIB 19. EXERCISE VAJRA PRAHAR The 14th Edition of the Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise “VAJRA PRAHAR 2023” commenced at the Joint Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya. ABOUT Source: PIB • Ex Vajra Prahar aims at sharing best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics. • The first edition was conducted in the year 2010 in India. • Both forces are going to rehearse a series of Special Operations, Counter Terrorist Operations, and Airborne operations in simulated conventional and unconventional scenarios in mountainous terrain. OTHER MILITARY EXERCISES BETWEEN INDIA-USA Yudh Abhyas: Indian and USA armies, Cope India: Indian and USA Air Forces, Malabar Exercise: Navies of India, USA, and Japan. 118 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 20. NATIONAL CADET CORPS (NCC) NCC celebrated its 75th Anniversary on November 26, 2023. ABOUT Source: PIB 21. IN-USN SALVAGE AND EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL EXERCISE – SALVEX The Seventh edition of Indian Navy-US Navy (IN–USN) Salvage and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exercise, SALVEX was conducted at Kochi. ABOUT OBJECTIVE • Conduct of joint training exercises towards enhancing interoperability, cohesiveness and gaining from best practices mutually in Maritime Salvage and EOD operations. • It enhances the skill-sets of the Diving teams in a number of diverse disciplines such as mine detection and neutralization, wreck location and salvage. Source: PIB Formation The NCC was raised in 1948(recommended by H. N. Kunzru Committee,1946), making it the largest uniformed youth organization in the world. Ministry Ministry of Defence Training It registers cadets at both high school and college levels, and upon the successful completion of different stages, it confers certificates. Principles The NCC focuses on instilling core principles such as discipline, leadership, and patriotism among youth. Diverse Initiatives NCC engages in various initiatives, including social development, disaster relief, environmental conservation, and community services. For Example Swachhata Hi Sewa’ pan-India cleanliness and awareness drive. • IN and USN have been participating in exercise since 2005. • The exercise spanned over 10 days, included the ships – INS Nireekshak and USNS Salvor in addition to Specialist Diving and EOD teams. 119 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM ART AND CULTURE 1. BOTTLENECK IN HUMAN EVOLUTION Recently, a study published in Science sheds light on a crucial period in human evolution marked by a population bottleneck, providing insights into the challenges our early ancestors faced and the genetic changes that shaped modern humans. Researchers from China, Italy, and the U.S. used a novel genomic analysis technique called Fast Infinitesimal Time Coalescent Process (FitCoal) to examine this bottleneck. FitCoal: • It is a method of inferring ancient population size and demographic history by using modern-day human genomic sequences and calculates the composite likelihood for the site frequency spectrum (SFS), which is the distribution of allele frequencies in the sequences. • FitCoal can detect severe bottlenecks and speciation events in human evolutionary history that are otherwise difficult to observe from the fossil record. Genome Sequencing: • Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of Adenine, Cytosine, Guanines, and Thymine that make up an organism's DNA. • The genome sequence will represent a valuable shortcut, helping scientists find genes much more easily and quickly. • A genome sequence does contain some clues about where genes are, even though scientists are just learning to interpret these clues. CAUSES OF BOTTLENECK: Environmental Factors Glaciation events, changes in temperature, and severe droughts were suggested as reasons for the downturn in the size of the human ancestral population. The study suggests that humans persisted in presumably dangerous conditions during the bottleneck period, around 930,000-813,000 years ago. Loss of other species, potentially food sources for ancestral humans, also contributed to the bottleneck. WHAT ARE THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE STUDY? POPULATION BOTTLENECK: A population bottleneck is a sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events or human activities that kill or prevent the reproduction of a large percentage of the population. • This reduces the genetic diversity and the ability to adapt to changing conditions of the remaining population. • The study reveals that a severe population bottleneck occurred between 800,000 to 900,000 years ago, nearly driving the human species to the brink of extinction. • During this bottleneck, only approximately 1,280 breeding individuals sustained the entire human population, and this situation persisted for about 117,000 years. 120 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM Loss of Genetic Diversity Early human ancestors experienced significant loss of life during the bottleneck period. This resulted in a substantial loss of genetic diversity, with an estimated 65.85% of humans' current genetic diversity potentially lost during the early to middle Pleistocene era (from two million to 11,000 years ago). Speciation Event The bottleneck event in human evolution resulted in the fusion of two ancestral chromosomes, forming chromosome 2 in modern humans, a distinct trait not found in other primates. 2. WEST BENGAL ADOPTS POILA BAISAKH AS STATE FOUNDATION DAY • The West Bengal Legislative Assembly recently made a significant decision by declaring 'Poila Baisakh,' the first day of the Bengali calendar, as 'Bangla Dibas' or West Bengal Foundation Day. • A dispute emerged earlier in 2023 concerning West Bengal's Foundation Day when Raj Bhavan officially declared June 20 as the State Foundation Day. • The Chief Minister of West Bengal argued that June 20, which carries associations with the partition, lacks relevance to the state's establishment. • Also, the Assembly approved the proposal to make Rabindranath Tagore's 'Banglar Mati Banglar Jol' the official song of West Bengal. 3. ROSH HASHANAH The Prime Minister of India extended greetings to Jewish people around the world on Rosh Hashanah. ABOUT ROSH HASHANAH It is a Hebrew phrase that means ‘the head of the year‘, and followed as a ‘new year day’ in Judaism. It begins on the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. As it is celebrated for 48 hours, it is also called ‘yoma arichta’, meaning ‘a long day’. WHAT IS POILA BAISAKH? Poila Baisakh is an important festival celebrated by Bengali communities across West Bengal, Tripura, Jharkhand, and Assam. It is also celebrated in Bangladesh. It signifies the Bengali New Year and in 2023 it was celebrated on April 15th. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JUNE 20TH FOR BENGAL? • On 20th June, 1947, the Bengal Legislative Assembly gathered to make a significant decision about Bengal's future. • They had three choices: (a) keep Bengal whole within India, (b) split it into East Bengal and West Bengal for Bengali Muslims and Hindus respectively, or (c) divide it between India and Pakistan. • After significant rounds of voting, the decision was made to divide Bengal into West Bengal and East Pakistan (which later became Bangladesh) and the Radcliffe Line was drawn later to mark the boundary. 121 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM HOW IS ROSH HASHANAH CELEBRATED? • Jewish people blow a Shofar, a curved ram’s horn, and pray near a body of water in a Tashlich ceremony. • They eat apples and honey together to symbolise a sweet new year, and eat pomegranate seeds that represent the 613 mitzvot, or commandments. Source: PIB 4. GOND ART Several of the tribal skilled artisans have made significant contributions to fostering tribal art and culture including Durga Bai Vyam an Indian artist renowned for her detailed and bright Gond art. She received the fourth highest civilian honor in India, the Padma Shri, in 2022. ABOUT GOND ART FEATURES OF GOND ART • It is renowned for its intricate patterns, dots, and lines that are used to create detailed and artistically pleasing compositions. • These patterns are frequently used to fill in shapes and forms in artwork. • Many Gond art pieces feature the region’s flora and fauna, including animals, birds, trees, and other natural aspects. • Tribal mythology and folklore are frequently used in Gond art. • The artwork may include mythical animals, gods, and goddesses from Gondi mythology. Source: TH ORIGIN • It is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah (Judaism’s founding religious text) and appears under different names in the Bible. • However, Torah mentions a sacred occasion that starts on the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar around the time Rosh Hashanah is scheduled. • Though the holiday was likely well established by the sixth century B.C., the phrase “Rosh Hashanah” shows up for the first time in the Mishna, a Jewish code of law compiled in 200 A.D. • Gond art is a traditional tribal art style that evolved from the Gondi people of central India, particularly in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh regions. • It is one of India’s most vivid and unique tribal art traditions. • Detailed and colourful portrayals of nature, legends, and daily life characterized Gond art. 122 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 5. PURI TEMPLE RATNA BHANDAR There is the demand to open the Ratna Bhandar (treasure room) of the Puri Jagannath Temple that has not been unlocked for three decades. JAGANNATHA PURI TEMPLE • All those who conquered Orissa, such as the Mughals, the Marathas and the English East India Company, attempted to gain control over the temple. They felt that this would make their rule acceptable to the local people. THE ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES • These are classified in three orders, i.e., Rekha Deula, Pidha Deula and Khakhara Deula. • The temples of Odisha constitute a distinct substyle within the Nagara Order. • Deul (the shikhara): It is vertical almost until the top when it suddenly curves sharply inwards. • Jagamohana (the mandapas): The hall which is almost square. • The most repeated form is the horseshoe shape, which has come from the earliest times, starting with the large windows of the chaityagrihas. • Compartments and niches are generally square, the exterior of the temples are lavishly carved, their interiors generally quite bare. Odisha temples usually have boundary walls. PURI TEMPLE’S RATNA BHANDAR • The precious ornaments of sibling deities — Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra — given by devotees and erstwhile kings over centuries, are stored in the Ratna Bhandar of the 12th century shrine. • It is located within the temple and has two chambers: • Most of the main temple sites are located in ancient Kalinga — modern Puri District, including Bhubaneswar or ancient Tribhuvanesvara, Puri and Konark. • It was built by Anantavarman of the Chodaganga dynasty in the 10th century. However, the deities within the shrine are believed to be much older. • Subsequently, in 1230, king Anangabhima III dedicated his kingdom to the deity and proclaimed himself as the ‘deputy’ of the god. 123 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM Source: IE 6. MERI MAATI, MERA DESH CAMPAIGN The Indian Railways will operate special trains to transport volunteers of Meri Maati, Mera Desh campaign carrying mitti (soil) from State capitals and other major stations across the country to reach New Delhi. ABOUT MERI MAATI, MERA DESH CAMPAIGN • “Meri Maati Mera Desh” [My soil, my country] campaign is envisaged from 9th August 2023 as a culminating event of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. • It is a tribute to the Veers and Veeranganas who have made the supreme sacrifice for the country. • It is being organized by the Ministry of Culture. • It comprises many activities and ceremonies conducted across the country at Panchayat/Village, Block, Urban Local Body, State and National levels. MAJOR ACTIVITIES Source: TH LAST OPENING OF RATNA BHANDAR • According to official sources, the last inventory was made between May 13 and July 23, 1978. • Though it was opened again on July 14, 1985, the inventory was not updated. • Permission of the Odisha government is required to open the treasure house. ABOUT • Demands to open the Ratna Bhandar gained strength after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) (the custodian of the 12th-century shrine) gave a requisition for repair/conservation of the chamber. • There are apprehensions that cracks have emerged in its walls that could endanger the precious ornaments stored there. • Soil from the villages of India will be collected at block level and then finally brought to the Capital along with volunteers from each block who would assemble at Kartavya Path. • The soil that gets collected would be used in the ‘Amrit Vatika’, a special garden being created in Delhi along with an ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ memorial. • The Hon’ble Prime Minister would administer the Panch Pran pledge to volunteers. 124 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 7. VAJRA MUSHTI KALAGA A martial art form in terminal decline. THE JETTIES • They are traditionally from Gujarat and settled in the old Mysore area for over 600 years since the advent of the Moghuls. • Their ancestors are settled in Maharashtra and are still practising wrestling. ABOUT • The main objective of this Indian martial art form is to neutralise the opponent and counter his weapon. OCCASION Source: TH 8. TOTO LANGUAGE The Toto language, spoken by only 1,600 people in West Bengal, is on the brink of extinction. However, a trilingual dictionary (Toto-Bengali-English) called "Toto Shabda Sangraha" is set to be released in Kolkata on 7th October 2023, to help preserve the toto language. TOTO PEOPLE • The Toto is a primitive and isolated tribal group residing only in a small enclave called Totopara in the Jalpaiguri of West Bengal, India. • The total population of Totos is less than 2000 according to the 2001 census, all living in Totopara. • The ‘Vajra Mushti Kalaga’ (diamond fist duel) is a form of unique martial art that incorporates various techniques of hand-to-hand combat like grappling, wrestling and striking techniques. • Vajra Mushti (Thunderbolt Fist) employs a knuckleduster, a small metal weapon typically made from materials like buffalo or elephant (ivory) horns worn on the fighter's knuckles. • It is held on the ninth day of Navaratri at Amba Vilas Palace in Mysore. • The fight is real and the jetty’s make all efforts to draw blood from the opponent’s head, and whosoever draws the blood from the opponent’s head first is declared the winner. 125 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM • The Totos are considered Mongoloid people. • They are generally endogamous and marry within their own tribe. • The Toto family is patrilocal (social system in which a married couple resides with the husband's parents) in nature and dominated by nuclear type. However, joint families are not rare. Monogamy is a common form of marriage among the Toto but polygamy is not prohibited. There is no custom of divorce among the Totos. TOTO LANGUAGE • The Toto language is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Toto tribal people in parts of West Bengal bordering Bhutan. • The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) lists it as a critically endangered language. • The Toto language is primarily spoken orally and even though prominent community member Padma Shri-decorated Dhaniram Toto developed a script as recently as in 2015, most people either write it in Bengali script or write in Bengali language. 9. BEKAL FORT The first public sector caravan park in Kerala to come up at Bekal Fort. BEKAL FORT Source: TH • It is shaped like a giant keyhole; the historic Bekal Fort was built in the 17th century. • Originally constructed by the rulers of the ancient Kadampa Dynasty, the Fort changed hands over the years to the Kolathiri Rajas, the Vijayanagara Empire, Tipu Sultan and finally, the British East India Company. • Near the Fort is an old Mosque that is said to have been built by Tipu Sultan of Mysore. • Today, the Bekal Fort and its scenic surroundings are fast becoming an international tourist destination and a favorite shooting locale for filmmakers. 126 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 10. WAGH NAKH Maharashtra government recently signed a MoU with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary wagh nakh to the state. WAGH NAKH • It was a weapon used for personal defence or stealth attack, and could easily slice through skin and flesh. CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI’S LEGEND • The most famous use of the wagh nakh in history comes from the story of Afzal Khan’s killing by Shivaji. Khan was a general of Bijapur’s Adil Shahi Sultanate. • Shivaji used to be a former vassal of the Adil Shahis but by the 1650s, he had become increasingly assertive, taking forts across the Konkan, and bringing under control large swathes of Adil Shahi territory. • Given Afzal Khan’s success in the south, he was sent by the Sultan, with a mighty army, to subdue the Maratha icon. • Khan marched into the Konkan and demanded a meeting with Shivaji. But Shivaji smelled treachery and went prepared to the meeting, wearing a chainmail under his robes and hiding a wagh nakh in his sleeve. • During the meeting, Khan tried to stab Shivaji while embracing him, but Shivaji's armor saved him. Shivaji fought back with a wagh nakh, tearing Khan's guts out. One of Shivaji's men later beheaded Khan, and in the ensuing battle, Shivaji's army emerged victorious. CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ’S WAGH NAKH REACHING LONDON ABOUT • The MoU states that the antique weapon will be handed over to the Government of Maharashtra on a loan basis for a period of three years, during which it will be displayed in museums across the state. Source: IE • Literally ‘tiger claws’, the wagh nakh is a medieval claw-like dagger which was used across the Indian subcontinent. • The weapon, designed to fit over knuckles or be concealed under the palm, featured four or five curved blades attached to a glove or bar. • According to the Victoria and Albert Museum’s website, the weapon was brought to Britain by East India Company officer James Grant Duff (1789- 1858). Duff was the Company Resident (political agent) of the Satara State from 1818-22. • This was given to Mr. James Grant-Duff of Eden When he was Resident at Satara By the Prime Minister of the Peshwa of the Marathas. 127 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 11. SARASWATI SAMMAN Tamil writer Sivasankari was presented with the ‘Saraswati Samman’ 2022 for her book of memoirs Surya Vamsam. ABOUT SARASWATI SAMMAN • The selection follows a rigorous three-tier process leading up to a final decision by Chayan Parishad currently headed by former Supreme Court judge, justice Arjan Kumar Sikri. • Besides the Saraswati Samman, the Vyas Samman and the Bihari Puraskar are other literary awards instituted by the foundation. ABOUT • Ms. Sivasankari, born in 1942, has a literary career spanning over five decades. She has authored 36 novels, 48 novelettes, 150 short stories, five travelogues, seven collections of essays and three biographies. • Her greatest contribution to Indian literature is her four-volume Knit India Through Literature, a compendium of Indian literature. Source: TH 12. UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK (UCCN) Recently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the addition of 55 new cities to its Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Among the new entrants, two Indian cities made their mark: Kozhikode in Kerala as the ‘City of Literature’ and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh as the ‘City of Music’. • OTHER INDIAN CITIES IN THE UCCN include Jaipur: Crafts and Folk Arts (2015), Varanasi: Creative City of Music (2015), Chennai: Creative City of Music (2017), Mumbai: Film (2019), Hyderabad: Gastronomy (2019), and Srinagar: Crafts and Folk Art (2021). UNESCO CREATIVE CITIES NETWORK (UCCN) • It was created in 2004. • It aims to “promote cooperation among cities which recognize creativity as a strategic factor in their urban development”. • Sustainable Development Goal 11 aims for Sustainable Cities and Communities. • The network covers seven creative fields: crafts and folk arts, media arts, film, design, gastronomy, literature and music. • It is instituted by the KK Birla Foundation, carries a plaque, a citation, and a cash prize of ₹15 lakh. • It is given annually for outstanding literary works in 22 Indian languages in the last 10 years and is among the highest recognitions in the field of Indian literature. 128 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM KOZHIKODE AS CITY OF LITERATURE: • Kozhikode is the first city in India to receive the prestigious title of ‘City of Literature’ by UNESCO. • The city has a long history of hosting various literary events, such as the Kerala Literature Festival, which is one of the largest literary gatherings in Asia. • This acknowledgement reinforces the city's role as a hub for intellectual exchange and literary discussions. • Kozhikode carried the distinction of being home to over 500 libraries. • The city is also home to many renowned writers, including S. K. Pottekkatt (the most celebrated writer of the city), Thikkodiyan and P. Valsala Sanjayan, along with poets, scholars, and publishers who have contributed to the diversity and vibrancy of Malayalam literature and culture. GWALIOR AS THE CITY OF MUSIC: • Gwalior is the second city in India to be designated as the ‘City of Music’ by UNESCO, after Varanasi in 2015. • The city is also the origin of the Gwalior Gharana, the oldest and most influential school of Hindustani classical music. • The city is widely regarded as the birthplace of Tansen, one of the greatest musicians and composers in Indian history, who was also one of the ‘Navratnas’ (nine jewels) in the court of Emperor Akbar. • The city hosts one of the biggest annual music festivals in India, the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, which attracts thousands of music lovers and artists from across the country and abroad. 13. BRITISH ACADEMY BOOK PRIZE India-born author Nandini Das won the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for her book ‘Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire’. BRITISH ACADEMY BOOK PRIZE • Earlier known as the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize, it was established in 2013. • The prize covers various subjects within the social sciences and humanities. • It aims to promote cross-cultural dialogue and appreciation of diverse cultures. • It encourages a deeper understanding of global issues and human experiences. • The British Academy Book Prize, worth 25000 British pounds sterling, is awarded annually for a non-fiction book that promotes global cultural understanding for a wider public audience. • Eligible books come from the subjects that fall within those disciplines, from archaeology, history and psychology to philosophy, languages and cultural studies. NANDINI DAS AND HER WORK • She is 49-year-old and is English Professor at the University of Oxford. • She has sought to present a new perspective on the origins of the empire through the story of the arrival of the first English ambassador in India, Sir Thomas Roe, in the early 17th century. Source: TH 129 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 14. AMARNATH YATRA • The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has completed the construction of a motorable road that connects the Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir’s Lidder Valley with the Baltal base camp, making the pilgrimage more accessible and comfortable for the devotees. • This milestone resulted from the successful upgrade of the Baltal road, a feat accomplished through the continuous efforts of Project Beacon. • Project Beacon is the BRO's oldest undertaking, was raised on May 18, 1960, with its headquarters at Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. • Beacon currently takes care of the road infrastructure development and maintenance in important areas of Kashmir. TRADITIONAL ACCESS ROUTES: • Pilgrims historically approached the shrine via two routes Pahalgam and Sonamarg both located in the Lidder Valley, each presenting its own set of challenges through demanding terrains. • Pilgrims also had the option to use chopper services from Baltal to Panchtarni, located 6 km away from the shrine. However, ecological concerns led to the discontinuation of services directly to the shrine. WHAT ARE THE KEY FACTS REGARDING AMARNATH CAVE SHRINE? • The Amarnath mountain features a cave on its south famously known as the Amarnath Cave. This cave is the location of the Amarnath Temple, a significant Hindu shrine situated in the Pahalgam tehsil of the Anantnag district in Jammu and Kashmir, India. • The shrine is perched at an altitude of 3,800 metres, contributing to the challenging nature of the pilgrimage. • Amarnath Peak, a part of the Himalayas is a mountain with a peak elevation of 5,186 meters, in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, in the vicinity of Sonamarg. • Amarnath yatra is an annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave, where devotees pay homage to an ice stalagmite believed to be the lingam of Lord Shiva. • The ice stalagmite forms every year during the summer months and reaches its maximum size in July and August, when thousands of Hindu devotees make an annual pilgrimage to the cave. 130 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 15. CHHATH PUJA Recently Chhath Puja is celebrated in Northern India. ABOUT • Chhath has been celebrated in Bihar, parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Nepal for centuries. • Origin tied to Lord Ram and Goddess Sita’s post-victory rituals. • Devotees observe a strict fast, offering prayers to Usha and Pratyusha(the light of the rising and the setting Sun) in water bodies. • Symbolizes religiosity and holds a special place in Bihari culture. • Chhathi maiyya, the Sun’s sister, is the revered deity with strict rituals. CULTURAL AND SOCIAL IMPORTANCE Source: IE 16. GURU TEGH BAHADUR November 24 is commemorated as the ‘Martyrdom Day’ of Guru Teg Bahadur. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: • He advocated for the right to practice one’s religion freely. • Executed in 1675 in Delhi by Aurangzeb for refusing to convert to Islam. • His martyrdom is commemorated annually as Shaheedi Divas (‘Martyrdom Day’). • His sacrifice is celebrated as a symbol of resistance against religious oppression. • The site in Delhi where Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred is now the Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib. SPIRITUAL TEACHINGS: • His teachings emphasize the universality of God and the oneness of humanity. • Emphasized meditation, selfless service, and devotion to God. • Promoted the principles of equality, humility, and compassion. Source: PIB • The festival promotes community unity, welcoming Bihari migrants. • No caste restrictions or involvement of priests, emphasizing equality. • Men and women, regardless of wealth, follow identical rules. • Chhath underscores reverence for nature and the cyclical nature of life, making it a unique and cherished celebration. ABOUT • Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru and played a significant role in Sikh history. • Birth: Born in 1621, in Amritsar. • Became the ninth Sikh Guru at the age of 43 in 1664. His hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism. 131 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 17. BOOKER PRIZE 2023 Irish author Paul Lynch’s “Prophet Song” was named the winner of the Booker Prize 2023, beating author Chetna Maroo’s debut novel “Western Lane”. Source: TH 18. ODISHA’S BALI JATRA Odisha’s Bali Jatra inaugurated on banks of Mahanadi River in Cuttack. ABOUT Bali-yatra, literally ‘voyage to Bali’, is considered to be one of Asia’s largest open trade fair. The festival begins on Kartik Purnima (full moon night in the month of Kartik). The festival is held in Odisha in Cuttack at Gadagadia Ghata of the Mahanadi river, to mark the day when ancient Sadhabas (Odia mariners) would set sail to distant lands for trade. During the fair, people sail decorative miniature boats made of banana stems, paper, or thermocol to celebrate boita bandana, or the worshipping of the boats. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE The origins of the festival can be traced back more than 1,000 years when maritime and cultural links between ancient Kalinga (present day Odisha) and Bali and other South and Southeast Asian regions were prevalent. The dominance of the Kalingas over the sea routes can be understood from the fact that Kalidasa in his Raghuvamsa referred to the King of Kalinga as ‘The Lord of the Sea’. ABOUT BOOKER PRIZE • It is a literary award conferred each year for the best novel written in the English language, which was published in the United Kingdom and Ireland. • Founded in the UK in 1969, it initially awarded Commonwealth writers and now spans the globe and it is open to anyone regardless of origin. • The selected book is not only expected to resonate with contemporary themes but also possess enduring qualities that place it among the esteemed works of literature. ABOUT • The “Prophet Song” is based on the unrest in western democracies, refugee crisis and impact of this modern chaos. • It tells about the terrifying plight of a woman seeking to protect her family in an Ireland descending into totalitarianism. • Last year, Shehan Karunatilaka won the Booker prize for The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida. 132 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM Due to the geographical location of Kalinga, this area saw the growth of ports as early as the 4th and the 5th century BC. The Bay of Bengal region had several ports, and sadhavas (traders) traditionally began their voyage across the sea on this auspicious day. Source: TH 19. KALBELIA DANCE Kalbeliya is a popular dance form from Rajasthan. ABOUT • It is primarily performed by the members of the Kalbeliyas, a nomadic group of snake charmers and dancers. • Inscribed in 2010 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the dance involves women in black skirts in swirling, graceful movements that replicate the movements of a serpent. • The dance is typically performed by a group of women accompanied by male musicians. • The dancers wear brightly colored skirts, blouses, and heavy jewelry. The male musicians typically play the dhol (a drum), the pungi (a snake charmer’s pipe), and the khanjari (a tambourine). Source: TH DECLINE IN MARITIME TRADE • The maritime trade of Kalinga started declining with the advent of Arab traders in the Bay of Bengal and subsequently the English and the French. • Due to the lack of patronage from the rulers the maritime trade of Odisha declined completely. ROLE OF ANCIENT TRADES IN INDIA’S CONTEMPORARY RELATIONS • These ancient trade relations have helped in shaping the ‘Look East’ foreign policy of India that has recently been replaced by ‘Act East Policy’. • India has taken steps to reinvent the ancient maritime trade routes under project ’Mausam’ to counter the Silk route initiative of China. • It is thought that the Kalbelia dance dates back more than 300 years. • According to legend, the Kalbeliyas created the dance to appease the snake gods and avoid getting bitten by them. • The Kalbeliyas claim to use the dance to express their love of nature and distinctive culture. 133 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 20. LACHIT BORPHUKAN On the occasion of Lachit Divas, the Prime Minister paid homage to the courage of Lachit Borphukan. ABOUT • Lachit Borphukan was a prominent figure in the history of Assam during the 17th century. He served as the military commander of the Ahom Kingdom. • He is best known for his leadership during the Battle of Saraighat in 1671 against the Mughal forces led by Raja Ramsingh under Aurangzeb. • He was the inspiration behind strengthening India’s naval force and revitalizing inland water transport and creating infrastructure associated with it due to his great naval strategies. • LACHIT DIVAS: Assam celebrates “Lachit Divas” annually on November 24th in honor of Lachit Borphukan, commemorating his role in the Battle of Saraighat. • LACHIT BORPHUKAN GOLD MEDAL: It is awarded to the best cadet from the National Defence Academy • The medal was instituted in 1999 to inspire defense personnel to emulate Borphukan’s heroism and sacrifices. Source: PIB THE AHOM KINGDOM • It was established by Chaolung Sukapha in the 13th century. • It endured for six centuries as the ruling power in Assam. • The Ahoms governed the region until it was annexed to British India in 1826 through the signing of the Treaty of Yandaboo. 134 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM MISCELLANEOUS 1. RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD Recently, Surgical oncologist Padma Shri Dr R. Ravi Kannan, Director of the Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (CCHRC) in Assam, received the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2023. He won the award for revolutionising the treatment of cancer in Assam through his people-centered and pro-poor programs (offering free treatment, food, lodging, and employment for caregivers). KEY FACTS ABOUT THE RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD CATEGORIES OF RECOGNITION • The award initially featured six categories, including “Government Service”, “Public Service”, “Community Leadership”, “Journalism, Literature, and Creative Communication Arts”, “Peace and International Understanding”, and “Emergent Leadership”. • However, post-2009, the Ramon Magsaysay Award is no longer being given in fixed Award categories, except for Emergent Leadership. 2. 2023 SASTRA RAMANUJAN PRIZE Mathematician Ruixiang Zhang, Professor of University of California to receive 2023 Sastra Ramanujan Prize. ABOUT • The award, instituted by the Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) in 2005. • SASTRA 2023, with a cash prize of $10,000 and a citation for outstanding researchers all over the world, will be given at an international conference in Number Theory during December at SASTRA University in Kumbakonam, in Tamil Nadu. • The prize is given every year on 22nd December. • Age limit: Under the age of 32 which is influenced by Ramanujan’s achievements in his brief life of 32 years. • Established in 1957 as Asia's highest honor and premier prize. • It celebrates individuals who demonstrate exceptional spirit in serving the people of Asia, regardless of their background. • The award is presented annually on August 31st, which coincides with the birthday of Ramon Magsaysay, the third president of the Republic of the Philippines, who inspired its creation. • Awardees are presented with a certificate, a medallion with an embossed image of Ramon Magsaysay and a cash prize. • The award is internationally recognized as the Nobel Prize counterpart of Asia. 135 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM IMPORTANCE DO YOU KNOW? Source: The Hindu 3. PRADHAN MANTRI RASHTRIYA BAL PURASKAR The Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India, organizes Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar every year to celebrate the energy, determination, ability, zeal and enthusiasm of our children. PRADHAN MANTRI RASHTRIYA BAL PURASKAR • Two Categories: The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is given under two categories: (a) Bal Shakti Puraskar, and (b) Bal Kalyan Puraskar. BAL SHAKTI PURASKAR • Background: It was instituted in 1996 as the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement, renamed from 2018 as Bal Shakti Puraskar. • SASTRA 2023 award has been instituted with a view to embolden young minds to pursue cuttingedge research in Mathematics influenced by Srinivasa Ramanujan and increase the visibility of Mathematics both at the national and international levels. • The prize has established itself as one of the most prominent and coveted international awards. • Ramanujan is remembered for his contributions to mathematical analysis, infinite series, continued fractions and number theory. He also discovered his own theorems and compiled as many as 3900 results independently. • Ramanujan had a wealth of ideas that transformed and reshaped 20th century mathematics. • December 22, the birth anniversary of the great mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan was designated as “National Mathematics Day (NMD)” by the Government of India in December 2011. • Recognition: It is given by the GoI every year to recognize exceptional achievements of children in various fields i.e., innovation, scholastic achievements, social service, arts & culture, sports and bravery. • Eligibility: A child who is an Indian Citizen and residing in India and is between 5-18 years of age. • Award: A medal, a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000, book vouchers worth Rs.10,000, a certificate and citation. 136 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM BAL KALYAN PURASKAR Recognition • It is given as recognition to Individuals and Institutions, who have made an outstanding contribution towards service for children in the field of child development, child protection and child welfare. Eligibility • An individual who is an Indian Citizen and residing in India and should have attained the age of 18 years or above (as on 31st August of respective year). She/he should have worked for the cause of children for not less than 7 years. • The institution should not be entirely funded by the government and should have been in the field of child welfare for 10 years and performing consistently in the field. Award • Three awards are given in each of the two categories - Individual and Institution - along with cash prizes (Rs. 1,00, 000 and Rs. 5,00, 000 respectively). Background • It was instituted in 1979 as the National Child Welfare Awards, renamed from 2018 as Bal Kalyan Puraskar. 4. FIVE SPORTS INCLUDED IN LOS ANGELES 2028 OLYMPICS The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session has approved the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics organizing committee’s proposal for the inclusion of 5 additional sports in the sporting event. DO YOU KNOW? • The modern Olympic Games are the world’s foremost multi-sports event. • The largest sporting celebration, with the most sports, athletes, and diverse nations, all united in friendly competition. • Organised every four years, they include a summer and a winter edition. • Athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Olympic Refugee Team are eligible to compete in a wide range of sporting disciplines and events, watched by a worldwide audience. ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENTS Source: News on air • Baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash have been officially included as additional sports on the program for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. • Flag football and squash will be making their Olympic debut in LA, while baseball /softball, cricket and lacrosse will make a comeback to the event. • Baseball /softball have been part of the program at several editions of the Olympic Games, most recently at Tokyo 2020. • Cricket was on the program for the Olympic Games Paris 1900 and Lacrosse was included on the program at St Louis 1904 and London 1908. THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE • It is a not-for-profit, civil, nongovernmental, international organization made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. • More than 90% of its income is redistributed, amounting to USD 4.2 million daily, supporting athletes and sports organizations globally. 137 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 5. ROHINI NAYYAR PRIZE 2023 Deenanath Rajput from Bastar has won the Rohini Nayyar Prize for his outstanding work in improving the lives of tribal women in Chhattisgarh. ROHINI NAYYAR PRIZE • Given annually to recognize an individual’s outstanding contribution to rural development in civil society, government, enterprise or academia. • Award: Cash prize of ₹10 lakh, a trophy, and a citation. • Established in 2021 in the memory of an economist and administrator named Rohini Nayyar. • 2023 award is the second edition of the award. DEENANATH RAJPUT WORK Source: TH 6. TIMED OUT RULE Angelo Mathews was timed out during Sri Lanka’s clash against Bangladesh in Delhi in a first in international cricket. ABOUT TIMED OUT RULE • The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 playing conditions pertaining to “timed out” dismissals reads thus: • 40.1.1 After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. • If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out. • The bowler does not get credit for the wicket. • It was the first time in international cricket, men’s or women’s, that a batter was dismissed according to the “timed out” law. Source: LM • Other instances: In 2007, Sourav Ganguly was nearly timed out in a Test match against South Africa after he took more than six minutes to step out. Then South Africa skipper Graeme Smith decided not to appeal and Ganguly went on to bat. 138 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM 7. FIDE GRAND SWISS OPEN India celebrates as Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (FIDE Grand Swiss) and Vaishali Ramesh Babu (FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss) secure victories in the FIDE Grand Swiss Open, earning coveted spots in the 2024 Candidates Tournament for a chance to challenge the World Chess Champion. The World Chess Championship 2024 is scheduled to take place in Toronto, Canada in April 2024. INTERNATIONAL CHESS FEDERATION (FIDE) • It was one of the very first International Sports Federations, alongside the governing bodies of the sports of Football, Cricket, Swimming, and Auto Racing. It is now one of the largest, encompassing 199 countries as affiliate members, in the form of National Chess Federations. 8.GLYPHOSATE The EU allows use of glyphosate for 10 more years. ABOUT • It is the governing body of the sport of chess, and it regulates all international chess competitions. • It's constituted as a non-governmental institution. It organizes the World Chess Championship. • It was recognized by the International Olympic Committee as a Global Sporting Organization in 1999. • FIDE currently has its headquarters in Lausanne (Switzerland), but it was initially founded in 1924 in Paris under the motto “Gens Una Sumus” (Latin for “We are one Family”). • Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that controls broadleaf weeds and grasses. • Its usage became popular in the country after the illegal cultivation of herbicide tolerant (Ht) BT cotton started. • Glyphosate and its formulations are widely registered and currently used in more than 160 countries, including the EU and the USA. 139 / 140

AMALUKA IASA TO THE POINT CURRENT AFFAIRS 2024 MALUKA IAS | 9910133084 | WWW.MALUKAIAS.COM RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH GLYPHOSATE Source: ET 140 / 140