Short News

Art and Culture (GS-I)

Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam

The Ministry of Tourism, in association with Ministry of Culture, Sangeet Natak Academy and State Government of Andhra Pradesh has successfully organised the prequel event of Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam.

About the event:

• The Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam will be organized from 10th to 12th December, 2023 in Vijayawada.
• It is a first of its kind festival to celebrate the rich heritage of classical music and promote lesser-known tourist attractions.
• The event will also feature spectacular display and sale of regional cuisine, local handicrafts and handlooms.
• The festival also aims to promote the hidden gems of the region including spiritual, heritage and eco destinations.
• This event held at Bobilli, Rajahmundry, Lepakshi, Movva, Nellore and Kurnool brought together renowned artists and witnessed active participation from students representing music colleges of Andhra Pradesh and music enthusiasts from the region.

Geography (GS-I)

First Night Sky Sanctuary

Ladakh will soon have South East Asia's first Night Sky Sanctuary.

About the Location:

• The Dark Sky Reserve will be located at Hanle village in Eastern Ladakh as a part of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It will boost Astro-tourism in India and will be one of the world’s highest-located sites for optical, infra-red, and gamma-ray telescopes.

• Spread over 1,073 square kilometres, the Night Sky Reserve is located within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary and adjacent to the Indian Astronomical Observatory.
• A tripartite MoU was signed among the UT Administration, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh and the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) for launching the Dark Space Reserve.

Polity and Governance (GS-II)

Bihar Cabinet passed a proposal seeking special category status for the State

The Bihar Cabinet passed a proposal seeking special category status (SCS) for the State and asked the Central government to clarify its stand on the issue in the public domain.

What is Special Category Status (SCS)?

• SCS is a classification given by the Centre to assist development of states that face geographical and socio-economic disadvantages.
• Constitution does not make a provision for SCS and this classification was later done on the recommendations of the Fifth Finance Commission in

Polity and Governance (GS-II)

Centre to pay Rs.8 lakh each to 15,000 women SHGs for buying drones 

More than three months after Prime Minister announced to provide drones to women self-help groups (SHGs), the Cabinet has approved a scheme with an outlay of Rs.1,261 crore for two years under which each such group will be eligible to get up to Rs.8 lakh financial support for purchase of drones.

About the Scheme:

• The scheme will help provide drones to 15,000 selected women SHGs during 2024-25 and 2025-2026 for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose.
• Financial assistance: Financial assistance will be provided by the Centre to each SHG at 80 per cent of the cost of drone, including accessories/ancillary charges but up to a maximum of Rs.8 lakh.
• As one drone costs around 10 lakh, the government has allowed SHGs to take loan from banks under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) at lower interest rate since the Centre bears 3 per cent interest costs through subsidy.
• Members of the SHGs with inclination to take up repairs of electrical goods, fitting and mechanical works will be selected by the SRLM and LFC and will be trained as drone technician/assistant.
• The government guidelines have also made LFCs to act as a link between drone suppliers and SHGs in purchase of drones as well as their repair and maintenance.

Polity and Governance (GS-II)

‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’

The Union Government has decided to rename the existing Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs) as ‘Ayushman Arogya Mandir’ with the tag-line ‘Arogyam Parmam Dhanam’.

About:

• As part of this effort, states have been instructed to upload photographs of the rebranded primary health facilities onto the AB-HWC portal.
• It has been underlined that the National Health Mission (NHM) logo is to be retained in the rebranded centres.
• If scripts other than Devanagri (Hindi) or English are to be used for branding, then the full and exact title can be translated into the state language(s), but the tagline must be transliterated in the state language(s).
• The Centre offers screenings for hypertension, diabetes, oral, breast and cervical cancer.

International Relations (GS-II)

Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC)

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, GoI is organizing the 19th Working Party on Data Collection and Statistics (WPDCS19) of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) from 28th November to 2nd December 2023.

About:

• There were participants from countries namely, Indonesia, France, Spain, other countries of the European Union (EU), Seychelles, Tanzania, Iran, Thailand, Japan, Sri Lanka, Oman and India attending the meeting in person.
• This is an important meeting organized by the IOTC and hosted by Department of Fisheries, GoI, which will bring together the renowned Scientists and Experts in the field of Tuna fisheries from all around the world.

What are Tuna Fishes?

• Tunas and other large pelagic species, such as billfishes, sharks, and rays, hold immense economic significance, with tunas alone contributing an estimated annual value of trade of US$41 billion (in 2018).
• The international scope of these species necessitates collaborative efforts for improved management and conservation, given their susceptibility to overfishing by multinational fisheries.

International Relations (GS-II)

ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF)

India along with 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) was represented by 200 participants, at the 4th edition of the annual ASEAN India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF) that was launched in Langkawi, Malaysia on 28th November 2023.

About:

• The AIGIF is an annual programme focused on fostering a strengthened relationship between India and AMS on the premise of cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
• While on one side it aims to give exposure to social innovations in different countries, it also strengthens governance in the grassroots innovation ecosystem.
• The annual program is a collaboration between the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI); Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India; National Innovation Foundation (NIF) – India and the Science and Technology Ministry of the host nation, Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) in the year 2023.
• Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM) is an agency under MOSTI which is executing the AIGIF this year.

Science and Technology (GS-III)

Amyloidosis

Recently, Scientists fabricate 2D protein monolayer that can help to study diseases like Amyloidosis.

About the invention:

• A 2D protein monolayer was fabricated by scientists by assembling lysozyme molecules -- model protein in studying diseases like
• Amyloidosis is a rare disease that occurs when a protein called amyloid builds up in organs.
• This amyloid build-up can affect the working of organs like heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, nervous system and digestive tract.
• Lysozyme, a protein present in mucosal secretions and a principal component of airway fluid can be regarded as a model protein in studying diseases like Amyloidosis which ultimately leads to multi-organ dysfunction.

Science and Technology (GS-III)

Navy advanced warship ‘Imphal’

Recently, the Indian Defence Minister has unveiled the crest of the Navy’s stealth guided missile destroyer Imphal, which is fitted with BrahMos surface-to-surface missiles among other indigenous weapons.

About:

• The ship — which is the third among the four Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyers — was delivered to the Navy last month by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).
• Unveiling of Imphal’s crest, adorned with the Kangla Palace and ‘Kangla-Sa’ is a tribute to the sacrifice made by the people of Manipur towards India’s independence, sovereignty and security.
• ‘Kangla-Sa’ is also the state emblem of Manipur.
• The crest design depicts the Kangla Palace on the left and ‘Kangla-Sa’ on the right.
• The ship has a displacement of 7,400 tonnes, an overall length of 164 metres and is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors, including surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.

Personality in News

Justice Fathima Beevi (1927-2023)

Former Supreme Court Justice M. Fathima Beevi, who was the first female judge at Supreme Court died at 96.

About:

• Fathima Beevi was born to Annaveetil Meeran Sahib and Khadeeja Beevi of Pathanamthitta in 1927.
• She completed her schooling at the Catholicate High School and did an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University College, Thiruvanathapuram.
• In line with her father’s aspiration to make her a lawyer, she did a degree in law and enrolled as lawyer in November 1950.
• She was also the Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997 to 2001.
• Years later, she became the first woman member of the country’s Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, before becoming the first Muslim woman to enter the higher judiciary as a judge with the Kerala High Court in 1983.
• Determined to recast the role of women in Indian judiciary, she then went on to become the first woman judge in the Supreme Court of India in 1989.

Location in News

North Andaman’s Atlanta Bay

The Central Government is assessing the feasibility of developing a Bulk Cargo trans-shipment hub in Atlanta Bay near Diglipur in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• This is in addition to the Rs 44,000 crore Galathea bay projects near the Southern tip of the Great Nicobar Island.

About Atlanta Bay:

• The Atlanta Bay has a natural draft of 19-20m, there is availability of natural break and it is well connected by road.
• Considering the strategic location and other facilities available, a Bulk Cargo trans-shipment hub can be developed in Atlanta Bay.
• The feasibility study for developing Atlanta bay major Harbour is under process.
• There is availability of Natural break and is well connected by road. Also, sufficient land can be reclaimed from the sea.
• This transshipment hub is on the route from East & NE India to East & SE Asia, Australia-New Zealand countries.
• It is also on the route, of Coal, Sand & others construction materials, Iron ore etc., to Bangladesh and Myanmar.