Short News

Polity & Governance (GS-II)

Thoothukudi's' Udangudi Panangkarupatti gets GI tag

The Intellectual Property of India (IPI) conferred a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the famous 'Udangudi Panangkarupatti'.

About

• The 'Udangudi Panangkarupatti' is also referred to as palm jiggery.
• It is prepared using the palm sap collected from the inflorescence of palmyra treesthat grow on the red sand dunes.
• Fresh sap is a good source of Vitamin B complex.

Art and Culture (GS-I)

GI Tag to cashew of Goa

Recently, the Goan cashew (kernel) got the geographical indication (GI) tag.

About:

• The application for the GI tag for the Goan cashew — derived from the Portuguese name ‘caju’ or ‘kaju’ in Konkani — was filed by the Goa Cashew Manufacturers’ Association (GCMA), with the Department of Science, Technology and Waste Management, Government of Goa, acting as facilitator.
• Particularly, the larger size cashew nuts are unique to Goa.
• Zantye’s cashews are harvested in the farms of Sanquelim, implementing the organic method of cultivation that is responsible for the production of high-quality cashew nuts.
• Cashews are native to North-eastern Brazil and South-eastern Venezuela – they were distributed around the world in the 1500s by the Portuguese.
• The cashew finally reached the coastal state of Goa, India, around the 16th century.
• From here, it spread throughout Southeast Asia and eventually Africa.

Concerns for Cashew growers:

• The influx of cheaper cashews has meant that several processing units and manufacturers in Goa have been unable to sell all their produce within the state, and have had to find markets outside, curtail production, or shut factories
• Higher minimum wages and compliance norms than in states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have also contributed to the decline in sales for traditional Goan cashew processors.

International Relations (GS-II)

Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD)

India has been elected president of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) General Conference (GC) for the third successive term.

About the organization:

• Established in 1977 under UNESCO, this international organisation comprises 92 member organisations from 44 countries.
• These include 26 government members represented by 48 broadcasting authorities, along with 44 affiliates represented by 28 countries and regions across Asia, the Pacific, Europe, Africa, Arab States, and North America.
• India is one of the founding members of the group.
• India is the current President of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) General Conference (GC).
• Prasar Bharati, India's public service broadcaster represents the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India, at the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development.

International Relations (GS-II)

Operation Ajay

As the Israel-Hamas war escalated, many countries including India are trying to safeguard native people trapped in the fighting. India has announced to launch ‘Operation Ajay’ to repatriate its citizens from Israel and Palestine.

About the Operation:

• Under the mission, the Indian government will facilitate the return of Indian citizens through special chartered flights.
• Indian Navy ships will also be pressed into service should the need arise.

Polity & Governance

Rajasthan gets three new districts

Rajasthan Government announced the formation of three new districts in the state.

Key-highlights

• New districts: Malpura, Sujangarh and Kuchaman City
• With the addition of the three districts, the total number of districts in the state has now reached 53.
• Earlier in August, the state government announced 17 new districts and redrawn the two large urban districts – Jaipur and Jodhpur. 

Polity and Governance (GS-II)

District Mineral Foundation (DMF)

The Government launched Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna (PMKKKY) to be implemented by the DMFs of the respective fields to ameliorate the condition of mining affected persons and create a win-win situation for the stakeholders.

About:

• District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is a trust set up as a non-profit body, in those districts affected by the mining works, to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining related operations.
• It is funded through the contributions from miners.
• Its manner of operation comes under the jurisdiction of the relevant State Government.
• The objective of the DMF is to work for the interest and benefit of the persons and areas affected by mining related activities in such manner as may be prescribed by the state government.

Economy (GS-III)

Indian Cooperative Network for Women

Nandini Azad, president of the Chennai-based Indian Cooperative Network for Women (ICNW), has been elected to the board of the International Raiffeisen Union (IRU), one of the oldest cooperative bodies in the world responsible for evolving a global policy on cooperatives in agriculture and other allied sectors.

About Indian Cooperative Network:

• Vision:
  • To challenge socio-economic inequalities through social mobilization of marginalized women.
  • To enable sustainable livelihood towards self-reliance through viable financial and other support services.
• Objectives:
  • To alleviate poverty and enhance Socio-economic development of poor women.
  • To improve women’s access to economic resources.
  • To promote women’s participation and leadership in decision making at all levels through collective consciousness.
  • To promote equal opportunities for poor marginalized women through self-help, self-management process.
  • To provide financial services predominantly for poor women.
  • To provide relevant training for leadership, financial literacy, healthcare, skill training, etc., towards enhancement of micro-entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment.

Science and Technology (GS-III)

World Space Week

The World Space Week (4-10 October) is the largest annual space event in the world.

About:

• World Space Week was after a resolution was passed by the UN General Assembly on December 6, 1999.
• The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Space Week to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.
• The beginning and closing dates of World Space Week were chosen to commemorate two significant events in space exploration.
• One of them occurred on October 4, 1957, when the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched.
• On October 10, 1967, a treaty was signed to ensure the peaceful use of Outer Space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies.
• Hence, thousands of people from around the world participate to celebrate the week between October 4 and October 10 every year.

Science & Technology (GS-III)

 Gaganyaan Mission

ISRO is all set to carry out the first of several test flights ahead of the Gaganyaan mission on October 21.

About Gaganyaan mission

• The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate the capability to launch human beings(three crew members) to low earth orbit (LEO) and bring them back safely to earth by landing them in either the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea.
• Launch Vehicles: The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3)is the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission.
  • All systems in the LVM3 launch vehicleare reconfigured to meet human rating requirements and named Human Rated LVM3 (HLVM3).

Science and Technology (GS-III)

World Cerebral Palsy Day

World Cerebral Palsy Day is celebrated every year on October 6^th.

What is Cerebral Palsy (CP)?

• CP is the most common motor disability in childhood.
• Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles.
• CP is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person's ability to control his or her muscles.

About the day:

• The event is a global observance which aims to highlight on cerebral palsy (CP) and its impact on individuals, families, and communities.
• This day serves as a platform to raise awareness about CP, support those living with the condition, and advocate for greater inclusion and understanding.
• The theme for World Cerebral Palsy Day in 2023 is “Together Stronger.”
• This theme highlights the importance of unity, collaboration, and mutual support within the cerebral palsy community and beyond.

Significance:

• It emphasizes that when individuals, families, caregivers, and communities come together, they become a powerful force for positive change and inclusion.
• Children and adults affected by cerebral palsy often face challenges that hinder their full participation in society.

Sports

2023 Asian Games

The 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou has been the best ever continental games for India. In this 19th edition of the Asian Games, India grabbed a record 107 medals – a big jump from its previous best of 70 in the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.

Key-highlights

• India finish fourth in overall standings.
• Out of these 107 medals, 55 medals were won in individual events and 52 medals were won in team events.
• States with Most Medal Winners in Asian Games 2023
  • With 14 medal winners, Haryana has produced the highest number of medalists in individual events of the 2023 Asian Games.
  • While seven medal winners hail from Uttar Pradesh, six are from Telangana, and four each from Kerala, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Delhi have 2 medalists each.
  • Players from Rajasthan, Odisha, Manipur, Karnataka, Assam and Andhra Pradesh won one medal each.

Personality in News

Shri Ramalinga Swamy (5 October 1823 – 30 January 1874)

Recently, the Prime Minister commemorated the 200^th birth anniversary of Shri Ramalinga Swamy also known as ‘Vallalar’.

About the Personality:

• He was a social reformer, a saint and a poet.
• Arutprakasa Vallalar Chidambaram Ramalingam was his full name.
• He is commonly known in India and across the world as Vallalar, Ramalinga Swamigal, or Ramalinga Adigal.
• He is also one of the greatest Tamil poets of the 19th century belonging to a line of Tamil saints known as ‘gnana siddhars’.
• According to Suddha Sanmarga, the prime aspects of human life should be love, connected with charity and divine practice, leading to pure knowledge.
• He wanted the youth to be fluent in Tamil, Sanskrit and English.
• His teachings aimed to work for an equal society.
• In 1867, he established a free food facility named ‘The Sathya Dharma Salai’ in Vadalur. There all people are served free food without any caste distinctions.
• On 25 January 1872, Ramalingam opened the ‘Sathya Gnana Sabha’ (Hall of True Knowledge) at Vadalur.
• Teachings: One of the primary teachings of Vallalar is ‘Service to Living Beings is the path of Liberation/ Moksha.

Location in News

Georgian region of Abkhazia

Russia has signed a deal with the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia to set up a naval base on the Black Sea coast.

About

• Abkhazia lies in the north-western corner of Georgia and borders
• It is situated in the north-western corner of Georgia with the Black Sea to the south-west and the Caucasus mountains and Russia to the north-east.
• The region fought a war of secession with Georgia from 1992-93 and declared independence in 1999, but has little international recognition.
• In 2014, Russia and Abkhazia sign a "strategic partnership" agreement. Georgia accuses Moscow of seeking to annex Abkhazia.

Location in News

Balticconnector Pipeline

A subsea gas pipeline, the Balticconnector, connecting Finland and Estonia under the Baltic Sea has been likely damaged by "outside activity".

What is Balticconnector?

• The Balticconnector pipeline connects Inkoo in Finland and Paldiski in Estonia, with its subsea section running 77 km (48 miles) across the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea that stretches eastwards into Russian waters and ends at the port of St Petersburg.

Species in News

Red-rumped Hawklet

A new dragonfly species named Christened Red-rumped Hawklet, has been discovered in the verdant landscapes of Wayanad.

About:

• A new dragonfly species has been discovered in the verdant landscapes of Wayanad.
• Christened Red-rumped Hawklet, the dragonfly has been given the scientific nomenclature Epithemis wayanadensis, to mark the lush and biodiverse Wayanad plateau nestled in the Western Ghats.
• This newfound species is distinguished by its darker pigmentation, a restricted red coloration on the abdomen, and the absence of the yellow antehumeral stripe.
• This dragonfly species is profoundly seasonal, taking to the skies exclusiely during the month of October.