NATIONAL:
1. National Horticulture Fair
Why in news - 3-day National Horticulture Fair, hosted by Indian Institute of Horticulture Research begins in Hessarghatta, Bengaluru.
Key Points -
• Theme -'Nextgen technology-led horticulture for sustainable development
• Aim- To boost farmers' income and ensure the production of high-quality horticultural goods.
• During the event 25 farmers including 5 from North Eastern were selected for honour.
2. National Youth Parliament Festival 2024
Why in news - Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organized the inaugural of the finals of the National Youth Parliament Festival, 2024.
Key Points -
• Theme- ‘Young Voices: Engage and Empower for Nation’s Transformation.’
• Location - Parliament House, New Delhi.
• Aim -To enable the youth to learn about the practices and procedures of Parliament.
• The launch of NYPF is based on the idea given by the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat address on 31 December 2017.
• The fifth National Youth Parliament Festival is being organized this year in 2024
About NYPF:
• Youth Parliament is organized through the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) and National Service Scheme (NSS).
• First National Youth Parliament Mahotsav was organized in 2019, Since then, it has been organized annually.
• It is organized at three levels.
• District Youth Parliament
• State Youth Parliament
• National Youth Parliament
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Shehbaz Sharif
Why in news - Shehbaz Sharif takes oath as Pakistan’s Prime Minister for a second time.
Key Points -
• Shehbaz Sharif is the 24th Prime minister in Pakistan’s 77-year history.
• He held the same position from April 2022 to August 2023, replacing Imran Khan.
• His appointment is controversial because of parliamentary elections last month that his opponents claimed were rigged in his favor.
• He belongs from Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), which is a Centre-right, conservative liberal political party in Pakistan.
• He secured 201 votes in 336-member house Parliament to become prime minister, defeating the PTI-backed candidate Omar Ayub, who got 92 votes.
• The Indian Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, congratulated him on being sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan
About Shehbaz Sharif:
• Shehbaz Sharif's family had relocated from Amritsar (India) to Lahore (Pakistan) during the 1947 partition.
• He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Government College University, Lahore.
• He took over the leadership of the PML-N after the Supreme Court disqualified Nawaz Sharif from holding office in 2017.
• Shehbaz is the younger brother of three-time PM Nawaz Sharif.
DEFENCE & SECURITY:
1. ADITI Scheme
Why in news - Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has launched the ADITI scheme during DefConnect 2024 in New Delhi.
About ADITI Scheme:
• Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX (ADITI) is a scheme to promote innovations in critical and strategic defence technologies.
• Aim: To develop about 30 deep-tech critical and strategic technologies in the proposed timeframe.
• Eligibility: Under this scheme start-ups are eligible to receive grant-in-aid of up to Rs 25 crore for their Research & Development.
• Duration: 2023-24 to 2025-26.
• Budget - Rs 750 crore
REPORTS & INDICES:
1. Global Resource Outlook 2024
Why in news - Global Resource Outlook 2024 was launched by the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) at Nairobi, Kenya.
Key Points -
• It is the flagship report of the International Resource Panel of the United Nations Environment Programme.
Key Outcomes:
• Global production and consumption of material resources has grown more than three times over the last 50 years.
• The consumption and use of resources is largely driven by demand in upper income countries.
• The extraction and processing of material resources accounts for over 55 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 40 per cent of particulate matter poisoning the environment.
• Despite this, resource exploitation could increase by almost 60 per cent from 2020 levels by 2060 — from 100 to 160 billion tonnes.
• It presents a stark picture of global inequality, where low-income countries consume six times less materials compared to wealthy countries.
About UNEA:
• Established - 2012 as a result of Rio+20
• World’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
• Serves as the governing body of the UN Environment Programme.
• It meets biennially in Nairobi, Kenya.
• UNEA-6 adopted a Ministerial Declaration aimed at halting the progression of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
ENVIRONMENT:
1. Seamounts
Why in news - Researchers discovered four gigantic seamounts in the deep sea off the coast of Peru and Chile.
About Seamounts:
• A seamount is an underwater mountain with steep sides rising from the seafloor.
• Most seamounts are remnants of extinct volcanoes and are typically cone shaped.
• Seamounts with large flat summits are called guyots.
• Seamounts are found in every world ocean basin.
• World’s highest seamount is Hawaii's dormant volcano Mauna Kea.
STATES/UT’S:
1. New GI Tags for India’s Artisanal Heritage
Why in news - Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi (Silver Filigree) and Banglar Muslin have been given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Key Points -
• The renowned Cuttack Rupa Tarakasi, a silver filigree art form that epitomizes fine craftsmanship and opulence in classical jewellery, has been honored with the GI tag by the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai.
• This application was spearheaded by the Odisha State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation Limited with support from the Department of Textile and Handicrafts, Government of Odisha.
• Historical evidence indicates that filigree work, known for its intricate designs, may have been introduced to Cuttack from Persia via Indonesia around 500 years ago, reflecting a long tradition of sea trade and cultural exchange.
• Joining Odisha’s Tarakasi in the list of GI tagged products is Banglar Muslin, a famed handloom craft of Bengal known for its exquisite quality and delicate weaving technique.
• This recognition extends to other distinguished crafts as well, including Narasapur crochet lace, Kutch rogan craft, and several others. Each of these crafts tells a story of tradition, meticulous skill, and cultural heritage, now protected and celebrated as a geographical treasure.
About Geographical Indication:
• It must identify a product that comes from a particular place and possess qualities or reputation due to that region
• The registration of a geographical indication shall be for a period of 10-years, but may be renewed from time to time in accordance with the provisions of this section.
• India enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999, which became effective on September 15, 2003, to register and protect GIs
BIHAR:
1. Asia First Dolphin Research Centre in Patna
Why in news - Bihar CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated the Asia first Dolphin Research Centre in Patna.
About the Gangetic Dolphin:
• It is primarily found in the Ganges and Brahmaputra Rivers and their tributaries in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
• The Government of India has recognised them as National Aquatic Animal.
Conservation Status:
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife (Protection), Act 1972: Schedule 1
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