NATIONAL:
1. U.N. Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund
Why in news: India contributes half a million dollars to U.N. Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund
Key points:
• It was announced by Minister of External Affairs during UN Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee meeting, held in 2022 under India’s presidency.
• India’s contribution would support United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT’s) global programmes mainly Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT) and Countering Terrorist Travel Programme (CTTP).
• CFT aims at strengthening capacity of member-states to understand risks of terrorism.
• CTTP assists beneficiary Member States in building capabilities to detect and counter-terrorists.
• United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) was established in 2017.
• UN Counter-Terrorism Trust Fund was established in 2009 by Secretary-General and transferred to UNOCT.
2. CBSE
Why in news: CBSE instructed schools to focus on teaching children in their mother tongue
Key points:
• This was emphasised by Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in recent circular which is in line with National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2022.
• NEP 2020 advocates for mother tongue education until at least Grade 5, preferably extending to Grade 8 and beyond.
• NCF 2022 has recommended that mother tongue should be the primary medium of instruction for children till eight years of age.
Value Addition:
Other provisions for Education in Mother Tongue:
• Article 350A: Mandates state to provide primary education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups in mother tongue.
• Section 29 of Right to Education Act, 2009: As far as possible, medium of instruction in education should be in mother tongue.
3. INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization)
Why in news: Interpol issued blue colour notice against Prajwal Revanna, an absconding MP who faces serious sexual harassment allegations.
Key points:
• Prajwal Revanna is the member of the 17th Lok Sabha from Hassan Constituency.
• Prajwal is the son of H. D. Revanna, legislator and former Minister for Public Works Department of Karnataka.
• He is a grandson of former Prime Minister of India H. D. Deve Gowda and nephew of former Chief Minister of Karnataka, H. D. Kumaraswamy.
• In 2019, he was appointed as the state general secretary of the Janata Dal (Secular) party (JD(S)).
Value Addition:
• Blue Notice refers to collect additional information about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a criminal investigation.
• INTERPOL was established in 1956 at Lyon (France).
• General Assembly is its supreme governing body.
• It has 196 member countries including India.
4. Shinku La Tunnel
Why in news: Border Road Organisation will soon commence the construction of the 4.1-km long Shinku La tunnel.
Key points:
• Once completed, this tunnel will become the world’s highest tunnel at 15,800 ft, surpassing Mila tunnel in China.
• It will provide all-weather connectivity from Manali to Leh.
• It is expected to streamline the transportation of heavy machinery to strategic locations such as Kargil, Siachen, etc.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS)
Why in news: The US and Australia accused India of exceeding the WTO’s 10% subsidy limit
Key points:
• The US and Australia accused India of exceeding the WTO’s 10%
• Subsidy limit for developing countries by providing excessive subsidies to sugarcane farmers.
• These subsidies or domestic support are called aggregate measurement of support (AMS) in trade parlance.
• It is used to identify trade distortion subsidies that may need.
• Reduction as per the Agreement on Agriculture.
REPORTS/INDICES:
1. Global Electricity Review (GER) 2024 Report
Why in news: India became third largest solar power generator.
Key points:
• This is highlighted as per Global Electricity Review (GER) 2024 report, released by global energy think tank Ember.
• Renewables provided 30% of global electricity for the first time.
• Solar was the main supplier of electricity growth in 2023.
• India saw the world's fourth-largest surge in solar generation in 2023 behind China, the US and Brazil.
STATE/UT:
1. Pirul Lao-Paise Pao
Why in news: Uttarakhand Launched ‘Pirul Lao-Paise Pao’ Campaign to Combat Forest Fires
Key Points:
• The Uttarakhand government has launched the ‘Pirul Lao-Paise Pao’ campaign to contain the raging forest fires in the state.
• Under the ‘Pirul Lao-Paise Pao’ campaign, local youth and villagers will collect dry Pirul (Pine tree leaves) from the forests and take them to designated Pirul collection centers.
• The collected Pirul will be packed, processed, and sold to industries for further use.
2. Bambi Bucket Operations
Why in news: IAF Conducts Bambi Bucket Operations to Combat Forest Fires in Uttarakhand
Key points:
• The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been actively assisting the state in combating the forest fires.
• In response to the raging fires in the Pauri Garhwal sector, the IAF provided much-needed relief by undertaking Bambi Bucket operations using its Mi17 V5 helicopters.
SPORTS:
1. Bajrang Punia
Why in news: Bajrang Punia Provisionally Suspended by Wrestling Authorities
Key points:
• The United World Wrestling (UWW) has provisionally suspended Indian wrestler Bajrang Punia until December 31, 2024.
• Earlier, he was suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA).
• On April 23, NADA suspended Bajrang Punia for his ‘refusal’ to provide a urine sample during the selection trials for Olympic qualifiers in Sonipat on March.
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