NATIONAL:
1. ST Status for Paharis and Paddaris
Why in news – Union government has brought a Bill to include 4 communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) in Jammu and Kashmir.
Key Points –
• 4 communities - “Gadda Brahmin”, “Koli”, “Paddari Tribe”, and “Pahari Ethnic Group”.
• It has triggered unrest among the Gujjar-Bakerwal.
• Gujjar-Bakerwal, Gaddis and Sippis were given ST status in 1991.
• Gujjar-Bakerwal are the third largest group after Kashmiris and Dogras in J&K.
• The Paharis are Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs, and include people of Kashmiri origin.
• Paddari population comprise Hindus (83.6%), Buddhists (9.5%), and Muslims (6.8%).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Rubella Elimination
Why in news – As per World Health Organization, Bhutan and Timor-Leste have eliminated rubella.
Key Points –
• Rubella is a highly contagious disease that causes serious illness and irreversible birth defects in newborns of women infected during pregnancy.
• Rubella is preventable through vaccination.
• Bhutan and Timor-Leste eliminated measles in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
• Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Timor-Leste achieved the elimination target of measles and rubella by 2023.
• It is a flagship priority program of the WHO South-East Asia Region.
Value Addition –
• 6 countries in the Region - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand - have achieved a coverage of 95% or more during 2022.
• 3 of these - Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka - have achieved more than 95% coverage with the second dose as well.
• In 2019 the flagship goal was revised to measles and rubella elimination by 2023.
2. Kuril Islands
Why in news – The Ukraine war has given some Japanese hope that they can be wrestled out of Russia's control.
Key Points –
• Tokyo and Moscow have been locked in a dispute over the Kuril Islands for decades.
• The Kuril Islands (for Japan - the Northern Territories) were seized by Soviet forces in the closing days of WWII.
• Several islets – Iturup (Etorofu), Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai.
• Tokyo and Moscow never formally signed a peace treaty to end World war II.
3. US Presidential Bid
Why in news – Hirsh Vardhan Singh became the 3rd Indian-origin candidate to come into the race for the US presidency in 2024.
Key Points –
• Hirsh Vardhan Singh party – Republican.
• He has been described as “Trump on steroids”.
• ‘Samosa Caucus’ - informal grouping of Indian-origin Americans in US Congress.
• Other 2 Indian-origin candidates - Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC)
Why in news – Bhupender Yadav launched RECEIC on the sidelines of the 4th G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting in Chennai.
Key Points –
• By - Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• Aim – to foster greater company-to-company collaboration to enhance resource efficiency and accelerate circular economy transition.
• 3 Guiding Principles –
(a) partnerships for impact
(b) technology cooperation
(c) finance for scale
• About 39 companies from 11 countries have joined the coalition as its founding members.
• It is envisaged to be industry-driven and a self-sustaining initiative.
SCIENCE – TECH:
1. ISRO Rocket Debris
Why in news – A large object found on the shores of western Australia has been confirmed to be the debris of an ISRO rocket.
Key Points –
• It is likely an unburnt part of the PSLV rocket that launched a navigation satellite (PSLV) for the IRNSS constellation.
• Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972) –
(a) It makes the launching country “absolutely liable” to pay compensation for any damage caused by its space object on the earth or to a flight in air.
(b) The country where the junk falls can stake a claim for compensation if it has been damaged by the falling object.
• The Soviet Union paid 3 million Canadian dollars to Canada when the Soviet satellite fell into its uninhabited region in 1978.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 5th World Coffee Conference 2023
Why in news – India will host a World Coffee Conference for the first time in Bengaluru.
Key Points –
• Central theme - Sustainability through Circular Economy and Regenerative Agriculture.
• WCC 2023 is being organized for the first time in Asia.
• Previous editions - England (2001), Brazil (2005), Guatemala (2010), and Ethiopia (2016).
Value Addition -
• Organised by - International Coffee Organisation (Hq – London, 1963).
• Coffee Board of India (statutory body, Coffee Act, 1942, M/o Commerce and Industry) – Bangalore.
IMPORTANT DAYS:
1. World Breastfeeding Week 2023
Why in news – It is celebrated every year from 1 to 7 August 2023.
Key Points –
• Aim - to raise awareness about breastfeeding and its benefits.
• Theme - Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!
• Organized by - World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
Value Addition –
• Innocenti Declaration (1990) –
(a) It called on all countries to implement the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, and
(b) Follow the 10 Steps to improve maternity practices and ensure full support for mothers intending to breastfeed.
BOOKS & AUTHORS:
1. Book 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die'
Why in news – Amit Shah released 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die' book in Rameshwaram.
Key Points –
• The book assimilates the history of Indian rocketry, science, technology and innovation, beautiful representation of Indian politics.
• In 1997, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam was awarded the Bharat Ratna.
• Founder and CEO of BrahMos Private Limited - Dr. Sivathanu Pillai.
STATES/UTs:
1. “Doctor Aapke Gaon Mein” Initiative
Why in news – District Health Society Doda (J&K) launched the pioneering initiative "Doctor Aapke Gaon Mein.’’
Key Points –
• Aim - to extend quality medical care services to the people at their doorsteps.
BIHAR:
1. Lead level in Children’s Blood
Why in news – Bihar has the highest average blood lead level (BLL) at 10.42 microgram per decilitre (g/dL) among the 23 states.
Key Points –
• It is much higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) intervention threshold of BLL 5µg/dL.
• Over 96% of the children in urban areas and more than 88% in in rural areas showed BLL above 5µg/dL.
• Coverage - Patna, Nawada, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Purnea, West Champaran and Gaya.
• Field assessments conducted by Pure Earth and Vital Strategies, in collaboration with Mahavir Cancer Research Institute and Research Centre and Institute of Environment and Eco Development (IEED), Patna, also revealed the severity of the state.
2. Advisory Board of Bodh Gaya Temple
Why in news – Bihar government constituted advisory board of Bodh Gaya temple.
Key Points –
• Members include ambassadors of Bhutan, Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, Cambodia, Mongolia, South Korea, Vietnam, Laos and the high commissioner of Sri Lanka.
• Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
POINTERS:
• Who has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Syria - Irshad Ahmed.
• Who is the Prime Minister of Cambodia who has decided to resign recently - Hun Sen.
• Who has become the first bowler in T20 International cricket history to take seven wickets - Syazrul Ezat Idrus (Malaysia).