NATIONAL:
1. Shivaji “Wagh Nakh” (Tiger Claws)
Why in news – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary wagh nakh to be brought back to Maharashtra for 3 years.
Key Points –
• Maharashtra signed a MoU with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
• Wagh nakh is a mediaeval claw-like dagger designed to either fit over the knuckles or be concealed under the palm.
• Chhatrapati Shivaji used wagh nakh to kill Afzal Khan. Afzal Khan was sent by Bijapur’s Adil Shahi Sultanate to subdue Shivaji.
• Wagh nakh was brought to Britain by East India Company officer James Grant Duff. Duff was the Company Resident of the Satara State from 1818-22.
2. Sarakka Central Tribal University
Why in news – Union cabinet approved a tribal university named the Sarakka Central Tribal University.
Key Points –
• Location – Mulugu, Telangana.
• Sammakka-Sarakka is a mother-daughter duo revered among the local tribal community.
Value Addition –
• Sammakka Saralamma Jatara - A biennial festival in Mulugu. It is often referred to as the Kumbh Mela of the tribals.
• Sammakka-Sarakka temple is a part of the Tribal Circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
• The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ramappa Temple is located about 15 km from Mulugu.
3. PUSA-44 Paddy Variety
Why in news – Punjab will ban the cultivation of the PUSA-44 paddy variety (non-Basmati) from 2024.
Key Points –
• This high-yielding variety covered 70-80% of the state’s total area under paddy cultivation.
• PUSA-44 was developed in 1993 by the Delhi-based Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• Reason for Ban –
(a) It is a long-duration variety, taking around 160 days to mature.
(b) This is around 35 to 40 days more than other varieties, requiring 5-6 extra cycles of irrigation.
(c) It has led to declining groundwater levels.
(d) It aims to conserve one month of irrigation water by banning the variety.
(e) Due to its extended maturity period, PUSA-44 is harvested just before the sowing of wheat (October end). It has aggravated stubble burning in Punjab.
Value Addition –
• ‘Dark Zones’ –
(a) the rate of groundwater depletion exceeded the rate of recharge.
(b) water was available at depths of 200 to 300 feet or more – extractable only by using deep tube wells.
4. UAPA against NewsClick
Why in news – The Delhi Police has sealed the office of news portal NewsClick under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
Key Points –
• The news portal allegedly received illegal funding from China routed through the United States.
• UAPA presents an alternate criminal law framework where the general principles of criminal law are reversed.
About UAPA Act, 1967 –
• It is an anti-terrorism law that was first introduced in 1967.
• UAPA provides for the designation of individuals and organizations as “terrorists” and allows for their arrest and detention without trial for up to 180 days.
• The investigation has to be completed within 90 days and if not, the accused is eligible for default bail
• UAPA imposes strict bail requirements, with accused individuals having to prove their innocence, reversing the presumption of innocence.
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Why in news – The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh is called one of the “frozen conflicts” of the world.
Key Points –
• After Nagorno-Karabakh surrender, Nagorno-Karabakh (ethnic Armenian enclave) would dissolve on January 1, 2024.
• The enclave is connected to Armenia through the 5-km Lachin Corridor.
• Capital of Nagorno-Karabakh – Stepanakert (Khankendi).
• Bishkek Protocol (May 5, 1994) - A provisional ceasefire agreement, signed by the representatives of Armenia, Azerbaijan, the unrecognized Republic of Artsakh, and Russia.
• OSCE Minsk Group (24 March 1992) - for a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Value Addition –
• Indian settlements in Armenia were established by two princes (Krishna and Ganesh escaping from Kannauj) in 149 BC.
• Emperor Akbar is believed to have an Armenian wife Mariam Zamani Begum.
• The ‘Ateshgah’ fire temple near Baku is an 18th-century monument with wall inscriptions in Devanagari and Gurmukhi.
• In 2022, the India-Armenia signed a deal to supply PINAKA multi-barrel rocket launchers (MBRL).
• Armenia and Azerbaijan are members of the International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) which India is keen to develop.
ECONOMY:
1. Google Chromebook Laptops
Why in news – Google has started producing its Chromebook laptops in India through a partnership forged with HP.
Key Points –
• It will be manufactured at the Flex facility near Chennai.
• India recently closed the window to apply for its Rs 17,000 crore production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for IT hardware such as laptops, and personal computers.
About PLI Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware –
• By - Ministry of Electronics & IT.
• Aim - to enhance India’s Manufacturing Capabilities and Enhancing Exports.
• It extends an average incentive of around 5% on net incremental sales (over base year) of goods manufactured in India and covered under the target segment, to eligible companies, for a period of 6 years.
• Target Segment – Laptops, Tablets, All-in-One PCs, Servers and Ultra Small Form Factor (USFF).
• Semiconductor design, IC manufacturing, and packaging are also included as incentivized components of the PLI Scheme 2.0 for IT Hardware.
• It is likely to benefit major global as well as domestic manufacturers of IT hardware products.
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Nobel Prize in Literature 2023
Why in news – The Nobel Prize for Literature 2023 has been awarded to Norwegian author Jon Olav Fosse.
Key Points –
• It was given for his “innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable”.
• Fosse writes in Norwegian Nynorsk language.
• His prominent books –
(a) A New Name: Septology VI-VII
(b) I Am the Wind
(c) Melancholy etc.
BIHAR:
1. Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary
Why in news – Bihar to get its second tiger reserve in Kaimur soon after the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR).
Key Points –
• It is all set to come up either by the end of 2023 or early 2024.
• Shergarh Fort, a major tourist attraction, as well as 58 villages, will be in a buffer zone of 1,050 square kilometres.
• Bihar Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department has identified 450 square kilometres of forest as tiger habitats.
• Tigers were spotted in Kaimur till 1995.
• Pugmarks of 2 tigers and the carcasses of deer and other prey animals killed by tigers were sighted in 2017.
• VTR currently has the capacity to manage nearly 50 tigers. (VTR has 54 tigers)
POINTERS:
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari addressed the Ministerial Session at the 27th World Road Congress in which city - Prague, Czech Republic.
• The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has rescued 955 live baby turtles of different species under which operation - 'Operation Kachchhap'.
• World Health Organization has recommended a which second malaria vaccine for prevention of the disease in children - R21/Matrix-M.
• What is the name of actor best known for playing Albus Dumbledore in most of the “Harry Potter” movies, has died at 82 - Michael Gambon.
• Which became the first men's team in history to score more than 300 runs in T20 international cricket – Nepal.
• Which country unveiled its first domestically developed submarine named Haikun (or Narwhal) – Taiwan.
• What has the World Bank predicted for India's GDP growth for the financial year 2023-24 - 6.30%.
• India has become SAFF Under-19 football champion by defeating which country - Pakistan.
• Who is the second Indian after Neeraj Chopra, and the first Indian woman, who has won a gold medal in javelin throw at a world stage - Annu Rani.
• KVIC has inaugurated a new Khadi India outlet in which IIT - IIT Delhi.
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