NATIONAL:
1. Bharat Ratna Awardee
Why in news – Former Prime Minister (PM) PV Narasimha Rao and Chaudhary Charan Singh, alongside scientist MS Swaminathan, will be awarded the Bharat Ratna.
Key Points –
• P V Narasimha Rao (10th PM of India) is called the “Father of Indian Economic Reforms". He ushered India into an era of economic reforms (globalization, liberalization, and privatization).
• Chaudhary Charan Singh (6th PM of India) is regarded as a ‘champion of peasants’.
• MS Swaminathan is called the ‘Father of the Green Revolution’. He introduced Kalyan Sona (wheat) and IR8 (Miracle Rice) which transformed India from a state of food scarcity to food self-sufficiency.
Value Addition –
• This year's (2024) five recipients marked the highest number of Bharat Ratnas awarded in a single year.
• In 2024, two earlier recipients of Bharat Ratna are Karpoori Thakur (socialist leader from Bihar) and Lal Krishna Advani (former deputy PM).
2. Bharat Ratna
Why in news – Four persons were conferred Bharat Ratna in 2024.
Key Points –
• ‘Bharat Ratna’ is the highest civilian Award in the country.
• It was instituted in the year 1954.
• It is awarded in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order in any field of human endeavor.
• The recommendations for Bharat Ratna are made by the Prime Minister himself to the President. No formal recommendations for this are necessary.
• The number of annual awards is restricted to a maximum of three in a particular year.
• The recipient receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion.
• The Award does not carry any monetary grant.
Value Addition –
• In terms of Article 18 (1) of the Constitution, the award cannot be used as a prefix or suffix to the recipient's name.
• However, an award winner may use the expression in their biodata/letterhead/visiting card, etc.
• In Balaji Raghavan vs UOI, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of civilian honors but criticized the government for not exercising restraint in awarding these.
• Foreigners to get Bharat Ratna - Mother Teresa (1980, naturalised Indian citizen), Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987, Pakistan) and Nelson Mandela (1990, South Africa).
INTERNATIONAL:
1. Hamas Ceasefire Plan
Why in news – Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the 3-stage Hamas ceasefire plan.
Key Points –
• 3 Stages –
(a) Phase 1 - Israeli women hostages, boys under 19, and the sick and the elderly will be released, in exchange for Palestinian women and children in Israeli jails.
(b) Phase 2 - Other male hostages will be released and Israeli troops will withdraw from all of Gaza.
(c) Phase 3 - Bodies and mortal remains of those killed on both sides will be exchanged.
• Hamas says that in these 135 days, an agreement will be worked out to end the war.
2. Flying Dinosaur
Why in news – Scientists discovered fossils of flying dinosaurs on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
Key Points –
• It belongs to Ceoptera Evansae species.
• The dinosaur belongs to the Darwinoptera clade of pterosaurs.
• Paleontology is the scientific study of fossils.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES:
1. Kilkari
Why in news – Mobile health initiative Kilkari was launched with local content in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Key Points –
• Mobile Academy in Maharashtra and Gujarat was also launched.
• Both were launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Mobile Academy is a free audio training course designed to expand and refresh the knowledge of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).
• Kilkari offers accurate and pertinent 72 audio messages through the Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) about reproductive maternal, neonatal, and child health care to the targeted beneficiaries.
• Both aim to prioritize health infrastructure by leveraging the country’s expanding mobile phone penetration.
ECONOMY:
1. White Paper on Economy
Why in news – Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a “white paper” on the Indian economy in Parliament.
Key Points –
• A white paper typically provides information about a specific issue.
• It has been prepared by the Ministry of Finance.
• It compares the 10-year record of economic governance under the Congress-led UPA (between 2004-05 and 2013-14) with the BJP-led NDA (between 2014-15 and 2023-24).
• The 58-page white paper has 3 main parts –
(a) Part 1 discusses the macroeconomic situation during the 10 years of UPA rule.
(b) Part 2 provides the “current status of the various corruption scams of the UPA government”.
(c) Part 3 shows how the NDA “turned the economy around”.
SUMMITS & CONFERENCES:
1. 7th Indian Ocean Conference
Why in news – Dr. S. Jaishankar attended the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth, Australia.
Key Points –
• The theme of the conference is "Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean."
Value Addition –
• It was started in 2016 in Singapore.
• Maritime partners to discuss opportunities for regional cooperation under the theme of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
AWARDS & HONOURS:
1. Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Why in news – Nima Sarikhani won the 2023 Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award.
Key Points –
• He captured the image of a polar bear sleeping on a small iceberg.
• Sarikhani’s picture is called the 'Ice Bed'.
2. World Water Award 2023-24
Why in news – Ministry of Jal Shakti has selected Noida as a “water warrior” city.
Key Points –
• Noida got the award in two categories - the best sewage treatment plant (STP) and water reuse project.
• Noida was awarded for the steps it took for wastewater treatment and reuse for irrigation purposes.
FESTIVALS:
1. Dosmochey Festival
Why in news – The annual Dosmochey festival was celebrated in Ladakh.
Key Points –
• The sacred mask dance, known as 'Chaams,' adorned the courtyard of the Leh Palace.
• The Chaam Dance, deeply rooted in Buddhism, is a vibrant and symbolic ritual of Ladakh's cultural heritage.
BIHAR:
1. Zero Lab Bihar
Why in news – More than 90 startups have been setup under Zero Lab Bihar.
Key Points –
• Zero Lab is an initiative of the Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) in collaboration with the Incubation Centre IIT Patna.
• It aims to provide a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas using ideation support, awareness of opportunities in various industry sectors.
2. Forensic Science Laboratory
Why in news – Bihar police hired 86 senior scientists for its Forensic science laboratory in 2023.
Key Points –
• The number of senior scientists in the forensic science laboratory of the Bihar police was only 21 prior to 2023.
• The scientists have been appointed to make ' 'Mission Investigation@75 days' successful.
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