1. Millets and Shree Anna
The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently decided to introduce Millets, Shree Anna in the meals of personnel of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
About:
- The decision to introduce 30 per cent Millets in the meals.
- The Ministry had asked all the forces to take action for the introduction of Millets based menu.
- The Ministry informed that Millets will also be made available in Kendriya Police Kalyan Bhandar, Grocery Shops of the campuses and Ration Store by setting up the dedicated counters and corners.
- The forces will organize training of cooks in preparing millets based dishes through reputed institutes in this field.
International Year Millets:
- The United Nations had declared 2023 the International Year Millets as recognizing the importance of millets, and creating a domestic and global demand along with providing nutritious food to the people, at the behest of the Government of India.
- Millets are good source of proteins, gluten-free, low in Glycemic Index (GI) and rich in dietary fibre, micronutrients including calcium, iron, phosphorus etc, and phyto-chemicals.
- The campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to promote Shree Anna will fulfill nutritional requirements of crores of people of the country.
- International Year of Millets (IYOM) - 2023 will provide an opportunity to increase global production, efficient processing and better use of crop rotation and promote millets as a major component of the food basket.
Source : Home Ministry decides to introduce Millets, Shree Anna in the meals of personnel of CAPFs and NDRF
2. QUAD
Indian Australian Diaspora Foundation (IADF) is set to host a grand community reception in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the QUAD Leaders' Summit slated to take place in Sydney in May 2023.
What is Quad Grouping?
- The grouping of four democracies –India, Australia, US and Japan– is known as the quadrilateral security dialogue or quad.
- The aim of this grouping is to ensure a free and open international order based on the rule of law in the Indo- Pacific.
What are the objectives of the Quad?
- The group’s primary objectives include
- maritime security,
- combating the Covid-19 crisis, especially vis-à-vis vaccine diplomacy,
- addressing the risks of climate change,
- creating an ecosystem for investment in the region and
- boosting technological innovation.
Evolution of Quad:
- Following the Indian Ocean tsunami, India, Japan, Australia, and the US created an informal alliance to collaborate on disaster relief efforts.
- Quad as a formal group was first mooted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007.
- However, due to Chinese resistance and reluctance shown by India, it could not move ahead.
- Later, during the 2017 ASEAN Summits, all four former members re-joined negotiations to revive the quadrilateral alliance.
- The Quad was upgraded to the ministerial level in September 2019.
- In March 2021, the first-ever summit of QUAD leaders took place virtually.
- It was participated by the PMs/Presidents of all the member countries. The summit was hosted by US.
- Later, in September 2021, the first in-person meeting of Quad leaders was hosted by the US.
Source : IADF set to
3. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port
Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur flagged off an inaugural shipment from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata to operationalise the Sittwe Port in Myanmar.
About:
- Port of Kolkata or Kolkata Port, officially known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust (Formerly Kolkata Port Trust), is the only riverine major port of India, located in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, around 203 kilometres from the sea.
- It is the oldest operating port in India and was constructed by the British East India Company in 1870.
- Kolkata is a freshwater port with no variation in salinity.
- The port has two distinct dock systems — Kolkata Docks at Kolkata and a deep water dock at Haldia Dock Complex, Haldia.
Syama Prasad Mukherjee:
- Syama Prasad Mukherjee (1901 – 1953) was an Indian politician, barrister and academician.
- He served as the Minister for Industry and Supply in Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's cabinet.
- He quit the Union Government because of differences of opinion with the Nehru-led government and founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, the predecessor to the Bharatiya Janata Party, in 1951.
4. Khelo India University Games 2022
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched the Logo, jersey, mascot, torch and anthem of the Khelo India University Games (KIUG) 2022 in Lucknow recently.
About:
- The 3rd edition of the Khelo India University Games will take place from May 23 to June 3.
- The opening ceremony is scheduled for May 25 at the Babu Banarasi Das University in Lucknow.
- The KIUG 2022 Games will be held in Varanasi, Noida and Gorakhpur, besides the state capital of Lucknow.
- The Shooting competition will be organized in New Delhi at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.
- For the First time, water sports such as Rowing will be a part of the Khelo India University Games.
- Two indigenous Sports Disciplines namely Mallakhamb and Yogasana, were part of the last edition of the Khelo India University Games held in Karnataka and will also be part of this edition.
5. Buddha Purnima
Buddha Purnima is being celebrated recently.
About:
- It not only marks the day when Gautam Buddha was born but also the day when he attained Nirvana under the Mahabodhi tree at Bodh Gaya.
- Lord Buddha was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama on the full moon day in 563 BC at Lumbini in Nepal.
- In Hinduism, Buddha is considered as the ninth avatar of Lord Vishnu.
- His birth anniversary is also known as Vaisakhi Buddha Purnima or Vesak.
- This day is commemorated by Buddhists and Hindus all over the world and is a major festival in countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Mongolia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
6. Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor recently said that Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) platforms could bring about a substantive change in the sphere of cross-border payments.
About Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC):
- CBDCs are a form of digital currency issued by a country's central bank.
- Examples of central banks include the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the US Federal Reserve System, the Bank of Japan.
- CBDCs are similar to stablecoins, except that their value is fixed by the central bank and equivalent to the country's fiat currency.
- Advantages:
- It provides businesses and consumers with privacy, transferability, convenience, accessibility, and financial security.
- It also decreases the cost of maintenance that a complex financial system requires.
- It reduces cross-border transaction costs.
- It would also reduce the risks associated with using digital currencies, or cryptocurrencies, in their current form. CBDCs, backed by a government and controlled by a central bank, would give households, consumers, and businesses a secure means of exchanging digital currency.
What are Stablecoins?
- They are cryptocurrencies whose value is pegged or tied to that of another currency, commodity, or financial instrument.
- Stablecoins aim to provide an alternative to the high volatility ofthe most popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC).
- Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, stablecoins’ prices remain steady in accordance with whichever fiat currency backs them.
- E.g., USDC stablecoin is backed by dollar-denominated assets.
7. ‘Washington Declaration’
The President of South Korea and the US President recently signed the Washington Declaration on the anniversary of 70 years of their bilateral relationship.
About Washington Declaration:
- It was signed between the US and South Korea on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of U.S.-South Korea bilateral relations.
- The declaration outlines the cooperation towards nuclear deterrence.
- Purpose: Protect the Korean Peninsula from a nuclear attack.
- According to the declaration,
- A US nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN)would be deployed in the Korean peninsula;
- A joint Nuclear Consultative Group would be formed to formulate principles of joint response tactics;
- South Korea would receive intel from the US regarding nuclear advancements;
- The US will strengthen South Korea’s nuclear deterrence capabilities through joint military training programs and an annual intergovernmental simulation.
- The declaration reaffirmed the non-proliferation Treaty implying that South Korea would not venture into the creation of its own independent nuclear capabilities and would instead focus on deterrence measures through an alliance-based approach.
- It also mandates the US President as the only ‘sole authority’ to use the nuclear arsenal of the US in the event of a nuclear confrontation.
8. Mridangam
Legendary mridangam ‘vidwan’ Karaikudi R Rani recently died due to age-related issues.
About Mridangam:
- It is one of the oldest Indian percussion instruments, originating 2,000 years ago.
- This traditional instrument is found in various parts of South India.
- It is a popular bifacial drum of Carnatic music and is used as an accompaniment in South Indian Classical music.
- It is also known by the name of maddal or maddalam.
- It is held across the lap and played on both ends with the hands and fingers.
- A similar instrument, the pakhavaj, is played in the Hindustani tradition of northern India, as well as in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
- Making process:
- The body of the mridangam is scooped out of a single block of wood.
- Jack wood or redwood is the ideal choice of mridangam makers, but the wood of the morgosa tree or the core of the coconut tree and the palm tree is also used for this purpose.
- Shape: It is shaped like a barrel whose right head is a little smaller than the left.
- Layered parchments, fastened to leather hoops and kept intact and tight by leather braces, control the skin tension.
- At times, small pieces of wood are also put in between these braces to facilitate the tuning.
- A removable patch of tuning paste is affixed to each end, giving the drum a definite pitch.
9. Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve
A nine-year-old full-term pregnant tigress suffering from severe constipation recently died at the Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve (MHTR) during treatment.
About Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve:
- Location:
- Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, popularly known as Darrah Wildlife Sanctuary, is spread across 4 districts – Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar & Chittorgarh in Rajasthan.
- The park is situated in a valley formed by two parallel mountains viz. Mukundra and Gargola.
- It is consisting of three wildlife sanctuaries: Darrah wildlife sanctuary, Chambal wildlife sanctuary and Jaswant Sagar wildlife sanctuary.
- This tiger reserve was once a hunting preserve belonging to the Maharaja of Kota.
- River: It is located on the eastern bank of the Chambal River and is drained by its tributaries.
- Vegetation: Dry Deciduous Forest
- Flora:
- Anogeissus pendula (Kala Dhok or Kaladhi) is the predominant species, along with Khair (Acacia catechu), Ber (Zizyphus mauratiana), Kakan (Flacourtia indica), Raunj (Acacia lecofolia) etc.
- On higher slopes, Anogeissus pendula is replaced by Anogeissus latifolia, along with Bel (Aegle marmelos), Salar (Boswellia sarata) Uum (Meliusa tomentosa) and Shisham (Dalbergia latifolia).
- Fauna:
- The important fauna includes Leopard, Sloth bear, Nilgai, Chinkara, Spotted Deer, Small Indian Civet, Toddy Cat, Jackal, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Common Langur etc.
- The common reptiles and amphibians are Pythons, Rat Snake, Buff-striped keelbacks, Green keelback, crocodiles, Gharial, Otter and Turtles
10. Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
The Central Government has recently categorised practising chartered accountants, company secretaries and cost accountants as a “reporting entity” under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
About Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA):
- It is an Act to prevent money laundering and to provide for the confiscation of property derived from or involved in money laundering.
- The Act was formulated for the following objectives:
- Prevent money-laundering.
- Combat/prevent channelising of money into illegal activities and economic crimes.
- Provide for the confiscation of property derived from, or involved/used in, money laundering.
- Provide for matters connected and incidental to the acts of money laundering.
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED)in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, is responsible for investigating the offences of money laundering under the PMLA.
- Financial Intelligence Unit – India (FIU-IND)under the Department of Revenue is the central national agency responsible for receiving, processing, analysing, and disseminating information relating to suspect financial transactions.
- The scheduled offences are separately investigated by agencies mentioned under respective acts, for example, the local police, CBI, customs departments, SEBI, or any other investigative agency, as the case may be.
- Actions that can be initiated against the person involved in money laundering:
- Seizure/freezing of property and records and attachment of property obtained with the proceeds of crime.
- Any person who commits the offence of money laundering shall be punishable with –
- Rigorous imprisonment for a minimum term of three years and this may extend up to seven years.
- Fine (without any limit).