Bangladesh issues second arrest warrant against former PM Sheikh Hasina. Will India extradite her?
Bangladesh issues second arrest warrant against former PM Sheikh Hasina. Will India extradite her?
Key Points:
❖ The International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh has issued a second arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister, and 11 others,
including former military generals and a former police chief, for their alleged involvement in enforced disappearances.
❖ This new arrest warrant, issued on January 6, targets Hasina, who fled to India after her Awami League government was ousted
following massive anti-government protests in August last year
❖ This marks the second arrest warrant issued against her, with the tribunal having recorded three cases against Hasina so far.
❖ The court’s order directs the Inspector General of Police to arrest the 12 individuals, including Hasina, and present them before the tribunal on February 12, in
connection with a case involving hundreds of disappearances.
❖ Among those named in the case are Hasina’s former defense adviser, Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, and former IGP Benazir Ahmed. While
Siddique is currently in custody, Ahmed is believed to be on the run.
❖ In December, the Bangladesh government formally requested Hasina’s extradition from India, although New Delhi has acknowledged the request but refrained from commenting on it.
❖ The ICT first issued an arrest warrant for Hasina on October 17, charging her with genocide and crimes against humanity related to the violent protests of July and
August.
❖ Since the fall of the Awami League government, at least 60 complaints have been filed at the ICT, accusing Hasina, her party members, allies, and senior law
enforcement officials of enforced
disappearances, killings, genocide, and other crimes.
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 01/07/2025 09:54:22 PM
World Day of War Orphans
World Day of War Orphans
Key Points:
❖ World Day of War Orphans is observed annually on January 6. The day raises awareness about the plight of children orphaned due to wars and conflicts, emphasizing their need for care, protection,
and support.
❖ The day encourages global efforts to provide education, healthcare, and safe environments for children affected by war.
❖ World Day of War Orphans was founded by the French organisation SOS Enfants en Détresses. The day focuses on the lives of children impacted by war and aims to
improve their future.
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 01/07/2025 09:51:34 PM
National Bird Day
National Bird Day
Key Points:
❖ National Bird Day is celebrated every year on January 5. The day is celebrated every year to raise awareness about the importance of birds and their habitats. The day also emphasizes the ecological
importance of birds and the need to
conserve them.
❖ Theme 2025 – Protecting Our Birds, Protecting Our Future.
❖ National Bird Day was first established in 2002 by the Avian Welfare Coalition. The day not on draws attention to the pressing
issues of bird extinction and habitat
destruction but also encourages individuals and organisations to engage in efforts to conserve bird populations.
Devajit Saikia appointed as Secretary of BCCI
❖ Devajit Saikia has been appointed as the Chief Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). While, Prabhtej Singh Bhatia was appointed as treasurer of BCCI. Saikia, the board’s joint secretary, has been serving as the acting secretary after Jay Shah took over as International Cricket Council (ICC) Chair in December.
❖ His elevation will leave the jt secretary’s post vacant for which elections will subsequently be held. Saikia is the advocate-general of Assam.
❖ A former first-class cricketer with four domestic caps for Assam, under him the Assam Cricket Association hosted IPL matches in Guwahati as well as warm-up
matches of the 2023 ODI World Cup
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 01/07/2025 09:50:12 PM
Bhubaneswar to host the 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention 2025
Bhubaneswar to host the 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention 2025
Key Points:
❖ Bhubaneshwar the capital city of Odisha will host the 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention from 8-10 January 2025. It is the first time that Bhubaneswar is hosting
the biannual Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
Convention.
❖ As part of the Bharatiya Divas Convention, the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in Bhubaneshwar on 8 January 2025.
The 17 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
Conventions were held in Indore, Madhya Pradesh from 8 – 10 January 2023.
❖ In India, the 9th of January is observed as the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas since 2003 to mark the contribution of the Pravasi Bhartiya (Overseas Indian) community to
the development of India.
Organisers of the 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention
❖ The Union Ministry of External Affairs is organising the 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention in association with the Odisha state government.
❖ The Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Odisha government.
Chief Guest of the 18th Pravasi/Youth Bharatiya Divas Convention
❖ The Chief Guest of the 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention will be Christine Carla Kangaloo, President of Trinidad & Tobago. She will address the convention virtually on 9 January 2025.
❖ The Chief Guest of the Youth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be Dr. Dev Pragad, CEO of the American magazine Newsweek.Inauguration and Valedictory Session 18th
Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention
❖ The 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas
Convention will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9th January 2025. PM Modi will virtually flag off the first special tourist train for the Indian diaspora,
Pravasi Bharatiya Express, a. The train will depart from Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi covering multiple destinations of tourist and religious importance.
❖ President Droupadi Mumru will address the valedictory session of the 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas Convention on 10th January 2025.
❖ President Murmu will also confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to 27 individuals.
❖ The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award is given to Non-Resident Indians (NRI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), or an organisation/institution established and run by the NRI/PIO in recognition of their outstanding achievements both in India and
abroad.
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 01/07/2025 09:32:37 PM
Lionel Messi: 1st Footballer to get US Presidential Medal of Freedom
Lionel Messi: 1st Footballer to get US Presidential Medal of Freedom
Key Points:
❖ Captain of Argentina men’s football team Lionel Messi was among the 19 people to be honored with the United States of America’s highest civilian award ‘The Presidential Medal of Freedom’ in a
ceremony at the White House on 5 January 2025.
❖ However, he was not present during the ceremony due to a prior engagement. Messi became the first men’s football player and the second from the sport after female football player Megan Rapinoe, who
won it in 2022.
❖ Presently Messi is playing for the Inter Miami football club in the Major League of the United States of America. The award was conferred to the 19 distinguished
persons by the American President Joe Biden whose term as the 46th President of the United States ends on 19 January 2024. Donald Trump is expected to be sworn in as the 47th President of the country on 20 January 2025.
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 01/07/2025 09:26:07 PM
Global HMPV Tracker: Tamil Nadu Detects 2 Cases, India's Tally Rises To 5
Global HMPV Tracker: Tamil Nadu Detects 2 Cases, India's Tally Rises To 5
Key Points:
❖ Five cases of Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) were confirmed in India on Monday, marking the first reported instances of the virus in the country.
❖ In Bengaluru, a three-month-old baby, who has been discharged, and an eight-monthold, who is recovering at a hospital, were
the two cases. A two-month-old was also found infected in Ahmedabad.
❖ One case was each reported in Chennai and Salem. The affected infants and their families in Bengaluru and Ahmedabad have
no recent travel history, the Union health ministry has said, ruling out exposure from other regions or countries.
❖ There was no immediate statement on the cases in Tamil Nadu. The HMPV is a globally recognised respiratory virus that
recently gained attention after its outbreak was reported in China.
❖ The ministry said it is monitoring the situation through all available surveillance channels. The Indian Council of Medical Research (IMCR) will continue to track trends in HMPV circulation throughout the
year, it said.
❖ The governments in Karnataka,
Maharashtra and Delhi have issued
guidelines - similar to those followed during Covid-19 - to ensure preparedness for potential health challenges related to HMPV.
❖ HMPV, first identified in 2001, is a
respiratory infection that causes flu-like symptoms. It can affect people of all ages, although children below five years of age,
older adults and those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk.
❖ HMPV spreads through mechanisms common to other respiratory viruses:
❖ Respiratory secretions from coughing and sneezing.
❖ Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands.
❖ Contact with contaminated surfaces followed by touching the mouth, nose, or eyes.
❖ A seasonal rise in respiratory illnesses in China is drawing significant attention this year, especially on social media. The focus stems from unfounded comparisons to the Covid-19 pandemic, which began five years
ago.
❖ Preventive Measures - Handwashing, mask-wearing, avoiding close contact, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 01/07/2025 09:23:21 PM
School enrolment down by over 1 crore in 2023-24 from 2018-19 level, says govt. report
School enrolment down by over 1 crore in 2023-24 from 2018-19 level, says govt. report
Key Points:
❖ The Ministry of Education has recently released two reports of the Integrated District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) – for 2022-23 and 2023-24
– which show a drop of over one crore in school enrolment from the average enrolment figure from 2018-19 to 2021-22. UDISE+ is a database on school education
from pre-primary to higher secondary level.
❖ The Ministry of Education maintains the UDISE+ online platform through which data on school education is collected from
states.
❖ It prepares reports based on this data on parameters such as school enrolment, infrastructure and teachers. This data is crucial when allocating funds for schemes
such as PM-Poshan (midday meals),
Samagra Shiksha and scholarships.
What do the two new UDISE+ reports say about enrolment?
❖ Enrolment in schools across the country remained above 26 crore from 2018-19 to 2021- 22, showing increases of a few lakh students each year except for the COVID
year of 2020-21, when there was a slight drop. This figure fell in 2022-23 to 25.17 crore. It dropped further to 24.8 crore in 2023-24.
What accounts for the drop in enrollment?
❖ Officials in the Ministry of Education have maintained that the drop in school enrolment does not necessarily mean that more children are now out of school.
❖ Instead, they have pointed to a “major departure” in how data was collected for the two new reports as the reason for the fall.
For past years’ reports, data was collected school-wise, which means that each school would upload details on how many children are in a class, how many boys and girls etc.
❖ In contrast, from 2022-23 onwards, data is being collected student-wise, which means that details of each student — their name, address, parents’ name, Aadhaar details —is being entered into the UDISE+ system. A senior official said this is likely to have weeded out “ghost” students — students who may have enrolled both in a government and a private school in order to draw government benefits.
❖ The schools enter the details, and officials said this data is verified at the level of a school cluster, and at the district and State levels.
❖ Bihar has seen the sharpest drop of 35.65 lakh in 2023-24 enrolment from 2018-19, followed by UP with a drop of 28.26 lakh. A senior official in the Ministry said that the
data in the report was arrived at after “engagement” with the states — states that showed large changes from previous years were asked to verify their data.Why was the change in method introduced?
❖ In the new system, data of over 60 items is collected for each student. In addition to details like parents’ name, address, Aadhaar, height, and weight, it also covers
the student’s exam result and attendance for the year.
❖ The official said that with this, UDISE+ has become “a more accurate registry”. The Ministry has attributed the change in data
collection to a recommendation in the National Education Policy 2020, which aims “to achieve universal participation in school by carefully tracking students, as well as
their learning levels”.
❖ The details that are now being collected for each student are expected to help track their performance and attendance. The
new system also includes a registry for teachers with a profile for each teacher. Officials said this is also expected to help deploy teachers suitably, and track their attendance. There were around 98 lakh
teachers in 2023-24.
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 01/07/2025 09:18:35 PM
Current Affair
1. Which shipyard has built the survey vessel 'Nirdeshak'?
A. Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
B. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited
C. Cochin Shipyard Limited
D. Goa Shipyard Limited
Answer: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited INS Nirdeshak was commissioned on December 18 at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. It is the second
ship under the Indian Navy's Survey Vessel (Large) Project. Designed for hydrographic surveys, navigation
assistance, and maritime operations support. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE),
Kolkata, with over 80% indigenous content, supportingAatmanirbhar Bharat. It is a reincarnation of the earlierINS Nirdeshak, which served for 32 years until its decommissioning on December 19, 2014. The name 'Nirdeshak' means 'Pathfinder', reflecting its role in charting seas with precision
2. What kind of disease is idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)?
A. Blood disorder
B. Neurological disorder
C. Cardiovascular disease
D. Lung disease
Answer: Lung disease A famous tabla maestro and five-time Grammy Award winner Ustad Zakir Hussain passed away in San Francisco due to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a chronic disease that affects
the lung tissue surrounding air sacs (alveoli), causing them to become thick and stiff. Over time, this leads to permanent scarring, making it harder to breathe. Complications include pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure, preventing
oxygen from reaching the bloodstream and organs. Those with a history of smoking, a family
history of IPF, and older adults are at higher risk.
3. What are the 'Santa Ana' winds, recently seen in the news?
A. Cold, wet winds from the Pacific Ocean
B. Winds from the Arctic region
C. Dry, warm, and powerful winds from the Great Basin
D. Winds that bring rainfall to California
Answer: Dry, warm, and powerful winds from the Great Basin
Experts link Santa Ana winds and climate change to wildfires in Malibu, California. Named after Santa Ana Canyon, these winds are dry and warm, blowing from
the deserts of the Great Basin. They occur when high pressure forms over the Great Basin and low pressure develops along California's coast. The pressure
difference drives strong winds westward over the mountains toward the Pacific Ocean. As winds descend, they heat up and lose humidity-sometimes dropping
below 10%, drying vegetation and increasing fire risk. Santa Ana winds usually occur between October and January, driven by winter weather patterns.
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 12/19/2024 07:29:49 PM
Current Affair
1. What is the name of scheme launched by government to
facilitate credit assess for farmers through e-NWRs?
A. Warehouse Loan Guarantee Scheme
B. Farmer Empowerment Scheme
C. Credit Guarantee Scheme
D. e-Kisan Credit Scheme
Answer: Credit Guarantee Scheme
The Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) for electronicnegotiable warehouse receipts (e-NWRs) based Pledge Financing was launched to help small farmers avoid distress selling. It aims to provide credit to small farmers to
prevent distress selling of crops. A corpus of Rs 1,000 crore is allocated for post-harvest finance. Farmers can avail loans against electronic negotiable Warehouse receipts (eNWRs) after storing commodities in WDRA- accredited warehouses. Loan coverage includes up to Rs 75 lakh for agricultural purposes and up to Rs 200 lakh for nonagricultural purposes. The scheme improves access tocredit and supports farmers financially post-harvest.
2. Where was Gujarat's first Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing (OSAT) plant inaugurated?
A. Rajkot
B. Surat
C. Vadodara
D. Ahmedabad
Answer: Surat A Gujarat-based semiconductor company Suchi Semicon inaugurated Gujarat's
first OSAT (Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Testing) plant in Surat. The 30,000-square-foot facility provides assembly, testing, and packaging services for semiconductor components. It supports industries like automotive, consumer
electronics, and industrial applications. The plant was
inaugurated by Union Minister C.R. Patil and Gujarat's Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi. This step strengthens India's position in the global semiconductor supply chain
and makes Gujarat a hub for high-tech manufacturing and innovation.
3. What is the theme of the 10th International Forest Fair organized by Madhya Pradesh?
A. Women Empowerment through Minor Forest Produce
B. Forest Biological Diversity
C. Sustainable forest management
D. Health Protection from Minor Forest Produce
Answer: Women Empowerment through Minor Forest Produce
The 10th International Forest Fair took place in Bhopal,Madhya Pradesh, from 17 to 23 December. It serves as a platform for collectors, producers, traders, scientists, and
policymakers to connect. The fair was inaugurated by Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. Representatives from Sri Lanka, Nepal, andAustralia
participated. The theme was "Women Empowermentthrough Minor Forest Produce" as 50% of women manageminor forest produce in Madhya Pradesh.
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 12/19/2024 07:25:14 PM
Google appoints Preeti Lobana as India Head
Key Points:
❖ Tech giant Google has appointed Preeti Lobana as its new Country Manager and Vice President for India.
❖ Lobana succeeds Sanjay Gupta, who was recently transitioned to a bigger role as President of the Asia Pacific region.
❖ A seasoned Googler with eight years of experience as Vice President of customercentric solutions, Lobana will now spearhead Google India’s sales and operations, driving the company’s commitment to India’s burgeoning digital economy.
❖ Google had also appointed Roma Datta Chobey, the managing director for the digital native industries division of Google India, as the interim country manager.
★ Recent Appointment
❖ Fielding coach of Mumbai Indians – Carl Hopkinson (replace James Pamment)
❖ Speaker of 6th Jharkhand Legislative Assembly – Rabindra Mahto
❖ Speaker of 15th Maharashtra Legislative Assembly – Rahul Narwekar of BJP
❖ Acting Secreatry of BCCI – Devajit Saikia (replace Jay Shah)
❖ Chairman of International Cricket Council (ICC) – Jay Shah (replace Greg Barclay)
❖ President of FICCI for 2024-25 – Harsha Vardhan Agarwal (replace Anish Shah)
Posted by: Subhashree Rout
|| Posted time: 12/18/2024 08:46:01 PM