13 OCT CA

1.

India and Tanzania have elevated their ties to a strategic partnership level. They signed six agreements covering digital cooperation, culture, sports, maritime industries, and white shipping information sharing.

Additionally, they agreed on a five-year roadmap to expand their defence cooperation. Both countries are working on a trade agreement in local currencies. India views Tanzania as a valued partner in the Indo-Pacific.

2.

The Baiga Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Chhattisgarh has been granted habitat rights, making it the second PVTG to receive such rights in the state.

Out of 75 PVTGs in India, only three have received habitat rights, including the Bharia PVTG in Madhya Pradesh, the Kamar tribe, and now the Baiga tribe in Chhattisgarh.

3.

About Habitat Rights:

Habitat rights are granted under the Forest Rights Act and provide communities with rights over their customary territories, cultural practices, livelihood means, biodiversity knowledge, and protection of their natural and cultural heritage.
Habitat rights help safeguard traditional livelihoods and ecological knowledge, and they empower PVTG communities to access government schemes and initiatives to develop their habitats.

4.

Kerala is launching a “back to school” program for 46 lakh women enrolled in the Kudumbashree poverty alleviation mission. Over the next two months, more than 2,000 schools will open on weekends to provide training on adapting to the digital age.

The program aims to empower women, enhance household incomes, and strengthen the mission’s functioning.

Classes will cover topics like organizational strength, community life security, and digital age skills.

5.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s security cover upgraded to Z category

Security categories in India:
Special Protection Group is an elite force whose details are classified and only provided to the Prime Minister of India.
Z+ category is a security detail of 55 personnel, including 10+ NSG commandos and police personnel.
Z category is a security detail of 22 personnel, including 4-6 NSG commandos and police personnel.
Y+ category is a security detail of 11 personnel, including 2-4 commandos and police personnel.
Y category is a security detail of 8 personnel, including 1 or 2 commandos and police personnel.
X category is a security detail of 2 personnel, with no commandos but only armed police personnel.

6.

The International Olympic Council’s (IOC) Executive Board has announced the suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) with immediate effect for “breach of charter”. The move comes after the Russian Olympic Committee recognised regional organisations from four Ukrainian territories annexed since the invasion began in 2022

The unilateral decision taken by the Russian Olympic Committee on 5 October 2023 to include, as its members, the regional sports organisations which are under the authority of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine (namely Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia) constitutes a breach of the Olympic Charter because it violates the territorial integrity of the NOC of Ukraine, as recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in accordance with the Olympic Charter

7.

India has been ranked at 111 out of 125 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2023, further lowering its position to 107 (out of 121 countries) in 2022. However, the government has rejected the ranking, saying it is a flawed measure of “hunger” that does not reflect India’s true position.

The Global Hunger Index is a tool for comprehensively measuring and tracking hunger at global, regional, and national levels. The scores are based on the values of four component indicators: undernourishment based on caloric intake, child (under age five) stunting based on height, child (under age five) wasting based on weight, and child mortality (before age five). Based on the values of the four indicators, a GHI score is calculated on a 100-point scale reflecting the severity of hunger, where 0 is the best possible score (no hunger) and 100 is the worst.

8.

Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chile, China and Croatia are the top five countries in GHI 2023.
Chad, Niger, Lesotho, Congo, Yemen, Madagascar, and Central African Republic are the countries ranked at the bottom of the index.

9.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University conferred an honourary doctorate to Samia Suluhu Hassan, the first woman President of Tanzania

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the country’s efforts to build fraternal relationship with African countries was cemented with setting up of the first offshore campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar

10.

Tanzania takes flight, unveiling its first-ever homemade aircraft

Airplanes Africa Limited unveils Tanzania’s first-ever assembled aircraft at TIMEXPO 2023.
Skyleader 600 is designed for business travelers with affordability and low operational costs.
AAL plans to expand with Skyleader 500 for agricultural use, creating local job opportunities.

11.

Army, BSNL set up communication station at world’s highest battlefield in Ladakh

In a first, Army in collaboration with BSNL, has established a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) at the forward posts of the world’s highest battlefield in Ladakh sector.

Siachen Warriors, in collaboration with BSNL, have established the first-ever BSNL BTS at the forward posts of the highest battlefield on October 6th, to enhance mobile communication for the soldiers deployed at over 15,500 feet.

12.

To commemorate both the UNESCO Heritage tag for Durga Puja and the 150th anniversary of Kolkata Tramways, the Kolkata Tramways introduced the Puja Special Tram. This unique initiative showcases the city’s commitment to preserving its cultural and historical heritage.
The Puja Special Tram is a beautifully decorated tramcar adorned with traditional motifs and artistic representations of Durga Puja. It travels along select routes, passing by some of the most famous and artistically crafted Durga Puja pandals. Passengers can enjoy the festivities from the comfort of the tram, taking in the sights, sounds, and flavors of the city’s grand celebration

13.

Tea to combat poppy cultivation in Manipur

With Manipur grappling to combat the menace of widespread deforestation allegedly caused by large-scale poppy cultivation in the hills of the state, a private tea company has embarked on a path-breaking initiative to replace narcotics plantations with tea gardens.
Manipur-based Meckley Tea India Company, a recent entrant into the tea industry, has invested in cultivating and promoting tea in Manipur and has identified several picturesque locations in the state, blessed with lush green tea gardens and serene landscapes, to establish tea tourism destinations.

Milan Koijam, Director of Meckley Tea India Company, said the target is to produce 16,826.92 kg tea by converting 7,500 hectares of poppy cultivation areas into tea plantations to generate Rs 72 crore revenues.

Koijam added that the initiative will provide employment to people besides increasing the GDP of Manipur.

14.

Assam govt has banned the use of the pesticide Monocrotophos in tea plantations for two months.

About Monocrotophos:

Monocrotophos is principally used in agriculture, as a relatively cheap pesticide. However, it is also used frequently as a tool to commit suicide. It is used as a pesticide for cucumber. Monocrotophos is believed to be the contaminant responsible for the death of 23 schoolchildren in a Bihar school.

15.

Madan Rauta Nagar , Pathshala has been made the official headquarters of the newly created Bajali district.

The geographical limits of Bajali district will be co-terminus with the newly delimited legislative assembly constituency of Bajali

16.

8th Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival invites entries from across India

In a ground-breaking move, BVFF 2023 introduces exciting categories for film entries in the Competition section including feature film and documentary in addition to the short films section. It will also showcase films and cinematic works in the non-competition category. The aim of this move is to broaden the platform for budding talent and showcase some of the best works in meaningful and creative cinema. The submission deadline is on October 31st, 2023

17.

Udaipur ‘City Of Lakes’ Likely To Be India’s First Wetland City

Currently, there are 42 wetland cities worldwide. In India, both Udaipur and Bhopal are vying for the remarkable distinction of being recognized as India’s first wetland city

Rajasthan government is actively working towards obtaining this recognition for Udaipur. The Environment and Forest Department has chosen Udaipur based on the criteria set by the Ramsar Convention for international significance. Additionally, Udaipur is a participant in the central government’s National Lakes Conservation Plan, a program aimed at restoring these crucial water bodies. Currently, the city’s nomination is in the process of being submitted to the Ramsar Convention for approval.

18.

Noted author and activist Sivasankari was honoured with the prestigious Saraswati Samman for the year 2022 for her memoir written in Tamil, Surya Vamsam, at the National Museum in Delhi

Her 2019 memoir, Surya Vamsam, unfolds in two volumes — the first is the metamorphosis from a child to a young writer, and the second is the life and times of an acclaimed author spreading her wings. At the same time, the volumes also chronicle the larger journey of a society in transformation

19.

‘ Miniature Eastern Ghats’ to be a major tourist attraction in Visakhapatnam

The MEG is a splendid initiative set to take shape in approximately 30 acres of reserved land, which belongs to the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, within the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits. It’s strategically located adjacent to the ACA-VDCA cricket stadium along the old NH-16 road. Scheduled to open its gates to the public in November 2023, the MEG promises to be an oasis of natural beauty, biodiversity, and education.

The forest arena is home to a wide array of medicinal plants, making it a living pharmacy. Additionally, it boasts an astrology-themed garden, featuring 27 varieties of plants linked to the zodiac signs.

20.

• India reiterated its support for the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.
• The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized the obligation to uphold humanitarian principles.

Additional information on the news:

• Operation Ajay, India’s mission to rescue its citizens from conflict-hit Israel, commenced with an Air India flight evacuating 230 Indians.
• The MEA spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi, stated that India maintains close contact with relevant stakeholders regarding the evolving situation.
• India’s long-standing and consistent policy advocates the resumption of direct negotiations for a sovereign, independent, and viable Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel within secure and recognized borders.
• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar conducted meetings with Ministry officials to assess the situation.