Ex Vajra Prahar 2023: 14th Indo-US Joint Special Forces exercise commenced at Umroi, Meghalaya
The 14th edition of the India – United States of America(USA) Joint Special Forces exercise, Vajra Prahar 2023, commenced at the Joint Training Node in Umroi Cantonment, located in Ri Bhoi district of the northeastern state of Meghalaya. The 2023 edition is a 21-day (3-week) training program happening from 21st November 2023 to 11th December 2023.
Key Points:
- Exercise Vajra Prahar is an annual exercise between India and the US to share the best practices and experiences in areas such as joint mission planning and operational tactics.
- It is also a platform to enhance interoperability and strengthen defence cooperation between the armies of India and USA.
- The 13th edition of this exercise was conducted at the Special Forces Training School (SFTS), Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh (HP) in August 2022.
- The first edition of the joint exercise was conducted in 2010
State Educational Achievement Survey 2023 by PARAKH conducted Successfully
The State Educational Achievement Survey (SEAS) 2023 was successfully conducted on 3rd November 2023 among students in grades 3, 6, and 9 to identify areas where learning needs improvement.This is the 1st survey conducted by the Performance Assessment, Review and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH), the national assessment regulator
Objective:
To assess the learning competencies of students at the end of each educational stage, i.e., foundational, preparatory, and middle with a primary focus on Language and Mathematics
Key Points:
- This survey will unveil crucial insights, laying the foundation for evidence-based policies to enhance education quality
- It should be noted that in SEAS 2023 the sample size was expanded to block level from distrcit level to reach more students to assess learning gaps.
- It also integrated teachers’ professional development programs at the block level
About PARAKH:
It was set up in January 2023 by NCERT on the lines of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to establish guidelines, standards, and norms for student assessment and evaluation for all recognized school boards in India.
- It will also guide the State Achievement Survey (SAS) and undertake the National Achievement Survey (NAS); monitor achievement of learning outcomes.
- It also support and guide school boards in adapting their assessment methods to align with the 21stcentury skill needs
Kerala RT Mission Selected for UNWTO’s Global List of Case Studies
Responsible Tourism (RT) Mission of Kerala was selected for the global list of Case Studies of United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). UNWTO’s recognition will further inspire Kerala’s RTmission to promote eco-friendly tourism.Apart from Kerala’s RT Mission, Maharashtra’s Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve project is the only other Indian case study to be featured in this UNWTO list.The 2 Indian case studies are among the 7 G20 (group of 20) countries to feature on UNWTO list which includes Mexico, Germany, Mauritius, Turkey, Italy, Brazil and Canada, being the others.
Key Points:
- UNWTO noted that Kerala’s RT mission promotes the travel industry in Kerala and upholds the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN
- Kerala’ was recognised for its efforts in using local resources and products to boost its tourism industry
Kerala RT Mission:
- Kerala RT Mission was launched on 20th October 2017 by Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister (CM) of Kerala.
- This is the nodal agency formed by the Government of Kerala to spread and implement the ideologies and initiatives of Responsible Tourism across Kerala.
- This is also the State Nodal Agency tasked by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, for the implementation of its Rural Tourism Development Project
About United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO):
Secretary-General– Zurab Pololikashvili
Headquarters– Madrid, Spain
Establishment– 1975
Fire Bird, Authored by Perumal Murugan & Translated by Janani Kannan won JCB Prize for Literature 2023
Fire Bird, originally written in Tamil as “Aalanda Patchi” by renowned Tamil Writer Perumal Murugan won the 2023 JCB Prize for Literature. The book was translated into English by Janani Kannan and was published by Penguin Random House India.The book explores themes of displacement and the human desire for stability in a changing world.Fire Bird is the 5th translated work to win JCB Prize for Literature
Key Points:
- The JCB Prize for Literature, established in 2018, is an annual award presented to a distinguished work of fiction by an Indian author
- The prize is funded by JCB, the global construction equipment manufacturer, and administered by the JCB Literature Foundation.
- Perumal Murugan was a professor of Tamil at the Government Arts College in Salem Attur and Namakkal.
- He has written 12 novels, 6 collections of short stories, 6 anthologies of poetry, and many non-fiction books. Around 10 of his novels were translated into English.
Former Indian Cricketer Sourav Ganguly Named Brand Ambassador of Bengal
Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister (CM) of West Bengal (WB) named former Indian cricketer and Padma Shir Awardee Sourav Ganguly as the “Brand Ambassador of Bengal” and handed over the Appointmentletter.The announcement was made during the 7th edition of the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS 2023) held in Kolkata(WB).
Key Points:
- Sourav Ganguly, popularly known as “Dada” or “Prince of Kolkata”, represented India from 1992 to 2008.He made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 1992 against West Indies and test debut in 1996 against England at the Lord’s in London (the United Kingdom).He played a total of 311 ODIs and scored 11363 runs and 113 Test matches and scored 7212 runs.
- He became the captain of the Indian Cricket team in 1999 and continued till 2005.
- From 2015 to October 2019, he was the President of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB)
- He became the 35th President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in October 2019 and served until 2022.
DRDO & Indian Navy Conducts 2nd Flight-test of ‘NASM-SR’ from SeaKing
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in cooperation with the Indian Navy (IN) successfully tested the indigenously designed & developed Guided Naval Anti-Ship MissileShort Range (NASM-SR) from IN’s Seaking 42B Maritime Helicopter.This marked the 2nd test of the missile, which was first tested at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore, Odisha on 18 May 2022, from an IN Seaking Mk42B helicopter.The test involved the firing of the missile from a Seaking 42B helicopter, showcasing its precision guidance technology
Key Points:
- NASM-SR has an imaging infra-red seeker, which would home in on the heat emissions of its targets
- The weapon would have a warhead of 100kg, capable of sinking patrol boats and damaging larger warships
- The Explosively Formed Penetrator (EFP) warhead, despite its compact 100-kilogram size, is capable of destroying large ships if the missile hits the area of the ship where ammunition or fuel is stored
- The missile uses an imaging infrared seeker (IIR) in its terminal phase to locate and destroy its target.
- After the retirement of Seaking Mk42B helicopters, which are reaching the end of their operational life, the NASM-SR missile will be integrated with the newly acquired MH-60R helicopters from the United States of America (USA).
World Children’s Day 2023- November 20
United Nations’ (UN) Universal Children’s Day or World Children’s Day is annually observed across the globe on 20 November to promote international togetherness, and awareness amongchildren worldwide, and improve children’s welfare.It is a global initiative promoting children’s rights, safety, education, health, and happiness.The 2023 campaign Theme of World Children’s Day is, “For every child, every right.”World Children’s Day is the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)’s annual day of action for children, by children.
Key Points:
- On 14 December 1954, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution A/RES/836(IX) and recommended that with effect from 1956, all countries institute a Universal Children’s Day, fostering global fraternity among children.
- It also recommended that the Day was to be observed as a day of activity dedicated to promoting the ideals of the UN Charter and the well-being of children worldwide
About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
Executive Director– Catherine Russell
Headquarters– New York, USA
Established on– 11 December 1946.
In 1953, UNICEF became a permanent part of the UN
Africa Industrialization Day 2023 – November 20
- United Nations (UN)’s Africa Industrialization Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th November to highlight the critical importance of Industrial development for sustained and inclusive economic growth in African countries
- 20th November 2023 marks the 34th Africa Industrialization Day
- The theme of Africa Industrialization Day 2023 is “Accelerating Africa’s Industrialization through the Empowerment of African Women in Processing for an Integrated Market” .In December 1989, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/44/237 and proclaimed the 20th November of every year as the ‘Africa Industrialization Day’. The first ever Africa Industrialization Day was observed on 20th November 1990.