National
Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM) in Silchar
⇒ The Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the new, state of the art complex of Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine (RRIUM) in Silchar on 20 November 2022.
Key Points:
- The newly opened institute is the first such center in the Northeast on Unani medicine — a traditional medicinal practice among the Ayush systems.
- The new complex spread over an area of 3.5 acres is built with an investment of ₹48 crores.
- The complex was developed by the National Projects Construction Corporation (NPCC) – a Govt of India enterprise.
- It was handed over to Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Ayush, Govt of India.
Features:
- The newly built complex of RRIUM, which will be under CCRUM, the apex government organization for research in Unani Medicine, will be providing a wide range of patient care services along with conducting scientific research on different aspects, fundamental and applied, of Unani Medicine, and on diseases which are more prevalent in the Northeast, especially in Assam.
- The centre is also equipped to screen patients with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like cardiac, pulmonary, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
- With a special focus on children, the centre will also provide health checkups for school children and provide effective treatment to those found to be in distress.
- The centre also aims to assess Temperament (Mizaj) of patients with different ailments.
- The state of art complex of RRIUM is equipped with specialised OPD clinics in General, Research, Ilaj-bit-Tadbeer (Regimenal), Specialized Ilaj-bit-Tadbeer (Regimenal) therapies, Mother & Child Health (MCH) and Geriatrics.
- The newly opened RRIUM will also be conducting School Health Programme, Clinical Mobile Research Programme, Health camps & fairs to provide treatment to as many as possible.
- The institute will provide treatment for the diseases particularly on Gastro-intestinal disorders and Respiratory disorders or diseases more prevalent in North East State which is an area of strength of Unani Medicine like IBS and Indigestion, Skin diseases, Arthritis, Eczema, Diabetes, Gout, URTI, Hypertension, Sciatica and Hemorrhoids.
» Regional Research Centre (Unani), Silchar was established by the Council at S. M. Dev Civil Hospital, Silchar, Cachar (Assam) in June 2006 with a view to provide the Unani treatment to the patients visiting the OPD.
New Election Commissioner (EC) of India
⇒ Shri Arun Goel has assumed charge as the new Election Commissioner (EC) of India on 21 November 2022.
- A person can hold the office of an election commissioner or chief election commissioner for six years or till the age of 65, whichever is earlier.
About Goel:
- Shri Arun Goyal is a 1985 batch IAS officer of Punjab Cadre.
- Goel, a 1985 batch Punjab cadre Indian Administrative Service officer, was due to retire on December 31. But his voluntary retirement came into effect on November 18.
- Goel will be in line to become the next chief election commissioner after Kumar’s tenure ends in February 2025.
Background:
- Sushil Chandra’s retirement as the chief election commissioner in May 2022 left the post of one commissioner in the three-member Election Commission of India (ECI) vacant.
- Rajiv Kumar succeeded Chandra while Anup Chandra Pandey is the other election commissioner.
International
India takes over as Council Chair of GPAI
⇒ India assumed the Chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), an international initiative to support responsible and human-centric development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on 21 November 2022.
- This comes close on the heels of India taking over the presidency of G20, a league of world’s largest economies at Bali, Indonesia.
Key Points:
- The Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar represented India virtually at the GPAI meeting held in Tokyo on November 21, 2022 for the symbolic takeover from France, which is the outgoing Council Chair.
- In the election to the Council Chair, India had received more than a two-third majority of first-preference votes while Canada and the United States of America ranked in the two next best places in the tally; so they were elected to the two additional government seats on the Steering Committee.
- For the 2022-2023 Steering Committee, the five government seats are held by Japan (as Lead Council Chair and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee), France (Outgoing Council Chair), India (Incoming Council Chair), Canada and the United States.
Other Points:
- AI has been Catalyzing the Tech Landscape & pushing further the envelope of human possibilities.
- AI is expected to add USD $967 Bn to Indian economy by 2035 and USD 450–500 billion to India’s GDP by 2025, accounting for 10% of the country’s USD 5 trillion GDP target.
- Artificial Intelligence is a Kinetic enabler for growth of India’s Technology ecosystem & a force multiplier for achieving $1 Trillion Digital Economy goal by 2025.
About GPAI:
- GPAI is a congregation of 25 member countries, including the US, the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, and Singapore.
- India had in 2020 joined the group as a founding member.
- GPAI is a first-of-its-type initiative for evolving better understanding of challenges and opportunities around AI using the experience and diversity of participating countries; the alliance will look to bridge the gap between theory and practice by supporting advanced research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.
- It works in collaboration with partners and international organisations, leading experts from industry, civil society, governments, and academia to collaborate to promote responsible evolution of AI; and guide the responsible development and use of AI, grounded in human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth.
Sports
ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup 2022
⇒ The ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup 2022 was held from 17 November to 19 November, 2022 at Huamark Indoor Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand.
Indian Winner:
» Indian table tennis player Manika Batra clinched the bronze medal at ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup 2022 tournament at Huamark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on 19 November 2022.
- Manika Batra became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Asian Cup table tennis tournament.
- She defeated World number six and three-time Asian champion Hina Hayata by 4-2 to clinch the bronze medal.
ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup 2022 Winners:
Men’s singles:
- Gold- Tomokazu Harimoto (Japan)
- Silver- Lim Jong-hoon (South Korea)
- Bronze- Taipei Chuang Chih-yuan (Chinese)
Women’s singles:
- Gold- Wang Yidi (China)
- Silver- Mima Ito (Japan)
- Bronze- Manika Batra (India)
About ITTF–ATTU Asian Cup:
- The ITTF–ATTU Asian Cup is an annual table tennis competition held by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU).
- The first edition was held in 1983.