National
Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal- 2022
⇒ The “Union Home Minister’s Special Operation Medal” for the year 2022 have been awarded for 4 Special Operations.
About Medal:
- The medal was constituted in 2018 with the objective to recognize those operations, which have high degree of planning, high significance for the security of the country/State/UT and have significant impact on the security of larger sections of the society.
- The award shall be conferred for Special Operation in the areas such as counter terrorism, border action, arms control, prevention of narcotics smuggling and rescue operations.
- It is announced on 31st of October every year.
- In a year, normally 3 Special Operations are considered for the award and in extra ordinary circumstances; the award may be given up to 5 Special Operations to encourage State/UT Police.
List of Awardees (Official Link)
International
Bilateral Exercise- 'Garuda VIl'
⇒ Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force (FASF) participated in a bilateral exercise, named ‘Garuda VIl’, from 26 October to 12 November 2022 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
- The seventh edition of the bilateral air exercise between the IAF and FASF, ‘Exercise Garuda-VII’ concluded at Air Force Station, Jodhpur on 12 November 2022.
Participation:
» In this exercise, FASF participated with four Rafale fighter aircraft, one A-330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft and a contingent of 220 personnel.
» The IAF participated with Su-30 MKI, Rafale, LCA Tejas and Jaguar fighter aircraft, as well as the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Mi-17 helicopters.
- The IAF contingent also included Combat Enabling Assets like Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C.
- Ex Garuda VII was also the first occasion for the LCA Tejas and the recently inducted LCH Prachand to participate in any international exercise.
Significance:
- Exercise Garuda-VII provided the two Air Forces with the opportunity for professional interaction and sharing of operational knowledge and experience.
- With meticulous planning and execution of various phases of the exercise, personnel of the IAF and the FASF were exposed to realistic air combat simulations and the associated Combat Support Operations.
- This enabled the participating contingents to engage in wide ranging interactions, providing valuable insight into each other’s best practices.
- The exercise also provided a platform for cultural exchange between the Air Force personnel of both the countries.
Previous Editions:
- The first, third and fifth editions were conducted in India in 2003, 2006 and 2014 at Air Force Stations Gwalior, Kalaikunda and Jodhpur, respectively.
- The second, fourth and sixth editions were conducted in France in 2005, 2010 and 2019.
39th President of Brazil
⇒ Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been sworn in as the 39th president of Brazil following the 2022 Brazilian general election. The veteran left-wing politician, known widely as Lula, took office for a third term as the President of Brazil on 01 January 2023.
- 77-year-old Lula narrowly defeated Jair Bolsonaro in October to win an unprecedented third presidential term.
- In his previous years as Workers Party (PT) president from 2003 to 2010, the former union leader lifted millions of Brazilians from poverty during a commodity boom that boosted the economy.
» Geraldo Alckmin also took office as the 26th Vice President of Brazil on 1 January 2023.
Sports
Akanksha Vyavahare creates Weightlifting National Records in 40kg category at Khelo India tournament
⇒ Maharashtra-based weightlifter Akanksha Vyavahare has created new National Records in the 40kg weight category. The weightlifter, also a part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, has created the National Records in all 3 scores – Snatch, Clean and Jerk and Total.
- This was achieved on 28 October 2022, the opening day of the Khelo India National Ranking Women’s Weightlifting Tournament Phase 2 held at Ghaziabad, Noida.
» Akanksha bettered her existing Snatch national record, by lifting 60kg. She recorded 71kg in the Clean & Jerk, and on the process, registering a total lift of 131kg. She competed in the 40kg Youth Girls’ category.
Important Day
Foundation Day of WDRA
⇒ A seminar on “e-NWR – An Effective Tool for Promoting Pledge Financing” was organized by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) under the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) on the foundation day of WDRA.
- Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) celebrated its Foundation Day as it was constituted in 2010 under the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007.
- As a part of its Foundation Day celebrations, a series of events was organized from 17th to 31st October 2022.
About WDRA:
- The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) was constituted on 26 October 2010 under the Warehousing (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007.
- The Act provides for the establishment of the WDRA to exercise the powers conferred on it and to perform the functions assigned to it under the Act, Rules and Regulations for the development and regulation of warehouses, negotiability of warehouse receipts and promote orderly growth of the warehousing business in the country.
- The WDRA is a Statutory Authority under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India.
- The Authority has its Headquarters in New Delhi.