National
New batch of 12 Cheetahs in Kuno National Park
⇒ 12 cheetahs brought from South Africa in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh were released from quarantine to bigger acclimatisation enclosures successfully on April 18, 2023.
Twelve cheetahs from South Africa arrived on February 18 in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park after South Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the re-introduction of Cheetahs in India to establish a viable cheetah population in the Asian country.
Key Points:
- Earlier, eight cheetahs brought from Namibia were released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kuno National Park on the occasion of his birthday on September 17, 2022. One Cheetah died due to illness recently.
- MoU terms are to be reviewed every five years.
- Following the import of the 12 Cheetahs in February, the plan is to translocate a further 12 annually for the next eight to 10 years.
- The MoU on the reintroduction of cheetahs to India facilitates cooperation between the parties to establish a viable and secure cheetah population in India, promotes conservation and ensures that expertise is shared and exchanged, and capacity is built, to promote cheetah conservation.
- Under the ambitious project of the Indian Government- Project Cheetah- the reintroduction of wild species particularly cheetah is being undertaken as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.
Krishnaguru Eknaam Akhanda Kirtan for World Peace in Assam
⇒ The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Krishnaguru Eknaam Akhanda Kirtan for World Peace, held at Krishnaguru Sevashram at Barpeta, Assam via video conferencing on 03 February 2023.
- Referring to the tradition of Akhand Eknaam Jap every twelve years by Krishnaguru ji, the Prime Minister noted the Indian tradition of organizing spiritual events with duty as the key thought.
- These events rekindle a sense of duty in the individual and society. People used to gather to discuss and analyze the happenings of the last twelve years, evaluate the present and create a blueprint for the future.
- The Prime Minister gave examples of Kumbh, Pushkaram Celebration in the Brahmaputra River, Mahamaham at Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu, Mahamastakabhisheka of Bhagwan Bahubali, blooming of Neelakurinji flower as key events that take place once in twelve years. Eknaam Akhanda Kirtan is laying down a similarly powerful tradition and making the world familiar with the heritage and spiritual consciousness of the Northeast.
About:
- Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar established the Krishnaguru Sevashram in the year 1974, at village Nasatra, Barpeta Assam.
- He is the ninth descendant of Mahavaishnab Manohardeva, who was the follower of the great Vaishnavite saint Shri Shankardeva.
- Krishnaguru Eknaam Akhanda Kirtan for World Peace is a month-long kirtan, was held from 6th January at Krishnaguru Sevashram.
Krishnaguru Eknaam Kirtan:
- Paramguru Krishnaguru Ishwar bestows Krishnaguru Eknaam which is the meditation and chanting the name of Param Brahma Hari. Realisation of God is achieved by meditation and chanting of Eknaam.
Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS)
⇒ Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh PVSM AVSM took over as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) on 01 February 2023.
He has succeeded Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, who retired on 31 January 2023 after more than thirty-nine years of illustrious service.
About Air Marshal:
- An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Defence Services Staff College and National Defence College, the Air Marshal was commissioned into the Fighter Stream of the IAF on 21 December 1984.
- The Air Officer is a Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot with more than 5000 hours of flying experience on a variety of fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
- The Air Marshal is a recipient of Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.
G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill
⇒ The Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Shri Alkesh Kumar Sharma inaugurated the G20 Cyber Security Exercise and Drill for more than 400 domestic and international participants under India’s G20 presidency, on 31 January 2023.
Participants:
The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) conducted this Cyber Security Exercise and drill in hybrid mode (Physical and Virtual) where international participants from more than 12 countries joined through online mode while domestic participants from diverse sectors such as Finance, Education, Telecom, Ports & Shipping, Energy, IT/ITeS and others attended in-person as well as in virtual mode.
The event further progressed with conducting of Strategic Table Top Exercise (TTX) and Operational Drill using CERT-In Exercise Platform.
- The first Table Top Exercise catered to Board & Top Management on the theme “Synergy to counter Global Cyber Crisis” focused on Crisis Management & Crisis Communication.
- The second Table Top Exercise, an Operational Drill was designed for CISO and Mid-management on the theme “Building Collective Cyber Resilience”.
Key Points:
- The scenario for the exercise, which included cyber extortion, data breach, supply chain attacks and disruptions was derived from real life cyber incidents, in which domestic level (limited impact) incidents escalated to global cyber security crisis.
- Exercise was successful in meeting its objectives and provided insights on enhancing and improving Crisis Management, Crisis Communication, Incident Response and global coordination & cooperation.
Important Day
4th World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day
⇒ World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is observed every year on 30 January.
- This date marks the launch of the first WHO road map and the launch of the London declaration on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), both in 2012.
Purpose:
The purpose of World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day is to reflect on the suffering caused by NTDs; celebrate those who are engaged in tackling their burden and the accomplishments of the global NTD community; and gather more support towards their control, elimination and eradication.
Theme:
The theme for World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2023 was ‘Act Now. Act Together. Invest in Neglected Tropical Diseases’.
History:
- On 31 May 2021, the Seventy-fourth World Health Assembly recognized 30 January as World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day through the unanimous approval of decision WHA74(18) by WHO Member States.
- This Day is now one of the 10 Global Health Days and 2 Global Health Weeks recognized by WHO.
- World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day has been observed by the global partners’ community since 2019, while WHO first celebrated the event on 30 January 2022.
- The first World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day was celebrated informally in 2020.
47th Raising Day of Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
⇒ Indian Coast Guard (ICG) celebrated its 47th Raising Day on 01 February 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings to the Indian Coast Guard on its Raising Day. The Indian Coast Guard is known for its professionalism and efforts to keep our coasts safe.
Established:
The Indian Coast Guard was formally established on 1 February 1977 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 of the Parliament of India.