IMPORTANT DAYS

Partition Horrors Remembrance Day 2024 observed on 14 August

• Partition Horrors Remembrance Day is observed annually on August 14.

• The day was designated by PM Modi in 2021 to honor the pain and suffering from the partition.

• It commemorates the struggles and sacrifices of those affected by the partition.

• The partition, outlined in the Indian Independence Act of 1947, led to widespread displacement and loss of life.

• British India was split into two Dominions, India and Pakistan, with the Bengal and Punjab regions divided based on religious demographics.

• The boundary between India and Pakistan was established by the Boundary Commission, chaired by British lawyer Cyril Radcliffe.

• The day serves as a reminder of the hardships endured during the partition.

• It aims to preserve the memory of the individuals who suffered and sacrificed during this historical event.

• Partition Horrors Remembrance Day reflects on the impact of the partition on millions of lives.

STATE NEWS

Madhya Pradesh is the first state to fund sanitary napkins for girl students

• Madhya Pradesh is the first state to offer financial aid for sanitary napkins to girl students.

• Each girl student will receive ₹300 annually under the Sanitation and Hygiene Scheme.

• The funds will be directly transferred to the students' accounts.

• This initiative will benefit approximately 19 lakh students from classes seven through twelve.

• Over ₹57.18 crore has been disbursed to the accounts of these students.

• Some other states, like Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Delhi, provide free sanitary napkins directly to students.

• Chief Minister Dr. Mohan announced that Rani Durgavati will be included in the state curriculum.

• Dr. Mohan also honored girls who excelled in international and national sports competitions.

• The program aims to support menstrual hygiene and education for young women in the state.

The registration of temples, mutts, and trusts has been made compulsory by the Bihar government

• The Bihar government has mandated the registration of all temples, mutts, and trusts in the state.

• District magistrates have been instructed to ensure the registration of these entities and submission of their property details to the Bihar State Board of Religious Trusts (BSBRT).

• BSBRT operates under the State's Law Department.

• The Bihar Hindu Religious Trust Act, 1950, requires all public temples, mutts, dharamshalas, and trusts to be registered with BSBRT.

• There are 2,512 unregistered temples and mutts in Bihar, holding 4,321.64 acres of land, according to BSBRT records.

• There are 2,499 registered temples in the state, collectively owning 18,456 acres of land.

• Vaishali district has the highest number of unregistered temples (438), followed by Bhabua (307) and West Champaran (273).

• The state government will take strict action against any illegal transactions involving properties owned by registered or unregistered religious entities.

• The registration process aims to curb unlawful activities and protect the assets of these religious bodies.

Ancient Maharashtra rock art declared a 'Protected Monument'

• The Maharashtra government declared the geoglyphs and petroglyphs in Ratnagiri as 'protected monuments' under the Maharashtra Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1960.

• The Culture Department's notification states that the petroglyphs at Deud in Ratnagiri are from the Mesolithic Age, dating back approximately 20,000–10,000 years.

• Geoglyphs and petroglyphs are ancient art forms, created by carving or engraving images on the earth's surface or rocks.

• The petroglyphs include depictions of animals such as rhinoceros, deer, monkeys, donkeys, and various footprints.

• The Konkan region's petroglyphs are significant as they represent the artistic expressions of Mesolithic humans.

• These ancient artworks are spread across a 900-kilometer stretch along the Konkan coast, covering parts of Maharashtra and Goa.

• Ratnagiri itself boasts over 1,500 geoglyphs and petroglyphs, distributed across 70 different sites.

• Seven of these sites in Ratnagiri are listed on UNESCO's tentative World Heritage List.

• This declaration underscores the importance of preserving these ancient artworks, which offer valuable insights into early human civilization.

NATIONAL NEWS

Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the 'Amrit Gyan Kosh' and 'Faculty Development' portals as part of Mission Karmayogi

• Dr. Jitendra Singh launched the ‘Amrit Gyan Kosh’ and ‘Faculty Development Portal’ at the Public Service Training Institute Conference in New Delhi.

• These initiatives are part of Mission Karmayogi Bharat and were introduced at Vigyan Bhavan.

• Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the progress of the National Capacity Building Commission and Mission Karmayogi Bharat, emphasizing a new approach to civil service training.

• The initiative aims to create a future-ready civil service that aligns with Indian values while maintaining a global outlook.

• Dr. Singh announced that 31 lakh government employees will be trained annually under this mission.

• He also launched the 13th Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) for the ongoing enhancement of training institutes.

• Five Civil Services Training Institutions were recognized for their highest number of IGoT courses offered.

• These institutions include the Institute of Secretariat Training and Management, National Telecommunications Institute, Rafi Ahmad Kidwai National Postal Academy, National Institute of Communication Finance, and SVP National Police Academy.

• The recognition reflects a strong commitment to improving the quality of civil service training across various sectors.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DRDO successfully carried out the first test flight of the GAURAV Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB).

• DRDO successfully carried out the first test flight of the Long Range Glide Bomb (LRGB) named GAURAV.

• The test was executed from a Sukhoi-30 MK-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force.

• GAURAV, a 1000-kilogram air-launched glide bomb, is designed to strike distant targets.

• The test took place off the coast of Odisha, where the bomb demonstrated its long-range capabilities.

• The Research Centre Imarat in Hyderabad indigenously designed and developed the GAURAV bomb.

• A target was set up on Long Wheeler's Island for the flight test.

• The GAURAV glide bomb accurately hit the designated target during the test.

• This successful test highlights India's advancements in developing indigenous long-range weaponry.

MISCELLANEOUS

Neelakurinji officially becomes a ‘threatened species

• Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) is now officially listed as a threatened species by the IUCN.

• This is the first global assessment of Neelakurinji for the IUCN Red List.

• The plant, known for its once-in-12-years blooming, attracts many tourists.

• The species is categorized as Vulnerable (Criteria A2c) in the IUCN Red List.

• Neelakurinji is a three-meter tall shrub native to high-altitude shola grasslands.

• Its habitat faces threats from tea and softwood plantations, urbanization, and invasive species like eucalyptus and black wattle.

• Nearly 40% of Neelakurinji’s habitat has been lost, with ongoing pressures on the remaining areas.

• The species occupies 220 square kilometers and is spread across 34 subpopulations in 14 ecoregions.

Mpox has been declared a public health emergency by the Africa CDC.

• The Africa CDC has declared Mpox a public health emergency due to a growing outbreak.

• The declaration emphasizes the urgency of addressing the Mpox crisis, not just a formality.

• As of August 4, Africa has reported 38,465 Mpox cases and 1,456 deaths since January 2022.

• Mpox spreads through close contact and causes symptoms such as rashes, flu-like symptoms, and pus-filled lesions.

• The disease is particularly dangerous for children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.

• The outbreak, which began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has now spread to neighboring countries.

• A new variant, clade 1b, is spreading more easily than the original clade 1.

• This year alone, over 15,000 Mpox cases and 461 deaths have been reported, marking a 160% increase from the previous year.