Current Affair 1:

Gallantry Awards in India

 

About:

Selection Process:

Ministry of Defence invites recommendations twice in a year from the:

1. Armed Forces and
2. Union Ministry of Home Affairs

for gallantry awards.

1. Recommendations in respect of civilian citizens (other than Defence personnel) are received from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). MHA calls for recommendations (in respect of civilians) from all State/UT Governments, Central Ministries/ Departments, Central Armed Police Forces and Railway Protection Force etc.
2. Recommendations received directly from private individuals, including VIP references are not accepted. Recommendations are scrutinized by a Sub-Committee in the MHA and their recommendation is received in the Ministry of Defence with the approval of Union Home Secretary.
3. Recommendations received from the Armed Forces and MHA are considered by the Central Honours & Awards Committee (CH&AC) comprising of Raksha Mantri, three Service Chiefs & Defence Secretary.
4. Thereafter, recommendations of the CH&AC are submitted for approval of the Prime Minister and the President. After approval of the President, awards are announced on the occasion of the Republic Day and Independence Day.

Current Affair 2:

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

 

Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration and is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. IOM is part of the United Nations system.

The Organization is guided by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including upholding human rights for all.

The 12-point strategy, adopted by IOM’s Council in 2007, outlines the core objectives of the Organization, and provides an effective description of the scope of IOM’s work. I am posting 4 agendas as example:

In 2015, IOM Member States endorsed the Migration Governance Framework (MiGOF), which sets out overarching objectives and principles which, if fulfilled and enacted, form the basis for an effective approach to migration governance.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) currently counts 175 member states. A further 8 states hold observer status, as do numerous international and nongovernmental organizations.

India is a member:

IOM Definition of "Migrant"

An umbrella term, not defined under international law, reflecting the common lay understanding of a person who moves away from his or her place of usual residence, whether within a country or across an international border, temporarily or permanently, and for a variety of reasons.

Note: At the international level, no universally accepted definition for “migrant” exists. The present definition was developed by IOM for its own purposes and it is not meant to imply or create any new legal category.

Also read GLOBAL COMPACT FOR MIGRATION

On 19 September 2016 Heads of State and Government came together for the first time ever at the global level within the UN General Assembly and adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, the 193 UN Member States recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to human mobility and enhanced cooperation at the global level.

What is written in New York Declaration?

1. Protect the safety, dignity and human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migratory status, and at all times;
2. Support countries rescuing, receiving and hosting large numbers of refugees and migrants;
3. Integrate migrants – addressing their needs and capacities as well as those of receiving communities – in humanitarian and development assistance frameworks and planning;

Annex II of the New York Declaration set in motion a process of intergovernmental consultations and negotiations towards the development of a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). This process concluded on 10 December 2018 with the adoption of the Global Compact by the majority of UN Member States at an Intergovernmental Conference in Marrakesh, Morocco.

What is written in GCM?

The Global Compact is the first inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, covering all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

It is a non-binding document that respects states’ sovereign right to determine who enters and stays in their territory and demonstrates commitment to international cooperation on migration.

Now see if you can solve 2023 prelims question:

Current Affair 3:

India launches 'Graphene-Aurora program’

 

News:

The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the ‘Graphene-Aurora program’ at a function in Maker Village Kochi, Kerala.

The proposed project aimed at boosting the production of the valuable allotrope of carbon would mark a new chapter of innovation in the country’s technological field.

The program shall be implemented by Digital University Kerala with joint funding from MeitY, Government of India and Government of Kerala and Industry partners.

Advantages of Graphene:

1. Graphene is often referred to as a wonder material for its extraordinary electrical and electronic properties.
2. Graphene was discovered in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, who received the Nobel Prize in Physics for this in 2010.
3. It is stronger than steel, very stretchable and can be used as a flexible conductor.
4.  Its thermal conductivity is much higher than that of silver.
5. Graphene has a number of properties which makes it interesting for several different applications. It is an ultimately thin, mechanically very strong, transparent and flexible conductor. It can be used in applications such as touch screens, light panels and solar cells.

Graphene has a lot of promise for additional applications: anti-corrosion coatings and paints, efficient and precise sensors, faster and efficient electronics, flexible displays, efficient solar panels, faster DNA sequencing, drug delivery, and more.

Graphene has a great deal of commitment for extra applications: hostile to erosion coatings and paints, effective and exact sensors, quicker and productive gadgets, adaptable showcases, proficient sunlight-based chargers, quicker DNA sequencing, drug conveyance, and then some.

 

Current Affair 4:

First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit

 

News:

The First WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit will take place on 17 and 18 August 2023 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. It will be held alongside the G20 health ministerial meeting, to mobilize political commitment and evidence-based action on traditional medicine

The Summit is co-hosted by the Government of India, which holds the G20 presidency in 2023. It will be held alongside the G20 Health Ministerial meeting.

In response to this increased global interest and demand of traditional medicine, WHO, with the support of the Government of India, established in March 2022 the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine as a knowledge hub with a mission to catalyze ancient wisdom and modern science for the health and well-being of people and the planet.

Why importance of traditional medicines?

 

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