Terrorism is a growing threat in our world today. Terrorism is almost always rooted in political motivations that arise from a lack of opportunity, perceived injustice, and historical grievances. Tackling terrorism requires not only confronting the underlying causes, but also recognising its not humanitarian nature. Governments must address the root causes of discontent and provide constructive outlets to those who may become radicalized. Comprehensive deradicalization programs are necessary to counter not just the terrorist mindset, but also their sense of victimhood and injustice that lead to terrorism. A multi-pronged approach that focuses on not only military and intelligence operations, but also developmental initiatives, such as providing education and resources for marginalized communities, is the best way to effectively combat terrorism.
The appeal of some terrorist organizations is heavily tied to their ability to offer economic or educational opportunities, or to provide a sense of purpose and belonging to those who may feel excluded from mainstream society Thereafter, peace can only be achieved if governments and world leaders work to address the root causes of terrorism, including inequality and lack of educational or economic opportunities in order to reduce the appeal of some terrorist organizations. It is only through a holistic approach that peace can be sustained over time.
To counter terrorism, it is important to understand the root causes of terrorism and what factors push people to engage in terrorist activities. These can include political inequality, religious discrimination, lack of economic opportunities and socio-cultural marginalization. Policies which promote social and economic development, foster participation in political processes and ensure legal protection of minority rights are essential in reducing support for terrorist organizations. Alongside this, initiatives to strengthen education and community-based programs which teach young people the values of peace and tolerance can help to create a society which is resilient to radicalization. Ultimately, tackling terrorism requires a comprehensive approach that makes sure no communities are left behind.
Service to the mankind is the best policy. Peace and truth are always the best tools to tackle our problems. Let us hope for a world with peace and love and no terrorism and loss of humans.
MoD signs 3 Defence Contracts worth ∼Rs 5,400cr for Indian Army & Indian NavyOn March 29, 2023, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed three contracts worth ∼ Rs 5,400 crore for Indian Army (IA), and Indian Navy (IN) under the Buy {Indian – IDMM (Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured)} to boost defence capabilities of India. These include the following: i.Two contracts are signed with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) worth Rs 2,400 crore viz.
Procurement of Automated Air Defence Control and Reporting System ‘Project Akashteer’ for IA worth Rs 1,982 crore
Sarang Electronic Support Measure (ESM) systems for the Navy worth Rs 412 crore
ii.One contract is signed with the NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Department of Space, Bengaluru (Karnataka) for Rs 2,963 crore for an advanced communication satellite, GSAT (Geosynchronous Satellite System) 7B, for IA. On 30th March 2023, MoD signed a contract worth Rs 1,700 crore with BEL for the procurement of 13 Lynx-U2 Fire Control Systems for Indian Navy. About Ministry of Defence (MoD): Union Minister– Rajnath Singh (Constituency- Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh) Minister of State– Ajay Bhatt (Constituency- Nainital-Udhamsingh Nagar, Uttarakhand)
MeitY approves setting up of Electronics Manufacturing Cluster at Dharwad in Karnataka
On 24th March 2023, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Electronics & Information technology(MeitY), announced that MeitY has approved to set up Rs 180 crore worth Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC) at at Kotur-Balur Industrial Area in Dharwad, Karnataka, which is expected to create over 18,000 jobs.
The project, which is being set up under Modified Electronics Manufacturing Cluster (EMC 2.0) scheme, is expected to catalyse more than Rs 1,500 crore worth of investments very soon.
With the potential to employ 2,500 people, 9 businesses, including start-ups, have already committed to investing Rs 340 crore.
EMC 2.0 scheme was introduced on 1st April 2020 with an objective to create world class infrastructure along with common testing facilities.
Under the Scheme, 3 EMC over an area of 1,337 acres with a project cost of Rs 1,903 crore, including Central financial assistance of Rs 889 crore has been approved which projected an investment target of Rs 20,910 crore.
PM Narendra Modi Inaugurates 13.7km Whitefield-KR Pura Metro Line in Bengaluru
On 25th March 2023, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister(PM) of India, inaugurated the 13.7 kilometres (Km) commercial operations of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) from Whitefield (Kadugodi) to Krishnarajapuram Metro stretch in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The operations started on 26th March 2023.
This is the 2nd largest Metro network in India after Delhi Metro and Whitefield is the first tech corridor connected by Metro in Bengaluru.
BMRCL is yet to connect the KR Puram- Byappasahalli section (2 km). At present, the Whitefield Metro section is a standalone line.
The 13.7 Km segment will reduce journey times by 40% and benefit 5 lahks to 6 lakh people who work in IT parks, export promotion industrial areas, malls, and hospitals.
The maximum fare between Whitefield and KR Puram is priced at Rs 35, and the travel time between both destinations is 22 minutes.
Bengaluru’s Metro network will have 69.6 kilometres and 63 stations with the commissioning of this stretch.
Arton Capital’s Passport Index 2023: India Ranked 144 with Mobility Score 70; UAE Ranks 1st According to Arton Capital’s latest update of ‘Passport Index 2023’(as of March 2023), India’s Mobility score (MS) has reduced by three places to 70 from 73 in 2022. India’s Individual Passport Power Rank also fell by six places to 144 from 138 in 2022.
UAE ranks 1st in the Global Passport Power Rank 2023 with a Mobility Score of 181. Afghanistan is ranked last with a Mobility Score of 38.
Asia:
South Korea, which is 12th in the individual rankings with a mobility score of 174, has the highest score in Asia.
Japan in 26th with a mobility score of 172 is its closest Asian competitor.
China ranked relatively lower than other large economies at 118th in the Passport Index individual rankings.
Note – The global average MS stood at 110 with an average rank of 45. Mobility Score (MS): It is the total number of countries that can be easily accessed with a given passport. It is a calculated total based on Visa-free, Visa-on-arrival, eTA (Electronic Travel Authorizations), and eVisa (issued within 3 days).
WHO Certifies Azerbaijan and Tajikistan as Malaria-Free CountriesAzerbaijan and Tajikistan have been certified as “malaria-free” by the World Health Organization (WHO) for having eradicated malaria in their territories after making a consistent, century-long effort to eliminate it.
Azerbaijan reported its last case of locally transmitted Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria in 2012, and Tajikistan in 2014.
With this declaration, the WHO has certified 41 countries and 1 territory as malaria-free, including 21 countries in the European Region. Significance i.The accomplishments of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan are made possible by persistent investment and the dedication of the health workforce, as well as targeted prevention, early identification, and treatment of all malaria cases. ii.The WHO European Region has now become two steps closer to becoming the very first fully malaria-free region in the world.
i.The Malaria Elimination Certification is the official acknowledgement of a country’s malaria-free status, awarded by the WHO. ii.A nation is given the certification if it can demonstrate, via rigorous, credible evidence, that the chain of indigenous malaria transmission by Anopheles mosquitoes has been disrupted nationwide for at least the past 3 consecutive years.
A country must also demonstrate its ability to prevent transmission from resuming.
The TAG-MEC is an advisory body that recommends WHO on whether malaria-free certification should be granted to a country based on its government’s request or if a country’s malaria-free certification should be withdrawn.
WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) i.The WHO Global Malaria Programme (GMP) is responsible for overseeing the organization’s global efforts to combat and eradicate malaria. ii.Its activities are governed by the “Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030,” which was adopted by the World Health Assembly in May 2015 and updated in 2021. About the World Health Organization (WHO): Director-General – Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Establishment – 1948 Headquarters – Geneva, Switzerland
SEBI postponed freezing MF Folios without Nomination to Sept 30, 2023; Introduces Framework for Scheme of Arrangement by Unlisted MIIsi.On March 28, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) postponed the decision to freeze Mutual Fund (MF) folios without nomination to September 30, 2023 instead of March 31, 2023. ii.In lieu with the current decision, Asset management company (AMCs) and Registrar & Transfer agents (RTAs) will encourage their customers/unit holders via Emails (Electronic Mail) and SMS (Short Message Service) to complete the nomination process. iii.On the recommendations of Secondary Market Advisory Committee (SMAC) chaired by Gurumoorthy Mahalingam, SEBI introduced a framework for ‘Scheme of Arrangement by unlisted Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs)‘ to bring uniformity in the norms in line with provisions currently applicable to listed MIIs. iv.The framework will be applicable from April 27, 2023. About Securities Exchange Board of India(SEBI): Chairperson– Madhabi Puri Buch Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra Establishment– 12 April 1992
WB Approves USD 100 Million Loan to Odisha to Enhance Social Protection & Disaster ResilienceThe World Bank (WB) Board of Executive Directors has approved a USD 100 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) to the Indian state of Odisha. Objective: To boost Odisha’s early forecasting systems for better disaster response and to expand social protection coverage for poor and vulnerable households via digital platforms. i.The IBRD loan of USD 100 million has a maturity period of 12.5 years and a grace period of 3 years. The World Bank (WB) Board of Executive Directors has approved a USD 363 million loan from the IBRD to the southern Indian state of Karnataka.Objective: To install piped water connections in the 2 million rural households in the state and supply them with clean drinking water. i.The IBRD loan of USD 363 million has a maturity of 13.5 years, including a 2-year grace period. About the World Bank (WB): President (WB Group) – David Robert Malpass Establishment – 1944 Headquarters – Washington D.C, United States (US)
DFS gave Rs 8,800 cr capital to SBI without the Bank asking for it in FY18: CAG ReportAs per the Compliance Audit Report No. 1 of 2023 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on Union Government (Economic and Service Ministries – Civil) for the year ended March 2021, presented in Parliament, the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance had given Rs 8,800 crore to the State Bank of India (SBI) as part of a recapitalization exercise/credit growth in FY18.
Notably, SBI didn’t ask for such funds.
Key Points: i.DFS did not conduct an assessment of the capital requirement as per its own standard practice before recapitalization. ii.It considered cushion over and above the norms prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) while recapitalizing PSBs (Public Sector Banks)
RBI had already prescribed enhanced capital requirements of an additional 1% on banks in India.
This resulted in an excess infusion of Rs 7,785.81 crore.
iii.DFS infused Rs 831 crore into Bank of Maharashtra in FY20 against the bank’s demand of Rs 798 crore to avoid the surrender of funds amounting to Rs 33 crore Note: The aim of the government’s recapitalization of PSBs is to boost credit growth and fulfill regulatory capital requirements. This move also enables banks, which were placed under the RBI’s Prompt Corrective Action framework, to recover and meet their capital needs. It also helps to fulfill the capital requirements that arise due to the amalgamation process.
GTRI Report: India’s Merchandise Imports to Exceed USD 710 Billion in FY23According to areport by the economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), India’s merchandise imports for the fiscal year ending March 2023 (FY23) are projected to exceed USD 710 billion, up from USD 613 billion in FY22 (2021-2022), a 15.8% increase over last year.
Six product categories such as Crude oil, coal, diamonds, chemicals, electronics, and machinery—accounted for 82% of India’s total FY23 merchandise imports, which is primarily responsible for the increase in inbound shipments of merchandise.
Estimated value of six Key Product Categories
Petroleum, Crude Oil – USD 210 Billion
Coal, Coke – USD 51 Billion
Diamonds, Precious Metals – USD 77 Billion
Chemicals, Plastics – USD 98.2
Electronics – USD 69 Billion
Machinery – USD 76 Billion
About Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI): GTRI’s mission is to produce high-quality, jargon-free outputs for governments and industry on trade, technology, and investment issues from the standpoint of development and poverty reduction. Co-Founder – Ajay Srivastava
NTPC, Ceylon Electricity Board Jointly Agreed to Build Solar Power Plant in Sri LankaNational Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) of India and the Ceylon Electricity Board of Sri Lanka jointly entered into an agreement to build a 135-megawatt solar power plant in the Sri Lanka’s eastern port district of Trincomalee in two stages to promote renewable energy.
The cabinet of Sri Lanka has given approval for the project as the country aims to generate 70% of its electricity requirement by 2030 from renewable energy sources.
Two Stage of Implementation: i.At the first stage of the project, it is expected to implement a solar power project of 50 megawatts with a total estimated investment of USD 42.5 million and to construct a 220 kilowatts transmission line with 40-km length from Sampoor to Kappalthure spending USD 23.6 million.
It is expected to complete this stage in two years from 2024 to 2025
ii.The second stage of the project will include construction of a solar power generation plant with an additional 85 megawatts under a total investment of USD 72 million. Under the agreement, India will provide continuous transmission of infrastructure in places where agreed mutually in Sri Lanka including the northern and eastern provinces in cooperation with private and state entrepreneurs in India and Sri Lanka. Note – The agreement made in 2013 with NTPC to build a thermal power plant in Sampur, Sri Lanka was abandoned over objections to the environmental hazards of using coal for power generation.
Mumbai Ranks in the World Tree City 2022 List for the 2nd Consecutive Year
In March 2023, the Arbor Day Foundation (ADF) and the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations(UN) recognised Mumabi (Maharashtra) in the ‘2022 Tree Cities of the World’ for its contributions and commitment towards growing and maintaining the urban forest.
Key Points:
i.Mumbai is being recognised in the international program, Tree cities of the World, for the second consecutive year. In 2021, it shared the honour with Hyderabad.
ii.ADF Chief Executive Dan Lambe has awarded the Tree Cities of the World certificate signed by Hiroto Mitsugi, Assistant Director-General, FAO Forestry Department, to the BMC authorities in the Tree City of the World programme.
Note – Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), also known as the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).
iii.Mumbai fulfilled the five ADF criteria such as
Determining responsibilities for tree care,
Setting rules to govern urban forests and tree management,
Maintaining an up-to-date inventory or assessment of local tree assets,
Allocating resources for a tree management plan, and
Organizing an annual tree festival to educate citizens.
iv.Mumbai city is rich in trees due to efforts like proper maintenance of trees, continuity for planting new trees, and extensive implementation of urban forests.
About Tree Cities of the World programme:
i.The Tree Cities of the World programme was launched in 2019 by FAO and the ADF, the world’s largest non-profit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, to connect cities worldwide in a new network dedicated to adopting the most successful approaches to managing urban trees and forests.
ii.The first Tree Cities of the World Conference was held virtually in October 2020.
iii.In the past 50 years, the ADF has planted more than 35 crore trees worldwide, with a target of 50 crore more trees by 2027.
Chameli Devi Jain Award 2022: Journalist Dhanya Rajendran received for ‘Outstanding Woman Mediaperson 2022’
On 21st March 2023, Dhanya Rajendran, Co-founder and editor of the news website “The News Minute”, was awarded the Chameli Devi Jain Award for ‘Outstanding Woman Mediaperson 2022’ at the event at the India International Centre in New Delhi, Delhi.
Dhanya Rajendran’s work showed a blend of meticulous reportage and data reflecting not only individual merit but the pursuit of committed journalism.
The award citation took noted her work on subjects like women’s rights, climate, child abuse and state of prisons in India.
Chameli Devi Jain Award, instituted in 1982 and administered by the Media Foundation, is the annual award named after Chameli Devi Jain, a freedom fighter and a community reformer who went to jail during the freedom movement.
Humza Yousaf sworn in as Scotland’s First Minister; Scotland’s 1st Muslim LeaderOn 29th March 2023, Pakistani-origin Humza Yousaf (37), the new leader of the Scotland National Party (SNP), was legally sworn in as the new First Minister of Scotland at the Court of Session, Edinburgh. Humza Yousaf is the 1st Muslim to lead a democratic western European nation(Scotland).
He is the 6th politician to occupy the position and will now be the Keeper of the Scottish Seal after taking the oath of office and pledging his allegiance to King Charles III.
Humza Yousaf succeeded Nicola Sturgeon, former First Minister of Scotland, who resigned from her post in February 2023.
About Humza Yousaf: i. Humza Haroon Yousaf was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 7th April 1985. His father Muzaffar Yousaf was born in Pakistan, and his mother Shaista Bhatta mother was born in Kenya. ii. His political career began in 2011 when he was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Glasgow at the age of 25, making him the youngest MSP at the time.
He has held many ministerial positions in the Scottish Government since 2012 and joined the cabinet in June 2018 as Cabinet Secretary for Justice.
In 2021, he was appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care.
iii. He served as the Scottish National Party (SNP)’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development, Minister for Transport and the Islands, and most recently Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care throughout the past decade. iv. Humza Yousaf had always fought for social justice, equality, and human rights throughout his political career. v. He played a critical role in the successful passage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act, which legalised same-sex marriage in Scotland, in 2012. Awards: Humza Yousaf received the prestigious Sitara-i-Quaid-i-Azam award in 2016, one of Pakistan’s highest civilian honours, from then Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain in appreciation for his efforts to improve ties between Scotland and Pakistan. About Scotland: Scotland is a member nation of the United Kingdom. With devolution in 1999, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Ministers received powers formerly held by the UK Government. First Minister- Humza Yousaf Capital- Edinburgh Currency- Pound Sterling
SpiceJet CMD Ajay Singh takes over as ASSOCHAM PresidentAjay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of SpiceJet has taken over as President of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), India’s oldest apex chamber.
Ajay Singh succeeds Sumant Sinha, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ReNew, whose tenure as Chairman of ASSOCHAM ended on 28th March 2023.
Sanjay Nayar, Founder and Chairman of Sorin Investment Fund, is the new Senior Vice-President of ASSOCHAM. About Ajay Singh: i. Ajay Singh is an Indian businessman, sports administrator, bureaucrat and investor. ii.He co-founded SpiceJet in 2005 and served as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from 2005 to 2010. He exited the airline in 2010 and rejoined in 2015 as CMD. iii. He is also the President of the Boxing Federation of India, and Vice President of the International Boxing Association. iv. He was the 1st Indian to chair the Aviation, Travel and Tourism (ATT) Governor’s Meeting at the World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland, in January 2019. v. He was nominated to the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association. vi. He is the Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Committee on Civil Aviation and also the Chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council, India Initiative. About the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM): President- Ajay Singh Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi Establishment- 1920
ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup 2023 in Bhopal: India Finished 2nd with 7 medals, India’s Sarabjot Singh won Gold International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Rifle/Pistol World Cup 2023 was held from 20th to 27th March 2023 in Madhya Pradesh State Shooting Academy, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh(MP). India secured the 2nd position in the ISSF Rifle/Pistol World Cup 2023 with 7 medals(1 gold, 1 silver and 5 bronze).
Indian shooter Sarabjot Singh won the gold medal in 10m Air Pistol Men and Rhythm Sangwan and Varun Tomar won the silver medal in 10m air pistol mixed team.
China topped the medal tally with 12 medals(8 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze) while Germany came 3rd with 3 medals(1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze).
About International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) : ISSF is the governing body of the Olympic shooting events in rifle, pistol and shotgun (clay target) disciplines, and of several non-Olympic shooting sports events. President– Luciano Rossi Headquarters– Munich, Germany
UN’s First International Day of Zero Waste – 30th March 2023The United Nations(UN)’s first ever International Day of Zero Waste was observed on 30th March 2023 to create awareness about the importance of zero waste and encourage everyone to prevent and minimize waste and promotes a societal shift towards a circular economy.
The day also recognises the contribution of responsible consumption and production practices and urban waste management in achieving sustainable development goals(SDGs).
The day is jointly facilitated by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). Background: i.The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/77/161 on 14th December 2022 at its 77th session and proclaimed the 30th March of every year as the International Day of Zero Waste.
This followed the other resolutions focused on waste, including “End plastic pollution: towards an internationally legally binding instrument”, adopted at the UN Environment Assembly on 2 March 2022.
ii.This resolution was proposed by Türkiye alongside 105 other countries. About United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): Executive Director– Inger Andersen Established in 1972 Headquarters– Nairobi, Kenya
Union Home Minister Amit Shah attends 84th Raising Day of CRPF in Chhattisgarh
On 25th March 2023, Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs, attended the 84th Raising Day event of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as Chief Guest at Jagdalpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
On the occasion, Amit Shah also took the salute of the parade and also inaugurated Prasar Bharati’s news bulletin for the Bastar Division in the local language of Halbi.
The CRPF came into existence as Crown Representative’s Police on 27th July 1939. It became the Central Reserve Police Force on the enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December 1949.
The CRPF is India’s largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), with about 3.25 lakh personnel.
It is designated as the lead national internal security force operating in 3 main domains of Left Wing Extremism (LWE), counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast, and counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Himachal Pradesh Assembly Passed Rs 56,683 Crore Budget for FY24On 29th March 2023, the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh(HP) passed the Rs 56,683.69 annual budget for Financial year 2023-2024.
CM also introduced the related Himachal Pradesh Appropriation Bill 2023 in the state assembly, which was passed by voice note.
With this, the governmentof HP is authorized to withdraw funds from the consolidated fund for the use during FY24.
Background: i.On 17th March 2023, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister(CM) and Finance Minister of HP, presented his first budget for HP with an outlay of Rs 53,613 crore. ii.After discussion on the demands for grants of the budget between the ruling party (Indian National Congress -INC) and the opposition(Bharatiya Janata Party – BJP) from 20th to 23rd March 2023, there has been an increase of Rs 3064.69crore in the budget for FY24. About Himachal Pradesh: Chief Minister– Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Governor– Shiv Pratap Shukla Wildlife Sanctuary– Kalatop-Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary; Kanawar Wildlife Sanctuary Festivals– Basant Panchami; Lossar
Arunachal Pradesh to sign MoA with CPSUs to set up 5 Hydropower Plants On 29th March 2023, the Meeting of the Arunachal Pradesh cabinet chaired by Pema Khandu, Chief Minister(CM) of Arunachal Pradesh, approved the proposed signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the 2 Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) to hand over five terminated hydropower projects with a generation capacity of 2823 MW The 2 CPSUs are: North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) and Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited(SJVN). Details: The hydropower projects Naying (1,000 MW) and Hirong (500 MW) would be handed over to the NEEPCO; and Emini (500 MW), Amulin (420 MW) and Minundon (400 MW) would be handed over to SJVN for development. Note: The 5 projects would require an investment of Rs 40,000 crore in the next five to seven years Other Cabinet Approvals: i.13 priority projects totalling 12,343 MW of power capacity have an action plan prepared to commence work. ii. A total of Rs 1.5 lakh crore would be invested as a result, and Arunachal Pradesh will receive Rs 2,000 crore in revenue as well as about Rs 350 crore annually for LAD. iii. The Cabinet also approved for the state government’s power sector revenue to be invested in government bonds for Arunachal Pradesh’s development. iv. The cabinet also approved the proposal for renewal of MoA and support to 4 events: Arunachal Got Talent, Arunachal Idol, Miss Arunachal and Mr Arunachal, for another 3 years as annual calendar events with effect from the financial year 2023-24. v. The cabinet further decided to increase the grant in aid for the above events from the existing Rs 40 lakh to Rs 80 lakhs respectively. About Arunachal Pradesh: Chief Minister- Pema Khandu Governor- Lt Gen (Retd) Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik Wild Life Sanctuary- Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary; Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary Tiger Reserves- Namdapha Tiger Reserve; Pakhui Tiger Reserve
The following questions are framed keeping in mind the questions that are probable for the interview/personality test of KVS Librarians.
How to present a mock library session with special emphasis on the development of reading skills?
Introduction: Hello, everyone. Today, I am going to present a mock library session with a special emphasis on the development of reading skills. Our main aim is to encourage children to read for pleasure and to help them develop their literacy skills. As you all know, reading is crucial for children’s academic success and personal development. So, let’s get started!
Activity One: Read-Aloud The first activity we will be doing is a read-aloud. I am going to read a book titled “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss. This book is a classic and provides a great introduction to rhyming and vocabulary building. It also encourages children to use their imaginations and think creatively.
While reading, I will be emphasizing the use of emotions and expressions to convey the story’s tone and meaning. By doing so, children can develop listening and comprehension skills. It is also important to pause at certain points in the story and encourage children to think and reflect on what is being read. This will help them develop critical thinking skills.
Activity Two: Guided Reading The second activity we will do is a guided reading session. In this session, we will use short texts suitable for the age group we are working with. We will be using books that are slightly more challenging than what they normally read, but not too difficult that they get discouraged.
Before we start the session, we will discuss the five-finger rule with the children. We will explain how it works: if they come across five words on a page that they do not know, then the book may be too difficult for them.
Now, we will hand out copies of the books to each child, and they will take turns reading. We will also encourage each child to ask and answer questions about the text. This will increase their comprehension skills and help develop their critical thinking skills. We will also teach them the importance of context clues and how to use them for understanding the text.
Activity Three: Storytelling The third activity is storytelling. Children love to hear stories, and this is a great way to develop their listening, comprehension, and imaginative skills. The story we will tell will be based on the book we read earlier, “The Cat in the Hat.” We will use props and storytelling techniques to make the story more engaging and interactive.
After we finish the story, we will encourage children to re-tell the story using their own words. This will help them build their vocabulary and enhance their memory skills.
Conclusion: That concludes our mock library session with a special emphasis on the development of reading skills. We hope that you found it informative and useful. Remember, reading is a pleasure, and we should encourage our children to read as much as possible. By doing so, we can help them develop their literacy skills, which will benefit them academically and personally. Thank you for participating!
2.How can you incorporate digital reading habits/ skills among children, as a Librarian?
Answer:
There are several ways to incorporate digital reading among children:
Use e-books: Encourage children to read e-books on tablets, smartphones or computers. E-books are easily available online, and they offer a convenient and economical way to access a wide range of books.
Audio books: Audio books are another great way to promote digital reading among children, especially those who struggle with reading or have a learning disability. They can listen to stories while following it on the screen.
( Audible is one such app.
Kukufm is another example)
Interactive reading apps: Interactive reading apps offer a fun and engaging way to promote digital reading. They offer interactive elements that respond to swipes and touches, adding a fun-filled experience where children can interact with the story.
Reading Games: There are also several reading games available online that encourage children to read while engaging in fun activities. These games can be used to introduce children to new books, improve vocabulary, and build interest in reading.
Virtual Libraries: Many libraries now offer virtual libraries where children can browse through books online, download e-books, and participate in book clubs or discussion groups. This is a great way to promote digital reading while still connecting children with the resources of the local library.
( I visited many blogs of KV Librarians, with virtual libraries.)
Videos and webinars: Use online videos and webinars to introduce children to new authors, genres, and topics to pique their interests and expand their reading horizons.
3.What activities do you suggest to attract young readers to your school library?
Host themed events: Plan events around themes like science fiction, fantasy or history. These events can include book readings, interactive games, and crafts related to the theme.
Book clubs: Form student book clubs around popular books and authors to encourage students to read and discuss their reading with their peers.
Reading challenges: Create fun and engaging reading challenges for students to participate in, such as reading a certain number of books within a specific timeframe, or encouraging them to read books from different genres.
Reading buddies: Pair older students with younger students to encourage mentorship and reading together.
Virtual book clubs: Host virtual book clubs for students who aren’t able to meet in person, allowing them to still engage with their peers in reading and discussion.
Library ambassadors: Appoint student library ambassadors to help promote the library and its programs to their peers.
Author visits: Organize visits from popular authors to speak with the students and answer their questions.
Co-curricular activities: Cooperate with teachers to create co-curricular activities, book fairs, and book-related activities.
Collaborations: Collaborate with other libraries, particularly public libraries or university libraries, to provide the students with access to a wider variety of resources.
Create an inviting space: Design the library space to be colorful, fun, and inviting, with comfortable seating areas, displays of books and related items to create a cozy reading environment for students.
4.Why do you wish to become a librarian?
I would like to become a librarian ( one can frame any 2-3 of the following points)
Passion for books and reading: I have a deep love and passion for books and reading, and want to share that love with others.
Desire to help others: Librarians often work with people who need information or assistance, and I have a desire to help individuals find what they need.
Interest in technology: With the advancement in technology, librarians are now using technology to improve their work and make information more widely available, which is why I gott attracted to librarianship, to work with the latest technological tools.
The opportunity to share knowledge: Librarians have the opportunity to create programs and activities that impart knowledge and skills to others, which can be incredibly fulfilling.
Job security: With the important role that libraries play in communities, many individuals want to become librarians because it offers job stability.
KVS pays handsomely to librarians, so I prefer to work in KVS.
Flexibility: Librarians have the flexibility to work with pune to principal, treating all equally as readers, irrespective of their position.
5. How to enhance reading skills among children?
As a librarian, one can enhance reading skills among students by:
Promoting reading: Encourage students to read by promoting book clubs, reading challenges, and book fairs.
Recommending books: Provide reading suggestions to students depending on their preferences and reading level.
Providing reading materials: Offer a variety of books and organize them in a way that makes it easier for students to find what they are looking for.
Conducting activities: Organize activities such as storytelling, read-alouds, and writing workshops that will help develop students’ interest in reading.
Engaging parents: Encourage parents to read with their children and to promote reading by providing reading lists or hosting reading events.
Creating a reading-friendly environment: Provide a comfortable and cozy reading place within the library where students can comfortably read and enjoy their books.
Supporting struggling readers: Provide support to struggling readers by offering extra reading help, setting up a reading buddy program or referring them to specific resources.
Monitoring reading progress: Keep track of students’ reading progress and celebrate their achievements to motivate them to continue reading.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most popular cricket leagues in the world. Every year, millions of cricket fans around the world come together to support their favorite teams and players.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has provided a platform for talented cricketers to showcase their skills and gain recognition in the international cricket world. This has allowed players who would not have had the opportunity to shine on the highest level and gain lucrative opportunities beyond cricket. With IPL, uncapped players finds a new way to get noticed by coaches and scouts, giving them an opportunity to prove their worth and make it to the national team. The IPL season also helps the cricket fanatics around the world with some exciting matches and big celebrities that grace the stadiums. On the other hand, there have been debates around its credibility since not all the players gets equally paid or receives equal opportunities, leaving behind many hidden talents due to financial constrains. However, despite its drawbacks IPL is a great platform to find talent.
Furthermore, IPL has provided fans with an exciting form of entertainment, allowing them to watch their favourite stars play in a thrilling format that is different from longer formats such as first-class or test cricket. This makes IPL the ideal platform for celebrities and athletes to showcase their talent. Players have the opportunity to display their skills, as well as score big runs and take wickets in a relatively short time. Additionally, IPL has also opened up a range of financial benefits for some players, with the winner receiving a substantial prize-money payout. Despite these advantages, IPL does have drawbacks such as the potential for match-fixing and player burnout due to the hectic schedule of games. In conclusion, IPL has revolutionised cricket and provided an entertaining form of sport with numerous benefits; however, it is important to be aware of its potential downfalls.
EPFO Marginally Increases Deposit Interest Rate to 8.15% for FY23The Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the apex decision-making body of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), has proposed a new interest rate of 8.15% for Provident Fund deposits for the current fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23), to nearly 6 crore subscribers.
This proposed interest rate (8.15%) is 0.05 % higher than the 8.10% interest rate of FY22, which is the lowest in four decades.
This is the first increase in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) interest rate since 2018-19, when it was lifted to 8.65% from 8.5% previously. i.The EPFO is expected to have a principal amount of Rs. 11.02 lakh crore, and an income of Rs. 90,497.57 crore for FY23, which is the highest recommended income so far.
This is substantially greater than the income of Rs. 77,424.84 crore and the principal of Rs. 9.56 lakh crore in FY22.
About Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): i.EPFO is a social security organisation that provides social security benefits through provident, pension, and insurance funds. Chief Executive Officer(CEO) – Neelam Shami Rao Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi Establishment – 1952
ICAR & World Bank issue Delhi Declaration on modernisation of Agricultural Education System The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the World Bank jointly issued the Delhi Declaration on Modernisation of Agricultural Education System in alignment with the National Education Policy(NEP) during the valedictory session of the International Conference on Blended Learning Ecosystem for Higher Education in Agriculture 2023(ICBLE2023) held in New Delhi, Delhi. i.The 3-day ICBLE 2023, first of its kind initiative to promote blended learning initiatives in agricultural higher education, was organised jointly by the ICAR and World Bank from 21st to 23rd March 2023 at Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium, National Agricultural Science Complex(NASC), New Delhi, Delhi. ii.On 21st March 2023, Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare inaugurated the conference and launched the Blended Learning Platform for higher education in agriculture.
The platform was developed by ICAR as a part of the World Bank-funded project.
About the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR): ICAR is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education ( DARE ), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare(MoA&FW). Director General– Himanshu Pathak Headquarters– New Delhi, Delhi
PFRDA Increases Ombudsman’s Upper Age Limit to 70 Years from 65 YearsAccording to the notification dated 27th March 2023, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has amended the PFRDA (Redressal of Subscriber Grievance) Regulations 2015 and increased the upper age limit of the Ombudsman from 65 to 70 years.
The amended regulations are called the “Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Redressal of Subscriber Grievance) (Amendment) Regulations, 2023”.
The amended rules come into force on the date of the publication of the official gazette.
Note: According to the PFRDA (Redressal of Subscriber Grievance) Regulations 2015, the upper age limit for the ombudsman was 65 years. About Ombudsman: i.The Ombudsman is an official appointed by PFRDA who receives, considers and facilitates the resolution of complaints or grievances, which fall within the ambit of the regulations.
Ombudsman is a Swedish word meaning “legal representative.”
ii.The appointed ombudsman holds the office for a period of 3 years. The ombudsman is also eligible for reappointment for another 2 years. Additional info: With effect from April 1, 2023, PFRDA has made the mandatory upload of withdrawal and KYC documents to enable seamless processing of exit and annuity payments for the benefit of National Pension System (NPS) subscribers. About Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA): PFRDA was established by the Government of India on 23rd August 2003 Chairman– Deepak Mohanty Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
Odisha declares Gandhamardan Hill as Biodiversity Heritage SiteThe Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Government of Odisha has issued a notification declaring the Gandhamardan Hill Range in Bargarh and Balangir district as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
Following this, an area of 18,963.898 hectares of Gandhamardan Hill (Gandhamardan Reserve Forest) including 12,431.8 ha (Bargarh) and 6,532.098 ha (Balangir) is declared as BHS of Odisha.
This is the 3rd BHS of Odisha after Mandasuru Gorge in Kandhamal district and Mahendragiri Hill Range in Gajapati district.
The designation was made in accordance with Rule 20(2) of the 2012 Odisha Biodiversity Regulations and Section 37 of the Biodiversity Act.
Threat: The rich biological resources in Gandhamardan Hill range are under pressure due to various human activity(anthropogenic) such as pollution and climatic factors and the traditional ecological knowledge associated with the bio-resources of the hill is declining. Significance of Gandhamardan Hill: The Gandhamardan Hill is considered a treasure trove of medicinal plants and an Ayurvedic paradise of Odisha. This ecosystem, with rich floral and faunal diversity, has a diverse socio-economic, ecological and biological significance for the people of Odisha. Flora: The region houses around 1,055 plant species which includes 849 angiosperms(Flowering plants), 56 pteridophytes, 40 bryophytes, 45 lichens and two gymnosperms(seed-producing plants) and 63 species of macrofungi. Fauna: The region houses around 500 species of animals which includes 43 mammals, 161 birds, 44 reptiles, 16 amphibians, 118 butterflies, 27 dragonflies and 7 damselflies and 83 species of spiders. Note: Ficus conccina var dasycarpa (angiosperm) and Peucetia harishankarensis (Spider) are endemic to this hill. Monuments: The region houses 2 historical monuments
Nrusinghanath Temple located on the northern slope
Harishankar Temple situated on the southern slope of the foot hills of Gandhamardan.
The 2 hill shrines are major pilgrimage sites of Odisha. Hiuen Tsang had described the hill shrine as a Buddhist heritage site named Parimalagiri. Bauxite mining: i.Bauxite reserve in the region was planned for exploration by the state government through a private venture. ii.In 1980s, then public sector Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), now under the control of Vedanta Group, had almost started mining of bauxite from Gandhamardan. iii.Later the mining proposal was stopped following people’s protest against mining.
Government extends PAN-Aadhaar linking deadline to June 30, 2023
On 28th March 2023, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) informed that the Central Board of Direct Taxes(CBDT) has extended the deadline to link Permanent Account Number (PAN) with Aadhaar from 31st March 2023 to 30th June 2023.
According to Sub-section (2) of section 139AA to Income-tax Act 1961, it is mandatory for every person who has been allotted a PAN as of 1st July 2017 to intimate his Aadhaar Number so that the Aadhaar and PAN can be linked.
According to the MoF, as of 28th March 2023, more than 51 crore PANs have already been linked with Aadhaar.
IAF Participated in “Exercise Cobra Warrior” for The First Time
India made its maiden participation in “Exercise Cobra Warrior”, which was conducted at the Waddington Air Force Base of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the United Kingdom (UK) from March 6–24, 2023.
Along with India, Finland and Saudi Arabia have also made their maiden appearances in the exercise.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent of 145 Air Warriors took part in the exercise with five Mirage 2000 fighters, two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, and an IL-78 midair refueller aircraft. Exercise Cobra Warrior i.The RAF of the UK hosts the largest multilateral air exercise, Exercise Cobra Warrior, twice a year.
Participants: RAF and the IAF, as well as air forces from Finland, Sweden, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, the United States of America (USA), and Singapore.
ii.The aim of the exercise is to participate in a range of fighter aircraft encounters and learn from the top strategies employed by other air forces. iii.This exercise included high-intensity, large-force, and tactical air warfighting operations. iv.The RAF provided Surveillance, Multi-Engine Tactics, Qualified Weapons Instructor Courses, Qualified Space Instructor Courses, and other training during the exercise.
Japan commits Rs 7,084cr for Three Infrastructure Projects in Indiai.On March 28, 2023, Japan has committed Rs 7,084.5 crore to India for three infrastructure projects viz. one each in Patna (Bihar), West Bengal, and Rajasthan. ii.Notes in this regard were exchanged between Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) and Suzuki Hiroshi, Japan Ambassador to India. iii.The Infrastructure Projects are Patna Metro Rail Construction Project (I), Rajasthan Water Sector Livelihood Improvement Project (II), and Forest and Biodiversity Conservation for Climate Change Response in WB. About Japan: Prime Minister– Fumio Kishida Capital– Tokyo
NPCI recommends up to 1.1% interchange fee on UPI transactions of over Rs 2,000 via PPIs i.From April 1, 2023 onwards, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) will impose an interchange fee upto 1.1% will be levied on merchant transactions made through prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) such as wallets or cards, that use the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). ii.The charge will be applicable on payments exceeding Rs 2,000, made to online merchants, large merchants and small offline merchants. About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI): MD & CEO– Dilip Asbe Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
PSBs wrote off Rs 91,000 cr in 9 months of FY23According to data presented in the Rajya Sabha as a written answer by the Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Ministry of Finance Public sector banks (PSBs) have written off around Rs 91,000 crore in first 9 months of FY23.
In this, State Bank of India on the top (Rs 17,356 crore) followed by Union Bank of India (Rs 16,497 crore) and Bank of Baroda (Rs 13,032 crore).
Key Points: i.All the scheduled commercial banks (PSBs, private banks and foreign banks) wrote-off around Rs 1.61-lakh crore worth of loan in FY18. Recovery from written off accounts was less than Rs 13,000 crore or around 8% of bad debts taken off from the book in FY18
For next four fiscal, the percentage rose to 10.8, 12.8, 14.9 and 19.4 per cent, respectively.
ii.During all these five years, total amount in written off loan accounts was over Rs 10 lakh crore, while recovery was over Rs 1.3-lakh crore. This means net written off amount was around Rs 8.7-lakh crore.
Argentine-American Mathematician Luis Ángel Caffarelli honoured with The Abel Prize 2023On 22nd March 2023, the Abel Prize for Mathematics was awarded to Luis Ángel Caffarelli, an Argentine-American mathematician and an expert in “partial differential equations” which can explain phenomena ranging from how water flows to population growth, at the University of Oslo, Norway.
Luis Caffarelli, a 74-year-old professor at the University of Texas, was honoured for his seminal contributions to regularity theory for nonlinear partial differential equations.
Luis A Caffarelli is the 26th Abel Prize Laureate and he is the 1st Latin American mathematician to receive the award. Highlights: i. Norway’s King Harald V will present the Abel Prize to Luis Caffarelli at an award ceremony in Oslo on 23rd May 2023. ii. In 2022, the prize was won by American mathematician Dennis Sullivan for his research into topology and chaos theory. About Luis Ángel Caffarelli: i. Luis Caffarelli was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1948. He currently holds the Sid Richardson Chair at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, United States of America(USA). ii. He also has been a professor at the University of Minnesota(United States of America-USA), the University of Chicago(Illinois), and the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University(USA). iii. Luis Caffarelli’s other awards include the 2005 Rolf Schock Prize, the American Mathematical Society’s 2009 Steele Prize for Lifetime Achievement, the 2012 Wolf Prize, the 2013 Solomon Lefschetz Medal, and the 2018 Shaw Prize. About the Abel Prize: i. The Abel Prize, named after the Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802–1829), was established by the Norwegian Parliament (The Storting) in 2002, on the occasion of the 200th birth anniversary of Niels Henrik Abel. ii. The award carries a cash prize of 7.5 million Norwegian Krone (USD 710,000). iii. The Prize is awarded by The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, on behalf of the Ministry of Education.
Lalit Kumar Gupta named as CMD of Cotton Corporation of India
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) chaired by Prime Minister (PM)Narendra Modi, has approved the appointment of Lalit Kumar Gupta as Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Mumbai(Maharashtra)-based Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) with effect from the date of his assumption of charge of the post for a period of 5 years, or till the date of his superannuation, or until further orders, whichever is the earlier. CCI is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Textile
The order of the appointment was issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) panel recommended Lalit Kumar Gupta for the post of CMD of CCI.
Lalit Kumar Gupta has a very long association with CCI, about 25 years. He joined CCI in August 1994. He is also a member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
NIC developed the “Maaptol Grievance” app to facilitate the Registration & Redressal of Consumer GrievancesThe National Informatics Centre (NIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has developed a mobile software application called “Maaptol Grievance” to facilitate online registration and time-bound redress of consumer grievances connected to the Legal Metrology Act and rules framed under it.
The Weights and Measurements Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), provided the contents that were published on this application.
The application mainly provides eGovernance Services delivery and intends to provide better citizen services by the government.
Key Points: i. The Weights and Measures Department of the Delhi government must attend to the settlement of the grievances lodged on the app in a time-bound manner, within two working days (48 hours). ii. Any consumer can use this software application to file a complaint with the government’s Weights & Measures Department.
If the department of Weights & Measures discovers any violations involving goods that are being sold or distributed by weight, measure, or number, or any shortcoming in the mandatory declarations on packaged goods and commodities according to the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009 and rules made thereunder.
iii. Categories of the Grievances:
Deficiency in mandatory declarations by manufacturer or packer or importer on packaged goods; overcharging; short supply of goods or commodities; the short weight of Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LPG) in the gas cylinder; short supply of petrol or diesel by a petrol pump; short supply of Compressed Natural Gas(CNG) by a CNG pump outlet; and weighbridges.
About the National Informatics Centre (NIC): Director General- Rajesh Gera Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi. Establishment- 1976
Dr M A Hasan’s book titled “War and Women” launched at UNHRC, Geneva
On 24th March 2023, a book titled “War and Women” authored by Dr M A Hasan was released during the 52nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) at the United Nations(UN) building in Geneva, Switzerland.
In this book, Dr M A Hasan documented the magnitude of torture and killings committed by the Pakistan Army during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Freedom Fighters of the Bangladesh Liberation War and Executive members from International Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs) were present at the book launch.
Tazul Islam, a Bangladesh freedom fighter based in Zurich, Switzerland, is the Chief guest of the launching ceremony.
World Piano Day 2023 – March 29World Piano Day is annually observed across the globe on the 88th day of the year(mostly falls on the 29th or 28th of March), which is the same as the number of keys on the piano, intending to celebrate the Piano, an acoustic, keyboard, stringed percussion instrument.
Piano Day aims to create a community platform to bring together piano players from all around the world.
World Piano Day 2023 was observed on 29th March 2023.
World Piano Day 2022 was observed on 29th March 2023.
World Piano Day 2024 will be observed on 28th March 2023.
Background: i. The idea of Piano Day was initiated by German Pianist/composer/producer Nils Frahm. ii. The 1st ever World Piano Day was observed on 29th March 2015. History of Piano: i. The Piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731), a musical instrument maker, from Padua, Italy. ii. In the year 1700, Bartolomeo Cristofori is credited with replacing the plucking mechanism with a hammer to create the modern piano. iii. The piano was initially called ‘gravicembalo col piano e forte,’ which means “soft and loud harpsichord.”
Assam Rifles Commemorates 188th Raising Day – 24th March 2023 On 24 March 2023, Assam Rifles, the most decorated Para Military Force of India, celebrated its 188th Raising Day at its Laitkor Garrison, Shillong, Meghalaya, and also its various formation and Units in the North East and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
G Kishan Reddy, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North East Region graced the Assam Rifles’ Raising Day 2023 celebrations as chief guest.
G Kishan Reddy along with Lt Gen P C Nair, Director General of Assam Rifles paid homage to the martyrs of the Force at the War Memorial in Shillong, Meghalaya.
Background: Assam Rifles was raised on 24th March 1835. It has done yeoman service to India and contributed immensely to bringing peace to the North East states.
Assam Rifles is often referred to as the “Friends of the Hill People” and the “Sentinels of the North East”.
It is the oldest paramilitary force in India whose primary role is to protect part of India’s Northeastern border.
Key Highlights: i.During 2022-23, 3 battalions received the Chief of the Army Staff Unit Citation and 5 Battalions received General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Unit Citation. ii. Personnel of the force have also been decorated with 1 Shaurya Chakra, 7 Sena Medals, and 411 Presidential & Governors Medals. iii. The force has excelled in Sports by winning 6 medals in International Games (Gold-1, Silver-1& Bronze-4), National Games (Gold-17, Silver-17& Bronze-15) and All India Police Duty Meet Shooting Competition(AIPDM) (Gold-31, Silver-25 & Bronze-26) in 2022-23. About the Assam Rifles: Director General- Lt Gen Pradeep Chandran Nair Headquarters- Shillong, Meghalaya Establishment- 1835
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee launches Flagship Road ‘Pathashree-Rastashree’ ProjectOn 28th March 2023, Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister(CM) of West Bengal(WB), launched “Pathashree-Rastashree” in Singur, WB. Pathashree-Rastashree is a flagship project of the government of WB to strengthen road infrastructure and enhance connectivity to villages by constructing 12,000 km of roads in 22 districts of WB. Background: On 15th February 2023, the “Pathashree-Rastashree” project was announced by Chandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of Finance of West Bengal, while presenting the Budget in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly. Pathashree-Rastashree: i. Under the Pathashree-Rastashree project,West Bengal will get 7,219 new roads and 1,548 roads will be upgraded. Over 29,475 villages across all gram panchayats will be covered by roads. ii. A total of Rs 3282.75 crore in state funding would be used for the entire project. iii. The total number of roads approved in the scheme is 8767. Nearly 30,000 villages will benefit from the project. About West Bengal: Chief Minister- Mamta Banerjee Governor- Jagdeep Dhankhar National Park- Sundarban National Park; Jaldapara National Park Wild Life Sanctuary- Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary; Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary
The answers mostly vary from person to person, and there are no stereotype answers. Comment your answer and help others to frame answers too. All the best!
What inspired you to become a librarian?
What motivated you to apply for this position in Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS)?
What do you think are the most important qualities for a librarian?
How would you help a student who is struggling to find the right book for their research project?
How would you handle a situation where a patron is not following the library’s rules and policies?
What strategies would you use to promote reading among students?
How would you manage a large collection of books and other materials?
How do you stay current with the latest trends and developments in library science?
How would you encourage students to use the library as a resource for learning beyond the classroom?
How would you use technology to enhance the library’s services and resources?
How would you collaborate with teachers and other staff to support student learning?
Can you describe a successful project or program you have implemented in a library?
How would you balance the needs of different groups of patrons, such as students and faculty?
How would you handle a situation where a patron complains about a book’s content?
How would you evaluate the effectiveness of the library’s services and resources?
Dear aspirants, the following questions are based on biodata, and suitability to the post of librarian.
The answer is according to candidate.
Can you tell us about your educational qualifications and how they relate to this librarian position at Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan?
What experience do you have working as a librarian, and how has that experience prepared you for this position?
What do you enjoy most about being a librarian, and how do you incorporate that enthusiasm into your work?
How do you stay current on library technology and techniques, and what steps do you take to continuously develop professionally?
What do you see as the biggest challenge in this librarian position, and how would you approach that challenge?
How would you describe your communication style, and how does that style align with the role of a librarian in a school setting?
What attracts you to working in the educational field, and how does that passion inspire your work as a librarian?
Can you describe a time when you had to think outside of the box to solve a problem for a student or teacher, and what was the outcome?
What experience do you have working with diverse populations of students, and how do you ensure inclusion and equity in your role as a librarian?
Can you tell us about a time when you went above and beyond to ensure that students or teachers had access to the resources they needed?
Can you describe how you prioritize and manage multiple tasks and responsibilities as a librarian in a school setting?
How do you approach collaboration with teachers and other staff members, and what do you see as the benefits of that collaboration?
Can you give an example of a time when you had to handle a difficult situation with a student or parent, and how did you handle it?
What experience do you have with collection management and development, and how do you ensure your collection meets the needs of your community?
Can you describe how you would promote reading and literacy within the school community?
What experience do you have with library programming and events, and how do you design programs that engage and educate students and teachers?
Can you tell us about a time when you had to work with limited resources, and how did you overcome that challenge?
How do you incorporate technology into your work as a librarian, and what innovative ideas do you have for future technology integration in the library?
Can you describe your experience with library policies and procedures, and how you ensure compliance with those policies and procedures?
Finally, why do you feel that you are the best candidate for this librarian position at Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, and what unique skills or qualities do you bring to the role?
The following questions are a set of 15 multiple-choice questions related to general knowledge of India. These questions cover various topics like history, geography, politics, and culture of India. The questions are designed to test the knowledge of the students and are suitable for school and college-level students in India. Each question has four options, and the correct answer is mentioned alongside each question. These questions cover important and commonly asked topics related to India, such as its capital city, the President and Prime Minister of India, the highest and smallest states, the national anthem, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, and the Chief Justice of India, among others. These questions can be used for quiz competitions, general knowledge tests, or simply as a means to brush up on one’s knowledge of India.
What is the capital city of India? a. Mumbai b. Kolkata c. New Delhi d. Chennai Answer: c. New Delhi
2. Who is the President of India? a. Narendra Modi b. Ram Nath Kovind c. Pranab Mukherjee d. Draupadi Murmu Answer:d. Draupadi Murmu
3.Who is the Prime Minister of India? a. Manmohan Singh b. Narendra Modi c. Rahul Gandhi d. Sonia Gandhi Answer: b. Narendra Modi
4.Which is the largest state in India by area? a. Uttar Pradesh b. Maharashtra c. Rajasthan d. Madhya Pradesh Answer: c. Rajasthan
5.Which is the smallest state in India by area? a. Sikkim b. Goa c. Nagaland d. Tripura Answer: b. Goa
6.Which river is also known as the Ganga in India? a. Yamuna b. Brahmaputra c. Godavari d. Indus Answer: a. Yamuna
7.Who was the first Prime Minister of India? a. Jawaharlal Nehru b. Mahatma Gandhi c. Sardar Patel d. Lal Bahadur Shastri Answer: a. Jawaharlal Nehru
8.Which Indian state has the largest population? a. Uttar Pradesh b. Maharashtra c. Bihar d. West Bengal Answer: a. Uttar Pradesh
9.Who wrote the Indian National Anthem? a. Rabindranath Tagore b. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee c. Swami Vivekananda d. Mahatma Gandhi Answer: a. Rabindranath Tagore
10.In which year did India become independent? a. 1945 b. 1947 c. 1950 d. 1955 Answer: b. 1947
11.Which is the highest mountain peak in India? a. Mount Everest b. Kanchenjunga c. Nanda Devi d. Annapurna Answer: b. Kanchenjunga
12.Who is the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India? a. Akbar b. Jahangir c. Babur d. Aurangzeb Answer: c. Babur
13.Who is known as the “Father of the Nation” in India? a. Mahatma Gandhi b. Jawaharlal Nehru c. Sardar Patel d. Subhash Chandra Bose Answer: a. Mahatma Gandhi
14.Who was the first Indian to win a Nobel Prize? a. C.V. Raman b. Rabindranath Tagore c. S. Chandrasekhar d. Amartya Sen Answer: b. Rabindranath Tagore
15.Who is known as the “Iron Man of India”? a. Jawaharlal Nehru b. Sardar Patel c. Subhash Chandra Bose d. Bhagat Singh Answer: b. Sardar Patel
Mobile phones have revolutionized the way we communicate, access information, and conduct our daily lives. These devices have become an indispensable part of modern society, connecting people across great distances and providing a vast array of services and features that enhance our daily lives. In this essay, we will explore the history, benefits, and drawbacks of mobile phones.
Mobile phones, also known as cell phones or handsets, were first introduced in the 1970s. These early devices were bulky and expensive, and only a small percentage of the population had access to them. However, with the advent of digital technology and the development of smaller, more affordable devices, mobile phones became increasingly popular in the 1990s and 2000s. Today, mobile phones are ubiquitous, with billions of people around the world using them on a daily basis.
One of the primary benefits of mobile phones is their ability to connect people in real-time, regardless of their location. This has transformed the way we communicate, enabling us to stay in touch with family, friends, and colleagues no matter where we are. Mobile phones also provide a wealth of information at our fingertips, with access to the internet, social media, news, and entertainment. This has made our lives more convenient and efficient, allowing us to perform tasks on-the-go and access important information instantly.
Another benefit of mobile phones is their ability to enhance safety and security. In emergency situations, mobile phones can be used to call for help or alert authorities. They also allow us to stay connected with loved ones and keep them informed of our whereabouts, reducing the risk of being lost or stranded. Additionally, mobile phones provide a range of security features, such as fingerprint recognition and password protection, that help keep our personal information safe.
However, there are also some drawbacks to mobile phones. One of the most significant is the impact they can have on our mental health and well-being. Studies have shown that excessive use of mobile phones can lead to addiction, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. Additionally, the constant stream of notifications and messages can be distracting, making it difficult to focus on tasks and causing a decline in productivity.
Another drawback of mobile phones is the potential for social isolation and disconnection. While mobile phones allow us to stay in touch with others, they can also be a source of social anxiety and addiction. People may become so focused on their devices that they neglect face-to-face interactions and become disconnected from the world around them.
In conclusion, mobile phones have transformed the way we live, work, and communicate. While they offer numerous benefits, including connectivity, convenience, and security, they also have some drawbacks that must be considered. It is up to us as individuals to use our mobile phones responsibly, finding a balance between connectivity and the need for real-world interactions.
Holi, the festival of colours, is one of the most vibrant and joyous festivals celebrated in India. It is celebrated on the day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Phalguna, which falls usually in the month of March. Holi signifies the victory of good over evil and heralds the arrival of spring. It is a time for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together, forget their differences and celebrate the joy of life.
The festival is named after Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. According to Hindu mythology, Hiranyakashipu was granted a boon by Lord Brahma that made him invincible. He became arrogant and started tormenting the people and gods. He ordered that no one should worship anyone else but him. However, his son Prahlad, remained devoted to Lord Vishnu, against his father’s wishes. Hiranyakashipu devised a plan to kill his son with the help of his sister Holika, who had a boon that made her immune to fire. Holika took Prahlad in her lap and entered a blazing fire. But, to everyone’s surprise, Prahlad emerged unharmed, while Holika was burnt to ashes. The festival of Holi celebrates this triumph of good over evil.
The festival of colours is celebrated with great enthusiasm and excitement. On the eve of Holi, bonfires are lit in every locality, which is known as Holika Dahan. People gather around the bonfire, sing and dance to the beat of drums, and pray for the well-being of their loved ones.
On the day of Holi, people gather early in the morning, and smear each other with coloured powder and water. They use a variety of colours made from flowers and natural substances. Traditionally, these colours were made by crushing flowers and herbs, but in recent times, synthetic colours have become popular, which can be harmful to the skin and environment. It is, therefore, essential to use organic and eco-friendly colours.
The festival is also an occasion to taste delicacies and traditional sweets. Gujiyas, a deep-fried pastry filled with coconut, almonds and sugar, are a favourite among people. Thandai, a sweetened milk drink that is flavoured with nuts and spices, is a popular drink served during Holi.
Holi is also a time for families to come together, forgive and forget past grievances, and celebrate their love and bond. It is a time to let go of negativity and embrace positivity. The festival teaches us to live in harmony, spread love and happiness, and foster unity among all.
In conclusion, Holi is a festival that spreads joy and happiness. It is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring. It is a time to forget past differences and celebrate the bond of love and unity. Let us all celebrate Holi with eco-friendly colours, food, and music, and spread love and positivity. Happy Holi!
Distinguished Principal sir, respected teachers and my dear friends!
Good morning everyone!
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Today, we all are gathered here to celebrate International Women’s Day, a day which highlights the struggle, strength, and achievements of women’s rights around the world. As a future citizen of India, this my humble duty to recognize and appreciate the contributions of women to the society.
It’s been almost a century since women started demanding recognition and equal rights, and a lot has been achieved so far. We stand on the shoulders of brave women who fought for their rights and paved the way for us. Women of our generation have a different kind of battle to fight. We need to continue to break the stereotype, challenge the patriarchal mindset, and create a society that is safe, inclusive, and respectful of women.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Embrace Equity’, and it is a call to action for women and men to raise awareness about gender equality,and take actions to create a fair and safe world for women. It is a reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a better future for women, whether we are a parent, a teacher, a colleague, an employer, or a friend.
Although we have come a long way, women still face significant challenges, such as gender-based violence, discrimination, unequal pay, and lack of representation in leadership positions.
It is up to us to continue the fight for gender equality, and I am confident that we can overcome these challenges together. It is essential to have men’s participation in the conversation about gender equality and change the mindset of society that has been ingrained for centuries.
On this International Women’s Day, let us celebrate the achievements of women and reflect on the work that needs to be done. Let us continue to choose to challenge, speak up, and stand up for the rights of women. Together, we can create a world where women can thrive, fulfill their potential, and be treated equally.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity, and happy International Women’s Day!
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year all over the world. The day is celebrated to recognize the achievements of women and to acknowledge their contribution to society. The day was first celebrated in 1911 and is now observed as a global day of recognition and celebration.
The theme for International Women’s Day changes every year, but the focus is always on women’s empowerment, gender equality, and their role in society. This year’s theme is ‘“Embrace Equity”’, which is a call to action to identify and challenge gender bias and inequality.
The significance of International Women’s Day has grown over the years, and it has become an important day to raise awareness about the various issues faced by women. These issues include unequal pay, gender-based violence, discrimination, and lack of representation in leadership positions.
While there have been significant advances in the fight for gender equality, there is still a long way to go. Women continue to face discrimination and unequal treatment in many areas of their lives. IWD provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress that has been made and to generate momentum for future change.
Women’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women in different fields, from politics to science and technology, to arts and culture. It is also a day to honor the contributions of the women in our personal lives, from mothers to sisters, friends, and mentors.
There are many ways to celebrate International Women’s Day. People can participate in events organized by various organizations, attend conferences and seminars on gender equality, join protests and marches, or simply spend time with friends and family, discussing the importance of gender equality and women’s rights.
In conclusion, International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the achievements of women and to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about the various issues faced by women and to generate momentum for future change. It is also a day to honor the contributions of the women in our lives, who have made a significant impact on our personal and professional growth.
