Daily Current Affairs for UPSC IAS: 11th Aug 2023

Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization : Belem Declaration

Assembling in the Brazilian city of Belem, the members of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization sought to chart a common course on how to combat climate change.

• Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization is an intergovernmental organization formed by the eight Amazonian countries by signing the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT).
• The Amazon Cooperation Treaty was drafted and signed on July 3, 1978.
• In 1995, the eight nations decided to create the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), to strengthen and implement the objectives of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty.
• Member countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
• It was founded to promote the preservation of the Amazon basin and regulate Amazonian development through international cooperation.
• It is the only socio-environmental block in Latin America.
• It works in different dimensions within the framework of the implementation of the ACT: political-diplomatic, strategic, and technical, building synergies among governments etc.
• It has four official languages: Dutch, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
• The Directorate of the Permanent Secretariat and the coordination of the projects plan and execute their activities in close collaboration and through consultations with the Member Countries.

Cott-Ally App:

The Union Minister of State for Ministry of Textiles informed Lok Sabha about Cott-Ally App.

• The Cotton Corporation of India Limited I has developed a mobile app – “Cott-Ally” exclusively for the cotton farmers.
• Objective:
  • To maximise the use of the digital media among the farmers to increase the reach of all government schemes especially in the cotton farming sector.
  • To have direct interaction and outreach with the cotton farmers in their regional languages.
• The various features of “Cott-Ally” are as follows:
  • Easy to operate in regional languages.
  • MSP cotton rates state-wise, variety-wise and quality-wise can be seen.
  • Farmers can track real time payment status of their kapas sold to CCI under MSP.
  • Contact details of procurement centers opened by the CCI.
  • Direct interaction with CCI through Live chat to resolve doubts & grievances, if any.
  • General information on quality management of cotton crop and other related information.
  • Can be downloaded from google play store for android mobile/app store for Apple mobile.

Exercise Zayed Talwar:

Indian Navy and United Arab Emirates to conduct bilateral exercise ‘Zayed Talwar from 8th to 11 August 2023.

• Two ships of the Indian Navy, INS Visakhapatnam, and INS Trikand are participating in the exercise.
• During the visit, the ships will undertake professional interactions with UAE Naval Force on multiple elements of maritime operations.
• They will further share best practices to enhance cooperation and strengthen ties between the two navies.
• This exercise will boost the maritime partnership between the two navies and foster a common understanding of the security challenges in the region.

INS Visakhapatnam:

• It is the lead ship and the first of the Indian Navy’s Visakhapatnam-class stealth guided-missile destroyers.
• It was commissioned on November 21, 2021, is one of the largest destroyers in Indian Navy service.
• Features:
  • Displacement: 7,400 tonnes.
  • Propulsion: It is propelled by four powerful Gas Turbines, in a Combined Gas and Gas (COGAG) configuration.
  • Speed: It is capable of achieving speeds in excess of 30 knots.

CBI Joined Interpol Global Academy Network:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Academy joined the Interpol Global Academy Network at a virtual event.

• Interpol Global Academy Network was launched in 2019 with the aim of supporting Interpol in leading a global approach to Law Enforcement Training.
• It is a network of trusted law enforcement education institutions, both regional and national in scope.
• Members of the Global Academy support the creation and delivery of select digital and face-to-face training courses, covering INTERPOL’s tools and services, crime areas, and other law enforcement topics.
• They also help identify and coordinate responses to training needs and contribute to a knowledge exchange platform to advance law enforcement education through cutting-edge training tools and methodologies.
• The CBI Academy had become the 10th member of Interpol Global Academy Network.

Interpol:

• It is an international organization facilitating international police cooperation against cross-border terrorism, trafficking, and other crime.
• Governance: All decisions regarding the activities of INTERPOL are made by the General Assembly which is its supreme governing body which meets annually.
• It is an independent international organization.

Hmar community : Demand For Separate Administration

Hmar Inpui, the apex tribal body of the Hmar community, recently asked the Centre to expedite the processes of resolving the demands of the tribal communities in the form of separate administration for the Kuki/Hmar/Zomi

• Hmar tribe, also called Mhar or Mar, are the dwellers of the North Eastern Part of India.
• They inhibit the northeastern states of Manipur, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura.
• The Hmars belong to the Chin-Kuki-Mizo group of tribes and are recognised as Scheduled Tribe under the Constitution of India.
• Hmar Tribes claim their origin from the Singlung, which is located in central or south-west China.
• The ancestors of Hmar belong to the Chinese dynasty. They are found in the Rippaimukh area, Jiribam and Khuga areas and Churachandpur area of Manipur.
• Hmar tribes mostly reside in the southern area of Manipur, especially in the districts of Churachandpur and its neighbouring regions.
• The Hmar society is based on clan system.
• Each clan had a dialect of its own, though nowadays a common dialect used by the Hmar People was developed by Christian missionaries.
• The chief of the village council is called “Lal”. Everybody follows his leadership and directive.
• The society is patrilineal and patriarchal in nature.
• The clan is not exogamous in Hmar society.
• They practice both inter-clean and intra-clan marriage.
• Hmars built their villages on hill -tops & houses are constructed on wooden planks.

Grand Canyon : One Of The “Nine” Wonders Of The World

US President said that the Grand Canyon is one of the “nine” wonders of the world.

• Grand Canyon is a massive geological formation located in the state of Arizona, USA.
• The canyon was carved by the Colorado River over millions of years and exposes a stunning cross-section of Earth’s geological history.
• It cuts across the Grand Canyon National Park.
• The 1.5-kilometer deep gorge ranges in width from 500 m to 30 km.
• The exposed rock layers in the Grand Canyon represent different periods of Earth’s geological history.
• The rocks date back as far as 1.8 billion years, providing a unique record of the planet’s past.
• A canyon is a deep, narrow valley with steep sides or cliffs, often carved by the erosional forces of a river or other natural processes over a long period of time.
• Canyons can vary in size from small, winding gorges to massive, awe-inspiring chasms like the Grand Canyon.

Udyam Assist Platform:

As per latest data, the government’s new Udyam Assist Platform (UAP) has 35 lakh units registered as of August 3, 2023.

• The Government launched UAP under the MSME formalization project on 11.01.2023 to bring Informal Micro Enterprises (IMEs) under the formal ambit for availing benefits under Priority Sector Lending.
• The platform has been developed by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
• The Government of India has clarified that IMEs are those enterprises which are unable to get registered on the Udyam Registration Portal (URP) due to lack of mandatory required documents such as Permanent Account Number (PAN) or Goods and Services Tax Identification Number (GSTIN).
• A large number of IMEs aren’t registered under GST.
• To facilitate such IMEs to get a registration certificate through Assist mode of Designated Agencies (Das) such as banks/ NBFCs/MFIs, who have information about IMEs available with them.
• The certificate issued on the Udyam Assist Platform (UAP) would be treated at par with Udyam Registration Certificate for IMEs for availing of the benefits of Priority Sector Lending (PSL).

World Lion Day 2023:

World Lion Day is celebrated every year on August 10 to raise awareness about the conservation of lions and their habitats. It was first established in 2013 by Big Cat Rescue, the world’s largest accredited sanctuary dedicated to lions.

• Recent studies have revealed that lions were once present in the Arabian Peninsula, significantly influencing Arab culture.
• It is noted that Arabic dialects and literature contain an extensive array of almost 700 distinct names or expressions referring to the lion.
• Scientific Name: Panthera leo
• The lion is divided into two subspecies: the African lion (Panthera leo leo) and the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica).
• Lions are known for their distinctive appearance, including a tawny coat, a tufted tail, and a prominent mane in males.
• They are social animals and live in groups called prides. A pride typically consists of multiple females, their offspring, and a few adult males.
• Lions are found in sub-Saharan Africa and a small population exists in the Gir Forest National Park in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Jeevan Pramaan:

The Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has taken proactive steps to enhance the ease of living for Central Government pensioners through the widespread promotion of Digital Life Certificates (DLC), known as Jeevan Pramaan.

• Pensioners must submit DLC every November (with a provision for those aged 80 years and above in October) to ensure continuous pension disbursement.
• Initially, the submission of DLCs involved biometric methods. Subsequently, in collaboration with MeitY, the department introduced a pioneering Face Authentication technology system linked to the Aadhar database.
• This innovation enables pensioners to generate their Life Certificates via any Android-based smartphone. This reduces reliance on external biometric devices, rendering the process more accessible and affordable, especially for the broader population.
• To ensure the success of the campaign, detailed guidelines have been issued These guidelines include :
  • Nodal officers nominated for the campaign.
  • Awareness through banners, posters, and ATMs.
  • Utilization of technology during doorstep banking and branch visits.
  • Camps for easy submission, and home visits for bedridden pensioners.

Rename The State Kerala As Keralam:

The Kerala Assembly has passed a resolution to rename the state as “Keralam” in both the Constitution and official records.

• While the state has been referred to as “Kerala” in English, the name in Malayalam is “Keralam.”
• The resolution aims to align the English and Malayalam names.
• The term ‘Kerala’ has its origins in ancient texts, and ‘Keralam’ is considered a closer reflection of the original Malayalam pronunciation.
• The earliest historical reference to the region is in Emperor Ashoka’s Rock Edict II of 257 BC, where the local ruler is mentioned as “Keralaputra,” meaning “son of Kerala” or “son of Chera,” referring to the Chera dynasty.
• The demand for a united territory for all Malayalam-speaking communities gained momentum during the Aikya Kerala movement in the 1920s.
• This movement aimed to integrate the regions of Malabar, Kochi, and Travancore into a single territory.

Arunachal Rang Mahotsav:

The Prime Minister has expressed delight at Arunachal Rang Mahotsav being celebrated in different parts of India.

• ‘Arunachal Rang Mahotsav,’ is a four-day theatre festival held across various cities in India to bring the lesser-known history of Arunachal Pradesh to a wider audience.
• The festival celebrates Arunachal Pradesh’s diverse cultural heritage and is in line with the principles of national unity.
• The festival featured four plays in each participating city, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Guwahati.
• These plays aimed to shed light on the often-overlooked heroes who contributed significantly to India’s freedom struggle against British colonial rule.