International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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Nuclear Suppliers Group was formed by  seven countries viz. Canada, West Germany, France, Japan, the USSR, the United Kingdom, and the United States in response to the ‘Smiling Buddha’ (Pokharan-I) of India in 1974. 

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The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Its headquarters is at Kathmandu, Nepal.

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Rakhi Ki Chunauti is a famous composition from Subhadra Kumari Chauhan other compositions of her are Veero ka kaisa ho basant,Jhansi ki Rani etc.

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Saint Surdas, revered for his intense devotion to Lord Krishna, is the author of Sahitya Ratna. Blind from birth, he belonged to the Saguna School of the Bhakti Kal. Apart from Sahitya Ratna, Surdas has also composed Sur Sagar (Ocean of Melody), and Sur Saravali. His works, primarily centered around his spiritual affection for Lord Krishna, are celebrated for their melodious and devotional undertone.

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Khwajah Nizamuddin Ahmed wrote “Tabuqat-i-Akbari” in the reign of Akbar, it was completed in 1593 AD. The book compiled the history of India from 986 AD to 38th year of Mughal emperor Akbar’s reign. It is a very important source for the history of the Sayyid and Lodi Sultans.

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Dashkumarcharitam was composed by Dandin, who was a Sanskrit author of prose romances and expounder on poetics in the 6th-7th century. Both Bharavi and Dandin, the authors of Kiratarjuniyam and Dasakumarcharitam respectively, lived in the Pallava court.

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Around 44 African countries are entering into an agreement to set up AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) to remove barriers to trade, like tariffs and import quotas, allowing the free flow of goods and services between its members. The agreement will still have to be ratified at a national level, and is only due to come into force in 180 days. This is touted to be biggest free trade agreement since establishment of WTO.

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The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is the U.S. government's signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia. It builds the leadership capabilities of youth in the region and promotes cross-border cooperation to solve regional and global challenges.

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Arjuna is the modern tank produced by Defence Research and Development, Organisation (DRDO). The Arjun is a third generation main battle tank developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation, for the Indian Army. The tank is named after Arjun, the main protagonist, an archer prince of the Indian epic Mahabharata.
The Arjun was found to be comparable to the T-90 in almost all respects and better in aspects of mobility – aided in no small measure by its German-made 1,400 horsepower engine which is significantly more powerful than the powerpack employed on the T-90. The invitation to visit the Arjun tank formation was unexpected.

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Kerala cadre senior IAS officer Suman Billa will join the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at its headquarters in Madrid, Spain. A 1996 batch IAS officer, he will assume charge as Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Development at D1 level at UNWTO, a specialised agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.