International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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International Biodiversity Day is celebrated on 22nd May every year to raise awareness about biodiversity issues. This day commemorates the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992. 192 countries are party to this convention to promote sustainable development.

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23rd November is traditionally celebrated as the ‘NCC Day’ to mark the function of raising the first NCC Unit at Delhi.

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The most translated document in the world is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. The Declaration is a set of principles that outline the fundamental rights and freedoms that are entitled to all human beings. It has been translated into over 500 languages, making it the most translated document in the world. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is considered to be a milestone in the history of human rights and is widely recognized as a fundamental document of international law.

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Admiral Vishnu Baghwat is the first and only Chief of Naval Staff of India to be dismissed while in service. He was removed in 1998 due to differences with the government over various issues, including the handling of the Kargil War. This incident marked a important moment in Indian military history, which indicates the tensions between military leadership and political authority.

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United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386, adopted in December 2001, authorized the establishment of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. This resolution aimed to assist the Afghan Interim Authority in maintaining security and stability following the U.S.-led invasion that ousted the Taliban regime. ISAF was initially a NATO-led mission, marking the first time NATO took command of a military operation outside Europe.

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The Varuna naval exercise is a biennial military exercise between India and France, focusing on enhancing interoperability and maritime security. The first Varuna exercise took place in 2001, and it has since evolved to include various naval operations, showcasing advanced naval capabilities. France is a key strategic partner for India, particularly in defense and maritime cooperation.

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Brahmos missile is able to engage ground targets from an altitude as low as 10 metres for surgical strikes without any collateral damage.

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Tenali Ramakrishna wrote Panduranga Mahatyam. It’s one of the Pancha maha kavyas of Telugu literature. The book is a legendary account of a shrine of Vishnu as Panduranga, at Pandharpur. Ramakrishna was a court-poet of the Vijaya Nagar Empire in the 16th century CE during the Krishnadevaraya period. He was one of the eminent luminaries in literature known as Astadiggajas in the court of Krishna deva Raya.  Ramakrishna took the theme for Panduranga Mahatyam from the Skanda Purana and enhanced it with many stories about the devotees of Panduranga. He is known for his exceptional narrative skills and fabulous sense of humor.  Panduranga Mahatyam is dedicated to Krishnadeva Raya’s grandson.

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Palermo Protocol is a United Nations (UN) protocol that defines human trafficking and aims to prevent, suppress, and punish it. The protocol was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000 and came into effect on December 25, 2003. The protocol’s purposes are to:

• Prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children
• Protect and assist victims of trafficking
• The protocol defines human trafficking as exploitation that includes:
• Prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation
• Forced labor or services
• Slavery or practices similar to slavery
• Servitude
• The removal of organs

The Palermo Protocol is one of three supplementary protocols to the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC). The other two protocols are: (1) Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air (2) Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms.

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The Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative to measure the commitment of countries to cybersecurity. It is released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). India is ranked a high 23rd out of 165 nations in the index. India has secured a score of .683. The list has been topped by Singapore with a score with a score of .925. India has been listed in the “maturing” category, which refers to 77 countries that have developed complex commitments to cybersecurity and engage in cybersecurity programmes and initiatives.