International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between c. 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature. The poem’s imaginative and allegorical vision of the afterlife is a culmination of the medieval world-view as it had developed in the Western Church. It helped establish the Tuscan dialect, in which it is written, as the standardized Italian language.

Notes:
The Brasilia Declaration is related to the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Dialogue Forum. Established in 2003, IBSA aims to promote South-South cooperation and enhance collaboration among these three emerging economies. The Brasilia Declaration, signed in 2006, emphasizes political dialogue, economic cooperation, and cultural exchange among member countries. IBSA is notable for its focus on issues like poverty alleviation, sustainable development, and reforming global governance structures.

Notes:
The rank in the Indian Air Force which is equivalent to Major in the Indian Army is Squadron Leader. The rank structure in the Indian Air Force is designed to be parallel to that of the Indian Army, with each rank in one service having an equivalent in the other.

Notes:
Rajiv Gandhi Akshay Urja Diwas is observed on August 20 each year, coinciding with the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was born on August 20, 1944. This day promotes renewable energy and sustainable development in India, reflecting Gandhi’s vision for a modern and environmentally conscious nation.

Notes:
Centre William Rappard is known as the first building in Geneva designed to house an international organization and was originally occupied by International labour Organization. ILO`s office was shifted to Grand Saconnex. Later it was occupied by GATT which was replaces by World Trade Organization in 1995.

Notes:
Apart from the 23 postal circles in which India has been divided, India Post also has a Base Circle to cater to the postal communication needs of the Armed Forces. The Base Circle is headed by an Additional Director General, Army Postal Service in the rank of a Major General.

Notes:
Veto power is held with five permanent members, which are also called as P5 or Big 5. They are China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States.

Notes:
Homi Sethna was an Indian nuclear scientist and administrator who served as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic (UAR) in 1958. The UAR was a sovereign state that was intended to be the first step toward a pan-Arab union. The union was short-lived, ending in 1961 when Syria seceded. Egypt continued to be known as the United Arab Republic until 1971.  The UAR was formed as a single political unit with Gamal Abd al-Nasser as its president. Nasser gave each province two vice-presidents. The provisional constitution of 1958 was adopted. The United States recognized the UAR on February 25, 1958.