International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The Indian Navy Day (IND) is observed every year on 4th December every year to remember the courage and determination that Indian Navy had shown during the 1971 war. During the India-Pakistan war of 1971, the Indian Navy played a significant role in the bombing of the Karachi harbor and sank Pakistan Naval Ship PNS Ghazi. The Navy Day celebrations not only display the nation’s technological progress but also the maritime achievements of India. The Indian Navy plays a great role in securing the marine borders of the country as well as enhancing the international relations of the country through foreign port callings, joint exercises, humanitarian missions and calamity relief.

Notes:
BIMSTEC-Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation
The BIMSTEC is sub-regional grouping comprising of seven countries of South Asia- India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and South East Asia- – Myanmar, Thailand. It was established on 6 June 1997 through Bangkok Declaration. It is headquartered at Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Notes:
“A Brief History of Time” is a book written by physicist Stephen Hawking. It was first published in 1988, and it covers a wide range of topics in cosmology and theoretical physics. The book became a bestseller and has been translated into over 40 languages.

Notes:
World Bank is one of five institutions created at Breton Woods Conference in 1944. It is part of the United Nations system, but its governance structure is different. Its headquarter are situated at Washington DC, US. World Bank provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.
 It comprises only two institutions viz. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA). In contrast World Bank Group comprises three more viz. International Finance Corporation (IFC), Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID)

Notes:
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) is a specialized unit of the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It was established in 1991 in response to the growing need for a quick-response force that could be deployed in situations of communal violence, riots, and other forms of civil unrest. The RAF is trained in riot control and crowd management techniques, and is equipped with specialized non-lethal weapons and equipment. The unit is made up of personnel from various state police forces, and is known for its professionalism and effectiveness in dealing with volatile situations.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
It`s worth note that Abaninath Mukherji or Abani Mukherji, who was one of the cofounders of Communist Party of India was a victim of the Great Purge, orchestrated by Joseph Stalin in 1936-1938. It was a series of campaigns of political repression and persecution in the Soviet Union. Abani Mukherji died in Soviet Union in 1937 when he was executed and his death was acknowledged only after 1955

Notes:
The first-ever Income Tax Day celebrations in India were held on July 24, 2010. This date was chosen to honor the establishment of the Income Tax Department in India, which was formed on July 24, 1860. The celebrations aim to promote tax compliance and recognize the contributions of taxpayers to the nation’s development.

Notes:
The 40+9 Recommendations are related to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The FATF is an intergovernmental body that sets international standards to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing. The 40+9 Recommendations are the international standards for combating these illegal activities.
The FATF first issued its Forty Recommendations in 1990. In 2004, the FATF published the Ninth Special Recommendations (SR). These recommendations further strengthened the international standards. In February 2012, the FATF revised the 40 and IX Recommendations. The revised recommendations integrated the SR on terrorist financing with measures against money laundering. The revised recommendations covered issues such as the financing of weapons of mass destruction.
The FATF Recommendations are not binding in the way a law or contract would be.

Notes:
“A Suitable Boy” is an epic novel of over 1,500 pages, making it one of the longest novels published in a single volume in the English language. The author, Vikram Seth, is a celebrated Indian novelist and poet. Known for his masterful storytelling and keen understanding of human nature, he holds a distinguished place in contemporary English literature.