International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently released a book ‘Matoshree’, authored by Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan in New Delhi on April 11, 2017. The book ‘Matoshree’ covers the life and times of legendary Devi Ahilyabai Holker who ruled the Holkar Empire spread over the Malwa region from 1767 to 1795. Ahilyabai Holkar was a very able ruler and organizer, highly respected during her lifetime and considered as a saint by people after her death. She is remembered and worshipped by people for her exemplary governance, sense of justice and fairness.

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Buddhist monk Dhammapiya from Tripura has been elected as the new secretary general of the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in New Delhi. The IBC is a global Buddhist forum for preservation and development of heritage sites of the religion in India and other parts of the world.

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Exercise Ekuverin is a joint military exercise held between armies of India and Maldives since 2008.

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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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Among the given options, the junior most rank in the Indian Air Force is Flight Lieutenant. The rank hierarchy in the Indian Air Force from junior to senior among the listed ranks is as follows: Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander, and Group Captain.

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Dhruva is India’s largest indigenous research and production nuclear reactor. It is an indigenously built 100MWt research reactor at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai. Operational since 1985, this heavy-water moderated and cooled reactor predominantly uses uranium as fuel. The reactor is used primarily for the production of weapons-grade plutonium for India’s nuclear deterrent program. Additionally, it is also used for research in materials science and to provide irradiation services.

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AFSPA became a law on September 11, 1958. Initially, it was applicable to the seven Northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. This was so because in all these states there were movements of ethnic groups demanding separation from India. The government felt that such insurgencies could be checked through deployment of the armed forces, and they would need special powers to carry out their responsibilities. AFSPA was extended to J&K in 1990, on similar considerations.

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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 North-South Dialogue refers to the process through which the developing and newly independent nations of the “third world,” predominantly in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, engaged the industrialized countries of North America and Western Europe in negotiations over changes to the international economic system.

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This missile has a theoretical maximum range of some 3,000 km with a 1,000 kg payload (conventional or strategic). Tested to range of over 2,000 km, the Agni-II has an all-solid propellant system.