International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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The North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) was signed by 12 countries on April 4, 1949 at the Departmental Auditorium in Washington, D.C.. The countries that signed the treaty were:  Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, The United Kingdom, The United States.  The treaty established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a mutual defense treaty between the 12 nations. The purpose of NATO was to deter the Soviet Union from invading Western Europe. The treaty committed each member to share the risks, responsibilities, and benefits of collective defense.  NATO is now an alliance of 31 nations from Europe and North America. The main purpose of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members by political and military means.

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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.

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National Road Safety Week is celebrated annually from January 11 to 17. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways organizes the week to raise awareness about road safety and traffic rules. The week is intended to prevent deaths and injuries worldwide.
The first National Road Safety Week was observed in 1989. The 31st National Road Safety Week was observed from January 11 to 17, 2020.

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The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was an international treaty which was organized in 1987. The UN General Assembly celebrate 16th September in memory of the date in 1987 when nations inked the Montreal Protocol.

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Indra Exercise is a joint military exercise that takes place between India and Russia. It is a bilateral exercise that involves the armed forces of both countries, including the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy, as well as the Russian Armed Forces. The exercise typically focuses on a variety of military drills and training activities, including air defense, maritime security, and counter-terrorism operations. The first Indra Exercise was held in 2003, and it has been conducted annually ever since. The exercise is part of the growing military cooperation between India and Russia, and it is aimed at enhancing the interoperability and coordination of their armed forces.

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The famous Sufi poet, Amir Khusrau wrote a masnavi on the Tughlaq dynasty ruler, Mubarak Shah as “Nuh Sipihr” (Nine Skies), relating the events of Mubarak Shah’s rule. Excerpts of the works done by him are Tughluq Nama, Wast-ul-Hayat, Ashiqa, Khamsa, Baqia-Naqia, etc. He was the court poet of Alauddin Khilji and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, Delhi.

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The primary focus of Gaudiya Vaishnavism is the devotional worship (bhakti yoga) of Radha and Krishna, and their many divine incarnations as the supreme forms of God. This worship predominantly takes the form of singing and chanting the holy names of Radha and Krishna, often through the Hare Krishna mantra or kirtan, and dancing. It is a religious movement primarily rooted in the Gaura or Gauḍa region of Bengal and was inspired by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

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The Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare is an annual event held November 30 as a “tribute to the victims of chemical warfare, as well as to reaffirm the commitment of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the elimination of the threat of chemical weapons, thereby promoting the goals of peace, security, and multilateralism.” It is officially recognised by the United Nations (UN) and has been celebrated since 2005.

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Andorra neither has an official military nor a ministry of defence. It has a ceremonial army made up of 12 male volunteers. Since the country is landlocked, it has no navy. Andorra maintained neutrality during World War II.

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Second Congo War which happened between 1998 and 2003 was known as the Great War of Africa or the Great African War. This war was started as a result of the expulsion of Rwandan and Ugandan army forces from the land of Congo. This war resulted in a military stalemate in which all Rwandan forces were asked to withdraw from the land of Congo through the Pretoria Accord.