International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
Treaty of Portsmouth ended the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. The treaty was signed on September 5, 1905 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The treaty was signed by Japanese and Russian diplomats after negotiations from August 6 to August 30. The treaty ended the war that began in 1904. The war was caused by Russian and Japanese expansionism in the Far East. The war contributed to domestic unrest in both countries, which led to the Russian revolution of 1905. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was instrumental in the negotiations and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

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The correct answer is “Single Euro Payment Area” (SEPA). SEPA is an initiative by the European Union aimed at simplifying bank transfers denominated in euros. It allows for seamless electronic payments across member states, treating them as domestic transactions. Established in 2008, SEPA enhances efficiency and reduces costs for consumers and businesses, promoting financial integration within the Eurozone.

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Oslo Accords or Oslo Process refers to two agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. First is the Oslo I Accord, signed in Washington in 1993 and second is Oslo II Accord, signed in Taba, Egypt in 1995. It resulted in recognition of Israel by the PLO and the recognition by Israel of the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and as a partner in bilateral negotiations.

Notes:
International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on December 9th each year. This global observance is promoted by the United Nations (UN) to raise awareness about the detrimental effects of corruption and to encourage countries, governments, organizations, and individuals to take measures to combat and prevent corruption. It provides an opportunity for governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector to come together to discuss and promote anti-corruption initiatives and strategies. The goal is to create a world in which corruption is less prevalent, transparent governance is promoted, and the rule of law is upheld.

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The correct statement is that the French Revolution awakened republican goals among the French commoners. The revolution, which began in 1789, aimed to dismantle the monarchy and establish a republic, importantly influencing the political landscape. While it did lead to temporary republican governments, it did not establish a permanent republic until the Third Republic in 1870. Women did not gain the right to vote until 1944 in France, and the revolution lasted more than 5 years, officially ending in 1799 with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.

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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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Ganita Sara Sangraha (“Compendium of the Essence of Mathematics”) written by Mahavira ( or Mahaviracharya), a Jain  mathematician from Mysore. It was written during the reign of the Rashtrakuta dynasty ruler Amoghavarsha (800–878 AD). In  the 11th century, the book was translated into Telugu language by Pavuluri Mallana as Saar Sangraha Ganitam.

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India and Kazakhstan tried to strengthen their relations by organizing a 14 day joint military exercise PRABAL DOSTYK–16. Prabal Dostyk means ‘Robust Friendship’. The primary aim of the fourteen day exercise is to enhance interoperability while undertaking Counter Terrorism & Counter Insurgency Operations in rural & semi-urban environment under the umbrella of United Nations. 

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Finance Ministry signed an agreement with International Monetary Fund (IMF) for setting the First center that fully integrates training and technical assistance and is a model for our future capacity development work. The South Asia Regional Training and Technical Assistance Center (SARTTAC) is expected to become the focal point for planning, coordinating, and implementing the IMF’s capacity development activities in the region on a wide range of areas, including macroeconomic and fiscal management, monetary operations, financial sector regulation and supervision, and macroeconomic statistics. The Center will help address existing training needs and respond to the demand for IMF training in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, while bringing the region’s training volume on par with those of other regions.

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The Grenadiers Regiment, one of the oldest regiments of the Indian Army, has had three PVC awardees in its ranks. Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid, 4th Grenadiers was the first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous) for the Regiment in 1965 and the second recipient to get the Param Vir Chakra was Major Hoshiar Singh, 3rd Grenadiers in 1971.