International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, M Venkaiah Naidu has recently released a book titled “Gandhi in Champaran” authored by noted author Dinanath Gopal Tendulkar at National Mahatma Gandhi Museum in New Delhi. Naidu also released a book containing a collection of letters and articles of the correspondence between Nobel laureate Romain Rolland and Mahatma Gandhi as well as DG Tendulkar’s 8 volume biography of Mahatama Gandhi.

Notes:
Kalidasa was one of the gems of the court of Gupta king Chandragupta II (375–415 CE). The poems he wrote were usually of epic proportions and were written in classical Sanskrit. He wrote two epic poems called Kumara sambhava, which means birth of Kumara and the Raghuvamsha, which means dynasty of Raghu. There are also two lyric poems written by Kalidasa known as Meghadutta that stands for cloud messenger and the Ritusamhara that means description of the seasons. Meghadutta is one of the finest works of Kalidasa in terms of world literature. The beauty of the continuity in flawless Sanskrit is unmatched till date. The most famous and beautiful work of Kalidasa is the Shakuntalam. It is the second play of Kalidasa after he wrote Malavikagnimitra. The Shakuntalam tells the story of king Dushyant who falls in love with a beautiful girl Shakuntala, who happens to be the daughter of a saint.

Notes:
The Integrated Test Range (ITR) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is located in Balasore, Odisha. It provides safe and reliable launch facilities for performance evaluation of rockets, missiles and air-borne weapon system.

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The Secretariat of the International Association of Deposit Insurers (IADI) is located in Switzerland. Established in 2002, IADI aims to enhance the effectiveness of deposit insurance systems worldwide. Switzerland is known for its strong financial sector and is home to many international organizations, making it a strategic location for IADI.

Notes:
The general secretariat of Amnesty International is located in London, United Kingdom. The non-governmental organization was founded in July 1961 by Peter Benenson and Philip James. Amnesty International is a human rights organization that campaigns for compliance with international laws and standards. They use media attention, direct-appeal campaigns, research, and lobbying to protect human rights. Amnesty International has opened regional offices in cities across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Notes:
[A] Border Security Force (BSF): Established on December 1, 1965.
[B] Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF): Established on July 27, 1939.
[C] Assam Rifles: Formed in 1835 as the Cachar Levy, it was later renamed as the Assam Rifles in 1917.
[D] National Security Guards (NSG): Established in 1984.
So, the Assam Rifles is the oldest among these organizations, with its origins dating back to the 19th century.

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The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by by Japan on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu on December 7, 1941. Till that date, United States was neutral but entered into Second World War after this.

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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.

Notes:
The Dumbarton Oaks Conference was a series of meetings held at the Dumbarton Oaks estate in Washington, D.C. in 1944. The conference was attended by representatives of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China, and was aimed at discussing the creation of a new international organization to maintain peace and security after World War II. The conference resulted in the drafting of the United Nations Charter, which was signed by the participating countries in 1945 and came into effect in 1945. The charter established the United Nations as an international organization dedicated to promoting peace, security, and cooperation among nations.

Notes:
In 1654 AD, Dasbodh was written in Marathi language by Samrath Guru Ramdas, a religious Hindu poet from Maharastra. It provides readers with spiritual guidance on matters viz. devotion and acquiring knowledge. He was the spiritual Guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji.