International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

Notes:
The book “Welcome to Nowhere” has been authored by acclaimed children’s writer Elizabeth Laird. This is a book about war and its consequences. Through book, author tells the story of 12-year-old Omar, his parents and four siblings, all of who are caught in the crossfire as civil war rages over Syria. Laird references real-life events and gives you great characters, heartwarming moments and even occasional humour.

Notes:
The book “From Inside the Steel Frame: The Memoirs of an Administrator” has been authored by Dr. Ashok Pandey, a retired IAS officer. This is an account of his journey from a small village in Bihar to the corridors of powers in Delhi.

Notes:
Civil Services Day is celebrated on April 21 every year in India. This day is celebrated to commemorate the day when the first home minister of Independent India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, addressed administrative services officers in 1947.

Notes:
When a country faces serious medium-term balance of payments problems, International Monetary Fund assist the country with the adjustment process under its Extended Fund Facility.

Notes:
The first G-20 summit was held in Washington D.C., United States, in response to the global financial crisis. The summit brought together leaders from 20 major economies to discuss solutions to the crisis and ways to reform the international financial system. The city was chosen as the host because it is the home of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, two key institutions involved in addressing the global financial crisis.

Notes:
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.

Notes:
South-South Cooperation refers to the collaboration among developing countries in the Global South, focusing on sharing resources, technology, and knowledge. This concept emerged in the 1950s and gained prominence in the 1970s, particularly during the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). It aims to enhance self-reliance and foster sustainable development. Notable examples include the India-Africa Forum Summit, which promotes trade and investment between India and African nations.

Notes:
ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights

Notes:
In India, the Home Guard is a voluntary organization that works to assist the police in maintaining law and order and providing community services. The organization was established in the 1960s and is made up of individuals who are not regular members of the police force but who are willing to serve their communities in a voluntary capacity. Home Guard members are trained in various skills, such as traffic control, disaster management, and first aid, and they often assist the police in a variety of tasks, such as crowd control, traffic management, and disaster relief.

Notes:
Indian Peace Keeping Force took control of Jaffna from the LTTE in late 1987 to enforce the disarmament of the LTTE as a part of the Indo-Sri Lankan Accord. This operation was named operation Pawan.