International Organizations, Defence, Books & Authors, World History

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Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for the Indian Army. The DRDO began developing the Pinaka in the late 1980s as an alternative to Russian-made systems. The Pinaka can fire 12 rockets and is designed to engage targets at a range of up to 40 km. It was used extensively by the Army during the Kargil War.
The Pinaka is named after “Pinaka”, the bow of Lord Shiva.

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The Bretton Woods system is commonly refers to the international monetary regime that prevailed from the end of World War II until the early 1970s. Taking its name from the site of the 1944 conference that created the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank, the Bretton Woods system was history’s first example of a fully negotiated monetary order intended to govern currency relations among sovereign states.

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The golden peace dove is a symbol of peace and reconciliation. It is often depicted as a white dove with a golden olive branch in its beak, representing the biblical story of the dove that returned to Noah’s ark with an olive branch, signaling the end of the flood and the beginning of a new era of peace. The golden peace dove is used as a symbol by various organizations and movements that promote peace and non-violence, and it is often associated with the broader concept of pacifism.

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Black Power movement was a political and social movement in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. The movement emphasized racial pride, economic empowerment, and the creation of political and cultural institutions. The movement’s advocates believed in racial pride, self-sufficiency, and equality for all people of Black and African descent. The Black Power movement was a branch of the civil rights movement and was motivated by a desire for safety and self-sufficiency.  The Black Power movement began in 1966 and ended in 1975. Critics viewed Black Power organizations as separatist groups or street gangs. These critics ignored the movement’s political activism, cultural innovations, and social programs.  The Black Power movement was a militant movement that advocated violence in the United States.

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Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) is an organization under United Nations. It is one of the five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. It is located in Thailand.

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National Mathematics Day is celebrated on December 22 in India to honor the birth of the renowned mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, born on December 22, 1887. Ramanujan made important contributions to mathematical analysis, number theory, and continued fractions. His work has influenced various fields, and he is celebrated for his intuitive grasp of mathematics despite having little formal training. The day aims to promote the importance of mathematics in education and society.

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The famous Sufi poet, Amir Khusro was the court poet of Alauddin Khilji and a spiritual disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, Delhi. He wrote in many verse forms viz. ghazal, masnavi, qata, rubai, do-baiti and tarkib-band. Excerpts of the works done by him are Tughluq Nama, Wast-ul-Hayat, Nuh Sipihr, Ashiqa, Khamsa, Baqia-Naqia, etc.

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Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul TC, most commonly known as V. S. Naipaul, and informally, Vidia Naipaul, was a Trinidadian-British writer of works of fiction and nonfiction in English.

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Kerala cadre senior IAS officer Suman Billa will join the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) at its headquarters in Madrid, Spain. A 1996 batch IAS officer, he will assume charge as Director, Technical Cooperation and Silk Road Development at D1 level at UNWTO, a specialised agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.

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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.